The Smart Thinking Podcast
Ted Neitzke brings you the ”The Smart Thinking Podcast.” Smart Thinking is for anyone and everyone -- because we are all leaders. Join us weekly for reflective activities and strategies to grow yourself and others. Ted shares his leadership expertise with simple to apply tools. You will grow in your ability to step into the storm’s life presents with energy and optimism. Just like the 🦬!
Episodes

Sunday Apr 14, 2024
Episode 300: Celebration of 300 “You Should Absorb The Nudge” (Reflection)
Sunday Apr 14, 2024
Sunday Apr 14, 2024
Listen as Ted reminds us of the power of listening to the "nudges." This is the 300th episode of the podcast and Ted walks through how important it is to listen to the ideas of others and shares a simple process to support coaching yourself to higher levels of engagement and happiness.
Song: Sunflower Bouquet by Anderson Coates - Golden Bear Studios
Reflections:
List the "should’s" you heard this past week.
Describe who in your life nudges you towards excellence.
List the people and the nudges that have changed your life.

Sunday Apr 07, 2024
Episode 299: The Real Narrative: "Our Story" (Reflection & Tool)
Sunday Apr 07, 2024
Sunday Apr 07, 2024
Too often in our organizations, we forget to provide the leadership so that we have a strong cultural understanding of our journey. As a result, we need a process. Join Ted as he explains why and how to create a unified story(narrative) so that more people can celebrate all they've done together so that you can end the year together!
Process prompts:
Celebrations (Internal)
Celebrations (External)
Grow my engagement
Professional development WE need
Elephants in the room
Recognitions
Can you believe?

Sunday Mar 17, 2024
Episode 298: Your Individual Advocacy Plan (IAP) (Leadership & Process)
Sunday Mar 17, 2024
Sunday Mar 17, 2024
What is your process for advocating for yourself and your strengths? Too often other people judge us and do not understand us so we need a process to help others see our strengths. Join Ted as he shares a process to employ for you to create your own self advocacy plan or IAP.
Identify your strengths and soft strengths.
Describe who in your world needs to be coached to self-advocacy.
List ways in which you can support others through their strengths and weaknesses.

Sunday Mar 10, 2024
Sunday Mar 10, 2024
This conversation with author and mental fitness guru Greg Harden is going to change you, your leadership and maybe even your life. His book is fantastic, his career is amazing, and this conversation is a game changer. Take a listen as Greg and Ted – two obnoxious optimists – discuss how to support your own journey and how to focus on being your own best friend.
Book: Stay Sane in an Insane World: How To Control the Controllables and Thrive

Sunday Mar 03, 2024
Sunday Mar 03, 2024
Join us for a discussion of how an emergency surgery supercharged Ted's belief that empathy is the greatest leadership quality. Hear as he discusses the great care he received and how the healthcare workers supporting him diminished his vulnerability by being empathetic. You'll be inspired to think about how you matter in the moments when others need you the most!
Describe the last time you felt vulnerable and how you overcame that emotion
List the people in your life that would benefit from your empathy
Describe how you can increase your empathy in your actions

Sunday Feb 25, 2024
Sunday Feb 25, 2024
What is your intentional process to ensure you get the best from an interaction with someone else? Seriously, people you like, people you work with, people you over and even people on the opposite side of politics?
Join us a for a great conversation where Craig and Ted trade a ton of strategies and tactics to support you in developing a stronger ability to have great conversations.

Sunday Feb 18, 2024
Episode 294: Six Books For Spring! (Learning & Growing)
Sunday Feb 18, 2024
Sunday Feb 18, 2024
As we look to the start of spring and a break for many of us, I want to give you some texts to read to invest in yourself and others! This list of texts is best read in the order explained and below. However, each book, by itself, is fantastic!
Stay Sane In An Insane World, Greg Harden
A New Kind Of Diversity, Tim Elmore
Yes To The Mess, Frank Barrett
How To Know A Person, David Brooks
The Little Liar, Mitch Albom
Maybe, Kobi Yamada

Sunday Feb 04, 2024
Sunday Feb 04, 2024
Gallup has so many great resources and one of my favorites is the Clifton Strength Finder. Join me for a conversation with Dr. Tim Hodges who over sees the Clifton Strengths Institute and learn how to apply your strengths and utilize the tool in new and rewarding ways.

Sunday Jan 28, 2024
Episode 292: The Advantage of a Short Attention Span (Tool & Reflection)
Sunday Jan 28, 2024
Sunday Jan 28, 2024
Maybe we all need to learn a new habit. Short-term memory when leading. In other words, how to move ourselves along quickly so that we don't get trapped in a narrative that causes us more stress and pressure. Well, as Ted Lasso says: be a goldfish.
Use the four f's to get you there: fast, forgive, forget and forward!

Sunday Jan 21, 2024
Episode 291: Generational Diversity: A Conversation with Author Tim Elmore
Sunday Jan 21, 2024
Sunday Jan 21, 2024
Join me for a conversation with author Tim Elmore as we discuss his newest book: A New Kind of Diversity. Our conversation focuses on how to bridge the gap between generations and become more empathetic for those you serve.
I highly recommend his book and exploring his website: growingleaders.com