Manage Smarter Podcast
Hosted by Manage Smarter
A bi-weekly podcast for managers where two seasoned sales intelligence execs interview experts on leadership, culture, and team performance.
A bi-weekly interview podcast for sales managers and business leaders presented by sales intelligence firm SalesFuel. Hosts C. Lee Smith and Audrey Strong, long-time colleagues, interview authors, consultants, and CEOs about the practical mechanics of leadership. The show avoids abstract theory in favor of actionable strategies for hiring, retention, company culture, and performance management.
“The dynamic between two hosts who have worked together for years gives the show a comfortable, conversational feel. Their grounding in the data-centric world of SalesFuel means they consistently steer conversations with creative experts back to measurable business outcomes and practical application.”
Who hosts this show
Manage Smarter is hosted by C. Lee Smith, the founder and CEO of SalesFuel, and Audrey Strong, the company's SVP of Communications. Smith, a certified behavioral analyst and author, founded the sales intelligence firm in 1989. Strong is a veteran communications expert and former award-winning journalist who has directed public relations for SalesFuel since 2014. The show is a production of SalesFuel and an extension of their work in sales and management strategy.
Credentials & credits
- C. Lee Smith: Founder & CEO of SalesFuel
- C. Lee Smith: Certified Behavioral Analyst
- C. Lee Smith: Author of 'SalesCred' and 'Hire Smarter, Sell More!'
- Audrey Strong: SVP of Communications at SalesFuel
- Audrey Strong: Former award-winning television journalist
- Audrey Strong: B.S. in Communication & B.A. in Broadcast Journalism, Ohio University
Other ventures
- SalesFuel
- AdMall
- TeamTrait
- SalesCred
- C. Lee Smith (Keynote Speaker & Coach)
What kind of podcast
When new episodes drop
- 01260 Embracing Autism in the Workplace With Tara May (Encore)Apr 12, 2026 · 21 min
- 02301: Continuous Employee Listening with Nick MontalbineMar 29, 2026 · 26 min
- 03
- 04299: Thrive Under Fear-Based Leaders with Kate LowryMar 1, 2026 · 24 min
- 05298: Dr. Rosenna Bakari: Seven Exits: Leave Behind What No Longer Serves YouFeb 15, 2026 · 23 min
- 06297: Humor as a Leadership Superpower with Kevin HubschmannFeb 1, 2026 · 27 min
- 07296: Courageous Conflict Resolution with Dan TocchiniJan 18, 2026 · 21 min
- 08Extra Point: Team CommitmentJan 14, 2026 · 4 min
Notable episodes
- 01300: Businesspeople Are People Too - We'll Go First with C. Lee Smith and Audrey Strong
In this milestone 300th episode, the hosts answer listener questions, revealing their origin story, personal influences, and podcasting process.
- 02260 Embracing Autism in the Workplace With Tara May (Encore)
An impactful interview with the CEO of a company where 90% of the professionals are autistic, highlighting their unique strengths and the 'ROI of kindness'.
- 03301: Continuous Employee Listening with Nick Montalbine
A highly practical episode providing managers with actionable strategies to gauge team sentiment, identify hidden issues, and improve performance.
What you'll be asked on this show
The interview is a two-on-one conversation led by hosts C. Lee Smith and Audrey Strong. They begin by formally introducing the guest with a comprehensive bio, immediately establishing their authority. The hosts then move into the guest's origin story, often asking what personal experience led them to their current expertise. Smith and Strong build on each other's questions, creating a fluid dialogue that focuses on practical application, common mistakes leaders make, and real-world impact stories. They are known to use the power of silence to encourage more thoughtful, honest answers and frequently ask for concrete takeaways, like a 'top five list' of questions or tips for the audience.
This is a co-hosted interview show where Audrey Strong and C. Lee Smith trade off asking questions in a conversational back-and-forth. They open by reading a detailed guest biography to establish credibility. The hosts often use personal anecdotes or analogies to make complex business concepts more relatable.
Questions Manage Smarter keeps coming back to
12 cataloguedIf you're going on this show as a guest, expect some version of each of these. Each note explains when Manage Smarter reaches for it.
origin
1- Q.01
“What happened in your life or career that made you so interested in this topic?”
Often asked near the beginning to uncover the guest's personal motivation and origin story.
craft
1- Q.01
“Can you share an impact story where your work completely changed a leader's decisions?”
