Spartan Leadership with Josh Kosnick

Josh Kosnick

Good and Great Are the Enemies of Possible™️ Leadership and business coach Josh Kosnick has conversations with some of the greatest minds in leadership both in business, community, and politics. Guests provide insights from years of experience, delivering powerful messages to help you live a more inspired and impactful life. 

  1. Jul 15

    What Marcus Aurelius Got Wrong About Legacy

    Send us Fan Mail Most people think legacy is something you build at the end — a monument, an inheritance, a name on a building "someday." That's the first lie. The second one is even more common: legacy is what you leave behind. In this solo episode, I break down the two lies about legacy almost everyone believes — and why both of them are keeping you from building one right now. Inside this episode: • The moving-truck moment that made me question everything I'd chased • The three questions I asked myself in the field — and the sad answer to all three • Why your legacy is a Kairos problem, not a Kronos problem • What Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Deuteronomy actually say about inheritance (hint: it's not the greeting-card version) • Marcus Aurelius vs. the Spartans — and the tension that reframes how you should live today • The one question to ask yourself before you go to bed tonight If this hit you, share it with one person who needs to hear it today. 📖 The Kairos Code audiobook launches August 1. Join the launch team → kairoscode.com/250 Connect with Josh Kosnick: https://joshkosnick.com/connect Chapters: 0:00 What did you leave in someone today? 1:17 Welcome + audiobook launch team (Aug 1) 2:18 Two lies people believe about legacy 2:51 The boxes in the basement 4:56 If you died tonight, what would they say? 6:09 Lie #1 — Legacy is a future event 7:14 The to-be list and the to-feel list 8:38 The DM that arrived 8 years later 10:46 Lie #2 — Legacy is what you leave behind 12:57 My father-in-law's boots 14:01 What scripture actually says 16:25 Why I started this podcast 17:25 Marcus Aurelius pushes back 19:08 The Spartan view — timē and kleos 21:08 Kronos vs. Kairos 22:03 What did I leave in someone today? #SpartanLeadership #Leadership #Legacy #Kairos #FaithInBusiness #JoshKosnick #TheKairosCode #Mindset #Entrepreneurship #SelfImprovement CONNECT WITH ME HERE: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Twitter TikTok YouTube SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST HERE: Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube

  2. Jul 7

    Why People Say “You Don’t Change” (And Why They’re Wrong)

    Send us Fan Mail People don’t change. It sounds wise… until it quietly wrecks your life. In this episode, Josh makes the case against one of the most common lies in our culture: that you’re stuck with who you’ve always been. He breaks down why that belief feels safe, how it kills growth in real time, and what the science and lived stories say about actual transformation. You’ll hear: • Why “people don’t change” is self-protection, not truth • How your brain and nervous system can actually rewire over time • Why the “21 days to change your life” idea is wrong (and what really happens) • Real examples of addiction broken, bodies rebuilt, and generational patterns ending • A practical framework for what change requires: decision, plan, repetition, community, faith This isn’t motivational fluff. It’s the uncomfortable reality that change is hard, slow, and still completely available—if you’re willing to pay the price in repetition. If you’ve ever looked at your own story and thought,  “Maybe this is just who I am…” ,watch this before you decide that your past gets the final say. Connect with Josh Kosnick: joshkosnick.com #SpartanLeadership #Leadership #BusinessSuccess #Mindset #Entrepreneurship #SelfImprovement #Podcast #JoshKosnick #SpartanMindset Support the show CONNECT WITH ME HERE: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Twitter TikTok YouTube SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST HERE: Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube

    Why People Say “You Don’t Change” (And Why They’re Wrong)
  3. Jun 30

    From One Can to a National Brand: The Carbliss Playbook

    Send us Fan Mail What does it really look like to go from a $2,500 bet to a 9‑figure beverage brand? In this episode of Spartan Leadership, Josh Kosnick sits down with Adam Kroener, co‑founder and president of Carbliss, to break down how he went from putting a drink “in a can” and “selling the shit out of it” to building a massive ready‑to‑drink cocktail company.  Adam shares how a backyard idea turned into a real business, why his wife’s 25 “better questions” became their first business plan, and how they ended up doing the exact opposite of what was on that plan once they got into the real world. Adam pulls back the curtain on formulation, distribution, culture, and the realities of scaling, including flying to California to dial in flavor because he didn’t know how to describe what he was tasting, honoring his late best friend through the parent company name, and learning to ask experts better questions instead of pretending to know it all. You’ll hear the unpolished story behind Carbliss, from early fears and $2,500 on the line to navigating explosive growth, hiring, and building a team that can sell “the shit out of it” without losing who they are. In this episode: • The $2,500 down-payment story and the “put it in a can” moment with his wife • How a non-beverage guy learned to talk to beverage experts and dial in flavor • Turning 25 questions into a business plan they eventually did the opposite of • Honoring a best friend through the parent company behind Carbliss • What it really takes to scale from an idea to a 9-figure brand Connect with Adam Kroener | adamkroener.com Drink Carbliss | https://drinkcarbliss.com Follow Josh Kosnick | joshkosnick.com Timestamps: 00:00 Cold open – “Put it in a can and sell the shit out of it”   00:57 Welcome back + who Adam is and why his story matters   02:23 Army deployment to Iraq and how it shaped his leadership   04:11 From factory floor to leading 1,000+ people in manufacturing   07:41 Early failed business, delusional confidence, and what he learned   10:22 The $2,500 bet and the origin story of Carbliss   12:32 Visionary vs. integrator – building the business with his wife   13:54 Why Carbliss tastes like the name on the can (product and flavor philosophy) 39:57 Family, staying grounded, and building a life around the business   01:08:01 Legacy, the real American Dream, and Adam’s final leadership lesson #SpartanLeadership #AdamKroener #Carbliss #Entrepreneurship #StartupStory #BusinessPodcast #Founders #Leadership #BeverageIndustry #CPG #DrinkBusiness #SmallBusiness #BusinessGrowth #VeteranOwned #HusbandAndWifeTeam Support the show CONNECT WITH ME HERE: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Twitter TikTok YouTube SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST HERE: Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube

    From One Can to a National Brand: The Carbliss Playbook
  4. Jun 17

    Purpose Is a Verb: Dr. Christine Whelan on Redefining Success After Your Plans Fall Apart

    Send us Fan Mail What do you do when the business, career, or life plan you built your identity on suddenly disappears? In this episode of Spartan Leadership, Josh Kosnick sits down with Dr. Christine Whelan, the “purpose professor,” to talk about why purpose is a verb—something you do every day with your gifts and values—rather than a job title or a single life calling. They unpack what happens when everything falls apart: Josh’s story of losing his business five years ago, empty nest transitions, career changes, and the quiet identity crises that come when a chapter ends. Dr. Whelan explains how to separate your purpose from your role, why transitions make purpose feel more urgent, and how to design a life where you spend more time on the things you’re gifted at and actually enjoy. You’ll hear a research‑backed definition of purpose, a fresh take on happiness as a byproduct (not the goal), and a practical framework for living with pro‑social purpose—using your gifts, in keeping with your values, to positively impact other people in the community. If you’ve ever asked “What now?” after a loss, layoff, or big life change, this conversation is for you. In this episode: • Why “purpose is a verb,” not a one‑time discovery or slogan • How to think about purpose when your business, role, or season ends • Designing work you love using a simple “T‑chart” exercise • Purpose in parenting and raising kids who live their values • Pro‑social purpose, “eco‑you” vs “ego‑you,” and why community matters Connect with Dr. Christine Whelan: - Website: https://christinewhelan.com - Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cbwhelan/ Connect with Josh Kosnick: - LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/joshkosnick - Instagram: https://instagram.com/joshkosnick - Website: https://joshkosnick.com #PurposeIsAVerb #ChristineWhelan #SpartanLeadership #PurposeAfterLoss #LifeTransitions #FindYourPurpose #ChristianLeadership #BusinessLeadership #PersonalGrowth #Podcast  Support the show CONNECT WITH ME HERE: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Twitter TikTok YouTube SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST HERE: Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube

    Purpose Is a Verb: Dr. Christine Whelan on Redefining Success After Your Plans Fall Apart
  5. Jun 2

