The Unfolding Thought Podcast

In this episode, Eric talks with Annalee Kruger, founder of CareRight Inc., longtime senior care consultant, and author of The Invisible Patient . Their conversation explores what family caregiving really looks like behind the scenes and why the people providing care often become the most overlooked ones in the system. Annalee draws from decades of experience working with families in crisis to exp...

In this episode, Eric talks with Axel Burlin , author of Beyond Brain Rot , about internet addiction, algorithmic feeds, and why so many well-intentioned attempts to “use your phone less” quietly fail. Axel shares his own experience growing up online, from video games and forums to endless scrolling, and how a breaking point during college led him to rethink not just his habits but the assumptions...

In this episode, Eric talks with Ken Boynton—storyteller, communication consultant, former actor and voiceover artist, and co-founder of Message Glue. Ken has spent decades helping leaders, teams, and organizations communicate more clearly and more humanly across stages, screens, meetings, and moments that matter. The conversation explores what “storytelling” actually means in real organizational...

In this episode, Eric talks with Peter Greer—President & CEO of HOPE International, longtime practitioner in global poverty alleviation, and author/co-author of eighteen books including Mission Drift, Rooting for Rivals, and How Leaders Lose Their Way. The conversation goes deep into what poverty really is, why traditional aid often fails to produce lasting change, and how dignity-centered dev...

In this episode, Eric talks with Tamsen Webster—message designer, strategist, speaker, and author of Find Your Red Thread and Say What They Can’t Unhear. The conversation explores how ideas spread, why so many messages fail at the point of first explanation, and what it takes to create understanding and lasting change without coercion. Tamsen explains her work as an “English-to-English translator,...

In this episode, Eric talks with Jason Keath —founder of Social Fresh, longtime creative strategist, and author of The Case for More Bad Ideas . The conversation explores why creativity is misunderstood, why most organizations limit their own creative potential, and why truly inventive work comes from consistent practice rather than inspiration. Jason explains how he approaches idea generation, wh...

In this episode of The Unfolding Thought Podcast , Eric Pratum talks with strategist and thinker Steve Kozel about the tension between our craving for certainty and the messy reality of complex systems. Steve—Director of Strategy and Marketing Technology at Osborne Barr Paramore—shares what he’s learned from years helping organizations make better decisions in conditions that can never be fully pr...

In this episode of The Unfolding Thought Podcast , Eric Pratum talks with Greg Bergdorf—founding guitarist of the Grammy-nominated, gold-record band Zebrahead—about creativity, reinvention, and the mindset behind mastering more than one craft. Greg reflects on his journey from garage rehearsals and backyard keggers to international tours, and what it was like to walk away from fame to build a new...

In this episode of The Unfolding Thought Podcast, Eric Pratum talks with Dr. Lance Mortlock—Managing Partner for Industrials & Energy at EY Canada, adjunct professor, and author of Outside In, Inside Out and Disaster Proof. Together they explore how leaders can create clarity and resilience in a world defined by uncertainty, disruption, and accelerating change. Lance shares what decades of adv...

In this episode of The Unfolding Thought Podcast , Eric Pratum speaks with Mitch Joel — entrepreneur, author of Six Pixels of Separation and CTRL ALT Delete , and host of the podcasts Thinking with Mitch Joel and Groove: The No Treble Podcast . Mitch shares his perspective on entrepreneurship, creativity, and why “success is the anomaly.” They explore how Thinkers One is democratizing access to th...

In this episode of The Unfolding Thought Podcast , Eric Pratum speaks with Rory O’Neill—emergency physician, coach, and creator of the Coach Rory Soccer YouTube channel (with more than 50,000 subscribers). Rory blends the discipline of medicine with the craft of player development, offering a rare dual perspective on learning, leadership, and what’s broken in U.S. youth soccer. They discuss how ea...

In this episode of The Unfolding Thought Podcast , Eric Pratum speaks with Jeff Meredith , Associate Creative Director at RKD Group and longtime writer for rescue missions across the U.S. Over the past two decades, Jeff has interviewed more than a thousand people who’ve experienced homelessness, addiction, and recovery—gaining rare insight into what drives collapse and what makes renewal possible....

