Welcome to the Building Excellence Podcast with Bailey Miles. The mission of this show is all about sharing inspiring stories from some successful athletes, coaches, business minds, and thought leaders to help you build excellence in your life, leadership
The Building Excellence with Bailey Miles podcast is truly an exceptional show that I cannot recommend highly enough. From the moment I started listening, I was immediately drawn in by the genuine conversations and insightful discussions that take place between the host and accomplished guests. Each episode dives deep into the "why" behind success, offering a unique perspective on what it takes to excel in various fields.
One of the best aspects of this podcast is the diversity of its guests. Bailey Miles does an incredible job of bringing in individuals from a wide range of backgrounds and areas of expertise. Whether it's business leaders, athletes, artists, or scientists, there is always something new to learn from each guest's unique journey to success. This diversity allows for a rich tapestry of experiences and insights, making each episode engaging and thought-provoking.
Furthermore, what sets this podcast apart is its focus on finding commonalities amongst successful people. Instead of simply showcasing their achievements, the discussions revolve around understanding the underlying principles and mindset that have led these individuals to greatness. This emphasis on uncovering universal truths about success adds depth to each conversation and offers valuable lessons that listeners can apply to their own lives.
In terms of drawbacks, it is difficult to find any major flaws in The Building Excellence with Bailey Miles podcast. The only potential downside could be that some episodes may not resonate as strongly with certain listeners based on their personal interests or relevance to their own fields of expertise. However, even in those cases, there are still valuable nuggets of wisdom and inspiration to be found.
In conclusion, The Building Excellence with Bailey Miles podcast is a remarkable show that consistently delivers insightful conversations with accomplished guests. It stands out for its diverse range of guests and its focus on uncovering the underlying principles behind success. Whether you're looking for motivation or practical advice for achieving your goals, this podcast has something for everyone. Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to expand your knowledge and be inspired by the incredible stories shared on this show.
#214: Doug McNamee serves as the President of Field & Stream, where he is leading the revitalization of the iconic outdoor brand. Since assuming the role he has overseen the return of Field & Stream's print magazine, the launch of the 1871 Club membership program, and the development of strategic partnerships with cultural figures such as Eric Church and Morgan Wallen. Under his leadership, Field & Stream is being positioned as a modern platform that merges storytelling, commerce, and conservation, aiming to reconnect with a multigenerational audience of outdoor enthusiasts.Prior to joining Field & Stream, Doug was President of Magnolia, the lifestyle and media brand founded by Chip and Joanna Gaines, where he played a key role in its national expansion. He and his wife were actually featured in the very first episode of Fixer Upper. Before Magnolia he was the senior associate athletic director at Baylor University running the Bear Foundation and various other responsibilities. He served as a GA with the Baylor men's baseball program and was a student manager with the men's basketball team. On the show Doug shares his story, getting into athleitcs, perspective on culture, the importance of listening, humility, confidence, vulnerability, family, faith, and much more. For more on Doug check him out on social as well as fieldandstream.com Enjoy the show
#213: Casey Woods is the Offensive Coordinator for SMU Football. He just recently helped lead SMU to the College Football Playoff. A veteran coach with a strong pedigree in both player development and strategic play-calling, Woods has played a pivotal role in shaping some of the most explosive offenses in college football. Prior to joining SMU, Woods coached at powerhouse programs including Auburn winning a national championship, Missouri, UAB, Arkansas State, and Tennessee where he worked alongside some of the best coaches in the game and contributed to multiple high-performing teams. His journey through the coaching ranks reflects a deep understanding of the game, from recruiting and player evaluation to game-day execution. A former wide receiver at the University of Tennessee, Woods blends firsthand experience with a keen football intellect.Beyond the X's and O's, Casey Woods is known for his leadership, communication, and the trust he builds with his players. His presence on the SMU sideline marks more than just a strategic advantage—it reflects a commitment to mentorship, culture, and winning the right way.On the show he shares his story, the influence of his parents, importance of core values, power of genuine relationships, leadership, care, faith, family, and much more. Be sure to follow Coach Woods on X @CoachCaseyWoodsEnjoy the show!
#212: Mike O'Connell serves as the associate lead pastor at Love Church in Omaha, Nebraska. He is also an entrepreneur, speaker and leadership coach. Mike's story has been marked by overcoming obstacles. After a near fatal football injury in 2004, he turned down multiple football scholarship offers to walk on at Iowa. One week after the decision he was denied admission because he wasn't in the top 50% of his graduating class, even with a 3.3 GPA. While meeting with the provost regarding the situation, he was told statistics indicated he would fail out in his first semester if they granted him admission.Knowing failure wasn't an option, he made the bold decision to walk on at Iowa State. With all the odds against him, he survived three coaching changes and went on to earn a scholarship, become a team captain and earn all Big 12 academic honors.After one season of professional football Mike decided to lay down his dream of playing in the NFL. He moved from Los Angeles, California to Omaha, Nebraska with no job or place to live. Mike went on to work for Stryker as a medical device representative for two and half years before leaving corporate America to pursue his calling as a pastor.Mike hosts the Backstage with Mike O'Connell podcast, as well as the Lead Different Experience. For more on Mike check him out on social, as well as lovechurch.org and his website at mikeoconnell.com Enjoy the show!
#211: Eric Musselman is the head coach of the University of Southern California (USC) men's basketball team, having taken the helm in April 2024. Prior to joining USC, he spent five seasons at the University of Arkansas, compiling a 111–59 record and leading the Razorbacks to three NCAA Tournament appearances, including two Elite Eight runs. Musselman also served as head coach at Nevada from 2016 to 2019, where he guided the Wolf Pack to three Mountain West Conference titles and three NCAA Tournament berths. His coaching career spans over 30 years and includes stints in both the NBA and international basketball.Coach Musselman played college basketball at the University of San Diego, where he earned All-Academic honors and helped the Toreros reach two NCAA Tournaments. He is the son of Bill Musselman, a former NBA head coach, making them the first father-son duo to both serve as NBA head coaches. Eric Musselman's coaching journey began in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA), where he became the youngest head coach in league history at age 24. He later transitioned to the NBA, coaching the Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings, and also served as an assistant with several NBA teams. His international experience includes coaching the national teams of the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, and the United States.On the show he shares his story, thoughts on leadership, continues learning, resilience, energy, adapting, consistency, building excellence, and much more. For more info on Coach Muss check out his social media @ericpmusselman, as well as the USC men's basketball program at usctrojans.com Enjoy the show!
