The Dirty Side of Leadership
Where leadership meets entertainment! This weekly podcast disrupts the status quo by discussing hot-button topics that most podcasters are afraid to touch. Ron and Kristin apply their combined 50+ years of real leadership experience and take both a humorous and raw look behind closed doors. Often sharing personal experiences both in the workplace and out, they answer listener questions and breakdown 'dirty lessons' from Ron's best selling book, "The Dirty Side of Leadership".
- Update frequency
- every 7 days
- Average duration
- 41 minutes
- Episodes
- 132
- Years Active
- 2023 - 2025
Leadership Comparisons From the Northwest and the South | Episode 129
In this episode, Kristin and Ron compare leadership lessons shaped by culture, language, and tradition in two very different regions of the U.S.: the Northwest and the South. From coded…
Jealousy in the Workplace: When Envy Turns Dangerous | Episode 128
Jealousy — it’s the quiet poison of the workplace. From backhanded compliments and gossip to outright sabotage, envy can destroy trust, cripple collaboration, and, in rare cases, even l…
Special Guest: Former Executive Producer and Author Tom Blomquist | Episode 127
In this episode, co-hosts Ron Ward and Kristin Sokoloff sit down with Tom Blomquist, an award-winning screenwriter, producer, director, and author whose work has shaped some of televisi…
The Saboteurs Within: What’s Really Holding You Back | Episode 126
In this eye-opening episode, Ron and Kristin dive deep into the dirty side of self-sabotage by taking the Saboteur Assessment from Positive Intelligence. Get ready for a raw, honest con…
More Than Survival - Leadership Lessons From the Wild With Jeff Zausch | Episode 125
In this gripping episode of The Dirty Side of Leadership, co-hosts Ron Ward and Kristin Sokoloff sit down with Discovery Channel’s ultimate survivalist, Jeff Zausch. With more survival …
My Boss is a Narcissist! | Throwback Episode
In this throwback episode, we're going back to the third episode where Ron and Kristin discuss different types of narcissistic bosses!
Co-hosts: Ron Ward and Kristin Sokoloff
Sponsor: 4Wa…
How Pod Bros Changed the Political Landscape in America: What Can We Learn? | Episode 124
In this episode, Ron and Kristin don’t just explore leadership—they dive headfirst into the world of power, influence, and how a few mic’d-up men with cigars and bourbon reshaped Americ…
Toxic Positivity: When Optimism Goes Too Far | Episode 123
In this episode, Ron and Kristin define toxic positivity and the fallout of fake morale. They provide information and solutions to combat this issue and they promote authenticity when …
Why Modern Women Are Under-Skilled (and Overwhelmed) With Special Guest January Donovan, Founder and CEO of the Internationally Acclaimed "The Woman School" | Episode 122
In this landmark episode, The Dirty Side of Leadership welcomes its very first guest—and we came out swinging. January Donovan, founder and CEO of The Woman School, joins Ron and Kristi…
How the Chemicals in the Brain Can Enhance Your Leadership | Episode 121
In this episode, Ron and Kristin explore the intricate workings of our brain and the chemicals that can enhance leadership skills. They discuss dopamine, oxytocin, endorphins, testoster…
Integrity Is on Life Support - Here's How to Bring It Back to Life | Episode 120
In this episode, Ron and Kristin discuss the downfall of integrity in American culture. They discuss the "psychology of a sellout" and provide some reasons why people do it, such as sel…
Horrible Bosses | Throwback Episode
In this throwback episode, we're going back to the very first episode where Ron and Kristin discuss different types of horrible bosses and the lessons you can learn on how NOT to lead.
C…
Leadership Lessons from Biden's Cognitive Decline | Episode 119
In this episode, Ron and Kristin break down leadership lessons from Biden’s cognitive decline. They not only discuss the obvious signs of his downward spiral, they provide sources from …
Leading Through the Fog: Dementia, Alzheimer’s, and the Brain Crisis No One Talks About | Episode 118
In this episode, Ron and Kristin reveal that Alzheimer’s is the most feared disease in the United States—more than cancer, more than heart attacks. A 2024 survey by the Alzheimer’s Asso…
Why Weak Men Don’t Impress Women | Episode 117
In this episode, Ron and Kristin delve into - what some would call - a "taboo" topic. They discuss reasons why women, even the strong, independent ones, crave male leadership and are tu…
New Orleans Jailbreak: A Leadership Failure of Epic Proportions | Episode 116
In this episode, Ron and Kristin discuss the latest chaos out of New Orleans – a shocking jail escape that reads more like a movie script than a real-life breakdown of leadership. Ron a…
The Liver King: A Masterclass in Misleading Leadership | Episode 115
In this episode, Ron and Kristin dive into raw meat, ripped abs and one massive lie.
They discuss the upcoming Netflix special on the Liver King, aka Brian Johnson. He built an empire p…
Leadership at Full Gallop: What the Kentucky Derby Teaches Us About Winning | Episode 114
In this episode, Ron and Kristin discuss the recent and Kentucky Derby. The race was extra exciting as an underdog horse called Sovereignty, ridden by a Junior Alvarado, secured a Derby…
Exporting Poverty: The Tragedy of the British Home Children | Episode 113
In this episode, Ron and Kristin discuss a dark part of history that is rarely discussed. The topic was taken from the book, "The Forgotten Home Child" by Genevieve Graham. Ron and Kris…
Unbossing: What Is It and Why Is It Trending? | Episode 112
In this episode, Ron and Kristin address a trend that has become widespread in today's businesses and companies. The term? Unbossing. They break down what it is and why is it trendin…