S4:114AI RECAP 🎙️with CDR Adrienne Townsend Benton, USN (Multi Tracks Audio)

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A second career and thriving— that's how Navy Lieutenant Commander Adrienne Townsend Benton is living her life. In today's Military Moment, we highlight a woman who's found a way to intersect her faith and her military career as a Navy chaplain.

Brittany Jones has her story. Lieutenant Commander Adrienne Benton started in the classroom.

Initially, I was an elementary school teacher, taught 7th and 8th grade and 1st and 2nd grade. In the midst of working on my master's in curriculum and instruction, I began to realize that there there was a passion inside me that was yet unfulfilled.

And that led the Queens, New York native to ministry.

And as I just surveyed my life, I saw that when it came to doing ministry, that's where I really was passionate. So I, I left teaching and went into the seminary. Personally, joining the Navy as a chaplain, I had to exactly walk in the shoes of the other personnel in terms of learning how to walk and resolve conflict within yourself and externally, learning how to not allow your fears to get the best of you.

And years later, Chaplain Benton knows she made the right choice.

Throughout the 17 years, I have had the opportunity to work specifically with our women, our female service members, and at various duty stations, we have been able to develop and create committees, symposiums, leadership opportunities for women, and that has been, I believe, my greatest accomplishment to date.

She served incoming Sailors, thousands of students, staff, and the Marine community around the globe. Now serving as the Senior Chaplain at the Naval Support Activity Charleston.

Is it ever challenging? Uh, yes, sometimes it's challenging because you really are walking this journey and you're taking time to meet people where they're at. Right? That takes patience, that takes time, that takes sensitivity, empathy.

But those challenges have helped decorate her in Navy and Marine Corps medals, and now there's an award created in her name that's given to the Marine who exhibits resilience just like her.

There's a brotherhood, a sisterhood that comes in this environment that you won't be able to get anywhere else. And again, I am absolutely honored to serve our country and to serve our community in this capacity.

Brought to you by Navy Federal Credit Union. Learn more about how we're honoring veterans at navyfederal.org/veterans. Our members are the mission.

What do you believe? Who are you? And what are you going to stand for?

Wow.

Powerful, powerful, man. Again, I could be talking to you over and over again. Can you give me like 10 more minutes and then we're going to end? Man, I need to have you back. This is awesome. I'm having the best time of my life here. Okay, let me ask you this then. What are some of the books that you've read that we should read as well? Of course, we want everybody to get a copy of your bestselling book, A Greater Force Than Failure: Intentional Time with God, available everywhere books are sold. You've already mentioned Dare to Lead by Brené Brown, and you mentioned, I call him Papa John, so John C. Maxwell, 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. Is there any other book you would recommend?

Yeah, there's a wonderful book called— you may not be able to see it because I have my little green screen on, but a great book called An Unhurried Leader by Alan Fadlen. It's a really great book. He argues that truly effective leadership doesn't come from frenetic energy. Restlessness. Instead, it flows from an unhurried life. And an unhurried life, this perspective is one that's rooted in God's presence, God's grace, and then thoughtful engagement with those we lead. And this has been, especially in this season of my life, this has really been very pivotal for me because it has been inviting me to cultivate the inner rhythms of rest and relaxation— not relaxation, reflection. Rest, reflection, and also listening. So that my leadership becomes a presence that influences rather than an urgency that pushes. And man, this has been really impactful for me in this season. I just came in contact with this book recently.

Wow.

That's by Alan Faldin, right?

Yes. F-A-D-L-I-N-G. Faldin.

Wow.

That is really powerful because that's part of the reason why in the show we We really love to read because I think books have changed my life. I was 17 years old where I started asking questions like, what is success? How to be successful? What is leadership and how to lead?

Absolutely. So one, it's having an understanding that life is full of challenges. If you are alive and we are human, right, we're breathing, a challenge is going to come your way almost every single day. And the reason why I start off there is because sometimes we can become very, um, what's the right word? Sometimes as we're living through life, we don't always take things as seriously as we should in terms of really seeing what is true about a situation, right? I call— we have what we call thinking stinking sometimes, where we make up and we create stories about something. We— and, and yet when we stop to understand that I'm human, there are things that are going to happen. My car will break down. While at the same time the command wants me to go on an exercise, while at the same time my father is in the hospital. Like, these things happen, right? But it's also important to remember that we have been blessed and gifted.

