The Jon Gordon Podcast

What does it take to truly transform your life? And what happens when you stop seeing yourself as a victim of your circumstances and start taking ownership of your future? In this episode, I sit down with Kurt Wargo, author of The Wellness Triangle: Where Alignment Becomes Transformation, to talk about his incredible journey of overcoming adversity, losing 100 pounds, rediscovering his purpose, and transforming his life from the inside out. Kurt shares how personal loss, career challenges, and years of struggle ultimately led him to discover the importance of aligning three essential areas of wellness: physical health, nutrition, and emotional and spiritual well-being. We talk about the power of mindset, the importance of faith, how adversity can become an opportunity for growth, and why taking care of yourself physically, mentally, and spiritually makes you a better person and leader. Kurt's story is a powerful reminder that your past doesn't have to define your future, and sometimes our greatest challenges prepare us for our greatest purpose. Learn more about Kurt and his book The Wellness Triangle at kurtwargo.com.

What could you accomplish if you stopped focusing on your limitations and started focusing on your possibilities? Richie Parker was born without arms. He went on to become a mechanical engineer, help contribute to nine NASCAR Cup championships with Hendrick Motorsports, work in college football, and even build and modify cars he drives with his feet. But this conversation isn't really about everything Richie has accomplished. It's about the mindset that made those accomplishments possible… and what you can learn from it. On this episode of The Jon Gordon Podcast, I'm with Richie Parker for a powerful conversation about belief, resilience, faith, problem-solving, and his simple approach to obstacles: Find a way. Richie shares how he learned from an early age not to accept the limitations other people placed on him, how he developed the ability to adapt and solve problems, and why he believes we're all capable of far more than we realize. You'll learn how to shift your focus from limitations to possibilities, develop greater belief in what you're capable of, approach obstacles as problems to solve instead of reasons to quit, and find joy and purpose even in difficult seasons. We also talk about Richie's faith and why he chooses to view the challenges in his life not as a curse, but as an assignment… an opportunity to learn, grow, make the most of what he's been given, and ultimately help others do the same. No matter what challenge you're facing right now, Richie's story will challenge you to stop asking why you can't… and start looking for the way forward. Find a way. Find joy along the way. And help others find their way.

On this episode of The Jon Gordon Podcast, I sit down with Francis Ablola, pioneering entrepreneur and one of the world's leading AI experts, for an open and practical conversation about harnessing the transformative power of artificial intelligence in work and life. From his early days as a web developer and first-time entrepreneur—crossing paths with me at a book signing—to building a thriving team that's at the forefront of AI education and business applications, Francis Ablola's journey is one of relentless learning and reinvention. In our conversation, he shares how embracing AI has allowed him (and the people he mentors) to do more—to delegate, streamline, and even delete the day's biggest distractions. Together, we dive into real-life examples of using AI as a "second brain," building custom digital assistants, and creating systems that empower both business leaders and everyday people. Along the way, Francis Ablola addresses the fears and misconceptions about AI replacing jobs, explains why learning these new tools is the key to becoming "superhuman" at work, and offers actionable ways anyone—no matter their experience—can get started, stay productive, and have fun with AI. Whether you're a leader looking to empower your team, a business owner searching for efficiency, or simply curious about what AI can do for your daily life, this episode will inspire you to see technology not as a threat, but as a tool for growth, creativity, and balance. Dive in for meaningful insights, uplifting encouragement, and a practical roadmap to thrive in the age of AI. About Francis - Francis Ablola is an entrepreneur, marketing strategist, AI expert, and CEO of REAL Advisors, LLC. For more than a decade, he has helped entrepreneurs and organizations accelerate growth through innovative marketing, advertising, technology, and business strategy. Today, Francis is at the forefront of helping business leaders harness the power of artificial intelligence to work smarter, create more efficiently, and scale their impact. He teaches practical ways to integrate AI into everyday workflows—from developing a distinct brand voice and creating content to conducting audience research, streamlining marketing, and building AI-powered systems and tools. Francis has managed millions of dollars in online advertising that has generated tens of millions of dollars in revenue and helped