With Guests Episodes

Quinn Rose challenges the idea of objective journalism and reframes “good writing” as from-the-heart and based in story. She shares how ten years in the news industry destroyed her hope, and how she now uses those storytelling instincts to support brands she believes in. The conversation turns to AI’s flattening effect on voice, whether or not true “facts” exist, and how poker applies to life. 👤 About the Guest Quinn Rose is a journalist-turned-creative strategist and storyteller for mission-d...

Erik and Scott Crabtree unpack why happiness feels hard to define, what science can actually say, and why “chasing” happiness can backfire. They connect happiness to productivity through brain states, then zoom in on psychological safety, leadership communication, and concrete tools like seek, speak, listen. 👤 About the Guest Scott Crabtree is founder and Chief Happiness Officer of Happy Brain Science. He’s a nationally recognized keynote speaker on leadership in the age of AI, blending neuro...

Anthony Badalian, President and COO of STRIDE Fitness, joins Erik for a deep conversation about the hidden complexity of the fitness franchising business. What starts as a discussion about gyms and boutique fitness studios quickly evolves into a masterclass in leadership, hospitality, community-building, emotional intelligence, customer retention, and human behavior. Anthony shares why fitness is far more than workouts and why the brands that survive aren’t simply selling exercise — they’re cre...

Cameron Sabet operates at the intersection of medicine, venture capital, journalism, policy, and global public health—and somehow manages to connect all of them into one coherent worldview. In this conversation, Erik and Cameron explore the collapse of trust in healthcare, the unintended consequences of technology and social media, the loneliness epidemic, venture capital’s role in shaping human progress, and why human connection still sits at the center of medicine. They also dive into the fu...

Erik sits down with healthcare staffing leader Christopher Sund for a wide-ranging conversation about the future of healthcare, hiring, leadership, and AI. From staffing shortages and burnout to interviewing, recruiting, and organizational culture, Chris shares what he’s seeing firsthand from hospitals and healthcare systems across the country. The conversation explores why healthcare staffing challenges are bigger than most people realize, why great recruiters are really great listeners, and w...

Bill Dowd went from professional hockey player to founder of North America’s largest humane wildlife control franchise — and in the process, built a business most people never even realize exists until they desperately need it. In this conversation, Erik and Bill unpack the realities of scaling a “boring” business into a category-defining company, the hidden opportunity inside fragmented industries, and why systems, customer service, and relentless execution still beat flashy ideas. They also ...

In this episode, Erik sits down with entrepreneur and Blyndspot CEO Josh Frantz to explore one of the most overlooked ideas in business: the untapped intelligence hidden inside organizations. Josh shares how his experience building multiple companies led him to a powerful realization — frontline employees often see and understand operational problems better than executives, consultants, or leadership teams ever could. Together, they unpack why psychological safety matters more than most leaders...

Nicole O’Sullivan doesn’t teach sales tactics—she rewires how people think about selling. In this conversation, she and Erik explore why most sales conversations fail long before the pitch even begins. From the brain’s built-in shortcuts to the hidden beliefs that shape behavior, Nicole breaks down why even experienced salespeople miss what customers are clearly telling them—and how to fix it. This episode goes beyond sales. It’s about awareness, leadership, and the discipline required to inte...

In this conversation, Erik sits down with Zia Mohi, COO of CTI Staffing, to unpack a journey that started in reluctant sales and evolved into high-level operational leadership. What unfolds is a raw, practical exploration of effort, accountability, ego, and what it really takes to build high-performing teams. Zia brings a no-nonsense perspective shaped by trial, failure, and a willingness to “finally try.” From the bullpen at Xerox to leading large teams, he breaks down the mindset shifts that ...

In this long-awaited conversation, Erik sits down with Scott Anderson, who has served over 20 years in the military and is now a well-established leader in corporate America. Scott brings a rare blend of crisis-tested leadership and operational discipline into the business world. 👤 About the Guest Scott Anderson is a seasoned leader with over 20 years of experience across the U.S. Army, United Nations, and federal agencies. He led humanitarian and security operations in Gaza and Afghanistan, ma...

This conversation with JD Hilzendager, COO of ViaOne, is a masterclass in how to think, not what to think when it comes to building businesses. JD breaks down how his team evaluates opportunities across industries, why culture is their true operating system, and how empowering people to challenge decisions leads to better outcomes. From saying “no” to AT&T deals to building companies around passionate operators, this episode explores the intersection of decision-making, culture design, and long...

In this conversation, Erik sits down with leadership coach and keynote speaker Lisa Even to unpack one deceptively simple idea: everything you do creates a ripple. From the way leaders show up emotionally to how they engage and adapt culture in real time, Lisa breaks down leadership into something far more actionable—and far more personal—than most frameworks. This episode blends practical tactics with powerful metaphors (weather, energy, waves) and real-world stories that show how culture isn...

