The John Eades Podcast

James McLanmb joins the show today. He is the founder of Generation Youth, and in this conversation we get into why removing obstacles for young people backfires, what 2,500 interviews with teens revealed about what they actually struggle with, and how the wisdom of Zig Ziglar still holds up decades later. We talk about: Why "lawnmower parenting" — clearing every obstacle before your kid gets to it — quietly destroys the confidence you're trying to build The three things every teenager struggles with (and how James landed on the exact same three buckets Ziglar identified back in the 1960s) What coaching actually means, and why "leadership is influence, nothing more, nothing less" Why today's most connected generation is also its loneliest Key quotes: "Whenever you see a turtle on top of a fence, you know it didn't get there by itself." "This is the most connected generation in the history of our planet, yet it's the loneliest generation too." "Failure is an event. It's not a person." "By removing these things, you're removing the things that build their character, that build their resilience, that build their confidence." Join us at the summit: John Eades is speaking at the free Igniting the Next Generation Empower Summit (July 27–Aug 7), a virtual event for parents, teachers, coaches, and mentors navigating identity, mental health, social media, and purpose with today's youth. His talk is titled "Your Job Is Not to Keep Them Safe." Register free at ignitenextgen.com.

There's a difference between what a privilege is and what a pain is, and it's not the circumstance; it's the lens. Author Will Guidara has a line that will shock your mind back to reality today. "What a privilege to outgrow things you used to settle for." The work piling up, the hard conversation, the tough round of golf, someone out there is praying for exactly what you're frustrated by. Which one are you choosing today? Grab the book that started it all: https://www.amazon.com/Optimistic-Outlook-Lessons-Important-Muscle/dp/B0G4R5VJH1/

Coach Kenny Simpson has been on the front lines of leadership longer than most. He's gone 0 and 10. He's coached kids who needed a father figure more than a playbook. And somewhere along the way, he stopped watching the scoreboard — and started winning more than ever. In this episode, Kenny and I dig into what it really takes to build a winning culture, why accountability and love aren't opposites, and how the best leaders develop systems so strong they have answers before problems occur. Kenny also shares the story behind his new book, Iron Valley — a fictional account of a team that lost 27 games in a row and what it took to turn things around. It's part great story, part leadership curriculum, and it's available now on Amazon. 📖 Grab Iron Valley here: https://www.amazon.com/Iron-Valley-Football-Brotherhood-Chances/dp/B0GWQDTH9X

Most leaders believe intensity is an asset. And they are right. Until it isn't. Tyler Dickerhoof has spent years studying what separates leaders who build something lasting from the ones who burn everything down chasing results. In this conversation, we get into why your intensity might be driving people away, what happens when you reach the finish line and realize nobody followed you, and the thing most leaders are hiding that is quietly running their leadership. Tyler is the author of the new book The Things We Hide, a deeply personal and practical look at how our fears and insecurities build walls between us and the people we are trying to lead, and what it takes to finally put windows in those walls. "The weight that crushes us is the weight we carry alone." If you have ever felt like you were carrying too much, leading alone, or wondering why your team is not running with you, this episode is for you. Get Tyler's book here: https://www.tylerdickerhoof.com/store/p/the-things-we-hide