grow REAL Advisors into one of America's fastest-growing private companies, reaching #80 on the Inc. 500 list in 2020. A sought-after speaker, trainer, and consultant, he has presented to audiences across the United States and around the world on AI, marketing, sales, and rapid business growth. Known for making emerging technology practical and approachable, Francis helps leaders move beyond simply experimenting with AI and begin using it intentionally to save time, amplify their authentic voice, and build more effective businesses. For free training on how to get started using AI in your business, join Francis's 3-day virtual event at AIforBusiness.com. Here's a few additional resources for you… Do you feel called to share your story with the world? Check out Gordon Publishing Follow me on Instagram: @JonGordon11 Check out my newest book, The Power of Positive Habits. Every week, I send out a free Positive Tip newsletter via email. It's advice for your life, work and team. You can sign up now here and catch up on past newsletters. Ready to lead with greater clarity, confidence, and purpose? The Certified Positive Leader Program is for anyone who wants to grow as a leader from the inside out. It's a self-paced experience built around my most impactful leadership principles with tools you can apply right away to improve your mindset, relationships, and results. You'll discover what it really means to lead with positivity… and how to do it every day. Learn more here! Do you feel called to do more? Would you like to impact more people as a leader, writer, speaker, coach and trainer? Get Jon Gordon Certified if you want to be mentored by me and my team to teach my proven frameworks principles, and programs for businesses, sports, education, healthcare!

On this episode I sit down with legendary high school football coach Dwight Lundeen for an inspiring conversation about his remarkable 57-year career and the heart-driven leadership philosophy that built a powerhouse program in Becker, Minnesota. Coach Lundeen's story is one of humble beginnings—starting a football program from scratch, guiding it from just 17 players to over 500 boys involved. Through decades at the helm, he's not just amassed state championships and hundreds of wins, but left an imprint across three generations of student-athletes, families, and his community. In our conversation, Coach Lundeen reveals the secret behind his longevity and success: building an unshakable culture rooted in positivity, servant leadership, and above all, love. He shares practical wisdom for connecting with both players and parents, modeling gratitude and resilience, and fostering an environment where young men grow as teammates and people—win or lose. From "happy hour" practices, to intentional team-building traditions at his family cabin, to his steadfast standard of accountability, Coach Lundeen offers a blueprint for how connection yields commitment, and how love can transform lives and communities. About Dwight - For 57 years, Dwight Lundeen has done something almost unheard of in high school football: He has dedicated his entire head coaching career to one school, Becker High School in Becker, Minnesota. He is the only head coach in Becker School history and has led the program to more than 400 victories along with championships, awards, and countless memorable moments. But the numbers only tell part of the story. What makes Coach Lundeen remarkable is that after 57 years, his greatest measure of success isn't the wins, the championships or the records – it's the lives he has influenced. He has used football as a vehicle to teach young people about character, discipline, perseverance, relationships, leadership and what it means to live with purpose. Thousands of players have called him Coach Lundeen. But his greatest legacy may be found in the men they became long after they stopped playing for him. His story is a powerful reminder than success can be measured in wins, but impact is measured in lives. Success is Temporary, Impact is Forever. - 57 Years of Influence Here's a few additional resources for you… Do you feel called to share your story with the world? Check out Gordon Publishing Follow me on Instagram: @JonGordon11 Check out my newest book, The Power of Positive Habits. Every week, I send out a free Positive Tip newsletter via email. It's advice for your life, work and team. You can sign up now here and catch up on past newsletters. Ready to lead with greater clarity, confidence, and purpose? The Certified Positive Leader Program is for anyone who wants to grow as a leader from the inside out. It's a self-paced experience built around my most impactful leadership principles with tools you can apply right away to improve your mindset, relationships, and results. You'll discover what it really means to lead with positivity… and how to do it every day. Learn more here! Do you feel called to do more? Would you like to impact more people as a leader, writer, speaker, coach and trainer? Get Jon Gordon Certified if you want to be mentored by me and my team to teach my proven frameworks principles, and programs for businesses, sports, education, healthcare!

