Debrief Like a Fighter Pilot: The Hidden Habit Behind Continuous Improvement with Jeff “Bones” Bonner
Winners Find a Way
In this episode of Winners Find A Way, Trent Clark sits down with former combat fighter pilot, airline captain, keynote speaker, and author Jeff “Bones” Bonner to unpack one of the most powerful habits behind elite performance — the art of the debrief. Drawing from years in Marine Corps fighter aviation, combat missions, leadership training, and high-performance team culture, Jeff shares how structured reflection helps individuals and teams improve faster, adapt under pressure, and consistently perform at a high level. This conversation dives deep into continuous improvement, leadership,...
info_outline
Former Poet to PR Expert: Why Most Press Releases Fail with Mickie Kennedy
Winners Find a Way
In this episode of Winners Find A Way, Trent Clark sits down with Mickie Kennedy, founder and president of eReleases, to break down why 97% of press releases fail — and what successful businesses do differently. Mickie shares how storytelling, earned media, and strategic PR can help small and mid-sized businesses stand out in today’s noisy digital world. From building compelling headlines to using AI the right way, this conversation is packed with practical insights for entrepreneurs, authors, and business owners looking to build credibility and visibility through media. The episode also...
info_outline
From Steel Shop to Pizza Empire | Andris Lagsdin Story
Winners Find a Way
In this episode of Winners Find A Way, Trent sits down with entrepreneur Andres Lagsdin, founder of Baking Steel, to break down what it really takes to build something meaningful. This isn’t just about pizza. It’s about: Walking away from comfort Listening to what’s not working And having the patience to build something that does About the Guest Andres Lagsten Founder of Baking Steel Built a multi-million dollar brand from a simple idea Blended culinary passion with manufacturing expertise Known for transforming home cooking into restaurant-level experience Built a loyal community...
info_outline
WINNERS FIND A WAY *SPECIAL* - MENTAL TOUGHNESS & WINNING
Winners Find a Way
Coach Trent shares what it really takes to win—through discipline, daily choices, and mental toughness. Key Takeaways You choose daily: discipline or regret Discipline is short-term. Regret lasts longer Winners execute—no excuses Interested people talk. Committed people act What you repeat daily = who you become Coach Trent’s Core Message Winning isn’t about talent. It’s about the choices you make every day. If you want better results, you need better discipline—and consistency. Action Steps Choose one daily discipline Make it non-negotiable Remove one thing holding you back:...
info_outline
Compete Better Now: Turn Feedback Into Action
Winners Find a Way
Most people wait to feel ready. Winners dive in—even if it’s a belly flop. In this episode, I sit down with Deborah Gardner, a competitive performance expert who doesn’t just teach winning—she’s lived it at the highest level. At 66 years old, Deborah became the oldest woman to swim the 21-mile Catalina Channel, earning a Guinness World Record and proving something most people miss: 👉 Mindset beats circumstance. Every time. We talk about what it really takes to compete—whether you're on a stage, leading a team, or fighting through uncertainty. This is about: Turning...
info_outline
WINNING WAYS - Part 2 of 2 with Host: Coach Trent, HOW TO WIN
Winners Find a Way
Winners don’t guess their way to success—they execute with intention. In Part 2 of Winning Ways: How to Win, Coach Trent brings it back to fundamentals: Win the day Stack the days into weeks Stack the weeks into months And build a life—and business—that wins consistently Execution isn’t occasional. It’s daily. 🧠 The Daily Discipline That Separates Winners Most people stay busy. Winners stay focused. 👉 The standard: Write down your Top 5 priorities daily Execute the Top 3 that move the needle Schedule them into your calendar intentionally Multiply that across a team—and...
info_outline
Winning Ways - How to Win
Winners Find a Way
The difference between people who talk about winning… and people who actually win. In this Winning Ways solo episode, host Trent M. Clark breaks down the habits, mindset, and daily disciplines that separate high performers from everyone else. Drawing from decades in professional sports, entrepreneurship, and leadership coaching, Trent shares lessons learned from championship environments—lessons that apply directly to business, leadership, and life. From the power of hyper-learning to the reality of the Pain Exchange, this episode challenges listeners to take ownership of their habits,...
