ason Lee Sharp’s story is one of hardship, discipline, service, and transformation. Raised in Chicago amid drugs, homelessness, and the pull of the streets, Jason learned early that suffering could either break him or build him. Today, he is a businessman, author, soldier, mentor, and leader dedicated to helping others turn adversity into strength.

In this episode, Jason shares how his challenging childhood shaped his mindset, how military school redirected his life, and how leadership became the throughline of his journey. From founding Sharp Leader and Sherris Lounge to serving as an infantry company commander in the Kansas Army National Guard, Jason’s path reveals what it means to stay alert, endure pain with purpose, and grow through discomfort.

We also dive into his book, Eyes Wide Open: Learning to Suffer, his work with youth through gritKC, and the lessons he has learned about mentorship, resilience, and choosing growth when life gets hard.

In this solo episode of Tales of Leadership, Joshua McMillion breaks down what it truly means to be “all in” as a leader, husband, parent, teammate, and human being. Leadership is not built in comfort. It’s forged through adversity, discipline, accountability, and the willingness to move forward even when life feels heavy. Joshua shares the mindset and routines that have helped him navigate pressure, uncertainty, failure, and toxic leadership environments while staying committed to a mission bigger than himself. This episode challenges listeners to stop waiting for the perfect moment and start taking purposeful action right now.

Rob Roy is a 25-year veteran of the U.S. Navy, with 21 years of service in the SEAL teams, including over a decade with the elite SEAL Team Six. After retiring, he transitioned to entrepreneurship, founding Trident Coaching and Consulting to deliver transformative leadership programs. Rob is an award-winning executive coach, a sought-after public speaker, and the author of Leadership Lessons of the Navy SEALs: The Art of War. His leadership training programs, including "Leadership Under Fire" and "Battlefield to the Boardroom," have received accolades, including multiple YPO-WPO BEST of the BEST awards. Rob's insights on leadership, resilience, and team-building have been featured on Bloomberg TV, Fox News, and NBC.

Failure isn’t what you think it is. Before you can lead through it, you have to redefine it. In this article, I break down the seven myths of failure using the acronym FAILING—from believing it's avoidable to thinking it's gone forever. Whether you're leading yourself, your family, or a team, this is the mindset shift you need to turn setbacks into momentum.

Dr. Edwin Adams is known as The Leadership Alchemist & founder of DisruptComfort.com. His mission is to support individuals and organizations in getting unstuck and achieving more.

Episode 37 with Brandon Burns

Episode 11 with Jana Shelfer

Episode 04 with Joshua K. McMillion

Episode 03 with Joshua K. McMillion