In this episode of Chasing the Insights, I talk to Rich Ashton.

Rich talks to us about creating a unique small business culture.

Rich Ashton is a lifelong entrepreneur with more than 45 years of experience building and leading successful small businesses. Throughout his career, Rich discovered that the greatest challenge wasn't finding great employees, it was developing great leaders from within.

To solve that challenge, he created an in-house leadership development program designed primarily for blue-collar employees, helping them grow into confident, capable leaders. The results were so successful that many of those employees now run the companies themselves.

Drawing on decades of real-world experience, Rich captured the leadership principles and lessons from that program in his book, Growing Your Own, a practical guide to developing leaders from within an organization. Today, he shares his insights on leadership, culture, succession planning, and how businesses can create lasting success by investing in their people.

You can connect with Rich here:

Website: https://growingyourown.net

In this episode of Chasing the Insights, I talk to Kee Jefferys.

Kee talks to us about the growth and business models behind messaging applications, focusing on privacy and security.

Kee Jefferys is a Co-founder of Session, a privacy-focused, open-source messaging app designed for secure, metadata-free communication—no phone numbers, no central servers, no surveillance.

Since 2018, Kee has been a major contributor to the development of the decentralised technologies at the core of Session and Session Token, co-authoring the whitepapers for both.

His work spans encrypted communication, blockchain infrastructure, and decentralised networking, with a focus on building systems that empower users to reclaim their digital privacy.

You can connect with Kee here:

Website: https://getsession.org/

In this episode of Chasing the Insights, I talk to Katie Nelson.

Katie talks to us about Speak Your Way To Sales.

Katie Nelson, Founder and CEO of Sales UpRising, is a three-time business owner who is committed to bringing the fun back into sales.

She is on a mission to change the current statistic that 90% of businesses do not reach their sales goals. Katie is a speaker, consultant, and business coach with 30 years of sales experience and over $150 million sold in products and services.

Simply put, she knows how to bring her clients into the Big Leagues! Katie has worked with hundreds of entrepreneurs to transform their companies from ideas into thriving, profit-making businesses.

She has created workshops, Mastermind courses, one-on-one training days, and business retreats to empower business owners with her strategies that helped her develop multi-million-dollar firms.

Katie believes every business action is a sales conversation, and she asserts sales are the spark to feed the fire of business growth.

You can connect with Katie here:

Website: https://salesuprising.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/salesuprising Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/salesuprising LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/salesuprising/ Katie's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thesalescatalyst/

In this episode of Chasing the Insights, I talk to Patrick van der Burght.

Patrick talks to us about the science of human decision-making and the science of ethical persuasion.

Patrick van der Burght is a business partner of Dr Robert Cialdini, who wrote the book 'INFLUENCE – The Psychology of Persuasion', which is considered by many top CEOs to be the best business book of all time.

Patrick, is a Founding Member of the Cialdini Institute, one of the few active Cialdini Institute Licensed Trainers around the world, and a Certified Online Influence Specialist.

He has been teaching ethical persuasion to professionals and teams since 2000, which helps them accelerate towards goals, and build strong relationships, whether it be in sales, advertising, leadership or team management.

Patrick is based in Australia but travels extensively and does much of his teaching online with professionals everywhere. He co-authored the book 'How to Hear YES More Often' in 2024, and has his own podcast show 'Ethical Persuasion Unlocked'.

You can connect with Patrick here:

Website: https://ethicalpersuasion.com.au/ Podcast 'Ethical Persuasion Unlocked': https://ethicalpersuasion.com.au/podcast/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-van-der-burght/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ethicalpersuasion Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ethicalpersuasion/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ethical_persuasion/ Twitter: https://x.com/yesmoreoften TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ethicalpersuasion Book: https://yesmoreoften.com/

In this episode of Chasing the Insights, I talk to Eddie Speed.

Eddie talks to us about note investing.

Eddie Speed has over 40 years of experience in real estate note investing and has revolutionized the note-buying industry through innovation and education.

As the nation's top note buyer, Eddie has purchased over 50,000 notes and is a leading authority on wealth-building through discounted mortgage notes.

As the founder of NoteSchool, he offers disciplined note-investing education that has led to success for thousands of students.

You can connect with Eddie here:

Website: https://noteschool.com

In this episode of Chasing the Insights, I talk to Sandy Gerber.

Sandy talks to us about Self Communication.

Sandy Gerber is a Speaker, Certified Communication & Emotional Intelligence Trainer, and Best-Selling Author of Emotional Magnetism.

Named the 2025 Women of Influence Creative Innovator, Sandy delivers high-energy, humour-filled keynotes and experiential training that help leaders and teams communicate with confidence, clarity, and impact.

She's known for her authentic, down-to-earth style and powerful storytelling that makes every audience feel seen, inspired, and ready to take action. Her proven tools - like Emotional Magnetism™, The EQ Switch™, and Connected Conversations™ - are easy to apply and are used by organizations across North America to boost engagement, trust, and collaboration.

A TEDx speaker and Magnetoc Communication podcast host, Sandy's 24x award-winning book is taught in academic programs and has transformed how people connect in both work and life.

You can connect with Sandy here:

Website: https://sandygerber.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sgerber Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sandy_gerber_official/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ConnectedConversationsSG

In this episode of Chasing the Insights, I talk to Sean P Shannon.

Sean talks to us about reverse engineering your ICP.

Sean Shannon is a seasoned sales leader with 30+ years of experience in B2B marketing, sales leadership, and brand building.

As a former SVP of Sales and Market President at iHeart, Audacy, and Cumulus Media, he's led high-impact teams, trained C-suite leaders, and built iconic brands like Q99.7 and 99X.

Sean combines strategic clarity with hands-on execution, creating sales systems that drive consistent growth and accountability. Clients value his ability to quickly diagnose what's holding revenue back and design the structure, process, and leadership needed to scale.

You can connect with Sean here:

Website: https://www.strategicgrowthdesign.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-p-shannon/

In this episode of Chasing the Insights, I talk to Dr. Neja Zupan.

Dr. Neja talks to us about From Hustle to Flow: Activating Your Multidimensional Intelligence for Business Success.

Dr. Neja Zupan is a Mentor in Multidimensional Leadership & Radiant Vitality. She is the Founder of the Mastering Energy Academy | Energy Recalibration Expert | International Speaker

Dr. Neja Zupan — Mentor in Multidimensional Leadership & Radiant Vitality, Specialist in Multidimensional Intelligence Activation™, and Founder of the Mastering Energy Academy — and living proof that full-spectrum success is not only possible, but inevitable when you align with your true frequency.

Years ago, I was given a 5% chance of survival after being diagnosed with aggressive, hormone-sensitive cancer. All the women in my lineage before me had passed from cancer. I carry the BRCA gene. But I chose a different path — no chemotherapy, no radiation, no pharmaceuticals. I went to the root cause: energy frequency.

What followed was not just a healing journey — it was a complete reconstruction of my life force, my identity, and my purpose. I dismantled layers of inherited trauma, survival coding, and subtle energetic distortion. I rebuilt myself — cell by cell, frequency by frequency.

Today, I am not only cancer-free — I am radiantly alive, sovereign, and leading high-achieving professionals around the world through the same profound depth of transformation. From a lower-working-class upbringing, I became the only one in my extended family to build an international business — created not through force, but through frequency.

This is not something I teach from theory. It's something I embody. And it's why high-performing leaders trust me with their deepest recalibrations.

You can connect with Dr. Neja here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.neja.zupan.institute/ Facebook: https://www.instagram.com/dr.neja.zupan.institute/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drnejazupan/ eBook: https://www.nejazupan.com/the-7-steps-e-book/

In this episode of Chasing the Insights, I talk to Melissa Fors Shackelford.

Melissa talks to us about The Power of Purpose Driven Branding.

Melissa Fors Shackelford is a marketing strategist and advisor who helps entrepreneurs clarify their purpose, strengthen their brand, and communicate with confidence. With more than twenty years of leadership experience, she brings a steady, practical approach that helps founders navigate growth, change, and the turning points that define a business.

Melissa built her career inside respected healthcare and human services organizations, where she led national brand transformations and shaped go to market strategies for complex, mission driven businesses. These roles taught her how to translate vision into action and how to guide teams through high stakes moments with clarity and focus. Entrepreneurs value this experience because it helps them move from scattered ideas to direction that feels intentional and achievable.

Through her consulting practice, Shackelford Strategies, Melissa partners with founders who want to build brands rooted in authenticity and purpose. Her work includes brand positioning, messaging architecture, customer engagement strategy, and leadership communication. She is known for helping entrepreneurs uncover the deeper meaning behind their work; once that purpose becomes clear, decision making becomes easier, culture grows stronger, and messaging gains momentum. Clients often describe her guidance as calm, honest, and refreshingly direct, with support that meets them exactly where they are.

Melissa is also a keynote speaker who creates a welcoming and energizing experience for audiences. She speaks on purpose driven leadership, brand authenticity, inclusive communication, and the human side of marketing. Her talks blend real stories with insights that leaders can apply immediately; people walk away feeling grounded, inspired, and ready to take action.

Her book Harnessing Purpose reflects the principles that guide her work. Entrepreneurs often use it as a practical companion while defining or refining their brand, reconnecting with their motivation, or leading teams through growth.

Melissa holds an MBA in Marketing from the University of St. Thomas and a BA from the University of Minnesota. She is committed to helping founders build businesses that reflect clarity, integrity, and purpose; businesses that resonate with the people they serve and create meaningful, lasting impact.

You can connect with Melissa here:

https://melissaforsshackelford.com/ https://harnessingpurpose.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/mfors/ https://www.youtube.com/@MelissaForsShackelford

In this episode of Chasing the Insights, I talk to Whitney Bonds.

Whitney talks to us about How to Build Sustainable Income Streams with Affiliate Marketing.

Whitney Bonds is a YouTuber with over 190K subscribers who is known for empowering her audience to build sustainable online businesses from home.

Bonds shares step-by-step guides, tips, and resources to help her audience succeed in affiliate marketing, build online businesses, and achieve financial freedom.

Bonds has created two 6-figure online businesses. Her transparent approach and relatable style have made her a trusted resource for those looking to transition to remote work or start a side hustle. Whitney's mission is to empower her followers to take control of their income and create a life they love.

Bonds has been featured in Parents, Business Insider, Forbes, and on industry podcasts.

You can connect with Whitney here:

YouTube Affilate Profits Bootcamp: https://business-expedited.kit.com/d635766f4e