Episode summary
How robots learn to “feel,” and why touch is the missing piece in robotics with Vadim Manoilo. Vadim Manoilo of Sensobright Industries joins Brian to explain the company’s tactile sensing approach, including gel-and-fiber optics sensors that help robots detect grip, slippage, and even identify objects by touch. They discuss why factory automation is the near-term proving ground, why home robots are still far from human-level capability, and where tactile data could matter most next, including medical tools like laparoscopes. Vadim also shares how he found the company, what guides their product focus, and what he hopes this technology enables as it matures.

Key Takeaways
Robots can often see and hear well, but lack tactile data, which limits reliable interaction in a physical world.

Tactile sensing can improve factory robotics by detecting whether an object is grasped, slipping, or needs grip repositioning.

Sensobright’s approach uses soft silicone gel with fiber optics so the sensing point can avoid common issues like liquids and electromagnetic interference.

Even “one task” robotics is hard to perfect, which helps explain why general-purpose humanoid robots for homes still have major gaps.

Technology direction is a resource allocation problem, so choosing near-term impact use cases reduces the risk of chasing expensive distractions.

Tactile sensing is positioned as a next frontier in robotics, especially as AI and robotics partnerships accelerate.

Medical applications like laparoscopy are a compelling long-term target because touch feedback can change how tools perform and how outcomes improve.

Timeline
Early
00:00:00 Vadim Manoilo introduces his path into tech and how he connected with Sensobright
00:02:00 Why Vadim believes technology should have a purpose and improve lives
00:05:00 A detour into sci-fi and how alternate tech timelines shape expectations

Middle
00:07:00 Why “robots that can feel” matters, and what tactile sensing solves in factories
00:11:00 Responding to skepticism about current robots and why home robotics is still far off
00:15:00 Sensobright products and the practical focus on manufacturing use cases

Late
00:18:00 How the gel-and-fiber optics sensor design works and why it differs from electronics-first sensors
00:21:00 Avoiding distraction, prioritizing impact, and the push toward med tech applications
00:25:00 Why touch is foundational for learning the world, and what tactile data unlocks next
00:29:00 What Vadim is most excited about, including medical possibilities and object and tissue identification by touch
00:31:00 How to contact Vadim and Sensobright

Links and Resources

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marketingvoice/

Company: https://sensobright.com/

Episode Summary
Carter James shares how JAN-PRO scaled fast by treating culture as the operating system. He traces his path from a small-town Justin, Texas upbringing and early work in wealth management at Northwestern Mutual to relocating to Atlanta for JAN-PRO. The conversation breaks down why “working harder” stalls without systems, how acquisitions succeed only with shared values, and how the HEART framework (Honest, Empathetic, Accountable, Results Driven, Team First) becomes a real decision filter through hiring, scorecards, and day-to-day operations. They also explore bottom-up change management, failing fast, and what he is building next with technology and AI.

Key Takeaways
Hard work has a ceiling. Systems and process are what multiply effort when early momentum fades.

A business can look like a service company on the outside, yet run as a people business when the mission is enabling ownership and opportunity.

Growth through acquisition requires alignment. Culture becomes the integration plan when multiple teams bring different norms and expectations.

Core values only matter when they are measurable. Scoring and coaching against values makes “what good looks like” visible.

Change sticks when the why is clear at the front lines. People buy in faster when they can see personal impact and operational benefit.

Failing fast is a strategy. Testing, learning, and iterating becomes the mechanism for scaling without stagnation.

Character over competence reduces hiring risk. Skills can be trained, but values fit determines long-term performance and trust.

