<a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2144286/open_sms">Send us a text</a>Ron and Kristin sit down with award-winning professor and betrayal expert Dr. Merissa Ferrara Elisei to break down one of the most emotionally charged topics: romantic betrayal.From why people cheat to why it hurts so badly — and why some stay while others walk — Merissa explains the psychology, biology, and communication patterns behind heartbreak. The episode is entertaining, eye-opening, and surprisingly relatable.What We Cover:<ul><li>The most overlooked forms of betrayal</li><li>Why people cheat</li><li>Why betrayal feels physically painful</li><li>Why reactions vary (anger, shutdown, detective mode)</li><li>Why some people stay after betrayal</li><li>How celebrity betrayals mirror real life</li><li>Whether “once a cheater, always a cheater” is true</li><li>Red flags and green flags in relationships</li><li>How trust breaks and repairs in both love and leadership</li></ul>Who This Episode Is For: Anyone curious about relationships, psychology, trust, or how betrayal impacts both personal and professional life.Final Takeaway: Betrayal is painful — but it’s also a moment for clarity, insight, and rebuilding. Healing is possible, and trust can be restored with the right tools.Co-hosts: Ron Ward and Kristin Sokoloff Sponsor: 4Ward Operations Producer: Stephen Ridley Facebook Group Administrator: Cassy Roop Where leadership meets entertainment! This weekly podcast takes both a humorous and intense look at leadership through impactful stories, answers to listener questions, and breakdowns of dirty lessons from Ron&apos;s best selling book, &quot;The Dirty Side of Leadership&quot;. Connect with us at 4wardoperations.comConnect with us at 4wardoperations.com

<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2144286/open_sms"&gt;Send us a text&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Ron and Kristin sit down with award-winning professor and betrayal expert Dr. Merissa Ferrara Elisei to break down one of the most emotionally charged topics: romantic betrayal.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;From why people cheat to why it hurts so badly — and why some stay while others walk — Merissa explains the psychology, biology, and communication patterns behind heartbreak. The episode is entertaining, eye-opening, and surprisingly relatable.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;What We Cover:&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;The most overlooked forms of betrayal&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Why people cheat&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Why betrayal feels physically painful&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Why reactions vary (anger, shutdown, detective mode)&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Why some people stay after betrayal&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;How celebrity betrayals mirror real life&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Whether “once a cheater, always a cheater” is true&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Red flags and green flags in relationships&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;How trust breaks and repairs in both love and leadership&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Who This Episode Is For:&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Anyone curious about relationships, psychology, trust, or how betrayal impacts both personal and professional life.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Final Takeaway:&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Betrayal is painful — but it’s also a moment for clarity, insight, and rebuilding. Healing is possible, and trust can be restored with the right tools.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Co-hosts: Ron Ward and Kristin Sokoloff&lt;br/&gt;Sponsor: 4Ward Operations&lt;br/&gt;Producer: Stephen Ridley&lt;br/&gt;Facebook Group Administrator: Cassy Roop&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Where leadership meets entertainment! This weekly podcast takes both a humorous and intense look at leadership through impactful stories, answers to listener questions, and breakdowns of dirty lessons from Ron&amp;apos;s best selling book, &amp;quot;The Dirty Side of Leadership&amp;quot;.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Connect with us at 4wardoperations.com&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Connect with us at 4wardoperations.com&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Send us a text Ron and Kristin sit down with award-winning professor and betrayal expert Dr. Merissa Ferrara Elisei to break down one of the most emotionally charged topics: romantic betrayal. From why people cheat to why it hurts so badly — and why some stay while others walk — Merissa explains the psychology, biology, and communication patterns behind heartbreak. The episode is entertaining, eye-opening, and surprisingly relatable. What We Cover: The most overlooked forms of betrayalWhy peo...

