Grand Connection Podcast

What if the opportunity that changes everything begins with a single conversation? Susan Jarema welcomes networking strategist Robert Butwin for a thoughtful conversation about the power of meaningful relationships in business. Drawing from decades of experience, Robert shares the frameworks that have guided his approach to networking, collaboration, and creating opportunities through authentic co...

Business growth often happens through trusted relationships rather than constant selling. Susan Jarema is in conversation with Danny Bermant about how entrepreneurs can create sustainable growth through strategic collaborations. Danny shares how the right partnerships help business owners expand their reach, build credibility, and create new opportunities by connecting with complementary audiences...

What becomes possible when business growth is built on trusted relationships instead of increasingly complex marketing tactics? Susan Jarema is joined by affiliate marketing and partnership expert Chuck Anderson to explore how businesses can grow through referral partnerships, ambassador programs, and strategic collaborations. Drawing on nearly 30 years of experience, Chuck shares why relationship...

What helps collaborations thrive while others quietly fall apart? Susan Jarema continues the conversation with Alan Stevens as they explore the deeper human dynamics behind successful partnerships, emotional intelligence, trust, and long-term business relationships. Drawing from decades of experience studying human behavior and communication, Alan shares why values alignment, complementary strengt...

What changes when conversations begin with curiosity instead of assumptions? Susan Jarema welcomes Alan Stevens, international profiling and communication specialist and creator of Rapid Trait Profiling, for a thoughtful discussion on trust, communication, and relationship building. Together, they explore how body language, facial expressions, attentive listening, and genuine interest help create...

What transforms a networking conversation into a long-term collaborative partnership? Susan Jarema continues the conversation with Shannon Grainger as they explore the second half of Shannon’s D.E.A.L. Deal Flow Method, focusing on assess and lock it in. Together, they unpack how aligned partnerships are built through intentional follow-up, clear communication, shared values, and systems that supp...

What happens when business growth stops feeling sustainable, even while success appears to be accelerating? Susan Jarema welcomes Shannon Grainger for a grounded exploration of partnerships, referrals, and relationship-driven growth that creates momentum without burnout. Together, in Part 1, they unpack the early stages of Shannon’s D.E.A.L. Deal Flow Method, focusing on discovery, establish, and...

What happens when generosity becomes the foundation for sustainable business growth? Susan Jarema and Steve Brossman welcome Bob Burg for a thoughtful conversation about trust, emotional intelligence, collaboration, and the power of creating value for others. Recorded live at the Grand Giving Conference 2025, the discussion explores how authentic relationships, curiosity, and meaningful connection...

What changes when conversations stop becoming about control and start becoming about connection? Susan Jarema explores the communication principles behind trust, collaboration, and emotionally intelligent leadership through the lens of Chris Voss’ negotiation framework from Never Split the Difference . Drawing from an earlier conversation about kindness in leadership, Susan reflects on how better...

A well-executed launch is built on clarity, collaboration, and thoughtful planning rather than pressure and last-minute effort. Susan Jarema and Elisa Boogaerts explore how grounded strategy and aligned support create a more effective and sustainable launch experience. Elisa shares how many entrepreneurs struggle not with ideas, but with sequencing and timing, which can stall momentum. Through the...

Business growth is built on relationships, not tactics. Susan Jarema continues the conversation with Frank Agin, exploring how presence, altruism, and integrity shape meaningful connections and create the foundation for lasting referrals. Frank Agin emphasizes that trust is earned through consistent actions, generosity, and reliability over time. The discussion reflects the Connect, Create, Collab...

What shifts when networking stops being about visibility and starts becoming about genuine connection? Susan Jarema sits down with Frank Agin to explore why referrals often feel inconsistent, even for those doing everything “right.” The conversation centers on the Collaborate stage of the Connect, Create, Collaborate framework, where relationships begin to translate into meaningful opportunities....

What happens when kindness becomes a consistent leadership practice rather than an occasional gesture? Susan Jarema and Michael Neece explore how kindness strengthens trust, builds psychological safety, and supports meaningful collaboration. Through shared insights, they highlight how small, intentional actions shape stronger relationships and more resilient teams. The conversation connects natura...

