In this episode, Jack welcomes fellow IDEALS Foundation board member Kerensa Wing. Kerensa has spent 32 years in high school education, with 12 of those years serving as principal at two large high schools in Gwinnett County, which is the largest school system in Georgia. She has been regularly recognized for her innovative and results-driven approach to education, but the highest form of recognition came when she was selected national principal of the year in 2020. Upon retiring in 2021, she was immediately asked to be a leader coach for other principals. She has also been in demand by schools to serve as an educational consultant.

Learn more at www.jackwwilliams.com/podcast.

Thanks for listening to season 6 of Knowledgecast! Share this podcast with your friends, family, and colleagues to listen to seasons 1-6 as we prepare for season 7's release later this year!

In this episode, Jack Williams welcomes Ralph Hargrove. Ralph is the founder, president, and CEO of Hargrove and Associates. Hargrove is a full-service engineering project and construction company founded in 1995. They have seventeen offices around the US and are Alabama's largest privately held engineering firm. Ralph and his firm are also extremely active in the Mobile community. Besides their activities and local charitable organizations, they also invest in developing future engineers by sponsoring engineering and science programs, internship hopes, and scholarship programs. 

Learn more at www.jackwwilliams.com/podcast

In this episode, Jack welcomes Mark Treadwell. Mark is a local metro Atlanta guy. He graduated from Georgia State University. He began his career with Chick-fil-A way back in 1980 at the corporate office and later became an owner-operator, now operating two restaurants. Learn more about leading the Chick-fil-A way.

Learn more at www.jackwwilliams.com/podcast

In this episode, Jack welcomes Cat Williams, his niece. Cat is a part of the Martin Agency and was a part of the making of the 2024 Oreo Super Bowl commercial. Cat walks us through from brainstorming concepts to watching the final commercial air during the big game. You will not want to miss this behind-the-scenes experience of a commercial. 

Watch the commercial at www.jackwwilliams.com/podcast

In this episode, Jack discusses the Whole-Brain Thinking model, which is bound to help you and your teams learn how you think personally and apply it for better leadership. This goes in line with developing your personal life signature, which Jack details in Season 2, Episode 14. 

View the Whole Brain Thinking diagram Jack references at www.jackwwilliams.com/podcast.

In this episode, Jack welcomes Haley Beckham. Haley currently serves as the manager of the Special Investigations Unit for the Department of Juvenile Justice in Georgia, where she manages investigations involving gang-related activities across the state. Haley takes us behind the scenes of the Juvenile Justice system and what is at risk for our young people today.

Learn more at www.jackwwilliams.com/podcast

In this episode, Jack welcomes Ford Taylor. Ford is a leadership solutions trainer, strategist, and speaker. With a primary emphasis on the people who serve an organization while simultaneously maintaining a clear focus on the business or organization itself, Ford shares straightforward, practical solutions through authentic leadership training and individualized leadership consulting. With an empathetic intelligence derived from decades of experience with an array of people, personalities, and companies, both large and small, Ford helps to define and navigate leadership in the business culture of today.

Learn more at www.jackwwilliams.com/podcast

In this episode, Jack welcomes Drew Walston, the Founder, CEO, and Chairman of the Board of Mighty Hero Homes. After over 20 years of serving in various executive roles in the insurance business, Drew felt called to use his gifts to help eradicate homelessness among veterans. From this, Drew took a step of obedience and established Mighty Hero Homes. Mighty Hero Homes exists to eradicate veteran homelessness by providing affordable, permanent, personal homes to all homeless veterans in safe environments with a full array of on-base amenities and wraparound services. Homeless to Home Ownership is the objective for each Base resident.

Learn more about Drew and Might Hero Homes at www.jackwwilliams.com/podcast

In this episode, Jack welcomes Oahn Nguyen. Oahn shares her incredible story with us about being smuggled out of Vietnam and coming to the United States. She shares this harrowing story of making what seemed like an impossible journey to a new life actually possible. She details the struggles of doing this as a young girl and the obstacles she faced that tried to keep her from the United States. 

Learn more at www.jackwwilliams.com/podcast

In this episode, Jack welcomes Dean Sikes. Since January of 1993, Dean Sikes has been on the road, ministering words of hope in high schools, Teen Challenge Centers, and prisons across America and in nations of the world. Dean also hosts YOU MATTER Television, a national television broadcast that is aired four times each week on multiple networks across the country. Jack and Dean discuss his background of what led him to what he does today and the connection he has with teens and young people to ignite a conversation encompassing this truth: God loves you; He’s got a plan for your life; and because you’re breathing, you matter.

Learn more at www.jackwwilliams.com/podcast

In this episode, Jack welcomes Admiral Winnefeld. Admiral Winnefeld spent 37 years in the United States Navy. He was a graduate and an instructor at the Navy Fighter Weapons School, also known as Top Gun. He also commanded the USS Cleveland, the USS Enterprise, and also served as the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He currently serves in professorship roles at several institutions, serves on multiple boards for companies, and is also the author of Sailing Upwind. Listen to this episode with Jack and Admiral Winnefeld as he shares about his journey in the Navy and serving on the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Learn more about Admiral Winnefeld's book and podcast at www.jackwwilliams.com/podcast.

