TheUPside Podcast

Host: Theresa Flood
Guest: Tommy Flood
Episode: Theresa & Tommy’s 2025 Books In Review
Date: December 2, 2025

Episode Overview

Theresa and Tommy close out 2025 by sharing their top book recommendations from their year of reading. The discussion is equal parts fun and practical, with each offering takeaways, personal anecdotes, and actionable insights. They discuss not just the books, but the habits and hacks that helped them read more efficiently, and how these books sparked personal and professional growth.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Book Formats & Reading Habits

• Hard Copy vs. Digital:

  • Theresa prefers highlighting, margin notes, and looking back at hard copies—especially for nonfiction.
  • Tommy likes digital for instant access when inspired, but reads hard copies for fiction.

• Reading Hack:

  • Tommy employs a speed-reading technique from Jim Quick’s Limitless: “Follow with your finger. It causes you to read faster … you shouldn’t read with the audible internal voice. … The faster you move your finger…” (02:31)
  • He also syncs reading and listening to audiobooks at increased speeds for better focus and retention.

The Book Reviews

1. The AI Driven Leader by Jeff Woods

Both Hosts Read

• Audience: Anyone in leadership, broadly defined—church, family, business.

• Key Insight: The book is not about technical AI but about using AI as a “thought partner” to elevate strategic thinking.

• Quotable:

  • “The true game changer isn’t using AI to craft better emails. It’s harnessing AI to elevate strategic thinking.” – Theresa (06:05)
  • “Strategic thinking is what separates you from the competition from either growing or dying.” – Theresa (06:16)

• AI as Thought Partner:
  “You still have to be the thought leader and allow AI to be your thought partner. That’s probably one of the things that has stuck with me on my AI journey…” – Tommy (06:55)

• Timely Takeaway:

  • AI’s role is shifting the first leadership question from “Who?” to “How can AI help me with this?” (09:19)

• Timestamps:

  • [04:25–09:36] Deep dive into The AI Driven Leader.

2. The Science of Scaling by Dr. Benjamin Hardy & Blake Erickson

Tommy’s Pick

• Audience: Entrepreneurs and business leaders looking to dramatically grow their business.

• Concept: Building on Hardy’s previous 10x concepts, this book pushes toward 100x growth with a three-step model: reframe goals (set stretch or “impossible” goals), raise the floor (eliminate noise and focus), and refocus on key activities.

• Quotable:

  • “An impossible goal is one you don’t know how to reach and one that requires radically new approaches and paths to realize.” – Tommy (11:12)
  • “A big goal actually determines who you are and what your activities are today rather than… small goals, but you will have small results with small goals.” – Tommy (13:28)

• Practical Example:

  • Shrinking timelines and increasing stretch goals force greater focus and transformation.
  • Tying speed and focus to driving: “The faster you go, the more focused you actually are.” – Tommy (14:51)

• Timestamps:

  • [09:44–15:07] Science of Scaling discussion.

3. Wealthy and Well Known by Rory & AJ Vaden

Theresa’s Pick

• Audience: Anyone in business—owners, entrepreneurs, or anyone representing themselves or their company.

• Core Idea: Personal brand equals your digital reputation—a foundational strategy for 2026 and beyond.

• Practical Tools:

  • Exercises on developing your avatar/specifying your ideal client, solving their problems, and writing a compelling bio.
  • The “Five Title Test” for optimizing content titles to increase response and engagement.

• Quote:

  • “The key to doing this book well is to do all the exercises with it.” – Theresa (16:05)
  • “Your personal brand is your digital reputation.” – Tommy citing Louis Vaden (17:06)

• Strategic Sequence: Theresa suggests reading:

  1. The AI Driven Leader,
  2. Wealthy and Well Known, then
  3. Endless Customers (next review)

• Timestamps:

  • [15:07–17:39]

4. Endless Customers by Marcus Sheridan

Theresa’s Pick (with a nod to Tommy to read next)

• Audience: Business owners with long sales cycles; those interested in building real, lasting trust—not just seeking quick fixes.

• Premise: The most successful businesses aren’t those with the best tools or biggest budgets, but those that “dare to think differently about trust, transparency, and customer relationships” (19:09).

• Framework for Building Trust:

  1. Say what others won’t
  2. Show what others won’t
  3. Sell like others won’t
  4. Be more human and connected

• Real-World Example:

  • Marcus’s pool company scaled website traffic from 1,000 to 1 million visitors/month applying these trust-based strategies (23:08–23:33).

