Enthusiastic Life | with Brendan Walsh

In Episode 39 , Brendan sits down with Rachel Adenaas , former Mrs. Michigan-America , for a conversation that goes far beyond the pageant stage. Rachel shares her journey through the world of pageants — what drew her to it, what she loves about it, and how she has continued to support and stay connected to that community over the years. But what makes this episode truly unforgettable is her incre...

In Episode 38 , Brendan sits down with Josh Gershonowicz , founder, entrepreneur, and advertising executive, for a candid conversation about life, business, and what comes after success. Josh shares his journey building a company in the advertising industry, growing it over time, and ultimately making the decision to sell. But what makes this conversation especially compelling is what comes next —...

In Episode 37 , Brendan sits down with Amy Peterson , co-founder and CEO of Rebel Nell, for a conversation about vision, resilience, and building something meaningful. Amy shares her early dream of becoming the first female General Manager in Major League Baseball — a goal that shaped her mindset and decision-making from a young age. But as her journey evolved, so did her path, ultimately leading...

In Episode 36 , Brendan sits down with Matt Pepper , CEO of Michigan Humane , for a conversation about the powerful role animals play in shaping stronger, healthier communities. Matt shares his journey through leadership in animal welfare across the country — but one of the most impactful moments came during his time volunteering in Louisiana in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina . That experience...

In Episode 35 , Brendan sits down with Sean Mann , co-founder and CEO of Detroit City FC, for a deep dive into one of the most unique and community-driven stories in American sports. Sean shares his journey from growing up in Michigan to studying abroad in Greece — where his love for football (soccer) first began — to his time working in politics both in Lansing and overseas at the UK House of Com...

In Episode 34 , Brendan sits down with Marie Wallace , founder of Detroit’s beloved crepe shop, The French Cow , for a conversation that’s as inspiring as it is unexpected. Marie shares her journey from growing up in France to immigrating to Detroit in 2004 — a dream sparked, in part, by her love for Eminem. What started as a bold leap across the world eventually became a growing business, beginni...

In Episode 33 , Brendan sits down with Eric Larson , CEO of the Downtown Detroit Partnership and a longtime leader in real estate development and urban revitalization. Eric shares the winding path that led him into real estate, the decades of change he’s witnessed across Detroit, and the pivotal moments that helped shape the city into what it is today. From large-scale development to infrastructur...

In Episode 32 , Brendan sits down with Dawn Riley , one of the most accomplished sailors in the history of the sport. A four-time competitor in the America’s Cup —the oldest international competition in the world—Dawn has sailed over 33,000 miles in a single race , competed in multiple around-the-world expeditions, and earned her place in multiple Halls of Fame. Today, she serves as Executive Dire...

For the first time, Brendan Walsh — the host and founder of The Enthusiastic Life Podcast — steps into the guest seat as Ryan takes over the mic. This conversation pulls back the curtain on Brendan’s story, from his background and life experiences to the habits, mindsets, and lessons he’s picked up from the incredible guests he’s met along the way. They talk about what inspired him to start the po...

In Episode 30 , Brendan sits down with Matt Loria , CEO and Managing Partner of Auxiom , to talk about the journey from early sales roles to building and leading a high-performing technology and cybersecurity company. Matt shares stories from his early days selling extreme sports equipment, his experience working with Midwest Technology Leaders, and how those chapters shaped his approach to leader...

In Episode 29 , Brendan sits down with Cathy Harber , a Grosse Pointe-based realtor who has completely redefined what it looks like to succeed in real estate today. Cathy shares her journey from being a stay-at-home mom to building a thriving real estate career — and ultimately becoming a local social media standout by embracing content creation in a way few others in her space were willing to try...

In Episode 28 , Brendan sits down with Erik Meier , CEO of Sandler Training by EAM Consulting Group, to talk about what it really takes to succeed in sales, leadership, and business today. Erik shares how his career in sales training evolved, the lessons he’s learned coaching professionals across industries, and why most people misunderstand what great selling actually looks like. From mindset and...

In Episode 27 , Brendan sits down with Ashok Sivanand , a tech founder who has experienced the full arc of building, scaling, and ultimately exiting a company — and is now navigating what comes next. Ashok shares the real story behind selling a business, what life looks like after the exit, and how his perspective on success, identity, and purpose has evolved. They dive into his work in AI and pro...

