PODCAST · business
Business Leader Breakthroughs
by Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby
Welcome to Business Leader Breakthroughs where we help unlock the potential in you, your teams and your business. Hosted by Ryan Castle, along with Dr Mike Ashby, we share insights, experiences and stories on achieving breakthrough successes in business and life. In addition to a podcast, The Breakthrough also specialises in delivering management training that actually sticks, is cost effective, and easy to implement at scale to sustain change from the inside out.
Episodes
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EP 113 - Big announcement: The end of an era and new beginnings
In this final episode of Business Leader Breakthroughs, Ryan Castle and Dr. Mike Ashby reflect on over six years and 100+ episodes of podcasting, sharing how their journey has evolved. They announce the exciting launch of their new podcast, Level Ten Leaders, coming in September 2025. This new…
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EP 112 – 94% of Gen Z and millennials don’t want leadership: are your managers ready for them?
In this episode of Business Leader Breakthroughs, we’re trying something different—an AI-powered deep dive into what Gen Z and Millennials really want from work. Here’s the headline: 94% of Gen Z don’t want traditional leadership roles. The problem? Most managers aren’t equipped to deliver what...
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EP 111 - The Growth Mindset: How to develop your business and team
👉 Free Resource: tbco.at/ambook Download The Active Manager book – your field guide to leading through uncertainty In this episode of Business Leader Breakthroughs, Ryan Castle and Dr. Mike Ashby dive into the challenges of learning and why it's often harder than we expect. They explore the...
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EP 110 – Why good employees leave: The real cost of poor management
👉 Free Resource: tbco.at/ambook Download The Active Manager book – your field guide to leading through uncertainty In this episode of Business Leader Breakthroughs, Ryan Castle and Dr. Mike Ashby get real about the hidden cost of bad—or as they call them, crap—bosses. They break down how poor...
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EP 109 – How to harness AI for business growth and innovation with Brian Russell, PhD
In this episode Ryan Castle sits down with AI expert and entrepreneur Brian Russell, PhD to unpack how artificial intelligence is reshaping business growth and innovation. Drawing on his PhD and deep industry experience, Bryan shares practical insights on how business leaders can harness AI, from...
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EP 108 – Navigate uncertainty: how to lead through turbulent times
In this episode of Business Leader Breakthroughs, Ryan Castle and Dr. Mike Ashby dive into the pressing challenges of leading a business in unpredictable times. With Trump’s proposed tariffs, global instability, and economic uncertainty dominating headlines, how can leaders stay grounded, keep...
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Ep 107 – Win back your time: Stop being busy and start leading
In this episode of Business Leader Breakthroughs, Ryan Castle and Dr. Mike Ashby tackle one of the most talked-about, least-mastered skills in business: time management. Everyone’s busy. But are we spending our time on what matters? Ryan and Mike break down why most time management fails — and…
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Ep 106 – From stuck to scaling: 3 business growth strategy questions
In this episode of Business Leader Breakthroughs, Ryan Castle and Dr. Mike Ashby tackle the challenge of breaking out of business plateaus. Many owners feel stuck, tweaking small things but not seeing real progress. Ryan and Mike unpack three powerful strategy questions that unlock fresh thinking...
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Ep 105 – How to build high-performing teams with IQ, EQ and adaptability with Jennifer Aubin
In this episode of Business Leader Breakthroughs, Ryan Castle chats with early-stage tech leader and HR expert Jennifer Aubin about what it really takes to lead teams in high-growth, high-stress environments. With 20+ years in startup leadership, Jennifer brings real-world insight into how great...
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EP 104 – Katie O'Malley, Founder and Leadership Coach at Encourage Coaching, on self-awareness and why great leaders master listening
In this episode of Business Leader Breakthroughs, Ryan Castle sit down with leadership coach Katie O'Malley to explore the essential qualities of great leadership—self-awareness, psychological safety, and listening skills. Katie shares her personal career journey, from pursuing political science...
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Ep 103 – The office debate: is remote work over?
In this episode of Business Leader Breakthroughs, Ryan Castle and Dr. Mike Ashby dive into the heated debate on returning to the office. With major corporations and governments pushing for in-office mandates, they explore the real drivers behind these decisions—productivity, company culture, and...
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EP 102 - Managing stress: how to thrive under pressure
In this episode of Business Leader Breakthroughs, Ryan Castle and Dr. Mike Ashby break down the difference between pressure and stress—why one fuels high performance while the other leads to burnout. They share actionable strategies for recognizing stress signals, using breathing techniques to...