#210: Hortense le Gentil is a world-renowned executive leadership coach, speaker, and author. She guides CEOs and senior executives on their journey from hero leaders to human leaders. Guided by 30 years in business, working across industries—including media consulting and advertising—and as an entrepreneur. Hortense was recognized on the inaugural Coaches50 list in 2024 and was a 2023 and 2021 nominee for the Thinkers 50 Coaching and Mentoring Awards. She is a certified Marshall Goldsmith Stakeholder Centered™ coach, a member of MG100 Coaches, and has been ranked #5 on the Global Gurus list by World Management Global Gurus. Author of THE UNLOCKED LEADER: Dare to Free Your Own Voice, Lead with Empathy, and Shine Your Light in the World (2023), and ALIGNED: Connecting Your True Self with the Leader You're Meant to Be (2019), Hortense is a contributor to Harvard Business Review and ThriveGlobal.com, and has been featured in Forbes, Fast Company, Inc., and Business Insider. She is based in New York.For more on Hortense check out hortenselegentil.com and her books on amazon and the links below. Enjoy the show!Book link:https://www.amazon.com/Unlocked-Leader-Voice-Empathy-Shine-ebook/dp/B0CJLMFB3F?ref_=ast_author_dp
#209# Ted Rath is the New Orleans Saints director of sports performance.Rath comes to New Orleans after four seasons directing the strength and conditioning efforts of the Philadelphia Eagles. He originally joined the team as the director of sports performance in 2020 and was promoted to vice president of player performance in 2021. During his four full seasons in Philadelphia, the Eagles reached the playoffs three times with Rath overseeing the team's strength and conditioning program. In 2022, when the Eagles reached Super Bowl LVII, he was named the Strength Coach of the Year by the Professional Football Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association for the second time in his career, an award voted on by the league's strength and conditioning coaches.In 2017, the first season of his three-year tenure with the Los Angeles Rams, Rath was named the Strength Coach of the Year for the first time, when according to Football Outsiders, Los Angeles finished as the healthiest team in the NFL based on adjusted games lost due to injury. Coming to Los Angeles as head strength and conditioning Coach, Rath was promoted to director of strength training/performance in 2018.Before his stint with the Rams, Rath spent one season as the assistant strength and conditioning coach for the Miami Dolphins and seven seasons in the same role with the Detroit Lions.Coach Rath played linebacker at the University of Toledo from 2003-06 and went on to be the assistant director of strength and conditioning at his alma mater in 2008 before entering the NFL.Follow Ted across all social plafortms and check out his newest book Beyond Comfort: Mastering a Growth Mindset With Excellence Through Urgency.Enjoy the show!Book link:https://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Comfort-Mastering-Mindset-Excellence/dp/1964811732
Andy Chrisman has been in the Christian music industry for over 25 years, both as a solo artist and as part of the Dove Award-winning group, 4Him. He has sold more than 5 million records, garnered twenty-five #1 singles, and was awarded numerous Grammy Award™ and Dove Award™ nominations and wins.In 2004, Andy began leading thousands of people in worship every week at Church On The Move in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and served a strategic role in helping the organization become one of the most influential and creative churches in the world.In 2005, Andy launched the world-wide syndicated radio show, "Worship with Andy Chrisman" which is currently heard on nearly 300 stations internationally with an estimated 5 million listeners each week.With more than 5000 concerts, 10,000 stage appearances and an estimated 25,000 hours of professional singing, Andy Chrisman has become one of the most sought after vocal worship trainers in the country for singers. He also started the Worship Table, which is a scared space for worship pastors and creative leaders to find rest, renewal, and real connection. He also hosts the podcast "1 Degree of Andy", where he shares stories from his four-decade journey in the Christian music industry. The podcast features in-depth interviews with influential artists, producers, and industry figures, offering insights into their careers and personal experiencesFor more on Andy, his podcast, coaching, or vocal coaching check him out on social as well as andychrisman.com and theworshiptable.com Enjoy the show!
#207: Ross Bjork is the Ohio State University Director of Athletics. In his first year as AD, the Buckeyes football team won the 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship. Additionally, he began a one-year term as president of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) in June 2024.Before arriving in Columbus he served as the athletic director at Texas A&M, where he oversaw record-setting fundraising efforts, major facility upgrades, and pivotal hires that elevated the Aggies' national profile. His leadership is focused on a deep commitment to student-athlete success, both on and off the field. With a career spanning over two decades of leadership at top-tier institutions, Bjork's extensive career in collegiate athletics includes administrative roles at the University of Missouri, University of Miami, and UCLA. He served as the Athletics Director at Western Kentucky, Ole Miss, and Texas A&M, where he was recognized for enhancing academic performance, fundraising, and athletic competitiveness.Ross earned his bachelor's degree in recreation administration from Emporia State University in 1995, where he was a fullback on the football team, and a master's degree in athletic administration from Western Illinois University in 1996.He has a great perspective on hard work, persistence, communication, curiosity, building relationships, facing challenges head on, leadership, and much more. Be sure to check out Ross on X @RossBjorkADEnjoy the show!
#206: Lieutenant Colonel Todd Beer was the Air Force One pilot for both the President Bill Clinton & President George W Bush administrations, as well as the 9/11 terrorists attacks and many other influential historical moments.Todd grew up in Indiana and his basketball success earned him an opportunity to play college basketball at the highly coveted United State Air Force Academy. After surviving a plane crash while he was in high school he never had a desire to fly. During his time at the USAFA he started over 108 straight games, overcame adversity, grew in courage, persisted through flight school, and competed at the highest levels. All of which were building blocks to a distinguished career in aviation. He shares the tense moments on 9/11 when minimal information was at hand to make critical decisions to safely fly the president. Other moments include covertly flying Air Force one into Bagdad for President Bush's surprise visit and flying Present Clinton right after news of the Monica Lewinsky scandal surfaced. More importantly he shares his story and all of the lessons he learned not just to have a successful career, but also a successful family. Enjoy the show!
#205: Anne Walker is the Stanford University Women's Golf Head Coach. She has established herself as one of the premier college coaches in the country. In addition to leading the Cardinal to its first three NCAA titles in school history (2015, 2022, 2024), Walker has mentored some of the most recognizable names in the sport.Stanford has enjoyed unprecedented team and individual success under Walker. The Cardinal has qualified for NCAA Championships in all 11 possible seasons during Walker's tenure, including seven appearances in the national semifinals, while earning the distinction of being the only program in the country to reach the NCAA match play quarterfinal stage in all nine seasons of the current format.A three-time WGCA National Coach of the Year (2015, 2022, 2024) and four-time Pac-12 Coach of the Year (2015, 2021-22, 2024), Walker has mentored the likes of Rachel Heck, Andrea Lee, Mariah Stackhouse, and many others, a heralded group that has combined to win three NCAA individual titles, three ANNIKA Award honors, three WCGA Golfer of the Year Award nods and five Pac-12 Golfer of the Year Award accolades.Under Walker's guidance, Stanford has captured 44 full-field victories and has produced 33 All-Americans. Stanford has had at least one first-team All-American in all 12 seasons with Walker at the helm.Anne shares her story of growing up in Scotland, playing golf at Cal, getting into coaching, leadership, character, sustained excellence, focus, and much more. Enjoy the show!
#204: Ricky Dickson is the former CEO and President of Blue Bell Creameries, as well as an accomplished speaker and author with his newest book One Scoop at a Time.Ricky graduated from Baylor University with a BBA in marketing and journalism. He began his career with Blue Bell in 1981 as a territory manager in Dallas. He transferred to the Fort Worth branch in 1982 and became sales manager. In 1984, he was promoted to San Antonio branch manager. He transferred to Oklahoma City and then to Tulsa when each of those branches opened.In 1992, Ricky was named assistant Dallas/Fort Worth division manager. He transferred to Kansas City as branch manager in 1993 and returned to Tulsa later that year. He was named Midwest division manager in 1994. Four years later, he became general manager of the Broken Arrow plant but continued to stay involved in sales, particularly with the Walmart account. Ricky was named general sales manager in 2003 and moved to Brenham. In 2010, he was promoted to vice president of sales and marketing and was also appointed to serve as a director on the Blue Bell Board of Directors.In 2017, he was promoted to company president, and in 2019, he was elected CEO and president of Blue Bell Creameries. In 2024, Ricky received the International Dairy Foods Association Laureate Award for his significant, prolonged contributions to the development and growth of dairy. He was also inducted into the Dairy Products Institute of Texas Hall of Fame.To find out more on Ricky you can find him on social as well as his website rickydickson.com For more on his book One Scoop at a Time check out amazon and where all books are sold as well as the link below. Enjoy the show! Book:https://www.amazon.com/One-Scoop-Time-Stories-Lessons/dp/1957616709
Matthew Mitchell is the winningest head coach in the history of the University of Kentucky women's basketball program, a three-time SEC Coach of the Year, and a two-time best-selling author and speaker. The foundation for his teams' achievements is the Winning Tools principles - honesty, hard work, and discipline. Through Mitchell's focus on the fundamentals, he led the program to new heights―seven 25-plus winning seasons, 3 Elite Eights, multiple sweet sixteens, and UK's first SEC Championship in 30 years. Coach Mitchell now leads the Winning Tools leadership platform, sharing the proven value of these principles with executive teams across the country. On the show he shares the Winning Tools, his newest book Ready to Win, his story of growing up, getting into coaching, learning from legendary Tennessee Coach Pat Summit, building and sustaining excellence, and much more. For more on Coach Mitchell check out social media and CoachMatthewMitchell.com and for his newest book you can check out readytowinbook.com for extras and bonuses. Enjoy the show!
