There’s a moment every leader faces, when waiting is no longer an option.
No excuses. No blaming the market. No hiding behind “I’m not ready.”
You either step up… or your habits step in for you.

In this solo episode of Keep the Change, I share one of the most powerful leadership lessons of my life, through a story I watched unfold up close. It’s the story of my mom, who at 59 years old was suddenly thrust into leadership she didn’t ask for, in an industry on the brink of collapse. What happened next didn’t just save a business, it revealed how leadership habits quietly shape culture, and how culture always shows up in profits.

In this episode, we unpack:

• Why pressure doesn’t create character, it reveals habits
• How awareness (not action) is the real starting point of change
• The subtle leadership habits that quietly shape culture, for better or worse
• Why asking beats telling and listening builds trust faster than authority ever will
• The difference between intention, decision, and commitment (and why most leaders stop too soon)
• How coaching conversations unlock ownership instead of defensiveness
• Why developing people is the strongest predictor of long-term performance
• And the hard truth every leader needs to hear: culture isn’t what you intend—it’s what your people experience

If you’re leading a team, running a business, or feeling the weight of responsibility heavier than ever, this episode will challenge how you think about habits, communication, accountability, and growth.

Because when leadership becomes unavoidable, the only thing you can fall back on…
is who you’ve already become.

Enjoying the show? Subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast players!

• Subscribe on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/keep-the-change/id1622521488
• Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2xcQk7kNGNOnWuZ14aDkWC
• Connect with Bart Nollenberger:
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bart-nollenberger-4949405a/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BartNollenbergerCoaching

What happens when a kid who grew up homeless, digging through dumpsters for survival, becomes one of the most respected leaders in the automotive industry?

This episode isn’t just a conversation, it’s a reminder that your past doesn’t get to vote on your future.

On this episode of Keep the Change, I sit down with Ed Roberts, and fair warning…this one goes deep. Real deep.

What we unpack in this episode:

Ed’s story is raw, honest, and powerful, but it’s not just about where he came from. It’s about how he thinks, why he leads the way he does, and what elite leadership actually looks like when it’s done with humility, empathy, and intention.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll hear:

• How Ed went from sleeping in a car to becoming COO and General Manager of Bozard Ford Lincoln, leading explosive growth in a small-town market
• The concept of “Mile One” why progress isn’t about giant leaps, but about taking the next achievable step
• Why great leaders don’t just hold people accountable, they align expectations, earn commitment, and build trust
• The difference between entitled, co-existing, and opportunistic team members (and how to actually lead each one)
• Why empathy, one-on-ones, and listening without agenda are no longer optional for leaders
• How Ed’s book Mile One and his coaching work are creating “starfish moments”—changing lives one person at a time

There’s faith. There’s grit. There’s leadership wisdom you can apply immediately, whether you’re running a dealership, leading a team, or just trying to become a better version of yourself.

This is one of those episodes where you’ll probably pause, rewind, and say, “Man… I needed that.”

If you’ve ever felt underestimated, stuck, or unsure of your next step—this conversation will meet you right where you are and challenge you to move forward.

Enjoying the show? Subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast players!

• Subscribe on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/keep-the-change/id1622521488
• Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2xcQk7kNGNOnWuZ14aDkWC

Connect with Ed Roberts

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ed-roberts-00948b36/

Connect with Bart Nollenberger:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bart-nollenberger-4949405a/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BartNollenbergerCoaching

What if the questions you’re asking are actually holding people back instead of moving them forward?

I sat down with my friend Dan Nicholas, one of the most quietly influential humans I know, and what unfolded wasn’t just a podcast… it was a masterclass in leadership, listening, faith, and real transformation.

Dan is the kind of guy who can walk into a room, whether it’s a boardroom, a restaurant, or a recovery meeting, and make every single person feel seen. I’ve watched him lift people who were at their lowest and speak life into CEOs, business owners, and world-class leaders with the exact same heart. And in this conversation, you get to experience why.

We unpack a frustrating (and honestly eye-opening) call Dan had right before recording, one of those conversations where someone talks at you, not with you, and use it as a springboard to talk about something every leader, salesperson, coach, and human needs to hear:

The difference between asking “why” and asking better questions.

In this episode, we get into:

• Why “why” questions often create defensiveness instead of growth
• How tone and curiosity can instantly change the direction of a conversation
• The shift from motivation to true transformation (and why it matters)
• How great leaders build trust without power plays or posturing
• Journaling, gratitude, and the power of “I am” statements
• Leading with the fruit of the Spirit, not pressure, ego, or fear
• How faith, discipline, and obedience unlock purpose in business and life
• The idea of “dream vampires” and how to stop letting them steal your calling
• Why listening, really listening, is the most underrated leadership skill there is

This isn’t theory. It’s lived experience.

We talk sales, leadership, recovery, faith, failure, purpose, and what it actually looks like to help people move forward without shaming them for where they’ve been. If you’re tired of surface-level motivation and ready for conversations that actually change how you show up, with your team, your clients, your family, and yourself, this one’s for you.

Enjoying the show? Subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast players!

• Subscribe on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/keep-the-change/id1622521488
• Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2xcQk7kNGNOnWuZ14aDkWC

Connect with Bart Nollenberger:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bart-nollenberger-4949405a/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BartNollenbergerCoaching