

Intentional Leader with Cal Walters
Cal Walters
Let's be honest. The hardest person you will ever have to lead is the person you look at in the mirror everyday.
Self-leadership is the most important thing we do as leaders, but it's hard.
And it hasn't gotten any easier in a world of smart phone addiction, social media comparison, global pandemics, and information overload (just to name a few obstacles).
That's why Intentional Leader exists.
We help leaders take the guesswork out of self-leadership, fight a reactionary lifestyle, accelerate their personal growth, and achieve their God-given potential at home, at work, and in their communities.
This is why we get out of bed each morning. We love helping leaders on their personal growth journey! Because we know when the leader gets better everyone benefits. Organizations, communities, and families all thrive when the leader is thriving.
We are a team of ordinary people with an extraordinary passion for personal growth and helping leaders thrive.
Join this community to pursue personal growth and leadership excellence, to inspire others, and make a lasting impact on the world. Life is short, so let's make it count by living an intentional life.
On this podcast, Cal Walters — a follower of Jesus, a husband, father, West Point graduate, former Infantry Officer, Army Ranger, combat veteran, lawyer, and Army JAG — passionately explores ways to live intentionally, make each day count, and lead with greater influence and impact.
Cal firmly believes leadership matters, and this podcast will help you lead yourself and inspire others. Cal believes we each have a unique contribution to make to the world, and he wants to help you make yours!
For show notes, visit https://www.calwalters.me/
Disclaimer: The views expressed on this podcast are those of the author and guests and do not reflect the official policy, position, or endorsement of the US Army JAG Corps, US Army, DoD, or the US Government.
Self-leadership is the most important thing we do as leaders, but it's hard.
And it hasn't gotten any easier in a world of smart phone addiction, social media comparison, global pandemics, and information overload (just to name a few obstacles).
That's why Intentional Leader exists.
We help leaders take the guesswork out of self-leadership, fight a reactionary lifestyle, accelerate their personal growth, and achieve their God-given potential at home, at work, and in their communities.
This is why we get out of bed each morning. We love helping leaders on their personal growth journey! Because we know when the leader gets better everyone benefits. Organizations, communities, and families all thrive when the leader is thriving.
We are a team of ordinary people with an extraordinary passion for personal growth and helping leaders thrive.
Join this community to pursue personal growth and leadership excellence, to inspire others, and make a lasting impact on the world. Life is short, so let's make it count by living an intentional life.
On this podcast, Cal Walters — a follower of Jesus, a husband, father, West Point graduate, former Infantry Officer, Army Ranger, combat veteran, lawyer, and Army JAG — passionately explores ways to live intentionally, make each day count, and lead with greater influence and impact.
Cal firmly believes leadership matters, and this podcast will help you lead yourself and inspire others. Cal believes we each have a unique contribution to make to the world, and he wants to help you make yours!
For show notes, visit https://www.calwalters.me/
Disclaimer: The views expressed on this podcast are those of the author and guests and do not reflect the official policy, position, or endorsement of the US Army JAG Corps, US Army, DoD, or the US Government.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jan 16, 2025 • 52min
116: Mark Miller — Chick-fil-A's Secret Sauce for Building Leaders and Creating a Culture of High Performance
Sign up to receive The Intentional Letter: https://courses.calwalters.me/signup Follow Intentional Leader: https://calwalters.me Take Mark Miller's Quicksand Assessment by texting BeSmart (no spaces) to 66866 Get in touch with Mark Miller: 678-612-8441 mark@leadeveryday.com https://leadeveryday.com Mark Miller, former vice president of high performance leadership at Chick-fil-A, discusses the key factors that contribute to the company's exceptional customer experience. He emphasizes the importance of leadership, particularly at the local restaurant level, as the competitive advantage of Chick-fil-A. Miller also highlights the role of the corporate staff in serving the operators and creating a powerful combination. He explains the rigorous selection process for restaurant operators and the focus on character, competence, chemistry, and an internal locus of control. Miller acknowledges the challenges in defining leadership and distinguishes it from management, emphasizing the importance of vision, engagement and development of others, continuous reinvention, and valuing both results and relationships. In this conversation, Mark Miller discusses the importance of embodying a leader's heart and the role it plays in leadership effectiveness. He emphasizes that a leader's heart is a big deal and can multiply the effect of their skills. Mark also talks about the need for both leadership and management in an organization, highlighting that leaders should compensate for their bias towards either results or relationships. He provides practical strategies for valuing both results and relationships, such as setting goals for expressing appreciation and gratitude. Mark concludes by sharing his excitement about continuing to serve leaders in his second half.

