The Full Ascend Brotherhood

Dr Mark Leonard and Andrew Leonard
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Weekly

Ascend (Verb) To go up, to climb. This podcast looks at the intersection of "becoming" and leading with faith, family, and future.

  1. Sep 29

    Prioritizing What Matters in Business from Because of Jesus Christ by Elder Dale G. Renlund

    Dr. Mark Leonard and Andrew talk about how high performers, business owners, and parents can stay grounded when everything feels urgent. The conversation centers on Elder Dale G. Renlund’s counsel about keeping an eternal perspective, choosing the best over the merely good, and using Christ as the ultimate guide for decision-making. We discuss practical ways to reduce noise, protect focus, delegate more effectively, and build daily rhythms that help leaders do what matters most instead of trying to do everything. Key topics In this episode, Dr. Mark Leonard and Andrew open by talking about the “chaos season” of life, especially balancing kids, work, school, and family routines.They reflect on Elder Dale G. Renlund’s teaching that not all matters are of equal value and that an eternal perspective helps us prioritize what matters most.The “two balls” analogy becomes a central theme: business owners often feel torn between multiple good options, but the challenge is choosing what is best, not just what is urgent.Andrew shares how entrepreneurial curiosity and ADHD tendencies can make it hard to stay focused on one path.Dr. Mark recommends starting the day with prayer, scripture study, exercise, breakfast, and intentional planning before checking email or social media.They discuss how email and social media create a reactive mindset, while a planned morning routine helps leaders stay proactive.Both speakers emphasize scheduling the top five priorities of the day instead of trying to carry every task at once.They talk about using technology intentionally, including phone filters, unknown caller folders, and AI tools to reduce interruptions and protect focus.Family boundaries come up as a practical example, including keeping phones out of the car, off the dinner table, and away during family time.The conversation shifts to delegation, with a focus on why leaders often stop delegating after feeling disappointed by how others do the task.Dr. Mark shares a dishwasher example to show that different is not the same as wrong, and that clear expectations matter more than control.Andrew cites General George S. Patton’s idea of telling people what to do rather than exactly how to do it.The episode closes by returning to Christ as the model for forgiveness, hope, and faithful leadership in both business and life.Timestamps (00:00) Opening banter and life update in a busy family season (02:13) The episode’s theme: Elder Renlund’s talk on prioritizing what matters (03:21) Why business owners feel like they are juggling too many balls (05:29) Choosing between two good things when everything feels important (06:14) “Entreprecurious” thinking and ADHD style distraction (08:11) Good, better, best and asking the Lord what is best today (10:13) Why social media and email train you to react instead of lead (11:52) Building a morning rhythm before checking messages (14:07) Using phone rules, AI, and filters to reduce noise (15:22) Why scheduling matters for people who hate schedules (17:27) Protecting focus by delaying replies without losing relationships (18:17) Simple boundaries for family time, cars, dinners, and phones (20:08) Do it all or do it well: the high performer’s dilemma (21:12) The dishwasher lesson and why delegation breaks down (24:13) General Patton on giving outcomes instead of micromanaging process (26:31) Christ, forgiveness, and learning to stop punishing yourself for mistakes (27:39) Because of Jesus Christ, we can keep going through every trial (28:13) Liahona guidance, hope, and inviting the Lord into business (29:28) Final encouragement to keep focused on the Savior and not crawl back to bed Notable quotes “Not all matters are of equal value.” “Do you want to do it all or do you want to do it well?” “When facing too many balls, you do not need to crawl back to bed and cower. Instead keep your eye on the ball and focus on the Savior.”

