Backstage Pass with GDA Speakers

In this episode of the GDA Podcast, Gail Davis and Kyle Davis sit down with Greg Bennick, a keynote speaker and juggler who uses humor, storytelling, and unexpected moments to explore personal development, teamwork, and navigating change.

Greg shares how an accidental introduction to juggling at age 12 ultimately shaped his career and became a powerful metaphor for life and work. He explores what juggling can teach us about managing the unexpected, adapting when things don't go as planned, and connecting with others in a way that makes ideas memorable.

Key topics include:

• How an accidental juggling class changed the direction of Greg’s life
• Using juggling as a metaphor for teamwork, communication, leadership, and change
• Becoming more comfortable when things don't go according to plan
• Why great leaders and teammates listen first
• Using humor to make ideas more engaging and memorable
• The importance of being present, adaptable, and connected with your audience

Greg’s message is a reminder that we can't always control what gets thrown our way, but we can learn to adapt, stay present, and keep moving forward when the unexpected happens.

Visit gdaspeakers.com to learn more about bringing Greg Bennick to your next event.

In this episode of the GDA Podcast, Gail Davis and Kyle Davis sit down with Jim "The Rookie" Morris, whose remarkable journey from 35-year-old high school teacher and baseball coach to Major League pitcher inspired the Disney movie The Rookie, starring Dennis Quaid.

Jim shares the story behind the bet he made with his high school baseball team that changed the course of his life. As his players chased a district championship, they challenged Jim to chase a dream he thought had passed him by—ultimately leading him back to baseball and all the way to the major leagues.

Key topics include:

• The bet with his high school team that pushed Jim to give baseball another shot
• Making the major leagues at 35 after years away from professional baseball
• Why taking a chance matters when a dream is within reach
• How Jim and his players pushed each other to become better
• Turning obstacles and second chances into opportunities for growth
• The lessons about integrity, character, relationships, and giving back that continue to shape Jim’s life

Jim’s story is a reminder that dreams don’t always happen on the timeline we expect. Sometimes a second chance begins with keeping a promise, taking the next step, and refusing to wonder “what if?”

Visit gdaspeakers.com to learn more about bringing Jim "The Rookie" Morris to your next event.

In this episode of the GDA Podcast, Gail Davis and Kyle Davis sit down with Pippa Malmgren, international bestselling author of Signals, former presidential advisor, economist, and entrepreneur, to explore how everyday signals can help us better understand what may be coming next in the economy and the world.

Pippa explains why numbers and data only tell part of the story. By combining quantitative information with common sense, observation, and imagination, she looks for signals that haven't yet appeared in the data—and shares how this approach can help people become better prepared for uncertainty and change.

Key topics include:

• Looking beyond data to recognize signals of what may be coming next
• How geopolitics, economics, technology, and human behavior are interconnected
• Why imagination can be an important tool for navigating uncertainty
• The story behind Pippa’s decision to help build a drone technology company
• Why difficult economic environments can still create opportunities to build and innovate
• Developing practical skills and untapped talent to strengthen the economy

Pippa’s message is a reminder that we may not be able to predict the future, but we can become better prepared for it by paying attention, questioning assumptions, and using our imagination to see possibilities that aren't yet obvious.

Visit gdaspeakers.com to learn more about bringing Pippa Malmgren to your next event.

In this episode of the GDA Podcast, Gail Davis and Kyle Davis sit down with Jamie Metzl, a futurist whose wide-ranging career has included roles in the White House, State Department, Senate, and United Nations. Jamie brings those experiences together to help people understand the big-picture changes shaping our world.

Jamie explores major shifts in geopolitics, genetics, biotechnology, and human longevity and why understanding the future requires looking beyond the headlines. He also shares how storytelling can make complex ideas more accessible and help people recognize how changes happening today could impact their own lives.

Key topics include:

• The major forces reshaping geopolitics and the global order
• Why some of the biggest changes happening today aren't always making the biggest headlines
• How genetics and biotechnology could transform what it means to be human
• Using storytelling to make complex ideas easier to understand
• The possibilities and questions surrounding human longevity and life extension
• Why curiosity and looking at the bigger picture are essential for understanding the future

Jamie’s message is a reminder that revolutionary change often requires us to rethink our assumptions about what the future can look like—and stay curious about the forces shaping what comes next.

Visit gdaspeakers.com to learn more about bringing Jamie Metzl to your next event.

In this episode of the GDA Podcast, Gail Davis and Kyle Davis sit down with Molly Fletcher, a trailblazing former sports agent who negotiated more than $500 million in contracts and represented hundreds of professional athletes, coaches, and broadcasters.

Molly shares what she learned from working alongside some of the highest performers in sports and how those lessons translate far beyond the playing field. From curiosity and resilience to relationships and courage, she explores the qualities that help people continually grow, perform at a higher level, and reach their potential.

Key topics include:

• Molly’s journey from marketing coordinator to successful sports agent
• Why talent alone isn’t enough to reach the highest levels of performance
• The importance of relationships, authenticity, and managing expectations
• The qualities Molly consistently sees in top performers
• Why curiosity, lifelong learning, boldness, and resilience matter
• How small moments of courage can lead to bigger outcomes

Molly’s message is a reminder that reaching your potential doesn’t happen in one giant leap. It comes from continually learning, taking courageous steps, and choosing to become a better version of yourself.

Visit gdaspeakers.com to learn more about bringing Molly Fletcher to your next event.

