The Most Important Podcast Ever with BJD

What does it take to lead boldly, care deeply, and keep sight of what matters most? Brian Dunn reunites with longtime industry colleague and friend Peter Weedfald—business leader, musician, and author of Green Reign Leadership—for a spirited conversation about leadership and life. From knocking on doors as a young salesman to leading teams at Samsung and Sharp, Peter shares why great leaders need...

One more analysis. One more conversation. One more piece of information. When does careful decision-making become a reason to stay stuck? Dr. Guy Beaudin returns to The Most Important Podcast Ever for another conversation in our leadership series. Brian and Guy explore the “cave of certainty”—and why waiting to feel comfortable with a difficult decision can keep us from moving forward. They discus...

You don’t have to have all the answers to be there for someone. Brian Dunn welcomes his friend Fr. Kevin Finnegan, pastor of Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church in Edina, Minnesota, for a personal conversation about faith, humanity, leadership, and helping one another carry life’s burdens. Fr. Kevin has been present for Brian’s family through profound loss and great joy—from Susie’s funeral to Joe a...

How do you love someone living with serious mental illness without losing yourself along the way? Brian J. Dunn welcomes longtime friends Diane Field and her daughter, Katie Durheim, for an extraordinarily personal conversation about family, mental illness, stigma, resilience, and hope. For nearly two decades, Diane and Katie have navigated the challenges of supporting Diane's son and Katie's brot...

What changes when you stop racing toward what’s next — and start paying closer attention to what’s already here? In Episode 83 of The Most Important Podcast Ever, Executive Producer Cassandra Cisneros sits down with Brian Dunn for a personal conversation about change, family, getting older, success, gratitude and learning to enjoy life while it’s actually happening. Brian reflects on watching his...

What separates people who make it from others with just as much talent? Brian sits down with Chris “CT” Taylor, a longtime basketball executive and G League general manager, for a conversation that starts with professional basketball and becomes something much bigger. CT explains why talent alone isn’t enough, why the best players learn to  “be a star in your role,”  and how doing the little thing...

What does it really mean to lead with purpose? In Episode 81 of The Most Important Podcast Ever, Brian J. Dunn sits down with Yosi Amram, Ph. D., author of  Spiritually Intelligent Leadership: How to Inspire by Being Inspired , to explore a different kind of intelligence—spiritual intelligence. Yosi explains how qualities like purpose, compassion, integrity, gratitude, humility, presence, and trus...

In  Episode 80 of  The Most Important Podcast Ever , Brian sits down with  Casey Berman , entrepreneur, career coach, and founder of  Leave Law Behind , to talk about fear, career change, entrepreneurship, family, and finding your  unique genius . Casey was a successful attorney working in the technology world when he realized he was on a path that looked right from the outside — but didn’t feel r...

Episode 79: Kim Godfrey — Leadership, Friendship & Finding What Matters Kim Godfrey and I worked together through some of the busiest and most memorable years of my career at Best Buy. In this episode, we look back on those years—the pressure, the growth, the disagreements, the laughs, and the leadership lessons that stayed with us. Kim shares what she learned about building teams, listening t...

Brian sits down with executive producer Kassie to look back on Joe and Abby’s wedding weekend — the joy, the faith, the family, the laughter, and the moments when Susie felt especially close. He reflects on watching his youngest son become a husband, welcoming Abby as a daughter, seeing her wear a necklace that once belonged to Susie, celebrating a wedding Mass in a church deeply woven into the Du...

I’ve had Golden Retrievers my entire adult life, and I still absolutely adore the breed. We’ve always been a Golden family. Then I met a Newfie. In Episode 77, I sit down with Lisa and Kerry Sersha, the heart and soul behind Black Wolf Kennels—and the people who brought my Newfoundland, Dickens, into my life. We talk about Lisa’s 30-year journey with Newfoundlands, what makes these gentle giants s...

A few days before my son Joe marries Abby, I wanted to capture a moment in their lives that will never come again. Not the wedding planning. Not the flowers, seating charts or schedules. Just the two of them — on the edge of becoming husband and wife. In this very special episode of  The Most Important Podcast Ever , I sit down with Joe and Abby to talk about their nearly 10-year journey together:...