  2. Sep 22

    Choose Jesus Christ as Your Guide - Mentors, Authenticity, and What Actually Shapes a Life

    Andrew and Dr. Mark talk about what it means to be guided by Jesus Christ. A deep reflection on mentorship, personal growth, and staying authentic while striving to improve. They also share very personal stories about family, church, addiction, leadership, and the people who changed their lives. This is an especially practical and personal episode for anyone thinking about how to choose mentors, how to respond to hard situations with church or community, and how faith can shape everyday decisions at home and in business. https://www.thefullascend.com/ Key topics In this episode, Andrew shares how his family includes God in every decision Dr. Mark opens up about struggling in a new ward and explains how choosing not to feel defeated changed his Sabbath experience.Andrew describes how feeling valued, heard, and unjudged in his current community has made it difficult to imagine leaving.The conversation centers on Elder Rowe’s talk, Choose Jesus Christ as Your Guide, with both hosts framing Christ as the ultimate mentor and guide.Dr. Mark explains that confidence grows through repeated experience with a trusted guide, using the Sherpa example from the talk.The hosts discuss how different mentors can serve different purposes, such as Russell Brunson and Brendon Burchard.Andrew says the best advice he would give his younger self is to include God in every decision and not wait until adulthood to live that way.Dr. Mark emphasizes that the gospel should change how we act, speak, and interact, but should not erase who we are.Andrew shares that one mentor reminded him before his mission not to forget himself, and he reflects on how easy it is to lose authenticity under the weight of responsibility.Dr. Mark tells the most personal story in the episode: his uncle Bob mentored him after a public arrest, helped him turn away from alcoholism, and played a major role in changing the trajectory of his life.Timestamps 00:00 - Sunday greetings and why church can feel hard in a new ward 01:28 - Feeling unseen, unheard, and undervalued and how that changes Sabbath worship 03:03 - Choosing to stay where you feel seen and appreciated 04:14 - What it looks like to put more effort into a relationship with God 05:11 - Family prayer, scripture study, and gratitude around the dinner table 06:32 - Why being blunt with local church leaders mattered 07:42 - How church conversations and family patterns shaped the current season 08:16 - Mentors from childhood and the value of being loved and seen at home 09:20 - Why learning the same lessons differently would still matter 10:28 - Dr. Mark explains that the family practice started with his wife 11:01 - Introducing the talk, Choose Jesus Christ as Your Guide 12:07 - Why confidence grows when you follow a trusted guide step by step 13:24 - Different mentors for different parts of life and business 14:18 - What advice he would give his younger self 15:23 - Including God in every decision and how that would have changed everything 16:18 - Looking back without regret, but with a desire to learn differently 17:16 - Christ as the ultimate guide, not a voice of shame 18:25 - Come unto me and the burden Christ helps carry 19:14 - Why life without Christ as guide leads to emptiness and complaint 21:48 - The blessing of having Jesus Christ as the ultimate guide 22:36 - The one attribute Andrew wants most from his mentors: authenticity 25:27 - The gospel should add to who you are, not erase you 26:21 - The retired stage actor in the ward as a picture of gospel plus personality 27:40 - Andrew asks how Dr. Mark chooses mentors 28:13 - Uncle Bob, public shame, and the first mentor that changed Dr. Mark’s life 29:33 - The personal turning point: alcoholism, recovery, and leaving it behind at 17 30:38 - Why the hard part comes after the decision to change 31:37 - A framework for choosing mentors: command, experience, and character 32:43 - Closing thoughts on the talk and finding a guide or mentor

