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Insights are generated by CastFox AI using publicly available data, episode content, and proprietary models.
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Estimated from 1 chart position in 1 market.
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- 🇳🇿NZ · Management#173500 to 3K
- Per-Episode Audience
Est. listeners per new episode within ~30 days
250 to 1.5K🎙 Weekly cadence·42 episodes·Last published 6d ago - Monthly Reach
Unique listeners across all episodes (30 days)
500 to 3K🇳🇿100% - Active Followers
Loyal subscribers who consistently listen
150 to 900
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* Data sourced directly from platform APIs and aggregated hourly across all major podcast directories.
On the show
Recent episodes
A Better Way to Ask for Feedback
May 20, 2026
Unknown duration
Got Harsh Feedback? Here's How to Benefit
May 13, 2026
Unknown duration
The 7 Harsh Truths of Early Leadership
May 6, 2026
Unknown duration
The Steps Most Managers Skip Before a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP)
Apr 29, 2026
Unknown duration
A Framework for Having Hard Conversations
Apr 22, 2026
Unknown duration
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| Date | Episode | Description | Length | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5/20/26 |  A Better Way to Ask for Feedback | Most managers aren't asking for feedback. They're waiting. And nobody's coming. If you finish a project, wrap a presentation, or get through a tough quarter and assume someone will tell you if something went wrong — they won't. Your manager is busy. Your team doesn't feel safe. And the silence you're reading as "everything's fine" is just everyone keeping their head down. In this episode, I'm walking you through the 4-step framework we teach at Growth Signals to ask for feedback in a way that actually gets you honest, useful answers. Connect with Jen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenparnold/ Are you a new leader looking for support? Check out Made to Lead, our 12-week cohort for first time people leaders. Take the free GUIDE New Leader Assessment: https://guide.scoreapp.com/ Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@themadeleader | — | ||||||
| 5/13/26 | Got Harsh Feedback? Here's How to Benefit | Got feedback that felt vague, unfair, or just plain useless? You're not alone — and you don't have to spiral or dismiss it. In this episode, I walk you through a 4-step system for processing hard feedback as a new manager, including the TALC framework — four questions that help you separate what's real from what's noise. ✅ Ride it out ✅ Ask for clarity ✅ Run TALC (Truth, Agree, Learn, Control) ✅ Release what isn't yours to carry Because feedback without direction isn't a development plan. It's a hunch. And you're allowed to throw away what isn't helpful to your growth and development. Connect with Jen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenparnold/ Are you a new leader looking for support? Check out Made to Lead, our 12-week cohort for first time people leaders. New to management? Subscribe for no-BS leadership advice twice a month: https://growth-signals-2.kit.com/22c1e16738 | — | ||||||
| 5/6/26 | The 7 Harsh Truths of Early Leadership | No one warns new managers about the real cost of leadership — until now. You got promoted. Great. But nobody sat you down and told you what was actually coming. The identity shift. The humbling reality that you'll suck at first. The impossible squeeze. The grey areas with no handbook. The grief nobody names. In this episode of The Made Leader, I'm walking through the 7 harsh truths that blindside almost every new manager — and why most organizations hand you a title and walk away. Mentioned: https://youtu.be/bRKnZUx0dLE Connect with Jen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenparnold/ Are you a new leader looking for support? Check out Made to Lead, our 12-week cohort for first time people leaders. | — | ||||||
| 4/29/26 | The Steps Most Managers Skip Before a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) | Before you put an employee on a performance improvement plan, there are a few leadership steps most managers skip. In this episode, I break down how to tell the difference between real support and over-functioning, what to do before formal corrective action, and when poor performance becomes an accountability issue instead of just a coaching issue. If you're a new manager dealing with defensiveness, repeated underperformance, or hard feedback conversations, this is the framework for what should happen first. Connect with Jen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenparnold/ Are you a new leader looking for support? Check out Made to Lead, our 12-week cohort for first time people leaders. | — | ||||||
| 4/22/26 | A Framework for Having Hard Conversations | Most managers avoid giving feedback to employees not because they don't care, but because nobody taught them how to have difficult conversations that also preserve the relationship. So they let it slide. And slide. Until it's a real problem. This episode gives you a 4 step framework for how to give feedback that's clear, direct, and actually lands — without softening it so much it stops meaning anything. This isn't a one-time tool for when things go wrong. It's your everyday coaching framework — the thing that makes feedback normal before it becomes a crisis. If you've ever avoided a feedback conversation because you don't know what to say, this one's for you. Connect with Jen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenparnold/ Are you a new leader looking for support? Check out Made to Lead, our 12-week cohort for first time people leaders. | — | ||||||
