The Corporate Couch: Work Stories I Only Tell My Friends

In this bonus edition of The Corporate Couch, recorded live at the Heartland Digital Asset Exchange conference, we explore the intersection of blockchain and traditional finance. Join us as we delve into the insights of seven distinguished leaders in digital assets and Web3, including: - Esther George, former president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City - Danny Baer, Director of Wealth and...

Some companies are born in boardrooms. Others, like Bungii, start over beers at a college bar. Ben Jackson (see his bio below), co-founder and CEO of Bungii, was a college senior at Kansas State when he and a friend came up with a simple idea: “tap a button, get a truck.” Nearly a decade later, that idea has grown into a breakthrough last-mile delivery platform dubbed “DoorDash for big and bulky i...

Greg Hamann’s (see his bio below) story starts on a Maine farm, stacking hay until 11 p.m. as a 12-year-old, and working in his family’s masonry and concrete business before eventually becoming CEO of a precast company. Along the way, he learned the value of hard work, humility, and the importance of thinking before acting, advice passed down from his father that still guides him today. In this co...

In this special edition, the spotlight is on Marc Shaffer and his debut book, One For All: How to Systemize Kindness, Grow Your Network, and Support Others Like It’s Your Job. With the official launch set for September 30, Marc shares the inspiration behind the book, the process of bringing it to life, and the lessons he hopes readers will take away. We talk about: Why relationship-building should...

Julie Kratz’s career (see her bio below) has been defined by one central question: How can leaders create workplaces where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued? After spending 12 years in Corporate America—and often feeling like she didn’t belong—Julie pivoted to build a career around allyship and inclusion. Today, she’s a leading voice on what it takes to create cultures of belonging, authoring...

Sabina Nawaz (see her bio below) has advised leaders at the very top - Bill Gates, Steve Ballmer, and executives across Fortune 500 companies. But her journey wasn’t a straight line. Starting as a software developer, nearly getting fired from Microsoft, and then pivoting into leadership development, Sabina has built a career helping thousands of leaders around the world discover what it really mea...

Michael Mackie is back on The Corporate Couch, and this time, he’s here to talk about his brand-new book, You Have 4 Minutes: My Life as an Unlikely Celebrity Interviewer. With more than three decades of encounters with Hollywood’s biggest names, Michael shares the hilarity, awkwardness, and unforgettable moments that shaped his unlikely path into entertainment journalism. We cover the accidental...

Rusty Arnold’s story (see his bio below) begins with a hammer in hand at age 10 and a forklift under his control by 13. Today, as COO and soon-to-be CEO of Frontier Forest Products, Rusty has built his career from the ground up, shaping not just businesses but also the people around him. In this conversation, Rusty shares: Lessons learned from growing up on construction sites and how they shaped h...

For the first time in history, four generations, Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z are working side by side. Jeff Utecht (see his bio below) has spent over 20 years helping leaders bridge these divides, and he brings a global perspective shaped by living in three countries, founding multiple businesses, and consulting with Fortune 500 companies. In our conversation, Jeff and I explore: H...

Six months, six happy-hour-type conversations and we’re just getting started. In this special edition of It’s 5 O’Clock Somewhere, Marc Shaffer and I pour a couple of beers and dive into what’s been on our minds lately: The “five types of wealth” and why time wealth may be the most overlooked. How boredom, stillness, and slowing down fuel creativity and joy. The wisdom in quotes that stick from Ry...

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Donna Griffit (see her bio below), world-renowned storyteller and pitch alchemist who has helped clients raise over 2 billion dollars through the power of compelling narratives. From starting her first business as a seven-year-old clown to becoming a communications coach at Stanford's Graduate School of Business, Donna shares her fascinating journey throu...

In this Special Edition (short) episode, I sit down with Jourdan Mercurio Lewis, COO of Blue Ocean Search Firm, to talk about her remarkable journey from business owner to stay-at-home mom to a new career in recruiting. Jourdan shares how she brings authenticity and consulting-style depth to an industry often known for transactional relationships. Her story highlights the courage to pivot, the val...

Join me as I sit down with John Mercurio (see his bio below), CEO of Blue Ocean Search Firm and a 30-year veteran of the human and animal health industries. In this candid conversation, John shares his remarkable journey from making $17,000 at Deluxe Check Printers to becoming a successful executive, all without finishing college. John opens up about the pivotal moment when someone took a chance o...

