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Spartan Leadership with Josh Kosnick

Spartan Leadership with Josh Kosnick

Hosted by Josh Kosnick

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Episodes

259

Latest episode

Aug 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

Good and Great Are the Enemies of Possible™️ Leadership and business coach Josh Kosnick has conversations with some of the greatest minds in leadership both in business, community, and politics. Guests provide insights from years of experience, delivering powerful messages to help you live a more inspired and impactful life.

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60 recent
August 11, 20261 hr 24 min

Your Best Customer Is Dying. Now What?

Send us Fan MailIn-N-Out took 80 years to become a legend. Raising Cane's did it in 36 — with worse chicken and a better marketing team. Two founders sat down with Josh at the Book & Bourbon Club fly-in to debate what actually wins in 2026: the slow, silent build or the personal-brand turbocharge.Guests: Dennis Leis (investor, MetPro, LRT, Whole Body Fitness) and Trace Miller (founder/CEO of Konala — high-protein drive-thru restaurants, konalafranchise.com).Three debates, no filler:The personal branding debate — can you still grow a massive business silently? The In-N-Out vs. Raising Cane's case study, the "sellout" question every founder wrestles with, and why your best customer is literally dying every day.The AI debate — Dennis is all-in, Trace is skeptical, and Josh is in the middle. China just passed a law that you can't lay someone off and replace them with AI. Salesforce is cutting tens of thousands. Only 2% of the world is actually using it. What "ethical capitalism" looks like when the tokens cost more than the labor.The hiring debate — Dennis hires for his weaknesses and openly admits he has zero desire to be a CEO. Trace wants to grow into his weaknesses, Gymshark-style. Two founders, two very different answers to the oldest question in business.Plus Dennis unveils the AI-powered talent-matching platform he's building in beta — outbound recruiting for cultural fit instead of skills-first hiring.━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━Follow Dennis Leis: Instagram @dennis.leisFollow Trace Miller & Konala: konalafranchise.comBook & Bourbon Club: joshkosnick.com━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━Books mentioned:• Raving Fans — Ken Blanchard• Unreasonable Hospitality — Will Guidara• Good to Great — Jim Collins• Blue-Collar Cash — Ken Rusk━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━Follow Josh Kosnick:Website — joshkosnick.comInstagram — @joshkosnickLinkedIn — linkedin.com/in/joshkosnickSubscribe for weekly conversations on leadership, faith, and building a life worth living.#SpartanLeadership #JoshKosnick #DennisLeis #TraceMiller #Konala #PersonalBranding #AIinBusiness #EthicalCapitalism #FounderPodcast #HiringStrategyCONNECT WITH ME HERE:FacebookInstagramLinkedInTwitterTikTokYouTubeSUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST HERE:Apple PodcastsSpotifyYouTube

August 3, 2026Episode 25955 min

How He Got John Maxwell's Cell Number for $400 | Chris Welton

Send us Fan MailChris Welton was born with one hand. He's a performance coach, TEDx speaker, and international bestselling author of One Jordan — and he built his entire professional network by mailing strangers a single Jordan sneaker with a note: want the other one? Give me a call.It worked on Damon West. It worked on Ben Newman. It worked well enough that John Maxwell built a keynote around the strategy and started naming Chris from the stage — Chris found out because strangers began messaging him on LinkedIn mid-talk.In this conversation, Chris and Josh get into what separates lived adversity from performative resilience: the four ways people show up when adversity hits, why Chris intentionally puts himself in brutal physical situations before life does it for him, and what happened at HYROX in Dallas when he went face-first into the turf twenty meters from the finish and his wife told the paramedics to back up.He also opens up about mental health, PTSD, and why men his size don't have those conversations.In this episode:- The One Jordan strategy and why most people aren't bold enough to try itWhy the gap between top producers and mediocre performers is smaller than you think- Victim, Survivor, Warrior, Architect — the four adversity paradigms- The Adversity Accelerator: training for hardship before it arrives- Why Chris moves foster-care kids to the top of the resume pile- Accountability versus ownership, and what it costs teams when leaders get it wrong- The sentence his grandmother said to him 47 years ago that shaped everythingConnect with Chris Welton:Website: https://chriswelton.liveInstagram: @onehandatatimePodcast: One Hand At A TimeBook: https://onejordanbook.com Connect with Josh Kosnick:https://joshkosnick.comLife Quotient Assessment: https://www.joshkosnick.com/assessmentSpartans — share this episode far and wide.CONNECT WITH ME HERE:FacebookInstagramLinkedInTwitterTikTokYouTubeSUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST HERE:Apple PodcastsSpotifyYouTube