All right, ladies and gentlemen, this was just a quick highlight of the wonderful hour-long conversation I had with Commander Benton, and that was for Season 4, Episode 114. Today is 114. AI recap. We're going to have a 10-minute AI recap of the conversation I had with her, but I actually have a surprise guest right now on the show, and I am going to bring her forward. And she really doesn't need any more introduction, right? Everybody knows her. She's Commander Adrienne Townsend Benton, a transformational US Navy chaplain, international speaker, Amazon bestselling author, suicide prevention trainer, and founder of Forward Movement Ministry. And I believe what we really learned from her is really how to prepare to lead and also really how to guide your team and really having that sense of purpose-driven professional, hungry for clarity transformation. And I really believe this episode is for you. So without any further ado, would you please help me welcome Commander Adrienne Townsend?

Benton!

Hello!

Oh, Chaplain, how are you doing today?

Blessed, feeling really blessed today.

Actually, today is Sunday, right? So most people, they take off in the Navy and around the world, but this might be one of your busiest days of the week, isn't it, as a Chaplain? So really, really honored to have you here again. I guess just, just to get started, what is one thing that you are grateful for today?

Yeah, you know, today actually is a very tender day for myself and my family. Today makes 4 years since my father passed, and so today I am grateful for cherished moments. I'm grateful for cherished moments. You know, I woke up this morning and, and, uh, you know, the thought of my dad gripped my heart, and then I had to say, you know what, we had so many wonderful years, wonderful experiences, and he has left a legacy with us. So today I'm grateful for cherished moments.

Thank you, thanks so much for sharing that. And also, this is the holiday season, Christmas is going to be next week, right? And many people, especially veterans, during this time, you know, they kind of feel lonely, especially if they are deployed overseas. And many people are kind of depressed during this time. So, it is really good to hear you say that, just being grateful for cherished moments. I think we all really need to do that.

Wow.

Thanks so much. Is there from the episode we had, I think it was about 3 weeks ago, the original episode, Season 4, Episode 114, which we want everybody to go ahead and watch. And also, I want everybody to get a copy of A Greater Force Than Failure if you haven't done that yet. But, Is there anything else you would like to share to the audience before I play the first clip?

Yeah, so my takeaways from that episode were a couple of things. One, I know to myself, it was a reminder that self-awareness is a force multiplier, right? When we as leaders, when we understand who we are, when we understand our own triggers, then we can hear our tone that we're using with people. We can see the tendencies, the habits that we we tend to use when we're interacting, and we can use those to be self-aware and create healthier, more cohesive teams and cultures in which we work.

Hmm, that's powerful. That is powerful. So what I will do now, I am gonna play the very first, uh, 5-minute clip and, uh, get your feedback on the other side. And then I understand you also have a big, uh, announcement coming up, so we, we're gonna make sure to, uh, Mention that.