In this episode of The Unfolding Thought Podcast , Eric Pratum speaks with Bob Hoffman — author of Adscam and The Ad Contrarian — about the uncomfortable truths at the heart of digital advertising. Bob explains how adtech evolved into one of the largest surveillance systems ever built, why marketers mistake data quantity for quality, and how political deregulation is quietly eroding online privacy...

In this episode of The Unfolding Thought Podcast , Eric Pratum speaks with Martin Bihl — writer, strategist, podcaster, and self-described “recovering ad man.” Known for his sharp wit and reflective takes on marketing, media, and the human condition, Martin challenges conventional thinking about creativity, capitalism, and the culture of business. The conversation explores how advertising both ref...

In this episode of The Unfolding Thought Podcast , Eric Pratum speaks with Neen James—leadership strategist, keynote speaker, and author of Attention Pays and the soon-to-be-released Exceptional Experiences . Known for her “sassy Aussie energy” and straight-talk frameworks, Neen challenges traditional ideas of luxury, arguing that it’s not about money or things but about moments of human connectio...

In this episode of The Unfolding Thought Podcast , Eric Pratum speaks with Tara Hamberger , founder and CEO of RootedCare+ , about her mission to provide 24/7, text-based support to unpaid family caregivers. Tara shares the personal caregiving experiences that led her to launch RootedCare+, why she chose SMS over apps, and how Roo, their compassionate AI assistant, delivers emotional support, reso...

In this episode of The Unfolding Thought Podcast , Eric Pratum speaks with Rob Gallaher about the profit sharing system he built after starting and scaling multiple businesses. Rob walks through his early missteps with quarterly bonuses, why behavior did not change, and the simple changes that did move the needle: monthly payouts, a meaningful minimum threshold, and consistent communication that t...

In this episode of The Unfolding Thought Podcast , Eric Pratum speaks with Colman Swisher, former CIO of an international healthcare logistics company, about his unexpected journey from being the first technology hire to leading a fight against private equity–driven decisions. Colman shares how he built critical systems from the ground up—transforming operations that once ran on little more than e...

In this episode of The Unfolding Thought Podcast, Eric Pratum speaks with Shawn Kemp, a product leader, startup advisor, and artist whose journey spans the worlds of technology, entrepreneurship, and creative expression. From his early days at Microsoft working on Xbox and Silverlight, to co-founding mission-driven companies and engaging deeply with food systems and transparency, Shawn brings a ra...

In this episode of The Unfolding Thought Podcast , Eric Pratum speaks with Bob Knorpp, consultant, speaker, and longtime host of The Beancast , one of the earliest and longest-running marketing podcasts. Bob brings a sharp perspective on how podcasting, advertising, and marketing have evolved over the last two decades—and what hasn’t changed. Bob shares his journey from agency life to running a co...

In this episode of The Unfolding Thought Podcast , Eric Pratum is joined by Courtney McAra, founder of Mustang MarTech, to explore the art and science of marketing operations. Courtney shares her journey from a startup generalist to a highly specialized marketing ops consultant who’s helped teams at places like SurveyMonkey and Marketo bring order to chaos. She breaks down the critical components...

In this episode of The Unfolding Thought Podcast , Eric Pratum speaks with Michael Whitmer, Vice President at Look East and a longtime strategist in the food and agriculture space. Michael has spent more than two decades helping food brands and commodity organizations communicate clearly, build credibility, and connect with consumers on what matters most. They discuss how food intersects with iden...

In this episode of The Unfolding Thought Podcast, Eric Pratum sits down with Gini Dietrich, founder of Spin Sucks and creator of the PESO Model©—a strategic framework for aligning paid, earned, shared, and owned media to build reputation and deliver business results. Gini shares lessons from her work advising brands, training communicators, and building a thriving media and education company. She...

In this episode of The Unfolding Thought Podcast, Eric Pratum speaks with Peter Kelly-Detwiler, an expert in global energy markets and sustainability. Peter discusses the dynamic interplay between technology, economics, and policy shaping the energy sector today and into the future. Peter addresses critical issues like the complexities of integrating renewable energy sources, the role of AI and ad...

In this solo episode of The Unfolding Thought Podcast, Eric Pratum explores the decline of album sales in light of Rick Beato’s recent video on the best-selling albums of the 21st century. Rather than attributing the change solely to streaming or market fragmentation, Eric frames the issue through the Pace Layers model—offering a more nuanced explanation for why physical albums have faded and why...