Unapologetic Leadership

Cory Dunham

In a noisy, distracted world, authentic leadership matters more than ever. Hosted by Cory Dunham—entrepreneur, business leader, and follower of Jesus—this podcast is real talk for real leaders who want to live and lead with clarity, courage, and conviction. From overcoming fear mindsets to leading with love, Cory shares personal stories, faith-driven values, and practical tools that help you grow as a leader in your workplace, family, and community. Each episode offers actionable takeaways, mindset shifts, and sometimes guest insights—so you can lead without burnout, build trust, create alignment, and anchor yourself in what truly matters. Whether you’re a boss, teacher, parent, entrepreneur, career professional, or single mom, this show will help you lead yourself and others in a way that’s bold, authentic, and sustainable. Because leadership isn’t a title—it’s a way of living. Subscribe and join a community of leaders who are done with surface-level living. The world doesn’t need louder leaders—it needs leaders who are clear, courageous, and grounded.

  1. 1D AGO

    Identity, Self-Trust, and the Power of Stories with Hannah Peterson

    What if the life you want is on the other side of trusting yourself? In this episode of Unapologetic Leadership, Cory Dunham sits down with Hannah Peterson to explore how identity, self-trust, and storytelling shape the way we lead and live. From stepping into the unknown to rewriting your own narrative, this conversation dives into how confidence is built through action, courage, and embracing who you truly are—even when it’s uncomfortable. If you’ve ever felt stuck, uncertain, or not “ready,” this episode will challenge you to take the first step and start leading your own story. About Hannah Peterson Hannah Peterson is the Executive Director of Wonder Productions. Prior to this, she spent almost 14 years working in Latin America and Africa on education, digital health, and innovative finance projects. She began her career as a Volunteer Coordinator in Nicaragua, where her passion for connecting across cultures first began. She holds a Master’s Degree in Global Human Development from Georgetown University and a BA in Sociology and Economics from the University of Pennsylvania. In January 2025, she wrote her first play, Vacate, and performed it in April 2025 to a sold-out audience at Joe’s Movement Emporium—where she discovered the power of storytelling to build empathy and connection. Contact Hannah: Email: hpeterson@wonderproductionsmedia.com Instagram: wonderproductions_dc Website: www.wonderproductionsmedia.com

    35 min
  2. MAR 12

    Success to Significance, Seek God's Direction, Do It Scared with Ian Watts

    What happens when success isn’t enough anymore? In this powerful episode of Unapologetic Leadership, Cory Dunham sits down with entrepreneur, author, and leadership expert Ian Watts to explore the shift from chasing success to living a life of true significance. Ian shares his journey from growing up in poverty in Detroit to achieving financial success at a young age—only to realize that money alone doesn’t bring fulfillment. Through faith, purpose, and leadership, he discovered a deeper mission: building businesses that bless the world. Together, Cory and Ian discuss how leaders can seek God’s direction, overcome fear, and step into their calling—even when it means doing it scared. They dive into leadership lessons about faith, decision-making, purpose, and creating impact that goes far beyond financial success. If you want to lead with conviction, strengthen your faith, and transform your success into meaningful impact, this episode will challenge and inspire you. About Ian Watts Ian Watts is an accomplished author, speaker, coach, and expert on workforce transformation, helping executives enhance employee engagement, boost team performance, and reduce employee turnover in 90 days or less, guaranteed. He delivers results through powerful keynotes, workshops, and his proprietary leadership framework known as The ACTS Method. With over two decades of experience as a business coach, Ian has built HR systems and scaled staffing leadership—helping grow a company from 6 to 60 locations nationwide while recruiting more than 400 team members with minimal turnover. As the founder of SB Dream Coach and Employee Success Company, Ian has helped transform leaders across 30+ industries in more than 40 states and internationally in countries such as China, Canada, and Saudi Arabia. Ian has shared stages with renowned speakers including ET, the Hip Hop Preacher, and Coach Stormy Wellington, and has been featured on FOX 2 News (Detroit), Equipped with Chris Brooks, and PBS (Detroit). A committed servant-leader, Ian has also served in ministry for over a decade, including leadership with EMERG (Evangel Ministries Economic Restoration Group). His mission is simple yet powerful: to build businesses that bless the world by developing both the mindset and skill set leaders need to transform their lives and organizations. Connect with Ian Watts: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ianmwatts/ Website: http://employeesuccesscompany.com/

