On this episode of The Jon Gordon Podcast, I sit down with John Wayne Walding—Green Beret, Purple Heart recipient, and speaker—for an extraordinary conversation about resilience, purpose, and faith in the aftermath of unimaginable adversity.

John shares the unforgettable story of April 6th, 2008: a harrowing firefight in Afghanistan that left him a below-knee amputee, fighting to survive while carrying his own leg down a mountain. With honesty and humility, John recounts not only the intense physical and mental battle in the aftermath, but also the spiritual turning points that transformed his pain into gratitude and a new sense of mission. From turbulent early years and military brotherhood to becoming the first amputee to graduate Green Beret sniper school, John's journey is a testament to what it means to move forward when life changes in a moment.

Throughout our conversation, John opens up about the process of wrestling with anger, rebuilding his life, and ultimately finding strength through service and faith. We explore themes of identity, finding meaning in suffering, the power of teamwork, and the difference between "believing in God" and truly depending on Him. John also speaks candidly about honoring the sacrifices of friends, overcoming addiction, and the importance of using one's story to inspire and serve others across the country.

John Wayne Walding

SFC (R) John Wayne Walding, born on the 4th of July, was raised in Groesbeck, Texas. He spent nearly 12 years in the United States Army, including seven years in the prestigious 3rd Special Forces Group at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina. On April 6, 2008, John lost his right leg to sniper fire during the battle of Shok Valley. He continued to fight alongside his brothers for four more hours earning him the Sliver Star and Purple heart. Post-injury John attended Special Forces Sniper School. Upon graduation he became the first amputee to become a Green Beret Sniper. Additionally, he has run marathons, completed death marches, and climbed mountains.

In 2017 John founded Gallantry Global Logistics, a service-disabled veteran/minority owned logistics company that specializes in shipments of consequence and whose purpose is to provide the next mission to Veterans after their service to this Nation. John travels the country speaking to veterans' organizations, corporations and the public about leadership, excellence, overcoming adversity using his motto "Lean Forward, Fight Hard". John strongly believes his biggest accomplishment is marrying his beautiful wife, Amy and having their four wonderful children: Emma 21, Sam 20, Andie 15, and Hannah 12. They reside in Gunter Texas.

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

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!

In this episode, I share twelve habits that have truly elevated my life and will make a big impact on yours. You'll hear some great stories of overcoming negativity, and the power of encouragement, forgiveness, and connection as well as habits to enhance your health and performance. You'll learn new practical, proven strategies to help you become your best self and build a better future. If these habits inspire you, you'll love all 93 habits I share in my new book "The Power of Positive Habits."

Grab your copy now at Amazon, Barnes & Noble or anywhere books are sold or https://powerofpositivehabitsbook.com/

When you do, you can also claim several free bonus gifts here that include:

• Action Plan Download - Accompaniment workbook where you will be guided with action steps to help you put your favorite habits into practice.
• Custom 30-Day Positive Habits Implementation Plan - Via exclusive access to our Positive Habits Developer tool, you plug in your top habits and receive a personalized 30-day custom plan built specifically for YOU.

JOIN 3 GROUP COACHING SESSIONS WITH ME

And if you buy 3 or more books, you can also get access to 3 group coaching calls via Zoom with me where I'll walk you through how to make your habits stick and truly transform all areas of your life! Details here.

On this episode of The Jon Gordon Podcast, Jon Gordon sits down with Micah McElveen, founder of Vapor Ministries, for a remarkable conversation about purpose, transformation, and living a life that echoes in eternity.

Micah McElveen's story begins with devastating adversity—an accident as a teenager that left him dead on the beach, miraculously brought back to life, but facing total paralysis and a future filled with uncertainty. As Micah McElveen recounts his journey from ICU to recovering movement, wrestling with his identity, and enduring years of grueling rehab, he shares how those hardships became the ground where faith, empathy, and a deep sense of purpose were forged. From being the popular quarterback to the overlooked kid in the shadows, his perspective shifted to one of compassion and a desire to leverage his second chance to serve others.

Through honest reflection, Micah McElveen opens up about the pain and mystery of near-death experiences, the gradual process of rediscovering hope, and how desperate pursuit of God's presence preceded a revelation of purpose. Ultimately, this journey led him to start Vapor Ministries—an organization dedicated to alleviating extreme poverty, empowering communities, and sharing practical hope with thousands across Africa and Haiti. Listeners will hear powerful themes of empathy, resilience, living with urgency, and the eternal significance of investing your "vapor"—this brief life—for something far greater than yourself.

