Through the Storm

Dr. Travis Hearne

Leading people well is tough, even in the best of times, but what do we do when it gets really, really tough? How do we as leaders respond to adversity in a healthy and productive way? How can we continue to succeed in business and in life through the storms of leading well? You know, when dangerous storms have begun to brew over the horizon, most herd animals and even humans have a tendency to take cover or move away from the storm, but not the buffalo. The buffalo, instead of running for cover, will gather its herd, take a few last bites of whatever food is out there, and head directly through the storm. As leaders, we have to do the same thing. We're all faced with different storms that come with leading well. Modern-day leaders face leadership storms that can cripple an individual, a team, or an entire organization. Our guests are resilient leaders, some of the best resilient leaders our country has to offer. They'll walk us through how they actually got through these storms and how they became better on the other side. So join us on the Through the Storm podcast.

  1. FEB 4

    Former NFL Linebacker Thomas R. Williams Talks about Life after Football

    On this episode of the Through the Storm podcast with Dr. Travis Hearne, Travis sits down with former NFL linebacker, leadership expert, author, and all-around amazing human, Thomas R. Williams. Since 2018, Thomas R. Williams has been a proud member of The Jon Gordon Speaking Team, dedicated to developing positive leaders and fostering stronger, more connected teams. With his signature passion and energy, Thomas helps organizations apply transformative principles from The Energy Bus, The Power of Positive Leadership, and The Power of Positive Teams to build winning cultures driven by positivity and purpose. Before stepping into the world of leadership development, Thomas built an impressive career in sports. As a standout linebacker at the University of Southern California (USC), he played a pivotal role in leading his Trojan teams to an incredible combined record of 59-6, securing two National Championships along the way. His success on the field led him to the 2008 NFL Draft, where he spent five years competing at the highest level, going head-to-head with the best and learning from world-class coaches. Through these experiences, Thomas gained invaluable lessons in leadership, resilience, and the relentless pursuit of excellence. But life had different plans. After a career-ending neck injury forced him to hang up his cleats, Thomas didn’t let adversity define him—he used it to redefine his purpose. Instead of being a game-changer on the field, he set out to become a life-changer in the world. Now, he’s on a mission to help others discover their greatness, face challenges head-on, and unlock their full potential. Thomas is fired up and ready to empower you with the mindset, tools, and energy to achieve extraordinary results.

    37 min
  2. 10/31/2025

    How The Gentlemen’s Circle Is Redefining Resilient Leadership Through Accountability, Service, and Connection

    On this episode of the Through the Storm podcast, Dr. Travis Hearne once again talks to CEO, leadership educator, speaker, fitness professional and retired Marine, Marc Rodriguez, a man whose career embodies resilient leadership. Rodriguez, who first appeared on the show to share his journey from the Marine Corps to a CEO, returns to explore what it takes to lead with strength, purpose, and humility through life’s toughest challenges. Rodriguez shares how his latest movement, The Gentlemen’s Circle, is redefining leadership and modern masculinity. What began as a simple list of friends’ names has grown into a powerful community of men committed to becoming better leaders, fathers, and citizens. Built on accountability, service, and connection, The Gentlemen’s Circle challenges men to rise above ego and lead with resilience and integrity. Drawing on his Marine Corps background and entrepreneurial journey, Rodriguez reminds listeners that true strength isn’t about dominance—it’s about responsibility, discipline, and courage. His philosophy centers on restoring accountability, integrity, and purpose among men and entrepreneurs—not through “alpha” energy, but through service, discipline, and community. By sharing his journey from a rigid military mindset to one rooted in empathy and adaptability, Rodriguez illustrates how resilient leadership can transform not only organizations but also the lives of those who lead them.

    38 min
  3. 10/15/2025

    Faith, Fatherhood, and Fortitude: Inside Chase Harris’ Mission to Make Accessibility Possible for Every Child

    Chase Harris is a father, husband, entrepreneur, and all-around force of light. Alongside his wife, Carly, and their son, Cash, he has inspired millions online through messages of resilience, faith, and family. Their story is one of turning adversity into action — and hardship into hope. “We knew early on that Cash had this special gift of influence,” Chase shares. “He is bold and lives his life on purpose. He lights up any room he rolls into! The phrase, ‘my resilience is greater than life’s resistance,’ speaks to Cash’s tenacious attitude towards life. Cash’s adversity and the challenges he faces never stop him from accomplishing his goals and desires.” Born with spina bifida, Cash’s journey has shaped the Harris family into powerful advocates for accessibility, empathy, and perseverance. What began as sharing their daily life online evolved into a platform for awareness, especially during Spina Bifida Awareness Month, as the family realized how many others were walking similar paths. Their openness and positivity have inspired countless families to find strength through their own challenges. This mission of service led to the creation of the Harris Family Accessibility Assist, a nonprofit providing therapy, mobility aids, and adaptive equipment for children with disabilities—filling the gaps left by limited insurance coverage. Grounded in faith, the Harrises continue to use their growing influence to uplift others, reminding the world that resilience, compassion, and purpose can turn adversity into light.