  3. Sep 15

    Lost Luggage, Kaizen, and Redeeming Souls

    Andrew Leonard and Dr. Mark Leonard discuss the Japanese philosophy of Kaizen and how small, continuous improvements can transform business, personal growth, parenting, and discipleship. Using an airport luggage story from Japan and Elder Gary E. Stevenson’s “Lost Luggage Redeemed Souls” talk, they connect process improvement with Christlike teaching, leadership, and community building.In this episode, they explore why tiny adjustments compound over time, why direct but respectful leadership works better than criticism, and how to apply the same mindset in business, family life, and faith. Key topics Dr. Mark explains Kaizen as “change for the better” and argues that most American businesses only practice it in factories, if at all.The conversation uses Osaka airport as an example of process excellence, including luggage handling, attention to detail, and rare mishandling.Andrew shares how he introduced Kaizen ideas in a construction leadership role and learned how resistant old management habits can be.They connect Kaizen to scriptural ideas like “line upon line” and “here a little, there a little.”Dr. Mark describes using weekly labor adjustments in his business, including staggered breaks and schedule changes, to reduce overhead and improve productivity.They compare business growth with personal health, including Dr. Mark’s 90-plus pound weight loss over three years and the use of seven-day rolling averages instead of reacting to daily fluctuations.Andrew ties the talk to parenting, ministering, and teaching the next generation through motivation and encouragement rather than yelling or belittling.They discuss a football story about a young player who turned an unexpected injury into a coaching opportunity, modeling service over self-pity.Dr. Mark emphasizes that leadership should motivate, teach, and encourage, especially with teenagers and young adults.The episode closes with an invitation to join their community and to take the free 30-lesson course, Winning the War in Your Mind, built around Kaizen principles and gospel teaching.Timestamps 00:00 - Welcome, Christmas music, and the Burr Months tradition 01:08 - When Christmas season starts way too early 03:23 - The lost luggage story and why Japan does it differently 05:27 - Is Kaizen part of Japanese culture? 06:50 - How Kaizen works in real-world process improvement 07:48 - Bringing Kaizen into construction leadership 09:44 - Why entrepreneurs resist change in their own businesses 10:41 - Small labor tweaks that lower overhead and improve output 11:53 - Line upon line as a gospel parallel to Kaizen 13:18 - Slow weight loss, data tracking, and seven-day averages 16:27 - Teaching the next generation through parenting and ministering 19:23 - Staying true to who you are through missions and adulthood 20:20 - Investing time and teaching as protection from the storm 22:22 - Why yelling and belittling do not redeem souls 23:13 - A football story about injury, humility, and coaching others 25:38 - Applying the same leadership style to employees and business owners 26:26 - Motivate, teach, and encourage instead of dictating 28:33 - First responder culture, direct feedback, and compassion 29:28 - Kaizen plus gospel principles produce better results together 30:27 - Turnover drops from 100% to 30% with better stewardship 32:21 - Free course announcement: Winning the War in Your Mind 34:06 - Closing thanks, community invitation, and sign-off

  4. Sep 9

    Come Unto Christ Together - Elder Taniela B. Wakolo When a Business Fails, Hope Wins

    When a Business Fails, Hope Beats Pressure Every Time Hope, patience, and business pivots Andrew Leonard and Dr. Mark Leonard discuss Elder Taniela B. Wakolo’s talk, Come Unto Christ Together, through the lens of entrepreneurship and leadership. The episode centers on what it means to treat business decisions as spiritual decisions, especially when a venture is failing, painful, or forcing a hard pivot. They focus on two main takeaways from the talk: Christlike patience and gentleness in dealing with people, and the idea that some experiences should be symbols of hope, not pressure. Key topics In this episode, Andrew and Dr. Mark Leonard unpack how Elder Wakolo’s talk applies beyond family life and into business, leadership, and personal development. Dr. Mark highlights Elder Wakolo’s warmth and joy, noting that his smile and presence alone make the talk memorable and uplifting. They discuss the line about discipleship reflecting the Savior’s patience, gentleness, and perfect love, then adapt it to business ownership and employee management. Dr. Mark shares a story about his wife’s difficult day in a doctoral program and how a professor reframed the situation as immaturity and inexperience rather than malice. Andrew connects the talk to a business he has been trying to make work, describing frustration, burnout, and the realization that it may be time to step away. The phrase “the temple stands as a symbol of hope, not pressure” becomes the episode’s central principle, especially as Andrew reflects on not letting a failing business become a source of constant pressure. Dr. Mark shares that shutting down a business can be an act of courage and a moment of honesty about personal weaknesses, timing, and stewardship. They discuss the idea that “the seed is planted long before it breaks the soil,” using it to frame how warning signs and prompting may appear long before a final decision becomes clear. Andrew talks through the fear of pivoting without knowing what comes next, while still choosing hope and faith over anxiety. The episode closes by reframing the talk as a call to “come unto Christ with our business” and make Him a partner in every decision. Timestamps 00:00 - Welcome to the Full Ascend Podcast 00:57 - Why Elder Wakolo’s talk was a challenge to apply 01:10 - The happiest man they have ever seen 01:47 - Why the talk lands differently when viewed through family 03:01 - Why scripture principles matter for business owners 03:55 - Replacing discipleship with business ownership 04:24 - Patience with employees and the limits of frustration 04:54 - A hard day in a doctorate program and a lesson in grace 06:23 - Seeing people as inexperienced instead of malicious 07:17 - Applying Savior patience, gentleness, and perfect love at work 08:03 - Christlike attributes as a roadmap for business decisions 08:29 - A business that is no longer panning out 09:45 - Recognizing when God has been trying to warn you 10:14 - The temple as a symbol of hope, not pressure 11:43 - The cost of keeping the wrong business alive 12:38 - “The seed is planted long before it breaks the soil” 13:51 - Shutting down businesses and learning from the loss 14:20 - The emotional cost of choosing work over people 16:28 - Decisions about closure as a conversation with the Lord 16:41 - Pivots, ADHD, and the temptation to chase the shiny option 17:14 - The fear of pivoting without a clear next step 18:54 - Choosing hope and faith instead of pressure 19:35 - “The Lord honors patient faith” 20:21 - Coming unto Christ together with a business 21:22 - Inviting listeners into The Full Ascend brotherhood 22:01 - Closing thoughts and keeping the episode short

