Take Command: A Leadership Podcast

About the Guest:
Sanjay Gupta comes from a family of trailblazers. His mother, the first woman engineer hired at Ford Motor Company—a refugee who fled India at age 5—took Dale Carnegie courses to conquer public speaking fears, making How to Win Friends and Influence People a family staple. Inspired by her grit, Sanjay pursued neuroscience early, became a White House fellow, and joined CNN just before 9/11, evolving from healthcare wonk to global reporter on wars, disasters, and outbreaks—while still operating in war zones.
That’s why Sanjay is CNN’s Chief Medical Correspondent, a practicing neurosurgeon at Emory, a bestselling author (Keep Sharp), and a Dale Carnegie graduate. He credits the course (taken at 16–17) for turning speaking terror into TV poise for millions. Hear more about blending medicine, media, and mentorship when you listen to this episode of the Dale Carnegie Taking Commandpodcast.
What You Will Learn:
Insights into how family resilience shapes bold careers
Lessons in humility as a leadership superpower ("Say 'I don't know'—it galvanizes teams")
Stories about Dale Carnegie's hacks like using names and unsolicited praise notes
The hard truth on brain health: movement grows neurons, but brisk walks beat sprints for optimal results
Join us for this deep dive into balancing dual careers, learning from everyone, and optimizing your mind for peak performance. Sanjay isn’t just a reporter—he’s a perpetual student turning lessons into action. Tune in today to learn from one of the best.

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About the Guest:
Danica Patrick grew up in a household where discipline and high standards were the norm, with her father urging, “get up, don’t waste the day.” She started go-karting at 10 and by 14 had dominated nearly every race, which led sponsors to fund her Dale Carnegie course.
Her grit propelled her to become a trailblazing race car driver—the first woman to win an IndyCar race, lead laps at the Indy 500, and finish it—while also building a career as an author, podcast host, and media personality. Her mantra of blind faith and expanding comfort zones has guided her journey, proving that “when things are meant for you, they go fast.” Hear her full story on this Take Command episode.
What You Will Learn:
How embracing early discomfort, like leaving high school to race in England, can forge unshakable confidence
The role of passion and cumulative effort in bouncing back from setbacks
Mindset shifts like leaning into change, pushing harder, and knowing when to pivot
Insights on resilience, health hacks from her Pretty Intense era to modern biohacking, and her vision for a driving school rooted in real work
Join us for Danica’s candid reflections and practical advice. She doesn’t just talk about success—she shows how courage, grit, and curiosity drive it. Tune in today to learn from one of the most daring and inspiring athletes of our time.

Please rate and review this Episode!
We'd love to hear from you! Leaving a review helps us ensure we deliver content that resonates with you. Your feedback can inspire others to join our Take Command: A Dale Carnegie Podcast community & benefit from the leadership insights we share.

About the Guest:
Michelle K. Johnston, Ph.D., traces her passion for leadership and connection back to childhood, when she discovered Dale Carnegie’s work in her father’s study and learned the lesson of genuine connection through Carnegie’s story of his dog, Tippy. That early spark shaped her path as a leadership professor, executive coach, bestselling author, and podcast host.
Her first book, The Seismic Shift in Leadership, emerged from her work with healthcare executives navigating constant change. Her latest collaboration with the world’s number one executive coach, Marshall Goldsmith, launched in London following Thinkers50 conversations on why humanity will always outperform technology.
Michelle encourages leaders to shift their focus from the constant “what” of tasks to the critical “who” of people, starting with themselves. A former Loyola University leadership professor, she now coaches CEOs and senior executives to rethink calendars, rebuild engagement, and lead in ways that reduce burnout and increase results. Her message is clear: connection isn’t soft. It drives retention, satisfaction, and real business performance.
What You Will Learn:
Why today’s loneliness epidemic rivals the health impact of smoking 15 cigarettes a day
How your calendar reveals your true priorities and how to redesign it around people
Why digital meetings don’t automatically create connection
Simple questions that deepen trust and engagement
How small language shifts can transform feedback and relationships
This episode of Take Command is a thoughtful, energizing conversation about leading with heart in a high-tech world. Michelle blends timeless Dale Carnegie principles with modern leadership realities, offering practical wisdom you can apply right away. Tune in to connect more deeply and lead more effectively.

Please rate and review this Episode!
We'd love to hear from you! Leaving a review helps us ensure we deliver content that resonates with you. Your feedback can inspire others to join our Take Command: A Dale Carnegie Podcast community & benefit from the leadership insights we share.

About the Guest:
John Hope Bryant leads the nation’s largest nonprofit provider of financial literacy services for youth and adults. Recognized globally, he was named to the Forbes BLK50 List in 2024 and TIME Magazine’s inaugural The Closers List. A best-selling author and CNBC contributor, he reaches millions through his ‘Straight Talk’ series and continues to advance economic opportunity and inclusive capitalism.
What You Will Learn:
Why becoming the person you’re meant to be often confuses others
How courage, optimism, and faith drive leadership
Lessons from Dale Carnegie on influence and growth
The mindset shifts that separate good leaders from great ones
Join us for this inspiring conversation with John about acting boldly, embracing fear, and evolving into your best self.

 
Lukas

Please rate and review this Episode!
We'd love to hear from you! Leaving a review helps us ensure we deliver content that resonates with you. Your feedback can inspire others to join our Take Command: A Dale Carnegie Podcast community & benefit from the leadership insights we share.

About the Guest:
Bill Anderson grew up learning the value of influence and positive leadership from his parents, who instilled in him the importance of helping others succeed. As a teen, he took a Dale Carnegie course that shaped his communication and storytelling skills—tools he has carried throughout his career.
He has held leadership roles across major organizations, including leading transformations that stripped away layers of bureaucracy and replaced them with models that empower employees, focus on purpose, and accelerate results. Bill’s philosophy is simple but profound: give people the tools, trust, and freedom to make decisions, and incredible things will happen.
Bill has guided organizations with tens of thousands of employees and operations in over 100 countries, using leadership principles that emphasize humility, clarity, and impact. He says, “I sat down with my team… and said, I can’t do this myself. No way. The only way this is gonna work is if all of us are totally committed to this.”
What You Will Learn:
Why empowering people at all levels drives better decisions and faster execution
How to break bureaucracy and redesign organizations around mission and purpose
The power of curiosity and relentless improvement in leadership
How storytelling and influence can inspire people and create meaningful change
Join us for this episode to explore what it means to lead boldly, focus on people, and make systems work for humans—not the other way around. Bill doesn’t just talk about leadership theory; he shows how to implement it at scale, creating organizations that are faster, smarter, and more empowering. Tune in today to learn from one of the most impactful leaders in modern business.

Please rate and review this Episode!
We'd love to hear from you! Leaving a review helps us ensure we deliver content that resonates with you. Your feedback can inspire others to join our Take Command: A Dale Carnegie Podcast community & benefit from the leadership insights we share.