From There to Here

This episode is longer than usual, and that’s intentional. Aaron Asay's story is complex, heavy, and deeply human—from a preventable death in Venezuela to firefighting, child rescue, and disaster response in war zones. If you choose to stay with this conversation, you’re committing to some difficult subject matter—but also to a powerful look at service, sacrifice, and what it really costs to run t...

If you think this episode is just about furniture, you’re wrong. It’s about psychology, memory, connection, and that one atrocious chair your mom kept for 30 years. I’m joined again by Suzanne Woodard, who went from arguing cases as an attorney to curating stories as the owner of a consignment store, auction house, gallery, and estate advisory service. We talk about “stuff”- exploring our connecti...

Former guest and electric energy expert Peter Kelly-Detwiler provides a deeper understanding of electricity and the reasons it has unprecedented importance in our lives now. About the Guest Peter Kelly-Detwiler has over 35 years of experience in the electric energy industry, with much of his career in competitive power markets. Currently, Mr. Kelly-Detwiler is a leading consultant, researcher, spe...

Kevin Guttman is a mortgage broker who’s built a career at the intersection of real estate, ministry, and social impact. In this conversation, we explore how Kevin’s early exposure to business and service shaped his worldview, why real estate is one of the most powerful tools for building generational wealth, hiring field specific experts, and we dive deeper into how reverse mortgages—often misund...

Rodney Mueller is an advisor, mentor, and entrepreneur. In this episode, he talks about not relying on others, father figures, holding standards of excellence, needing a purpose, working on yourself, and focusing on the experience. About the Guest Rodney Mueller is an entrepreneur, advisor and mentor that has reinvented the antiquated way of setting and achieving goals. His mentorship and advisory...

In a world where most owners are still the bottleneck in their own businesses, my guest today has a passion to change that. Atiba de Souza is an entrepreneur and author. In this episode, he talks about the lessons from not belonging, galvanizing the leaders, teaching how to think, challenging broken systems, and connecting with your community. About the Guest: Atiba de Souza is an author, entrepre...

In this episode, Malcolm Reid Sr. shares an extraordinary journey from the slums of Baltimore, through prison and business collapse, to building seven-figure businesses that serve people. He talks about not being the victim, learning empathy, knowing what you don’t know, redefining priorities, and business as a reflection of you. Today, Malcolm helps small business owners and coaches grow by growi...

Chris Parker is an entrepreneur, podcaster, and author in the tech industry. In this episode, Chris talks about how a quick fix led to an enduring business, the idea of a solution, side hustles vs. scale, your values in the business, and exit timing. About the Guest Chris Parker is the founder of WhatIsMyIPAddress.com, one of the world’s most visited websites, helping more than 13 million people e...

Emily Dustman is an antidisciplinarian; intertwining science, art, and innovative teaching practices.  In this episode, she talks about the importance of field work, awareness of the entire ecosystem, respecting the history, doing things differently, and collaboration through creation. About the Guest Emily A. Dustman is an antidisciplinarian whose practice blurs and expands the boundaries be...

Shawn Lipe is an art gallery and action house owner.  In this episode, he talks about how his collegiate exposure with Japanese culture changed his life, recognizing the moments to show up, knowing the kind of business you are in, the value in stories about your stuff, and the obligation of pivots. About the Guest Owner and gallery director at Woodard Lipe Fine Art and Auction, Shawn Lipe pro...

Dawn Pinnock is the President and CEO of The Center for Urban Community Services.  In this episode, she talks about merit and fitness, a call to service, how to show-up, grassroots leadership, and humanizing your clients. About the Guest Dawn M. Pinnock has spent nearly 30 years in public service driving change and opening doors of opportunity for New Yorkers. As President and CEO of the Cent...

Kevin Wilson is the Executive Director of the Small Business Empowerment Center.  In this episode, he talks about understanding unity through individual agendas, patterns of success for business leaders, raising expectations, impacting your community, and finding your purpose. About the Guest Kevin Wilson is the Executive Director of the Small Business Empowerment Center.  This is a Miss...

Brian Herriot is a time freedom expert and author. In this episode, he talks about what you are supposed to do, easy by design, playing the long game, knowing what is really important, leading a more interesting life, writing a must-read, and choosing how you work.  About Brian Herriot Brian Herriot is an author, speaker, financial advisor, and entrepreneurship coach. He has founded several b...

