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My Favorite Mistake: Learning Without Blame in Business and Leadership

My Favorite Mistake is a podcast about learning without blame in business and leadership. Hosted by Mark Graban, the show features honest conversations with leaders, executives, entrepreneurs, and changemakers about a meaningful mistake they made—and what they learned after things went wrong. It’s not just my favorite mistake; it’s yours, it’s ours, and it’s what we can all learn from when things don’t go as planned. This isn’t a podcast about failure theater, gotcha moments, or simplistic “lessons learned.” It explores how real people reflect, improve, and lead better in complex organizations—without scapegoating, shame...

Learning from Business Mistakes: Building a $200M Company with Brian Gottlieb

45 mins; September 09, 2024

NFL Player Safety and Leadership Lessons from Dr. Thom Mayer

50 mins; September 03, 2024

Bonus: "Footprints in the Sands of Time": Behind the Scenes with Matt Korban

11 mins; August 29, 2024

Learning from Leadership Mistakes with CEO Kerry Siggins

42 mins; August 26, 2024

Character-Driven Leadership and Learning from Mistakes with Kimberley Milani

55 mins; August 19, 2024

Burnout, Psychological Safety, and Finding Flow with Andrew Davis

49 mins; August 12, 2024

Gut-Checking Decisions and Learning from Pandemic Mistakes with Megan Gluth-Bohan

45 mins; August 05, 2024

Bonus: Update with Dr. Susan Landers — Defeating Burnout for Working Mothers

7 mins; August 01, 2024

Learning from Addiction Mistakes with J.K. Emezi

49 mins; July 29, 2024

Finding Brand Clarity Through Mistakes with Teresa Rose

45 mins; July 22, 2024

Bonus: Terry Iverson's Update, Author of "Inspiring Champions in Advanced Manufacturing"

11 mins; July 18, 2024

Leadership Lessons from Mistakes with Brian Biro

45 mins; July 15, 2024

Change Management Mistakes Leaders Keep Making — Lynn Kelley

44 mins; July 08, 2024

The Mistake of Coaching for Free — Doug C. Brown

45 mins; July 01, 2024

Bonus: Phebe Trotman's Update: Author of "Never Quit on a Bad Day"

7 mins; June 27, 2024

A Bourbon Mistake That Worked: Joyce Nethery of Jeptha Creed

50 mins; June 24, 2024

Growing Too Fast — John St. Pierre

42 mins; June 17, 2024

Bonus: John Rossman's Update, Author of "Big Bet Leadership"

8 mins; June 13, 2024

Embracing Failure — Jen Heemstra

49 mins; June 10, 2024

Learning from Mistakes in Medicine — Dr. Andrew Wilner

44 mins; June 03, 2024

Career Change Reinvention — From Lawyer to Comedy with Rachel Burch

43 mins; May 27, 2024

Bonus: Ellen Patnaude's Updates (2 New Books and More)

14 mins; May 23, 2024

Bonus: Ellen Patnaude's Updates (2 New Books and More)

39 mins; May 23, 2024

Independent Publishing Mistakes — Book Publishing Insights with Michele DeFilippo

39 mins; May 20, 2024

Learning From Mistakes at Work — Michael Bloom on Professional Learning

40 mins; May 13, 2024

Almost Killed a $500 Million Mars Rover — Chris Lewicki on Engineering Mistakes

50 mins; May 06, 2024

Meditation and Resilience — Ann Swanson on Near Mistakes and Success

44 mins; April 29, 2024

Bonus: Sarah Lohse’s Update & Key to Effective Communication: Storytelling (Her New Book: "Open This Book")

9 mins; April 25, 2024

Terry Bartley on ADHD, Writing, and Career Mistakes

44 mins; April 22, 2024

Gina Mundy on Motherhood, Career Mistakes, and Childbirth Safety

47 mins; April 15, 2024

Julian Reeve on Burnout, Perfectionism, and the Leadership Mistake That Changed Everything