    39 min
  3. MAR 5

    Brand Trust, Human Connection, Lasting Perception with Kyle Turk

    In this episode, Cory Dunham sits down with marketing leader Kyle Turk to explore what truly builds brand trust, authentic human connection, and lasting perception in today’s rapidly evolving digital world. As AI reshapes marketing and communication, Kyle shares why authenticity, clarity of purpose, and real human connection are becoming the most valuable assets a brand can have. The conversation dives into how leaders and marketers can stand out in a crowded marketplace, avoid the trap of generic AI-driven content, and build brands that people genuinely trust. Kyle also shares insights from his entrepreneurial journey, lessons in leadership, and how organizations can create environments where teams thrive through purpose, creativity, and collaboration. If you're a leader, entrepreneur, marketer, or business owner, this episode will give you practical insights on how to build stronger brands, lead with authenticity, and create meaningful connections that drive long-term growth. About Kyle Turk Kyle Turk is the VP of Marketing at seoplus+ and Founder of Meerkat Marketing, an award-winning entrepreneurial marketing leader with over two decades of experience managing teams, driving revenue, acquiring clients, and building powerful brands through strategic and creative marketing solutions. Kyle has been featured as an expert contributor in numerous leading publications including Business Insider, Business News Daily, CMSWire, USA Today, Ivy Exec, Databox, Ottawa Business Journal, PostFunnel, Upgrow, TopWebinars, Keys2Business, L-Spark, Klipfolio, and more. He has also served as a judge for the Canadian Marketing Association Awards, leads LinkedIn workshops, and is the co-host of the Marketing Malarky Podcast. Kyle frequently speaks at organizations and institutions such as the University of Ottawa, Carleton Marketing Association, Ottawa Board of Trade, Ottawa Business Journal, and Lakefield College School Career Day. His expertise spans a wide range of marketing and leadership disciplines including marketing strategy, B2B marketing, digital marketing, content marketing, lead generation, brand building, marketing automation, CRM, customer experience, performance measurement, and strategic planning. Connect with Kyle Turk Email: kturk@meerkatmarketing.ca LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-turk/

    30 min
  4. FEB 26

    Building Kindness at Scale, Culture, Both Online and Off with Abby Mckiernan

    In this powerful episode of Unapologetic Leadership, Cory Dunham sits down with speaker, entrepreneur, and culture strategist Abagail McKiernan for a conversation about bold leadership rooted in compassion, faith, and intentional action. Abby shares how a simple moment, hearing a woman say “because I can” while helping someone in need, sparked a movement that grew into a community connecting more than 100,000 needs since 2017. What began as a Facebook group evolved into a powerful model of radical generosity and ultimately into a technology platform helping workplaces better care for their people. Together, they explore what it truly means to lead from any seat, whether in a boardroom, a nonprofit, or at home. Abby opens up about navigating imposter syndrome, leading without a title, the discipline of pausing before reacting, and why culture is shaped in everyday moments. She challenges leaders to move beyond surface-level kindness and instead build systems that remove barriers, restore dignity, and create environments where people can thrive. This episode is about courage, clarity, responsibility, and choosing compassion, not as a feeling, but as a leadership strategy. About Abby McKiernan Abagail McKiernan is a speaker, entrepreneur, author, and community builder who believes that kindness, when backed by action, is one of the most powerful tools a company can invest in. She is the founder of Spark in the Dark, a peer-to-peer resource-sharing network that has helped connect over 100,000 needs since 2017, and the creator of HelpLink, a tech-based platform designed to help businesses proactively remove barriers to work for their employees. Abby is passionate about redefining what it means to lead with compassion in the workplace and frequently speaks on the intersection of community, culture, and care. Spark in the Dark was invited as one of 77 organizations worldwide to participate in the 2020 Facebook Community Accelerator and received the Torch of Ethics Award from the Better Business Bureau. HelpLink was selected as one of 49 organizations worldwide in 2025 to participate in the AWS and Deloitte Social Entrepreneur Accelerator. She was featured as a 40 Under 40 to Watch in Michigan in 2021 and recognized as one of Northern Michigan’s most influential women. Connect with Abby:  https://helplink.org/

    37 min
  5. FEB 19

    Build Trust So Mistakes Don’t Break You: Humility and Resilience with Jacob Soter

    In this episode of Unapologetic Leadership, Cory Dunham sits down with Jacob Soter, Director of Swim Smart Technologies, to unpack why trust, humility, and resilience are essential when leadership decisions carry real-life consequences. Jacob shares his journey from engineering student to leading nationwide water safety innovation, revealing how listening first, collaborating deeply, and owning mistakes builds trust that lasts. The conversation explores leadership under pressure, learning from failure, personal resilience shaped by adversity, and why humility not ego is the foundation for sustainable impact. This episode is a powerful reminder that strong leadership isn’t about having all the answers it’s about earning trust so mistakes don’t break you or the people you serve. Jacob Soter is the co-founder and Managing Director of SwimSmart Technology LLC, a Michigan-based company specializing in automated beach safety systems to prevent drownings. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering (2019) and a Master of Business Administration (2020) from Michigan Technological University, where he participated in the SENSE Enterprise Program.  Inspired by presentations on beach safety inefficiencies at the 2017 Great Lakes Water Safety Consortium conference, Soter pivoted from initial concepts in water safety drones to developing data-driven warning technologies integrated with National Weather Service forecasts.  Under his leadership, SwimSmart has expanded to deployments across beaches around the United States and a first reaching Canada. A NOAA Weather Ready Nation Ambassador, Soter received the 2024 Great Lakes Water Safety Consortium's Superhero of the Year award for his contributions to drowning prevention. Connect with Jacob: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-soter-swimsmart/

