Advertise on podcast: Frame of Reference - Profiles in Leadership

Send us Fan Mail As a sales professional, your numbers can look like a skill gap when the real problem is the story running in your head. I’m joined by Geoffrey Reid, whose career arc is almost unfair: public policy analyst, negotiation and conflict resolution educator, then a leap into sales with zero experience, followed by standout results and leadership at scale. That background sets up a candid talk about what actually drives performance when two people follow the same process and still get different outcomes.  We dig into Geoffrey’s TEDx ideas on the quantum power of belief, not as a magical shortcut, but as a framework for understanding how attention, emotion, and expectation shape behavior. We talk about the placebo effect, the cost of worry and scarcity thinking, and the practical difference between belief that inspires action and belief that becomes fantasy.  Geoffrey breaks it down into principles you can practice: focus on possibilities, build presence, and take inspired action so your goals stop living only in the future.  From there, we go straight at a business-world contradiction: companies run on revenue, yet many business schools barely teach selling.  Geoffrey explains why that gap persists and what he tries to fix in his national bestselling book, The Revenue Catalyst. We also explore his newer work on identity architecture and the “fifth pillar,” where sustainable change comes from who you become, not what you’re told to do. We even touch cultural polarization and how to reclaim your energy by focusing on what you can control and build.  If you lead a team, carry a quota, or feel stuck in a self-defeating loop, press play and take notes. Subscribe for more conversations like this, share the episode with someone who needs a mindset reset, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway. Thanks for listening.  Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about.  In these times of intense polarization we all need  to find time to expand our Frame of Reference.

Send us Fan Mail A goofy Star Trek warm-up turns into something unexpectedly human when Scott Scoble opens up about the moments that shaped him. Scott runs Moo TV, a live concert video production company trusted on major tours, and he’s also the author of Tenacious. Behind the LED walls and camera rigs is a story about grief, pressure, and what it takes to keep showing up when you’re not okay. We talk about the line between pain that teaches and pain that becomes baggage. Scott shares how survivor’s guilt hid in plain sight after the violent loss of a mentor and business partner, and how EMDR therapy helped him name it and finally let the guilt go without erasing the love. We also dig into PTSD, what it feels like in real life, and why “take your own medicine” can be the most honest kind of leadership advice. The conversation goes further into meaning-making: near-death experiences, Eben Alexander’s Proof of Heaven, and Scott’s cautious but powerful experiences with psychedelic-assisted therapy, including a 5-MeO DMT story he describes as ego-death followed by overwhelming love. It’s not presented as a shortcut or a party trick, but as structured work with care, boundaries, and real reflection. Finally, we zoom back out to the craft and the business: what it takes to build massive 4K touring video shows, why the crowd matters more than the money, how COVID nearly crushed live events, and what helped Moo TV stay connected to its people. If you’ve been stuck, scared to try, or tired of living by someone else’s script, Scott’s “live like you’re writing a book” mindset will hit hard. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs fuel, and leave a review with the one chapter you’re ready to write next. Thanks for listening.  Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about.  In these times of intense polarization we all need  to find time to expand our Frame of Reference.

Send us Fan Mail What happens when a dedicated Democratic warrior realizes her certainty was built on sand? We sit down with Lisa Ekman—former DC lobbyist, Senate staffer, and now author of Deprogramming Democrats—to unpack how a crisis of trust pushed her to question authority, confront cognitive dissonance, and reclaim the courage to ask uncomfortable questions. It’s a personal story with national stakes, because when institutions lose credibility, citizens need a roadmap back to truth, not new idols. Lisa takes us inside the culture of expertise that shaped her worldview for decades and explains why the pandemic exposed deeper fractures: censorship dressed up as safety, scientism standing in for science, and incentives that reward the right outcome over an honest one. We pull apart how research can be captured by funding, why full trial transparency is essential, and how “appeal to authority” short-circuits the public’s ability to evaluate risk and evidence. The conversation doesn’t let any tribe off the hook; cult-like behavior thrives wherever questions are punished. So where do we go from here? Together we explore practical paths forward: citizens learning to read results and weigh tradeoffs; AI helping map complex debates and surface uncertainties; and communities rebuilding trust with face-to-face work that humanizes disagreement. We talk about education that teaches how to think, not what to think; the exhausted majority stuck between loud extremes; and simple local actions that prioritize people over purity tests. If you’re tired of outrage and hungry for clarity, this episode offers a grounded, human route back to dialogue and discernment. Subscribe, share this with someone who values honest conversation, and leave a review with the one belief you’ve recently reexamined—we’ll feature our favorites in a future episode. Thanks for listening.  Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about.  In these times of intense polarization we all need  to find time to expand our Frame of Reference.