Nov 8, 2024 • 58min
115: Juliet Funt — Productivity Expert Tackles Task Saturation in the Military
Discover Your Unique Core Values: https://calwalters.me/course Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCr_ZF6AG_9ZylHul1O5wHhg Connect with Juliet Funt: https://www.julietfunt.com/military/ Get Juliet's Book: https://www.amazon.com/Minute-Think-Reclaim-Creativity-Busyness/dp/0062970259 00:00 Introduction to Task Saturation and Overload 02:06 Juliette's Experience with the Military 07:01 Communication Challenges in the Military 20:15 Understanding Task Saturation vs. Overload 28:10 Leadership and Time Management Strategies 29:36 Leadership Transitions and Onboarding Challenges 32:49 Prioritization vs. Reduction in Task Management 35:32 Navigating Task Saturation and Honest Feedback 39:43 The Importance of Preparation and Rehearsal 42:51 Technology and Task Management in the Military 49:29 Maximizing Time Away and Digital Disconnection Featured in top media outlets such as Forbes, CNBC, and Fast Company, Juliet Funt is a globally renowned keynote speaker, tough-love advisor to the Fortune 500, founder and CEO of the efficiency training firm, Juliet Funt Group. Juliet is the author of A Minute to Think, nominated for the Next Big Idea Club curated by Malcolm Gladwell, Dan Pink, Susan Cain and Adam Grant. She is an evangelist for freeing the potential of companies by unburdening their talent from busywork, and she has brought her powerful concepts to Spotify, National Geographic, Anthem, Vans, Abbott, Costco, Pepsi, Nike, Wells Fargo, Sephora, Sysco, and ESPN.

Oct 10, 2024 • 59min
114: Brigadier General Shane Reeves — How West Point is Preparing Leaders for Uncertainty and Ambiguity
Gain clarity with my Core Values course: https://calwalters.me/course Watch this interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Vn6ZwWWcFZw Learn more about West Point, the world's preeminent leader development institution: https://www.westpoint.edu/ In this episode of the Intentional Leader Podcast, Cal speaks with Brigadier General Shane Reeves, the Dean of West Point, about the challenges of preparing leaders for an uncertain future. They discuss the importance of innovation, character development, and critical thinking in military education, as well as the unique qualities of the next generation of leaders. General Reeves shares insights from his experiences, the role of technology in warfare, and the need for adaptability in leadership. The conversation emphasizes the significance of intellect and the ability to navigate complex challenges in today's rapidly changing world. Brigadier General Shane Reeves serves as the 15th Dean of the Academic Board. He holds a Master of Laws in Military Law from the Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School, a Juris Doctor degree from the College of William and Mary, and a Bachelor of Science from the United States Military Academy. He is admitted to practice law before the Virginia State Bar, the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, and the United States Supreme Court. Brigadier General Reeves commissioned in 1996 from the United States Military Academy and served seven years as an Armor Officer in the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment at Ft. Irwin, California. After attending law school in 2003, he transitioned into the Judge Advocate General’s Corps. As a Judge Advocate, he served in several legal positions, including as the Chief of Legal Assistance for Ft. Riley, Kansas; Brigade Judge Advocate in the 1st Armored Division in Taji, Iraq; Senior Trial Counsel for the 1st Infantry Division at Ft. Riley, Kansas; Professor of International and Operational Law at the Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School in Charlottesville, Virginia; and as the Deputy Staff Judge Advocate of Joint Special Operations Command at Ft. Liberty, North Carolina. Brigadier General Reeves taught for ten years in United States Military Academy’s Law Department, most recently serving as the Head. He has taught and spoken on International Law and the Law of Armed Conflict. His recent speaking engagements include presenting at the 9th Quadrennial Federal Judges Association in Washington D.C., lecturing at Columbia Law School and the University of California-Berkeley Law School, and speaking in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, Israel as part of the Academic Exchange Program. He is also a founding member and Director of the Lieber Institute for Law and Land Warfare located at West Point. Brigadier General Reeves has written on the Law of Armed Conflict and national security issues. His articles have appeared in various publications, including Foreign Policy, Lawfare, Just Security, and Articles of War. He has written over 30 articles and book chapters in academic publications, including the Harvard International Review, the Harvard National Security Journal, Texas Law Review, Marquette Law Review, Cardozo Law Review, University of Pennsylvania Journal of International Law, and Berkeley Journal of International Law. Additionally, he served as the Co-Editor-in-Chief of the blog Articles of War, the editor and contributing author to U.S. Military Operations: Law, Policy, and Practice, and Managing Editor of the Lieber Studies Series published by Oxford University Press.

