The Human Connection Podcast

"Authenticity is increasingly the center of almost all trust. We talk about trust in organizations, but what we're really talking about is trust in the people that lead organizations." - Brandon Edwards

Join host Karl Pontau for an engaging conversation with Brandon Edwards, a healthcare marketing veteran with 28 years of industry-shaping experience. In this episode, Brandon shares hard-won wisdom about what it really means to lead authentically in today's complex business landscape.

Brandon doesn't hold back as he tackles the tension every leader faces: How do you set a bold vision and hold people accountable while also showing up as a servant leader? He shares the eye-opening example of executives flying private while cutting costs elsewhere, and why the optics matter just as much as the reality.

You'll discover why authenticity doesn't mean oversharing everything, how to avoid the spin that erodes trust, and why the healthiest relationships often include people who care enough to disagree with you. Brandon also reveals the surprisingly transparent approach he took when building his last company—telling employees from day one it was being built to sell.

Whether you're leading a team of five or five hundred, this episode will challenge you to examine the gap between what you say and what you do, and inspire you to close it.

Perfect for: CEOs, executives, marketing leaders, and anyone navigating the balance between authentic leadership and business results.

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You can connect with Brandon Edwards here:

Unlock Health Website: https://unlockhealth.com/

Authentic Healthcare Marketing Book: https://go.unlockhealthnow.com/authentic-healthcare-marketing/

You can connect with Karl Pontau here:

www.thehumanconnectionpodcast.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kpontau

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUbf_bDWwB9KVrFn5Sj3u2w?sub_confirmation=1

Please like, subscribe, and share this episode with somebody you care about!

"It's those moments of reflection... once you can get to a space where you can capitalize on those moments that are happening, the ability to shift your mindset into something else is so significantly powerful." - Nicholas Howe

What if the secret to business success isn't complex strategy—but simply paying attention to the small moments?

In this episode, host Karl Pontau sits down with Nicholas Howe, mental health care SaaS entrepreneur and creator of the Cups and Spoons app, to explore how tiny gestures create massive impact in our relationships. Nick shares his journey from transforming a struggling wine distribution company into a thriving team by treating people as humans—not cogs in a machine.

You'll discover:

• Why it takes five positive gestures to make up for one ignored "bid for connection"
• The garden analogy that reframes how leaders should nurture their teams
• A practical example of building self-awareness in real-time (featuring crumbs on a bed!)
• How recognizing your employees' weekend passions unlocks extraordinary loyalty

Whether you're leading a team, building a business, or working on personal relationships, this conversation is a powerful reminder: when you invest in people as humans, they show up differently.

Perfect for entrepreneurs, managers, and anyone who wants to build deeper, more authentic connections in work and life.

Remember: No matter if your business is B2B or B2C, it's really H2H—human to human.

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You can connect with Nicholas Howe here:

https://howe-united.com/

You can connect with Karl Pontau here:

www.thehumanconnectionpodcast.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kpontau

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUbf_bDWwB9KVrFn5Sj3u2w?sub_confirmation=1

Please like, subscribe, and share this episode with somebody you care about!

"We're not building a widget. We're dealing with somebody's loved one, their family member. We're dealing with really hard topics, and I want to make sure that we never lose that empathy or that compassion of what's behind our healthcare product." — Tracy Cobb

In this episode, Karl sits down with Tracy Cobb, Director of Client Success at Continuity Unlock Health, to explore how companies can rebuild human connection and trust in our increasingly digital world.

Tracy shares powerful insights from her 20+ years in healthcare, revealing why that "simple" 10-minute check-in at the start of meetings isn't a waste of time—it's the foundation of high-performing teams. She explains how showing up fully present (yes, that means turning off Slack notifications!) creates a ripple effect that reaches all the way to patient outcomes.

From the importance of giving people the benefit of the doubt in digital communication to why treating team members as humans first leads to business success, this conversation is packed with practical wisdom for leaders navigating remote and hybrid work environments.

Key Takeaways:

• How to use digital tools with intention instead of letting them erode connection
• Why your undivided attention is the most powerful gift you can give
• The chain reaction that happens when leaders actively listen to their teams
• Simple ways to create lasting relationships that outlive employment

Perfect for leaders, healthcare professionals, and anyone who believes that behind every screen is a human who deserves to be truly seen.

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You can connect with Tracy Cobb here:

www.unlockhealthnow.com

You can connect with Karl Pontau here:

www.thehumanconnectionpodcast.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kpontau

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUbf_bDWwB9KVrFn5Sj3u2w?sub_confirmation=1

Please like, subscribe, and share this episode with somebody you care about!

"We look at the original theory of sandbox ethics... it is literally the development of your ethical building in a controlled environment. So if we apply that on a corporate level, you can experiment a bit with your ethics so that you know what's right and what's wrong."

