Podcast
Badass Softie
Hosted by Dr. J.J. Peterson · EN
A Badass Softie is unapologetically ambitious and leads with heart. Ambitious and kind. Fun and driven. Powerful and deeply human.
Badass Softie, hosted by Dr. J.J. Peterson, is a podcast that challenges the false choice leaders are too often given: be strong or be compassionate. The world doesn’t just need more leaders — it needs leaders bold enough to make an impact and compassionate enough to make it meaningful. Each episode pulls back the curtain on leaders, creators, and innovators who are rewriting the rules of what real leadership looks like. You’ll walk away with stories, insights, and practical takeaways that show you how to lead with both strength and softness — the very definition of being a Badass Softie.
Subscribe and step fully into the kind of leader the world is waiting for.
16episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
The Leaders Who Take the Biggest Risks Aren't Fearless
2w ago00:18:15Tap to summarizeSome leaders seem willing to make impossible decisions. They change careers. Walk away from security. Speak uncomfortable truths. Bet on themselves when success is anything but certain. What if courage isn't what makes those decisions possible? Dr. J.J. Peterson explores a childhood moment that completely changed the way he understood risk, independence, and the people who quietly give us the confidence to become who we're meant to be. It's a story about fathers, belonging, and one surprising realization that shaped every bold decision that followed. What This Explores Why courage may have less to do with fearlessness than you think The hidden foundation behind life's biggest risks A surprising definition of independence How leaders create the safety that helps others grow The lasting impact of knowing someone is truly on your side If this reflection resonated with you, share it with someone who has helped you become braver simply by believing in you. We think they're a Badass Softie. Follow Badass Softie Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/badasssoftiepod Website: https://www.badasssoftie.com
Transcribe →Why We Perform Instead of Telling the Truth
3w ago00:35:44Tap to summarizeMost people don't set out to become performers. But over time, it's easy to trade pieces of ourselves for approval, success, certainty, or the version of us we think other people want to see. Dr. J.J. Peterson sits down with author and book coach Ally Fallon for a conversation about authenticity, ambition, and the courage it takes to tell yourself the truth. Together, they explore why so many people lose touch with their own voice while chasing external validation, how performance can quietly replace authenticity, and what it means to trust yourself when the rewards aren't immediate. Ally shares lessons from a season that brought her family to the brink of bankruptcy, the unexpected insights that emerged from a 30-day Instagram experiment, and why some of the most important growth happens long before anyone else can see it. For leaders who have ever wondered whether they're building a life that feels true—or simply becoming what the world rewards—this conversation offers a different way to think about success. What This Explores • Why finding your authentic voice takes courage • The difference between your inner and outer horizon • Why we perform for approval without realizing it • Letting go of likes, views, and external validation • What failure can teach us about purpose • Why meaningful work doesn't always make immediate sense • Listening when your body tells you something is out of alignment • Leading with authenticity instead of performance If this conversation resonated with you, consider following Badass Softie and sharing it with someone who may need the reminder that success and authenticity don't have to be at odds. Mentioned in This Episode The Artist's Way: https://juliacameronlive.com/book/the-artists-way-a-spiritual-path-to-higher-creativity Ally Fallon on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allyfallon Follow Badass Softie Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/badasssoftiepod Website: https://www.badasssoftie.com
Transcribe →What Happens When Everything Becomes Practical
4w ago00:30:35Tap to summarizeWhat if the moments that change someone's day are the ones we almost talk ourselves out of? The compliment we never give. The thank you we never send. The invitation we never make. The extra effort we decide isn't necessary. In this conversation, Dr. J.J. Peterson sits down with bestselling author and hospitality expert Will Guidara, author of Unreasonable Hospitality, to explore a simple idea that has the power to change how we lead, work, and live: Never let a gracious impulse pass. From a brief conversation with a catering team that still talks about the experience years later to creating moments of surprise and wonder that people never forget, Will shares why hospitality has very little to do with restaurants and everything to do with making people feel seen. Along the way, they discuss why affirmation matters more than we realize, why some of the most meaningful things we do will never show up on a spreadsheet, and why creating a little more magic in the world might be one of the most important responsibilities we have as leaders. What This Episode Explores Why people never outgrow the need to feel seen What hospitality really means beyond customer service The competitive advantage of caring Why some ideas are worth more than their immediate return How to create moments people remember Why joy shouldn't be reserved for special occasions What happens when we stop letting gracious impulses pass If this episode makes you think of someone, don't just send them the link. Tell them why. Mentioned in This Episode Unreasonable Hospitality: https://www.unreasonablehospitality.com/products/unreasonable-hospitality-the-remarkable-power-of-giving-people-more-than-they-expect The Unreasonable Hospitality Field Guide: https://www.unreasonablehospitality.com/products/unreasonable-hospitality-the-field-guide Website: https://www.unreasonablehospitality.com Milk Bar: https://milkbarstore.com Follow Badass Softie Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/badasssoftiepod Website: https://www.badasssoftie.com