E. Michael Houlihan is an author and life-focused coach.  In this episode, he shares how a childhood injury forever taught him resilience, acknowledging all that was right, loading the problems on the front-end, making life accessible,  the never-ending work of transformation, and the worth in writing a book. About E. Michael Houlihan E. Michael Houlihan is President of Houlihan Developm...

Rob Gallaher is an entrepreneur who is running multiple businesses simultaneously.  In this episode, Rob talks how his numerous siblings taught him about personality types and group mobilization, doing the best you can, the importance of caring, investing in your financial safety, keeping a stable of stallions, and remembering the humanity in the business. About Rob Gallaher Rob Gallaher is C...

Andy Wiggins is a multi-franchise business owner.  In this episode, he talks about nothing being beneath you, leveraging opportunities, understanding the whole business, growing confidence, doing all the other stuff, helping people achieve their goals, and the promise of changing lives. After 20 years honing his Sales, Marketing, and Customer Service skills in the corporate world, Andy Wiggin...

William Milliken is a home service serial entrepreneur.  In this episode, he talks about going with the flow, partnership selection, aligning incentives, being able to step back, taking action, and we talk about some specifics of dog waste management. About William Milliken William Milliken is the Founder of Swoop Scoop, a multi-million-dollar dog waste removal company that has transformed a...

Dan Curran is a serial entrepreneur and is reinventing publishing.  In this episode, he talks about youthful exposure to diversity and disparity, the acclimation in your 20’s, navigating chaos, the value of advisory support, a positive spin on acquisitions, being in the fetal position, and technology’s capacity in capturing stories.  About Dan Curran Dan Curran is the Co-Founder of Chapters.io and...

Kari (Granger) Zeller is a battle-tested leadership consultant.  In this episode, she talks about raising strong women, finding the through-line, the paradox when you are in charge, the understanding of being, the reality on the field, and unlocking a system’s intelligence. Kari Zeller (formerly Granger) is an authentic leader and combat veteran known for her ability to seamlessly transition her e...

Anthony Ebel is the General Manager at Skydive Chicago, the premier skydiving drop-zone.  In the episode, he talks about the focus from a skydive, navigating first encounters, having a calm mentor, seeing the sharp corners, pushing the limits, and following your passion while building a family. Anthony Ebel is the General Manager and Safety & Training Advisor for Skydive Chicago (SDC).  SDC is...

Alan Franks is a financial planner, author, and speaker.  In this episode, he talks about childhood experiences that inspired change, the singular education from owning a business, the value of mentors, scaling forward and back, and building the guidebook for others. About Alan Franks Alan Franks is an author, speaker, and a fee-based CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ who provides holistic financial pl...

Bill Sawalich is a commercial photographer.  In this episode, he talks about capturing the moment, the challenge of creating, hobby jobs, empathy from the lens, being present, technology evolution, the rising culture of ads, a dissolving ecosystem, and just doing what you want to. About Bill Sawalich Bill Sawalich is a St. Louis-based photographer specializing in editorial and corporate portraitur...

Coleman Swisher is a co-founder of Boldr Futures and is a Valuation Advisor.  In this episode, Colman talks about lifestyle differences, questioning norms and constructs, impacts from elite coaching, just-in-time learning, the education from a small business, the pitfalls of extraction capital, and we do a deep dive with lessons learned from acquisitions and integrations. About Colman Swisher...

Ryan Hogan is the founder of Talent Harbor and is a chronic problem solver. In this episode, he talks about understanding value creation, his path to financial acumen, risk thresholds, resilience and failure, being where you are supposed to be, and the value of systems and support. About Ryan Hogan Ryan Hogan is a serial entrepreneur.  He is the founder of Talent Harbor, a Recruiting as a Ser...

Peter Kelly-Detwiler is a definitive leader in the electric energy industry (who literally wrote the book on it).  In this episode, Peter talks about getting off the conveyor belt, devaluing the future, letting the trip take you, funding the opposition, serving others first, and examining your life. About Peter Kelly-Detwiler Peter Kelly-Detwiler has over 35 years of experience in the electri...