Spartan Leadership with Josh Kosnick

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Spartan Leadership, Josh Kosnick, Jason Smith, and Emanuel Whitfield dive deep into the chaos of modern politics, culture, and leadership. From hypocrisy in both parties to the dangers of censorship, this conversation pulls no punches. They cover: - The erosion of truth in American media and politics - Cancel culture and the new “untouchables” - Race, accountabi...

Send us Fan Mail What does it mean to build an unbreakable body — and perform at a high level for life, not just for a season? In this episode of Spartan Leadership , host Josh Kosnick sits down with world-renowned strength coach, physical therapist, and injury-prevention expert Dr. John Rusin . Dr. Rusin has worked with MLB All-Stars, NFL All-Pros, Olympic gold medalists, and world-record-holding...

Send us Fan Mail Fireworks took his hand — but not his purpose. In this episode, Josh Kosnick sits down with Ben Shortreed, a Marine Corps veteran, entrepreneur, father, and 2025 Superhuman Man of the Year. What began as a backyard party ended with Ben losing his left hand in a freak fireworks accident. What followed was even more brutal: unbearable phantom pain, opioid dependency, an identity cri...

Send us Fan Mail When a handful of friends decided to turn generosity into action, they created something extraordinary. In this episode of the Spartan Leadership Podcast, host Josh Kosnick sits down with Charlie Wills and Jason Guttenberg, two of the founding members of 100 Men of Dane County—a collective of business leaders dedicated to helping local children and families move from survival → su...

Send us Fan Mail What does real leadership look like when lives are on the line? In this episode of Spartan Leadership, Josh Kosnick sits down with Colonel Mike Murphy (U.S. Army, Ret.), a combat-tested commander who led hundreds of missions in Iraq — and brought every soldier home. Colonel Murphy shares hard-earned lessons on staying calm under pressure, leading with accountability, and earning t...

Send us Fan Mail World-champion martial artist and CEO Aslak de Silva shares how to control stress like a pro, lead under pressure, and build systems that outperform motivation. From 100 full-contact fights to leading companies across 20+ countries, Aslak’s “black belt in leadership” philosophy blends discipline, humility, and performance psychology for elite entrepreneurs and executives. Guest: A...

Send us Fan Mail Anthony Hart is a husband, father, veteran, pastor, and pioneer who has dedicated his life to raising up leaders in the church, in the home, and in the marketplace. Anthony served 21 years in the Navy as a nuclear engineer before stepping into ministry, where he now leads Open House Community Church in Chesapeake, Virginia. He’s also the co-founder of The Founder Collective, a mov...

Send us Fan Mail This week feels different. The assassination of Charlie Kirk wasn’t just another tragedy — it was a line crossed in America. In this episode of Spartan Leadership, Josh Kosnick shares his unfiltered response to the events of this week. From the cultural divide exposed by Charlie’s death, to the dangerous normalization of political violence on social media, to the difference betwee...

Send us Fan Mail In this no-holds-barred episode of the Spartan Leadership Podcast, Josh Kosnick is joined by Jason Smith and Emanuel Whitfield for a fiery roundtable on the state of leadership, censorship, and cultural division in America. This is not your average podcast—this is Leadership in Review. We’re diving deep into: •The erosion of free speech in modern America •The hypocrisy of both pol...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when telling the truth costs you your platform, your reputation, and your place in the tribe? In this powerful episode of the Spartan Leadership Podcast , Josh Kosnick sits down with journalist Mik Olson , who’s faced backlash for doing exactly that — telling the truth, even when it offends his own side. A contributor to The Federalist , The Christian Post , and Not t...

Send us Fan Mail Watch the full conversation with Mitch Matthews as we explore the intersection of faith, business, and identity in the coaching world. This is not a surface-level interview. Josh and Mitch go deep on calling, purpose, and what it actually takes to build a life and business that honors your values. 00:00 Introduction and Initial Thoughts 01:02 Guest Introduction: Mitch Matthews 02:...

Send us Fan Mail Mastering Marketing and Leadership with Alex Vonderhaar In this episode of Spartan Leadership, host Josh Kosnick delves into the fascinating journey of Alex Vonderhaar, a neuro-marketing expert.  They discuss Alex's profound near-death experience, which led him to change his career path from neuroscience to marketing. Alex shares insights on the importance of understanding ma...

Send us Fan Mail What if the secret to explosive business growth is letting go? In this powerful episode of the Spartan Leadership Podcast, Josh Kosnick sits down with Bennett Maxwell—entrepreneur, investor, and founder of Dirty Dough. After scaling his cookie company to 450+ franchises sold in just 3 years, Bennett reveals the unlikely mindset behind his success: detachment from outcomes. This co...

