Intentional Leader with Cal Walters
Self-Improvement
About
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 g
Episodes
- 137: Jamie Winship — How Great Leaders Handle Fear, Conflict, and Difficult Conversations
Jamie Winship, a former CIA officer, joins Cal Walters on the Intentional Leader podcast to discuss managing fear, conflict, and difficult conversations. The episode explores how leaders can address insecurity, the connection between anger…
- 136: Jordan Montgomery — Why Even High Performers Need Encouragement (and How to Lead with It)
In this episode of the Intentional Leader Podcast, Cal Walters speaks with Jordan Montgomery about the necessity of encouragement for all individuals, including elite performers. They discuss the connection between success and coaching, th…
- 135: Dr. Jeff Wetzler — Why People Don't Tell You the Truth (and the Questions That Change Everything)
Dr. Jeff Wetzler, author of Ask, joins Cal Walters to discuss why individuals don't always tell the truth in professional settings. They explore the concept of the 'left-hand column,' reasons for honesty filtering, and introduce the ASK Ap…
- 134: Randy Gravitt — Winning at Home Without Losing at Work, Leading With Presence, and Why Hope Is Not a Strategy
In this episode, Cal Walters speaks with executive coach Randy Gravitt about achieving workplace excellence while prioritizing family. They cover practical strategies for presence, setting boundaries, and the importance of intentionality i…
- 133: LTG(R) Milford Beagle "Beags" — A Three-Star General on True North, Resilience, Feedback, and How to Lead With Confidence Without Becoming Overconfident
➡️ Get my free weekly newsletter (The Intentional Letter): https://courses.calwalters.me/signup 📚 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, t…
- 132: Joe McCormack — Special Operations Communication Expert Shares How to Say Less, Communicate With Clarity, and Lead With Quiet Confidence
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 a…
- 131: Dr. Liz Werly — What an Army Psychologist for Special Ops Teaches About High Performance and Emotional Intelligence
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) b…
- 130: Dr. Zach Mercurio — The Hidden Engine of High-Performing Teams: Mattering, Trust, and Purpose-Driven Leadership
Apply to work with me 1-1: https://courses.calwalters.me/coaching Join the Intentional Leader Lab waitlist: https://courses.calwalters.me/intentional-leader-lab Learn more about Zach: https://www.zachmercurio.com/ In this conversation, Dr.…
- 129: Dr. Ryan Gottfredson — The Groundbreaking Science of Personal Transformation, Mindsets, Emotional Intelligence, and Becoming Better
Update: Now only 6 spots left in the Intentional Leader Lab! ➡️ Learn about the Intentional Leader Lab: https://intentionalleaderlab.com Book a call: https://tally.so/r/w8X6dz Apply today: https://tally.so/r/nr40XM Please visit my website…
- 128: Accomplish Anything as a Leader with the 3 Levels of Clarity and the Intentional Leader Lab
➡️ Learn about the Intentional Leader Lab: https://intentionalleaderlab.com Book a call: https://tally.so/r/w8X6dz Apply today: https://tally.so/r/nr40XM The Intentional Leader Lab: A Mastermind for Successful Leaders Who Refuse to Plateau…
- 127: Dr. Travis Bradberry — Emotional Intelligence Expert Gives Practical Advice to Increase Your EQ, Increase Your Self-Awareness, and Change Your Thinking
➡️ Apply to the Intentional Leader Lab (only 12 slots available): https://intentionalleaderlab.com/ In this conversation, Cal introduces the Intentional Leader Lab, a coaching program aimed at enhancing leadership skills through emotional…
- 126: Melody Wilding — How to Manage Up and 5 Conversations to Have with Your Boss
➡️ Get my free weekly newsletter (The Intentional Letter): https://courses.calwalters.me/signup 🧭 Clarify Your Core Values: https://calwalters.me/course In this conversation, Melody Wilding, an expert in managing up, discusses the essenti…
- 125: Patrick Lencioni — The One Thing Every Leader Needs and His Top Advice to Leaders at All Stages
