Podcast
Franklin Planner Podcast
Hosted by John Harding & George Wright III · EN
Are you ready to discover the keys to greater productivity and lead your life and team with principles that stand the test of time? Welcome to The Franklin Planner Podcast, your weekly guide to achieving your best life through proven strategies, timeless values, and expert insights. Whether you're looking for ways to boost your personal productivity, lead your team to new heights, or find lasting success, this podcast is your trusted companion on the path to intentional living.
For more than 40 years, Franklin Planner has helped millions infuse their lives with meaning and clarity. Inspired by the principles of Dr. Stephen R. Covey and his groundbreaking work, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, this podcast builds on that enduring legacy. Hosted by Franklin Planner Board Member and Owner John Harding, alongside industry expert George Wright III, each episode dives deep into the essential habits, disciplines, and leadership principles that transform both individuals and teams.
Together, John and George bring decades of experience, combined with interviews from accomplished business leaders, productivity experts, and success coaches, offering valuable lessons you can apply today. From overcoming roadblocks and staying focused on the "Big Rocks" in your life to fostering collaboration and trust in your team, the discussions are rich with actionable takeaways and practical wisdom.
The Franklin Planner Podcast is more than a tool for learning; it’s an invitation to a community committed to growth, purpose, and intentional living. If you're ready to take charge of your time, lead with integrity, and craft a legacy of success, this is the podcast for you. Tune in weekly, and let's unlock your full potential—one timeless principle at a time.
16episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Heroes of the Revolution
5d ago00:36:58Tap to summarizeHere's the show notes reformatted to match the Franklin Planner style you've been using:George Wright III, John Harding, and historian Misty celebrate America's 250th anniversary by exploring four overlooked heroes of the American Revolution whose examples continue to teach timeless leadership principles. Rather than focusing on famous Founding Fathers, they examine the remarkable lives of Henry Knox, Francis Marion, Sybil Ludington, and Benjamin Rush, showing how ordinary individuals changed history through determination, resourcefulness, courage, and service. Along the way, they connect each story to modern leadership, emphasizing that greatness is not determined by status or circumstance, but by the choices we make and the values we live. The conversation concludes with a reminder that history is more than something to study—it is a guide for living a meaningful life today.00:00 Courage Shows Up In Ordinary People00:40 Welcome And America's 250th Anniversary04:22 Henry Knox And Determination07:18 The Impossible Cannon Mission09:38 Lessons In Perseverance12:01 Francis Marion The Swamp Fox15:16 Guerrilla Warfare And Resourcefulness17:08 Character Over Circumstance20:20 Sybil Ludington And Courage22:10 A Sixteen-Year-Old Answers The Call23:24 Defining Moments Require Courage26:00 Benjamin Rush And A Life Of Service28:47 Medicine As A Calling29:27 Serving The Poor And Forgotten30:20 Purpose Beyond Success31:56 Four Leadership Principles33:10 Finding Unsung Heroes Around You34:41 Applying History To Everyday Life35:19 Choices Define Our Legacy36:15 Closing ThoughtsThank you for joining us on this Journey to create your best life and to lead your Life and Teams. Please share this show, and we look forward to the journey we will take together. Check out the New Membership Program Here: https://store.franklinplanner.com/lps/membership/The Franklin Planner TeamAbout Misty HowardMisty Howard is a historian‐enthusiast and podcast host who brings a fresh, youth-oriented voice to timeless values and historical wisdom. She serves as the creator and host of the podcast Faith Ignited (described as “Immersive, real stories from history, seen through the lens of faith”). Her work focuses on exploring the lives of influential historical figures—especially from the founding era of the United States—and connecting their personal values with modern leadership, mission-driven living, and character development. Misty emphasizes the importance of self-improvement, purpose, and narration of historical truths often overlooked in mainstream narratives. Her style blends historical research, faith-based insight, and practical application for younger audiences.Her contributions bring depth, perspective, and inspiration to conversations about proactive living and principle-centered leadership.Guest Resources:Podcast Link: Faith Ignited — available via Apple Podcasts, Pocket Casts, etc.