Clarity creates calm. Just let that sink in for a second. In a world that feels like it's constantly spinning faster and faster, what a powerful idea, right? It's a real anchor for anyone who's trying to lead. So where does this wisdom come from? Well, today we're going to dive into some incredible leadership lessons from someone who has literally lived and breathed in some of the most high-pressure situations you can imagine. We're talking about Commander Adrienne Townsend Benton of the U.S. Navy. So, what makes her take on leadership so different, so powerful? Well, check this out. CDR Benton isn't just a Navy chaplain. She's also a transformational coach, an author, and a founder. Her experience crosses all these different worlds—the military, ministry, personal development. That gives her this incredible, unique perspective on what it really takes to lead people. So let's start at the beginning. Where does real leadership even come from? It's not the fancy title, it's not the corner office. According to C.D.R. Benton, it all starts with purpose. But, and this is the interesting part, her take on purpose is probably not what you're thinking. You know, the story behind this quote is just amazing. C.D.R. Benton actually started out as an educator. She had this whole plan, you know. She was gonna be a TV newscaster, But then, life happened. Purpose just interrupted her. A professor came up to her and said, "The call of God is on your life." And at first, she was like, "Nope, not for me." But that pull, it was just too strong to ignore. And that's the big takeaway, right? Purpose isn't this thing you have to go out and hunt down. It's something that finds you, if you just make a little space to listen. Okay, so you have this inner sense of purpose. Great. But how does that actually help you lead when, you know, everything's on fire around you? Let's bring it back to that big idea from the beginning: clarity and calm. CDR Benton has this incredible term for it: the ministry of presence. Think about that. She talks about walking into these totally chaotic rooms, and just the fact that she showed up, people would visibly relax. It wasn't about what she said; they didn't need a speech. They needed her calm. And that's the genius of it. In a crisis, your calm isn't just a nice little feeling; it's a strategic tool. It's a weapon that literally makes everyone around you better. But, look, being a human Zen Garden is a fantastic start, but it's not the whole story. It can't be. That calm has to be built on something real, something deep. Because you just can't fake it when the pressure is really on. And this is maybe one of the most important points of all. You can't just flip a "trust me" switch when a crisis hits. It doesn't work like that. Trust is like building a foundation, brick by brick, every single day. And when that foundation is rock-solid, your team doesn't need a 50-page memo during a crisis. They just need to hear your voice and know which way to go. And let's be clear: in any high-stakes environment—I don't care if it's a military operation or a late-night product launch in Silicon Valley—trust is not a "nice to have." It is the currency of leadership. It's what buys you speed. It's what lets your team move fast and decisively because they believe in where you're taking them. Okay, so we've talked about all these external things—presence, trust, clarity—but where does all that stuff actually come from? Well, according to C.D.R. Benton, it comes from the one place most of us forget to look: our relationship with ourselves. This next idea is wow. It's a big one. She says that when she meets you, she's not just meeting you; she's meeting the relationship you already have with yourself. Just think about that for a second. Before you can lead anyone else, you're in a full-time leadership position with yourself. And if that relationship is a mess, if you don't really know who you are, what you're about, what sets you off, that mess is gonna leak out. It always does. And that's why self-awareness isn't some fluffy soft skill. No way. It's the concrete foundation of all leadership. Your identity. Your strengths, sure, but also your insecurities. That's what determines how far your influence can actually go. Bottom line: if you want to lead other people well, you have got to get brutally honest with yourself first. Okay, so this is all great, but it's hard work, right? This internal stuff. So what do you do in the moment, when you feel like you're losing it? Well, this is where it gets super practical. C.D.R. Benton has this brilliantly simple tool for getting back in control when you feel completely overwhelmed. She calls it the 5-15-5 reset. It's so good. Here's how it works. First, you take 5 minutes, just 5, and you breathe, you detach. Then you take 15 minutes to cut through all the chaos and ask one simple question: What are the top 2 things that matter right now? That's it, just 2. And finally, you take another 5 minutes to recommit, to decide on the very next step and get back in the game. You see, it's not about just toughing it out. It's about intentional recovery. And that idea of intentional recovery leads us to another mindset that is just so critical for any leader, but especially for anyone who's had to face down some serious obstacles. The big question: how do you handle adversity? Get this. Early in her Navy career, a colleague, a warrant officer, pulled her aside and told her she had 3 strikes against her before she even opened her mouth. She was a woman, She was African American, and she was a chaplain. Imagine hearing that. For a year and a half, she carried that weight around with her. And then, a mentor came along and just flipped the entire script. He said, "Those aren't strikes, those are opportunities." Boom! Just like that, one sentence, a total perspective shift. It changed everything for her. And that's the lesson she took from it. And it's a lesson for all of us. Don't shrink to make other people comfortable. Your unique identity, the things that make you you, that's not something to hide. That is the source of your power. If someone has a problem with your gifts, that is their issue, not yours. Real leadership is about leading with your identity, not in spite of it. So, how does all this apply to you, right now? Well, look, these principles are totally universal. If you're a young officer in the Navy, it means you've gotta build that trust on day one. If you're an engineer in Silicon Valley, it means clarity is your best friend, and that your job isn't just solving problems, it's building people. The scenery might change, but the fundamentals of leadership, they don't. And when you boil it all down, it comes back to this one simple but, yeah, incredibly hard piece of advice she gives. Everything we've covered—the clarity, the courage, the trust—it all rests on one thing: believing in yourself. Having the guts to step outside your comfort zone just long enough to figure out who you really are. So, I'll leave you with this. Based on everything we've heard from C.D.R. Benton's journey, your purpose isn't some hidden treasure you have to go on a quest for. It's already here. It's revealing itself to you all the time in those little tugs, those things that pull on you, the problems you can't stop thinking about. So the real question isn't "Where is my purpose?" The real question is, are you making enough space to hear it?

All right, Commander, what do you think? Did we miss anything?

Wow, not at all. I'm like, oh my gosh, I'm taking notes again. That was awesome. That was really awesome.

I really, really love, uh, what you said when we first started, right, about self-awareness being a force multiplier. But then another thing I really got of it that really hit me is when you say don't shrink to make others comfortable. I think so many, many people do that. In my experience, maybe women more than men. When I look at my wife and my two daughters, sometimes they're like, no, I don't really want to shine. I just want to blend into the environment so I'm not different. So they don't want to really show their brilliance. And I think that's really a mistake, right? Because God did make us different. We have different gifts and, you know, places of genius, and we really, really should shine when we get the opportunity, because that is what I believe our purpose is, why God gave us those gifts and talent. Anything else you'd like to add, Commander?

