Heartbeat For Hire with Lyndsay Dowd

James Laughlin is a 7-Time World Champion musician, #1 best-selling author of Habits of High Performers, and global keynote speaker.

As a renowned strategist in High Performance Leadership, James helps businesses and teams make high performance their new normal. From boardrooms in London to missions in Antarctica, he equips leaders to unlock elite results. A history-making team captain and trusted mental skills coach to professional athletes, James brings proven tools to the world's top performers. He also hosts the #1-ranked Habits of High Performers podcast, where he interviews prime ministers, Formula 1 teams, and best-selling authors to explore the habits behind world-class performance.

Connect with James:

• Website: https://www.jjlaughlin.com
• LinkedIn: James Laughlin
• Instagram: @JamesLaughlinOfficial
• Free Planner: https://www.jjlaughlin.com/planner

Episode Summary:

What turns a world champion into a coach for prime ministers and pro athletes? In this episode, Lindsay sits down with James Laughlin, who grew up in Northern Ireland, won his first drumming world championship at 13, and went on to win seven. At 30, James walked away from drumming to be a present dad, earned a leadership degree, and rebuilt his career helping high performers in business, sport, and politics.

James explains why high performance is a set of learned habits, not a birthright, and why it takes years of consistent reps. He shares what the world's best leaders have in common (radical clarity about what they want), why you should stop stressing over "purpose" and follow your passions instead, and how teams can rewire their beliefs. He also walks through two simple mental tools for handling change and pressure, including the "WTOH" question. The conversation closes with James's definition of legacy, news of his second book, and a call to have the courage to be yourself.

Key Takeaways:

• High performance is a habit, not a talent.
• Greatness takes time.
• Get radically clear on what you want.
• Passion is for you. Purpose is for others.
• Choose a possibilitarian mindset.

Episode Chapters:

00:00 Episode preview and what you'll learn

00:49 Meet James Laughlin

01:41 From Northern Ireland to New Zealand

03:04 What does a world champion drummer do?

04:16 Walking away from drumming and finding a new path

06:35 Why high performance is a habit, not talent

08:13 What the world's top leaders have in common

09:50 Passion vs. purpose

10:59 Bringing high-performance habits to your team

13:26 Mental skills for change and pressure

14:19 Minuscularian vs. possibilitarian mindset and WTOH

15:45 Finding the friction

16:42 Listener thank-you and Lead with Heart discount

17:36 What inspires James

18:01 James's legacy

18:58 What's next: book number two

19:36 Where to find James

20:05 Final message: have the courage to be yourself

20:39 Closing

Andrew Rosener is a globally recognized authority in domain name investment and brokerage, widely regarded as the foremost dealmaker in digital real estate. As the Founder and CEO of MediaOptions, the world's leading domain brokerage firm, Andrew has facilitated over $800 million in domain sales, including high-profile transactions such as X.com to Elon Musk, Zoom.com to Zoom, Prime.com and Podcast.com to Amazon, Galaxy.com to Galaxy Digital as well as thousands of others. His expertise and assistance in domain name and digital asset acquisition has enabled Fortune 500 companies, startups, and investors to establish powerful online brands, optimize digital marketing strategies, and capture significant market share.

As a true innovator in the domain industry, Andrew developed the Rosener Equation, a widely adopted methodology for objectively valuing domain names based on data and key market factors, helping businesses and investors make informed digital asset decisions. His strategic foresight and deep understanding of domain valuation, acquisition, and negotiation have reshaped the domain investment landscape, positioning him as one of the preeminent thought leaders in the digital economy, from domain names to crypto and well beyond.

Connect with Andrew Rosener

• X: x.com/andrewrosner
• LinkedIn: Andrew Rosener
• Company: mediaoptions.com

Episode Summary:

In this conversation with Lyndsay, Andrew shares how he left a mid-six-figure job in his mid-20s, moved abroad, and bet everything on a pile of domains most people thought were worthless. He explains why a domain name is really digital real estate, how he built an objective way to price something nobody knew how to value, and what it felt like to broker x.com. He closes with what inspires him, the one line he wants on his tombstone, and why he believes leaning into change always pays off.

Key Takeaways:

• Know your natural strength.
• Small goals beat big leaps.
• A domain is the shortest path to someone's intent.
• Exact-match .coms build instant trust.
• Fix what's broken in a market.

Episode Chapters:

00:00 – Preview and What You'll Learn

00:46 – Welcome to Heartbeat for Hire

01:02 – Meet Andrew Rosener

01:53 – From College Software Startup to Seafood Sales

04:49 – Collecting Domains and Leaving a Six-Figure Job

08:29 – Sink or Swim: Moving to Panama

09:32 – The First Big Break: Selling Pizza.net

10:55 – Why Domains Are Digital Real Estate

14:44 – Becoming a Broker and Creating the Valuation Formula

19:00 – How He Brokered x.com

21:59 – Short Domains and Two-Letter .coms

22:53 – Thank You and Listener Perk

23:36 – What Inspires Andrew

25:11 – His Legacy: "He Always Did What He Said He Was Gonna Do"

25:49 – Where to Find Andrew

26:18 – What's Next

26:58 – Final Takeaway: Don't Be Afraid of Change

Lacey Newman is a founder, coach, and keynote speaker who has helped thousands of high-performing women build businesses and lives that are truly their own. Over two decades she scaled a real estate team to nearly $1B in volume, was the former host of the Emmy-nominated The American Dream, and grew her income from under $50K to seven figures — all while raising two kids on her own.

After failing out of real estate once (she was one of the 85% who do), Lacey came back with a different playbook — one built on boundaries, systems, and self-trust instead of hustle. Today she teaches women to stop over-functioning, untangle their identity from productivity, and reinvent their work from a place of clarity instead of burnout.

Connect with Lacey Newman:

website: laceynewman.com

Instagram: @heylaceynewman

Episode Summary:

Lacey Newman spent 20+ years in real estate, helped build a team that crossed $1 billion in sales volume, and hosted the Emmy-nominated show The American Dream. She also quit the industry for about two years, felt like a failure as a young mom, and went through a divorce in 2014 with two kids ages three and five.

When she came back to real estate, she threw out the rule book. She stopped being available 24/7, took control of her schedule, and was surprised to find that clients respected her more and her business grew. She went from earning under $70K a year to a multi-seven-figure business.

Key Takeaways:

• Boundaries help your business.
• Failure is only failure if you stop.
• A pivot is not quitting.
• Fire the bad client.
• Take care of your body, mind, and spirit first.

