Pieces of Impact

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Paul Sereno, a paleontologist, professor, explorer, artist, author, teacher, and one of the closest things you will find to a real-life Indiana Jones. Dr. Sereno has led expeditions across the world, from the Sahara to South America and now toward the Amazon. We get into AI, de-extinction, lost fossils, the asteroid that changed Earth’s history, whether humans...

Aaron Foss is a serial entrepreneur who has built five companies, including Nomorobo, the service that has stopped billions of unwanted robocalls and spam texts. Nomorobo was acquired by Applause Group in August 2023. Before that, Aaron participated in Techstars NYC with SideTour, which Groupon acquired in 2013. He has testified before Congress three times and has been featured by outlets includin...

In this solo episode of Pieces of Impact, I walk through four unrelated rabbit holes I went down recently: Darth Bane and the Rule of Two in Star Wars, trained protection dogs that can cost around $90,000 or more, a quick oral report on redfish, and the federal duck stamp. The goal here is simple: learn a little, have some fun, and share a few topics I found interesting enough to dig into. Subscri...

In this episode, I sit down with Carter Huff, an Army veteran and the man behind Bogey’s Barn. Carter invited me up to his place to record this conversation inside the pole barn he is turning into a home gym, training space, and brand named after his basset hound, Bogey. Bogey of course was a big contributor to this candid discussion. Check out the video version to see him. Subscribe for more conv...

In this episode, I sit down with Scott Trench, former CEO of BiggerPockets and host of the BiggerPockets Money podcast, to talk about financial independence, career leverage, house hacking, and the path that took him from early employee to leading one of the biggest real estate education platforms. We get into why financial runway creates better career options, how Scott made himself valuable earl...

Joe Simonds is an author and co-founder of Salt Strong, a fishing education, content, membership, tackle, and community business he started with his brother Luke after leaving financial services. In this episode, we talk about walking away from a successful but unfulfilling career, building Salt Strong from scratch, working with family, growing through content and community, and what changed after...

In this episode, I sit down with Carter Dorsch, Co-Owner at 98 Real Estate Group, to talk about real estate on Florida’s Forgotten Coast. We get into Mexico Beach, Port St. Joe, Cape San Blas, Hurricane Michael, what makes the area so unique, and how Carter went from sitting in empty open houses with a chair and flyers to helping build one of the top real estate brands in the market. We also talk...

In this episode, I sit down with Joe Cermele to talk about his career in fishing media, from Field & Stream and Outdoor Life to MeatEater and now building Cut & Retie as an independent show. We get into writing, storytelling, creative freedom, audience trust, sponsors, and what it actually looks like to build a media business around your own voice. Joe shares what he learned from nearly 20...

In this episode, I sit down with Zak Herbstreit, former Ohio State player and now host of Off Script at On3, to talk about his transition from football into sports media, why On3 felt like the right fit, and what he is learning as he builds his voice in the college football world. We get into how he approaches content, what it is like being behind the scenes at major games, why staying unbiased ma...

In this solo episode, I walk through four rabbit holes I went down this week: the Mitch Rompola world-record buck controversy, the behind-the-scenes world of the Masters from my own time there, the St. Joe Company and the Northwest Florida land empire built by a descendant of George Washington, and the theory that the Great Pyramid may have been built from the inside out. None of these really conn...

In this solo episode, I walk through four topics I’ve been thinking about lately: AI-generated Star Wars videos on YouTube, the Blue Zones documentary on longevity, a farm and community business model that really caught my attention, and an old parable about aging parents. I get into where AI fan content might be heading, what the Blue Zones get right about health, why Sweet Honey Farm feels like...

In this episode, I sit down with Mike Truitt to talk about his path from inside sales to business ownership, what it looked like to buy Disney McLane with his business partner, Craig, in 2007, and how they grew and eventually sold the company. We also get into what the business actually does, how they expanded across multiple states, and what it means to lead a company through a recession. Mike sh...

In this episode, I sit down with Justin Inacio, a Team Canada silver medalist, 3x All American at Ohio State, and current professional lacrosse player, to talk about the growth of lacrosse, what life actually looks like in the pro game, and the path that took him from Canada to Columbus. Justin opens up about nearly quitting on a full ride, turning down the med school path to bet on lacrosse, buil...