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Ep 101 - Better decisions: 3 rules every manager should know
In this episode of Business Leader Breakthroughs, Ryan Castle and Dr. Mike Ashby explore the keys to making better decisions as a leader. They share practical principles like being less certain, evaluating probabilities, and asking, “What could go wrong?” You’ll hear real-world examples…
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Ep 100 - Effective manager training: 7 best leadership strategies
What makes manager training truly effective, and why should you prioritize it? In this episode of Business Breakthroughs, Ryan and Mike explore how equipping managers with essential people leadership skills can transform their performance and the productivity of their teams. They discuss the...
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Ep 99 - Develop your team: Your role as a leader
Discover how to develop and retain talent by fostering a culture of learning and growth within your team. Ryan and Mike dive into the critical role leaders play in helping their people grow, exploring why continuous development is key to team performance and business success. Learn practical...
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EP 98 - 15-Minute coaching: Fast-track your team’s performance and growth
Unlock the power of coaching with simple, effective techniques you can implement in just 15 minutes. Ryan and Mike break down what coaching really is (and what it isn’t), while addressing common barriers like time constraints, lack of confidence, and the misconception that you need all the…
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Ep 97 - How to delegate effectively: Task vs. capability delegation explained
Discover the power of two distinct delegation approaches: task delegation, focusing on efficient task completion, and capability delegation, aimed at developing the skills and knowledge of your team members. Learn to overcome the common "too busy" excuse and embrace delegation as a crucial...
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EP 96 - The art of difficult conversations: leadership with empathy and purpose
Welcome to Business Leader Breakthroughs, where hosts Ryan Castle and Dr. Mike Ashby discuss how to excel in challenging but crucial workplace situations: difficult conversations. From managing underperformance to addressing behavioral challenges, this episode dives into strategies, emotional...
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Ep 95 - Clear communication: Your superpower to build stronger teams and foster trust
In this episode of Business Leader Breakthroughs, Ryan Castle and Dr. Mike Ashby explore the art of clear communication and why it’s critical for effective leadership. Discover how to deliver your message with clarity, listen actively, and create space for meaningful contributions from your team....
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EP 94 - Conquer big goals: Practical leadership strategies for growth and resilience
In this episode of Business Leader Breakthroughs, Ryan Castle and Dr. Mike Ashby share actionable leadership strategies to help you focus on what matters most. Learn how to prioritize your top three goals, harness the power of dedicated development time, and embrace daily discomfort to fuel…
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Ep 93 - Understanding different working styles: How team diversity enhances productivity
Ever wondered why others don’t think or work like you? In this episode, we dive into the impact of diverse working styles on team productivity. From Drivers to Pioneers, we explore how understanding each style—whether detail-oriented or big-picture—can enhance collaboration and improve outcomes....
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EP 92 - The secret to productive meetings: Build culture and drive results
In this episode of Business Leader Breakthroughs, Ryan Castle and Dr. Mike Ashby tackle a critical issue: how to transform meetings from time-wasters into powerful tools that drive culture and boost team energy. They share strategies to ensure meetings create purpose, accountability, and energy,...
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Ep 91 - How to manage your priorities: Focus on what really matters
In this episode of Business Leader Breakthroughs, Ryan Castle and Dr. Mike Ashby tackle the “busyness trap.” We all know the feeling: a week packed with tasks, yet by Friday, we’re not sure what we’ve achieved. Sound familiar? Mike and Ryan dive deep into the Active vs. Reactive mindset, helping...
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Ep 90: Mindfulness at work – Break free from autopilot
In this episode, Ryan Castle and Dr. Mike Ashby explore the concept of mindfulness in the workplace. They discuss how many people operate on autopilot, going through the motions without being fully present. Mike explains that mindfulness isn't just about meditation – it's about being engaged in…
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S3 E4 - Micah Lorenc, owner of Tailored Consulting, Leadership unveiled: insights from on self-awareness and coaching.
Today, we have Micah Lorenc, the owner and head executive coach of Taylor Consulting. With a wealth of experience spanning the spectrum from startups to Fortune 500, Micah is a Gallup-certified StrengthsFinder Coach, guiding individuals and teams towards unlocking their full potential. Micah…
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S3 E3 - Chris Morsley, the CEO of CMC Global, on charismatic leadership
Our guest is Chris Morsley, an accomplished entrepreneur and business consultant based in Australia. With over 20 years of experience in the industry, Chris is the founder and CEO of CMC Global, a leading consulting firm that provides innovative solutions in strategic planning, marketing, and...
