Trench Leadership: A Podcast From the Front
Are you tired of surface-level leadership podcast that offer quick platitudes but lack the substance and depth to solve the bigger challenges?
If so, welcome to Trench Leadership: A Podcast From the Front, where we offer battle-tested strategies that are used in the front lines of leadership RIGHT NOW.
Hosted by Simon Kardynal, a 29-year Canadian Armed Forces veteran and Chief Warrant Officer in the Royal Canadian Air Force, this internationally acclaimed podcast delivers the raw, real-world insights leaders need to thrive on the leadership battlefield.
With 119 regular episodes and dozens of bonus content episodes , Trench Leadership bridges the gap between leadership development theory and the reality of employing tactics 'in the field'. Simon brings his Master of Arts in Leadership and decades of military experience to deep-dive conversations with global experts across leadership, well-being, and professional development.
Our guests don't just share success stories; they pull back the curtain on their surprising wins, their most epic mistakes, and the agonizing moments of self-doubt they had to overcome to keep going.
Every episode of Trench Leadership empowers leaders with strategic, actionable, battle-tested 'Trench Tools', that enrich your leadership toolkits to strengthen yourself, your team, and your organization.
Join the Trench Leadership community and connect with other listeners who are choosing to do more than just survive the battle, they are choosing to win the war.
Whether you are a seasoned executive or an emerging manager, Trench Leadership provides the insights you need to stay in the fight and come out ahead.
Episodes
169 episodes
E119 – Creating a Remote Team Culture featuring Monique Lindner
Creating effective team cultures is challenging in the easiest of times, but creating an effective team culture in a remote setting is much more daunting. The irony is that a strong team culture is even more important when people aren’t ...
E118 - The Power of Stories featuring Shaun Bernstein, Eh!
Trench Leadership: A Podcast From the Front is humbled to have been named #5 in the Top 20 for Best Canadian Leadership-themed podcasts for 2025. How do some leaders effortlessly build connection while others...
E117 - Being a Flexible Leader featuring Ian L. Paterson, Eh!
Trench Leadership: A Podcast From the Front is humbled to have been named #5 in the Top 20 for Best Canadian Leadership-themed podcasts for 2025.What happens when rockets are landing near your Middle Eastern m...
E116 – I’ve Made it, Now What? featuring Tami Reiss
What happens after you've "made it" to that coveted leadership position?This question haunts many emerging leaders who suddenly find themselves at a plateau, uncertain about their next move. Product Leader Coach Tami Reiss ...
The Leadership Lightning Round – I’ve Made it, Now What? featuring Tami Reiss
Tami Reiss, a Product Leader Coach, will offer advice for emerging leaders to make the most of their first leadership role. Tami will also talk about how emerging leaders can realize their long-term goals, ensuring the journey is the one...
E115 - Crafting Your Leadership Style featuring Simon Kardynal
Leadership isn’t just about being in charge; it’s about showing strength and resilience when the stakes are high. This episode of Trench Leadership: A Podcast From the Front, explores the essential elements of crafting you...
E114 – Tuning Up Your Body Language featuring Jane Hanson
Your team is constantly reading you—analyzing every movement, stance, and gesture you make as a leader. Even when you're silent, your body is having a conversation with everyone around you. What exactly is it saying?Nine-time ...
E113 - Asking Empowering Questions featuring Carol Boston
Welcome to Episode 113!!Have you ever noticed how a single well-crafted question can completely transform a conversation? In this eye-opening episode, business development and leadership coach Carol Boston reveals the transformati...
E112 – Thought Leadership featuring Vladimer Botsvadze
Discover the transformative power of thought leadership with Vladimer Botsvadze, a globally recognized digital transformation and marketing authority who's built his personal brand from scratch to 55,000 followers through sheer determina...
The Leadership Lightning Round – Thought Leadership featuring Vladimer Botsvadze
Welcome to Episode 112!!In this episode, you’ll hear from Vladimer Botsvadze, a Thought Leader, Professor, Startup Advisor, Fortune 500 Consultant, Speaker, Mentor, and Coach, who will offer advice and practical tools for all emer...
Bonus Episode – Flexible Leadership featuring Kevin Eikenberry
What separates good leaders from exceptional ones?The answer might be simpler—and harder—than we think. In this illuminating conversation with leadership expert Kevin Eikenberry, Chief Potential Officer of the Kevin Eikenbe...
E111 – From Bud to Boss featuring Kevin Eikenberry
The moment you step into leadership, everything changes. That friendly dynamic you once shared with teammates transforms overnight into something more complex and challenging. Suddenly, the person you shared drinks with last ...
The Leadership Lightning Round – From Bud to Boss featuring Kevin Eikenberry
Welcome to Episode 111!!In this episode, you’ll hear from Kevin Eikenberry, Chief Potential Officer of The Kevin Eikenberry Group and host of The Remarkable Leadership Podcast. Kevin will offer advice and inspiration for front-lin...
E110 - Active Listening featuring Simon Kardynal
In the fast-paced world of leadership, we often hear the saying, "Communication is key." When we talk about communication skills for leaders, we often focus on articulation, persuasion, and presentation. Yet the foundation of ...
E109 - Designing Your Team for Everyone's Success from a distance featuring Wayne Turmel, Eh!
Wayne Turmel, a fellow Canadian and podcast host, an author, and consultant for the Kevin Eikenberry Group, joins Trench Leadership to share hard-earned wisdom about creating high-performing teams across distances in our transform...
The Leadership Lightning Round! - Designing Your Team for Everyone's Success from a distance featuring Wayne Turmel, Eh!
Welcome to Episode 109!!In this episode, you’ll hear from Wayne Turmel, a fellow Canadian and podcast host, an author, and consultant for the Kevin Eikenberry Group, who will talk about the challenges of creating teams from long d...
The Leadership Lightning Round – Connected Leadership featuring Angela Caufield
Welcome to Episode 108!!In this episode, you’ll hear from Angela Caufield, a Business Consultant and systems creation expert, Speaker and Writer focusing on New-Wave Leadership, who discuss her views on why connections are so impo...
E108 – Connected Leadership featuring Angela Caufield
We’ve all heard about the importance of connections. We’ve talked about how building authentic connections creates strong bonds among teams, carrying them through the hard and easy times. And the reason leaders often talk about connectio...
E107 - Unlocking Your Leadership Style featuring Robert Jordan
Leadership styles have profound implications on your effectiveness, team dynamics, and organizational success—but how do you determine which approach truly aligns with your natural strengths? This episode delivers remarkable ...
The Leadership Lightning Round - Unlocking Your Leadership Style featuring Robert Jordan
Welcome to Episode 107!!Robert Jordan, an author and the co-founder and CEO of InterimExecs, will talk about the four distinct leadership styles found in business today. Robert will also explain what success looks like for ...
E106 - How To Find Your Mindset Sweet Spot featuring Susan Hobson, Eh!
What is a mindset, and why do emerging leaders need to know what it is? The fact is that leaders are required to set their own mindset to set their internal priorities to complete the taskings as effectively as possible.<...