#202: Jack Herschend has served as Chairman, President and CEO of Herschend Family Entertainment and its portfolio of theme park, resorts, and aquariums.Today, Herschend Family Entertainment and its parent company Herschend Enterprises are considered the nation's largest family-owned themed attractions corporation in the US. Their team of more than 11,000 employees creates, develops, and operates entertainment, tourism, and hospitality properties that currently span 26 locations across the US and British Columbia.Herschend's roots date back to 1950 when the Herschend family founded their first attraction, a small cave tour in Branson, Mo., which later expanded into the famed Silver Dollar City®. Operating companies within Herschend Family Entertainment include Dollywood® Parks & Resorts, Silver Dollar City® Attractions, Harlem Globetrotters, Adventure Aquarium®, Newport Aquarium®, Kentucky Kingdom®, Vancouver Aquarium, and Wild Adventures®.Jack's intensity and deep caring for people shaped the company culture into what it is today. Jack attended Northwestern University as a wrestler and served as a Lieutenant in the Marine Corps before returning home to focus on the family business. He has a deep passion for personal service and giving and has actively served several Christian ministries including including Lives Under Construction Boys Ranch, Kids Across America and the National Institute of Marriage. In 1992, Jack founded The Gift of Green which has planted nearly 200,000 trees to counter deforestation due to development in the Missouri Ozarks.On the show he shares his story, growth of HFE, building a business, leadership, encouragement, failures, family, faith, marriage, and much more. Enjoy the show!
#201: Michael Alford is the Florida State University Director of Athletics. Alford has helped position Seminole athletics among the nation's elite both in terms of competitive excellence and as influential in the critical issues of the day. He has truly emerged as one of collegiate athletics' leaders while remaining true to his primary objective – an unwavering commitment to student-athlete welfare.That commitment has produced measurable results by every metric within a solution-oriented, positive culture that places the student-athlete first in all pursuits. It's evidenced, in part, by his direction of more than $400 million for projects to improve athletic facilities and fields in just the last three years.It is clear to anyone that comes to campus as construction on the 150,000 square foot Dunlap Football Center and state-of-the-art improvements to historic Doak Campbell Stadium are fully in progress entering the 2025 football season.Alford is equally committed to the success of the student in the classroom resulting in the strongest consistent academic performance in athletics department history. FSU student-athletes established an all-time best cumulative grade-point average of 3.250 as a department. Not only that but numerous teams have excelled in their respective sports from football, baseball, softball, volleyball, and many others. Over three decades in intercollegiate athletics and professional sports, he has held positions with the Dallas Cowboys, the University of Alabama, the University of Oklahoma, the University of Southern California, the Cincinnati Bengals and was Associate Vice President and Director of Athletics at Central Michigan University.For more info on Michael check out social media and seminoles.com This is a great conversation with an incredible leader. Enjoy the show!
#200: Jimmy Mellado is President and CEO of Compassion International, a global ministry that is dedicated to holistic child development in partnership with local churches. Jimmy is passionate about Compassion's church-based approach to releasing children from poverty in Jesus' name. The son of an engineer, Jimmy spent his childhood in the developing world and saw firsthand the powerful impact thriving local churches can have on their communities, especially in under-resourced environments. Before taking office as CEO of Compassion International in 2013, Jimmy served for nearly 20 years as the president of the Willow Creek Association.He earned his MBA from the Harvard Business School. Jimmy is an accomplished athlete who competed in the decathlon in the Seoul 1988 Olympic Games and still retains the national record for his birth country, El Salvador, in that event. Jimmy and his wife have three adult children and grandchildren. They've been passionate Compassion sponsors since 2005.Enjoy the show!
#199: Jerod Haase is the former Stanford university head men's basketball coach. During his time on the farm at Stanford the Cardinal had won 126 games, recorded its best conference finish and most league wins in a decade and earned a postseason berth for the first time since 2015. The 2020 team was set to be postseason bound before the cancellation of the NCAA Tournament.A native of South Lake Tahoe, Calif., Haase attended California in 1992-93, starting 23 games as a freshman and playing alongside Jason Kidd in the backcourt. Haase then transferred to Kansas, where he helped lead the Jayhawks to three consecutive conference titles and finished his career ranked in the school's top 10 in assists, three-point field goals and steals. Haase started 99 of 101 games at Kansas and scored 1,264 points, averaging 12.5 per game and reaching double figures 74 times. While at Kansas, Haase was a candidate for the Naismith and Wooden Awards. Haase was also a first-team GTE Academic All-American as a senior, a second-team Academic All-American as a junior and a three-time academic all-conference pick. The Jayhawks' Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 1997, Haase later earned a master's degree in business at Kansas in 2000.After playing professionally he went on to help as an assistant with his former college coach Roy Williams at Kansas and then North Carolina, before he became the head coach at UAB. At UAB, Haase led the Blazers to a regular-season Conference USA championship in 2016 and the program's 15th all-time NCAA Tournament berth in 2015. Haase compiled an 80-53 overall record in four seasons while improving the Blazers' win total every year. In 2016 he was tabbed as the Gene Bartow Conference USA Coach of the Year, leading the Blazers to a 26-5 overall record and a 16-2 conference mark while capturing their first regular-season title since 2011. In 2017, Haase joined the National Advisory Board of the Positive Coaching Alliance, the organization that uses the power of positive reinforcement to pursue winning and the more important goal of teaching life lessons through sports.On the show you will hear his story, overcoming setbacks, being genuine and authentic, core values, relationships, and much more. Enjoy the show! Book Link:https://www.amazon.com/Floor-Burns-Inside-Kansas-Jayhawk/dp/0965839214
#198: Joe Scarlett is the former CEO, President, and Chairman of Tractor Supply Company. He spent nearly thirty years in leadership roles with the company. Today Joe is engaged in teaching and writing about leadership, working in the family foundation, and striving to improve Tennessee.In 1982 Scarlett played a key role in the initiative to return the company to profitability through improved customer service and focused product selection as part of a classic leveraged buyout. He was instrumental in developing the company culture which today is admired and often copied. In 1994 Joe led the successful effort to take the company public.Tractor Supply Company was honored by Forbes as one of the “Best Managed Companies in America” and Scarlett was recognized as Ernst & Young's Southeast Entrepreneur of the Year. Joe also served twenty years on the board of the nation's largest retail trade organization, including four as its chairman.On the show Joe shares his story of growing up, hard work, common sense, working at Two Guys Discount Store alongside Bernie Marcus who went on to found The Home Depot, leading and growing Tractor Supply Co, focusing on people, listening to the customer, using the corporate jet (aka Southwest Airlines), adapting, over 50 years of marriage, intentionality with your kids, and much more. For more on Joe his book newsletter and foundation check out joescarlett.com as well as scarlettfoundation.org Enjoy the show!
