Lead Human with Jack Myers and Tim Spengler

How do the world’s biggest brands build trust with audiences who increasingly listen to creators more than traditional advertising?In this episode of Lead Human, Jack Myers and Tim Spengler sit down with Joey Maestas, Head of Consumer Creators at Microsoft, to explore the creator economy, brand trust, audience growth, and why the future of marketing depends on stronger human relationships.Joey explains how Microsoft moved creators from the edge of its marketing strategy toward the center, why creator partnerships can outperform traditional paid media, and how his team measures impact beyond likes and views. He shares why the best brand partnerships are long-term relationships, not one-off posts, and how creators can provide valuable feedback on products, messaging, and culture.The conversation also looks back at Joey’s work with Team USA and the Olympics, where he helped athletes and early social creators build audiences long before influencer marketing became standard practice. They also discuss AI-generated creators, the uncertain future of VR, the rise of social commerce, and Joey’s simplest advice for anyone trying to grow an audience: stop overthinking and start posting.Lead Human is hosted by Jack Myers & Tim Spengler, produced by Wondir Studios (Desta Wondirad), in association with Acast.#LeadHuman #CreatorEconomy #InfluencerMarketing #Microsoft #FutureOfMarketing

What can business leaders learn from an astronaut, Everest climber, physician, inventor, and entrepreneur who has spent his life operating at the edge of risk?In this episode of Lead Human, Jack Myers and Tim Spengler sit down with Dr. Scott Parazynski for a remarkable conversation about fear, preparation, trust, human judgment, teamwork, and what it means to lead when the stakes are as high as they can possibly get.Scott reflects on the experiences that shaped him, from growing up across cultures to flying in space five times, repairing a damaged solar array during one of NASA’s most dangerous spacewalks, climbing Mount Everest, and building new ventures in aviation and innovation. He explains why fear is best addressed through preparation, why great teams are built on trust, and why the people you work with may matter even more than the mission itself.They also explore the future of human-machine collaboration, the enduring importance of empathy and judgment, and why challenge often brings out the very best in teams. It is a wide-ranging and deeply grounded conversation about courage, collaboration, and the human qualities that technology still cannot replace.Lead Human is hosted by Jack Myers & Tim Spengler, produced by Wondir Studios (Desta Wondirad), in association with Acast.

What does it mean to lead well in a world obsessed with tools, speed, and technological change?In this episode of Lead Human, Jack Myers and Tim Spengler sit down with Ken Dychtwald, founder of Age Wave, for a far-reaching conversation about integrity, curiosity, longevity, purpose, and the human qualities that matter most as we move deeper into the AI era.Ken reflects on the leaders who shaped him, including Jimmy Carter, and explains why integrity, courage, dependability, and the ability to point people toward a path forward remain the core of real leadership. He shares how his idea of radical curiosity took shape, why human potential first captured his imagination, and why he believes we are spending too much time talking about tools and not enough time talking about the extraordinary capabilities of people.The conversation also explores longevity, aging, dementia, health span, purpose, retirement, communication, relationships, and the lessons Ken would offer his younger self. It is a rich and deeply human discussion about how to live well, lead well, and stay open to possibility across a long life.Lead Human is hosted by Jack Myers & Tim Spengler, produced by Wondir Studios (Desta Wondirad), in association with Acast.00:00 Why subscribing and sharing matter more than ever00:52 The publishing boom and the discoverability crisis02:15 Why trust matters more than attention06:04 Intro – meet Ken Dychtwald07:04 Why Ken’s work on aging and longevity matters now10:23 Leadership lesson 1: integrity10:42 Jimmy Carter and leading by example12:08 Courage, dependability, and showing people a path forward13:47 How Radical Curiosity got its name16:08 Is deep curiosity learned or innate?17:03 Human potential and the course that changed Ken’s life19:25 Advice for young people in an age of AI and longer lives20:37 Will we have one career or ten?22:23 We are talking too much about tools and not enough about humans25:21 Why business still needs more humanity26:31 Sam Altman, Tim Berners-Lee, and the values of innovation28:33 Caregiving, elder care, and leadership empathy29:30 Longevity, lifespan, and health span31:29 Why defeating Alzheimer’s is the biggest challenge33:09 Jonas Salk, polio, and the future of aging science35:29 The new role models for longer lives37:23 What 76-year-old Ken would tell his younger self39:16 Why failure was a necessary teacher40:40 How to become a better communicator42:34 The central lesson of a well-lived life43:38 Ken on marrying his wife every year45:53 Relationships, integrity, and final takeaways49:25 Outro – share the episode and unleash the human potential

What happens when an industry built on storytelling, star power, and scale suddenly has to reinvent itself from the ground up?In this episode of Lead Human, Jack Myers and Tim Spengler sit down with Kevin Reilly for a candid conversation about Hollywood’s decline, AI’s rise, creative leadership, and what it really takes to reinvent yourself when the old playbook stops working.Kevin reflects on his journey through some of the biggest chapters in modern entertainment—from FX and Fox to Turner, HBO Max, and now Cartwheel/Cartel—sharing what he learned about leadership, bureaucracy, risk, and why real change almost never starts from the center of the system. He explains why Hollywood is “structurally shrinking,” why so many legacy media companies failed to respond in time, and why the future belongs to organizations that can break down silos between creative, media, data, and commerce.They also dig into career reinvention, mindset, the limits of performative innovation, and why in an AI-powered world, human discernment, taste, and judgment may matter more than ever.Lead Human is hosted by Jack Myers & Tim Spengler, produced by Wondir Studios (Desta Wondirad), in association with Acast.

What does it take to keep pushing for change when the world keeps resisting it?In this episode of Lead Human, Jack Myers and Tim Spengler sit down with Darshana Myronidis for a conversation about climate leadership, inclusion, resilience, and the human work of driving change inside systems that do not always want to move.Darshana shares how her South African background shaped her sense of purpose, why sustainability is really about people, and why leaders need to understand both the audience they are speaking to and the deeper values they are trying to serve. She talks about the uphill work of “selling” sustainability inside organizations, why small wins matter, and how the best change-makers learn to be multilingual across business, culture, and impact.The conversation also explores identity, exclusion, directness, joy, family, and Darshana’s powerful idea that the kitchen table and the boardroom table are not so different after all. It is a thoughtful and deeply human discussion about how we show up, how we choose our fights, and how we decide what kind of legacy we want to create.Lead Human is hosted by Jack Myers & Tim Spengler, produced by Wondir Studios (Desta Wondirad), in association with Acast.

What if the real future of leadership is not just about strategy, scale, or efficiency—but about human flourishing?In this episode of Lead Human, Jack Myers and Tim Spengler sit down with Liza Tullidge Founder of NETĀ and host of the Human-Ing. podcast, for a conversation about ecosystem change, curiosity, joy, resilience, and building businesses that actually work for humans.Liza explains why “business as usual” no longer serves us, why she prefers to think in terms of ecosystem change rather than simple systems change, and why unlocking human potential starts with helping people define their own version of success. She shares how trust, mindset, and curiosity can shift boardrooms, why leaders need to become multilingual in the language of finance, risk, culture, and impact, and why compassionate directness matters more than polished corporate language.They also explore joy as a strategic force, how to live with greater intention, what resilient leaders do differently, and why the future belongs to those who can empower, elevate, and amplify others.Lead Human is hosted by Jack Myers & Tim Spengler, produced by Wondir Studios (Desta Wondirad), in association with Acast.