Join me and legendary Northwestern women's lacrosse coach Kelly Amonte Hiller for an insightful and inspiring conversation about championship culture, adversity, and the mindset that drives sustained excellence. Kelly's journey is a masterclass in resilience and evolution—from leading her team through an uncharacteristically tough start to the season, to capturing her ninth national championship as a coach on home turf. She shares the behind-the-scenes process of overcoming setbacks, the power of reflection, and the importance of getting everyone "rowing in the same direction." Kelly opens up about the origins of her work ethic, the blue-collar values instilled by her family, and how embracing adversity and self-honesty have been critical for both personal and team growth. We dive deep into the philosophies that have shaped her dynastic program: a relentless commitment to hard work, the humility to look in the mirror, and the courage to constantly evolve. Kelly also discusses the impact of supporting her former players now turned coaches, the beauty of fostering growth in young women, and the ultimate legacy of her leadership—building a culture where true greatness is measured not just in wins, but in the long-lasting bonds formed along the way. About Kelly – Already a legend in the game as a player, Kelly Amonte Hiller has established herself as one of the sport's greatest coaches after building Northwestern Lacrosse into a dynasty. In May of 2005, Amonte Hiller etched her name in the annals of college athletics when she guided her upstart Northwestern team to an undefeated season and the first NCAA Lacrosse Championship ever won by a team outside the Eastern Time Zone, the first of an incredible nine national titles. Under Amonte Hiller's direction the Wildcats most recently claimed the 2026 NCAA National Championship, her ninth as the head coach of the program. Amonte Hiller became the first Division I lacrosse coach (men's or women's) to win nine national titles, guiding NU to a championship win on home soil for the first time since 1986 (Maryland). The 'Cats took down three IWLCA No. 1-ranked squads throughout the course of the season, the most in a campaign in NCAA History. Northwestern has made six consecutive appearances in the NCAA Semifinals (2019-26), reaching the finals the last four consecutive seasons. After resurrecting a Northwestern program that had not competed at the varsity level in more than 10 years, Amonte Hiller led the Wildcats to the national semifinals 10 years in a row from 2005 to 2014 and tied an NCAA record with eight consecutive title game appearances in the process. Northwestern's dominance since its breakthrough 2005 season has been nothing short of legendary. Since 2004, Northwestern has gone 63-13 (.829) in the NCAA Tournament, making Amonte Hiller the winningest coach in tournament history. Along the way, Amonte Hiller has produced the nation's Tewaaraton Award winner in eight different seasons as well as the Honda Sports Award recipient on 10 occasions. Northwestern has featured 75 IWLCA All-Americans and won a total of 13 IWLCA positional Player of the Year awards (four attacker, five midfielder and four defender). Northwestern's rapid rise to national prominence under Amonte Hiller — particularly in an area of the country rarely associated with women's lacrosse — has caught the eyes of many, in and out of lacrosse. In 2011, ESPN The Magazine named Amonte Hiller one of the 20 best recruiters across all college sports, joining the likes of other multiple-time NCAA champion coaches Mike Krzyzewski of Duke (men's basketball) and Anson Dorrance of North Carolina (women's soccer). In 2012, the Big Ten Network profiled the NU head coach as one of 12 Big Ten coaching icons in the conference's history, putting her in the company of Big Ten legends such as Bobby Knight (Indiana), Bo Schembechler (Michigan) and Dan Gable (Iowa). In 2026, the NCAA Championship game between the Wildcats and UNC set a record with 657,000 viewers, making the first championship game hosted at Northwestern the most-watched women's lacrosse game in history. In February of 2018, Amonte Hiller was announced as the head coach of United States Lacrosse Women's U19 team, where she guided the United States to a gold medal at the 2019 Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL) Women's U19 World Championship in Peterborough, Ontario. Four other Wildcats also found their way onto the team: Madison Doucette, Elle Hansen, Izzy Scane and Greta Stahl. Amonte Hiller led the United States to another gold medal at the 2024 World Lacrosse Women's World Championship in Hong Kong, China, after beating Canada 23-6. She mentored five fellow Wildcats on the U20 roster