July 15, 2026Episode 25823 min

What Marcus Aurelius Got Wrong About Legacy

Send us Fan MailMost people think legacy is something you build at the end — a monument, an inheritance, a name on a building "someday." That's the first lie. The second one is even more common: legacy is what you leave behind.In this solo episode, I break down the two lies about legacy almost everyone believes — and why both of them are keeping you from building one right now.Inside this episode:• The moving-truck moment that made me question everything I'd chased• The three questions I asked myself in the field — and the sad answer to all three• Why your legacy is a Kairos problem, not a Kronos problem• What Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Deuteronomy actually say about inheritance (hint: it's not the greeting-card version)• Marcus Aurelius vs. the Spartans — and the tension that reframes how you should live today• The one question to ask yourself before you go to bed tonightIf this hit you, share it with one person who needs to hear it today.📖 The Kairos Code audiobook launches August 1. Join the launch team → kairoscode.com/250Connect with Josh Kosnick: https://joshkosnick.com/connectChapters:0:00 What did you leave in someone today?1:17 Welcome + audiobook launch team (Aug 1)2:18 Two lies people believe about legacy2:51 The boxes in the basement4:56 If you died tonight, what would they say?6:09 Lie #1 — Legacy is a future event7:14 The to-be list and the to-feel list8:38 The DM that arrived 8 years later10:46 Lie #2 — Legacy is what you leave behind12:57 My father-in-law's boots14:01 What scripture actually says16:25 Why I started this podcast17:25 Marcus Aurelius pushes back19:08 The Spartan view — timē and kleos21:08 Kronos vs. Kairos22:03 What did I leave in someone today?#SpartanLeadership #Leadership #Legacy #Kairos #FaithInBusiness #JoshKosnick #TheKairosCode #Mindset #Entrepreneurship #SelfImprovementCONNECT WITH ME HERE:FacebookInstagramLinkedInTwitterTikTokYouTubeSUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST HERE:Apple PodcastsSpotifyYouTube

July 7, 2026Episode 25722 min

Why People Say “You Don’t Change” (And Why They’re Wrong)

Send us Fan MailPeople don’t change.It sounds wise… until it quietly wrecks your life.In this episode, Josh makes the case against one of the most common lies in our culture: that you’re stuck with who you’ve always been. He breaks down why that belief feels safe, how it kills growth in real time, and what the science and lived stories say about actual transformation.You’ll hear:• Why “people don’t change” is self-protection, not truth• How your brain and nervous system can actually rewire over time• Why the “21 days to change your life” idea is wrong (and what really happens)• Real examples of addiction broken, bodies rebuilt, and generational patterns ending• A practical framework for what change requires: decision, plan, repetition, community, faithThis isn’t motivational fluff. It’s the uncomfortable reality that change is hard, slow, and still completely available—if you’re willing to pay the price in repetition.If you’ve ever looked at your own story and thought,  “Maybe this is just who I am…” ,watch this before you decide that your past gets the final say.Connect with Josh Kosnick: joshkosnick.com#SpartanLeadership #Leadership #BusinessSuccess #Mindset #Entrepreneurship #SelfImprovement #Podcast #JoshKosnick #SpartanMindsetCONNECT WITH ME HERE:FacebookInstagramLinkedInTwitterTikTokYouTubeSUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST HERE:Apple PodcastsSpotifyYouTube

