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The Dirty Side of Leadership

Ron Ward & Kristin Sokoloff
Leadership
Communication
Dark Psychology
Burnout
Neuroscience
Brain Science
Nostalgia
Storytelling
Narcissism
Machiavellianism
Groupthink
Psychopathy
Empathy
Extreme Optimism
Conversation Matching
Romantic Betrayal
U.S. Marshals Service
Fraternities
Toxic Loyalty
Conversation Starters

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 breakd... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes172Founded3 years ago
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Artwork for The Dirty Side of Leadership

Latest Episodes

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In this episode of The Dirty Side of Leadership, Ron and Kristin discuss the Netflix documentary The Crash and explore the broader lessons surrounding parenting, accountability, emotional resilience, social media, and leadership.

R... more

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Power is one of the most influential—and dangerous—forces in leadership. In this episode, Ron and Kristin examine how authority affects human behavior, why even good people can make poor leadership decisions, and what history, psych... more

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In this episode of The Dirty Side of Leadership, Ron and Kristin explore the hidden psychological and neurological dangers of nostalgia. While nostalgia can create comfort, connection, and emotional grounding, it can also quietly tr... more

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In this special throwback episode, Ron and Kristin share an inside look into the fascinating world of prison power dynamics with inmates and correctional officers. Specifically, prison code, prison argo/language, inmate leadership h... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Chris Dudley
Former Portland Trail Blazer, businessman and gubernatorial candidate
Campaign for Governor of Oregon
Episode: Leadership from the NBA to the Campaign Trail with Chris Dudley | Episode 157
Colonel CJ Williams
Colonel, United States Marine Corps, retired
U.S. Marine Corps
Episode: Breakdown of the Iran War with Colonel CJ Williams, USMC, Retired | Episode 155
Justin Fulcher
Former Senior Advisor to the Secretary of Defense; former member of the DOGE team under Elon Musk; RingMD co-founder; Johns Hopkins doctoral candidate
Former Pentagon/DOGE; RingMD; Johns Hopkins University
Episode: EXCLUSIVE: Justin Fulcher DOGE Team Member, and Former Sr Advisor to Secretary Pete Hegseth | Episode 153
Howard Trip Dietrich
Eighth generation Oregonian, business owner, and candidate for Oregon State Senate
Private sector (hospitality, real estate, textiles); Senate candidate
Episode: Oregon's John Dutton; Leadership Lessons from One of Oregon’s Oldest Families with Tripp Dietrich | Episode 152
Will Carr
Founder of Genesee Nutrition; entrepreneur, former basketball player
Genesee Nutrition
Episode: Will Carr on Purpose Over Performance: Why Success Still Feels Empty | Episode 147
Dr. Merissa Ferrara Elisei
Expert on Romantic Betrayal; Executive Director of Coaching at 4Ward Operations
4Ward Operations
Episode: Romantic Betrayal with Dr. Merissa Ferrara Elisei | Episode 141
Greg Forest
Former U.S. Marshal and former Chief U.S. Probation Officer, entrepreneur
Davis Forest Investigations (private security/consulting)
Episode: He Hunted Fugitives for the Feds, Now He’s Ready to Talk | Interview with Former U.S. Marshal Greg Forest | Episode 139

Hosts

Kristin Sokoloff
Co-host; extensive leadership experience; frequently discussed as a primary host.
Ron Ward
Co-host; former law-enforcement background; central to discussions on leadership and public safety.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 115 ratings
  • All

    The absolute best leadership podcast ever!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    crystallindzney
    United Statesa year ago
  • Best Leadership Podcast!

    This podcast is fun, entertaining and full of knowledge! Keep up the great work, Ron and Kristin.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    preecha man
    United Statesa year ago
  • Great podcast

    Very informative with a sense of humor and a touch of class makes for a great recipe!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jay_Rico
    United States2 years ago
  • Amazing!

