Managing Difficult People
Managing Difficult People is a leadership podcast aimed at managers, executives, and team leaders. It focuses on handling conflict, improving communication, and building stronger workplace relationships. Each episode provides practical strategies to reduce workplace tension, build trust, strengthen culture, and turn challenging personalities into opportunities for better leadership. The podcast emphasizes changing how you lead, influence, and respond rather than trying to change difficult people themselves.
Episodes
Homeless, Not Hopeless: A Family's Fight for a Better Life
What if losing your home didn't mean losing your hope?In this powerful episode of Managing Difficult People, host Adam Holbrook sits down with Gordon, Shanay, and Dale, a family experiencing homelessness near Atlantic City, New Jersey.Through an emotional and honest conversation, they share how devastating loss, financial struggles, and health challenges changed their lives, leaving them slee
How Lisa Axios Rebuilt Her Life From the Ground Up
What does it take to walk away from a life that looks successful on the outside but is painful and frightening behind closed doors?In this episode of Managing Difficult People, Adam Holbrook sits down with Lisa Axios, who shares her remarkable journey from an abusive marriage to becoming an award-winning luxury realtor, entrepreneur, executive coach, and speaker. In 2010, Lisa left her home with f
Connecting Beyond Our Scars
When you’ve been hurt, disappointed, or overwhelmed, pulling away from people can feel safer. But what if the connection you’re avoiding is exactly what you need most?In this episode of Managing Difficult People, Adam Holbrook explores why people isolate after painful relationships, difficult seasons, burnout, and disappointment, and how reconnecting with others can help us move forward.Adam share
When God Says Not Yet: Learning to Trust the Wait with Pastor Kyle Prichard
What do you do when you’ve prayed, worked hard, and done everything you know to do, but the answer still seems to be “not yet”?In this episode of Managing Difficult People, Adam Holbrook sits down with Pastor Kyle Prichard to explore what trusting God’s timing actually looks like when the waiting affects your career, finances, mental well-being, dreams, and sense of purpose. Through Scripture and
How to Forgive Someone Who Isn’t Sorry
How do you forgive someone who hurt you, especially when they’re not sorry?In this episode of Managing Difficult People, Adam Holbrook takes forgiveness beyond the advice to simply “let it go” and shares four practical strategies for releasing resentment and moving forward.Adam explores why you may need to stop waiting for an apology, how “blame hoarding” keeps old wounds alive, why forgiveness do
Mindset Matters
Who are you becoming, and are your thoughts and actions aligned with that person?In this episode of Managing Difficult People, Adam Holbrook explores why mindset matters when you’re pursuing something bigger for your life. He shares how to stop comparing your journey to others, strengthen your belief in yourself, and begin acting like your future self today.Adam also breaks down a practical four-s
Allow Consequences: Let People Own Their Choices
Are you helping someone, or are you accidentally keeping them from learning how to help themselves?In this episode of Managing Difficult People, Adam Holbrook tackles what he calls the “savior mask”, our instinct to step in, fix problems, offer advice, make excuses, and protect people from the consequences of their own decisions. While it may come from a place of compassion, constantly rescuing so
Stop Working More and Start Prioritizing What Works | The 80/20 Rule
Are you working harder than ever but still feeling like you’re falling behind?In this episode of Managing Difficult People, Adam Holbrook tackles one of the biggest mistakes he sees leaders make: failing to prioritize what they do and who they spend their time with. He shares lessons from his own entrepreneurial journey, including how working 90 to 110 hours a week left him exhausted, overwhelmed,
From Excuses to Results: How to Make Fitness a Lifestyle with Korin Sutton
What happens when you keep putting your health behind your business, career, family, and responsibilities? In this episode of Managing Difficult People, Adam Holbrook sits down with bodybuilding coach Korin Sutton to talk about fitness, discipline, self-leadership, and why taking care of yourself can change how you show up in every area of your life. Adam also shares how working with Korin helped
You Don’t Have to Be Perfect to Follow God with Pastor Kyle Prichard
What if you want a stronger relationship with God but don’t know where to begin?In this episode of Managing Difficult People, Adam Holbrook welcomes back Pastor Kyle Prichard after their first conversation about faith became one of the podcast’s most listened to episodes. Together, they tackle some of the questions many people quietly wrestle with about God, faith, giving, sin, forgiveness, and fi
Your Worst Mistake Doesn't Define You: A Story of Accountability and Redemption with Michael V. Crismali
What happens when your worst mistake becomes public... and everyone knows your name?In this unforgettable episode of Managing Difficult People, Adam Holbrook sits down with author, speaker, and mental health advocate Michael V. Crismali for a raw and deeply honest conversation about shame, accountability, forgiveness, and rebuilding a life after public failure. Michael shares the painful story beh
You Are Not Alone: A Powerful Story of Addiction, Suicide, Faith, and Recovery with Kate Parson
What happens when someone who's battled addiction, mental illness, trauma, and suicide attempts refuses to let their story end there?In this powerful episode of Managing Difficult People, host Adam Holbrook sits down with Kate Parsons, a nationally recognized recovery advocate, mental health educator, and faith-based leader, for an honest conversation about addiction, bipolar disorder, suicid
The Power of Resilience: What Comes After Tragedy? with Ron Gold
What do you do when your entire life changes in an instant?In this powerful episode of Managing Difficult People, Adam Holbrook sits down with resilience expert, TEDx speaker, entrepreneur, and former Wall Street executive Ron Gold, whose life was forever changed after a devastating cycling accident left him paralyzed.Ron shares his incredible journey from managing global sales teams on Wall Stree