Timeline
Early
00:00:00 Carter joins as winter weather hits, quick intro and context
00:01:00 Background in small-town Texas, blue-collar work, and college football in West Texas
00:02:05 Starting a wealth management practice at 22 and learning that effort alone does not scale
00:03:10 Building systems and processes to regain momentum and transform results

Middle
00:03:55 A client relationship leads to a move to Atlanta and joining JAN-PRO in 2022
00:04:25 Seeing JAN-PRO as a people business, enabling franchise owners with support and structure
00:05:00 Rapid growth discussion, expanding markets and leadership role progression
00:09:10 Defining core values through the HEART framework to drive alignment during scale
00:11:05 Making acquisitions work through standards, communication, and careful people investment
00:14:15 Adapting quickly, failing fast, and treating constant change as the price of growth

Late
00:16:05 Bottom-up buy-in, communicating the why, and reducing pushback during change
00:20:20 Moving values from wall art to practice with scorecards and hiring for character
00:24:10 Applying core values and goals beyond work, including family alignment
00:27:15 Looking ahead to new systems, technology, and AI, plus personal excitement about a second child
00:29:30 Where to connect, plus franchise, vendor, and service-network opportunities

Links and Resources

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carterejames/

Company: https://rbjkmarketing.com/

Episode Summary
How Krista White builds scalable B2B marketing through tracking, prioritization, and automation. Krista White, VP of Marketing at Crow Canyon Software, shares how she moved from broad marketing experience into a role focused on business automation, and why measurement is the first step before adding more channels. She and Brian dig into analytics setup, scorecards, stakeholder-aware messaging in B2B, and why meeting users where they already work drives adoption. Krista also previews an upcoming Nitro Help Desk 3.6 release centered on practical AI features. The conversation ends with a grounded take on when AI helps and where teams get stuck.

Key Takeaways
Tracking comes first. Without analytics, pixels, and clear metrics, marketing decisions stay stuck in opinions and gut feel.

Scaling is as much about saying no as it is doing more. Prioritization keeps teams focused on what is already proving impact.

Automation becomes a growth lever when it fits existing workflows. User adoption rises when tools stay inside the platforms employees already use.

B2B marketing needs more than the budget holder. Influencers and day-to-day stakeholders can accelerate or block decisions, so their pain points matter.

There is no single channel that wins forever. A durable approach mixes platforms and shows up where conversations already happen, including places like Reddit.

AI creates business value when it removes repetitive work and speeds resolution. Teams lose traction when they deploy AI without a concrete job to replace.

Timeline
Opening
00:00:00 Meet Krista White and her role at Crow Canyon Software
00:01:00 How she got into marketing, and what college actually helped with
00:03:00 The fundamentals that stay true even as platforms change

Building the marketing engine
00:04:00 Why automation became the common thread across her career
00:06:10 Joining Crow Canyon and formalizing marketing for scale
00:08:00 The first moves: GA4, pixels, and making everything trackable
00:10:00 Using a scorecard mindset to avoid distractions and find what works

Automation, adoption, and B2B decision dynamics
00:11:40 Why staying inside Microsoft 365 improves adoption
00:12:30 Competing in a crowded software space by focusing on pain points
00:13:30 Selling internally means addressing influencers and decision makers

Channel mix and practical AI
00:15:00 Meeting buyers where they are, including Reddit and LinkedIn
00:18:00 Preview of Nitro Help Desk 3.6 and AI features aimed at faster resolution
00:20:10 A realistic view of Copilot, Gemini, and using AI where it saves time
00:23:20 Where to learn more and how to reach Crow Canyon

Links and Resources

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/knwhite27/

Company: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crow-canyon-software/

Episode Summary

A sports marketer breaks down how brand and experience drive ticket sales. Miller Yoho shares how the Charlotte Sports Foundation brings major events to the city and what his “CMO under the sun” role really covers, from PR and sponsorship alignment to stadium look and feel. He and Brian dig into why cohesive brand details matter, how to build a creative sandbox that speeds execution, and when it is smarter to skip a platform like TikTok. The conversation closes on leadership lessons around accountability with empathy and creating moments fans remember.

Key Takeaways
Brand is an end-to-end experience, not a logo. The goal is for everything to feel cohesive from the first ad to walking out of the venue.

A clear brand story doubles as a rallying cry. A strong line or theme can connect ads, in-arena elements, merch, and messaging into one idea people can join.