during the championship run, including Francesca Argentieri, Noel Cumberland, Hannah Rudolph, Madison Smith, and Madison Taylor. During the 2026 season, Amonte Hiller reached 400 career wins with a road win against Penn State. All 400 wins came at the helm of Northwestern, as she became the sixth coach in Division I women's lacrosse history to reach the milestone. Here's a few additional resources for you… Do you feel called to share your story with the world? Check out Gordon Publishing Follow me on Instagram: @JonGordon11 Check out my newest book, The Power of Positive Habits. Every week, I send out a free Positive Tip newsletter via email. It's advice for your life, work and team. You can sign up now here and catch up on past newsletters. Ready to lead with greater clarity, confidence, and purpose? The Certified Positive Leader Program is for anyone who wants to grow as a leader from the inside out. It's a self-paced experience built around my most impactful leadership principles with tools you can apply right away to improve your mindset, relationships, and results. You'll discover what it really means to lead with positivity… and how to do it every day. Learn more here! Do you feel called to do more? Would you like to impact more people as a leader, writer, speaker, coach and trainer? Get Jon Gordon Certified if you want to be mentored by me and my team to teach my proven frameworks principles, and programs for businesses, sports, education, healthcare!

On this episode of The Jon Gordon Podcast, join Jon and Kathryn Gordon for a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to write, publish, and market a book that makes an impact. Drawing from their own experience - rejections, bestselling success, and the wisdom gained along the way - Jon and Kathryn share why your message matters and how a single book can ripple across lives, industries, and even generations. From the "burning desire" that signals it's time to write, to the struggles of clarifying your core message and avoiding the trap of cramming several books' worth of ideas into one, Jon and Kathryn are honest about both the challenges and rewards of the writing process. You'll hear how discipline, consistency, and a willingness to write amidst life's chaos helped shape books that continue to change lives years after publication. The episode dives deep into the realities of publishing today - demystifying traditional, self, and hybrid publishing paths, including the financial and creative tradeoffs of each. Jon and Kathryn pull back the curtain on royalties, rights, and the practical business of owning your words, with insights from their own journey and the authors they guide through Gordon Publishing. But writing and publishing are only the beginning. This episode is packed with actionable marketing strategies—to build your platform, launch teams, and connect directly with readers. You'll also discover what's working now to make your book stand out, from leveraging newsletters to fostering authentic author communities. Above all, this is a conversation driven by belief in the power of story and encouragement for every aspiring author. If you're wrestling with self-doubt, paralyzed by the search for the "perfect" format, or unsure of your next step, you'll leave this episode inspired: your words have worth, your process matters, and the right guidance can help you bring your book—and your purpose—into the world. Let us help you take your next steps in writing or publishing your book! Schedule a free Author Session at: https://gordonpublishing.com/session Rather watch this message? You can access the workshop replay at: https://jongordon.com/webinar-how-to-write-publish-and-market-a-book/ Here's a few additional resources for you… Follow me on Instagram: @JonGordon11 Check out my newest book, The Power of Positive Habits. Every week, I send out a free Positive Tip newsletter via email. It's advice for your life, work and team. You can sign up now here and catch up on past newsletters. Ready to lead with greater clarity, confidence, and purpose? The Certified Positive Leader Program is for anyone who wants to grow as a leader from the inside out. It's a self-paced experience built around my most impactful leadership principles with tools you can apply right away to improve your mindset, relationships, and results. You'll discover what it really means to lead with positivity… and how to do it every day. Learn more here! Do you feel called to do more? Would you like to impact more people as a leader, writer, speaker, coach and trainer? Get Jon Gordon Certified if you want to be mentored by me and my team to teach my proven frameworks principles, and programs for businesses, sports, education, healthcare!