Episode Chapters:

00:00 Cold open: three things you'll learn

00:47 Welcome and meet Lacey Newman

01:44 Lacey's story: from new agent to quitting during the recession

03:07 Divorce and the comeback to real estate

04:20 From a billion-dollar team to coaching women

05:23 Turning failure around: throwing out the rule book

08:37 Boundaries for clients and why Lacey celebrates firing a client

10:25 Failure, playing big, and pivoting vs. quitting

11:47 Looking fine on the outside, struggling on the inside

15:53 Listener thank-you and Cozy Earth discount

16:58 What inspires Lacey: her kids, a favorite quote, and mom guilt

19:53 Lacey's legacy

20:58 What's next: a new podcast, a book, and going all in on AI

22:33 Where to find Lacey

23:01 Final message for listeners

23:49 Wrap-up and outro

Jenny Cova is a professional skydiver, BASE jumper, adventure athlete, author, speaker, and entrepreneur who has spent much of her life learning what fear can teach us when we stop running from it.

With thousands of jumps and more than a decade spent in high pressure environments—from the sky to the mountains—Jenny has learned that courage isn't the absence of fear. It's the relationship we build with it, and who we become when we stop letting fear choose our lives.

She is the author of Why Am I Here and the founder of The She Who Rises, a growing movement rooted in the belief that when women rise, humanity rises. Through her writing, speaking, and work, Jenny explores self-leadership, our relationship with fear, and what it means to live with greater courage, presence, purpose, and joy.

Swiss-Italian and based in the Swiss Alps, Jenny is most at home somewhere between earth and sky—whether she's skydancing, BASE jumping, climbing mountains, skiing, or asking the

Connect With Jenny:

Website: https://www.jenny-cova.com

LinkedIn: Jenny Cova

Instagram: @jenjen.cova

Episode Summary:

Thousands of skydives and BASE jumps taught Jenny Cova something most people never learn: courage isn't about running through fear, it's about understanding it. In this conversation with Lindsay, Jenny shares how a childhood spent staring at clouds led her to wingsuit BASE jumping, why skydiving was the first sport she wasn't naturally good at, and how her perfectionism nearly pushed her out of the sport she loved.

Key Takeaways:

• Courage isn't the absence of fear.
• Fear has a reason.
• Mistakes are how you learn.
• Swap pressure for love.
• Some fear is healthy.

Episode Chapters:

00:00 Cold open: put love on yourself instead of pressure

00:25 What you'll learn + welcome to the show

00:58 Meet Jenny Cova

01:52 Jenny's story: Switzerland, adventure sports, and her relationship with fear

02:39 Childhood dreams of the sky and discovering wingsuit BASE jumping

03:59 From first skydive to serious jumper

06:28 Learning to dance in the sky and taking five years off

07:43 Why mistakes matter and how Jenny coaches others through them

08:17 Self-love, self-worth, and patience

09:16 Leadership lessons: it's okay not to know everything

10:35 Courage, fear, and the "adrenaline junkie" myth

11:21 Fear of imperfection and healing the younger self

12:17 BASE jumping, healthy fear, and Jenny's pre-jump routine

13:22 Coping tools, breathwork, and the next generation

14:24 Who Jenny works with and her "midlife awakening"

15:42 Listener thank-you and show perks

16:32 What inspires Jenny

17:44 Jenny's legacy

18:46 Where to find Jenny and her book Why Am I Here?

20:04 Final message: act in spite of fear, then understand it

21:04 Jenny's Sneaks skydive campaign

21:32 Wrap-up and goodbye

Bruce E. Cardenas journey spans from the United States Marine Corps (disabled veteran) to the LAPD, where he was awarded the highest award, the Police Medal for bravery. He still serves as a level one reserve for the LA County Sheriff's Department serving the citizens of the county. Bruce then embarked on his entrepreneurial path by founding a high-level personal protection business. Protecting some of the biggest names in entertainment & business over the past 30 years. All while serving as a police officer. A serendipitous meeting with the founders of Quest Nutrition led Bruce to become an intrapreneur within the startup, ultimately rising to Chief Communications Officer. He played an instrumental role in the billion-dollar sale of Quest Nutrition.

Bruce's journey now continues with Legendary Foods, where he leverages his expertise and passion. Legendary is on track to be another billion dollar brand! And at Legendary, we spend millions of dollars a year, looking for answers in cancer, heart, disease, neuropathy, and other metabolic diseases, We started our own Bio Shift research foundation, 501(c)(3), nonprofit as we continue this battle

Connect with Bruce Cardenas

• Website: brucecardenas.com (his book is available here)
• Social media: Bruce E. Cardenas

Episode Summary:

Bruce Cardenas grew up in a small New Jersey town of about 1,000 people, was held back in school, and dreamed of joining the local five-man police department. That path led him through the Marine Corps, the LAPD, and a 30-year career as a personal bodyguard for some of the biggest names in entertainment.

Key Takeaways:

• Bring value with no strings attached.
• Relationships and professionalism build a business.
• Think like an intrapreneur.
• Be obsessed with customers, not competitors.
• Keep it simple and consistent.

Episode Chapters:

00:00 Cold Open: Three Things You'll Learn Today

00:45 Welcome and Introducing Bruce Cardenas

01:54 Growing Up in High Bridge, NJ, and Joining the Marine Corps

05:01 From Camp Pendleton to the LAPD

06:08 Starting a Bodyguard Business While Working as a Cop

09:26 Meeting the Founders of Quest Nutrition

12:22 Becoming an Intrapreneur and Chief Communications Officer

13:44 The Billion-Dollar Cash Sale and Being Obsessed with Customers

14:45 What Is Legendary Foods?

16:10 Costly Mistakes at Quest and Why Consistency Wins

17:15 Leadership Lessons from Founder Ron Pena

18:16 The 85% Blockage That Changed Everything

19:41 $20 Million into Cancer and Heart Disease Research

21:32 Ron's Vision and Showing Up with Value

22:58 What Inspires Bruce: Money as a Facilitator

24:09 Legacy and Why He Wrote His Book

24:56 What's Next for Bruce and Legendary

26:05 Where to Find Bruce

26:19 Final Advice: Start Today

27:53 Closing Thoughts

Roger Duthie brings over 19 years of experience in senior management at one of the world's most recognizable brands, Emirates Airline. During his tenure, he successfully negotiated and managed high-profile contracts with some of the biggest sporting teams and organizations globally, overseeing a budget exceeding $300 million. His extensive international network spans across brands, teams, leagues, and athletes, making his connections in the world of sports unparalleled.

