What if business existed for more than just profit? Andy Galpin, redemptive acquisition entrepreneur and leader at Tree and Leaf Partners, joins Jacob Crockett to explore how companies can scale with purpose while honoring people, culture, and community.

Andy shares his journey from IBM consultant to acquisition entrepreneur, why he focuses on scaling existing businesses rather than starting from scratch, and how he helps leaders transition from founder-led operations to lasting, purposeful organizations.

You’ll hear insights on:

* The difference between startups and acquisition entrepreneurship

* How “redemptive business” reframes success beyond financial return

* Practical ways leaders can align culture, values, and systems for growth

* Why investing in people creates ripple effects in families and communities

* Frameworks and movements (like Conscious Capitalism and Praxis) reshaping business today

Whether you’re a founder, leader, or curious about purposeful business models, this episode will challenge how you think about value, culture, and impact.

Connect with Andy:

* LinkedIn: Andy D. Galpin

* Website: treeleafpartners.com

In this episode of the Alignment Podcast, Jacob sits down with Eric Harrison, co-founder and CEO of Thrive, a peer group–driven community for founders. Eric shares how his early experiences in Boy Scouts and his first venture in change management shaped his approach to leadership, culture, and company building.

You’ll hear:

* Why so many companies wait too long to think about culture—and how to fix it.

* What Eric learned starting a consultancy in college and why “mission-obsessed” teams matter.

* The role of peer groups as “half strategy, half therapy” for founders.

* How Thrive is creating intimate, life-changing spaces for entrepreneurs to learn, grow, and lead with intention.

* Why being humble, curious, and mission-driven is more important than revenue size when it comes to building community.

Whether you’re leading a small team or scaling fast, this conversation will challenge how you think about culture, alignment, and what it really means to enjoy the work you do every day.

What does economics have to do with leadership? A lot more than supply and demand curves.

In this episode, Jacob sits down with Seung Paik, retired Air Force comptroller, teacher, and soon-to-be author of Leadernomics. Seung spent 25 years in the military managing millions of dollars, teaching economics, and discovering how economic principles—like incentives, value, and interdependence—directly apply to leadership and culture.

We dive into:

* Why leadership is about relationships, not just metrics

* How economics reveals the priceless value in people and culture

* The difference between managing and truly leading

* Why trust, risk, and delegation are essential for growth

* The story behind Seung’s upcoming book Leadernomics

If you’ve ever wondered how to align leadership, culture, and human potential, this conversation will challenge and inspire you.

In this episode of the Alignment Podcast, Jacob Crockett sits down with Walter, better known as The Dutch Mentor. From his early career as a paramedic and flight medic to executive leadership across healthcare systems, Walter has seen firsthand how technical excellence doesn’t always translate into effective leadership.

He shares powerful insights on:

* Why so many frontline performers struggle when promoted into leadership.

* The parallels between emergency medicine and leadership—responding vs. reacting.

* How trust and engagement multiply to create high-performance teams.

* Practical frameworks like E + R = O (Event + Response = Outcome) that help leaders stay calm under pressure.

* Why investing in leadership development is the single biggest lever organizations ignore.

Walter makes a compelling case for why every leader—especially emerging managers—needs mentorship, accountability, and courage to truly thrive.

If you’re a leader, aspiring manager, or someone responsible for developing talent, this conversation will give you a fresh perspective on what it really takes to lead people well.

In this episode, I sit down with Cynthia Black, an HR leader and community builder, who has a gift for helping people discover what they’re truly capable of. Cynthia shares her journey from growing up as a military brat in San Diego to finding deep roots in Mississippi, where she now develops leaders at Peoples Bank, serves on her local school board, and mentors others through SHRM.

We talk about:

* Why many people underestimate their own skills and how to reframe experience into confidence

* The balance between hiring for fit versus skills, and why character matters most

* What it looks like to help employees grow within a smaller company

* How mentoring and community service create ripple effects beyond the workplace

* The joy that comes from helping others achieve more than they thought possible

Whether you’re a leader, an HR professional, or just someone who cares about people development, Cynthia’s perspective will inspire you to look for opportunities to help others grow—and maybe to stretch yourself too.

