Brad Leeman on Leading at Home Through Presence, Play, and Preparation

About this episode

Brad Leeman discusses how leadership principles from his military background apply to fatherhood, emphasizing presence, play, and intentional family rhythms.

What does leadership look like when the mission is your family and the stakes are emotional, not tactical? Brad Leeman is a retired U.S. Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel, combat aviator, and F-35 test pilot who spent nearly two decades leading in environments where preparation, clarity, and execution were non-negotiable. After transitioning out of the military, Brad became an entrepreneur and founder of SwingSesh, a company built around a simple belief: parents should not be spectators in their kids’ lives. This conversation explores how elite performance principles translate and sometimes fail to translate into fatherhood. Brad shares why presence matters, how small daily rituals create connection, and why modeling behavior shapes a child’s inner voice far more than lectures ever could. Brad walks through how he and his wife intentionally design family rhythms, why play is a serious leadership skill, and how dads can rethink fitness, work, and ambition. Brad shares how to: Build daily rituals that anchor presence and connection with kids Use play as a tool for bonding, modeling health, and emotional regulation Shape a child’s inner monologue through actions, not instructions…

People in this episode

Host: Michael

Guest: Brad Leeman

Topics covered

• leadership
• fatherhood
• family
• play
• emotional connection

Keywords

• daily rituals
• bonding
• modeling behavior
• partnership
• resilience

Mentioned in this episode

Products: F-35, SwingSesh

Books & works: Dig Deeper F-35

Places: U.S.

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