The Art of Charm
The Art of Charm is where self-motivated people, just like you, come to learn from the company’s coaches about to how to master human dynamics, relationships, and becoming your best self with the help of Johnny and AJ, the company’s founders. Johnny and AJ bring their 11 years of coaching experience from their famous Bootcamps, where they host clients in Los Angeles from all over the world and they share their stories, best practices and themselves on this weekly podcast. Not only does The Art of Charm help everyday people, including active members of the military, learn how to become higher performers, better spouses, partners, and coworkers, they dig deep into human behavior, the science b...
AI Can’t Save You in the Conference Room (Or on a Date) | Social Intelligence Briefing
AJ and Johnny reveal the single most important human skill to master in 2026 — and why it’s the one AI will never replace: validation. As automation takes over the transactional side of work, the moments that matter most — the hallway conversation, the tense meeting, the post-date silence — depend on your ability to make people feel understood. This episode breaks down why being right often backfires, how “fixing” kills influence and attraction, and why validation is the real unlock for leadership, connection, and persuasion in the AI era. They share real-world examples from clients in tech, dating, and leadership, showing how one small shift in sequencing — acknowledging before advising — transforms every interaction. Chapters: 00:00 – Why your biggest moments now matter more than ever 03:00 – AI can’t replace the human layer of influence 05:00 – People move toward those who make them feel understood 07:00 – Why being right makes things worse 09:00 – How “fixing” kills attraction and trust 11:00 – The validation sequence: acknowledge before advise 13:00 – Real examples from work, dating, and daily life 16:00 – The neuroscience of feeling safe and seen 18:00 – Validation: the leadership skill AI can’t automate 20:00 – The 3-step validation protocol AI, emotional intelligence, validation, leadership, communication, influence, connection, charisma, psychology, empathy, attraction A Word From Our Sponsors Stop being over looked and unlock your X-Factor today at unlockyourxfactor.com Check out Johnny on Instagram @Social_Intell or on Tiktok @social_intel The very qualities that make you exceptional in your field are working against you socially. Visit the artofcharm.com/intel for a social intelligence assessment and discover exactly what's holding you back. Download Stuff for free today by going to trystuff.app or by searching for “Stuff” in the App Store. You can get 50% off your first year of Extra Stuff by using code CHARM at checkout. Don’t let financial opportunity slip through the cracks. Use code CHARM at monarch.com in your browser for HALF OFF your first year. Indulge in affordable luxury with Quince. Upgrade your wardrobe today at quince.com/charm for free shipping and hassle-free returns. Ready to turn your business idea into reality? Sign up for your $1/month trial at shopify.com/charm. Need to hire top talent—fast? Claim your $75 Sponsored Job Credit now at Indeed.com/charm. This year, skip breaking a sweat AND breaking the bank. Get your summer savings and shop premium wireless plans at mintmobile.com/charm Save more than fifty percent on term life insurance at SELECTQUOTE.COM/CHARM TODAY to get started Curious about your influence level? Get your Influence Index Score today! Take this 60-second quiz to find out how your influence stacks up against top performers at theartofcharm.com/influence. Check in with AJ and Johnny! AJ on LinkedIn Johnny on LinkedIn AJ on Instagram Johnny on Instagram The Art of Charm on Instagram The Art of Charm on YouTube The Art of Charm on TikTok AI, emotional intelligence, validation, leadership, communication, influence, connection, charisma, psychology, empathy, attraction Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
9 mins
9 January Finished
The Art of Charm Best Of 2025
AJ and Johnny close out the year with The Best of 2025 — sixty minutes of the most replayed, talked-about moments that defined the year on The Art of Charm. Five powerful themes — no fluff, just the tools that changed how thousands of listeners connect and communicate. From making people feel seen and breaking past small talk to influencing without pressure, sounding charismatic, and asking the one deep question that upgrades every relationship. Featuring highlights from Caroline Fleck, Adam Dorsay, Dr. Abby Mareno, Jay Heinrichs, Michael Hopner, and Charles Duhigg, this episode is a masterclass in emotional intelligence, persuasion, and connection. Start your year ahead by revisiting the moments that helped you lead better, listen deeper, and show up as your most magnetic self. Chapters: 00:00 – The best of 2025: five themes that changed everything 03:00 – How to make people feel seen (with Caroline Fleck) 08:00 – From small talk