Business Origin Stories for Entrepreneurs, Coaches, and Leaders

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What happens when the thing you’ve built your identity on… stops being the thing the world needs from you?

In this episode of Business Origin Stories, host Amy Schutte sits down with Michael Landers — global leadership and culture consultant, author, and founder of Culture Crossing — for a raw, honest conversation about AI, identity, purpose, and what remains when everything around us changes.

Together, they explore:

• How 20+ years of expertise in leadership and culture suddenly felt shaky in the face of rapidly advancing AI
• Why so many of us tether our worth to productivity, titles, and credentials — and what happens when those are stripped away
• The idea of an “existential vacuum” and why AI layoffs and disruption may intensify questions of meaning and purpose
• Viktor Frankl’s framework of creative, experiential, and attitudinal values — and how it can guide us through identity shifts
• Jungian psychology’s concept of the “second adulthood” and why so many people in their 30s–50s feel like the life they built no longer fits
• Why Michael believes AI will increase the need for authentic interaction, community, and shared experience
• How leaders, founders, and organizations may need to reinvent the playbook for leadership in a world where expertise is increasingly commoditized

Who are you if you’re not your job?
What remains when your expertise becomes obsolete?
And how do we navigate this shift with more self-awareness, humanity, and hope?

If you’re a leader, founder, or high-achiever who feels like your identity is in motion, this episode will give you language, frameworks, and a sense that you’re not alone in the “lab.”

• Website: culturecrossing.net
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaellandersculturecrossing/

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What does it take to create visual content for some of the world's biggest brands—and sustain that success for over two decades?

In this episode, director and photographer Stewart Cohen pulls back the curtain on the creative industry, sharing insights from his extensive portfolio working with American Airlines, AT&T, Coca-Cola, MGM Resorts, and Frito-Lay through his production company, SC Pictures.

In this conversation, you'll discover:

• The evolution of brand storytelling – How visual campaigns have shifted from ultra-polished productions to embracing authentic, user-generated aesthetics
• What actually works in short-form content – Stewart's approach to creating compelling six-second ads that capture attention and drive engagement
• AI's impact on creative work – An honest look at how artificial intelligence is changing photography, video production, and the future of creative careers (spoiler: it's not all doom and gloom)
•  How to land corporate clients – Stewart's networking strategies, including why airplane conversations have led to some of his best opportunities
•  The patience principle – Why thinking in 20-year increments, not two-year plans, is the key to building a sustainable creative business
•  Behind major campaigns – Insights into the creative process for everything from Super Bowl commercials to tourism campaigns
• Building in the licensing space – How Stewart became an influential player by acquiring SuperStock and expanding to manage 26 million visual assets

Perfect for: Creative entrepreneurs, marketers, photographers, videographers, business owners looking to scale, and anyone curious about the intersection of creativity and commerce in the digital age.

Stewart's philosophy? "Framing life in its best light" while staying nimble, authentic, and always marketing—even at 30,000 feet.

Connect with Stewart Cohen:  Stewart Cohen | Dallas, TX | Commercial Video Production | Photography

Want help clarifying your message and telling stories that actually connect? That's what we do. Visit hudsonandco. co to learn more.

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What if one tiny decision—like choosing a local salt over a supermarket staple—could help change your food system, your family life, and your business?

In this episode of Business Origin Stories, host Amy Schutte sits down with Sarah McElrae, the founder of Summa Salts and the beloved “Salt Lady” of Jacksonville, Florida. Sarah went from a chaotic childhood and a career in education to building a fast-growing, values-driven product-based business rooted in local food, regenerative farming, and really fun salt blends (hello, Vampire Killer and Lava Head crew 🥵).

She shares how a deeply personal health journey led her to rethink food quality, why she believes nature still has the best blueprint for how we eat, and how one small choice—like visiting your farmers market—can genuinely move the needle for local growers and makers. We also get into the real talk of scaling a product-based business, bringing her husband into the company, homeschooling their daughter, and filtering every big decision through the lens of family balance.

Listen in to learn:

• How Summa Salts went from a home kitchen and farmers markets to a legal commercial kitchen and a growing e-commerce brand
• The mindset shifts Sarah made to move from “just making a product” to leading a mission-driven local food movement
• Practical ways anyone can support regenerative food systems without needing a full homestead or giant garden
• What she’s learned about trust, vulnerability, and relationships from authors like Dr. John Gottman and Brené Brown—and how that shapes her family and business
• Why playful branding (like Vampire Killer and Lava) + strong values is such a powerful combo for standing out online

If you’ve ever dreamed of turning your “little” product idea into a real, profitable brand—or you just want to eat better, live more locally, and make one meaningful decision a day—this conversation will inspire you to start right where you are.

Buy your own salts: https://summasalts.com

Follow Sarah on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/summasalts/

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Are you making big decisions from a place of clarity—or chaos?

In this episode of Business Origin Stories, host Amy Schutte sits down with executive coach and decision-making expert Michael Walker to unpack why so many founders and leaders feel stuck, second-guess themselves, or unintentionally throw their teams into whiplash with constant pivots.

Drawing on years of research, coaching, and real-world leadership experience, Mike breaks down:

• Why decision-making is a teachable skill, not a personality trait you either have or don’t
• How to understand your decision-making style (gut-decider, slow processor, community processor, etc.) and actually work with it
• What neuroscience reveals about how our brains choose, and why we often feel fear or resistance around big moves
• The hidden role of values and identity in every major business decision
• How better decisions can save your company time, money, and team burnout
• Smart ways to use AI as a critical-thinking partner (not just a “yes-bot”) to pressure test your ideas

If you’re a founder, executive, or leader who’s tired of decision fatigue, chaos, or “winging it,” this conversation will give you language, frameworks, and hope.

Tune in to learn how to make more aligned, effective decisions—for your business, your team, and your life.

About Michael Walker: 

Michael Walker brings over 30 years of leadership experience in independent and international schools, with a deep understanding of mission-driven organizations. Born in Australia, raised in Mexico City, and having raised his family in Hawaii, he has lived, studied, and worked in three countries and six U.S. states—giving him a broad perspective on culture and organizational dynamics. Michael holds a doctorate in the neuroscience of decision-making and earned his executive coaching certification from the Berkeley Executive Coaching Institute. Through his practice, Dynamic Decisions Coaching, he helps leaders see possibilities, navigate transitions, and make decisions with intention and confidence.

Website: https://go.dynamicdecisionscoaching.com/executive-coaching

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-walker-ed-d-5089a870/

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What would change if you—and your team—worked from your strengths every day?

Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach and ICF PCC Jennifer Doyle Vancil, M.Ed. joins Amy to break down CliftonStrengths (formerly StrengthsFinder) and show leaders, founders, and professionals how to align work with what people naturally do best. After 25+ years in higher ed as an advisor and career coach, Jennifer shifted into private practice to help individuals, executives, and teams increase performance, engagement, and retention—by design, not accident.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The “Name it, Claim it, Aim it” framework to turn results into real-world action
• Why strengths can be both superpower and snag—and how to spot the difference
• The “dominant-hand” exercise that instantly sells the case for strengths-based roles
• The Bring / Need lens leaders can use to reduce turnover and boost morale
• How to coach and manage to the person, not to your own style
• Why you should be hired for your strengths, not in spite of them

About Jennifer:
Jennifer Doyle Vancil, M.Ed., is a strengths-based coach and trainer based in Northern Colorado, Expert Contributor on Practical Strengths: Career Success, and a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach and ICF Professional Certified Coach. She works with private career clients, leaders, teams, and other coaches who want to help people work from their strengths. She’s currently writing a book of real-world stories on how people leveraged strengths to make work better.

Connect with her at www.communicatingstrengths.com or www.linkedin.com/in/jennifervancil

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If you’ve ever stared at your phone wondering, “What do I even post on Stories today?” — this episode is going to feel like a deep exhale.

In this conversation, I’m joined by business coach and mentor Gabrielle Forleo, who helps women make serious money online by refining their marketing, messaging, sales strategies, and relationship with money. After 17 years as a global sales leader, meditation teacher, and keynote speaker at the Chopra Center with Deepak Chopra, Gabrielle took her intuitive nudges seriously and built a thriving online business of her own.

Inside the episode, we dive into:

• Why Instagram Stories is the most powerful sales platform for online business owners
• Gabrielle’s Stories That Make You Money method (including the Inspirational/Educational Anchor you can post every single morning)
• How to use embodiment, proof, and celebration to turn silent story views into paying clients
• The truth about curating your feed, muting accounts, and staying authentic on social media
• What “following the nudge” actually feels like — and how Gabrielle used intention, intuition, and side hustling to transition out of her 9–5 without panic
• Why now is the best time for good-hearted women to have a lot of money (and what they do with it)

If you’re ready to use Instagram Stories to sell out your offers — without back-to-back sales calls or performative posting — this episode will change the way you show up online.

Connect with Gabrielle here: https://www.gabrielleforleo.com/

Follow Gabrielle on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabrielleforleo/

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@amyschutte_

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Tired of feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or trapped in a cycle of overthinking? What if you could make bold, confident decisions without guilt, fear, or second-guessing?

