The Bliss Business Podcast

Empathy is often misunderstood in leadership. Some see it as softness, others as optional. But research and real-world experience continue to show that empathy is one of the most powerful drivers of trust, performance, and sustainable leadership. In this episode of The Bliss Business Podcast , we sit down with Kim Gubera to explore the role empathy plays in leadership, decision-making, and culture...

Customers are no longer impressed by profit alone. They want to see what brands stand for. Recent global research shows that more than three quarters of consumers say they are more likely to trust and stay loyal to brands that act in socially and environmentally responsible ways, even when times are tough. In this episode of The Bliss Business Podcast, we sit down with Joe Dent, CEO of Everything...

Franchise brands that treat marketing as a growth engine, not just a support function, are far more likely to scale efficiently across locations. Yet many multi-location businesses still struggle to unify strategy, performance data, and local execution into a system that consistently drives results. In this week’s Marketing With Purpose Kit from The Bliss Business Podcast , we’re joined by Fred Na...

Empathy is no longer a “nice to have” in leadership. It is becoming a hard performance metric. A recent study from Catalyst found that employees with highly empathetic senior leaders are 3 times more likely to report being innovative and 4 times more likely to be engaged at work. In this episode of The Bliss Business Podcast, we sit down with Christopher M. Steer, Esq., Founder and CEO of Steer, L...

A 2025 PwC study found that 78% of consumers will only engage with brands that use AI responsibly and transparently. That statistic is more than a warning. It’s a window into the future of business. In this episode of The Bliss Business Podcast , we’re joined by Dominique Shelton Leipzig , Founder & CEO of Global Data Innovation . Together with hosts Stephen Sakach and Tullio Siragusa , we exp...

In a world where data drives decisions, real customer connection still depends on clarity, trust, and human understanding. Yet many businesses struggle to translate complex marketing metrics into meaningful actions that truly serve their customers. In this week’s Marketing With Purpose Kit from The Bliss Business Podcast , we’re joined by Anna Phillips, Account Executive at Zero Company . Since 20...

More customers are watching how companies behave, not just what they sell. A recent global study found that 64 percent of consumers rank sustainability as a top factor in their buying decisions, and a majority say they are more likely to stay loyal to brands that act responsibly toward people and the planet. In this episode of The Bliss Business Podcast, we sit down with Shelby Parsons, COO of Pre...

Empathy is not a soft extra in business anymore. A recent EY study found that 90 percent of workers believe empathetic leadership leads to higher job satisfaction, and nearly 80 percent say it reduces turnover. In this episode of The Bliss Business Podcast, we sit down with Karen Price Owen, Executive And Life Coach, to explore how empathy becomes a practical, measurable advantage in both leadersh...

According to Forrester, organizations that treat marketing as a revenue driver rather than a cost center grow revenue nearly twice as fast as their peers. Yet many businesses still struggle to turn digital marketing activity into predictable, scalable growth. In this week’s Marketing With Purpose Kit from The Bliss Business Podcast , we’re joined by Josh Prizer, Fractional CMO at Zero Company . Si...

Kids today are surrounded by digital noise, but what they crave most is a place to belong. A longitudinal study found that when young people move from no extracurriculars into regular activities, their mental health improves largely because their sense of peer belonging increases.  In this episode of The Bliss Business Podcast, we sit down with Michael Browning Jr., CEO and Founder of Unleashed Br...

Emotional intelligence is not a “nice to have” for leaders anymore. A study of more than 300 organizations found that leaders with higher emotional intelligence were associated with significantly higher employee engagement, productivity, and profitability, making EQ one of the strongest predictors of leadership effectiveness. In this episode of The Bliss Business Podcast, we sit down with Kelly Ro...

When marketing is rooted in insight, execution, and accountability, it becomes one of the most powerful drivers of business growth. Yet many organizations still struggle to connect strategy, analytics, and creative execution into a true revenue engine. In this week’s Marketing With Purpose Kit from The Bliss Business Podcast , we’re joined by Laura Baker, Chief Marketing Officer at Weed Man . A re...