Send us Fan Mail What if your software teams operated like a special operations unit—small, focused, and relentless about the mission? That’s the lens Ben Johnson brings to the table as a serial technical co‑founder and CEO of Particle 41, where he’s helped launch 94 products and build elite, outcome‑driven teams across software, data, and cloud. We dive into the turning points that shaped his leadership: learning to lead people rather than tasks, aligning cross‑functional teams to a single business outcome, and using radical visibility to dissolve silos. Ben breaks down why maximum capacity beats minimum standards and how to set smart boundaries that prevent burnout while accelerating delivery. He shares a practical framework for managing resistance during automation and AI rollouts, using the seven primal questions to address fear and designing incentives around total output so experts become quality stewards, not casualties of change. You’ll also hear how open source habits inside the enterprise—transparent architecture, discoverable repos, fast code reviews—unlock autonomy and speed to trust. We talk about decision paralysis in middle management, why “own the outcome” beats “own the function,” and the Be–Do–Have identity shift that turns elite performance into a habit. Along the way, Ben opens up about faith, purpose, and the kind of legacy that lasts: families that thrive, teams that grow, and systems that keep compounding long after handoff. If you’re navigating AI, RPA, or just need a cleaner path from idea to impact, this conversation is a playbook. Subscribe for more candid, practical episodes, share this with a leader who needs it, and leave a review with your biggest bottleneck—we’ll tackle it on a future show. Thanks for listening.  Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about.  In these times of intense polarization we all need  to find time to expand our Frame of Reference.

Send us Fan Mail A massive heart attack at 2 a.m., a choice to stay, and a vow to be useful—John Stewart Hill turned a brush with death into a movement that protects homeowners and celebrates great tradespeople. I sat down with John, founder and chief ambassador of The Good Contractors List, to unpack how a third-party guarantee and serious vetting can transform an anxious, two-way agreement into a safer, more respectful partnership. John walks us through the early days—selling coupons, carrying a yellow legal pad, and pitching a radical promise: we’ll separate the good from the bad, and if the job goes wrong, we’ll pay up to $25,000 to make it right. That pledge forced rigor: FBI-level background checks, pattern-spotting across business entities, and zero tolerance for rudeness or bait-and-switch tactics. We get real about why “buck in a truck” shops often lack resources to fix issues, how mega contractors can over-incentivize upsells, and why the competency-rich middle is where value, safety, and honesty meet. What makes this model stick is community. Contractors refer fellow pros they trust, hold each other accountable, and create local “safe contractor communities” that homeowners return to for roofing, plumbing, HVAC, and beyond. The result is collective authority: a network built on behavior, not hype, where the guarantee and mediation keep projects on track when delays or surprises appear. In a post-COVID, AI-noise world, verifiable action beats loud claims—and this platform’s small out-of-pocket history across billions in backed work speaks for itself. If you’re a homeowner who wants peace of mind or a contractor who runs on integrity, this conversation shows how to raise the bar and rebuild trust where it matters most: at home. Explore the network, refer a contractor, or join the community at thegoodcontractorslist.com. Enjoyed the story? Follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review to help more people find trustworthy help. Thanks for listening.  Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about.  In these times of intense polarization we all need  to find time to expand our Frame of Reference.

