LBL In Case You Missed it Edition

"Leadership isn't something any of us ever finishes learning."

SUMMARY

In this special Long Blue Leadership: In Case You Missed It edition, we return to eight conversations from 2026 and pull some of their most practical lessons: Slow down when pressure says rush, honor your word, separate the person from the performance, ask better questions, protect what matters, adapt to the moment, be the steady hand and notice when someone needs you to act.  

FEATURED SPEAKERS

00:02:00 - Mitch Torrel ’14: Slow Down to Lead Better
00:06:45 - Jessica Whitney ’10: Honor Your Word
00:11:15 - Joe Bledsoe ’11: Make Feedback Useful
00:15:40 - Jannell MacAulay ’98: Ask Better Questions
00:20:05 - Joel Neeb ’99: Protect What Matters
00:24:30 - Kim Ford ’90: Lead for the Moment
00:29:00 - Mark Michalek ’99: Be the Steady Hand
00:33:30 - Matthew Ayers ’99: Notice and Act

THREE LEADERSHIP TRUTHS

Truth One: Leadership begins with intention.

Slow down enough to think. Protect what matters. Honor your commitments. Don't allow the urgency, distraction or discomfort of the moment to make your decisions for you.

Truth Two: Leadership is deeply human.

Ask better questions. Give feedback that helps people grow. Adapt your approach. Create the trust and connection that allow people to bring their best.

Truth Three: Leadership is something we practice.

It's not reserved for extraordinary circumstances. It happens in everyday choices — in how we respond under pressure, how we listen, how we use our time and whether we notice when someone around us needs something we can give.

 

CHAPTERS

00:00:00 - Eight Leaders, Eight Lessons

00:02:00 - Mitch Torrel: Slow Down to Lead Better

00:06:45 - Jessica Whitney: Honor Your Word

00:11:15 - Joe Bledsoe: Make Feedback Useful

00:15:40 - Jannell MacAulay: Ask Better Questions

00:20:05 - Joel Neeb: Protect What Matters

00:24:30 - Kim Ford: Lead for the Moment

00:29:00 - Mark Michalek: Be the Steady Hand

00:33:30 - Matthew Ayers: Notice and Act

00:38:00 - Lessons to Carry Forward

 

CONNECT WITH THE LONG BLUE LINE PODCAST NETWORK TEAM

Ted Robertson | Producer and Editor:  ted.robertson@usafa.org

Send your feedback or nominate a guest: socialmedia@usafa.org

 

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Ryan Hall | Director:  ryan.hall@usafa.org 

Bryan Grossman | Copy Editor:  bryan.grossman@usafa.org

Wyatt Hornsby | Executive Producer:  wyatt.hornsby@usafa.org

 

 

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The Long Blue Line Podcast Network is presented by the U.S. Air Force Academy Association & Foundation