Stories With Traction

SHOW NOTES: In this episode of Stories With Traction , Matt Zaun sits down with Randy Lyman for a powerful conversation about emotional awareness, leadership, vulnerability, and personal growth. Randy shares how unresolved emotions can quietly shape our decision-making, relationships, and leadership style, and why true strength comes not from suppressing emotions, but from learning how to understa...

SHOW NOTES: In this episode of Stories With Traction , Matt Zaun sits down with Lee Caraher to unpack one of the most important and misunderstood skills in leadership: communication. Lee shares why so many leaders mistakenly assume that because they said something once, their team understood it. She explains why head nods can be misleading, why repetition is essential, and why “they should know th...

SHOW NOTES: In this episode , Matt Zaun sits down with DonJay Rice for a thoughtful and practical conversation about money behaviors, identity, fear, family, and emotional health. DonJay explains that unhealthy money behaviors are rarely just about dollars and cents. They often reveal something deeper: fear, grief, control, guilt, or a misplaced sense of safety and identity. Together, Matt and Don...

SHOW NOTES: In this episode of Stories With Traction , Matt Zaun sits down with Mark Mallchok of Brella for a fascinating conversation about what actually makes an event memorable. Mark shares why great events are about far more than logistics, schedules, and content. He explains how the best events create real human connection, intentional engagement, and unforgettable experiences that people car...

SHOW NOTES: In this episode of Stories With Traction , Matt Zaun sits down with Casey Brown , pricing expert , speaker, and author of Fearless Pricing , to unpack one of the biggest profit leaks in business: discounting too quickly, too deeply, and too often. Casey explains why most pricing decisions are driven by fear, why so many sales teams negotiate against themselves before the customer ever...

SHOW NOTES: For this special 200th episode of Stories With Traction , we’re flipping the script. Instead of Matt Zaun interviewing a guest, GT Freeman of TLC Connections sits down with Matt for a conversation about leadership, communication, and the transformative power of story. Matt shares why storytelling is not just a nice addition to leadership communication; it is one of the most powerful to...

SHOW NOTES: In this episode , Matt Zaun sits down with Jason Kramer of Cultivize to talk about sales process, CRM systems, AI, follow-up, and the costly mistakes companies make when they try to scale without a clear process. Jason shares how businesses can simplify the path from lead to close, reduce wasted time, and create more profitable systems for both sales and customer management. The conver...

SHOW NOTES: In this episode of Stories With Traction , Matt Zaun sits down with Nick Martin of MainStreet IT for a conversation about leadership, customer experience, technology, gratitude, and the realities of building a business from the ground up. Nick shares why so many people dislike working with IT teams, what makes MainStreet IT different, and how great customer experience is built in the m...

SHOW NOTES: In this episode of Stories With Traction , Matt Zaun sits down with Jennifer “Jiff” Chapman for a powerful conversation about transition, identity, healing, self-leadership, and the mindset shifts that help people move from feeling stuck to living with greater clarity and confidence. Jiff shares her personal story of success in corporate sales, the devastating health crisis that change...

SHOW NOTES: In this episode of Stories With Traction , Matt Zaun sits down with Dave Turano for a thoughtful conversation about leadership, communication, creativity, discipline, and the hidden tensions that shape teams and families. Dave is an executive advisor and situational sounding board for leadership teams, helping companies build more self-directed teams and stronger communicators. From di...

SHOW NOTES: In this episode of Stories With Traction , Matt Zaun sits down with executive coach, keynoter, author, and Vistage Chair Danielle Baldwin for an honest conversation about inspiration, identity, and fear. Danielle shares how losing titles in her life (mother, daughter, corporate leader, wife) forced her to confront her true identity, and how that journey shaped her work helping CEOs and...

SHOW NOTES: In this powerful and personal episode, Matt Zaun sits down with executive coach, keynote speaker, and author Ken Sher to unpack career disruption, leadership integrity, and the role of trust in long-term success. Ken shares the emotional story of being laid off after 25 years at Johnson & Johnson at 52, with kids in college, and how that devastating season ultimately shaped his car...

SHOW NOTES: In this episode of Stories With Traction , Matt Zaun welcomes back Ricardo Gonzalez , founder and CEO of Bilingual America , to dive even deeper into culture, beliefs, values, norms, and the accelerating impact of AI on trust. Ricardo breaks down what culture actually is (beyond the buzzwords and posters), why so many companies don’t have a real culture at all, and how leaders can eith...