Join host Karl Pontau for a thought-provoking conversation with Ken Ziegler, an ethical AI advocate who's spent over 20 years in customer-facing roles. In this episode, Ken shares why companies that lead with transparency and human-centered ethics create deeper customer connections—and why that matters more than ever in today's marketplace.

From sandbox ethics to the complicated reality of corporate redemption (yes, we're looking at you, Monsanto), Karl and Ken explore why consumers have grown less forgiving of corporate missteps and what businesses can do to rebuild trust. They discuss powerful examples like Gravity Payments' CEO Dan Price, who chose to pay everyone—including himself—$70,000 a year, and why standing out in today's market means having the courage to swim in the gray areas instead of defaulting to extreme positions.

Ken also dives into the current state of AI ethics, explaining why focusing on how consumers use AI might be more effective than trying to rebuild the technology from scratch. If you're a business leader looking to differentiate your brand through authentic values—not just lip service—this episode is for you.

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You can connect with Ken Ziegler here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenneth-ziegler-yyc/

You can connect with Karl Pontau here:

www.thehumanconnectionpodcast.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kpontau

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUbf_bDWwB9KVrFn5Sj3u2w?sub_confirmation=1

Please like, subscribe, and share this episode with somebody you care about!

"If Deborah really knew me, she would know I can't eat nuts."

When it comes to business gifting, good intentions aren't enough—and sometimes those generic fruit baskets and wine bottles are doing more harm than good. In this episode, Deborah Myers, CEO of Virtu Art, reveals why most businesses struggle with client gifts and how the solution starts way before you ever click "add to cart."

Deborah shares the secret to creating "sticky customers" who stay longer, engage more, and refer frequently: actually listening to what people tell you. From handcrafted pens made from bourbon barrels to beach totes embroidered with a client's financial dreams, she proves that memorable gifts come from genuine connection, not last-minute panic buying.

You'll discover why "strive to be interested, not interesting" is the relationship-building mantra that changes everything, plus hear incredible stories of clients who won major deals with nothing more than a handwritten note. Whether you're a financial planner, architect, or running any business where relationships matter (spoiler: that's all of them), this conversation will transform how you think about appreciation, attention, and the art of showing people they're more than just a transaction.

Stop checking boxes. Start building connections.

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You can connect with Deborah Myers here:

www.virtuarte.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborahemyers/

https://events.virtuarte.com/navigating-year-end-gift-giving

You can connect with Karl Pontau here:

www.thehumanconnectionpodcast.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kpontau

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUbf_bDWwB9KVrFn5Sj3u2w?sub_confirmation=1

Please like, subscribe, and share this episode with somebody you care about!

"Just throwing more AI at people doesn't solve anything. You really need to know what your customers really want and need and what is meaningful to them." — Donna Weber

In this insightful episode, host Karl Ponto sits down with Donna Weber, the world's leading expert in customer onboarding and value realization. Their conversation cuts through the AI hype to reveal a fundamental truth: successful businesses win by deeply understanding their customers, not by chasing the latest tech trends.

Donna shares fascinating insights about the psychology behind why 70-80% of technical implementations fail—and it's not what you think. From the "saboteur" lurking in every major change initiative to the unconscious biases that make people cling to their old spreadsheets, this episode is packed with practical wisdom about the human side of business transformation.

You'll discover:

• Why loss aversion makes customers resist even better solutions
• How to identify and defuse resistance before it derails your project
• The critical difference between implementing technology and delivering actual value
• Why empathy must come before innovation

Whether you're rolling out new software, leading organizational change, or just trying to keep customers happy, this conversation offers real strategies for making it work. Because at the end of the day, every business is human to human.

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You can connect with Donna Weber here:

www.donnaweber.com

https://donnaweber.kit.com/questions

https://www.amazon.com/Onboarding-Matters-Successful-Companies-Transform/dp/1737073501

You can connect with Karl Pontau here:

www.thehumanconnectionpodcast.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kpontau

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUbf_bDWwB9KVrFn5Sj3u2w?sub_confirmation=1

Please like, subscribe, and share this episode with somebody you care about!

"You can't manage what you can't measure."

In this episode, Karl Pontau sits down with Borja Cuan, a performance marketing veteran with 26 years of experience helping companies turn data into deeper customer relationships. Borja shares how focusing on the fundamentals—proper tracking, optimized landing pages, and the right metrics—can transform a business's entire approach to customer acquisition.

Discover why vanity metrics are holding you back, how a $100 million commercial cleaning company was attracting the wrong clients (and how they fixed it), and why the most successful businesses never stop testing. Whether you're B2B or B2C, this conversation reveals how data-driven decision making isn't just about numbers—it's about building stronger human connections at scale.

Perfect for marketers, business owners, and anyone who wants to stop guessing and start growing.