This is a solo episode where I walk through four topics I’ve been digging into lately: Parkinson’s Law, why sinks are placed outside bathrooms, a black belt coaching Ohio State’s defensive line, and whether an R-rated Darth Vader movie could actually work. No big theme here. Just four ideas I found interesting, useful, or fun to discuss. If you like picking up a few different insights in one sitti...

In this episode, I sit down with independent country artist Willie Austing to talk about his path into music, his new EP Outgrown , and what it actually takes to build a craft over time. We get into songwriting, recording, early live shows, and the reality of developing skills across multiple areas at once. Willie shares the behind-the-scenes side of the process, including burnout, self-teaching i...

Michael Alberse joins Pieces of Impact to talk about his path from building out a cargo van in college to living in it while working at Google, all while stacking capital and learning how to invest with more intention. We get into how that season shaped his habits, why he focuses on cash-flowing and alternative investments today, and how he’s building a brand around teaching personal finance in a...

Steele Chambers joins Pieces of Impact to talk about his path from growing up in Georgia to Ohio State, his stops in the NFL, and what life looks like in the UFL. We get into a typical day in camp and how he’s started building a voice in media through his Tape Talk breakdowns and the Bobby Carpenter show. We also cover the position change that reshaped his career, the cookie jar mindset that helpe...

In this solo episode, I hit four topics I’ve been thinking about lately: the surprisingly interesting history of the spoon fishing lure, the new Harry Potter HBO series, why I’m all-in on the Red Rising books, and how I’m trying to stand out with authentic outreach in an AI-heavy world. Pieces of Impact is where I document conversations (and occasional solo episodes) about business, fitness, sport...

Jakob James joins Pieces of Impact to talk about his journey from Cincinnati to Ohio State and Toledo, and what big-time college football really teaches you about discipline, adversity, and long-term growth. We go behind the scenes on game week preparation, locker room dynamics, NIL, the transfer portal, and what it takes to earn trust inside a top program. We also discuss life after football, how...

Adam Breneman is a former college football player turned broadcaster and entrepreneur. In this episode, we talk about how he reinvented himself after football, the mentors and moments that shaped his mindset, and why he believes “volume negates luck” when you’re trying to build something real. We also get into the business behind his content: how he earns trust and access with coaches, how brand p...

In this episode of the Pieces of Impact podcast, I sit down with Spencer Wonder, founder of Terra Firma Tackle. We talk about Spencer’s path from marine science and teaching to building a tackle company, what it looks like to run a product business with a small team, and why reputation and quality control matter. We also get into great white sharks, how land-based shark fishing is changing fast, a...

Steve sits down with Dylan Wier and Blaine Kenny of Coastal Worldwide to talk about what it really takes to build a fishing business and a media brand that lasts. They share how they met, how the company evolved from an earlier venture, and why they hire for character and attention to detail before fishing experience. The conversation dives into how they think about social media as a long game, wh...

In this episode of Pieces of Impact, I sit down with Erick Dent, a Charleston based photographer and fly fisherman whose life revolves around the outdoors. We talk about balancing photography with fly fishing, building a personal brand through consistent work, and the unique challenges of fishing and filming in Charleston. The conversation also dives into fly fishing itself, including mindset, eth...

Want to get your health and wellness in order without overcomplicating it? In this quick solo episode, Steve breaks it down into three simple pillars anyone can follow: diet, movement, and sleep. Diet: learn your intake by tracking calories Movement: hit 10,000 steps a day in easy chunks Sleep: build toward 7.5 to 8.5 hours with simple habits like consistent bedtimes, morning sunlight, and a short...

In this episode of Pieces of Impact , I sit down with Michael Hughes, an accomplished business leader who has helped take two Silicon Valley companies public by growing revenue, building high performing teams, and leading with energy. Michael’s career spans Cincinnati, Chicago, Detroit, London, the Bay Area, and now Lake Tahoe, with leadership roles at companies like Barracuda Networks and ChargeP...