Planting Seeds by Jeff Hilimire

In this episode of the Planting Seeds podcast, hosts Jeff Hilimire, Adam Walker (48in48 and Edgewise), and Mickey Mellen (GreenMellen) discuss the concept of AI-driven leadership, the 48in48 Good Host project (reach out to adam@48in48.org to get involved) and their personal experiences with AI tools. They explore how AI can serve as a thought partner, the importance of effective prompting, and the...

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Dr. Terence Lester, author of From Dropout to Doctorate: Breaking the Chains of Educational Injustice. In this episode, Dr. Lester shares his powerful journey from high school dropout to earning a PhD, overcoming homelessness, trauma, and systemic barriers. We dive into the realities of educational injustice, the impact of poverty on Black families, and t...

Join me for an inspiring conversation with Joel Conwell, author of the powerful children's book "The Boy in the Tree: When Weak is Okay." In this episode, we dive deep into Joel's beautifully crafted story about a young boy who gets stuck in a tree and discovers that vulnerability isn't a weakness—it's actually a superpower. Buy the book! https://littleripples.media/books...

Kyle Pease joins me to discuss anything and everything, including his foundation (The Kyle Pease Foundation), his personal Purpose, his life with cerebral palsy and spastic quadriplegia, and so much more. Learn more about The Kyle Pease Foundation at https://kylepeasefoundation.org/ Follow along with Kyle's journey at ‪@thekylepeasefoundation‬

Steve joins me to discuss his new book, Work is Fun, which launched on April 1st, 2025. He's the founder and CEO of King of Pops, and in this interview, we talk about the lessons from the book (including the King of Pops story) that everyone can use to find more fun in their work. The subtitle says it all: Seven Ways a Successful Ice Pop Company Makes Work Meaningful and How You Can Too. His b...

Mo and I have had numerous conversations about leadership and its evolution in organizations and teams, and we've decided to bring those discussions to this podcast episode. You can find out more about Mohamed and the work he is doing at https://www.thevessol.com/ Episode details:This video features a conversation between Jeff Hilimire and Mohamed Massaquoi, a speaker and coach specializing in...

Hannah Palmer, author of The Pool is Closed, joins me to do a deep dive (pun intended) into the book. In this livestream, I’m joined by Hannah Palmer, urban naturalist, activist, and acclaimed author of The Pool Is Closed: Segregation, Summertime, and the Search for a Place to Swim. Together, we dive deep into the book’s themes of water access, segregation, parenting, environmental history, and th...

On this episode, I talk with Kate T. Parker, a mother, wife, entrepreneur, photographer, author, and turns out, a great podcast guest! We talk about her story and what led her to the incredible work she's doing today. Kate's books! -> https://amzn.to/3w9bYk3 Kate's website -> https://katetparker.com/ Kate's TedX talk -> YOUTUBE Don’t forget to subscribe 👍🏼 About me: Sign...

I'm obsessed with the TV show The Bear. Like, obsessed. So, I decided to have Fred Castellucci (Atlanta restaurateur legend) on the podcast to help me understand just how accurate their depiction of running a restaurant is. (Spoiler: pretty darn accurate.) Don’t forget to subscribe 👍🏼 About me: Sign up for my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ weekly email newsletter!  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ CEO: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Purpose Group ⁠⁠⁠ Co-founder: ⁠⁠⁠⁠...

On this episode, Bonnie Wan joins me for the second time, this time with her (hopefully, first of many) published book, The Life Brief! I devoured this book in a matter of days, complete with more highlights and notes than I knew what to do with. Please a) use the link below to buy your copy, b) listen to this podcast to hear Bonnie tell her story, and c) check out our first podcast interview, whe...

On this episode, Mita Mallick joins me for the second time, this time to talk about her new book, Reimagine Inclusion: Debunking 13 Myths to Transform Your Workplace . It's absolutely brilliant, and please use the link below to grab a copy for you (and your team)! Notes: - Buy Mita's book, Reimagine Inclusion!! -> https://amzn.to/3ZzA0Pt - Learn more about Mita -> https://www.linkedi...

On this episode, I had a chance to speak with Atlanta legend, Ricky Steele, about his book, The Heart of Networking (which I LOVED). We talked about the power of networking (and how to do it right), Atlanta, doing good, and so much more. If you want to buy a copy of Ricky's book (please do!), you can find it at: - Amazon: https://amzn.to/450CtnU - https://heartofnetworking.net/ Don’t forget to...