June 30, 2026Episode 2561 hr 12 min

From One Can to a National Brand: The Carbliss Playbook

Send us Fan MailWhat does it really look like to go from a $2,500 bet to a 9‑figure beverage brand?In this episode of Spartan Leadership, Josh Kosnick sits down with Adam Kroener, co‑founder and president of Carbliss, to break down how he went from putting a drink “in a can” and “selling the shit out of it” to building a massive ready‑to‑drink cocktail company.  Adam shares how a backyard idea turned into a real business, why his wife’s 25 “better questions” became their first business plan, and how they ended up doing the exact opposite of what was on that plan once they got into the real world.Adam pulls back the curtain on formulation, distribution, culture, and the realities of scaling, including flying to California to dial in flavor because he didn’t know how to describe what he was tasting, honoring his late best friend through the parent company name, and learning to ask experts better questions instead of pretending to know it all.You’ll hear the unpolished story behind Carbliss, from early fears and $2,500 on the line to navigating explosive growth, hiring, and building a team that can sell “the shit out of it” without losing who they are.In this episode:• The $2,500 down-payment story and the “put it in a can” moment with his wife• How a non-beverage guy learned to talk to beverage experts and dial in flavor• Turning 25 questions into a business plan they eventually did the opposite of• Honoring a best friend through the parent company behind Carbliss• What it really takes to scale from an idea to a 9-figure brandConnect with Adam Kroener | adamkroener.comDrink Carbliss | https://drinkcarbliss.comFollow Josh Kosnick | joshkosnick.comTimestamps: 00:00 Cold open – “Put it in a can and sell the shit out of it”  00:57 Welcome back + who Adam is and why his story matters  02:23 Army deployment to Iraq and how it shaped his leadership  04:11 From factory floor to leading 1,000+ people in manufacturing  07:41 Early failed business, delusional confidence, and what he learned  10:22 The $2,500 bet and the origin story of Carbliss  12:32 Visionary vs. integrator – building the business with his wife  13:54 Why Carbliss tastes like the name on the can (product and flavor philosophy)39:57 Family, staying grounded, and building a life around the business  01:08:01 Legacy, the real American Dream, and Adam’s final leadership lesson#SpartanLeadership #AdamKroener #Carbliss #Entrepreneurship #StartupStory #BusinessPodcast #Founders #Leadership #BeverageIndustry #CPG #DrinkBusiness #SmallBusiness #BusinessGrowth #VeteranOwned #HusbandAndWifeTeamCONNECT WITH ME HERE:FacebookInstagramLinkedInTwitterTikTokYouTubeSUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST HERE:Apple PodcastsSpotifyYouTube

June 23, 2026Episode 25536 min

How to Use New Tools to Buy Back Your Time and Win | Matt Schmitt

Send us Fan MailAI isn’t here to replace you. It’s here to multiply you.In this Spartan Leadership episode, Josh sits down with entrepreneur and operator Matt Schmitt to break down why his core thesis is simple: AI + humans = superpowers. Matt shares how he went from an IT grad in the Great Recession, to buying cans for Anheuser-Busch, to building and exiting e‑commerce brands, and now to building AI tools that help small operators move like an army without losing the handshake, the character, or the relationship.They talk about how to use AI without handing over your thinking, why the “big guys” will cut people while the real competitive advantage for small businesses is keeping your people and equipping them, and how faith, marriage, and fatherhood have shaped the way Matt builds.Connect with Josh Kosnick: https://joshkosnick.comConnect with Matt Schmitt: https://www.linkedin.com/in/realmattschmittCONNECT WITH ME HERE:FacebookInstagramLinkedInTwitterTikTokYouTubeSUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST HERE:Apple PodcastsSpotifyYouTube

June 17, 2026Episode 25457 min

Purpose Is a Verb: Dr. Christine Whelan on Redefining Success After Your Plans Fall Apart

Send us Fan MailWhat do you do when the business, career, or life plan you built your identity on suddenly disappears?In this episode of Spartan Leadership, Josh Kosnick sits down with Dr. Christine Whelan, the “purpose professor,” to talk about why purpose is a verb—something you do every day with your gifts and values—rather than a job title or a single life calling.They unpack what happens when everything falls apart: Josh’s story of losing his business five years ago, empty nest transitions, career changes, and the quiet identity crises that come when a chapter ends. Dr. Whelan explains how to separate your purpose from your role, why transitions make purpose feel more urgent, and how to design a life where you spend more time on the things you’re gifted at and actually enjoy.You’ll hear a research‑backed definition of purpose, a fresh take on happiness as a byproduct (not the goal), and a practical framework for living with pro‑social purpose—using your gifts, in keeping with your values, to positively impact other people in the community. If you’ve ever asked “What now?” after a loss, layoff, or big life change, this conversation is for you.In this episode:• Why “purpose is a verb,” not a one‑time discovery or slogan• How to think about purpose when your business, role, or season ends• Designing work you love using a simple “T‑chart” exercise• Purpose in parenting and raising kids who live their values• Pro‑social purpose, “eco‑you” vs “ego‑you,” and why community mattersConnect with Dr. Christine Whelan: - Website: https://christinewhelan.com- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cbwhelan/Connect with Josh Kosnick:- LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/joshkosnick- Instagram: https://instagram.com/joshkosnick- Website: https://joshkosnick.com #PurposeIsAVerb #ChristineWhelan #SpartanLeadership #PurposeAfterLoss #LifeTransitions #FindYourPurpose #ChristianLeadership #BusinessLeadership #PersonalGrowth #Podcast CONNECT WITH ME HERE:FacebookInstagramLinkedInTwitterTikTokYouTubeSUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST HERE:Apple PodcastsSpotifyYouTube