Marketing supports the whole operation. Ticket sales, sponsor activation, PR, broadcast coordination, and fan environment all need to ladder up to the same message.

Capacity matters more than “being everywhere.” If a channel cannot be done consistently at a high standard, it can drag down stronger platforms that already reach the core audience.

Perfection can be expensive and misaligned. The last 10 percent can consume the same effort as the first 90, even when the work only needs to be good enough to do its job.

Accountability works best with empathy and context. Clear expectations, direct feedback, and support conversations make it easier for people to do their best work.

Timeline
Early
00:00:00 Miller Yoho joins, talking Southern “snow apocalypse” reality
00:01:15 Miller’s path from education plans to sports marketing and content work
00:03:25 What Charlotte Sports Foundation does and the events it operates

Middle
00:05:00 Mission in practice, economic impact and quality-of-life moments for a city
00:07:10 What marketing covers in his role, ticket sales, PR, sponsors, broadcast partners
00:09:05 Why cohesive branding matters, and how “feel” becomes the measuring stick
00:11:35 Building a creative sandbox, giving teams constraints that unlock better work

Late
00:14:50 Choosing where not to play, the TikTok example and protecting standards
00:19:10 The creative “last 10 percent” trap, shipping work that matches the need
00:23:10 Leadership focus, delegation and accountability with empathy
00:28:10 What he is excited about next, creating memorable moments that cut through noise
00:29:15 Best way to connect, reaching out on LinkedIn

Links and Resources

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/miller-yoho/

Company: https://www.linkedin.com/company/charlotte-sports-foundation/

Episode Summary
How Shae Biron builds community-led marketing in Web3 and beyond. Shae traces her path from traditional marketing roles into Web3 after a 2022 layoff, including a crash-course stretch at Palm NFT Studio that later became part of Candy Digital. She breaks down NFTs in plain language, then explains what made the DC digital collectibles and Bat Cowl drop different, including utility, access, and community voting that shaped an official Batman comic storyline. The conversation closes on how she segments audiences, designs participation-first systems, and applies the same thinking today across Polaris Labs and a location-based storytelling game. What does “momentum” look like when a community keeps going after the project ends?

Key Takeaways
The through line in Shae’s career is building stories and systems people want to participate in, more than any specific job title.

Web3 changes the ownership model, which shifts the marketer’s job from broadcasting messages to designing participation and trust.

NFT value comes from utility and access design, not from the asset alone, and community experiences can be the product.

Audience segmentation is foundational, because power users, occasional participants, and dormant users need different messages to act.

Education works best when it turns complex ideas into small, consumable pieces, and it starts from what the audience cares about.

Marketing durability comes from studying behavior and psychology, because tools and platforms change faster than why people decide.

Timeline
Early
00:00:00 Shae’s background in marketing and the “stories and systems” through line
00:01:20 The 2022 layoff that pushed her into Web3, plus MIT blockchain courses
00:02:10 Web3 explained through ownership, identity, and decentralization

Middle
00:03:10 Joining Palm NFT Studio and becoming the sole marketing resource after layoffs
00:04:10 Palm’s acquisition by Candy Digital, and deepening work with DC digital collectibles
00:05:00 Candy’s acquisition by Futureverse, then receivership in October 2025 and the project ending
00:06:00 NFTs in simple terms, and why utility matters
00:07:10 Bat Cowl utility, access, and community voting that shaped an official Batman comic series

Late
00:11:00 What she’s doing now with Polaris Labs and as fractional marketing director for Story City
00:14:00 Translating complex tech into clear messaging through listening, education, and psychology
00:18:00 Segmenting audiences and tailoring comms by participation level
00:21:00 What excites her: momentum, unexpected community behavior, and data feedback loops
00:23:10 Why studying behavior outlasts chasing trends, plus a Batman podcast recommendation
00:26:00 Where to find Shae online

Links and Resources
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaebiron/
Company: https://www.linkedin.com/company/candydigital/

Episode Summary
Andy Crawford shares how he scaled from rentals to apartment syndications. Andy talks about building a career in pharmaceutical distribution while investing in real estate on the side, starting with single-family homes and then shifting to small multifamily when scaling became clearer. He explains why operations and systems decide whether a deal succeeds after the purchase, how he approached partnerships slowly and deliberately, and what Prosper Capital is focused on as it grows. He also gets into resilience, leadership, and what experience really teaches over time.