Romantic Betrayal with Dr. Merissa Ferrara Elisei | Episode 141

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2144286/open_sms">Send us a text</a>In this episode, Ron and Kristin dig into a hidden leadership crisis: empathy burnout. When high-EQ leaders become everyone’s emotional outlet, they absorb problems that aren’t theirs — leading to exhaustion, resentment, and emotional overload. You’ll learn why people emotionally dump on leaders, how empathy becomes codependency, and the practical boundaries every leader needs to stay healthy and effective. What You’ll Learn:<ul><li>Why empathetic leaders are targeted as “safe dump zones”</li><li>The difference between empathy fatigue and traditional burnout</li><li>Why leaders are not therapists</li><li>How emotional intelligence is misunderstood</li><li>Tools to stop emotional overload and protect your energy</li></ul>Core Takeaway: You can care without carrying. Leaders stay strongest when they set boundaries that protect emotional bandwidth. Sources (Credible Research &amp; References):<ul><li>Figley, C. R. (1995). Compassion Fatigue: Coping With Secondary Traumatic Stress Disorder in Those Who Treat the Traumatized.</li><li>Maslach, C., &amp; Leiter, M. P. (2016). Understanding Burnout: New Models for New Realities.</li><li>Goleman, D. (1998). Working with Emotional Intelligence.</li><li>American Psychological Association — Compassion Fatigue &amp; Empathy Research</li><li>Center for Creative Leadership — Emotional Intelligence &amp; Leadership Effectiveness Studies</li></ul>Co-hosts: Ron Ward and Kristin Sokoloff Sponsor: 4Ward Operations Producer: Stephen Ridley Facebook Group Administrator: Cassy Roop Where leadership meets entertainment! This weekly podcast takes both a humorous and intense look at leadership through impactful stories, answers to listener questions, and breakdowns of dirty lessons from Ron&apos;s best selling book, &quot;The Dirty Side of Leadership&quot;. Connect with us at 4wardoperations.comConnect with us at 4wardoperations.com

<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2144286/open_sms"&gt;Send us a text&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In this episode, Ron and Kristin dig into a hidden leadership crisis: empathy burnout. When high-EQ leaders become everyone’s emotional outlet, they absorb problems that aren’t theirs — leading to exhaustion, resentment, and emotional overload.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;You’ll learn why people emotionally dump on leaders, how empathy becomes codependency, and the practical boundaries every leader needs to stay healthy and effective.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;b&gt;What You’ll Learn:&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;Why empathetic leaders are targeted as “safe dump zones”&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;The difference between empathy fatigue and traditional burnout&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Why leaders are not therapists&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;How emotional intelligence is misunderstood&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Tools to stop emotional overload and protect your energy&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Core Takeaway:&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br/&gt;You can care without carrying. Leaders stay strongest when they set boundaries that protect emotional bandwidth.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;b&gt;Sources (Credible Research &amp;amp; References):&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;Figley, C. R. (1995). Compassion Fatigue: Coping With Secondary Traumatic Stress Disorder in Those Who Treat the Traumatized.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Maslach, C., &amp;amp; Leiter, M. P. (2016). Understanding Burnout: New Models for New Realities.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Goleman, D. (1998). Working with Emotional Intelligence.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;American Psychological Association — Compassion Fatigue &amp;amp; Empathy Research&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Center for Creative Leadership — Emotional Intelligence &amp;amp; Leadership Effectiveness Studies&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;Co-hosts: Ron Ward and Kristin Sokoloff&lt;br/&gt;Sponsor: 4Ward Operations&lt;br/&gt;Producer: Stephen Ridley&lt;br/&gt;Facebook Group Administrator: Cassy Roop&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Where leadership meets entertainment! This weekly podcast takes both a humorous and intense look at leadership through impactful stories, answers to listener questions, and breakdowns of dirty lessons from Ron&amp;apos;s best selling book, &amp;quot;The Dirty Side of Leadership&amp;quot;.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Connect with us at 4wardoperations.com&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Connect with us at 4wardoperations.com&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Send us a text In this episode, Ron and Kristin dig into a hidden leadership crisis: empathy burnout. When high-EQ leaders become everyone’s emotional outlet, they absorb problems that aren’t theirs — leading to exhaustion, resentment, and emotional overload.  You’ll learn why people emotionally dump on leaders, how empathy becomes codependency, and the practical boundaries every leader needs to stay healthy and effective.  What You’ll Learn: Why empathetic leaders are targeted as “safe dump ...

The Empathy Trap: Why Leaders Burn Out Trying to Be Everyone’s Therapist | Episode 140

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2144286/open_sms">Send us a text</a>In this special throwback episode, we get a deeper look into the lives of Ron and Kristin.Co-hosts: Ron Ward and Kristin Sokoloff Sponsor: 4Ward Operations Producer: Stephen Ridley Facebook Group Administrator: Cassy Roop Where leadership meets entertainment! This weekly podcast takes both a humorous and intense look at leadership through impactful stories, answers to listener questions, and breakdowns of dirty lessons from Ron&apos;s best selling book, &quot;The Dirty Side of Leadership&quot;. Connect with us at 4wardoperations.comConnect with us at 4wardoperations.com

