Consulting from the Couch

What kind of leader walks away from a thriving business to start at the bottom again—and does it more than once? In this episode of Consulting from the Couch, host Steve Goodson sits down with Thomas "Tog" Goss—a leader whose career defies every conventional rule about success. Law enforcement officer. Firefighter. Paramedic. Successful entrepreneur running a multimillion-dollar lawn car...

What if your first real job was owning the business? At 18, Shelby McFarland gave up a full-ride scholarship to co-own a window tint and sign shop. She earned respect from employees twice her age, learned hard lessons about hiring friends, left a failed partnership, and started over with nothing. That restart became The Marketing Broker. Today, she serves startups, small businesses, and Fortune 50...

What does purpose-led leadership look like when the service territory where you are the electric provider stretches farther than your population? In this episode of Consulting from the Couch, we sit down with Roanoke Electric Cooperative CEO Marshall Cherry to explore how a hometown leader is redefining what’s possible for rural North Carolina. From his early days in member services to a 32-year j...

Some communities grow because a big investor arrives. Others, like Jacksonville, North Carolina, and Onslow County, grow because small decisions, rooted in service, continue to accumulate.  In this episode of Consulting from the Couch, banking/finance veteran and community builder Scott Riggs joins us to unpack how microloans, partnerships, and servant leadership are powering new jobs and stronger...

What if a football camp could change the culture of an entire community? That question drives this conversation in this episode of Consulting from the Couch. We sit down for a fantastic interview with Ken Lovell , Director and Minister with Coastal NC Fellowship of Christian Athletes , whose mission is to bring everything together in Christ through the influence of coaches and athletes. Ken shares...

Electricity is just the excuse—the real story is people, community, and servant leadership. In this episode of Consulting from the Couch, Josh McGhee from Touchstone Energy unpacks how the cooperative business model prioritizes its members, why servant leadership outperforms top-down control, and how co-ops strike a balance between scale and hometown heart.  From Amazon-style “mass personalization...

What does leadership look like when every decision you make affects people you'll see at the grocery store tomorrow? Schumata Brown, Town Manager of Maysville, North Carolina, knows this reality intimately. As a native son who chose to stay and serve his hometown, Brown brings a unique perspective to leadership that's equal parts practical wisdom and heartfelt commitment. In this episode...

In this episode, Chellie Phillips —speaker, coach, author, and creator of the Successfully Ever After framework—dives into a powerful truth: the culture a leader models is the culture they create. Drawing on nearly 30 years of experience, she shows how intentional leadership builds human-centered workplaces where employees feel seen, valued, and empowered. Chellie introduces her V.A.L.U.E. Culture...

In this episode, we sit down with Brock Goss , a commercial real estate professional with over a decade of experience helping investors, businesses, and property owners achieve success. A former enlisted U.S. Marine, Brock brings a leadership style forged in the military—disciplined, mission-focused, and people-centered and has successfully translated those principles into the world of business. B...

In this episode of Consulting from the Couch , we sit down with Nicole Greer , a dynamic leadership coach, speaker, and founder of Vibrant Culture, to explore what it truly means to lead with intention, energy, and authenticity. Nicole shares her journey into leadership development and how leaders can bring vibrancy to their teams and organizations. From real-world anecdotes to actionable takeaway...