So, you know, on that point, I would say sometimes we fall into that because of two reasons. One, because of the personal cost, right? There are responsibilities and impacts to every decision we choose to make. So sometimes from a personal level, sometimes people will shrink back and not shine because they're not ready, or they perceive that they're not ready, or they don't have what it takes for the full scope of the responsibility. That shining, or that moving forward, that opening their mouth with that great idea what, what it will cost. Sometimes, on the other hand, society has caused us to believe that if we open our mouth, that if we shine, we will make someone else uncomfortable, and then we will be removed from the table. We won't be allowed in the room, or we will get blamed for causing some sort of conflict when we're just being ourselves, using our gift and talents. And so sometimes, yes, that, that corporate cost of I don't know that I don't know that they're ready for my shine, or if I shine, it's going to push me back as when I— all I really want to do is be able to fit in. And so sometimes those are the two dynamics that people wrestle with when it comes to, you know, living out their full potential and with the gifts and the talents. But one of the things that came to mind as I was watching this was, you know, for us as leaders, it's important for us to remember that our leadership is not shaped by comfort. Our leadership is shaped when we are in environments that demand growth. Many times the environments that demand growth cause us to be uncomfortable because there has to be lessons learned and there has to be a shift. And so it's, it's another, just another point for us to remember as leaders. Now that doesn't mean that we should anticipate that our whole journey is going to be pain, pain, pain, but When we talk about shifting, I can honestly look back over my over 2 decades. When did I learn the most? I didn't learn the most in comfort. Yes, yes. I learned the most when there was a requirement for growth, when I had to shift, when I was uncomfortable, right? Yeah.

That is quite powerful. Actually, you remind me, of course, in the Bible, Matthew 5:16, Jesus said, right, let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven. It is quite powerful. And it also reminded me, I believe it was, what's her name, Marianne Williamson. I believe she's running for president a couple of times, but back in the day she was introduced by Oprah. Her book, A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles. One of her most famous quotes in the book, she says, as humans, our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate, But our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It's our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?

That's right.

You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just some of us, it's in everyone. And as we let our light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others. And of course, you, during the podcast, you did talk about leadership presence as well. Just being present, being calm in the midst of the storm and really affecting the culture, the environment, and the cell following you. I think that's just quite powerful. Wow. Tell us why people who haven't yet, and I don't know why they haven't yet, and we already talked about this, why they should purchase your bestselling book, A Greater Force Than Failure: Intentional Time with God.

Why should they read it? Absolutely. So A Greater Force Than Failure: Intentional Time with God, this is a very short, self-help. It's a self-paced guide that has 4 principles to help anyone who has ever made a mistake, who has ever had to overcome a failure, who has ever had to reset. And it gives you 4 points that you can just walk through, where one, you stop and you get that self-awareness, right? We have to be able to identify, hey, what is the pain point? What is it? What just happened here? Identify it with no judgment, right? Why is this something that needs to be changed? Right? What, what is it that I need to get over? We have to look at what support, what community, what resources are already in place, what plan, what can I commit to now, what will give me the courage, how can I walk forward with courage, not in judgment. I'll always remember what has happened, not using it in judgment, but using it as the fertilizer to now move me forward. So everyone needs to practice this and walk through it.

Absolutely. Well, because fear and failures really are truly human. And most people, like I said during our podcast, I love this coin one of my skipper gave me, right? One side says failure, but the other side says success, right? Most people only look at successes, but they never really look at the failure. Everybody to follow you, I'm going to share your screen now on LinkedIn, and then you're going to tell us about this wonderful thing that is going to be happening very, very soon you want people to be aware of. So if you go to LinkedIn, so that's linkedin.com/in/AdrianBenton, very, very easy, and right there they can be in touch with you, know kind of what is coming up. Can you tell us about this announcement here, coming soon?

What is going on? Absolutely. Yes, so January 5th through 7th, 2026, I will be hosting, facilitating a virtual challenge for women leaders, for women leaders who are ready to lead with clarity, boundaries, and confident presence. We're looking at the pain points of being undervalued or overlooked, being burnt out from overgiving, tired of proving yourself, disconnected from your purpose, and you're ready to shift to spirit-led self-awareness leadership. Then you want to go ahead and join us January 5th through 7th. It's only going to be 60 minutes each day. You'll have an opportunity to get a teaching from me on one of the 3 main pain points that we're going to be dealing with. I will also have a guest each day, um, and you'll be able to join a community of like-minded women, and it's free. Wow. On December 24th, that's going to be the opening of the registration. I want to invite you to not only come, but you need to bring another a woman leader from your network so that we can grow and glow, glow and grow together. Chaplin, this is crazy.