Key Takeaways
Scaling got easier when the focus moved from single-family homes to small apartment buildings, where the economics and efficiency looked different.

In real estate, buying the property is the starting gun. The real work begins with executing the business plan through operations.

Partnerships work best when roles are clear, expectations are explicit, and the relationship starts deal-by-deal before going all-in.

A partner should bring proven success, complementary skills, and alignment with the long-term vision, not just help with day-to-day tasks.

Most people hit the same limits when growing alone: time and capital. Systems and the right team extend both.

Leadership is partly about building resilient people. Growth becomes visible when others learn to make decisions with autonomy.

Timeline
Early
00:00:00 Introduction and Andy’s roles in pharma and real estate
00:01:00 Career background, family life, and Prosper Capital overview
00:02:00 Why Andy and his wife started with single-family rentals
00:03:00 The six-unit “light bulb” moment on scaling multifamily

Middle
00:05:00 Why real estate success depends on systems and operations
00:07:00 How Andy approached partnerships, due diligence, and “dating” first
00:09:00 Adding a third partner and what complementary skills changed
00:11:00 Partner versus employee, and why track record matters

Late
00:13:00 The unseen weight of leadership and the role of resilience
00:16:00 Experience, problem-solving, and how technology changes learning
00:20:00 Delegation, letting teams test ideas, and developing leaders
00:22:00 Prosper Capital’s growth trajectory and focus on operational execution
00:24:00 How to reach Andy and what their “investor circle” includes

Links and Resources
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-crawford-ab372616/
Company: https://store.keysource.com/

Episode Summary

How Guardian Vault was built from a bank wait list problem, and what it takes to earn trust in physical security. Sandeep Thomas shares how he and his partner Brandon Sylveta spotted rising demand for safe deposit boxes while working at Wells Fargo, then built an independent vault service in Redmond, Washington. He walks through early skepticism, the role of word of mouth, how accreditation enabled insured contents coverage, and why expanding services only works when they reinforce privacy and security. They also dig into capacity planning, partnerships with gold and silver dealers, and what expansion across Washington could look like.

Key Takeaways

Start with a real, observable shortage. A growing wait list and fixed bank vault capacity created a clear signal of unmet demand.

Trust compounds slower than product demand. In security businesses, credibility has to be earned over years through consistency, community presence, and customer experience.

Education can be a growth lever. Explaining what is and is not covered at banks helped customers understand the difference between bank boxes and a private facility.

Expand by strengthening the core, not by wandering into a new business. Add-on services work best when they reinforce the same promise of privacy, security, and controlled access.

Design for scalable capacity. Building the vault to add boxes over time enabled growth without overbuilding on day one.

Partnerships can shorten the trust cycle. When gold and silver transactions happen in a secure private room, storage becomes the natural next step.

Timeline

Early
00:00:00 Meeting Sandeep and the Guardian Vault overview
00:01:00 From Wells Fargo roles to spotting the safe deposit box shortage
00:02:15 Why demand exists and why banks cannot simply add more capacity
00:04:00 Researching the market for independent vault facilities

Middle
00:05:00 Launch realities, early hurdles, and building trust through word of mouth
00:07:00 Insurance and accreditation, plus how that changes customer perception
00:12:00 Vault capacity, adding box sizes, and planning for eventual expansion
00:14:00 AI era concerns, privacy awareness, and why physical protection still matters

Late
00:16:00 Adding services that fit the model: mailboxes, notary, private rooms
00:19:10 Partnering with gold and silver shops and creating a secure transaction flow
00:21:00 Expansion strategy across Washington and building a trusted brand
00:22:10 Privacy, access controls, KYC basics, and rules on what not to store
00:25:00 What Sandeep is focused on next and why demand is growing
00:27:00 How to visit, learn more, and connect