With a deep passion for sports and a vast business acumen, Roger's expertise spans football, golf, tennis, and baseball. His close ties to the DP World Tour (formerly the PGA European Tour), The Ryder Cup, the PGA Tour, the Asian Tour, and numerous high-profile players have strengthened his reputation as a leader in sports sponsorship.

Connect with Roger Duthie:

Website: bearfishsportsmarketing.com

Dubai Little League: dubailittleleague.com

LinkedIn: Roger Duthie

Episode Summary:

Lyndsay Dowd sits down with Roger Duthie, who spent 19 years building Emirates Airline's global sponsorship program — negotiating deals with Real Madrid, Arsenal, PSG, the NFL, F1, and FIFA on a $300 million budget — before launching his own sports marketing firm, Barefish Marketing. Roger shares how he broke into elite global sponsorships as an outsider representing Dubai, why never burning a bridge became the backbone of his career, and how "old school in values, modern in tools" shapes his leadership style today. The conversation also dives into his 20+ years volunteering with Dubai Little League, where he's helped grow baseball from a small expat pastime into a thriving multinational youth program that's sent players to college scholarships and national teams. Roger closes with a candid take on AI in the workplace — encouraging young professionals to build real, human relationships instead of leaning on ChatGPT for everything.

Key Takeaways:

- Never burn a bridge.

- Sponsorship money is spent to make money.

- Face-to-face still wins.

- Big deals open doors for bigger deals.

- Behind the glamour is grinding.

- Passion projects can leave a real legacy.

- Use AI as a tool, not a replacement.

Episode Chapters:

00:00 — Cold open: "Don't go to ChatGPT to write your email"

00:56 — Intro to Heartbeat for Hire and today's guest

01:23 — Meet Roger Duthie

01:39 — Roger's path: Bahamas to Dubai, 28 years in the UAE

02:56 — Landing at Emirates Airline and building the sponsorship department

03:56 — Leaving a 19-year career at Emirates to start his own company

04:12 — Leadership philosophy: never burn a bridge

05:49 — Has relationship-building changed for the next generation?

06:56 — Breaking into FIFA, Real Madrid, Arsenal, and PSG

08:39 — Managing a $300 million sponsorship budget and staying accountable

13:08 — The biggest misconception about sponsorship work

14:09 — Leadership lessons: ROI, ROO, and building real business value

14:35 — Barefish Marketing: what Roger does today

14:49 — Explaining baseball's value to non-American markets

17:52 — What inspires Roger to keep going

19:36 — Roger's hoped-for legacy: his kids, and Dubai Little League

20:43 — Where to find Roger and Barefish Marketing

21:12 — What's next for Roger

21:38 — Closing thoughts: AI, human relationships, and advice for young people

24:47 — Wrap-up

Andy Riise is a Mental Performance & Leadership Coach, retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel, keynote speaker, podcast host, and best-selling co-author. A West Point graduate and former Army football player, he spent over 20 years leading Soldiers in high-stakes combat environments. His post-military career in athletics spans MLB, NFL, and collegiate athletics, including the Colorado Rockies, Cincinnati Reds, and, most recently, the Chicago Bears. He's also worked in business, healthcare, higher education, and emergency services. Today, Andy's mission is to equip athletes, leaders, and teams with battle-tested systems to perform under pressure and lead with clarity. He and his wife, Katie, have been married for over 23 years and are raising four active teenagers and young adults in Houston, TX.

Connect with Andy:

Website: https://www.andyriise.com

Linkedin: @andyriise

Episode Summary:

Andy Riise spent over 20 years as a West Point graduate and retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel leading soldiers in combat. That experience — plus five years working alongside Green Berets and Special Forces units — became the foundation for a second career as a mental performance coach, working with the Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Reds, and Colorado Rockies. In this episode, Andy joins Lyndsay Dowd to unpack the "4C Model" of mental toughness (confidence, control, commitment, and challenge), explain the difference between mental toughness and mental fitness, and share how the same training systems that help soldiers and elite athletes perform under pressure can help everyday leaders, teams, and families. He also opens up about the personal side of his mission — inspired by his wife, a special education teacher, and his own kids — and previews his upcoming book, Step Into The Arena.

Key Takeaways:

• Mental toughness can be trained like a physical skill — it's not something you either have or don't.
• Andy's "4C Model" breaks mental toughness into confidence, control, commitment, and challenge.
• Confidence starts with self-talk: you're the author, publisher, and consumer of your own story.
• Control is about emotional regulation — naming your emotions so they work for you, not against you.
• People move along a bridge from survival, to resilience, to thriving — and everyone shifts along it daily.

Episode Chapters:

00:00 – Cold open & episode preview

01:25 – Meet Andy Riise: West Point grad, combat veteran, mental performance coach

02:00 – Andy's origin story: growing up in Oakdale, CA, and his path through West Point

03:52 – From the battlefield to the Army's resilience program

05:46 – Five years working with Green Berets and Special Forces

06:27 – The leap into pro sports: NFL, then the Colorado Rockies

07:51 – Mental fitness vs. mental toughness: the survival-resilience-thriving bridge

09:38 – Breaking down the 4C Model: confidence, control, commitment, challenge

11:19 – Why "soft skills" should be called "power skills"

12:04 – Coaching corporate leaders to train like athletes

14:59 – Andy's own podcast, Skull Sessions

16:43 – Sponsor break

18:47 – Defining legacy and the "ripple effect" of mastery

20:22 – What's next: his upcoming book, Step Into The Arena

21:12 – Andy's message to listeners: reach out, he's accessible

22:37 – Closing thoughts and sign-off

Pamela is a seasoned executive coach with over two decades of experience. She is known for guiding leaders through complex transitions with clarity, confidence, and compassion. With deep expertise in human development, organizational change, and C-suite dynamics, she partners with CEOs, Boards, and executive teams to build cultures of trust, performance, and purpose.

Pamela has led transformative leadership programs across sectors nonprofits, foundations, startups, and global enterprises. At Amazon, she pioneered the company's first executive onboarding and development program for senior leaders worldwide, earning a Brandon Hall Gold Award. As SVP of People and Organizational Development at Outreach, she helped scale a values-driven culture through rapid growth.

Her work as a Culture Strategist and Executive Coach continues to shape leadership practices in high-growth environments. Whether aligning leadership teams, coaching through succession, or cultivating values-based cultures, Pamela brings a rare blend of rigor and heart, razor-sharp intelligence, perceptiveness, and a very helpful edginess to her work.

