Time & Energy

Most people feel exhausted not because they do too much, but because they absorb too much emotional noise from work, relationships, and the world. We break down how to notice negative energy without owning it, and how that one skill changes leadership, stress, and home life. • redefining energy as emotional, mental, relational, and physical force  • recognizing how unmanaged stimuli create emotion...

We talk directly to anyone early in their career who feels pulled by other people’s expectations and wants a clearer way to make big life decisions. We break down how core values reduce friction, protect your energy, and help you avoid getting “successful” at things you do not care about.  • why most common career advice misses the point  • the real question to answer before chasing opportunities ...

Most people think branding is what you say. Amanda Shilling thinks branding is what people feel, and she has the stories to prove it. I brought Amanda on as the founder and CEO of Mint Brand Marketing, expecting a sharp conversation about marketing and brand identity. What we got was a deeper look at how leadership, culture, and customer experience quietly shape reputation long before any logo eve...

There’s something about builders that I can’t stop thinking about. Not the Instagram version. Not the “look at this cool logo we made” version. I mean the kind of person who wakes up one day and says, “You know what would be fun? Let’s create something out of thin air… and then be responsible for it forever.” That’s today’s guest — Mike Dragosavich, founder of Spotlight Media . On paper, it’s simp...

My conversation with Brady Opheim goes back a long way — about 20 years, give or take a few questionable decisions. From the outside, Brady’s life looks pretty dialed in: small-town roots, a successful business, a family, and a lot of hard-earned experience. But as we talked, it became clear that even a “good” life can drift if comfort starts to replace intention. In this episode, Brady shares wha...

BONUS: Recap #1 of Interview Through-Lines: Competitive Spirit  We reflect on how to channel the competitive spirit into leadership that people choose to follow. We share why hiring is the first job, how culture grows from people, not companies, and how to build environments where growth is the real scoreboard. • reframing competition from beating others to mastering systems • translating sports l...

What does it take to turn a junior golf mindset into a career of meaningful leadership? We sit down with Chief Legal Officer Jessica Monson to trace the winding path from Fargo fairways to the Caribou Coffee C-suite—and the life lessons gathered along the way. Jessica shares how biking to Edgewood with a bag over her shoulder, ASU golf camp, and playing with top junior boys taught her “think box v...

What separates good leaders from truly exceptional ones? In my conversation with Sue Hanish-Anderson, a seasoned leader with over 15 years of experience guiding teams at Discovery Benefits and WEX, we uncovered the principles that have defined her successful leadership journey. Sue's leadership philosophy was shaped by growing up as a middle child in a family of five daughters. Even though sh...

The magic of Sammy's approach lies in her ability to blur the lines between professional and personal relationships. As she puts it, "There's just so much time that happened, a lot of change that happened throughout the years, and we all were in it together." This philosophy has created teams where people work hard not just for themselves but "for the person sitting next t...

A wonderful hour-long conversation with former Baxter CEO Harry Kraemer transforms from a simple blog comment into a profound lesson on leadership and human connection. What began as a discussion about a controversial blog post becomes a masterclass in values-based leadership principles that can transform how we approach personal and professional relationships. • Finding that top performers share...

Andy Doeden’s remarkable journey from professional golf to corporate leadership shows us how life's transitions shape our perspectives and priorities. With refreshing honesty, Andy reveals the mental and emotional challenges of shifting from an individual contributor role—where success meant topping sales leaderboards—to leading teams at Discovery Benefits (later acquired by WEX) The conversa...

Part 1 of 2  What makes some people able to rise from obscurity to achievement while others with similar talent fall short? In this candid conversation with Andy Doeden, we delve into how a small-town golfer from Fargo, North Dakota, developed the mindset that propelled him from public courses to professional competition. Andy shares vivid memories from his early days—collecting golf balls at age...

Dave Schultz's remarkable journey from professional golfer to family man and General Manager of Fargo Country Club offers profound insights on finding purpose beyond our initial dreams. Growing up as the son of well-known TV personalities Ed Schultz and Maureen Hintz, Dave's path was shaped by a unique childhood where the game of golf entered his life through his father's negotiated...

What truly separates extraordinary performers from everyone else? In this profound conversation with former professional golfer Josh Persons, we peel back the psychological layers that define elite achievement across sports, business, and personal development. Drawing from their 30-year friendship, host Nick Lakoduk and Persons explore the mindset that propelled athletes like Michael Jordan and Ti...

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