  5. Sep 2

    Best Days and Worst Days: Turning Setbacks Into Growth

    Best Days and Worst Days: Turning Setbacks Into Growth Andrew Leonard and Dr. Mark Leonard discuss President Emily Belle Freeman's talk, Best Days and Worst Days, through the lens of personal development, resilience, and faith. They focus on how quickly a good day can turn into a hard one, and how to respond without getting stuck in frustration, anger, or self-criticism.Dr. Mark Leonard shares a science based approach to retraining neural pathways, while Andrew Leonard opens up about his own struggles with bad days, anger, and consistency. Together, they connect the talk to everyday choices, therapy tools, and Christlike behavior in home, work, and life. Key topics We discuss how a best day can become a worst day in minutes, and why that reality is part of mortality and growth.Andrew shares that he often struggles to recover from setbacks, especially when one bad moment spirals into an entire bad day.Dr. Mark Leonard explains that the key issue is not whether people get derailed, but how long they stay derailed.The conversation centers on learning to recognize the trigger, interrupt the cycle, and choose a different response.Peter walking on water is used as the main scripture example for desire, action, doubt, and recovery.Dr. Mark Leonard connects the Peter story to business and personal development, showing how people often start strong but quit before habits form.Andrew shares a therapy based behavior chain model: triggering event, thoughts, body sensations, emotions, and action.Dr. Mark Leonard describes practical strategies for emotional reset, including stepping into the sun, breathing, and using his NPAM, the Neuropathway Activation Method.The episode includes a candid discussion of anger, self control, and how both speakers are actively trying to improve in daily life.The closing emphasis is on Jesus Christ, personal responsibility, and choosing to be an example in every arena of life.Timestamps (00:00) Full Ascend intro and the week’s topic: Best Days and Worst Days (00:46) Emily Bell Freeman’s talk and why her message hits close to home (03:04) Church leaders are human too, and why that matters (05:17) Why bad days spiral and how to interrupt the cycle (06:05) Coaching clients who struggle to recover from one bad moment (08:58) “This is mortality” and seeing setbacks as a proving ground (11:22) Peter walking on water and why the image resonates (13:11) “Help my unbelief” and the gap between belief and behavior (15:15) Why consistency matters more than one time efforts (16:41) Desire, answer, faith, action, doubt: the Peter cycle (18:16) Finding the switch before fear takes over (19:52) The behavior chain and using therapy tools in daily life (21:23) High performers still get derailed, but for less time (22:18) A real time frustration story about buying water and reacting badly (24:14) Moving into the sun and resetting the mood (25:23) How NPAM and self talk help rewire the brain (26:51) Why the first attempts failed but repetition made it work (28:20) Christ, clear vision, and changing physical state (29:19) Dr. Mark Leonard’s anger history and why practice matters (30:14) Andrew on the responsibility to model Christlike behavior (31:54) Choosing not to accept the worst day as the final word (32:35) Closing invitation to join the Full Ascend Brotherhood

