Ask Don't Tell

What if the key to becoming a more confident communicator isn't learning what to say, but learning how to show up as yourself?

On this episode of Ask, Don't Tell, Oscar sits down with Ann Kiel Dux, executive presence coach and founder of Dux Communications, to explore how to communicate with confidence, build trust, and make a lasting impression when the pressure is on. Ann explains why confidence is the result of consistent practice, not something you can simply turn on, and how aligning your words, tone, and body language helps others feel your authority, not just hear it.

Together, they discuss the power of being fully present, connecting with people who see the world differently, and developing the human skills that set great leaders apart in an AI-driven world. Ann also shares a practical exercise to help you connect with your audience and make your next high-stakes conversation, presentation, or meeting more impactful.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why confidence comes from preparation and practice, not performance.

• How to build trust through presence, emotional intelligence, and authentic communication.

• Why human skills are becoming more valuable as AI transforms the workplace.

• How to create a stronger connection with your audience by focusing on how you want them to feel.

You don't need to become someone else to be a great communicator. You just need to get out of your own way and bring the best version of yourself into the room.

What if the key to changing your life isn't controlling what happens to you, but changing how you respond to it?

Dr. Ray Catania is an award-winning author, master certified life coach, and former sales manager who blends science, spirituality, and human behavior to help people break through the subconscious beliefs holding them back. After experiencing a near-death experience, Ray radically changed his relationship with fear, rejection, frustration, and even death, and now teaches others how to shift their mindset and step into their highest potential.

In this episode, Ray and Oscar explore: • Why your environment can shape your beliefs long before you realize it • How an attitude of gratitude can completely change the way you experience your day • Why changing your relationship with death can help you stop worrying about what other people think • How to become the "director" of your own life instead of reacting to every situation

Sometimes the biggest breakthrough comes from realizing that you don't have to control the world around you. You can control how you meet it. Tune in and discover how a shift in perspective can change everything.

What if the life you keep saying "someday" to is actually waiting for you to take the first step today?

In this episode of Ask, Don't Tell, Oscar sits down with Adrian Jones, founder of More and author of Powered by Authenticity, to talk about what happens when success no longer feels fulfilling. After surviving two major heart attacks and leaving a high-pressure career in financial services, Adrian transformed his own experience into a mission to help high achievers stop postponing the life they truly want.

They explore: • Why everyone is in sales, whether they realize it or not • How authenticity, community, and belonging can fuel personal transformation • Why waiting for a crisis to make a change can make the process even harder • A simple "I want" exercise to uncover what really matters to you

You don't have to wait for a wake-up call to start living differently. Take a moment, ask yourself what you really want, and take one step toward it this week.

What if the very thing driving your success is quietly destroying your life?

Orthodontist, entrepreneur, and author Whitney Wright opens up about the mental health crisis that nearly cost him everything. After years of chasing achievement, burying childhood trauma, and believing that working harder would solve the pain, Whitney found himself battling panic attacks, depression, and burnout at the height of his career. Today, he helps other high-performing men recognize the warning signs before they reach their breaking point.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• Why success can become a dangerous trap for high achievers
• The hidden connection between unresolved trauma and burnout
• Why telling the right person you're struggling can change everything

Whether you're carrying the pressure of leadership, supporting someone who is, or simply wondering why achievement hasn't brought the peace you expected, this conversation is a powerful reminder that asking for help is not weakness. It is the first step toward becoming the strongest version of yourself.

What if the biggest obstacle in your life isn't your circumstances, but the story you've been telling yourself about them?

In this episode, Oscar sits down with leadership coach, speaker, and mythologist Scott Mason to explore how hidden beliefs shape our decisions, careers, relationships, and sense of possibility. Drawing from his own journey through career collapse, serious illness, and personal transformation, Scott reveals why so many people stay stuck in patterns that no longer serve them and how to rewrite the story.

Together, they discuss: • The five toxic myths that keep people trapped in fear, self-doubt, and limitation • Why your past does not have to define your future • How small acts of courage can create lasting change and build a more powerful identity

Scott also shares the life-altering health crisis that forced him to confront his own limiting beliefs and discover a framework that has since helped entrepreneurs, leaders, and professionals break free from old narratives and step into a bigger vision for their lives.

If you've ever felt stuck, overlooked, or unsure of what's next, this conversation is a reminder that your story is not finished. The moment you challenge the myth, you create the possibility for a new future.

