Trail Talks

What if the difference between where you are and where you want to be comes down to a few simple principles? In this episode of Trail Talks , Kelly and Ericka dive into their favorite lessons from John Maxwell’s The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth . Rather than covering all 15 laws, they each share the five that have had the biggest impact on their lives, leadership, and personal development journey....

This week on Trail Talks , Kelly and Terra are talking about what actually makes teams work. Using Google’s Project Aristotle as the foundation, they walk through the five key factors of high-performing teams: psychological safety, dependability, structure and clarity, meaning, and impact. 🧭 This conversation is for leaders and team members alike, because culture is not just carried by the person...

In this episode of Trail Talks, Kelly sits down with Jason Ham, Air Force Chief Exercise Physiologist and longtime human performance expert, for a conversation that goes way beyond push-ups, run times, and checking the fitness box. 🏃‍♀️💪 They talk about the difference between a culture of testing and a culture of fitness, what really gets in the way of our health, why sleep matters more than we...

🌀 What happens when a team talks about the same problem over and over… but nothing actually changes? In this episode of Trail Talks 🎙️, Kelly officially welcomes Vanessa Valdez as co-host as they unpack why teams, workplaces, and even friendships can get stuck in the same cycles. Through leadership stories 💡, Ted Lasso references ⚽, practical conversation, and a hilarious detour into airplane e...

In this episode of Trail Talks, Kelly and Terra are joined by counselor Jill Defayette for a powerful conversation on leadership addiction . 🎯 What happens when your title becomes your identity? When work replaces purpose? When control feels safer than connection? Together, they unpack the psychology behind workaholism, toxic leadership, identity loss, burnout, and why some leaders struggle to st...

After a heavy conversation on toxic leadership and silent bullying, this episode brings it back to what actually matters. Because here’s the truth:  Leadership isn’t complicated… it’s uncomfortable.  And too often, we avoid the very things that make leadership effective. In this episode of Trail Talks , we break down:  The 5 basics of leadership : clarity, consistency, communication, ownership, an...

In this episode of Trail Talks , Kelly and Terra are joined by Sue and Heather for a real conversation about a form of workplace toxicity that often goes unrecognized—silent bullying. This isn’t about obvious conflict or explosive leaders. It’s about the behaviors that happen quietly:  Avoiding hard conversations   Withholding feedback   Excluding people from information or opportunities   Creatin...

Not all harm in leadership comes from what’s said. Sometimes… it’s what isn’t said. In this solo episode, I talk about a form of leadership that often goes unnoticed— silence that breaks trust . The moments where leaders stay quiet when something needs to be addressed. When people are treated poorly, when tension is obvious, when something feels off… and nothing is said. I share why this weighs so...

Most people think change comes down to discipline. Trying harder. Being more consistent. Having more willpower. But what if that’s not the real problem? In this episode, we explore a powerful leadership and personal growth truth inspired by John Maxwell’s Law of Environment : Your environment shapes your behavior more than your willpower does. We break down the four environments influencing your l...

What does it actually mean to love yourself — and why do so many of us struggle with it? Together we break down three common lies about self-love that quietly shape how we think about our worth, our relationships, and our identity. Then we share three powerful truths grounded in psychology and neuroscience that can help you build a more stable sense of self. Along the way we explore research from...

Love isn’t supposed to be effortless 24/7… it’s supposed to be sustainable 💛 In Episode 15 of Trail Talks , we unpack boundaries in romantic relationships and why they’re not walls, ultimatums, or control… they’re clarity. We break down the Top 5 Truths About Boundaries , explore how attachment styles + nervous system states (fight/flight vs shutdown) shape conflict, and share practical tools lik...

Trail Talks Episode 14 🎙️🌿 is a powerful conversation about love 💘, healing 🩹, faith 🙏🏾, and choosing growth 🌱 after heartbreak 💔 Kelly Kruger 🎤 and Terra Stinnett 🌟 sit down with Gregg & Shakela Matthews 💑—founders of Always Love and Lead ❤️➡️👣 and Divinely Restored 🙏🏾✨—to talk relationships 💍, emotional intelligence 🧠, communication 🗣️, and rebuilding after divorce 💔➡️💖 Fro...

