From the Vault: Episode 2 of The Dave Durand Show. Dave sits down with Mark Middendorf—President of Ave Maria University and founder of Lighthouse Catholic Media—to discuss what it means to be a ferocious leader while staying rooted in Catholic principles. Dave also shares practical ways to stay motivated, lead with conviction, and motivate others, then wraps up with answers to listener questions.

From the Vault: Episode 1 of The Dave Durand Show. Dave kicks off the series by laying the foundation of what it means to become a “Leading Giant” in your workplace and leadership. He’s joined by tech executive Denzil Samuels for a powerful conversation on living out the Catholic faith at work and at home. Plus, Dave answers listener questions on becoming a better public speaker and discerning when it’s time to take the leap from employee to entrepreneur.

Dave Durand joins John Morales on Relevant Radio’s Morning Air to discuss the importance of focus and virtue.

In this short episode, I talk about what personal growth really is: the quiet “evolution” of the heart. We’ll look at sincerity, the subtle pride that hides in everyday life, and why greatness on earth means nothing if it isn’t aimed toward heaven.

In this episode, I talk about the tension every serious person eventually faces: how to hold high standards without becoming judgmental, harsh, or hypocritical.

We all know that high standards matter. They shape quality, integrity, and growth. But when standards aren’t anchored in humility, they start to break relationships — at home, at work, and within ourselves.

I walk through the difference between aiming at perfection and falling into perfectionism, why humility is the only thing that allows us to re-aim when we fall short, and how judgment without humility turns into defensiveness and resentment.

This conversation is about personal growth in its deepest sense — becoming better through the ordinary things we do every day — and why humility is the key that makes high standards sustainable rather than destructive.

If you care about growth, leadership, faith, and living with integrity in real life, this episode will give you a clearer framework for how those pieces actually fit together.

We all know the value of high standards. They matter at work, at home, and in leadership. But there’s a tension most people never resolve: when standards are high and humility is low, relationships break down, trust erodes, and hypocrisy creeps in.

In this episode, I walk through why aiming high is essential—and why it fails without humility anchoring it. I talk about the difference between healthy standards and perfectionism, how judgment turns inward and outward, and why humility is the only thing that allows us to pursue excellence without destroying ourselves or others in the process.

If you care about growth, leadership, family, or becoming a better version of yourself through the ordinary moments of daily life, this episode will help you recalibrate your aim.

In this episode, I talk about standards — not the kind we talk about casually, but the kind that actually shape who we become.

We admire professionals, elite performers, and great leaders because they live by standards most people won’t hold themselves to. They don’t just think big — they live disciplined, intentional lives.

But here’s the deeper question:
 If we’re willing to raise our standards for success, performance, and achievement, why do we hesitate to raise them for our interior life?

This conversation goes beyond ambition and productivity. It’s about conscience, virtue, faith, and the call Christ gives us to live differently — not halfway, not comfortably, but with clarity and purpose.

Because at the end of the day, the most important standard you live by isn’t what the world applauds — it’s what actually prepares you for eternity.

This episode is about leadership at home.

I walk through five foundational practices that help men lead their families with clarity, unity, and purpose—whether you’re a husband, a father, or preparing to be one.

We talk about the importance of daily blessing, routine prayer, regular confession, educating your family the right way, and being truly present with the people you love. These aren’t abstract ideals—they’re practical disciplines that build order, protection, and trust inside the home.

If you want to lead your family well, stay grounded, and create unity instead of chaos, this episode will give you a clear framework to start doing that today.

This week, I’m talking about one of the biggest factors that determines whether teams, marriages, families, and friendships stay strong or quietly fall apart: how we see each other.

Most relationships don’t break because someone did something terrible. They break because of misperceptions, unfair assumptions, and the slow erosion of unity. When we magnify each other’s flaws, assign motives that aren’t there, or expect others to live without the imperfections we allow in ourselves, everything becomes fragile.

In this episode, I dig into:

• Why unity is built on accepting others’ flaws rather than collecting them
• How pettiness destroys marriages, teams, and even nations
• The difference between judging someone’s actions and judging their motives
• Why magnanimity — generosity of spirit — is the foundation of strong relationships
• The importance of each person understanding and embracing their role
• How gratitude and latitude protect relationships from unnecessary conflict

If you want to strengthen the relationships that matter most — at work or at home — this episode will help you see people more clearly and support them more effectively.

This week’s episode is intentionally brief — a quick message I recorded while walking on the beach. It felt like the perfect setting to talk about something most people get wrong: leisure.

Not vacation. Not burnout recovery.
 Leisure — the kind that actually recreates you.

In this short reflection, I explain why God built rhythm into creation, how real leisure works, and why you can’t truly rest if every “break” is just another form of productivity or distraction. If you struggle to slow down, detach from your phone, or be present — this mini-episode is for you.

A simple reminder, delivered in a simple way.