If The Public Only Knew- Behind Every Success, a Story Worth Telling

What if the key to better mental health and better managers was the same skill: deep, disciplined curiosity? This conversation digs into that connection. In this episode, Gary and Derek Sloan discuss: Childhood instability and the birth of deep curiosity Early leadership, open letters, and external affirmation College, internships, and an unconventional path into the helping professions Bridging t...

In a world obsessed with frameworks and slide decks, this conversation dives into what actually transforms people at work: real stories, real peers, and real change. From the Israeli Navy to tech and healthcare, this episode uncovers how peer-to-peer leadership outperforms traditional training—and why the human side of change can’t be outsourced. In this episode, Gary and Noa Ronen discuss: Early...

A seasoned entrepreneur who’s watched multiple six‑figure businesses go to zero—twice—shares how credibility, clarity, and servant leadership became his blueprint for rebuilding. This conversation tracks the journey from dot‑com busts and publishing shakeups to a new operating system for CEOs leading into the future. In this episode, Gary and Mitchell Levy discuss: Career journey from Boston finan...

If 95% of your thoughts are negative and repeating, what does that mean for how you lead, love, and work? Catherine Bell breaks down a practical path to interrupt the pattern and build a life and company with real meaning. In this episode, Gary and Catherine Bell discuss: Making the unconscious conscious in leadership and life Enneagram archetypes and the three centers (gut, heart, head) Shadows,...

From lucid dreaming to leverage, this is the story of an entrepreneur who stopped trading hours for income and built a business that runs without him. In this episode, Gary and Jesse Gilmore discuss: Early fascination with psychology and lucid dreaming Door-to-door sales and learning from brick-and-mortar owners Three early businesses and the trap of “show business.” Corporate experience, valuatio...

Most businesses run on invisible, fragile know‑how stuck in someone’s head. This episode explores a practical way to pull that knowledge into clear, automated processes so the work gets done right—even when you’re not on site. In this episode, Gary and Justin Banner discuss: Transition from marketing tech and lighting SaaS to process-focused products Origin story and development of Noggin for rest...

When organizations hit moments of crisis—layoffs, violence, upheaval—most leaders freeze or fall back into old patterns. In this conversation, you’ll learn how trauma‑informed leadership, grounded in empathy and clear-eyed decision-making, can turn those breaking points into catalysts for lasting cultural change. In this episode, Gary and Katharine Manning discuss: Origin and meaning of Blackbird...

Most companies say they care about engagement, but keep running the same broken playbook. Jordana Cole reveals how she’s using AI coaching to tackle burnout, stagnant surveys, and “check-the-box” training at the root. In this episode, Gary and Jordana Cole discuss: Nonlinear career path into learning and development Intrapreneurship and building scrappy, high-impact L&D programs Why traditiona...

Your nonprofit can raise more money without chasing more donors—simply by changing your story. In this episode, you’ll learn how radically clear messaging, strategic partnerships, and collective impact can transform the way you fund your mission. In this episode, Gary and Aaron Coe discuss: Journey from music business to nonprofit leadership Storytelling is the core of effective fundraising Compet...

What if everything you think you know about risk, real estate, and raising capital is backwards? In this episode, a three-time REIT founder who went from $15,000 to $10 billion in assets breaks down business models, AI, private markets, and how to think about risk like a real operator, not a textbook. In this episode, Gary and Chris Volk discuss: Evolution of REITs and “shadow banking” business mo...

A shy, introverted engineer who couldn’t stand public speaking now leads a global “Love, Not Fear” alliance and a portfolio of impact-driven companies. In this episode, you’ll hear how re-framing every decision through love instead of fear transformed his life, leadership, and the way he builds businesses and relationships. In this episode, Gary and David Henzel discuss: Unconventional path from s...

Most founders think the problem is their team or the market, Kevin Mays says it’s their own thinking. In this episode, he reveals how “founder syndrome,” outdated mental software, and comfort zones quietly cap your business and your life. In this episode, Gary and Kevin Mays discuss: Leaving the traditional engineering/corporate path Motorcycle journey, breakdown, and transformative “nothing to lo...

