When Leadership Becomes an Addiction

Our Top Laws of Growth, with Ericka Kelly

What if the difference between where you are and where you want to be comes down to a few simple principles? In this episode of Trail Talks, Kelly and Ericka dive into their favorite lessons from John Maxwell’s The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth. Rather than covering all 15 laws, they each share the five that have had the biggest impact on their lives, leadership, and personal development journey. Maxwell’s framework emphasizes intentional growth through principles such as Environment, Reflection, Expansion, Contribution, Consistency, Pain, and Trade-Offs.   You’ll hear: * Kelly’s Top 5 Laws of Growth and why they resonate with his journey * Ericka’s Top 5 Laws and the lessons she’s learned from applying them * How environment shapes success more than willpower * Why reflection is one of the most overlooked growth tools * The sacrifices required to reach your potential * The connection between personal growth and serving others * A fun 90s-themed “This or That” detour Whether you’re a leader, coach, parent, or someone simply trying to become a better version of yourself, this episode will challenge you to think differently about growth—and remind you that growth doesn’t happen by accident. It happens on purpose.   Trail Tip: Growth is not an event. It’s a daily choice

Google Was Right About This

This week on Trail Talks, Kelly and Terra are talking about what actually makes teams work. Using Google’s Project Aristotle as the foundation, they walk through the five key factors of high-performing teams: psychological safety, dependability, structure and clarity, meaning, and impact. 🧭 This conversation is for leaders and team members alike, because culture is not just carried by the person in charge. Everyone contributes to whether a team feels safe, clear, meaningful, and productive. And of course, the episode would not be complete without a detour. This week’s stop? Movie theater etiquette, sneaking 🍫candy, 🍿popcorn butter strategy, assigned seats, and the great subtitle debate.  A practical leadership conversation with a little theater-lobby chaos on the side.

Fitness Accountability & Culture

In this episode of Trail Talks, Kelly sits down with Jason Ham, Air Force Chief Exercise Physiologist and longtime human performance expert, for a conversation that goes way beyond push-ups, run times, and checking the fitness box. 🏃‍♀️💪 They talk about the difference between a culture of testing and a culture of fitness, what really gets in the way of our health, why sleep matters more than we want to admit, and how small habits quietly shape the way we show up every day. 🧠🌙 And because it is Trail Talks, there is also a Memorial Day detour involving celebrity BBQ teams, backyard games, and just enough chaos to make you question who should ever be trusted near the grill. 🔥🍔🇺🇸 Listen now to Episode 25.

Why Teams Stay Stuck

🌀 What happens when a team talks about the same problem over and over… but nothing actually changes? In this episode of Trail Talks 🎙️, Kelly officially welcomes Vanessa Valdez as co-host as they unpack why teams, workplaces, and even friendships can get stuck in the same cycles. Through leadership stories 💡, Ted Lasso references ⚽, practical conversation, and a hilarious detour into airplane etiquette ✈️😂, this episode explores what creates movement inside a team — and what quietly keeps people spinning in circles. Because sometimes the biggest leadership challenge is not identifying the problem… It’s helping people move forward. 🌲

When Leadership Becomes an Addiction

In this episode of Trail Talks, Kelly and Terra are joined by counselor Jill Defayette for a powerful conversation on leadership addiction. 🎯 What happens when your title becomes your identity? When work replaces purpose? When control feels safer than connection? Together, they unpack the psychology behind workaholism, toxic leadership, identity loss, burnout, and why some leaders struggle to step away. They also share practical tools to help leaders build healthier identities beyond the role. 🌱 Topics include: 🔹 Leadership addiction explained 🔹 Workaholism vs purpose-driven work 🔹 Toxic leadership patterns 🔹 Identity outside your job title 🔹 Why control becomes addictive 🔹 Tools for healthier leadership 🎧 If you’ve ever tied your worth to productivity, this one is for you.  The views expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Air Force, the Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government. This content is for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as professional counseling, medical, or legal advice.