The Jon Gordon Podcast

On this episode I sit down with legendary high school football coach Dwight Lundeen for an inspiring conversation about his remarkable 57-year career and the heart-driven leadership philosophy that built a powerhouse program in Becker, Minnesota.
Coach Lundeen's story is one of humble beginnings—starting a football program from scratch, guiding it from just 17 players to over 500 boys involved. Through decades at the helm, he's not just amassed state championships and hundreds of wins, but left an imprint across three generations of student-athletes, families, and his community.
In our conversation, Coach Lundeen reveals the secret behind his longevity and success: building an unshakable culture rooted in positivity, servant leadership, and above all, love. He shares practical wisdom for connecting with both players and parents, modeling gratitude and resilience, and fostering an environment where young men grow as teammates and people—win or lose.
From "happy hour" practices, to intentional team-building traditions at his family cabin, to his steadfast standard of accountability, Coach Lundeen offers a blueprint for how connection yields commitment, and how love can transform lives and communities.
About Dwight -
For 57 years, Dwight Lundeen has done something almost unheard of in high school football:
He has dedicated his entire head coaching career to one school, Becker High School in Becker, Minnesota.  He is the only head coach in Becker School history and has led the program to more than 400 victories along with championships, awards, and countless memorable moments.
But the numbers only tell part of the story.
What makes Coach Lundeen remarkable is that after 57 years, his greatest measure of success isn't the wins, the championships or the records – it's the lives he has influenced.  He has used football as a vehicle to teach young people about character,  discipline, perseverance, relationships, leadership and what it means to live with purpose.
Thousands of players have called him Coach Lundeen.  But his greatest legacy may be found in the men they became long after they stopped playing for him.
His story is a powerful reminder than success can be measured in wins, but impact is measured in lives.
 






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 newest book, The Power of Positive Habits. 
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, I sit down with Doug Dentler, CFO and author of Rise to Lead, for an honest, insightful conversation about what it really takes to elevate your leadership in today's workplace.
Doug shares the highs and lows of his corporate journey, from early days "mimicking" leadership styles he thought would help him succeed, to reaching a breakthrough when he realized true leadership starts from within. Drawing from decades in finance and executive roles, Doug opens up about the transformative moments that led him to create the RISE Framework: Root yourself in purpose, Implement an intentional plan, Serve others, and Elevate with positivity.
In our discussion, Doug reflects on how leadership has evolved from the days of tough accountability to a more human, purpose-driven approach. He reveals powerful stories of personal change - how re-centering his purpose impacted both his career and family, why coaching was a turning point, and the legacy that comes from serving others and fostering positive cultures. Doug's practical tips for being intentional, learning from mistakes, and investing in people will inspire any leader, seasoned or aspiring, to rethink what's possible in their own journey.
About Doug –
Doug Dentler is a financial executive and leadership strategist with more than 25 years of experience across Fortune 500 and privately held organizations. He combines operational finance expertise with a disciplined, people-centered leadership approach that drives execution and performance.
He leads complex, global operations, including oversight of more than $1.5B in revenue, 1,900 employees, and multi-site organizations. He builds teams that operate as strategic partners, aligns cross-functional leaders around clear priorities, and implements processes that increase efficiency, accountability, and results.
Grounded in values learned working in his family's business, he serves others with transparency, consistency, and a commitment to both performance and people. Colleagues consistently recognize his ability to remain steady under pressure, quickly identify core issues, and guide teams toward focused execution.
But he also experienced burnout, disconnection, and promotions that felt hollow. He was climbing but not growing, until he finally learned to lead as his authentic self.
He developed the RISE Framework to give leaders and teams what he wished he had – a clear, proven system for leading from the inside out, backed by time-tested leadership principles. His work strengthens leaders, improves team engagement, and creates cultures that sustain performance.
To work with Doug for coaching, team development, executive strategy, or speaking engagements, visit dougdentler.com.
Connect with Doug: doug@dougdentler.com
Buy the book plus claim the bonus resource: http://dougdentler.com/risetolead
 

 
Let us help you take your next steps in writing or publishing your book! Schedule a free Author Session at: https://gordonpublishing.com/session
 
Rather watch this message? You can access the workshop replay at: https://jongordon.com/webinar-how-to-write-publish-and-market-a-book/
Here's a few additional resources for you…
Follow me on Instagram: @JonGordon11
Check out my newest book, The Power of Positive Habits. 
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!

