🎙️ We’re Baaaack! The Business of Joy Podcast

🔥 What if the biggest myth in leadership is the idea of the superhero CEO?

My guest, John Blakey, is one of the UK’s leading CEO executive coaches and the author of four books. He’s worked with FTSE 100 CEOs, entrepreneurs, and even coached gold-medal Team GB rowing squads. But what struck me most in our talk wasn’t his client list, it was his humanity.

John shared how a paper round at 12 taught him reliability and appreciation, how moving and changing schools often built his “resilience superpower,” and why mentors matter more than we think.

We dug into how even CEO’s have imposter syndrome and his Up, In & Out model, a practical way to align purpose, inner resilience, and follower engagement.

And then came his newest idea: the Thrival Kit. Not just a survival kit for leaders, but 19 real-world tools to help you thrive - a first-aid kit for purpose-driven leadership.

Leadership isn’t about being flawless. It’s about being human and equipping yourself to shine and help others shine.

At 13 years old, Joe Davis wrote a list of life goals. Fast forward decades later… it turned out to be the blueprint for his life!

For this episode of the Business of Joy, I had the pleasure of interviewing Joe Davis, Former Head of BCG North America and author of The Generous Leader!

We talked about the kind of leadership that actually moves people (and the needle): humble, curious, and human.

Some of the highlights from this episode:

📰 How a 6-year paper route taught accountability at 6am (and why showing up matters)

🔑 Why saying “I don’t know” can unlock creativity instead of stalling it

💞 What the pandemic taught him about empathy, perspective, and leadership at scale

👂 How properly listening to feedback from employees and teammates can help shape decisions and shift both morale and performance

If you lead teams (or aspire to) you’ll love this one.

📘 Joe’s book: The Generous Leader

AMAZON: https://a.co/d/95KT4xF

AUDIBLE: https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Generous-Leader-Audiobook/B0D6WM3FJ5?source_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp

#BusinessOfJoy #Leadership #GenerousLeadership #EmpathyInAction #HumanConnection

Imagine working 16 hours a day… and paying yourself in quarters from a jukebox!

That’s how Bruce Dean’s journey began.

In this episode, Bruce, co-founder of Black Bear Diner, shares stories (and leadership lessons) I’ll never forget:

🍳 Why staying true to who you are matters more than ever

🥓 How double-smoked bacon became a signature of quality

🐻 The roadside woodcarver who helped shape Black Bear’s identity

⭐ Why “good” is actually the enemy of “great”

💡 And how taking a chance on someone can change the course of their life

What stuck with me most? Hospitality isn’t just about feeding stomachs. It’s about feeding our souls.

There’s a difference between reporting sports... and sharing the stories of sports.

That’s what makes Newy Scruggs, the 15-time Emmy-winning Sports Director at NBC DFW, stand out. For over 30 years, he hasn’t just covered games, he uncovers the human lessons inside them. Lessons we can carry into work, leadership, and life. From sit-downs with former TCU head coach Gary Patterson and UT Athletic Director Chris Del Conte to everyday athletes, Newy gets to the heart of it.

If you’re in Dallas, Newy is a household name. If you’re not, trust me, you’re missing out.

In our Business of Joy conversation, Newy shared:

💡 Why vulnerability isn’t weakness, it’s the bridge to real connection

⛰️ The Mount Everest principle of success and how complacency kills momentum

🌱 How cutting lawns at 11 on military bases taught him work ethic, grit, and perspective

🎤 A 5th-grade mock newscast that revealed his calling in broadcasting

🙏 How faith, perspective, and a daily choice for joy keep him grounded

The game ends. The highlights fade. The headlines change. But the lessons and stories Newy shares will stick with you.

Newy's Interview with Chris del Conte: https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/sports/meet-chris-del-conte-ut-longhorns-athletics/3764827/

Newy's Website: newyscruggs.com

#BusinessOfJoy #NewyScruggs #Storytelling #Leadership #NBCDFW

While most brands are chasing tomorrow’s sales, Chris Hoyle, Chief Marketing Officer of Simple Modern, focuses on driving brand connections and loyalty through generosity.

If you don’t know this brand, you should:

>Their purpose in the crowded drink-ware and consumer goods space is clear: “We exist to give generously.”

>On their website it even says “generous prices” - meaning affordability

>Chris even shares a story about “generous laughter” – LOVE IT, never heard those two words together before

In this episode, we cover the difference between growing the brand and growing the business.

💥 What a 40oz tumbler taught Chris about agility, timing, trends, and trust

🧠 Why “users” and “ROAS” don’t tell the whole story

👏 The power of giving credit and recognition to employees

🎯 Why in a tie, you win on brand

“Everyone wants to just ‘let the data speak.’ But data without a question is just noise.”

Right?