Links and Resources

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomassandeep/

www.guardianvault.biz

Episode Summary

How a longtime educator built a course to strengthen student resilience and leadership. Kurt Wismer shares how GRiT started as a practical fix for an entrepreneurship class where students could run businesses but struggled with communication, collaboration, and leading themselves. He explains how executive coaching tools, paired with neuroscience and mental wellness metrics, became a curriculum that schools can track over time. The conversation also explores how smartphones, COVID-era isolation, and AI are reshaping learning, and why “human, then AI, then human” matters. What would it take for more schools to teach kids how to learn?

Key Takeaways

Durable human skills like communication, collaboration, and self-leadership can be taught with the same tools used for executives and CEOs.

GRiT grew from a classroom problem into a curriculum centered on relational intelligence, neuroscience, and mental wellness.

Resilience shows up as a repeatable mindset shift, where obstacles become “first attempts in learning” and progress compounds through practice.

A culture that allows redo and iteration builds the neural pathways for growth mindset more reliably than one-and-done grading.

Smartphones and the 2010–2012 shift, plus COVID-era disruptions, changed how many students handle struggle, independence, and social development.

AI can improve learning when it supports coaching and recall, but it can weaken development when it replaces thinking and productive struggle.

Employers can train tools and tasks, but they struggle to train people to be good humans, which is why these skills keep rising in workforce demand.

Timeline

Early
00:00:00 Kurt’s background in education, youth leadership, and what he teaches
00:01:00 The entrepreneurship class problem that led to GRiT
00:02:00 Using executive coaching tools with students, plus neuroscience and “how to learn”
00:03:00 How impact was tracked, including attendance, discipline, mindset, and longer-term results

Middle
00:05:00 Why the need is bigger than one school, and the national mental wellness context
00:06:00 What changed for kids around 2010–2012 and during COVID
00:08:00 The “human, then AI, then human” rule for classroom AI use
00:10:00 Concerns about AI removing entry-level learning and early-career development
00:11:00 Why analog and human storytelling still matter, even as tools change

Late
00:13:00 Workforce readiness gaps tied to human skills, not technical tasks
00:14:00 What “resilience” means in practice, including the role of “yet” and learning from failure
00:16:00 Progress versus perfection, and why “gold star” thinking misses differentiated growth
00:18:00 Why high-achieving students can be more paralyzed by failure than others
00:20:00 What GRiT covers and expansion goals, plus where to find the program
00:22:00 Closing and where listeners can connect

Links and Resources

Kurt Wismer on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kurt-wismer-9a51a18/

Company on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/gritedu/

Episode Summary
Armando Ramos shares how Lions Ark supports food and medical manufacturers with parts, equipment, and upkeep. He and Brian talk about starting a business during COVID, testing early ideas, and landing on industrial distribution for critical production. Armando explains how Lions Ark helps factories source new machines, replace components fast when lines go down, and plan preventive and predictive maintenance. He also shares why he is building an e-commerce channel, what it takes to compete with bigger distributors, and what kind of manufacturers he hopes to help next.

Key Takeaways
Starting during uncertainty can be an advantage when it creates space to test ideas, learn fast, and build a company structure that can evolve.

Early experiments can fail for simple reasons, including weak demand, and the lesson is to keep iterating until the offer matches what buyers actually want.

In manufacturing support, the real value is reducing line-down time by knowing the machine, mapping components, and making reorders and replacements frictionless.

Preventive maintenance prevents predictable shutdowns, and predictive maintenance can add another layer by using sensors and monitoring to spot issues earlier.

A small customer base can be a deliberate strategy, because responsiveness and relationship depth can beat scale when large competitors are stretched thin.

E-commerce can unlock growth by serving buyers who prefer self-serve purchasing, but it still requires active marketing so people know the site exists.

A practical view of resilience starts with critical infrastructure, and supporting food and medical production locally reduces supply-chain fragility.