It's absolutely free, and to sign up, they just need to follow you on LinkedIn and sign up December 24th. Wow. Okay, that's it. You said it's only for women. In this show, we do believe universal leadership principles, right, are universal. Doesn't matter your gender, your race, or where you come from, or your industry, those apply. Would you allow a few good men to join as well, or absolutely not?

Not in this challenge. However, I do have my Mobilizing with Impact LinkedIn page, and on that page, as we go through this reset, we're going to put a lot of resources in that page so the men can follow us as well, as well as on Facebook and YouTube. And men, you can follow our Transformation Station Leadership Podcast. Join our community, and we are going to do one that's co-ed in August, virtual one for everyone, so that we can continue to grow as leaders. Very good.

So I'm going to make sure my wife and my two daughters attend your special event, and then they're gonna give me all of, all of the answers. They're gonna tell me what's going on. So this is your podcast website, transformationstationleadershippodcast.burstcloud.com. And your podcast is, I believe, available everywhere podcasts are found, right?

Spotify, Apple, Spotify, Apple addict, um, everywhere you go you'll be able to find it. And every Monday we have 2 episodes, and on Wednesdays we have a live 1 episode. So every week you get 3 amazing discussions with leadership experts who are in our thought leadership industry.

That is just wonderful, man. You just keep on giving and giving and adding so much value. This is really incredible. Thank you. Thank you so much. So now what I'm going to do for you, I'm going to play 5 minutes AI recap, the second half, and then get your feedback on that, and then you can share whatever you want. And That's going to be the end of the show today. So let me cue that up next.

Welcome everyone. Today we're diving deep into leadership lessons that absolutely resonate with anyone looking to make an impact. We're talking about clarity, purpose, and resilience from an incredible leader whose story is truly transformational. Oh, absolutely.

And it's fascinating how these lessons cross boundaries. From the military to tech and beyond. Right.

So one of the standout principles is that purpose is not earned, it's revealed. It's like you're going through life and then suddenly you hear that calling, often when you least expect it. Yep.

And I love that idea. It reminds us not to outrun our own calling. There's a beauty in embracing what pulls you.

Exactly. I mean, imagine you're on a path and then you when you suddenly realize that the textbook education you thought was enough just doesn't speak to your soul. That disconnect is what opens the door to something greater. Right.

And she mentioned that even when you try to dodge that call, it's like destiny standing there, waiting for you to see it.

Yeah, it's intriguing how she was set on a career in TV newscasting, but then a professor's words 'The call of God is on your life' changed everything.

Yeah, that kind of wake-up call really cuts deep, right? Totally. And when you're in those high-pressure moments, whether in a military environment or a tech crisis, clarity creates calm.

Right on. Clarity really does act like a superpower. It's like when you see everything clearly, you can lead with a kind of calm that cuts through the chaos. Mm-hmm.

Yeah. But I sometimes wonder, is it realistic to expect every leader, especially in absolute pressure, to be that calm all the time? That's a fair challenge.

I mean, it's not about being emotionless. It's about, um, using calm as a tool. It's more like keeping your head so you can make thoughtful decisions rather than reacting impulsively.

True. And building on that, trust is another lesson that really hits home. Trust is built before the crisis, she said. That means leaders have to, um, invest in genuine connection well before the storm hits.

Yes, trust is like the currency of leadership. Without it, even the best strategies crumble. You have to show up authentically in every moment to truly build that base of trust.

Exactly. And it was especially poignant when she talked about how trust, integrity, and consistency create an environment where Even the unspoken understanding helps teams excel.

For sure. And then there's the crucial point about identity. When I meet you, you're already in a relationship with you. That's not just a catchy phrase, it's a foundational truth. Mm-hmm. Absolutely.

Right. If you don't know who you truly are, every other relationship becomes shaky. It's an intimate sort of introspection that's essential for leadership.

Yeah, it's like, um, you're setting the stage for all your interactions. Your identity anchors your authenticity and guides your influence.

And I love how that ties into the concept of not shrinking to make others comfortable. That was such a bold statement.

Absolutely. Don't shrink to make others comfortable, she said. It really flips the script, doesn't it? Instead of diminishing yourself, you embrace your uniqueness.

Right, exactly. However, one could argue, isn't it also important to find a balance? I mean, assertiveness is great, but sometimes the environment requires a bit of, um, diplomacy. That's a good point.

I see it as not about being abrasive, but rather about owning your gifts confidently, so that any discomfort others feel reflects their own limitations, not a fault of yours.

