Words from the Wise Podcast

Send us Fan Mail What truly separates effective leaders from those who merely survive in today's chaotic environment? In this captivating discussion on perseverance and resilience, Gary Wise hosts leadership experts Chris Cahill and Jeremy Moore to unpack the crucial distinction between these complementary qualities. The conversation begins with a fascinating historical detour as Chris shares...

Send us Fan Mail When a teenage clarinet player from Puerto Rico stepped forward to audition for the U.S. Navy Band in 1996, no one could have predicted the remarkable 29-year journey that would follow. Master Chief Luis LeBron's story is one of unexpected opportunities, overcoming language barriers, and finding leadership roles he never sought out. From his first days at boot camp struggling...

Send us Fan Mail The difference between good organizations and exceptional ones often comes down to a single factor: people taking true ownership of their roles. In this thought-provoking episode, Gary Wise and Jeremy Moore unpack the crucial distinction between basic accountability and genuine ownership, revealing why this shift transforms both individuals and teams. When team members view their...

Send us Fan Mail What does it mean to navigate a military career when life throws unexpected challenges your way? Gary sits down with James Thompson, a retired Navy Lieutenant with an unconventional journey that spans from the hallowed halls of MIT to the engine rooms of Navy warships. Thompson's story begins with a strong naval heritage as a fourth-generation sailor who seemed destined for o...

Send us Fan Mail What does three decades of Navy service really look like? Through typhoons, volcanic evacuations, nuclear disasters, and war deployments, Master Chief Mike Piazza lived a career most can only imagine. From his early days dreaming of Navy service as a 13-year-old in small-town New Jersey to becoming a respected senior enlisted leader on some of the Navy's most powerful vessels...

Send us Fan Mail Leadership's darkest moments rarely make it into motivational speeches or training manuals. For this former Command Master Chief of Naval Base Guam, what began as a stellar career culminated in a 10-month nightmare that pushed him to the brink. After successfully navigating COVID-19 challenges as the only operating base in the Pacific—receiving awards and recognition for exce...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when three military veterans with over 75 years of combined experience tackle one of today's most polarizing topics? In this explosive conversation, Gary Wise, Chris Cahill, and Enrique flip the script on DEI, reframing it as an IED—Inclusion, Equity, Diversity—examining how these concepts can become landmines when mishandled. These battle-tested leaders cut thro...

Send us Fan Mail From the hills of Kentucky to the depths of nuclear submarines to commanding Naval Base Guam during an unprecedented global crisis, Captain Jeffrey Grimes' journey through naval leadership offers profound wisdom for anyone navigating challenging environments. The conversation opens with Grimes' unlikely path to military service, where joining JROTC in his junior year of...

Send us Fan Mail Accountability forms the bedrock of effective leadership, yet many struggle to embrace it fully. In this thought-provoking conversation, Gary and Jeremy explore the complex dynamics of taking ownership in professional environments. Drawing from their extensive military backgrounds, they dissect why certain individuals resist accountability—whether from fear, incompetence, ethical...

Send us Fan Mail Unlocking the secret language of true leadership begins with mastering the conversation you have with yourself. Gary Wise pulls back the curtain on his journey from high school dropout to Command Master Chief in the Navy to reveal how authentic communication transformed his leadership impact. This episode explores the critical difference between leaders who merely talk about their...

Send us Fan Mail From the dusty baseball diamonds of Dublin, Georgia to the deck of a Navy warship in Japan, Chief Tavares Clover's journey exemplifies resilience, adaptability, and the power of staying true to your roots. In this heartfelt conversation with host Gary Wise, a fellow Navy veteran, Chief Clover reveals how his upbringing in a small Southern town shaped the foundations of his ch...

Send us Fan Mail From the streets of Chicago to the highest enlisted ranks of the U.S. Navy, Command Master Chief Dennis Polli's journey is a masterclass in authentic leadership. In this captivating conversation, we explore how a 26-year-old construction worker transformed into one of the Navy's most respected leaders through an unconventional career path spanning three decades. Polli re...