#197: Mike Small is the University of Illinois head men's golf coach and is currently entering his 25th season.The GCAA Hall of Fame & 2015 GCAA Dave Williams National Coach of the Year, has brought national recognition to Illinois golf in his 25 years at the helm of the program, as he has guided the Illini to 13 of the last 15 Big Ten Championship titles, including a conference-record run of eight straight from 2015 through 2023 to established a new standard for sustained excellence in the league.Under Small's direction, the Illini program has seen consistent success as his teams have not only continued to achieve greatness at the conference level, but on the national level as well. Small has led Illinois to top-five NCAA finishes in nine of the last 13 postseasons, including a runner-up finish in 2013. Illinois has advanced past NCAA Regionals to the NCAA Championship 17 times under Small's guidance, including a run of 13 straight from 2008 to 2021, a streak that ranked second nationally during time. The Orange and Blue have won six NCAA Regional titles, including four consecutive NCAA Regional Championships from 2013-2016, becoming one of just two schools in NCAA history to do so. Since the start of the 2014-15 season, Small's Illini have been a consistent force among the top 25 in the Golfweek/Bushnell Coaches' Poll, and own the longest streak ranked in the top spot. Small was again recognized for his coaching success in 2016 as he was inducted into the Golf Coaches Association of America Hall of Fame.Small has been named Big Ten Coach of the Year a conference-record 13 times in his career (2023, 2022, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2002) and has also been named Midwest Regional Coach of the Year on 13 occasions (2024, 2023, 2021, 2019, 2018, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2003). Under his direction, 19 Illini have won 37 All-America honors and 65 All-Big Ten accolades garnered by 28 student-athletes. He also has the distinction of playing on a Big Ten championship team and coaching 13 more.Small has continued his professional career while coaching, most recently playing on the PGA TOUR Champions. Since 2000, he is a three-time winner of the PGA Professional National Championship, a three-time PGA Professional National Player of the Year, a 14-time IPGA Champion, four-time Illinois Open Champion and he has participated in 13 major championships. Small has made the cut in 15 of 34 PGA TOUR events since he began coaching at Illinois, and 18 of 19 PGA TOUR Champions events, earning three top 10 finishes and playing in three U.S. Senior Opens. He was also named the 2017 OMEGA Senior PGA Professional Player of the Year.Enjoy the show!
#196: Lisa Lutoff-Perlo is the former CEO of Celebrity Cruises. She is a recognized global business powerhouse and recipient of numerous awards including the South Florida Business Journal and Forbes Travel Guide Lifetime Achievement Awards. Most recently, Lisa served as President & CEO of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ Miami Host Committee, where she led the strategy, fundraising, fan activations, and operations for the seven Miami matches of this globally significant event. During her time in this role, her dedication to excellence and innovation helped position Miami—a world-renowned sports and entertainment destination—as a standout host city for the matches and a city that expects over 700,000 visitors and close to two billion dollars in economic impact during the tournament. Prior to her role with FIFA, Lisa spent 40 years in progressive leadership positions at the Royal Caribbean Group where she made history as the first woman to serve as President and CEO of one of the company's multibillion-dollar subsidiaries, Celebrity Cruises (2014–2023). During her tenure as CEO of Celebrity she redefined the luxury cruise industry with groundbreaking ship designs, innovative services, and a commitment to leadership. She also transformed the financial performance of the Brand to historic levels. Before leaving the Royal Caribbean Group, she held the role of Vice Chairman, External Affairs for the Royal Caribbean Group, where she strengthened industry partnerships and advanced company strategy across its global portfolio of three Brands. A trailblazer in the global hospitality industry, Lisa has received numerous accolades for business transformation, leadership, and now serves on corporate Boards as Chairwoman of the Board of the Hornblower Group, where she oversees the strategic direction of this industry leader in transportation and experiential travel, the Board of Directors for Fortune 500 company AutoNation (NYSE: AN), the Advisory Board of AHC Group, and the Board of Directors of Amerant Bank (NYSE: AMTB).Lisa shares her inspiring journey and leadership insights in her best-selling book, Making Waves: A Woman's Rise to the Top Using Smarts, Heart, and Courage and through numerous public speaking engagements. For more on Lisa visit her website at lisalutoffperlo.com as well as all social platforms. Enjoy the show!
#195: Kelley Hester is the Clemson University Women's Head Golf. She has led Clemson to unprecedented success in her first eight seasons as Clemson's head coach. In 2023-24 the Tigers reached match play of the NCAA National Tournament and finished fifth in the nation. She was also named ACC Coach of the Year and a finalist for National Coach of the Year. When you look at her career it is no surprise Hester has brought the Clemson program to consistent success. She has been successful everywhere she has coached over her 24 seasons and 234 tournaments as a head coach.Nothing documents her success more than the fact that she is the only coach in NCAA Division I history to take four different programs to the NCAA National tournament and record at least one top 20 finish at four different schools.Over her career, Hester has 20 wins, 42 top two finishes and 110 top fives. That includes four top two finishes and eight top fives in 2023-24. She has taken teams to 19 NCAA regionals, had eight top 25 national finishes, coached 37 all-conference players and 18 All-Americans.Before Clemson she had been the head coach at Furman, Georgia, Arkansas, UNLV, and Mercer.More importantly on the show you will hear what matters most to her and how she cares about her players on and off the course.Enjoy the show!
#194: Charlie Duke is a former Astronaut & Apollo 16 Lunar Model pilot who became the 10th and youngest human being to ever walk on the surface of the moon. He has also served in many other critical historical events. On Apollo 11, the first ever moon landing, Neil Armstrong asked Charlie to serve at CAPCOM (which is the voice of Houston/mission control when they landed on the moon). He served back up on Apollo 13 working tirelessly to help safely bring back his fellow astronauts. Charlie attended the US Naval Academy before becoming a fighter pilot in the US Air Force. After a few years in the Air Force he attended MIT and then became a test pilot with Chuck Yeager. During this time he was encouraged by Yeager and others to apply to become an astronaut and the rest is history. Apollo 16 was NASA's second scientific expedition on the moon. During his time on the moon he logged 20.25 hours in extra vehicular activities and collected some 213 pounds of soil and geological samples. He took the only videos of the lunar rover in action. Charlie's stay on the moon was a record setting 71hours and 14 minutes and he was also the first person to do Moon Olympics. On the show Charlie shares his story of growing up, becoming a fighter pilot, test pilot and then astronauts, the many of tense stories of the Apollo landings, his own experience walking on the moon, life after NASA, the impact and influence of his wife Dotty, forgiveness, fulfillment, faith, and much more. For more info on Charlie and his wife Dotty, as well as their books, check out charlieduke.com and dukeministryforchrist.org Enjoy the show!
#193: Lance Witt is the Founder of Replenish. He has been leading churches and organizations for 40+ years. He was the lead pastor for 3 different churches and then spent 7 years as an executive and teaching pastor at Saddleback Church in Southern California. During his years at Saddleback, Lance led the 40 Days of Purpose campaign. Ultimately, both nationally and internationally, more than 25,000 churches also did the 40 Days of Purpose campaign. In 2007, Lance launched a ministry called Replenish, which is dedicated to “Helping people live and lead from a healthy soul.” Over the last 15 years Lance has encouraged, challenged and equipped thousands of leaders through speaking, personal coaching LifePlanning, and writing books.Replenish… a resource for pastors and ministry leaders on doing ministry without losing your soul.High Impact Teams… a resource to catalyze teams to increased health and high-performanceYour ONE Life… this newest book releases in 2021 and is focused on helping people own, live and love their one and only life.For more information on Lance his books, coaching, or speaking check out replenish.netEnjoy the show!