42 mins; April 08, 2024

Russell Jack on a Law Enforcement Mistake and the MAGA Movement

43 mins; April 01, 2024

Elaine Hart: Turning Stumbles into a Dance and Building Resilience from Mistakes

41 mins; March 25, 2024

250 Episodes! Celebrating and Reflecting on a Podcasting Journey

34 mins; March 18, 2024

How Speak-Up Culture Builds on Psychological Safety | Stephen Shedletzky

45 mins; February 26, 2024

Breaking Barriers in the NHL and Building Fitness Communities | Sandy Joy Weston

44 mins; February 19, 2024

Building a Prototype the Customer Didn’t Believe: Bruno Pešec

43 mins; February 12, 2024

Driving Growth Through the Generosity Culture — April Shprintz

41 mins; February 05, 2024

Learning from Leadership Mistakes with JM Ryerson

37 mins; January 29, 2024

Learning from Marketing Mistakes with Lauren Petrullo (Mongoose Media)

46 mins; January 21, 2024

Building a Five-Star Company Culture by Learning from Mistakes with Josh Cunningham

42 mins; January 15, 2024

Moving Mountains: Learning from Mistakes with Jenn Drummond

37 mins; January 08, 2024

Amazon’s Culture of Experimentation and Learning with John Rossman

38 mins; January 02, 2024

Bouncing Back from Mistakes and Advocating for Diversity with Jazzy Collins

41 mins; December 18, 2023

The Military Approach to Learning from Failure with George A. Milton

51 mins; December 11, 2023

Thrive with a Hybrid Workplace Without Getting Sued: Julie Kantor and Felice Ekelman

49 mins; December 04, 2023

Avoiding Mistakes in HR and Leadership with Tom Applegarth

43 mins; November 27, 2023

Lessons from Failures: Navigating Mistakes with Amy Edmondson

40 mins; November 20, 2023

Inside the BloomBox: Reimagining Global Education with CEO Sofie Roux

40 mins; November 13, 2023

The Art of Overcoming Mistakes at Work with Cliff Hazell

44 mins; November 06, 2023

The Beer Blogger Turned Podcast Maestro: Jason Cercone’s Story and Lessons

47 mins; October 30, 2023

Victory Beyond the Soccer Field: Phebe Trotman on Mistakes and Resilience

41 mins; October 23, 2023

Mistakes in Television Journalism and the Medill F with Annie Krall

47 mins; October 16, 2023

An Accidentally Inappropriate Tattoo and Preventing Podcast Mistakes with Sara Lohse

37 mins; October 09, 2023

Shingo Institute Executive Director Ken Snyder: Navigating the Nuances of Lean Leadership and Sustainable Change

48 mins; October 02, 2023

Lean Leadership Mistakes and Sustainable Change with Ken Snyder (Shingo Institute)

48 mins; October 02, 2023

From the White House to Executive Coaching: Laura Terrell on Compensation Mistakes

36 mins; September 25, 2023

From Zen Monk to CEO: Marc Lesser on Avoiding Conflict and Leadership Mistakes

44 mins; September 18, 2023

Public Speaking Gone Quiet: Bobbi Kahler on Learning from a Tough Audience

36 mins; September 11, 2023

Learning from Rejection: Dr. Eli Joseph on Career Growth and Failure

44 mins; September 04, 2023

Leadership Communication Mistakes: Suzy Siegle on Feedback and Energy

43 mins; August 28, 2023

Overconfidence in Leadership: Mark Myers on Mistakes and Mentorship

38 mins; August 21, 2023

Hiring Family in Business: Alisa Applewhite on Emotional Leadership Mistakes

47 mins; August 14, 2023

Selling Too Early: Indus Khaitan on a $6.5 Billion Startup Mistake

44 mins; August 07, 2023

Being Right in a Lawsuit: Beate Chelette on a Costly Mistake

48 mins; July 31, 2023

Make Mistakes Faster: Rich Sheridan on Learning and Leadership

46 mins; July 24, 2023

Learning from Leadership Mistakes: Hank Levine’s CEO Lessons

44 mins; July 17, 2023

Hank Levine, CEO of iPlace USA, Shares Two Favorite Mistakes From Sales and Technology

