Tired of pushy sales tactics that don't fit your personality? In this episode of Leaders and Their Stories, host Richard Lowe sits down with Matt Biggar, an online business coach who's built his entire business philosophy around authentic relationships instead of aggressive sales strategies. Drawing from his journey through YouTube burnout, multiple business pivots, and working alongside his wife, Matt shares a refreshing approach to business growth that prioritizes trust over tactics.

You'll learn: 
✅ Why most coaching approaches focus on problems instead of opportunities 
✅ How to use AI as a digital employee without losing your authentic voice 
✅ The relationship tracker system that focuses on 100 key connections 
✅ Why celebrating existing clients beats acquiring new ones through ads 
✅ How to build trust-based sales systems that don't feel pushy 
✅ The power of alignment over objection handling in sales conversations 
✅ Why your existing network holds more opportunities than you realize 
✅ How atomic habits can transform your business practices

Matt also shares his personal journey overcoming alcohol addiction, the importance of human dynamics in business relationships, and why he believes AI will never replace the ability to identify critical opportunities. Plus: Richard's hilarious experiment using Claude to create a committee of 12 famous advisors (including Tony Robbins and Attila the Hun) to solve business problems.

Bonus: The simple podcast strategy that drives referrals naturally and why perfectionism can be both a strength and a weakness in business.

🎯 Ideal for: Entrepreneurs, coaches, consultants, and business owners who want to build sustainable businesses through authentic relationships rather than high-pressure sales tactics.

📞 Connect with Matt Biggar for holistic business coaching that addresses both internal and external growth challenges.

Think AI is the solution to everything? Think again. In this episode of Leaders and Their Stories, host Richard Lowe sits down with Ben "The Automator" Christensen, who has automated over 300 full-time positions and saved companies $16 million—but warns against the blind rush to automate everything. Drawing on real-world disasters (like an AI agent that deleted an entire database) and years of hands-on experience, Ben reveals the dark side of AI adoption that nobody talks about.

You'll learn:

✅ Why AI assistants can be more defiant than human employees
✅ The critical importance of "human in the loop" systems
✅ Why context windows make AI terrible for long-form projects
✅ How AI lies constantly (and why lawyers are getting disbarred)
✅ The coming political and economic backlash against AI
✅ Why voice AI bots get into screaming matches with customers
✅ The Gartner Hype Cycle and where we are right now
✅ Why using ChatGPT to rewrite your resume could backfire spectacularly

Ben also shares his prediction about the coming AI winter, the physical limitations hitting data centers, and why treating AI "like a smart dog" is the best approach. Plus: Richard's hilarious experiment trying to write a novel with Claude (spoiler: it went horribly wrong).

Bonus: Ben's method for getting better AI results using "second and third order principles" and scratch pads, plus his technique for AI-generated social media content that fooled people for 6 weeks.

🎯 Ideal for: Business leaders, tech professionals, entrepreneurs, and anyone considering AI implementation who wants to avoid costly mistakes and understand the real limitations of current technology.

📞 Connect with Ben "The Automator" Christensen for automation consulting and fractional CIO/AI officer services.

From Communist spy to corporate executive—this isn't fiction. In this episode of Leaders and Their Stories, host Richard Lowe sits down with Jack Barsky, a former KGB deep-cover agent who spent 10 years undercover in America before choosing love over loyalty and quitting the spy game. Drawing on his unique background from East German Communist training to American corporate boardrooms, Jack reveals the surprising leadership lessons that work in both espionage and business.

You'll learn:

Why trust is the #1 ingredient in both spying and leadership
How to read people in under 5 minutes (a survival skill that translates to business)
The secret to managing technical talent and engineers
Why quick decision-making beats endless analysis
How his programming background made him a better manager
The leadership lessons hidden in HBO's Chernobyl series
Why "know yourself" is the foundation of career success

Jack also shares fascinating details about his 5-year KGB training, how he assumed a dead child's identity, why he told the KGB he had HIV to escape, and how the FBI eventually found him 9 years later. Plus: his take on the Ukraine conflict and why nuclear accidents worry him more than intentional launches.

Bonus: The hilarious truth about what James Bond movies get wrong about real espionage (spoiler: everything).

🎯 Ideal for: Leaders, managers, executives, and anyone interested in the psychology of influence, decision-making, and what happens when spy skills meet corporate America.

📞 Connect with Jack Barsky on LinkedIn
Hashtags: #Leadership #CorporateSuccess #SpySecrets #ManagementTips #BusinessStrategy

The Hidden Link Between Vulnerability and Pricing — Joe Rockey Jr. Returns to Talk Sales Strategy 

Why do some people charge $25 and others $300 for the same service? It’s not always about skill. In this powerful episode of Leaders and Their Stories, sales coach and author Joe Rockey Jr. returns to unpack the real reason pricing works—or doesn’t. 

From emotional buying triggers to vulnerability as a pricing lever, Joe and Richard dig deep into what drives premium pricing, customer trust, and long-term sales success. 

You’ll learn: 

• Why “What’s in it for them?” is the golden question in any offer
• How to price based on perceived safety, not just deliverables
• The secret to connecting with emotionally raw clients (and why it justifies your rate)
• Why vulnerability builds pricing power—and how to use it wisely
• Lessons from Trader Joe’s, skydiving, hot air balloons, and ghostwriting
• Why some prospects can’t be helped—and how to let them go

 What if everything you thought success meant… wasn’t really yours? 

