Big Boss Biscuits

When I first watched Ted Lasso , I couldn’t help but see the dozens of leadership moments in every episode — the triumphs, the face‑palms, and the beautiful recoveries. From Ted’s kindness to Rebecca’s evolution, Nate’s struggle, Roy’s gruff authenticity, and Keeley’s fearless confidence — it was a masterclass in human‑centered leadership. That realization inspired me to launch the Ted Lasso Leadership Mastermind , where new and seasoned leaders came together to reflect, learn, and laugh about the art (and mess) of leading humans. After a while, one phrase kept echoing: “You should turn this into a podcast.” So… I did. 🎙️ Big Boss Biscuits was born — a space where we talk about leading with heart, humor, honesty, and maybe a little swearing. Each episode dives into the lessons and leadership insights Ted Lasso fans love: trust, growth, failure, and the courage to believe in yourself (and your team). Expect conversations that m

Big Boss Biscuits is a business podcast hosted by Kirsten Penaloza, with 15 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Kirsten Penaloza hosts Big Boss Biscuits, a business show with 15 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #1

  The Disciplined Leader And Valuable Tangents

  Aug 19, 202637 minS16

  What happens when your worst day at work becomes the foundation for how you lead for the rest of your life? Early in his career, Fred Neis was part of a team that lost a patient — a tragedy with missteps, his own among them. What he and his team did next is the reason this conversation exists: they told the truth, they asked why, and they let the answer reshape them. Out of that came a leadership philosophy built on discipline, clarity, and the quiet power of controlling the variables you actually can. In this episode, we get into: Why "consistent inconsistency" — the endless pivot-pivot-pivot — quietly burns teams out and erodes trust How honest debriefs and owning mistakes out loud build stronger, safer, higher-performing teams The playbook principle: giving people clear roles so they can adapt when the curveballs come Why mission and clarity matter more than any three, five, or ten-year plan on paper The courage it takes to look at a bad outcome and grow from it instead of hiding from it True to form, this one doesn't stay on the rails. We wander into fatherhood, sports, and the messy human middle — the tangents that seem unrelated until you realize they're the whole story of what shaped a leader. About Fred: Fred Neis, RN, FACHE, FAEN, is the founder of AdvisorRN and founder and CEO of RESCUE ID. A healthcare executive with nearly three decades of experience, he moonlights as a firefighter and medic, has provided medical care in a clinic in Kenya, and in 2025 published the #1 Amazon best-seller The Disciplined Leader: Habits and Practices for Healthcare Leaders That Get Results. His best role, by his own account, is dad. Links: The Disciplined Leader (book): https://amzn.to/4g8tIQJ AdvisorRN: https://advisorrn.com/ RESCUE ID: https://www.rescueid.com/ Music licensed through Soundstripe. Code: GK0QZCYEAO0RUKA0, 78OK1ODLAQAS1LGR, KX5GMQQCYLSWJ6CT

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  Episode #15

  The Minister of Loneliness: Why Kindness is not Weakness

  Aug 6, 202636 minS1

  We're more connected than ever—and lonelier than ever. So what does that have to do with how you lead? Everything. This week, I am joined by Devin C. Hughes —internationally recognized keynote speaker, author of 21 books, and leadership expert who's spoken in more than 20 countries. As founder of Devin C. Hughes Inc. and a professor in the Fowler College of Business at San Diego State University, Devin has spent more than two decades helping Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, healthcare organizations, nonprofits, and schools build cultures where people and performance thrive. Global Gurus named him one of the Top 30 Organizational Culture Professionals, and PeopleHum tapped him as a Top Thought Leader—but on the podcast, he's just a guy who'll tell you the truth over a coffee. And the truth is this: work isn't broken because of your strategy. It's broken because of your behavior. We dig into what good leadership actually looks like when the cameras (and the Zoom calls) are off: Why loneliness is a leadership issue , not just a personal one—and what the UK's Minister of Loneliness reveals about the state of our teams How to lead intentionally in a remote world , where connection doesn't happen by accident and "we'll catch up later" quietly becomes never Devin's rule for leaders: "If it's not on the agenda, it's not important"—and how ten intentional minutes can keep the business from hijacking your humanity The power of rituals that give people permission to show up as people, not just performers Why kindness keeps getting mistaken for weakness —the Ted Lasso problem—and how approachable leaders build the strongest teams in the room Trust, accountability, and psychological safety as the everyday behaviors behind real results (not the posters on the wall) The throughline? When people feel seen, heard, and valued, performance follows. Connection isn't the soft stuff you get to after the real work—it is the work. Pour some coffee, grab a biscuit, and join us on "the front porch." Connect with Devin: LinkedIn , Instagram , TikTok , and check out his YouTube channel .

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  Episode #14

  What Alexander the Great and Ted Lasso Got Right

  Jul 21, 202635 minS1

  What could a 2,000-year-old conqueror and a mustached fictional soccer coach possibly have in common? More than you'd think. We get into the culture shocks, the mentors who made room for his voice before he had it all figured out, and why psychological safety and buy-in are the quiet engines behind every team that actually innovates. Then we do the fun part: unpacking what Alexander the Great and Ted Lasso — two wildly different leaders — both understood about genuinely caring for their people. Whether you lead a team, coach one, or are still finding your voice in a room that speaks a different language, this one's for you. In this episode, I sit down with Mukul Sheopory — product marketing leader, storyteller, and author of Bucephalus' Shadow , a book that mines leadership lessons from Alexander the Great and draws surprising parallels to modern greats like Steve Jobs and Elon Musk. Mukul grew up in India, built his career in the US, and learned firsthand that speaking the same language doesn't always mean speaking the same language . Connect with Mukul on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mukulsheopory/ Grab the ebook on Amazon or the paperback at www.mukulsheopory.com

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  Episode #13

  Becoming The Leader Your Team Deserves

  Jul 8, 202636 minS1

  What if the biggest thing standing between you and becoming a great leader... is investing in yourself? When Brandon Lee first stepped into leadership, he was driven, ambitious, and laser-focused on results. But he also admits something many leaders never will: he wasn't a good leader. He lost talented teammates, even valued friendships. He struggled to build trust. He treated people more like a means to an end than human beings. And it wasn't until difficult feedback forced him to look inward that he realized something so many of us experience: we're rarely taught how to lead ourselves well, let alone lead other people. In this candid conversation, Brandon shares the uncomfortable lessons that transformed him—from learning emotional intelligence and receiving hard feedback to understanding that leadership isn't about managing tasks, but about connecting with people, acknowledging them and their work, and lift them up. We also explore why vulnerability isn't a weakness, why leadership can (and should) be learned, and how investing in your own growth changes every relationship in your life, from your team to your partner. If you've ever wondered whether people can truly change, this episode is proof that they can. Leadership isn't about being perfect. It's about being willing to learn, unlearn, and grow. Follow Brandon Lee on LinkedIn and YouTube . To access the personality test and discover the best career path according to your passions, strengths, and inspirations, go to GeniusofYou.com and use the code BIGBOSS to get 20% discount on the paid version.

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  Episode #13

  Becoming The Leader Your Team Deserves

  Jul 8, 202636 minS1

  <p>What if the biggest thing standing between you and becoming a great leader... is investing in yourself?</p><p>When Brandon Lee first stepped into leadership, he was driven, ambitious, and laser-focused on results. But he also admits something many leaders never will: he wasn't a good leader.</p><p>He lost talented teammates, even valued friendships. He struggled to build trust. He treated people more like a means to an end than human beings. And it wasn't until difficult feedback forced him to look inward that he realized something so many of us experience: we're rarely taught how...

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