Send us Fan Mail Every leader faces moments that define their legacy. For retired US Navy Command Master Chief Gary Wise, that moment came when sailors' personal belongings—including passports, wallets, and phones—were thrown into dumpsters during a critical day of inspections aboard the USS Ashland (LSD-48) in Sasebo, Japan back in 2017. The day had already been extraordinarily demanding. Th...

Send us Fan Mail How do you turn an unwanted assignment into your biggest career breakthrough? When I stepped aboard USS Ogden in the Persian Gulf at 2AM and heard "you are so effed" echo down the passageway, I had no idea this moment would fundamentally alter my Navy journey. The DCPO shop I inherited was a disaster - unbearably hot, papers everywhere, sleeping sailors, and a maintenanc...

Send us Fan Mail From a small town in Mississippi to the pinnacle of Navy leadership, Master Chief Lisa Tisdale's remarkable 30-year journey embodies the true spirit of naval service. In this captivating conversation with Gary Wise, Lisa pulls back the curtain on her evolution from Ship's Serviceman to Command Master Chief. Lisa's story begins with joining the Navy to help support h...

Send us Fan Mail What if your mind could work for you rather than against you? Dr. Leigh Byers introduces us to the revolutionary concept of Positive Intelligence—a mental fitness framework that trains leaders to quiet their inner saboteurs and lead from a place of wisdom, creativity, and empathy. Drawing from her extensive background as a Seventh Level Leadership consultant, nonprofit executive d...

Send us Fan Mail What does it truly mean to "take the high road" in today's fractured world? For Pastor Mark D Cummins, it's not a cliché but a revolutionary approach to leadership that transforms both leaders and followers. In this compelling conversation, Mark shares his journey from angry teenager to Marine to pastor, revealing how each stage shaped his understanding of what...

Send us Fan Mail The moment I thought I was having a heart attack in the ER, everything changed. That's when I realized my "burnout" was actually something much deeper. In this raw and unfiltered conversation, host Gary Wise and guest Chris Cahill tackle burnout head-on, asking the uncomfortable question: is it really just a trendy excuse or a legitimate crisis? As two high-performi...

Send us Fan Mail Ready to transform your leadership approach with data-driven strategies? Gary Wise sits down with Mr. Elgin Carelock, a multifaceted entrepreneur and business strategist, to explore how collecting and applying the right information can revolutionize your decision-making process. Mr. Carelock reveals a fascinating paradox: while we naturally use data for everyday decisions (like wh...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when your reasons for joining the military have nothing to do with patriotism or service? In this deeply personal account, retired Navy Command Master Chief Gary Wise takes us through his remarkable transformation from troubled youth to dedicated leader. Gary's journey begins with brutal honesty – he joined the Navy to escape his self-destructive path, not out of...

Send us Fan Mail Leadership isn't just a skill—it's a lifelong journey that transforms who you are and how you impact others. In this powerful conversation, Gary welcomes retired Master Chief Petty Officer Rory Bacon who shares his remarkable path from Detroit's inner city through 26 years of distinguished Naval service and beyond. Bacon reveals how his high school Army JROTC experi...

Send us Fan Mail Freedom isn't free. Standing among fellow Americans at our local Veterans Park on Memorial Day, I was struck by the weight of sacrifice that spans our nation's relatively brief history. From those early patriots who built a new country to the World War II generation like my grandfather who faced global tyranny without modern technology, Americans have consistently steppe...

Send us Fan Mail Generational diversity might be the most overlooked challenge in today's workplace. Drawing from my experience leading teams where 18-year-olds worked alongside 45-year-olds, I explore how different age groups bring unique strengths and challenges to any organization. Technology stands as both the greatest divide and the most powerful unifier between generations. While younge...

Send us Fan Mail The search for guidance in our personal and professional lives often leads us to mentorship – that powerful, transformative relationship that can unlock our potential and illuminate our path forward. In this deeply personal conversation, retired Navy Chief Petty Officers Gary Wise and Jeremy Moore unpack the profound impact mentors have had on their military careers and civilian l...

Send us Fan Mail What makes a leader truly effective? Is it unwavering confidence, technical expertise, or something deeper? This thought-provoking episode strips away leadership myths to reveal what actually matters when guiding others through challenges. Through personal reflection and powerful storytelling, we explore two contrasting yet complementary perspectives on authentic leadership. First...