160: Lessons Learned From Two Decades Of Senior Military Leadership | Colonel Ed Arnston
The Nick Bare Podcast
Nick Bare
4.9 • 6.1K Ratings
🗓️ 9 February 2026
⏱️ 123 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
I sit down with Colonel Edward Arntson III, who has 24 years of military service, to unpack what leadership really demands when it counts. We start with self-leadership: how you show up, how you carry yourself, and why humility isn’t optional.
We get into competence, intellectual curiosity, and the overlooked power of energy and tone. What you tolerate becomes the standard. Colonel Arntson shares hard-earned lessons from leading in garrison and in combat, including moments that tested his decision-making, confidence, and character.
If you’re building a team, leading a family, or trying to lead yourself better, this episode delivers practical takeaways you can apply immediately.
More about Colonel Ed Arntson:
Ed Arntson, from Buffalo Grove, Illinois, graduated from Concordia College (2002) and commissioned as a Distinguished Military Graduate infantry officer through NDSU. He led rifle and company units in Alaska, Afghanistan, and Iraq, was wounded in combat, and later served with The Old Guard, including a landmark deployment to Taji, Iraq. After CGSC and SAMS, he held planning and operations roles with 1st Cavalry Division, deployed to Korea and Baghdad, and served on the Joint Staff. He commanded 3-187 Infantry and 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division. His education includes Ranger and airborne schools. He’s married with two children.
Tone Range Fan:
https://fromthegreennotebook.com/2025/09/08/the-tone-range-fan-a-tool-for-leaders-at-all-levels/
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Introduction
05:07 The Importance of Leadership Development
15:31 The Role of Feedback in Leadership
27:22 The Power of Tone in Leadership
41:59 The Power of Tone in Communication
48:25 Building Effective Teams Through Peer Leadership
52:37 The Importance of Humility and Tone in Leadership
01:06:04 Early Military Career and Deployment Experiences
01:21:01 Dedication and Commitment in the Military
01:39:26 The Impact of 9/11 on ROTC and Military Careers
01:45:54 The Importance of Physical and Mental Readiness
01:52:27 A Formula for Effective Leadership
02:00:06 Final Thoughts on Leadership and Inspiration
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Transcript
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| 0:31.3 | So you can stay consistent and committed to your goals this year. |
| 0:36.3 | Now into the episode. |
| 0:45.0 | Ladies and gentlemen, today on the podcast, |
| 0:47.8 | we have Colonel Edward Arnson, the third. |
| 0:52.6 | Welcome. |
| 0:53.4 | Thank you very much. |
| 0:54.2 | Awesome. Really a pleasure to be here. I'm pumped for this third. Welcome. Thank you very much. Awesome. |
| 0:54.8 | Really a pleasure to be here. |
| 0:56.2 | I'm pumped for this conversation. |
| 0:57.7 | Yeah. |
| 0:58.8 | You've 24 years. |
| 1:00.2 | 24 years in the Army. |
| 1:01.3 | 24 years military experience. |
| 1:03.4 | Right. |
| 1:05.2 | I couldn't think of a better person to share real leadership value, experience lessons. And, you know, over these last |
| 1:18.0 | 10 plus years of my life, I've learned that leadership is not a direct responsibility |
| 1:25.0 | in an organization or a team or unit, but it's to lead yourself, |
... |
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