<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2144286/open_sms"&gt;Send us a text&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In this special throwback episode, we get a deeper look into the lives of Ron and Kristin.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Co-hosts: Ron Ward and Kristin Sokoloff&lt;br/&gt;Sponsor: 4Ward Operations&lt;br/&gt;Producer: Stephen Ridley&lt;br/&gt;Facebook Group Administrator: Cassy Roop&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Where leadership meets entertainment! This weekly podcast takes both a humorous and intense look at leadership through impactful stories, answers to listener questions, and breakdowns of dirty lessons from Ron&amp;apos;s best selling book, &amp;quot;The Dirty Side of Leadership&amp;quot;.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Connect with us at 4wardoperations.com&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Connect with us at 4wardoperations.com&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Send us a text In this special throwback episode, we get a deeper look into the lives of Ron and Kristin. Co-hosts: Ron Ward and Kristin Sokoloff Sponsor: 4Ward Operations Producer: Stephen Ridley Facebook Group Administrator: Cassy Roop  Where leadership meets entertainment! This weekly podcast takes both a humorous and intense look at leadership through impactful stories, answers to listener questions, and breakdowns of dirty lessons from Ron's best selling book, "The Dirty Side of Leadersh...

Behind the Scenes: Get to Know Ron & Kristin | Throwback Episode

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2144286/open_sms">Send us a text</a>In this episode, Ron and Kristin sit down with Greg Forest, former U.S. Marshal, former Chief U.S. Probation Officer, and now co-founder of Davis Forest Investigations. Greg shares a rare inside look at federal fugitive operations, the realities of high-risk leadership, and what it’s really like transitioning from government service to entrepreneurship. Key Topics Covered 1. Greg’s Path Through Federal Service<ul><li>How he entered law enforcement</li><li>What led him to become a U.S. Marshal</li><li>The moment he realized public service was his calling</li></ul>2. Inside the U.S. Marshals Service<ul><li>What the Marshals actually do beyond fugitive work</li><li>High-risk operations and the leadership skills required</li><li>Balancing urgency, danger, and officer safety</li><li>The challenge of serving in both a law-enforcement and political role</li></ul>3. Marshal Service vs. U.S. Probation &amp; Pretrial<ul><li>Cultural differences between the agencies</li><li>Where their missions overlap</li><li>How leadership styles shift between enforcement and rehabilitation roles</li></ul>4. Life After the Badge<ul><li>Greg’s transition into private-sector entrepreneurship</li><li>Launching Davis Forest Investigations</li><li>What TV gets wrong about private investigators</li></ul>Co-hosts: Ron Ward and Kristin Sokoloff Sponsor: 4Ward Operations Producer: Stephen Ridley Facebook Group Administrator: Cassy Roop Where leadership meets entertainment! This weekly podcast takes both a humorous and intense look at leadership through impactful stories, answers to listener questions, and breakdowns of dirty lessons from Ron&apos;s best selling book, &quot;The Dirty Side of Leadership&quot;. Connect with us at 4wardoperations.comConnect with us at 4wardoperations.com

<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2144286/open_sms"&gt;Send us a text&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In this episode, Ron and Kristin sit down with Greg Forest, former U.S. Marshal, former Chief U.S. Probation Officer, and now co-founder of Davis Forest Investigations. Greg shares a rare inside look at federal fugitive operations, the realities of high-risk leadership, and what it’s really like transitioning from government service to entrepreneurship.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;b&gt;Key Topics Covered&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br/&gt;1. Greg’s Path Through Federal Service&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;How he entered law enforcement&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;What led him to become a U.S. Marshal&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;The moment he realized public service was his calling&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;2. Inside the U.S. Marshals Service&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;What the Marshals actually do beyond fugitive work&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;High-risk operations and the leadership skills required&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Balancing urgency, danger, and officer safety&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;The challenge of serving in both a law-enforcement and political role&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;3. Marshal Service vs. U.S. Probation &amp;amp; Pretrial&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;Cultural differences between the agencies&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Where their missions overlap&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;How leadership styles shift between enforcement and rehabilitation roles&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;4. Life After the Badge&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;Greg’s transition into private-sector entrepreneurship&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Launching Davis Forest Investigations&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;What TV gets wrong about private investigators&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;Co-hosts: Ron Ward and Kristin Sokoloff&lt;br/&gt;Sponsor: 4Ward Operations&lt;br/&gt;Producer: Stephen Ridley&lt;br/&gt;Facebook Group Administrator: Cassy Roop&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Where leadership meets entertainment! This weekly podcast takes both a humorous and intense look at leadership through impactful stories, answers to listener questions, and breakdowns of dirty lessons from Ron&amp;apos;s best selling book, &amp;quot;The Dirty Side of Leadership&amp;quot;.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Connect with us at 4wardoperations.com&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Connect with us at 4wardoperations.com&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Send us a text In this episode, Ron and Kristin sit down with Greg Forest, former U.S. Marshal, former Chief U.S. Probation Officer, and now co-founder of Davis Forest Investigations. Greg shares a rare inside look at federal fugitive operations, the realities of high-risk leadership, and what it’s really like transitioning from government service to entrepreneurship.  Key Topics Covered  1. Greg’s Path Through Federal Service How he entered law enforcementWhat led him to become a U.S. Marsha...

