Surfacing Leaders

In this episode of the Surfacing Leaders podcast, host Marc Koehler sits down with Ryan Berman, corporate fear fighter, founder of Courageous, and author of Return on Courage. Together, they explore why courage is one of the most important leadership skills in today's rapidly changing world and how leaders can move beyond fear to create meaningful impact. Ryan shares the journey that led him from...

In this episode of the Surfacing Leaders podcast, host Marc Koehler sits down with Dr. Apollo Emeka, decision-making expert, entrepreneur, former FBI intelligence analyst, and U.S. Army Special Forces Green Beret. Together, they explore the power of decisions and how a single choice can alter the course of a life, career, or organization. Apollo shares his remarkable journey from leaving tradition...

In this episode of the Surfacing Leaders podcast, host Marc Koehler sits down with Anthony Dyer, a retired U.S. Air Force Special Missions Aviator, author, and mental health advocate. Anthony shares his remarkable journey from growing up in the Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina to flying combat missions aboard AC-130 gunships and HH-60 Pave Hawk rescue helicopters in some of the world's most...

In this episode of the Surfacing Leaders podcast, host Marc Koehler sits down with DeDe Halfhill for a powerful conversation about leadership, vulnerability, and the emotional dynamics that shape performance under pressure. Drawing from her 25-year career in the United States Air Force, including leadership roles in Iraq, the Pentagon, and as senior communication advisor to the Chairman of the Joi...

In this episode of the Surfacing Leaders podcast, host Marc Koehler sits down with executive coach and former John Deere leader Tony Thelen to explore what it really takes to lead through uncertainty, change, and the transitions that shape a career. Drawing on more than 35 years of global leadership experience and his work coaching senior executives today, Tony shares practical insights on how lea...

In this episode of the Surfacing Leaders podcast, host Marc Koehler sits down with Colleen Bordeaux, founder of Growth, Inc. and leadership advisor focused on modern communication, influence, and performance at work. They explore what today’s leaders must unlearn about success and how outdated assumptions about confidence, development, and workplace expectations continue to hold people back. Colle...

In this episode of the Surfacing Leaders podcast, host Marc Koehler sits down with Andrea Howard, a U.S. Navy submarine officer, Marshall Scholar, and MIT PhD candidate studying security and strategy. Together, they explore what it means to lead at the intersection of global perspective, academic rigor, and operational responsibility in one of the most demanding environments in the world. Andrea s...

In this episode of the Surfacing Leaders podcast, host Marc Koehler sits down with entrepreneur and customer-loyalty strategist Jason Milen to explore what it really takes to build a business that lasts. Together, they discuss leadership inside a multigenerational family company, the challenges of rebuilding trust after losing customers, and the mindset shift required to move from chasing transact...

In this episode of the Surfacing Leaders podcast, host Marc Koehler sits down with journalist and author Rachel Hartigan to explore the remarkable life and enduring mystery of aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart. A former writer and editor for National Geographic and The Washington Post, Rachel brings years of research and storytelling expertise to the conversation as she discusses her new book, Lost:...

In this episode of the Surfacing Leaders podcast, host Marc Koehler sits down with John (JD) Dwyer, a marketing enigma and customer attraction expert known for creating “wow factor” strategies that drive extraordinary results. John shares how incentive based marketing taps into timeless human behavior and why the fundamentals of leadership, decision making, and customer attraction have remained co...

In this episode of the Surfacing Leaders podcast, host Marc Koehler sits down with Scott D. Anthony, a globally recognized expert on innovation, strategy, and navigating disruption. Together, they explore what it truly takes to lead when the future is uncertain and familiar playbooks no longer apply. Scott shares insights from his extensive work advising organizations through periods of transforma...

In this episode of the Surfacing Leaders podcast, host Marc Koehler sits down with Sheri Jacobs, founder and CEO of Avenue Group, bestselling author, and the creator of the Innovation Capacity Score. Sheri shares a fascinating journey that spans entrepreneurship, association leadership, and photojournalism, including what it was like capturing Michael Jordan on the court and later trading sports a...

In this episode of the Surfacing Leaders podcast, host Marc Koehler sits down with Ivy Gustafson, former top agent at the Washington Speakers Bureau and Gotham Artists, now a seasoned advisor and speaker coach. Together, they explore what it truly means to communicate with impact in today’s rapidly evolving leadership landscape. Ivy shares insights drawn from more than two decades in the speaking...