In this heartfelt episode of Leaders and Their Stories, leadership coach Doris Walsh joins Richard Lowe to explore what happens when high-achieving professionals hit a crossroads—torn between a thriving career and the deeper pull of family, identity, and meaning. 

Doris shares her journey from corporate life to coaching, including the wake-up call that arrived in her 40s and the power of asking, “What do I actually want?” Richard opens up about his own transformation through grief, photography, and learning to let go of toxic relationships. 

This conversation is funny, raw, and deeply reflective—packed with real-life examples, emotional truths, and the permission to change… even after 50. 

 In this powerful episode of Leaders and Their Stories, host Richard Lowe welcomes Trevor Sumner, CEO of IGenie and a seasoned tech entrepreneur with over 25 years in the game. Trevor shares how his AI startup is transforming consumer insights for major brands like Coca-Cola, Bayer, and Unilever—replacing unreliable survey data with real-time analysis of billions of online signals across TikTok, Google, and Instagram. 

From the explosive AI hype cycle to the practical, personal benefits of using tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity, Trevor offers grounded, insider wisdom. He and Richard discuss how AI is not just streamlining operations but redefining what lean, high-impact teams can achieve. With real stories of AI shaving hours off content creation, reimagining competitive analysis, and even improving personal health outcomes, this conversation brings AI down to earth. 

The episode also explores deep societal implications: the future of entry-level jobs, the demographic collapse, and how automation could offset shrinking populations in countries like Japan and China. Through it all, Trevor maintains a cautious optimism: AI won't replace people—but those who use it wisely will outperform those who don't. 

Whether you're a tech executive, founder, marketer, or just curious about where AI is really heading, this episode offers clarity, insight, and actionable takeaways for navigating the next wave of transformation. 

 In this episode of Leaders and Their Stories, host Richard Lowe speaks with award-winning health coach, author, and fitness expert Rico Caveglia, founder of the Ageless Living Lifestyle. Rico shares practical tips and powerful truths about aging, energy, longevity, and why most people are growing old far too soon. 

Rico believes we’re designed to live to 125 in good health, and that aging doesn’t have to mean becoming old, sick, or tired. He breaks down the real causes of premature aging—and how to avoid them. 

🎯 Highlights include: 

• Why your lifestyle—not your genes—determines your health
• The difference between aging and getting old
• Movement vs. exercise: which is better and why
• Eating awareness techniques to avoid overeating
• Why mainstream medicine gets aging wrong
• How Rico reversed pain and weakness without surgery
• The 7 Essentials of Life (from his bestselling book Ageless Living)

💡 Learn how to build a lifestyle that supports strength, energy, and clarity for decades to come.
 
📘 Grab Rico’s book: Ageless Living
 

In this episode of Leaders and Their Stories, host Richard Lowe sits down with leadership expert, author, and national speaker Pat Welsh to explore a powerful, practical framework for becoming a more impactful leader.

Pat introduces his Warrior-Servant-Leader model—a three-part mindset built on courage, service, and influence—and shares real-life stories from his time in law enforcement and beyond. He explains why true leadership is rooted not in power or position, but in values, moral compass, and community. 

🎯 Highlights include: 

• The origin and meaning of the Warrior-Servant-Leader model
• Real-world leadership in law enforcement and public service
• Why ego is the biggest enemy of leadership
• Why JFK, Tim Tebow, and Mother Teresa exemplify parts of this mindset
• The worst leadership advice you've ever heard—and why you must unlearn it
• The one trait every great manager must have

Whether you're running a business or leading in your community, this episode offers timeless advice on how to lead with integrity, purpose, and humility.
 
🧭 Learn more about Pat at: https://warriorservantleaderpodcast.com
 

 In this powerful episode of Leaders and Their Stories, host Richard Lowe (The Writing King) sits down with Rob Fenstermaker to explore what it truly means to live with the warrior spirit. Rob shares his journey from corporate burnout to personal awakening and now devotes his life to helping men rediscover their inner strength, truth, and purpose.

They dive into the importance of personal truths, boundaries, accountability, and integrity in leadership, family, and community. Rob discusses his coaching process, the role of empathy, and how real warriors know when to stand firm—and when to regroup. Together, they tackle tough topics like betrayal, addiction, pornography, toxic masculinity, and how modern men can lead lives of purpose instead of passivity.

Packed with raw insights and practical wisdom, this episode is a must-listen for men seeking transformation, fathers aiming to lead by example, and anyone who believes leadership starts within. 

 Getting your IT or cybersecurity project approved shouldn’t feel like storming a fortress. In this episode of Leaders and Their Stories, host Richard Lowe sits down with veteran tech executive Matt Walker to unpack why so many tech proposals fail—and how to fix it. Drawing on decades of experience from cybersecurity to desktop support (including NASA and Kennedy Space Center), Matt breaks down the psychological and strategic steps to win executive buy-in. 

You’ll learn: 

• Why "speaking IT" gets you thrown out of the boardroom
• How to build long-term trust with decision-makers
• Why security training needs to become personal
• The power of "pre-suasion" and how to use it
• Why deepfakes and AI have changed the security game for good

Matt also shares his favorite books for mastering influence and how emotional intelligence beats technical brilliance when it comes to getting results.
 
Bonus: A hilarious (and terrifying) true story about a multi-million dollar deepfake scam in Hong Kong.
 
📚 Mentioned Books:

• Pre-Suasion by Robert Cialdini
• Influence by Robert Cialdini

🎯 Ideal for: IT leaders, cybersecurity professionals, CIOs, and anyone trying to get budget or approval for tech initiatives in today's AI-powered world.