Jason Chaffetz: Grit, Scandals, and the Real Demands of Leadership

In this episode of Case Studies, Casey sits down with Jason Chaffetz, former U.S. Congressman, Fox News contributor, and one-time BYU placekicker, for a candid and wide-ranging conversation on leadership, resilience, and navigating the arena of public service.

Jason opens up about his journey from a small-town California upbringing to earning a football scholarship at BYU, his formative years in business at Nu Skin, and the leap of faith that took him into politics. He reflects on the personal hardships that shaped his perspective, from losing his mother to cancer to working multiple jobs to support his family, and how those experiences instilled in him a relentless drive to “show up and outwork the competition.”

Together, they explore lessons learned from high-stakes moments in Congress, including overseeing investigations into Benghazi and the IRS, building unlikely friendships across party lines, and maintaining courage under intense public pressure. Jason also shares fascinating personal anecdotes about working with figures like Barack Obama, Donald Trump, and Elijah Cummings, offering rare insight into the human side of politics.

This conversation is packed with hard-won wisdom for anyone striving to lead with grit, principle, and purpose.

Chapters

00:00 | Welcome & why Jason’s story matters 

00:39 | “There’s always material in politics” 

01:35 | The role of government & the private sector 

02:56 | Northern California childhood, divorce, and loss

05:59 | Empathy, grace, and assuming unseen struggles

06:25 | Teenage adversity, bankruptcy, and grit

10:19 | Thriving in chaos & the kicker’s mindset 

12:20 | From soccer kid to football scholarship 

15:57 | BYU years, mentors, and Lavell Edwards 

18:05 | Nu Skin: early career & global GM experience  

18:55 | Losing his mother & reshaping priorities 

20:02 | Huntsman Cancer Institute & a call to serve 

23:12 | Running for Congress with $74K and hustle

26:23 | The power of showing up (Planning Commission story)

28:33 | “Hot dog and a map”: pressure moment at BYU 

29:02 | Polling at 2.5% to winning by 20 

30:53 | Principle over policy: how he decides

33:53 | The 30‑sec / 3‑min / 30‑min rule

34:15 | Congress: one‑third doers, one‑third drifters, one‑third showboats

36:07 | Behind the curtain: real people, real decisions

37:09 | Benghazi: what happened & why it mattered

38:52 | IRS & Secret Service investigations—accountability in action

42:55 | What he’s proud of: service, funerals, and stakes

45:10 | Legislation, sailors, and quiet leadership moments

48:41 | Real bipartisanship with Elijah Cummings 

53:54 | Tech shifts: bringing an iPad to the House floor

54:00 | Presidents: notes from Obama & working with Trump

57:09 | Trump stories: straight talk, texts, and golf

58:59 | On the course with a president

01:00:36 | Owning disagreements & earning respect

01:03:28 | Memory, receipts, and sincerity

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