In Episode 26 , Brendan sits down with Clint Crook , a technology leader with deep experience helping organizations solve complex business challenges through AI, cloud infrastructure, and enterprise systems. Clint breaks down how companies are actually using AI, data, and digital tools today — moving beyond the hype to real-world applications that drive efficiency, reduce costs, and improve decisi...

In Episode 25 , Brendan sits down with Katie Katz , founder of Mitzi , a company built to solve one of the most overlooked problems in America today — the estate planning gap . Today, nearly 70% of Americans don’t have a plan in place , and many don’t even realize they need one. Katie shares how her experiences across law, nonprofit work, and finance revealed just how broken and inaccessible the s...

In Episode 24 , Brendan sits down with longtime friend Dr. Seth Krupp , Vice Chair of Operations for the Emergency Department at Henry Ford Health. Seth shares the story of how he found his calling in emergency medicine, what residency was really like inside one of the country’s most respected training programs, and how he ultimately made his way to Detroit. He also gives a behind-the-scenes look...

In Episode 23 , Brendan sits down with Adam Steiner , a performer whose career has taken him from musical theatre stages across the country and around the world — including national and international tours of Cats , Gypsy , and Shrek the Musical . Adam shares what life is really like on the road, the highs and challenges of performing night after night, and how his years in theatre shaped his iden...

In Episode 22 , Brendan sits down with Lorna Utley , a leader whose career spans more than two decades at General Motors —including serving as Head of HR during some of the company’s most pivotal years. Lorna shares what it was like to work at one of the largest companies in the world during its heyday, where she helped shape workplace culture, policy, and people strategy for hundreds of thousands...

In Episode 21 , Brendan sits down with a familiar face — Ryan Dewan , co-founder of Wave Media, creative director, storyteller, dad, golfer, and the producer behind The Enthusiastic Life Podcast . With a last-minute cancellation, Ryan stepped in as today’s guest, opening the door for a conversation that pulls back the curtain on his journey and the heart behind Wave Media. Ryan shares how he went...

In Episode 20 , Brendan sits down with Matt Dery , a 30-year sports broadcasting veteran and one of the most recognizable voices in Detroit sports media. Matt shares stories from his decades of play-by-play, reporting, and interviewing — including behind-the-scenes moments with Detroit sports legends and the lessons he learned living inside the world of professional sports. From radio days to TV h...

In Episode 19 , Brendan sits down with Lulu Fall , a multidisciplinary artist whose long, winding path to Broadway is as inspiring as her work itself. Lulu opens up about her deep love for music, theater, and the arts — and the perseverance required to navigate setbacks, self-discovery, and the grind of a creative career. Today, Lulu continues her artistic work while serving as the Executive Direc...

In Episode 18, Brendan sits down with Sarah Zigila , VP of People Development at Orbis Holding Group , Vistage Speaker, Zumba instructor, and the force behind a leadership movement called HEART . Sarah’s work blends research from the HeartMath Institute with practical leadership development—showing how our emotional state doesn’t stay inside us, but radiates outward and shapes the people around us...

In this episode, Brendan sits down with Mary Zatina , General Manager of WDET 101.9FM and one of Detroit’s most respected leaders in communications, nonprofit work, and community advocacy. Mary has spent her career linking message strategy to reputation, public service, and meaningful change — whether guiding turnaround efforts, building high-performing teams, or launching major campaigns with lim...

Episode 16 — Matt Rossetti: Designing Stadiums, Cities & the Architecture of Fun In this episode, Brendan sits down with Matt Rossetti , President & CEO of ROSSETTI and the “Chief Architect of Serious Fun.” Matt shares how he designs world-class stadiums, entertainment districts, and urban spaces by blending rigorous strategy with a philosophy centered on joy, human connection, and meaning...

Episode 15 — Ashley Davidson: Storytelling, Reinvention & Building Community Through Creativity In this episode, Brendan sits down with Ashley Davidson , a creative strategist and storyteller whose career has taken her from the world’s biggest fashion blog to luxury brands, hospitality, and home restoration. Ashley reflects on her early days at Fashionista , her work with Chanel in France, and...