In this episode, we sit down with General Kevin Chilton—former Cold War fighter pilot, NASA astronaut, and Commander of U.S. Strategic Command—for a powerful conversation on leadership, faith, and responsibility at the highest levels.

General Chilton shares gripping stories from his three Space Shuttle missions, including the high-stakes satellite rescue aboard Endeavour’s first flight. He also reflects on overseeing America’s nuclear deterrent and the weight of leading with clarity, accountability, and trust.

From the silence of space to the pressure of global command, this episode explores how technical excellence, humility, and faith shape great leadership.

Key Takeaways:

• Chilton’s journey from test pilot to NASA astronaut

• Lessons from Endeavour’s first mission and high-pressure problem-solving
• Why great leaders take responsibility for their team’s failures
• The experience of receiving the Eucharist while orbiting Earth
• “The rock in the rucksack”: leading with empathy and awareness
• How preparation and faith create calm under extreme pressure

In this episode of the Eleven Talents Podcast, Pete Burak of Renewal Ministries shares how the loss of his father shaped his understanding of manhood and spiritual leadership—and why leadership at home matters more than success at work.

Check out his new book, Man on Purpose: https://bit.ly/3QBPYrZ

Pete Burak is a Catholic speaker and evangelist with Renewal Ministries, focused on forming missionary disciples and helping Catholic leaders live their faith with clarity and purpose in work and family life. He is the author of Man on Purpose, reflecting on how his relationship with his father shaped his understanding of authentic manhood and spiritual leadership.

In this episode, Pete breaks down what it takes to lead with faith, humility, and intentionality:

• Prioritizing the home: Why many men give their best energy to work—and how to reverse that at home.

• Leading through obedience: Why real leadership begins with surrender, prayer, and grace.

• Rite of passage moments: How a challenge at age 16 helped define his identity as a man.

• Redefining masculinity: Reclaiming virtue-centered leadership in a confused cultural moment.

• “Lean Back, Smile, and Ask”: A practical parenting tool that prioritizes listening over correction.

• The inconvenience of leadership: Why real leadership is slow, relational, and costly.

A conversation that challenges men to redefine success, reorder priorities, and lead with purpose at home, work, and in faith.

Discipline isn’t punishment—it’s freedom.

Few people understand that better than Bas Rutten. From fighting for a UFC Heavyweight title to rebuilding his life through faith and discipline, his story challenges everything we think we know about strength.

🎥 Watch his powerful conversion story on Gospel According To with EWTN:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S07U2Ntl6s4&t=933s

Bas Rutten is a former UFC Heavyweight Champion and three-time King of Pancrase world champion, known for his relentless discipline and dynamic career in mixed martial arts. Beyond the ring, he’s a successful business owner and creator of the O2 Trainer, a performance breathing device used by athletes worldwide. A devoted husband, father, and man of faith, he speaks powerfully on perseverance, identity, and purpose. He is also featured in a new episode of Gospel According To with EWTN, where he shares his personal journey of conversion and redemption.

In this episode, Bas breaks down the habits, mindset, and faith that shaped his journey:

• What real discipline looks like when no one is watching—and why most people misunderstand self-love
• How to turn suffering into a tool for growth instead of something to avoid
• Why elite performance is built on daily choices, not motivation
• How faith became central to rebuilding his life after fighting
• His transition from combat sports to entrepreneurship—and helping others build resilience in both body and mind