45 mins; July 17, 2023

Learning from Mistakes in Combat and Leadership with KC Campbell

42 mins; July 10, 2023

Col. Kim "KC" Campbell on Learning to Let Mistakes Go in Air Force Training, Combat, and Beyond

42 mins; July 10, 2023

Emotional Decision-Making and Psychological Safety with Timothy R. Clark

40 mins; July 03, 2023

Timothy R. Clark on Learning Not to Make Decisions Emotionally; Cultivating Psychological Safety

41 mins; July 03, 2023

Business Transitions and Book Writing Mistakes with Cathy Fyock

44 mins; June 26, 2023

Book Launch LIVE - Featuring Mark Graban - ”The Mistakes that Make Us”

44 mins; June 23, 2023

Campaign Mistakes, Chronic Pain, and Anxiety with Rep. Adam Smith

35 mins; June 19, 2023

Startup Lessons, Entrepreneurial Mistakes, and The Bachelorette with Zak Waddell

45 mins; June 12, 2023

Physician Burnout, Career Decisions, and Lessons from the NICU with Dr. Susan Landers

38 mins; June 05, 2023

Sales Mistakes, Vulnerable Leadership, and the Painted Baby with Matt Shoup

43 mins; May 29, 2023

Job Interview Mistakes and Networking Lessons with Ellen Poole

39 mins; May 22, 2023

Hiring the Best Employees and Building Culture with CEO Mike Kaeding

47 mins; May 15, 2023

Interior Design Mistakes and a Secret Service Encounter with Shirley Novack

36 mins; May 08, 2023

Nonprofit Growth Mistakes, Purpose, and Impact with Wendy Steele

37 mins; May 01, 2023

Red Flags, DEI, and Leadership Mistakes with Kim Crowder

48 mins; April 24, 2023

Epic Firings, Career Lessons, and Life as a Working-Class Rock Star with Ivan Bodley

41 mins; April 17, 2023

Hiring Mistakes, Leadership Lessons, and Love with Kim Sorrelle

39 mins; April 10, 2023

A Hiring Mistake, Busting in to Meet Hugo Chavez, Learning What Love Is: Kim Sorrelle

41 mins; April 10, 2023

Burnout, Introversion, and Energy Management with Amanda Watts

41 mins; April 03, 2023

Amanda Watts, The Empowered Introvert, on Battling, Recovering From, and Preventing Burnout

42 mins; April 03, 2023

Speaking Mistakes, Confidence, and Courage with Bret Ridgway

39 mins; March 27, 2023

CEO Mistakes, Entrepreneurship, and Redemption with Shaun Hayes

41 mins; March 20, 2023

Career Mistakes, Change Management, and Leadership with Marché Pleshette

38 mins; March 13, 2023

Giveaway Contest: Coffee Mugs with the Podcast Logo and More

52 secs; March 07, 2023

Podcasting Mistakes, 200 Episodes, and Learning From Errors with Mark Graban

58 mins; March 06, 2023

Aging 100 Barrels of Bourbon Too Long, Master Distiller Donnis Todd - Just the Mistake

6 mins; February 27, 2023

Knowing Your Value and Embracing Vibrant Leadership with Nicole Greer

45 mins; February 20, 2023

Leveraging Failure, Learning Culture, and Innovation with Kevin Goldsmith

46 mins; February 13, 2023

Will Hurd Lost His First Congressional Runoff Because He Didn’t Listen to His Consultants - Just the Mistake

8 mins; February 06, 2023

Mastermind Investment Regrets, ADHD, and Entrepreneurship with Kristen Carder

46 mins; January 30, 2023

A Shark Tank Investor’s Biggest Cash Flow Mistake — Kevin Harrington

7 mins; January 23, 2023

Work Relationships and Mistakes: Joe Perello on Leadership and Learning Culture

46 mins; January 16, 2023

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My Favorite Mistake: Learning Without Blame in Business and Leadership

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