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S3 E2 - Nadine Tereora, the CEO of AA New Zealand, on how you become a leader worth following.
AA is one of the most trusted and recognised brands in New Zealand, and with over 1300 employees spread across Aotearoa, the leadership responsibility is a big one. Nadine shares that in the first few weeks in her role with the AA, she deliberately spent time on the road with her staff, even...
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S3 E1 - Mark McConnell, L&D Manager at Argenta, on 6 C's of leadership.
Ryan is joined by Mark McConnell, the Global Lead of Learning and Development at Argenta, the world's only CRO/CDMO for animal health. Mark shares his 6 C's of leadership that he sees as the foundational pillars of any great leader. He helps us explore those pillars and shares insights on how...
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S2 E7: How to attract and retain your stars
Talent is becoming more demanded. Employees have a wealth of opportunities today and the market is very much in their favour. So join Ryan and Mike to see how to keep people at work and how to develop your managers to increase productivity with the people you have. We'll also discuss how to…
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S2 E6: How to Have Difficult Conversations
Difficult conversations are part of life. We might want to avoid them, but it is about three things: what happened, feelings and how to keep your balance. Sometimes all you need to do is acknowledge other feelings. Each party will have their version of reality. There’s no such thing as ‘facts’ in…
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S2 E5: Alicia Purtell, CPO of Lion Co, on Unlocking a Greater World Through Flexible Thinking
Alicia Purtell is a Chief People Officer at Lion with 20 years of experience in People and Culture, strategy, change and organisation development. Alicia has a passion for Coaching and Positive Psychology, bringing this passion to life as a Senior Associate with the Positivity Institute working...
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S2 E4: Sources of Stress at Work and How to Combat Them
There can be many sources of stress in the workplace, this for the most part is unavoidable. These sources lead to a sense of overload – too much, too hard and/or too soon. What you can control is how you deal with those situations. In this podcast, Mike and Ryan discuss the power of gaining...
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S2 E3: David Mair, CEO of Skellerup, on How to Grow Your NZ Business Using Japanese Business Practices
David Mair is the CEO of iconic South Island brand Skellerup and Deloitte Top 200 ‘CEO of the Year 2021’. As a part of the team at Panasonic in Japan, he developed a deep understanding of Kaizen / Kaikaku and Product Development that has helped him develop rapid ways of improving businesses...
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S2 E2: The Myth of the Great Resignation
The Great Resignation is the idea that after the Covid pandemic, people re-evaluated their lives and left their jobs en masse. It sounds like a cultural movement where people don’t want to work anymore, but really, that's just an excuse used by employers. In this week’s podcast, Mike and Ryan...
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S2 E1: Breaking the Barriers for Women in Leadership with Jen Scoular, CEO of NZ Avocado
In this podcast, Ryan interviews Jen Scoular, Chief Executive of New Zealand Avocado, where she shares her three leadership insights: Everyone is different, competency is important and leadership is not the same thing as being at the top. Jen's journey from trade diplomat heading the New Zealand...
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MINISODE 37 - Why the Loss of a Big Prospect Isn’t Really a Loss
Welcome to Business Leader Breakthroughs Minisode Series. Every Friday, we will post a shorter version of a popular previous episode so you get all the best bits in half the time. In this episode, Mike and Ryan give an example about a big failure we at The Breakthrough went through, but why it…
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MINISODE 35 - Get Good at Measuring Your Engagement
Welcome to Business Leader Breakthroughs Minisode Series. Every Friday, we will post a shorter version of a popular previous episode so you get all the best bits in half the time. In this episode, you'll hear Mike and Ryan's different point of views on the topic of engagement. Mike and Ryan…
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EP 79 - Rebecca Houghton on How to Level up as a B-Suite Leader
Rebecca earned her stripes leading large teams in complex organisations and built quite a reputation for doing business differently. Today, she is among Australia’s leading Talent and Leadership coaches and facilitators – helping leaders and their teams work. She is particularly passionate about...
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MINISODE 32 - How to Work From Home Post Lockdown
Welcome to Business Leader Breakthroughs Minisode Series. Every second Tuesday, we will post a shorter version of a popular previous episode so you get all the best bits in half the time. This weeks episode covers the question so many of us are asking "What is the ideal working model going…
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MINISODE 31 - Managing the Tension Between Stabilising and Adapting after the COVID-19 Lockdowns
Welcome to Business Leader Breakthroughs Minisode Series. Every second Tuesday, we will post a shorter version of a popular previous episode so you get all the best bits in half the time. This weeks episode was recorded right after our first 8 week lockdown in 2020, so with that in mind, Mike and...