Youth sports are not just about skills and scores. They are one of the most powerful engines of belonging. A 2020 meta-analysis of 50 studies found that youth sport participation is consistently linked to a stronger sense of belonging and more prosocial behavior, especially when environments are inclusive and supportive.  In this episode of The Bliss Business Podcast, we sit down with Craig Moody,...

Community is often talked about as a brand value, but for many businesses it becomes an afterthought once growth accelerates. At the same time, customers, employees, and franchise partners are craving real connection more than ever, places where they feel seen, welcomed, and part of something bigger than a transaction. In this episode of The Bliss Business Podcast , we sit down with Carl Comeaux ,...

In a world full of noise, the brands that stand out are the ones that speak to the heart . This week’s Marketing With Purpose Kit from The Bliss Business Podcast features one of the most influential storytellers in franchising: Martha O’Gorman, Chief Marketing Officer at Loyalty Brands . With more than three decades shaping national brands and guiding entrepreneurs, Martha has built a career on ma...

Emotional intelligence is often called a “soft skill,” yet research shows it can account for more than half of job performance in many roles and is one of the strongest predictors of effective leadership. At the same time, many employees still experience leaders who are distant, reactive, or purely numbers driven. The gap between what people need and how leaders show up has never been more visible...

Only 19% of executives believe they have the right culture in place, even though 94% agree it’s critical to business success (Deloitte, 2024). Culture isn’t built through policy. It’s built through people,  through shared purpose, trust, and community. In this episode of The Bliss Business Podcast , we sit down with Paul Flick , Founder and CEO of Premium Service Brands , to explore what it really...

Empathy gets talked about a lot in leadership, but too often it stays at the level of slogans. Many employees still experience leaders who are distant, reactive, or purely numbers driven, even as research shows that empathetic leadership drives higher engagement, innovation, and loyalty. In this episode of The Bliss Business Podcast, we sit down with Teresa Johnson, CEO of Color Me Mine, to explor...

We have access to fast transactions and endless options, but people are craving something deeper from the brands they choose. Recent workplace surveys show that most employees and customers want to feel part of a real community, not just another number in a system. In this episode of The Bliss Business Podcast, we sit down with Heather Neary, President and CEO of Taco John’s, to explore what it re...

Today the “future of work” often sounds like a buzzword, because most people are still living with outdated models. Recent research from McKinsey shows that a little over half of workers prefer remote or flexible arrangements, and flexible work models are now one of the top reasons people change jobs. In this episode of The Bliss Business Podcast, we sit down with Alex Filipuk, CEO and Founder of...

In an era of polished ads and AI-generated content, consumers crave one thing above all: authentic connection . In this week’s Marketing With Purpose Kit from The Bliss Business Podcast , we’re joined by Darren Keeler, VP of Marketing & Creative at Shuckin’ Shack Oyster Bar . Since 2019, Darren has been the creative captain behind the Shack’s genuine, fun-loving brand — blending coastal cultur...

In a business world obsessed with quarterly results, too many leaders still treat purpose as optional instead of essential. Gallup’s State of the Global Workplace report shows that only about one in four employees strongly agree their organization cares about their wellbeing. At the same time, long term studies on purpose driven and stakeholder oriented companies, such as Firms of Endearment, show...

Ninety percent of top performers share one thing in common: emotional intelligence. Yet many organizations still focus on technical skills over the human skills that drive trust, retention, and growth. In this episode of The Bliss Business Podcast , we sit down with Jennifer Lemcke , CEO of Weed Man , to explore how emotional intelligence transforms leadership, culture, and the bottom line. Jennif...

According to Gartner, companies with strong marketing–sales alignment can see up to a 208% increase in marketing revenue contribution. Yet many organizations still treat marketing as a cost center instead of a strategic growth driver. In this week’s Marketing With Purpose Kit from The Bliss Business Podcast , we’re joined by Jennifer Sullivan, Fractional Chief Growth Officer at Hollywood Dialect C...

In a world obsessed with productivity, many leaders overlook the one factor that drives it all: connection. A recent Deloitte study found that 74% of employees want more flexibility and meaning in how they work. Yet too many companies still design systems for control instead of trust. In this episode of The Bliss Business Podcast , we sit down with Patrick Cowden , CRO and Architect of Warmspace ,...