Living to Be Liked with Eric Geisendorfer
How much of your life is shaped by who you truly are... and how much is driven by the need to be liked?In this deeply personal episode of the Managing Difficult People Podcast, Adam Holbrook sits down with his lifelong friend, Eric Geisendorfer, whose story inspired Adam's upcoming book, Living to Be Liked. Together, they explore how childhood experiences, fear of judgment, and the desire for
Developing a Relationship with God with Kyle Prichard
What if your relationship with God wasn't about religion, routines, or perfection, but simply about spending time with Him?In this inspiring episode of Managing Difficult People, Adam Holbrook sits down with Pastor Kyle Prichard, founder of Bethany Church and Unbound Ministries, for an honest conversation about what it truly means to develop a personal relationship with God.Together, they exp
Love Coach Junie & Adam discuss a Better Relationship with Our Partner
What if the biggest breakthrough in your relationship has nothing to do with changing your partner?In this heartfelt episode of Managing Difficult People, Adam Holbrook sits down with Junie Moon, transformational love coach, bestselling author, and host of the Midlife Love Out Loud Podcast, to explore what it really takes to build a healthy, lasting relationship.Together, they dive into self-worth
When To Say YES and How to Say NO
Are you saying "yes" to everyone else while saying "no" to yourself? In this episode of Managing Difficult People, Adam Holbrook explores one of the most important skills for personal growth, leadership, and mental wellbeing: knowing when to say yes and when to say no. Through powerful personal stories and real-world experiences, Adam shares how saying yes to opportunities outs
What To Do Instead When Frustrated
We all get frustrated. The question is: what is that frustration really trying to tell you?In this episode of Managing Difficult People, Adam Holbrook explores how frustration is often less about other people and more about what's happening inside us. Through personal stories and practical examples, Adam reveals why blaming others keeps us stuck, while self-awareness creates opportunities for
How to Manage Different Perspectives
Why do smart, well-intentioned people see the same situation completely differently?In this episode of the Managing Difficult People Podcast, Adam Holbrook explores one of the most important leadership and relationship skills: understanding different perspectives. Through personal stories, practical examples, and leadership insights, Adam explains why people develop different beliefs, values, and
The Power of Encouragement
In this episode of the Managing Difficult People Podcast, Adam Holbrook explores the life-changing power of encouragement. Drawing from personal experiences of burnout, struggle, and business growth, Adam shares why encouragement is one of the most powerful tools for leadership, relationships, and personal development.He explains the difference between appreciation and encouragement, why people ne
Self Compassion Is the Key to Resilience
In this episode of Managing Difficult People, Adam Holbrook dives into the powerful connection between self-compassion, resilience, and personal growth. Using the viral story of his daughter’s performance video that generated both massive praise and criticism online, Adam explores how the way we speak to ourselves shapes our confidence, emotional well-being, relationships, and ability to navigate
Multitasking is a Myth
Think multitasking is making you more productive? Think again.In this eye-opening episode of Managing Difficult People, Adam Holbrook breaks down the truth most people don’t want to hear: multitasking is a myth and it’s costing you more than you realize.If you’ve ever found yourself juggling emails, meetings, and life all at once only to feel exhausted and still behind. This episode will hit home.
The Reality of Adult Relationships: Why We Need Them and Why They’re So Hard
When was the last time you truly spent time with your friends?In this episode, Adam Holbrook breaks down why so many adults drift away from friendships and the real impact it’s having on your health, happiness, and longevity. From burnout and excuses to the truth about connection, this conversation will challenge how you show up in your relationships.Hit play and rediscover why the right people mi
Self Care vs Fun. What’s the difference and When Do I Need Each?
You might be taking care of yourself… but still feel drained. In this eye-opening episode, Adam breaks down the real difference between self-care and fun—and why confusing the two could be holding you back from feeling truly alive. Learn how to fill your cup daily with self-care while also creating space for real fun that fuels your energy, relationships, and success. If you’ve been stuck in routi
How Gratitude Changed My Life Circumstances
What if one simple shift could completely change your life?In this raw and powerful episode, Adam shares his journey from rock bottom—struggling with anger, loss, and even thoughts of ending his life—to building success, purpose, and fulfillment… all through the power of gratitude. You’ll discover the 3 levels of gratitude, why most people stay stuck, and how to use a simple daily practice to tran
What Is a Difficult Person and How to Handle Them
Difficult people aren’t going anywhere… but your frustration can.In this episode, you’ll learn 4 powerful strategies to handle difficult people without losing your cool, your confidence, or your sanity. From setting boundaries to mastering emotional control, this is your playbook for staying calm while others lose it.Discover how to stop needing apologies, let go of past resentment, create healthy
Managing Difficult People: Stay Calm While Others Lose It
We all deal with difficult people—at work, at home, and sometimes… in the mirror.In this episode, you’ll learn how to stay calm, set boundaries, and respond with confidence—even when others are frustrating, reactive, or completely unreasonable. This isn’t about changing them… it’s about mastering YOU.Discover practical tools to de-escalate conflict, stop emotional reactions, and lead with clarity
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