Dunn on Purpose Podcast

“In a world of algorithms, relationships become a competitive advantage.” — Dr. Ivan Misner That quote has been stuck in my mind. We’re living in a time where it’s easier than ever to get your message out to people. AI can write, social media can distribute, and technology allows one person to reach thousands or even millions of people. But something else is happening at the same time. As the worl...

What if the purpose of your business wasn't just to make money? In this conversation with Mitchell Hancock, owner of Kilgore Lawn & Landscape, we explore leadership, mentorship, scouting, stewardship, and why timeless values still matter. Mitchell shares lessons from Rotary, the Boy Scouts, and over a decade of business ownership. We discuss how young men develop into leaders, why mentorship matte...

A conversation with a homeowner this week got me thinking. We had agreed on a repair, signed the paperwork, and were ready to get the work done before rain moved in. Then they wanted to wait. When I asked why, they shared a bad experience they'd had with another contractor years ago. It reminded me that a lot of roofing conversations aren't really about roofs. They're about trust. If you're a home...

The Story of Every Man | Reflections on Creativity, Calling, and Community Recently, I had the privilege of being a guest on The Story of Everyman podcast hosted by John Silos. John has built something special here in East Texas—a platform that captures the stories of everyday people and uncovers the wisdom, struggles, and experiences that shape their lives. In our conversation, we covered everyth...

A Q&A on Faith, Failure, Business, Networking, and Living on Purpose In this episode of the Dunn On Purpose Podcast, I answered questions submitted by people in my Facebook network. The questions went a lot of different directions. Some were funny. Some were philosophical. Some were about business, money, mindset, roofing, networking, and project management. That is part of what made this one fun....

A few weeks ago, I was asked to give the commencement speech for the Kilgore ISD Pathways graduating class of 2026. The Pathways program serves students whose journey through school looked different than the traditional path. Some faced difficult family situations, setbacks, instability, behavioral struggles, or simply needed a different environment to succeed. After speaking with Lauren Thrasher,...

In this episode of Dunn On Purpose , I sit down with Luke Nelson , a coach with The Elliott Group , for a grounded conversation about leadership, identity, and what real transformation actually requires. Rather than breaking down W.A.R.R.I.O.R. as a concept, this episode explores how the framework is lived, coached, and applied —inside business, relationships, faith, fitness, and everyday decision...

Everyone wants this year to be better than the last—even if they won’t say it out loud. In this episode, I revisit Power Acronym 24: W.I.N. , an idea I originally shared in January 2025 and felt compelled to return to as 2026 begins. W.I.N. is more than a motivational phrase—it’s an orientation. A way to decide how you show up when things get hard, uncertain, or demanding. The original version of...

This episode is different. UNICORN isn’t a personality type or a motivational idea. It’s a leadership standard. In this episode, I unpack what it means to lead in a moment where standing out is easy—but standing up is rare. UNICORN is an acronym that describes a way of governing yourself when pressure, noise, automation, and low standards make it tempting to drift, conform, or perform. UNICORN lea...

This episode continues the Separation Season conversation that began with A.L.O.N.E. Where ALONE focused on internal work, A.P.A.R.T. is about external activation . Reflection has a shelf life. Eventually, it must turn into action. Being set apart isn’t about isolation or superiority. It’s about intentionally becoming someone different through the actions you take . In this episode, I introduce A....

In this episode, I break down Power Acronym 207: G.R.O.W. , a coaching model from BNI that doubles as a powerful year-end reflection tool. December is a reflective season, and scribing, journaling, and answering intentional prompts can accelerate breakthroughs both personally and professionally. I also share why I believe prompts are power, and why the G.R.O.W. framework is perfect for preparing f...

This episode is the live recording of Power Acronym 206: A.L.O.N.E. — my Separation Season playbook for doing the inner work while everyone else is coasting. Instead of reading the post, I made some notes and went through the acronym and shared more stories, context, and questions to help you actually apply it. If you’re feeling the pull to check out, wait for January 1st, or just “get through” th...

In this episode of Dunn On Purpose, host Aaron Dunn dives into the concept of the New Year and how it can serve as a catalyst for personal growth and transformation. As we settle into 2025, Aaron encourages listeners to reflect on their engagement with the New Year and where they fit within his unique "New Year Engagement Matrix." Join Aaron as he explores four distinct categories: The Achiever: T...

