Real leadership doesn't come with a manual. It comes from bold decisions, uncomfortable truths, and the courage to lead when the path ahead isn't clear.
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The Brave Next Step; leadership podcast

Your free leadership development podcast for real insight and honest conversations

Are you looking for leadership podcasts that go beyond the surface?

The Brave Next Step is your free leadership podcast, offering honest conversations and practical insights to help you grow personally and professionally.

Hosted by Emma Canter, leadership development expert and curious human, this podcast on leadership development brings you stories, tools, and real-world examples from leaders, innovators, and experts navigating ambiguity and creating meaningful change.

If you’re ready to stretch, grow, and take your brave next step, this leadership podcast is for you.

Latest Podcast Episodes

Episode

46

Why Boundary Changes Create Resistance At Work

9 March 2026
From guilt and escalation to subtle pressure to revert to old habits, I unpack why resistance is part of the process and how holding your nerve can ultimately create healthier teams, prevent burnout and drive real cultural change.

Episode

45

Boundaries At The Interface

2 March 2026
In this episode, I talk about input gates, output gates, scope creep, and the uncomfortable but necessary negotiations that define great leadership.

Episode

44

When to Say Yes, When to Say No, A Leader’s Guide to Boundaries (part one)

23 February 2026
In this episode, I share a simple systems theory lens to help you think about rigid boundaries, overly permeable ones, and what a healthy, semi permeable boundary looks like in practice.
The Brave Next Step has become a podcast I'm holding up as aspirational. Emma Canter's ability to ask great questions, succinctly and then holding space for the guest to talk creates so many moments for self reflection and learning!   I feel instantly at ease, which allows me to connect with the content or guest and what is being said. Emma's natural style of conversation keeps my attention so I can be thoughtful about the topic - which is how I'm inspired to think, feel or do something as a result of the podcast.
Sarah Dena Founder of Culturevators and MD of New Wave Learning

All Episodes

Episode
46

Why Boundary Changes Create Resistance At Work
Episode
45

Boundaries At The Interface
Episode
44

When to Say Yes, When to Say No, A Leader’s Guide to Boundaries (part one)
Episode
43

The Accidental CEO and the Myth of Readiness with Jenny Burns
Episode
42

Dependency, A Psychodynamic Perspective on Leadership
Episode
41

Dependency, Independence and Interdependence in Leadership
Episode
40

Calling Out Power: Ethics, Lobbying, and Leading With Conviction
Episode
39

Why Your Team Won’t Change Until You Do
Episode
38

Creating the Conditions for Quality Thinking: Space, Planning, Thought Partners
Episode
37

Why New Year’s Resolutions Rarely Stick
Episode
36

Gratitude as a Leadership Superpower
Episode
35

Your Most Powerful Leadership Lessons of 2025
Episode
34

How Groups Really Make Decisions
Episode
33

Why leaders need psychological training as much as skills
Episode
32

What a rugby crowd can teach us about leadership
Episode
31

Why HR needs space to breathe and lead better
Episode
30

Courage, chaos and the messy truth about change
Episode
29

Why HR deserves support too
Episode
28

Who Are You When You Lead?
Episode
27

Leadership lessons from India: Legacy, adaptation, and impact
Episode
26

Why great leaders ask, not tell
Episode
25

Why rest isn’t always the answer to burnout
Episode
24

You’re never too old to learn new tricks
Episode
23

Resilience, recovery, and the realities of entrepreneurship with Peter Mols
Episode
22

Feelings as data: What leaders need to notice
Episode
21

How to give feedback that actually lands
Episode
20

Why great leaders model feedback first
Episode
19

The truth about trauma and leadership with Dr. Erica Bowen
Episode
18

Owning your power without overusing it
Episode
17

The THINK Method for Overthinking
Episode
16

Breaking free from thinking traps: How overthinking hinders leadership
Episode
15

The art of listening: Three ways to truly hear others
Episode
14

Three’s not a crowd: The power of triadic relationships in leadership
Episode
13

Breaking barriers: Lisa Ventura’s courageous journey in Cybersecurity and Neurodiversity
Episode
12

Why you’re carrying emotions that aren’t yours
Episode
11

Understanding projection in leadership
Episode
10

Jennie Godfrey’s journey from HR to bestselling author
Episode
9

Navigating stress and burnout
Episode
8

“What if” planning
Episode
7

Navigating leadership, identity, and organisational dynamics
Episode
6

Quality thinking: creating space for leadership success
Episode
5

What’s getting in the way of you taking action?
Episode
4

How to get people to do what I want them to do!
Episode
3

How to have an effective conversation
Episode
2

What I’ve learned about asking effective questions
Episode
1

Holding your nerve when it feels deeply uncomfortable

A leadership podcast without the fluff

At Mind Values Leadership, we believe leadership development requires courage, reflection, and action. This podcast isn’t about quick fixes or generic answers. It’s about exploring the real, messy, human side of leading well, even when the path ahead isn’t clear.

Through the Brave Next Step podcast, we share conversations that challenge your thinking and inspire your growth, so you can lead with intention and confidence.

You can find the podcast on Apple and Spotify.

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What you’ll learn on this leadership development podcast

New episodes drop every Monday, bringing you practical insights on:

  • Navigating leadership stress and burnout
  • Holding your nerve when it feels deeply uncomfortable
  • Developing your leadership identity and managing organisational dynamics
  • Creating space for quality thinking and leadership success
  • Planning for the “what ifs” and taking action
  • Having effective conversations and asking better questions
  • Encouraging people to take action without force
  • Stories from leaders who have stepped into the unknown, including Jennie Godfrey on her journey from corporate HR to best-selling author

If you’re looking for leadership podcasts free of jargon and full of honest, expert conversation, you’ll find it here.

Listen wherever you get your podcasts

The Brave Next Step is available on Apple and Spotify, and your favourite platforms. You can also listen directly on our website.

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Explore your brave next step further

If something you hear on this leadership podcast sparks a new idea or challenge, we’d love to continue the conversation.

Contact us to explore how Mind Values Leadership can support your growth and leadership development journey.

Contact us

Podcast FAQs

What makes the brave next step different from other leadership podcasts?

Unlike many leadership podcasts, we go beyond the surface and focus on real conversations about leadership challenges, personal growth, and organisational dynamics to help leaders take meaningful action.

Is the brave next step podcast free?

Yes, this is a leadership podcast free to access, available on all major podcast platforms and on our website.

Who should listen to this podcast on leadership development?

This podcast is designed for senior leaders, HR professionals, and anyone committed to growing as a leader and creating meaningful change in their organisation.

How often are new episodes released?

New episodes are released weekly, every Monday.

Can I suggest a guest or topic for the podcast?

Yes, we welcome suggestions from our listeners. Please get in touch if you have an idea for a topic or guest who would add to the conversation.

Contact us

Are you ready to take the brave next step?

Subscribe to The Brave Next Step today and join us in building a new conversation about what real leadership requires.

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