In this 20-minute special edition, I welcome back my very first podcast guest, Harry Campbell ( Website ), for a candid and heartfelt conversation about his Get-Real Mindset for Caregivers. Harry shares the deeply personal journey of supporting his wife, Kris, who was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor just 10 months after their wedding. Drawing from his leadership experience and his bestsel...

Join me as I sit down with Staci Cross (see her bio below), the fearless entrepreneur behind Enjoy Pure Food + Drink. In this captivating conversation, Staci shares her remarkable journey from television advertising executive to restaurant founder, including her incredible ability to land major clients through cold calling, including securing Johnson & Johnson for her Baby Basics company with...

Join us for the inaugural episode of this bi-monthly Special Edition (short 15-30 minute episodes) of The Corporate Couch, airing on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month. We dive into the evolving landscape of talent acquisition with John Mercurio and Jordan Mercurio-Lewis from Blue Ocean Search Firm. Discover how technology and human connection are reshaping recruitment, the importance of look...

Most companies treat customer onboarding like an afterthought. Donna Weber sees it as a growth strategy. With her Orchestrated Onboarding® framework and decades of experience in customer success, Donna helps companies deliver value faster, retain more customers, and scale smarter. We talk about her concept of “time to first value,” the biggest mistakes companies make after the sale, and how her gl...

In this fifth edition of our “It’s 5 O’Clock Somewhere” series, Marc Shaffer and I swap stories like you would over a cold drink on a hot summer night. From our 4th of July celebrations (including Joey Chestnut, $20,000 firework shows, and toddler-approved explosions) to the power of legacy and generosity, we cover it all. Marc shares an emotional story about the late Giftology author John Ruhlin...

Dana Bernstein (see her bio below) has built a career and a life by saying yes to unexpected opportunities. From publishing dozens of articles on negotiation to managing a family-run animal hospital to coaching leaders in high-stakes conflict, Dana brings empathy, clarity, and boldness to everything she touches. In this episode, Dana turns the tables mid-conversation and coaches me through a momen...

Cameron “Cam” Bishop’s (see his bio below) journey from copywriter to CEO is proof that leading with vision, grit, and heart still matters. In this episode, Cam reflects on a career that spans startups, scale-ups, turnarounds, and multimillion-dollar exits, but at the core of it all is his unwavering belief in the power of people. Now a Managing Director at Raincatcher, Cam helps business owners n...

Ari DeGrote (see her bio below) was born because of a New Year’s resolution literally. And that origin story might explain a lot about her mission to help people make intentional, aligned choices that spark real change. Ari believes everyone craves two things at work: meaning and mattering. As the founder of Upward & Inward and a human potential coach, Ari helps leaders and teams move beyond b...

Dale Thomas (see his bio below) doesn’t wear the typical “tech founder” label lightly. Before launching ActionableOps and becoming a bestselling author, Dale served in the police officer reserves, an experience that shaped his no-nonsense, service-first approach to problem-solving. In this episode, Dale shares how his path from public service to operations leadership to “AI Explorer” has always ce...

Dr. Cindy McGovern (see her bio below) doesn’t just teach sales; she redefines it. Known as the “First Lady of Sales,” Dr. Cindy brings her signature energy and insight to The Corporate Couch: Work Stories I Only Tell My Friends with one simple truth: “Sales is not a business or soft skill. Sales is a life skill.” From classrooms to boardrooms, Dr. Cindy has helped people embrace their inner sales...

Marc Shaffer returns for round four of It’s 5 O’Clock Somewhere, the recurring happy hour-style Special Edition of The Corporate Couch: Work Stories I Only Tell My Friends. It’s the kind of conversation that flows between business, family, books, and community, with a splash of margarita-shirt energy. Marc opens up about how becoming a dad to two young children has transformed the way he works, de...

Christal Watson (see her bio below) has spent her entire career guided by one mission: To be in a position of influence so I can be a voice for those who don't have one. That mission has shaped every role she’s taken on—from championing students in Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools to revitalizing the Heartland Black Chamber of Commerce into a powerhouse for minority-owned businesses. Now, with m...