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124: Geoff Woods — Leverage AI for Elite Thinking and Decision Making (The Ai-Driven Leader)

May 29, 2025 by Cal Walters

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.

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 think strategically to accelerate growth.

AI Leadership is spearheaded by Geoff Woods, a visionary leader with a proven track record helping companies grow through strategic thinking and AI-driven solutions.

As the former Chief Growth Officer of Jindal Steel & Power, he drove market cap growth from $750M to $12B in four years through AI-driven leadership.

He also co-founded the training and consulting company behind The ONE Thing, where he coached and advised companies with annual revenues from $10 million to $60 billion.​​

The AI-Driven Leader: Harnessing AI to Make Faster, Smarter Decisions
By Geoff Woods

If you’re interested in discovering your core values and becoming a more self-aware and emotionally intelligent leader, I’ve built the perfect course to help you get there. Check out my Discover Your Core Values Mini Course, where I coach you through 3 exercises of guided reflection and help you uncover your core values in a way that you can apply them right away.

May 29, 2025 /Cal Walters
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123: General Stan McChrystal — How to Face Fear, Pivot from Failure, and Live a Disciplined Life

May 15, 2025 by Cal Walters

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.

In this conversation, General Stanley McChrystal discusses the profound impact of character on leadership, emphasizing that true leadership is tested during challenging times. He reflects on his personal experiences, including his resignation from the military, and how his marriage has shaped his character. The discussion also delves into the importance of understanding core values, the influence of parents on our convictions, and the role of fear in leadership decisions. McChrystal encourages leaders to clarify their values and to recognize that character is a choice that defines us.

In this conversation, Stanley McChrystal discusses the dynamics of leadership, the importance of courage in speaking up against groupthink, and the necessity of discipline in personal and professional life. He reflects on his experiences in high-pressure environments, the challenges of maintaining integrity, and the value of writing as a tool for clarifying thoughts and fostering a national dialogue on character. The discussion emphasizes the significance of learning from mistakes and the impact of personal values on leadership effectiveness.

Stan McChrystal founded McChrystal Group in January 2011 to deliver innovative leadership solutions to businesses globally in order to help them transform and succeed in challenging, dynamic environments. As Founder and a Partner, he advises senior executives at multinational corporations on navigating complex change and building stronger teams.

A retired four-star general, Stan is the former commander of US and International Security Assistance Forces (ISAF) Afghanistan and the former commander of the nation’s premier military counter-terrorism force, Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC). He is best known for developing and implementing a comprehensive counterinsurgency strategy in Afghanistan, and for creating a cohesive counter-terrorism organization that revolutionized the interagency operating culture.

Throughout his military career, Stan commanded a number of elite organizations, including the 75th Ranger Regiment. After 9/11 until his retirement in 2010, he spent more than 6 years deployed to combat in a variety of leadership positions. In June 2009, the President of the United States and the Secretary General of NATO appointed him to be the Commander of US Forces Afghanistan and NATO ISAF. His command included more than 150,000 troops from 45 allied countries. On August 1, 2010 he retired from the US Army.

In 2013, Stan published his memoir, My Share of the Task, which was a New York Times bestseller; and is an author of Team of Teams: New Rules of Engagement for a Complex World, which was a New York Times bestseller in 2015. Stan also co-authored Leaders: Myth and Reality, a Wall Street Journal Bestseller based on the epochal Parallel Lives by Plutarch. He previously served as a senior fellow at Yale University’s Jackson Institute for Global Affairs, where he also taught a course on Leadership. He currently sits on the boards of Navistar International Corporation, Siemens Government Technology, and JetBlue Airways. He is a sought-after speaker, giving speeches on leadership and team dynamics to organizations around the country.

A passionate advocate for national service and veterans’ issues, Stan is the Chair of the Board of Service Year Alliance. In this capacity, he advocates for a future in which a year of full-time service—a service year—is a common expectation and opportunity for all young Americans.

Stan is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and the Naval War College. He also completed year-long fellowships at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government and the Council on Foreign Relations.

On Character: Choices That Define a Life
By McChrystal, General Stanley

If you’re interested in discovering your core values and becoming a more self-aware and emotionally intelligent leader, I’ve built the perfect course to help you get there. Check out my Discover Your Core Values Mini Course, where I coach you through 3 exercises of guided reflection and help you uncover your core values in a way that you can apply them right away.

May 15, 2025 /Cal Walters
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122: Will Acuff — Find Joy in Life's Struggles

April 02, 2025 by Cal Walters

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.

In this conversation, Will Acuff shares his journey of finding joy amidst life's challenges, particularly through his experiences with his family and the transformative 'trauma camp' that helped him shift his perspective. He discusses the importance of self-compassion, the struggles of parenting a child with disabilities, and the pressures of maintaining a facade of having it all together.

The dialogue emphasizes the significance of recognizing small sparks of joy and the power of community and support in navigating difficult times. In this conversation, the speakers explore the themes of love, mercy, and personal responsibility within relationships. They discuss the drama triangle concept, emphasizing the importance of shifting from a hero mentality to one of ownership and self-compassion. The dialogue also touches on thriving in tough circumstances, the significance of self-awareness, and practical practices for cultivating joy in daily life.

Will was born in Durham, NC, but grew up in Hudson, MA – Go Red Sox! He graduated from North Carolina State University and has his master’s degree from Reformed Theological Seminary. He has been married to Corner to Corner’s other co-founder, Tiffany, for over 17 years, and they have two wonderful children, Raylan and Penelope. Will is passionate about the radical grace of God, and how that grace invites us to live a life of sacrificial love toward our city and our neighbors. At Corner to Corner that love of neighbor takes the form of educational and economic equity, creating a city where all can thrive.