➡️ Get my free weekly newsletter (The Intentional Letter): https://courses.calwalters.me/signup In this episode of the Intentional Leader podcast, Cal and Patrick Lencioni delve into the core motivations behind leadership, emphasizing the…
- 124: Geoff Woods — Leverage AI for Elite Thinking and Decision Making (The Ai-Driven Leader)
➡️ Get my Newsletter (Intentional Letter): https://courses.calwalters.me/signup Discover Your Core Values: https://calwalters.me/course Geoff Woods is the author of The AI-Driven Leader and the Founder of AI Leadership, where he empowers l…
- 123: General Stan McChrystal — How to Face Fear, Pivot from Failure, and Live a Disciplined Life
➡️ Get my Newsletter (Intentional Letter): https://courses.calwalters.me/signup Discover Your Core Values: https://calwalters.me/course Get On Character by General McChrystal: https://www.mcchrystalgroup.com/about/books/detail/2025/01/04/o…
- 122: Will Acuff — Find Joy in Life's Struggles
➡️ Get my Newsletter (Intentional Letter): https://courses.calwalters.me/signup Discover Your Core Values: https://calwalters.me/course Get Will's book: https://noelevatortoeverest.com/ Learn about Corner to Corner: https://cornertocorner.…
- 121: Dr. Steve Graves — Work-Life Balance Tools to Win at Home and at Work
Sign up for The Intentional Letter: https://courses.calwalters.me/signup Discover Your Core Values Course: https://courses.calwalters.me/offers/DmXNju9f/checkout The Work-Life Balance Toolbox: https://www.stephenrgraves.com/balance Steve's…
- 120: Katie Quesada — Master Storytelling with Story Expert to Fortune 500 Companies
➡️ Sign up for my Intentional Letter: https://courses.calwalters.me/signup Follow Katie's work: https://katiequesada.com/ In this conversation, storytelling expert Katie Quesada discusses the profound impact of storytelling on personal and…
- 119: Rich Diviney — Navy SEAL Secrets to Master Stress with Retired Navy SEAL Commander
Get weekly insights from me: https://courses.calwalters.me/signup 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…
- 118: Alison Wood Brooks — Make Great Conversations Easy with Proven Strategies from Harvard Expert
Subscribe to the Intentional Letter (my weekly newsletter): https://courses.calwalters.me/signup Watch this on YouTube: https://youtu.be/DHP2Eahxjm0 Alison Wood Brooks is the O'Brien Associate Professor of Business Administration and Hellm…
- 117: Charles Feltman — A Simple Framework for Building (and Rebuilding) Trust that Every Leader Needs
Subscribe to the Intentional Letter (my weekly newsletter): https://courses.calwalters.me/signup Get the The Thin Book of Trust . Cal and Charles Feltman delve into the intricate nature of trust, exploring its biological underpinnings and…
- 116: Mark Miller — Chick-fil-A's Secret Sauce for Building Leaders and Creating a Culture of High Performance
Sign up to receive The Intentional Letter: https://courses.calwalters.me/signup Follow Intentional Leader: https://calwalters.me Take Mark Miller's Quicksand Assessment by texting BeSmart (no spaces) to 66866 Get in touch with Mark Miller:…
- 115: Juliet Funt — Productivity Expert Tackles Task Saturation in the Military
Discover Your Unique Core Values: https://calwalters.me/course 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.…
- 114: Brigadier General Shane Reeves — How West Point is Preparing Leaders for Uncertainty and Ambiguity
Gain clarity with my Core Values course: https://calwalters.me/course Watch this interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Vn6ZwWWcFZw Learn more about West Point, the world's preeminent leader development institution: https://www.westpoint.e…
- 113: Graham Cochrane — Be a Rebel, Learn to Dream Again, and Create a Clear Vision for Your Life and Leadership
Discover Your Unique Core Values: https://calwalters.me/course Graham Cochrane is a TEDx and keynote speaker, 7 figure entrepreneur, and bestselling author of How To Get Paid For What You Know and Rebel: Find Yourself by Not Following The…
- 112: Dr. Steven Stein — How to Gain Emotional Intelligence and Build Hardiness as a Leader