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Lifelong Journey of Relationship Building with Matt Townsend
2w ago00:48:44Tap to summarizeOn the Franklin Planner “Lead Your Life” podcast, host John Harding interviews Dr. Matt Townsend, who describes how his parents’ divorce led him to study communications and conflict resolution, work at FranklinCovey for seven years, then leave about 25 years ago to coach couples and mediate divorces. They argue that relationships are central to purpose, roles, and planning, and note a study that about 60% of millennials struggle to deeply connect. Townsend shares practical tools: a “time left” circle exercise (two years to two hours) to clarify who and what matter most; the “four lights” questions—self-awareness, empathy (others’ needs and wants), vision, and conscience; and conflict guidance to move from “smoke” to “fire” by identifying unmet “STARVE” needs (safety, trust, appreciation, respect, validation, encouragement, dedication) and “get real” by recognizing emotion, exploring stories, attending to needs, and lifting the conversation.00:00 Relationships Matter Most01:11 Podcast Welcome And Guest Intro02:59 Matt Townsend Origin Story06:06 Roles Goals And Connection Crisis13:48 Two Years To Live Exercise16:29 Four Lights From 9 1122:01 Using Four Lights In Teams25:10 Smoke Versus Fire In Conflict26:06 Bag Fight Spiral27:35 Smoke Versus Fire28:15 Starve Needs Framework28:42 Safety Trust Appreciation31:05 Respect Validation Encouragement32:00 Dedication And Motivation34:42 Suspend Certainty37:23 Get Real Method40:17 Leadership And Influence46:26 Closing InvitationThank you for joining us on this Journey to create your best life and to lead your Life and Teams. Please share this show, and we look forward to the journey we will take together. Check out the New Membership Program Here: https://store.franklinplanner.com/lps/membership/The Franklin Planner TeamAbout GuestDr. Matt Townsend has been energizing and involving audiences with his unique approach to building and maintaining successful relationships. Known as one of America’s top presenters in the field of Human Relations and Development, Matt blends humor and storytelling with interactive, real-life solutions that inspire motivation and immediate results in his audiences.Having dedicated his life to the study of communication and interpersonal relationships, Matt has worked extensively in the areas of results-oriented communication, conflict resolution and time management training. As a lead presenter for industry leader, Franklin Covey, Matt worked with the Family & Special Market Division and created the company’s largest train-the-trainer program, certifying more than 900 trainers to teach his customized time management curriculum.LinksInstagram https://www.instagram.com/drmatttownsendLinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/drmatttownsend/
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Winston Churchill: The Bulldog's Path to Leadership
Jun 2500:48:08Tap to summarizeGeorge Wright III hosts John Harding and resident history expert Misty Howard on the Franklin Planner/Lead Your Life podcast to discuss Winston Churchill as a leadership model and why studying historical figures reveals timeless principles from “beginning to end.” Misty outlines Churchill’s difficult upbringing (wealthy but neglected, poor student, speech impediment, harshly criticized by his father), his early writing success, and his Boer War capture and daring escape that made him famous and launched his political career. They cover Churchill’s flaws, depression (“black dog”), and major mistake in World War I (Gallipoli), emphasizing that leaders need purpose and commitment more than perfection. Misty explains Churchill’s “wilderness years,” his warnings about Hitler, and how appeasement failed, leading to his rise as prime minister and his “We shall fight” speech in 1940. The hosts conclude with takeaways about mission, courage, preparation, and daily intentionality, then promote upcoming episodes, a Lead Your Life magazine, and a Franklin Planner membership.00:00 Welcome and Guests00:31 Why Study Leaders01:58 Churchill Relevance04:45 Early Life Struggles10:48 Boer War Escape16:27 Flaws and Resilience20:12 Gallipoli Setback23:27 Wilderness Years Warning26:12 Standing Alone31:23 Destiny and Preparation34:59 Fight on the Beaches41:03 Final Takeaways46:12 Closing and Next StepsThank you for joining us on this Journey to create your best life and to lead your Life and Teams. Please share this show, and we look forward to the journey we will take together. The Franklin Planner TeamAbout Misty HowardMisty Howard is a historian‐enthusiast and podcast host who brings a fresh, youth-oriented voice to timeless values and historical wisdom. She serves as the creator and host of the podcast Faith Ignited (described as “Immersive, real stories from history, seen through the lens of faith”). Her work focuses on exploring the lives of influential historical figures—especially from the founding era of the United States—and connecting their personal values with modern leadership, mission-driven living, and character development. Misty emphasizes the importance of self-improvement, purpose, and narration of historical truths often overlooked in mainstream narratives. Her style blends historical research, faith-based insight, and practical application for younger audiences.Her contributions bring depth, perspective, and inspiration to conversations about proactive living and principle-centered leadership.Guest Resources:Podcast Link: Faith Ignited — available via Apple Podcasts, Pocket Casts, etc.
