If I Ever Live To Be...

What happens when music becomes more than something we listen to—and instead becomes a way to connect? This week, I'm joined by Emma Wheat and Jo Coomber of Sounds Joyful, an organization using engaging sound and music sessions to bring together people of all ages and abilities. Emma and Jo share how their work began with people impacted by dementia, using music to engage the brain, create new neural pathways, and help people connect in ways that words sometimes can't. But they soon realized those same principles could reach far beyond that setting. We talk about how music can "break the ice" between people, create connection across generations, and even help teams communicate and work together more effectively. And then there's the joy... Emma and Jo describe watching the entire vibe of a room change within just three minutes—the mood lifts, tense shoulders soften, and people begin engaging with one another. Sometimes connection doesn't begin with finding the right words... sometimes it begins with finding the right rhythm.

Learn more at: soundsjoyful.co.uk

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/kdp-REX24E4

This week, I'm joined by Kelly Frazer Johnson, Healthcare Growth Strategist, Executive Coach, Fractional Marketing Leader, and UGA MHA faculty member, for a conversation about embracing change, building confidence, and navigating those seasons when the path forward isn't perfectly clear. Kelly shares her L.E.A.P. framework: Listen. Experiment. Adapt. Pursue. It's a practical approach to growth that applies just as much to our careers and leadership as it does to business. We talk about taking leaps of faith, learning to trust yourself, and navigating the "messy middle" of leadership. Kelly also shares how her own career has evolved by paying attention to her experiences, listening to what the market was telling her, and having the willingness to pivot when it became clear people needed something more from her. It all comes down to four "little" words: You can do this.

Connect with Kelly and learn more: crystallakemarketing.org

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/8C-qrLTmiLg

Sometimes moving forward starts with slowing down. This week, I'm joined by Ash Merchant, Founder and CEO of Lionheart Partners, for a conversation about quieting the noise, getting clear on our priorities, and focusing on the next most important thing. Ash shares how taking a year-long sabbatical with his family changed his perspective and ultimately helped lead him to the work he's doing today. We talk about the freedom—and the challenges—that come with owning a business, especially when family needs, personal hardships, and changing seasons of life require us to adjust. We also dive into AI, why it's a tool rather than a replacement for people, and what it means for every generation in the workforce to retool, adapt, and prepare for what's ahead. But throughout our conversation, we keep coming back to something much more personal: What actually matters right now? When everything feels urgent and the noise gets loud, sometimes we don't need to have the entire future figured out. We need to slow down, get our priorities straight, and identify the next best step. Progress isn't always about doing more. Sometimes it's about getting quiet enough to recognize what deserves your attention... and having the courage to focus on that.

Learn more and connect with Ash at lionheart.partners

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/SzbIL3wM30w

This week, I'm joined by Adam Lewis, President of Risk Consulting Services, for a conversation about leadership, entrepreneurship, and the example we choose to set every day. Adam shares the unexpected path that led him into the actuarial profession, what inspired him to purchase and lead a business, and the lessons he's learned through personal growth and building teams. But beyond the boardroom, we spend time talking about the role Adam values most: being a husband and father. Throughout our conversation, one theme rises above the rest: leading by example. Whether at work or at home, Adam believes leadership is about consistently living in a way that earns trust and inspires others. While lasting legacies can be built through extraordinary moments... they can also be built step by step, faithfully leading by example every single day.

Connect with Adam and learn more about RCS at riskconsultingservices.com.

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/KK2w8siwwqA

This week, I'm honored to be joined by Brandon Smith, The Workplace Therapist, founder of The Worksmiths, and co-founder of My Leadership Foundry, for one of my favorite conversations to date. Brandon opens up about growing up in what he describes as an "emotional vacuum," and how those early experiences shaped his understanding of relationships, leadership, and purpose. We talk about overcoming adversity, discovering your purpose, and the courage it takes to break unhealthy patterns so future generations inherit something better. Because sometimes the greatest legacy you can leave isn't a business, a title, or a financial inheritance... it's ending cycles that have existed for generations.