Send us Fan Mail A rifle on a rooftop isn’t a movie moment—it’s a profound responsibility. We sit with retired Canadian Army sniper Barry Nisbet and author and former U.S. Army Ranger Mir Bahmanyar to unpack what snipers really do when deployed to places like Bosnia and Afghanistan and why their new book, Send It, pushes past the myths of their missions and duties. Barry brings the ground truth from five operational tours and a rare first for a Canadian corporal at U.S. Army Ranger School. Mir adds the historian’s eye and a Ranger’s respect for standards, sharing why he pulled real practitioners into the manuscript to keep the record straight. We walk through the job as it is lived: building a sniper from disciplined infantry roots, the strict rules of engagement that govern every trigger press, and the invisible victories of overwatch that keep patrols alive. Barry breaks down night insertions, fragile hides, the exposure that comes with calling in artillery or air, and the nerve it takes to exfiltrate when the sun rises and the enemy knows you’re there. The conversation lingers where most war stories don’t—accepting risk without bravado, carrying loss without turning it into spectacle, and holding fast to the internal standards that separate professionals from pose. Mir challenges the hype that flattens soldiers into slogans and war into entertainment. He argues for honest military history that preserves detail, context and consequence, and he credits Canadian sniper teams with a level of professionalism and restraint too often missing in popular narratives. Along the way we touch on leadership that actually protects people, the mental skills forged in stalking lanes and fieldcraft, and the quiet rituals—dogs, long walks, small places far from crowds—that help recalibrate after hard tours. If you care about modern military history, leadership under pressure, or how precision and patience save lives, this one will stick with you. Listen, then pick up Send It for the full story told by the people who were there. If the conversation resonates, follow the show, share it with someone who values honest storytelling, and leave a review so more listeners can find it. Thanks for listening.  Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about.  In these times of intense polarization we all need  to find time to expand our Frame of Reference.

Send us Fan Mail Outrage is easy. Unity is a choice—and a craft. I sat down with Adam Mizel, co-founder of Us United, to map out how everyday people can shift our culture from division to respect without waiting on politicians or viral headlines. Adam shares the origin story sparked by Sheriff Chris Swanson’s powerful decision during the George Floyd protests to remove his riot gear and walk with the crowd in Flint. That moment reframed what leadership can look like: disarm with respect, listen to lived experience, and turn down the temperature before it spikes. We get practical about building unity as a brand and a habit. Adam breaks down why symbols matter—purple hats, a clear logo, visible rituals—because division already has its own marketing machine. He offers a field-tested playbook from a cross-country listening tour: trade arguments for personal stories, listen to understand, and step back when respect drops. We explore how sports, music, food, and even our dogs create instant common ground, and why a stadium of strangers can model the collaboration our politics often lacks. The episode also introduces National Unity Day, recognized on the second Saturday in December, designed to make action simple and contagious: wear purple, take the Unity Pledge, post a positive story, or call the friend or relative you cut off over politics. These small weekly acts add up, especially when shared. Hope isn’t naïve here; it’s a system. By making unity visible and easy to join, we give the quiet majority tools to re-engage and reset the tone in their homes, workplaces, and feeds. If you’re ready to stop doomscrolling and start doing, this conversation gives you a starting line and a community. Subscribe, share this with someone across your aisle, and leave a review telling us the one unity action you’ll take this week. Then grab something purple and tag us to keep the momentum going. Thanks for listening.  Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about.  In these times of intense polarization we all need  to find time to expand our Frame of Reference.