Episode Summary:

Lyndsay Dowd sits down with executive coach and organizational design expert Pamela Mattsson, who built Amazon's first executive onboarding program for senior leaders worldwide before founding her own practice. Pamela unpacks why culture isn't a poster on a wall but a diagnosable, rebuildable system, and walks through the three interconnected pillars of her work: culture strategy, top team development, and executive coaching. She shares why "customization" is really about respect, how honoring what's real (including the confidence dip every new executive faces) builds trust faster, and why leadership is never just a job — it's an expression of soul that shapes the "dinner table conversations" people have about their leaders. The conversation closes with reflections on legacy, what's next for Pamela's practice, and a simple, powerful test for leaders: if there were a one-way camera on you, would you be proud of the footage?

Connect with Pamela Mattsson:

• LinkedIn: search Pamela Mattsson
• Website: pamelamattsson.com

Key Takeaways:

- Culture isn't just values on a wall

- New executives experience a natural dip in confidence and competence when they change roles

- Real coaching work starts with discovery, not a fixed playbook

- Culture change has to start at the top

- A strong executive team is more than a group of strong functional leaders

Episode Chapters:

00:00 — Cold Open & Episode Preview

00:55 — Meet Pamela Mattsson

02:14 — Pamela's Origin Story: From Typing Psych Reports to Studying Resilience

03:23 — The Drive to Keep Learning

04:36 — From Building Amazon's Program to Independent Practice

06:41 — What Makes Her Coaching Approach Different: Partnership Over Playbook

09:34 — The Three Buckets of Her Work: Culture Strategy

11:48 — Top Team Development

13:25 — Executive Coaching, Tied Back to the Team

14:25 — Advice for Leaders Considering This Work

17:44 — Sponsor Break & Show Support (Cozy Earth discount code: LEADWITHHEART)

18:35 — What Inspires Pamela + The "One-Way Camera" Test

20:17 — Defining Legacy

21:22 — What's Next for Pamela

22:59 — The Book in Progress, and Where to Find Pamela

23:53 — Closing Thoughts & Sign-Off

Victor Bergonzoli is the CEO of SportsEdTV and a longtime entrepreneur in sports technology and education. He previously co-founded Dartfish, helping grow the company globally through sales, partnerships, and business development.

Known as a natural networker and dealmaker, Victor has spent more than 25 years connecting people, companies, and opportunities across sports, technology, media, and education.

A former Swiss national-level weightlifter and Swiss Army captain, he now leads SportsEdTV with a mission to make world-class sports knowledge accessible to everyone.

Connect with Victor Bergonzoli:

- LinkedIn: Victor Bergonzoli

- Email: victor@sportsedtv.com

- Website: sportsedtv.com

Episode Summary:

Victor Bergonzoli's path to the Olympics didn't start with a broadcast deal — it started with a bag of VHS tapes and the nerve to knock on an NBC trailer door. In this episode, Victor traces his journey from competitive weightlifting in Switzerland to co-founding Dartfish, the video technology behind the "simulcam" effect used in Olympic broadcasts and now used by 70% of Olympic medal winners. He shares how relentless listening — not flashy technology — built the trust that got him in front of NBC, the U.S. Olympic Committee, and coaches worldwide. Victor also opens up about why he left Dartfish to found SportsEdTV, a free platform built to bring high-quality sports coaching and education to every athlete, parent, and coach — not just the elite. The conversation closes on what really drives him: family, helping others, and the moments when the work changes someone's life.

Key Takeaways:

- Listen before you build.

- Relationships open doors.

- Honesty builds trust fast.

- Keep it simple.

- Quality beats quantity.

Episode Chapters:

00:00 Cold open — three things you'll learn

00:33 Welcome to Heartbeat for Hire & guest introduction

01:41 Victor's origin story: Swiss weightlifting and an early love of sports

02:48 Discovering "simulcam" technology in India — the spark for Dartfish

04:02 Breaking into Olympic broadcasting: the NBC "Video Finish" trailer story

05:37 Partnering with the U.S. Olympic Committee and scaling through trust

06:31 Why listening — not selling — is the real skill

09:41 What Dartfish became: from broadcast tech to coaching tool to VAR

10:55 Why Victor left Dartfish to found SportsEdTV

12:04 The personal story behind SportsEdTV: his son, lacrosse, and bad YouTube content

13:01 Building a trusted brand: 800+ cinema-quality videos and 1,800 articles

15:41 Sponsor break (Cozy Earth)

16:22 What inspires Victor: family, travel, and helping people

17:29 Legacy: the Olympic gold medalist story that still gives him chills

19:05 What's next: Chicago Public Schools and the Shape America partnership

20:08 Where to find Victor: LinkedIn, email, and sportsedtv.com

20:42 Final thoughts for listeners

Annie Yatch is the Chief Transformation Officer at Northstar Leadership, helping high-achieving entrepreneurs and executives break through subconscious patterns that limit their leadership potential and financial success. With over 15 years of experience guiding leaders through transformative change, Annie combines elite performance strategies with deep neurological and emotional intelligence work to fast-track personal and professional breakthroughs.

Annie's unique methodology connects the dots between unresolved trauma, leadership performance, and business growth. By identifying blind spots in the subconscious and rewiring neural pathways, she helps clients achieve remarkable results in their businesses and lives.

Connect with Annie Yatch:

Website: reinventionxo.com

Instagram: @reinventionxo.annie

LinkedIn: Annie Yatch

Episode Summary:

In this episode, Lyndsay Dowd welcomes back Annie Yatch — a former Defense Intelligence Agency-affiliated counter-terrorism analyst turned subconscious pattern-breaking expert for high-achieving entrepreneurs. Annie shares her unconventional path from government intelligence work to leading anti-piracy operations alongside Navy SEALs, and finally to building a methodology that helps entrepreneurs identify and dissolve the subconscious blocks capping their income, leadership, and relationships.

The conversation dives deep into why willpower alone is an unreliable strategy for growth, how an unregulated nervous system silently limits revenue, and why a spouse or partner can become either an entrepreneur's greatest asset or their greatest liability. Annie also shares candid stories from her own 15-year marriage to a Navy SEAL, client success stories involving multi-million-dollar breakthroughs, and what she's building next — including her group coaching program, The Authority Shift, and an upcoming women's retreat in Croatia.

Key Takeaways:

- Willpower runs out.

- Your nervous system can cap your income.

- Home life impacts business.

- Instability comes from feeling unseen.

- Not everyone should be an entrepreneur.

