Enthusiastic Life | with Brendan Walsh

In Episode 35, Brendan sits down with Sean Mann, co-founder and CEO of Detroit City FC, for a deep dive into one of the most unique and community-driven stories in American sports.

Sean shares his journey from growing up in Michigan to studying abroad in Greece — where his love for football (soccer) first began — to his time working in politics both in Lansing and overseas at the UK House of Commons. But it was his return to Detroit, and his desire to build something meaningful within the city, that truly set everything in motion.

What started as a neighborhood soccer league rooted in community and service eventually evolved into Detroit City FC — a professional club known across the country (and beyond) for its passionate supporters and electric matchday atmosphere.

They also explore the culture behind DCFC, the legacy of Keyworth Stadium, and what’s next for the club as they prepare for a new era with a state-of-the-art stadium.

This episode is about building something that belongs to the city — and the people who make it special.

In this episode, we cover:

•  Sean’s roots in Michigan and his time at Kalamazoo College 
•  How studying abroad in Greece sparked his love for soccer 
•  His experience working in politics and at the UK House of Commons 
•  Returning to Detroit with a desire to build community 
•  The origins of Detroit City FC as a neighborhood league 
•  The growth into a professional soccer club 
•  The culture and passion behind DCFC supporters 
•  The legacy of Keyworth Stadium 
•  What’s next for the club and its future home 

🔗 Learn more about Detroit City FC:

🌐 https://www.detcityfc.com

Hosted by Brendan Walsh
Produced by Ryan Dewan, Wave Media

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In Episode 34, Brendan sits down with Marie Wallace, founder of Detroit’s beloved crepe shop, The French Cow, for a conversation that’s as inspiring as it is unexpected.

Marie shares her journey from growing up in France to immigrating to Detroit in 2004 — a dream sparked, in part, by her love for Eminem. What started as a bold leap across the world eventually became a growing business, beginning as a small pop-up at Eastern Market and evolving into a staple in the Detroit food scene.

But this conversation goes far beyond crepes.

Marie opens up about her passion for storytelling and screenwriting, including a TV series she once wrote based on her own journey to America. They also explore the realities of entrepreneurship, the emotional and cultural layers of immigration, and what it means to build a life — and a business — in a new place.

This episode is about taking risks, chasing something bigger, and finding your place along the way.

In this episode, we cover:

•  Marie’s journey from France to Detroit 
•  The unexpected influence of American culture (and Eminem) on her path 
•  Starting The French Cow as a pop-up and growing it into a Detroit staple 
•  The realities of running a food and catering business 
•  Her passion for screenwriting and storytelling 
•  The immigrant experience and building a life in a new country 
•  Her favorite Detroit restaurants, coffee spots, and film picks 

Hosted by Brendan Walsh
Produced by Ryan Dewan, Wave Media

📲 Instagram → @enthusiasticlifepod
📲 Facebook → Enthusiastic Life Podcast

🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube & all major platforms.

In Episode 33, Brendan sits down with Eric Larson, CEO of the Downtown Detroit Partnership and a longtime leader in real estate development and urban revitalization.

Eric shares the winding path that led him into real estate, the decades of change he’s witnessed across Detroit, and the pivotal moments that helped shape the city into what it is today. From large-scale development to infrastructure investment, his career offers a front-row seat to Detroit’s evolution.

They also dive into the personal side of the journey — including Eric’s relationship with his father, the lessons he learned working alongside him, and how mentorship and family shaped his approach to leadership.

This conversation is about perspective, legacy, and what makes Detroit such a special place — both now and in the future.

In this episode, we cover:

•  Eric’s path into real estate and development 
•  The transformation of Detroit over the past few decades 
•  What makes Detroit a city to watch moving forward 
•  Leadership lessons from a career in large-scale development 
•  Working with his father and the impact of mentorship 
•  What’s bringing him joy in this season of life 

Hosted by Brendan Walsh
Produced by Ryan Dewan, Wave Media

📲 Instagram → @enthusiasticlifepod
 📲 Facebook → Enthusiastic Life Podcast

🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube & all major platforms.

