Intentional Leader with Cal Walters

Intentional Leader with Cal Walters

Let's be honest. The hardest person you will ever have to lead is the person you look at in the mirror everyday. Self-leadership is the most important thing we do as leaders, but it's hard. And it hasn't gotten any easier in a world of smart phone addiction, social media comparison, global pandemics, and information overload (just to name a few obstacles). That's why Intentional Leader exists. We help leaders take the guesswork out of self-leadership, fight a reactionary lifestyle, accelerate their personal growth, and achieve their God-given potential at home, at work, and in their communities. This is why we get out of bed each morning. We love helping leaders on their personal growth journey! Because we know when the leader gets better everyone benefits. Organizations, communities, and families all thrive when the leader is thriving. We are a team of ordinary people with an extraordinary passion for personal growth and helping leaders thrive. Join this community to pursue personal growth and leadership excellence, to inspire others, and make a lasting impact on the world. Life is short, so let's make it count by living an intentional life. On this podcast, Cal Walters — a follower of Jesus, a husband, father, West Point graduate, former Infantry Officer, Army Ranger, combat veteran, lawyer, and Army JAG — passionately explores ways to live intentionally, make each day count, and lead with greater influence and impact. Cal firmly believes leadership matters, and this podcast will help you lead yourself and inspire others. Cal believes we each have a unique contribution to make to the world, and he wants to help you make yours! For show notes, visit https://www.calwalters.me/ Disclaimer: The views expressed on this podcast are those of the author and guests and do not reflect the official policy, position, or endorsement of the US Army JAG Corps, US Army, DoD, or the US Government.

Episodes

December 3, 2025 80 mins

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📚 Get LTG (Ret.) Beagle's new book, When the Map Runs Out: https://www.amazon.com/When-Map-Runs-Out-Uncertain/dp/B0G1ZGH76J

As leaders rise, they often hear less and less truth. LTG (Ret.) Milford Beagle calls this the cone of silence—and he warns that it's one of the quietest ways leaders lose ...

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    Connect with Joe: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephpmccormack/

    Learn more about The Brief Lab: https://thebrieflab.com/

    How do you become the kind of leader who cuts through noise, communicates with clarity, and actually moves people to action?

    In this episode of the Intentional Leader Podcast, Cal talks with Joe McCormack—founder of T...

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    How do the best military leaders go from operating at an already elite level… to an even higher level under pressure?

    In this episode, Army psychologist Dr. Liz Werly (who works directly with some of the U.S. military's most elite units) breaks down the exact framework she uses to help high performers:

    • build accurate se...

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    Learn more about Zach: https://www.zachmercurio.com/

    In this conversation, Dr. Zach Mercurio discusses the importance of creating a sense of purpose and mattering within teams. He emphasizes that feeling valued is a basic human instinct and that leaders play a crucial role ...

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    Update: Now only 6 spots left in the Intentional Leader Lab!  

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    Please visit my website to get more information: https://calwalters.me/

    In this episode, Dr. Ryan Gottfredson returns to discuss the concepts of trauma, vertical development, and the distinction between 'being' and 'do...

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    The Intentional Leader Lab: A Mastermind for Successful Leaders Who Refuse to Plateau

    Even the best leaders can drift, but this carefully curated leadership community and Cal's Narrow Path™ Framework give you the tools, accountability, and systems to accelerate your g...

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    In this conversation, Cal introduces the Intentional Leader Lab, a coaching program aimed at enhancing leadership skills through emotional intelligence. Dr. Travis Bradberry, an expert in emotional intelligence, discusses its significance in leadership, differentiating it from IQ, and the importance of self-aw...

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    🧭 Clarify Your Core Values: https://calwalters.me/course

    In this conversation, Melody Wilding, an expert in managing up, discusses the essential skills and strategies needed to influence your boss and navigate workplace dynamics effectively. She emphasizes the importance of emotional intelligence, establishing alignment, and taking owne...

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    In this episode of the Intentional Leader podcast, Cal and Patrick Lencioni delve into the core motivations behind leadership, emphasizing the importance of serving others over seeking personal gain. They discuss the impact of fear on leadership effectiveness, the necessity of daily self-reflection, and the significance of understanding ...

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    Get On Character by General McChrystal: https://www.mcchrystalgroup.com/about/books/detail/2025/01/04/on-character--choices-that-define-a-life

    Follow Stan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stanmcchrystal/

    Learn about the McChrystal Group: https://www.mcchrystalgroup.com/ 

    In this conversation, General ...

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    Get Will's book: https://noelevatortoeverest.com/

    Learn about Corner to Corner: https://cornertocorner.org/

    In this conversation, Will Acuff shares his journey of finding joy amidst life's challenges, particularly through his experiences with his family and the transformative 'trauma camp' that hel...

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    The Work-Life Balance Toolbox: https://www.stephenrgraves.com/balance

    Steve's book, Flourishing (for free!): https://www.stephenrgraves.com/flourish

    Cornerstone+ Membership: https://www.cornerstoneco.com/

    In this episode of the Intentional Leader Podcast, Cal speaks with C...

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    Follow Katie's work: https://katiequesada.com/

    In this conversation, storytelling expert Katie Quesada discusses the profound impact of storytelling on personal and professional lives. She emphasizes the importance of storytelling in leadership, how it can create emotional connections, and the science behind why stories resonate with us.

    Katie shares her jou...

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    Take the Attributes Assessment (make sure you use coupon code INTENTIONALLEADER15 to get 15% off at check out): https://theattributes.com/assessment-tool

    Get Rich's new book, Masters of Uncertainty: https://www.amazon.com/Masters-Uncertainty-Navy-Stress-Success/dp/B0DMGYW5YH/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3E4HOYQ84M5H7&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.ya84ZhsafB6rPwbEySGGDg.98hhrIiRMlraDT4SDOw9Di...

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    Alison Wood Brooks is the O'Brien Associate Professor of Business Administration and Hellman Faculty Fellow at the Harvard Business School. She teaches an award-winning course in the MBA curriculum called "TALK." Recently named a Best 40-Under-40 Business School Professor b...

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    Get the The Thin Book of Trust.   

    Cal and Charles Feltman delve into the intricate nature of trust, exploring its biological underpinnings and the personal experiences that shape our propensity to trust or distrust others. They discuss the importance of sincerity, reliability, competence, and care as key assessments of trustworthiness,...

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    Mark Miller, former vice president of high performance leadership at Chick-fil-A, discusses the key factors that contribute to the comp...

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    Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCr_ZF6AG_9ZylHul1O5wHhg

    Connect with Juliet Funt: https://www.julietfunt.com/military/

    Get Juliet's Book: https://www.amazon.com/Minute-Think-Reclaim-Creativity-Busyness/dp/0062970259

    00:00 Introduction to Task Saturation and Overload

    02:06 Juliette's Experience with the Military

    07:01 Communication Challenges in the Mi...

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    Watch this interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Vn6ZwWWcFZw

    Learn more about West Point, the world's preeminent leader development institution: https://www.westpoint.edu/

    In this episode of the Intentional Leader Podcast, Cal speaks with Brigadier General Shane Reeves, the Dean of West Point, about the challenges of preparing leaders for an uncertain future. Th...

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