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Through the Storm

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Resilient leadership lessons from executives, generals, and athletes.

Through the Storm is hosted by Dr. Travis Hearne, an author and leadership expert who interviews executives, military leaders, and athletes on how they navigate crisis, adversity, and organizational change. The show draws on stories from guests including retired four-star generals and former professional athletes to build a practical framework for resilient leadership. It serves business leaders who manage teams through high-stakes uncertainty.

18 episodes
Channel Brief·Through the Storm · 18 episodes
Updated Feb 4, 2026

Resilience Is Learnable. Leadership Requires Preparation, Not Just Rank.

Through the Storm profiles military, athletic, and entrepreneurial leaders who prove that navigating adversity is a skill, not a trait. Each episode anchors resilience in concrete practices and real-world crisis decisions.

Through the Storm argues that resilience is not innate but built through authentic leadership, deliberate preparation, and the ability to reframe adversity as opportunity. The channel grounds this belief by interviewing retired military officers, athletes, entrepreneurs, and trauma specialists who have navigated specific, high-stakes crises, extracting the decision-making patterns and mindset shifts that separate leaders who crumble from those who thrive.

Drawn from Through the Storm with General David Petraeus:… and 2 more →

“Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.”

General David Petraeus, Through the Storm episode 16

By the numbers

2,650

combat flight hours for decorated fighter pilot Waldo Waldman

11

military deployments for Jason O. Harris, pilot

31

years of active Marine Corps service for Scott Stalker

65

combat missions flown by Waldo Waldman

What the channel argues

InsightAuthentic, face-to-face leadership is critical to recognizing warning signs before military suicide crises occur.→
DataJason O. Harris developed No Fail Trust methodology from 2,000+ combat flight hours and 11 military deployments.→
InsightGeneral Petraeus emphasizes getting the 'Big Ideas' right as foundational to effective strategy in warfare and business.→
InsightLeaders are the primary architects of workplace culture, shaping it through daily actions and value-aligned decisions.→
DataJohn Register won Paralympic silver in long jump two years after leg amputation, setting American record.→
InsightThe Harris family founded accessibility nonprofit to fill insurance gaps for children with disabilities accessing therapy and equipment.→

What you'll learn

•How military discipline and high-stakes decision-making under pressure translate directly to business leadership and team performance.
•Why reframing adversity as a catalyst for growth, not a setback, separates leaders who recover from those who collapse.
•How authentic culture—embedded in daily decisions, not perks—becomes the most valuable asset when business headwinds hit.
•Why psychological safety and mutual accountability are core pillars of resilient teams, from combat units to corporate teams.
•How former athletes and military officers apply rapport-building and storytelling to create trust in low-trust, high-stakes environments.

What to do about it

→Invest in face-to-face, authentic leadership practices and train leaders to recognize warning signs of crisis in their teams before escalation occurs.
→Map your organization's core values and audit daily decisions, interactions, and resource allocation to ensure they reflect those values and embed culture authentically.
→Establish psychological safety and mutual accountability mechanisms in teams by defining trust expectations, practicing transparent communication, and holding all members equally responsible for outcomes.

Who and what shows up

General David Petraeus

U.S. Army Retired, strategic military leader

Emphasizes preparation as the foundation of leadership and getting 'Big Ideas' right in strategy, warfare, and organizational leadership.

Thomas R. Williams

Former NFL linebacker, leadership expert, member of Jon Gordon Speaking Team

Transitioned from five-year NFL career to organizational leadership development after career-ending neck injury, exemplifying resilience through adversity.

Jason O. Harris

Retired U.S. Air Force Pilot, Global Keynote Speaker, Squadron Commander

Developed No Fail Trust methodology from 2,000+ combat flight hours and 11 deployments; framework applied at Cisco, Ford, Caterpillar, and Lockheed Martin.

Mark 'Oz' Geist

Former security officer, crisis leadership expert

His Benghazi experience illustrates how composed decision-making under extreme pressure defines authentic leadership and saves lives.

Cash Harris

Young athlete and disability advocate born with spina bifida

Embodies the mantra 'My resilience is greater than life's resistance' and has inspired millions, driving his family's accessibility nonprofit mission.

Questions this channel answers

Q

How do military leaders transition to corporate leadership and maintain the same principles?

By translating specific military practices—trust-building, decision-making under pressure, rapport-building—into frameworks applicable to business teams. Jason O. Harris converted 2,000+ combat flight hours into the No Fail Trust methodology now used by Fortune 500 companies; Otis McGregor applies Green Beret leadership to fractional COO services for small businesses.

Empowering Teams with the No Fail Trust™ Methodology: In… →
Q

What role does faith and family play in navigating adversity?

The Harris family uses faith and their growing platform to advocate for accessibility and awareness. Chase Harris credits faith, fatherhood, and their family unit as central to turning Cash's spina bifida diagnosis into action through their nonprofit.

Faith, Fatherhood, and Fortitude: Inside Chase Harris’ M… →
Q

Can resilience be learned, or is it something you're born with?

Resilience is learnable. Dr. Ted Wiard emphasizes it as a quality applicable in both personal and professional contexts; John Register demonstrated this by learning to run on a prosthetic leg and winning Paralympic silver two years later.

Emotional Healing and Resilience: Dr. Ted Wiard’s Insigh… →
Q

How do leaders recognize and prevent crises like military suicide?

Through authentic, face-to-face leadership that enables leaders to recognize warning signs before crisis occurs. Scott Stalker's 31-year Marine Corps career informs his perspective that command responsibility includes genuine human connection.

The Weight of Command: Scott Stalker Talks About Dealing… →
Q

What separates leaders who thrive under pressure from those who crumble?

Preparation, composed decision-making, and the mindset to move toward—not away from—adversity. Mark 'Oz' Geist's Benghazi experience illustrates how calm, ethical decisions under extreme pressure define leadership character. General Petraeus argues that 'luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.'

Navigating Leadership Storms: A True Tale of Resilience … →
Topics:Military leadership and transitionOrganizational culture and team resilienceCrisis decision-making under extreme pressureDisability advocacy and family resilienceTrust-based frameworks for high-stakes environments
Themes:Preparation as the foundation of crisis leadershipResilience as a learnable, teachable skill, not innate talentAuthentic connection and trust as organizational competitive advantage

Industry context

Resilience—understood as learnable skills for managing stress and responding to difficulty—is increasingly recognized as foundational to organizational readiness and crisis preparedness, developed well before high-pressure situations arise.

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