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The Time Management Matrix for Navigating Life
May 2800:30:39Tap to summarizeOn the Franklin Planner Podcast, co-hosts George Wright III and John Harding discuss an upcoming magazine article co-written with CEO Bob Sumbot titled “Why Quadrant Two Thinking on Paper Matters More Than Ever,” focused on Steven R. Covey’s Time Management Matrix. They describe how constant digital interruptions—often 50+ a day with 20+ minutes to refocus—create decision fatigue, overwhelm, and diminished cognitive capacity, even from a phone’s mere presence. Harding explains the four quadrants (urgent/important crises; not urgent/important planning, relationships, growth, renewal; urgent/not important interruptions and others’ priorities; not urgent/not important time-wasters) and argues that leadership and effectiveness come from living in Quadrant 2. They emphasize paper planning and the Franklin Planner system as tools that reduce distraction, deepen thinking, and help individuals and teams align personal mission and values with organizational goals through weekly and daily planning. 02:12 Why Distraction Wins 03:24 Overwhelm and Interruptions 04:37 Time Matrix Explained 06:58 Quadrants One Three Four 09:07 Quadrant Two Leadership 12:44 Paper Beats Digital 16:47 Weekly Daily Practice 22:12 Teams Alignment and Goals 26:38 Invitation and Wrap Up Thank you for joining us on this Journey to create your best life and to lead your Life and Teams. Please share this show, and we look forward to the journey we will take together. The Franklin Planner Team
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Lead Your Life: Franklin Planner's New Membership Program
May 2100:26:16Tap to summarizeIntroducing the Lead Your Life Franklin Planner Membership George Wright III and John Harding discuss Franklin Planner’s 40-year legacy, its principles-based productivity system inspired by Steven R. Covey, and modern challenges like digital distraction and overwhelm. They announce a new “Lead Your Life” membership program designed to extend the planner into a community and resource hub that helps people align with mission and values, build momentum, and focus on important, non-urgent “Quadrant II” work. The membership includes monthly guidance and planning frameworks, exclusive training and podcast extras, member offers and early product access, private Facebook community, accountability, affiliate benefits, and monthly live events featuring guests such as Steven M.R. Covey, Olympic athletes, and bestselling authors. They also mention an upcoming 64-page Lead Your Life digital magazine, emphasize the program is for anyone (planner user or not), and invite feedback from founding members. 00:35 Franklin Planner Legacy 02:39 Why Membership Now 03:14 Modern Challenges Today 05:24 Vision and Community 08:15 Membership Benefits Overview 11:21 Events and Podcast Extras 14:05 Principles Time Matrix 17:50 Magazine and Resources 19:47 Who Its For and Invite 24:03 Feedback and Founding Members 25:05 Wrap Up and Next Episodes Thank you for joining us on this Journey to create your best life and to lead your Life and Teams. Please share this show, and we look forward to the journey we will take together. Check out the New Membership Program Here: https://store.franklinplanner.com/lps/membership/
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Protect Wealth, Lower Taxes and Build Legacy with Don Pendleton
Apr 2300:47:33Tap to summarizeIn this masterclass-style episode of the Franklin Planner Podcast, George Wright III sits down with wealth strategist and Protect Wealth founder Don Pendleton to unpack the pillars of long-term financial leadership: tax strategy, asset protection, estate planning, and wealth creation. Don shares the personal story that launched his career in asset protection after being sued following a tragic incident, and how that experience led him to decades of educating business owners, families, and professionals on protecting what they build. The conversation dives deep into the mindset shift between tax preparation and true tax planning, why having a business structure can unlock powerful legal deductions, and how proactive estate planning prevents costly family disputes and probate issues. If you want to keep more of what you earn, reduce risk, and create a lasting financial legacy, this episode delivers actionable insights you can start applying today.Key TakeawaysTax Planning vs. Tax Prep: Learn why filing taxes is not the same as building a year-round wealth strategy.The Leadership Mindset Around Money: Discover how the way you think about expenses, structures, and planning changes financial outcomes.Estate Planning Essentials: Understand the must-have documents and trust structures that protect your family and legacy.Business Structures & Tax Advantages: Why having an LLC, corporation, or even a sole proprietorship can create strategic tax opportunities.Winning the Tax Game: Focus on lowering your effective tax rate instead of chasing refunds.02:03 – The Lawsuit That Changed Everything06:36 – The Four Pillars of Wealth Protection09:05 – Why Tax Strategy Starts with Mindset10:30 – The “Free Roads vs Toll Roads” Tax Analogy12:44 – Why Having a Business Changes Everything14:45 – Real Estate Losses & Paper Write-Offs20:15 – Medical Expenses, Premiums & Business Deductions22:22 – Stop