Front Row Seat with Ken Coleman

Barry “Butch” Wilmore, NASA astronaut and naval aviator who commanded long ISS missions and wrote Stuck in Space, shares stories of handling cascading failures in orbit. He describes manual flying under pressure, rigorous simulation training, and the power of calm, concise communication. He also talks about building trust through competence, compartmentalizing to focus, and leaning on faith during extended spaceflight.

Ryan Leak, executive coach and bestselling author who works with pro sports teams and Fortune 500 leaders, joins to explore leadership and communication. He talks about learning from failure, why leaders avoid hard conversations, and how tone, listening, and simple feedback systems build trust. Practical habits like note-taking, reading body language, and small relational gestures come up as game changers.

Dr. Henry Cloud, clinical psychologist and bestselling author on boundaries and leadership. He shares stories about fear and public speaking and why small steps beat paralysis. He discusses replacing critical inner voices, handling chronic negativity and gossip, and building clear team and family norms. Practical frameworks for vision, feedback, and keeping work stress out of home are highlighted.

A personal career pivot announced with candid reflection on following your calling. Gratitude for meaningful relationships and the growth that came from them. Reassurance that planned interviews and content will continue during the transition. Encouragement to consider clarity when facing burnout and change.

Zack Kass, former head of go-to-market at OpenAI and author of The Next Renaissance, weighs in on AI’s societal impact and innovation in education and healthcare. He contrasts what AI can do versus what it will do. He explores human skills rising in value, the bifurcation of scholastic and social learning, and how AI can accelerate science while elevating bedside manner and human connection.

Meet Peggy Rowe, a longtime writer whose humorous essays and memoirs connect with everyday life, and Mike Rowe, an Emmy-winning storyteller and advocate for skilled trades. They chat about how encouragement shaped confidence, the power of consistency over talent, the role of humor in hard seasons, and how authenticity finds an audience.

Dr. Shadé Zahrai, behavioral researcher and former lawyer who studies confidence and self-trust, breaks down how confidence is built through action. Short, punchy takes cover why imposter feelings are common, how the brain magnifies doubt, four traits that shape self-trust, and practical I could/I will tools to turn hesitation into momentum.

Dr. Arthur Brooks, social scientist and Harvard professor known for his work on happiness and meaning. He explores rising loneliness and how to build real friendships. He explains why AI cannot answer life’s biggest questions and outlines meaning as coherence, purpose, and significance. He reframes leisure as serious growth and offers practical ways to order goals, manage meetings, and strengthen marriage.

Jennie Allen, bestselling author and founder of the If:Gathering movement, helps people replace core lies and build courageous community. She unpacks three pervasive lies that limit leaders. She talks about risk-taking, leading large-scale gatherings, how childhood beliefs surface in marriage, and practical steps to create deeper friendships.

Jon McNeill, former Tesla president who scaled high-growth companies and served on major boards, shares practical leadership moves. He explains noticing frontline problems, simplifying processes, and the retail parallels between Tesla and Lululemon. He covers hiring for fire and intellect, fighting CEO loneliness with mentors, and building systems that start manual then automate.