Build with Clay Podcast

In this episode, we build with Jonathan Raude. I have known Jonathan for the last 10 years and witnessed his journey from new hire to founder. From single man to a father of two. From tennis player to tennis leader. I'm thrilled and honored to have Jonathan on to share his story! We discuss so many things including how Jonathan founded his company, how he finds talent in this new world, how being...

On this episode we Build with Melissa McCabe. Melissa has the unique combination of being a tech executive and conservationist. She has held executive roles at companies like IBM and Blackboard and has begun dedicating part of her energy to conservation in the mountains of North Carolina. We talk about the devastating effect of Hurricane Helene, her career journey, benefits to conservation, educat...

In this episode we build with Judd Ficklen! After graduating from the University of Georgia, Judd began his career in banking. He then spent 27 years at IBM, with the last decade as a senior executive. Now retired, Judd shares his leadership gifts in the community. Our conversation spanned all sorts of topics - which is not surprise given how well we know each other. Judd shares his passion of bik...

On this episode, we build with Mary Laurence McMillan Crook. Lovingly known as ML, she is the Executive Director of Camp Seafarer, where she leads more than 1,000 campers, counselors and volunteers each summer. ML has been in my life since childhood. We went to the same schools, church and played copious amounts of flag football together. I'm thrilled to get her on the mic! It was no surprise that...

On this episode, we Build with Zack Stone. Zack is a second-time guest as he joined us on episode 38 with his business partner, Joel Fleming, to discuss all things real estate and life. In this episode we discuss kidnapping, water-skiing, Stoicism, decision making, juicing an onion, how we are finite, weight loss, diet, optionality and so much more. As you can see, we touched a lot of topics. Zack...

This is a special "Podcast Takeover"! Our friend, Joel Fleming, takes the mic as host of this special episode of The Build with Clay Podcast. Joel knows what the people want - and it's an interview with Clay and his brother, Jamie Davis. In this episode, Joel spends the first 25 minutes asking Clay and Jamie to answer get-to-know-you questions, weaving between serious and not-so-serious. Joel then...

In this episode we Build with David Foley. I wanted Foley (known by his last name in our friend circle) to come on the pod for many reasons - one of which is he recently retired at the age of 37. We chat about what went into that decision, what variables he considered and what advice he has for others contemplating early retirement. We also discuss how to optimally design your life, travel tips, w...

On this episode, we Build with Joel Fleming and Zack Stone. This pair founded Devereux - a boutique real estate investment firm located in Raleigh, NC, specializing in the acquisition and management of multifamily and commercial properties. We chat about how they founded the company, the development of a growth strategy, how no one knows what’s going on, how to artfully ask others for money and so...

On this episode, we Build with Ricky Shore. Ricky graduated from North Carolina State University and started his first career with Wachovia Bank. 25 years later he left the Bank as a senior executive and purchased Aladdin Travel and Meeting Planners. 14 years later, he sold Aladdin and is now happily retired from not just 1, but 2 careers. In this wide-ranging conversation, we discuss life with 3...

On this episode we build with Skip Lineberg!   Skip learned business, management and marketing at General Electric, during the Jack Welch heydays. He parlayed that experience into the founding of marketing communications firm, Maple Creative, where he led the firm as CEO and Chief Creative Officer from 2001 to 2010. He later served as Chief Innovation Officer at the law firm Spilman Thomas &...

On this episode, we Build with Mary-Kathryn Connor! Mary-Kathryn Connor is the Director of Hayes Barton United Methodist Preschool. She is a native of Goldsboro, NC and holds a Bachelor's degree in Family and Consumer Sciences from Meredith College and a Master's degree in Early Childhood Intervention and Family Support from UNC-Chapel Hill. She has her B-K, K-6, and 7-12 teaching licenses. S...

In this episode we Build with Theresa Caragol. Theresa Caragol is the founder and CEO, AchieveUnite Inc., a strategic consulting and education firm that provides channel, partnering, and business acceleration services to leaders and global enterprises. With Theresa’s leadership, AchieveUnite offers partner and channel development, go-to-market strategy, & channel integration, and executive educati...

In this episode, we chat with AP Capaldo de Aoun. AP serves as Assistant General Counsel at TD SYNNEX, one of the world’s largest distributors of technology products, services, and solutions. Previously, AP served as Director of Ethics & Compliance for Tech Data, and Associate General Counsel of Global Ethics & Compliance at Laureate Education, a leading higher education provider with more than 70...