  6. Aug 25

    Jesus Christ, The True Vine by Elder Soares

    Dr. Mark Leonard and Andrew Leonard unpack Elder Soares’s talk, "Jesus Christ the True Vine," and connect it to business, leadership, and personal development. They use the vine and branches metaphor to show how constant connection to Christ changes identity, relationships, decision-making, and resilience. Along the way, they apply Christlike attributes from Preach My Gospel to real business situations, from trust and confidence to patience and growth. Key topics In this episode, Dr. Mark Leonard and Andrew Leonard frame identity around the question "Who are you?" and contrast roles like firefighter or pilot with deeper identity as a son of God, husband, father, and disciple.They explore how Christlike development is really leadership development, especially in business where tone, trust, and character shape every interaction.Mark emphasizes that abiding in Christ is not casual or occasional, but a "constant, conscious, and sacred choice" that should shape daily work, not just Sunday worship.Andrew shares how focusing on scripture study and prayer has affected his mindset, habits, and even the way he handles stress and frustration.Andrew explains how he is applying the 10 Christlike attributes from Preach My Gospel to his business.They unpack hope as abiding confidence, with Mark teaching that confidence comes from being yoked with Christ, not from trying to do everything alone.Patience is defined as active and "anxiously engaged," not passive waiting, with both hosts stressing that growth happens line upon line.They close by encouraging listeners to focus on progress instead of failure, give themselves grace, and remember their true identity as sons and daughters of God.Timestamps 00:00 - Opening banter and the storm in Hawaii 01:03 - Hurricane damage, hotel problems, and keeping perspective 03:05 - Introducing Elder Suarez’s talk, "Jesus Christ the True Vine" 04:24 - Why the talk has leadership and personal development lessons 05:22 - The "I Am" identity exercise 06:35 - Why identity should not be reduced to a career 07:35 - Preach My Gospel chapter 6 and Christlike attributes 08:00 - How Christlike traits relate to boundaries and compassion 09:19 - The courtroom story and building common ground through Christ 10:39 - Why tone changes when relationships start with Christ 12:03 - Applying Christlike attributes to business growth 13:26 - Discernment in a world shaped by AI and misinformation 15:18 - Abiding in Christ as a constant, conscious, sacred choice 16:10 - Andrew’s struggle with consistency in prayer and scripture study 18:23 - Three client leads after recommitting to spiritual habits 19:54 - Seeing God’s hand more clearly in business and frustration 21:06 - The vine, the branches, and nourishment in business 22:05 - Faith applied to trust in business relationships 24:46 - Confidence, hope, and feeling confident that God loves me 26:46 - Being yoked with Christ instead of going alone 28:21 - Prayer before meetings and seeing what was already there 29:52 - Patience as the next attribute to apply 31:25 - Patience is not passive while waiting for results 33:07 - Satisfied striver and anxiously engaged growth 35:02 - Christlike development as the real engine of business growth 36:15 - Focus on what you did today, not just what you failed to do 37:24 - Tracking debt payoff as a line upon line progress system 38:45 - Plans for a future training series in Full Ascend Brotherhood 39:14 - Missing the recording twice after surviving the hurricane 40:35 - Grace, growth, and more topics they could explore later 41:27 - Final reminder: remember who you really are Notable quotes "Abiding in Christ is not an occasional or casual act. It is a constant, conscious, and sacred choice." "Patience does not mean passive. It means working your butt off and getting what you want, but doing it with Christ." "Do not forget who you really are. Most importantly, if you look at yourself as I am, you are a son of God."

