Gentle Art of Leadership With Matt Shoup

Braun Mincher, a husband, father, and serial entrepreneur, has been building businesses from the age of 5! From a lemonade stand to founding a snack placement company at age 16, Braun's journey reveals an early passion for sales and entrepreneurship. Those experiences gave him invaluable sales skills that he used to launch and grow not one, but three successful telecom companies. In this epis...

In this episode, Matt takes a turn on the other side of the table, sitting down with our podcast producer, Joey, for an in-depth conversation about podcasting, sales, and the realities of building a personal brand. They dive into what it takes to become a strong podcast interviewer, how to foster genuine, organic conversations, and why an authentic approach can make all the difference. Matt also t...

Shane Sexton is a husband, father, entrepreneur, and co-owner of The Hearth House. In this episode, Shane shares his journey from getting a business degree at CSU to starting a successful outdoor living business with his dad. Early on, they ventured into restaurant maintenance before pivoting to outdoor kitchens, masonry, and eventually fireplaces. Shane talks about the challenges they faced boots...

Zachary is a husband, entrepreneur, and a man with a unique journey. Growing up in a family deeply rooted in the medical field, it seemed like a natural path for him. However, an early interest in finance took him in a different direction. The ability to speak multiple languages opened doors for him, which led to a global reach job and sales experience. In this episode, Zach shares the personal an...

Zach Kimbrough is a husband, father and the proud owner of the food truck "Mixed N' Mashed." His passion for culinary arts sparked early in home economics class, but his journey was anything but straightforward. After going to college for accounting and working as a building inspector, Zach found himself in a job he hated, often clashing with his personal ethics. In this episode, Za...

Dave Albin is a husband, father, entrepreneur, and Vietnam veteran with an incredible story of resilience and transformation. After a bombshell revelation at age 5, Dave’s life took a dramatic turn leading to addiction at just 10 years old. As he aged, his struggles with addiction only grew, leading to a spiraling life of drugs, alcohol, and destructive habits. By his third marriage, Dave hit rock...

Meg Chestnut is a wife, mother, and talented illustrator, best known for her work in the children’s book, JJ Learns Jiu Jitsu. In this episode, Meg shares how she got started illustrating for the book, and the importance of learning jiu jitsu for herself before diving into the project with Matt. She discusses the challenges of balancing motherhood while dedicating time to her craft, and opens up a...

Jarrel Ferrara is a husband, father, and entrepreneur, owning both Gold's Gym and Show Shine Detail. In this episode, Jarrel shares his early journey into entrepreneurship, beginning with owning Subway franchises before launching his own detail shop. He offers valuable advice for those looking to start their own businesses early in life and emphasizes the importance of doing what you love. Ja...

Kristina is a mother, entrepreneur, jiu jitsu brown belt, and an inspector judge for the Colorado Combat Sports Commission. After having kids, Kristina discovered her passion for jiu jitsu, and fell in love with competing at every belt. She and Matt discuss how the principles of jiu jitsu translate into the business world; and dive into the growing presence of women in jiu jitsu, addressing why so...

Emily Shoup joins us for the third time to celebrate a milestone—20 years of marriage with her husband, Matt! In this episode, Emily and Matt share the secrets to reaching two decades together, emphasizing the importance of marrying your best friend. Emily opens up about her experience with postpartum anxiety after the birth of their first child, offering a raw and honest account of her journey th...

Marc Shirazi is a husband, entrepreneur, and storyteller with a unique background that has shaped his approach to life and business. As the son of an immigrant, he was raised with a strong work ethic, and trained to join the family business, which he did right after graduation. In this episode, Marc provides tactical sales strategies that have proven effective in his own entrepreneurial journey, a...

Amanda Ericson is a wife, mother, and the owner of HRX, a fractional HR service company. In this episode, Amanda shares her journey from working with Matt in her college painter days, to transitioning into a simpler role at a sign shop to take a much-needed breath. She opens up about the challenges of becoming a single mom, and the vital role of having a supportive village while raising a child. M...

