Unapologetic Leadership

Episoder

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  Why Great Work Isn’t Enough: Relationships, Visibility, and Real Business Growth with Manny Larcher 09.10.2026 27min

  You can be very good at what you do and still struggle to get enough of the right people to notice. In this episode of Unapologetic Leadership, Cory Dunham talks with founder, investor, and growth advisor Manny Larcher about what it really takes to build traction in a world crowded with content, AI, and endless distractions. Manny shares why relationships, customer conversations, and real-world connection still matter so much, especially when products and services are becoming easier to copy....
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  From Inherited Land to Intentional Legacy: Faith, Stewardship, and Generational Wealth with Colby Boone 07.10.2026 35min

  What are you building today that will still matter after you are gone? For Colby Boone, that question became very real when he inherited part of 50 acres of family land in North Carolina. What began as a responsibility to care for a piece of property quickly became something much bigger. Colby discovered more than 100 family members buried on the land. He began digging into deeds, family history, agriculture, and the lives of the generations who came before him. He found himself looking at la...
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  Are You Building a Business You Actually Want? Leadership, AI, Culture, and Happiness, with Ezra Dibble 02.10.2026 32min

  You can grow the business, hit the numbers, build the team, and still wonder: Is this actually making my life better? For founders and business owners, it is easy to spend so much time optimizing for revenue, efficiency, productivity, and growth that you forget to ask what you are really building toward. In this episode of Unapologetic Leadership, Cory Dunham sits down with entrepreneur and sales leader Ezra Dibble for a wide-ranging conversation about business, leadership, AI, culture, and t...
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  When the System Isn’t Working: Leading with Courage, Conviction, and Clarity, with Patrice Sulton 30.09.2026 30min

  What do you do when the way things have always been done is no longer working? For business owners and leaders, that question can show up everywhere. A process keeps breaking down. People are frustrated. Responsibility is unclear. You know something needs to change, but changing it may create resistance, uncomfortable conversations, or even more pressure on you. In this episode of Unapologetic Leadership, Cory Dunham sits down with attorney, educator, and social entrepreneur Patrice Sul...
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  Human Connection Still Wins: Building a Business and Life That Matter, with Amanda Collett 25.09.2026 37min

  As AI and technology change how we work, communicate, and build businesses, something surprisingly human may become even more valuable: Real connection. In this episode of Unapologetic Leadership, Cory Dunham sits down with Amanda Collett, CEO of Conference Badge, for an honest conversation about entrepreneurship, resilience, relationships, burnout, ambition, and what it really means to build a successful business and life. Amanda shares how she launched her first event with just $250, naviga...
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  The Truth About Federal Contracts, Readiness, Faith, with Dr. Lori Smith 23.09.2026 39min

  The Truth About Federal Contracts, Readiness, Faith, with Dr. Lori Smith Winning a federal contract can change your business. But what happens when you finally win the opportunity you have been chasing... and discover your business was not actually ready for it? The pressure rises. Cash flow gets tighter. Deadlines become unforgiving. And the weaknesses you could work around when the business was smaller suddenly become impossible to ignore. In this episode of Unapologetic Leadership, I s...
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  Would You Want to Do Business With You? Integrity, Reputation & the Golden Rule with Matt Wolff 16.09.2026 40min

  Running a business puts your reputation on the line every day. A difficult customer. A prospect who says no. Someone who doesn’t communicate clearly. A deal you desperately want to close. A relationship that may or may not ever lead to business. In those moments, it can be tempting to focus on the transaction. But people remember how you made them feel long after they forget what you sold them. In this episode of Unapologetic Leadership, Cory Dunham sits down with Matt Wolff, founder of Ti...
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  Teaching Critical Thinking in Schools: Authentic STEM Learning for Every Student, with Karen Marshall 09.09.2026 37min

  What if the solution to one of our biggest problems is already sitting inside the mind of a student who has never been asked what they think? In this episode of Unapologetic Leadership, Cory Dunham sits down with Karen N. Marshall, CEO of Innovative STEM Solutions, to explore why authentic STEM education is about far more than science. It’s about teaching students how to think critically, ask better questions, communicate their ideas, and solve real-world problems. Karen shares why worksheet...
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  From Felony to SpaceX: Building Wealth, Teams, and Legacy Through Relentless Execution, with Efren Barriga 02.09.2026 53min

  What happens when life knocks you all the way to the bottom? For Efren Barriga, becoming a felon, filing for bankruptcy, and watching doors close could have defined the rest of his life. Instead, he decided there was only one direction left to go: up. In this episode of Unapologetic Leadership, Cory Dunham sits down with Efren to unpack his remarkable journey from rock bottom to SpaceX, where he grew from fabricator and welder into leadership roles overseeing nearly 400 people and contributi...
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  Non-Negotiables Values and Leading Clients Through Life Transitions, with Cristine Ernsdorff 26.08.2026 19min

  In this episode of Unapologetic Leadership, Cory Dunham sits down with Southwest Florida real estate professional Cristine Ernsdorff to discuss integrity, transparency, trust, and the non-negotiable values that guide how she leads and serves her clients. Cristine explains why pressure doesn’t have to change your standards. By deciding in advance how you will conduct yourself, you can avoid sacrificing your values simply to close a deal, rush a decision, or achieve a short term result. They al...
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  Sales Team Enablement, AI Tools and The Real Cost of Implementation, with Monika Owczarek 19.08.2026 28min

