The Virtual Campfire with Tony Martignetti

Tony Martignetti
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The campfire. school, church, and watercooler all-in-one. It's the earliest form of community; Sitting around a campfire and sharing stories. For generations, it was used to build trust, share knowledge, and inspire others. Welcome to the Virtual Campfire – I'm Tony Martignetti, the Inspired Coach. Here I'll share powerful lessons learned from leaders in their transformation journey. When you see someone on stage: sharing a powerful message, "owning the room" and, having a huge impact in the world, you might ask yourself, how did they get to be that way? Were they born that way? Could I be like that person? What makes them different? From the outside looking in, it seems like they are meant to do what they're doing. I'm here to share what you don't often see—their tales of transformation. That's what we'll uncover here. The tiny steps that led to the big leaps.

  1. 5d ago

    Disrupt Your Thinking

    What if some of the assumptions shaping your life aren’t actually truths, but simply stories you’ve learned to believe? In this special episode of The Virtual Campfire, Tony Martignetti brings together Kelly Wendorf and Whitney Johnson to explore what happens when we challenge familiar assumptions and disrupt the way we think. Kelly shares how questioning the beliefs we inherit can lead us toward a more authentic life, while Whitney reveals how changing her own thinking transformed what she believed was possible, and ultimately changed the direction of her career. Together, their stories remind us that growth isn’t always about fixing what’s broken. Sometimes it means questioning what’s comfortable, what’s successful, and even who we believe ourselves to be. What belief about who you are, or who you’re supposed to be, might be ready to be questioned? Want to find answers to some of these challenges? Go to TonyMSpeaks.com

  2. Sep 22

    The Art of Navigating Setbacks

    Setbacks have a way of disrupting the plans we thought were certain. But what if those moments aren’t simply obstacles to overcome? What if they can change the way we see ourselves, and what’s possible? In this special episode of The Virtual Campfire, Tony Martignetti explores The Art of Navigating Setbacks, inspired by Chapter 4 of Campfire Lessons for Leaders. Through interviews with Michael O’Brien, Todd Cherches, and Laura Gassner Otting, we hear three very different stories of plans interrupted and perspectives transformed. Michael shares how a life-threatening accident forced him to reconsider how he was living. Todd reflects on a career filled with unexpected turns, layoffs, risks, and experiences that revealed strengths he didn’t know he had. And Laura explores what happens when the path we carefully planned no longer fits. Together, their stories offer a powerful reminder: A setback doesn’t have to become a stopping point. Sometimes, it becomes a turning point. If this conversation resonated with you, Tony's latest book Illuminating Hidden Brilliance: The Power of Multidimensional Leadership in a One-Dimensional World goes deeper into the ideas at the heart of this series. Get your copy at tonymspeaks.com. Please subscribe, leave a review and share with someone who needs it.

  3. Sep 15

    Embrace Emotional Courage

    What does emotional courage really look like? In this special edition of The Virtual Campfire, Tony Martignetti revisits powerful conversations with Peter Bregman and Nancy Barrows to explore what it means to move forward when fear, uncertainty, and vulnerability are still present. Peter reflects on the courage required to let go of certainty and step into the unknown. Nancy shares how removing the masks we use to protect ourselves can create deeper connection, healing, and authenticity. Together, their stories reveal that courage isn’t about becoming fearless. It’s about choosing curiosity over certainty, truth over appearances, and connection over isolation. Inspired by the themes of Campfire Lessons for Leaders, this episode invites us to consider what might become possible when we stop hiding and start showing up as who we really are.

  4. Sep 8

    Out of Darkness Comes the Light

    Some of life’s darkest moments can become unexpected sources of connection, healing, and transformation. In this special edition of The Virtual Campfire, Tony Martignetti brings together three powerful conversations exploring what it means to find light through adversity. Ann Brennan, CEO of ASMM Digital Marketing and co-founder of Burgers & Bands for Suicide Prevention, shares her family’s experience with depression and suicidal ideation, and how their struggles inspired a community dedicated to helping others. Lane Gardner, founder of Thread, explores the healing power of creativity and how music became a way to process trauma, find her voice, and connect with others. And April Rinne, author, adventurer, and change navigator, shares how experiences of uncertainty and change have shaped her perspective on the human condition—and what she’s learned from living life in flux. Together, their stories remind us that difficult experiences don’t simply disappear. But they can deepen our compassion, strengthen our connections, and change the way we see what comes next. The light doesn’t erase the darkness. It emerges through it.

