Shows / The Dirty Side of Leadership
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
- The Dirty Side of Leadership
What’s Driving You Crazy at Work? | Episode 173
Send us Fan Mail Favoritism, pointless meetings, micromanagement, and coworkers who get away with everything—sound familiar? Ron and Kristin tackle fifteen…
- The Dirty Side of Leadership
Unbossing: What Is It and Why Is It Trending? | Throwback Episode
Send us Fan Mail In this special throwback episode, Ron and Kristin address a trend that has become widespread in today's businesses and companies. The term?…
- The Dirty Side of Leadership
Hollywood: Where Are the Love Stories, Heroes, and Strong Endings? | Episode 172
Send us Fan Mail Has Hollywood lost touch with what audiences love? Ron Ward and Kristin Sokoloff share their candid opinions on traditional romance, heroes…
- The Dirty Side of Leadership
Ron’s Rants Part Two: Workplace Questions We Need to Talk About | Episode 171
Send us Fan Mail Welcome to The Dirty Side of Leadership, where leadership meets entertainment! Ron Ward and Kristin Sokoloff tackle another round of workplace…
- The Dirty Side of Leadership
Loyalty & Betrayal: How to Spot a Modern Day Judas at Your Table | Throwback Episode
Send us Fan Mail In this special throwback episode, Ron and Kristin expose one of leadership’s oldest power games — loyalty and betrayal. From ancient…
- The Dirty Side of Leadership
Ron’s Rants: 20 Workplace Questions We Need to Talk About | Episode 170
Send us Fan Mail What do you do when a coworker spreads gossip, a manager gives vague directions, or a conversation you’ve been avoiding can’t wait any longer?…
- The Dirty Side of Leadership
More Than Survival: Leadership Lessons From Naked and Afraid's Jeff Zausch | Throwback Episode
Send us Fan Mail In this gripping throwback episode of The Dirty Side of Leadership, co-hosts Ron Ward and Kristin Sokoloff sit down with Discovery Channel’s…
- The Dirty Side of Leadership
Justin Fulcher DOGE Team Member, and Former Sr Advisor to Secretary Pete Hegseth | Throwback Episode
Send us Fan Mail In this special throwback episode, Ron Ward and Kristin Sokoloff talk with Justin Fulcher—entrepreneur, former Senior Advisor to Secretary of…
- The Dirty Side of Leadership
Dark Psychology at Work: How Manipulation Hides in Plain Sight | Throwback Episode
Send us Fan Mail In this special throwback episode, Ron and Kristin expose how manipulation operates in everyday workplaces — from charm tactics to control…
- The Dirty Side of Leadership
Romantic Betrayal with Dr. Merissa Ferrara Elisei | Throwback Episode
Send us Fan Mail Ron and Kristin sit down with award-winning professor and betrayal expert Dr. Merissa Ferrara Elisei to break down one of the most emotionally…
- The Dirty Side of Leadership
Why Weak Men Don’t Impress Women | Throwback Episode
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Ron and Kristin delve into - what some would call - a "taboo" topic. They discuss reasons why women, even the strong…
- The Dirty Side of Leadership
Navigating Cliques in the Workplace | Throwback Episode
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Ron and Kristin explore a topic that many of us have encountered throughout our careers: Cliques in the Workplace. Workplace…
- The Dirty Side of Leadership
Bored at Work? You May Be Suffering from Boreout Syndrome | Throwback Episode
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Ron and Kristin discuss Boreout Syndrome; birthed of boredom and burnout in the workplace. Changing environments at the…
- The Dirty Side of Leadership
Leadership, Courage & Citizen Vigilante with Fares Mongy | Episode 169
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Dirty Side of Leadership, Ron Ward and Kristin Sokoloff sit down with actor Fares Mongy to discuss his role in the…
- The Dirty Side of Leadership
The $58 Million Healthcare Heist: When a Safety Net Program Becomes a Criminal Gold Mine | Episode 168
Send us Fan Mail A healthcare program created to help vulnerable Americans is now facing renewed scrutiny after federal prosecutors uncovered a massive fraud…
- The Dirty Side of Leadership
How the Chemicals in the Brain Can Enhance Your Leadership | Throwback Episode
Send us Fan Mail In this throwback episode, Ron and Kristin explore the intricate workings of our brain and the chemicals that can enhance leadership skills…
- The Dirty Side of Leadership
The Art of Failure | Episode 167
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Dirty Side of Leadership, Ron Ward and Kristin Sokoloff explore why failure is an unavoidable part of leadership—and…
- The Dirty Side of Leadership
The Science of Persuasion: How to Make Anyone Agree With You | Throwback Episode
Send us Fan Mail In this special throwback episode, Ron and Kristin, discuss the science behind the power of persuasion. They break down the steps to help both…
- The Dirty Side of Leadership
World Cup Edition: What Hosting the World Cup Reveals About Leadership | Episode 166
Send us Fan Mail The FIFA World Cup is more than the world’s largest sporting event—it’s a global leadership test. Ron and Kristin explore what hosting the…
- The Dirty Side of Leadership
Why Spirit Airlines Failed: The Race to the Bottom | Episode 165
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Ron Ward and Kristin Sokoloff explore the rise and decline of Spirit Airlines, examining how a disruptive low-cost strategy…
- The Dirty Side of Leadership
The Crash: What Bad Parenting and Teen Culture Can Teach Us About Leadership | Episode 164
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Dirty Side of Leadership, Ron and Kristin discuss the Netflix documentary The Crash and explore the broader lessons…
- The Dirty Side of Leadership
The Psychology of Power: Why Good People Become Bad Leaders | Episode 163