Send us Fan Mail What if the most important part of your financial plan isn’t your portfolio, but your people? We sit down with Ian Freeman—longtime wealth advisor known for leading with compassion—to explore why protection should come first, how listening outperforms pitching, and what it really means to say, “You’re going to be okay.” Ian shares the moment a 9/11 loss reshaped his mission, the philosophy that guides his work, and the unexpected role that gratitude and humility play in building a plan that holds on the worst day. Across this conversation, we unpack the gap between information and knowledge—and why neither matters without connection. Ian explains his “protect first, then invest” sequence, covering life insurance, disability coverage, and long-term care before chasing returns, so families can invest for everything that goes right. We talk about technology’s double-edged sword, from deepfakes to financial noise, and walk through simple guardrails that protect attention, decisions, and households. And we go beyond numbers: the influence of Atlas Shrugged as a call to productivity and agency, the wisdom of The Natural, and the grit of grandparents who led with service. If you’ve ever wondered how to choose a financial advisor you can trust, Ian’s criteria are refreshingly human: find the person you’d want sitting with your family when you can’t. Look for outward arrows—empathy, clarity, and genuine care—backed by a plan that answers your definition of “being okay.” Along the way, Ian opens up about mental health, resilience, and his forthcoming book, Life Beneath The Suit: Madness, Mayhem, and the Meaning I Found in the Mess, a narrative look at the stories behind the work. Press play for a candid, practical, and heart-forward guide to money, meaning, and legacy. If this conversation helps you breathe easier about your future, share it with someone you love, subscribe for more, and leave a review with the one question you still want answered. Thanks for listening.  Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about.  In these times of intense polarization we all need  to find time to expand our Frame of Reference.

Send us Fan Mail What if the most faithful thing we can do is slow down, listen, and heal before we preach? That’s the challenge and invitation at the heart of our conversation with Cathy Lins, director of Gather My Lost Sheep, whose work equips parishes and dioceses to respond wisely to trauma and help priests flourish. We talk candidly about why people in crisis often come to the Church first, how well-meaning responses can backfire, and what it takes to become a reliable place of safety rather than another source of harm. Cathy shares practical frameworks that shift ministry from theory to practice. We unpack the “eight critical shifts” for leading trauma-informed parishes, a Good Samaritan five-step response model, and a Flourishing Shepherds approach designed for clergy wellbeing. We also explore the mental health continuum—green to red—as a simple daily dashboard for sleep, diet, prayer, connection, and stress, helping leaders catch warning signs early. From supervision and debriefing to WRAP-style plans, we outline systems that normalize support, reduce burnout, and strengthen accountability without shame. Along the way, we confront stigma, speak to the cost of silence, and acknowledge the reality of secondary trauma for anyone who carries others’ stories. The vision is both humbling and hopeful: laity and clergy as one body, tending each other; evangelization that moves at the speed of trust; and a Church that starts with presence, builds safety, and invites healing that turns wounds into witness. If you care about pastoral care, mental health first aid, safeguarding, or rebuilding credibility through transparency, this one matters. If this resonates, share it with someone who serves, subscribe for more conversations like this, and leave a review with one insight you’re taking back to your community. Thanks for listening.  Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about.  In these times of intense polarization we all need  to find time to expand our Frame of Reference.

Send us Fan Mail What if paying protesters made movements more honest instead of less? We sit down with Adam Swart, CEO of Crowds on Demand, to unpack how compensated advocacy actually works, why protests are context builders rather than public headcounts, and how to navigate a media ecosystem that rewards outrage over nuance. Adam pulls back the curtain on strategy: where you rally, what you say, and how you craft visuals—all to reach the second audience that never shows up in person but decides what trends tomorrow. We trace the arc from personal discipline and leadership ideals to modern persuasion. Adam shares why he sees compensation as the backbone of professionalism, how underdogs can outmaneuver entrenched money with smarter tactics, and what it takes to ask questions that bridge divides instead of hardening them. We examine the algorithms that keep us scrolling, the sensationalism that books TV guests, and the practical habits that help anyone spot manipulation: contextualize numbers, interrogate claims, and talk with people who don’t vote like you. Adam also breaks down one of his most visible projects—the Delete Facebook movement—and the ripple effects it helped catalyze, from brand repositioning to political ad shifts. Then we go bigger: a candid call to challenge Big Food’s engineered addictions and the unequal health burden they create. If you care about civic power, media literacy, and how ideas win attention in 2025, this conversation offers a blueprint you can use—whether you’re organizing a cause, leading a team, or just trying to think more clearly in a noisy world. If this episode challenged you or gave you a new lens, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review to help more curious listeners find us. Thanks for listening.  Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about.  In these times of intense polarization we all need  to find time to expand our Frame of Reference.

