In this week’s Thursday Thoughts, Josh Fisher reflects on Frank Davis’s thought-provoking question from Episode 5:

How do we love our neighbor while holding space for freedom of thought?

Josh dives into the paradox of human connection, how we can honor others’ perspectives without compromising our own, and how love and freedom of thought don’t have to be opposites.

From emotional intelligence to curiosity over certainty, Josh explores what it really takes to lead with authenticity and live Off Script. If you're wrestling with how to hold compassion in a world full of division, this one's for you.

🖊️ Josh shares his personal journal response and invites you to do the same.

Emotional Intelligence is Foundational:

Choose Curiosity Over Certainty:

Focus on What You Can Control:

Lead by Example, Especially When It’s Hard:

Have the Courage to Stay:

Be Willing to Be the Change:

Reflect on today’s episode with the Off Script Journal.

Start journaling here:

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In this powerful episode of Off Script with Josh Fisher, Marine Corps veteran and leadership coach Josh Fisher sits down with Frank Davis for an extraordinary conversation about leadership, identity, and the driving force behind authentic service. Frank's incredible 26-year Marine Corps journey took him through every rank from enlisted to warrant officer to commissioned officer, but his real story goes much deeper.

From a challenging childhood that shaped his character to becoming a successful entrepreneur with Red Valor Mobile—a luxury transportation service dedicated to honoring veterans—Frank shares raw insights about leadership without masks, the power of authentic service, and how one pivotal moment with his mother changed everything. This episode explores what it means to lead with genuine care, flip traditional priorities, and find your "second mountain" in life.

If you've ever questioned what drives real leaders or wondered how to serve others while staying true to yourself, Frank's story will inspire and challenge you.

Key Takeaways

Resources Mentioned

Journals: 

🎙 Thursday Thoughts: Emotion Isn’t the Enemy—Avoiding It Is

In this heartfelt solo episode, Episode 3.

Josh opens up about the powerful role emotions play in leadership—how they can hinder decisions, deepen relationships, and ultimately shape the way we lead. He shares raw, unfiltered insights from his own journey, reminding us that vulnerability isn’t weakness—it’s a bridge to connection.

This episode is a call to explore your own emotional depth, to lead with greater self-awareness, and to honor your truth.

🔥 Key Takeaways:

Emotions impact us all—sometimes they cloud judgment, other times they deepen empathy.

Effective leaders acknowledge and process their emotions instead of burying them.

Vulnerability builds trust and invites others to be real with you.

Boundaries help protect your identity and integrity as a leader.

Self-acceptance is essential to growth—you can’t lead others if you abandon yourself.

Sharing your fears and insecurities can reduce tension and foster connection.

Emotional awareness is a daily practice—it’s not about perfection, but presence.

💭 Journal With Us

#OffScriptWithJoshFisher #EmotionalIntelligence #AuthenticLeadership #VulnerabilityInLeadership #LeadershipPodcast

Listener Discretion Disclaimer:

Before we begin this episode, I want to let you know that the conversation you're about to hear is raw, honest, and at times, heavy. We talk about difficult topics including mental health, emotional burnout, and suicide. There's also explicit language throughout the episode.

If you or someone you know is struggling—whether it's a passing thought, a quiet mention, or something deeper—please don't ignore it. Start the conversation. You're not alone, and there is help.

You can call or text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988—anytime, 24/7.

Your life matters. Your story matters. Let’s keep talking.

What happens when the uniform comes off—but the weight of leadership doesn’t?

In this episode of Off Script, host Josh Fisher sits down with veteran and leader Mark Allen for an unfiltered conversation about leadership beyond the ranks, titles, and tough exteriors. Together, they explore what it really means to lead with vulnerability, emotional intelligence, and authenticity—especially after years of service and sacrifice.

From the mental discipline of cold plunges to the emotional unraveling that often follows retirement, this episode digs deep into identity, mental health, and the pressure to hold it all together. Mark shares personal stories of pain, healing, and rediscovery—and how stepping off the traditional script of leadership allowed him to reconnect with his truth.

Whether you’re in uniform, behind a desk, or in a season of transition—this is for anyone who’s ever asked, “Who am I without the role?”

Leadership is about human connection, not just command

Cold plunges reveal mental resilience and body trust

Sacrifice in service often comes at a personal cost

Emotional awareness builds stronger, more authentic leaders

Vulnerability isn’t weakness—it’s the bridge to real connection

Retirement can spark identity crises—but it can also spark growth

You don’t have to be perfect to be powerful—you just have to be honest

Strong Hope

Mark’s Podcast: Voices in Silence

https://a.co/d/2vKzM9A

The Off Script Journal – A companion to the podcast

The Unfolding – A 12-Phase Guided Journal for Healing What Hurts

Want to share your own Off Script story?

In this episode of Off Script, Josh Fisher delves into the complexities of personal identity, self-reflection, and the importance of vulnerability in leadership. He shares his own journey of self-discovery, including struggles with insecurity, trauma, and coping mechanisms. Through candid storytelling, he emphasizes the value of authentic connections and the potential for community building through shared experiences.

Who am I, really?

I dive into the many versions of self we carry, the masks we wear, and how vulnerability and self-reflection have shaped my own identity. It’s raw. It’s uncomfortable. But it’s real—and that’s where leadership starts.

A few key takeaways:

Self-awareness is the foundation of authentic leadership

We often cope before we understand—then lead before we heal

Journaling helps make thoughts visible, patterns clear, and growth possible

You don’t need to have it all together to lead—you just need to show up honest

Journals to Go Deeper:

📝 The Off Script Journal: A companion to this podcast. Use it to respond to the weekly prompts, capture reflections, and track your own Off Script journey.

Amazon: The Off Script Journal: A companion to the Off Script Podcast

🌀 The Unfolding: A 12-Phase Guided Journal for Healing What Hurts: A trauma-informed journal designed for deep, structured inner work. With 12 phases and 52 weeks of prompts, The Unfolding gently guides you through grief, trauma, emotional suppression, identity, and more—with space to reconnect with your voice, your truth, and your self.

Whether you’re beginning your healing journey or returning to it, The Unfolding meets you where you are—no timeline, no pressure. Just structure, space, and stillness.

Amazon: The Unfolding: A 12-Phase Guided Journal for Healing what Hurts

Want to be part of the podcast?

Your voice matters—and it might just help someone else find theirs.

In this first episode of Off Script with Josh Fisher, we strip leadership down to its bones—no polish, no performance, just the raw truth. I dive into why I started this podcast, the deep disconnect so many leaders feel behind the mask, and how perfectionism, imposter syndrome, and societal expectations keep us from leading with real presence. You’ll hear parts of my story, the doubts I’ve carried, and why I believe the perception of leadership—not leadership itself—is what’s broken. This episode sets the stage for what’s to come: honest conversations, unfiltered reflections, and a return to human-centered leadership. If you've ever felt like you're faking it while leading, this one’s for you.

Amazon: The Off Script Journal: A companion to the Off Script Podcast

Amazon: The Unfolding: A 12-Phase Guided Journal for Healing what Hurts

Have a story about leading off script—raw, real, and unpolished? Email it to me and you might hear it featured in a future episode.

Please add

SUBJ:  [NAME] Stories from the Stage- (Share or Do not Share)

Listener's Off Script: Stories from the Stage- [email protected]