Join me and legendary Northwestern women's lacrosse coach Kelly Amonte Hiller for an insightful and inspiring conversation about championship culture, adversity, and the mindset that drives sustained excellence.
Kelly's journey is a masterclass in resilience and evolution—from leading her team through an uncharacteristically tough start to the season, to capturing her ninth national championship as a coach on home turf. She shares the behind-the-scenes process of overcoming setbacks, the power of reflection, and the importance of getting everyone "rowing in the same direction." Kelly opens up about the origins of her work ethic, the blue-collar values instilled by her family, and how embracing adversity and self-honesty have been critical for both personal and team growth.
We dive deep into the philosophies that have shaped her dynastic program: a relentless commitment to hard work, the humility to look in the mirror, and the courage to constantly evolve. Kelly also discusses the impact of supporting her former players now turned coaches, the beauty of fostering growth in young women, and the ultimate legacy of her leadership—building a culture where true greatness is measured not just in wins, but in the long-lasting bonds formed along the way.
About Kelly –
Already a legend in the game as a player, Kelly Amonte Hiller has established herself as one of the sport's greatest coaches after building Northwestern Lacrosse into a dynasty. In May of 2005, Amonte Hiller etched her name in the annals of college athletics when she guided her upstart Northwestern team to an undefeated season and the first NCAA Lacrosse Championship ever won by a team outside the Eastern Time Zone, the first of an incredible nine national titles.
Under Amonte Hiller's direction the Wildcats most recently claimed the 2026 NCAA National Championship, her ninth as the head coach of the program. Amonte Hiller became the first Division I lacrosse coach (men's or women's) to win nine national titles, guiding NU to a championship win on home soil for the first time since 1986 (Maryland). The 'Cats took down three IWLCA No. 1-ranked squads throughout the course of the season, the most in a campaign in NCAA History. Northwestern has made six consecutive appearances in the NCAA Semifinals (2019-26), reaching the finals the last four consecutive seasons.
After resurrecting a Northwestern program that had not competed at the varsity level in more than 10 years, Amonte Hiller led the Wildcats to the national semifinals 10 years in a row from 2005 to 2014 and tied an NCAA record with eight consecutive title game appearances in the process. Northwestern's dominance since its breakthrough 2005 season has been nothing short of legendary. Since 2004, Northwestern has gone 63-13 (.829) in the NCAA Tournament, making Amonte Hiller the winningest coach in tournament history.
Along the way, Amonte Hiller has produced the nation's Tewaaraton Award winner in eight different seasons as well as the Honda Sports Award recipient on 10 occasions. Northwestern has featured 75 IWLCA All-Americans and won a total of 13 IWLCA positional Player of the Year awards (four attacker, five midfielder and four defender).
Northwestern's rapid rise to national prominence under Amonte Hiller — particularly in an area of the country rarely associated with women's lacrosse — has caught the eyes of many, in and out of lacrosse. In 2011, ESPN The Magazine named Amonte Hiller one of the 20 best recruiters across all college sports, joining the likes of other multiple-time NCAA champion coaches Mike Krzyzewski of Duke (men's basketball) and Anson Dorrance of North Carolina (women's soccer). In 2012, the Big Ten Network profiled the NU head coach as one of 12 Big Ten coaching icons in the conference's history, putting her in the company of Big Ten legends such as Bobby Knight (Indiana), Bo Schembechler (Michigan) and Dan Gable (Iowa). In 2026, the NCAA Championship game between the Wildcats and UNC set a record with 657,000 viewers, making the first championship game hosted at Northwestern the most-watched women's lacrosse game in history.
In February of 2018, Amonte Hiller was announced as the head coach of United States Lacrosse Women's U19 team, where she guided the United States to a gold medal at the 2019 Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL) Women's U19 World Championship in Peterborough, Ontario. Four other Wildcats also found their way onto the team: Madison Doucette, Elle Hansen, Izzy Scane and Greta Stahl.
Amonte Hiller led the United States to another gold medal at the 2024 World Lacrosse Women's World Championship in Hong Kong, China, after beating Canada 23-6. She mentored five fellow Wildcats on the U20 roster during the championship run, including Francesca Argentieri, Noel Cumberland, Hannah Rudolph, Madison Smith, and Madison Taylor.
During the 2026 season, Amonte Hiller reached 400 career wins with a road win against Penn State. All 400 wins came at the helm of Northwestern, as she became the sixth coach in Division I women's lacrosse history to reach the milestone.
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 newest book, The Power of Positive Habits. 
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 Chris Hodges, founder and former lead pastor of Church of the Highlands and current chancellor of Highlands College, for an inspiring conversation around his new book, Legacy Letters: Timeless Principles I Learned, Lived, and Leave Behind.
 
