In this episode of Case Studies, Casey sits down with Jason Chaffetz, former U.S. Congressman, Fox News contributor, and one-time BYU placekicker, for a candid and wide-ranging conversation on leadership, resilience, and navigating the arena of public service.
Jason opens up about his journey from a small-town California upbringing to earning a football scholarship at BYU, his formative years in business at Nu Skin, and the leap of faith that took him into politics. He reflects on the personal hardships that shaped his perspective, from losing his mother to cancer to working multiple jobs to support his family, and how those experiences instilled in him a relentless drive to “show up and outwork the competition.”
Together, they explore lessons learned from high-stakes moments in Congress, including overseeing investigations into Benghazi and the IRS, building unlikely friendships across party lines, and maintaining courage under intense public pressure. Jason also shares fascinating personal anecdotes about working with figures like Barack Obama, Donald Trump, and Elijah Cummings, offering rare insight into the human side of politics.
This conversation is packed with hard-won wisdom for anyone striving to lead with grit, principle, and purpose.
Chapters
00:00 | Welcome & why Jason’s story matters
00:39 | “There’s always material in politics”
01:35 | The role of government & the private sector
02:56 | Northern California childhood, divorce, and loss
05:59 | Empathy, grace, and assuming unseen struggles
06:25 | Teenage adversity, bankruptcy, and grit
10:19 | Thriving in chaos & the kicker’s mindset
12:20 | From soccer kid to football scholarship
15:57 | BYU years, mentors, and Lavell Edwards
18:05 | Nu Skin: early career & global GM experience
18:55 | Losing his mother & reshaping priorities
20:02 | Huntsman Cancer Institute & a call to serve
23:12 | Running for Congress with $74K and hustle
26:23 | The power of showing up (Planning Commission story)
28:33 | “Hot dog and a map”: pressure moment at BYU
29:02 | Polling at 2.5% to winning by 20
30:53 | Principle over policy: how he decides
33:53 | The 30‑sec / 3‑min / 30‑min rule
34:15 | Congress: one‑third doers, one‑third drifters, one‑third showboats
36:07 | Behind the curtain: real people, real decisions
37:09 | Benghazi: what happened & why it mattered
38:52 | IRS & Secret Service investigations—accountability in action
42:55 | What he’s proud of: service, funerals, and stakes
45:10 | Legislation, sailors, and quiet leadership moments
48:41 | Real bipartisanship with Elijah Cummings
53:54 | Tech shifts: bringing an iPad to the House floor
54:00 | Presidents: notes from Obama & working with Trump
57:09 | Trump stories: straight talk, texts, and golf
58:59 | On the course with a president
01:00:36 | Owning disagreements & earning respect
01:03:28 | Memory, receipts, and sincerity
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