#0415  –  Real Leadership Isn’t Learned in a Classroom with Chris Hossfeld

#0415 – Real Leadership Isn’t Learned in a Classroom with Chris Hossfeld

Author: Jon S. Rennie February 7, 2026 Duration: 39:25
Most leadership training happens in classrooms.Real leadership doesn’t. In this episode, I’m joined by Chris Hossfeld, a 27-year U.S. Army veteran and founder of Barrel Strength Leadership, who develops leaders by taking them to historic battlefields like Gettysburg and Normandy. We explore why pressure, emotion, and shared experience shape leaders far more than PowerPoint slides ever can. Chris explains how high-stakes environments force clarity, build trust, and reveal what leaders are truly made of—and how those lessons translate directly to business, manufacturing, and executive teams. If you believe leadership is forged in real moments, not theoretical ones, this conversation is for you. Learn more from Chris Hossfeld here: https://www.linkedin.com/company/barrel-strength-leadership/ https://www.barrelstrengthleadership.org/ Subscribe for more powerful leadership conversations! Sponsors: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Cadre of Men⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Farrow Skin Care⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Salty Sailor Coffee Company⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leader Connect⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Qualified Leadership Series⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ____ Get all of Jon Rennie's bestselling leadership books for 15% off the regular price today! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For anyone who’s ever felt that leadership advice can be too theoretical or disconnected from reality, Deep Leadership offers a grounded alternative. Host Jon S. Rennie operates from a simple, powerful belief: “Leadership is a People Business.” This isn’t about abstract concepts; it’s about the tangible, often messy work of guiding teams and organizations. Jon brings a unique perspective shaped by his time as a Cold War Submarine Officer and over two decades leading within Corporate America before founding his own manufacturing company. In each episode, he translates that extensive experience into practical, actionable insights you can apply immediately. The conversations here delve into the core of what makes leadership work-or fail-across business, culture, and society. You’ll hear from Jon and a variety of expert guests as they explore the philosophical and practical dimensions of guiding people, discussing everything from daily management challenges to broader cultural forces that shape how we work. This podcast is built on the conviction that leadership matters profoundly, and that getting it right requires depth, reflection, and a relentless focus on the human element. Tune in for thoughtful discussions that cut through the noise and get to the heart of leading well.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 424

Deep Leadership
Podcast Episodes
#0371  –  Scaling a Small Business with Randy Carr [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:14
Today, I’m joined by Randy Carr, and we're talking about Scaling a Small Business. Randy is the CEO of World Emblem, the largest Patch, Emblem, and Badge Producer in the world. World Emblem makes patches and emblems for…
#0370  –  Succeeding in a Dysfunctional Workplace with Eric Charran [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:54
Today, I’m joined by Eric Charran, and we're talking about Succeeding in a Dysfunctional Workplace. Eric is a visionary technology executive, author, and thought leader with over 25 years of experience in transforming gl…
#0369  –  Resilience at Work with Simon Bailey [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:36
Today, I’m joined by Simon Bailey, and we're discussing Resilience at Work. Simon is a researcher, advisor, speaker, and author. He is the world’s leading expert on the subject of brilliance. His groundbreaking research…
#0368  –  Leading a Team of Tough Rugged Bastards with John Dailey [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:47
Today, I’m joined by John Dailey, and we're talking about Leading a Team of Tough Rugged Bastards. John spent over 20 years in the Marines, mostly in special operations. When the Twin Towers went down, Dailey was in Aust…
#0367  –  Unlock the Potential of Your Employees with Pam August [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:59
Today, Pam August joined me to talk about how to unlock the potential of your employees. Pam is a sought-after speaker, facilitator, coach, and cocreator with a strong foundation of lifelong learning. She guides organiza…
#0366  –  High Performance Leadership with Dr. Carla Fowler [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:08
Today, I’m joined by Dr. Carla Fowler, and we're discussing High Performance Leadership. Carla is an MD, PhD, and elite executive coach. For the last decade, she has been a secret weapon for scores of CEOs, entrepreneurs…
#0365  –  Surviving to Thriving Leadership with Dr. Renee Moorefield [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:25
Today, I’m joined by Dr. Renee Moorefield, and we're talking about Thriving Leadership. Renee is a visionary leader and innovator in the field of human-centered leadership. She is CEO and co-founder of Wisdom Works Group…
#0364  –  Make Leadership Healthy Again with Dr. Philip Ovadia [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:57
Today, I’m joined by Dr. Philip Ovadia, and we're talking about how to Make Leadership Healthy Again. More than 3,000 heart surgeries taught Dr. Ovadia that good health comes from lifestyle and nutrition, not from surger…