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The Unworthy Leader Podcast
The real leadership lessons aren’t in the wins—they’re in the doubts, fears, and failures we’re taught to hide. On The Unworthy Leader Podcast, executive coach Kendra Dahlstrom flips the script on success. Through raw stories and real conversations, we expose the hidden side of leadership—and why Doubt is your data™, Failure is fuel™, and Vulnerability is viral™. Ready to lead with more truth, presence, and courage? You’re in the right place.
Through honest, research-backed conversations, Kendra brings raw insights, practical tools, and inspiring guests to help leaders break free from perfectionism and lead from a place of purpose and presence—not performance.
If you're tired of curated leadership advice and craving something more real, this podcast is for you.
In each episode, you’ll discover:
- Scientific research and psychology behind imposter syndrome and unworthiness
- How to transform self-doubt into strength and resilience
- The role of vulnerability, emotional intelligence, and psychological safety in leadership
- Tools for creating inclusive, human-centered workplaces
- Strategies to overcome burnout, inadequacy, and the fear of being found out
Whether you’re a seasoned executive, a new people manager, or an aspiring leader, The Unworthy Leader Podcast will help you embrace your imperfections, step into your full power, and lead with truth and courage.
Join the movement to redefine leadership—flaws and all.
The Unworthy Leader Podcast
The Unworthy Leader Podcast: Purpose Beyond Performance with Rod Francis (Ep12)
Welcome back to The Unworthy Leader Podcast, where we challenge traditional leadership roles and lean into the parts most people try to hide—self-doubt, fear, imposter syndrome, and the messy middle. In this episode, host Kendra Dahlstrom, executive coach to Fortune 500 leaders, sits down with Rod Francis, a former high-performance athlete and international model turned master coach and embodiment practitioner.
Rod’s story is one of radical reinvention—growing up under the shadow of a legendary Ironman father, discovering ballet as a teen, surviving the pressure of the fashion world, and navigating addiction, grief, and rediscovery. Today, Rod brings a unique coaching style grounded in presence, embodiment, and developmental growth to help leaders embrace heworth (their inner sense of worth), rather than chase validation through titles or achievements.
💡 Key Topics
🩰 Leadership & the Unpopular Path
Rod opens up about being the only male in a room of 60 ballerinas—and how that shaped his understanding of authenticity, leadership accountability, and showing up even when you feel like an outsider. His story is a reminder that some of the best leaders come from unpopular teams and unexpected beginnings.
💔 Addiction, Achievement & the Reckoning
Despite external success, Rod faced moments where his life lacked meaning. He speaks openly about mistakes in leadership, the cost of ignoring your inner purpose, and how confronting pain and loss was the catalyst for a new kind of impact.
🌿 Embodiment & Presence Over Performance
Rod and Kendra explore how embodiment and mindfulness shift leadership from performative to powerful. Whether you're leading cross-functional teams, making high-stakes decisions, or simply trying to be more present, these tools help you lead from the inside out.
🧠 Self-Doubt & Context
Imposter syndrome isn’t a flaw—it’s often contextual. Rod breaks down how environment, upbringing, and team dynamics influence self-perception and worth. Learning to pause, breathe, and dialog with your inner critic is a game-changer for ethical leadership.
Ready to lead with more honesty, humanity, and authenticity?
👉 Subscribe to The Unworthy Leader Podcast for real conversations, grounded tools, and vulnerable stories that redefine success.
Connect with Rod Francis - Website | Interactualizer
Other References in this Episode - Hare Brain, Tortoise Mind: How Intelligence Increases When You Think Less | Holotropic Breathwork
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