Give a Damn: Why Caring Companies Win in Business | Justin Ricklefs
Release Date: 03/07/2026
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,...
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Former Poet to PR Expert: Why Most Press Releases Fail with Mickie Kennedy
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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...
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From Steel Shop to Pizza Empire | Andris Lagsdin Story
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WINNERS FIND A WAY *SPECIAL* - MENTAL TOUGHNESS & WINNING
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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:...
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Compete Better Now: Turn Feedback Into Action
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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...
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WINNING WAYS - Part 2 of 2 with Host: Coach Trent, HOW TO WIN
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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...
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Winning Ways - How to Win
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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,...
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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...
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Baseball Hall of Fame: Fixing a Broken Voting System |DAVID GUE
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The Wild World of Youth Sports & Raising Resilient Kids | Gary Thrapp
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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_outlineThe 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 shares how brands win when they stop shouting about their products… and start telling stories that connect with people.
This conversation covers:
• Why your brand story matters more than your marketing budget
• The biggest mistake companies make when communicating with customers
• Why Chick-fil-A, Nike, and Apple dominate through emotional connection
• How great leaders build companies that people actually care about
• The power of customer delight in a noisy marketplace
As Justin says:
“Your brand is the story people tell about you when you're not in the room.”
Winners Find a Way_ Guest-Justi…
The question every leader should ask is simple:
What story are people telling about your company?
ABOUT THE GUEST
Justin Ricklefs is the Founder and CEO of Guild Collective, a Human-First brand agency helping organizations grow through clarity, connection, and creativity.
Before launching Guild Collective, Justin spent years working in sports organizations including the Kansas City Chiefs, helping build partnerships and revenue through strategic storytelling.
Justin is also the author of Give a Damn: The Catalyst for Caring Companies, a book that challenges businesses to rediscover the power of caring about customers, employees, and community.
He lives in Kansas City with his wife Brooke and their five children.
RESOURCES MENTIONED
Justin Ricklefs
Website: https://guildcollective.com
Book: Give a Damn
Connect with Justin
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinricklefs/
WATCH / LISTEN TO THE EPISODE
📺 YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@leadershipity
🎧 Podcast Page
https://podcast.winnersfindaway.us/podcast
Our friend Andy Whittier is chasing his Olympic dream in Skeleton for the 2026 Winter Olympics — a sport where athletes race head-first down an ice track at nearly 80–90 mph.
Olympic athletes often fund much of this journey themselves.
If you'd like to support Andy and the mission, you can contribute here:
👉 Support the Olympic Journey
https://trent-clark.com/olympic--2026