Episode Chapters:

00:00 — Intro: Three things you'll learn in this episode

00:40 — Welcome to Heartbeat for Hire

00:55 — Introducing Annie Yatch

01:32 — Annie's origin story: from CIA rejection to finding her purpose

02:20 — What is the DIA? Life as a counter-terrorism liaison

03:14 — Leading anti-piracy missions with Navy SEALs (Jerry Bruckheimer & Disney)

04:02 — Annie's three companies: youth leadership, defensive fitness, and SEAL Team Leaders

04:56 — Starting over after divorce: building a 1:1 coaching practice

05:30 — Relationships as assets vs. liabilities

07:00 — When a partner becomes a liability

09:29 — Understanding willpower: why it's the wrong tool for lasting change

12:04 — How the nervous system quietly caps your income

14:16 — Annie's own story: calming her nervous system with her Navy SEAL ex-husband

15:46 — Are some people just not cut out to be entrepreneurs?

16:31 — Sponsor break: Cozy Earth (code LEADWITHHEART)

17:24 — What inspires Annie

17:53 — Annie's legacy: raising kids to be unapologetically themselves

18:40 — Where to find Annie (Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, website)

19:10 — The Authority Shift group coaching program

20:16 — What's next: client visits and a 2027 women's retreat in Dubrovnik, Croatia

20:40 — Final message: self-awareness work isn't hard, it's fun

21:18 — Client success stories: a $20M deal and finding $750K in hidden business value

22:16 — Closing and thank-you

Carla Hall is a celebrated chef, TV personality, and author known for her appearances on Top Chef and The Chew. With her signature catchphrase "Hootie Hoo!" and infectious warmth, Carla has built a career on making cooking—and life—more joyful and accessible. She brings her culinary expertise and authentic personality to The MeMenu, transforming complex personal development concepts into digestible, actionable steps.

Deborah Grayson Riegel is a leadership communication expert, executive coach, and Wharton School faculty member. With a Master's degree in Applied Positive Psychology and decades of experience coaching executives, Deb brings research-backed methodologies and practical tools to The MeMenu. Her work has been featured in Harvard Business Review, Forbes, and Psychology Today.

Website: https://www.thememenu.com/

Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H6WPBR7D

Episode Summary:

In this episode, Lyndsay sits down with two powerhouse women: Carla Hall, Top Chef fan favorite and former co-host of The Chew, and Deborah Grayson Riegel (Deb), a Wharton professor, executive coach, and author. Together they've written The Me Menu, a book that uses a cooking analogy — recipes, flavors, and mise en place — to help women over 50 (and anyone ready to join them) put themselves first and lead their own next chapter with what they call "main dish energy." Carla and Deb share the story of how they connected, what's inside the book, what inspires them, and the legacy they each hope to leave.

Key Takeaways:

- Self-development doesn't need to feel like a chore.

- You don't need one big life overhaul.

- You are already enough.

- Staying connected doesn't take hours.

- Fun and rigor aren't opposites.

- Put yourself on the menu.

Episode Chapters:

0:00 Cold open: the cooking analogy behind The Me Menu

0:57 Welcome to Heartbeat for Hire

1:09 Meet Carla Hall & Deb Riegel

2:17 How Carla and Deb connected

4:15 From the kitchen to coaching: Carla's leadership journey

6:36 Who The Me Menu is for

9:38 Inside the book: the six flavors and the recipe format

14:56 Sponsor break: Cozy Earth

15:34 What inspires Carla and Deb

18:03 On friendship and the eight-minute rule

21:08 What's next for The Me Menu (keynotes and retreats)

23:56 Legacy: what they want to leave behind

26:49 Final takeaways for listeners

Jacquelyn Fletcher Johnson is an executive communication strategist, keynote speaker, conference designer, and founder of the Heartwood Leadership Institute. She helps leaders, founders, and organizations transform powerful ideas into unforgettable messages that inspire action through the power of story. The belief that stories can change lives has shaped her work from the very beginning.

Jacque has coached executives and advised leaders at Fortune 100 companies and global brands including Amazon, Accenture, General Mills, Salesforce, Stripe, Target, Visa, Walmart, and more. She's the host of the Ideas Love Community podcast, creator of the Gateway Gathering & Pitch Fest, and the author of 14 books. She's trained thousands of professionals in communication, executive presence, and thought leadership. When she's not launching voices, you'll likely find her paddling with her gold medal-winning dragon boat team of all breast cancer survivors.

Episode Summary:

In this episode of Heartbeat for Hire, host Lyndsay Dowd sits down with Jaquelyn Fletcher Johnson — communication strategist, conference designer, 14-time author, and founder of the Heartwood Leadership Institute. Jaquelyn traces her lifelong obsession with storytelling back to a childhood prank on her younger brothers, then walks through a career that wound from freelance writing and magazine editing into pioneering "Creative Writing at the Bedside" and an on-set interview show at Mayo Clinic, and eventually into executive coaching and leadership development.

Key Takeaways:

- Stories shape how people feel long after they're told.

- "Trail angels" are the people who show up right when you need them.

- A meandering career can still add up to a clear pattern.

- Starting something of your own means giving up full control.

- Executive presence isn't about polish — it's about being grounded.

- A health scare can clarify your legacy.

- You don't have to act on every calling — but it won't disappear.

Episode Chapters:

00:00 Cold open: three things you'll learn from this episode

00:43 Welcome to Heartbeat for Hire + guest introduction

01:36 Jaquelyn joins the show

02:08 Origin story: the Jolly Green Giant and the power of story

04:58 Career path: freelance writer to magazine editor to Mayo Clinic storytelling programs

08:33 What is a "trail angel"?

10:06 The tough reality of the conference and speaking world

10:43 Why Jaquelyn decided to build her own conference

14:25 Lessons learned building the Gateway Gathering and Pitch Fest

17:53 Listener thank-you and sponsor spotlight (Cozy Earth)

18:34 Redefining executive presence

21:19 What inspires Jaquelyn

22:01 Legacy, breast cancer, and dragon boat racing

23:18 What's next: Gateway Gathering, Pitch Fest, and family milestones

24:04 Where to find Jaquelyn

24:09 Final takeaway for listeners

Letha Sandison, CEO + Founder, Four Moons Spa

A lifelong creative and service-driven visionary, her work has always centered around creating spaces that help people feel more seen, supported, and inspired. Before founding Four Moons, Letha lived in Uganda, where she ran an NGO supporting pediatric cancer patients and their families—an experience that deeply shaped her understanding of healing, human connection, and the power of community care. Upon returning home, she envisioned a new kind of wellness space: one where beauty, healing, artistry, and meaningful connection could coexist under one roof. Under her leadership, Four Moons has evolved into more than a spa. It is a wellness playground and community gathering place designed to help people slow down, reconnect to themselves, and experience wellness as a way of life. Through thoughtful details, transformative experiences, and a deeply human approach to hospitality, Letha continues to shape Four Moons as a space where ritual becomes a return to self. Outside of Four Moons, she finds inspiration in travel with family and loved ones, painting, and all things art and design. For her, self-care looks like daily morning and evening rituals that support a conscious and mindful life. She feels most lit up when creating art, connecting with interesting people, and exploring the world with family and friends.