In this episode, Jack welcomes back Ignacio. He has achieved feats that really defy the odds and serve as an inspiration to all who meet him. He's now entering his Ph.D. studies in neuroscience at Southern Cal and recently was a space sustainability ambassador. His accomplishments are as diverse as they are spiring, and he doesn't seem to be stopping or slowing down any time soon, not even in the face of complete paralysis or death. In the second part of Jack’s conversation with Ignacio, he shares with us more about his recovery, what it’s like for him living today, and what he hopes to accomplish. 

Learn more at www.jackwwilliams.com/podcast.

Thanks for joining us for season 5 of Knowledgecast! Listen back to episodes from seasons one through four, and we'll be back for season 6 in February! Until then, make it your goal to be a positive influence in the lives of others!

In this two-part episode, Jack welcomes Ignacio Montoya. Ignacio was born in Cuba and of Portuguese and Spanish descent. He's a fighter pilot, a biomedical engineer, a pathogen physiologist, and a researcher. His journey took an unexpected turn when a devastating motorcycle accident ten years ago left him completely paralyzed, with only one functioning limb. His thirst for challenges has led him to take on other physical activities after his accident. In this first part, Ignacio details his childhood and his accident, which shows a lifetime of defying the odds. 

Learn more at www.jackwwilliams.com/podcast

In this episode, Jack welcomes Jimmy Robinson. Jimmy graduated from Georgia Tech and was a star wide receiver at Georgia Tech as well. He was inducted into Georgia Tech's Hall of Fame and also named to Georgia Tech's all-time team. He was a late-round draft pick of the Atlanta Falcons and later played for the New York Giants, San Francisco 49ers, and Denver Broncos. He led the Giants in receptions in 1977 and 1978 despite being significantly undersized as a pro receiver. After Jimmy finished his professional football career as a player, he became a professional assistant football coach for the Falcons, the Colts, the Giants, the Saints, the Packers, and the Cowboys. He was also a part of wth the Green Bay Packers coaching staff when they won the 2010 Super Bowl. Jimmy discusses with Jack about his time on the football career over the course of his career as a player and a coach.

Learn more at www.jackwwilliams.com/podcast

In this episode, Jack welcomes Steve Zelnak. Steve is the former chairman and CEO of Martin Marietta. Over the span of his career, Steve has served in numerous leadership roles and is an emeritus board member of the Georgia Tech Foundation. In his conversation with Jack, Steve first looks back on his time in the U.S. Army from his time being chairman and CEO of Martin Marietta to now what it’s like being an investor. Steve shares his advice on what to look for when evaluating whether to invest in a company or what you should be aiming for as the owner of a company looking for investors. 

Learn more at www.jackwwilliams.com/podcast

In this episode, Jack welcomes Lt. Paul Carothers of the U.S. Navy. Paul is a 2020 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, where he also was captain of the Navy football team. He is currently an information warfare officer based in Hawaii. Paul was a part of Jack’s IDEALS Leadership School years ago as well. In his conversation with Jack, Paul details his life as a part of the U.S. Navy, his time at the Naval Academy playing football, and suffering tragedy in the sudden passing of his father while he was at the Naval Academy. 

In this episode, Jack welcomes Rusty Strawn. Rusty is the CEO of Strawn and Company, a family-owned independent insurance agency. He’s a graduate of Georgia Southern, where he played golf on two conference championship teams and was all-conference for two years. In 2022, Rusty was named the U.S. Amateur Golf Senior Player of the Year. In his conversation with Jack, Rusty shares about running a family-owned business as well as how he has been able to balance that while still pursuing his passion for golf. 

Learn more at www.jackwwilliams.com/podcast

In this episode, Jack welcomes Lamar Thomas. Lamar is currently the principal at Delta Innovative School in Quitman, Georgia. Prior to that, he was a graduation coach and assistant football and basketball coach at Brooks County High School. Lamar shares about alternative education and what it’s like to offer innovative education programs to make sure all types of students can succeed. In his time teaching, leading a school, and coaching, Lamar has seen the importance of needing a coach. According to Lamar, we all need coaches, not just on the field in his sports. We need coaches in life to push us and lead us in the right direction. 

Learn more at www.jackwwilliams.com/podcast

In this episode, Jack welcomes Sean Murphy. Sean is a serial entrepreneur who has spent over 25 years in the IT industry. He was one of three partners who launched Campus Systems, one of the world's largest independent resellers of pre-owned enterprise computer systems. Sean then co-founded Optima Solutions, which he later sold to Soft Choice Corp., and co-founded Corus360, which was later sold to Converge Technology. Sean's last entrepreneurial venture was Procurri, in which he served as chairman and global CEO. In his conversation with Jack, Sean shares his journey of entrepreneurship as well as giving practical advice to those wanting to pursue an entrepreneurial pathway in their lives.

Learn more at www.jackwwilliams.com/podcast

In this episode, Jack welcomes back Bronco Mendenhall. Bronco spent 17 years as a college head football coach, 11 at Brigham Young University and 6 at the University of Virginia. During his time as a head coach, he saw tremendous success on the field. His approach to coaching, though, has a different perspective than most college coaches in that he believes in holding his players to a high standard of accountability in all areas of their lives, not just football. Jack and Bronco’s conversation in this second part continues about Bronco’s time at BYU, Virginia, and also focuses on leadership development and balance you will want to have a notebook and pen next to you for notes.

Learn more at www.jackwwilliams.com/podcast.