Episode 5
Why Start a Podcast About Influence and Behavior Change?
What helps a leader bring out the best in the people they lead? In this introductory episode of The Influential Leader , Michael Diettrich-Chastain shares how his work in psychology, mental health, and organizational leadership led him to that question. He explains why he started the podcast and…
Show notes
What helps a leader bring out the best in the people they lead? In this introductory episode of The Influential Leader, Michael Diettrich-Chastain shares how his work in psychology, mental health, and organizational leadership led him to that question. He explains why he started the podcast and introduces the idea he wants to explore with future guests: that influence may begin with the questions we ask ourselves and others. Michael also considers why asking thoughtful questions could matter even more as AI makes information easier to access.
Chapters:
- 00:00:00 The Question Behind The Influential Leader
- 00:01:00 Michael’s Background in Behavior Change
- 00:02:00 From Organizational Work to Clinical Therapy
- 00:03:00 Returning to Leadership and Launching Arc Integrated
- 00:04:00 Changes: The Book and Question Cards
- 00:05:00 Leadership Challenges and One Core Question
- 00:07:00 Four Reasons for Starting the Podcast
- 00:08:00 Testing the Theory: Influence Through Inquiry
- 00:09:00 Asking Better Questions in the Age of AI
Links and Resources:
- Arc Integrated Website: https://www.arcintegrated.com
- Strategy Call Page: https://www.arcintegrated.com/leadership-strategy-call
- Podcast Page: https://www.arcintegrated.com/podcast
- Michael Diettrich-Chastain in Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mdiettrichchastain
- Michael Diettrich-Chastain in Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaeldiettrichchastain/
- Michael Diettrich-Chastain in Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michael.diettrichchastain
- Arc Integrated in Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/arc-integrated
Thanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to The Influential Leader? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And leave us a review!
About The Influential Leader
Where high-performance leadership meets behavior change that sticks. Great leadership isn't about telling people what to do — it's about asking the questions that move them. Hosted by executive coach and behavior change expert Michael Dietrich-Chastain, The Influential Leader delivers actionable strategies for driving team engagement, retaining top talent, and shaping a culture of performance — from the inside out. Each week, Michael brings you into bold conversations with top executives, organizational psychologists, and culture architects to uncover what it really takes to influence behavior at scale. You’ll hear live coaching sessions, research-backed frameworks, and the practical tools leaders are using today to unlock motivation, accountability, and clarity on their teams. This show is your field-tested playbook for: • Leading with inquiry, not just authority • Turning insight into influence • Building the kind of culture people don’t want to leave If you're a time-strapped senior leader who’s done the workshops, hired the consultants, and still feels like the real lever is you — this is your next move. Subscribe now and join the conversation that’s reshaping leadership — one question at a time