The Dirty Side of Leadership

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Dirty Side of Leadership, Ron Ward and Kristin Sokoloff explore why failure is an unavoidable part of leadership—and how your response to it determines your future. They discuss the psychology of loss, why some people become bitter while others become better, and the difference between blaming, quitting, victimhood, and becoming a lifelong learner. Using exa...

Send us Fan Mail In this special throwback episode, Ron and Kristin, discuss the science behind the power of persuasion. They break down the steps to help both leaders and aspiring leaders be more effective at home or work.  They discuss such principles as Reciprocity, Commitment and Consistency, the proper use of authority, the advantage of being liked and the scarcity principle.  They also expla...

Send us Fan Mail The FIFA World Cup is more than the world’s largest sporting event—it’s a global leadership test. Ron and Kristin explore what hosting the tournament reveals about planning, culture, crisis management, public perception, and the psychology of leadership under intense international scrutiny. From America’s role as the primary host to fan culture, city preparedness, and the differen...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Ron Ward and Kristin Sokoloff explore the rise and decline of Spirit Airlines, examining how a disruptive low-cost strategy transformed the airline industry before ultimately becoming vulnerable to competition. They discuss leadership, organizational identity, customer trust, brand reputation, and why competing solely on price can create a race to the bottom. The...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Dirty Side of Leadership, Ron and Kristin discuss the Netflix documentary The Crash and explore the broader lessons surrounding parenting, accountability, emotional resilience, social media, and leadership. Rather than focusing on legal arguments or court decisions, this conversation examines what parents, leaders, and communities can learn from a tragedy th...

Send us Fan Mail Power is one of the most influential—and dangerous—forces in leadership. In this episode, Ron and Kristin examine how authority affects human behavior, why even good people can make poor leadership decisions, and what history, psychology, and neuroscience teach us about the responsibility that comes with influence. The discussion explores the famous Stanford Prison Experiment, whe...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Dirty Side of Leadership, Ron and Kristin explore the hidden psychological and neurological dangers of nostalgia. While nostalgia can create comfort, connection, and emotional grounding, it can also quietly trap leaders, organizations, and individuals in outdated identities and resistance to growth. The conversation examines how memory becomes emotionally ed...

Send us Fan Mail In this special throwback episode, Ron and Kristin share an inside look into the fascinating world of prison power dynamics with inmates and correctional officers. Specifically, prison code, prison argo/language, inmate leadership hierarchy, personality types (ex: the colonist / religious inmate), females in prison and much more. Where leadership meets entertainment! This weekly p...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Dirty Side of Leadership, Ron Ward and Kristin Sokoloff break down the psychology and neuroscience behind great storytelling—and why anyone can become a better storyteller. Ron explains how the brain is constantly imagining and interpreting the world, whether we realize it or not. Through simple examples and childhood memories, Ron and Kristin show how stori...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Dirty Side of Leadership, Ron Ward and Kristin Sokoloff unpack the dangerous psychology of toxic loyalty—when good, committed people stay loyal to unhealthy systems long after the warning signs appear. Through real-world leadership experiences and a powerful fictional example, they explore how psychological numbing, identity attachment, fear of speaking up,...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Ron and Kristin break down the psychology behind cults—why people join, why they stay, and why these same influence patterns show up in everyday leadership environments. This isn’t just about extreme groups—it’s about human behavior, identity, and influence. Key Topics Covered: 1. Characteristics of Cults Charismatic, authoritarian leadership Control of informatio...

Send us Fan Mail Burnout is rising fastest in helping professions—healthcare, education, and public service. This episode breaks down why it’s happening and how leadership—not workload—is often the real issue. Key Points: Who’s burning out: healthcare workers, teachers, first responders, social workers Root cause: high emotional demand + high responsibility + low control System problem: burnout is...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Dirty Side of Leadership, Ron and Kristin sit down with former Portland Trail Blazer, businessman, and Oregon gubernatorial candidate Chris Dudley. The conversation explores how leadership principles translate across professional sports, business, and public service. Chris reflects on the discipline, accountability, and pressure of playing in the NBA, and ho...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Ron Ward and Kristin Sokoloff break down the reality of fraternity life—where leadership, connection, and opportunity exist alongside hazing, risk, and tragedy. Key Topics: The Good: Leadership experience (managing people, events, budgets) Strong alumni networks and career opportunities Philanthropy and community service Brotherhood and lifelong support systems Th...

