The Third Way. Hosted by Justin Foster

In his seminal book,  “The Go Giver” , Bob Berg coins the term “The Connector”; a role he esteems as the highest level of influence in business. A Connector creates value by bringing people together, sharing knowledge, and creating relationships that expand opportunity for everyone involved - all with no guile. no manipulation and no strings attached.  My friend, Marc Shaffer, is the premier embod...

Joseph Fasano is a poet, novelist, and educator who spent two decades teaching literature before leaving academia to build his own independent academy focused on cultivating full human expression through language.  In a conversation that felt like channeling the Beatnik days of City Lights bookstore in San Francisco, listen in as two writers compare scars, laugh through heresy, and tell the truth...

This episode of  The Third Way Podcast  was a gift. I got to sit down in person with my dear friend Wendy Colonna, a much loved Austin-based singer-songwriter, creative coach, and one of those rare artists who is both a master of her craft and endlessly collaborative. Wendy is woven into some of my most cherished Austin memories, from surprising Virginia with a tear-inducing cover of  “Humble and...

In this special in-person episode, I sit down with my dear friend Sarah King inside  Aurora House , the creative sanctuary she founded in Austin, Texas. The last time I did an in-person interview, I was in Idaho talking horse training with my little brother. This one’s a bit different. Sarah’s story is a remarkable transformation. A former top product leader in the high-growth tech world, she clim...

Trevor Perry and I have something rare in common: we were both raised in one of the most controlling Christian sects you’ve never heard of, the Two by Twos. Trevor got kicked out at 19 for keeping the wrong company. I walked out on my own terms years later. Either way, we both know what it’s like to have your identity dictated by dogma. In this episode, we get honest about what it means to grow up...

For a lot of business owners, marketing feels like a necessary evil—something you know you need but would rather not spend your time on. That’s why delegation isn’t just practical; it’s freedom. Handing off the parts you don’t love (and probably shouldn’t be doing anyway) gives you the space to focus on what actually matters—your vision, your craft, your people. In this episode of  The Third Way P...

Leadership isn’t about control—it’s a  creative act . Yet too often, leaders default to  org charts, titles, and vanity metrics instead of the  courage and creativity  needed to build real trust. The bottom line gets in the way of belonging, and businesses exploit people rather than empower them. In this conversation, Dan Dowman and I unpack why so many organizations struggle to create cultures of...

In this Manologue, I dig into a truth too many people would rather ignore: silence is the fuel that keeps tyranny burning. Authoritarianism isn’t just about silencing dissenters—it thrives on the privileged keeping their mouths shut. From my own experience in a high-control religious environment to the broader patterns of history, I break down why silence is complicity and why moral clarity matter...

This episode is about a different kind of grief—the kind that lingers when something you believe in gets betrayed. I was raised on the Western Code: protect women, judge a person by their work, and give no mercy to horse thieves. It wasn’t an idea. It was a lineage that started in the grit and dust of the Old West and was lived by every generation - until the last 10 years. Now, I see men who once...

In this episode of  The Third Way Podcast , I sit down with my friend and client, Joe Bova, for a deep and insightful conversation about his unconventional journey—from Hollywood to owning a bakery to becoming a therapist and coach. Joe shares his  “Finding the Gold”  story, inspired by a clay-covered Buddha, which serves as the core metaphor for his  Story Restoration™  model. He opens up about t...

I met Mohan in the most serendipitous way: through my dear friend, Stacy Ennis , (who I also met in a serendipitous way many years ago in Boise, ID). But here is the cosmic part… Stacy lives in Portugal. Mohan lives in Mysore, India. I live in Austin. The odds of Mohan finding Stacy are astronomical. That back story is important context for why I’m sharing this conversation I had with Mohan. Last...

With the election tomorrow, we’re standing on the edge of a potential milestone. But regardless of the outcome, women are already leading us forward in all areas of life. That’s why I sat down with Shuronda Robinson , a client of The Fractional XO and a dear friend, to have a raw, honest conversation on allyship—one that gets to the heart of what real support for women in leadership looks like. Wh...

