Wisdom, Whiskey and Wit Leadership podcast

Leadership is Distilled, Wisdom is Shared and Stories are worth Savoring.

Wisdom, Whiskey and Wit Leadership podcast

Leadership is Distilled, Wisdom is Shared and Stories are worth Savoring.

About Wisdom, Whiskey and Wit Podcast

Wisdom, Whiskey, and Wit is more than a podcast—it’s a space to explore the art of leadership, celebrate resilience, and savor life’s best stories. Together, we’ll distill wisdom, sip whiskey, and grow into better leaders and people. #leadership podcast

Meet the Host

I’m Starsky Smith, host of Wisdom, Whiskey, and Wit, leadership consultant, storyteller, and proud Army Veteran who served 20 years. Throughout my career, I’ve led teams through high-stakes situations, navigated challenges with resilience, and learned that the best leadership lessons often come from real-life experiences, not just textbooks.

With a passion for authentic leadership, personal growth, and meaningful conversations, I created this podcast as a space to explore what makes great leaders, well... great. Whether it's through hard-earned wisdom, a glass of well-aged whiskey, or the wit that keeps us going, this show is about the lessons that shape us as leaders and as people.

Join me each week as we break down leadership in its rawest form unfiltered, insightful, and always with a touch of humor. So, pour a glass, pull up a seat, and let’s savor the journey together.

Video

Episode 1: Leadership Distilled

Great leadership, like great whiskey, takes time to refine. In Episode 1, we break down the essence of leadership—what it takes, what it means, and why it’s worth the journey. Pour a glass and tune in!

#LeadershipDistilled #WisdomWhiskeyandWit

Coming Next on Episode 2: Resilience in the Face of Change

Life will test you, but resilience defines you. In this episode, we explore what it means to bounce back stronger, adapt to challenges, and lead with grit. Pour yourself a glass and join the conversation with my guest Brett Buske!

#Resilience #WisdomWhiskeyandWit"

Episode 3: The Power of Authenticity in Leadership

Authenticity isn’t just a leadership trait, it’s a superpower. We uncover why being real is the key to building trust, influence, and lasting impact. Tune in, grab a pour, and let’s talk leadership!

#AuthenticLeadership #WisdomWhiskeyandWit

Episode 4: The Legacy of Leadership

Leadership isn’t just about today—it’s about the impact you leave behind. In this episode, we explore what it means to build a legacy, inspire others, and create lasting change. Let’s raise a glass to leadership that stands the test of time.

#LeadershipLegacy #WisdomWhiskeyWit #VerticalMotion

Episode 5: Lessons from the Trenches

Some leadership lessons you can’t learn in a textbook, you have to live them. In this episode, we share hard-earned wisdom from real challenges, tough calls, and unexpected wins. Let’s dive in.

#LessonsLearned #WisdomWhiskeyWit”

Episode 6:Boardrooms & Backyards: Lessons in Leadership and Business Buying

Some things you can’t calculate on a spreadsheet—like purpose, grit, or legacy.

In this episode, we talk about what it really takes to buy a business, lead with intention, and grow through the messy middle of career transitions and parenting.

Real talk. Real numbers. Real purpose. Let’s pour into it.

#BusinessBuying #LeadershipLessons #WisdomWhiskeyWit #EntrepreneurMindset #LegacyBuilding

Episode 7: Borderless Leadership: Culture, Courage, and People-First Strategy

Some things don’t show up on a resume—like cultural fluency, heart-led leadership, or the courage to challenge the status quo.

In this episode, we explore what it really takes to lead across borders, build trust at scale, and show up for your people with humility and intention.

From hospitality to HR strategy, Kamal Pradhan shares what it means to lead when people—not just performance—are the priority.

No buzzwords. No ego. Just real leadership. Let’s pour into it.

#PeopleFirst #GlobalLeadership #WisdomWhiskeyWit #HRStrategy #LeadershipWithHeart

Episode 8:Portraits of Leadership: Service, Learning, and Legacy

Some leadership lessons can’t be taught, they’re earned in the field, forged in hardship, and shared with humility.

In this episode, we sit down with Brian Flom - Army veteran, organizational learning strategist, and one of the featured leaders in President George W. Bush’s Portraits of Courage. We explore what it means to lead beyond the battlefield, build culture in complex systems, and center learning as a strategy, not a checkbox.

From military grit to government impact, Brian reminds us that service doesn’t end with a salute, it evolves into mentorship, empathy, and mission-driven leadership.

No corporate fluff. No pretense. Just lived wisdom and a damn good pour.

Let’s sip on it.

#PortraitsOfCourage #VeteranLeadership #PeopleDevelopment #WisdomWhiskeyWit #LearningThatLeads #LeadershipWithGrit

Episode 9: From the Sidelines to the Strategy Room

Some partnerships don’t start with a pitch deck, they start with purpose, preparation, and a damn good strategy.

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Dan Kaufmann, a Fulbright Scholar, sports executive, and the mind behind some of the most innovative sponsorship deals in modern athletics.

From law school ambitions to leading revenue strategy for NFL and NBA franchises, Dr. Dan shares what it really takes to lead in high-stakes environments, build trust in global partnerships, and stay relentlessly committed to mentorship and continuous learning.

We talk career pivots, international growth, the future of sports sponsorships, and why being prepared, not just present, is a competitive advantage.

This isn’t just about sports. It’s about showing up with intention, learning from every chapter, and leading with clarity in a noisy world.

No buzzwords. No sideline chatter. Just earned insight and a bonded pour worth sipping on.

Let’s get into it.

#Leadership #SportsManagement #Mentorship #SponsorshipStrategy #InternationalGrowth #WisdomWhiskeyWit #DrDanKaufmann #LearningThatLeads #GameChanger #SportsPartnerships

Episode 10: From Convoys to Corporate - Leadership Lessons That Travel

Not all leadership is learned in a boardroom.
Some of it’s earned on the road, under pressure, on mission, with lives on the line.

In this episode, we sit down with Damien Kirby—Army veteran, corporate finance leader at Coca-Cola, and host of The Process Plan. From leading convoy security in Samarra, Iraq to guiding pricing strategy in one of the world’s most recognizable brands, Damien brings a no-nonsense take on leadership that’s grounded, strategic, and unapologetically real.

We talk through:

What military discipline looks like in a corporate setting
The uncomfortable parts of career transition (and how to own them)
What it means to build a personal brand with impact, not ego
Why mentorship is a responsibility, not a bonus

And of course, we’re sipping Blanton’s Single Barrel while doing it.
Because some stories deserve something strong, clean, and damn near legendary.

This one’s not about theory.
It’s about execution.
It’s about staying ready, staying sharp, and staying true, on and off the clock.

Let’s pour into it.

#WisdomWhiskeyWit #DamienKirby #BlantonsBourbon
#MilitaryLeadership #CareerTransitions #FinanceWithPurpose
#VeteranVoices #ProcessDriven #MentorshipMatters
#LeadWithClarity #TheProcessPlan #FromConvoysToCorporate

Wisdom, Whiskey and Wit Leadership podcast

Wisdom, Whiskey and Wit Leadership podcast