AI seems to be taking over a lot of our “mind share” these days. So I decided to sit down with an expert, Mike Lukianoff, CEO of Signal Flare AI, to get down to the brass tacts.

I could have talked with Mike for hours about this stuff! Here are just a few of my favorite quotables from this episode:

📊 “Letting the data ‘tell you’ is like asking a calculator to write your business plan.”

🧠 “Nobody knows you’re doing your job until you’re not.” (Describing his offensive lineman mindset and leadership behind the scenes.)

💡 “I got the right answer to the wrong question. That’s a type three error in statistics, and it’s happening everywhere with AI.”

From offensive lineman to entrepreneur, Mike shares what it means to do the work no one sees and why asking better questions might just be the most human thing we can do.

What if the right jacket didn’t just fit, but helped you own your seat at the table?

In this week’s episode of The Business of Joy, I sat down IN PERSON 🎥 in New York City with fashion icon and entrepreneur Nina McLemore, founder of the brand worn by senators, CEOs, and powerhouse women across America.

Her mission?


To design clothing for professional women that commands respect, radiates confidence, and helps level the playing field, without sacrificing color, comfort, or quality.

We talked about:


✔️ Growing up in Mississippi with a legacy of strong Southern women


✔️ Taking the leap from department store buyer to founder


✔️ Building a brand for women who belong at the table


✔️ Why color isn’t just aesthetic, it’s power


And before you ask, YES, I’m proudly wearing one of her jackets in this episode 💙 Plus, I have many, many more that I wear ALL THE TIME! Check out her site here: ninamclemore.com

#BusinessOfJoy #NinaMcLemore #WomenInBusiness #Entrepreneurship #ApparelIndustry #Leadership #LevelThePlayingField

“You’re not burned out because of your job. You’re burned out because you’re doing someone else’s job.”

That line stood out to me when I sat down with Monica Rothgery, former COO of KFC and one of the most joyful, no-BS leaders I know. Monica was the first woman in the US to hold that position and the first member of the LBGTQ community to get to the C-suite at YUM!

For the fiftieth episode of the Business of Joy, we talked about:

✨ What the Army didn’t prepare her for at Taco Bell

🎧 Why she wears a headset during her keynotes and what it says about who she leads for

🌏 How she led a turnaround in Thailand, despite no global ops background nor language skills

⚠️ What “compressed productivity” is, and how it’s quietly suffocating innovation in your org

🔥 The radical clarity that comes from asking: “What’s mine to do?”

Whether you’re running a business, mentoring new talent, or working the frontlines yourself, Monica’s perspective and insights will change how you think.

#BusinessOfJoy #LeadershipDevelopment #FrontlineLeaders #Restaurants #WomenInLeadership

🧠 “I knew right away I wasn’t going to be happy just executing someone else’s plan.” -Mark Brezinski

That mindset shaped decades of restaurant innovation, from the King Solomon Burger at age 16, to concepting Velvet Taco, Pei Wei, Tin Star, EatZi’s, and more.

This week’s episode of the Business of Joy features Mark Brezinski, restaurant conceptor, consultant, & author of Food Fight!


In our conversation on The Business of Joy, we talk about:


🍴 His surprising first jobs (and first off menu item)


🧭 The equation he teaches young leaders: 1/3 of your time controls the other 2/3

⭐️ Why BBQ is the perfect fast casual North Star


📉 The personal bankruptcy that taught him more than any success ever did


📚 What his book revealed to friends who thought they knew him


🔥 Why “authentically good” matters more than “authentic” or “good” alone

Check out Oak'd BBQ: https://www.instagram.com/oakdbbq/?hl=en

#businessofjoy #RestaurantIndustry #HospitalityLeadership #BrandBuilding #RestaurantInnovation

What’s the mistake too many young leaders make?

🚫 Skipping steps. 🚫 Skipping the struggle.

This week’s episode of The Business of Joy podcast features Andrew K. Smith, Managing Partner and Co-Founder of Savory Fund!

From cleaning kennels at 14 to co-founding a $500M fund, his story is a playbook for gritty, joyful leadership.

We talked about:

💸 The truth about today’s fundraising climate—and where opportunity still lives

🔄 What legacy brands can learn from emerging ones

🌟 “Don’t be a know-it-all. Be a learn-it-all.”

🌱 How restaurants (and leaders) can be the light others lean toward

💡 Why he believes positivity breeds success

What struck me most? His ability to dream big and stay grounded.

🎧 One of my favorite conversations yet. Packed with perspective, wisdom, and unforgettable one-liners.

And BTW—we even talk favorite bands and music. So cool.

Here were two of the bands that Andrew mentioned:

Zola Blood: https://www.youtube.com/@ZOLABLOOD/videos

Washed Out: https://www.youtube.com/@realwashedout/videos