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EP 78 - Jack Keeys of KPMG on How to Create Dynamic and Inspiring Leadership
This week, Ryan got a fresh perspective on leadership from Jack Keeys, a Research and Insights analyst at KPMG. Jack has led the market entrance of an agricultural computer software company into the UK and Ireland, while also conducting business development and training around New Zealand. Jack…
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MINISODE 30 - Your Organisation Has to Change if You Want Your People to Change
Welcome to Business Leader Breakthroughs Minisode Series. Every second Tuesday, we will post a shorter version of a popular previous episode so you get all the best bits in half the time. This weeks episode covers all the reasons why those 2 day workshops you've been putting your leaders on…
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EP 77 - How to Navigate Hybrid Working with Ali Hill
Alison Hill is the CEO of AFR Fast 100 company Pragmatic Thinking, working with organisations to build better leaders, grow better teams, and shift cultures. Ali is a Psychologist, an award-winning business woman, an influential keynote speaker, producer and host of Stand Out Life podcast…
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MINISODE 29 - How To Make Working From Home Work For You
Welcome to Business Leader Breakthroughs Minisode Series. Every second Tuesday, we will post a shorter version of a popular previous episode so you get all the best bits in half the time. In this weeks episode, we travel back in time to when COVID-19 first hit and we were in our first week of…
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EP 76 - Rob Pyne on Transforming Your Leadership Team Through Emotional Intelligence
Rob Pyne, is the author of Unlock: Leveraging the Hidden Intelligence in Your Leadership Team. He is a former Chief Strategy Officer, and now is an adviser to CEOs and senior leaders. He is a leadership coach and facilitator who helps teams unlock their collective intelligence and become smarter...
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MINISODE 28 - What's Productivity Worth to Your Business?
Welcome to Business Leader Breakthroughs Minisode Series. Every second Tuesday, we will post a shorter version of a popular previous episode so you get all the best bits in half the time. This weeks episode covers an important question most business leaders have when they are about to invest in...
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EP 75 - Make Clear Communication Your Superpower
We have more tools to communicate with than ever before, so you’d think we’d be better than ever at communicating, right? Unfortunately, what we’ve learnt from the leaders and teams we work with, is that poor communication and lack of clarity is one of the biggest concerns in their business. In...
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MINISODE 27 - The Regrets of the Dying
Welcome to Business Leader Breakthroughs Minisode Series. Every second Tuesday, we will post a shorter version of a popular previous episode so you get all the best bits in half the time. This weeks episode, Mike and Ryan get philosophical and talk about the top 5 regrets of the dying. Inspired...
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EP 74 - The Power of Daily Scrums
Daily scrums became an integral part of The Breakthrough over a year ago driving connection, communication, and focus within the team. In today's VUCA* world we need to respond faster and be more agile and scrums are the way to achieve this – not long boring meetings. In this week's podcast, Ryan...
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MINISODE 26 - Changing the Organisation From the Middle, Out
Welcome to Business Leader Breakthroughs Minisode Series. Every second Tuesday, we will post a shorter version of a popular previous episode so you get all the best bits in half the time. This weeks episode is about using the McKinsey Leadership Diamond as a framework on how to change your…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Welcome to Business Leader Breakthroughs where we help unlock the potential in you, your teams and your business. Hosted by Ryan Castle, along with Dr Mike Ashby, we share insights, experiences and stories on achieving breakthrough successes in business and life. In addition to a podcast, The Breakthrough also specialises in delivering management training that actually sticks, is cost effective, and easy to implement at scale to sustain change from the inside out.
HOSTED BY
Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Business Leader Breakthroughs have?
Business Leader Breakthroughs currently has 148 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Business Leader Breakthroughs about?
Welcome to Business Leader Breakthroughs where we help unlock the potential in you, your teams and your business. Hosted by Ryan Castle, along with Dr Mike Ashby, we share insights, experiences and stories on achieving breakthrough successes in business and life. In addition to a podcast, The...
How often does Business Leader Breakthroughs release new episodes?
Business Leader Breakthroughs publishes regularly with 148 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Business Leader Breakthroughs?
You can listen to Business Leader Breakthroughs on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Business Leader Breakthroughs?
Business Leader Breakthroughs is created and hosted by Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby.
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