Beneath the Transaction

Menlo Innovations is a software development company that has been around for 21 years. As the CEO and Co-Founder, Richard Sheridan travels the world telling people about what his company does. They are not an ordinary tech company, their mission is to bring joy to the tech world and end suffering as it relates to technology. They have discovered and built an amazing culture that grasps human energy because they believe in 'running the experiment'. Rich has authored two excellent books, Joy Inc. and Cheif Joy Officer, wherein he tells the story of Menlo innovations. You will want to hear the stories Rich shares and learn from what he has done with his company over the past two decades. This is a must-listen!

For the second time our show welcomes entrepreneur Chris Udall on the show. Last time (episode 45) we discussed his non profit "Rebuilding For Peace" that has done some amazing work to find and create elicit entrepreneurs. This time, Chris is setting out a venture capitalist to address the food crisis much of our world is facing. He brings new light to AgTech and space farming in a way you will not forget. Ultimately, Chris is another great example of leadership and one who strives relentlessly toward potential.

Ryan Allen spent nearly a decade in the NFL and in that time had the opportunity to play with some of the best, including Tom Brady, he also was able to learn from great leaders/coaches like Bill Belichick. However, Ryan has been learning from leaders around him for his entire life, from his childhood soccer coach to many others. Working through adversity at any level is something that all of us must face, but seeking out and learning from the right influencers around us can make all the difference. You don't want to miss this episode!

The great resignation has been making headlines as a hot topic for some time now. There are many theories as to why it is happening, as well as many prescriptions offered. Some good, and some bad. We decided to take this topic on with a guest who has been thinking about it a lot in her work as a leadership coach. Andrea Horvath joined our show and tells of her journey from when she left the corporate world as a CPA several years ago and has since dedicated her life and work to coaching leaders of all kings. Conscious leadership is a critical element of her coaching style and what she espouses with her clients.

Julio Rincon, Lead Storyteller at the Arbinger Institute, joins our show to discuss the power of stories. Julio has incredible experience producing film and videos that tell amazing stories. He has been able to travel the world to capture stories, interview people, hear others share their stories, and then digitally produce them. We discuss what he has learned over the years, his process, and ultimately the best types of stories to share--the stories that reflect transformational changes. If you love storytelling or are interested in how you can better leverage the power of stories to influence others, you will enjoy this episode.

Chad Ford, author of Dangerous Love and global mediator/peacebuilder, joins our show for the third time. In this conversation, we explore the idea that standing your ground in conflict, even for something you know is true, does not lead to peace. We live in a world where people are divided and constantly at battle. Whether it is a political ideology, religion, etc., we often feel that in order to be right, we have to win. But the truth is that when we have a heart at war in conflict, we have already lost. The ground that we feel we must "hold" in the quest for being right is actually shared. We exist on the same ground with others and have so much more in common than we might initially believe. The values we fight for are the same values for which we ought to "love dangerously."

A Samoan proverb was recently shared with us: "o le ala i le pule o le tautua." It translates as, "The pathway to leadership is through service." On this episode, we're joined by Matt Hawkins, Administrative Services Director of Polk County. With colleague Kasha Coombs, we dive into the concept of servant leadership--an idea that is much easier to discuss than actually apply. We talk about its benefits as well as its challenges and even potential failures. Your understanding of servant leadership will be expanded, and maybe even challenged, in this episode.

Our friend and fellow podcaster just down the road from us, Jacob Espinoza, joins us in studio. Jacob and Chris have both learned a great deal from podcasting--particularly the amazing potential every human being has to unlock their potential through their ideas, what they are capable of, what they can overcome, and who they can become. We dive into some key elements that we've noticed, from the abstract to the practical, when it comes to helping others (and ourselves) actualize.

Culture is a word that can have several meanings and is often misinterpreted in the organizational world. We talk of culture, we espouse culture, and we create culture; but do we "own" our culture in the workplace? Our guest and old friend in this episode, Seamus Fitzgerald, has made a life out of culture change. He has grown up deeply appreciating his Maori culture and other Polynesian culture; he spearheaded change in the #1-rated attraction throughout all the Pacific islands, The Polynesian Cultural Center. What he did there was remarkable, to say the least. He has since begun working for an internationally recognized company, doTERRA, as their Senior Manager of Leadership Development. Seamus exudes wisdom and authenticity, and he is someone we hope to continue learning from.

We had two amazing high school students join us to discuss their journey of leadership. In the short span of just a couple years, these two students, Brody and Delaney, have learned lessons about leadership that take a lifetime for most. When you hear two 17-year-olds say that they want every kid who walks through their high school doors to feel like they belong . . . it catches your attention. You will enjoy every minute of this episode!