Episode Summary
Emmy Award–winning coach Tim Peek once led through fear—until a career meltdown forced him to rebuild from the inside out.
In this episode, Dan Berger, founder of Assemble Hospitality, sits down with Tim to explore what real leadership looks like under pressure: emotional intelligence, radical responsibility, and the courage to be vulnerable.
They talk failures, retreats gone wrong, and how creating safety and humor can unlock growth—at work and in life.
Episode Themes
- Emotional intelligence in high-stakes leadership
- Building safety and belonging in teams
- Vulnerability as a performance advantage
- Leadership lessons from failure and humility
- How retreats reveal what daily life hides
Chapters
00:00 – IntroductionDan introduces Tim Peek, Emmy-winning coach and former NBC executive.
01:20 – From newsroom to boardroomHow leading through fear backfired—and what forced Tim to change.
03:00 – The turning pointA book, a coach, and a moment of truth that shifted everything.
05:00 – Fired mid-retreat (twice)Why even facilitators fail—and what “readiness” really means.
09:00 – Emotional intelligence under pressureWhat great leaders do when chaos hits.
13:00 – Creating psychological safetyThe role of presence, hospitality, and space in building trust.
15:00 – Vulnerability-based trustWhy people connect fastest through honesty, not polish.
17:00 – Exercises for connection“If you really knew me…” and other prompts that open teams up.
22:00 – Retreats that workA story of transformation through storytelling and shared history.
24:00 – Closing reflectionsWhy “Peek” means looking deeper, not higher.
About the Guest – Tim Peek
Tim Peek is an Emmy Award–winning executive coach and facilitator who helps leaders and teams surpass themselves.
A former NBC News producer, he combines storytelling and emotional intelligence to build cultures of trust and self-awareness.
About the Assemble Podcast
Welcome to the Assemble Podcast. I’m Don Berger, founder of Assemble Hospitality Group.
We build purpose-designed spaces for small team offsites and retreats, because the biggest things happen in the smallest rooms.
This show explores retreats in all forms—corporate, lifestyle, wellness, and endurance training—and the culture shifts that happen when people step away from the everyday. You’ll hear lessons from operators, facilitators, and leaders who design experiences that move the needle.
Our goal: give you the playbook for building clarity, trust, and belonging on your team—or in your community.