#192: Jim Keyes is the former CEO of 7-Eleven, Inc, and Blockbuster, Inc. which are two internationally recognized Fortune 500 companies. He is a global business leader, philanthropist, educator, artist, musician, commercial pilot, and modern renaissance man. His other business interests cover a broad range of industries including retail, consumer products, technology, new space, energy, and advanced nuclear. He sits on several public company boards and serves as a board adviser to a venture capital firm and a number of start-up companies. Keyes' philanthropic initiatives, have an equally broad focus, including serving on the Board of Governors for the American Red Cross, the former Chairman of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, and serving on the board of directors for institutions such as UT Southwestern Medical School, The Cooper Institute, Dallas Performing Arts Center, SMU Cox School of Business, Columbia Business School, and his alma mater, College of the Holy Cross. He has had a lifelong commitment to education, serving as a founding director of the Dallas Education Foundation and is the founder of the Education is Freedom Foundation. A personification of the American Dream, Keyes came from his humble beginnings and was inducted in 2005 as a member of the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans. In 2024 he received the Robert S. Folsom Leadership Award, presented by Methodist Health System Foundation to recognize demonstrated community leadership. Jim recently released his new book Education is Freedom, which can be found on Amazon and the links below. For more info on Jim check out jameswkeyes.com Enjoy the show! Book:https://www.amazon.com/Education-Freedom-Future-Your-Hands/dp/B0CH6X6BVB
#191: David Pollack is a college football analyst, author, speaker, and host of the Family Goals Podcast.A former NFL player and University of Georgia standout, David joined ESPN in 2009 as a college football analyst and was quickly elevated to College GameDay.Pollack was also a contributor to ESPN's daily college football news show College Football Live and several additional shows throughout the season. He was previously an analyst on ESPN's Thursday Night College Football and co-host of Palmer & Pollack. He started his broadcasting career in 2008 hosting a sports radio talk show in Atlanta for 790 The Zone.As a defensive end at the University of Georgia, he was just the second Bulldog to be named a three-time All-American. The other being Hershel Walker. During his time at UGA he was awarded the 2002 & 2004 SEC Player of the Year honors, 2003 & 2004 Ted Hendricks Award, 2004 the Lombardi Award, Lott Trophy, & SEC Defensive Player of the Year Award.In the 2005 NFL Draft, he was a first round draft pick taken 17th overall by the Cincinnati Bengals. His NFL career was cut short, however, after he broke a cervical vertebra in a game versus the Cleveland Browns in the second game of the 2006 season. The Bengals announced Pollack's retirement before the 2008 season.On the show David shares his story, building resilience, parenting on purpose, identity, faith, being all in, intentionality, never quitting, marriage, faith, and much more.For more on David be sure to check him out on social, as well as the Pollack Family Foundation at pollackfamilyfoundation.com and the Family Goals Podcast on all podcast platforms.Also, check out his new book “The Won't Quit Kid” which is out now and can be found at bravebooks.us and amazon. Enjoy the show! Book link:https://bravebooks.us/products/the-wont-quit-kid?srsltid=AfmBOooGqXQR8lZga_svq5RjGCvlKVPdhbx8W2ngtzOplS9eEJ8j3t3Khttps://www.amazon.com/Wont-Quit-Kid-David-Pollack/dp/1955550824?source=ps-sl-shoppingads-lpcontext&ref_=fplfs&psc=1&smid=A10YDWL6MSY05I Family Goals Podcasthttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/family-goals-with-david-pollack-and-pastor-j/id1585214791
#190: General Robert F. “Bob” Dees served for 31 years in the U.S. Army in a wide variety of command and staff positions culminating in his last three assignments as Assistant Division Commander for Operations, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault); Commander, Second Infantry Division, United States Forces Korea; and as Deputy Commanding General, V (US/GE) Corps in Europe, concurrently serving as Commander, US-Israeli Combined Task Force for Missile Defense. Bob is a graduate of numerous military schools including the Command and General Staff College, the Naval Postgraduate School, the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, and the Royal College of Defence Studies in London. He has authored and taught Management Science topics in the Department of Engineering at West Point, as well as multiple Resilience courses at Liberty University. Following military retirement in January 2003, Bob served as a Microsoft Corporation executive; followed by leadership of a non-profit outreach to the military. He authored the Resilience Trilogy (Resilient Warriors, Resilient Leaders, and Resilient Nations) and pioneered resilience programs for the military as Vice President for Military Outreach at Liberty University. In the 2016 Presidential cycle, Bob served as National Security Advisor and Campaign Chairman for Dr. Ben Carson. Bob now heads Resilience God Style, a national movement to restore resilience to every area of American life, including recent publication of the Resilience God Style book, study guide, video series, and training game (www.ResilienceGodStyle.com). Bob is a senior advisor for the newly formed Faith-based Veterans Support Alliance (FBVSA). Bob is also President of the National Center for Healthy Veterans (www.HealthyVeterans.org) with the mission of “Returning Healthy Veterans to America.” This broad and comprehensive Healthy Veteran initiative ranges from trauma recovery using best practices, faith-based programs to veteran microbusinesses which afford dignified work, skills training, and economic opportunity. Community is a critical element of the initiative, including veteran tiny home villages for formerly homeless Veterans and others. While the Healthy Veteran initiative will help Veterans, the real winner is America with Healthy Veterans positively impacting culture as role models for our youth, as experienced leaders in business, and as standard bearers in every walk of life. Bob speaks at numerous seminars and conferences, as well as commentary on national security, leadership, and resilience in a wide array of media, military, business and church venues. He was featured as one of 30 “Master Leaders” in America by noted author George Barna and was awarded the Council for National Policy George Washington Military Leadership Award in 2018. For more on General Dees check out www.ResilienceGodStyle.com as well as www.HealthyVeterans.org Enjoy the show
#189: Roland Thornqvist is the University of Florida Women's Tennis former head coach and 4X National Champion. Thornqvist owns a remarkable 582-157 head coaching record in 28 years, including a 507-107 mark at Florida.In 20+ years with Thornqvist on the sidelines, some of Florida's more significant highlights include four NCAA Team National Championships (2003, 2011, 2012, & 2017), as well as 11 SEC regular-season titles (2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015 & 2016) and 10 SEC Tournament crowns (2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 & 2016).Individually, Thornqvist has been honored as the ITA National Coach of the Year (2011), the ITA Southeast Region Coach of the Year (2010 & 2012) and the Southeastern Conference Coach of the Year (2004, 2006, 2010, 2013 & 2016).The Sweden native climbed the charts in 2022, in terms of NCAA historical success as he ranked top 10 all-time in Division I winning percentage (8th, .808) and top 20 in all-time wins (12th, 512). In July 2020, Thornqvist was among the top NCAA Division I active head coaches carrying the fourth-highest winning percentage and the eighth-most victories. He has guided Florida to 11 NCAA ‘final four' appearances, with four culminating in titles and two as national runner-up (2002 & 2010). Before arriving in Gainesville he was the head coach at UNC and KU. Thornqvist also played professional tennis for one year after completing his collegiate eligibility, attaining a world ranking of No. 290 in singles.Thornqvist established himself as one of the top players in the history of the ACC during his collegiate career. He was a three-time first-team All-ACC selection, the 1993 ACC Player of the Year, a 1992 and 1993 first-team All-American and a 1992 and 1993 NCAA Tournament quarterfinalist in singles. In 1992, he led the Tar Heels to the ACC Championship and to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament. The Tar Heels also made the NCAA Tournament during his senior season, advancing to the round of 16. Thornqvist won the 1993 Rolex National Indoor Singles Championship as a senior. In both 1992 and 1993, he won the ITA's Rafael Osuna National Sportsmanship Award. He is the only college player in history to win that award twice. Thornqvist was the No. 4-ranked collegiate singles player in the country his senior year.A native of Stockholm, Sweden, Thornqvist received his bachelor's degree in economics from UNC in 1996. He played for the Tar Heels from 1990-93, transferring from Elon College, where he played one year and won the NAIA singles and doubles championships as a freshman in 1990. He also led Elon to the NAIA team championship that year. More importantly you will see how he has been able to build and sustain success. Enjoy the show!
#188: Matt Pinnell is the Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma. Pinnell is President of the Oklahoma State Senate and serves on multiple constitutional boards and commissions, including serving as Chairman of the Oklahoma Tourism Commission and Route 66 Centennial Commission. He has set his Lt. Governor agenda focused on workforce and economic development issues.Pinnell is the chief marketer of Oklahoma and spends much of his time promoting Oklahoma. In partnership with the Oklahoma Department of Commerce, he launched a talent recruitment campaign targeting the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. He also works to retain and attract companies to the state by hosting events throughout the year, including the annual Lt. Governor's Turkey Hunt, a two-week event that showcases Oklahoma to prospective out-of-state companies and site selection representatives.As an entrepreneur himself, Pinnell champions small business growth. He advises the Oklahoma Department of Commerce on small business growth, entrepreneurship, and workforce development. In 2022, he launched ‘A Look at Oklahoma CareerTech,' a video interview series that showcases the education and employment opportunities the state's CareerTech system provides.Pinnell launched a statewide rebrand in 2020, a campaign that has streamlined state agency processes and saved taxpayer dollars.On the show you will get to hear more of these things as well as, the importance of discipline, courage, overcoming criticism, decision making, leadership, family, and much more. For more on Lt. Governor Pinnell check out oklahoma.gov as well as mattpinnell.com Enjoy the show!