Connect with Brandon, snag copies of his books and more at: theworksmiths.com

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/yBnpBYOpB3M

This week, I'm joined by Mike Milligan, founder of 1.oak Financial, for a conversation about wealth, business ownership, and the legacy we're building every day. While money is certainly part of the discussion, Mike challenges the idea that wealth is the only thing we leave behind. We talk about the importance of your name, your character, and what people will remember about you long after you're gone. Mike also shares the realities of entrepreneurship—the freedom, the challenges, and the responsibility that comes with building something of your own. One of my favorite moments from our conversation is a story about Mike's grandparents. When his grandfather could no longer work because of physical limitations, his grandmother stepped in, cooking and selling collard sandwiches to help provide for their family. It's a powerful reminder that resilience, sacrifice, and determination often become the greatest inheritance we can pass down. This episode is about more than financial success. It's about work ethic, stewardship, family, and building a legacy that lasts far beyond a bank account.

Connect with Mike: https://1oakfinancial.com/

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ZKNTspCDPg0v

This week, I'm joined by my dear friend Julie Bohata — Senior Ambassador for FEW Atlanta, Executive Assistant extraordinaire, and now one of the authors behind The Power of Yes. Julie shares the journey of writing her chapter alongside 17 other women, and how the theme of saying "yes" has shaped so many parts of her life. From meeting her husband Richard to ultimately saying yes to God in becoming a mother, Julie opens up about the fears and experiences from her childhood that once made her hesitant to have children at all. We also have an honest conversation about what it looks like to be a woman of faith in today's world — the challenges, the pressures, and the importance of surrounding yourself with people who strengthen and encourage your walk with God. Julie shares how the women of FEW have helped her remain resilient, grounded, and connected to her faith through every season. This episode is about trust, healing, friendship, and the courage to say yes — even when the path ahead feels uncertain.

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/lGfmcXvfTSc

Get your copy of The Power of YES: https://a.co/d/03PSeTdI

This week, I'm joined by Miles Rubin, mindset and performance coach, for a conversation that challenges how we think about confidence, limitations, and what's actually holding us back. Miles shares how his own diagnosis with Tourette syndrome became the starting point for his journey into mindset work — leading him to help others break through mental barriers using tools like hypnosis and neuro-linguistic programming (NLP). But at the core of this conversation is something much simpler (depending on who you ask!)— and much more powerful: how we think. We talk about the way people define confidence (and often misunderstand it), including a moment where a client told Miles, "I don't have confidence," and his response completely reframed the conversation. We also dive into the common struggles business owners face like the tension between feeling limited today while trying to expand into what's next. Sometimes, the biggest shift isn't changing your circumstances — it's changing the way you see yourself.

Connect with Miles and learn more: miles.gurucoaches.com

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/2jK59fk3slk

This week's episode is one of the most powerful and faith-filled conversations I've had. I'm joined by Jody Hudson, CEO and Founder of the Alex Hudson Lyme Foundation and author of My Promise to Alex. Jody shares the unimaginable story of losing her daughter to Lyme disease — and the promise that now fuels her mission to raise awareness and help others. But her story doesn't start there. Jody opens up about a life marked by hardship — growing up in foster care, navigating adoption, facing alcoholism in her family, bankruptcy, divorce, and ultimately the loss of a child. And yet, through it all, her life is a testimony of faith, prayer, and resilience. This conversation is about trusting God in the middle of pain, holding onto hope when life doesn't make sense, and choosing to use your story to encourage others. Jody's strength is steady, grounded, and rooted in something far greater than circumstances. It's a reminder that by God's grace, even the hardest stories can become a source of light for someone else.

Learn more: alexhudsonlymefoundation.org

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/8uOW8-fXo7A

This week, I sit down with Daniel Shub, Principal Consultant of DKS Design, whose work helped bring to life "iNSPIRE: 50 Years of Innovation from Apple" at the Mimms Museum of Technology and Art. We talk about what it looks like to build a business rooted in creativity and intention, while also showing up as a husband and father. Daniel shares the influence Apple—and Steve Jobs in particular as we highlight a Jobs quote which seems to bring the whole conversation together: "your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life." This conversation is about more than design. It's about choosing your own path, creating something meaningful, and having the courage to think differently in a world that often pushes you to conform.

Check out the Exhibit (Roswell, GA): https://mimmsmuseum.org/apple-innovation-exhibit/

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/iKQWAjgOmpI?si=yHVGT00wRUaKgIP-