Some leaders make their mark by following the system — and others change the system for the good of everyone who comes after them. My US Naval Academy classmate Dr. John Cordle is one of those rare leaders. Long before the Navy was ready to talk about the impact of fatigue and poor sleep on readiness and safety, John was the commanding officer willing to put his reputation on the line to get the truth heard. His work — captured in Going Circadian — has literally changed how the Navy operates and saved lives in the process. Now he’s turning that same honesty inward with his upcoming book, Letters to Myself, a collection of life lessons written with humility, courage, and the hard-earned wisdom of a leader who’s walked the walk. On this episode of No Clichés, TD sits down with his US Naval Academy classmate Captain John Cordle to explore a legacy still shaping the fleet — and the leaders in it.

The word brotherhood gets tossed around a lot.
In locker rooms. In firehouses. In club houses. In boardrooms. But much of the time, it’s just talk.

Samson DeSessa lives the word.

A career firefighter, EOD technician, combat veteran, keynote speaker, and now author of the bold new book Brotherhood is a VERB, Sam calls out what happens when “know your people” comes off as a slogan instead of a standard.
He’s here to remind us that brotherhood—real brotherhood—isn’t about matching shirts or shared hashtags. It’s about sweat, trust, and climbing into the arena yourself.

So if you’re tired of leadership lip service, buckle up.
Because in this episode we’re cutting through the smoke to talk about what happens when leaders turn nouns into action—and why Brotherhood is a VERB.

Few people manage to navigate as many worlds — and lead in all of them — as my lifelong friend Mark Fava. He’s a world-renowned expert in aviation law, a senior officer in the U.S. Naval Reserve, and an elected official who brings integrity and discipline to every role he serves. Now, he’s sharing the wisdom he’s gathered from the cockpit, the courtroom, and the quarterdeck in his new book, Lessons from the Admiral: Naval Wisdom and Sea Stories for Leaders. It’s a masterclass in leadership you’ll both apply and enjoy. On this episode of No Clichés, we set sail with Mark Fava to explore what true command — and humility — look like in action.