    37 min
  6. FEB 12

    Leadership With Humility, Mentorship Is Missing, God Doesn't Give Fear with Renée Heywood, Ph.D

    In this episode of Unapologetic Leadership, Cory Dunham talks with Renée Heywood, Ph.D., about what modern leadership is missing and why humility, mentorship, and faith matter now more than ever. Renée shares insights from decades in education and leadership on moving beyond fear, imposter syndrome, and performance-driven mindsets to lead with purpose. They discuss the loss of mentorship, faith-driven decision-making, and what it truly means to lead people—not positions. About Renée Heywood, Ph.D. Dr. Heywood has over 25 years of experience in education and leadership. She is the CEO of South Shore Stars, founder of Real Talk Leadership, and author of Finding Me Finding Us for Educators, available on Amazon and at RealTalkLeadership.com. Connect with Renée: rheywood@southshorestars.org 508-505-0200 Published Blogs, Articles & Resources 1. LinkedIn Post, July 17, 2025 – Front Seats Cost Extra – So “LEAD.”  2. Path-to-Progress – Showing the Impact of Equity Work (Contributing author) 3. Heywood, R. (2021). Racial Trauma, Language Use and Biases: A Reflection on Harmful Practices in Education. Kieli, koulutus ja yhteiskunta, 12(5). Saatavilla: 4. Krezmien, M. P., Clift, W., & Heywood, R. (2020). Using technology to unlock the potential of diverse learners in juvenile justice settings. ResearchGate. 5. Continuum of Bias Framework (Finding Me Finding Us for Educators - Heywood, 2024)  Published Books 1. Heywood, R. (2025). Powerful God Empowering Us.  2. William, W., & Garret-Walker, W. (2025) The Majestic Place: The Freedom Possible in Black Women’s Leadership. Rowman and Littlefield Publishing. (Contributing author)  3. Heywood, R. (2024). Finding Me Finding Us for Educators – A Reflection Journal for Racial Reconciliation  4. Heywood, R., & Heywood, R. (2020). I said, “I Do” to All That - Unpacking Life’s Baggage. Extreme Overflow Publication.

    35 min
  7. JAN 29

    I Closed a Million-Dollar Program following God Guidance with Rachel Ngom

    In this episode of Unapologetic Leadership, Cory Dunham sits down with Rachel Ngom, Christian entrepreneur, podcast host, and ministry leader, to explore faith-driven decision-making in business and life. Rachel shares her extraordinary journey of building a million-dollar program, hearing a clear message from God to shut it down, and navigating the wilderness season that followed. She dives into the challenges of letting go of success, staying disciplined, cultivating community, and trusting God’s timing even when it doesn’t make logical sense. This episode is packed with practical lessons on leadership, obedience, and spiritual alignment, including how to discern God’s voice, align decisions with scripture, and overcome fear during life-changing seasons. Whether you’re a leader, entrepreneur, or someone seeking guidance through uncertainty, Rachel’s story inspires us to submit our plans to God, take every thought captive, and trust Him fully. BIO: Rachel Ngom is the host of the She’s Making an Impact Podcast with over 400 episodes. Rachel launched her first online business in 2012, serving over 10,000 students through her online courses, coaching, and events. In 2023, the Lord had her shut down most of her million-dollar business to pursue ministry. He opened her eyes to the problems in the marketplace, with Christians being led down a dangerous path in the New Age and following worldly strategies. She’s currently enrolled in the Global School of Supernatural Ministry and the Global Awakening Theological Seminary, where she has seen Jesus radically heal people. Connect with Rachel: https://rachelngom.com/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/1309272699182138/ https://www.pinterest.com/rachelngom https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCw-moStPkCsqcZ4Vf1flYWQ https://www.instagram.com/shesmakinganimpact/

    37 min

About

In a noisy, distracted world, authentic leadership matters more than ever. Hosted by Cory Dunham—entrepreneur, business leader, and follower of Jesus—this podcast is real talk for real leaders who want to live and lead with clarity, courage, and conviction. From overcoming fear mindsets to leading with love, Cory shares personal stories, faith-driven values, and practical tools that help you grow as a leader in your workplace, family, and community. Each episode offers actionable takeaways, mindset shifts, and sometimes guest insights—so you can lead without burnout, build trust, create alignment, and anchor yourself in what truly matters. Whether you’re a boss, teacher, parent, entrepreneur, career professional, or single mom, this show will help you lead yourself and others in a way that’s bold, authentic, and sustainable. Because leadership isn’t a title—it’s a way of living. Subscribe and join a community of leaders who are done with surface-level living. The world doesn’t need louder leaders—it needs leaders who are clear, courageous, and grounded.