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Intentional Leader with Cal Walters

by Cal Walters

Business

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

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Episodes

  1. 142: Jon Acuff — Stop Procrastinating, Choose Faith Over Fear, and Build a Remarkable Life

    ➡️ Get my free weekly newsletter (The Intentional Letter): https://courses.calwalters.me/signup Learn about the Intentional Leader Lab: https://intentionalleaderlab.com What if procrastination isn't actually your problem? What if it's a bad solution to a fear you haven't named yet? My guest today...

  2. 141: Jon Harmeling — How AI Can Make You a Better Leader: Productivity, People, and Significance

    ➡️ Get my free weekly newsletter (The Intentional Letter): https://courses.calwalters.me/signup Apply to join the Intentional Leader Lab: https://courses.calwalters.me/thelab Get Jon's Book (Frontline AI Leadership): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HNDTHR36 Website: frontlineaileadership.com My…

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  3. 140: Dan Casey & Griffin Brand — Coach Bill Walsh's Playbook for Winning: Culture, Standards, Resilience, and Leadership

    ➡️ Get my free weekly newsletter (The Intentional Letter): https://courses.calwalters.me/signup Apply to join the Intentional Leader Lab: https://courses.calwalters.me/thelab Get the book or connect with Dan and Griffin: https://bringyourownpencil.com/ What does it actually take to build a…

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  4. 139: Ryan Hawk — How to Build Life-Changing Confidence

    📘Order Ryan's New Book, The Price of Becoming: https://learningleader.com/ ➡️ Get my free weekly newsletter (The Intentional Letter): https://courses.calwalters.me/signup What does it really take to become the person you're capable of becoming? In this conversation, Ryan Hawk shares the lessons...

  5. 138: Eva Rose Daniel — How Great Speakers Captivate Any Audience

    Learn more about (or apply) for the next Clarity Cohort: theclaritycohort.com What separates a good speaker from a great one? In this episode, Cal sits down with Eva Rose Daniel, a speech coach and communication strategist who has spent nearly two decades helping leaders, authors, speakers, and...

  6. 137: Jamie Winship — How Great Leaders Handle Fear, Conflict, and Difficult Conversations

    ➡️ Get my free weekly newsletter (The Intentional Letter): https://courses.calwalters.me/signup Email [email protected] if you're interested in learning more about the Intentional Leader Lab. Learn more about Jamie Winship and his work: https://www.identityexchange.com/ Get Jamie's new book, The...

  7. 136: Jordan Montgomery — Why Even High Performers Need Encouragement (and How to Lead with It)

    ➡️ Get my free weekly newsletter (The Intentional Letter): https://courses.calwalters.me/signup Check out Jordan's work: https://www.montgomerycompanies.com/ 00:00 Intro + Why Encouragement Matters (Even for High Performers) 01:09 Why Everyone Needs Encouragement (No Matter Their Success) 02:35...

  8. 135: Dr. Jeff Wetzler — Why People Don't Tell You the Truth (and the Questions That Change Everything)

    ➡️ Get my free weekly newsletter (The Intentional Letter): https://courses.calwalters.me/signup Follow Jeff's work: https://www.jeffwetzler.com/ Dr. Jeff Wetzler, author of Ask, joins Cal Walters to unpack a leadership blind spot: the crucial information your team has… but isn't telling you. Jeff...

  9. 134: Randy Gravitt — Winning at Home Without Losing at Work, Leading With Presence, and Why Hope Is Not a Strategy

    ➡️ Get my free weekly newsletter (The Intentional Letter): https://courses.calwalters.me/signup Get Randy's book: https://www.amazon.com/Winning-Begins-Home-Strategy-Leadership/dp/B0CTYGNXCG Learn about Lead Every Day: https://leadeveryday.com/ In this episode, Cal Walters sits down with…

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  10. 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, they often hear less and less truth. LTG (Ret.) Milford...

  11. 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 action? In this episode of the Intentional Leader Podcast,...

  12. 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) breaks down the exact framework she uses to help high...

  13. 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. Zach Mercurio discusses the importance of creating a…

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  14. 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 to get more information: https://calwalters.me/ In this...

  15. 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 Even the best leaders can drift, but this carefully…

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  16. 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 intelligence. Dr. Travis Bradberry, an expert in emotional...

  17. 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 essential skills and strategies needed to influence your boss and...

  18. 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 importance of serving others over seeking personal gain....

  19. 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 leaders to harness AI, escape operational overwhelm, and...

  20. 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/on-character--choices-that-define-a-life Follow Stan:...

  21. 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.org/ In this conversation, Will Acuff shares his journey…

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  22. 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 book, Flourishing (for free!):...

  23. 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 professional lives. She emphasizes the importance of...

  24. 119: Rich Diviney — Navy SEAL Secrets to Master Stress with Retired Navy SEAL Commander

    Get weekly insights from me: https://courses.calwalters.me/signup Get Rich's new book, Masters of Uncertainty:...

  25. 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 Hellman Faculty Fellow at the Harvard Business School. She...

  26. 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 the personal experiences that shape our propensity to trust...

  27. 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: 678-612-8441 [email protected]…

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  28. 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.com/Minute-Think-Reclaim-Creativity-Busyness/dp/0062970259...

  29. 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.edu/ In this episode of the Intentional Leader Podcast, Cal...

  30. 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 Crowd (2024). Get a copy of Rebel:...

  31. 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. Steven Stein is a world-renowned clinical psychologist,...

  32. 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 with God: https://thrownorocks.com Charlie Watkins is a...

  33. 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 with God: https://thrownorocks.com Charlie Watkins is a...

  34. 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 top-rated international speaker on sound and the critical...

  35. 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 to areas of the world that experience the highest levels…

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  36. 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 the Official Dopamine Nation Workbook:...

  37. 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 and grief. He is the author of The Ritual Effect and the...

  38. 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 keeping score by likes and followers. These external…

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  39. 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 the crucial distinctions to help us separate good failure...

  40. 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 when we're not in charge. The reality is that most of us...

  41. 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 the podcast! Check out Brian's brand new book: Areté:...

  42. 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 Army, the Honorable Christine Wormuth, completing the…

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  43. 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 the author of A Minute to Think, nominated for the Next…

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  44. 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 officer, graduated from Ranger School, and then went on to…

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  45. 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 earn the role of First Captain, the leader of the Corps of...

  46. 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 questions as how focusing on time (rather than money)…

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  47. 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, after General Wali Mohammad Ahmadzai was removed from the...

  48. 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 to give you a gift. Just click the link below and tell us...

  49. 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 employees by improving their mindsets. Ryan is currently a...

  50. 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 Executive Leadership program. Garry's philosophy on company...

View all 142 episodes →

About this show

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

Hosted by

Cal Walters

Frequently asked questions

How many episodes does Intentional Leader with Cal Walters have?

Intentional Leader with Cal Walters has 142 episodes on PodParley. The most recent episode was published on November 12, 2026.

What is Intentional Leader with Cal Walters 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,...

How often does Intentional Leader with Cal Walters release new episodes?

Intentional Leader with Cal Walters publishes every two weeks, based on its 142 episodes since June 2019.

Who hosts Intentional Leader with Cal Walters?

Intentional Leader with Cal Walters is created and hosted by Cal Walters.
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