In this episode of the GDA Podcast, Gail Davis and Kyle Davis sit down with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Sonia Nazario, best known for Enrique’s Journey, to explore immigration, journalism, and the human stories behind one of the most complex issues facing society.

Sonia shares how her own family history and experiences growing up in Argentina inspired her to become a journalist and why she believes storytelling can help people better understand issues beyond the headlines. She also takes listeners behind Enrique’s Journey, the story of a Honduran boy who traveled through Mexico alone in search of his mother in the United States.

Key topics include:

• How Sonia’s personal experiences shaped her path to journalism
• The importance of truth-telling and journalism in understanding complex issues
• Why long-form storytelling can create deeper understanding and empathy
• The story behind Enrique’s Journey and Sonia’s firsthand reporting
• The determination, danger, and acts of humanity experienced along the migration journey
• Looking beyond headlines to understand why people leave their home countries

Sonia’s work demonstrates the power of putting a human face on a complex issue and how understanding someone’s story can challenge assumptions, broaden perspectives, and create greater empathy.

Visit gdaspeakers.com to learn more about bringing Sonia Nazario to your next event.

In this episode of the GDA Podcast, Gail Davis and Kyle Davis sit down with Ryan Estis, a former Chief Strategy Officer turned researcher and speaker, to explore how changing customer and employee expectations are reshaping sales, leadership, and the workplace.

Ryan shares why succeeding in sales today requires much more than a great pitch. From becoming obsessed with the customer to showing up prepared and continually adding value, he explains how sales professionals and leaders can evolve to stay relevant and drive stronger performance.

Key topics include:

• How changing customer expectations are transforming the sales process
• Why the best salespeople are students first and teachers second
• The importance of preparation, listening, and asking better questions
• Building customer relationships by consistently adding value
• Creating a culture of learning, coaching, and ongoing feedback
• Why culture is ultimately a reflection of how we lead
• How intentional leadership can make a lasting impact on others

Ryan’s message is a reminder to stay a student. Whether you’re selling, leading, or navigating change, continued learning and intentional action are essential to staying relevant and growing.

Visit gdaspeakers.com to learn more about bringing Ryan Estis to your next event.

In this episode of the GDA Podcast, Gail Davis and Kyle Davis sit down with Peter Sheahan, founder and Group CEO of Karrikins Group and author of Matter, to explore how organizations can stay relevant, differentiate themselves, and become the obvious choice in a changing marketplace.

Peter explains why disruption isn’t simply about new technology or changing generations—it’s about evolving expectations from customers, employees, and communities. He shares research and real-world examples that reveal how organizations can create greater value by solving more important problems and continually adapting to what’s ahead.

Key topics include:

• How organizations can maintain relevance through change and disruption
• Why purpose and meaning matter to both employees and customers
• The five attributes that help organizations differentiate themselves
• Solving higher-order problems instead of increasingly commoditized ones
• Finding opportunities by removing friction from the customer experience
• Why disruption rarely comes completely out of nowhere
• The importance of preparing organizations and employees for the future of work

Peter’s message is a reminder that staying relevant requires more than reacting to change. The organizations that matter most are the ones willing to anticipate what’s coming, evolve, and continually create greater value.

Visit gdaspeakers.com to learn more about bringing Peter Sheahan to your next event.

In this episode of the GDA Podcast, Gail Davis and Kyle Davis sit down with Army Ranger turned interrogator Eric Maddox, who played a key role in the capture of Saddam Hussein and later wrote Mission: Black List about the experience.

Eric takes listeners inside the search for Saddam and explains how an ineffective interrogation approach forced him to rethink everything he had been taught. By learning to listen at a deeper level, understand the person across from him, and build genuine trust, Eric uncovered the intelligence that ultimately led to Saddam’s capture.

Key topics include:

• Eric’s journey from Army Ranger to military interrogator
• The chain of intelligence that ultimately led to Saddam Hussein
• Why traditional interrogation techniques weren’t working
• How empathy and connection helped Eric build trust with prisoners
• Removing distractions and biases to become a better listener
• Why understanding someone can be one of the strongest drivers of influence
• Applying empathy-based listening to leadership, sales, and business
• Using better questions and elicitation techniques to gain greater transparency

Eric’s story shows that the real power behind his success wasn’t force—it was listening. The ability to understand another person can lead to better information, stronger trust, and greater influence.

Visit gdaspeakers.com to learn more about bringing Eric Maddox to your next event.

In this episode of the GDA Podcast, Gail Davis and Kyle Davis sit down with Kevin Brown to explore The Hero Effect and what it means to show up as your best when it matters most. Drawing from decades in the franchise industry, Kevin shares lessons from helping grow a family business into a $2 billion brand and building a culture centered on people, service, and excellence.

Kevin challenges the traditional idea of a hero, arguing that extraordinary impact isn’t reserved for extraordinary circumstances. It happens in everyday moments when people intentionally choose to help others, take responsibility, create exceptional experiences, and see possibilities beyond the problems in front of them.

Key topics include:

• Why culture and people can be an organization’s greatest differentiators
• Being fully present and becoming a “master of the moment called now”
• The story behind The Hero Effect
• Why Kevin believes ordinary is a choice
• Helping others with no strings attached
• Taking 100% responsibility for creating positive outcomes
• Using optimism to confront problems and find solutions
• Why intentional acts of difference-making can transform business and life

Kevin’s message reminds us that we all have the opportunity to be everyday heroes by seeing the people around us, serving them well, and choosing to be our best in the moments that matter.

Visit gdaspeakers.com to learn more about bringing Kevin Brown to your next event.