The Growth Project

Have you ever walked into a room and immediately felt the mood shift? In this episode, Dr. Gabby Caviedes and Anthony Alibro explore emotional contagion and how our emotions, body language, and reactions influence those around us. Discover why negativity can spread so quickly, how leaders shape team culture, and practical ways to regulate your emotions, manage chronic negativity, and intentionally set the tone. Because you can't stop emotions from spreading, but you can choose which ones you pass on.

The way an experience ends can shape how we remember the entire thing. In this episode, Dr. Gabby Caviedes explores the peak-end rule and how our most intense moments and final impressions influence memory. Discover how to use this insight to your advantage by being more intentional about how you end your workday, meetings, and conversations. Small changes in how you finish can make a lasting impact on how others remember the experience.

In a world full of distractions, being fully present with the people who matter most has become increasingly difficult and increasingly important. In this episode, Drs. Milt Lowder and Drew Brannon explore what it really means to be present physically, mentally, and emotionally, and how stress and overcommitment can get in the way. We discuss the hidden costs of distraction, from missed opportunities for connection to shallow conversations and loneliness, and share practical ways to break old habits, deepen relationships, and show up more intentionally.

Great leaders remain steady, even when the circumstances around them change. In this episode, Dr. Drew Brandon reflects on the importance of steadiness, drawing inspiration from Atlanta Braves manager Bobby Cox and his ability to remain composed through wins and losses. Discover how emotional control influences team performance, builds confidence, and helps leaders navigate challenges with consistency. Plus, learn how to assess your own steadiness and make the adjustments needed to lead with greater impact.

What if the story you tell yourself about your life is shaping who you become? In this episode, Dr. Gabby Caviedes and Anthony Alibro explore narrative identity and how the meaning we assign to our experiences can influence our mindset, confidence, relationships, and career. They unpack the difference between redemption and contamination stories, explore agency versus passivity, and discuss how to turn setbacks into opportunities for growth. Most importantly, they challenge you to become the author of your own story.

Being busy can feel like progress, but activity doesn't always create meaningful results. In this Growth Spurt , Anthony Alibro explores the difference between being busy and being effective, and why a packed calendar, cleared inbox, or completed to-do list can create an illusion of productivity. Learn how to identify the three priorities that actually move the needle, protect time for what matters, and make intentional choices about what won't get done today.

What happens when leadership development becomes about more than leadership? In this episode, Dr. Milt Lowder sits down with Nick Campbell and Lauren Luneckas to reflect on their 10 for 12 experiences and the lessons that have continued to shape their work, families, and lives. From awareness and accountability to growth mindset, work-life harmony, and the power of meaningful relationships, they explore what it means to become more intentional about who we are, not just what we accomplish. The result is a candid conversation about pursuing growth that lasts long after the program ends.

Have you ever stumbled over your words, made a typo, or felt embarrassed by a small mistake—and then replayed it all day? There's a psychological reason for that: the spotlight effect. We tend to dramatically overestimate how much other people notice, remember, and judge our mistakes. In this episode, discover why the spotlight is mostly self-imposed, and how shrinking your imagined audience can help you speak up, take risks, and move forward with confidence.

Join us for a special live recording from the ONE building in downtown Greenville, SC, as we celebrated our 400th episode with a live audience! Drs. Milt Lowder and Drew Brannon reflect on their 9-year journey to 400 episodes and explore one of the most important topics in leadership: culture. What does it really take to build a great culture? They unpack clarity, values, feedback and learning, ownership, accountability, and belonging, sharing lessons from sports, business, and their own experiences. Most importantly, they challenge leaders to move beyond talking about culture and take intentional action to create the environment they want to be part of.

In this week's Growth Spurt, Dr. Drew Brannon takes us inside the Presidents Cup, breaking down the unique formats, traditions, and team dynamics that make the event so compelling. As AMPLOS provides sports psychology services for Team USA, Drew shares what will happen behind the scenes this week, from communication and chemistry in alternate-shot play to the mental demands of competing as a team in an individual sport.