In Episode 32, Brendan sits down with Dawn Riley, one of the most accomplished sailors in the history of the sport.

A four-time competitor in the America’s Cup—the oldest international competition in the world—Dawn has sailed over 33,000 miles in a single race, competed in multiple around-the-world expeditions, and earned her place in multiple Halls of Fame. Today, she serves as Executive Director of Oakcliff Sailing, where she’s developing the next generation of leaders through the sport.

This conversation is packed with incredible stories from the open ocean, lessons on leadership under pressure, and a deep passion for what it means to dedicate your life to a craft.

Even if you know nothing about sailing — this one will pull you in.

In this episode, we cover:

•  What it’s like competing in the America’s Cup 
•  Sailing 33,000 miles around the world 
•  Leadership and teamwork in extreme environments 
•  The evolution of sailing as a sport 
•  Dawn’s role at Oakcliff Sailing 
•  Stories from a lifetime spent on the water 

Hosted by Brendan Walsh
Produced by Ryan Dewan, Wave Media

📲 Instagram → @enthusiasticlifepod
 📲 Facebook → Enthusiastic Life Podcast

🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube & all major platforms.

For the first time, Brendan Walsh — the host and founder of The Enthusiastic Life Podcast — steps into the guest seat as Ryan takes over the mic.

This conversation pulls back the curtain on Brendan’s story, from his background and life experiences to the habits, mindsets, and lessons he’s picked up from the incredible guests he’s met along the way. They talk about what inspired him to start the podcast, what he’s learned through the process, and how those conversations have shaped the way he approaches life.

More than anything, this episode is about perspective — slowing down, reflecting, and focusing on what truly matters.

And most importantly, Brendan shares what’s bringing him joy these days.

In this episode, we cover:

•  Brendan’s background and personal journey 
•  The habits and mindsets he’s adopted from podcast guests 
•  What inspired him to start The Enthusiastic Life Podcast
•  His favorite part about building the show 
•  Lessons learned through conversations with others 
•  What’s currently bringing him the most joy 

Hosted by Brendan Walsh
Produced by Ryan Dewan, Wave Media

📲 Instagram → @enthusiasticlifepod
 📲 Facebook → Enthusiastic Life Podcast

🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube & all major platforms.

In Episode 30, Brendan sits down with Matt Loria, CEO and Managing Partner of Auxiom, to talk about the journey from early sales roles to building and leading a high-performing technology and cybersecurity company.

Matt shares stories from his early days selling extreme sports equipment, his experience working with Midwest Technology Leaders, and how those chapters shaped his approach to leadership and business. He walks through the process of starting and scaling Auxiom, the mindset required to build a strong team, and what it means to lead in today’s fast-moving tech landscape.

They also dive into the impact of Vistage, the peer-to-peer leadership network both Matt and Brendan are part of, and Matt’s newest creative outlet — the BLTNT Podcast — where he’s exploring ideas around performance, mindset, and growth.

This episode is about evolution, leadership, and building something that lasts.

In this episode, we cover:

•  Matt’s early career and selling extreme sports equipment 
•  His experience with Midwest Technology Leaders 
•  Building and growing Auxiom into a cybersecurity and IT leader 
•  What great leadership looks like in today’s environment 
•  The role of Vistage in personal and professional growth 
•  Why he started the BLTNT Podcast 
•  Lessons from entrepreneurship, team building, and scaling a business 

Hosted by Brendan Walsh
Produced by Ryan Dewan, Wave Media

📲 Instagram → @enthusiasticlifepod
 📲 Facebook → Enthusiastic Life Podcast

🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube & all major platforms.

In Episode 29, Brendan sits down with Cathy Harber, a Grosse Pointe-based realtor who has completely redefined what it looks like to succeed in real estate today.

Cathy shares her journey from being a stay-at-home mom to building a thriving real estate career — and ultimately becoming a local social media standout by embracing content creation in a way few others in her space were willing to try.

They dive into the mindset it takes to put yourself out there, how she built momentum through social platforms, and the pushback that comes when you choose to do things differently. Cathy also breaks down the simple but powerful formula behind her success — and why consistency, authenticity, and courage matter more than perfection.

This conversation is about reinvention, creativity, and the willingness to bet on yourself.

In this episode, we cover:

•  Cathy’s transition from stay-at-home mom to successful realtor 
•  How she used social media to stand out in a traditional industry 
•  The content strategy that helped her grow locally 
•  Dealing with criticism and pushback when you break the norm 
•  Why her journey helped inspire the creation of this podcast 
•  Lessons on confidence, consistency, and trying something new 

Hosted by Brendan Walsh
Produced by Ryan Dewan, Wave Media

📲 Instagram → @enthusiasticlifepod
 📲 Facebook → Enthusiastic Life Podcast

🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube & all major platforms.

In Episode 28, Brendan sits down with Erik Meier, CEO of Sandler Training by EAM Consulting Group, to talk about what it really takes to succeed in sales, leadership, and business today.

Erik shares how his career in sales training evolved, the lessons he’s learned coaching professionals across industries, and why most people misunderstand what great selling actually looks like. From mindset and communication to leadership and accountability, Erik breaks down the principles that help individuals and teams perform at a higher level.

They also explore how leaders can become better coaches, why traditional sales approaches often fall short, and what separates top performers from everyone else.

In this episode, we cover:

•  What most people get wrong about sales 
•  The Sandler approach to selling and why it works 
•  How to lead and coach high-performing teams 
•  The role of mindset in sales and leadership success 
•  Why communication is the foundation of performance 
•  Lessons from working with leaders across industries 

Hosted by Brendan Walsh
Produced by Ryan Dewan, Wave Media

📲 Instagram → @enthusiasticlifepod
📲 Facebook → Enthusiastic Life Podcast

🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube & all major platforms.

In Episode 27, Brendan sits down with Ashok Sivanand, a tech founder who has experienced the full arc of building, scaling, and ultimately exiting a company — and is now navigating what comes next.

Ashok shares the real story behind selling a business, what life looks like after the exit, and how his perspective on success, identity, and purpose has evolved. They dive into his work in AI and product development, but also explore something deeper — mindfulness, meditation, and how those practices shape the way he approaches both life and leadership.

The conversation also touches on Ashok’s new chapter as a step-dad, his experience as a podcast host with The Convergence Podcast, and how he’s thinking about building, creating, and living with more intention moving forward.

In this episode, we cover:

•  The journey of building and exiting a company 
•  What life actually feels like after a successful exit 
•  How mindfulness and meditation influence leadership and decision-making 
•  Ashok’s perspective on AI, startups, and product development 
•  Becoming a step-dad and navigating a new season of life 
•  His work on The Convergence Podcast and continued creative output 
•  What it means to build something meaningful — again 

Hosted by Brendan Walsh
Produced by Ryan Dewan, Wave Media

📲 Instagram → @enthusiasticlifepod
 📲 Facebook → Enthusiastic Life Podcast

🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube & all major platforms.

In Episode 26, Brendan sits down with Clint Crook, a technology leader with deep experience helping organizations solve complex business challenges through AI, cloud infrastructure, and enterprise systems.

Clint breaks down how companies are actually using AI, data, and digital tools today — moving beyond the hype to real-world applications that drive efficiency, reduce costs, and improve decision-making. From digital twins and data governance to large-scale enterprise integrations, Clint shares what it takes to successfully implement technology at scale.

They also explore leadership in high-stakes environments, working with C-suite teams, and how to navigate complex projects while balancing reliability, cost, and innovation.

In this episode, we cover:

•  How AI is actually being used inside businesses today 
•  What “agentic AI” and enterprise AI solutions really mean 
•  The role of cloud infrastructure, data, and integrations 
•  Why most companies struggle with complex tech implementation 
•  Leadership lessons from working on large-scale enterprise projects 
•  How to balance innovation with reliability and cost 

Hosted by Brendan Walsh
Produced by Ryan Dewan, Wave Media

📲 Instagram → @enthusiasticlifepod
 📲 Facebook → Enthusiastic Life Podcast

🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube & all major platforms.