Chasing The Insights

In this episode of Chasing the Insights, I talk to Ryan Gottfredson.

Ryan talks to us about Elevating our business and impact, not by doing more or doing better, but by becoming better.

Ryan Gottfredson, Ph.D. is the Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author of Success Mindsets, The Elevated Leader, and Becoming Better: The Groundbreaking Science of Personal Transformation.

A global authority on vertical leadership development, he helps leaders and organizations achieve transformational growth by focusing on the Being Side of leadership.

He has worked with top teams at CVS Health, Deutsche Telekom, Experian, Kaiser Permanente, and the Federal Reserve Bank.

He is also a leadership professor at the College of Business and Economics at California State University-Fullerton.

You can connect with Ryan here:

Website: https://ryangottfredson.com/ Personal Mindset Assessment: https://ryangottfredson.com/personal-mindset-assessment Vertical Development Assessment: https://ryangottfredson.com/vertical-development-assessment Becoming Better: https://ryangottfredson.com/books/becoming-better/ The Elevated Leader: https://ryangottfredson.com/books/the-elevated-leader/ Success Mindsets: https://ryangottfredson.com/books/success-mindsets/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RyanGottfredsonPhD/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryangottfredson/

In this episode of Chasing the Insights, I talk to Gwen Hammes.

Gwen talks to us about AI as an IA: Imagination Accelerator.

Gwen Hammes is co-CEO of Cro Metrics, where they company helps brands like Mattel, Bombas, Hyatt and Tory Burch to unlock growth through experimentation.

Under Gwen's leadership, Cro Metrics designs strategic digital solutions that transform brands by delivering measurable impact and driving meaningful change.

Prior to Cro Metrics, Gwen built her career at global agencies including Ogilvy, FCB, and DDB, where she led cross-functional teams and delivered standout work for brands like Mars, Kimberly-Clark, Stellantis, and Levi Strauss. She's known for her collaborative style, strategic thinking, and passion for helping CMOs tackle complex challenges.

Based in Chicago with her husband and two sons, Gwen is a global citizen at heart. She's lived and worked in Argentina and Mexico, and brings a culturally fluent perspective to everything she does. Outside of work, Gwen is a stand-up comedian, farmhouse renovator, and devoted Formula 1 follower—with a glass-half-full outlook on business and life.

You can connect with Gwen here:

Website: https://crometrics.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crometrics/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crometrics/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CroMetrics/

In this episode of Chasing the Insights, I talk to Paul "Santa for Nerds" Pape.

Paul talks to us about Creating Your Own Rules: Building Something That Didn't Exist Before.

Paul "Santa for Nerds" Pape is a TEDx speaker, author, and creative business strategist who's spent 20+ years designing for Disney, Universal, and Nickelodeon.

Creator of Gamify Business, he translates intimidating business concepts into RPG frameworks that creative minds actually understand.

His mission: prove you don't have to be a "starving artist" to succeed.

You can connect with Paul here:

Website: https://www.gamifybusiness.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/paulpapedesigns Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paulpapedesigns/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paulpapedesigns LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulericpape TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@paulpapedesigns

In this episode of Chasing the Insights, I talk to Chip Higgins.

Chip talks to us about what is means to be "massive" in business and life.

For over four decades, Chip Higgins has dedicated his career to empowering small business owners to transform vision into reality. Starting in the management training program at First American National Bank in Nashville in 1984, Chip's commitment to small business owners led him to executive leadership of small business activities at three different regional banking instituions. Chip's business banking strategies consistently earned each institution national "best brand" recognition by Greenwich Associates. Yet, his true focus has always been serving entrepreneurs directly, recognizing the vital role they play in shaping communities and driving economic progress.

In April 2024, Chip published The Bizzics Way: Powering Your Small Business to Maximum Momentum under the Forbes imprint. The book built on the profound idea that momentum isn't just a business buzzword—it's a universal law that shapes lasting success at every level. The Bizzics Way earned Amazon Bestseller status on presale and ultimately earned #1 Bestseller distinctions in five different Amazon classifications, including Small Business and Self-Employment. Through his Bizzics coaching practice, Chip demystifies business and leadership for entrepreneurs, offering both practical tools and encouragement for the journey.

In 2025, Chip launched Bizzics On Demand, an AI-assisted thinking partner and coach for small business owners with ultimate scalability and accessibility, 24/7. The agent is trained fully in the context of the text of The Bizzics Way and follows a consistent process of issue identification, ideation, and a practical path forward for every business owner to "take the next best step" in building and sustaining business momentum.

What fuels Chip's work is his conviction that every business owner deserves access to resources, coaching, and a champion in their corner. He shows that with the right guidance and the power of momentum, even the boldest entrepreneurial dreams can make the world a better place—one energized step at a time.

Chip holds an undergraduate degree in Economics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an MBA from UNC's Kenan-Flagler School of Business. He currently serves on the Executive Board of the Middle Tennessee Council, Scouting America.

You can connect with Chip here:

Website: https://www.bizzics.com Website: https://www.chiphiggins.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chip-higgins-072a754/

In this episode of Chasing the Insights, I talk to Brian Parana.

Brian talks to us about Health as a Business Strategy.

Brian Parana is a transformative catalyst who comprehends the intricate balance between professional achievement, personal well-being, and family responsibility.

With 20+ years of experience, Brian focuses NOT on a diet or just exercise but on empowering and building confidence for his clients. By blending science-supported strategies, relentless support, then a personalized plan is designed for each client to regain control of their health while building a career and support a family.

He helps clients prioritizing health, whether that be weight loss, improving poor health or simply a desire to live a healthier lifestyle, He helps clients identify other areas which may be obstacles towards a healthy, balanced life. Once identified, Brian and his clients work towards that desired balance.

Over the years, Brian has helped 1,000s of clients through being a personal trainer, CrossFit Gym owner, online speaker, and now coaching professionals around the globe with their fitness, nutrition, and lifestyle goals through commitment and dedication. He has had the privilege of coaching a 2-time Olympian and a CrossFit World Champion.

He is married to his high school sweetheart, Amber. Together they have 4 children ranging from ages 10 to 15. With 3 boys and 1 girl, Brian lives what he teaches every day. The Paranas have a passion for travel, having explored all 50 states and 3 continents so far. Their next goal is to visit ALL 7 continents.

You can connect with Brian here:

Website: https://www.thecalltorise.com Website 2: https://www.brianparana.com

In this episode of Chasing the Insights, I talk to Matt Stanley.

Matt talks to us about the impact AI has had in business, life, and entrepreneurial endeavors.

Matt Stanley has spent 30 years helping growth-minded entrepreneurs build thriving businesses through proven sales and marketing systems. In 1995, he began teaching himself website development and SEO, launching a side business that would eventually become his full-time calling. The 2008 recession became an unexpected catalyst when he was laid off from his job, prompting him to dive into full-time entrepreneurship. Since then, he's operated a successful agency, evolving his focus in 2022 with the launch of GetReviewsAndLeads.com—a new brand concentrating specifically on business development, lead generation, and coaching.

After working with dozens of clients over three decades, Matt realized the traditional marketing agency model was broken. Instead of focusing solely on tactics, he wanted to address the entire customer lifecycle holistically. Through critical analysis and deep research into why companies fail, he developed a proprietary framework that solved those problems. Matt's passion is serving growth-minded entrepreneurs by helping them reach their fullest potential using this system and his expertise to build healthy companies that dominate their industry.

Matt's digital marketing agency GetReviewsAndLeads.com specializes in high-conversion websites and sales funnels, lead generation, SEO and paid advertising, software development, cutting-edge AI technologies, and marketing automation.

What distinguishes Matt Stanley's approach is his philosophy that "clients are family." As a Spirit-filled Christian, his responsibility is stewarding those relationships with integrity, compassion, and unwavering excellence. He champions the MVP (Minimum Viable Product) mindset, calling perfectionism "the assassin of progress"—practical wisdom from three decades of real-world consulting experience.

An avid learner who invests heavily in professional development, Matt is passionate about bringing cutting-edge solutions to market. As an active AI user and software developer, he thrives on solving complex business problems with innovative, software-based solutions. This commitment to perpetual learning fuels his integrated approach—he doesn't just teach marketing tactics, but helps entrepreneurs unlock their full potential through strategies addressing mindset, marketing, and business systems holistically. This comprehensive approach earned him the Better Business Bureau's "Integrity Counts!" Award in 2010.

Matt Stanley's core philosophy centers on legacy through impact rather than achievement, balancing sophisticated technology with authentic human connection. He believes in building systems that work without constant intervention while maintaining the personal touch that creates lasting client relationships.