Asking “Can I?” Start Asking “How Can I?”30:27 – What It Really Means to Win the Tax Game33:22 – Estate Planning Essentials Everyone Needs36:25 – Trusts, Probate & Protecting Family Wealth42:35 – Where to Start: The Protect Wealth SummitThank you for joining us on this Journey to create your best life and to lead your Life and Teams. Please share this show, and we look forward to the journey we will take together.The Franklin Planner TeamAbout the Guest:Don Pendleton is an expert in the areas of lawsuit protection, tax reduction, and estate planning and has co-authored multiple textbooks and articles.Every year, he is a featured presenter during numerous seminars and workshops onasset protectionrelated subjects.His books and trainings have helped thousands of business owners, investors, and professionals save millions of dollars.He is one of the nation’s top asset protection advisors and has been helping professionals properly structure themselves for lawsuit protection and tax reduction.His knowledge, expertise, and straightforward teaching style have made him one of the top asset protection speakers in the nationGuest Resource:Website: https://protectwealth.com/our-team/don-pendleton/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donpendleton/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ProtectWealthAcademy/
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No Excuses: Unlocking Success with Noelle Pikus Pace's Olympic Mindset
Mar 2700:31:48Tap to summarizeGeorge Wright III is joined by two-time world champion and Olympic medalist Noelle Pikus-Pace to discuss her journey from skeleton racing to becoming a global speaker and author. Noelle shares the pivotal moment of her devastating 2005 injury while ranked #1 in the world and the conscious choice she made to push through rather than let the setback define her.They talk about the importance of knowing your purpose, both lifelong and "in real time," to ensure your identity is not solely tied to professional success. Noelle introduces the "Friction Factor" using a bell curve to illustrate the "sweet spot" of peak performance located between disengagement (too little friction) and burnout (too much friction). She also discusses being "process-oriented" rather than "results-driven," citing how losing an Olympic medal by a 10th of a second due to dragging shoelaces taught her about the power of small margins and daily decisions.Noelle concludes with the core message of her book, No Excuses: focusing on the next 60 seconds to take full ownership of one's life and align daily actions with long-term purpose.01:22 Getting "Tricked" into Skeleton04:30 The 2005 Injury and the Choice to Move Forward06:00 Identity vs. Purpose in Real Time08:56 Choosing Your Next 60 Seconds09:20 Writing "No Excuses" in an RV11:00 The 2010 Fourth-Place Finish13:00 The Shoelace Margin15:40 Realigning for the 2014 Olympics with Family17:15 Process-Oriented vs. Results-Driven19:10 Winning Silver vs. Losing Gold22:20 The Friction Factor Bell Curve26:00 Corner 12 and Root Cause Analysis29:45 The Power of the Next Minute Thank you for joining us on this Journey to create your best life and to lead your Life and Teams. Please share this show, and we look forward to the journey we will take together. The Franklin Planner TeamAbout the Guest: Noelle Pikus-PaceNoelle Pikus-Pace is a retired American skeleton racer and one of the most decorated athletes in the history of the sport. Beyond her medals, she is widely recognized for her extraordinary resilience and the "Moment of the Games" celebration with her family at the 2014 Olympics.Guest Resources:Official Website: NoellePikusPace.comInstagram: @noellepikuspaceLinkedIn: Noelle Pikus PaceFacebook: Noelle Pikus-Pace Fan Page
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On Signal: Leading Brilliant Growth Through Deep Stakeholder Respect
Mar 1200:26:16Tap to summarizeGeorge Wright III and co-host John Harding discuss leadership and propose that an organization’s greatest growth opportunity lies in deeply valuing and investing in its key stakeholders: employees, customers, suppliers, partners, and others. They talk about “deep respect” as a growth strategy and cite research linking engagement and organizational health to higher profitability, productivity, and shareholder returns. Two primary obstacles are outlined: the “mission-strategy-success gap,” where few employees understand or connect daily work to strategy, and the “productivity avalanche,” driven by constant digital interruptions and low-value activity. Harding introduces “being on signal” as the solution: dual alignment with the organization’s mission and each stakeholder’s definition of success, supported by clarity, rhythm, measurement, trust, and systems such as Franklin Planner.01:26 Stakeholders Drive Growth04:35 Respect as Strategy09:05 Mission Strategy Gap13:07 Productivity Avalanche16:20 On Signal Solution20:21 Franklin Planner SystemThank you for joining us on this Journey to create your best life and to lead your Life and Teams. Please share this show, and we look forward to the journey we will take together. The Franklin Planner Team
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Building Trust and Resilience: George Washington