• Must Have:

  • Clarity on your personal brand is essential before implementing these strategies.

• Quote:

  • “In a world full of infinite information, trust becomes the ultimate currency.” – Marcus Sheridan via Theresa (19:09)

• Timestamps:

  • [17:39–23:39]

5. Build a Business You Love by Dave Ramsey

Tommy’s Pick

• Audience: Any entrepreneur or business owner; especially those who don’t want to get stuck in the grind.
• Concept: Businesses move through five sequential stages (treadmill operator, pathfinder, etc.) with unique challenges at each stage.
• Memorable Points:
  • Most business owners will revisit earlier stages as circumstances change—this is normal, not a sign of failure.
  • “Don’t build a business you don’t love. Don’t do it to grind this thing.” – Theresa (26:30)
• Reference: Inspired by Dave Ramsey’s Craig Groeschel Podcast appearance.
• Timestamps:
  • [23:44–27:30]

6. Beyond the Leader by Dr. Tony Bridwell

Theresa’s Favorite Leadership Book of the Year

• Format: Short, story-driven fable with immediately actionable lessons.
• Key Concept: A great team is both engaged and effective. Many teams excel at one, but not the other.
• Quotable:
  • “A great team is both engaged and effective. … We saw in our world how many teams I’ve led … were really good at one or the other.” – Tommy (29:35)
• Practicality:
  • Easy to read in one sitting, loaded with wisdom for both professional and personal life.
• Episode Reference:
  • Theresa’s interview with Dr. Tony Bridwell earlier in the year.
• Timestamps:
  • [27:35–30:30]

7. The Benefit of Doubt by Craig Groeschel

Tommy’s Pick

• Audience: Literally anyone, especially those facing spiritual questions or doubt.
• Key Idea: Doubt and unbelief are not the same; doubt is an opportunity for deeper faith and relationship.
• Quotes & Insights:
  • “Doubt doesn’t equal weak faith.” – Tommy (31:38)
  • “Doubt is actually an invitation to a deeper relationship with God.” – Tommy (33:24)
• Notable Passage:
  • Matthew 28: Jesus commissions both worshippers and doubters to “go and make disciples”.
• Related Reflection:
  • “It’s not my story that God’s a part of, it’s his story that I’m a part of.” – Theresa (36:47)
• Timestamps:
  • [30:45–37:14]

8. The Bible: Cover-to-Cover Journey

Theresa’s 2025 Accomplishment

• Takeaway:
  • Reading digitally with tracked progress provided accountability and satisfaction.
  • “The coolest part… [was] just the reminder that it’s not my story that God’s a part of, it’s his story that I’m a part of.” – Theresa (36:47)
• Encouragement:
  • For anyone, believer or not, to read the Bible cover-to-cover for perspective and questions.
• Timestamps:
  • [35:03–37:14]

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “Leaders are readers. Not all readers are leaders, but leaders are readers.” – Tommy (38:27)
• “You read nonfiction to learn about ideas, and you read fiction to learn about people and about human beings.” – Theresa (38:40)
• “Invest in your personal growth every single day, it’s going to yield you great returns.” – Theresa (39:10)

Reading Hacks Recap

• Digital+audio sync for speed and retention (Tommy’s method).
• Use your finger to track (from Limitless).
• Plan your reading, up it by 1% for the coming year (“up at 1% in 26”—Tommy, 38:40).
• Use fiction to learn about people, nonfiction for ideas.

Listener Challenge & Closing Thoughts

• Theresa will send out links to all recommended books via teresaflood.com.
• Listeners are encouraged to share their favorite reads from 2025.
• Both hosts reinforce the theme: Reading is essential to growth and leadership in all domains.

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:00–04:05] Format & reading style debate
• [04:25–09:36] The AI Driven Leader discussion
• [09:44–15:07] The Science of Scaling
• [15:07–17:39] Wealthy and Well Known
• [17:39–23:39] Endless Customers
• [23:44–27:30] Build a Business You Love
• [27:35–30:30] Beyond the Leader
• [30:45–37:14] The Benefit of Doubt and The Bible journey
• [38:27–39:10] Closing advice on reading and personal growth

Engaging, Practical, and Uplifting

Even if you missed the episode, this summary highlights the warmth, humor, and wisdom that defines TheUPside Podcast, delivering actionable recommendations for your reading list and personal development in the year ahead.