| 4/15/26 | 7 Feedback Mistakes New Leaders Make | You know you need to say something. But every time you get close to having that conversation, you find a reason to wait. Sound familiar? Avoiding feedback doesn't protect the relationship—it quietly erodes it until the problem is 10 times harder to fix. In this episode, host Jen Arnold breaks down the 7 most common feedback mistakes new managers make, what each one is costing you, and what to do instead. You'll learn why the compliment sandwich backfires, what makes feedback actually stick, and how to deliver hard messages clearly and kindly—without damaging the relationship. If giving constructive feedback is the part of leadership that keeps you up at night, this episode will change how you approach it. Watch The Made Leader @https://www.youtube.com/@themadeleader for more leadership insights and strategies. Connect with Jen — LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenparnold/ Website: https://growthsignals.co/ | — | ||||||
| 4/8/26 | Don't Stay Silent: Why Giving Feedback Matters | You're not being kind by staying silent. You're avoiding a critical part of your job as a leader. If you've been watching someone on your team struggle, missing deadlines, having a bad attitude, not showing up, and you haven't said a word, this episode is for you. Most new managers avoid hard conversations because it feels like the compassionate thing to do. Give them another chance. Wait and see. But here's the truth: silence doesn't protect your employee. It just delays the damage — and makes you responsible for it. In this episode, Jen shares a personal story of being blindsided by feedback her boss had been sitting on for months. She breaks down exactly why new leaders avoid these conversations (hint: it's not kindness — it's fear wearing a disguise). Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@themadeleader Connect with Jen: https://growthsignals.co/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenparnold/ | — | ||||||
| 4/1/26 | 3 Delegation Mistakes (and a Framework to Fix Them) | New leaders often struggle with delegation, because being the solo superstar is far more familar (and comfortable) than being the coach. In this episode, Jen breaks down the three common delegation mistakes – hoarding, mind-reading, and hovering/vanishing – and how to avoid them using the DEAL framework to improve team performance and avoid frustration. Watch on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@themadeleader Find out how you're doing with delegating and 4 other leadership skills through our free GUIDE new leader assessment: https://guide.scoreapp.com/ Connect with Jen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenparnold/ https://growthsignals.co/ | — | ||||||
| 3/25/26 | Stop Doing Your Team's Work | If you feel like you're constantly fixing your team's work or "just doing it yourself" because it's faster, you have fallen into the "Doer Trap." It is a big reason top performers fail when they get promoted to management. In this episode, I talk about why your "helpful" interventions are actually destroying your team's growth—and your own sanity. Plus, I'll teach you the "Two-Way Door" framework—a decision-making tool used by Amazon—so you know exactly when to let your team fail and when you actually need to step in. Watch on YouTube @themadeleader You can take the free GUIDE assessment for new leaders here: https://guide.scoreapp.com/ | — | ||||||
| 3/18/26 | 4 Ways to Manage Your Emotions | Think being good at your job is enough to make you a great leader? That's what most new managers think — until the first real challenge hits and emotions take over. The truth is, what got you promoted won't be what makes you successful in leadership. Emotional intelligence matters more than technical skills — and most of us were never taught how to manage our emotions under pressure. In this episode, I'm sharing 4 strategies to help you stop letting your emotions run the show: - How to pause before you blow it - Why venting is making things worse (and who you should actually talk to) - The mindset shift that gives you your power back - Why your mood is setting the temperature for your whole team — whether you realize it or not This isn't soft stuff — it matters for your career. Not sure where you stand as a new leader? Take the free 2-minute GUIDE Assessment to see where you're strong and where your emotions might be getting in your own way. 👉 https://guide.scoreapp.com/ Want support as a new leader? Join our next Made to Lead cohort: https://growthsignals.co/leadership-training/ | — | ||||||
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| 3/11/26 | Moving from Peer to Leader: What Not to Do When Managing Your Old Team | Are you a new leader struggling with your transition from peer to manager? In this episode, I break down the 3 things you're probably still doing that are quietly destroying your credibility as a leader – and what to do instead. If you just got promoted to lead your old team, your role changed overnight. But your identity didn't. And that gap is costing you. In this episode, you'll learn: ✅ Why venting to your team feels like bonding but actually destroys trust ✅ How inconsistency (in decisions AND how you treat people) kills your credibility ✅ Why doing the work yourself is keeping you stuck as an IC instead of growing as a leader This is the first principle in my GUIDE framework: Get clear on your leadership identity. Because the best leaders don't stumble into who they are – they decide who they want to be, and they lead from there. Want to see where you're strong and where you might be getting in your own way? Take the free 2-minute GUIDE Assessment: https://guide.scoreapp.com/ CONNECT with Jen: Website: www.growthsignals.co LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenparnold/ | — | ||||||