Sep 3, 2024 • 1h 2min
113: Graham Cochrane — Be a Rebel, Learn to Dream Again, and Create a Clear Vision for Your Life and Leadership
Graham Cochrane, a TEDx speaker and bestselling author, shares insights on rediscovering dreams and embracing individuality. He encourages listeners to break free from societal expectations and pursue authenticity for true fulfillment. Graham discusses practical exercises for clarifying personal aspirations while navigating self-awareness in career guidance. He emphasizes the importance of self-discovery in making a meaningful impact on the world and advocates for taking breaks from social media to foster authentic decision-making.

Jul 29, 2024 • 45min
112: Dr. Steven Stein — How to Gain Emotional Intelligence and Build Hardiness as a Leader
Quick Gain Clarity with my Discover Your Core Values Mini Course: https://calwalters.me/course Watch this podcast on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@intentionalleader_calwalters Learn more about Dr. Stein's work: https://stevenstein.com/ Dr. Steven Stein is a world-renowned clinical psychologist, international best-selling author and sought-after speaker, and founder and Executive Chair of Multi-Health Systems (MHS), a publisher of scientifically validated assessments for over 40 years, which has been named a three-time winner of Profit 100 (fastest growing companies in Canada), one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies since 2013, and Canada's 10 Most Admired Corporate Cultures (2016, Waterstone). A leading expert on psychological assessment and emotional intelligence, he has consulted with military and government agencies, including the Canadian Forces, U.S. Air Force, Army, Navy, special units of the Pentagon, FBI Academy, as well as corporate organizations, including American Express, Air Canada, Canyon Ranch, Coca-Cola (Mexico), and professional sports teams. Dr. Stein consults with numerous reality TV shows, including Big Brother Canada, The Amazing Race Canada, MasterChef Canada, Bachelor Canada, Real Housewives of Toronto, Bachelor in Paradise, Blown Away, and many others, providing psychological expertise and candidate selection assessments. Dr. Stein co-authored Hardiness: Making Stress Work for You to Achieve Your Life Goals and is the author of The EQ Leader and Emotional Intelligence for Dummies. He also co-authored the international best-seller The EQ Edge: Emotional Intelligence and Your Success and wrote Make Your Workplace Great: The 7 Keys to an Emotionally Intelligent Organization. He has appeared on more than 100 TV and radio shows, including CNBC’s Squawk Box, Canada AM, Breakfast Television, The Fifth Estate, and Fox Business Report. He has also been quoted in numerous magazines and newspapers, including Fast Company, Inc., Fortune, Huffington Post, The National Post, Globe and Mail, and Toronto Star. Dr. Stein has presented on emotional intelligence and hardiness to audiences throughout Canada, the United States, Mexico, South America, Europe, Australia, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Dr. Stein currently teaches at the Directors College, an Executive Program from the DeGroote School of Business at McMaster University, Canada. He is a past Chairperson of the Psychology Foundation of Canada. He is a former assistant professor in the psychiatry department at the University of Toronto and a former adjunct professor of psychology at York University in Toronto. He is a past President of the Ontario Psychological Association and a Fellow of the Canadian Psychological Association.

Jul 11, 2024 • 54min
111: Charlie Watkins (Pt. 2) — Worth the Wait: Selling Business for 11X More | Throw No Rocks: A Man's Guide to Success through Partnership with God
Charlie Watkins, a Christian leader and author, shares transformative insights from his life journey. He discusses the importance of 'waiting well' during challenging times, emphasizing active patience and spiritual growth. He highlights the balance between long-term dreams and daily actions, underlining community support as a fulfillment source. Watkins also explores authentic leadership, the role of personal values, and shares wisdom on partnerships, particularly valuing a spouse's insights. His upcoming book, 'Throw No Rocks,' promises to delve deeper into these vital lessons.

