Stories With Traction

SHOW NOTES:

In this powerful and personal episode, Matt Zaun sits down with executive coach, keynote speaker, and author Ken Sher to unpack career disruption, leadership integrity, and the role of trust in long-term success.

Ken shares the emotional story of being laid off after 25 years at Johnson & Johnson at 52, with kids in college, and how that devastating season ultimately shaped his career-coaching philosophy and his book, What’s Trust Got to Do With It?

They dive into career resilience, courageous leadership, psychological safety, and how organizations either build or break trust in moments that matter most.

SHOW NOTES:

In this episode of Stories With Traction, Matt Zaun welcomes back Ricardo Gonzalez, founder and CEO of Bilingual America, to dive even deeper into culture, beliefs, values, norms, and the accelerating impact of AI on trust.

Ricardo breaks down what culture actually is (beyond the buzzwords and posters), why so many companies don’t have a real culture at all, and how leaders can either create and curate culture… or passively allow it to be created for them. They also explore how AI is reshaping work, eroding trust, and what wise leaders can do right now to harness its benefits without sacrificing humanity or credibility.

Other Podcast Episodes mentioned: 

Company Culture: Definition, Benefits, and Strategies 

Company Culture and Trauma 

Company Culture Statement Needed

SHOW NOTES:

In this episode of Stories With Traction, Matt Zaun sits down with marketing advisor Tim Parkin to unpack what magicians and great marketers have in common: the ability to capture attention, control focus, and follow a repeatable process to create results.

Tim shares how a childhood love of magic and an early career in software development led him to a process-driven marketing approach that most leaders never use. They dive into why so many executives cling to “safe” tactics, how AI is quietly homogenizing brands, and why the fastest growth almost always comes from the inside out rather than from chasing the next shiny tactic.

SHOW NOTES:

In this episode, Matt Zaun sits down with talent agent and founder Monique Sar to unpack what it really takes for executives, founders, and high performers to break into the professional speaking world. Monique represents speakers and influencers, helping them land deals and build speaking careers, and she doesn’t sugarcoat the process.

They talk about why your past success in business doesn’t automatically translate into high speaking fees, why “getting your reps in” matters more than your résumé, and how to position yourself so event organizers actually understand what you speak about and why they should book you.

SHOW NOTES:

In this episode, Matt Zaun sits down with Joshua Altman of Beltway Media to talk about why communication is a core function of business, not an afterthought you bolt on three weeks before a product launch.

Joshua shares what happens when companies call him at the last minute, how poor (or excessive) documentation slows everything down, and why leaders must rethink how they use AI for writing. They also dive into interviewing as a leadership skill, the power of likability and relaxation under pressure, and simple ways leaders can sharpen their writing and thinking every day.

SHOW NOTES:

Matt Zaun sits down with Todd White, founder of Clearpeg, to unpack the causes of organizational chaos and how leaders can reduce stress by clarifying decision authority, strengthening leadership behaviors, and aligning on values. Todd, a self-described “recovering engineer,” shares how his background in systems thinking and global business assessments led him to focus on professional development for leaders who can “make you a million or cost you ten million.”

SHOW NOTES:

Matt Zaun sits down with Malcolm Peace, who shares how his team at Tsetserra evaluates and acquires businesses through a lens that goes beyond numbers. Malcolm introduces a core question that guides their investment thesis: “Do you fit into the story?” Instead of assuming they can “rebuild the plane mid-flight,” Malcolm explains why the best acquisitions align with what’s already working and why respect, posture, and emotional dynamics matter as much as diligence and deal structure.

They also explore the emotional weight of legacy when founders consider selling; why Malcolm’s attention to detail comes from tennis and coaching; how to block out noise by focusing on “the one thing"; and why persuasion may be the most AI-proof skill for the next generation. Finally, Malcolm shares how his team uses AI to accelerate evaluation and operations while emphasizing that AI doesn’t drive adoption without human trust.

Show Notes:

In this episode of Stories with Traction, Matt Zaun sits down with performance coach, speaker, and former pro tennis player Jeff Salzenstein to unpack what it means to “own your zone,” a powerful framework designed to help high achievers transform stress into strength and pressure into excellence without burning out.

Jeff breaks down his three-zone model (body, mind, heart), explains why recovery is the true foundation of sustained performance, and shares practical “micro-resets” leaders can use immediately. They also explore why real change is rare without accountability and why high performers must be willing to challenge cultural norms to protect their energy, health, and longevity.

SHOW NOTES:

In this episode of Stories With Traction, host Matt Zaun sits down with John Welch, a B2B lead generation specialist based in Indianapolis, for a raw, unfiltered conversation about what actually works regarding lead generation and why most companies are playing the game completely wrong.

John brings a decade of sales and marketing experience, including nearly 4 years focused on lead generation. Together, they unpack the uncomfortable truths about rejection, consistency, commissions, and why lead generation is fundamentally a long-term discipline, not a short-term tactic.

SHOW NOTES:

In this solo episode of Stories With Traction, host Matt Zaun breaks down one of the most common mistakes even great storytellers make: they don’t spend enough time on the hook.

But this isn’t about flashy intros or attention-grabbing openers.

Matt reframes the hook as the point of change in a story, the moment that connects the message directly to the audience and moves them toward action.