In this episode, Justin Pohlmann shares his journey from full-time musician to talent acquisition leader at the Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency (LOPA). We explore how his transition taught him that passion isn’t the best starting point for a career search — and why identity and purpose should come first.

Justin offers a powerful framework for job seekers and leaders alike:

* Why your job is what you do, not who you are

* How to uncover your calling, mission, and passion in the right order

* The difference it makes to hire for alignment, not just ability

* How mission-driven organizations maintain purpose across every role

Whether you’re navigating a career change, leading a team, or rethinking what work means to you, this conversation will inspire you to align your work with who you are at your core.

In this episode, Jacob talks with Misty McCraw, owner of PeoplePro HR Solutions, about the changing landscape of work and what separates thriving companies from those just scraping by. They dig into:

How COVID shifted the hiring dynamic and gave employees more power to choose where they work

Why “culture” and “leadership” can’t just be buzzwords—and what they look like when done right

Signs your organization may be struggling (and what to do about it)

The link between leadership development, employee engagement, and productivity

Why understanding and communicating your company’s “why” changes everything

How to approach culture change realistically—without expecting an overnight transformation

Whether you’re a business owner, HR leader, or just curious about what makes a great workplace tick, this conversation is full of practical insights and real-world examples you can put to work right away.

In this episode, Ed Boudrot, founder of Human Ignition, invites us into a deeper exploration of modern leadership—where innovation meets humanity. Drawing from his experiences leading elite teams at startups and Fortune 500s, Ed shares insights on the internal “operating systems” that govern leaders, teams, and entire organizations.

You’ll learn:

How Ed’s approach to team culture is grounded in radical candor, shared language, and deep trust

The surprising power of one question: “What do you love?”

Why stalled leadership is the most common—and most solvable—challenge in large organizations

What 40+ leadership interviews are revealing about the future (and limits) of AI

How psychological safety and clarity can unlock what Ed calls “magic moments” in teams

This is a conversation about transforming leadership from the inside out—making the unseen seen, and reigniting purpose in an age of noise, automation, and overwhelm.

In this episode, Nathan Deily shares his journey from Fortune 500 HR executive to startup builder and executive recruiter. But more than a resume walk-through, this is a masterclass in decoding what really matters when building high-performing teams.

Nathan reveals:

Why the most successful teams aren’t just talented—but aligned

The overlooked magic of listening as a hiring skill

How to surface true values and thinking patterns through well-crafted questions

Why hiring should be more about philosophy than pedigree

The pitfalls of relying on surface-level heuristics—and how curiosity and humility help you see deeper

He also shares some of his favorite interview techniques, like the seemingly odd “Polar Bear vs. Samurai” question—and why it reveals far more than candidates expect.

Whether you’re building your next team or trying to find the right fit yourself, this conversation is full of transformational insights that make the invisible visible—and unlock better alignment for all.

summary

In this inaugural episode of the Alignment Podcast, Jacob Crockett and Matt discuss the significance of alignment within teams and the impact of an abundance mindset on leadership and team dynamics. They explore how scarcity thinking can limit business owners and managers, emphasizing the importance of recognizing the potential in people and fostering a culture of growth and fulfillment. The conversation highlights the need for leaders to prioritize the interests of their team members, ultimately leading to a more engaged and productive work environment.

takeaways

Abundance mindset is crucial for team success.

Scarcity thinking limits leadership effectiveness.

People are often seen as problems in business.

Everyone is replaceable, including key team members.

Leaders should prioritize the growth of their team.

Focusing on others' needs can lead to personal success.

Creating a vision that includes everyone is vital.

Team dynamics improve with an abundance mindset.

Encouraging team members to pursue opportunities is beneficial.

The podcast aims to provide actionable insights for listeners.

keywords

alignment, abundance mindset, team building, leadership, personal growth, fulfillment, business culture, employee engagement, leadership strategies, team dynamics