He Hunted Fugitives for the Feds, Now He’s Ready to Talk | Interview with Former U.S. Marshal Greg Forest | Episode 139

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2144286/open_sms">Send us a text</a>Ron and Kristin expose how manipulation operates in everyday workplaces — from charm tactics to control games — and how leaders can spot the warning signs.Highlights:<ul><li>The Dark Triad at work: narcissism, Machiavellianism, psychopathy.</li><li>How confidence can blur into control.</li><li>Creating psychological safety to shut down manipulation.</li><li>The power of self-awareness — knowing your own shadow.</li></ul>Dirty Lesson: The most dangerous manipulator isn’t in the boardroom — it’s the one in your blind spot.4Ward Reflection: Leadership isn’t about avoiding darkness; it’s about mastering awareness — in others and yourself.Sources:<ul><li>Paulhus &amp; Williams (2002), Journal of Research in Personality — The Dark Triad.</li><li>Harvard Business Review (2018), The Toxic Handler: Organizational Hero — and Casualty.</li><li>Amy Edmondson, The Fearless Organization (2019) — Psychological Safety in the Workplace.</li></ul>Co-hosts: Ron Ward and Kristin Sokoloff Sponsor: 4Ward Operations Producer: Stephen Ridley Facebook Group Administrator: Cassy Roop Where leadership meets entertainment! This weekly podcast takes both a humorous and intense look at leadership through impactful stories, answers to listener questions, and breakdowns of dirty lessons from Ron&apos;s best selling book, &quot;The Dirty Side of Leadership&quot;. Connect with us at 4wardoperations.comConnect with us at 4wardoperations.com

<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2144286/open_sms"&gt;Send us a text&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Ron and Kristin expose how manipulation operates in everyday workplaces — from charm tactics to control games — and how leaders can spot the warning signs.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Highlights:&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;The &lt;em&gt;Dark Triad&lt;/em&gt; at work: narcissism, Machiavellianism, psychopathy.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;How confidence can blur into control.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Creating &lt;em&gt;psychological safety&lt;/em&gt; to shut down manipulation.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;The power of &lt;em&gt;self-awareness&lt;/em&gt; — knowing your own shadow.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Dirty Lesson:&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br/&gt;The most dangerous manipulator isn’t in the boardroom — it’s the one in your blind spot.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;4Ward Reflection:&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Leadership isn’t about avoiding darkness; it’s about mastering awareness — in others and yourself.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Sources:&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;Paulhus &amp;amp; Williams (2002), &lt;em&gt;Journal of Research in Personality&lt;/em&gt; — The Dark Triad.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Harvard Business Review (2018), &lt;em&gt;The Toxic Handler: Organizational Hero — and Casualty.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Amy Edmondson, &lt;em&gt;The Fearless Organization&lt;/em&gt; (2019) — Psychological Safety in the Workplace.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;Co-hosts: Ron Ward and Kristin Sokoloff&lt;br/&gt;Sponsor: 4Ward Operations&lt;br/&gt;Producer: Stephen Ridley&lt;br/&gt;Facebook Group Administrator: Cassy Roop&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Where leadership meets entertainment! This weekly podcast takes both a humorous and intense look at leadership through impactful stories, answers to listener questions, and breakdowns of dirty lessons from Ron&amp;apos;s best selling book, &amp;quot;The Dirty Side of Leadership&amp;quot;.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Connect with us at 4wardoperations.com&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Connect with us at 4wardoperations.com&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Send us a text Ron and Kristin expose how manipulation operates in everyday workplaces — from charm tactics to control games — and how leaders can spot the warning signs. Highlights: The Dark Triad at work: narcissism, Machiavellianism, psychopathy.How confidence can blur into control.Creating psychological safety to shut down manipulation.The power of self-awareness — knowing your own shadow.Dirty Lesson: The most dangerous manipulator isn’t in the boardroom — it’s the one in your blind spot...

Dark Psychology at Work: How Manipulation Hides in Plain Sight | Episode 138

Where leadership meets entertainment! This weekly podcast disrupts the status quo by discussing hot-button topics that most podcasters are afraid to touch.&nbsp; Ron and Kristin apply their combined 50+ years of real leadership experience and take both a humorous and raw look behind closed doors. Often sharing personal experiences both in the workplace and out, they answer listener questions and breakdown 'dirty lessons' from Ron's best selling book, "The Dirty Side of Leadership".&nbsp;

The Dirty Side of Leadership

Details

Recent Episodes