Connect with Letha:

Instagram socials: @fourmoonsspa and @lethasandison

LinkedIn: @lethasandison

Episode Summary:

Lyndsay Dowd sits down with Letha Sandison, founder of Four Moons, a wellness "playground" in Encinitas, California, built for slowing down and reconnecting. Letha shares how nearly a decade running an NGO in Uganda — creating a fashion line that funded chemotherapy for pediatric cancer patients — shaped her belief that self-care isn't a once-a-year luxury but a daily necessity. She and Lindsay dig into why wellness has become a critical leadership tool, what sets Four Moons apart from a traditional spa (community programming, "healers and mystics," makers markets, women's tables), and why prescriptive wellness advice ("meditate for 30 minutes or you're failing") often backfires. Letha closes with a look at Four Moons' upcoming at-home ritual product line and her hope that listeners give themselves permission to be honest about what they actually need.

Key Takeaways:

- Self-care isn't a treat for your birthday — it's daily fuel that shows up in how you lead and show up for others.

- Working harder doesn't make you better. It just burns you out faster.

- Wellness works best when it's a two-way street: healers with formal training paired with more intuitive, esoteric support.

- Rigid wellness rules ("you must meditate 30 minutes a day") can make people feel like failures. Start small and build the muscle instead.

Episode Chapters:

00:00 Cold Open: Why Self-Care Isn't Optional

00:48 Welcome & Guest Introduction

01:53 Letha's Path: Art School to Nonprofit Work

03:08 Founding a Fashion Line to Fund Pediatric Cancer Care in Uganda

06:13 Coming Home and Reimagining Wellness

07:37 Why Wellness Is a Leadership Imperative

10:23 Inside Four Moons: A Wellness Playground, Not a Spa

13:00 Community as Medicine (and Coming Home to Social Media)

14:55 What Leaders Experience and Take Away

16:04 Ditching One-Size-Fits-All Wellness

19:01 Sponsor Break: Cozy Earth

19:59 What's Next: Bringing Spa Rituals Home

22:26 Where to Find Letha and Four Moons

22:43 Inspiration, Legacy, and Final Advice

Marlene Chism is an executive advisor, leadership consultant, speaker, and author who helps organizations fix the conversations that quietly undermine execution. She works with leaders to address hidden breakdowns in clarity, accountability, and communication that often show up as disengagement, turnover, conflict, and stalled results.

Connect with Marlene:

Facebook URL: https://www.facebook.com/marlenechism

Twitter URL: @marlenechism

LinkedIn URL: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marlenechism/

Instagram URL: marlenechismconsulting

Website: https://www.marlenechism.com

Episode Summary:

Lyndsay Dowd sits down with leadership consultant, author, and LinkedIn Learning instructor Marlene Chism, who went from working the production line at Kraft Foods to teaching over 700,000 people how to handle hard conversations. Marlene shares her journey from blue-collar worker to sought-after executive advisor, and unpacks why so many "accountability problems" aren't actually accountability problems at all — they're breakdowns further up the chain in clarity and conversation. She introduces her alignment chain (clarity → conversation → accountability → execution), explains why real conversation is different from communication, and walks through the performance coaching framework she built to give leaders confidence in hard conversations. The episode closes with reflections on inner growth, legacy, and Marlene's upcoming book, Spilling the Beans.

Key Takeaways:

- Most "accountability problems" are actually missing conversations or missing clarity, not a lack of accountability itself.

- Accountability only works when there's real measurement — not just a conversation that happened.

- A conversation is different from communication: communication can be a memo, but a conversation involves real back-and-forth, including some discomfort.

- Confidence in hard conversations comes from having a framework, not from personality.

Episode Chapters:

00:00 Cold open — 3 things you'll learn in this episode

00:45 Podcast intro

01:01 Guest introduction: who is Marlene Chism

01:37 Welcome to the show

01:53 Marlene shares her story

02:47 Blue-collar days at Kraft Foods and wanting "something more"

04:04 The three life tragedies of growth

04:49 Quitting her job at 40 to become a professional speaker

05:23 Coaching people through career pivots and reinvention

07:29 The story behind her book Stop Workplace Drama

09:53 Her upcoming 5th book: Spilling the Beans

10:54 Why accountability problems aren't accountability problems

13:07 The hidden weak link: conversation vs. communication

15:41 Giving up the need to be right

16:03 Reframing conflict as opposing drives, desires, and demands

17:02 Sponsor break

17:41 Why confidence in hard conversations is a framework, not a trait

18:35 The performance coaching model: preparing before the conversation

19:39 Leadership clarity: leading with intention

20:07 The messy middle: employee clarity

21:00 The accountability follow-up: circling back

21:12 The power of choosing how you respond

21:45 What inspires Marlene: inner growth

22:35 On legacy and living an aligned life

23:22 What's next for Marlene

24:07 Her ideal clients: mission-driven leaders

24:49 Where to find Marlene

25:06 Final takeaway: clarity can change any situation

Katrena Friel is an internationally recognized Business Mentor known for her transformative approach to leadership and entrepreneurship. With over 25 years of experience, Katrena empowers entrepreneurs and leaders to master their unique Field of Excellence. Her clients range from ambitious startups to seasoned professionals, all seeking to elevate their influence and success.

As an award-winning author and TEDx speaker, Katrena's mission is to help individuals unlock their full potential and create thriving, future-proof businesses. Her innovative "Done for You Program" turns dreams into reality within 90 days, leveraging seven distinct streams of income to build a sustainable business ecosystem.

Connect with Katrena Friel:

Email: katrena@becomingtheexpert.com.au

Phone: +61 412 537 053

Website: https://www.becomingtheexpert.com.au

LinkedIn: @katrenafriel

Episode Summary:

Lyndsay Dowd sits down with Katrena Friel, a business mentor with over 25 years of coaching and leadership experience, TEDx speaker, and award-winning author, to unpack why most entrepreneurs are sitting on income streams they've never touched. Katrena shares the painful $30,000 lesson that launched her coaching career, then breaks down her framework for building seven (really eight) streams of revenue from expertise people already have — from books and speaking to training, coaching, mentoring, facilitating, consulting, and franchising. She also walks through her 90-day "done for you" program that turns an idea into a full business ecosystem, describes her ideal client, and closes with advice on thinking bigger about what a fulfilling business and life can look like.

