Trench Leadership: A Podcast From the Front

Simon Kardynal

Trench Leadership: A Podcast From the Front, hosted by Simon Kardynal, is a leadership-themed podcast for emerging leaders across all professions to help navigate those intricate moments while leading from the front. In this podcast, expert guests speak about their triumphs, their mistakes, and how they have learned and grown from their experiences.  Each episode offers advice, inspiration, and practical tools to help leaders as they lead 'from the trenches'.  Throughout the series, Simon uses personal and professional experiences and connections gained through 29 plus years in the Canadian Armed Forces as a Senior Non-Commissioned Member, a Master of Arts in Leadership, and his experience within a private sector company.  Trench Leadership offers frank and honest conversations with leaders from diverse backgrounds and professions to talk about the ever-present challenges in a dynamic and ever-evolving world.

  1. E119 – Creating a Remote Team Culture featuring Monique Lindner

    06/30/2025

    E119 – Creating a Remote Team Culture featuring Monique Lindner

    Send us a text Creating effective team cultures is challenging in the easiest of times, but creating an effective team culture in a remote setting is much more daunting. The irony is that a strong team culture is even more important when people aren’t regularly meeting in-person. You’ll hear from Monique Lindner, AKA: The Time Alchemist, a coach/consultant for Holistic High Performance, Leadership & Lifestyle Design who will offer her expertise and advice to help emerging leaders create strong, impactful, and meaningful remote team cultures. Monique’s Episode Links: https://thetimealchemist.co/#foryou - This is my website with my free offering including a guide to the 11 traits of an impactful leader as well as a guide to the Perfect Morning routine for busy leaders https://facebook.com/thetimealchemist - My public FB profile for people to follow me and receive free value Monique’s Recommended Book/Movie/Podcast List: Books: The courage to be disliked by Ichiro Kishimi & Fumitake KogaThe T.I.M.E. Method by Monique Lindner https://www.thetimemethod.com/ Podcasts: 1. The diaries of a CEO - Steven Bartlett https://open.spotify.com/episode/1dBnMUeFd0nqX6j4q7KQK5?si=vW6TnCViTNWmrG2FuipA7Q 2. Huberman Lab - Andrew Huberman  https://open.spotify.com/episode/3RWeArnFqgOOE62oJnDt0r?si=L9lp4LOFSUevc823cM5HXA Support the show Trench Leadership: A Podcast From the Front is humbled to have been named #5 in the Top 20 for Best Canadian Leadership-themed podcasts for 2025. Connect to Trench Leadership: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYnaqOp1UvqTJhATzcizowA Trench Leadership Website: www.trenchleadership.ca LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/trench-leadership-a-podcast-from-the-front/?viewAsMember=true Are you looking for a podcast editor/producer? Do you enjoy the quality of the show? The editor of Trench Leadership, Jennifer Lee, is taking new clients. Reach out at https://www.itsalegitbusiness.com. Reviews are the best way for the show to know what is working, what needs improvement, and what to talk about in the future. If you have a topic that you're passionate to hear more about, feel free to reach out at simonk@trenchleadership.ca to connect and share your ideas.

    49 min
  2. E118 - The Power of Stories featuring Shaun Bernstein, Eh!

    06/25/2025

    E118 - The Power of Stories featuring Shaun Bernstein, Eh!

    Send us a text Trench Leadership: A Podcast From the Front is humbled to have been named #5 in the Top 20 for Best Canadian Leadership-themed podcasts for 2025.   How do some leaders effortlessly build connection while others struggle to gain trust? The answer might be simpler than you think—they're master storytellers. Shaun Bernstein, a journalist-turned-lawyer-turned-Chief Storyteller at The Write Stuff Agency, unpacks the transformative power of narrative in this compelling conversation. With disarming candor, he shares his own journey of career pivots, burnout, and reinvention, demonstrating in real-time how authentic storytelling creates the "know, like, trust" foundation essential for leadership. Even in today's technology-saturated environment, our fundamental human need for connection remains unchanged—and stories are the most powerful tool we have to satisfy that need. What makes this conversation particularly valuable for emerging leaders is its practicality. Shaun offers guidance on which stories to share, when vulnerability is appropriate, and how storytelling can bridge divides between team members who might not naturally connect.  Whether you're leading a team for the first time or looking to deepen trust with your existing colleagues, this episode offers both inspiration and actionable advice for harnessing the hidden power of your own stories.  Listen in and discover how transforming your leadership is just one story away. Support the show Trench Leadership: A Podcast From the Front is humbled to have been named #5 in the Top 20 for Best Canadian Leadership-themed podcasts for 2025. Connect to Trench Leadership: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYnaqOp1UvqTJhATzcizowA Trench Leadership Website: www.trenchleadership.ca LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/trench-leadership-a-podcast-from-the-front/?viewAsMember=true Are you looking for a podcast editor/producer? Do you enjoy the quality of the show? The editor of Trench Leadership, Jennifer Lee, is taking new clients. Reach out at https://www.itsalegitbusiness.com. Reviews are the best way for the show to know what is working, what needs improvement, and what to talk about in the future. If you have a topic that you're passionate to hear more about, feel free to reach out at simonk@trenchleadership.ca to connect and share your ideas.

    44 min
  3. E117 - Being a Flexible Leader featuring Ian L. Paterson, Eh!