  AI can transform your sales team, but adding more tools doesn’t automatically create better results. In this episode of Unapologetic Leadership, Cory Dunham sits down with sales strategist Monika Owczarek to discuss building consistent, AI powered revenue systems that actually work. Monika shares how leaders can identify gaps in their sales process, learn from top performers, and use AI and automation strategically instead of overwhelming teams with tools they barely use. They also explore th...
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  How Customer Success Leaders Gain Visibility and Get Promoted, with Beverly Hathorn 13.08.2026 40min

  Why do talented leaders sometimes get stuck while others continue moving up? In this episode of Unapologetic Leadership, Cori Dunham sits down with customer success leadership consultant Beverly Hathorn to uncover what it really takes to gain visibility, increase your impact, and prepare yourself for the next level. Beverly shares why simply doing your job well isn’t always enough to advance. If you want to become a director, start thinking, acting, and leading like one before the title arriv...
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  No Regrets Leadership by Taking the High Road: From Senior VP in Oil and Gas, Doug Sandridge 07.08.2026 35min

  What happens when doing the right thing could cost you professionally? In this episode of Unapologetic Leadership, Cory Dunham sits down with Doug Sandridge, Senior Vice President at Fulcrum Energy Capital Funds, for a powerful conversation about integrity, lifelong learning, authentic leadership, family, energy, and the decisions that ultimately define your legacy. One of Doug’s most important leadership principles is simple: take the high road. He shares a defining moment when senior leader...
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  Leadership at 16 Years Old... Founder, Patents and Building Before You Feel Ready, with Arya Upadhyay 06.08.2026 29min

  What if leadership has nothing to do with age and everything to do with the courage to take action? In this inspiring episode of Unapologetic Leadership, Cory Dunham sits down with Arya Upadhyay, a 16-year-old researcher, inventor, founder, and electrical and computer engineering student whose work is already making an impact on some of the world's biggest challenges. A high school graduate at just 15 years old, Arya has earned two patents and is developing groundbreaking solutions in biodegr...
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  Values, Discipline, Clean Living, and Sports Education with Victor Bergonzoli 31.07.2026 32min

  What if your greatest competitive advantage isn't your talent... but your discipline? In this inspiring episode of Unapologetic Leadership, Cory Dunham sits down with Victor Bergonzoli, Co-Founder and CEO of SportsEdTV, to discuss the principles that create lasting success in business, leadership, health, and life. From building one of the world's leading free sports education platforms to leading with integrity through life's toughest moments, Victor shares why values, discipline, and servic...
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  Christian Values in Business and Family, Downsized by AI, and Disruptive Innovation, with Andrew Grove 29.07.2026 35min

  Can your Christian faith become your greatest competitive advantage in business? In this thought-provoking episode of Unapologetic Leadership, Cory Dunham welcomes entrepreneur, innovation consultant, and POSE Fitness Founder Andrew Grove for an inspiring conversation about integrating faith, family, entrepreneurship, and innovation in a rapidly changing world shaped by artificial intelligence. Together, they explore how Christian values can guide leaders through uncertainty while creating bu...
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  What Ethical Leadership Looks Like When the World Gets Dirty, with Melih Arat 24.07.2026 37min

  What does it really mean to lead with integrity when dishonesty, distraction, and short-term thinking seem to dominate today's world? In this thought-provoking episode of Unapologetic Leadership, Cory Dunham sits down with entrepreneur, professor, author, and business consultant Melih (Mel) Arat to explore why ethical leadership isn't just a moral choice, it's a competitive advantage. Drawing on decades of experience teaching entrepreneurship, strategy, innovation, and business leadership, Me...
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  From Burnout to Purpose, Trusting Faith over Security, and Leaving a 6-Figure Income, with Dr. Melissa Hill 23.07.2026 32min

  What would it take for you to walk away from a successful six-figure career and trust that God has something even greater waiting on the other side? In this inspiring episode of Unapologetic Leadership, Cory Dunham sits down with Dr. Melissa Hill, former federal chemist, CEO, transition coach, and founder of CREME Consultants, to explore what it really means to leave comfort behind and pursue your God-given calling. After more than two decades in a successful career, Melissa recognized the si...
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  Great Leaders in Adversity, and how Compassion Built a Championship Culture, with Jim Johnson 17.07.2026 33min

  What separates great leaders from those who simply manage people? In this inspiring episode of Unapologetic Leadership, Cory Dunham sits down with legendary coach, keynote speaker, and bestselling author Jim Johnson to explore the leadership principles that create extraordinary teams, lasting influence, and unforgettable moments. Jim shares the remarkable story behind one of the most inspirational moments in sports history, when high school team manager Jason "J-Mac" McElwain, a young man wit...
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  Lead Differently with Courage and Faith and Empowering the Next Generation, with Dr. Valencia Hicks-Harris 15.07.2026 35min

  What if the greatest leaders aren't the loudest in the room, but the ones courageous enough to serve others with faith, empathy, and purpose? In this inspiring episode of Unapologetic Leadership, Cory Dunham welcomes Dr. Valencia Hicks-Harris, affectionately known as Dr. V, Founder and CEO of Empower All Inc., educator, researcher, speaker, and nonprofit leader, for a powerful conversation about authentic leadership, overcoming imposter syndrome, and creating lasting impact through service. ...