Key Takeaways:

- Most experienced professionals already have enough knowledge to build multiple income streams — they just don't know it.

- A costly mistake or bad experience can become the turning point that pushes you toward your real path.

- A personal brand isn't just being an influencer — it's a business built around your expertise.

- There are seven (plus a bonus eighth) income streams available to experts: book/e-book, speaking (paid and unpaid), training, coaching, mentoring, facilitating, consulting, and franchising.

- Writing a book builds credibility and positions you as an expert, even if it isn't a major revenue source on its own.

Episode Chapters:

00:00 Episode teaser: 3 things you'll learn

00:47 Guest introduction: Meet Katrena Friel

01:54 Katrena's background and path from corporate

02:52 The $30,000 lesson: a bad coach and a turning point

07:00 Why entrepreneurs are leaving money on the table

08:56 Client example: building the Virtual Assistant Institute

12:22 The seven streams of income, explained

12:27 Stream 1: Book / e-book

13:41 Stream 2: Speaking (paid and non-paid)

14:30 Stream 3: Training

14:53 Streams 4–6: Coaching, mentoring, facilitating, consulting

15:48 Bonus stream 8: Franchising

16:28 The power of a side hustle (a college grad's story)

18:09 Inside the 90-day program

21:17 Two types of clients: corporate-safe vs. all-in

23:01 Sponsor break

23:44 What inspires Katrena

24:41 Who is the ideal client?

26:01 Three types of clients: done-for-you, hybrid, and DIY

27:38 Katrena's legacy and definition of freedom

28:35 What's next: the Business Mentor Institute

29:14 Where to find Katrena

29:36 Final takeaway for listeners

Matt Edelman serves as Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and President, with responsibility for the company's strategy, capital allocation, operations, and long-term growth. Appointed CEO in April 2025 after serving as President and Chief Commercial Officer, Matt architected a comprehensive corporate restructuring, strengthening the company's balance sheet and raising more than $26 million in six months, culminating in a $20 million private placement in October 2025. Prior to his appointment as CEO, Matt drove more than 20x revenue growth, led multiple M&A transactions, oversaw hundreds of brand partnerships, supported the company's successful NASDAQ IPO, and helped establish Super League as a defining force in the emerging category of playable media.

To know more about Matt visit his LinkedIn: @mattedelman

Episode Summary:

Matt Edelman has spent over 30 years at the intersection of media, gaming, and emerging tech — starting at Marvel in the 1990s, helping launch Marvel.com, moving through WME/IMG's global live-events business, and now leading Super League as its Chairman, CEO, and President. In this conversation, Matt walks through his "meandering" career path, what it took to raise $26 million while restructuring Super League from an esports company into a platform that helps brands reach the "gamified consumer," and the leadership lessons he's picked up along the way — from building trust with his team to spotting emerging categories before they have a name.

Key Takeaways:

- Follow where you can have impact, not just what's exciting

- More people play video games than watch sports

- Reframe the audience to shift perception

- Trust is a leader's most important asset

- Curiosity drives good leadership, but it needs a check

- Younger generations are wired for gamified experiences

- Build a personal board of advisors

- The human side of your story matters as much as your business story

Episode Chapters:

00:00 – Episode teaser: the stats on gamers vs. sports fans

00:40 – Welcome & guest introduction

01:42 – Welcome, Matt

01:58 – Matt's origin story: from investment banking to Los Angeles

03:36 – The Marvel years: launching Marvel.com and riding the dot-com wave

11:20 – What Super League is and why it matters

16:34 – Matt's evolution as CEO and the importance of trust

19:15 – Listener support shoutout (top 2% of podcasts globally)

19:55 – What inspires Matt: solving business puzzles

22:08 – What legacy Matt wants to leave

23:35 – What's next for Super League and the gamified consumer trend

26:18 – Where to find Matt (LinkedIn) and why the "human side" matters online

29:08 – Final takeaway for listeners: build your personal board of advisors

31:47 – Outro

Whitney Conner Clapper is the Executive Director of the Farmhand Foundation, where she is helping build a future in which ecosystems, farmers, and communities support one another. With more than 20 years of experience in brand marketing, storytelling, regenerative agriculture, and community engagement, Whitney has built purpose-driven campaigns that connect business with lasting social and environmental impact. Her work spans the outdoor industry, including 12 years at Patagonia, where she led Indigenous engagement and justice, equity, and inclusion initiatives while helping shape mission-driven programs such as Worn Wear, Patagonia Provisions, and Patagonia Action Works. She built enduring partnerships between business, Tribal Nations, nonprofits, and grassroots movements to advance climate resilience, biodiversity, and environmental justice. Today, Whitney's work centers on regenerative agriculture—strengthening local food systems, restoring ecosystems, and helping farmers thrive through collaboration, innovation, and deep listening. Rooted in Indigenous wisdom and informed by science, she believes meaningful change begins with relationships, heart-led leadership, and the courage to reimagine how we care for both people and the land.

Connect with Whitney:

LinkedIn: @whitneyconnerclapper

Instagram: @whitneyconnerclapper

Farmhand Foundation:

LinkedIn: @farmhandfoundation

Instagram: @farmhandfoundation

Episode Summary:

Whitney Clapper shares her journey from building sustainability initiatives at Patagonia to co-founding a nonprofit dedicated to helping farmers and communities thrive. She explains why listening directly to farmers shaped their mission, what regenerative agriculture really means beyond buzzwords, and how supporting local food systems can create healthier communities and a more resilient future. The conversation also explores leadership, purpose-driven work, and the importance of meeting people where they are before trying to create change.

Key Takeaways:

• Listen before trying to solve problems—those closest to the challenge often have the best insights.
• Regenerative agriculture is about caring for people, land, and communities together.
• Great leadership starts with humility and curiosity.
• Farmers play a vital role in building a sustainable future.
• Supporting local farmers strengthens both communities and food systems.

Episode Chapters:

00:00 – Introduction & Three Big Lessons from the Episode

01:18 – Whitney's Career Journey to Patagonia

05:50 – Building Sustainability Initiatives at Patagonia

11:03 – Transitioning from Patagonia to Working with Farmers

14:06 – What Regenerative Agriculture Really Means

16:16 – Challenges Facing Farmers Today

19:39 – The Listening Tour That Inspired a New Mission

20:37 – Helping Farmers and Communities Thrive

22:10 – The Power of Listening as a Leader

23:15 – Creating Lasting Impact Through Community Work

28:24 – The Vision for the Future of Agriculture

29:38 – Why Buying Local Matters

31:08 – Final Thoughts & Closing

Keren Eldad (Coach Keren), Executive Coach to elite performers, Bestselling Author of GILDED, and Host of COACHED

Keren Eldad is not just an executive coach—she is someone who climbed the highest rungs of ambition, lost everything she thought mattered, and rebuilt a life that finally felt like her own. Before becoming one of the most recognized voices in high-performance transformation, Keren was a picture of outward success—married, living in Zurich, running a career that sparkled on paper. From the outside, she had "made it."