Key Takeaways:

• Why tracking infrastructure is your marketing foundation
• How to identify and reach your ideal customer profile
• The discipline of continuous testing and optimization
• Why "set it and forget it" is a recipe for losing customers

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You can connect with Borja Cuan here:

https://four15digital.com/

You can connect with Karl Pontau here:

www.thehumanconnectionpodcast.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kpontau

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUbf_bDWwB9KVrFn5Sj3u2w?sub_confirmation=1

Please like, subscribe, and share this episode with somebody you care about!

"A stat is like a hot dog. Pretty plain, pretty straightforward. But when you take that stat and put a little sauce and stuff on top, there you have a meal. Now you have something that's memorable." - Helen Jonsen

Join host Karl Pontau for an engaging conversation with communications strategist and media executive Helen Jonsen about the art of authentic storytelling in business.

Helen shares why leaders need to ditch the robotic "prepared remarks" mindset and instead develop "signature remarks" - those carefully crafted stories and introductions that feel fresh every time you share them. Discover why that impressive statistic about serving 25,000 meals needs a face behind it to stick, and learn practical techniques for turning dry facts into compelling narratives that inspire action.

Perfect for startup founders struggling to nail their pitch, nonprofit leaders who want to move beyond impressive numbers, and anyone who wants to communicate with more confidence and clarity. Helen also discusses her "Excuse Me, I'm Speaking" program, offering valuable insights on common communication pitfalls (especially for women) and how to own the room from the moment you walk in.

Key Takeaways:

• How to craft your "passion statement" that sounds authentic, not memorized
• The power of making stories specific to make them universal
• Why "facts tell but stories sell" - and how to bridge the gap
• Practical tips for introducing yourself with authority

Connect with Helen Jonsen and explore her kaleidoscope career journey!

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You can connect with Helen Jonsen here:

https://helenjonsen.com/

You can connect with Karl Pontau here:

www.thehumanconnectionpodcast.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kpontau

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUbf_bDWwB9KVrFn5Sj3u2w?sub_confirmation=1

Please like, subscribe, and share this episode with somebody you care about!

"This idea of melding both AI and humans together is really where I think we're starting to settle out and we're starting to see this promise of augmented teams really come to fruition." — Samantha Anderson

Ready to stop the AI hype train and start using it the right way? 🚀

In this episode, Karl sits down with Samantha Anderson, CEO and co-founder of Origin 63, to talk about the sweet spot between automation and authentic human connection. After a decade of HubSpot expertise and helping 550+ teams transform their customer experience, Sam knows what works (and what definitely doesn't).

You'll learn:

• Why customer support was the first casualty of the AI rush—and what companies learned the hard way
• The Three E's of AI framework to cut through the overwhelm (Enablement, Efficiency, Experience)
• Where humans are irreplaceable (hint: high emotions and complex technical scenarios)
• How to audit your customer journey to find friction points that AI can actually solve
• Why making cost-cutting your primary goal is a recipe for disaster

Sam shares real examples of how AI agents are handling password resets while humans build relationships that drive revenue. Plus, she reveals the game-changing HubSpot tool that finally solves the dreaded sales-to-CSM handoff problem.

Bottom line? It's five times more expensive to acquire a new customer than retain one. So maybe stop trying to replace your team with robots and start thinking about augmentation instead.

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You can connect with Samantha Anderson here:

www.origin63.com

You can connect with Karl Pontau here:

www.thehumanconnectionpodcast.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kpontau

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUbf_bDWwB9KVrFn5Sj3u2w?sub_confirmation=1

Please like, subscribe, and share this episode with somebody you care about!

"When you run together, you run further, you run faster, and you're more accountable."

Ever wonder why your best ideas don't come from staring at a screen during back-to-back Zoom calls? Steven Puri, founder of a flow state app and former film executive at DreamWorks, Fox, and Sony, breaks down the science behind deep work and why location matters less than you think.

In this episode, Steven shares insights from his unique journey—bridging Hollywood studios and tech startups—to reveal what truly drives productivity and connection. We dive into:

✨ Flow states demystified: What Michael Jordan and Picasso knew about peak performance (and how you can tap into it)

🏠 The remote work reality: Why being in the same office matters less than creating conditions for meaningful work

🎵 Personal productivity hacks: From chronotypes to the magic of 60-90 BPM music

💡 Redefining leadership: Moving from micromanagement to creating space for your team's greatness

Whether you're leading a distributed team or trying to do your best work from anywhere, this conversation will shift how you think about productivity, connection, and what it really means to work together.

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You can connect with Steven Puri here:

www.TheSukha.co

You can connect with Karl Pontau here:

www.thehumanconnectionpodcast.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kpontau

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUbf_bDWwB9KVrFn5Sj3u2w?sub_confirmation=1

Please like, subscribe, and share this episode with somebody you care about!