What if the key to growing your business is not having all the answers, but asking better questions?

In this episode, Oscar sits down with Jon Bassford, founder, consultant, and author of The Curious Leader, to explore why leaders often become the biggest obstacle to their own growth. Jon shares how helping organizations scale starts with understanding the connection between leadership, operations, and culture, and why curiosity is the missing ingredient in building stronger teams.

Together, Oscar and Jon unpack how to: • Break free from habits that keep businesses stuck • Build trust by listening instead of controlling • Use better questions to uncover solutions, improve sales conversations, and create stronger connections

Whether you are leading a company, building a business, or simply trying to communicate more effectively, this conversation will challenge you to rethink how you listen, lead, and grow. Start asking better questions, and you may discover the answers you have been looking for all along.

Most leaders are chasing performance but ignoring the one thing that makes performance sustainable.

In this episode, former FBI leader turned executive wellness coach Sarah Draper reveals why high-performing leaders often burn out, drift, or quietly struggle behind the scenes. Drawing on decades in high-pressure environments like the Army and FBI, Sarah explains why leadership starts with something many people avoid: taking care of yourself.

Oscar and Sarah explore how leaders can step out of survival mode, reconnect with their purpose, and build the physical, mental, and relational foundations that make great leadership possible.

You will learn:

• Why high achievers often wait too long to address burnout
• The simple "future walk" exercise that can reshape your goals
• How sustainable leadership starts with your health, mindset, and relationships

If you want to lead better, perform longer, and build a life that actually matches your ambitions, this conversation will challenge how you think about success.

What if the thing holding you back as a leader isn't strategy, skill, or effort—but who you believe you are?

In this episode, Oscar sits down with executive coach Jeff Munn to unpack why most founders, CEOs, and high performers stay stuck even after reading the books, attending the seminars, and "doing all the right things." Jeff shares how outdated identities, unconscious fears, and internal wiring quietly sabotage leadership, decision-making, and growth—and why tactics only work after the inner work is done. Together, they explore how powerful questions, deep listening, and silence can unlock clarity, confidence, and real change.

Key takeaways include:

• Why "what got you here won't take you there" is an identity problem, not a skill gap
• How fear—not logic—is usually the real reason people don't take action
• Why great leaders (and great sellers) ask better questions instead of giving better advice

If you're feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or frustrated despite doing everything "right," this conversation might be the wake-up call you didn't know you needed. Lean in—and be ready to rethink who's really in your way.

In this episode of Ask Don't Tell, Oscar Subirats sits down with leadership speaker and author Joel Worthington, creator of the Tell Me More philosophy, to unpack why asking better questions—not giving better directives—is the missing link in modern leadership. Joel breaks down how emotional intelligence, trust, and genuine curiosity transform disengaged employees into true followers, and why most organizations unknowingly sabotage themselves with fear-based communication.

Together, they explore how leadership is really about influence, energy, and connection—and why slowing down to ask one better question can change the trajectory of your team, your culture, and your results.

Key takeaways include:

• Why "Tell Me More" is the most powerful phrase a leader can use
• How directive leadership kills buy-in, energy, and trust
• Joel's GUIDE framework for leading with clarity, empathy, and strategy

If you want people who follow you—not just work for you—this conversation will challenge how you lead, listen, and show up every day.

Summary

In this conversation, Kevin Hubschmann discusses the concept of 'Laughter as a Service' and how comedy can be integrated into corporate environments to enhance professional skills and team dynamics. He shares insights on the benefits of improv training, the psychology of laughter, and the importance of authenticity in sales. Kevin emphasizes the need for deep discovery in sales conversations and how rebranding can help overcome objections. The discussion highlights the value of building relationships and making clients feel like rock stars through effective communication and humor.

Takeaways

• Laughter can significantly improve workplace dynamics.
• Comedy skills can enhance professional development and sales effectiveness.
• Improv training fosters better listening and collaboration skills.
• Authenticity in sales leads to stronger client relationships.
• Understanding the psychology of laughter can enhance team building activities.
• Rebranding services can help overcome common objections in sales.
• Deep discovery in conversations leads to better solutions for clients.
• Building champions within organizations can lead to long-term partnerships.
• Creating a fun and engaging environment can improve learning outcomes.
• Sales success often comes from making clients feel valued and understood.