Based in Boise, Idaho, Matt lives with his wife and two children, bringing the same passion for growth and freedom to his family life that he brings to his entrepreneurial pursuits.

You can connect with Matt here:

Website: https://getreviewsandleads.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/getreviewsandleads/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/getreviewsandleads Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/getreviewsandleads/

In this episode of Chasing the Insights, I talk to Lesley Pyle.

Lesley talks to us about How & When to Hire, Tips to Avoid Making a Bad Hire.

Lesley Pyle is the Founder and CEO of HireMyMom.com, a service connecting Small Businesses with Virtual Professionals since 2007.

She began her work-at-home career in 1995 as a freelancer and soon launched her first website: Home-Based Working Moms. Pyle has continued with her passion of helping moms find great work from home jobs while helping small businesses hire these talented women for over 25 years now.

Pyle was named one of "50 Women Entrepreneurs Who Inspire Us" by Self-Made magazine and has been featured in numerous publications including Forbes, Entrepreneur, Wall Street Journal, USA Today and many others.

Pyle serves on the Boards for Mighty Oaks Foundation, Texas Youth Summit and is a contributing writer to Entrepreneur, CEO World, Fast Company, StartUp Nation, Business.com and others.

You can connect with Lesley here:

Website: https://www.hiremymom.com/podcast/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lspencerpyle/ Instagram: http://instagram.com/hiremymom LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/9214439/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/hiremymom/videos

In this episode of Chasing the Insights, I talk to Steve Thompson.

Steve talks to us about Beyond the entrepreneurial mindsets and unlocking them can accelerate growth in a business.

Steve Thompson is an entrepreneur at heart, physical therapist trained, helper by nature - now Growth and Executive Coach wanting to help other entrepreneurs go from struggling to successful in a way that is authentic to them.

You can connect with Steve here:

Website: https://www.stevethompsoncoaching.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-thompson-mpt-cpcc-pcc-cec-6175887/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/stevethompsoncoaching

In this episode of Chasing the Insights, I talk to Carter Fox.

Carter talks to us about the Process of writing a book.

Carter Fox is an award-winning bassist, producer, composer, and entrepreneur whose music takes listeners on a soulful, cosmic journey. Known as The Soulful Traveling Spaceman Bassman, Carter has spent over two decades blending jazz, funk, electronic, and ambient sounds into an uplifting and cinematic musical experience that explores the intersection of science, space, and sound.

A Philadelphia native, Carter began his professional career at just 15 years old, eventually touring the world as bassist for R&B legend Freddie Jackson. Over the years, he has shared stages and studios with musical icons and innovators including Leon Huff, members of The Roots, and producers from Reservoir Media and Universal Music Group. His own releases have reached millions of streams worldwide and have been featured in film, TV, and international media.

Outside of performance, Carter is deeply passionate about empowering independent musicians through education and innovation. He's the author of the Music Business Bassics book series and Music Publishing for Independent Musicians, as well as the founder of the consulting and lifestyle brand Soulful Traveler. Through workshops, masterclasses, and collaborations with organizations like Disc Makers and universities including Drexel, USC, and NYU, Carter helps artists navigate the modern music industry with creativity and confidence.

Currently, Carter is releasing singles from his forthcoming album Physics of the Impossible, continuing his mission to inspire wonder through music rooted in curiosity, groove, and universal connection. Whether performing on stage, writing books, or teaching the business of music, Carter Fox embodies the spirit of exploration—proving that creativity, like the cosmos, has no limits.

You can connect with Carter here:

Website: https://www.carterfoxconsulting.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carterfoxmusic Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carterman5000

In this episode of Chasing the Insights, I talk to Nate Collins.

Nate talks to us about personal wellbeing after a business exit.

Nate Collins is a former CEO who managed a successful exit to a large, PE-backed media company.

He now works with a limited number of business owners, CEOs, and their families to help ensure they are achieving their financial goals.

As a Financial Advisor and Certified Exit Planning Advisor, he provides in-depth tax mitigation and estate planning strategies, as well as financial planning and investment management.

Nate helps owners understand exit readiness and options, wealth transfer, gain family alignment, and prepare for "life after exit."

You can connect with Nate here:

Website: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nate-collins/ Events: https://www.raymondjames.com/founderwealthstrategies/events