Send us Fan Mail Power is one of the most influential—and dangerous—forces in leadership. In this episode, Ron and Kristin examine how authority affects human…
- The Dirty Side of Leadership
The Dirty Side of Nostalgia: When “The Good Ole Days” Start Holding You Back | Episode 162
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Dirty Side of Leadership, Ron and Kristin explore the hidden psychological and neurological dangers of nostalgia. While…
- The Dirty Side of Leadership
Leadership Dynamics in Prisons | Throwback Episode
Send us Fan Mail In this special throwback episode, Ron and Kristin share an inside look into the fascinating world of prison power dynamics with inmates and…
- The Dirty Side of Leadership
How to Tell a Good Story: Anyone Can Do It | Episode 161
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Dirty Side of Leadership, Ron Ward and Kristin Sokoloff break down the psychology and neuroscience behind great…
- The Dirty Side of Leadership
Toxic Loyalty: Why Good People Stay in Bad Systems | Episode 160
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Dirty Side of Leadership, Ron Ward and Kristin Sokoloff unpack the dangerous psychology of toxic loyalty—when good…
- The Dirty Side of Leadership
Cults: Why People Join and Why They Stay | Episode 159
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Ron and Kristin break down the psychology behind cults—why people join, why they stay, and why these same influence patterns…
- The Dirty Side of Leadership
Burnout: Why the Most Important Jobs Are Breaking People | Episode 158
Send us Fan Mail Burnout is rising fastest in helping professions—healthcare, education, and public service. This episode breaks down why it’s happening and…
- The Dirty Side of Leadership
Leadership from the NBA to the Campaign Trail with Chris Dudley | Episode 157
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Dirty Side of Leadership, Ron and Kristin sit down with former Portland Trail Blazer, businessman, and Oregon…
- The Dirty Side of Leadership
The Dirty Side of Fraternities: Brotherhood, Leadership, and the Hidden Risks | Episode 156
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Ron Ward and Kristin Sokoloff break down the reality of fraternity life—where leadership, connection, and opportunity exist…
- The Dirty Side of Leadership
Dark Psychology at Work: How Manipulation Hides in Plain Sight | Throwback Episode
Send us Fan Mail In this special throwback episode, Ron and Kristin expose how manipulation operates in everyday workplaces — from charm tactics to control…
- The Dirty Side of Leadership
Breakdown of the Iran War with Colonel CJ Williams, USMC, Retired | Episode 155
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Ron and Kristin sit down with returning guest Colonel CJ Williams to break down the rapidly escalating tensions with Iran. CJ…
- The Dirty Side of Leadership
Groupthink: When Smart People Stop Thinking | Episode 154
Send us Fan Mail Groupthink isn’t about intelligence—it’s about pressure. In this episode, Ron and Kristin break down how rooms full of smart, experienced…
- The Dirty Side of Leadership
EXCLUSIVE: Justin Fulcher DOGE Team Member, and Former Sr Advisor to Secretary Pete Hegseth | Episode 153
Send us Fan Mail Ron Ward and Kristin Sokoloff talk with Justin Fulcher—entrepreneur, former Senior Advisor to Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, member of Elon…
- The Dirty Side of Leadership
Oregon's John Dutton; Leadership Lessons from One of Oregon’s Oldest Families with Tripp Dietrich | Episode 152
Send us Fan Mail What happens when leadership isn’t something you pursue—but something you inherit? In this episode of The Dirty Side of Leadership, Kristin…
- The Dirty Side of Leadership
Leadership Lessons from the Epstein Scandal: Power, Secrecy, and Corruption | Episode 151
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Ron and Kristin examine the Jeffrey Epstein scandal through a leadership lens—focusing on power, elite networks, secrecy, and…
- The Dirty Side of Leadership
Hims Under Government Scrutiny: When Super Bowl Marketing Meets DOJ Referral | Episode 150
Send us Fan Mail Hims & Hers returned to the Super Bowl stage with bold messaging around weight-loss treatments — but now faces a formal referral from the U.S…
- The Dirty Side of Leadership
The Leadership Libido: Power, Drive, and the Hidden Hunger Behind Ambition | Episode 149
Send us Fan Mail In this bold and unfiltered episode of The Dirty Side of Leadership, Kristin Sokoloff and Ron Ward unpack a concept no one talks about out…
- The Dirty Side of Leadership
Leadership Lessons From Blake Lively Vs. Justin Baldoni | Episode 148
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Ron and Kristin unpack the leadership and communication lessons behind the highly publicized legal conflict involving Blake…
- The Dirty Side of Leadership
Will Carr on Purpose Over Performance: Why Success Still Feels Empty | Episode 147
Send us Fan Mail What happens when success stops feeling fulfilling? In this episode of The Dirty Side of Leadership Podcast, Kristin Sokoloff and Ron Ward sit…
- The Dirty Side of Leadership
Why Small Talk Is Quietly Killing Connection | Episode 146
Send us Fan Mail Small talk feels polite—but it quietly kills connection. In this episode, Ron Ward and Kristin Sokoloff break down the “robotic loop” of…
- The Dirty Side of Leadership
Extreme Optimism and Its Rewards | Episode 145
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Ron Ward and Kristin Sokoloff explore extreme optimism—not as blind positivity, but as a brain-based leadership skill that…
- The Dirty Side of Leadership
Lessons from the Arrest of Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela, with Colonel CJ Williams, USMC, Ret.
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Dirty Side of Leadership, Kristin Sokoloff and Ron Ward examine the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro…
- The Dirty Side of Leadership
New Year, Same Brain (Why New Year's Resolutions Fail) | Episode 143
Send us Fan Mail Why do New Year’s resolutions fail — even for motivated, disciplined leaders? In this New Year special, Kristin Sokoloff and Ron Ward explore…
- The Dirty Side of Leadership
Conversation Matching for the Holidays | Throwback Episode
Send us Fan Mail In this special throwback episode, Ron and Kristin explain methods of communication to help you deepen family bonds, reduce misunderstandings…
- The Dirty Side of Leadership
Christmas With Ron and Kristin | Episode 142
Send us Fan Mail No guest. No deep dives. Just Ron and Kristin in a relaxed, honest Christmas conversation. This special holiday episode blends fun…
- The Dirty Side of Leadership
Romantic Betrayal with Dr. Merissa Ferrara Elisei | Episode 141
Send us Fan Mail Ron and Kristin sit down with award-winning professor and betrayal expert Dr. Merissa Ferrara Elisei to break down one of the most emotionally…
- The Dirty Side of Leadership
The Empathy Trap: Why Leaders Burn Out Trying to Be Everyone’s Therapist | Episode 140
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Ron and Kristin dig into a hidden leadership crisis: empathy burnout. When high-EQ leaders become everyone’s emotional…
- The Dirty Side of Leadership
Behind the Scenes: Get to Know Ron & Kristin | Throwback Episode
Send us Fan Mail In this special throwback episode, we get a deeper look into the lives of Ron and Kristin. Co-hosts: Ron Ward and Kristin Sokoloff Sponsor…
- The Dirty Side of Leadership
He Hunted Fugitives for the Feds, Now He’s Ready to Talk | Interview with Former U.S. Marshal Greg Forest | Episode 139
Send us Fan Mail 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…
- The Dirty Side of Leadership
Dark Psychology at Work: How Manipulation Hides in Plain Sight | Episode 138
Send us Fan Mail Ron and Kristin expose how manipulation operates in everyday workplaces — from charm tactics to control games — and how leaders can spot the…
- The Dirty Side of Leadership
Loyalty & Betrayal: How to Spot a Modern Day Judas at Your Table | Episode 137
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Ron and Kristin expose one of leadership’s oldest power games — loyalty and betrayal. From ancient betrayals like Judas and…
- The Dirty Side of Leadership
The Dirty Truth About What Makes a Leader Great | Throwback Episode
Send us Fan Mail 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…
- The Dirty Side of Leadership
Mafia Leadership Lessons with John Alite and His Story of Redemption | Episode 136
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Dirty Side of Leadership, hosts Kristin Sokoloff and Ron Ward explore the tumultuous journey of John Alite — from…
- The Dirty Side of Leadership
Leadership in Parenting (Part 2) | Episode 135
Send us Fan Mail In Part Two of Leadership & Parenting, Ron and Kristin welcome Troy Robison, a faith-centered leader, husband, and father who serves as Head…
- The Dirty Side of Leadership
Leadership in Parenting (Part 1) | Episode 134
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Dirty Side of Leadership, Ron and Kristin explore how leadership begins at home. From building trust through daily…
- The Dirty Side of Leadership
Trump Calls All Military Leaders to Quantico: Worth the Cost? | Episode 133
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Kristin and Ron break down two major stories: President Trump’s unprecedented call for hundreds of generals and admirals to…
- The Dirty Side of Leadership
Leadership Lessons From Charlie Kirk and the Movement He Built | Episode 132
Send us Fan Mail 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…
- The Dirty Side of Leadership
Special Guest: John Whitt, Chess Champion & Author of "Checkmate!" | Episode 131
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we sit down with John Whitt, a chess champion, business strategist, and author of Checkmate!: Translating Ideas Into Money…
- The Dirty Side of Leadership
Gen Z and the New Workforce | Episode 130
Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to The Dirty Side of Leadership, where leadership meets entertainment. In this episode, Ron and Kristin tackle one of the hottest…