Mar 600:29:40Tap to summarizeThis week on the Podcast, co-hosts George Wright III and John Harding talk with resident history expert Misty Howard about the U.S. 250th anniversary and the leadership lessons of George Washington. They frame Washington as a case study in value-based leadership: choosing duty over personal comfort, anchoring to civil and religious liberty, and living for a cause greater than self. Misty describes Washington’s reluctance to accept command, the extreme hardship and losses of the Revolutionary War, including Valley Forge, and how he built unity, trust, and resilience by sharing deprivation and leading from the front. They highlight his refusal to take a salary, his role in defusing the unpaid officers’ near-mutiny, and his restraint in rejecting power after victory, emphasizing that freedom requires responsibility, sacrifice, and character.00:26 America 250th Anniversary02:12 Why Washington Served04:26 Trepidation and Stakes07:22 Cause Greater Than Self09:53 Leading by Sacrifice10:45 Defusing a Mutiny13:16 Timeless Principles Today18:24 Valley Forge Resilience22:48 Rejecting Absolute Power25:49 Final Lessons and QuoteThank you for joining us on this Journey to create your best life and to lead your Life and Teams. Please share this show, and we look forward to the journey we will take together. The Franklin Planner TeamAbout Misty HowardMisty Howard is a historian‐enthusiast and podcast host who brings a fresh, youth-oriented voice to timeless values and historical wisdom. She serves as the creator and host of the podcast Faith Ignited (described as “Immersive, real stories from history, seen through the lens of faith”). Her work focuses on exploring the lives of influential historical figures—especially from the founding era of the United States and connecting their personal values with modern leadership, mission-driven living, and character development. Misty emphasizes the importance of self-improvement, purpose, and the narration of historical truths that are often overlooked in mainstream narratives. Her style blends historical research, faith-based insight, and practical application for younger audiences. Her contributions bring depth, perspective, and inspiration to conversations about proactive living and principle-centered leadership.
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Governing Values & Proactive living: History's Greatest Leaders
Jan 2300:39:51Tap to summarizeHow to Be Proactive: Timeless Lessons from History on Leadership, Responsibility, and Personal GrowthAre you living intentionally — or simply reacting to everything life throws at you? In this episode, discover how history’s greatest leaders mastered personal responsibility, emotional control, and proactive decision-making to shape their destiny.In this episode of the Franklin Planner Podcast, host George Wright III is joined by Franklin Planner board member John Harding and historian and podcast host Misty Howard for a powerful conversation on what it truly means to be proactive.Rooted in Dr. Stephen R. Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, the discussion explores how individuals can shift from reacting to circumstances to intentionally choosing their responses. The guests explain how language shapes mindset, why governing values create long-term stability, and how focusing on what you can control expands personal influence.Misty brings history to life through compelling examples of Viktor Frankl, Abraham Lincoln, and Abraham Clark, demonstrating how courage, discipline, and principle-based living enable people to rise above extreme adversity. John connects these timeless lessons to practical application, emphasizing how daily habits and values-driven planning empower leadership at every stage of life.Listeners will walk away with actionable insights to strengthen personal accountability, emotional control, and purpose-driven living.04:30 – Acting vs. Being Acted Upon09:15 – Language Patterns and Personal Responsibility15:40 – Viktor Frankl and Choosing Freedom in Adversity25:10 – Abraham Lincoln and Emotional Discipline34:20 – Governing Values and the Circle of Influence42:45 – Abraham Clark and Loyalty to Principles50:10 – Invictus Poem and Personal OwnershipThank you for joining us on this Journey to create your best life and to lead your Life and Teams. Please share this show, and we look forward to the journey we will take together. The Franklin Planner TeamAbout Misty HowardMisty Howard is a historian‐enthusiast and podcast host who brings a fresh, youth-oriented voice to timeless values and historical wisdom. She serves as the creator and host of the podcast Faith Ignited (described as “Immersive, real stories from history, seen through the lens of faith”). Her work focuses on exploring the lives of influential historical figures—especially from the founding era of the United States—and connecting their personal values with modern leadership, mission-driven living, and character development. Misty emphasizes the importance of self-improvement, purpose, and narration of historical truths often overlooked in mainstream narratives. Her style blends historical research, faith-based insight, and practical application for younger audiences.Her contributions bring depth, perspective, and inspiration to conversations about proactive living and principle-centered leadership.Guest Resources:Podcast Link: Faith Ignited — available via Apple Podcasts, Pocket Casts, etc.
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