Jim Detjen is the host of Think First and Uncharted, and the founder of Gaslight 360 — a post-2024 platform built to help people think clearly in a world designed to confuse them. In an era of emotional headlines and poetic truths disguised as facts, Gaslight 360 cuts through the noise, decodes the spin, and illuminates what’s real. From the 6-Step Clarity Framework to a curated archive of gaslighting examples and a sharp daily podcast, Detjen’s mission is simple: expose manipulation and empower minds. It’s not culture war. It’s cognitive clarity.

Jim’s journey began in 1980s Seattle, in a time and place where curiosity was encouraged and questions weren’t yet dangerous. That early curiosity evolved into a career rooted in both service and strategy. He served in the U.S. Army’s 3rd Infantry Regiment — The Old Guard — the oldest active-duty infantry unit in the Army and the most elite military ceremonial unit in the world. Tasked with honoring fallen heroes, guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and representing the nation in its most symbolic moments, The Old Guard operates with zero margin for error. Jim’s assignments included Arlington National Cemetery, the White House, and counter-terrorism security support during the 2002 Winter Olympic Games following 9/11. That no-fail environment — built on precision, preparation, and trust — left a lasting imprint on how he leads, listens, and thinks.

Now, across a three-decade career spanning brand architecture, strategic partnerships, and sustainable growth, Jim has helped generate over $5 billion in brand impact and $150 million in direct ecommerce revenue. He brings 25+ years of hands-on leadership across consumer goods, tech, education, sports, nonprofit, and defense — advising clients from Fortune 100s to Ivy League programs. Whether behind the mic or behind the scenes, Jim connects the dots between story, structure, and scale — and helps others do the same.

Jim also helped transform Wasatch Academy Basketball (Mt. Pleasant, Utah) into a national powerhouse — guiding strategic development and branding as the program earned four GEICO HS Basketball National Championship (now Chipotle Nationals) appearances under head coaches David Evans and Paul Peterson. During his tenure, the team achieved consistent Top 5 national rankings and produced multiple McDonald’s All-Americans and more than two dozen NCAA Division I athletes, recruited by programs like Duke, Gonzaga, Kansas, Kentucky, and BYU. Since 2015, he’s worked within the Nike ecosystem — supporting grassroots partnerships, elite camps, and brand initiatives across the high school basketball landscape. He also co-founded and continues to run the nation’s largest youth basketball camp hosted at Wasatch Academy — an all-volunteer initiative focused on mentorship, character, and community impact.

Today, Jim advises executive teams and boards, guest lectures on branding, creative strategy, and visual design, and mentors rising leaders and athletes. He’s trusted not because he talks the most — but because he hears what others miss.

Now based in Utah, Jim splits time between the mountains, Cambridge, and Colorado Springs to stay close to his three kids. One is an NCAA Division I swimmer at the U.S. Air Force Academy. The other two attend Harvard — one paused studies to serve a two-year humanitarian mission in Ethiopia, while the other, an award-winning American drummer, is enrolled in the highly selective Harvard–Berklee Dual Degree Program.

Jim has been married for over 30 years — a partnership that’s grounded his life, shaped his worldview, and sharpened his cooking skills to borderline perfectionist levels.

These milestones aren’t social-media trophies. They’re proof that curiosity, service, and discipline still matter — and that raising thoughtful, purposeful adults is the most meaningful work of all.

He’s worked in rooms where stories are shaped, deals are made, and culture gets its marching orders — from pro athletes and music legends to tech founders and political insiders. But the moments that matter most still happen off-camera: mentoring rising talent, building community, and passing on the kind of wisdom that doesn’t trend — it endures.

He doesn’t tell you what to think. He helps you Think First.