In our Season 4 retrospective, Lt. Col. (Ret.) Naviere Walkewicz ’99 and Wyatt Hornsby, the U.S. Air Force Academy Association & Foundation’s senior vice president of marketing and communications, revisit the clips that stuck with them.

• “Mind. Body. Spirit.”
• “What can I do for others?”
• “Be humble. Be credible. Be approachable.”

These aren’t just soundbites. They’re leadership gold. 

This episode will remind you why these conversations matter.

1. Lead from mind, body and spirit: Sustainable leadership requires caring for mental clarity, physical stamina and spiritual/emotional grounding.
2. Leadership is a daily practice, not a position: Being a leader shows up in consistent habits and choices, not just in moments when you have the spotlight or a title.
3. Mental health fuels clarity and creativity: Protecting your mindset and mental health enables focus, problem-solving and innovation.
4. Physical readiness underpins reliability: Long hours and high-demand environments require physical energy and stamina so you can show up for others when it counts.
5. Spiritual/emotional health anchors your “why”: Knowing your purpose and values helps you make grounded decisions and stay steady under pressure or when uncertain.
6. Shift from “Why me?” to “What can I do for others?”: Transform challenges by asking how you can serve your team and community, rather than focusing on personal hardship.
7. Selfless leadership unlocks others’ potential: When you lead by example and create opportunities for others to excel, people gain confidence and stretch toward their own “superhero” potential.
8. Humility, credibility and approachability are core leadership traits: Effective leaders are humble about their limits, credible in what they say and do, and approachable enough that others feel safe coming to them.
9. Trust and respect are earned, not assumed, especially with large teams and many colleagues, you must earn trust and respect through consistent behavior, not rely on rank or title.
10. Leadership is ongoing presence and intention: Leadership doesn’t start with a title; it’s about showing up with intention and care, being present when it matters, and putting others first over the long term.

0:00:07 Introduction & Episode Setup
0:00:54 Intro – Leadership as Daily Practice (Tanji Johnson Bridgeman)
0:01:19 Mind, Body, Spirit in Leadership
0:02:06 Reflection on Intentional, Holistic Leadership
0:02:39Intro – Selfless Leadership & Inspiring Others (Dave Harden)
0:02:59 Transforming Challenges & Leading Selflessly
0:03:26 Reflection on Timeless, Presence-Based Leadership
0:04:03 Intro – Humble, Credible, Approachable (Rep. August Pfluger)
0:04:30 Core Leadership Tenets in Public Service
0:05:37 Reflection on Trust, Respect and Credibility
0:06:13 Season Four Recap & Invitation to Explore Past Episodes
0:06:57 New Biweekly, Year-Round Schedule Announcement
0:07:45 Closing – Core Leadership Themes & Thank-Yous