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In this episode of A Shot of Inspiration podcast, I sit down with Craig Barlow, a former Royal Navy veteran turned performance and leadership coach. Craig shares how joining the Navy at 16 shaped his mindset, resilience, and approach to leadership. We talk about surviving a sinking ship, the power of preparation under pressure, and why true leadership begins with mastering yourself. Craig explains how he now helps high achievers build mental toughness through adventure-based experiences like Arctic expeditions and mountain crossings. This conversation is a powerful reminder that simplicity, discipline, and courage are built long before crisis ever hits.

Key Takeaways

• Leadership is forged through preparation and disciplined practice.
• Physical challenges expose blind spots and build real confidence.
• Self-leadership is the foundation for leading others well.

About Craig:

Craig Barlow is a former Royal Navy leader who spent 13 years operating in war zones and extreme environments before building a private practice training high-performing men. He runs The Edge Operating System, a reset and leadership upgrade installed through off-grid expeditions in places like the Arctic and Spain’s Sierra Nevada. His clients are founders, investors, and family-office heirs who want sharper decision-making, clarity under pressure, and a proven structure that doesn’t collapse when life and business heat up.

Resources:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craig-barlow-115345110/

Website: https://www.thecraigbarlow.com/

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I’m Greg Stephens, and on A Shot of Inspiration podcast I sat down with Brian Bogart, who turned a devastating childhood accident into a lifelong mission to reduce suffering and help people live with clarity and courage. Finley made a quick cameo too.

Key Takeaways

• Share your story
• Ask and receive
• Live congruently

About Brian:

Brian Bogert is a strategic voice amplifier and emotionally intelligent force multiplier who helps leaders scale with clarity without sacrificing their humanity.

He works with entrepreneurs, elite performers, and visionary creators to unlock alignment through human behavior, message precision, and scalable connection. Brian compresses time, cuts through noise, and transforms chaos into focused, decisive action.

With over 100 million video views and one of the most compelling comeback stories in the space, he brings raw authenticity, sharp insight, and undeniable energy to every stage, podcast, and training.

Brian believes technology should amplify truth and humanity…not replace it. Always human first.

“When you eliminate waste, you can operate at speed without the need to hurry.” - Brian Bogert

Resources:

Personal Website, https://brianbogert.com/

Flipping the Lid Podcast, https://flippingthelid.com/

Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/bogertbrian

Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/bogertbrian/

LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianbogert/

YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmhaMgY8q-tMMCj0rpGg7iw

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I’m Greg Stephens, host of A Shot of Inspiration podcast, and in this episode I sit down with Dr. Ben Maddox for a powerful conversation on leadership, growth, and what it really takes to turn a job into a meaningful career. We talk about learning as the true measure of progress, building endurance through discomfort, leading with curiosity and emotional intelligence, and staying authentically yourself in environments that may not always understand you.

3 Key Takeaways:

• Pair skill with mission and measure growth by learning.
• Lead with curiosity, emotional intelligence, and clear decisions.
• Build authentic leadership by working on yourself and creating belonging.

About Ben:

As Cornell University's Chief Information Officer, Ben works across Cornell's locations in Ithaca, New York State, and Cornell Tech in New York City to guide technology services, security, and strategy. Ben has held a variety of leadership roles in higher education including as the Chief Information Officer of NYU Abu Dhabi and NYU's Chief Academic Technology Officer guiding Research, Teaching, and Learning technology across NYU globally. Ben holds a Bachelor's Degree from Baylor University, a Master's and Advanced Certificate degree from the Steinhardt School at NYU, and a Doctorate in Education from the University of Pennsylvania.

Ben’s academic work focuses on intersections of systems: people, organizations, and technology. Ben explores how technology, innovation, leadership, and learning fuel change. Ben is a member of a number of non-profit boards and community organizations.

Resources:

ben.Maddox@cornell.edu