The Human Connection Podcast

Ever feel like you're chasing every shiny object instead of growing your business? You're not alone!

Join host Karl Pontau for an inspiring chat with Laura Lorenz, a trusted small business advisor with 35 years of entrepreneurial wisdom. Laura reveals the game-changing habits that transform scattered solopreneurs into focused, thriving business owners.

What You'll Discover:

• Why having a crystal-clear vision is your secret weapon against "squirrel syndrome"
• The power of the "3 things rule" that helps clients double their income
• How to hire for culture fit (not just skills) to build unstoppable teams
• Why quarterly roadmaps beat yearly plans every time
• The accountability partner strategy that actually works

Bonus: Adorable cat cameos included! 🐱

Laura's approach isn't just about cold business strategy—it's about real-world, heart-centered guidance from someone who's walked the entrepreneurial path herself. Whether you're launching your first startup or scaling to your next level, this episode is packed with actionable insights you can implement today.

Remember: Business success is really about human connections. Let's grow together!

Love the show? Like, review, and share with fellow dream chasers. Check the show notes for ways to connect with Karl and Laura.

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You can connect with Laura Lorenz here:

www.topfloormentoring.com

www.linkedin/in/lauralorenz/

You can connect with Karl Pontau here:

www.thehumanconnectionpodcast.com

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

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

Ready to fall in love with your business again? This week, host Karl Pontau sits down with Cupid Hayes, the "Guardian Angel of Brand," who's spent 30+ years transforming how businesses connect authentically with their audiences.

Why you'll love this episode:

• Discover why branding is the "steak, not the sizzle" in our Instagram-obsessed world
• Learn the inspiring story of how one college student's tabby cat costume hobby became a Disney career
• Master Cupid's "Aim for Authenticity" process: Brand + Story + Impact
• Find out why your employees are your secret weapon for brand success
• Get practical tips for finding your "why" and connecting with your ideal customers

Perfect for: Entrepreneurs feeling burnt out on the business grind, leaders struggling with employee engagement, and anyone ready to build a brand that attracts the right people instead of chasing trends.

Key takeaway: Stop trying to be perfect and start being authentically you – your ideal customers are waiting to connect with the real story behind your business.

"The difference between brand and marketing? Marketing is asking someone out on a date. Brand is the reason they say yes." - Cupid Hayes

Connect with Cupid: Founder & CEO of Arrow Advising, former CMO at Missing Channel Media Group, SAG-AFTRA Board member, and the expert who helps businesses cast themselves into their own success stories.

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You can connect with Cupid Hayes here:

https://bio.site/ArrowAdvising

You can connect with Karl Pontau here:

www.thehumanconnectionpodcast.com

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

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

Ever wonder how a casual LinkedIn comment can turn into a million-dollar business partnership? Steven Schneider, co-founder and CEO of Trio SEO, shares his refreshingly honest take on building genuine relationships that actually matter.

What You'll Discover:

• Why "Will you be my mentor?" is the worst opening line ever (and what works instead)
• The 8-month friendship that accidentally became a game-changing business partnership
• How Steven's college classmate was secretly making $15K/month from his dorm room
• The power of patience in a world obsessed with instant results

The Golden Nugget:

Steven reveals why the best mentors don't feel like mentors at all – they're just friends who happen to be a few steps ahead, ready to say "don't go down that path, I've already made that mistake."

Perfect for entrepreneurs tired of transactional networking who want to build relationships that actually lead somewhere meaningful. Sometimes the best business advice comes disguised as casual conversation.

Listen in for a masterclass in human connection that feels more like coffee with a friend than a business lesson.

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You can connect with Steven Schneider here:

https://trioseo.com/

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

http://www.linkedin.com/company/trioseo

You can connect with Karl Pontau here:

www.thehumanconnectionpodcast.com

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

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

Ready to transform your networking game? Join host Karl Pontau as he sits down with Robert Butwin, MLM Hall of Fame inductee and master networker who's been building meaningful connections for over 35 years!

What You'll Discover:

The "ME to WE" mindset shift - Why flipping your focus from what you need to what others need changes everything

The REACH framework - Robert's powerful acronym for building lasting professional relationships (Reputation, Experience, Authenticity, Clarity, Helpfulness)

Virtual networking mastery - How COVID-19 accelerated networking opportunities and why online connections can be just as powerful as in-person ones

The "Like, Know, Trust" reorder - Why Robert believes you should like someone first, then get to know them, then build trust

Three things everyone wants - Visibility, credibility, and connectivity - and how to help others achieve them

Golden Nuggets:

• "Money can open doors for you. Only people can."
• Why consistency between your words and actions is the ultimate authenticity test
• The importance of setting boundaries while maintaining a generous spirit
• How one meaningful connection can transform your entire trajectory

Robert shares personal stories from his journey, including lessons learned from setbacks and the inspiration he drew from watching networking legends like Harvey Mackay in action.