Send us Fan Mail In this special throwback episode, Ron and Kristin expose how manipulation operates in everyday workplaces — from charm tactics to control games — and how leaders can spot the warning signs. Highlights: The Dark Triad at work: narcissism, Machiavellianism, psychopathy. How confidence can blur into control. Creating psychological safety to shut down manipulation. The power of self-...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Ron and Kristin sit down with returning guest Colonel CJ Williams to break down the rapidly escalating tensions with Iran. CJ provides a clear, strategic lens on what’s happening, why it matters, and how global conflict connects directly to everyday life. Key Topics: Current Situation: Rising tensions, targeted strikes, and growing focus on the Strait of Hormuz as...

Send us Fan Mail Groupthink isn’t about intelligence—it’s about pressure. In this episode, Ron and Kristin break down how rooms full of smart, experienced people can still make bad decisions when harmony overrides truth. From workplace meetings to politics and corporate failures, they explore the psychology behind conformity and why silence spreads fast. Key Topics: What groupthink is and how it s...

Send us Fan Mail Ron Ward and Kristin Sokoloff talk with Justin Fulcher—entrepreneur, former Senior Advisor to Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, member of Elon Musk’s DOGE team, and Johns Hopkins doctoral candidate. Justin shares lessons from building a global telehealth company, working inside the Pentagon, and navigating public scrutiny. The conversation explores faith, leadership under pressure, g...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when leadership isn’t something you pursue—but something you inherit? In this episode of The Dirty Side of Leadership, Kristin Sokoloff and Ron Ward sit down with business owner and eighth-generation Oregonian Howard “Tripp” Dietrich to explore the mindset of leaders who think in generations, not election cycles. Raised in a family deeply rooted in Oregon’s history—in...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Ron and Kristin examine the Jeffrey Epstein scandal through a leadership lens—focusing on power, elite networks, secrecy, and institutional failure. This discussion includes sensitive topics involving abuse and exploitation. We extend our sympathies to the victims connected to this case. Rather than sensationalism, the episode explores what leaders must learn when...

Send us Fan Mail Hims & Hers returned to the Super Bowl stage with bold messaging around weight-loss treatments — but now faces a formal referral from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to the Department of Justice over concerns tied to the marketing of compounded GLP-1 medications. A DOJ referral is not a conviction. But it is serious. Ron and Kristin break down what happens whe...

Send us Fan Mail In this bold and unfiltered episode of The Dirty Side of Leadership, Kristin Sokoloff and Ron Ward unpack a concept no one talks about out loud — leadership libido. Not sexual desire, but the psychological and biological craving that fuels ambition, dominance, influence, and legacy-building. What You’ll Hear: The hidden hunger behind high performance Dopamine and the neuroscience...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Ron and Kristin unpack the leadership and communication lessons behind the highly publicized legal conflict involving Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni. This is not a gossip episode—and not a verdict. Instead, it’s a real-world case study on how tone, assumptions, power dynamics, and private text messages can escalate everyday workplace tension into public conflict....

Send us Fan Mail What happens when success stops feeling fulfilling? In this episode of The Dirty Side of Leadership Podcast, Kristin Sokoloff and Ron Ward sit down with Will Carr — founder of Genesee Nutrition, entrepreneur, former college and professional basketball player, engineer, and full-time parent — for a raw, grounded conversation about leadership, purpose, and becoming who you’re meant...

Send us Fan Mail Small talk feels polite—but it quietly kills connection. In this episode, Ron Ward and Kristin Sokoloff break down the “robotic loop” of predictable conversation starters and explain why leaders who rely on surface-level questions struggle to build trust, influence, and real relationships. You’ll learn how curiosity-based questions unlock stories, engagement, and stronger leadersh...