What does it really take to lead at the next level? The Level Up Leader is where growth-minded executives, founders, and trailblazers come to sharpen their edge. Hosted by acclaimed executive coach and keynote speaker Michael King, each episode pulls back the curtain on the habits, mindsets, and decisions that define extraordinary leadership. With candid conversations from some of today’s most impactful business minds, Michael unpacks the real stories behind the titles—what they got right, what they got wrong, and how they leveled up when it mattered most. From scaling companies and navigating crisis, to building cultures that last—this podcast is your go-to resource for bold, practical leadership. Whether you're leading a team of ten or a global organization, you'll walk away each week with clarity, conviction, and the challenge to grow. About the Host: Michael King is a trusted advisor to Fortune 500 executives, growth-stage
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The Level Up Leader with Michael King is a business podcast hosted by Michael King, with 37 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.
About the host
Michael King hosts The Level Up Leader with Michael King, a business show with 37 episodes published.
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The Level Up Leader with Michael King
The Most Dangerous Leader Is the One Who Thinks They’re Uncoachable
Aug 17, 202624 min
WATCH "PAID TO PRETEND"Michael King's latest cinematic leadership film:https://michaelkingjr.com/paid-to-pretend The Most Dangerous Leader Is the One Who Thinks They’re Uncoachable What if the thing that made you successful is now the thing keeping you stuck? In this episode of The Level Up Leader, Michael King and Tracy Phillips unpack one of the most uncomfortable problems in leadership: coachability. Michael shares the story of coaching a successful business owner whose strategy wasn't failing because of effort, marketing, or execution. The problem started much earlier. He was building the business around an identity that wasn't real. That opens up a much bigger conversation about ego, entitlement, feedback, execution, and why some highly successful people eventually become incredibly difficult to coach. Michael and Tracy break down: • The difference between receiving feedback and actually being coachable• Why discomfort can be evidence that your coach is doing their job• How ego and identity create invisible leadership ceilings• Why coaching isn't the same as consulting• Why leadership must be built in this order: Identity → Vision → Structure → Strategy• The warning signs that someone may not actually be ready for coaching• Why waiting until everything is on fire to hire a coach is already too late The bigger question isn't whether you've been successful. It's whether you're still willing to become the leader required for what comes next. Executive Coach | Keynote Speaker | Founder of TEAMS.Coach Website: https://www.michaelkingjr.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/michaelrkingjr75X: https://x.com/michaelkingjrLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelkingjr75/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelkingjrofficial/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@michaelkingexec Founder of Testimagical | Video Testimonial Strategist | Customer Storytelling Expert Website: https://www.testimagical.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/testimagical/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/testimagical/ Hosted by Michael King & Tracy Phillips Real leadership challenges. Exposed, broken down, and rebuilt in real time. No fluff. Just the conversations leaders need to have if they want to keep growing. Subscribe to The Level Up Leader wherever you listen to podcasts. #Leadership #ExecutiveCoaching #LeadershipDevelopment #HighPerformance #Mindset #Growth #Resilience #Discipline #PurposeDriven #GoalSetting #LevelUpLeader #MichaelKing #TracyPhillips The Most Dangerous Leader Is the One Who Thinks They’re UncoachableCONNECT WITH MICHAEL KINGCONNECT WITH TRACY PHILLIPSTHE LEVEL UP LEADER Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Freedom vs. Control Trap: Stop Micromanaging and Scale Your Business
May 22, 202627 min
