👉 Free Resource: tbco.at/ambook Download The Active Manager book – your field guide to leading through uncertainty
In this episode of Business Leader Breakthroughs, Ryan Castle and Dr. Mike Ashby dive into the challenges of learning and why it's often harder than we expect. They explore the natural resistance we face when trying to change and the mental energy required to push through it.

They break down the stages of learning—from unconscious incompetence to unconscious competence—and share how business leaders can apply these stages to develop their teams. With practical insights on overcoming learning struggles, the episode also highlights the importance of repetition and consistent practice for mastering new skills.

If you’ve ever struggled with helping your team learn or develop new habits, this episode is packed with actionable advice to make learning stick and drive results.

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

👉 Free Resource: tbco.at/ambook Download The Active Manager book – your field guide to leading through uncertainty
In this episode of Business Leader Breakthroughs, Ryan Castle and Dr. Mike Ashby get real about the hidden cost of bad—or as they call them, crap—bosses. They break down how poor management shows up in micromanagement, low trust, and missed opportunities, and how it kills culture, productivity, and engagement.

They share practical steps to move from micromanaging to active management, plus a story of one manager who shifted their whole approach with one mindset change. If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re too in the weeds—or suspect someone else is—this episode is a must-listen.

Useful links:
Nine Lies About Work by Marcus Buckingham & Ashley Goodall - Amazon (Note: We are not affiliated with this link; it’s shared for reference only.)

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

In this episode Ryan Castle sits down with AI expert and entrepreneur Brian Russell, PhD to unpack how artificial intelligence is reshaping business growth and innovation. Drawing on his PhD and deep industry experience, Bryan shares practical insights on how business leaders can harness AI, from large language models to advanced decision-making tools, to scale expertise and solve complex problems.

Bryan breaks down key AI concepts like prompt engineering, agents, and validation, explaining how these technologies can be integrated into organizations to unlock breakthrough performance without losing the human touch.

Connect with Brian Russell, PhD - LinkedIn

👉 Free Resource: tbco.at/ambook Download The Active Manager book – your field guide to leading through uncertainty

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/