| 3/4/26 | The 3 Critical Mistakes New Leaders Make | 90% of us aren't natural-born leaders—we have to develop those skills. Unfortunately, most companies promote great individual contributors and then leave them to figure out leadership on their own. In this episode, I break down the three most common mistakes I see new leaders make in their first few years of managing people—and more importantly, how to avoid them. If you're navigating that awkward transition from peer to manager, struggling with micromanagement tendencies, or avoiding hard conversations, this episode will give you a practical approach to leadership and help you become the leader your team actually needs. Watch on YouTube@themadeleader Take the New Leader Guide Assessment to discover where you're strong and where you need support: https://guide.scoreapp.com THE GUIDE FRAMEWORK G - Get Clear on Your Leadership Identity U - Understand and Manage Your Emotions I - Invest in the Development of Your Team D - Delegate with Intention E - Expect and Prepare for Hard Conversations CONNECT WITH JEN LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenparnold/ Website: https://growthsignals.co/ | — | ||||||
| 2/26/26 | The Made Leader Is Evolving — Here's What's Changing | After years of hosting an interview show, a few things weren't sitting right with host, Jen Arnold. In this episode, she walks through what's changing with The Made Leader, why it came to be, and what's coming next for new leaders. Going forward, the show will be primarily solo episodes focused specifically on helping new leaders navigate those first few years of managing people. Guests will still appear occasionally, but solo content will be the backbone of the show. It's a little uncomfortable. She's already making rookie mistakes. She's doing it anyway. Follow The Made Leader on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheMadeLeader Made to Lead (12-week program for new leaders): https://growthsignals.co/leadership-training/ | — | ||||||
| 2/11/26 |  How to Lead Better Meetings with Dr. Rebecca Hinds | Are your meetings actually moving work forward or just filling your calendar? It's natural for new managers to lean on meetings as a go-to leadership tool. But more meetings don't mean better leadership. The fix isn't running better agendas; it's redesigning which meetings should exist in the first place. In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Hinds, Stanford PhD, founder of Asana's Work Innovation Lab, and author of Your Best Meeting Ever, shares her seven product design principles for fixing broken meetings. You'll learn the 4D-CEO test that tells you whether a meeting even deserves to exist, why brainstorming sessions are probably backfiring, and how a full calendar cleanse (aka "Meeting Doomsday") can reclaim massive amounts of time for your team. Plus, practical strategies for new managers who feel trapped in back-to-back meetings they didn't create. Whether you're leading a team of two or twenty, this episode will transform how you think about meetings—from a necessary evil to a well-designed product that actually moves work forward. Follow The Made Leader for more leadership insights and strategies. For links mentioned, visit www.growthsignals.co Connect with Dr. Rebecca Hinds: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/rebecca-hinds Website: rebeccahinds.com Connect with Jen: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jenparnold Website: growthsignals.co | — | ||||||
| 1/14/26 |  Fairness in the Workplace after DEI with Lily Zheng | The way we've been approaching workplace fairness might be fundamentally broken. After years of performative diversity initiatives and corporate virtue signaling, many organizations are abandoning DEI altogether—but that doesn't mean the work isn't still needed. The real challenge isn't whether fairness matters, it's how we actually create it. Lily Zheng joins the Made Leader podcast to discuss their new book, Fixing Fairness: Four Tenets to Transform Diversity Backlash into Progress for All. complaining with people like you, and what early leaders can do to create change even without organizational power. Lily breaks down the biggest misconceptions about equity work, reveals why post-2020 DEI initiatives were destined to fail, and provides practical strategies for removing barriers and creating workplaces where everyone can thrive. Follow The Made Leader for more leadership insights and strategies. For links mentioned, visit www.growthsignals.co Connect with Lily: https://www.lilyzheng.co/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lilyzheng308/ Connect with Jen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenparnold/ | — | ||||||