Chris shares the heart and story behind Legacy Letters—a collection of the values, wisdom, and practical principles he's lived, taught, and now wants to pass on to the next generation. From humble beginnings and a move inspired by faith, Chris built one of America's largest churches and is now pouring his energy into developing world-class ministry leaders through Highlands College. We dive deep into his journey: the transition from building to leaving a legacy, the intentional handoff of pastoral leadership, and his mission to equip future generations for impact. Throughout our discussion, Chris reveals the foundational ideas that shaped his leadership—like the Big Rocks Principle, the power of margin, the importance of consistency, and the value of relationships and collaboration. He shares personal stories about overcoming self-doubt, stewarding influence, and the ways excellence shows others they matter. Chris also opens up about his philosophy on mentorship, building teams, and how faith shapes every principle he teaches.
 
Whether you're leading a team, building a family, or seeking purpose in this stage of your journey, this conversation is a powerful testament that true legacy is about investing in people, living your values daily, and leaving something meaningful behind. You'll walk away challenged to clarify your own priorities, cultivate excellence, and become a leader who multiplies impact for generations to come.

 
About Chris:
Chris Hodges is a pastor, mentor, and author who has dedicated his life to helping people grow in their faith, develop as leaders, and build life-giving communities. He is the Founder and Chancellor of Highlands College, Found Pastor of Church of the Highlands, Founder of GrowLeader, and Co-Founder of the Association of Related Churches (ARC).
Church of the Highlands
In 2001, Chris and Tammy, along with a small group of people, gathered in a high school auditorium with a simple desire – to create a place where people could experience God's presence, find community, and step into their purpose. That gathering became Church of the Highlands, a church committed to helping people know God, find freedom, discover purpose, and make a difference. By God's grace, Highlands has grown over the years into a multi-campus church in 26 locations serving communities across Alabama and Georgia, offering 75+ weekly services, and giving more than $162 million to missions and charitable causes worldwide.
In 2025, after more than two decades of leadership, Chris transitioned the role of Lead Pastor to Mark Pettus, allowing him to focus more on mentoring leaders and investing in the next generation. He continues to serve Highlands as Founding Pastor.
Highlands College – America's Ministry Leadership University
Chris has always had a heart for equipping young leaders for ministry. In 2011, he founded Highlands College, which has since grown into a fully accredited, academy-model ministry leadership college. Inspired by Luke 2:10, Highlands College is dedicated to developing leaders of competence and character to fulfill the Great Commission. Students receive a holistic education that blends:
Academic instruction
Ministry training
Character formation
Spiritual development
More than 1,300 graduates have been placed in more than 370 churches and ministries across 38 states and 21 countries.
GrowLeader – Coaching Leaders and Equipping Churches
Understanding the challenges that pastors and church leaders face, Chris created GrowLeader, a coaching network dedicated to training leaders and resourcing churches. Through conferences, roundtables, and leadership coaching, GrowLeader provides practical tools and biblical strategies to help churches grow in a healthy, sustainable way.
GrowLeader now has global impact, including:
22,000+ churches served in 100+ countries
4,000+ pastors and leaders trained annually
Association of Related Churches (ARC) – Church Planting
In 2001, Chris co-founded ARC (Association of Related Churches) with a group of pastors who shared a heart for starting life-giving churches in communities that need them. Through coaching, support, and relationships, ARC has helped plant over 1,150 churches across the U.S. and trains more than 1,000 church planters annually.