June 2, 2026Episode 25323 min

This is the Leadership Skill Our Culture Forgot

Send us Fan MailIn this solo episode of Spartan Leadership, Josh Kosnick tackles a problem that’s quietly wrecking our society, our homes, and our boardrooms: the inability to hold two truths at the same time. From Memorial Day to the boardroom to your marriage, he breaks down how binary thinking masquerades as conviction while quietly destroying wisdom, trust, and culture.You’ll hear why being “for” or “against” everything isn’t strength, it’s rigidity — and how real leaders learn to sit in tension, honor complexity, and still make clear decisions. Josh then walks through six practical disciplines you can start using this week to build the muscle of holding two truths without folding under pressure.If you’re a leader at work, at home, or in your community, this episode will challenge how you think, how you decide, and how you show up when things get complex.🔗 Learn more and go deeper with The Kairos Code at thekairoscode.com⏱️ Timestamps00:00 – What happens when you can’t hold two truths and why it limits everything downstream  00:22 – Six practical disciplines to build the “two truths” leadership muscle  00:49 – Stop reacting: creating a gap between stimulus and response so wisdom can get in  01:28 – Welcome back to Spartan Leadership with Josh Kosnick; introducing “Two Truths”  02:01 – From BLM and “defund the police” to everyday conversations: how we’re trained to pick a side  02:26 – “Not every cop is bad, : both/and thinking in practice  02:48 – Why having to pick a side on everything has frustrated Josh for years  03:10 – How this conditioning is showing up in your home and your boardroom  03:35 – Memorial Day: honoring the men and women who gave their lives in service to this country  03:54 – Anti‑war and pro‑soldier: holding two truths that culture treats as incompatible  04:18 – Against war, honoring every fallen soldier, and why that’s now seen as controversial  05:11 – What we’ve lost in society, in homes, and in business: the ability to hold two truths  05:36 – Binary thinking feels like conviction but is actually rigidity and limitation  06:07 – How algorithms reward hot takes over wisdom and train us for performance, not discernment  07:03 – From newspapers to modern media: why the hot take wins and corrections disappear  07:28 – When two truths can’t coexist, all that’s left is power — the loudest voice wins  08:03 – Inside the boardroom: growth versus sustainability and why both are true at the same time  08:32 – Dysfunctional leadership teams: ego with a title versus searching for truth  08:59 – Visionary and Integrator: the EOS structure built on two necessary truthsCONNECT WITH ME HERE:FacebookInstagramLinkedInTwitterTikTokYouTubeSUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST HERE:Apple PodcastsSpotifyYouTube

May 26, 2026Episode 2521 hr 5 min

Thomas Massie vs AIPAC: $35M Primary Fight & What Trump’s REALLY Doing to America

