Speaking to Influence

How can coffee change the world? According to Saxbys CEO and Founder, Nick Bayer, it begins with educating young entrepreneurs. This week Laura and Nick discuss how Saxbys is empowering young people to embrace the humanity of the hospitality industry and build a business that creates an impact.   Here are a few things you’ll learn during this conversation: How Saxbys created an academic experience...

There’s tension in silence, but so much to learn. This week Leigh Marz and Justin Zorn share why we feel the need to fill the silence and how to create better communication by speaking less and listening more. Join Laura, Leigh, and Justin as they discuss the impact of taking time to create space in conversations, meetings, and daily life. Here are a few things you’ll learn during this conversatio...

Understanding cyber security technology can be difficult outside of the tech industry, but according to Kris Burkhardt, “healthy paranoia” can be a good thing. This week Kris and Laura discuss the complexities of communicating to businesses about the importance of cyber security, as well as how he empowers his team to make mistakes and solve problems together.   Here are a few things you’ll learn...

Creating an impact in a large organization begins with your immediate team. This week Dana Reyngoudt shares how she engages and motivates her small team while working toward organizational goals. Listen in as Laura and Dana discuss understanding the needs of your team, creating a unified front to face challenges, and identifying the signs of an engaged leader.   Here are a few things you’ll learn...

The fastest way to find success is to follow the footsteps of someone who has gone before you. This week Greg Muzzillo shares why making millionaires is his favorite part of his job at Proforma. Listen in as Laura and Greg discuss how a franchising opportunity can provide business success, leadership support, and overall growth.   Here are a few things you’ll learn during this conversation: How Gr...

How do you captivate an audience without overwhelming them with data? This week Dr. Vincent Racaniello shares how his passion for teaching and virology led him to transition out of the lab and into educating the world through podcasting. Listen in as Laura and Vincent discuss how to share your expertise in a way that captivates while adding humor, levity, and increasing the audience’s ability to c...

Rallying a community behind a cause requires clear, concise communication strategies. This week Virgil Sheppard discusses how his organization is identifying the needs of the individuals they serve by gathering insights and developing leadership strategies that support and build trust. Listen in as Laura and Virgil explore the early warning indicators of educational needs, understanding the metric...

Building relationships can be difficult when tackling difficult subject matter. Education This week Renée Williams explores the manifestations of trauma and how it impacts communication and supporting the community. Listen in as Laura and Renée discuss the negative impact emotions can have on relationship building, navigating differing opinions, and entrusting your team to represent your brand val...

Education is the greatest tool we can provide when nurturing relationships. This week Joellen Meckley shares how the American College of Financial Services Center for Special Needs is educating consumers and financial service providers on the options available for individuals with disabilities. Listen in as Laura and Joellen discuss what the organization considers when creating consumer content, i...

Fear can create a barrier between living your passion or communicating with your team. This week Dr. Mary O’Connor discusses the role of telehealth in today’s patient care and how she is working with surgeons and insurance companies to dispel myths about the effectiveness of certain surgeries and quality of life. Listen in as Laura and Dr. O’Connor discuss how she navigates delicate topics with di...

How do you educate and inspire a community when the solution doesn’t produce immediate results?  This week Keisha Jordan shares how she keeps her team, her community, and her stakeholders passionate about children’s education while providing funds and opportunities for future success. Listen in as Laura and Keisha discuss the complexities of raising long-term funds for children’s education and wha...

When is the best time to build confidence and strategies for a healthy mindset?  This week Tracy Ashdale shares how Girls on the Run created a program to foster mental, emotional, and physical fitness habits among our youth. Listen in as Laura and Tracy discuss the importance of building confidence in young women, emphasizing collaboration among community members, and seeking out opportunities to...

Have you ever stared at a math problem and didn’t know where to begin? This week Nick Ryan shares how he takes the complicated subject matter of information security and distills it into relevant stories, data, and metrics that help his organization make sound business decisions. Listen in as Laura and Nick discuss the challenges of speaking to over 7500 employees in an approachable way, the...

How do you separate personal belief and scientific fact when crafting your message? This week Stephen Forzato shares how his experience as an undercover officer impacted his ability to navigate the delicate terrain of personal belief, addiction, and community support. Listen in as Laura and Stephen discuss the difference between educating someone experiencing addiction and the families providing s...

Navigating large gaps in the needs of stakeholders is critical for any marketing strategy. This week Kathy Govier shares how she assesses and identifies the key desires of different audiences in order to create messaging that addresses needs and accomplishes goals. Listen in as Laura and Kathy discuss understanding your own thought process as a leader, the difference between new and hardcore colle...

Important conversations are rooted in trust. This week Joey Fay shares how his company has implemented the core value of “likability” to create productive business relationships in both the private and public sectors. Listen in as Laura and Joey discuss the importance of language, writing skills, and staying steadfast in your core values.   Here are a few things you’ll learn...

The financial space doesn’t seem like a natural place for vulnerability, but today’s guest shares that honesty and openness while communicating with her team is the key to successful relationships and strong workplace culture. On this episode, Laura and Cindy explore the nuances of data-driven storytelling and how Cindy navigates the varying levels of financial understanding of the tea...

Today healthcare technology expert Trevor Garner shares the process of creating clarity and trust by communicating with both sides of a service-based tool. On this episode, Laura and Trevor discuss how his company works with politicians, government employees, and community members to make healthcare websites easy to understand and efficient to use. Trevor shares how his ability to stay vulnerable...

If you’ve ever attended a zoom meeting and counted the minutes until it was over, wondering why you needed to be there in the first place, this episode is for you. This week Laura breaks down the three main causes of Zoom Fatigue and simple strategies you can use to keep your audience focused and engaged, getting your message across in an efficient way.   Here are a few things you&rsquo...

The traumatic events of our world and how they impact us also influence our ability to communicate. This week Maude Le Roux shares the power of trauma and how it impacts the body and the way we communicate with each other. Listen in as Laura and Maude discuss how recent studies of trauma have influenced the way Maude’s occupational therapy teams work with children, communicate consent, and h...

Protecting a community begins by building trust. On today’s episode Sheriff Errol Toulon, Jr. shares his journey to building trust and resources within the Suffolk County community. Listen in as Laura and the sheriff discuss Suffolk County’s current efforts to provide resources to previously incarcerated individuals, how Sheriff Toulon is connecting with the community youth, and how th...

Building a legacy by serving others is a journey marked by milestones. On this journey to helping our audience increase their conscience, presence, and influence, we’re celebrating our 100th episode by discussing the topic of legacy with three influential leaders. Join Laura as she shares the mic with consultant Michael Houlihan, social innovator Janet Salazar, and cleantech expert Diana You...

A business without a foundation of healthy relationships has no room for growth. Today Lance Bachmann shares how he built five businesses on the principles of communication and relationship development. Listen in as Laura and Lance discuss focusing on improvement during business conversations, how to evaluate your own leadership communication skills and fill in the gaps, and what it was like overc...

Creating an impact requires a coordinated effort with many levels of communication and trust. Milena Lanz understands this challenge and reveals what her organization has learned about the communication systems necessary to support mothers, families, and the professionals that serve them. During this conversation Laura and Milena discuss how Milena’s organization is making an impact in the T...

Creating a consistent message over time begins with understanding the data. Today Joe Person shares how his company has established trust for over 180 years by focusing on finding and communicating the story behind the data. Laura and Joe discuss making your message relatable, finding the opportunity within tough audiences, and why it’s critical to understand the drivers and business.  ...