In this unprecedented episode of the Surfacing Leaders podcast, host Marc Koehler kicks off 2026 by sitting down with Lead With Purpose’s own Head of Technology Derek Barber for a powerful conversation on purpose, trust, and what it truly means to lead. Derek shares his journey from software developer to purpose-driven leader, and how his passion for meaningful work shaped both his career and the...

In this year-end episode of the Surfacing Leaders podcast, host Marc Koehler reflects on the defining leadership lessons of 2025 and offers a forward-looking perspective on what leaders can expect in 2026. Drawing from 26 diverse conversations—from fire chiefs and construction leaders to Navy admirals and Gen Z innovators—Marc highlights the themes that surfaced again and again across industries,...

In this episode of the Surfacing Leaders podcast, host Marc Koehler sits down with Dr. Heather Collins, a cognitive neuroscientist who has spent her career bringing cutting-edge brain science out of the lab and into real-world leadership. With more than 50 peer-reviewed publications and work ranging from Alzheimer’s to NASA astronaut cognition, Heather offers a rare blend of scientific rigor and p...

In this episode of the Surfacing Leaders podcast, host Marc Koehler sits down with Kasim Aslam, an entrepreneur who has built six, seven, and eight-figure businesses, including two successful exits. Kasim is the co-founder of Driven Mastermind, creator of DigitalMarketer’s Paid Traffic Certification, former CEO of Solutions 8—one of the world’s top Google Ads agencies—and now co-founder of Pareto...

In this episode of the Surfacing Leaders podcast, host Marc Koehler sits down with Mike Sarraille, retired U.S. Navy SEAL, three-time best-selling author, and one of the world’s top keynote speakers on leadership and performance. Drawing on two decades of experience leading elite teams in combat and in business, Mike shares powerful lessons on how readiness, resilience, and trust are built, both o...

In this episode of the Surfacing Leaders’ podcast, host Marc Koehler has a captivating conversation with Felipe Gomez, an accomplished pianist, global keynote speaker, and leadership expert. Felipe shares how his lifelong passion for music has shaped his understanding of leadership, teamwork, and the pursuit of excellence. Drawing from his signature keynote, Virtuoso, he explores how leaders can a...

In this episode of the Surfacing Leader’s podcast, host Marc Koehler has an engaging conversation with Dr. Jacob Vogel, Director of the Spirit of Troy, otherwise known as “the greatest marching band in the history of the universe, “ at the University of Southern California. They explore the leadership lessons behind one of the most iconic collegiate marching bands in the nation. Dr. Vogel shares h...

In this episode of the Surfacing Leaders podcast, host Marc Koehler has a compelling conversation with Dr. Paula Ferrada, a pioneering trauma and acute care surgeon and Chair of Surgery at Inova Fairfax Medical Campus. They explore what it means to lead when lives hang in the balance. Paula shares her journey from Colombia to becoming the first Colombian woman to graduate from a Harvard-affiliated...

In this episode of the Surfacing Leaders podcast, host Marc Koehler sits down with Jeffrey Yip, a leadership professor at Simon Fraser University’s Beedie School of Business and creator of the “Listen and Build” framework. They explore why listening, not speaking, is a leader’s most powerful tool. Drawing on years of research, Jeff explains how genuine listening builds trust, strengthens teams, an...

In this episode of the Surfacing Leaders podcast, host Marc Koehler has a fascinating conversation with Dr. Paul J. Zak, a pioneering neuroscientist and leading expert on trust, purpose, and human connection. They dive into the science of leadership, exploring how oxytocin, stress, and shared purpose shape stronger teams and higher performance. Paul draws from over two decades of research in behav...

In this episode of the Surfacing Leaders podcast, host Marc Koehler has an inspiring conversation with Dan MacQueen, a keynote speaker and resilience expert who rebuilt his life after surviving two brain hemorrhages and years of grueling recovery. They explore the mindset shifts and daily habits that empower individuals to overcome even the toughest setbacks. Dan shares his journey from a vibrant...

In this episode of the Surfacing Leaders podcast, host Marc Koehler sits down with Selena Virden, Vice President of Global Seed Production at IFSI, a leader in vegetable seed genetics. Selena shares her remarkable journey from a teenager juggling multiple jobs in rural Idaho to leading complex, global seed operations that help feed millions. With clarity and humility, she unpacks how long-term vis...