The Path Less Traveled Podcast

Hosted by Craig Heatherly

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Apr 2026

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About the show

Highly successful individuals are always focused on what’s next, but they often don’t take time to reflect on their journey and how far they’ve come. As the podcast host, I uncover the journeys of business leaders, sometimes sharing their stories for the first time.

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April 28, 2026Episode 8459 min

Leadership Roundtable Series | Failure, Decisions & The Weight of Leadership | Session 4

What does it actually feel like to carry the weight of leadership? In the series finale of The Path Less Traveled Leadership Roundtable, Craig Heatherly sits down with Dr. Dee McDonald (President, Bethel University), Jeremy Lugbill (CEO, Career Academy Network), and Jon Morningstar (CEO, MapleTronics) for the most personal conversation of the series — failure, hard decisions, and the emotional weight that comes with leading others. Key frameworks from this session: Know Your Warning Lights — recognize your signals before the weight shows up in your work (Dee) Leadership Is Chosen, Not Assigned — trust is the currency; earned through consistency over time (Dee) Protect Your Physical Health Like a Strategy — clarity breaks aren't optional, they're maintenance (Jeremy) Fail Fast — Then Move — recovery speed defines leadership more than the failure itself (Jeremy) Build a Council of Truth-Tellers — people who tell you what you need to hear, not what you want (Jon) Anchor to Your North Star — when decisions are rooted in mission, they become less personal (Jon) Books mentioned: Atomic Habits (James Clear), The Go-Giver (Bob Burg), Crucial Conversations, Gentle and Lowly (Dane Ortlund) This session is sponsored by Gibson and United Beverage.

April 28, 2026Episode 8356 min

Leadership Roundtable Series | Developing the Next Generation of Leaders | Session 3

How do you develop the next generation of talent on purpose — not just by accident? In Session 3 of The Path Less Traveled Leadership Roundtable, Craig Heatherly is joined by Jason Lippert (President & CEO, Lippert/LCI), Shaun Phy (President, C&S Machine), and Dr. Marco Clark (President, Holy Cross College) for a practical, honest conversation about identifying, developing, and accelerating talent in your organization. Key frameworks from this session: Stop Doing. Start Teaching. — your job is to develop people, not do things (Jason) The Leadership Action Plan (LAP) — a 3x5 card. Personal goals first. Always. (Jason) Hungry, Humble, Smart — Lencioni's filter for identifying who actually has it (Shaun) You Can't Afford Not To — the real cost of not investing in development (Shaun) Lead Yourself First — authenticity and self-awareness aren't soft skills (Dr. Clark) Invite Them to the Balcony — help people see the bigger picture so they can lead from it (Dr. Clark) This session is sponsored by Gibson and Performance Plus.

April 28, 2026Episode 8251 min

Leadership Roundtable Series | Navigating Difficult Conversations | Session 2

The hard conversation you keep putting off? It's costing you more than you think. In Session 2 of The Path Less Traveled Leadership Roundtable, Craig Heatherly is joined by Laurie Nafziger (President & CEO, Oaklawn), Todd Yeoman (President, American Technology Components), and Dr. Rebecca Stoltzfus (President, Goshen College) for an honest, unscripted conversation about navigating difficult conversations in leadership. Key frameworks from this session: Clear is Kind — why directness is an act of respect, not aggression (Brené Brown, via Laurie) What You Permit, You Promote — silence is never neutral Anchor to Purpose, Not Feelings — how to stay steady when the room gets emotional Push Pause — slowing down isn't weakness, it's strategy Get Curious When They Get Furious — intense emotion signals deep caring Relationship Health = Response Time — the shorter the lag, the stronger the relationship This session is sponsored by C12 West Michigan & Northern Indiana and Gibson.

April 28, 2026Episode 8151 min

Leadership Roundtable Series | The Daily Discipline of Leaders | Session 1

What separates good leaders from great ones? Discipline. The daily choices nobody sees. In Session 1 of The Path Less Traveled Leadership Roundtable Series, Craig Heatherly brings Craig Brummell (COO of ABRO Industries), Dustin Holland (President & CEO of Better World Books) and Steve Brenneman (Founder of ATC Trailers & Aluminum Insights) together for one unscripted conversation about the daily disciplines that actually move the needle in leadership. Highlights from this session: Why letting go of control is one of the hardest — and most important — things a leader can do The discipline of slowing down to fully understand a problem before acting on it Why your personal life and your leadership are more connected than most people admit What separates leaders who grow from those who plateau This session is sponsored by Chrome Group and Gibson.

