The Front Lines of Leadership: Stories to Inspire the Rising Generation of Leaders | Hosted by Jackson Taylor

What does it actually take to build leaders of character? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Ralph Pim, a globally recognized expert on developing leaders of character through sport.
Ralph spent 12 years at the United States Military Academy building a values-based sports curriculum that transformed a program — tripling national championships while cutting disciplinary problems and raising grades. He's coached at every level, from Ohio high school ball to Division I programs, and has taken his expertise abroad, training national teams in Wales and consulting on sport development in New Zealand, Singapore, and Australia.
In this conversation, Ralph shares what he's learned about developing character through sport, and the mentors and coaches along the way, like Coach K or Pat Riley, who shaped his own leadership philosophy. It's a conversation about what really builds character, and why the leaders and coaches around us matter more than we often realize.

In this episode, we sit down with retired U.S. Army Major General Matthew Van Wagenen, who capped a 35-year military career as Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Intelligence at NATO's Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) — a role overseeing 45,000 Allied personnel across three continents.
Matthew shares hard-won lessons from 19 years stationed in Europe, combat deployments to Afghanistan, Iraq, and Georgia, and his time leading deterrence operations across NATO's Eastern Flank. We dig into what it takes to lead at massive scale under high-stakes pressure, how he builds trust across diverse international stakeholders, and what business leaders can learn from military-grade change management and technology integration.
Whether you're leading a team of five or five thousand, Matthew's insights on transformational, people-first leadership offer a masterclass in navigating complexity, uncertainty, and high-tension environments.

In this episode, Mike McInelly—entrepreneur and Founder & CEO of Lumio Dental—shares how he leads from the front and builds leaders along the way. Mike opens up about his approach to developing the dentists across his platform, helping them grow into stronger leaders within their own offices. At the heart of it all is a deep commitment to team: Mike doesn't talk about employees, he talks about teammates, and that mindset shapes everything from how he coaches to how he scales. A conversation about leadership, culture, and what it really means to build people up.

Amy Folan is proof that bold leadership can elevate an athletics department to extraordinary new heights.
Since taking the helm at Central Michigan University in 2020, Amy has launched a $25 million fundraising campaign, secured a $5 million health partnership, and delivered the department's best-ever fundraising year. All while keeping the focus where it belongs: on the student-athlete experience.
In this episode, Amy shares her journey from compliance professional to athletics director, the leadership philosophy that drives her decisions, and what she's learned about building culture and leading change at the highest level.
A conversation worth hearing for anyone passionate about leadership and college athletics.

In this episode of Front Lines of Leadership, we sit down with Byrd Baggett, founder of TrueGrowth Leadership and a lifelong champion of authentic leadership. Byrd shares what it truly means to lead from the inside out — how embracing who you really are isn't just a personal philosophy, but a competitive edge that transforms teams, cultures, and the people you lead. From his life purpose of inspiring hope in others to the practical principles behind TrueGrowth, this is a conversation for any leader ready to stop playing a role and start making a real impact.

In this episode of Front Lines of Leadership, we sit down with Kyle Spackman, a digital health executive who helped take Sword Health from $0 to $225 million in revenue. Kyle shares what it really takes to build and lead elite sales teams in one of the most competitive spaces in healthcare — from hiring and culture to the commercial strategies that drive results at scale.

In this episode of The Front Lines of Leadership Podcast, we sit down with Kevin Stark, retired U.S. Navy SEAL and founder of The Arete Path, to explore what it truly means to lead under pressure. Drawing from over 25 years of experience developing elite teams, Kevin shares powerful lessons from SEAL training, including his time as a lead instructor during Hell Week, and how those principles translate into business, athletics, and everyday leadership.
We dive into building resilient teams, performing at a high level in demanding environments, and the mindset required to sustain excellence. Kevin also breaks down how leaders can blend discipline, purpose, and process to create lasting impact—both in their organizations and in their personal lives.

In this episode of The Front Lines of Leadership, Gary Peterson—former EVP of Supply Chain and Production at O.C. Tanner—breaks down the foundation of high-performing teams: trust, relationships, and culture. He shares why leaders must create environments where people feel both inspired to perform and safe to make mistakes—and how that balance drives real growth. From the front line to the executive level, Gary explains how strong relationships aren’t just a “soft skill,” but a true competitive advantage in building lasting success.

In this episode of Front Lines of Leadership, I sit down with Joe Nabrotzky—co-founder and managing partner of Global Leader Group—to explore what it truly means to lead “from the boardroom to the family room.” Joe shares powerful insights from his experience in a Fortune 100 company and beyond, breaking down how great leadership isn’t just about business success—it’s about showing up with purpose, integrity, and impact in every area of life.

In this episode of The Front Lines of Leadership, I sit down with Nate Meikle—KU Business professor, Stanford Law graduate, former BYU football player, and host of the Meikles & Dimes podcast.
We discuss leadership through the lens of experience and research, focusing on discipline, perception, and bias. Nate shares lessons from athletics, academia, and his work studying how people judge and understand others—highlighting why great leadership starts with understanding people and processes.