Mm-hmm, yeah, that definitely makes sense. Sense. It's about standing firm in your identity and then moving into resilience.

I really like how she described resilience as intentional recovery. It's not just about, like, enduring hardships, but taking precise steps to reset. Right.

The 5-15-5 reset is genius. It's a practical roadmap. I mean, 5 minutes to breathe, 15 to focus and prioritize, and another 5 to reengage with clarity. It's a leadership hack. Yeah, very tactical.

And it reinforces that resilience isn't about pushing through without pause. It's about strategic recovery.

For sure. Plus, it ties back to the broader idea of unhurried leadership. Slowing down really does speed up decision-making in the long run.

Exactly. It's like rest isn't a reward. It's a responsibility. Taking that pause is crucial for safeguarding your capacity to lead.

And that idea resonates not just for military leaders, but for anyone in high-stakes roles, including tech and corporate sectors. Absolutely. It's universal.

Whether you're commanding a team under fire or managing a tech crisis, slowing down gives you the space to, um, reflect and make better choices. Mm-hmm. Yeah.

Then there's the whole forward movement philosophy. The notion that we're not stuck because of ignorance, but often because we're not moving forward. That's powerful.

Totally. It's a call to action. The idea that purposeful movement, even small steps, can make a monumental difference. Yeah, exactly.

And it's interesting how that philosophy can empower people in every field, motivating leaders to constantly push boundaries and overcome their fears.

Right, it's all about courage in motion. Even that one story about the woman who feared success shows that our limitations are often self-imposed.

Mm-hmm, a really transformative insight. I also appreciate how her insights span practical, tactical advice and deeper personal truths. There's a harmony in that balance of strategy and soul.

Yeah, it's like you need both the mind and the heart to lead effectively. The principles of clear communication, trust-building, purposeful direction, and taking care of yourself come together to form a holistic approach.

And on the note of care, the emphasis on presence in high-pressure moments reminds us that sometimes, just by being there, you can calm an entire team. Exactly.

Presence over position. It's a reminder that leadership is less about barking orders and more about embodying calm and clarity so that everyone feels anchored.

Mm-hmm, totally. Overall, these lessons feel both timeless and incredibly timely, especially in today's rapidly changing environments. Absolutely.

From military to boardroom, this roadmap shows that the core of leadership is about self-awareness and, um, deliberate action. Your purpose, identity, and resilience shape how effectively you lead.

It's a rich blend of personal growth and actionable strategies, a true blueprint for anyone striving to make a difference in their field. Well said.

If there's one takeaway, it's believe in yourself, embrace the call, and lead with unwavering integrity. That's the kind of legacy that transforms not just teams, but entire cultures. Mm-hmm.

Absolutely. Here's to moving forward with courage and clarity. Every single day.

Thanks for such an engaging chat. Thanks for joining the discussion. Let's keep championing leaders who dare to make a difference. Forward ever, backward never.

That's, that's really something. Let me ask you this as a chaplain, for those of us who are Christian, and there are quite a lot of Christians in the Navy, you know, the Bible says, you know, Thou shall not kill. It's kind of like maybe an ethical dilemma I've always thought about because I joined after 9/11, right? So I've had multiple chances with Oliver Saylor being called to serve in Afghanistan. I work a lot of combat zones where you could defend yourself and protect your country and get to actually take a life. So we talked about loss on our side. So Let me think about loss on the enemy side. So I kind of know it's moral, it is ethical, and it is legal. It was a just war. But for those who really believe in Scripture, again, knock on wood, I personally have never been in a situation where I had to take someone's life. But I guess theologically, how do you justify a Christian taking the life of an enemy combatant and how to kind of deal with that psychologically?

Yeah, it's a great question. So I'm going to be very honest with you. As a chaplain, my job is not to justify. So as I am encountering service members who are struggling with this, I take myself out of it. My goal and my role is to walk the journey with the individual. And so, you know, first we start with what is your value system? What do you know to be true? Because sometimes we have—

All right, you are going to have to listen to the full podcast to get the rest of the answer. All right, Chaplin, first of all, what do you think about the second 5-minute AI recap?

Fantastic. Absolutely fantastic. And I believe they captured it like 1000%. Fantastic.

Yeah, because the idea here is for people who are super busy, who for whatever reason can't listen to the full hour, they can at least get those 10-minute recap. Have a pretty good idea of what we talked about. Now, is there anything else you would like to tell the audience before we close the show today?

