Show Notes – The Mentors Radio

In this episode of THE MENTORS RADIO, Host Tom Loarie talks with Jim Loehr, a world-renown human performance psychologist, about how to ensure you are leading with character and purposely pursuing what matters most. Loehr knows what he’s talking about. He has literally transformed hundreds of lives, including the most elite tennis competitors in the world, as well as business executives at all levels, and the millions of individuals who have read his books or taken his courses over many yeas. Jim’s ability to transform an individual’s energy so that he or she can easily and dramatically improve their sustained energy level is remarkable. His work and coaching unleashes an individual’s unique potential and peak performance, regardless of whether they are a top tennis athlete, or a company executive, entrepreneur, or a student in college. Jim knows first-hand that better sustained energy and better focus results in Peak Performance and Achievement. Every. Time. Jim Loehr is the co-founder of the Orlando-based Human Performance Institute, and the author of 17 easy-to-read, down-to-earth yet life-transforming books, including best-sellers: “The Power of Full Engagement,” “The Power of Story,” and “Leading with Character.” Listen to the radio podcast of this episode below (posted after the episode’s radio airing)… Subscribe for free here to THE MENTORS RADIO podcast so you never miss an episode!

JIM LOEHR, PhD:

In this episode of The Mentors Radio, Host Tom Loarie talks with Yale Ph.D. J. Budziszewski, professor of Government and Philosophy at the University of Texas at Austin. The author of more than 20 books, including The Revenge of Conscience, What We Can’t Not Know and his most recent work, Pandemic of Lunacy: How to Think Clearly When Everyone Around You Seems Crazy. A former radical atheist, Dr. Budziszewski underwent a profound conversion that integrated his world-class intellect with deep faith. Today, he is one of the preeminent voices on Natural Law and critical thinking. In this discussion of his latest book, you will discover Budziszewski’s learnings about patterns of delusion in our culture, how beliefs shape society, the differences between human rationality and animal instinct, the role of conscience in human behavior, the need for personal honesty and for respecting common sense passed down through the ages, the critical importance of maintaining relationships and effective communication, and more. You’ll hear about the value of learning from genuine leaders. Whether considering the culture of society at large or the culture within a company or other work environment, the insights from this episode can help to keep you grounded and clear-thinking amid chaos and confusion.  LISTEN TO the radio broadcast live on iHeart Radio, or to “THE MENTORS RADIO” podcast any time, anywhere, on any podcast platform – subscribe here and don’t miss an episode!

J. Budziszewski, Ph.D.:

In this episode of THE MENTORS RADIO, Host Dan Hesse talks with Dr. Eswar Prasad, a Professor of Economics at Cornell, a senior fellow at Brookings, and the former head of the IMF’s China division, to discuss his book The Future of Money: How the Digital Revolution Is Transforming Currencies and Finance, which was chosen as a Best Book of the Year by The Economist, The Financial Times, Foreign Affairs, ProMarket, and The Week. In The Future of Money, Dr. Prasad argues that we are at an inflection point where technology is redefining what money is, who issues it, and how it moves—pushing us toward a world with less physical cash, and an ecosystem of fintech and crypto innovations that will reshape everything from household payments to the global monetary order.  LISTEN TO the radio broadcast live on iHeart Radio, or to “THE MENTORS RADIO” podcast any time, anywhere, on any podcast platform – subscribe here and don’t miss an episode!