Jul 11, 2024 • 50min
110: Charlie Watkins (Pt. 1) — How Forgiveness Breeds Success | Throw No Rocks: A Man's Guide to Success through Partnership with God
Save Time and Avoid Regrets with my Discover Your Core Values Mini Course: https://calwalters.me/course Watch this conversation on YouTube: https://youtu.be/1ki9gIkx54g Purchase Throw No Rocks: A Man's Guide to Success Through Partnership with God: https://thrownorocks.com Charlie Watkins is a Christian husband, father, grandfather and leader. He came to Jesus in 1980 while serving as a nuclear trained officer aboard a US Navy Cruiser, where he was led to the Lord by the ship's doctor. After leaving the Navy in 1982 he has held senior leadership positions in several businesses. God has rescued, healed and mentored him through many trials, including cancer, open heart surgery, business failures and successes, transitions and many household moves. His heart’s desire is to impart the most important truths to men so that they can find true success as God's husbands, fathers and leaders, and change the trajectories of their lives, marriages, families and the nations. Charlie has led men's groups, home groups and spoken in churches. He currently leads a men’s group at his local church, The Point, in Charlottesville, Virginia. He's been married to Blythe, the love of his life, since June of 1977. Blythe and Charlie have two grown Christian children. They love the people their children married and count their children as their closest friends. They have five terrific grandsons, all mighty men of God in the making. For most of the past 25 years, Charlie has mentored and worked with leaders. Since October of 2018 he has been serving as President and CEO of Landmark Media Enterprises and Dominion Enterprises, a private conglomerate of data and software businesses. Charlie is a graduate of the US Naval Academy and holds a master's in business from William & Mary. He also serves on the board of ICM, “The Global Church Developer,” a ministry that partners with indigenous people in the poorest regions of the world to build churches and disciple people.

Jun 27, 2024 • 50min
109: Julian Treasure — Top TED Speaker and Speaking Expert on How to Speak So People Want to Listen
Follow me at: https://calwalters.me/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@intentionalleader_calwalters Make Decision Making Easier with my Core Values Mini Course: https://courses.calwalters.me/offers/DmXNju9f/checkout Julian Treasure is a top-rated international speaker on sound and the critical communication skills of listening and speaking. Collectively, Julian’s five TED Talks have been viewed over 150 million times. How to speak so that people want to listen is the sixth most-viewed TED talk of all time. In live or virtual keynotes, or in bite-sized appearances via ThinkersOne, Julian delivers engaging, entertaining and transformational content, and is equally potent and effective with live or virtual delivery. His talks enhance business effectiveness, particularly for those in sales or leadership roles, as well as enriching relationships at work and at home. His presenting skills and innovative use of sound make his talks visceral and potent experiences that are always highly rated by delegates.In addition to keynote speeches, Julian can also arrange structured training or workshops for your company. Follow Julian Treasure: https://www.juliantreasure.com/

13 snips
Jun 14, 2024 • 1h 29min
108: Jamie Winship — How to Avoid an Identity Crisis and Discover Your True Calling
Jamie Winship, co-founder of Identity Exchange, brings decades of experience in resolving conflicts and fostering identity transformation. The conversation dives into the dangers of relying on external validation and how it can lead to identity crises, particularly in athletes. Jamie emphasizes the importance of community support for authentic self-recognition and discusses the shift from scarcity to abundance mentality. He shares powerful stories, including a gripping police experience that highlights intuition in crises, and advocates for embracing true self for personal growth and courage in leadership.

May 23, 2024 • 1h
107: Dr. Anna Lembke — Find Joy and Focus in a Dopamine-Overloaded World
Dr. Anna Lembke, a psychiatrist and bestselling author, dives into the effects of dopamine on our mental well-being and the challenges of modern pleasure. She discusses the importance of a 10 to 14-day abstinence from overstimulation to cultivate self-awareness and creativity. Lembke contrasts our advanced society with rising unhappiness and emphasizes the need for mindfulness. She also explores the roles of shame and guilt in personal growth, parenting strategies in the digital age, and how 'dopamine fasting' can reignite joy in daily life.