Business Leader Breakthroughs

Welcome to Business Leader Breakthroughs where we help unlock the potential in you, your teams and your business. Hosted by Ryan Castle, along with Dr Mike Ashby, we share insights, experiences and stories on achieving breakthrough successes in business and life. In addition to a podcast, The Breakthrough also specialises in delivering management training that actually sticks, is cost effective, and easy to implement at scale to sustain change from the inside out.

Business Leader Breakthroughs is a business podcast hosted by Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby, with 148 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.

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby hosts Business Leader Breakthroughs, a business show with 148 episodes published.

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  Episode #113

  EP 113 - Big announcement: The end of an era and new beginnings

  Jul 17, 202517 min

  In this final episode of Business Leader Breakthroughs , Ryan Castle and Dr. Mike Ashby reflect on over six years and 100+ episodes of podcasting, sharing how their journey has evolved. They announce the exciting launch of their new podcast, Level Ten Leaders , coming in September 2025. This new show will feature a mix of long-form interviews and quick, actionable leadership tips based on feedback from their community. A big thank you to all of our amazing listeners for joining us on this journey. Keep an eye out for upcoming announcements—we’ll see you soon on Level Ten Leaders ! 👉 Free Resource : tbco.at/ambook Download The Active Manager book – your field guide to leading through uncertainty Where else you can find us Website: https://thebreakthrough.co LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/ Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

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  Episode #112

  EP 112 – 94% of Gen Z and millennials don’t want leadership: are your managers ready for them?

  Jul 3, 202514 min

  In this episode of Business Leader Breakthroughs, we’re trying something different—an AI-powered deep dive into what Gen Z and Millennials really want from work. Here’s the headline: 94% of Gen Z don’t want traditional leadership roles. The problem? Most managers aren’t equipped to deliver what this generation actually values. They manage tasks. They don’t build people. And that disconnect? It’s costing companies future leadership, innovation, and engagement. Using Google's NotebookLM to analyse Deloitte's 2025 global survey, we unpack the manager gap—and what needs to change. Is this the future of podcasting? Fast, fact-packed, and future-focused? Hit play, decide for yourself, and tell us what you think. Useful links: 2025 Gen Z and Millennial Survey, Deloitte Free Resource : tbco.at/ambook Download The Active Manager book – your field guide to leading through uncertainty Where else you can find us Website: https://thebreakthrough.co LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/ Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

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  Episode #111

  EP 111 - The Growth Mindset: How to develop your business and team

  Jun 19, 202522 min

  👉 Free Resource : tbco.at/ambook Download The Active Manager book – your field guide to leading through uncertainty In this episode of Business Leader Breakthroughs , Ryan Castle and Dr. Mike Ashby dive into the challenges of learning and why it's often harder than we expect. They explore the natural resistance we face when trying to change and the mental energy required to push through it. They break down the stages of learning—from unconscious incompetence to unconscious competence—and share how business leaders can apply these stages to develop their teams. With practical insights on overcoming learning struggles, the episode also highlights the importance of repetition and consistent practice for mastering new skills. If you’ve ever struggled with helping your team learn or develop new habits, this episode is packed with actionable advice to make learning stick and drive results. Where else you can find us Website: https://thebreakthrough.co LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/ Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

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  Episode #110

  EP 110 – Why good employees leave: The real cost of poor management

  Jun 5, 202529 min

  👉 Free Resource : tbco.at/ambook Download The Active Manager book – your field guide to leading through uncertainty In this episode of Business Leader Breakthroughs, Ryan Castle and Dr. Mike Ashby get real about the hidden cost of bad—or as they call them, crap —bosses. They break down how poor management shows up in micromanagement, low trust, and missed opportunities, and how it kills culture, productivity, and engagement. They share practical steps to move from micromanaging to active management, plus a story of one manager who shifted their whole approach with one mindset change. If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re too in the weeds—or suspect someone else is—this episode is a must-listen. Useful links: Nine Lies About Work by Marcus Buckingham & Ashley Goodall - Amazon ( Note: We are not affiliated with this link; it’s shared for reference only. ) Where else you can find us Website: https://thebreakthrough.co LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/ Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

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  Episode #109

  EP 109 – How to harness AI for business growth and innovation with Brian Russell, PhD

  May 22, 202555 min

  In this episode Ryan Castle sits down with AI expert and entrepreneur Brian Russell, PhD to unpack how artificial intelligence is reshaping business growth and innovation. Drawing on his PhD and deep industry experience, Bryan shares practical insights on how business leaders can harness AI, from large language models to advanced decision-making tools, to scale expertise and solve complex problems. Bryan breaks down key AI concepts like prompt engineering, agents, and validation, explaining how these technologies can be integrated into organizations to unlock breakthrough performance without losing the human touch. Connect with Brian Russell, PhD - LinkedIn 👉 Free Resource : tbco.at/ambook Download The Active Manager book – your field guide to leading through uncertainty Where else you can find us Website: https://thebreakthrough.co LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/ Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

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