info_outline
Give a Damn: Why Caring Companies Win in Business | Justin Ricklefs
Winners Find a Way
The Brands That Win Care More. In baseball, you can feel when a team cares. You walk into the clubhouse… You watch how players treat the equipment manager… You see the energy in batting practice. You know immediately. The same thing happens in business. Customers can feel when a company actually gives a damn. And when they do… they become your biggest promoters. In this episode of WINNERS FIND A WAY, Trent Clark sits down with Justin Ricklefs, founder of Guild Collective and author of Give a Damn, to talk about the real competitive advantage in business today: human connection. Justin...
info_outline
Baseball Hall of Fame: Fixing a Broken Voting System |DAVID GUE
Winners Find a Way
Baseball is generational. I grew up listening to Tigers games on the radio. The game meant something. It still does. So when the Hall of Fame misses on greatness — it matters. In this episode, I sit down with baseball historian and author David W. Gue to challenge the current voting system and ask a bold question: Are we honoring excellence… or protecting narratives? 🧠 What We Cover The Voting Problem The Barry Bonds Debate Tommy John & The Forgotten Greats 🔥 Leadership Takeaway If a system doesn’t reward performance, it loses credibility. That’s true in baseball. That’s...
info_outline
The Wild World of Youth Sports & Raising Resilient Kids | Gary Thrapp
Winners Find a Way
We’ve built elite athletes. But are we building strong humans? In this episode of WINNERS FIND A WAY, I sit down with Gary Thrapp — youth sports advocate, author, and owner of Beyond The Baseline — to talk about where youth sports is headed… and what it’s costing us. This conversation isn’t soft. It’s real. About Gary Thrapp With over 40 years in youth sports, Gary Thrapp has facilitated more than 50,000 games at his facility in Davenport, Iowa 9a8ef877-a0eb-478f-9c46-23d2842… . He’s the owner of Beyond The Baseline, a premier basketball and volleyball event center, and...
info_outlineWhat if the very thing you thought was your weakness… was actually your greatest weapon?
In this powerful conversation, Trent sits down with Matthew Cox — entrepreneur, healthcare leader, author of The Courage to Learn Differently, and one of the sharpest minds in company acceleration.
Matthew opens the door to his childhood experiences with learning disabilities and how he transformed those challenges into a genuine superpower in leadership, communication, and culture-building. From decoding struggles to public speaking stages, from healthcare systems to scaling companies, Matthew brings a raw, honest look at what leaders get wrong — and what they must get right — to grow past their ceilings.
Together, Trent and Matthew break down:
-
Why leaders become their own bottleneck
-
How systems (not heroics) scale organizations
-
The hidden cost of wearing all the hats
-
Coaching, humility & stripping away ego
-
Continuous learning in a noisy, AI-driven world
-
Why great companies collapse without behavior alignment
-
How Bloom software shifts a company from chaos to clarity
-
Reps, communication, and the reality of high-performance execution
This is a masterclass in leadership behavior, operational discipline, and the courage to learn differently.
Key Themes
-
Leadership is behavior, not title
-
Systems drive growth — emotions destroy it
-
Letting go of hats to build a real organization
-
The power of coachability & humility
-
Turning disabilities into competitive advantages
-
The danger of advice from unqualified voices
-
Communication: the true separator
-
The CEO’s loneliness and the need for trusted guides
-
Bloom Growth as the “air traffic control” system for business
About the Guest
Matthew Cox is a seasoned entrepreneur, healthcare expert, author, and company accelerator helping leaders scale from chaos to clarity. Despite growing up with learning disabilities, Matthew built and exited multiple companies, became a high-level speaker, and co-authored The Courage to Learn Differently. His mission: help organizations adopt the systems and leadership behaviors that drive real, sustainable growth.
Resources Mentioned
-
The Courage to Learn Differently – Matthew Cox
-
Bloom Growth Software
-
Matthew’s LinkedIn – Matthew Leland Cox
-
Email: Matthew@xcel.team
Watch + Subscribe
📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@leadershipity
🎙️ Podcast Page: https://podcast.winnersfindaway.us/podcast