In this episode of Off Script with Josh Fisher, leadership coach, professor, and author Dr. Wayne Applewhite joins the show to explore what it truly means to lead. Wayne doesn’t just talk about leadership—he lives it. From his unexpected start as a cook in the Air Force to becoming an officer, author, and leadership voice, his journey is proof that leadership is less about titles and more about the actions you take every day. Together, Josh and Wayne unpack: ✅ Why leadership is a verb, not a noun ✅The balance of people, time, and money in every leader’s toolkit ✅The role of mentors and the lessons they leave behind ✅Bloody noses, second chances, and the hard truths that shape real leaders ✅Why “practice makes good, and good makes consistent” beats the myth of perfection As Wayne puts it: “Leadership is always in motion. It’s not about being the smartest person in the room, but about listening, trusting, and never stopping your own growth.” Packed with candid stories and practical wisdom, this conversation is for anyone who wants to move beyond theory and become a leader who actually leads.

🔑 Key Takeaways

• Leadership means taking action, even when it’s tough.
• Integrity and consistency matter more than titles.
• The best leaders are always learning—and always teaching.
• People, time, and money: Get the order right.

🧠 Resources & Guest Info

• Book: You Know It’s a Verb, Right? — by Dr. Wayne Applewhite & Jennifer Milius
• Contact Dr. Wayne Applewhite: Wayne@mindsyncing.com
• Website: mindsyncing.com
• Podcast: 27 minutes with Sheila and Wayne

📱 Connect with Josh: Instagram: @offscriptwithjosh X/Twitter: @JoshFisherLead LinkedIn: Josh Fisher

🎙️ Listen on Your Favorite Platform: Apple Podcasts: bit.ly/offscript-apple Spotify: bit.ly/offscript-spotify Amazon Music: bit.ly/offscript-amazon iHeart Radio: bit.ly/offscript-iheart

#Verb #Action #OffScriptPodcast #JoshFisher #DrWayneApplewhite #LeadershipAction #leadership #Leader #Integrity #LeadershipStories #LeadershipJourney

In this episode of Off Script, we step into a leadership workshop that wasn’t about policies, new rules, or checklists — but about people, connection, and the human work of leadership.

Josh takes us inside a room full of seasoned, gritty leaders — boots-on-the-ground types whose decisions carry life-or-death weight. When one of them asks a deceptively simple question — “How do we bridge the gap?” — it sparks a day-long conversation that leads to a transformative realization:

It’s leadership — not the kind we’re used to, but the kind that starts with human connection.

Through reflection, dialogue, and challenge, Josh unpacks why we too often confuse managing with leading, and how real leadership requires presence, vulnerability, and trust. And just like in the workshop, you’ll leave this episode with clear, actionable ways to bridge the gap in your own world.

• Leadership fills the gap — but only when it’s grounded in connection, not just compliance.
• Managing is about systems; leading is about people.
• Culture grows from trust, not from checklists.
• “Protect connection over perfection” — especially in high-pressure environments.
• Vulnerability in a leader is not weakness — it’s the foundation of trust and accountability.

• The Off Script Journal – Companion journal for deeper reflection: https://a.co/d/cR49607
• The Unfolding – 12-Phase Guided Journal for healing: https://a.co/d/cyk8JuR

In This Episode

1:25 OffScript Overview 3:32 Why? 4:40 Bridging the Gap 6:46 Ground Leadership 9:32 Checklists vs. Connection 13:16 Managing vs. Leading 19:33 The Mic Drop 21:03 Safety, Trust & Culture 24:29 Ditch the Script 27:03 Empathy & Accountability 28:40 Prompt Challenge 29:29 Closing

Off Script with Josh Fisher Podcast Podcast for those tired of performing and ready to lead with truth!

Join the Off Script Community

Drop a comment: How do we love thy neighbor regardless of beliefs, values, or background? Subscribe for honest, weekly conversations about what authentic leadership really means. Follow Josh Fisher:

• Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/JoshFisherLead
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/16dbPpkhaw/?mibextid=wwXIfr
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fisherjoshleadership

Want to share your Off Script story? Email: joshua@offscript.us

In this solo episode, Josh Fisher dives headfirst into why presence—not polish—is the ultimate leadership flex. He shares a raw, personal story of his first love and how it robbed him of presence, leaving him disconnected from life’s most meaningful moments.

Josh unpacks his journey from hiding behind the haze of alcohol and the mask of perfection to discovering the power of showing up authentically. You’ll learn the difference between leading from the outside in (perfection) versus the inside out (presence), and why being fully present is the greatest gift you can give your team. Key Takeaways

• Embracing presence over perfection as a new leadership currency
• Vulnerability and authentic connection in leadership
• Navigating personal struggles and growth
• Moving from performance to being

In This Episode 0:00 Introduction & Presence 1:33 Podcast Launch Thoughts 3:14 Presence Over Perfection 5:17 Love & Presence 9:42 First Love & Feeling Safe 12:21 Cost of Escapism 15:52 High-Functioning Hollow 18:40 Chasing the Truest Version 20:38 Presence in Leadership 23:09 Presence in Real Life 25:50 Off Script Challenge 26:53 Journal Prompt 27:38 Closing & Call to Action

Join the Off Script Community

Drop a comment: How do we love thy neighbor regardless of beliefs, values, or background? Subscribe for honest, weekly conversations about what authentic leadership really means. Follow Josh Fisher:

• Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/JoshFisherLead
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/16dbPpkhaw/?mibextid=wwXIfr
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fisherjoshleadership

Want to share your Off Script story? Email: joshua@offscript.us SUBJ: [NAME] Stories from the Stage – (Share or Do Not Share) Your voice might be featured in a future episode.

Journals:

• The Off Script Journal – Companion journal for deeper reflection
• The Unfolding – 12-Phase Guided Journal for healing