Spartan Leadership with Josh Kosnick

Watch the full conversation with Mitch Matthews as we explore the intersection of faith, business, and identity in the coaching world.

This is not a surface-level interview. Josh and Mitch go deep on calling, purpose, and what it actually takes to build a life and business that honors your values.

00:00 Introduction and Initial Thoughts
01:02 Guest Introduction: Mitch Matthews
02:44 Mitch's Journey in...

Mastering Marketing and Leadership with Alex Vonderhaar

In this episode of Spartan Leadership, host Josh Kosnick delves into the fascinating journey of Alex Vonderhaar, a neuro-marketing expert. 

They discuss Alex's profound near-death experience, which led him to change his career path from neuroscience to marketing. Alex shares insights on the importance of understanding marketing's role in business, s...

What if the secret to explosive business growth is letting go?

In this powerful episode of the Spartan Leadership Podcast, Josh Kosnick sits down with Bennett Maxwell—entrepreneur, investor, and founder of Dirty Dough. After scaling his cookie company to 450+ franchises sold in just 3 years, Bennett reveals the unlikely mindset behind his success: detachment from outcomes.

This conversation is about more than busi...

Loneliness is silently destroying leaders—and destroying teams. In this Spartan Leadership episode, Josh Kosnick sits down with Shasta Nelson, top keynote speaker and author of The Business of Friendship and Frientimacy, to uncover why connection is not a luxury for leaders—it’s a leadership advantage.

Shasta breaks down her “Connection Triangle” (positivity, consistency, vulnerability), explains why so many high achievers...

Trump drops bombs on Iran. Tucker roasts Ted Cruz. NYC votes for socialism. Israel calls for a ceasefire.

In this episode of Leadership in Review, we break down the chaos and call out what’s real:

– Was Trump’s Iran strike bold leadership or reckless?
– Tucker vs. Ted Cruz: who’s actually standing for conservative values?
– Why NYC’s socialist mayor win is a warning for America.
– Is Israel’s ceasefire...

Steve Cadigan, LinkedIn's first CHRO and top global talent strategist, joins Josh Kosnick on the Spartan Leadership Podcast to discuss how leaders can navigate rapid change, foster meaningful culture, and build high-performance teams. With experience scaling LinkedIn from 400 to 4,000 employees and advising Fortune 500 companies and nations, Steve shares unique insights on the future of work, the role of cross-cultural experie...

In this episode of Spartan Leadership, Josh Kosnick sits down with Pat McNamera—retired Sergeant Major, Special Operations veteran, elite performance coach, and the mind behind “Basic Dude Stuff.” Introduced by Dr. Trevor Wilkins, Pat unpacks decades of hard-earned wisdom on building strength, living intentionally, and refusing to play the victim.

We cover everything from tactical readiness and civilian training to emotional control...

What makes a truly great leader? Why are so many influencers just echoes of others? In this powerful conversation, Chris Widener—one of the most respected speakers in the world—joins Josh Kosnick to discuss mentorship, integrity, revival, and the crisis of masculinity in modern leadership.

Chris was personally mentored by Jim Rohn and Zig Ziglar, has spoken over 2,500 times, and now leads a movement for spiritual revival a...

What happens when the career you built no longer feels like the life you want?

In this powerful episode of the Spartan Leadership Podcast, Josh Kosnick sits down with long-time friend and coach Michael Brownlow. After years of success at Northwestern Mutual, Michael made the rare decision to walk away—not because he failed, but because he felt called to something deeper.

They explore what most leaders avoid: discomfort, identity shif...

Nancy Gale didn’t just survive unthinkable trauma—she built something beautiful because of it.

Founder of JAMAH, a luxury American-made handbag brand, and AMBITION, a nonprofit for disadvantaged youth, Nancy’s life is proof that purpose and pain can co-exist. In this conversation, we talk about her early years in Detroit, what it really takes to build a brand from scratch, and how she turned personal tragedy into a mission...

In this episode of Spartan Leadership, host Josh Kosk sits down for an in-person fireside chat with Michael Creed, Branch Manager at Luminate Home Loans. Michael shares his journey from a paycheck-to-paycheck upbringing to becoming a successful mortgage lender. Discover Michael's perspective on building a life of legacy, financial literacy, and how he coaches his team for success. Learn about his unique approach to balancing w...

Former CIA operative Nic McKinley exposes the reality of human trafficking in America—and how his organization, DeliverFund, is fighting back using intelligence-grade tools.

In this episode of Spartan Leadership, Josh Kosnick sits down with Nic to discuss his journey from elite U.S. Air Force Pararescueman to CIA operative, and now nonprofit founder leading the fight against exploitation and modern slavery.

This i...

In this episode of Spartan Leadership Podcast, Aaron Williamson, The Rock's trainer, reveals the most important lesson he learned from training with The Rock. Tune in to hear about discipline, hard work, and the mindset of a US Marine.

🚨 Aaron is also a featured keynote speaker at our upcoming Bridge Builder Live event at Five Bridges Farm. Learn more here: https://www.joshkosnick.com/bridgebuilderlive

🔗 Aa...

What if a president could reshape the country in just 100 days? In this episode, Josh Kosnick breaks down Donald Trump's aggressive first 100 days in office—from border security crackdowns and energy independence to AI infrastructure and regulatory rollbacks. This isn’t a partisan take. It’s a hard look at speed, scale, and how leadership decisions ripple through every layer of society. Whether you love him or hate him, Trump’...

Today on the Spartan Leadership Podcast, Josh Kosnick sits down with Adam Guard—entrepreneur, founder of Dreamer Cigars, and creator of Dreamers Health—to talk about leadership, entrepreneurship, and how to build a brand with purpose.

Adam’s journey is one of bold moves: leaving a stable real estate career the day before his wedding, building Dreamer Cigars into a viral brand with over 200 million views, and expanding his mission th...

In this episode of the Spartan Leadership Podcast, Josh Kosnick sits down with Craig Ballantyne—author of The Perfect Day Formula, The Perfect Week Formula, and The Dark Side of Discipline. 

Craig has built five 7-figure businesses and helped over 260 entrepreneurs hit their first million—all while working less and living more.

Craig was introduced to Josh by mutual friend Kary Oberbrunner (who’s publishing Josh’s...

In this explosive episode of the Spartan Leadership Podcast, Josh Kosnick sits down with Emmanuel Whitfield and Jason Smith to tackle some of the most controversial topics in American leadership and culture today. From tariffs and foreign investment to Teslas getting keyed in protest and the hypocrisy of the modern media, this episode pulls no punches.

We explore:

• Why tariffs matter (and why the media lies about them)
• Elon Musk as...

Taylor Cavanaugh's life reads like a movie script: from jail, to Navy SEAL, back to jail, homeless and suicidal… then straight into the elite and brutal ranks of the French Foreign Legion.

Now the only man known to have served in both elite forces, Taylor shares how he found purpose through pain, forged peace through discipline, and turned destruction into a deliberate life.

🎧 In this episode of the Spartan Leadership Podcast, ...

In this episode of the Spartan Leadership Podcast, Josh Kosnick sits down with Chief Deputy Matthew Thomas of the Pinal County Sheriff's Office—one of the nation’s foremost voices on law enforcement, leadership, and border security.

With over three decades of service, 700+ SWAT missions, and frontline experience battling cartel activity, Matt offers a raw, unfiltered look at what it means to lead under pressure.
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