Chris Acker is the Long Beach State University Men's Basketball Head Coach. Acker has spent the last five seasons as an assistant coach at San Diego State, playing a crucial role in the team's recent success. The Aztecs have reached the NCAA tournament in each of the last four seasons and were 30-2 in 2019-20 prior to the COVID shutdown. In 2022-23, SDSU reached the National Championship game and advanced to the Sweet 16 in 2023-24. In his five seasons as an assistant coach at SDSU, the Aztecs went 134-34 overall. He also served as an assistant at Boise State and Hawaii. Acker's move to Division I came on the heels of two successful stints in the junior college ranks. As the head coach of West Los Angeles College, he rebuilt the program in two years, taking 11 freshmen in his first season and leading that group to an 18-9 record and a CCCAA Regional playoff berth within two years.In his first coaching position with Citrus College, Acker spent six seasons at Citrus, winning the 2008 California State Championship and posting a dominant 92-9 record during his tenure, first as an assistant and then as the associate head coach of the program.A Los Angeles native, Acker closed his collegiate playing career at Chaminade University in Hawaii, before playing professionally for four seasons in Europe and the United States.On the show he shares all of these experiences as well as building relationships, building programs, building young men, and making an impact on and off the court. For for more on Coach Acker follow him on social in the links below, as well as longbeachstate.com Enjoy the show!X:@ackercrInsta:@chris.ackerhttps://www.instagram.com/coach.acker/Collective:https://lbsumbballiance.com/joinMBB Insta:https://www.instagram.com/lbsumbb/?hl=en
#186: Robin Siegfried is the former Co-Owner & CEO of NORDAM, which stands for Northeastern Oklahoma Research, Development, & Manufacturing. Chances are if you have ever flown on a plane you have interacted with many of NORDAM's products even if you weren't aware of it. NORDAM is a top choice for engineering, manufacturing, maintaining, and repairing components for business jets, commercial aircraft, and military warfighters around the globe. Headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma, NORDAM is one of the world's largest independently owned aerospace companies, employing 2,500 stakeholders across multiple facilities in North America and Europe. Through more than 50 years of experience, they are aligned to meet the growing needs of the defense and space markets with cutting-edge solutions that drive aerospace forward.Robin grew up in Tulsa and after college at OU ventured into building NORDAM into what it is today. Through persistence, problem solving, hard work, and relationships he traveled all around the world growing the company. On the show he shares his journey of how he did just that, building relationships, leadership, working from your strengths, eating sushi in Japan, surviving multiple aviation crashes, getting Bob Stoops to OU as a Regent, a million dollar bet, hunting adventures all over the world, being a dad, and much more. Be sure to check out his book Stay On Fire.Enjoy the show!https://books.google.com/books/about/Stay_on_Fire.html?id=bq-yzgEACAAJ
#185: Bubba Cunningham is the University of North Carolina Director of Athletics. Under his leadership, the athletic department has accomplished numerous academic and athletic achievements.The Tar Heels have won 22 national titles and made an additional 14 runner-up finishes. More than 3,500 student-athletes have made the ACC Academic Honor Roll -- which requires a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better for the year. The Tar Heels finished in the top 10 of the NACDA Learfield Directors' Cup nine times, including a 7th overall finish in 2023-24. He also has been committed to upgrading facilities to give student-athletes the best experience possible, overseeing more than $220 million worth of projects during his tenure in Chapel Hill.Cunningham's leadership has also extended outside of Chapel Hill as he has served on numerous NCAA committees over the last two decades. He is the past president of The National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics and sits on the board of LEAD1, an association representing the ADs from the NCAA Division I FBS schools. In 2019, he worked with the Atlantic Coast Conference to lead the launch of the ACC Network that fall. He earned the 2019-20 AD of the Year Award from The National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA). In 2020, he was named to the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Committee and in 2022 was named to the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) Board of Directors. He also is currently serving on the ACC Autonomy Committee and was the Chair of the NCAA Men's Basketball Selection Committee in 2024.Cunningham is in his 22nd year as a Division I director of athletics. He came to Chapel Hill after spending the previous six years as the director of athletics at the University of Tulsa, where he guided the Golden Hurricane through its initial move to Conference USA and spearheaded a $60 million athletics initiative. He also served as Ball State University's Athletic Director from 2002-2005.He earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in business administration from Notre Dame and worked in Notre Dame's athletics department from 1988-2002. A former member of the Irish golf team (1982-83), Cunningham served as Notre Dame's Associate Athletics Director for finance and facilities from 1995-2000 and was the Associate Director of Athletics for external affairs from 2000-02.Enjoy the show!
#184: Kevin Deshazo is the Co-Founder of BETTER and a partner at global leadership development firm GiANT. He works with some of the best leaders, teams, and organizations in the industry of sports on mindset, leadership, and performance. A sought after speaker and consultant, he has presented on more than 400 college campuses, dozens of fortune 100 companies, and headlined top conferences and conventions. Places like OU and Florida State football, Nike and ESPN, and the CFP to name a few. Kevin is the author the besting book Keep Chopping Wood: an ordinary approach to achieving extraordinary success, as well as iAthlete, and his newest book Into the Storm: How to Turn Adversity Into Your Advantage. For more on Kevin check out kevindeshazo.com and bebetterleaders.com as well as all social media platforms. Enjoy the show!
#183: Pat Chambers is the Florida Gulf Coast University men's basketball head coach. He is the former head coach at Penn State and Boston University, as well as the associate head coach at Villanova. Pat did not know he wanted to be a college basketball coach. For the first 8 years out of college he started in business and was quickly very successful. However, a near death experience helped him find clarity in his purpose and passion to coach basketball. Within a few years he found himself helping build Villanova into a basketball powerhouse. After their run to the final four in 2009 he took the job as the head coach at Boston University. In just 2 years he led the Terrier's to the NCAA tournament and was given the opportunity to lead the Penn State men's basketball program. After 9 seasons at Penn State, he now leads the FGCU men's basketball program. On the show he shares the impact of his family and parents, experiences playing college basketball, getting into coaching, power of perspective, courage, faith, purpose, passion, his pillars of excellence and much more. For more on Coach Chambers check him out on social, as well as FGCUatheltics.com Enjoy the show!
#182: Daniel Lamarre is Vice Chairman and former CEO of Cirque Du Soleil. As CEO he guided the organization through a period of astounding growth and then brought it back to life during the massive upheaval of the COVID-19 pandemic.When Daniel joined in 2001 as president of new ventures, Cirque Du Soleil had two thousand employees and seven shows in performance. Five years later he became chief executive and the company grew to five thousand employees and forty four shows around the world. At it's peak Cirque had annual sales of $1 billion, profit margins of twenty percent, and fifteen million people attending its shows per year.Daniel's strengths of using creativity, his laser like focus, building relationship, finding positive solutions, and exceptional negotiating skills enabled him to lead the organization to put together one of a kind shows such as Michale Jackson's “One” and the Beatle's “Love”, which was the only show ever agreed upon by the iconic group. Before Cirque Daniel worked with TVA Broadcast Group, NATIONAL Public Relations, and Burson Marsteller.In 2012 he collaborated on the creation of C2MTL Conference, a one-of-a-kind coming together of the creative and business elite of the world. It is a platform for exploring creative answers to commercial questions. In line with his belief that without creativity, there is no commerce.He has been honored with Doctorates from McGill University, and his alma mater the University of Ottawa.For more on Daniel and his book check out daniellamarre.ca as well as the links below. Enjoy the show!Book:https://www.amazon.com/Balancing-Acts-Unleashing-Power-Creativity/dp/1400223024
#181: Chris Haack is the University of Georgia Head Men's Golf Coach. Haack has coached the Bulldogs to two national championships (the only two in school history), eight SEC titles, 67 team tournament titles, and virtually every squad and individual records.Under his tutelage, 27 Bulldogs have accumulated 63 medalist titles. Thirty-one of his players have rolled up 70 All-America honors, while 33 have earned 73 All-SEC certificates. He also has coached 19 Scholar All-Americans. Eleven of Haack's pupils have amassed 44 PGA Tour wins and, all told, his former players have earned more than $200 million at the pro level. He also shares coaching a young Tiger Woods before his UGA days. Haack was inducted into the Golf Coaches Association of America Hall of Fame in 2012, the GSGA's Georgia Golf Hall of Fame in 2016, and the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 2018.Better than all of the accolades he shares how he cares and pushes his players to be their best, as well as how he has built, established, sustained unprecedented success with the Georgia Bulldog program. Enjoy the show!