Episode 13 | Part 3: Identity, Transition & Emotional Intelligence In this final part of Episode 13, we explore what it really means to lead when the uniform comes off—and when titles no longer define us. Retired Command Chief Ericka Kelly shares powerful insights on: Preparing for life beyond rank and roles The emotional reality of transition Building a coaching or leadership business with in...

In Part 2 of Episode 13 , we continue our powerful conversation with Ericka Kelly , diving into emotional intelligence, identity, and leadership through a deeply human lens. We unpack why emotions aren’t facts—but important data , how subconscious programming shapes our reactions, and why great leadership starts with understanding yourself first. Erica shares lessons on mentorship, resilience, psy...

In Part One of Episode 13 of Trail Talks , we welcome Erica Kelly for a deeply moving conversation on persistence, survival, and purpose. Erica shares her journey from surviving severe childhood trauma and poverty in Guatemala, immigrating to the United States, and eventually rising to become the 17th Command Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Reserve Command. This episode explores what persis...

🎙️ Episode 12: The F Word — Feelings What if the reason you feel stuck isn’t a lack of discipline… but the way you’ve been taught to treat your feelings? In Episode 12 of Trail Talks , we’re talking about the real F word — feelings . 🧠💛 The emotions we were never taught how to name, process, or trust — and how they quietly influence our goals, decisions, relationships, and leadership. In this ep...

We all say it: “I just don’t have enough time.” But what if time isn’t actually the problem? In this episode of Trail Talks, we dive into our relationship with time — why it feels scarce, why we feel behind, and why productivity hacks alone don’t work. We explore the neuroscience behind time perception, how our brain processes urgency and focus, and why managing your mind matters more than managin...

We love setting goals… but no one talks about what happens after you decide to change something. In this solo episode of Trail Talks , Kelly breaks down The Gritty Eight — the real parts of the goal journey most people aren’t prepared for: the joy, setbacks, the messy middle, triumphs, momentum shifts, how to stay the course, and who you become along the way. Grounded in neuroscience, emotional in...

In this episode, Kelly and Terra explore why goals aren’t just a New Year ritual — they’re the compass that keeps us from drifting through our days, our careers, and our lives. 🧭 We break down the neuroscience behind goal setting 🧠, why the brain needs direction, and what actually happens when we don’t choose a path. You’ll learn how goals create clarity ✨, momentum 🚀, and purpose — and how re...

In this week’s Trail Talks episode, we unwrap something almost all of us carry around during the holidays: the Holiday Manual — that invisible rulebook we expect other people to follow… even though we never actually tell them. We dive into:  🧠 Why our brains create expectations in the first place  💬 How unspoken “manuals” shape our relationships and stress  ✨ When expectations cross the line in...

In this heart-centered (and surprisingly fun) episode of Trail Talks , Kelly and Terra slow things down and explore what the holidays are really about: presence, connection, and the moments our brains actually remember. We break down the neuroscience behind why gifts give us a quick dopamine spike, but presence creates deep, lasting emotional memories through oxytocin — the bonding hormone. We als...

In this episode of Trail Talks , we’re diving deep into one of the most powerful — and most misunderstood — leadership tools: gratitude . Not the Instagram version, not the polite “thanks,” but the kind of gratitude that rewires the brain, strengthens culture, builds trust, and transforms teams. Kelly and special guests CMSgt Courtney Strickler and SMSgt Jenny Sanchez break down the real science b...

Change. The word everyone avoids… until it shows up on your doorstep, your desk, or your deployment roster. In this second installment of our Coffee & Camouflage series, Kelly and Terra sit back down with Chief Courtney Strickler for a raw, real, and unexpectedly funny conversation about leading through change — the messy kind, the personal kind, and the kind that hits before your coffee even...

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of War, Department of the Air Force, or any other agency of the U.S. government. Grab your mug and pull up a chair — this episode kicks off our Coffee & Camouflage series, where leaders get honest about what it means to...