Socials:

Website: https://kereneldad.com/

Instagram: @coachkeren

Episode Summary:

Keren Eldad returns to Heartbeat for Hire as a repeat guest to dive deep into what happens after the breakthrough. While doing the personal work is essential, the real challenge is sustaining who you become and not slipping back into old patterns. Keren explores the concept of "identity dissolution"—breaking free from the patterns and identities that have defined you throughout your life. She reveals why success is actually harder to survive than failure, why insight alone isn't enough without identity-level change, and why high performers unconsciously rebuild their own cages even after doing transformational work. This episode is for anyone who's had breakthroughs but struggled to make them stick.

Key Takeaways:

- Breaking free requires resolving underlying patterns

- Success is harder to survive than failure

- Insight without identity integration is just borrowed confidence

- Overachievers are addicts

- High performers rebuild their cages

- Find your reference group

Episode Chapters:

00:00 Introduction: The Three Things You'll Learn Today

00:55 Welcome to Heartbeat for Hire & Keren's Credentials

01:28 The Real Assignment: Sustaining Who You Become

02:00 Keren's Background: Corporate Overachiever to Coach

04:45 What It Means to Be an Overachiever

07:15 Overachievers Are Addicts, Not Just High Performers

10:30 Why Success Is Harder to Survive Than Failure

14:00 The Possum on Your Chest: Suffocation & Misalignment

16:45 Keren's Reckoning: Divorce, Grief, and Awakening

19:20 Building an Overachiever's Recovery Guide

21:30 Insight Without Identity Integration Is Just Borrowed Confidence

23:45 The Choice We're Making: Saving Our Own Lives

24:45 What's Next: Book Tour, VIP Day in Austin, Turning 50

25:30 Life Transition: Kids Graduating & New Chapters

26:00 Where to Find Keren & Resources

27:00 Closing & Call to Action

Mark Peters is the Chief Executive Officer of Butterball Farms, Inc., which was nationally recognized as one of The Best and Brightest Companies to Work For® from 2018 to 2025. Most recently, named a Top 101 Companies to Work For® in the nation. The second-generation family business, based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, is America's leading producer of culinary butter and margarine and creates custom butter flavors for some of America's biggest brands.

Peters began as a factory worker in his father's company at the age of 12: an experience that taught him first-hand about the challenges that frontline workers face. At 30, he took over the company determined to lead a financially successful business that would also enrich the lives of its workers.

Socials:

Website: https://butterballfarms.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markpetersbutterball/

Instagram: @markpetersbutterball

Episode Summary:

In this episode of the Heartbeat for Hire Podcast, host Lyndsay Dowd sits down with returning guest Mark Peters, CEO of Butterball Farms, author of The Retention Trap, and founder of a nonprofit workforce support model that has generated a reported 300% ROI for participating organizations.

Mark shares how starting on the factory floor at age 12 shaped his leadership philosophy, why traditional retention strategies often miss the mark, and how employers can create environments where employees genuinely thrive. The conversation explores leadership, employee well-being, workforce development, and practical ways businesses can support workers beyond the workplace.

Key Takeaways:

- Great leaders understand the realities of frontline employees.

- Retention should be a byproduct of employee success, not the primary objective.

- Financial stability is often a bigger challenge for employees than employers realize.

- Building trust requires support systems outside traditional HR structures.

- Organizations that invest in employee well-being can create measurable business returns.

- Leadership is most effective when it focuses on enriching lives, not just improving performance metrics.

Episode Chapters:

00:00 – Introduction & What You'll Learn

00:59 – Meet Mark Peters

02:30 – Starting on the Factory Floor at Age 12

05:00 – Understanding Employees' Real-Life Challenges

08:00 – Building Better Workplace Support Systems

10:00 – The Source: A Different Employee Assistance Model

15:00 – The Business Impact of Employee Support

18:00 – Why Retention Is the Wrong Goal

24:00 – Financial Barriers Facing Workers

27:00 – A New Model for Employer Collaboration

30:00 – The Future of Leadership

34:00 – Final Thoughts & Closing Remarks

Josh Kosnick is a Bridge Builder—a leader forged through fire and guided by faith. As the founder of Kairos Coaching and an EOS Implementer, he empowers individuals and organizations to align vision with execution, transforming struggles into stepping stones toward fulfillment.

With firsthand experience in building and exiting three successful businesses, Josh brings a unique perspective on creating sustainable value and long-term impact. Through his masterminds and mentorship, he inspires others to embrace their calling, overcome adversity, and build legacies rooted in authenticity, resilience, and generosity of spirit.

Website: https://www.joshkosnick.com

Episode Summary:

In this episode of Heartbeat for Hire, Josh Kosnick shares his journey from being denied a raise at Best Buy to building, scaling, and exiting multiple businesses. He opens up about leading a 250-person financial services firm, navigating one of the most difficult seasons of his life after organizational betrayal and career loss, and how faith helped him rebuild his identity and purpose.

Key Takeaways:

- Success in business doesn't eliminate hardship; every growth story includes setbacks.

- Your identity should never be tied solely to your career or business.

- Difficult seasons can become the foundation for stronger leadership.

- Great businesses should be able to operate without constant founder involvement.

- Men's mental health deserves open and honest conversation.

- Relationships, community, and real human connection matter more than ever.

- Retirement is not the end of purpose—it's an opportunity to redirect it.

- Leadership is ultimately about serving others with your unique gifts.

Episode Chapters:

00:00 – Introduction & What You'll Learn

01:44 – From Best Buy to Entrepreneurship

02:45 – Building Businesses & Early Exits

03:23 – Scaling a Financial Firm

04:16 – Thriving Through COVID

05:35 – Career Crisis & Leadership Betrayal

08:02 – Faith, Loss, and Rebuilding Identity

10:01 – Discovering a New Purpose

12:15 – The Mission Behind Kairos Coaching

13:46 – Personal Loss & Men's Mental Health

15:01 – The Crisis Facing Young Men

18:03 – Human Connection Matters

21:01 – Leading by Example

26:18 – Life's Three Core Priorities

27:01 – Entrepreneurship, Exits & Purpose After Success

30:01 – Using Your Gifts to Serve Others