Episodes

  • Two Ways to Run a Castle

    Two Ways to Run a Castle
    May 6 2026

    What kind of castle are you running?

    In this solo episode, Bill Gallagher breaks down two fundamentally different leadership styles: command-driven and culture-driven. One scales. The other burns people out.

    Most founders default to the command style because it feels productive. You tell people what to do, they do it, problems get solved. But as your company grows, that approach becomes a bottleneck — and a trap.

    Culture-driven leadership is harder to build but far more powerful at scale. It means creating systems where people make great decisions without you in the room.

    In This Episode:

    This episode is drawn from Bill's upcoming book Busy Is Broken.

    Connect with Bill:

    Mentioned in this episode:

    Busy is Broken book

    Our new book, Busy is Broken, coming this September. Sign up for the release at busyisbroken.com

    Q20 Diagnostic Offer

    Stuck? Q20 Growth Diagnostic will give you a fresh perspective and it's free. ScalingCoach.com/Q20
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    14 mins
  • Randy Vlasic — Scaling a Legacy Brand in a Modern Market

    Randy Vlasic — Scaling a Legacy Brand in a Modern Market
    Apr 29 2026

    Randy Vlasic knows what it takes to scale a legacy brand without losing what made it great in the first place. In this episode, he joins Bill Gallagher to talk about the tension between honoring tradition and driving innovation — and how the best leaders navigate that balance as they grow. From brand evolution to operational excellence, this conversation is packed with practical insights for anyone scaling a business with history behind it.

    Mentioned in this episode:

    Q20 Diagnostic Offer

    Stuck? Q20 Growth Diagnostic will give you a fresh perspective and it's free. ScalingCoach.com/Q20

    Busy is Broken book

    Our new book, Busy is Broken, coming this September. Sign up for the release at busyisbroken.com
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    39 mins
  • The 28% Tax You're Paying and Don't Know It

    The 28% Tax You're Paying and Don't Know It
    Apr 22 2026

    What if the biggest tax on your business isn't coming from the government — it's coming from your management style? In this solo episode, Bill Gallagher digs into the research showing that micromanagement alone can strip 28% of a team's productive output. He connects the dots between chronic overwork, toxic busyness culture, and the massive hidden costs that never show up on a balance sheet — from skyrocketing turnover to plummeting quality and customer loyalty. This episode will make you rethink everything about how you're running your team.

    Mentioned in this episode:

    Busy is Broken book

    Our new book, Busy is Broken, coming this September. Sign up for the release at busyisbroken.com

    Q20 Diagnostic Offer

    Stuck? Q20 Growth Diagnostic will give you a fresh perspective and it's free. ScalingCoach.com/Q20
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    13 mins
  • Jason Wild — Building Category-Leading Companies Through Strategic Acquisitions

    Jason Wild — Building Category-Leading Companies Through Strategic Acquisitions
    Apr 15 2026

    Jason Wild has built a reputation for identifying and acquiring companies that can become category leaders. In this episode, he joins Bill Gallagher to share his approach to strategic acquisitions — from finding the right targets to integrating teams and scaling operations post-deal. Whether you're considering your first acquisition or your fifteenth, Jason's framework for building through M&A will change how you think about growth.

    Mentioned in this episode:

    Busy is Broken book

    Our new book, Busy is Broken, coming this September. Sign up for the release at busyisbroken.com

    Q20 Diagnostic Offer

    Stuck? Q20 Growth Diagnostic will give you a fresh perspective and it's free. ScalingCoach.com/Q20
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    46 mins
  • How Busy Became a Badge

    How Busy Became a Badge
    Apr 8 2026

    How did "busy" become the ultimate badge of honor in business? In this solo episode, Bill Gallagher traces the cultural and historical roots of our obsession with busyness — from the Protestant work ethic to Silicon Valley hustle culture. He makes the case that constant busyness isn't just unproductive, it's actively destroying your ability to lead, think strategically, and scale your company. If you've ever worn your packed calendar as a point of pride, this episode will challenge everything you believe about hard work.

    Mentioned in this episode:

    Busy is Broken book

    Our new book, Busy is Broken, coming this September. Sign up for the release at busyisbroken.com

    Q20 Diagnostic Offer

    Stuck? Q20 Growth Diagnostic will give you a fresh perspective and it's free. ScalingCoach.com/Q20
    Show More Show Less
    12 mins
  • Suneera Madhani — From Payments to Purpose with the CEO of Stax

    Suneera Madhani — From Payments to Purpose with the CEO of Stax
    Apr 1 2026

    Suneera Madhani built Stax (formerly Fattmerchant) into a billion-dollar fintech company, landing on the Inc. 5000 list and earning recognition as one of the most influential leaders in payments. In this episode, Suneera joins Bill Gallagher to share her journey from startup founder to CEO of a high-growth company — and the leadership lessons she learned scaling through every stage. If you're building something big and wondering how to keep your culture and your vision intact while you grow, this one's for you.

