The Leader's Edge

Who are you when the body, career, and identity you built are taken away in a single moment? For Amberly Lago, a fitness model and Nike-sponsored trainer, a motorcycle crash in 2010 forced that question. She spent the next six years finding the answer, and at one point it pulled her into addiction. In this episode, HR Huntsman talks with Amberly, author of True Grit and Grace and Joy Through the J...

That "free" weekend of coding help from your college roommate could end up costing you part of your company. Phil Crowley left Harvard's physics PhD program to become a lawyer for startups, and he's seen how simple, avoidable mistakes sink founders before they get started. In this episode, HR Huntsman talks with Phil, founder of Crowley Law and author of Avoid Startup Failure . Phil shares how one...

What would you change if a doctor told you that you had two weeks to live? At 35, Patrick Sweeney heard exactly that, with his wife six months pregnant and a one-year-old daughter at home. What hit him hardest wasn't fear. It was regret over a life spent avoiding everything that scared him. In this episode, HR Huntsman talks with Patrick, a former Olympic-level rower and author of the Wall Street...

What if being the best at your job is the reason your business can't grow without you? Michael Filosi bought a rundown dental practice with a possum living in its walls. By cutting his own share of the work from 40% of production to under 1%, he turned it into Adelaide's biggest dental practice, with four private equity firms lining up to buy it. In this episode, HR Huntsman talks with Michael (po...

You've read the books, highlighted the best lines, and pictured yourself doing all of it. So why hasn't anything changed? Nick Hutchison, founder of BookThinkers and author of The Rise of the Reader , says reading feels like progress, and that feeling is exactly what stops most people from taking action. In this episode, HR Huntsman and Nick dig into the gap between knowing and doing, summed up in...

In this reverse podcast interview, Allison Hare, Pod Strategist, speaks with leadership expert, entrepreneur, and former Air Force member HR Huntsman, who shares his remarkable journey from a turbulent childhood marked by loss and instability to becoming a passionate advocate for meaningful leadership. He discusses how mentorship, military service, and entrepreneurship shaped his philosophy, empha...

In this episode of The Leader's Edge , your host HR Huntsman interviews Jill Schulman, a former Marine Corps officer candidate, author, and speaker, about her journey through fear and bravery. Jill shares how a pivotal moment with her commanding officer prevented her from quitting ROTC during a personal crisis involving her father. She discusses her concept of a "bravery recession," explaining how...

In this episode, HR Huntsman sits down with Brock Huard, a former NFL quarterback turned high school football coach. Brock shares the pivotal moment when his son Titus said, "I just wish you were here," prompting him to leave a successful broadcasting career at Fox Sports, without a coaching job lined up, to coach Titus's high school team. The conversation explores identity beyond job titles, auth...

In this episode of The Leader's Edge, your host HR Huntsman interviews Ken Rusk, an entrepreneur who started digging ditches at 15 and built a nine-figure business empire. Ken discusses his book Blue Collar Cash , advocating for the dignity of trades as a viable alternative to college. He shares leadership insights on scaling businesses by empowering employees as entrepreneurs, connecting personal...

In this episode, host HR Huntsman interviews Ryan Lang, a multi-career professional whose journey spans personal training, oil and gas, sports broadcasting, and performance coaching. Ryan shares how performance has been the common thread throughout his career and opens up about hitting rock bottom, sacrificing his health, marriage, and identity while chasing financial success. He discusses his tra...

In this episode, host HR Huntsman interviews Glenn Bostok, Founder and CEO of SnapCab, who shares his journey from struggling with learning disabilities in school to building a successful elevator remodeling and office pod manufacturing company. Glenn discusses how his early experiences with failure shaped his people-first leadership philosophy, detailed in his book A Human Business . He explains...

In this episode, your host HR Huntsman interviews Lisa Ryan, an author and workplace culture expert, about her new book Six Years of Greatness . Lisa shares the story behind her business fable, which introduces the "six gears of gratitude" as a framework for improving organizational culture. She discusses the importance of gratitude as a strategic tool, navigating multigenerational workforces, and...

Recorded live at Fab Tech 2025, this episode features a candid conversation with Reid & Kathryn from COE Press Equipment, a family business with nearly 50 years of history. Your host, HR Huntsman, explores the company’s origins, their father’s legacy, and the unique challenges of succession, leadership, and maintaining quality in a multi-generational workplace. Reid & Kathryn share insight...