SHOW NOTES: In this episode of Stories With Traction , Matt Zaun sits down with marketing advisor Tim Parkin to unpack what magicians and great marketers have in common: the ability to capture attention, control focus, and follow a repeatable process to create results. Tim shares how a childhood love of magic and an early career in software development led him to a process-driven marketing approac...

SHOW NOTES: In this episode, Matt Zaun sits down with talent agent and founder Monique Sar to unpack what it really takes for executives, founders, and high performers to break into the professional speaking world. Monique represents speakers and influencers, helping them land deals and build speaking careers, and she doesn’t sugarcoat the process. They talk about why your past success in business...

SHOW NOTES: In this episode, Matt Zaun sits down with Joshua Altman of Beltway Media to talk about why communication is a core function of business, not an afterthought you bolt on three weeks before a product launch. Joshua shares what happens when companies call him at the last minute, how poor (or excessive) documentation slows everything down, and why leaders must rethink how they use AI for w...

SHOW NOTES: Matt Zaun sits down with Todd White , founder of Clearpeg , to unpack the causes of organizational chaos and how leaders can reduce stress by clarifying decision authority, strengthening leadership behaviors, and aligning on values. Todd, a self-described “recovering engineer,” shares how his background in systems thinking and global business assessments led him to focus on professiona...

SHOW NOTES: Matt Zaun sits down with Malcolm Peace , who shares how his team at Tsetserra evaluates and acquires businesses through a lens that goes beyond numbers. Malcolm introduces a core question that guides their investment thesis: “Do you fit into the story?” Instead of assuming they can “rebuild the plane mid-flight,” Malcolm explains why the best acquisitions align with what’s already work...

Show Notes: In this episode of Stories with Traction , Matt Zaun sits down with performance coach, speaker, and former pro tennis player Jeff Salzenstein to unpack what it means to “ own your zone ,” a powerful framework designed to help high achievers transform stress into strength and pressure into excellence without burning out. Jeff breaks down his three-zone model (body, mind, heart), explain...

SHOW NOTES: In this episode of Stories With Traction , host Matt Zaun sits down with John Welch , a B2B lead generation specialist based in Indianapolis, for a raw, unfiltered conversation about what actually works regarding lead generation and why most companies are playing the game completely wrong. John brings a decade of sales and marketing experience, including nearly 4 years focused on lead...

SHOW NOTES: In this solo episode of Stories With Traction , host Matt Zaun breaks down one of the most common mistakes even great storytellers make: they don’t spend enough time on the hook . But this isn’t about flashy intros or attention-grabbing openers. Matt reframes the hook as the point of change in a story, the moment that connects the message directly to the audience and moves them toward...

SHOW NOTES: In this solo episode of Stories With Traction , host Matt Zaun breaks down a simple, repeatable system for using storytelling to cut through noise, inspire action, and lead more effectively (without adding hours to your calendar). Matt introduces the 20-Minute Story Strategy Session, a practical framework leaders can use to uncover powerful stories already hidden in their subconscious...

SHOW NOTES: SUMMARY: This is part of an FAQ series featuring Michelle Griffin and Matt Zaun , who discuss personal branding and strategic storytelling. Michelle Griffin coaches on authority-focused personal branding to help professionals step out and be seen as leaders in their space. Matt Zaun is an award-winning speaker and strategic storytelling expert who helps leaders inspire action and drive...

SHOW NOTES: SUMMARY: This is part of an FAQ series featuring Michelle Griffin and Matt Zaun , who discuss personal branding and strategic storytelling. Michelle Griffin coaches on authority-focused personal branding to help professionals step out and be seen as leaders in their space. Matt Zaun is an award-winning speaker and strategic storytelling expert who helps leaders inspire action and drive...

SHOW NOTES: SUMMARY: This is part of an FAQ series featuring Michelle Griffin and Matt Zaun , who discuss personal branding and strategic storytelling. Michelle Griffin coaches on authority-focused personal branding to help professionals step out and be seen as leaders in their space. Matt Zaun is an award-winning speaker and strategic storytelling expert who helps leaders inspire action and drive...