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High Octane Leadership

Why Persuasion Isn’t a Dirty Word and How to Use It Effectively | J.C Abdallah

High Octane Leadership · 2026-01-08 · 46 min

Episode notes

What does knowing how to build a loyal fan-community have to do with being an impactful leader? Everything, apparently. In this episode of High Octane Leadership, Donald Thompson sits down with J.C. Abdallah, Ph.D., a quantitative researcher studying fandom and persuasion, alongside creative partner Bob Batchelor to explore how fandom works, why persuasion matters in leadership and how the psychology of community building applies directly to business and brand strategy. What You'll Learn: The persuasion framework and the difference between ethical influence and manipulation Why brand loyalty begins in childhood and how long-term customer relationships beat quick revenue hits Why authenticity and visibility matter more than you think About the Guest(s) J.C. Abdallah, Ph.D., is a quantitative researcher and educator specializing in the intersection of sports, media and fan identification. With expertise in sports communication, persuasion and mass communication, Dr. Abdallah has conducted extensive research on how NFL and college football fans engage with social media and build community identity.

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