Send us Fan Mail What happens when you strip away ego and embrace humility as your guiding principle? David Price's extraordinary journey from twenty years of drug addiction to becoming a millionaire insurance entrepreneur provides a powerful answer. David's story begins at rock bottom – homeless, broke, and battling an addiction that had consumed two decades of his life. After getting clean in 2013, he faced the daunting question that confronts many in recovery: what now? By 2018, he had obtained his insurance license and begun building what would become a thriving virtual business that employs hundreds of agents nationwide. The turning point wasn't simply sobriety; it was a profound mindset shift. "If you're having issues with this guy and that guy, you're screwed because you can't change them. But if the issue is with you, then you have a chance," David explains, referencing wisdom gained in recovery. This principle of extreme ownership – taking complete responsibility for everything in your life – became his north star in business and personal development. What makes David's approach unique is his emphasis on humility as a business strategy. "Pride is expensive and ego is even more expensive, but humility is profitable," he notes. This philosophy has allowed him to create a successful virtual insurance agency where agents receive inbound calls from interested prospects rather than cold-calling reluctant customers. His model has transformed the lives of countless agents, many of whom were servers, retail workers, or single parents struggling to make ends meet before joining his team. Beyond business insights, David shares his journey with plant-based eating, his move to Puerto Rico, and his thoughts on creating a meaningful legacy. His story serves as a powerful reminder that our greatest failures can become the foundation for extraordinary success when paired with humility and ownership. Ready to transform your approach to business and life? Follow David Price on social media or visit tpglife.com to learn more about embracing the power of humility in your own journey. Thanks for listening.  Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about.  In these times of intense polarization we all need  to find time to expand our Frame of Reference.

Send us Fan Mail When global tensions flare, it's often what's happening behind the scenes that matters most. In this thought-provoking episode, we dig into the complex relationship between domestic politics and international conflicts, focusing on the recent escalation between Israel and Iran. We begin by examining the abandoned Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) – the Iran Nuclear Deal that once provided structure and accountability in the region. The systematic dismantling of this diplomatic achievement wasn't because it failed, but seemingly because it succeeded under a previous administration. This shortsighted political revenge has created the very vacuum that breeds today's instability. The timing of Israel's strikes against Iran raises serious questions. With both Netanyahu's government and Trump's administration facing significant domestic challenges and approval ratings in free fall, these military actions appear suspiciously convenient. Are we witnessing genuine security operations, or calculated distractions from internal political crises? We don't shy away from uncomfortable truths: the celebratory declarations of "obliterating" targets lack credibility given the limitations of the weapons systems used and reports of material being removed before strikes. Meanwhile, the potential for wider conflict looms with Iran's BRICS alliance      (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates) functioning as a NATO-like mutual defense pact. Beyond geopolitics, we explore why reasoned discourse seems increasingly impossible in America. We suggest that appealing to rational arguments misses the point – we must address the emotional foundations driving political positions. Understanding fears, acknowledging concerns, and approaching dialogue with genuine empathy may be the only path forward in our divided nation. Have you found yourself distracted by headline news while deeper issues go unaddressed? Listen now and join our community of critical thinkers who refuse to accept simple narratives about complex problems. Thanks for listening.  Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about.  In these times of intense polarization we all need  to find time to expand our Frame of Reference.

