Jennifer Barnhill, award-winning journalist, researcher, and military spouse advocate, joins “Tipping Spears” for a powerful conversation about the stories of military families that often go unheard. As the host of “Military Dinner Table Conversations” and a leading voice in military family policy, Jennifer shares how journalism became her platform for advocacy and change. She discusses the gap between military policy and the lived realities of families navigating service, sacrifice, and uncertainty. Jennifer also reflects on how her reporting has influenced conversations on Capitol Hill, in the media, and across the military community. Drawing from her personal experiences and years of research, she challenges listeners to rethink what they know about military life. This conversation also explores the themes behind her bestselling book!

General Joseph Votel, former CENTCOM Commander, reflects on nearly 40 years of military leadership—from leading a 79-nation coalition against ISIS to redefining leadership in today’s complex battlespace. He breaks down the shift from command and control to command and feedback, and what it takes to lead with clarity, trust, and discipline under pressure.

Todd Connor, Navy veteran and founder of Bunker Labs, breaks down what it takes to build mission-driven organizations that scale. Drawing on years of supporting veteran entrepreneurs, he shares candid insights on the realities of transitioning to civilian life, the pressures founders face, and the traits that separate those who succeed from those who stall. The conversation also explores his work with Veterans for All Voters and how the military-connected community can play a stabilizing role in a polarized environment.

COL Jeremy Gwinn offers a strategic lens on modern warfare, where economics, technology, and industrial capacity are as decisive as tactics on the battlefield. Drawing on experience from combat leadership to the Pentagon and now the Eisenhower School, he unpacks how nations resource and sustain war in an era of great power competition. The conversation explores the defense industrial base, emerging technologies, and the concept of reverse innovation, highlighting what leaders must understand to remain competitive in a rapidly evolving security environment.

General (Ret.) Paul E. Funk II delivers a direct and experience-driven perspective on leading in high-stakes, “must-win” environments. From commanding a 72-nation coalition against ISIS to shaping the Army’s future through TRADOC, he breaks down the leadership principles behind building resilient, high-performing organizations. The conversation explores talent management, training, and decision-making under pressure, along with his concept of “positively intrusive” leadership and what it takes to prepare the next generation to succeed in complex, rapidly changing environments.

Major (Ret.) Trisha Wyman brings a nuanced perspective on modern conflict, where influence, information, and technology shape outcomes as much as traditional force. Drawing on her experience in psychological operations and intelligence, she unpacks how disinformation, narrative control, and cognitive warfare are redefining the battlespace. The discussion also explores the challenges of operating in ambiguous environments, the intersection of data and decision-making, and how her work now bridges national security and the private sector.

General Larry Spencer, USAF (Ret.), reflects on a 40-year career that took him from the enlisted ranks to Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force, offering hard-earned insights on leadership, risk, and resilience. He discusses how warfare and decision-making have evolved across domains, what it takes to drive innovation inside massive institutions, and how early experiences shape leaders at the highest levels. The conversation also examines his continued mission supporting service members and what meaningful leadership looks like beyond uniform.

LTG Bob Ashley, USA (Ret.), former Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, offers a clear-eyed view into the realities of intelligence in modern warfare. Drawing on decades of experience across Iraq, Afghanistan, and senior strategic roles, he explains how intelligence truly supports decision-making, how it has evolved over years of conflict, and what outsiders often misunderstand about the discipline. The discussion also explores the impact of AI and open-source data, and what it takes to develop the next generation of intelligence leaders.