Yeah, before we go, you know, we're dealing with a lot of pressure right now, just in society in general, regardless of what your role is or your scope— pressure. And so I just want to invite everybody to remember, when we talk about resilience, resilience is not about how much more you can carry. It's about what you can safely release. So that you're walking forward with equilibrium. So that means right now I want to invite you, if there's any pressure that you are holding on to that's not yours to carry, release it. If you are isolating yourself instead of building community because you think no one else understands, release that mindset and find yourself a resource or some sort of connection or community around you so that you're not walking the journey alone. If you in 2025 have encountered situations that have brought you on shame, I want you to release the shame Give yourself an opportunity to forgive yourself and walk forward. And then finally, if you're holding on to any unrealistic, unrealistic expectations, to thine own self be true. Do what you can do, be who you are, but release yourself of any unrealistic expectations you may be placing on yourself. Because resilient leaders aren't the ones who never fall, who never make mistakes. Nope. It's the ones who are honest, who stay connected with themselves and the environment, the community around them, so that they can rise again and again.

Thank you so much. That is a mini sermon, such a timely message, especially this time during the Christmas holidays. Like I usually bring the awareness on the show, about 21 veterans commit suicide every single day. And usually during the holiday time, people feel very, very lonely, especially if they are far, far away from their families. And their loved one. But then at the same time too, 2026 is just around the corner. That's when people start having new dreams, setting up new goals. Can you maybe speak a little bit about the anxiety some people may have now? This year for many people has been a very tough year. Many people in the government have lost their jobs, so they really don't know how they're going to be able to take care of their family. The economy isn't what many people wish it should be, and the inflation is pretty high, the prices of the groceries skyrocket. Unless you are like a millionaire or billionaire, it doesn't affect you. But for most of us, uh, it is, it is really, uh, tough this, uh, season. Maybe a word for, uh, encouragement and how people should really be, uh, starting over again on January 2026.

A little bit of hope. Absolutely. So I would say, one, remember what grounds you and what holds you, right? We are going through a tumultuous season right now, but we have been here before. Right? Maybe different characters and maybe different extremities, but we've been here before in terms of life. As we walk through life, we continue to go through arduous times. And I want to invite everybody right now, remember what holds you, remember what grounds you, and this is the time to lean into that. This is the time again to resurrender any stinking thinking, any negativity that you may be holding on that would be an obstacle for your forward movement, to Take what grounds you, and now you have to make it into a daily practice. Every morning when you open up your eyes, first thing you must do— I encourage everyone to do, whether you are religious or not— is to start your day off with gratitude. Exactly what Coach BZ reminds us to do when he says, what— start off your day, what's that one thing? When you start putting into practice acknowledging the one thing, you will find that as day 5, day 6, day 7 comes, it'll be more than one thing, those two things, those four. Then your mind will just start to fill up. Remember, they say scientifically Whatever you engage with in the first 20 minutes of your day starts the tone, sets the tone for how you will perceive the remainder of the day. So if in the first 20 minutes of your day, if you start off with gratitude, if you start off acknowledging who you are, removing any unexpected expectations, if you start off that way, as you go through the day, obstacles will come your way, but you have that positivity, you have what you're grateful for, you have what is already working, you have the understanding of who you are that serves as armor. As we move forward into 2026, it's not necessarily really about starting over. It's about maintaining what you know to be true and walking forward knowing that in each day you are not alone and each day you will make it through it. Not just through it, but you'll grow through it.