Awareness becomes more powerful when it can be accessed in real time rather than recognized after the fact. Susan Jarema and Rei McColley explore how brain network switching shapes everyday experiences, from moments of distraction to states of flow, and how simple practices can shift those patterns. Through the Mindful Minute, Rei McColley demonstrates how consistent, small moments of pause build...

What shifts when an entrepreneur decides to stop doing everything alone? The Grand Connection Podcast host Susan Jarema shares a clear and grounded approach to hiring a first virtual assistant, reframing delegation as a path toward more focused and meaningful work. Through a simple seven-step process, the conversation highlights how building the right support creates space for strategy, relationsh...

What begins to shift when business growth makes it clear that doing everything alone is no longer sustainable? Susan Jarema reflects on her conversations with Jessica Koch and explores how entrepreneurs can move from individual effort into shared leadership through intentional collaboration. Drawing on the Connect, Create, Collaborate framework, Susan Jarema highlights how meaningful connection wi...

Strong teams are built through clarity, shared purpose, and genuine care. Susan Jarema and Jessica Koch explore how entrepreneurs can move beyond task management to create a culture where virtual assistants and team members feel invested in the work they support. Jessica Koch shares practical ways to strengthen collaboration through clear goals, simple execution systems, and visible progress track...

Sustainable growth requires collaboration inside the business, not just outside it. In this conversation, Susan Jarema speaks with Jessica Koch about moving from doing everything alone to building structured, supportive teams. Jessica shares how hiring and training virtual assistants strengthens clarity, revenue, and internal culture. Through simple documentation practices and transparent leadersh...

What changes when leaders stop trying to perform on camera and instead focus on connection? Susan Jarema speaks with Laura Doman, on-camera confidence and executive presence coach, about the subtle shifts that build trust in virtual rooms. From camera placement and lighting to voice, mindset, and managing nerves, the conversation moves beyond technical tips into grounded leadership. Laura reframes...

Virtual networking doesn’t have to feel awkward, salesy, or forced—and when done right, it can lead to real relationships, trust, and meaningful collaboration. In this episode, Susan Jarema shares how to prepare for virtual networking so it actually works—by being intentional, present, and human. Drawing from years of experience building connections both online and in person, she introduces a simp...

Most people think they lack motivation - but what they’re really missing is clarity. In this episode of The Grand Connection , we explore why clarity is one of the most underrated forces behind trust, confidence, and meaningful collaboration. From mindset and systems to communication, identity, and community, you’ll hear real conversations and insights from our recent Grand Connection Mixer that r...

Collaboration isn’t about doing more—it’s about connecting better. In this episode, Susan is with podcasting powerhouse Michelle Abraham to break down what real collaboration looks like beyond the buzzwords. From podcast guesting and swaps to long-term partnerships that build trust, friendships, and sustainable revenue, this conversation reveals how intentional connection becomes a powerful growth...

Networking isn’t about collecting contacts—it’s about creating collaboration that compounds. In this episode, Steve Brossman together with Braden Ricketts breaks down how real connection turns conversations into partnerships, podcasts into profit, and frameworks into unforgettable influence. From the Four P’s of networking to building a bankable story, this conversation reveals why growth doesn’t...

Real collaboration doesn’t start with a pitch — it starts with awareness. In this episode of the Grand Connection Podcast, Susan explores how self-awareness becomes the foundation of trust, and how trust naturally leads to meaningful, values-aligned collaboration. Through the Connect–Create–Collaborate framework, this conversation reveals why real growth is built neighbor by neighbor — and why kin...

What if lasting change didn’t require willpower — but a rewiring of your brain? In Part 3 of The Neuroscience of Connection , let’s dives deep into the neuroscience of real, lasting transformation. Rei shares how brain network switching and self-mastery practices can dissolve stress, quiet inner criticism, and unlock calmer, more connected communication in every area of life. What You’ll Hear: How...