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Grody & UnPrOfEsSiOnAL

Grody & UnPrOfEsSiOnAL

By: Justin McMenamy
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Hello and welcome to Grody & UnPrOfEsSiOnAL, my name is Justin McMenamy, and my mission is to share both profitable and painful leadership lessons I have acquired over a twenty-year career as a misfit in corporate America.

Like everyone, I have worked with and for hundreds of leaders across my career. While some leaders are great, and many are good, the vast majority find themselves tossed into leadership and left to figure it out on their own. Grody & Unprofessional seeks to share leadership stories harvested from my own experiences and from the experiences of others through approachable and candid conversations with the aim of educating and shaping your leadership journey.

Grody & Unprofessional episodes will toggle between focused monologue on specific lessons or mindsets I have acquired from my experiences and conversations with other leaders seeking to understand their convictions and strategies for inspiring, motivating, and maybe sometimes cajoling a group into action.

Grody & Unprofessional is not a memoir, it’s not a forum to gripe or complain about the past or present. The rules are simple, I aim to convey leadership lessons through storytelling. If a given story has a hero, we will use proper names, if the story has a villain, a dolt, or if there is the potential for embarrassment, proper names will be removed. While we do NOT aim to embarrass people or organizations, we do intend to embarrass poor leadership behaviors and mindsets common to many leaders and organizations.

My experience has been that demand for talented leaders outstrips supply by at least tenfold, Grody & Unprofessional is my feeble attempt to improve supply.

I hope you will join me as we seek to uncover people, product, and organizational leadership lessons through the musings of a corporate misfit and his friends.Copyright Justin McMenamy Economics Management Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • Why Teams Rebel & Talent Resigns w. Caleb Schleder

    Why Teams Rebel & Talent Resigns w. Caleb Schleder
    Jan 22 2026
    This episode features host Justin McMenamy and guest Caleb Schleder discussing the Situational Leadership model. They delve into the four leadership styles (L1 through L4) and their applications based on employee competence and confidence. The conversation emphasizes the importance of recognizing and adapting to these styles to enhance team performance.

    They also explore challenges like managing 'comfortable L1s,' handling team dynamics with varying competence levels, and maintaining effective leadership during organizational changes. The episode concludes with a unique twist, examining how Situational Leadership principles can apply to parenting, ultimately comcluding that the aim of both the leader and the parent is to foster autonomy and strong relationships which foster personal growth and maturation.
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    45 mins
  • Situational Leadership w. Caleb Schleder

    Situational Leadership w. Caleb Schleder
    Jan 8 2026
    In this episode, host Justin McMenemy is joined by Caleb Schleder to discuss the framework of Situational Leadership. They delve into the importance of tailoring leadership styles to specific situations and the pitfalls of a one-size-fits-all approach. Justin emphasizes the significance of avoiding the 'because I said so' attitude and introduces Situational Leadership as his go-to advice for new leaders. Caleb shares personal experiences with different leadership styles and highlights the value of empowering employees while avoiding micromanagement.

    The discussion covers various leadership stages, from Directing (S1) to Delegating (S4), explaining the importance of adjusting strategies based on an employee’s competence and confidence. They also touch on the challenges faced by leaders of leaders and the necessity of maintaining good relationships with employees through these transitions.

    The episode concludes with preparation for a follow-up episode to continue the discussion, in which Justin and Caleb will spend time discussing edge cases and real-world examples of utilizing the Situational Leadership framework.
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    52 mins
  • 'The Spinach King' w. John Seabrook

    'The Spinach King' w. John Seabrook
    Dec 25 2025
    In this episode, host Justin McMenamy interviews John Seabrook, an author and journalist, about his recent book 'The Spinach King.' The discussion centers on the dual legacies of John’s grandfather, Charles F. Seabrook, a pioneering yet controversial figure in agriculture. Known for his innovative work in industrializing vegetable farming and his collaboration with Clarence Birdseye, Charles is described as both a visionary and a ruthless leader.

    The interview delves into the complex family dynamics, including the strained and ultimately destructive relationship between Charles and his sons, particularly John’s father. John shares insights into the personal and professional challenges his family faced, and how writing the book offered him therapeutic closure. The episode also touches on the broader impact of Seabrook Farms on its employees, including Japanese Americans employed after World War II. John reflects on the mixed legacy and the lasting emotional impacts of his family's business saga.
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    53 mins
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