Writing and Teaching
Chris is a bestselling author who is passionate about making biblical truth practical and accessible, and he has written several books to encourage believers in their spiritual growth.
His works include:
The Daniel Dilemma – standing firm while loving well in a culture of compromise
Four Cups – understanding the promises of God for every believer
Out of the Cave – finding hope in the midst of depression
Pray First – living a life centered on prayer
What's Next? – following practical steps for growing in faith
Fresh Air – experiencing spiritual renewal
Jesus, The High Road Leader (co-authored with John C. Maxwell) – following leadership lessons from the life of Jesus Global Leadership and Ministry
Chris has been honored to serve alongside mentors and leaders from around the world. He is involved with organizations such as:
EQUIP – a leadership organization founded by John C. Maxwell, which has trained millions of leaders worldwide
Global Teen Challenge – a ministry helping people find freedom from addiction
Personal Life
Chris holds a B.A. in Management from Colorado Christian University, a Masters of Ministry from Southwestern Christian University, and an Honorary Doctorate in Professional Leadership from High Point University. Originally from Louisiana, Chris spent time pastoring in Colorado before moving to Birmingham, AL, in 2001. He and his wife, Tammy, have five kids and twelve grandchildren.

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 newest book, The Power of Positive Habits. 
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, join Jon and Kathryn Gordon for a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to write, publish, and market a book that makes an impact. Drawing from their own experience - rejections, bestselling success, and the wisdom gained along the way - Jon and Kathryn share why your message matters and how a single book can ripple across lives, industries, and even generations.
From the "burning desire" that signals it's time to write, to the struggles of clarifying your core message and avoiding the trap of cramming several books' worth of ideas into one, Jon and Kathryn are honest about both the challenges and rewards of the writing process. You'll hear how discipline, consistency, and a willingness to write amidst life's chaos helped shape books that continue to change lives years after publication.
The episode dives deep into the realities of publishing today - demystifying traditional, self, and hybrid publishing paths, including the financial and creative tradeoffs of each. Jon and Kathryn pull back the curtain on royalties, rights, and the practical business of owning your words, with insights from their own journey and the authors they guide through Gordon Publishing.
But writing and publishing are only the beginning. This episode is packed with actionable marketing strategies—to build your platform, launch teams, and connect directly with readers. You'll also discover what's working now to make your book stand out, from leveraging newsletters to fostering authentic author communities.
Above all, this is a conversation driven by belief in the power of story and encouragement for every aspiring author. If you're wrestling with self-doubt, paralyzed by the search for the "perfect" format, or unsure of your next step, you'll leave this episode inspired: your words have worth, your process matters, and the right guidance can help you bring your book—and your purpose—into the world.
Let us help you take your next steps in writing or publishing your book! Schedule a free Author Session at: https://gordonpublishing.com/session
 
Rather watch this message? You can access the workshop replay at: https://jongordon.com/webinar-how-to-write-publish-and-market-a-book/ 
Here's a few additional resources for you…
Follow me on Instagram: @JonGordon11
Check out my newest book, The Power of Positive Habits. 
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!