Rizz might be the word of the year, but what if the real power behind it is as old as leadership itself? We sit down with Mylan Miller, author of The Charisma Craft, to unpack why charisma isn’t a mysterious spark you’re born with—it’s a learnable practice that blends confidence with kindness to create two-way human connection. From the psychology of competence and warmth to the tiny physical cues that change how you’re perceived, we map charisma from slang to strategy.

Mylan takes us inside the high-octane world of sports and entertainment to show how deals are actually won: not by pressure in the boardroom, but by curiosity over dinners, market walks, and shared stories. You’ll hear how reading the room across cultures, asking better questions, and remembering what matters to people can transform a pitch into a partnership. We dig into barriers like self-doubt and fragile self-trust, then counter them with simple, repeatable tools: the ENT method for eye contact and listening, and the WTF reset for grounded posture. These habits don’t just look good on camera—they build trust you can renew.

We also wrestle with authenticity in the age of AI. What’s real connection versus performative oversharing? How do you stay human when templates and prompts are everywhere? Mylan’s take is clear: technology can suggest words, but only you can sense the unsaid, calibrate tone, and turn a moment into momentum. Along the way, we explore leadership archetypes, celebrate models like Serena Williams for warrior-level authenticity, and reframe charisma as service, not spotlight.

If you’re ready to upgrade your presence, close smarter deals, and lead in a way people actually feel, hit play. Then subscribe, share this with a friend who leads, and leave a quick review to tell us which tool you’ll practice first.

𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 Milam Miller👇
➡️ 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐝𝐈𝐧 (primary): https://www.linkedin.com/in/milam-miller-bck/
➡️ 𝐖𝐞𝐛𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞: https://beconfidentandkind.com/

Thanks for listening in to the Uncommon Leader Podcast. Please take just a minute to share this podcast with that someone you know that you thought of when you heard this episode. One of the most valuable things you can do is to rate the podcast and leave a review. You can do that on Apple podcasts, or rate the podcast on Spotify or any other platform you listen.

Did you know that many of the things that I discuss on the Uncommon Leader Podcast are subjects that I coach other leaders and organizations ? If you would be interested in having me discuss 1:1 or group coaching with you, or know someone who is looking to move from Underperforming to Uncommon in their business or life, I would love to chat with you. Click this link to set up a FREE CALL to discuss how coaching might benefit you and your team)

Until next time, Go and Grow Champions!!

Connect with me

Stress doesn’t have to hijack your leadership. Executive coach Tracy Gazelle joins us to unpack the neuroscience of staying grounded when the stakes are high and the room heats up. We explore how clarity isn’t something you chase; it’s what emerges when the mental noise settles and you choose not to engage the inner critic that sounds so convincing in tough moments.

Tracy breaks down her Calm Clarity Operating System into three practical pillars: sleep physiology, mind literacy, and lived experience. We get tactical about 90‑minute sleep cycles, why waking at 3:30 a.m. often means you’re between cycles, and how to fall back asleep by refusing the “thought hooks” that try to wake your brain. You’ll hear actionable routines for better evenings—no blue light, consistent wind‑downs, and smarter choices around food and alcohol—and a simple morning cadence that protects creative thinking before the day scatters your focus.

• clarity as a natural state when the mind quiets
• inner critic as optional noise, not identity
• labeling emotions to shift out of fight or flight
• body cues as early alerts to pause and breathe
• Calm Clarity OS: sleep, mind, lived experience
• 90‑minute sleep cycles and consistent wake times
• falling back asleep without engaging thoughts
• evening routines: light, screens, food, alcohol
• morning creativity time for instinctive decisions
• practical stories of leaders gaining calm authority

From boardroom triggers to body cues, we map exactly how to catch fight or flight before it takes over. Labeling emotions in real time moves processing from survival centers to the prefrontal cortex, restoring reason without draining your passion. Tracy shares a standout client story of a hospital leader who transformed a “bulldog” reputation into calm authority, improved relationships at home, and earned consideration for a CEO role. We also touch on reading habits, Taoist wisdom, and how to build a personal routine that actually fits your life rather than someone else’s template.