  7. Jul 8

    What Moses Teaches Us About Financial Success

    In this episode, the Fatherland Son duo, Dr. Mark Leonard and Andrew Leonard, explore the interconnectedness of purpose, identity, and financial peace through heartfelt stories, biblical insights, and practical advice. Whether you're an entrepreneur, a church member, or simply seeking to align your life's work with your spiritual goals, this conversation offers encouragement and wisdom. Key Topics The importance of understanding your true purpose beyond financial successBiblical parables and scriptures that relate to stewardship and purposeHow knowing who you are influences your financial and personal decisionsThe significance of discernment and love in serving othersPractical strategies: defining your identity with three core wordsRecognizing life's wilderness moments as opportunities for growthBuilding community and supporting others on their journey of purposeThe role of faith and effort in achieving spiritual and financial peaceTimestamps 00:00 - Introduction and humorous confession about live streaming 00:15 - The hosts' excitement and informal banter 01:02 - Personal stories about life, ADHD, and the approach to life and money 02:10 - Andrew shares about learning from Robert Kiyosaki’s teachings on making more money 03:20 - Dr. Leonard discusses his optimistic outlook and the importance of purpose 04:27 - Biblical perspective on finances: the parable of talents and stewardship 05:35 - The significance of purpose in financial goals and service 06:48 - Reflecting on personal purposes: marriage, family, service, and growth 07:18 - The importance of love, humility, and trusting divine guidance 08:22 - The core purpose of life: to become like God and help others do the same 09:14 - The doctrine of spiritual and temporal law from Doctrine and Covenants 29 10:37 - How career and profession serve our higher purpose 11:01 - Finding why: the role of identity and knowing oneself 12:16 - Moses' experience and divine self-awareness 14:44 - The process of transformation through divine recognition 15:39 - Overcoming fear and anxiety by anchoring in who we are 16:45 - The trap of tying worth to success and wealth 17:39 - Personal stories of identity struggles and faith 18:34 - How focusing on spiritual identity leads to success and service 19:00 - An inspiring story about kindness to a homeless man on Sunday 24:34 - Recognizing everyone as brothers and sisters, and the influence on financial peace 26:03 - Discernment versus judgment and divine guidance 27:27 - Wilderness trials as divine opportunities for growth 28:04 - Practical exercises: defining your "best self" in three words 30:12 - Approaching challenges with confidence rooted in divine identity 31:26 - Aligning career choices with purpose and divine will 32:40 - The real purpose behind work: serving God's children 33:09 - The importance of effort and action in spiritual and financial success 34:06 - Community and shared growth: the mission of the Full Ascend Brotherhood 35:12 - Invitation to join a community committed to purpose and spiritual development Resources & Links Doctrine and Covenants Chapter 29Moses 1Robert Kiyosaki's BooksFull Ascend BrotherhoodConnect with Dr. Mark Leonard LinkedInTwitterConnect with Andrew LinkedInTwitter

  8. Jun 30

    From Cop to CEO: How Faith Turned a $250K Debt Into a Multi-Million Dollar Exit

    What does it really look like to leave a career you love, take a $250K leap of faith, and build a business empire from scratch — all while keeping your marriage and your faith intact? In this episode of the Full Ascend Brotherhood, Dr. Mark sits down with Justin Bradshaw — former police officer turned entrepreneur — who packed up a U-Haul, moved his family from New Mexico to Arizona, and spent 23 years building a pest control company he eventually sold for over 4x its valuation. But the real story isn't the exit. It's what it took to get there. Justin shares how a prompting came through a friend (not him or his wife), how his wife became his most trusted counselor, and why saying no to two massive buyout offers turned into the greatest financial decision of his life. In this episode: Walking away from law enforcement after 6 years to start a company with zero business experienceTrusting God's timing when the answer is "not yet"How to protect your marriage during 100-hour work weeksWhy lonely entrepreneurs are doing it wrongLife after the exit — and the unexpected next chapter🔔 Subscribe and join the Full Ascend Brotherhood at www.thehappinessbreakthrough.com — a community built for Latter-day Saint men who are striving to build businesses, strengthen families, and fully ascend. 0:00 - Welcome & Meet Justin Bradshaw 2:17 - Justin's background: From law enforcement to entrepreneur 3:47 - The prompting that changed everything 9:38 - Packing the U-Haul: The $250K leap of faith 13:27 - Surviving the dark days as an entrepreneur 16:35 - What Justin learned about himself along the way 19:11 - Protecting your marriage through 100-hour work weeks 22:01 - Life after the exit: Lessons from selling the company 29:43 - Justin's favorite scripture: D&C 6:36 33:02 - Advice to your younger self

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Ratings & Reviews

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About

Ascend (Verb) To go up, to climb. This podcast looks at the intersection of "becoming" and leading with faith, family, and future.

Information

  • Creator
    Dr Mark Leonard and Andrew Leonard
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    29
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Dr Mark Leonard and Andrew Leonard
  • Show Website
    The Full Ascend Brotherhood