What makes someone worth following?

In this episode of Lead Human, Jack Myers and Tim Spengler sit down with Contessa Brewer, CNBC correspondent and one of the sharpest interviewers in business news, for a conversation about leadership, journalism, listening, and the future of truth in an algorithm-driven world.

Contessa shares why the leaders she respects most are great listeners, how small signals like eye contact, follow-up questions, and even writing down a note can make people feel seen, and why that kind of validation creates real loyalty. She also talks about what she’s learned covering CEOs, how to communicate more effectively, and why curiosity might be the most underrated professional skill there is.

The conversation also goes deep on the future of journalism: social media, citizen reporters, hyperlocal news, paywalls, live events, and the uncomfortable but necessary question every news company has to answer — how are we going to make money without compromising the truth?

Along the way, Contessa opens up about a humiliating on-air mistake that turned into one of the greatest gifts of her life, the grace Jesse Jackson showed her afterward, and the lessons that shaped her as both a communicator and a human being.

If you care about leadership, media, communication, or what it means to stay ethical in public, this episode is for you.

Lead Human is hosted by Jack Myers & Tim Spengler, produced by Wondir Studios (Desta Wondirad), in association with Acast.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does it take to lead 1,400 people across 91 markets while the media business keeps reinventing itself?

In this episode of Lead Human, Jack Myers and Tim Spengler sit down with Dan Callahan, Chief Revenue Officer of Spectrum Reach, to talk about hard work, culture, family, sports, and the future of media.

Dan shares how being a college athlete shaped his mindset around discipline, accountability, and showing up. He explains why great teams outperform their circumstances, why culture has to come before talent, and what it means to lead at scale when most of your organization isn’t in the same room.

They also dig into Dan’s path from early programmatic at Fox to leading revenue at Spectrum Reach, why “raise your hand” has been a defining principle in his career, and why the next era of winning teams will automate the routine while pairing data with empathy, technology with transparency, and solutions with purpose.

If you care about leadership, media, or building teams that can handle constant change without losing the human connection, this episode is for you.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does it look like to lead at the very top of tech and media—and still put humans first?

In this episode of Lead Human, hosts Jack Myers and Tim Spengler sit down with Carolyn Everson, former global ads leader at Facebook (Meta) and current board member at companies like The Coca‑Cola Company and The Walt Disney Company.

Carolyn shares why no one will remember the revenue she oversaw—but they will remember whether she cared about people. She talks about the pulse survey that forced her to change her leadership, the risks that shaped her career (including getting fired by fax after turning down every “safe” job), and why “not knowing is the new knowing” in the age of AI.

You’ll hear stories about Pets.com, Viacom, Microsoft, Facebook, Instacart, and her current “portfolio” life on boards and with entrepreneurs. Along the way, she gets real about missing small family moments, rebuilding her identity after leaving Facebook “blue,” navigating office politics, and why she still believes in hope and reinvention even as AI disrupts white-collar work.

If you’re leading a team—or trying to lead your own life—this conversation is a masterclass in caring leadership, culture, and courage.

Lead Human is hosted by Jack Myers & Tim Spengler, produced by Wondir Studios (Desta Wondirad), in association with Acast.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.