Jessey Mansfield is a husband, father, and Non-Destructive Tester. His story is one of transformation that began with hard times at age 15, when he fell in with the wrong crowd and began smoking weed. After high school, his descent into opiates led him to a dark place. Jessey shares how he reached a breaking point and turned his life around with the help of NOCO Jiu Jitsu, and the positive influen...

Harlee Newman joins us for another insightful podcast episode, fresh off the sale of his business. He shares his journey from overcoming a victim mindset to embracing ownership and responsibility. He recounts how reading "Think and Grow Rich" transformed his outlook while he was in jail, and the challenges he faced upon release. He dives deep into understanding his "why", and r...

Taylor is a father, husband, and entrepreneur who started his journey early. As a child, he sold bulk candy at school to make money, driven by the need to provide for himself and his family. After many various jobs, Taylor explored mortgages and real estate, learning to leverage short sales during the financial crash of 2008. Today he is a successful public insurance adjuster. In this episode, Tay...

Grant Agler is a father, husband, and the new head pastor at Foundations Church in Loveland and Windsor. Grant opens up about the struggles and low success rates often faced when transitioning to a lead pastor role at a new church, highlighting the unique challenges and potential pitfalls, including the risk of hidden agendas by other leaders. He also shares how his journey was marked by a rebelli...

The one year anniversary and 50th episode of the “Gentle Art Of Leadership” with Matt Shoup. Matt and Joey discuss the lessons they've learned after releasing a podcast episode every week for a year. They talk about the low barrier of entry for starting your own podcast, emphasizing how anyone can begin with minimal resources. They discuss the importance of sticking with it and share statisti...

Joseph is a father and young entrepreneur who has overcome significant challenges to achieve success. Growing up in the ghetto, his parents worked hard to provide him with better opportunities. Initially, Joseph dreamed of playing football, but when that didn't work out, he found himself joining a motorcycle club that was part of the 1%ers. Realizing he was on the wrong path, he left the club...

Trent Scott is a husband, father, and entrepreneur. He shares how he grew his business from less than nothing, having borrowed $48k to start his practice before he passed his boards. Trent emphasizes seeing the best in people and maintaining a positive attitude when employees move on to other endeavors, and underscores the importance of having empathy for employees, creating a supportive work envi...

Justin Morales is a husband, father, and real estate investor with a compelling story of resilience and success. After struggling in school due to dyslexia, Justin found inspiration in the book "Rich Dad Poor Dad" and bought his first house at 19. He excelled as a sales rep at Sysco Foods and making six figures, but when his boss gave him an ultimatum to quit real estate, Justin chose hi...

Craig is a counselor, therapist, and the founder of Realities for Children. Through his extensive experience as a kids' chemical addictions counselor, child protection investigator, and case manager, Craig witnessed firsthand how many vulnerable children were slipping through the cracks of the system. Faced with the high burnout rate among child protection workers, Craig was driven to create...

Josh Moser is the co-founder of Laborjack, an innovative application that connects people with reliable staff for various tasks. Josh's entrepreneurial journey began in college, where he balanced being a full-time student, president of the soccer club, and working multiple jobs while simultaneously building his startup. Laborjack started by helping people move through Craigslist postings, and...

Chelsea is a wife, mother, author, dynamic speaker, and entrepreneur who owns a niche construction company in Denver. Her journey began with a degree in Spanish and Broadcast Journalism, which led her to Denver for an internship. As student loan payments loomed, she took a temp receptionist job, and quickly climbed the ranks in a marketing company. She then spent ten years as a Spanish teacher bef...

Mike Michalowicz is a husband, father, entrepreneur and acclaimed author whose journey is both inspiring and cautionary. Mike began his career by founding a software company, followed by delving into the world of angel investing. After losing money on poor investments, and facing a challenging period marked by functional depression and alcohol abuse, he realized a pivot was necessary. It was durin...

Eryn Lynum is a wife, mother, author, and podcaster. Her story took off with a viral blog post that led to the publication of her book, igniting a movement toward real rest in the lives of busy entrepreneurial moms. Amidst the demands of raising four children and managing a career, Eryn discovered the transformative power of the Sabbath, and found ways to unplug and truly rest. She shares how Sabb...