Action Lab Leadership Podcast

What happens to your leadership when you hit the "limit of your skill" and everything crashes? 
In this episode of the Action Lab Leadership Podcast, Danny sits down with Jim Lewis, the president of 12 companies and owner of Area 254. Jim shares a candid look at the high-stakes world of multi-business ownership, from the weight of being the "final call" to the humility required to lead through failure. 
Jim uses his background in BMX racing to explain a powerful philosophy: If you aren't crashing occasionally, you aren't testing the limits of how fast you can go. Whether it's shutting down a 50-year-old family business or making a multi-million dollar decision, Jim breaks down how to maintain an "even keel" when things go wrong and why the world keeps turning even after a setback.
Inside the Episode:
The "Adolescent Brain": Why leadership requires honesty about our internal struggles.
Testing the Limit: How to view failure as a necessary metric for growth and speed. 
Curiosity Over Ego: Why the best leaders are "surveyors of more than one" and endlessly curious. 
The Final Call: Managing the mental weight of being the person responsible for the results. 
Protecting the Priorities: Learning to set the work aside to give your family your full attention.
Jim’s perspective is a masterclass in resilience for any business owner or manager who feels the pressure of "getting it right" every time.

Does your leadership hold up when no one is watching?
In this episode of the Action Lab Leadership Podcast, we sit down with Brian Hahn, owner of Metropolis Resort, to strip away the "fluff" of modern leadership. Brian shares a grounded, high-stakes perspective on leadership accountability and why true culture isn’t built on keynote speeches—it’s built on the boring, daily discipline of maintaining standards.
Most leaders wait for motivation; Brian explains why you should rely on consistency. We dive into the "cost of silence" and how allowing small issues to slide can eventually dismantle an entire organization.
Inside the Episode:
Leadership Accountability: Why your culture is defined by what you allow and enforce daily.
Consistency vs. Motivation: Why showing up matters more than feeling inspired.
The Cost of Silence: How ignoring "minor" issues creates major organizational rot.
Leading Without a Spotlight: The power of doing the work without needing the recognition.
Building Trust: How personal discipline creates a foundation for high-performing teams.
Brian’s approach is a masterclass for any leader, manager, or business owner who wants to build a team that thrives on discipline, trust, and clear expectations.

Stephanie Moxley, Owner of Pins & Wheels, shares what it really looks like to make decisions before you feel ready, especially during seasons of growth and change. In this episode, we talk about uncertainty, hesitation, and the pressure leaders feel to get everything right. Stephanie explains why waiting for clarity can stall progress and how action creates learning, confidence, and momentum. This conversation is for leaders who are tired of overthinking and ready to move forward—even without perfect answers.

Albert Waitt, President of Operations at Smitty's Entertainment, shares a grounded perspective on why fear quietly limits growth inside teams and organizations. In this episode, we talk about how leaders unintentionally create pressure, how mistakes too often get punished, and what it looks like to build environments where people feel safe to try. Albert explains why calm leadership, perspective, and trust matter more than urgency or control. This conversation is a reminder that real progress starts when fear is removed, not reinforced.

Laura Zorn, owner of Bravoz in Jacksonville, opens up about what it really takes to rebuild a culture, lead through discouraging seasons, and keep optimism alive when business gets hard. She shares honest lessons from navigating COVID, redefining team roles, improving communication, and learning to trust her managers more deeply. If you want a grounded, real-world look at leadership in small business, this conversation delivers it.

Mario Valadez shares how early career discouragement shaped the way he leads today—with humility, service, and heart. In this episode, he opens up about the moments that defined his leadership style, the mentors who believed in him, and the culture he builds for others. If you want a grounded look at what real leadership requires, this conversation will stay with you.

Kevin Loughery, founder of Prospr Communications, shares how an unexpected failure became the launchpad for a business and life he never saw coming. We dig into trusting people, saying “yes” to new opportunities, and leading as a solopreneur without a traditional team. Kevin also opens up about presence, improv, and the small moments that ultimately shape a career.

Craig Buster, COO at Pinz, shares how authenticity, mentorship, and investing in your team can transform culture and drive long-term growth. Learn how he navigated big career transitions and built a leadership approach grounded in trust, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Welcome to the Action Lab Leadership Podcast, where I have honest, unfiltered conversations with business leaders.
I’m Danny, founder of Action Lab Leadership. After years of working with business owners, I wanted to go deeper than the highlights — I wanted to explore the real stories of leadership and growth. That’s why I created this podcast.
People love hearing about success, but I want to talk about the messy journey that happens along the way — the mistakes, the pivots, and the lessons that shape how great leaders actually think and grow.
Here’s what you can expect: every week, I sit down for a long-form, honest conversation with someone who’s building something meaningful. We’ll talk about mindset, failure, growth, and what it truly takes to lead with purpose.
If you're a business owner, a manager, or simply someone who wants to grow in how you think and lead — you’ll feel right at home here.
If that sounds like you, hit follow or subscribe — and join me for these conversations.