In this episode, I'm shaking things up and stepping away from the 3D traditional interview model to see if a conversation can carry itself without a script. I'm bringing back Kelly Campbell—my "spiritual doppelganger," a dear friend who shares my Scorpio intensity and Enneagram 8 energy. We're diving deep into the art of unscripted dialogue and exploring how our identities shape our work, relation...

Some supporting information for the terminology I use in this Manologue. Critical Intelligence: The practical to combine critical thinking, self-awareness, cognitive skills, and spiritual values to make informed and balanced decisions. It involves analyzing information carefully, recognizing personal biases, and applying logical reasoning, all while staying grounded in a sense of purpose and ethic...

In this episode, I do something I’ve never done on a podcast episode: talked directly about branding and marketing! Thanks to an introduction from our mutual friend, Kelly Campbell, I was able to have a 3D conversation with brand communication expert, Ben Guttmann. We discuss his new book, our mutual advocacy for simplicity in branding, and how marketing has eroded the power of language and the ne...

My buddy, Todd Lieman, was on my podcast way back in January of 2022. Since then, Todd has brought an incredible book into the world, “Dinner at God’s House” . It is one of the best spiritual fables I’ve ever read. As I mention in the episode, writing fables well is difficult, but spiritual fables are even more so. In this episode, Todd and I explore the book’s inspiration, its central messages, a...

In this Manologue episode, I share the difference between cognitive biases and logical fallacies and how logical fallacies are direct threat to American ideals and truth itself. As mentioned, I am including a partial list of both … Here are some of the top cognitive biases: * Confirmation Bias : The tendency to search for, interpret, and remember information in a way that confirms one's preconcept...

In this episode, I had the privilege of an in-person conversation with one of my best friends, Bryce Hoffman. As it is with all of our conversations, we discussed a wide range of things, including the importance of critical thinking in leadership, emphasizing its role in navigating today's volatile and uncertain world, the decline of critical thinking education and its impact on society, and addre...

In this Manologue, I share the social significance of the show “Suits” - especially in light of Harrison Butker’s comments and a pervasive anti-femininity bent in much of our culture. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit fosterthinking.substack.com/subscribe

Byron Reese is a futurist who thinks a lot about the past. I first learned about Byron when I read his book, “Stories, Dice, and Rocks that Think” , a book that celebrates the advancement of humanity rather than decries is. I describe Byron as “indescribably brilliant”. I also like how he is described in his bio: There are the people who hope the future will be better, then there are the people wh...

In this Manologue episode, I share how the pressures of our current life can tempt us to return to an old part of us. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit fosterthinking.substack.com/subscribe

As if often the case, I met Trae Tucker in a serendipitous way. I was immediately struck by his story, his sincerity, and his drive. Like me, Trae grew up rural. And like me, he is proud of his rural roots but also has felt like an “other”. Listen to his story and our wide-ranging 3D conversation about what it means to identify as rural. Trae’s LinkedIn This is a public episode. If you’d like to d...

I’m forever grateful for Wendy Colonna introducing me to Rick Diamond. As two deconstructed SWAMs (straight, white, American, males), we hit it off immediately and have watched our initial interaction blossom into a rich friendship. In this 3D Conversation, we talk through what it takes to re-imagine yourself. More than re-invention, re-imagining yourself is intentionally re-designing your life st...

In this Manologue episode, I share how increased consciousness and awareness has also included regrets about past behaviors and decisions. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit fosterthinking.substack.com/subscribe

Sara Alvarado an entrepreneur, business activist, and author. She is a fascinating person who is truly living her mission. She tells more of her story in the episode, but at the essence of it is her efforts to create more racial justice in the real estate and mortgage industry. Key links: Sara’s memoir, “Dreaming in Spanish”. Sara’s website Download Sara’s Racial Justice ToolKit This is a public e...