Will is the author of the new book, No Elevator to Everest.

No Elevator to Everest: Shift from Survive to Thrive through Spirit-Led Self-Awareness
By Acuff, Will

If you’re interested in discovering your core values and becoming a more self-aware and emotionally intelligent leader, I’ve built the perfect course to help you get there. Check out my Discover Your Core Values Mini Course, where I coach you through 3 exercises of guided reflection and help you uncover your core values in a way that you can apply them right away.

April 02, 2025 /Cal Walters
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121: Dr. Steve Graves — Work-Life Balance Tools to Win at Home and at Work

March 28, 2025 by Cal Walters in Intentional Living

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.

In this episode of the Intentional Leader Podcast, Cal speaks with CEO coach Steve Graves about the intricacies of leadership, coaching, and achieving a balanced life. They explore the importance of holistic coaching, the courage required to make tough decisions, and the significance of understanding one's capacity threshold. Through personal anecdotes and frameworks, they discuss how leaders can align their professional and personal lives to lead with intention and purpose.

Steve Graves grew up on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, back before the casinos took over the beachfront. Even in high school, he sensed a unique calling—a blend of business and theology that often puzzled his mentors and peers. But that tension became a lifelong pursuit. After attending two colleges and four graduate schools, Steve emerged with a goal: to become intellectually ambidextrous—with a theology book in one hand and the Harvard Business Review in the other.

Though he’s an avid reader, Steve’s deepest learning has always come from observing and listening. Early on, he sought out mentors, soaking up wisdom and insight from a patchwork of generous leaders who shaped his path. It took time to find his true lane—the intersection of passion, gifting, and calling that also provided for his family. But by his early thirties, he found it. He discovered that at his core, he’s a strategist, encourager, connector, and content developer.

Around that time, he partnered with his friend Tom to launch a company called Cornerstone—after months of napkin sketches and early morning breakfasts. Over the next three decades, they built an international consulting firm, launched and sold a magazine (Life@Work), wrote a dozen books, and worked with leaders across every imaginable industry. They also endured their fair share of failures, financial droughts, and cloudy days—experiences that shaped Steve’s leadership as much as the wins.

About 15 years ago, Steve made two important shifts. First, he began working with younger leaders and added a not-for-profit element to his portfolio—serving on boards like Praxis and Q to stay sharp and connected at the intersection of faith and culture. Second, he unintentionally stepped into ownership across several businesses, from sports media to analytics. That dual role—consultant and operator—has given Steve a unique perspective and allowed him to keep producing content along the way.

Today, Steve lives in Northwest Arkansas, a region he’s called home for over 35 years. It’s a place of rivers, bike trails, and just enough development for the occasional traffic jam. He and his wife Karen enjoy life with their now-married adult children. Steve says he has the job he designed—one where tough days leave him with no one to blame but himself. He still loves the work, the people he serves, and if he could just find a little more time to fish, life would be just about perfect.


If you’re interested in discovering your core values and becoming a more self-aware and emotionally intelligent leader, I’ve built the perfect course to help you get there. Check out my Discover Your Core Values Mini Course, where I coach you through 3 exercises of guided reflection and help you uncover your core values in a way that you can apply them right away.

March 28, 2025 /Cal Walters
work-life balance, emotional intelligence, intentional, courage, clarity
Intentional Living
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120: Katie Quesada — Master Storytelling with Story Expert to Fortune 500 Companies

March 11, 2025 by Cal Walters in Intentional Living, Leadership, Servant Leadership

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.

In this conversation, storytelling expert Katie Quesada discusses the profound impact of storytelling on personal and professional lives. She emphasizes the importance of storytelling in leadership, how it can create emotional connections, and the science behind why stories resonate with us.

Katie shares her journey into storytelling consulting, practical frameworks for effective storytelling, and the significance of personal and family narratives. The discussion also highlights the difference between macro and micro storytelling, encouraging leaders to weave stories into everyday interactions to foster connection and engagement. In this conversation, the speakers delve into the intricacies of storytelling, emphasizing its importance in leadership and personal relationships.

They discuss the three essential components of a story: context, conflict, and conclusion, and how to effectively balance these elements to engage an audience. The conversation also touches on the significance of vulnerability in leadership, the process of restoring meaning to personal experiences, and the value of storytelling in everyday interactions, particularly within families. The speakers encourage listeners to embrace their unique stories and share them in ways that resonate with others, ultimately highlighting storytelling as a powerful tool for connection and influence.

Katie is an acclaimed speaker and consultant who is deeply passionate about the art of storytelling. Katie has recently worked with top brands like Zillow, United Healthcare, American Eagle Outfitters (and more!) to ignite their story for more effective communication, high trust within teams, and immediate ROI. Katie and her husband Danny live with their two daughters in Orange, CA. They spent two years living in a 180 sq ft tiny home and believe that stories are better than stuff.


If you’re interested in discovering your core values and becoming a more self-aware and emotionally intelligent leader, I’ve built the perfect course to help you get there. Check out my Discover Your Core Values Mini Course, where I coach you through 3 exercises of guided reflection and help you uncover your core values in a way that you can apply them right away.

March 11, 2025 /Cal Walters
communication, storytelling, persuasion, vision
Intentional Living, Leadership, Servant Leadership
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