Customer Service Academy

Titans of Hospitality: What 250 Years of American Service Can Teach Us About What's Next America is about to turn 250, and the story of who we are as a country cannot be told without the story of how we serve. From the frontier to the drive through to the Apple Store, hospitality is one of the most American art forms we have. It is also one of the most misunderstood. On this Independence Day, let'...

The Value Paradox: Why Guests Are Spending More and Forgiving Less Consumer sentiment is at an all-time low, yet people are still spending. The World Cup just kicked off on American soil. And right here in Polk County, Florida, a landmark healthcare partnership just opened its doors with a vision that every hospitality leader should study. In this episode, I unpacks the paradox reshaping restauran...

The Superpower of Bringing People Together With Amy Wiggins | Lakeland Chamber of Commerce As the President + CEO of the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce, Amy is dedicated to creating a climate where business can prosper. She and her team do this by advocating for pro-business policies and initiatives, connecting businesses to resources, and strengthening relationships. A native of Plant City, Amy gra...

People Squared - Leading in an AI World With Nikki Barua For more than 25 years, Nikki Barua has helped global brands reinvent their culture, capabilities, and competitive edge.  In this episode, Nikki introduces the idea of "People Squared." Let AI do what machines do best, while humans double down on connection, empathy, and judgment. When leaders combine both, teams become exponentially more ca...

Why Experience Matters as Much (Or More) Than Product With Dan Thumberg, Swan Brewing Tony interviews Dan Thumberg, founder of Swan Brewing in Lakeland, Florida. Dan's background spans the carnival and amusement park industry, beer distribution, and leadership roles at American Express and Apple. He now combines enterprise-level service systems with small-business hospitality to build community-ce...

In this episode, I introduce 2026: The Year of Experiential Hospitality and why it's time to stop treating customer experience and hospitality as separate conversations. Customer experience is the strategy. Hospitality is how that strategy shows up in real moments, on the front line, every day. Experiential hospitality is about intentionally creating moments where people feel welcomed and understo...

As we head into 2026, leaders are facing a familiar challenge in a new form. Expectations are higher. Attention spans are shorter. Technology is accelerating. And yet, the differentiator hasn't changed. In this episode I talk about what is needed to drive employee experience, customer experience, and hospitality to drive business results. In this episode, you'll learn: • Why leadership, hospitalit...

Host: Tony Johnson Guest: Geoffrey Reid Author: The Revenue Catalyst: Mastering the Art of Sales In this episode, I sit down with Geoffrey Reid, a globally recognized sales leader with a rare blend of academic depth and real-world execution. Geoffrey's journey from public policy and mediation to sales leadership gives him a unique lens on how selling really works and why so many organizations stru...

As the year winds down and the holiday rush kicks into high gear, leaders face a critical question: Are you coasting… or closing? In this Thanksgiving-themed leadership check-in, I break down how to keep your team sharp, energized, and aligned during the toughest stretch of the year while positioning your organization to win in 2026. Whether you lead a frontline team, a regional operation, or an e...

Artificial Intelligence is changing everything about customer service and leadership, but only if we use it wisely. In this episode, I sit down with Kevin Dean, Founder and CEO of ManoByte, who's been leading AI-driven business transformation since 2007. Kevin and I dig into what it really means to combine AI and humanity to create better experiences, not just faster ones. We explore how organizat...

Some hospitality experiences are so bad, they could star in their own horror movie. In this Halloween special, we pull back the cobwebs on the five scariest mistakes that haunt businesses everywhere - from ghosted guests and zombie employees to haunted processes and cursed consistency. Discover how to bring your hospitality back from the dead by re-engaging your team, simplifying your service, and...

Great customer service should be helpful, proactive, and built to solve problems, not create new ones. In this episode, I sit down with John Kim, Co-Founder and CEO of Sendbird, the customer communications platform powering more than 4,000 of the world's most popular digital applications and connecting over 320 million people every month. John shares his perspective as both a successful entreprene...

