Beyond the Checklist: Jeff “Odie” Espenship on Leading With Culture
In this powerful episode, we sit down with Jeff “Odie” Espenship—combat pilot turned keynote speaker and founder of Target Leadership—for a raw, real conversation about what it takes to build a true culture of safety.
Odie brings hard-earned wisdom from both the skies and the setbacks. From his days flying A-10 Warthogs to speaking on the frontlines of workplace leadership, he shares personal stories that reveal why safety culture isn’t about rules—it’s about responsibility.
Key Insights You’ll Hear:
- From Airshows to Advocacy: Why Odie believes safety starts with mindset, not manuals.
- One Choice, Huge Consequences: The painful lesson behind his lifelong mission.
- Breaking the “Just Once” Mentality: How small deviations lead to big disasters.
- Leading with Heart: Why connection beats control when it comes to changing behavior.
- Character Over Titles: True leadership happens in the quiet moments—when no one’s watching.
Whether you’re leading teams, making tough calls, or simply trying to do the right thing, this episode will leave you thinking differently about what it really means to protect your people.
Odie’s core belief? The biggest threat isn’t taking risks—it’s becoming numb to them. The strongest leaders recognize that routine is where danger hides, and culture is what keeps teams grounded.
More at TargetLeadership.com
Connect with Odie on LinkedIn: Jeff “Odie” Espenship