Used to solicit a case study that demonstrates the real-world value of the guest's expertise.
advice
3- Q.01
“What are the biggest mistakes leaders make when it comes to this?”
This question seeks to identify common pitfalls and provide cautionary advice for the audience.
- Q.02
“What advice would you give a CEO or manager looking to create change in this area?”
A signature closing question that asks for high-level, actionable advice for the target audience.
- Q.03
“Could you give us a short list of actionable questions or tips our listeners can use tomorrow?”
This question explicitly asks for a simple, memorable takeaway for the audience.
process
6- Q.01
“How do you handle it when employees are resistant or tell you 'everything's fine'?”
Probes for strategies to overcome employee fear, skepticism, or reluctance to be candid.
- Q.02
“How do you measure the social or business impact of what you do?”
Asks the guest to define the key metrics they use to quantify the success of their work.
- Q.03
“What's the proper way to introduce a new program like this without causing panic?”
Focuses on the practical steps of implementation and change management.
- Q.04
“Beyond the obvious one-on-ones or surveys, what are some other forms this can take?”
Seeks alternative, creative methods for managers to apply the guest's advice.
- Q.05
“For listeners who aren't familiar, what does your company do?”
A foundational question to establish the guest's core business and services.
- Q.06
“How do you approach career progression and professional development for your teams?”
This question explores the guest's philosophy on long-term talent management and retention.
mindset
1- Q.01
“What unique strengths or advantages does this group or approach bring to a business?”
This question seeks the business case, connecting a concept to tangible benefits like innovation or performance.
Signature segments
- · Intro: "Welcome to the Manage Smarter podcast..."
- · Outro: Call to rate and recommend the show
- · Extra Point bonus episodes
- · Answering listener questions on milestone episodes
Topics covered repeatedly
Who gets booked here
Guests are typically authors, psychologists, consultants, or founders with specific expertise in a niche of leadership or workplace dynamics. The show books experts who can provide actionable frameworks, identify common leadership mistakes, and tell compelling stories about their area of practice.
- Tara Mayon 260 Embracing Autism in the Workplace With Tara May (Encore)
- Nick Montalbineon 301: Continuous Employee Listening with Nick Montalbine
- Kate Lowryon 299: Thrive Under Fear-Based Leaders with Kate Lowry
- Dr. Rosenna Bakarion 298: Dr. Rosenna Bakari: Seven Exits: Leave Behind What No Longer Serves You
- Kevin Hubschmannon 297: Humor as a Leadership Superpower with Kevin Hubschmann
- Dan Tocchinion 296: Courageous Conflict Resolution with Dan Tocchini
Where to find this show
Audience & reach
The podcast is presented by SalesFuel, the hosts' company, and often promotes its proprietary tools like TeamTrait. Based on episode evidence, other sponsors have included The Home Depot, Cisco Duo, and the C-Suite Radio Network.
Subscriber and view counts are pulled live from YouTube and re-verified on a 30-day cycle. Listener estimates for the RSS feed aren't published here unless they're host-verified.
Pitch Manage Smarter
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People also ask
- Who are the hosts of Manage Smarter?
- The podcast is co-hosted by C. Lee Smith, founder & CEO of SalesFuel, and Audrey Strong, the company's SVP of Communications.
- Are the hosts C. Lee Smith and Audrey Strong married?
- No. They are long-time colleagues who met in college, and they address this frequently asked question in their 300th episode.
- What is the podcast's format?
- It's a bi-weekly, interview-based show where the two hosts have a conversation with an expert guest, focusing on actionable advice for managers. They also release shorter 'Extra Point' bonus episodes.
- Is the Manage Smarter podcast still running?
- Yes, the podcast releases new episodes every other week, with bonus episodes in between.
- Where does the podcast get its perspective?
- The show is presented by SalesFuel, a sales intelligence and research firm, so the hosts approach leadership topics from a data-driven, performance-oriented viewpoint.
Built from the show's public RSS feed, YouTube, the host's own websites, and the cited sources below. Computed and AI-extracted fields are labelled. Facts only — no private info, no fabrication, no transcripts republished.
Sources & how this page was built
This page is AI-assisted, grounded in the public sources cited below, and host-verifiable. We publish facts only; we do not republish transcripts. If anything here is wrong, the host can claim and correct the page above.Model: gemini-2.5-pro · high confidence
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