If you want sharper decisions, steadier meetings, and more energy for the people who matter most, this conversation gives you a blueprint. Subscribe, share this episode with a leader who needs calm more than caffeine, and leave a review to help others find the show. What’s the first habit you’ll test tonight?

𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 Tracey Gazel:👇
➡️ 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐝𝐈𝐧 (primary):https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracey-gazel/
➡️ 𝐖𝐞𝐛𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞: https://traceygazel.com/

Connect with The Uncommon Leader:
🚀𝐁𝐮𝐳𝐳𝐬𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐭 (RSS Feed): 🎙 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1807941/episodes/18654391
🚀𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐓𝐮𝐛𝐞: https://youtu.be/HJSfmKqSPeY

Thanks for listening in to the Uncommon Leader Podcast. Please take just a minute to share this podcast with that someone you know that you thought of when you heard this episode. One of the most valuable things you can do is to rate the podcast and leave a review. You can do that on Apple podcasts, or rate the podcast on Spotify or any other platform you listen.

Did you know that many of the things that I discuss on the Uncommon Leader Podcast are subjects that I coach other leaders and organizations ? If you would be interested in having me discuss 1:1 or group coaching with you, or know someone who is looking to move from Underperforming to Uncommon in their business or life, I would love to chat with you. Click this link to set up a FREE CALL to discuss how coaching might benefit you and your team)

Until next time, Go and Grow Champions!!

Connect with me

Pedigree looks shiny on paper, but does it move the needle? We sit down with executive search leader Travis Hahn to unpack why big-name resumes often disappoint, and how defining outcomes, culture, and decision rights before you recruit leads to hires who actually deliver. From building trustworthy role profiles to reaching passive candidates who aren’t scrolling job boards, we dig into the practical steps leaders can take to raise the bar on both recruiting and retention.

Travis explains how a third-party perspective challenges title-driven thinking and surfaces the real work a role must do at your company’s specific stage. We explore the builder’s mindset—consistency, transparency, and a willingness to go beyond the job description—and how to spot it in interviews. Culture emerges as the true currency: when leaders grant ownership and share credit, teams move faster and stick around. You’ll hear success stories that took time and trust to compound, plus candid reflections on when “hire slow, fire fast” applies and when patience saves a future star.

• defining roles with outcomes, KPIs, and decision rights
• avoiding pedigree bias and testing for real impact
• recruiting passive leaders through trust and patience
• hire slow, fire fast but with context and care
• culture as currency for retention and speed
• builder’s mindset, ownership, and clear communication
• lessons from unreasonable hospitality on simple, human moments
• AI as an efficiency tool, not a replacement for judgment
• success stories that show compounding trust over time
• next steps for integrated human capital services

We also tackle the AI question head-on. Automation can sharpen operations and sourcing, but human judgment remains essential for confidential, high-stakes leadership searches. With AI amplifying noise in the applicant pool, curated pipelines and authentic conversations matter more than ever. Along the way, Travis pulls leadership lessons from golf and hospitality, showing how simple, human gestures—clarity, inclusion, and respect—create experiences people remember and cultures they choose to stay in.

If you’re a founder or mid-market leader tired of expensive mis-hires and constant churn, this conversation offers a clear path forward: define the work, avoid pedigree traps, recruit builders, and keep your promises. Subscribe, share with someone wrestling with their next leadership hire, and leave a review telling us your biggest hiring challenge—we’ll tackle it in a future episode.

𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 Travis Hann:👇
➡️ 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐝𝐈𝐧 (primary): https://www.linkedin.com/in/travis-hann/
➡️ 𝐖𝐞𝐛𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞: https://penderhowe.com/en/

Thanks for listening in to the Uncommon Leader Podcast. Please take just a minute to share this podcast with that someone you know that you thought of when you heard this episode. One of the most valuable things you can do is to rate the podcast and leave a review. You can do that on Apple podcasts, or rate the podcast on Spotify or any other platform you listen.

Did you know that many of the things that I discuss on the Uncommon Leader Podcast are subjects that I coach other leaders and organizations ? If you would be interested in having me discuss 1:1 or group coaching with you, or know someone who is looking to move from Underperforming to Uncommon in their business or life, I would love to chat with you. Click this link to set up a FREE CALL to discuss how coaching might benefit you and your team)

Until next time, Go and Grow Champions!!

Connect with me