    22 min
  4. 02/07/2025

    Empowering Teams with the No Fail Trust™ Methodology: Insights From U.S. Air Force Pilot Jason O. Harris

    On this episode of the Through the Storm podcast, Dr. Travis Hearne speaks with Retired U.S. Air Force Pilot, Global Keynote Speaker, and all-around badass, Jason O. Harris. Lieutenant Colonel Jason Harris is a highly sought-after keynote speaker, best-selling author, expert thought leader, and professional pilot. As a fourth-generation military member, Jason’s distinguished career in the US Air Force has spanned more than two decades. He has served (continuously) on active duty and currently as Squadron Commander in the Air Force Reserve Command. Since graduating from the United States Air Force Academy, he has flown multiple aircraft over the course of his career including 11 deployments with more than 2,000 combat hours and 470 combat sorties around the globe. These high-risk combat experiences have all served as the launching point for his proprietary “No Fail Trust™” methodology. His proven methodology serves organizations and teams as a tool to empower executives and team members to foster an environment of mutual trust, responsibility, and productivity. Lt. Col. Harris is an established, nationally recognized keynote speaker in the areas of Leadership, Corporate Culture, High Performance Teams and Psychological Safety. He has shared his expertise with numerous high-level associations and Fortune 500 companies including Cisco Systems, Caterpillar, Ford and Lockheed Martin. Additionally, his insights have been featured in publications like Forbes magazine, multiple podcasts and, most recently, on a six (6) part docu-series airing on the History Channel. While his impressive resume continues to grow with accolades, achievements and contributions, Jason Harris remains steadfast in his commitment to serve. Leveraging his experience and work alongside the most senior military leaders, Congressional Leaders and even the Vice President, Jason Harris’ mission is clear: To relentlessly dedicate himself and those he serves to develop a culture of commitment, accountability and trust. To learn more about Jason, check out his website and on social media: https://jasonoharris.com/

    34 min
  5. 01/10/2025

    Navigating the Storms of Failure with Best-Selling Author & Investor Sterling Hawkins

    Sterling Hawkins, best-selling author, investor, entrepreneur and keynote speaker, who is globally recognized as a leading expert in organizational culture, joins Dr. Travis Hearne on the Through the Storm podcast to talk about the storms of failure. Founder of the No Matter What Movement, he shows people how to practice trust to achieve the results they want regardless of obstacles. Sterling developed his trust-powered success system to learn from the painful collapse of his multi-billion dollar startup involvement. He's since combined his business background, research, study and practice to come back and launch, invest in and grow more than 100 companies. He's taken that experience to work with C-level teams and leaders and speak on stages around the world. He's been featured in magazines like Forbes, Fast Company, The New York Times and Inc. He believes that the depth of your trust determines the extent of your growth and success in life and business. Getting results requires being brave, declaring big goals and stepping outside your comfort zone. To inspire people to unlock their own inherent potential, he shares five practices that help us push beyond our perceived limits to make a difference for our companies, communities and families. When he's not at home in Colorado, he may be out skydiving, swimming with sharks or adventuring with the No Matter What Movement. For more information, visit SterlingHawkins.com

    33 min
5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

Leading people well is tough, even in the best of times, but what do we do when it gets really, really tough? How do we as leaders respond to adversity in a healthy and productive way? How can we continue to succeed in business and in life through the storms of leading well? You know, when dangerous storms have begun to brew over the horizon, most herd animals and even humans have a tendency to take cover or move away from the storm, but not the buffalo. The buffalo, instead of running for cover, will gather its herd, take a few last bites of whatever food is out there, and head directly through the storm. As leaders, we have to do the same thing. We're all faced with different storms that come with leading well. Modern-day leaders face leadership storms that can cripple an individual, a team, or an entire organization. Our guests are resilient leaders, some of the best resilient leaders our country has to offer. They'll walk us through how they actually got through these storms and how they became better on the other side. So join us on the Through the Storm podcast.