A bad executive hire costs far more than a salary; it can erode culture, stall momentum, disrupt strategy, and create a ripple effect throughout an organization. In this episode, Dr. Drew Brannon sits down with new AMPLOS team members Brandon Bailey and Matthew Barnes, who lead AMPLOS' Executive Search offering, to explore what separates executive search from traditional recruiting, why structured and thoughtful evaluation matters, and how organizations can make better leadership decisions. From interviewing and behavioral fit to market intelligence and cultural alignment, discover why finding the right leader requires far more than checking a box.

In this Growth Spurt, Anthony Alibro explores the idea that we're always in training. Every repeated thought and behavior (worry, avoidance, complaining, or procrastination) can become automatic. The question is: what are you reinforcing every day? Anthony challenges us to audit our routines, identify the habits that cost us most, and intentionally replace them with more productive responses. Because what you repeatedly practice is what you ultimately develop.

Week one of college football offers more than wins and losses; it offers a powerful lesson in how we respond when things don't go according to plan. From unexpected delays and disruptions to the temptation to draw big conclusions from a single game, Drs. Drew Brannon and Milt Lowder explore the importance of staying composed, adapting to adversity, and focusing on what you can control. They also discuss the role of leaders in managing emotion, maintaining perspective, and helping their teams stay steady in difficult moments. Because whether it's football, business, or life, how you respond often matters more than what happens.

Great leaders don't need to be the hero. They make sure their people feel seen, valued, and appreciated. In this Growth Spurt, Dr. Milt Lowder explores the power of giving credit, recognizing effort, and using words to build confidence. While compensation matters, meaningful recognition can be even more powerful in helping people feel that they belong, their work matters, and they're part of something greater than themselves.

What do you actually do with AI? In the final episode of this three-part series, Dr. Drew Brannon and Michael Wolinsky move from reflection to action, exploring how individuals and organizations can begin using AI effectively. They explore how individuals can build reps, use AI as a thought partner, protect their critical thinking, and become more, not less, of themselves. They also offer practical guidance for organizations around strategy, governance, communication, and deciding what AI should and shouldn't do. The message is simple: don't outsource your thinking, use AI to amplify it.

Ever finish a meeting and struggle to focus on the task in front of you? The problem may not be distraction, it may be attention residue. Dr. Gabby Caviedes explains how unfinished, rushed, or emotionally charged tasks can follow us into our next activity, draining focus and productivity. Learn a simple 30–60 second "close the loop" practice that can help your brain fully move on and make your attention work harder for you.

AI adoption isn't as simple as choosing a tool and training your team to use it. In Part 2 of this three-part AI series, Dr. Drew Brannon and Michael Rudinsky explore the mindset challenges leaders and employees face as AI reshapes the workplace. They discuss fear, uncertainty, resistance, and the fundamental question many employees are asking: "Where do I fit?" Most importantly, they explore how leaders can help their people see AI not as a threat, but as a tool to amplify their strengths and unlock greater potential.

Feeling like you're falling behind often means you're comparing your full story to someone else's highlight reel. In this Growth Spurt, Anthony Alibro challenges the idea of "borrowed deadlines," which are the timelines we inherit, infer, or impose on ourselves. Instead of asking, "Why am I not there yet?" ask, "Am I moving in the direction I want?" Growth isn't about keeping someone else's time. It's about setting your own clock.

AI is moving faster than most organizations can keep up, and that uncertainty can create excitement, fear, and resistance. In Part 1 of this three-part series, Mike Rudinsky and Dr. Drew Brannon explore why successful AI adoption starts with people, not technology. They unpack the human side of AI, the importance of clear leadership and strategy, and how organizations can define the roles of both humans and AI.

Courage doesn't just change how you show up, it changes how the people around you show up, too. When you have the courage to live according to your values, pursue your vision, tackle difficult problems, and become who you're meant to be, you give others permission to do the same. But fear, anxiety, and negativity are contagious, too. So ask yourself: What are you spreading?