In this episode, the host HR Huntsman interviews Richard Gearhart, a veteran patent attorney and entrepreneur, about his journey from a blue-collar upbringing and corporate life at Novartis to founding his own intellectual property law firm, Gearhart Law. Richard shares lessons on leadership, team building, and the challenges of entrepreneurship. He discusses his radio show "Passage to Profit," wh...

In this episode of The Leader's Edge, your host HR Huntsman interviews Panos Siozos, Co-founder and CEO of LearnWorlds, an online learning platform. Panos shares how curiosity and action fueled his journey from academia to entrepreneurship, discusses the evolution of educational technology, and explains how LearnWorlds empowers creators and organizations to deliver engaging online training. The co...

In this episode of The Leader's Edge, your host HR Huntsman talks to Max Emma. Max shares his inspiring journey from emigrating from the former Soviet Union at 18 to building a successful entrepreneurial career in the U.S. He discusses overcoming language barriers, starting in corporate finance, and boldly leaving a stable job to launch a landscaping business, which grew rapidly before collapsing...

In this episode of The Leader's Edge: Authentic Conversations with Champions of Industry, HR Huntsman talks to the Elite Life Coach, Outdoor Adventure and Personal Growth Specialist at Masters of Badassery, Marta Czajkowska. Marta discusses her philosophy of living authentically and embracing one’s worth, rather than seeking external validation. Marta explains how wilderness experiences and her co...

In this episode of The Leader's Edge: Authentic Conversations with Champions of Industry, HR Huntsman talks to the CEO at Ram Jack Foundation Solutions, Justin Presley. Justin shares his unconventional journey, from turning down a Juilliard scholarship to attending funeral director school, pursuing sales, ministry, and eventually leading a steel manufacturing company. He discusses influential ment...

In this episode of The Leader's Edge: Authentic Conversations with Champions of Industry, HR Huntsman talks to the Sales Manager at Toledo Integrated Systems, John Eby. John shares his journey from part-time employee to Sales Manager in the family business, discussing leadership, perseverance, and team building. He reflects on managing a multi-generational workforce, fostering a strong company cul...

In this episode of The Leader's Edge: Authentic Conversations with Champions of Industry, HR Huntsman talks to the President at Total Finishing Solutions, Ty Crowder. Ty shares his journey from growing up around painting to founding his own company after years in corporate roles. He discusses overcoming early business setbacks, building his brand, and evolving as a leader. Ty emphasizes the import...

In this episode of The Leader's Edge: Authentic Conversations with Champions of Industry, HR Huntsman talks to the Co-Founder at DraftAid, Mohammad Al-arnawoot. Mohammad discusses lessons learned about solving urgent customer problems, the importance of validating ideas through real sales, and the transition from solo founder to team leader. He explains DraftAid’s mission to automate 3D-to-2D engi...

In this episode of The Leader's Edge: Authentic Conversations with Champions of Industry, HR Huntsman talks to the Founder, President, and CEO at TRAX Analytics, Tracy Davis. Tracy shares insights on leadership, overcoming imposter syndrome, and the challenges of change management. She discusses building a supportive community for entrepreneurs through Mind and Social, and offers candid advice abo...

In this episode of The Leader's Edge: Authentic Conversations with Champions of Industry, HR Huntsman talks to the Founder of Generational Performance Solutions, Kamber Parker Bowden. Kamber explores misunderstandings between Gen X, millennials, and Gen Z, emphasizing the importance of clear communication, curiosity, and adapting leadership styles. Kamber highlights younger generations’ desire for...

In this episode of The Leader's Edge: Authentic Conversations with Champions of Industry, HR Huntsman talks to the Co-Founder of Monolith, Ben Snuffer. Ben discusses his mission to revolutionize the construction industry by promoting Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF) as a safer, more resilient alternative to traditional building materials. He shares insights on the dangers of cheap construction, the...

In this episode of The Leader's Edge: Authentic Conversations with Champions of Industry, HR Huntsman talks to the EVP of Maxwell Leadership, Chris Robinson. Chris shares his personal journey of overcoming complacency and "victory disease" after achieving success. He discusses the importance of self-reflection, continuous learning, and purpose-driven leadership. Chris introduces the "complacency h...