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".
Episodes
147 episodes
Christmas With Ron and Kristin | Episode 142
No guest. No deep dives. Just Ron and Kristin in a relaxed, honest Christmas conversation. This special holiday episode blends fun, reflection, and the real “dirty side” of the season—family dynamics, expectations, boundaries, and gratitude.
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Season 2
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Episode 142
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52:46
Romantic Betrayal with Dr. Merissa Ferrara Elisei | Episode 141
Ron and Kristin sit down with award-winning professor and betrayal expert Dr. Merissa Ferrara Elisei to break down one of the most emotionally charged topics: romantic betrayal.From why people cheat to why it hurts so badly — and why som...
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Season 2
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Episode 141
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53:47
The Empathy Trap: Why Leaders Burn Out Trying to Be Everyone’s Therapist | Episode 140
In this episode, Ron and Kristin dig into a hidden leadership crisis: empathy burnout. When high-EQ leaders become everyone’s emotional outlet, they absorb problems that aren’t theirs — leading to exhaustion, resentment, and emotional overload....
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Season 2
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Episode 140
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39:34
Behind the Scenes: Get to Know Ron & Kristin | Throwback Episode
In this special throwback episode, we get a deeper look into the lives of Ron and Kristin.Co-hosts: Ron Ward and Kristin SokoloffSponsor: 4Ward OperationsProducer: Stephen RidleyFacebook Group Administrator: Cassy Roop
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Season 2
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51:36
He Hunted Fugitives for the Feds, Now He’s Ready to Talk | Interview with Former U.S. Marshal Greg Forest | Episode 139
In this episode, Ron and Kristin sit down with Greg Forest, former U.S. Marshal, former Chief U.S. Probation Officer, and now co-founder of Davis Forest Investigations. Greg shares a rare inside look at federal fugitive operations, the realitie...
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Season 2
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Episode 139
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51:23
Dark Psychology at Work: How Manipulation Hides in Plain Sight | Episode 138
Ron and Kristin expose how manipulation operates in everyday workplaces — from charm tactics to control games — and how leaders can spot the warning signs.Highlights:The Dark Triad at work: narcissism, Machiav...
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Season 2
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Episode 138
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35:02
Loyalty & Betrayal: How to Spot a Modern Day Judas at Your Table | Episode 137
In this episode, Ron and Kristin expose one of leadership’s oldest power games — loyalty and betrayal. From ancient betrayals like Judas and Caesar to modern corporate sabotage, they reveal how leaders can spot a hidden opportunist before it’s ...
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Season 2
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Episode 137
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45:56
The Dirty Truth About What Makes a Leader Great | Throwback Episode
In this throwback episode, we're going back to episode 7 where Ron and Kristin discuss qualities of great leaders and how you can apply them to your own life.Co-hosts: Ron Ward and Kristin SokoloffSponsor: 4Ward OperationsProduce...
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Season 2
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55:59
Mafia Leadership Lessons with John Alite and His Story of Redemption | Episode 136
In this episode of The Dirty Side of Leadership, hosts Kristin Sokoloff and Ron Ward explore the tumultuous journey of John Alite — from organized crime enforcer to redemptive leader — and draw powerful parallels between the psychology of crime...
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Season 2
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Episode 136
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1:10:06
Leadership in Parenting (Part 2) | Episode 135
In Part Two of Leadership & Parenting, Ron and Kristin welcome Troy Robison, a faith-centered leader, husband, and father who serves as Head of Sales at AI Vector, the parent company of today’s sponsor, Kovo Home. Together, they explore how...
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Season 2
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Episode 135
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56:55
Leadership in Parenting (Part 1) | Episode 134
In this episode of The Dirty Side of Leadership, Ron and Kristin explore how leadership begins at home. From building trust through daily connection to guiding kids toward strength, kindness, and resilience, this episode reframes parenting as t...
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Season 2
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Episode 134
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24:06
Trump Calls All Military Leaders to Quantico: Worth the Cost? | Episode 133
In this episode, Kristin and Ron break down two major stories:President Trump’s unprecedented call for hundreds of generals and admirals to meet at Quantico.The mass exodus of over 100,000 federal employees.Wha...
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Season 2
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Episode 133
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39:51
Leadership Lessons From Charlie Kirk and the Movement He Built | Episode 132
In this episode, Ron and Kristin reflect on the life and leadership of Charlie Kirk, Who was assassinated on September 10, 2025. He was the founder of Turning Point USA (TPUSA). From his Illinois roots to building one of the nation’s most influ...
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Season 2
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Episode 132
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49:13
Special Guest: John Whitt, Chess Champion & Author of "Checkmate!" | Episode 131
In this episode, we sit down with John Whitt, a chess champion, business strategist, and author of Checkmate!: Translating Ideas Into Money. With over four decades of experience guiding organizations—ranging from large corporations to small bus...
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Season 2
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Episode 131
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50:01
Gen Z and the New Workforce | Episode 130
Welcome back to The Dirty Side of Leadership, where leadership meets entertainment. In this episode, Ron and Kristin tackle one of the hottest topics in leadership today: Gen Z entering—and reshaping—the modern workforce.From their uniq...
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Season 2
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Episode 130
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26:42
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 phrases like “Bless your heart” to subtle Northwest expres...
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Season 2
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Episode 129
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44:21
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 lead to tragedy.In this episode, Ron and Kristin unp...
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Season 2
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Episode 128
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38:59
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 television’s most iconic shows. From Walker Texas Ranger and The A-...
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Season 2
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Episode 127
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1:18:33
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 conversation about the inner voices that derail leaders—even t...
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Season 2
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Episode 126
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53:55
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 days under his belt than any contestant in "Naked and Afrai...
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Season 2
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Episode 125
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58:49
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 SokoloffSponsor: 4Ward OperationsProducer: Stephen RidleyFac...
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Season 2
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59:29
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 American politics.Known as the Pod Bros, these influential...
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Season 2
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Episode 124
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34:46
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 dealing with issues at work. Of course, there wi...
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Season 2
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Episode 123
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41:21
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 Kristin to unpack why today’s women are emotional...
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Season 2
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Episode 122
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1:06:22
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, testosterone and other aspects of the brain. This episode not only p...
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Season 2
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Episode 121
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45:48