Peak Experience

In the final episode of The Journey: Leadership Through Partnership , Robert and Michele Forto explore the true measure of success. It isn't passing a certification or completing a program. It's what happens months and years later when trust, consistency, and shared experience become part of everyday life. Danny and Gunner's story began as a veteran working with a service dog. It evolved into some...

In Part 4 of The Danny and Gunner Story , Robert and Michele Forto explore the moment every leader, team, and service dog partnership eventually faces: the test of pressure. Training is one thing. Real-world performance is another. As Danny and Gunner move beyond controlled environments and into unpredictable situations, their partnership is challenged in new ways. Through public access training,...

What determines success long before anyone notices the results? In this episode of The Journey: Leadership Through Partnership: The Danny and Gunner Story, Michele and Robert Forto explore the foundational stage of Danny and Gunner's service dog journey. While many people focus on outcomes, real success is built through daily habits, trust, consistency, and disciplined action. Danny entered the Al...

Most doctoral students think graduation is the finish line. It is not. In this episode of the Peak Experience Podcast, Michele Forto explores why publishing your dissertation or doctoral project through ProQuest may be one of the most important leadership decisions graduate students can make. This conversation covers: Why research deserves to be seen and cited How ProQuest expands the reach of you...

Most training failures are not caused by lack of effort. They happen because the structure breaks down under pressure. In this episode of the Peak Experience Podcast, Michele Forto continues The Journey: Leadership Through Partnership, The Danny and Gunner Story by exploring why training systems fail, whether you are working with a service dog, leading a team, or building an organization. This epi...

What happens when the systems you depend on stop working, and failure is not an option? In this powerful first episode of The Journey: Leadership Through Partnership, Michele Forto introduces Danny, a combat veteran living with PTSD, and Gunner, the service dog who helped rebuild trust, structure, and independence. This episode explores how leadership principles, consistency, and real-world reliab...

What if the leadership advice most people need today did not come from a CEO or bestselling author, but from Mister Rogers? In this episode of the Peak Experience Podcast, Robert and Michele Forto explore the timeless leadership lessons found in Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood and Sesame Street. These iconic shows modeled values that many organizations need now more than ever: calm leadership, empathy...

In this special relaunch episode of Peak Experience, Dr. Robert Forto shares why he is bringing years of business ownership, education, and leadership experience into sharper focus through Dreamchaser Leadership. Robert discusses experiential learning, coaching small family businesses, delegation, leadership lessons from sled dog teams, and what success looks like in this next chapter. If you lead...

Join hosts Robert Forto and TJ Miller as they delve into the controversial topic of participation trophies. Are they fostering a generation of entitled individuals, or are they essential for building self-esteem and teamwork? This episode explores the pros and cons, drawing from personal experiences, academic insights, and listener feedback. Key Discussion Points: The evolution of participation tr...

In this episode of the Peak Experience Podcast, hosts Robert Forto and Dr. Latoya Skinner discuss their academic journeys culminating in their professional doctorates. They explore their research topics, the application of their findings in real-world settings, and the implementation strategies they developed. The conversation also delves into personal and professional growth experienced throughou...

In this episode of the Peak Experience Podcast, hosts Dr. Robert Forto and Dr. Latoya Skinner discuss their journey through their doctorate projects, focusing on the themes of leadership, communication, and the importance of thorough research. They share insights on their findings, the significance of literature reviews, and the challenges faced during their studies. The conversation emphasizes th...

In this episode of the Peak Experience Podcast, hosts Robert and Michelle Forto welcome Brooke Barker Pottle, a small business sidekick and podcast producer. Brooke shares her journey from Alaska to Arizona, her experiences in college athletics, and how these experiences shaped her approach to business. She discusses the importance of supporting small businesses, particularly women-owned ones, and...

In this episode of the Peak Experience Podcast, Robert Forto interviews Chelsea Burns, a marketing psychologist with a focus on the intersection of psychology and marketing. Chelsea shares her academic journey, the importance of understanding the target audience, and the sense of belonging among female entrepreneurs. She discusses her recent study on female entrepreneurship, highlighting the impac...

In this episode of the Peak Experience Podcast, Dr. Kemi Nelson shares her unique journey from Nigeria to the United States, her rigorous educational background, and her transition from engineering to leadership. She discusses the importance of adaptive leadership skills in today's volatile world, particularly in data and technology sectors. Dr. Nelson highlights her research findings on the signi...

In this episode of the Peak Experience Podcast, hosts Robert and Dr. Latoya Skinner delve into the intricacies of data analysis within doctoral research. They discuss key considerations for selecting appropriate data analysis methods, ensuring validity and reliability, and common pitfalls researchers face. The conversation also covers the differences between qualitative and quantitative data, the...

In this episode of the Peak Experience Podcast, hosts Robert and Dr. Latoya Skinner delve into the intricacies of conducting research for doctoral projects. They discuss the importance of defining target populations, addressing biases, navigating the Institutional Review Board (IRB) process, and the challenges of participant recruitment. The conversation emphasizes the significance of ethical cons...

In this episode of the Peak Experience Podcast, hosts Dr. Robert Forto and Dr. LaToya Skinner discuss the intricacies of conducting a thorough literature review, particularly in the context of doctoral research. They explore the importance of setting realistic goals, the key components of a literature review, strategies for organizing research, and the tools that can aid in the writing process. Th...

In this episode of the Peak Experience Podcast, Robert Forto interviews Dr. Lisa DeVore, who shares her journey from training a service dog to pursuing a doctorate in strategic leadership. Lisa discusses her experiences living in South Korea, her work with the Space Force, and the challenges she faced during her academic journey, including a significant health scare. She reveals how her service do...

Join hosts Dr. Robert Forto and Dr. LaToya Skinner as they discuss research frameworks in a a professional doctorate degree on this episode of the Peak Experience podcast.

In this episode of the Peak Experience Podcast, Dr. Robert Forto interviews Dr. Keith Downing, who shares his journey of redemption through academic achievement. Keith discusses his struggles and triumphs in obtaining his doctorate, focusing on leadership development and the challenges faced in corporate environments. He reflects on the importance of personal growth, the support of family, and the...

Join hosts Dr. Robert Forto and Dr. LaToya Skinner on this episode of the Peak Experience podcast as they discuss problem statements, purpose statements, and developing research questions.

In this episode of the Peak Experience Podcast, hosts Robert Forto and Dr. Latoya Skinner discuss their doctoral journeys, focusing on the challenges and insights gained through their research in nonprofit management and family business succession. They explore the importance of identifying research gaps, balancing personal interests with feasibility, and the critical role of collaboration and fee...

In this episode of the Peak Experience Podcast, host Robert deeply converses with Dr. Alex Negron, a recent graduate of Liberty University's Doctor of Strategic Leadership program. Alex shares his inspiring journey from working in fast food to achieving his doctorate, discussing the challenges and triumphs he faced. The conversation delves into his research on Gen Z in the workplace, exploring the...

Join host Robert Forto as he welcomes doctoral candidate, LaToya Skinner to talk to her about her academic and professional journey in leadership and how she inspires change in non-profits and beyond.

Join host Robert Forto as he welcomes Derek A. Smith to discuss his journey in education, teaching, martial arts, and much more.