Timeline
Opening
00:00:00 Brian welcomes Armando and asks about his background and business
00:01:00 Armando explains starting Lions Ark during COVID and why that moment pushed him to build

Finding the right business model
00:03:00 Armando shares his entrepreneurial roots, family story, and earlier work experiences
00:04:00 Lions Ark begins as sales consulting, then tests other products before focusing on industry

What Lions Ark does for manufacturers
00:06:20 Armando explains the two divisions and the focus on food and medical manufacturers
00:08:00 How Lions Ark helps when factories need new machines, replacement parts, and faster recovery from downtime
00:09:00 Preventive and predictive maintenance options, including sensors and monitoring

Growth strategy and the new e-commerce channel
00:12:00 Armando describes launching Lions Ark Industrial as an e-commerce site for industrial supplies and equipment
00:13:00 Examples of products, including PPE and high-speed industrial printing for expiration dates
00:14:00 Why supporting domestic capability in food and medical production matters, beyond politics

Competing with big distributors and staying relationship-first
00:17:00 The advantage of being smaller, more responsive, and intentionally selective on the solutions side
00:19:00 Brian and Armando compare volume growth versus deeper, longer-term customer relationships

Closing
00:21:00 Armando shares what he is most excited about next, and invites manufacturers to reach out
00:22:00 How to contact Lions Ark Industrial

Links and ResourcesLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/armando-ramos-a80b70130/L.K. Machinery Inc. Company: https://www.linkedin.com/company/l.k.-machinery-inc./

Episode Summary
Sandler’s Alison Lamothe breaks down how to sell through real pain. Alison Lamothe, Director of Sales and Marketing at Sandler Training’s Manchester, New Hampshire office, shares how she landed at Sandler by accident and why the “pain step” became her biggest sales breakthrough. She and host Brian dig into what makes buyers feel understood, why awards and flash do not close deals, and how sales and marketing teams can stop blaming each other and start working the same funnel. They also talk through AI fears in sales and where it actually helps, plus what it looks like to build a process that holds up beyond referrals. What changes when you stay in discovery longer than feels comfortable?

Key Takeaways
Spending more time in the “pain” conversation helps uncover what the surface problem is really costing the buyer in day-to-day impact.

Being impactful matters more than being memorable, especially when trust and timing decide whether a prospect moves forward.

AI works best as a time-saver for notes, follow-up, and drafting, so salespeople can spend more time making human connections.

Referral-driven sales habits can create a feature-dump reflex in colder conversations, which makes rejection feel sharper and stalls growth.

CRM activity only becomes useful when teams interpret what the data is saying, including who meetings are with and what stages convert.

Sales and marketing friction usually points to missing shared habits, like meeting together, defining the same targets, and reviewing outcomes together.

Timeline
Early
00:00:00 Brian introduces Alison Lamothe and they compare Tennessee and New Hampshire weather
00:01:00 Alison explains her path into Sandler Training and her sales background
00:02:00 First impressions of Sandler and why digestible behavior change stood out
00:04:00 From client success to selling, and why learning the backend built confidence
00:05:00 “Ops Alison” vs “sales Alison” and how competitiveness shows up

Middle
00:07:00 Why feelings and being understood influence decisions, even in transactional purchases
00:10:00 The Sandler “pain step” and why staying there longer changes outcomes
00:14:00 Impact over flash, and what actually keeps you top of mind
00:16:00 Current challenge, calming the fear of AI and using it without losing humanity
00:19:00 Long-term challenge, getting past fear of rejection and making it a dialogue

Late
00:21:00 What keeps Alison engaged, applying the same core principles across different companies
00:23:00 Frustrations, watching people give up on themselves or avoid calling their work “sales”
00:25:00 Training gaps, product knowledge without conversation skills and why 30 days is rarely enough
00:26:00 CRM and funnel measurement, meetings only matter when quality and buyer role are defined
00:27:00 Sales vs marketing blame, the culture shift needed to work as one team
00:29:00 Where to find Alison on LinkedIn and TikTok, plus her cold calling content

Links and Resources