    06/16/2025

    E117 - Being a Flexible Leader featuring Ian L. Paterson, Eh!

    Send us a text Trench Leadership: A Podcast From the Front is humbled to have been named #5 in the Top 20 for Best Canadian Leadership-themed podcasts for 2025. What happens when rockets are landing near your Middle Eastern manufacturing facility, and you discover IBM mainframes from the 1980s running your critical systems? For cybersecurity leader Ian Patterson, CEO of Plurilock, this wasn't a hypothetical scenario but a real crisis requiring immediate action. As Ian explains, "We never have as much data as we would like to make a decision... being able to act and continue moving in the right direction with limited information ultimately allows momentum to continue." This episode explores the importance of professional networks in leadership, what Ian calls the "camaraderie between CEOs" and what military leaders know as the "Chiefs Network." These relationships prove crucial when facing unprecedented challenges, reminding us that effective leadership isn't about having all the answers but knowing where to find them. Perhaps most fascinating is how cybersecurity has evolved beyond technical challenges to encompass complex regulatory and legal considerations. The field's rapid growth has created an estimated 4 million unfilled positions globally—a number that has doubled in recent years. Join us for this eye-opening discussion about leadership on the digital frontlines. Support the show Trench Leadership: A Podcast From the Front is humbled to have been named #5 in the Top 20 for Best Canadian Leadership-themed podcasts for 2025. Connect to Trench Leadership: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYnaqOp1UvqTJhATzcizowA Trench Leadership Website: www.trenchleadership.ca LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/trench-leadership-a-podcast-from-the-front/?viewAsMember=true Are you looking for a podcast editor/producer? Do you enjoy the quality of the show? The editor of Trench Leadership, Jennifer Lee, is taking new clients. Reach out at https://www.itsalegitbusiness.com. Reviews are the best way for the show to know what is working, what needs improvement, and what to talk about in the future. If you have a topic that you're passionate to hear more about, feel free to reach out at simonk@trenchleadership.ca to connect and share your ideas.

    37 min
  4. E116 – I’ve Made it, Now What? featuring Tami Reiss

    06/02/2025

    E116 – I’ve Made it, Now What? featuring Tami Reiss

    Send us a text What happens after you've "made it" to that coveted leadership position? This question haunts many emerging leaders who suddenly find themselves at a plateau, uncertain about their next move. Product Leader Coach Tami Reiss brings refreshing clarity to this leadership conundrum, offering a powerful framework that can transform how you approach your career journey. Having navigated from physical therapist aspirant to nonprofit consultant to tech company CEO by age 33, Tami understands firsthand the complexities of charting an authentic leadership path. At the heart of her approach are three deceptively simple questions that can help you navigate any career crossroads: Where do you want to go? Where are you now? And what should you do next? These questions shift your focus from merely reacting to opportunities to thoughtfully considering how each move aligns with your deeper goals and values. As Tami explains, we typically waste energy on feasibility questions (Can I do this?) when we should be asking valuability questions (Does this move me toward my goals?). Through practical exercises like mapping your "perfect day" and seeking honest feedback from those who know you best, you can gain the clarity needed to make decisions that align with your authentic self. Her refreshing perspective reminds us that with careers spanning 40-50 years, there's always time to pivot, learn, and grow in new directions. Tami’s Episode Links: 1. LinkedIn: Connect on LinkedIn 2. Website: tamireiss.com Tami’s Recommended Book/Movie/Podcast List: Movies: 1. A Bug's Life 2. Good Will Hunting 3. Forest Gump Podcasts: 1. This is Product Management 2. Rocketship.fm 3. Freakonomics Radio Books: 1. Inspired + Empowered by Marty Cagan 2. Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss 3. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern Support the show Trench Leadership: A Podcast From the Front is humbled to have been named #5 in the Top 20 for Best Canadian Leadership-themed podcasts for 2025. Connect to Trench Leadership: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYnaqOp1UvqTJhATzcizowA Trench Leadership Website: www.trenchleadership.ca LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/trench-leadership-a-podcast-from-the-front/?viewAsMember=true Are you looking for a podcast editor/producer? Do you enjoy the quality of the show? The editor of Trench Leadership, Jennifer Lee, is taking new clients. Reach out at https://www.itsalegitbusiness.com. Reviews are the best way for the show to know what is working, what needs improvement, and what to talk about in the future. If you have a topic that you're passionate to hear more about, feel free to reach out at simonk@trenchleadership.ca to connect and share your ideas.

    46 min

Trailers

5
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

Trench Leadership: A Podcast From the Front, hosted by Simon Kardynal, is a leadership-themed podcast for emerging leaders across all professions to help navigate those intricate moments while leading from the front. In this podcast, expert guests speak about their triumphs, their mistakes, and how they have learned and grown from their experiences.  Each episode offers advice, inspiration, and practical tools to help leaders as they lead 'from the trenches'.  Throughout the series, Simon uses personal and professional experiences and connections gained through 29 plus years in the Canadian Armed Forces as a Senior Non-Commissioned Member, a Master of Arts in Leadership, and his experience within a private sector company.  Trench Leadership offers frank and honest conversations with leaders from diverse backgrounds and professions to talk about the ever-present challenges in a dynamic and ever-evolving world.