Episode 5 of No Milk No Sugar brings us the incomparable Seth Stein, CEO of Eastridge Workforce Solutions — also known as our host's West Coast other half. Both Seths are CEOs of staffing agencies, and both took the reins in early 2020 before getting slammed by a global health crisis.

Seth Stein takes No Milk No Sugar to the next level — giving us "triple espresso" real talk moments. He talks his biggest mistakes and regaining the trust of his team, as well as his ongoing journey to champion his team and put them first. Our Seth crowns him "CEO for the people" for his to-the-max transparent approach. Want the nitty gritty about the future of leadership and HR? Seth's got it. (Take your pick on which Seth.)

At the height of a global pandemic, who is the most important decision-maker in the state of Indiana? Not counting the governor, our answer is Jonathan Nalli. Nalli is the CEO of one of the largest healthcare systems in the state, responsible for over 14,000 associates and over 2,500 employed and independent physician partners — not to mention the health and safety of Indiana's citizens in an alarming, unprecedented emergency.

He and Seth dig into pressure as a privilege, share coping tips for shouldering the futures of thousands of Hoosiers, and highlight the essence of corporate legacy — long-term care of your team.

In this episode, Seth talks to his MBA cohort member, fellow CEO, and family friend Meredith Bronk. Meredith is President and CEO of Open Systems Technologies in Grand Rapids and has been a leader there for over 20 years. Seth applauds OST's innovative, empathic approach — a corporate culture heralded by Meredith and backed up in her personal life as well as her leadership.

Meredith digs into what corporate empathy looks like, especially in a worldwide unprecedented crisis. She shares her tips for leaders to lead with authenticity, and spills her "dirty little secret" about the hard truth of returning to in-office work.

In this episode, Seth talks to Kyle Lacy — not only an author and public speaker on marketing and digital trends, but who also leads marketing as CMO for Lessonly, a team-learning software company based in Indianapolis.

Kyle is no stranger to real talk. He and Seth dive into the failure of his early company, what impostor syndrome looks like as a leader, and they peel back the lid on their own weaknesses. Realism and empathy don't have to be mutually exclusive, and using that balance to create a community is the lifeblood that will pump you to the next level in your career.

In the inaugural episode of No Milk No Sugar, Seth talks to Gary Brackett — NFL champion, former CEO, transformational speaker, and current infopreneur. From being a walk-on student athlete to his legendary NFL Super Bowl track record and team captaincy, to owning multiple brands as a successful entrepreneur, Gary has a proven track record for translating championship-level success across multiple playing fields. But the pandemic touches all, and Gary wasn't immune.

In this episode, Gary and Seth get real about the folding of the Stacked Pickle restaurant chain during the pandemic, how finding your happiness drives your success (instead of the other way around), and why out-serving your competition outperforms who grinds the hardest.

Tactical takeaways? Learn about Gary's patented CHAMP framework and how to refocus setbacks as new directions to happiness.