    These two are American heroes, especially Kristin! Keep going!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    walkerbrandonj
    United States2 years ago
  • Good stuff

    True statement! Where leadership meets entertainment indeed. Lots of good episodes with good content, entertaining and interesting topics, and applicable information. Never a dull episode.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    On the leadership path
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

The hosts' real-world experience comes through, with candid, coaching-style insights.
Listeners praise the mix of entertainment and practical leadership takeaways.
A few reviews note controversial moments or politics angles impacting tone.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

He Hunted Fugitives for the Feds, Now He’s Ready to Talk | Interview with Former U.S. Marshal Greg Forest | Episode 139
Q: What leadership advice would you give to someone who is indecisive or insecure in a high-stakes role?
Speak your mind with respect, stand on your principles, and cultivate confidence through consistent actions; results will show whether you are reliable, and even in defeat you should walk away with your integrity intact.
He Hunted Fugitives for the Feds, Now He’s Ready to Talk | Interview with Former U.S. Marshal Greg Forest | Episode 139
Q: How did you approach upgrading equipment and training in a resource-constrained environment?
I built relationships at headquarters to secure supplemental funding, prioritized essential gear like long guns and vests, and demonstrated care for deputies, which earned trust and buy-in that accelerated resource upgrades.
He Hunted Fugitives for the Feds, Now He’s Ready to Talk | Interview with Former U.S. Marshal Greg Forest | Episode 139
Q: Greg, can you outline the key differences between leading the U.S. Marshals Service and leading U.S. Probation?
The Marshals focus on 100% law enforcement with centralized budgeting and stricter discipline, while Probation is more like running a decentralized organization where the leader acts as a CEO, with autonomy over hiring, budget, and operations, making leadership and morale management more practical and people-centered.
EXCLUSIVE: Justin Fulcher DOGE Team Member, and Former Sr Advisor to Secretary Pete Hegseth | Episode 153
Q: What lessons would you share with leaders facing false accusations or criticism?
Stay mission-focused, manage your own psychology, and lean on a supportive community; public setbacks are part of leadership when challenging the status quo, but perseverance is essential.
EXCLUSIVE: Justin Fulcher DOGE Team Member, and Former Sr Advisor to Secretary Pete Hegseth | Episode 153
Q: What was the biggest challenge in communicating DOGE's work to the public?
The biggest challenge was countering misinformation and media narratives; despite real cost-savings and progress, mainstream outlets often depicted DOGE negatively, which required persistent, targeted messaging.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Dirty Side of Leadership

What is The Dirty Side of Leadership about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Two seasoned leaders host a weekly show that blends practical leadership lessons with entertaining, candid storytelling. Topics span organizational dynamics, burnout, toxic loyalty, storytelling craft, and the psychology behind workplace behavior, often illustrated with real-world anecdotes from public sector and high-stakes environments. The format tends to mix sharp analysis, actionable takeaways, and humor, making complex leadership concepts accessible for a broad audience of managers, policymakers, and future leaders. A standout quality is the willingness to tackle controversial or uncomfortable subjects while offering pragmatic guidance and coaching-oriented insights that listeners can apply at work or in their careers.

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Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Dirty Side of Leadership. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The Dirty Side of Leadership and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Dirty Side of Leadership get?

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Which podcasts are similar to The Dirty Side of Leadership?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Dirty Side of Leadership:

1. The Megyn Kelly Show
2. The Tucker Carlson Show
3. Serialously with Annie Elise
4. The Sarah Fraser Show
5. Juicy Crimes with Heather McDonald

How many episodes of The Dirty Side of Leadership are there?

The Dirty Side of Leadership launched 3 years ago and published 172 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Dirty Side of Leadership?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Dirty Side of Leadership?

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What guests have appeared on The Dirty Side of Leadership?

Recent guests on The Dirty Side of Leadership include:

1. Chris Dudley
2. Colonel CJ Williams
3. Justin Fulcher
4. Howard Trip Dietrich
5. Will Carr
6. Dr. Merissa Ferrara Elisei
7. Greg Forest

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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