#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
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#0340  –  Accelerating Team Collaboration with Tyler Plant [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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#0339  –  Entrepreneurial Leadership with Elliot Kallen [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:07
Today, I’m joined by Elliot Kallen, and we're talking about Entrepreneurial Leadership. Elliot has amassed a wealth of leadership experience over four decades, running several companies he founded. These companies includ…
#0338  –  Purpose-Driven Leadership with Staci Wallace [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:53
Today, I’m joined by Staci Wallace, and we're talking about Purpose-Driven Leadership. Staci is an 8-time author, speaker, recording artist, podcast host, and expert in business psychology and life mastery. She is the CE…
#0337  –  Boldness in Leadership with TD Smyers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:41
Today, I’m joined by TD Smyers, and we're talking about Boldness in Leadership. TD is a career servant leader with over 30 years of top-level executive experience across three major economic sectors. He is an executive c…
#0336  –  The Art of Revenge with Heather Eason [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:25
Today, I’m joined by a returning guest, Heather Eason, and we're talking about The Art of Revenge. If you are a long-time listener, you might remember Heather from Episode 39! Heather is the Founder, President & CEO of S…
#0335  –  The Character of a Leader with Dr. Mary Crossan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:01
Today, I’m joined by Dr. Mary Crossan, and we're talking about The Character of a Leader. Mary is a Distinguished University Professor of Strategic Leadership at the Ivey Business School at Western University. In 2021, s…
#0334  –  Leadership Lessons from History with Dr. Moshik Temkin [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:56
Today, I’m joined by Moshik Temkin, and we're talking about Leadership Lessons from History. Moshik is a Distinguished Visiting Professor of Leadership and History at Schwarzman College and a fellow at Harvard University…