On this episode, Ekaette Kern and I have a conversation centered around Elizabeth Leiba's book, "I’m Not Yelling: A Black Woman’s Guide to Navigating the Workplace". Connect with Ekaette: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ekaette-kern Buy the book: https://amzn.to/3OU0DuG Don’t forget to subscribe 👍🏼 About me: Sign up for my ⁠⁠ weekly email newsletter!  ⁠⁠ CEO: ⁠⁠ Purpose Group ⁠⁠ + ⁠⁠ R...

On this episode, Adam Walker and I talk about stoicism, mainly because I knew he had been reading and writing about it, and I wanted to know what all the fuss was about :) Find Adam at: https://adamjwalker.com + https://edgewise.media Don’t forget to subscribe 👍🏼 About me: Sign up for my ⁠⁠ weekly email newsletter!  ⁠⁠ CEO: ⁠⁠ Purpose Group ⁠⁠ Co-founder: ⁠⁠ Dragon Army ⁠⁠ + ⁠⁠ 48in48 ⁠⁠ + ⁠⁠ Th...

On this episode, I have a chance to talk with William Warren, CEO of The Sketch Effect and author of the new book, The Conquering Creative (9 Shifts to Build an Unstoppable Creative Business). We talk about the process of writing the book, his motivation to put his story and ideas into print, and several of my favorite stories from the book. Buy The Conquering Creative on Amazon - https://amzn.to/...

Hi friends! On this episode, the amazing Kashi Sehgal interviews me about my journey to launching my latest venture, Purpose Group . Purpose Group is a purpose-driven holding company that buys, grows, and holds (forever) small businesses, with a goal of infusing purpose and a vibrant culture into them.  You can grab your copy of my latest book at Ripples. Media/shop Don’t forget to subscribe...

On this episode, I spend time chatting with Chelsea Jenkins, who’s the Director, Cultural and Inclusive Marketing at Kellogg. We have a great time talking about her personal Purpose and mantra, the importance of corporate DEI strategies, or as she calls it, EDI (you’ll learn why as you listen to the podcast), her favorite books, and much more. You can grab your copy of the new book at Ripples. Med...

On this episode, I talk all things "company culture" with my good friend Adam Albrecht, who's also the co-author of my latest book, The Culture Turnaround. We talk about the cultures we build within our families, how we worked to build the culture at Engauge many years ago, tips on how to build an "undeniable culture" within any team or company, and much more. You can grab your copy of the new boo...

On this episode, I had a chance to talk to one of my favorite people in the world, Sanjay Parekh. Sanjay and I have known each other for a long, long time, and I consider him both of the smartest and kindest (and I shouldn’t forget, one of the most successful) entrepreneurs I know. On this episode, we spent our time talking about his newest company, Occasional Wraps, which produces the first-ever...

I had a great time on this episode talking with Katie Louise Mullins and Kacie Lett Gordon, the founders of It All Media. It All Media is a modern media empire inspired by and devoted to women (un)doing “IT ALL.” They exist to tell new stories, amplify real women’s voices, and facilitate a movement through conversation to affirm and build women’s power. We talk about their entrepreneurial journey,...

On this episode, I speak with Michael McCathren, Sr. Principal, Enterprise Innovation at Chick-fil-A, about his new (and first) book, 6Ps of Essential Innovation. I had an early look at the book as my publishing company, Ripples Media, partnered with Michael to bring it to life. And I have to tell you, it's terrific. We talk about why he decided to write the book, what the process was like, and of...

On this episode, I get to talk to a legend in the running world: Barefoot Ted. I first learned about him through the book, Born to Run, by Chris McDougall, which fundamentally changed the way I run and, more importantly, completely removed the persistent knee pain that used to accompany my runs. He’s probably one of the most energetic people I’ve ever had on the podcast and hearing his journey is...

On this episode, I talk with Tim Schurrer, author of the fantastic book, The Secret Society of Success. I read this book in only a few days and the stories and lessons that Tim shares are just what people need in today's hectic, pressure-driven society. The subtitle says it all: Stop chasing the spotlight and learn to enjoy your work (and life) again. Boom! Links: Discover how to enjoy your w...

On this episode, I’m joined by Bonnie Wan, an incredible leader who created a brilliant concept called, The Life Brief, which helps people live with greater clarity, creativity, and courage by teaching them how to write briefs for their lives. We dive deep into how she created The Life Brief and its major components, but we also spend time talking about her life as an Asian immigrant in the United...

On this episode, Raj Choudhury (former guest of the podcast and serial entrepreneur) shares the news that he has acquired ARPR, an award-winning tech PR agency. He talks about the vision behind the acquisition, his partnership with Anna Ruth Williams (former CEO and founder of ARPR), and their exciting plans for the future.  ARPR: https://arpr.com More on Raj Choudhury: https://www.linkedin.c...