ESWAR S. PRASAD:

In this episode of The Mentors Radio, Host Tom Loarie talks with Michael Collopy, one of the preeminent portrait photographers of our time — a man whose camera has revealed the inner soul of saints, world leaders, Nobel Peace laureates, and some of the most recognizable entertainers on the planet. Over 45 years, he has photographed six U.S. presidents, 37 Nobel Peace Prize laureates, and hundreds of global icons — and in the process, he has observed patterns of character, humility, ego, joy, and loneliness that very few people ever get to see up close. Michael Collopy is self-taught, yet mentored by giants like Ansel Adams and Richard Avedon. His life’s work has taken him from Mother Teresa’s streets of Calcutta, to Pope John Paul II in Mexico City, to Nelson Mandela, to the Rolling Stones in Paris, and everywhere in between. In this episode, you’ll discover what Michael has learned about people — about what truly distinguishes the great from the merely famous, the fulfilled from the restless, and the peacemakers from the performers.  LISTEN TO the radio broadcast live on iHeart Radio, or to “THE MENTORS RADIO” podcast any time, anywhere, on any podcast platform – subscribe here and don’t miss an episode!

MICHAEL COLLOPY:

“Michael has consistently shown sensitivity in his work, and it appears that the Muse rests lightly on his shoulder for his work captures the essence of his subjects.”    – DR. MAYA ANGELOU

In this episode of THE MENTORS RADIO, Host Dan Hesse talks with Jerome Bettis (also known as “The Bus”), who is a Hall of Fame running back and Walter Peyton NFL Man of the Year. Jerome describes how he “broke the cycle” of shunning rookies in the locker room and instead focused on encouraging and mentoring them. He also talks about how the generosity of one pro football player he met as a kid drove him to develop the habit of giving a “hand up” to those in need; a habit that he knows he will continue for the rest of his life. “The Bus” is also the title of Jerome’s bestselling autobiography, which tells the story of Bettis’ rise from a Detroit ghetto to an illustrious collegiate and professional football career. A six-time Pro Bowl selection and one of the league’s all-time leading rushers, Jerome retired in 2006 after helping the Steelers win the Super Bowl, and in 2022, at age 50, Bettis received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame, fulfilling a promise he made to his mother when he left college for the NFL draft a year before graduation! LISTEN TO the radio broadcast live on iHeart Radio, or to “THE MENTORS RADIO” podcast any time, anywhere, on any podcast platform – subscribe here and don’t miss an episode!

JEROME BETTIS:

In this episode of The Mentors Radio, Host Tom Loarie talks with Rusty Gaillard, a man who built one of the quintessential “A-student” careers of our time: Princeton engineering, GE under Jack Welch, an MBA from Stanford, and ultimately 14 years at Apple, where he served as Worldwide Director of Finance. By any external measure, he had “made it”. But internally, Rusty hit a wall — a wall many high achievers eventually reach. That crisis led to deep introspection, divorce, reinvention, and ultimately the insights behind his book, Breaking the Code: Stop Looking for Answers and Start Enjoying Life — a guide to upgrading what he calls your code or your “InnerTech,” the internal operating system that shapes your life. Rusty eventually left Apple to become a transformational executive coach, helping leaders navigate transitions and create meaningful, sustainable success. In this episode, they explore what drove Rusty to the breaking point, how he rebuilt his life, and what he has learned coaching others through change. LISTEN TO the radio broadcast live on iHeart Radio, or to “THE MENTORS RADIO” podcast any time, anywhere, on any podcast platform – subscribe here and don’t miss an episode!

RUSTY GAILLARD:

In this episode of The Mentors Radio, Host Dan Hesse talks with Sahil Bloom, author of The 5 Types of Wealth—A Transformative Guide to Design Your Dream Life to describe how important Time, Social, Mental, Physical, and Financial wealth are to leading one’s dream life, and how important it is not to sacrifice one kind of wealth in pursuit of another.  In addition to his debut book, Sahill captivates millions of people every week through his insights and biweekly newsletter, The Curiosity Chronicle. Sahil is a successful entrepreneur and the managing partner of SRB Ventures, an early-stage investment fund. He holds bachelors and masters degrees from Stanford University, where he was a four-year member of the baseball team.