This episode dives into the intersection of engineering precision and sales leadership intuition. Daniel Schmidt shares his journey from technical design work to leading global sales teams—and the surprising realization that transformed everything: sales isn’t magic, it’s a process. Erik and Daniel unpack what actually drives buying decisions, why most sales teams get stuck in mediocrity, and how aligning to true corporate outcomes can simplify even the most complex deals. Along the way, they e...

This conversation with John Dues challenges one of the most deeply held assumptions in leadership: that people are the primary drivers of performance. Drawing on W. Edwards Deming’s System of Profound Knowledge, John introduces a radically different lens—one where systems, variation, psychology, and learning cycles shape nearly everything we see in organizations. Erik enters the conversation curious—and leaves with a fundamentally different way of thinking about data, incentives, and what it a...

Adam Plouffe has spent decades leading inside an industry most people rarely think about—but one that quietly shapes the global economy: steel. As COO of Brunswick Steel, Adam operates at the intersection of supply chains, tariffs, international trade, and manufacturing—where geopolitical decisions can ripple through a business overnight. But the real story isn’t about steel. It’s about leadership. In this conversation, Erik and Adam explore what it takes to guide teams through uncertainty, wh...

In this episode, Erik sits down with attorney and nonprofit executive Addison Hosner to unpack the realities behind the legal profession — from burnout in family law to the structural incentives that shape how justice is practiced. Addison shares what it was like running a solo law firm with a massive caseload, why he ultimately left litigation, and what the legal system often gets wrong about efficiency, incentives, and human impact. The conversation moves beyond career stories into deeper qu...

In this conversation, Erik sits down with Patrick Guerette to explore what sports systems can teach us about leadership, development, and long-term performance. Patrick shares insights from his experience in sport and athlete development, unpacking how different countries design systems that either nurture or destroy potential. The conversation moves beyond medal counts and highlights a deeper question: Are our systems actually developing people—or just extracting short-term results from a few ...

Ashley Falsafi didn’t take the traditional path into sales—or leadership. From operations to high-ticket sales to COO of an oil brokerage education company, Ashley’s journey challenges the myth that you have to “come up through the ranks” to lead effectively. In this conversation, Erik and Ashley unpack what leadership really requires: clarity, empathy, accountability, and the courage to have hard conversations. They explore how leadership skills transfer across industries, why mentorship accel...

In this conversation, Erik sits down with Charles Byrd—joint venture strategist and founder of PureJV—to unpack the systems, psychology, and subtle habits that turn conversations into million-dollar opportunities. From mastering follow-up at scale to avoiding the “reciprocation trap,” Charles reveals how warm traffic, intentional relationship building, and structured deal flow can outperform paid ads and cold outreach every time. If you’ve ever left an event thinking, “That had potential…”—thi...

In this episode, Erik sits down with business strategist and author Andrea Brown to unpack one of the most misused words in business: strategy. Together, they explore why most companies start with momentum instead of direction, why exit strategy should shape decisions from day one, and how the AI gold rush is exposing companies that never built a strategic foundation in the first place. 👤 About the Guest Andrea Brown is a business strategist and author of A Business That Works For You. She hel...

In this long-awaited conversation, Erik sits down with longtime friend and mentor Steve Toomey to unpack the art of curiosity, the discipline of presence, and the quiet power of asking better questions. They explore why interest fuels insight, how empathy can both strengthen and sabotage leadership, and what it really means to be “faithfully present” in a divided world. From boardrooms to Teen Challenge, from StrengthsFinder revelations to St. Francis’ prayer, this conversation weaves leadershi...

Pattie Dale Tye doesn’t just talk about extraordinary careers—she’s lived one. From a small Southern town to leading multi-billion-dollar divisions at companies like AT&T and Humana, Pattie Dale built a 30+ year C-suite career without an Ivy League pedigree or MBA. In this conversation, she unpacks what it really takes to move from ordinary to extraordinary—and why most people misunderstand the journey. 👤 About the Guest Pattie Dale Tye is the COO of Stoll Keenon Ogden and a former C-suite ex...

Jake Stahl returns to the show with a powerful message: winning deals isn’t about talking more—it’s about reading the room better. This conversation goes beyond sales tactics. It’s about emotional intelligence, pattern recognition, and learning to adapt in real time. Erik and Jake explore how subtle cues—tone, hesitation, posture, language—signal opportunity or resistance long before a deal is won or lost. If you’ve ever walked out of a meeting thinking, “I felt like something was off…”—this e...

What actually makes someone a good leader once the title changes? In this wide-ranging conversation, Erik sits down with Staci Lynn—COO, fractional executive, and senior living operator—to unpack leadership lessons learned the hard way. From managing without authority to leading former peers, from burnout to humility, and from system design to human development, this episode is a masterclass in what real leadership looks like when the stakes are high and the work is human. 👤 About the Guest Sta...