In this episode of the Done On Purpose podcast, I had the pleasure of speaking with Shawn Ingram , the owner of Custom Graphics Texas and the founder of Longview Connections. We delved into Shawn's journey in the custom graphics business, which he acquired in 2019, and how he has expanded its offerings beyond small signs to include a wide range of branding services. Shawn shared his insights on th...

I'm thrilled to share the latest episode of the Dunn On Purpose podcast, featuring the incredible Laura Christian from Aspire Mentoring ! In this episode, we dive deep into the transformative power of mentorship and the vital role it plays in our communities. Here are three key takeaways that I believe everyone can benefit from: * The Importance of Tailored Communication : One of the most fascinat...

In this episode, I am joined by my good friend Scott Brown , a seasoned leader with a diverse background in sales, business ownership, real estate investment, missionary work, and pastoral leadership. Currently, Scott is an Executive Director with the John Maxwell Organization, where he focuses on coaching, speaking, and training leaders. Watch the conversation on YouTube here . We discuss the con...

Hello, friends! I’m thrilled to announce that a new episode of the Dunn on Purpose podcast is live! After a brief hiatus, I’m back in the podcast seat, and I can’t wait to share my thoughts on a topic that’s close to my heart: the purpose of podcasting . In this episode, I dive deep into why I started this podcast and the reasons behind my passion for this medium. Whether you’re a seasoned podcast...

Wow. 🤯 That’s about all I can say about this episode! I connected with Dan Kimball through the Heroic community. He’s a Tuscon, AZ-based counselor and coach that helps his clients commit to actions that improve your life while realizing and accepting what is out of your personal control. Learn more about him at his website, Path4Change.com He has 20 years of experience helping others through seve...

This is the second coaching conversation I’ve had with my friend Kevin Leath around how he’s putting the work in to make his 35th year around the sun the best one yet! In this episode you’ll hear about what he’s focused on in May. We cover quite a bit of ground but the main focus is on Self Mastery and Energy. We discuss three aspects of Self Mastery: Structural, Reactive, and Expansive. We also t...

Earlier this month I drove down to Katy TX to spend some time with my brother and his family before we woke up the next morning for the Spartan Sprint! 5k trail run + 20 obstacles later, R.J. completed his first ever Spartan (and 5k race!) and I completing my first ever Sprint! It was super fun to complete the race with him and it seems we may have stated a new brotherly tradition. We're already t...

Very special episode today! This episode is a coaching conversation with myself and Kevin Leath . Kevin recently approached me about his desire to make 2023 the year he starts doing the work to become his strongest self. Which, as someone focused on learning and doing what it takes to do the same, fires me up! 🔥 It is an honor to be a part of his journey and to have an open, honest, and intention...

I’ve been filled with thoughts about Leadership the past week. It began with our PDQ America lunch & learn where we hosted Scott Brown , an executive director with John Maxwell. In this episode, I share some of the notes that I got from that one-hour talk. Powerful stuff! I invite you to reflect on the question that was asked of us: “How well do I DO that?” - listen to the show to understand where...

Started this episode with a thank you to those who answered the random question about a dream job, that goes like this: “What’s your dream job if money didn’t matter?” Which led to two comments about “I don’t dream of labor”. I don’t get into this very far on the episode, but apparently, this idea has gained popularity on TikTok. After a quick Google it seems to be a quote from James Baldwin, who...

After I recorded Preach Practice last week I knew I’d follow it up with an episode about the work I’m doing to craft my personal philosophy. As I mentioned in that episode and reference multiple times in this one, I joined Heroic Coach Class XI in May of last year. It is a 300-day certification program that covers a TON of content, but as someone who loves to learn, it’s right up my alley. I’m jus...

Hey! How’s your 2023 so far? I hope it has been full of victories! 💪🏁 While keeping in mind what Rumi said: “The lion who breaks the enemy’s ranks is a minor hero compared to the lion who overcomes himself.” ― Rumi Thank you for receiving this email! (If you’re not subscribed and would like to be, hit the button below 👇) I took a bit of a break from publishing since the whole 33 Life Lessons fo...