Alignment Podcast

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.

Overview

How should people think about purpose and passion when they are trying to find the right career? In this conversation, Justin Pohlmann shares his path from full-time musician to talent acquisition at the Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency, where he now helps connect people to life-saving work. Along the way, he reflects on identity, calling, mission, and why starting a job search with “what am I passionate about?” can actually send people in the wrong direction. This episode will be especially useful for job seekers, leaders, and anyone trying to build a healthier relationship with work.

What we cover

* From drummer to recruiter – Justin shares the unusual career path that took him from life on the road into HR and talent acquisition.

* Why mission changes how work feels – how being part of life-saving work at LOPA reshaped his view of meaning and purpose in a job.

* When culture truly aligns around a mission – what it looks like when an entire organization is facing the same direction.

* Why passion is a misleading starting point – Justin’s argument that asking “what are you passionate about?” often creates confusion in career searches.

* Your job is what you do, not who you are – why identity should be built on something deeper than a title or profession.

* Purpose is bigger than a nine-to-five – the case for seeing purpose as broader than whatever role you happen to hold.

* Calling, mission, and passion – Justin’s framework for thinking about the people you want to serve, the problem you want to solve, and the work you are excited to do.

* Hiring beyond the job description – how Justin helps leaders look for alignment, not just technical competence.

* What great fit adds to a team – why deeply aligned hires bring more than just the ability to check a box.

* Start with tasks, not a fantasy – Justin’s practical advice for people early in their careers who are trying to figure out what kind of work fits them.

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