Episodes 400
Avg. Duration 25m
Activity Active
Apple Rating 4.9 (36)
Since Sep 2021
Latest Episode Apr 2026

Publishing Details

Schedule
Every Few Days
Format
Episodic
Consistency
40%
Hosting
api.substack.com

Contact & Outreach

About This Podcast

From Setback to Sovereignty. This platform is for founders, executives, and rebuilders who’ve been knocked down by layoffs, burnout, betrayal, or failure—and refuse to stay down. I’m Doug Utberg. I rebuilt my career, my finances, and my identity from zero, and now I have raw conversations with leaders who’ve walked through fire and rebuilt stronger. Every episode cuts directly into the moments that forge a leader: Career reinvention and self-leadership Burnout recovery and nervous system restoration Ethical entrepreneurship in a post-growth world Systems thinking, AI, and automation for sovereign execution No hype. No guru scripts. Just clarity, truth, and the architecture required to rebuild a life—and a company—that cannot be taken from you. 🔧 CFO Operator Clinic If you lead a finance function, this is where we dismantle the chaos and build real structure: KPI trees Universal journals Transformation architecture Decision systems Semantic-layer design This is the tactical advantage most CFOs never get—and it’s where operators rise. 📍 Book your spot at SecondLifeLeader.com 📩 Go Deeper The show sparks the rebuild. But the newsletter is the operating system—your weekly cadence for clarity, structure, and execution. 👉 Subscribe at DougUtberg.com

www.dougutberg.com

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Recent Episodes

Polarity, Power, and the Quiet Truths Leaders Avoid

Apr 03, 2026 55m

Founders, operators, and executives talk endlessly about strategy, data, and execution—but avoid the deeper forces shaping every decision they make.In this episode of Second Life Leader, Doug Utberg…

Grief, Work, and Rebuilding Meaning After Loss

Apr 02, 2026 39m

Founder and creative professional Preston Zeller joins me to unpack a conversation most workplaces avoid—but everyone eventually faces: grief, and how it reshapes the way we work, lead, and live.This…

This Isn’t the AI You Think—And That’s the Point

Apr 01, 2026 32m

Commercial cleaning and AI don’t naturally belong in the same sentence. At least, not at first glance.But that’s exactly why this conversation matters.In this episode of Second Life Leader, Doug…

How Your Expertise Is Making You Unlikable (And Costing You Business)

Mar 27, 2026 37m

Founder and PR strategist Bryce North joins me to break down a counterintuitive truth: the more you try to look like the smartest person in the room, the less people trust you—and the less business…

Enlightened Nihilism, Purpose, and the Freedom to Let Go

Mar 26, 2026 32m

Entrepreneur and author Tero Moliis joins me to explore a deceptively simple idea: if nothing lasts, what actually matters?This conversation starts with Tero’s philosophy from his book Life Is a…

Preventing Capital Gains Tax “Armageddon” — And Why Inaction Is the Real Risk

Mar 25, 2026 44m

Capital gains taxes don’t usually sound like the beginning of a collapse story—but in this episode, they are.Brett Swarts, founder of Capital Gains Tax Solutions, joins me to break down a hidden risk…

From Rock Bottom to Reinvention: Why Your Mindset Shapes Your Comeback

Mar 20, 2026 32m

Entrepreneur and speaker Stephen Linton joins me to unpack what it really takes to climb out of the bottom—and why most people misunderstand what drives success in the first place.It’s easy to look…

Losing Everything in 90 Days—and Rebuilding from the Inside Out

Mar 19, 2026 35m

Entrepreneur and leadership pioneer Robert White joins me to unpack what happens when success doesn’t just slow down—it collapses all at once.Most business conversations celebrate scale, status, and…

A Thousand Setbacks, One Decision to Keep Going

Mar 18, 2026 25m

Call center entrepreneur Richard Blank joins Doug Utberg to unpack what it really takes to build—and survive—25 years in one of the most volatile industries in business.This isn’t a clean success…

Taking Control of Your Narrative on the Crazy Train

Mar 13, 2026 44m

Storytelling strategist and pitch expert Donna Griffith joins me to unpack how leaders, founders, and professionals can take control of their narrative during moments of chaos—and why the ability to…

Why Smart People Become Narcissist Magnets — and How to Break the Pattern

Mar 12, 2026 51m

Psychologist and relationship specialist Dr. Sage Breslin joins me to unpack a question many successful people quietly ask themselves: Why do I keep attracting the same destructive personalities?Most…

If You Get Dead, Walk It Off — Military Transitions, Sales Pressure, and Reinventing Your Career

Mar 11, 2026 23m

Marine veteran and recruiting entrepreneur Bob Howard joins me to unpack a simple but brutal metaphor: “If you get dead, walk it off.”It’s a line Marines joke about with each other — part dark humor,…

Developing the Right to Lead in an AI World

Mar 06, 2026 30m

Healthcare executive and leadership author Jim Carlo joins me to unpack a deceptively simple idea: leadership isn’t granted by a title — it’s earned through trust.In many organizations, the path to…

AI in Factories: Betting the House on Intelligence That Actually Works

Mar 05, 2026 25m

Renan Delonier joins me to unpack what happens when you stop talking about AI as a buzzword—and start putting it into real factories with real consequences.Most conversations about artificial…

Creativity Is a Business Asset: Life Lessons from the Arts

Mar 04, 2026 29m

Executive producer and creative entrepreneur Diane Strand joins me to unpack a question most operators overlook: What if the arts teach the exact skills leaders need to survive volatility?We talk…

From Terminal Diagnosis to Total Ownership — Health, Identity, and Survival Value

Feb 27, 2026 22m

Wellness entrepreneur and former Mr. America Dr. Chris Zaino joins me to unpack what happens when your body collapses—and how that crisis can become the catalyst for a completely different life.At…

AI at the Edge, Power Limits, and Why the Future Won’t Live in Data Centers

Feb 26, 2026 29m

BrainChip CEO Sean Hehir joins me to unpack where artificial intelligence is actually headed—and why the dominant “everything in the data center” narrative is incomplete.Most AI conversations fixate…

Beating the Machines, and Whether You Should Even Try

Feb 25, 2026 41m

Investor and entrepreneur Kevin Steuer joins me to examine whether Main Street investors can compete in a market dominated by algorithms—and whether competing is even the right goal.Most investing…

The Struggle Never Ends — And That’s the Point

Feb 20, 2026 28m

Entrepreneur and EOS implementer Sid Joshnani joins me to unpack what really happens when a business grows fast, becomes dangerously dependent on one client, and nearly collapses under its own…

Confessions of a Reformed Chemist, and Why IP Strategy Determines Who Gets Funded

Feb 19, 2026 27m

Patent attorney and former chemist Josh Goldberg joins me to unpack how intellectual property strategy determines whether innovation gets funded—or quietly dies.Most startup conversations focus on…

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does Second Life Leader have?

Second Life Leader has published 400 episodes since September 2021, covering topics in Business, Careers.

Is Second Life Leader still active?

Second Life Leader is currently active with new episodes every few days. Average episode length is 25m.

How do I contact Second Life Leader for sponsorship or guest appearances?

Sign up on Grep.FM to access contact details for Second Life Leader, including email and social media links.

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