#180: Taylor Edge is the Founder and CEO of Season Builder. The Season Builder Foundation's mission is to help students and young adults define direction and equip them to pursue it with purpose.Taylor is the creator of the Season Builder framework as well as former college athlete, successful entrepreneur, corporate employee, UAH Men's and Women's Basketball Character Coach, public servant, worship leader, technology consultant, head coach, author, and inspirational liver of life.He is a follower of Jesus, passionate encourager, problem solver, self leadership coach, and mentor that has been called to facilitate, inspire, remind, and empower transformation in the next generation.Taylor has been married to his beautiful wife Mindy since 1996. They have two sons, Stuart & Austin, and live in Madison, AL.For more info on Taylor, Season Builder, the Coach Edge App, and his book, More Than A Believer, check out seasonbuilder.org and the link below. Enjoy the show!Book:https://www.amazon.com/More-Than-Believer-Practical-Transformed/dp/1791627684/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8
#179: Admiral Mike Manazir is a retired US Navy Admiral who is a Top Gun fighter pilot and instructor who commanded the aircraft carrier the USS Nimitz, an F-14 squadron, and a Carrier Strike Group. He completed 15 overseas deployments, qualified in the F-14 and the F/A-18 and has flown 3,750 fighter hours with 1,240 arrested landings on multiple aircraft carriers. He also completed five tours in the Pentagon culminating in his role as the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, Warfighting and he is now an executive with a Fortune 100 aerospace and defense company. On the show Admiral Manazir shares his story from attending the US Naval Academy, to the split second decision of having to eject out of a jet, to commanding an aircraft carrier in a typhoon, and much more. For more on his bestselling books, newsletter, and much more check out mikemanazir.com amazon, and all social platforms. Currently he has a Lead From the Heart Series book promotion going on that is posted in the link below. Enjoy the show! Lead From The Heart Promo:https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D6P57VHL?binding=paperback&qid=1724005240&sr=8-2&ref=dbs_dp_awt_sb_pc_tpbk
John Rossman is the author of four books on leadership and business innovation including the best seller The Amazon Way and Big Bet Leadership. He is an early Amazon executive who played a key role in launching the Amazon marketplace business in 2002. Today he is a leading keynote speaker on leadership for innovation and transformation. John is an operator and builder whose love is diving into business problems and customer needs, designing innovative solutions and business models, and creating durable enterprise value. He has served as the senior technology advisor at the Gates Foundation and senior innovation advisor at T-Mobile. His new book, Big Bet Leadership: Your Transformation Playbook for Winning in the Hyper-Digital Era, is an actionable playbook for senior leaders to succeed at complex transformations. John is the founder of Rossman Partners, a strategy & leadership solutions firm.
#177: Mike Morrell is the UNC Asheville men's basketball head coach. In 2023 he was selected as the Big South Coach of the Year and led UNCA to a Big South Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance. In the last two years the Bulldogs are one of the winningest programs in college basketball. In 2023 he guided UNCA to a school record 27 wins. Before moving to Asheville Coach Morrell coached alongside Shaka Smart at the University of Texas and VCU. Prior to that he coached at Charleston Southern, Clemson, and King College. On the show Coach Morrell shares his story of growing up, playing college basketball and golf, getting into coaching, doing your job, incremental growth, relationship excellence, the skill of following directions, confidence, building an environment, and much more. For more on Coach Morrell and UNCA check out uncabulldogs.comEnjoy the show!
Ken Coleman is the three-time bestselling author of Find the Work You're Wired to Do, From Paycheck to Purpose, The Proximity Principle, and host of The Ken Coleman Show. As America's Work Expert, he helps people discover what they do best so they can do work they love and produce the results that matter most to them. Whether they're looking for a complete career change or they're just unsure about what step to take next, Ken will help them get unstuck and get on the path to meaningful work. Follow Ken on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and X. And check him out as well at KenColeman.com and RamseySolutions.com Enjoy the show!
#175: Alan bowman is the staring quarterback at Oklahoma State University. With currently less than two weeks before the start of the 2024 season, Alan has been selected on the Manning Award, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, and Wuerffel Trophy watchlists. The AP Top 25 rankings has the Cowboys at 17 as they look to build upon last year's great season. Last season Alan helped lead OSU to a Big 12 Championship appearance and Texas Bowl win over Texas A&M. Alan grow up in Grapevine, Texas and from a young age knew he loved football and wanted to play at the highest levels. He chose to start off his career at Texas Tech and as a true freshman started 7 games before an injury sidelined him for the season. He holds a Big 12 freshman single game record of 605 passing yards in one game, breaking the mark set by Patrick Mahomes and was a Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year Honorable Mention. Alan has overcome adversity throughout his career starting with injuries, coaching changes, school changes, COVID-19, and not starting, to coming back and leading OSU to a great 2023 season, which he elaborates in detail. He also shared some of the lessons he has learned from coaches and the different cultures he has been around during his time at Texas Tech, Michigan, and Oklahoma State. More importantly he share about the positive influence of his parents and sisters and how having a great support system is crucial to your success on and off the field. On the show he shares all these things and much more. Be sure to check him out on all social media platforms and watch him lead the Cowboys as they start their season against South Dakota State on August 31st. Enjoy the show!
Tony Monetti is a former B2 Stealth Bomber Pilot and currently leads Stealth Advantage Consulting as CEO. Tony is a U.S. Air Force Academy graduate, and holds two Masters Degrees. During his exemplary Air Force career, he led the 13th Bomb Squadron's as Director of Operations, one of two operational B-2 Stealth squadrons. He has flown multiple planes including the B2 Stealth, B1, B52, and many others.He served as Chairman of the NATO Time Sensitive Targeting Committee. Since leaving the military, Tony served as the University of Central Missouri's Assistant Dean of Aviation. Tony's versatile leadership style and strong management skills demonstrates effective team building and corporate goal success. He was the US Senate candidate in 2018 for Missouri and came in 2nd out of 11 candidates. His strategic thinking challenges the status-quo with the ability to exceed organizational vision and team goals. Tony is a three time-published author and his motivational workshops and seminars have impacted and inspired individuals and organizations globally. He currently serves as CEO of Stealth Advantage Consulting. For more information on his latest book, THE STEALTH WAY, check out the link below, as well as tonymonetti.com for more info on speaking and consulting services.Now learn from one of America's first B-2 Stealth Pilots on how to win life's battles to achieve a life worth living. Enjoy the show!Book:https://www.amazon.com/Stealth-Way-Live-Life-Fully/dp/B0CLHQQN4Y
#173: Lorenzo Romar is one of college basketball's all time winningest and most accomplished coaches. More importantly he is one of the most respected coaches. He has served as the head coach at the University of Washington, Pepperdine, and Saint Louis. He is currently an assistant coach a Loyola Marymount University. As a head coach, he's had 18 players taken in the NBA Draft. As either a head coach or an assistant, he's worked with 27 future NBA Draft picks. During his time in Washington alone he coached several future NBA players including Brandon Roy, Nate Robinson, Isaiah Thomas, Quincy Pondexter, Spencer Hawes, and top-overall pick Markelle Fultz.As the Head Coach of Washington, the Huskies played in six NCAA Tournaments, three NITs and one CBI, and won 298 games. Additional accolades in Romar's decorated career include winning the Pac-10/Pac-12 regular season twice (2009, 2012), winning the Pac-10/Pac-12 Tournament three times (2005, 2010, 2011), being named Pac-10/Pac-12 Coach of the Year three times (2005, 2009, 2012), and winning the Conference USA Tournament (2000).Coach Romar was drafted in the 1980 NBA Draft and played 5 seasons in the NBA with the Warriors, Bucks, and Pistons.He started at Cerritos Community College and then went on to play at Washington, where he was a two-year starter at point guard and was the team captain as a senior.On the show Coach Romar shares his story of growing up in Compton, influence of his parents, his love for basketball, resilience, playing in the NBA, Athletes in Action, getting into coaching, faith, family, values, and much more.As I was getting into coaching Coach Romar was one of the main coaches I wanted to learn from and I spent a tremendous amount of time just to have the opportunity to be around him and his program. He gave me some of the best advice during my coaching journey. One of the men I respect the most not only for the success that he has had, but the type of person that he is. I'm excited to share his story with you all. Enjoy the show!