Send us Fan Mail Loneliness is silently destroying leaders—and destroying teams. In this Spartan Leadership episode, Josh Kosnick sits down with Shasta Nelson, top keynote speaker and author of The Business of Friendship and Frientimacy, to uncover why connection is not a luxury for leaders—it’s a leadership advantage. Shasta breaks down her “Connection Triangle” (positivity, consistency, vulnerab...

Send us Fan Mail Trump drops bombs on Iran. Tucker roasts Ted Cruz. NYC votes for socialism. Israel calls for a ceasefire. In this episode of Leadership in Review, we break down the chaos and call out what’s real: – Was Trump’s Iran strike bold leadership or reckless? – Tucker vs. Ted Cruz: who’s actually standing for conservative values? – Why NYC’s socialist mayor win is a warning for America. –...

Send us Fan Mail Steve Cadigan, LinkedIn's first CHRO and top global talent strategist, joins Josh Kosnick on the Spartan Leadership Podcast to discuss how leaders can navigate rapid change, foster meaningful culture, and build high-performance teams. With experience scaling LinkedIn from 400 to 4,000 employees and advising Fortune 500 companies and nations, Steve shares unique insights on th...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Spartan Leadership , Josh Kosnick sits down with Pat McNamera—retired Sergeant Major, Special Operations veteran, elite performance coach, and the mind behind “Basic Dude Stuff.” Introduced by Dr. Trevor Wilkins, Pat unpacks decades of hard-earned wisdom on building strength, living intentionally, and refusing to play the victim. We cover everything from tactica...

Send us Fan Mail What makes a truly great leader? Why are so many influencers just echoes of others? In this powerful conversation, Chris Widener—one of the most respected speakers in the world—joins Josh Kosnick to discuss mentorship, integrity, revival, and the crisis of masculinity in modern leadership. Chris was personally mentored by Jim Rohn and Zig Ziglar, has spoken over 2,500 times, and n...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when the career you built no longer feels like the life you want? In this powerful episode of the Spartan Leadership Podcast, Josh Kosnick sits down with long-time friend and coach Michael Brownlow. After years of success at Northwestern Mutual, Michael made the rare decision to walk away—not because he failed, but because he felt called to something deeper. They expl...

Send us Fan Mail Nancy Gale didn’t just survive unthinkable trauma—she built something beautiful because of it. Founder of JAMAH, a luxury American-made handbag brand, and AMBITION, a nonprofit for disadvantaged youth, Nancy’s life is proof that purpose and pain can co-exist. In this conversation, we talk about her early years in Detroit, what it really takes to build a brand from scratch, and how...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Spartan Leadership, host Josh Kosk sits down for an in-person fireside chat with Michael Creed, Branch Manager at Luminate Home Loans. Michael shares his journey from a paycheck-to-paycheck upbringing to becoming a successful mortgage lender. Discover Michael's perspective on building a life of legacy, financial literacy, and how he coaches his team for suc...

Send us Fan Mail Former CIA operative Nic McKinley exposes the reality of human trafficking in America—and how his organization, DeliverFund, is fighting back using intelligence-grade tools. In this episode of Spartan Leadership, Josh Kosnick sits down with Nic to discuss his journey from elite U.S. Air Force Pararescueman to CIA operative, and now nonprofit founder leading the fight against explo...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Spartan Leadership Podcast, Aaron Williamson, The Rock's trainer, reveals the most important lesson he learned from training with The Rock. Tune in to hear about discipline, hard work, and the mindset of a US Marine. 🚨 Aaron is also a featured keynote speaker at our upcoming Bridge Builder Live event at Five Bridges Farm. Learn more here: https://www.joshk...

Send us Fan Mail What if a president could reshape the country in just 100 days? In this episode, Josh Kosnick breaks down Donald Trump's aggressive first 100 days in office—from border security crackdowns and energy independence to AI infrastructure and regulatory rollbacks. This isn’t a partisan take. It’s a hard look at speed, scale, and how leadership decisions ripple through every layer...

Send us Fan Mail Today on the Spartan Leadership Podcast, Josh Kosnick sits down with Adam Guard—entrepreneur, founder of Dreamer Cigars, and creator of Dreamers Health—to talk about leadership, entrepreneurship, and how to build a brand with purpose. Adam’s journey is one of bold moves: leaving a stable real estate career the day before his wedding, building Dreamer Cigars into a viral brand with...