| 12/3/25 | How New Leaders Can Build Collaborative Teams with Harper Ray Wagner | In this conversation, Harper breaks down why some people thrive in collaborative environments while others resist—and it's not what you think. He explains the collaborative operating system he teaches, why ownership and alignment matter more than motivation, and how your emotional state as a leader impacts everyone around you. You'll learn practical techniques from the HeartMath Institute for regulating your emotions in real time, why resistance often shows up as disengagement, and how to create psychological safety through simple processes like council questions. This episode goes beyond surface-level collaboration tips. Harper shares the science behind why depleting emotions like anger and frustration literally vibrate outward and create incoherence in your team—and what to do about it. Whether you're struggling to get buy-in from your team, feeling burnt out from carrying everyone's stress, or wondering why collaboration initiatives keep failing, this conversation will shift how you think about leadership entirely. If you're ready to move beyond traditional leadership advice and tap into the energetic and emotional foundations that make teams work, this episode is for you. Harper reminds us that leadership starts with self-awareness—and that you're already doing your best, even when it doesn't feel like enough. Think collaboration is just about communication? Harper Ray Wagner explains why individual coherence—the sync between your heart and brain—is the missing piece in building teams that actually work together. Learn the ownership-alignment framework that drives buy-in, HeartMath techniques to regulate emotions in real time, and why your emotional state as a leader is literally contagious. Follow The Made Leader for more leadership insights and strategies. Connect with Harper: The Coherence Initiative: https://thecoherenceinitiative.com | — | ||||||
| 11/26/25 |  Leaders: You Don't Have to Sacrifice Yourself with Alli Murphy | What if everything you've been told about success is wrong? Alli Murphy breaks down the dangerous myth that you must sacrifice yourself to lead well—and shares exactly how to reclaim your time without sacrificing performance. As the founder of Work & Thrive HQ and a former Managing Director who took 5+ weeks of work-free PTO while scaling 7-figure programs, Alli knows that ambition and balance can work together. You'll discover what happens when you stop checking email first thing in the morning, how internal pressure fuels overworking, and practical strategies for building high-performing teams that don't need you plugged in 24/7. Perfect for leaders caught between proving themselves and burning out. Connect with Alli Murphy on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alisonmurphy541 Follow The Made Leader for more leadership insights and strategies. For links mentioned, visit www.growthsignals.co | — | ||||||
| 11/19/25 |  Power Up Your Executive Presence with Jennifer Jensen | What does executive presence actually mean, and how do you develop it when you're stuck in the middle? Today's guest, Jennifer Jensen, author of "Developing Authentic Leaders", breaks down the specific mindset shifts that separate directors from VPs—and why most middle managers stay focused on the wrong things. You'll discover why strategic thinking isn't a natural talent but a learnable skill, the mistakes that keep talented people invisible, and how to influence without formal authority. Jennifer also shares the truth about advancing when your organization won't invest in you, and practical steps you can take starting today. Whether you're wondering why some people rise effortlessly or feeling stuck despite doing great work, this episode gives you a clear roadmap for building executive presence and getting promoted. Follow The Made Leader for more leadership insights and strategies. For links mentioned, visit www.growthsignals.co Connect with Jennifer: info@authenticleader.ca Connect with Jen: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenparnold/ Website: https://growthsignals.co/ | — | ||||||
| 11/12/25 |  How to Build Connection Over Authority with Andrew Stoute | Building rapport with your team shouldn't feel like another task on your to-do list, but many new leaders treat it that way—or skip it entirely. In this episode, Andrew Stoute explains why relationship-building is the foundation of effective leadership and how to do it without burning yourself out. You'll discover how to start small (even a quick "good morning" counts), read the room to adjust your approach, and stay consistent without forcing interactions. Andrew shares practical strategies for introverts, tips for handling awkward moments, and advice on where to focus your limited energy. Whether rapport building comes naturally to you or drains your battery, this episode gives you actionable ways to build stronger connections with your team, stakeholders, and organization. Follow The Made Leader for more leadership insights and strategies. For links mentioned, visit www.growthsignals.co Connect with Andrew: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-stoute/ Connect with Jen: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenparnold/ Website: https://growthsignals.co/ | — | ||||||
| 11/5/25 |  Build Your Confidence as a New Leader with Simone Knego | New leaders struggle with confidence every single day - second-guessing decisions, staying silent in meetings, and saying yes to everything because they can't set boundaries. But here's the truth: confidence isn't something you're born with. It's a skill you build through taking action. In this episode, Simone Knego, keynote speaker, author, and podcast host breaks down her REAL method for building unshakable confidence and shares practical strategies like the Control-Alt-Delete mindset hack, why you need to drop the word "just" from your vocabulary, and why "fake it till you make it" is terrible advice. Whether you're dealing with imposter syndrome or struggling to use your voice, this conversation gives you real tools to show up as the leader you're meant to be. Are you a new leader who wants to build your confidence managing people? Made to Lead starts January 21st. Find out more here: https://growthsignals.co/leadership-training/ Connect with Simone: www.simoneknego.com www.realconfidencebook.com Podcast: Her Unshakable Confidence Connect with Jen: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenparnold/ Website: https://growthsignals.co/ | — | ||||||