#172: Scott Mabrey is Chief Executive Officer of Mabrey Bank. Mabrey Bank is a $1.7 billion community bank with 15 locations throughout Oklahoma. He also serves on the Board of Directors for Mabrey Bank and Mabrey Bancorporation. Scott first joined the bank in 2001 after working 3.5 years at Bank of Oklahoma in Corporate Lending.An active civic member, Scott has served on the boards or volunteered for a variety of organizations including the American Red Cross, Friends of the Fairgrounds Foundation, Oral Roberts University Athletics Council, Holland Hall Independent School, Bixby Chamber of Commerce, Bixby Optimist Club, and the University of Oklahoma Medical Center. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Tulsa Regional Chamber, Committee of One Hundred, the Board of Governors for Southern Hills Country Club and also volunteers on various committees at Southern Hills.On the show Scott shares his story of growing up, influence of his parents, playing college golf, the importance of law school, perspective after serious car incidents, getting into banking, authenticity, building culture, being prepared, confidence, making decisions, and much more. For more info on Scott and Mary Bank check out mabreybank.com Enjoy the show!
#171: Jeremy Foley is the University of Florida Athletic Director Emeritus and served as the Athletic Director from 1992-2016. During his tenure leading the University of Florida, the Gators accumulated 27 National Titles, made numerous athletic facility improvements, he handled virtually every aspect of the $119.3 million athletic program during his athletic administrative career, and he won multiple athletic directory of the year awards.Florida was equally successful on the field of play and in the classroom during Foley's administrative tenure. The Florida athletic program ranked among the nation's top 10 for 33-straight years and among the top five for 18 of the last 25 years, according to national all-sport rankings.He hired coaches like Billy Donovan, Urban Meyer, Rhonda Fane, Kevin O'Sullivan Tim Walton, and Becky Burleigh to name a few. Jeremy started at the University of Florida in 1977 as an intern in the ticket office. From there he quickly excelled and worked his way up the leadership ladder in the athletic department. On the show Jeremy shares his story of growing up, playing at Hobart, persistence, getting to Florida, encounter with a booster changing his leadership style, becoming the Florida AD, culture, leadership, hiring people, making tough decisions, building a team, and much more. Enjoy the show!
#170: Wayne Simien is a former NBA world champion with the Miami Heat, Kansas basketball player, and current KU athletics associate AD.Growing up Wayne had two very important role models being his parents. He quickly excelled at basketball and was a part of a 6A State Championship team and became a McDonald's High School All-American.As a player at the University of Kansas he was coached by Hall of Fame coaches Roy Williams and Bill Self, played in two Final Fours, won three Big 12 Championships and was named Big 12 Player of the Year as well as First Team Consensus All-American. However, the most transformative part of his college experience was becoming a Christian in 2003. He was drafted in the first round of the NBA draft by the Miami Heat. While on the Heat he won a NBA Championship under another Hall of Fame coach, Pat Riley and then eventually ended his professional basketball career playing in Spain.For 13 years Wayne served as a Christian campus minister at the University of Kansas and campuses across the Midwest. He is currently an Associate Athletic Director at the KU where is jersey is retired in the rafters of Allen Fieldhouse. On the show he shares his story, impact of his parents, the relevance and life lessons from fishing, playing at KU and beyond, leadership, never quoting, the importance of his faith, family, marriage, and much more. For more on Wayne checkout waynesimien.com Enjoy the show!
#169: Howard Behar is the former President of Starbucks Coffee Company. During his time at Starbucks he helped the company grow from 28 stores to over 15,000 stores all over the world. Not only does he share some great stories and principles from his time at Starbucks, but also from his early years growing up around the retail business.Howard currently travels around the world speaking to leaders, corporations, and students. His message is focused on inspiring everyone to be servant leaders and to lead with their values first. For more information on Howard check out his website at howardbehar.com. Also, be sure to check out Howard's books, It's Not About The Coffee: Lessons on Leadership from a Life at Starbucks, and The Magic Cup. Enjoy the show!
#168: 7x MLB All-Star & hosts of the Table 40 podcast, Matt & Leslee Holliday share their journey, as well as lessons in faith, marriage, leadership, and being present. Matt & Leslee met while Leslee was in college and Matt had just started his professional baseball career. They share their experiences and what it was like to have a great marriage, live out their faith, and still raise great kids, all while living life in professional baseball. Today they host the Table 40 podcast, which is a show that shares organic conversations about Jesus and life. Check out the link below to listen and find out more about their show!Table 40 podcast:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sports-spectrums-table-forty/id1505637930
#113: Steve Robinson is the former Executive Vice President & Chief marketing officer of Chick-Fil-A from 1981-2015. He currently serves as a consultant, speaker, and author on organizational culture, brand strategy, marketing and advertising, as well as leadership development.Steve went to Faulkner State where he played baseball and then finished his college at Auburn University with a bachelor of science in marketing. He then attended Northwestern University where he earned a master's in advertising from the Medill School of Journalism.After Northwestern, Steve went to work for Texas Instruments and Six Flags. He quickly rose into leadership positions at a young age and caught the attention of the leadership of Chick-Fil-A. In 1981 Steve was hired to lead Chick-Fil-A's marketing efforts. Steve was integrally involved in the company's steady and then explosive growth from 184 stores and $100 million in 1981 to more than 2,100 stores and more than $6.8 billion in annul sales in 2015. He and his team helped establish and create many of the recognizable Chick-Fil-A branding and marketing efforts such as iconic Cow & Eat Mor Chikn campaign to the everyday Chick-Fil-A experience.On the show he dives into his story, working hard, building culture, mentors, asking questions, loyalty, using metrics and facts to learn and growth, faith, family, and much more.Be sure to check out his book Covert Cows where all books are sold, as well as his website srobinsonconsulting.com for more information.Enjoy the show!
#166: Chad Hennings is a 3 time Super Bowl Champion with the Dallas Cowboys, A10 fighter pilot, real estate businessmen, author, speaker, and ministry founder. In order to achieve a legacy of excellence, one must live a life of integrity and purpose. Excellence isn't a destination; it's an identity. Chad Hennings has lived this message through a nine year NFL career and three Super Bowl Championships with the Dallas Cowboys, forty-five combat missions flying the A10 Warthog with the Air Force, and as a respected businessman in commercial real estate. Chad has taken this message around the world at the invitation of some of the most distinguished audiences ranging from Fortune 500 companies, a host of U.S Government agencies, and respected non-profits. He is also a philanthropic leader in the Dallas/Ft Worth area serving several non profits that work with at risk families and veterans. Chad is the founder of Wingmen Ministries, an organization that encourages discipleship and mentorship of men.On the show Chad shares his story of growing up on a farm in Iowa, impact of his parents, playing football at the Air Force Academy, becoming a fighter pilot, playing for the Cowboys and winning three super bowls, commitment, character, mindset, identity, leadership, faith, family, and much more. He is also the author of three books Rules of Engagement, It Takes Commitment, & Forces of Character, which I would highly encourage you to check out. For more on Chad check out chadhennings.com and more on his ministry check out wingmen.org Enjoy the show!