The Real Leadership Brief

What happens when a United States Marine decides pain and fatigue aren’t “just part of getting older”? In this powerful episode of Spirits and Stories , host Donald Dunn sits down with Marine veteran and entrepreneur Lee Ettinger — a former Special Operations qualified service member who transitioned from the battlefield to business. After years of pushing through injuries, inflammation, and energ...

How do you successfully lead a remote team without losing connection, culture, or performance? In this episode of The Real Leadership Brief , Donald Dunn sits down with engineering leader Limor Bergman-Gross to break down practical leadership strategies that work in today’s remote and hybrid workforce. From performance reviews and hiring for culture fit to giving constructive feedback using the SB...

Links referenced in this episode: CoreyDisson.com barracksmedia.com

What stops high performers from reaching the next level? In this powerful episode of The Real Leadership Brief , Donald Dunn sits down with serial entrepreneur, executive mentor, and author Robert White to unpack the real mental barriers that hold leaders back — and how to break through them. Robert shares the deeply personal story behind his book Living an Extraordinary Life , including overcomin...

In this episode, we engage in a profound discourse with Chris Scherrian, an entrepreneur whose journey epitomizes resilience, reinvention, and unwavering determination. Chris shares invaluable insights garnered from his extensive experience in navigating the complexities of business ownership, including the emotionally fraught process of downsizing and the inherent challenges of leadership during...

Brad Lehman , a retired U.S. Marine Corps lieutenant colonel and F-35 test pilot, joins The Real Leadership Brief to discuss how leaders make decisions under pressure . Drawing from his experience in high-stakes military environments and his transition into entrepreneurship, Brad shares what preparation, execution, and accountability really look like when mistakes have consequences. The conversati...

This episode of Spirits and Stories with Donald Dunn explores the often-unspoken realities of military service and the transition to civilian life through the story of Paul, a veteran who joined the military for practical reasons rather than idealism. He reflects on the motivations that led him to enlist, the financial decisions many young service members face, and the lessons learned through expe...

In this episode of The Real Leadership Brief , we explore what leadership really means beyond the title on your door. Joe Wyrwas joins the conversation to unpack leadership as responsibility—how decisions, ownership, and accountability define real leadership far more than position or authority. Drawing from his experience developing leadership programs, leading teams, and overseeing high-stakes te...

The discourse presented in this podcast episode elucidates the profound interconnection between spirituality and leadership, fundamentally positing that true leadership is forged through adversity and the relentless pursuit of personal growth. The esteemed guest, Ryan Reichardt, embodies the resilience requisite for effective leadership, having traversed nearly five decades of trials, including pe...

This podcast episode delves into the intricate narratives of military service, emphasizing the profound impact that such experiences have on personal growth and career trajectories. Our guests, both veterans, share their unique journeys into the military, recounting how motivations often stemmed from a desire for direction and purpose amidst life's challenges. The discussion further explores the e...

The salient point of this podcast centers on the multifaceted nature of leadership and the importance of adaptability in various contexts. I engage in a profound discussion with Walter Dusseldorf, a seasoned mentor and personal development coach, who elucidates the pivotal role of experience in effective leadership. He draws from his extensive background in emergency services and healthcare admini...

What if the thing blocking your book isn’t craft, time, or talent—but identity? In this episode of Authors After Action , bestselling author and transformational coach Nina Amir reveals why most writers fail long before page one—and how inner alignment is the real publishing advantage. Nina shares her journey from childhood horse stories to magazine journalism, book editing, and ultimately walking...

The principal focus of our discourse centers on the intricate dynamics of leadership, particularly the distinguishing characteristics that separate exceptional managers from those deemed ineffective. Dr. AP Grow, a seasoned expert in leadership with nearly three decades of experience, elucidates the pervasive issue of poor management and the critical elements that elite leaders embody: competence,...

The primary focus of today's discourse centers on the essential interplay between leadership and organizational culture, as illuminated by our guest, Ms. Oksana Lukash. With over two decades of experience in shaping cultures across diverse organizations, Oksana emphasizes that a robust people strategy underpins effective business strategy. Our conversation delves into the nuances of leading with e...

What does it really take to build leaders inside a small business—without burning people out or losing your culture? In this episode of The Real Leadership Brief , Donald Dunn sits down with Rich Ashton, a Navy veteran and entrepreneur with more than four decades of experience building, fixing, and selling companies across multiple industries. Rich breaks down why most small businesses struggle wi...

In this episode of Spirits and Stories with Donald Dunn , we deliver a powerful storytelling podcast experience centered on real life stories , inspiring interviews , and the raw truth of the human experience . We sit down with Megha Parek, Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer of the Jacksonville Jaguars, whose remarkable career in sports law is matched by an extraordinary personal jou...

The Real Leadership Brief is a conversational podcast focused on leadership through real-world experience. Each episode features leaders from military, business, nonprofit, and community backgrounds sharing stories of leading under pressure, making difficult decisions, and learning lessons the hard way. Rather than theory or buzzwords, the show centers on lived experience and practical insight. Ep...