Whether you're navigating adversity, seeking clarity on your own purpose, or wondering if brokenness can become a gift, this episode offers hope, inspiration, and a stirring reminder that your hardest moments can become the starting point for extraordinary impact.

About Micah:

In 1995, Micah learned life was a Vapor when he broke his neck in a near-fatal surfing accident. God also opened his eyes to purpose. Not able to play football, he picked up soccer and went on to play in college, where he earned a degree in Intercultural Studies. There Micah met his bride and a shared passion to serve the poor and reach the lost emerged. In graduate school, he traveled to Africa and was broken by extreme poverty. Awakened by the experience, a vision to alleviate poverty and multiply disciples birthed Vapor Ministries. He is a follower of Jesus, a husband to Audrey, and a father to Arrow and Given. Author of, "Dying For Purpose, " Micah speaks across the country inspiring people to make a difference while providing leadership for Vapor Ministries.

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 new revised release of my book, The Power of Positive Leadership here!

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, I sit down with Lauren Craddock—author, educator, and leading voice on living intentionally—for an eye-opening conversation about her journey from clutter and overwhelm to clarity, impact, and living with purpose.

Lauren shares her personal transformation from battling "collector at heart" tendencies in her home to uncovering the deeper reasons behind clutter and consumerism. She candidly describes the "perspective pivot" that changed her life, how she learned to curate her space based on what she truly uses, loves, and needs, and the power of letting go—not just of stuff, but of the scarcity mindset and guilt that keep so many stuck.

Together, we dig into the heart of Lauren's book, Own with Intention, exploring her signature practices like the Mindful Exchange, counting the inflow, and practical steps for couples and families with different approaches to their stuff. Lauren explains why minimalism isn't about owning less for its own sake, but about creating space for more of what matters—energy, focus, connection, and making a meaningful impact.

If you've ever struggled to release the things weighing you down, or you want to live a more intentional, empowered life in your home and beyond, this episode is a reminder that you can own your story, your space, and your future—one intentional step at a time.

Register to join Lauren for her book launch on May 4th! - JOIN US HERE

About Lauren,

Lauren Craddock is the creator of Own with Intention, a framework that helps people reclaim their time and focus by intentionally choosing what stays in their lives. She's a National Board Certified fourth-grade teacher, a mom of three boys, and the author of the upcoming book Own with Intention: 20 Minimalist Practices to Create Space for What Matters Most.

Through her own journey from overwhelm to intentional living, Lauren discovered that minimalism isn't all about ridding yourself of things. Minimalism is really about leadership of your life—deciding intentionally to create space for what matters most.

Today she's helping people rethink their relationship with possessions so they can stop managing things and start living with greater clarity, purpose, and impact.

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 new revised release of my book, The Power of Positive Leadership here!

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, I sit down with John Olinger—author, consultant, and former Nike marketing leader—for an honest and insightful conversation about his new book, Worthy Wins.

John's journey is shaped by both professional achievement and personal loss: from a decade with Nike working alongside elite athletes and the world's most advanced technology, to navigating the unexpected death of his father and the perspective-shifting realization that time is both scarce and uncertain. In our conversation, John shares the story behind Worthy Wins, the powerful concept of getting radically clear on what matters most, and why so many of us risk "winning" at the wrong things without ever realizing it.

Together, we explore John's lessons from the corporate world—where clarity and alignment can mean the difference between organization-wide momentum and wasted effort—as well as his personal life, where the true measure of success lies in relationships and intentional living. John opens up about the tensions between accomplishment and connection, the influence of mentors like Kobe Bryant, and practical strategies for identifying your own worthy wins, whether leading a team or navigating your family.

About John,

John Olinger spent a decade as a Brand and Digital Marketing leader for Nike and Jordan Brand, including three years captaining Global Marketing for Kobe Bryant. He reached a career inflection point after the unexpected passing of his father and left Nike in 2022 to become a consultant, author, and speaker. His first book, Worthy Wins, came out in 2025 to help individuals and organizations win in the places that matter most. John was recently tapped to become the President of Unitus, a Christian footwear and apparel brand, started by NBA player Jonathan Isaac. John is married to his AMAZING wife, Erin, and they are raising three energetic boys in Florida.

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 new revised release of my book, The Power of Positive Leadership here!

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!