March 29, 2026Episode 8039 min

Ben Duke | President, Polaris Marine | S3:E22

Ben Duke, President of Polaris Marine, leads a $1B division responsible for iconic brands like Bennington, Godfrey, and Hurricane ... operating at scale, under constant pressure. In this episode, Ben shares what it takes to lead through real disruption, from COVID demand shocks to supply‑chain volatility and market correction without breaking trust or losing strategic focus. He walks through how disciplined leaders stay out of the weeds, why relationships matter more than dashboards when stakes are high, and how simplicity, accountability, and long‑term thinking create durable organizations. A conversation for leaders who make consequential decisions—and want to make them better.

March 23, 2026Episode 7954 min

Kelly Ball | CEO, Pathfinders Advertising | S3:E21

Kelly Ball, CEO of Pathfinders Advertising, leads a 47-year-old agency built on one core idea: help companies tell their story in a way that connects. In this episode, Kelly shares lessons on stepping into the CEO role, aligning teams, and leading through rapid change—especially with the rise of AI. He breaks down why most companies get marketing wrong, how AI is reshaping workflows, and why the best leaders focus on clarity, simplicity, and execution. A conversation on leadership, adaptability, and thinking differently in a noisy world.

March 16, 2026Episode 7843 min

Dustin Holland | President & CEO, Better World Books | S3:E20

Dustin Holland, President and CEO of Better World Books, leads one of the world’s largest online booksellers with a mission to keep books in circulation and out of landfills. What began as college book drives at University of Notre Dame has grown into a global operation processing hundreds of thousands of books each week and partnering with thousands of libraries around the world. In this episode, Dustin shares the leadership lessons behind building a mission-driven company—making hard decisions in real time, investing in relationships, and staying focused on long-term sustainability. This conversation highlights how purpose, perseverance, and hands-on leadership can turn a simple idea into global impact.

March 2, 2026Episode 7743 min

Kory Lantz | Founder & Executive Director, Transformation Ministries | S3:E19

Kory Lantz, founder of Transformation Ministries, builds change slowly and intentionally. What began 17 years ago as a choice to live in a neighborhood and be present has grown into a nonprofit serving hundreds of South Bend kids and families. Kory's approach centers on depth over scale, offering education, mentoring, job training, spiritual guidance, and family support to children from infancy through young adulthood. In this episode, Kory shares how the organization expanded through small, faithful steps—developing after-school programs, youth-run microbusinesses, alumni support, and early learning initiatives—creating generational impact. He reflects on long-term leadership: naming seasons, grieving losses, protecting clarity, and developing others. His leadership blends grit, faith, coaching, and the courage to take the next right step. This conversation highlights leadership that values presence over shortcuts, proving transformation is built one relationship at a time.

February 23, 2026Episode 7642 min

Craig Brummell | COO, ABRO Industries | S3:E18

Craig Brummell, COO of ABRO Industries, is stepping into leadership with a long-term mindset. Just weeks into the role, Craig reflects on joining a 75+ year, globally respected company headquartered in South Bend, operating in 150 countries with a small but mighty team. His focus isn’t fixing what’s broken. It’s strengthening alignment, supporting people, and helping shape the next 45 years of generational leadership. In this episode, Craig shares how a non-linear career, deep self-reflection, and daily anchoring practices have shaped his leadership philosophy: do the inner work, seek discomfort, and lead from the inside out. His message is clear: stay curious, invest in people, and show up present — at work and at home.

February 16, 2026Episode 7539 min

Gene Crusie | CEO/Head Coach, Surf Internet | S3:E17

Gene Crusie, CEO of Surf Internet, measures success by impact, not just growth. From repairing printers in the 90s to leading a 400-person fiber company across the Midwest, Gene shares how faith, resilience, and a defining wrestling moment shaped his mindset: stop playing not to lose — start playing to win. In this episode, he reflects on bold pivots, investing in people, and the daily reminder he keeps on his desk — a jar of marbles representing the finite days of life. His message is simple: do hard things, lead with intention, and use your day well.