Every leader says they want freedom, but most are quietly strangling their own growth. If you are overwhelmed, working too many hours, and convinced that no one else can do the job as well as you can—you are trapped in the "Freedom vs. Control" paradox. In this episode of the Level Up Leader podcast, hosts Tracy Phillips and Michael King unpack the exact reasons why high-achieving leaders struggle to let go, and how that micromanagement becomes the ultimate bottleneck for scalability. You will learn why your business strategies are failing (hint: it is a structural issue, not a bad idea) and the exact framework you need to reclaim your time. If you are exhausted from being the chief problem-solver instead of the Chief Visionary Officer, this episode will give you the practical tools to buy your life back. What You Will Learn: •The 80% Rule for Delegation: Why you must hand off any task a team member can do 80% as well as you. •Structure Precedes Strategy: How to audit your org chart to ensure you have the right people in the right seats. •The Chief Visionary Officer Role: The 5 core identity questions every CEO must answer to keep the brand moving forward. •Love, Hate, Delegate: A simple, immediate task-audit exercise to identify what is distracting you from your primary role. •Leadership vs. Talent: Understanding why your specific talents can be outsourced, but your core leadership cannot. Resources Mentioned: •Learn more about Michael King's executive coaching and "Category of One" keynotes at michaelkingjr.com, access free team assessments and learn how Michael coaches some of the worlds highest performing teams at teams.coach. •Discover more leadership insights at our official website: www.levelupleaderpodcast.com Notable Quotes: "Creativity never happens without the margins." (Michael King) "The companies who win in 2026 are not the ones with the highest levels of innovation or creativity. They're the ones that get to clarity fastest." (Michael King)" Talent can be scaled, talent can be given away, talent can be assigned, but leadership is on you." (Michael King) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Enneagram Unlocked: Stop Putting People in Boxes & Start Building Championship Teams
May 7, 202626 min
Is the Enneagram just "woo" — or is it the most powerful leadership tool you're not using? In this episode, host Michael King (CEO of Teams.Coach, Tier 1 Executive Coach) sits down with Tracy Phillips (Founder of Testimagical) for a candid, laugh-out-loud conversation that doubles as a live masterclass in personality-driven leadership. Tracy arrives skeptical. Michael arrives with data. Using his now-famous Moneyball analogy, Michael breaks down how the world's highest-performing teams aren't built on resumes — they're built on a deep understanding of human psychodynamics. And the Enneagram is the tool that makes it all possible. In this episode you'll learn: • Why the Enneagram is not about labeling people — it's about liberating them • The three leadership triads (Gut, Head & Heart) and how each type leads under pressure • Traci's 7 wing 8 profile: why "status quo is a swear word" for her, and what happens when she hits her stress trigger • Michael's 8 wing 7 profile: the introvert playing an extrovert, and why failure doesn't faze him • The "Jonah Hill of Business" — why your most overlooked team member might be your greatest asset • How understanding Enneagram types can transform the way you communicate, lead, and build SPECIAL OFFER: Michael is offering a FREE Enneagram assessment + test pilot of his Teams.Coach platform exclusively to Level Up Leader listeners. Email michael@teams.coach to claim yours. Visit us at www.levelupleaderpodcast.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
<p>Dive into an electrifying conversation where video testimonial wizard Tracy Phillips and Michael explore the transformative power of customer stories in leadership and business success. From karaoke laughs to game-changing leadership insights, this episode is a heartfelt blend of humor and wisdom that will challenge and inspire.</p>
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<p>About Michael King:</p>
<p>Award-winning executive coach Michael King, recently featured in NY Weekly as one of the Top 10 Inspirational Coaches to Follow in 2025, helps leaders and teams achieve breakthrough performance through clarity, creativity, and strategic execution. With a track record spanning solo entrepreneurs to Fortune 500 ex...
<p>In this episode of The Level Up Leader, Michael King sits down with powerhouse media executive Ava Thomas. With over 30 years of experience navigating transformation in the rapidly evolving world of journalism, Ava has climbed the ladder from classified ads to the C-suite, all while raising a family and pioneering leadership initiatives that uplift women across the Midwest.</p>
<p>This conversation explores how Ava leads with resilience in one of the most disrupted industries today, the importance of empathy and accountability, and how results-driven leadership doesn't mean sacrificing humanity. If you're leading through change, balancing legacy with innovation...
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