Quick Gain Clarity with my Discover Your Core Values Mini Course: https://calwalters.me/course Watch this podcast on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@intentionalleader_calwalters Learn more about Dr. Stein's work: https://stevenstein.com/ Dr.…
- 111: Charlie Watkins (Pt. 2) — Worth the Wait: Selling Business for 11X More | Throw No Rocks: A Man's Guide to Success through Partnership with God
Save Time and Avoid Regrets with my Discover Your Core Values Mini Course: https://calwalters.me/course Watch this conversation on YouTube: https://youtu.be/1ki9gIkx54g Purchase Throw No Rocks: A Man's Guide to Success Through Partnership…
- 110: Charlie Watkins (Pt. 1) — How Forgiveness Breeds Success | Throw No Rocks: A Man's Guide to Success through Partnership with God
Save Time and Avoid Regrets with my Discover Your Core Values Mini Course: https://calwalters.me/course Watch this conversation on YouTube: https://youtu.be/1ki9gIkx54g Purchase Throw No Rocks: A Man's Guide to Success Through Partnership…
- 109: Julian Treasure — Top TED Speaker and Speaking Expert on How to Speak So People Want to Listen
Follow me at: https://calwalters.me/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@intentionalleader_calwalters Make Decision Making Easier with my Core Values Mini Course: https://courses.calwalters.me/offers/DmXNju9f/checkout Julian Treasure is a to…
- 108: Jamie Winship — How to Avoid an Identity Crisis and Discover Your True Calling
Follow Cal at https://calwalters.me/ Get back time and make decision making easier by discovering your core values: https://courses.calwalters.me/offers/DmXNju9f/checkout Jamie Winship has decades of experience bringing peaceful solutions…
- 107: Dr. Anna Lembke — Find Joy and Focus in a Dopamine-Overloaded World
Discover Your Core Values with my Mini-Course: https://courses.calwalters.me/offers/DmXNju9f/ Checkout Get Dr. Lemke's great book, Dopamine Nation: https://www.amazon.com/Dopamine-Nation-Finding-Balance-Indulgence/dp/152474672X Preorder th…
- 106: Dr. Michael Norton — The Ritual Effect
Take Dr. Norton's Ritual Quiz Michael Norton is the Harold M. Brierley Professor of Business Administration at the Harvard Business School. He has studied human behavior as it relates to love and inequality, time and money, and happiness a…
- 105: Ryan Hawk and Brook Cupps — The Score That Matters
Get instant access to my new Discover Your Core Values Mini Course People love to keep score. Managers keep score of a range of business metrics: market share, revenue, profit margin, growth rate. In our personal lives, social media has us…
- 104: Dr. Amy Edmondson — The Science of Failing Well
We used to think of failure as the opposite of success. Now, we're often torn between two "failure cultures": one that says to avoid failure at all costs, the other that says fail fast, fail often . The trouble is that both approaches lack…
- 103: Clay Scroggins — How You Can Lead When You're Not in Charge
Subscribe to Intentional Leader on YouTube ! Link is here: https://youtube.com/@intentionalleader_calwalters?si=NgU1Ui98hTofWc2I On this episode of Intentional Leader, we learn from speaker, author, and pastor Clay Scroggins on how to lead…
- 102: Brian Johnson — How to Activate Your Heroic Potential, Fight Negative Thinking, Create Better Habits, and Live with Areté
The views expressed on this podcast and page are those of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect the official policy, position, or endorsement of the US Army, DoD, or the US Government. I'm so pumped to welcome Brian Johnson to…
- 101: Dr. Chevy Cook — On Leadership Lessons from the Secretary of the Army, Finishing a PhD in Character Development, and How to Manage Energy
It's great to welcome Dr. Chevy Cook back to the podast! Chevy was on the show for Episode 36 , but a lot has happened since that interview. We catch up on him finishing his PhD, serving as the speechwriter for the 25th Secretary of the Ar…
- 100: Juliet Funt — A Minute to Think: Reclaim Creativity, Conquer Busyness, and Do Your Best Work