Is your leadership built for a sprint or for a rock-tumbler world that never slows down? In this episode, Tony Loyd breaks down how to endure as a leader when your health, marriage, and career all get stress-tested at once. In this episode, Gary and Tony Loyd discuss: Early career in nuclear health physics and radiation protection Pivot from technical expertise to learning, development, and human...

What if your real superpower isn’t your resume, but the way you connect people? Composer‑turned‑super‑connector David Homan reveals how he turned a life in music into a global network that runs on trust, empathy, and radical intentionality. In this episode, Gary and David Homan discuss: Early musical influences and creative process Visualizing music, emotion, and narrative in composition From comp...

In this episode, Gary and Doug Brown discuss: Early entrepreneurial lessons and leverage in selling Military discipline, resilience, and leadership applied to business Identifying and pursuing the “ideal right-fit buyer.” Fixing broken sales models in financial services and advisory practices Relationship-based selling, follow-up systems, and mindset “thermostat.” Key Takeaways: Long-term success...

In this episode, Gary and Morag Barrett discuss: Nonlinear career path from banking to executive coaching The missing “who” in business success Building intentional leadership habits that stick Founder-to-CEO transition and letting go of control The power of allies and friendships at work Key Takeaways: Technical brilliance and a great business idea are never enough; the real differentiator is who...

In this episode, Gary and Patrick Thean discuss: Patrick’s career journey Decision-making and career inflection points Entrepreneurship and building software companies Execution, leadership, and helping CEOs succeed Succession, roles, and designing a sustainable leadership life Key Takeaways: Choose people over positions. Major career decisions were made based on the people involved and the joy of...

About Steve Preda: Steve Preda was born and raised in Hungary, where his early curiosity for business and leadership inspired him to build his first company—an investment banking firm that he later grew and successfully sold. Seeking new challenges, he moved with his family to the United States, where he began coaching Vistage CEO peer groups and discovered his passion for guiding entrepreneurs. H...

About Jim Bishop: Jim Bishop is the founder of Conjunction Leadership and an executive coach for founders, CEOs, and senior leaders in tech, ag-tech, biotech, and the life sciences. With a bachelor’s and master’s degree in science—his master’s in physiology and behavior—Jim blends a deep understanding of the nervous and endocrine systems with practical leadership development. After starting his ca...

About Derek Fredrickson: With over 16 years of experience as Chief Operating Officer at Boldheart and other six—and seven-figure businesses, Derek witnessed firsthand how transformative a robust operational strategy can be for entrepreneurs who are ready to scale but feel overwhelmed. Running a business often means getting bogged down in the day-to-day tasks, becoming the bottleneck, and losing si...

About Doug Thorpe: Doug Thorpe is an executive coach, leadership advisor, and founder of a highly regarded leadership and management development firm serving both Fortune 500 companies and growth-focused entrepreneurs. Shaped early by watching his single mother build an interior design business from scratch, Doug learned firsthand the realities of risk, responsibility, and resilience. Over the cou...

About Dean Mathews: Dean Mathews is the founder and CEO of OnTheClock, a time‑tracking and payroll platform serving over 18,000 businesses with tools for employee time tracking, scheduling, payroll, and PTO. A self‑taught developer who started by building custom software for local companies, Dean grew OnTheClock from a kitchen‑table side project into a scalable SMB solution known for being easy, r...

About Anders Jones: Anders Jones is the co-founder and CEO of Facet Wealth, a financial planning firm built to serve the massively underserved mass affluent market with affordable, subscription-based advice from dedicated CFP professionals. Prior to Facet, Anders was a founding partner of Argyle Ventures. Argyle invests in emerging startup markets, with a focus on advertising, technology, financia...

About Geoff Thatcher: Geoff Thatcher is an experienced designer, author, and founder of Creative Principals, a studio that translates stories into immersive physical experiences for brands, museums, and attractions. Throughout his career—from amusement parks and journalism to leadership development and experience design, he’s consistently chosen opportunity over certainty, learning through experim...

About Jan Rutherford: Jan Rutherford is a former U.S. Army Green Beret, leadership development expert, executive coach, author, and podcast host. His career spans Special Forces service, healthcare and pharmaceutical leadership, entrepreneurship, academia, and executive coaching. Drawing from his experiences as a Green Beret medic, instructor, corporate executive, and CEO, Jan helps senior leaders...