Spartan Leadership with Josh Kosnick

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.
<...

Welcome back to Spartan Leadership! In this powerful episode, Josh Kosnick sits down with Joe Smarro—Marine Corps veteran, former San Antonio police officer, and co-founder of Solution Point Plus.

Joe has seen combat, crisis, and mental health struggles firsthand—from the battlefields of Iraq to the frontlines of law enforcement. Now, his mission is clear: bridge the gap between mental health and public safety, eradicate s...

In this episode, Josh Kosnick is joined by Jason Smith, a constitutional law expert turned business owner, and Emanuel Whitfeld, a bold voice on leadership and accountability. Together, they unpack the corruption in government, the real story behind Elon Musk’s involvement with the administration, and how poor messaging is hurting conservatives.

🔥 Key Topics:

The truth about Doge and why it’s exposing deep-seated...

Men today are more isolated, confused, and directionless than ever before. In this powerful conversation, Adam Zastrow joins Josh Kosnick to discuss what it means to be a true leader in your home, business, and faith.

🚀 Topics We Cover:

Defining Masculinity & the Joy in Sacrifice
The Secret to Strong Leadership
Fear Does Not Come from God
Why Men Need Brotherhood & Accountability
How to Ma...

🚨 200 EPISODES STRONG! 🚨

We’re celebrating this major milestone with a powerhouse guest—Ryan Williams, a former Navy SEAL turned entrepreneur. From the grueling intensity of BUD/S training to the high-stakes world of business, Ryan has mastered the art of resilience, leadership, and calculated risk-taking—lessons that apply to any entrepreneur looking to dominate.

In this episode, Ryan breaks down:

🔥 The transition from SEAL teams ...

In this episode of Spartan Leadership, I sit down with Alana Stott—entrepreneur, author, producer, and philanthropist—whose career spans security, finance, media, and global activism. Alana shares her journey from running high-stakes security operations to raising millions for charities like Heads Together with the support of Prince Harry. We also dive into her relentless fight against human trafficking and how her work earned her ...

How do you truly influence people? Rene Rodriguez, a leading expert in behavioral neuroscience and leadership, joins Josh Kosnick on Spartan Leadership to break down the science of influence, personal branding, and leadership development.

🔹 The Neuroscience Behind Influence
🔹 Building a Personal Brand That Commands Attention
🔹 Leadership, Emotional Intelligence & Self-Awareness
🔹 How to Prepare for the Moments Th...

In this episode, host Josh Kosnick dives into the latest political, economic, and cultural shifts impacting leadership today. Alongside Emmanuel Whitfield and special guest Jason Smith, owner of The Tasting Room cigar lounge, they tackle:

✅ The rapid-fire executive orders shaking up policies
✅ The real impact of DEI and its unintended consequences
✅ Immigration policies under Trump’s new administration
✅ The hypocrisy of...