Transcribe →Maybe Consistency Isn't The Goal
Jun 1500:36:35Tap to summarizeMelissa Greene spent years as a member of the Grammy-nominated Christian music group Avalon before becoming a pastor, speaker, writer, and advocate. But along the way, life began challenging some of the beliefs she had always held—and forcing her to confront an uncomfortable truth: Growth doesn't happen by staying the same. Melissa joins Dr. J.J. Peterson to explore what happens when certainty starts to crack, why changing your mind can feel so threatening, and how curiosity, compassion, and life experience can reshape the way we see ourselves and others. While faith and theology are part of the conversation, this episode is really about something much bigger: growth, identity, and what happens when life asks us to become someone new. Together they explore a question many of us quietly wrestle with: Who are we becoming? What We Explore • Why changing your mind can feel like changing your entire world • What happens when life no longer fits the story you've been told • Why some people stay curious while others double down • The power of meeting people beyond labels and assumptions • Why growth often requires letting go of certainty • What happens when your world gets bigger • Why you shouldn't expect to be the same person ten years from now This episode is for you if you've ever questioned something you once believed, found yourself growing in unexpected ways, or wondered what it means to evolve without losing yourself along the way. Mentioned in This Episode Substack: https://melissagreene.substack.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissagreene Follow Badass Softie Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/badasssoftiepod Website: https://www.badasssoftie.com
Transcribe →Failure Doesn't Always Mean You're Wrong
Jun 800:33:29Tap to summarizeWhat happens when the strategy stops working, but the mission still matters? Dr. J.J. Peterson sits down with entrepreneur, author, and Copper founder Allison Trowbridge for a conversation about leadership, adaptation, and the difference between staying committed to a mission and staying attached to a plan. Over the course of building Copper, Allison faced investor rejections, major pivots, layoffs, and moments when continuing forward seemed impossible. Yet through every version of the company, one thing remained unchanged: the people she set out to serve. The result is a powerful leadership conversation about knowing what should remain fixed, what must evolve, and why some of the most important leadership decisions begin with letting go. What This Explores • Why great leaders stay committed to the mission—not the original strategy • The difference between persistence and stubbornness • How to know when a pivot is necessary • Why success can create more pressure, not less • What failure teaches that success never can • The role community plays when leadership feels lonely If this conversation resonated with you, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who is building something meaningful. MENTIONED IN THIS CONVERSATION Copper Books: https://copperbooks.com/ Website: https://www.allisontrowbridge.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisontrowbridge/ Follow Badass Softie Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/badasssoftiepod Website: https://www.badasssoftie.com
Transcribe →What If You Had Nothing To Prove?
Jun 100:41:19Tap to summarizeWhat if the pressure you're carrying isn't coming from your workload, your business, or the world around you? What if it's coming from the belief that you still have something to prove? Dr. J.J. Peterson sits down with leadership coach and author Angus Nelson to explore why so many ambitious leaders feel exhausted, stuck, and disconnected from themselves despite achieving the very things they once thought would bring confidence and peace. Together, they unpack the hidden stories that drive our decisions, the permission we're constantly seeking from other people, and how chronic stress keeps us trapped in patterns of proving, performing, and pushing harder. Angus shares why nervous system resilience isn't really about managing stress—it's about reclaiming agency, challenging the stories that no longer serve you, and learning how to lead from a place of internal freedom rather than external validation. For anyone who has ever felt like success should feel better than this, this conversation offers a different path forward. What This Explores Why high achievers often feel like they still haven't done enough The hidden connection between self-permission and leadership How old stories shape the way we respond to pressure and uncertainty Why external success rarely resolves internal insecurity What it means to have nothing to prove—and why that's real power How to stop waiting for validation and start leading from conviction Mentioned In This Episode Get a copy of Angus Nelson's book "Neuro Resilient Leader" at https://angusnelson.com/freebook Follow Badass Softie Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/badasssoftiepod Website: https://www.badasssoftie.com
Transcribe →People Experience You Before They Hear You
May 2500:43:30Tap to summarizeMany leaders want their work to speak for itself. But whether we like it or not, people start forming opinions about us long before we ever say a word. Dr. J.J. Peterson and stylist and brand strategist Toi Sweeney explore the tension between authenticity and intention — and why showing up thoughtfully doesn’t have to mean hiding who you are. Together, they unpack why presence shapes trust, how color and clothing influence perception, and why the things we often try hardest to tone down about ourselves may actually be the clearest signal of who we are. Because leadership isn’t just heard. It’s experienced. What This Explores Why people form impressions faster than we think The tension between authenticity and expectation How presence affects trust, credibility, and connection What color communicates psychologically Why intentionality is different from vanity How to stand out without losing yourself Share this with someone who’s learning how to show up more fully as themselves instead of shrinking to fit the room. Mentioned In This Episode Toi Sweeney: https://toisweeney.com Secrets of a Well-Dressed Brand: https://toisweeney.com/book Follow Badass Softie Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/badasssoftiepod Website: https://www.badasssoftie.com
