Some leaders make their mark by following the system — and others change the system for the good of everyone who comes after them. Long before the Navy was ready to talk about the impact of fatigue on readiness and safety, John Cordle was the commanding officer willing to put his reputation on the line to get the truth heard. His work — captured in Going Circadian — has changed how the Navy operates and saved lives in the process. Now he’s turning that same honesty inward with his upcoming book, Letters to Myself, a collection of life lessons written with humility, courage, and the hard-earned wisdom of a leader who’s walked the walk. On this episode of No Clichés, TD sits down with Captain John Cordle to explore a legacy still shaping the fleet.

The word brotherhood gets tossed around a lot.
In locker rooms. In firehouses. In club houses. In boardrooms. But much of the time, it’s just talk.

A career firefighter, EOD technician, combat veteran, keynote speaker, and now author of the bold new book Brotherhood is a VERB, Sam calls out what happens when “know your people” comes off as a slogan instead of a standard. He’s here to remind us that brotherhood—real brotherhood—isn’t about matching shirts or shared hashtags. It’s about sweat, trust, and climbing into the arena.