SAHIL BLOOM:

In this episode of The Mentors Radio, Host Tom Loarie talks with Thom Weisel, a guest whose influence has not only shaped companies, but also culture. A financier and sports leader, Weisel is both Senior Managing Director and a Director of Stifel, a diversified global wealth management and investment banking company. Previously Thom was Chairman and CEO of Thomas Weisel Partners Group, Inc. and Montgomery Securities, one of Silicon Valley’s famed “Four Horsemen”. Thom helped build the financial infrastructure that fueled Silicon Valley’s explosive rise, often referred to as “Wall Street West”. He led the financings behind companies that transformed medicine, semiconductors, and the internet itself. In addition, Weisel was responsible for raising the iconic KLEINER PERKINS’ first venture fund. Along the way, he also exercised his leadership skills toward something entirely different and arguably just as consequential: rebuilding the governance and funding models behind U.S. skiing and U.S. cycling—helping save those sports and elevate American athletes on the world stage. Growing up, Weisel was a five-time U.S. National Junior Champion in Speed Skating, ranked Third in the 1959 U.S. Olympic Trials for the 500 meter in Speed Skating. He remained athletically active the rest of his life, including ranking Third overall in the 1982 U.S. National Master Alpine Championship, in ’85 he launched the Montgomery Cycling Team, four years later he won 2 Gold Medals in 1989 Cycling Kilo & Sprint in the World Master Games in Finland, the following two years he picked up 5 more Gold Medals and a 6th Gold in World Cup Masters Cycling in Kilo in 1991, the same year he was named Masters Athlete of the Year for U.S. Cycling. In 1999, he received the U.S. Ski Association Julius Blegen Award, its highest honor… his athletic achievements continued and in 2018 he was inducted in the U.S. Ski Hall of Fame…. all while pursuing advanced college degrees and innovative business building and exceptional entrepreneurial leadership. Thom Weisel’s is a story of ambition and resilience; of building institutions, losing them, and building again. It’s about competition, yes…but it is also about patience, stewardship, and meaning. LISTEN TO the radio broadcast live on iHeart Radio, or to “THE MENTORS RADIO” podcast any time, anywhere, on any podcast platform – subscribe here and don’t miss an episode!

THOM WEISEL:

In this episode of The Mentors Radio, Host Dan Hesse discusses the AI spectrum with Nick Thompson, who is the host of “The Most Interesting Thing in AI” podcast and CEO of The Atlantic magazine. Thompson also discusses his just-released book The Running Ground, where Nick, the #1 long distance runner in the world at his age, tells the story of how running both bonded him with, but also kept him from becoming, his father. Nick was previously the editor-in-chief of Wired magazine and editor of NewYorker.com. In addition to being a successful CEO, husband and father, Nick set the U.S. record at 50-Kilometers in the Over 45 age group and this year became the top-ranked runner in the world for his age group in the 50-Mile distance. LISTEN TO the radio broadcast live on iHeart Radio, or to “THE MENTORS RADIO” podcast any time, anywhere, on any podcast platform – subscribe here and don’t miss an episode!

Nick Thompson:

In this episode of The Mentors Radio, Host Tom Loarie talks with Daniel Levintin, PhD, a neuroscientist, cognitive psychologist, musician and best-selling author whose newest book, I Heard There Was a Secret Chord: Music as Medicine, explores how music changes the brain, strengthens memory and restores joy. Dr. Levitin’s research explains why that happens. He’s a Founding Dean of Arts and Humanities at Minerva University in San Francisco, James McGill Professor Emeritus of Psychology and Neuroscience at McGill University in Montreal, and the author of ten acclaimed books, including This Is Your Brain on Music and The Organized Mind. Before turning to science, he spent years as a studio musician and producer, working with artists like Sting, Joni Mitchell, and Steely Dan—so he understands music from the inside out. Today, we’ll explore why music is remembered when everything else fades, how it reduces pain and loneliness, and how we can use it as a form of service — to comfort others, strengthen connection, and even rediscover ourselves. LISTEN TO the radio broadcast live on iHeart Radio, or to “THE MENTORS RADIO” podcast any time, anywhere, on any podcast platform – subscribe here and don’t miss an episode!

DANIEL LEVITIN: