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Belief Leadership: Leading People Through Uncertainty with Owen Fitzpatrick

Why do people resist change even when the reasons for it seem perfectly logical?

In this episode of the Change Management Review™ Podcast, Theresa Moulton speaks with Owen Fitzpatrick, Social Psychologist and author of Inner Propaganda, about how beliefs shape the way people respond to change and why logic alone is often not enough to build commitment.

Drawing on psychology, neuroscience, and his research into influence and persuasion, Owen explains how the brain’s drive for safety and stability can shape resistance, reinforce existing beliefs, and make people more likely to push back when change feels imposed upon them. He introduces the concept of inner propaganda, the stories people tell themselves about what is true, possible, and consistent with who they are, and explores what this means for change leaders navigating uncertainty and AI adoption.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• Why the brain’s preference for safety and stability can influence how people respond to organizational change.
• How pushing harder against an existing negative belief can create psychological reactance and strengthen resistance rather than reduce it.
• Why changing beliefs requires more than presenting logical reasons for change, and how helping change feel right and fit with identity can create a stronger foundation for adoption.
• How artificial intelligence can challenge professional identity, and why change practitioners may need to help people recognize the skills and value that remain important as their roles evolve.
• Why capabilities such as critical thinking, strategic thinking, communication, influence, empathy, and relationship-building become increasingly important as AI takes on more technical work.

Guest Bio

Owen Fitzpatrick is a Social Psychologist and author of Inner Propaganda: Leading Hearts and Minds Through Turbulent Times.

He has studied propaganda firsthand in North Korea, Rwanda, and Afghanistan and studied the science of influence at Harvard and MIT. His TEDx Talk has been viewed more than 1.4 million times, and he has delivered keynotes and leadership training for organizations including Google, LinkedIn, Citibank, Morgan Stanley, and Coca-Cola across 33 countries.

Through his work on Inner Propaganda and Belief Leadership, Owen explores how the stories people tell themselves shape belief, identity, decision-making, and their response to change.