Episode 17: High-Stakes Leadership: A Conversation with Retired Lieutenant Colonel Scott Mann

The 12-Inch Difference Between Good and Great Leaders

In this episode of The Leadership Minute, Dave Johnson argues that a twelve-inch distance—from the head to the heart—separates good leaders from great ones. While strategy and intellect matter, exceptional leadership requires genuine empathy for your team. This emotional connection builds trust, sparks creativity, and provides the psychological safety needed for innovation. Conversely, analytical leadership without heart stifles employee initiative. Empathy does not replace accountability; instead, it unlocks an innate drive and ownership that no incentive program can match. Leaders must bridge this twelve-inch gap to unleash their team's full potential.

Clovis: The King Who Burned What He Worshiped

In this episode of A Moment in Church History, Marty recounts the dramatic conversion of Clovis, the pagan Frankish king, amidst the chaotic collapse of Rome. The story unfolds in three acts: the domestic struggle with his Christian wife Clotilda, a desperate battlefield prayer that turns defeat into victory against the Alemanni, and his historic Christmas Day baptism alongside 3,000 of his warriors. Marty frames Clovis as a "Constantine-like" warrior king whose crisis-fueled faith led him to found the Merovingian dynasty, establish Paris as his capital, and forever alter the religious landscape of Western Europe. [1 [https://www.girlmuseum.org/trailblazers-the-age-of-girls-saint-clotilde/]]

Protecting Innocence

In this episode of the Bonafide Man Podcast, hosts Marty McLain and David Johnson conclude their interview with former SEAL Team 6 operator and Veterans for Child Rescue president Craig "Sawman" Sawyer to discuss digital safety and family advocacy. Sawyer shares practical parental advice—such as managing screen time and teaching situational awareness—while addressing the critical scope of online threats facing families today. He examines current challenges within the legal system, discussing accountability in enforcement and prosecution. On a personal note, Sawyer shares his family's resilience through past hardships and how those challenges shaped their shared mission. Highlighting his 'Hard Target Training' course and safety documentary work, Sawyer closes with an urgent call to action, encouraging civic engagement, supporting advocacy organizations, and finding ultimate purpose through faith.

When Disaster is the Plan

In this episode of The Leadership Minute, David Johnson shares a powerful message of resilience using Paul’s shipwreck on Malta. When one crisis follows another, trust that your setbacks are part of a larger plan—because what looks like a disaster might actually be your destination.

The Bishop Who Faced Huns, Vandals and Heretics and Came Out a Winner

Leo I, the Bishop of Rome, stared down Attila the Hun, blunted the fury of the Vandals, and silenced heretics with a single, devastating letter. Because of this, he was the first Bishop of Rome to be called "The Great." Yet, by thrusting the papacy into the arena of raw political power, he forged a double-edged sword that would plague future generations for centuries.