That is so powerful. You are not alone. Definitely with the Leadership Success Podcast, we are here with you and, uh, make sure to follow Transformation Station Leadership with my friend, the chaplain, the one and only Commander Adrian Benton. Thank you so much for being back. I mean, this is so much more wonderful. Normally I do this all by myself. It's very, very sad. But you are here. You've brought your energy and your life and your presence, and we are very, very grateful. Thank you so much, Commander Benton, for taking the time all the way out of Naples, Italy, too. So all the way across the world. It just shows how technology can bring us together. And thank you. Thanks so much. I think what I will do too— do you speak a little bit of Italian now or no? Un poco. Very little. What I will do, you absolutely don't have to be there. I'm going to play this again tonight in Italian. So both of the 10— basically, I'm not going to say anything because I don't understand a word of Italian, but I'm just going to start the show, play those 2 clips in Italian, and that's going to be the end of it. Maybe you can watch it later. But thanks again. Thanks again. And we really, really appreciate you coming back on the Leadership and Success podcast. Maybe after your big event in January, we need to have you back. There's so much we can learn from you. Thank you. Thank you so much, Commander. Thank you. Bye-bye. All right. Bye. All right, everyone. This was just terrific. I am very, very grateful, just overjoyed that Commander Benton took the time to be here with us. So I am going to finish with our 21 Days of Gratitude. As you know, I normally do the moment of gratitude at the beginning, but now I do it at the end just so that I give my guests time to express themselves. But today, I believe is day number 18, 18 of 21. So I do this every single year. I first was challenged about 4 years ago, so this is the 4th time I am doing this on Thanksgiving Day, I start day 1 of my 21 days of gratitude. So it's a challenge for myself, but also a challenge for the people who are connected to me. So basically, every day I am grateful for something on LinkedIn. And then every day, I select randomly select a member of my network and I challenge them to accept the challenge as well. And if they accept the challenge, starting that day, they put a post on LinkedIn where they are grateful for something. And every day for the next 21 days, they will keep doing that. And every one of those days, they also are going to challenge someone within their network to accept the challenge. So today, like the commander said, I am really grateful for all of the memorable moments in my life, not just positive but negative too. Those moments that have helped shape me become the person I am today, right? All of the great time I spent with my mother and my dad who are no longer here on earth with us, but the memory really lasts forever. I remember when I first became a father, that was really a milestone in my life. It definitely changed me from being a boy really to becoming a man overnight because now I was responsible for another human being, my daughter who was on the way. So all of those great moments when I got married, when I moved to the United States, when we moved to California. So a lot of great moments. The people I have met like Commander Benton who really add a lot of value into my life. So I am very, very grateful for all of those memorable moments. But like I say, not all positive. Sometimes you do make mistake, you are human. But when you learn from those mistakes and it help kind of change the trajectory of your life and I am so, so grateful for that. Okay, so now what I am going to do then, I am going to share my screen. I'm gonna go to the Wheel of Names. This is where I have all of the people who are connected to me and we are going to click on the wheel, spin it and see who is the person I'm going to challenge today to accept the 21-day grateful challenge. And the selected today is is Charles King. He's the founder and chief executive officer at Macro. And I initially connected with Charles on LinkedIn on February 28th, 2022. So let's see. Again, for me, today is day 28, day 18 of 21. So I am almost done with my challenge here, but Charles, and it looks like you are in LA, not too far from where I am, and you have more than 42,000 followers. So you won't have any problem challenging one members of your network. So Charles, if you do this, I really hope you accept the challenge. Again, the challenge is every single day for the next 21 days, YT on LinkedIn and then to challenge one of your 42,000 followers to do the same thing every single day. All right, this is it for the show today. I'm going to play one more clip from the conversation I had, insightful conversation with Commander Chaplain Benton, and that's going to be it. And I'm going to be back here tomorrow. So tomorrow is Monday and I will have a 10-minute recap with a conversation I had with John Kif. He is a strategist like you've never seen one. Former NASA, NSA, National Security Council strategist at the White House. He was in space, cyber, and national power. You really do not want to miss this. And then on Tuesday, I will have two interviews on Tuesday. First, I am going to speak with Professor Hold on, let me see.

Just one moment.

Okay, come on technology. Let's try this again. Here we go. Professor Stefano Pantoni from the Wharton School is going to be Tuesday morning. He's a global authority on data analytics, and he will be here on Tuesday. And his bestselling book, Decision-Driven Analytics. And then the same day, I am going to have the one and only, really a man who doesn't need any introduction. Kwame Christian is the number one, really, negotiation expert in the US. A world-renowned strategist, transformational visionary CEO, serial bestselling author of Finding Confidence in Conflict, but also his newest bestselling book, How to Have Difficult Conversations About Race. So to be on Tuesday. And then on Wednesday, I really have the greatest honor and privilege to speak to one of my heroes, the one and only General Stanley A. McChrystal, Army retired. He knows who he is, doesn't need any introduction. He really single-handedly changed the trajectory of the war in Afghanistan. He's a legendary servant leader, 4-star warrior scholar, serial bestselling author and his latest book on character. We're definitely going to be talking about that. And then on Thursday, I will also have Jeff Willey, Professor Jeff Willey, Senior Master Sergeant, U.S. Air Force. He's an educator, intergenerational servant leader. We're going to be talking from Senior Master Sergeant, Professor. So that is this week. We are looking forward to it. So, uh, look you tomorrow. So until then, have a wonderful day.

Bye. Thank you for tuning in to the Leadership and Success Podcast with your host, Coach BZ. If today's episode added value to your leadership journey, be sure to subscribe, share, and join us again for more wisdom nuggets on how to lead better and achieve greater success. Remember, leadership is the most most critical skill of our time. The world will always need leaders to inspire others, drive innovation, and execute meaningful strategy. So why not count yourself among the bold leaders shaping the 21st century? Until next time, stay inspired, stay committed, and keep leading with excellence.