Send us Fan Mail "What's going on today in our world?" asks Rauel as he and Antowan dive deep into one of the most controversial pieces of legislation currently making waves across America – the so-called "Big Beautiful Bill." This powerful conversation exposes the troubling psychology behind American politics today, where questioning has become threatening and dissent is immediately silenced. As Antowan points out, "The country has fallen under this dark psychology spell, man, and tactic after tactic are being used on us." The hosts unpack how this legislation effectively takes from the poorest 10% to give to the richest 10%, explaining the far-reaching implications for healthcare, education, and marginalized communities. The discussion takes a fascinating turn when examining the phenomenon of Americans voting against their own interests – referencing Jonathan Metzl's book "Dying of Whiteness" – and how fear and manipulation drive political decision-making. "People will vote against their own best interest to keep their agenda intact," Antowan explains, highlighting the racial undertones that permeate these political dynamics. The conversation doesn't shy away from examining how privatizing healthcare will lead to more stringent eligibility requirements, higher premiums, and more Americans being denied coverage. Perhaps most alarming is their analysis of recent constitutional challenges, including the Qatar jet gift and how it potentially violates the Emoluments Clause. "What happens when they start shooting federal judges?" Rauel asks, voicing concerns about the erosion of the rule of law. The hosts make a compelling case that focusing on upholding the rule of law could be a unifying principle for those concerned about America's direction. Join us for this eye-opening discussion that challenges listeners to come out of their news bubbles and understand how these political decisions affect us all. Subscribe, share your thoughts, and continue the conversation as we work to protect the values that support all Americans. Thanks for listening.  Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about.  In these times of intense polarization we all need  to find time to expand our Frame of Reference.

Send us Fan Mail Jim Carlough, accomplished business strategist and author, shares his six pillars of effective leadership, emphasizing integrity as the foundation that makes all other leadership qualities possible. Through compelling stories from his 30-year career, he demonstrates how integrity combined with empathy creates environments where people thrive even through difficult transitions. • Integrity means staying on the center line of your ethical code, never straying too far left or right • The current social media environment encourages people to "throw grenades and hide" without accountability • When leading a team through job eliminations, Jim made three promises that resulted in the highest employee satisfaction scores across a 20,000-person company • Leadership requires consistently asking yourself if your actions benefit you at the expense of others • True leadership is developed through experience and reflection, not something people are born with • The foundation of leadership is making others better, which ultimately makes you better • Empathy and integrity work together to create trust, without which a leader cannot succeed Connect with Jim Carlough to learn more about the six pillars of leadership and how they can transform your organization and develop future leaders. Thanks for listening.  Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about.  In these times of intense polarization we all need  to find time to expand our Frame of Reference.

Send us Fan Mail What happens when Olympic-level athleticism meets theatrical creativity? Kerstin Schulze embodies this fascinating intersection, sharing her remarkable journey from winning a Junior Olympics silver medal in heptathlon at age 12 to her current role as a kung fu nanny on HBO's "The Righteous Gemstones." The conversation reveals Kerstin's refreshing philosophy on balance—something she discovered after years of competitive bodybuilding taught her that stage-ready physiques often represent the "most unhealthy" version of ourselves. "Finding balance takes time," she explains, offering practical wisdom for anyone struggling with fitness goals or life direction. Her approach is disarmingly simple yet profound: five days of discipline allows for two days of enjoyment without sabotaging progress. Particularly illuminating is Kerstin's method for creating lasting change. Rather than overwhelming yourself with ambitious goals, she recommends starting with just five minutes of daily movement. "Set your timer for five minutes in the morning and do something that helps your body get stronger," she advises. "When the five minutes are over, you have to stop." This counterintuitive approach—forcing yourself to stop rather than push through—helps reprogram your system to crave healthy habits. The conversation delves into deeper territory as Kerstin reflects on how theater training develops empathy by requiring actors to understand perspectives vastly different from their own—a skill increasingly rare in our polarized world. She shares behind-the-scenes insights from working with Hollywood's elite while maintaining that success isn't about fame but about creating art that makes people feel something. Whether you're struggling with fitness goals, creative pursuits, or simply seeking more balance in life, Kerstin's journey offers both inspiration and practical guidance. Her parting wisdom? "Listen to your intuition"—something she wishes her younger self had done more consistently. Discover more of Kerstin's approach to fitness and life at partyanddiet.com, where her book "The Balance" is available for free. Thanks for listening.  Please check out our website at www.forsauk.com to hear great conversations on topics that need to be talked about.  In these times of intense polarization we all need  to find time to expand our Frame of Reference.