EPISODE ONE — DECODED

Hosted by Shawn Black & John Edwards

In the premiere episode of Decoded, John Edwards and I crack open what most leaders avoid: the real, unfiltered truth behind building something that lasts—in business, leadership, and life.

We talk grit. Legacy. AI. Mentorship. Culture that doesn’t collapse under pressure.

And why the loudest voice in the room rarely holds the deepest wisdom.

We didn’t build Decoded to add noise.

We built it to subtract the bullsh*t.

Because clarity is power.

Conviction is rare.

And code—real code—is earned.

Takeaways That Actually Matter:

• Patience is a weapon. Hacks dissolve under pressure. Discipline holds.

• AI isn’t coming. It’s here. Either you lead with it—or get led by those who do.

• Leadership is legacy. Not ego. Not visibility. Impact.

• Great teams are built, not bought. Chemistry is forged through friction.

• Words move markets. Communication done wrong? Chaos. Done right? Velocity.

• Mentors show up when your ego steps down.

• Timelines are fiction. Trust the tempo of what you’re building.

• Growth is supposed to hurt. But pain is proof you’re in the arena.

• Culture beats the best-laid plan—especially when the storm hits.

• The future bends for those who are bold enough to carve it.

Sound Bites You’ll Feel in Your Bones:

• “The Code: Secrets and Stories That Shape Us”

• “AI Isn’t the Threat. Disconnection Is.”

• “Legacy Over Loudness: Closing Thoughts on What Really Lasts”

Want to skip ahead? (We’d rather you didn’t):

• 00:00 – Welcome to Decoded

• 02:44 – The Code: Secrets and Stories

• 06:00 – Business Growth and the Weapon of Patience

• 08:27 – AI, Fear, and the New Era of Leadership

• 11:17 – Mentorship and Legacy: Earning the Right to Be Heard

• 14:13 – Culture Over Clout: Team Dynamics That Scale

• 17:10 – Influence That Doesn’t Manipulate

• 20:09 – Final Frame: The Future Is Yours to Shape

WHY WE BUILT DECODED

Because “strategic” has become a smokescreen.

Because real leadership doesn’t yell—it holds.

Because too many are performing. Not enough are present.

Decoded is for leaders done with validation-chasing and ready to build from identity.

For those who know truth doesn’t whisper—it resonates.

If that’s you?

Hit play. Subscribe.

We’re just getting warmed up.

Let’s decode what matters—brick by brick.

#DecodedPodcast #JohnEdwards #ShawnBlack #LegacyLeadership #AITruth #NoNoiseJustSignal #FacilityOps #CIS #ClarityKillsConfusion

Let me know if you want a second variation written more for social media hooks, or condensed for an episode teaser.