  5. Sep 1

    You Have the Power to Create Your World

    What if the life you want isn’t something you find, but something you create? In this special episode of The Virtual Campfire, Tony Martignetti explores one of the foundational lessons from his book, Campfire Lessons for Leaders: You have the power to create your world. Through powerful moments from conversations with Amir Ghannad, Dorie Clark, and Effie Parks, we hear three very different stories about taking ownership of what comes next. Amir Ghannad — Taking OwnershipAmir Ghannad, founder of the Ghannad Group and author of The Transformative Leader, reflects on his early life in Iran and the experiences that shaped his belief in personal responsibility and our ability to create meaningful change. His story demonstrates how taking ownership of where we are can become the first step toward changing where we're going. Dorie Clark — Creating Your Own PathBestselling author of Stand Out, speaker, and business thinker Dorie Clark shares the unconventional journey that took her from journalism and politics to entrepreneurship. Her many reinventions reveal what can happen when we stop allowing a single role, setback, or circumstance to define what is possible—and instead begin creating opportunities for ourselves. Effie Parks — Creating Meaning From the UnexpectedEffie Parks, host of Once Upon a Gene and rare-disease advocate, shares the deeply personal journey that began with her son's diagnosis with CTNNB1 syndrome. Faced with a world she never expected to enter, Effie transformed uncertainty and isolation into connection, advocacy, and a community supporting families navigating rare disease. Their circumstances couldn't be more different. But each story points toward the same powerful idea: We may not get to choose everything that happens to us, but we can choose what we create from it. In This Episode, You'll ExploreWhy taking ownership is different from taking blameHow our circumstances influence us without having to define usWhy reinvention often begins when the expected path disappearsHow adversity can become the starting point for something meaningfulThe importance of seeing possibilities beyond your current situationWhat it means to become an active creator of your own life About Campfire Lessons for LeadersThis special series of The Virtual Campfire revisits powerful conversations from the show's archives through the lens of Tony Martignetti's book, Campfire Lessons for Leaders. Each episode brings together stories and insights from past guests to explore the lessons that help us lead, grow, and create meaningful change. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share The Virtual Campfire. Want to get to know Tony Martignetti, visit his website at tonymspeaks.com.

  6. Apr 27

    A Journey To Resilience & Leadership Through Nature With Sara Schulting-Kranz

    Meet Sara Schulting-Kranz, an authority in resiliency and leadership. After navigating profound personal betrayal, Sara transformed her trauma into purpose, developing an effective change framework centered on the healing power of nature. Discover how this best-selling author, extreme adventurer, and guide to Fortune 500 executives and Olympic athletes uses the Grand Canyon as a metaphor for navigating life’s deepest challenges and emerging as a powerful leader. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://tonymspeaks.com/podcast/ Blog Post URL https://tonymspeaks.com/a-journey-to-resilience-and-leadership-through-nature-with-sara-schulting-kranz

  7. Apr 20

    Epic Disruptions: Understanding Innovation And The Power Of Non-Obvious Choices With Scott Anthony

    Disruption is everywhere—but few truly understand how it actually works. In this episode, we sit down with Scott Anthony—Clinical Professor at Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College, Thinkers50-ranked global thought leader, and author of Epic Disruptions: 11 Innovations That Shaped Our Modern World—to explore the real story behind disruptive innovation. From his early days at Dartmouth College to working alongside Clayton Christensen, Scott shares the defining flashpoints that shaped his career, the importance of pursuing non-obvious opportunities, and the human behaviors behind breakthrough ideas. Through powerful stories—including insights on Julia Child—we unpack what it truly takes to navigate uncertainty, persist through challenges, and thrive in a world defined by constant change. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://tonymspeaks.com/podcast/ Blog Post URL https://tonymspeaks.com/epic-disruptions-understanding-innovation-and-the-power-of-non-obvious-choices-with-scott-anthony

  8. Apr 6

    The Science Of Meaningful Work (And Why It Changes Everything) With Tamara Myles

    Meaningful work is the foundation of engagement, performance, and fulfillment—yet so many people feel disconnected from what they do. In this episode, speaker, author, and professor specializing in human flourishing at work, Tamara Myles, breaks down the science of meaningful work and explains why it’s not about the job itself, but how you experience it. You’ll learn how leaders influence nearly half of that experience and discover the three core drivers of meaningful work—community, contribution, and challenge—that shape thriving teams. From the power of belief and feedback to the hidden impact of loneliness and bore-out, this conversation offers practical ways to create meaningful work for yourself and others, no matter your role. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! tonymspeaks.com/podcast

    The Science Of Meaningful Work (And Why It Changes Everything) With Tamara Myles
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About

The campfire. school, church, and watercooler all-in-one. It's the earliest form of community; Sitting around a campfire and sharing stories. For generations, it was used to build trust, share knowledge, and inspire others. Welcome to the Virtual Campfire – I'm Tony Martignetti, the Inspired Coach. Here I'll share powerful lessons learned from leaders in their transformation journey. When you see someone on stage: sharing a powerful message, "owning the room" and, having a huge impact in the world, you might ask yourself, how did they get to be that way? Were they born that way? Could I be like that person? What makes them different? From the outside looking in, it seems like they are meant to do what they're doing. I'm here to share what you don't often see—their tales of transformation. That's what we'll uncover here. The tiny steps that led to the big leaps.

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