to real talk (with Adam Dorsay) 14:00 – Influence without pressure (with Dr. Abbie Maroño) 20:00 – The emotional power of words (with Jay Heinrichs) 26:00 – How to sound like you think you sound (with Michael Hoeppner) 32:00 – The one daily question that upgrades every conversation (with Charles Duhigg) 38:00 – How to regulate, connect, and lead under pressure 45:00 – Lessons from the X-Factor community 50:00 – AJ and Johnny’s 2025 reflections and what’s next Check in with AJ and Johnny! AJ on LinkedIn Johnny on LinkedIn AJ on Instagram Johnny on Instagram The Art of Charm on Instagram The Art of Charm on YouTube The Art of Charm on TikTok communication, charisma, influence, persuasion, connection, confidence, social intelligence, leadership, emotional intelligence Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
57 mins
5 January Finished
Invisible Workers Get Cut First | Rebecca Hinds
AJ and Johnny sit down with Rebecca Hinds, author of Your Best Meeting Ever, to uncover why meetings aren’t broken — they’re just poorly designed. Rebecca shares how better meeting design can accelerate your career, increase visibility, and help you stand out as a leader in the AI era. They dive into how collaboration has quietly become a visibility trap, how to gain recognition without more airtime, and why treating meetings like a product can transform your influence, culture, and career. From managing “meeting suck reflex” to using AI responsibly, this episode offers a playbook for making every meeting meaningful — and finally reclaiming your time. Chapters:00:00 – Why meetings feel broken (and why they’re not)05:00 – Collaboration overload and the visibility trap10:00 – Presence ≠ productivity: the illusion of busyness15:00 – How AI is reshaping collaboration and meaning at work20:00 – Designing your best meeting ever: rhythm, purpose, and focus25:00 – Declining pointless meetings without fallout30:00 – Using AI to build better meetings, not replace them 35:00 – The four D test: when a meeting actually deserves to exist40:00 – The visibility tax and remote work trade-offs45:00 – Building career leverage through better meeting design A Word From Our Sponsors Stop being over looked and unlock your X-Factor today at unlockyourxfactor.com The very qualities that make you exceptional in your field are working against you socially. Visit the artofcharm.com/intel for a social intelligence assessment and discover exactly what's holding you back. If you’ve put off organizing your finances, Monarch is for you. Use code CHARM at monarch.com in your browser for half off your first year. Indulge in affordable luxury with Quince. Upgrade your wardrobe today at quince.com/charm for free shipping and hassle-free returns. Grow your way - with Headway! Get started at makeheadway.com/CHARM and use my code CHARM for 25% off. Ready to turn your business idea into reality? Sign up for your $1/month trial at shopify.com/charm. Need to hire top talent—fast? Claim your $75 Sponsored Job Credit now at Indeed.com/charm. This year, skip breaking a sweat AND breaking the bank. Get your summer savings and shop premium wireless plans at mintmobile.com/charm Save more than fifty percent on term life insurance at SELECTQUOTE.COM/CHARM TODAY to get started Curious about your influence level? Get your Influence Index Score today! Take this 60-second quiz to find out how your influence stacks up against top performers at theartofcharm.com/influence. Episode resources: Your Best Meeting Ever: 7 Principles for Designing Meetings That Get Things Done RebeccaHinds.com Check in with AJ and Johnny! AJ on LinkedIn Johnny on LinkedIn AJ on Instagram Johnny on Instagram The Art of Charm on Instagram The Art of Charm on YouTube The Art of Charm on TikTok meetings, collaboration, leadership, communication, productivity, visibility, AI at work, remote work, workplace culture, career growth, The Art of Charm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
1 hour 2 mins
29 December 2025 Finished
Why Trying is Ruining You | Carla Ondrasik
AJ and Johnny sit down with Carla Ondrasik, author of Stop Trying, to unpack why the word try is secretly holding you back from real change. Carla shares how “trying” tricks your brain into feeling productive while keeping you stuck — and why doing, not trying, is the antidote to procrastination, perfectionism, and fear. They explore how language shapes behavior, why “I’ll try” destroys trust and momentum, and how replacing it with decisive action transforms confidence, relationships, and follow-through. You’ll learn how to silence your inner critic, embrace failure, and finally move from thinking about it to living it. Chapters: 00:00 – Why “try” is the most dangerous word you use04:00 – How “trying” fools your brain into false progress08:00 – The psychology of fear, failure, and perfectionism12:00 – How “try” damages trust and relationships16:00 – Replacing “try” with honest language and action20:00 – How to stop waiting for motivation and start doing24:00 – The Try Test: how your brain reacts to indecision28:00 – The power of “no” and protecting your willpower32:00 – The science of action and accountability36:00 – Rewiring your brain from “try” to “do” A Word From Our Sponsors Stop being over looked and unlock your X-Factor today at unlockyourxfactor.com The very qualities that make you exceptional in your field are working against you socially. Visit the artofcharm.com/intel for a social intelligence assessment and discover exactly what's holding you back. If you’ve put off organizing your finances, Monarch is for you. Use code CHARM at monarch.com in your browser for half off your first year. Indulge in affordable luxury with Quince. Upgrade your wardrobe today at quince.com/charm for free shipping and hassle-free returns. Grow your way - with Headway! Get started at makeheadway.com/CHARM and use my code CHARM for 25% off. Ready to turn your business idea into reality? Sign up for your $1/month trial at shopify.com/charm. Need to hire top talent—fast? Claim your $75 Sponsored Job Credit now at Indeed.com/charm. This year, skip breaking a sweat AND breaking the bank. Get your summer savings and shop premium wireless plans at mintmobile.com/charm Save more than fifty percent on term life insurance at SELECTQUOTE.COM/CHARM TODAY to get started Curious about your influence level? Get your Influence Index Score today! Take this 60-second quiz to find out how your influence stacks up against top performers at theartofcharm.com/influence. Episode resources: Stop Trying! Check in with AJ and Johnny! AJ on LinkedIn Johnny on LinkedIn AJ on Instagram Johnny on Instagram The Art of Charm on Instagram The Art of Charm on YouTube The Art of Charm on TikTok motivation, procrastination, confidence, mindset, fear, accountability, personal growth, communication, self-sabotage, language, psychology, Stop Trying Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
44 mins
22 December 2025 Finished
Why Smart Ideas Stall — And What’s Really Happening | SIB
AJ and Johnny unpack why great ideas often get rejected — even when the logic and data are flawless. The truth? You didn’t lose the argument; you triggered someone’s identity. In this episode, they reveal how ideas meet identity before logic, introducing two of the eight core competency identities that run every workplace: The Solver and The Protector. You’ll learn how to read these identity patterns in meetings, frame your ideas for alignment instead of resistance, and move conversations forward without conflict. By the end, you’ll know why competence alone stops working — and how to communicate in a way that gets real traction. Chapters:00:00 – Why smart ideas get rejected02:00 – Logic vs. identity: what really blocks movement04:00 – The Solver: how they find value through complexity06:00 – The Protector: how they find value through stability08:00 – Solvers vs. Protectors: conflict or coherence?10:00 – How to spot identity signals in meetings12:00 – Framing ideas to align instead of threaten14:00 – How to use identity recognition as influence16:00 – The cheat code for managing resistance18:00 – The eight workplace identities revealed A Word From Our Sponsors Stop being over looked and unlock your X-Factor today at unlockyourxfactor.com Check out Johnny on Instagram @Social_Intell or on Tiktok @social_intel The very qualities that make you exceptional in your field are working against you socially. Visit the artofcharm.com/intel for a social intelligence assessment and discover exactly what's holding you back. Download Stuff for free today by going to trystuff.app or by searching for “Stuff” in the App Store. You can get 50% off your first year of Extra Stuff by using code CHARM at checkout. Don’t let financial opportunity slip through the cracks. Use code CHARM at monarch.com in your browser for HALF OFF your first year. Indulge in affordable luxury with Quince. Upgrade your wardrobe today at quince.com/charm for free shipping and hassle-free returns. Ready to turn your business idea into reality? Sign up for your $1/month trial at shopify.com/charm. Need to hire top talent—fast? Claim your $75 Sponsored Job Credit now at Indeed.com/charm. This year, skip breaking a sweat AND breaking the bank. Get your summer savings and shop premium wireless plans at mintmobile.com/charm Save more than fifty percent on term life insurance at SELECTQUOTE.COM/CHARM TODAY to get started Curious about your influence level? Get your Influence Index Score today! Take this 60-second quiz to find out how your influence stacks up against top performers at theartofcharm.com/influence. Check in with AJ and Johnny! AJ on LinkedIn Johnny on LinkedIn AJ on Instagram Johnny on Instagram The Art of Charm on Instagram The Art of Charm on YouTube The Art of Charm on TikTok leadership, communication, influence, persuasion, psychology, workplace dynamics, conflict resolution, identity, social intelligence Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
12 mins
18 December 2025 Finished