Leadership was never meant to be a solo pursuit. We talk often about courage, clarity, and competence, but rarely about the friendships that make those possible.

In this episode, Doug unveils the idea of relational currency: the value exchanged between people who know and trust each other. Drawing from Tom Rath’s work on Vital Friends and identity-based leadership framework, he explores why friendship is more than emotional support; it’s the infrastructure of resilience and influence. This is a reminder that the most sustainable leaders invest not just in performance, but in people who help them remember who they are when the title is not enough.

Update: This is our final episode of 2025. We’re taking some time to step back, listen, and rethink how to serve you even better next year. See you in 2026, renewed and ready.

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In this final episode of The Resiliency Quest series, the mic remains in the hands of guest host Adam Mock, who turns the focus toward the fifth and final trailhead, Agility, as he interviews Dr. McKinley, the author of the book that inspired the series.

Agility is more than a leadership skill, it’s a survival trait for the uncertain, complex world we’re all navigating. In this candid conversation, Dr. McKinley unpacks what it means to stay grounded while everything around you shifts. Together, they explore how resilient leaders develop “a mind like water”: fluid, responsive, and calm under pressure.

If you’ve ever been knocked off course by uncertainty, change, or internal chaos, this trailhead offers a way back to solid ground.

We’re nearing the summit in The Resiliency Quest podcast series. This week guest host Adam Mock continues his conversation with Dr. Doug McKinley—this time exploring one of the most misunderstood dimensions of resilient leadership: Boundaries.

Boundaries are often mistaken for walls, but they’re actually bridges to freedom. In leadership, if you’re always available, you’re never fully present. Dr. McKinley shares how burnout isn’t caused by working too hard—it’s caused by carrying what was never yours to begin with. When leaders fail to draw clear lines around their time, energy, and responsibility, they slowly lose clarity about who they are and what they stand for.

In this conversation, Adam and Doug dive into the uncomfortable truth about people-pleasing, the courage it takes to say “no” without guilt, and why protecting your space is actually a gift to others—not a selfish act. If you’ve ever felt resentful, over committed, or like you’re slowly disappearing beneath everyone else’s needs, this trailhead might be your turning point.

To Order Doug's Books: The Resiliency Quest,Mad About Us

Visit Doug's Website: https://www.dougmckinley.com/

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In this episode of The Resiliency Quest podcast series, guest host Adam Mock continues his discussion with Dr. Doug McKinley, diving into the next trailhead on the journey toward resilient leadership: Connection.

At first glance, connection might seem like a soft skill—but in reality, it’s the backbone of sustainable leadership. Leaders often find themselves isolated at the top, praised for independence but starving for authentic human connection. Dr. McKinley reminds us that resiliency isn’t built in a vacuum. It grows in community, in honest conversations, in spaces where people feel seen and safe enough to be real.

Doug and Adam talk about what happens when leaders trade performance for presence, and how vulnerability isn’t a liability—it’s a leadership advantage. They explore the shift from surface-level interaction to soul-level trust, and the quiet power of being known without needing to impress. If you’ve ever felt the ache of relational drift or the pressure to keep up a front, this conversation offers a refreshing alternative.

Because in the end, the leaders who go the distance aren’t the ones who muscle through alone—they’re the ones who allow others to walk alongside them.

To Order Doug's Books: The Resiliency Quest,Mad About Us

Visit Doug's Website: https://www.dougmckinley.com/

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Welcome back to The Resiliency Quest podcast series—where we hand the mic to Adam Mock, leadership author and podcast host, to interview Dr. Doug McKinley about his own book and the five Trailheads that map the journey toward resilient leadership.

Today’s Trailhead: Self-Awareness

Self-awareness isn’t a soft skill—it’s the first summit every resilient leader must face. Too many leaders operate with blind spots they don’t even know exist. But what if your most painful feedback or your last big failure was actually an invitation—not an indictment? This episode dives into what it really takes to know yourself beneath the titles, the image, and the performance. We talk about scripts that run your life, feedback that stings (but saves), and the quiet courage required to tell yourself the truth.

No mirror. No progress.

No reflection. No resilience.

To Order Doug's Books: The Resiliency Quest,Mad About Us

Visit Doug's Website: https://www.dougmckinley.com/

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Seats are swapping for this special podcast series on Resiliency. Author and podcast host Adam Mock steps in to interview Dr. Doug McKinley—the regular host—about his own book, The Resiliency Quest. This unique series explores five trailheads, each a metaphorical waypoint on the mountain hike of resilient leadership.

Today’s episode: The Quest for Purpose

Purpose isn’t a nice-to-have. It’s the trail marker that keeps leaders from getting lost in noise, burnout, and busywork. When you lead with purpose, your decisions align, your energy clarifies, and your influence deepens. Tune in to hear Dr. McKinley break down how resilient leaders find, follow, and fight for purpose—and what happens when they don’t. This isn’t just theory. It’s trail-tested wisdom.

To Order Doug's Books: The Resiliency Quest,Mad About Us

Visit Doug's Website: https://www.dougmckinley.com/

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In this episode, Dr. McKinley has an engaging discussion with podcast favorite, Amy Kemp, a dynamic leadership coach who specializes in guiding female leaders toward deeper self-awareness. Through powerful stories and practical insights, she shares how clarity of identity transforms confidence, communication, and impact. If you lead—or coach—women, this conversation is rich with wisdom and relevance.

To Order Doug's Books: The Resiliency Quest,Mad About Us

Visit Doug's Website: https://www.dougmckinley.com/

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Welcome back to the second part of a conversation where Dr. McKinley and Tim Mohns are exploring the paradox of pursuing excellence without becoming entangled in outcomes.

To Order Doug's Books: The Resiliency Quest,Mad About Us

Visit Doug's Website: https://www.dougmckinley.com/

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