In this episode, we build with Jeff Buehner. Twenty-eight years ago, Jeff came across the writings of the richest man to ever walk the earth, Sultan Musa of Mali. No one’s ever come close to this guy, not Jeff Bezos and not Elon Musk. The Sultan could not talk openly about how he learned these secrets, so he embedded the principles of his success in a fairytale so compelling that centuries later n...

On this episode, we build with Kathy Fehling. Kathy began her career in sales and worked up through management, often becoming the first woman to hold leadership positions in the company’s she work for. Then, in the middle of the night, Kathy decided it was time to start her own company. Over the next 20+ years she became an extremely successful executive recruiter – helping multi-billion dollar c...

On this episode, we build with Kailey Lefko. Kailey the co-founder of the evidence-based social-emotional learning and mindfulness program for schools, Educalme. Educalme was developed in response to the rise in anxiety, stress and burnout in the classroom for both students and teachers. Kailey teaches educators worldwide how to integrate mindfulness into their lives and classrooms through profess...

On this episode, we build with Marvin Guelce. Marv is a community leader through and through. Literally - that's his title at lululemon. Marv loves Atlanta. Marv loves flag football. Marv loves to bring people together. Our conversation begins by exploring his incredible journey from a tough up-bringing to now living without fear. He defines what it is to be a real man and how we shouldn't play th...

On today’s episode, we Build with Matt Brooks. I have known Matt for the last 8 years, as we both worked at IBM in similar capacities. I have always found Matt to be extremely calm, kind and genuine. In this episode, I aim to unearth what makes him this way and how others can improve themselves in these areas. We end up discussing Matt’s extremely unique family situation, how that impacted him as...

Welcome to the Dad Pod! In this episode, we welcome 2 guests, Ryan Denney (from episode 2!) and Loren Morse, to chat about being a dad. Each of us are in a different phase of fatherhood. Loren has 3 kids in their 30s (including my wife), I have 3 kids under 7 and Ryan has a 2 month old. We chat about how our lives changed, what surprised us and how we support our partner, ourselves and the child a...

In this episode, we Build with Elizabeth Trinkaus. Elizabeth is the President of Pinnacle View, a life-enrichment company and the author of Enough Already! Yes, You Are. For over 25 years, she has helped thousands of clients around the world take steps to live their best life. She is a certified workshop leader of the Louise Hay Heal Your Life principles, a certified success coach and trainer of t...

At the urging of some listeners, it was requested that we have an episode where I'm the one on the hot seat. So on this episode, we Build with Clay. Jonathan Stokke from the Baseline Intelligence Podcast (and the first guest on this podcast) leads a conversation with me on all things time, attention and being in a hurry. Enjoy! Show Notes Baseline Intelligence Podcast 7 Levels Deep (find your why)...

In this episode, we Build with Doug Stevenson. Doug is the founder and president of Story Theater International, a speaking, training and consulting company, now based in Tucson, Arizona. His company trains thousands of professionals and executives each year, for clients that include Microsoft, Amgen, Bayer, Caterpillar, Oracle, Volkswagen, Hewlett Packard, Maytag, Super 8 Motels and others. His a...

Ali is a graduate of Clemson University with a degree in Marketing. Ali then went on to hold 8 jobs across 8 different industries - all before the age of 30. Ali has now found her calling as the Director of Service Programming at The Church of Eleven22 (Jacksonville, FL) and is one of the hosts of the Podcast, “Deepen with Pastor Joby Martin”.  On this episode, Ali walks through her journey s...

Vivek Atluri is a Foreign Service Officer for the USAID, currently stationed in Cairo, Egypt. USAID is the lead U.S. Government agency that works to end extreme global poverty and enable resilient, democratic societies to realize their potential. This is done through protecting human rights, furthering education, strengthening democracy and advancing food security and agriculture. Prior to th...

Welcome to another episode of the Build with Clay podcast! Today we are going to build with Paola Soares ( @paola.soares_ ). Paola, from Miami, Florida is a graduate from DePaul University. She is a former Journalist and National News Producer that has had stories appear on Univision, Telemundo ABC News, among others. Paola now hosts a top 50 business podcast called But First, She Failed Podcast t...