In this episode, we sat down with Jeff “Odie” Espenship and had an incredible conversation around safety culture. The former A-10 Warthog pilot is the founder of Target Leadership

Listen as he shares hard-earned lessons from 10,000 feet up—and rock bottom. We talk truths in safety, leadership, and the split-second choices that shape a legacy.

What You’ll Learn: 

  • From Cockpit to Culture: How Odie went from airshows to safety keynotes—and why culture eats checklists for breakfast. 
  • The Shortcut That Changed Everything: The devastating true story of one small deviation and the origin of Jeff’s mission. 
  • Normalization of Deviance: Why “just this once” is never just once. 
  • Leadership Is Emotional: If you want people to care about safety, start with empathy—not enforcement. 
  • What Real Leadership Looks Like: It’s not about titles. It’s about doing the right thing when no one’s watching.
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This episode isn’t just for safety pros. It’s for anyone who makes decisions that could cost someone else everything. Odie’s message is clear: The real danger isn’trisk. It’s routine. And the best leaders lean into protecting their teams from falling into the trap of complacency. 

Learn more at TargetLeadership.com  

Find Odie on LinkedIn: Jeff “Odie” Espenship