Think leaders always eat last? Never take flak? Always confident? Think again. In this raw and real episode of Veteran Led, John S. Berry debunks 3 of the biggest leadership myths holding teams back. If you're serious about leading well—especially under pressure—this is the one you can’t miss.

In this episode of Veteran Led, John S. Berry explores the critical role of external partners—your attachments and detachments—in achieving organizational success. Drawing parallels to military operations, John discusses how to identify aligned vendors, assess contracts, manage expectations, and avoid costly mistakes. With firsthand stories of collaboration, failure, and redemption, this episode offers practical frameworks for choosing consultants and vendors who elevate your mission rather than hinder it. Whether you're scaling a business or hiring your first vendor, these lessons will help you lead with clarity and accountability. 

In this episode of Veteran Led, host John Berry sits down with Bronze Star recipient and Gulf War Veteran Steven Kuhn—author of Unleash Your Humble Alpha and co-founder of Novascale Partners. Steven shares how military principles like urgency, adaptability, and unwavering purpose fueled his rise from a post-service identity crisis to leading billion-dollar international deals. You’ll hear lessons from the battlefield to the boardroom, the story behind the “humble alpha” mindset, and how Veterans can tap into their authentic identity to lead with confidence, clarity, and conviction. Whether you're transitioning out of the military, leading a business, or finding your purpose, this episode delivers hard-won insights from a life of bold pivots, deep failures, and relentless forward motion. 

Hooked from the first pill, headed for Leavenworth. In this gripping episode of Veteran Led, John S. Berry sits down with David Mike—former soldier, convicted drug dealer, and now author of Dishonor. From a broken leg at Airborne School to the darkness of addiction and the light of redemption, this is a raw, emotional journey of failure, faith, and finding purpose after disgrace. You won't believe where his story ends—or begins again.

Step inside the battlefield of leadership failures with Veteran Led. In this episode, Veterans pull no punches as they expose the worst leadership they've ever witnessed — no names needed, just hard truths. 

From selfish credit-grabbers and insecure tyrants to mission-driven disasters that cost lives, our guests share jaw-dropping, raw stories that every leader (and aspiring leader) needs to hear.

You'll learn what not to do when trust, respect, and lives are on the line. These are the critical leadership lessons earned the hard way — with scars, sweat, and sometimes heartbreaking loss.

Whether you’re a seasoned executive, a Veteran, or someone climbing the leadership ranks, these real-world examples will shake you, sharpen you, and challenge you to lead better.
When leaders fail, entire missions — and people — suffer. Listen, learn, and never make these mistakes yourself.

Bad leadership destroys.
Real leadership protects.
Veteran Led shows you the difference.

You can’t change the people around you—but you can change who you’re around. John Berry breaks down elite leadership and building A-player teams.

When life blows up—literally—you either sink or rise stronger. In this episode of Veteran Led, soldier in the special operations community, turned powerhouse CEO, Channing Walker, shares how he went from IED survivor to scaling multimillion-dollar ventures. Dive into Channing’s no-fluff lessons on building unstoppable teams, winning federal contracts against billion-dollar competitors, and why real leaders never "burn the ships"—they build the plan, the team, and the future. It's a raw, unfiltered masterclass in resilience, leadership, and turning battlefield grit into boardroom victories. If you’ve ever doubted your next move or felt the weight of leadership, this is your blueprint for triumph. Listen and fuel your fight.

Numbers track our progress, but they don’t tell our story. In this episode, John S. Berry breaks down why true leadership isn’t found in statistics, but in the moments we rise after failure. Learn how veterans are conditioned to win through relentless preparation, resilience, and character under pressure. Subscribe and discover how to turn your toughest challenges into defining victories—both in business and in life. 

In this powerful episode of Veteran Led, host John Berry sits down with trailblazer Lieutenant General Jody Daniels, Ret., the first woman to command the U.S. Army Reserve. With over 41 years of military service and a successful civilian career at Lockheed Martin, Dr. Daniels shares raw insights on what it takes to lead nearly 200,000 service members, challenge outdated systems, and reshape military culture.

From battling meaningless metrics to advocating for tough, realistic training done safely, General Daniels walks us through her evolution as a leader—and why embracing transparency, empowering junior leaders, and pushing for policy change matter more than ever. This episode is a masterclass in leadership, accountability, and bridging the gap between military and civilian success.

If you're a veteran, leader, or changemaker, this episode will challenge your thinking—and leave you inspired to lead with purpose.

What happens when a Marine officer, Silicon Valley engineer, and fintech disruptor builds a better way for law firms to get paid? On this episode of Veteran Led, host John Berry sits down with Emery Wager, co-founder & CEO of Confido Legal. From combat tours in Afghanistan to streamlining cash flow for thousands of law firms, Emery shares why financial clarity is the lifeblood of legal success—and how great leadership starts with ownership. Tune in for real talk on accountability, client experience, and the business side of law that too many attorneys ignore.