Two sons. Two weddings. Three weeks apart. And one dad learning that his job is mostly to smile, show up, write a check here and there—and stay out of the way. For Episode 75, Kassandra Cisneros turns the tables on Brian for a funny and heartfelt conversation about weddings in 2026, the changing role of a father, memories of Sue, watching his sons become men and friends, and a summer filled with f...

Episode 74 | Steve Jensen | Great Leaders Build Great People What makes someone a leader people genuinely want to follow? In Episode 74 of  The Most Important Podcast Ever , Brian Dunn sits down with longtime colleague and accomplished executive Steve Jensen for a conversation filled with practical leadership wisdom earned over a lifetime of building teams, developing people, and leading organizat...

How do you choose life again after losing the person you love? In this deeply moving episode of  The Most Important Podcast Ever , Brian Dunn sits down with author Rachel Kerr-Schneider to explore one of life's most difficult journeys—finding hope after profound loss. Rachel shares the remarkable story behind her memoir,  The Widow Chose Red , reflecting on her husband John's courageous ba...

In Episode 72 of  The Most Important Podcast Ever , Brian sits down with professional football player  Luke Glenna , who is currently playing for the Nordic Storm in Copenhagen. Brian has known Luke since his grade-school and AAU basketball days with Brian’s son Joe. Even then, Luke stood out for his toughness, intelligence, intensity, and relentless work ethic. Luke shares how he went from sevent...

What if good manners aren't about knowing which fork to use—but about making others feel welcome, respected, and valued? In Episode 71 of  The Most Important Podcast Ever , Brian Dunn welcomes former colleague  Diane Field , better known as  "Lady Di,"  for a conversation that goes far beyond etiquette. A respected etiquette expert, former advice columnist, and media professional, Di...

After 69 episodes spent listening to remarkable people from every walk of life, Brian answers the question listeners have been asking:  "What have you learned?" In this deeply personal conversation with producer Shawn Dusing, Brian reflects on 66 years of life, visiting all 50 states, leading a Fortune 50 company, experiencing profound love and heartbreaking loss, and having thousands of...

What makes a great leader? This week on  The Most Important Podcast Ever , I'm joined by leadership advisor, executive coach, retail veteran, and musician  Alan Meyer  for a wide-ranging conversation about leadership, change, and the lessons that shape us over a lifetime.  Alan shares his journey from recording engineer to a 26-year career in retail leadership, where he discovered that the bes...

In Part 2 of Brian Dunn's conversation with author, attorney, and business strategist David Grau Sr., the discussion turns to one of the most important questions every business owner must eventually answer: How does your story end? David explains why most entrepreneurs wait too long to think about succession planning, how founders become trapped on "The Founder's Treadmill," and what it takes to b...

What happens when the founder becomes the business? In Episode 67 of  The Most Important Podcast Ever , Brian Dunn welcomes author and business advisor David Grau Sr. to discuss why so many entrepreneurs unknowingly build companies that can't survive without them. David explains the concept behind  The Founder's Treadmill  and shares practical strategies for moving from being the hub of ev...

What happens when an entrepreneur decides that growth isn't the ultimate goal? In Episode 66, Brian Dunn sits down with Kate Asaraf, founder and CEO of DIP Hair Care, to discuss entrepreneurship, sustainability, motherhood, business failure, and the pursuit of a meaningful life.  After nearly two decades in the beauty industry, Kate launched DIP with a simple mission: create a plastic-free pro...

From selling Christmas trees in Wisconsin to leading teams across North America and traveling throughout Asia, Shaun Schuetz has built a career defined by curiosity, relationships, and a genuine passion for people. In this episode of  The Most Important Podcast Ever , Brian and Shaun explore the lessons learned along the way—from retail floors and international business meetings to family life and...

In Part 2 of my conversation with Angie Bruhn, we move beyond career disruption and into the deeper realities of change, identity, grief, healing, and personal transformation. Angie shares lessons from years of coaching people through layoffs, divorce, loss, health crises, and major life transitions. Together, we talk about why some relationships fall away during difficult seasons, how suffering o...

Episode 63 of  The Most Important Podcast Ever with BJD  features the return of leadership coach and former Best Buy, Under Armour, and Tesla executive Angie Bruhn. What begins as a conversation about layoffs, AI, and disruption quickly becomes something deeper: a discussion about identity, grief, reinvention, and learning who we are when life changes underneath us. Brian and Angie reflect on: nav...