Let Them Lead

Feb 27 2024 74 ep. 42 mins 24
Let Them Lead Podcast artwork

The Let Them Lead podcast is about the risks and rewards of leading in today's world. Hosted by John Bacon, author of Let Them Lead: Unexpected lessons in leadership from America's worst high school hockey team. Each week we'll talk to amazing leaders from around the country from just about every field you can think of and pick up their hard-won wisdom. In the words of John’s fifth-grade teacher, Mr. Pudduck, “It'll be fast fun, and we'll get it done.” So please join us each week for inspiring discussions you’ll hate to miss.

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Serge Savard | Hockey Leader and Legend

Feb 27 2024 52 mins  
Serge Savard ranks as one of the top 100 hockey players of all time, and won an incredible 8 Stanley Cups as a player, the most by any defenseman, and two more as a general manager. But in this conversation he says winning the 1972 Summit Series for Team Canada over the Soviet Union tops them all, where he was the only player to win or tie every game without any losses. Here he dis

Morton Schapiro - Northwestern University President

Feb 06 2024 53 mins  
In this episode Morton Schapiro explains how this grandson of Holocaust survivors, and son of a store owner, rose from an average community college student to the president of Williams College, then Northwestern University. One crucial figure: an inspiring professor who recognized his hidden promise. Here Schapiro talks about his love for learning and teaching, the importance of hu

DAVID HARLOCK | From the Olympics and NHL to business

Jan 11 2024 55 mins  
In this conversation, David Harlock, one of only two 3-year captains in the 100 year history of Michigan hockey, discusses what real leadership looks like, especially for a reserved personality like his; how college hockey compared to his experience winning a silver medal for the Canadian Olympic team, and playing for his hometown Toronto Maple Leafs in the NHL. Then he compares hi

John Wangler: Michigan Quarterback

Dec 27 2023 43 mins  
John Wangler, a great Michigan quarterback in the 70s and 80s, became a successful businessman, and father of five children – three of whom played varsity sports at Michigan. Here he tells us what he learned playing for legendary coach Bo Schembechler, coming back from what they thought was a career-ending injury, and raising his kids to be resilient, handle failure, and be grate

Ross Childs: Hockey Mentor

Nov 20 2023 12 mins  
This week I pay homage to one of my best mentors, role models, and friends: K. Ross Childs, who passed away a year ago at 84. Ross played goalie at the University of Michigan, almost won the award for lowest goals-against as a junior – then moved to forward as a senior because that’s what the team needed. He became Grand Traverse County’s administrator, and was awarded Michig

Pat and Barry Richter : From Athletic Legends to Leadership Icons

Oct 19 2023 36 mins  
Join host John U Bacon on the Let Them Lead Podcast as he delves into the extraordinary journey of Pat Richter, a sports legend who excelled in football, basketball, and baseball, securing both athletic and academic All-American honors. Pat's remarkable path led him to an eight-season NFL career with the Washington Redskins, but his story didn't end there. Rising to the role of Vic

MATT MAASDAM, NAVY SEAL Part 2

Oct 07 2023 38 mins  
Matt Maasdam, a Navy SEAL for 20 years, the SEAL training program’s head instructor, and for 2.5 years, the carrier of the President’s ‘nuclear football,’ is so good in this interview that we broke it up into two episodes: Part I: Training the SEALs, and Part II: Carrying the Nuclear Football. In Part II, Navy SEAL leader Maasdam returns for a riveting bonus round. Here he

Matt Maasdam, Navy SEAL Part 1

Sep 27 2023 40 mins  
Matt Maasdam, a Navy SEAL for 20 years, the SEAL training program’s head instructor, and for 2.5 years, the carrier of the President’s ‘nuclear football,’ is so good in this interview that we broke it up into two episodes: Part I: Training the SEALS, and Part II: Carrying the Nuclear Football. In Part I, Maasdam recounts his journey: after winning a Nebraska state champions

John Bacon on WTKA-23 Radio 9-15

Sep 16 2023 38 mins  
In this week's Let Them Lead podcast, John Bacon and WTKA's Sam Webb discuss Michigan State University football coach Mel Tucker, who has been accused by sexual assault prevention leader Brenda Tracy of engaging in unwanted phone sex, thoughTucker claims it was consensual. The story raises more questions than answers. Can MSU fire Tucker, even if his claim is true? Who knew what at

Scott Miller | What Makes Great Leaders and Mentors

Sep 08 2023 31 mins  
Scott Miller learned worked under leadership legend Stephen Covey, author of the classic “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.” But Scott has become a leader in his own right, writing 7 books, including his latest, “The Ultimate Guide to Mentorship,” while producing his popular podcast and columns. His insights are unconventional, funny, irreverent, and bold, includ