Transcribe →Why Great Businesses Still Get Overlooked
May 1800:35:33Tap to summarizeSome businesses do exceptional work and still struggle to stand out. In this conversation, Dr. J.J. Peterson sits down with Julie Firth and Sonya Whittam, founders of Story22, to explore the hidden gap between the value a business delivers and the way customers actually experience it. They talk about why so many growing companies accidentally start blending into the market, how businesses outgrow their messaging without realizing it, and why thoughtful customer experience has become one of the strongest competitive advantages a leader can build. The conversation also explores the connection between StoryBrand and Unreasonable Hospitality—and why clear messaging means very little if the experience behind it doesn’t make people feel seen. Because customers rarely remember perfect transactions. They remember how your business made them feel. Join us on June 10th and 11th in London for our two-day intensive workshop - Become the Obvious Choice! - https://www.story22.co.uk/storybrand-unreasonable-hospitality-workshop-in-london-2026/ What This Explores Why great businesses still get overlooked When your business outgrows its messaging Why customers don’t always feel what makes you different The gap between marketing promises and customer experience How thoughtful service turns customers into advocates Why people remember businesses that make them feel seen Continue The Conversation If these ideas resonate, Dr. J.J. Peterson has explored both of these frameworks more deeply in previous conversations: If You Confuse, You Lose Why clarity is one of the most overlooked forms of service in business. Why Good Service Isn’t Enough Anymore (and What To Do Instead) A deeper look at why memorable customer experience creates loyalty long after the transaction ends. Mentioned In This Episode Story22 Building a StoryBrand by Donald Miller Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara Follow Badass Softie Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/badasssoftiepod/ Website: https://www.badasssoftie.com/
Transcribe →You Don’t Have to Perform to Be Seen
May 1100:38:21Tap to summarizeYou can know your work helps people and still feel weird promoting yourself. The pressure to stay visible, market yourself online, and constantly talk about what you do can quickly start to feel performative, especially for leaders who care deeply about authenticity. In this episode, Dr. J.J. Peterson sits down with Heather Adams to talk about why so many thoughtful leaders struggle with visibility, and how to grow your influence without losing yourself in the process. After decades of helping authors, founders, and entrepreneurs build their platforms, Heather has seen how easy it is for people to believe they need to become louder or more polished in order to succeed. They explore the difference between visibility and performance—and how showing up honestly can become an act of service instead of self-promotion. What This Explores The difference between visibility vs. performance Why you don’t need to become louder to grow your influence The pressure to market yourself online without losing yourself Why trying to copy other leaders often backfires How to “baby step” into visibility in a way that feels authentic Join Heather's upcoming Substack Strategy Workshop: Clarify Your Message, Map Your Content & Create Your Launch Plan. Learn more here - https://choicemediacommunications.com/substack-strategy Mentioned In This Episode Choice Media: choicemediacommunications.com Instagram: instagram.com/heatherdixonadams Follow Badass Softie Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/badasssoftiepod/ Website: https://www.badasssoftie.com/
Transcribe →Maybe You Don’t Need More Discipline
May 400:35:39Tap to summarizeWhat if the problem isn’t discipline — but understanding how your brain actually works? In this conversation, Dr. JJ Peterson sits down with licensed therapist and co-host of the Something Shiny ADHD Podcast, Isabelle Richards, to explore how ADHD, neurodivergence, and what Isabelle calls being “neuro-spicy” can shape the way people lead, make decisions, manage pressure, and move through the world. Together, they unpack the difference between self-discipline and self-awareness — and why many leaders spend years trying to force themselves into systems that don’t actually fit how they think or function. This conversation reframes accommodations not as weakness, but as self-understanding in action. What You’ll Reflect On Why some people thrive under pressure but struggle with everyday decisions How ADHD and executive functioning differences can affect leadership and work The role shame plays in productivity, motivation, and self-worth What “meta-awareness” means and why it matters How leaders can create more psychologically safe environments Why understanding your needs can be more powerful than pushing harder For leaders navigating pressure, burnout, or the feeling that simple things shouldn’t feel this hard, this conversation offers language, clarity, and a more compassionate way forward. Resources Mentioned Download the ADHD Focus & Flow Finder to better understand the accommodations that support how you work best: https://www.somethingshinypodcast.com/finder Explore more conversations from the Something Shiny ADHD Podcast: https://www.somethingshinypodcast.com If this resonates, share it with someone who may be trying to succeed while quietly fighting the way they naturally work.
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