Featured in top media outlets such as Forbes, CNBC, and Fast Company, Juliet Funt is a globally renowned keynote speaker, tough-love advisor to the Fortune 500, founder and CEO of the efficiency training firm, Juliet Funt Group . Juliet is…
- 99: Doug Jones — Lessons from Ranger School, Achieving Excellence in Physical Fitness, and How to Stay Sharp as a Leader
After graduating from West Point (where I'm pretty sure Doug was the #1 ranked cadet in our class in physical fitness, which is incredible, but I couldn't get a straight answer from Doug on that fact), Doug commissioned as an infantry offi…
- 98: Simone Askew — On Being the First Black Female First Captain at West Point, Authentic Leadership, and Advice for Mentors
It's great to be back after taking a few months off! I'm really excited about all we can learn together in 2023! Today I have the privilege of sharing my interview with Simone Askew . In 2017, she became the first African American woman to…
- 97: Cassie Holmes, Ph.D. — How to Live a Happier Life
Download this free 12-page PDF to get 12 key ideas to make you a better leader today. Cassie Mogilner Holmes is a Professor at UCLA's Anderson School of Management. Cassie is an expert on time and happiness. Her research examines such ques…
- 96: General Alizai — Leadership Reflections from the Afghan Army's Last Commander
Commander of Special Operations Command of the Afghan National Army Haibatullah Alizai, took over as Afghanistan's Chief of General Staff (the US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs equivalent) just days before the Taliban made a push into Kabul,…
- 95: How to Be a Leader That's Not about You
On today's quick hit episode, Cal shares three keys to being a leader that's not about you. If you're interested in growing in your leadership practice and being inspired to think differently and unlock greater personal potential, we want…
- 94: Ryan Gottfredson — How to Elevate your Mind and Why Most Leader Development Programs Fail
Ryan Gottfredson, Ph.D. is a cutting-edge mindset author, researcher, and consultant. He helps organizations vertically develop their leaders primarily through a focus on mindsets. He helps improve organizations, leaders, teams, and employ…
- 93: Garry Ridge — How He Built an Incredible Culture of Purpose and Engagement at WD-40
Garry Ridge has 25 years of experience as Chairman and CEO of WD-40 Company. He is also an adjunct professor at the University of San Diego, where he teaches the principles and practices of corporate culture in the Master of Science in Exe…
- 92: Stephen Drum — Getting through Navy SEAL Training and How to Perform under Intense Pressure
Would you like to partner with us at Intentional Leader? Consider becoming a monthly supporter on Patreon. Sign up here ! If you're interested in growing in your leadership practice and being inspired to think differently and unlock greate…
- 91: Sabrina Dalton — Leadership as a Mom & The MMoment II (An Event with Military Mentors)
Sign up here to attend the MMoment II on July 23, 2022 in Alexandria, VA! The MMoment is an intentional, purposeful investment in you by us, your team at Military Mentors , or MM for short (the spelling of the MMoment is a play on our name…
- [REPLAY] 49: Patrick Lencioni — Building Trust, Embracing Conflict, and the 6 Types of Working Genius
This episode with Patrick Lencioni is a great segue from the article released by Wes Cochrane last week titled, " Does Your Team Suck at Workplace Conflict? " Read that article here . Patrick Lencioni is one of the founders and president o…
- BRB - I'm Moving!
Hello my friend! I wanted to share a very short message today… As many of you know, I'm a lawyer in the Army. And part of being in the Army (at least for what I do), means we move every few years. During the month of June, my family and I…
- 90: Joe Byerly — What's in His Green Notebook and How to Capture Life Lessons
If you're interested in growing in your leadership practice and being inspired to think differently and unlock greater personal potential, we want to give you a gift. Just click the link below and tell us where to send you 12 Ideas That Wi…