In this episode of Business Origin Stories, host Amy Schutte sits down with Jessica Frew, a bold decision coach and author of the new book "Shove Your Shoulds." Jessica shares her powerful personal story and unveils her three-part framework—Be Gentle, Be Humble, Be Bold—designed to help ambitious women reconnect with their intuition.

Listen in to learn:

• The surprising signs that you're stuck in decision paralysis (and how to break free).
• Why "shoving your shoulds" is the first step toward building a life and business that feel true to you.
• Actionable steps to stop self-sabotage, release judgment, and start trusting your gut.
• How to build the muscle of decision-making, even when the choices feel overwhelming.

If you’re ready to stop letting outside noise dictate your life and start making choices that feel deeply aligned and empowering, this conversation is for you. Tune in to discover how to move from stuck and tired to bold and unstoppable.

Connect with Jessica: https://www.instagram.com/heyjessicafrew/

Get the book: https://shoveyourshoulds.com/freebook

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@amyschutte_

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Are we preparing our children for a world that doesn't even exist yet? As artificial intelligence reshapes our society, parents and educators are facing a critical question: how do we teach the next generation to thrive in the age of AI without sacrificing critical thinking and discernment?

In this episode of Business Origin Stories, host Amy Schutte is joined by Cameron Fugate—a former teacher, parent, and leader in the AI space—for a crucial conversation about the intersection of AI and education. They explore why avoiding AI in schools is a missed opportunity and discuss practical ways to teach children how to use these powerful tools responsibly.

Listen in to discover:

• How to talk to your kids about AI in a way that fosters curiosity and critical thinking.
• The difference between automating tasks and elevating human potential in business and life.
• Practical strategies for using AI to assess bias, check facts, and navigate a complex digital world.
• Why teaching with discernment is key to preparing students for the jobs of the future.

If you're a parent, teacher, or business leader curious about the role of AI in shaping the next generation, this is an episode you can't afford to miss. Tune in to learn how we can all be part of building a better, human-first future.

Connect with Cameron here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cameron-fugate/

Grab her amazing Ai freebie: https://go.magneticlifesystems.com/ai-for-real-life 

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What if one single pin could bring consistent traffic, leads, and sales to your business — for months or even years — without spending a dime on ads?

In this episode of Business Origin Stories, host Amy Schutte sits down with Pinterest strategist Gwendolyn Griffin for a mini masterclass on how to turn Pinterest into a sustainable marketing machine for your business. Gwendolyn breaks down her simple, organic approach that helps small business owners, coaches, and creatives grow without burnout.

You’ll learn:
✨ How Pinterest actually works as a visual search engine (not social media)
✨ The difference between short-term content and long-term discoverability
✨ Why one well-designed pin can quietly drive traffic for months or years
✨ The step-by-step process Gwendolyn uses to optimize Pinterest profiles for SEO
✨ How to find and use keywords that help your ideal clients discover you
✨ What consistency really looks like on Pinterest — and how often to post
✨ Why Pinterest is still an untapped goldmine for organic leads in 2025

If you’ve ever felt frustrated pouring time and money into social media with little return, this conversation will show you a simpler, smarter way to grow your brand.

Because when done right, Pinterest doesn’t just give you traffic — it gives you time back.

• Get Gwendolyn's Pinterest Quick Start Guide 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gwenspinfluence/
• LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/gwendolyn-griffin-633a71366/

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@amyschutte_

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Grief in leadership is real—and most entrepreneurs don’t get a playbook for it. In this powerful conversation, TEDx speaker and transformational coach Dr. Lynda Reid joins host Amy Schutte on Business Origin Stories to talk about navigating grief, burnout, and big life pivots while still leading teams and companies with clarity.

Drawing on neuroscience, Positive Intelligence® (saboteurs vs. sage) and her M.O.R.E. framework (Meaning, Owning, Relationships, Emotions), Dr. Reid shares how to move from the reflexive “yeah, but…” to a confident “hell, yes.” She also offers grounded practices for staying present in hard seasons, supporting grieving colleagues, and rebuilding momentum in your business after loss.

You’ll learn:

• Why grief isn’t “stages”—it’s a lifelong companion and how to work with it, not against it
• The most common leadership saboteurs and how to quiet them in real time
• A simple tactile exercise to reset your nervous system during tough meetings
• How founders can hold results loosely (and still hit goals)
• M.O.R.E.: a practical lens for meaning, identity, relationships, and emotional fluency in business
• Language shifts that change pricing confidence (e.g., “I receive” vs. “my price is”)

If you’re an entrepreneur or leader navigating loss, change, or uncertainty, this episode will meet you with honesty—and real tools to keep going.

• Website: https://drlyndareid.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drlyndareid
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drlyndareid/

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@amyschutte_

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