This leadership wake up call will help you create your workplace of the future - where people want to be, not where they have to be. Labor Day isn't just a long weekend. It's an annual celebration of American workers. In this episode of the Customer Service Academy , I take a closer look at the history of Labor Day and the lessons it still holds for leaders today. From the 10,000 workers who march...

Technology enabled, people-focused Customer Service With Matt Whitmer. In today's episode, we're thrilled to welcome Matt Whitmer into the studio. Matt is the Chief Revenue Officer and SVP of Marketing at Mosaicx, a conversational AI provider. He has over 15 years of experience in senior leadership focused on CX and enterprise client relationships. What we cover in this episode: It's all about mee...

In this episode, we will discuss the power of your customer experience blueprint as well as the best techniques and tactics to craft a culture of hospitality. Customer Experience (CX) has the power to create a true competitive advtantage as well as generate revenue from customer loyalty and word of mouth marketing. We'll explore: The power of a strong Customer Experience Framework Getting your org...

In this episode, we're diving deep into the art of connection with Doug Brown from CEO Sales Strategies. He is an expert at driving results, uniting teams, and delivering unforgettable customer experiences. You'll learn why today's customers are clamoring for connection, and how your business can meet that need by aligning your teams, sharpening your message, and understanding your buyers better t...

Balancing AI and Humanity in CX with Frederic Durand, CEO of Diabolocom In today's episode, we're thrilled to welcome Frederic Durand , Founder and CEO of Diabolocom , a global leader in customer experience solutions powered by proprietary AI. With over two decades of experience transforming customer service for brands like Mitsubishi Electric, Nikon, and Brinks, Frederic brings a practical, globa...

In this high-flying episode, we sit down with Gene Conrad , President and CEO of the Aerospace Center for Excellence and Sun 'n Fun Aerospace Expo in Lakeland Florida. Sun 'n Fun is one of the largest aviation events in the country and welcomes over 200,000 visitors annually. Key Takeaways: ✈️ Safety First – Safety is the primary focus for the airshow, and should be for your business as well. 👥 ...

In this episode of the Customer Service Academy Podcast , we explore the evolving world of leadership development and the critical traits every modern leader needs to succeed— empathy, adaptability, continuous learning, time management, and effective employee engagement. The workplace is changing—and so are the skills leaders need to thrive.  We break down how top organizations like Microsoft, Goo...

In this episode of  Customer Service Academy , we take a deep dive into the evolving world of theme parks, desitnations, and attractions —and how you can ensure you are delivering loyalty-building experiences for yoru guests. As customer expectations continue to change and evolve, theme parks, resorts, and destinations must innovate to remain competitive.   Whether you are running a mega theme par...

AI and hyper-personalization are revolutionizing customer experience (CX) in 2025. Customers expect more than just good service—they demand tailored, predictive, and frictionless interactions across every touchpoint. This will help you grow your business, improve your results, and retain your customers. So, how can businesses keep up?   In this episode of  Customer Service Academy , we will chat a...

This week we welcome Jesse Hernandez into the studio. Jesse has experience as a leader in the construction space, where he learned to meet people where they are in their journey and inspire teams through intentional communication and listening. - Customer Experience is about consistent quality. - Great leaders are great listeners. - Practicing vulnerability can deepen connections with your team. -...

2025 if the year of simplification, and customers want brands who are easy to work with, deliver on commitments, and personalize their experiences. Stop making it so hard for customers to do business with you - in this episode we talk about 7 ways to make things easier for customers.   - Empower your employees to solve problems - Deliver seamless omnichannel experiences - Simplify your processes a...

As 2025 approaches, it is a great time to look back on what happened in customer experience and employee experience in 2024 - and discuss what we can learn from it. 2025 will be a year of continuuing evolution and changing marketplaces. Are you ready to take your business to the next level?   - This past year the news was dominated by stories about Crowdstrike, Return to Office Mandates, and Artif...

In this episode we invite Chase Jordan in the studio to discuss leadership, customer experience, and employee engagement. Chase brings a wealth of knowledge as a CXO and franchise owner that he shared with us during this conversation. - Ease of use is the most important tactical action you can take to improve customer experience. - Internal communication is crucial to keeping everyone on the same...