Send us Fan MailThomas Massie is facing a $35 million AIPAC-funded primary challenge—the most expensive congressional race in history. Why? Because he stood on principle instead of party loyalty. In this Leadership In Review episode, we break down what’s really happening in American politics, Trump’s broken promises on gas prices and America First, and the business lessons you need to hear.Jason Smith (constitutional law expert) and Emanuel Whitfield (entrepreneur) join Josh Kosnick for an unfiltered breakdown of principle vs. politics, foreign policy reality, and why execution beats ideas every single time—featuring the legendary Michael Jackson 3AM story.If you care about political integrity, business success, or understanding how money controls Congress, this conversation will open your eyes.⏱️ CHAPTERS:0:00 - Why We Do Leadership In Review: Real Conversations, Real Friends3:03 - Thomas Massie Primary: AIPAC’s $35M Campaign Explained5:20 - Massie’s Controversial Votes: Border Wall & Big Beautiful Bill7:20 - Principle vs Party Loyalty: Where Do You Draw the Line?9:00 - Can You Be Too Conservative? Legislative Teamwork Debate10:25 - Trump’s Broken Promises: Gas Prices & Neglecting America11:18 - Israel vs Iran Foreign Policy: The Real Debate No One’s Having13:15 - JD Vance on Team Politics: “If We Can’t Count On You…”19:00 - Big Beautiful Bill Analysis: Helping Workers or Adding Debt?20:45 - Trump’s Empathy Problem: “Patriots Will Suck It Up”22:00 - Business Success Reality: Right Place, Right People, Right Time24:00 - Kushner’s $200 Billion Saudi Deal: How Connections Work25:00 - The Tasting Room Effect: Networking That Actually Pays27:00 - Midterm Preview: What Massie’s Race Means for 202629:00 - Information Age Paradox: Why Knowledge Isn’t Power30:00 - Execution Over Ideas: Why Most People Fail30:45 - Michael Jackson’s 3AM Call: Act Before Prince Gets Your Idea🔥 KEY TOPICS COVERED:Thomas Massie Kentucky primary election, AIPAC political spending, JD Vance team politics statement, Trump second term performance, gas prices rising under Trump, America First foreign policy debate, Israel Iran policy controversy, principle versus party loyalty, congressional voting records, business networking strategies, execution versus ideas in business, Michael Jackson creative process, deal making in cigar lounges, political influence money, 2026 midterm election predictions👥 GUESTS:Jason Smith - Constitutional law background, owns The Tasting Room Madison, believes in coalition building for transformative legislationEmanuel Whitfield - Serial entrepreneur, business owner, political independent who calls out hypocrisy on both sides of the aisle---📺 MORE SPARTAN LEADERSHIP:Subscribe for monthly Leadership In Review episodes where we discuss politics, business, and life over cigars—and still walk out as friends.🔗 JOSH KOSNICK:Website: https://www.joshkosnick.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshkosnickLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshkosnick#ThomasMassie #AIPAC #Trump2026 #LeadershipInReview #PoliticalDebate #AmericaFirst #GasPrices #CongressionalPolitics #BusinessNetworking #ExecutionOverIdeas #MichaelJackson #EntrepreneurMindset #2026Elections #PoliticalPrinciples #spartanleadershipCONNECT WITH ME HERE:FacebookInstagramLinkedInTwitterTikTokYouTubeSUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST HERE:Apple PodcastsSpotifyYouTube

May 12, 2026Episode 2511 hr 6 min

Inside Vortex Optics: What Really Drives the Brand and the People Behind It | Joe Hamilton

Send us Fan MailMost conversations about Vortex Optics focus on the products. This one is about the people and the principles behind the glass.In this Spartan Leadership episode, Joe Hamilton, CEO of Vortex Optics, gives an inside look at what truly drives the brand — from his father’s original vision to the employee‑owners in Barneveld who show up like it’s their company, and the front‑line team that lives out “we’ll take care of you” every single day.We go deep on:Why Vortex once refused to let a flattering article run because it focused too much on the Hamilton family and not enough on staff and customersHow the “About You” core value (instead of “About Us”) became the lens for every decision they makeThe story behind CARE — Create A Rare Experience — and how they build systems that let humans serve humans, not hide behind policiesWhat it actually looks like to empower front‑line team members to solve problems without a scriptWhy Joe believes scale and efficiency are NOT the ultimate thing, and how that conviction shapes the way they treat one customer at a timeThe weight of being trusted with a 10‑year, life‑and‑death U.S. Army contract — and what that does to the standards inside the buildingHow legacy, stewardship, and his dad’s example keep Joe grounded as a leaderThis is not a product review, a brand commercial, or a highlight reel. It’s a behind‑the‑scenes look at how Vortex thinks, what it expects from its people, and why the culture feels different when you walk through the doors.If you’ve ever wondered, “What actually makes Vortex Vortex?” — this is the episode.Chapters:00:00 – Why this isn’t a typical CEO interview02:00 – The article Vortex refused and what it revealed03:00 – “About You,” Joe’s dad, and customer‑first values07:00 – CARE: Create A Rare Experience12:30 – A binocular, a son, and a rare experience in real life15:00 – Why scale and efficiency aren’t the ultimate thing20:00 – VIP Warranty and empowering the team to do what’s right27:00 – Inside the Army contract and raising the bar internally40:00 – Developing leaders and protecting the culture55:00 – Legacy, stewardship, and the future of VortexLearn more about Vortex Optics: https://vortexoptics.com/Connect with Josh Kosnick: joshkosnick.comFollow Joe Hamilton on Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/joehamiltonlive/#leadership #VortexOptics #companyculture #business #entrepreneurship #servantleadership #legacy #brandbuilding #customerobsession #customerservice #SpartanLeadership #podcast #businessleadership #mindset #highperformance #employeeowned #culturematters #faithinbusiness #purpose #JoshKosnickCONNECT WITH ME HERE:FacebookInstagramLinkedInTwitterTikTokYouTubeSUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST HERE:Apple PodcastsSpotifyYouTube

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