LIFT With Sarah

Some leaders carry influence because they’ve learned how to see potential before it becomes visible. In this episode of LIFT with Sarah Layson, Sarah sits down with Dr. Abigail Simone, Director of the Honors Academy at Houston High School, for a conversation about mentorship, service, excellence, and the responsibility of helping young people become who they’re called to be. It’s thoughtful, deepl...

Some legacies aren’t built through grand gestures. They’re built through the way a person shows up, works hard, loves deeply, and makes others feel like they matter. In this Father’s Day conversation, Sarah Layson sits down with Mitch and Tommy to honor the life and legacy of their late father, Thomas McDaniel. Together, they reflect on a man whose leadership was steady, humble, and deeply rooted...

Some leaders build businesses. Others build spaces where people feel seen, welcomed, and cared for. In this episode of LIFT with Sarah Layson, Sarah sits down with Ragan Oglesby-Phillips, a Memphis entrepreneur, mother, and owner of Perch 74, Lady Fingers Catering, and Med Clean Solutions. Her story is one of grit, grace, resilience, and the kind of leadership that’s shaped through real life, not...

Leadership looks different when viewed through the eyes of the next generation. In this special conversation, Sarah Layson sits down with the Class of 2026 students Ava, Elliot, and Izzy to explore what leadership means in a world shaped by constant change, comparison, and uncertainty. Their perspective is refreshing, honest, and deeply important for anyone who hopes to influence the leaders of to...

Leadership often leaves its deepest mark through quiet example, and that’s exactly what unfolds in this conversation between Sarah Layson and Steve Simon. With decades of experience in human resources, community service, faith leadership, and mentorship, Steve brings a lifetime of wisdom shaped not by titles alone, but by a commitment to serving others well. His story is a reminder that leadership...

Sarah Layson sits down with Diamond Taylor for a conversation about courage, calling, and the weight of building something that truly matters. This episode reaches beyond business strategy and creative work. It speaks to the quiet moments where leaders are forced to choose between comfort and conviction. Diamond shares what it looked like to walk away from a stable six-figure corporate career and...

Sarah Layson welcomes Itzel Sanchez into a conversation rooted in resilience, responsibility, and purpose. What begins as a story about real estate quickly becomes something much deeper. It’s a conversation about survival, faith, motherhood, leadership, and the kind of grit that’s built long before success ever arrives. From managing a high-performing real estate team to leading with intentionalit...

There’s something different about leaders who understand that their responsibility reaches far beyond results. In this conversation, Sarah Layson sits down with her brother, Thomas McDaniel, for a deeply personal and leadership-driven discussion about standards, sacrifice, and the kind of culture that shapes lives long after the game ends. Entering his 26th year in coaching, Coach McDaniel shares...

This episode carries both strength and tenderness. Sarah Layson sits down with Corey Loeffler for a conversation that goes beyond leadership in business and into leadership at home, in hardship, and in the moments that truly define who you are. It’s honest, grounded, and anchored in what matters most. At its core, this conversation challenges the idea that success is built on constant hustle. Core...

This episode brings a different kind of strength to the surface. Sarah Layson sits down with Johnathan “JB” Beamon, a fitness trainer, athlete, and leader whose life reflects discipline built over time. There’s an ease in the conversation, but underneath it is something deeper. A story shaped by resilience, consistency, and the quiet work that forms real strength. At its core, this conversation is...

This episode of LIFT with Sarah Layson brings you into a conversation that is both deeply personal and powerfully practical. Sitting across from her is someone who knows the weight of leadership in every area of life, her husband, business partner, and steady force behind the scenes, Scott Layson. What unfolds is not polished or perfect. It’s real, grounded, and built on years of walking through l...

There are moments in leadership when the next step feels clear. And then there are moments when fear gets loud, uncertainty closes in, and even the strongest leaders have to decide what will lead them. In this episode of LIFT with Sarah Layson, Sarah opens a deeply personal conversation about faith over fear and what it means to keep moving when life feels heavy, uncertain, and out of control. At...

There are conversations that feel like strategy. And then there are conversations that feel like home. This one is both. In this episode of LIFT with Sarah Layson, Sarah sits down with someone who is more than a friend. Meredith Vezina steps into the conversation not just as a guest, but as someone who has walked closely alongside her in life and leadership. What unfolds is not simply a dialogue,...

In this powerful first episode of LIFT with Sarah Layson , Sarah sits down with her close friend and business partner, Meredith Vezina, for a conversation that sets the foundation for everything this podcast will become. At the heart of LIFT is a simple but transformative idea: leadership isn’t reserved for a title. It’s something we live every day. Sarah shares the deeper calling behind launching...