    This is the Leadership Skill Our Culture Forgot

    Send us Fan Mail In this solo episode of Spartan Leadership, Josh Kosnick tackles a problem that’s quietly wrecking our society, our homes, and our boardrooms: the inability to hold two truths at the same time. From Memorial Day to the boardroom to your marriage, he breaks down how binary thinking masquerades as conviction while quietly destroying wisdom, trust, and culture. You’ll hear why being “for” or “against” everything isn’t strength, it’s rigidity — and how real leaders learn to sit in tension, honor complexity, and still make clear decisions. Josh then walks through six practical disciplines you can start using this week to build the muscle of holding two truths without folding under pressure. If you’re a leader at work, at home, or in your community, this episode will challenge how you think, how you decide, and how you show up when things get complex. 🔗 Learn more and go deeper with The Kairos Code at thekairoscode.com ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 – What happens when you can’t hold two truths and why it limits everything downstream   00:22 – Six practical disciplines to build the “two truths” leadership muscle   00:49 – Stop reacting: creating a gap between stimulus and response so wisdom can get in   01:28 – Welcome back to Spartan Leadership with Josh Kosnick; introducing “Two Truths”   02:01 – From BLM and “defund the police” to everyday conversations: how we’re trained to pick a side   02:26 – “Not every cop is bad, : both/and thinking in practice   02:48 – Why having to pick a side on everything has frustrated Josh for years   03:10 – How this conditioning is showing up in your home and your boardroom   03:35 – Memorial Day: honoring the men and women who gave their lives in service to this country   03:54 – Anti‑war and pro‑soldier: holding two truths that culture treats as incompatible   04:18 – Against war, honoring every fallen soldier, and why that’s now seen as controversial   05:11 – What we’ve lost in society, in homes, and in business: the ability to hold two truths   05:36 – Binary thinking feels like conviction but is actually rigidity and limitation   06:07 – How algorithms reward hot takes over wisdom and train us for performance, not discernment   07:03 – From newspapers to modern media: why the hot take wins and corrections disappear   07:28 – When two truths can’t coexist, all that’s left is power — the loudest voice wins   08:03 – Inside the boardroom: growth versus sustainability and why both are true at the same time   08:32 – Dysfunctional leadership teams: ego with a title versus searching for truth   08:59 – Visionary and Integrator: the EOS structure built on two necessary truths Support the show CONNECT WITH ME HERE: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Twitter TikTok YouTube SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST HERE: Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube

  6. May 26

    Thomas Massie vs AIPAC: $35M Primary Fight & What Trump’s REALLY Doing to America

    Send us Fan Mail Thomas Massie is facing a $35 million AIPAC-funded primary challenge—the most expensive congressional race in history. Why? Because he stood on principle instead of party loyalty. In this Leadership In Review episode, we break down what’s really happening in American politics, Trump’s broken promises on gas prices and America First, and the business lessons you need to hear. Jason Smith (constitutional law expert) and Emanuel Whitfield (entrepreneur) join Josh Kosnick for an unfiltered breakdown of principle vs. politics, foreign policy reality, and why execution beats ideas every single time—featuring the legendary Michael Jackson 3AM story. If you care about political integrity, business success, or understanding how money controls Congress, this conversation will open your eyes. ⏱️ CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Why We Do Leadership In Review: Real Conversations, Real Friends 3:03 - Thomas Massie Primary: AIPAC’s $35M Campaign Explained 5:20 - Massie’s Controversial Votes: Border Wall & Big Beautiful Bill 7:20 - Principle vs Party Loyalty: Where Do You Draw the Line? 9:00 - Can You Be Too Conservative? Legislative Teamwork Debate 10:25 - Trump’s Broken Promises: Gas Prices & Neglecting America 11:18 - Israel vs Iran Foreign Policy: The Real Debate No One’s Having 13:15 - JD Vance on Team Politics: “If We Can’t Count On You…” 19:00 - Big Beautiful Bill Analysis: Helping Workers or Adding Debt? 20:45 - Trump’s Empathy Problem: “Patriots Will Suck It Up” 22:00 - Business Success Reality: Right Place, Right People, Right Time 24:00 - Kushner’s $200 Billion Saudi Deal: How Connections Work 25:00 - The Tasting Room Effect: Networking That Actually Pays 27:00 - Midterm Preview: What Massie’s Race Means for 2026 29:00 - Information Age Paradox: Why Knowledge Isn’t Power 30:00 - Execution Over Ideas: Why Most People Fail 30:45 - Michael Jackson’s 3AM Call: Act Before Prince Gets Your Idea 🔥 KEY TOPICS COVERED: Thomas Massie Kentucky primary election, AIPAC political spending, JD Vance team politics statement, Trump second term performance, gas prices rising under Trump, America First foreign policy debate, Israel Iran policy controversy, principle versus party loyalty, congressional voting records, business networking strategies, execution versus ideas in business, Michael Jackson creative process, deal making in cigar lounges, political influence money, 2026 midterm election predictions 👥 GUESTS: Jason Smith - Constitutional law background, owns The Tasting Room Madison, believes in coalition building for transformative legislation Emanuel Whitfield - Serial entrepreneur, business owner, political independent who calls out hypocrisy on both sides of the aisle --- 📺 MORE SPARTAN LEADERSHIP: Subscribe for monthly Leadership In Review episodes where we discuss politics, business, and life over cigars—and still walk out as friends. 🔗 JOSH KOSNICK: Website: https://www.joshkosnick.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshkosnick LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshkosnick #ThomasMassie #AIPAC #Trump2026 #LeadershipInReview #PoliticalDebate #AmericaFirst #GasPrices #CongressionalPolitics #BusinessNetworking #ExecutionOverIdeas #MichaelJackson #EntrepreneurMindset #2026Elections #PoliticalPrinciples #spartanleadership Support the show CONNECT WITH ME HERE: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Twitter TikTok YouTube SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST HERE: Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube

    Thomas Massie vs AIPAC: $35M Primary Fight & What Trump’s REALLY Doing to America
  7. May 12

    Inside Vortex Optics: What Really Drives the Brand and the People Behind It | Joe Hamilton

    Send us Fan Mail Most conversations about Vortex Optics focus on the products. This one is about the people and the principles behind the glass. In this Spartan Leadership episode, Joe Hamilton, CEO of Vortex Optics, gives an inside look at what truly drives the brand — from his father’s original vision to the employee‑owners in Barneveld who show up like it’s their company, and the front‑line team that lives out “we’ll take care of you” every single day. We go deep on: Why Vortex once refused to let a flattering article run because it focused too much on the Hamilton family and not enough on staff and customersHow the “About You” core value (instead of “About Us”) became the lens for every decision they makeThe story behind CARE — Create A Rare Experience — and how they build systems that let humans serve humans, not hide behind policiesWhat it actually looks like to empower front‑line team members to solve problems without a scriptWhy Joe believes scale and efficiency are NOT the ultimate thing, and how that conviction shapes the way they treat one customer at a timeThe weight of being trusted with a 10‑year, life‑and‑death U.S. Army contract — and what that does to the standards inside the buildingHow legacy, stewardship, and his dad’s example keep Joe grounded as a leaderThis is not a product review, a brand commercial, or a highlight reel. It’s a behind‑the‑scenes look at how Vortex thinks, what it expects from its people, and why the culture feels different when you walk through the doors. If you’ve ever wondered, “What actually makes Vortex Vortex?” — this is the episode. Chapters: 00:00 – Why this isn’t a typical CEO interview 02:00 – The article Vortex refused and what it revealed 03:00 – “About You,” Joe’s dad, and customer‑first values 07:00 – CARE: Create A Rare Experience 12:30 – A binocular, a son, and a rare experience in real life 15:00 – Why scale and efficiency aren’t the ultimate thing 20:00 – VIP Warranty and empowering the team to do what’s right 27:00 – Inside the Army contract and raising the bar internally 40:00 – Developing leaders and protecting the culture 55:00 – Legacy, stewardship, and the future of Vortex Learn more about Vortex Optics: https://vortexoptics.com/ Connect with Josh Kosnick: joshkosnick.com Follow Joe Hamilton on Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/joehamiltonlive/ #leadership #VortexOptics #companyculture #business #entrepreneurship #servantleadership #legacy #brandbuilding #customerobsession #customerservice #SpartanLeadership #podcast #businessleadership #mindset #highperformance #employeeowned #culturematters #faithinbusiness #purpose #JoshKosnick Support the show CONNECT WITH ME HERE: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Twitter TikTok YouTube SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST HERE: Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube

    Inside Vortex Optics: What Really Drives the Brand and the People Behind It | Joe Hamilton
4.7
out of 5
70 Ratings

About

Good and Great Are the Enemies of Possible™️ Leadership and business coach Josh Kosnick has conversations with some of the greatest minds in leadership both in business, community, and politics. Guests provide insights from years of experience, delivering powerful messages to help you live a more inspired and impactful life.