Where Your Leadership Conversations Aren’t Happening in Boardrooms
The Unconventional Leadership podcast exists for the leaders who refuse to stop asking
that question and challenging themselves and those around them to become more.
About the Podcast
Since 2018, the Unconventional Leadership Podcast has brought together world-class leaders willing to share the real story: the wins, the hard lessons, and the decisions that defined them. These aren’t polished keynote moments. They’re honest conversations, filled with real insights, about what leadership actually requires and what it makes possible.
Every episode is built around a single belief: that the leaders willing to challenge conventional thinking are the ones who build something worth following.
Proudly sponsored by The Living Room.
The Living Room
Great leadership conversations need the right room to happen in. The Living Room is Cincinnati’s creative meeting space, built for teams who want their next offsite, workshop, or strategy session to actually move something forward.
Featured Episodes
The Myth of Burnout. With Joey Haselmayer
Joey Haselmayer, CEO of The Living Room and a consumer researcher, joins Mike Sipple, Jr. for a conversation on the myth of burnout and what it may reveal about purpose, vision, and leadership. They unpack why much of what people call burnout may actually be a loss of connection to the work, how ultrarunning reshaped Joey’s understanding of mental and physical limits, and why family business transitions rarely come with a clean changing-of-the-guard moment. They also explore the role of rituals, relationships, imposter syndrome, and intentional time away in building a more resilient and meaningful approach to leadership.
Are You Keeping the Wrong “Top Performer” on Your Team? With John Spence and Michael Ragsdale
John Spence and Michael Ragsdale join Mike Sipple Jr. for a candid conversation on what to do when a “star performer” threatens company culture, violates core values, or disrupts team cohesion. They dive into why true values alignment is the ultimate lever for scaling a healthy business, why modern leadership carries gravity – impacting families, livelihoods, and trust – and how the brain-body connection, cognition, and BDNF directly influence high-level executive performance. They also explore origin stories, managing risk, and how leadership skills must evolve at every distinct stage of growth.
What Makes The Living Room Different
Everything Included
On-site tech support, full AV setup, and an endless supply of snacks and drinks. You bring the agenda. The Living Room handles the rest.
Built for Focus
Multiple, unique meeting spaces designed for collaboration, not cubicles. No distractions, no compromises.
Total Privacy
Boutique-sized spaces mean your group has the room to itself. No shared lobbies, no overlapping events
Central and Convenient
With two convenient locations, downtown and 10 minutes north of Cincinnati, the Living Room offers easy access from across the tri-state area.
Why The Living Room?
If you’re planning a leadership offsite, a team workshop, or a client meeting that deserves more than a generic conference room, The Living Room was built with you in mind. Their staff handles the logistics so your team can focus on the work that matters.
Includes:
Unique Meeting Spaces at Two Locations
On-Site Tech Support
Free Off-Street Parking (Norwood Location)
Snacks, Drinks, and Catering Available
Dedicated Staff Throughout Your Event
Centrally Located
Another bullet point
Marcia
Sur-Seal
“There is something very special that happens in our meetings when we gather at the Living Room!”
Brenda
Director of DEIB, Ulmer & Berne LLP
“When I think about having a curriculum and program that not only teaches you the ‘how to,’ but the ‘how to’ in the context of where you are, I can’t think of a better program. It wasn’t just spreadsheets.”
Rubi Ho (MBA ‘10)
Founder & CEO, The Rubi Ho Group
“What I found from Xavier specifically was that touch, emphasizing not only the competence of the program but also the relationships and genuine interest they showed in me as a human being.”
Elevate Your Next Meeting
Listen & Subscribe
Find the Unconventional Leadership Podcast on your favorite platform, including:
