Technology – The Mentors Radio

In this episode of The Mentors Radio, Host Tom Loarie talks with Craig Bergman, a legendary Hall of Fame coach and athletic director who spent more than 30 years mentoring thousands of young men and women at Monte Vista High School in Northern California.  Craig had a front-row seat to the cultural shift that reshaped an entire generation. In this candid, unvarnished conversation, they look directly at what is happening to our kids, our parenting culture, and our future workforce:  

Whether you are leading an organization, managing a team, or raising the next generation, this episode is an urgent wake-up call on stewardship, authentic authority, and the lost value of constructive struggle.   Listen to episode below, or on ANY PODCAST PLATFORM here. BE SURE TO LEAVE US A GREAT REVIEW on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share with friends and colleagues!

CRAIG BERGMAN:

In this episode of THE MENTORS RADIO, HOST DAN HESSE talks with CECILIA KANG, award-winning journalist and co-author of An Ugly Truth: Inside Facebook’s Battle for Domination. In this book, Kang takes us inside Meta (Facebook’s parent company), explains the company’s decisions over the years and the impact Meta has had—and still has—on our privacy, on the news users receive, and on the mental health of young people. The conversation in this episode took place before the $17 billion settlement between Meta and many State Attorney Generals.  Cecilia is an award-winning National Correspondent at The New York Times where she reports on the intersection of technology and public policy. She was part of a team that won the Gerald Loeb and George Polk awards for their coverage of Facebook and were finalists for the Pulitzer Prize. Cecilia frequently appears on national television and radio as a commentator on technology and entertainment, and she is passionate about exposing the impacts and implications of technology on society, politics and culture. Listen to episode below, or on ANY PODCAST PLATFORM here. BE SURE TO LEAVE US A GREAT REVIEW on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share with friends and colleagues!

CECILIA KANG:

In this episode of THE MENTORS RADIO, Host Dan Hesse talks with Colonel Justin “Astro” Elliott, the Commander of the 96th Operations Group at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. Colonel Elliot is the only person in history to complete all three of the Air Force’s elite flying programs: Fighter Weapons School, Test Pilot School, and the Thunderbirds. He is a Yale University ROTC graduate with three engineering degrees. His combat time in the F-15E during OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM is featured in the book Red Platoon. As a test pilot, he flew more than 3,000 hours across 33 aircraft, with operational experience in the F-15, F-16, and F-35. Colonel Astro Elliot’s command as “Thunderbird 1” is featured in the Emmy- nominated Netflix documentary Air Force Elite: Thunderbirds, showcasing the team’s commitment to values, culture and a shared purpose of being a beacon of excellence demonstrating the uniting force of human achievement in the name of selfless service. Listen to episode below, or on ANY PODCAST PLATFORM here. BE SURE TO LEAVE US A GREAT REVIEW on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share with friends and colleagues!

COLONEL JUSTIN “ASTRO” ELLIOTT:

In this episode of THE MENTORS RADIO, Host Dan Hesse talks with Bengt Holmström, the Emeritus Paul A. Samuelson Professor of Economics at MIT, to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of receiving the 2016 Nobel Prize in Economics for his contributions to contract theory. His research has advanced the understanding of incentives, organizations, corporate governance, and financial liquidity. Bengt is a member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the Econometric Society, and a foreign member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences and the Finnish Academy of Science and Letters. He received his Ph.D. from Stanford and before MIT, he held faculty appointments at Yale and Northwestern. Dr. Holmstrom explains why factors that are hard to measure usually drive better behavior in incentive plans than those that are easy to measure.  He mentors his students that asking the right questions is far more important than answering questions. A self-described “AI optimist,” he considers the AI companion he has created, Charlie, clever and life-enriching.  LISTEN TO this radio broadcast live on iHeart Radio, or go to “THE MENTORS RADIO” podcast any time, anywhere, on any podcast platform – subscribe here and don’t miss an episode!

BENGT HOLMSTRÖM:

In this episode of THE MENTORS RADIO, Host Dan Hesse talks with Ed Hawkins, former All-American soccer player and Founder and CEO of SixBeacons Partners. As we watch the World Cup, it’s fitting that Ed Hawkins, a former All-American soccer player and the first US born African-American to wear the USA jersey, joins Dan Hesse on The Mentors Radio to describe the business lessons that the game of soccer can teach us. Ed explores how leadership, culture and human development intersect in organizational life. He’s the CEO of SixBeacon Partners where his work focuses on helping organizations design environments that allow people and systems to grow with purpose in the age of artificial intelligence. They discuss Ed’s fourth book, Beacon of Hope—Cultivating Excellence Across Generations, which also serves as a tribute to a special mentor.  LISTEN TO this radio broadcast live on iHeart Radio, or go to “THE MENTORS RADIO” podcast any time, anywhere, on any podcast platform – subscribe here and don’t miss an episode!

In this episode of THE MENTORS RADIO, Host Tom Loarie talks with Lifang He, a global tech brand strategist and marketing leader who is known for her more than 20 years experience launching record-breaking, popular tech innovations that include Apple’s iPhone and more. Data shows that up to eighty percent (80%) of technology ventures fail—not because their technology doesn’t work, but because they fail to drive consumer adoption. Why? We dive deep into the engine room of the modern tech economy to explore how great ideas actually win hearts, minds, and lasting market share. Too many business builders treat branding as a superficial creative mask to be slapped onto a product at the very end of its development cycle. Our guest today—Lifang He—argues that this exact mistake is what kills promising products and drains investor capital. She should know. A standout global brand strategist and tech marketing leader, Lifang He brings nearly twenty years of masterclass experience driving go-to-market excellence for the world’s most influential market leaders. She grew up as a competitive athlete in China, stepped into the advertising arena with Wieden+Kennedy on the Nike business, and after moving to the U.S., landed inside Apple’s dedicated global advertising agency, Media Arts Lab, where she helped orchestrate multiple global iPhone launches and worked on the historic “Shot on iPhone” campaign. From there, she built categories at Amazon, scaled product ecosystems at Ring, and directed brand integration for Amazon Pharmacy. Her career has been defined by building products and brands that scale fast and deliver results. She has earned industry recognition such as a Cannes Lions Grand Prix Award, a Fastest Growing Brands Award, and a Jay Chiat Award for Strategic Excellence. She now leads a consultancy specializing in brand strategy, product innovation, and go-to-market. Lifang is also the author of the brilliant new guide, Brand Power Built In: How Tech Products Really Win Hearts and Minds. LISTEN TO this radio broadcast live on iHeart Radio, or go to “THE MENTORS RADIO” podcast any time, anywhere, on any podcast platform – subscribe here and don’t miss an episode!

LIFANG HE:

In this episode of THE MENTORS RADIO, Host Tom Loarie talks with Major General David Smith, USAF, deputy to the Chief of Air Force Reserve at the Pentagon. You’ll learn about a realm most people never get to see: the intersection of high-stakes national defense, cutting-edge technology and extreme physical endurance. General Smith is a combat-proven command pilot with over 4,000 flying hours—including 700 in combat across operations like Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. On his last appearance, as an F-16 Squadron Commander, he discussed what it takes to get your goals and dreams airborne. Since then, his leadership journey has scaled significantly. In this episode, we aren’t just talking about flying fighter jets. We are tracking a lifetime journey of constant re-invention—from the cockpit of an F-16, to operationalizing the advanced F-35 platform, to studying Artificial Intelligence at MIT and Harvard. We also dive deep into General Smith’s core thesis: why physical fitness is a non-negotiable leadership responsibility, and how that legacy of grit is carrying forward to the next generation of American leaders. General David Smith has flown in combat and conquered the Ironman World Championship, and shares insights about why physical grit, constant re-invention and data-driven innovation are the ultimate keys to sustaining your life’s goals. You will not only learn about leadership, but also about teamwork, humility, trust, and translating cockpit “wingman” reliance into selflessness and service in corporate culture. General Smith’s own 30+ year career spans commanding fighter squadrons, operationalizing the cutting-edge F-35, and studying Artificial Intelligence at MIT, Harvard and John Hopkins. He knows exactly what skills the next generation will need to navigate a rapidly evolving future. You’ll learn about the Ironman Mindset, breaking down the mental “wall” of an endurance race to conquer massive organizational barriers. And you’ll learn about the Future of Talent; Why tomorrow’s leaders must anchor themselves in STEM and AI while maintaining core human values. General Smith also talks about family legacy, and he and his wife Stacy raised two incredible, service-driven daughters: Sidney (Virgnia Military Institute graduate) and Ella (a standout collegiate athlete at the U.S. Naval Academy). Whether you are an aspiring young professional or a C-suite executive, this discussion is packed with actionable wisdom. 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!

MAJOR GENERAL DAVID SMITH, USAF:

In this episode of THE MENTORS RADIO, Host Dan Hesse talks with Bruce Mehlman, CEO of Mehlman Consulting, a bipartisan firm he founded after serving at senior levels in politics, policy and business, to discuss the growing role that geopolitical risk plays in the strategy of all companies, large and small. Mehlman Consulting helps Fortune 500 companies and innovative startups understand, anticipate and navigate the ever-evolving policy environment and trends likely to impact the global marketplace. A highly sought-after public speaker to Boards of Directors, global conferences and strategic planning sessions, Mehlman’s popular Age of Disruption substack reaches tens of thousands of readers across business, government, NGOs and global investment firms each week. His well-recognized infographics regarding political trends are frequently covered in leading publications, including the Washington Post, Axios, Politico, CNN, Bloomberg and Fox News. Mehlman has lectured on “winning business-government relations” at the Harvard Kennedy School, Yale School of Management and Georgetown University, among others. Mehlman previously held the post of Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Technology Policy, having been nominated by President George W. Bush and confirmed by the U.S. Senate in 2001. Prior to this appointment, he worked at Cisco Systems, the House of Representatives and at a Washington D.C. law firm. Mehlman is widely regarded as an expert in running issue campaigns, managing C-suite associations and developing strategies that achieve impactful policy outcomes. He also serves as Executive Director of the Technology CEO Council.

BRUCE MEHLMAN:

In this episode of The Mentors Radio, Host Tom Loarie talks with Robert Spetzler, M.D., a world-renown neurosurgeon specializing in cerebrovascular disease and skull base tumors. He served as the J.N. Harber Chairman Emeritus of Neurological Surgery, and Director Emeritus, as well as President and CEO Emeritus, of the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, Arizona. Under Dr. Spetzler’s leadership, the Institute grew from a regional center to a global destination for the treatment, education, and research of neurological conditions. He is also emeritus chair of neurosurgery at the Phoenix campus of the University of Arizona College of Medicine. Dr. Spetzler was involved in pioneering the technique of hypothermia and cardiac arrest (‘cardiac standstill’) for the treatment of difficult brain lesions, which, as he explains, “has allowed us to treat patients who otherwise had absolutely no other option.” He performed more than 6,000 aneurysm surgeries during his career, treating some of the most complex cases in the world. Just over 100 of those patients underwent cardiac standstill. Dr. Spetzler’s desire to pursue a medical career, and to treat all—especially patients—with dignity, took root when he was age 5, when he had contracted tetanus from a rusty nail. Tetanus at the time was usually fatal. In the middle of the night his parents rushed him to the hospital, doing what they could to make sure he stayed awake on the way (to avoid falling into a tetany attack). At the hospital, he became one of the first people to receive a new drug, penicillin, which saved his life. Later, during a medical teaching presentation of his case, with the young Spetzler included in the presentation, the doctor failed to treat his young patient with even the slightest degree of dignity. Dr. Spetzler never forgot what that felt like and treating others, especially his patients, with dignity remained first and foremost the rest of his life, including in his practice and in his leadership. Honored many times by professional societies, including the American College of Surgeons and the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, in 1994, Dr. Spetzler was chosen to be the Honored Guest of Congress of Neurological Surgeons. At age 49, he was the youngest recipient of this prestigious honor. Five years later, he received the Herbert Olivcrona Award (the “Nobel Prize of Neurosurgery”), among many other awards listed in his biography. Born in Stierhoefstetten, Germany, Dr. Spetzler moved with his family to the United States at the age of 11. He received his B.S. from Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois, and his doctorate of medicine from Northwestern Medical School in Chicago. His postgraduate training was completed at Wesley Memorial Hospital, Northwestern in Chicago. He completed a residency in neurosurgery at the University of California, San Francisco. He received board certification in September 1979 from the American Board of Neurological Surgery. In 1983 Dr. Spetzler left his position as associate professor of neurosurgery at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland to assume a position as chair of the Department of Neurosurgery at Barrow Neurological Institute at Dignity Health St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix. He served as president and CEO of Barrow from 1986 to 2017. Also a prolific writer, Dr. Spetzler has published more than 300 articles and 180 book chapters and has co-edited multiple neurosurgical textbooks, including The Color Atlas of Microneurosurgery (2000).  

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!

ROBERT F. SPETZLER, M.D.

In this episode of THE MENTORS RADIO, Host Tom Loarie talks with global advisor Ram Charan on whether your career and lifestyle are at risk from China’s “90% Strategy”. Ram Charan has been a foundational force in global business strategy for more than six decades, sought after for growth strategy and advice by CEOs including Jeff Bezos and more. Widely recognized as the advisor who tells you what you need to hear—not what you want to hear—Ram joins us for his sixth appearance to deliver a message essential for every leader, entrepreneur and citizen. The focus of this episode is on Ram’s new work, China’s 90% Model: China Has America by the Throat: Here’s How to Fight Back and Win. In this book, Ram offers a profound analysis of a systematic strategy of industrial dominance that is fundamentally reshaping the global order. This is not just a conversation about market competition; it is a look at the very survival of Western industrial capacity. While the subject may seem geopolitical, it is vital to understand because these are the forces putting our organizations at risk—the very factors that will shape the world that our children and grandchildren inherit. To protect our legacy and guide the next generation, we must see the road ahead with absolute clarity. This episode exposes the wisdom you need to protect the road ahead, your future.    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!

RAM CHARAN: