Fear Knot Podcast

A discussion with my friend and business partner about the startup life, business risks, technology, and priorities in life.

This conversation bridges leadership philosophies and perspectives on life with a longtime friend who serves in a leadership role at a Detroit manufacturing company. Mike survived a difficult battle with COVID while hospitalized in isolation, shortly after losing his sister to the same illness. We'll explore how these experiences have shaped his approach to leadership and his outlook on life.

A truly amazing conversation with an incredible man. You will not meet a person with their priorities more in line - Coach Dean talks about a life dedicated to helping, inspiring, and investing in others. We talk life, family, coaching, and service. You can't help but feel inspired by Coach Dean, and it becomes obvious why people want to follow him.

Sully is a longtime friend from the SEAL Teams who rose to leadership roles at the highest levels of Special Operations. Since retiring from his military career, he founded the nonprofit Community First Project, which provides free SpecOps-level training to police forces facing active shooter and other high-stress situations. This initiative equips law enforcement with tactics developed by the world's leading combat specialists. In our conversation, Sully and I explore his military experience, nonprofit work, entrepreneurial journey, and how to prepare oneself to overcome any challenge.

Bryan Galloup is one of the best guitar makers in the world, creating extraordinary instruments that sell for more than $40,000. Beyond his craftsmanship, he founded the world's leading school for guitar making, where he mentors the next generation of world-class luthiers. In this episode, we discuss how Bryan developed his expertise, the story behind his luthier school, and the dedication required to achieve mastery in any field.

Jeff Schmidt is an accomplished Tech CEO, having completed built-to-exit startups, completing successful turnarounds, and leading high-growth M&A scenarios in the tech space. I got to meet Jeff in his office on 5th Ave to discuss his leadership philosophy, how he thinks about building teams, and what has made him successful in he various roles.