    Mentioned in this episode:

    Busy is Broken book

    Our new book, Busy is Broken, coming this September. Sign up for the release at busyisbroken.com

    Q20 Diagnostic Offer

    Stuck? Q20 Growth Diagnostic will give you a fresh perspective and it's free. ScalingCoach.com/Q20
    Show More Show Less
    47 mins
  • Less Sail, More Speed

    Less Sail, More Speed
    Mar 25 2026

    I learned the most important lesson about leadership on a small sailboat in San Francisco Bay. Overpowered and fighting the tiller in a building westerly, an older skipper said five words: "Put in a reef." We reduced sail. The boat flattened, the helm went neutral, and we locked into a clean groove. Less canvas, more speed.

    That's the thesis of my book Busy Is Broken, and this is a solo episode where I walk through the ideas, stories, and data that can change how you lead and how you live.

    In this episode: the sailboat metaphor for leadership, why your effort might be the bottleneck, and the three shifts every scaling leader needs to make.

    This week's invitation: find one meeting you can cancel tomorrow. One decision you can hand off. One hour reclaimed for something important — not just urgent.

    Key Takeaways:

    1. An overpowered boat heels, drags its hull sideways, and the rudder fights you. The fix is counterintuitive: reduce sail, balance the boat, let the wind do the work.
    2. The three shifts: micromanagement to empowerment, superhero identity to self-awareness, always-on to rest and recovery.
    3. This is episode one of thirteen — a solo series from Bill's book, Busy Is Broken.

    Links:

    1. Book: Busy Is Broken by Bill Gallagher (coming August 2026)
    2. Podcast: The Scaling Up Podcast — scalingcoach.com
    3. Bill Gallagher: scalingcoach.com

    Mentioned in this episode:

    Q20 Diagnostic Offer

    Stuck? Q20 Growth Diagnostic will give you a fresh perspective and it's free. ScalingCoach.com/Q20

    Busy is Broken book

    Our new book, Busy is Broken, coming this September. Sign up for the release at busyisbroken.com
    Show More Show Less
    13 mins
  • Thriving in a World of Constant Change with Fred Marshall

    Thriving in a World of Constant Change with Fred Marshall
    Mar 18 2026
    How do you succeed in a world that demands your attention 24/7 ?In this episode, Bill Gallagher sits down with Fred Marshall, CEO, investor, and author of Thrive: The Antidote to Future Shock, to explore how to navigate anxiety, information overload, and rapid change. Fred shares practical ways to restore your attention, simplify your life, and build a meaningful future using intentional habits.(06:13) Why We’re All Feeling Overwhelmed*We’re living in an age of constant input.*The average person checks their phone dozens of times a day, fragmenting focus.*This makes it difficult to think deeply, build meaningful work, or feel in control of your life.(16:04) When Change Outpaces Our Ability to Adapt*Future shock happens when the pace of change exceeds our ability to process it.*Technology, economics, and social systems are shifting from linear to exponential growth.*This creates anxiety, uncertainty, and a sense of constantly “falling behind.”(21:01) Take Back Control*Instead of stressing about global uncertainty, focus on what’s within your control.*Build a weekly rhythm of small, consistent actions toward your desired future.*Choosing where to invest your time and energy is the antidote to overwhelm.(25:20) Shift from Consumption to Creation*Most people are stuck consuming content instead of creating value.*Endless scrolling leads to distraction, anxiety, and lack of meaning.*Creating, whether in business, relationships, or personal growth; builds fulfillment and momentum.Thanks to Fred Marshall for being on the show!Connect with Fred on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fredric-marshall-1984bb/Learn more about his work: https://thrivefutureyou.com/Bill Gallagher, Scaling Coach and host of the Scaling Up Business podcast, is an international business coach who works with C-Suite leaders to achieve breakthrough growth.Join Bill in the Growth Navigator Coaching Program: https://ScalingCoach.com/workshopBill on LinkedIn: https://www.LinkedIn.com/in/BillGallBill on YouTube: https://www.YouTube.com/@BillGallagherScalingCoachVisit https://ScalingUp.com to learn more about Verne Harnish, our team of Scaling Up Coaches, and the Scaling Up Performance Platform, which includes coaching, learning, software, and summit. We share how the fastest-growing companies succeed where so many others fail. We help leadership teams with the biggest decisions around people, strategy, execution, and cash so that they can scale up successfully and beat the odds of business growth.Did you enjoy today’s episode? If so, then please leave a review! Help other business leaders discover Scaling Up Business with Bill Gallagher so they, too, can benefit from the ideas shared in these podcasts.Subscribe via Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3PGhWPJSubscribe via Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3PKe00uBill on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/billgall/Bill on Twitter/X: https://x.com/billgallMentioned in this episode:Busy is Broken bookOur new book, Busy is Broken, coming this September. Sign up for the release at busyisbroken.comQ20 Diagnostic OfferStuck? Q20 Growth Diagnostic will give you a fresh perspective and it's free. ScalingCoach.com/Q20
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    48 mins