| 10/29/25 |  The Hiring Mistakes Most New Leaders Make with Mitch McDermott | Desperate to fill an open role? That's exactly when you make your worst hiring decisions. In this episode, Mitch McDermott, Founder of Talent Ascension Group, reveals the hiring traps that sink new leaders and how to avoid them. You'll discover why you're probably interviewing resumes instead of people, the three types of candidates (and which one you actually need), and why learning from a candidate's questions matters more than their perfectly rehearsed answers. Mitch also tackles the tough stuff: handling job hoppers, dealing with senior leaders who overrule your decisions, and why you'll never have certainty in hiring (and that's okay). Whether you're making your first hire or trying to fix past mistakes, this episode gives you practical strategies to hire smarter. Watch this conversation on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@themadeleader Connect with Mitch: Mitch's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitch-mcdermott-ba409387/ Talent Ascension Group website: https://www.talentascension.com/ | — | ||||||
| 10/22/25 |  Why Women Leaders Face Hidden Career Roadblocks with Kae Kronthaler-Williams | Are women really playing on a level field at work? Spoiler: they're not. And that lie is costing talented women their careers. In this episode, tech executive Kae Kronthaler-Williams reveals how bias shows up in promotions, networking, and leadership definitions - and what to do about it. With over 30 years in the industry, Kae shares the hard-won lessons from her new book "Not Made for You." You'll discover why "reading the room" is essential for women leaders, how to stop waiting for permission to advance your career, and practical strategies to build visibility without compromising who you are. Whether you're navigating bias yourself or leading women on your team, this conversation will help you recognize the systems at play and take action to create change. Follow The Made Leader for more leadership insights and strategies. For links mentioned, visit www.growthsignals.co Connect with Kae on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaekronthalerwilliams/ | — | ||||||
| 10/15/25 |  Psychology-Backed Strategies for Leadership Success with Sébastien Page | Most leadership advice is based on opinion, not science. So how do you know what actually works versus what just sounds good? In this episode, Sebastian Page, Chief Investment Officer at T. Rowe Price and author of The Psychology of Leadership, shares research-backed strategies that will change how you think about leading. You'll discover why listening matters more than talking, how goal-induced blindness can derail your career, and the weekly communication habit that takes 30 minutes but transforms your effectiveness. Whether you're a new leader or thinking about stepping into leadership, Sebastian delivers practical tools you can use immediately, backed by science, not just opinion. Follow The Made Leader for more leadership insights and strategies. Connect with Sebastian: LinkedIn: Sebastian Page Connect with Jen: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenparnold/ Website: https://growthsignals.co/ For links mentioned, visit www.growthsignals.co | — | ||||||
| 10/8/25 |  Leading and Parenting with Jessica Toussaint | Can you be a great leader AND a great parent? Jessica Toussaint, Director of Product Management and mom of three, proves you absolutely can—but not in the way you think. In this real-talk episode, Jessica shares how parenting made her a better leader (hello, patience!), practical strategies for setting boundaries without killing your career, and why balance doesn't mean 50/50 all the time. You'll learn the outcome test for deciding what's actually urgent, how to use your phone's focus mode to protect family time, and why curiosity beats having all the answers. If you're juggling leadership and parenting—or wondering if you can handle both—this conversation will change how you think about success. Follow The Made Leader for more leadership insights and strategies. Connect with Jessica: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/j2saint12/ Connect with Jen: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenparnold/ Website: https://growthsignals.co/ | — | ||||||
| 10/1/25 |  What Nobody Tells You About Switching Companies as a Leader with Andrea Herron | Starting a new leadership role in a different company? Here's what nobody tells you: even when you're excited about the change, the grief will surprise you. In this episode, Andrea Herron, Chief Human Resources Officer at AAA of Oregon and Idaho, gets real about her recent career transition. Six months ago, she jumped industries after eight years with her previous team, and what followed was a crash course in starting over as a leader. You'll discover why the first 30 days are the hardest, how to build trust when you're the new person in the room, practical strategies for establishing team norms, and why following a beloved previous leader is actually a gift. Whether you're about to make a career move or still figuring out your current role, this honest conversation will help you navigate transitions with less overwhelm and more confidence. Follow The Made Leader for more leadership insights and strategies. For links mentioned, visit www.growthsignals.co | — | ||||||
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Chart Positions
1 placement across 1 market.
Chart Positions
1 placement across 1 market.