Perfect for entrepreneurs, business owners, and anyone looking to build genuine relationships that fuel both personal and professional growth.

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You can connect with Robert Butwin here:

https://linkedin.com/in/robertbutwin

calendly.com/butwin

You can connect with Karl Pontau here:

www.thehumanconnectionpodcast.com

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

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

Join host Karl Pontau as he sits down with Brady Young, a visionary leader and catalyst for organizational transformation who's cracked the code on developing effective managers at scale.

What You'll Discover:

Why most leaders aren't malicious—they're just missing the skills (and how to fix that)

The "Peter Principle" trap: Why your best performers often become your worst managers

From risk aversion to acceleration: How leadership development becomes a business flywheel, not just damage control

The magic of peer accountability: Why small cohorts over time beat expensive one-day workshops every time

Measurable ROI: How Brady tracks real results from leadership development (hint: it's not just warm feelings)

Whether you're tired of stepping on the same organizational rake or wondering why Gen Z is turning down promotions, this episode offers practical solutions for creating the kind of workplace culture where both people and profits thrive.

Perfect for: Business leaders, HR professionals, managers feeling overwhelmed, and anyone who believes that when humans win, organizations win.

P.S. Brady's not just theorizing—he's out there woodworking, watching soccer games, and living the balanced life he helps leaders create for their teams.

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You can connect with Brady Young here:

www.thrivecoachingconsulting.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/brady-young-hrexec/

You can connect with Karl Pontau here:

www.thehumanconnectionpodcast.com

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

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

Ready to transform your hiring game? 🎯

This week, host Karl Pontau sits down with organizational psychologist and culture guru Lou Carter to decode the secret of building workplaces people actually want to stay in. Lou breaks down the difference between "no-brainer hires" and "no-way hires" – and trust us, you'll want to be the former!

What You'll Discover:

• Why hiring for skills alone is a recipe for disaster
• The powerful shift from "me vs. you" to "we" in the workplace
• How AI is bringing us full circle back to making each other's lives better
• Why you must earn your company culture (spoiler: it's not handed to you!)
• The game-changing question every hire should ask: "How can I help you succeed?"

Perfect For:

Leaders, founders, HR professionals, and anyone tired of toxic workplace drama who wants to build something meaningful.

Lou's worked with the UN, Pfizer, and Bank of America, and his insights on creating psychological safety while maintaining high performance are pure gold. Plus, he shares some eye-opening stories about companies that got it wrong (hello, Blockbuster!).

Bottom line: In our AI-powered world, being a better human is your competitive advantage.

Ready to become the hire everyone wants on their team? Hit play!

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You can connect with Lou Carter here:

https://louiscarter.com/

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

https://mostlovedworkplace.com/podcasts/

https://www.youtube.com/c/LouisCarterChange/videos

https://mostlovedworkplace.com/

https://www.bestpracticeinstitute.org/

https://www.mhprofessional.com/9781260143164-usa-in-great-company-group

You can connect with Karl Pontau here:

www.thehumanconnectionpodcast.com

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

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

Guest: Thomas Helfrich - Growth Strategist & Host of "Cut The Tie"

Struggling with lead generation? Here's a plot twist: it's probably not your lead gen that's broken!

In this eye-opening conversation, growth strategist Thomas Helfrich reveals why most businesses are treating symptoms instead of the real problem. Spoiler alert: it all starts with how you define and articulate the critical problem you solve.

What You'll Discover:

• Why targeting 300 million people is actually hurting your business
• The fishing analogy that'll change how you think about audiences forever
• How Apple's dramatic product cut from 600 to 4 offerings skyrocketed their success
• The brand mistake that makes corporate buyers run away (and how to fix it)
• A simple AI hack for creating months of content in minutes

Perfect for: Solopreneurs, small business owners, and anyone tired of throwing spaghetti at the wall and hoping something sticks.

Thomas brings his signature "real talk" approach to breaking down the 9 foundation cracks that make businesses think they have a lead gen problem when they really have a strategy problem.

Ready to stop chasing shiny tactics and start building a system that actually works? This episode is your wake-up call!

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You can connect with Thomas Helfrich here:

www.InstantlyRelevant.com

You can connect with Karl Pontau here:

www.thehumanconnectionpodcast.com

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

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

Guest: Corrina Owens - Go-to-market strategist and ABM expert behind award-winning programs at Gong

In a world where AI is making marketing feel more robotic than ever, Corrina shares why the human touch has become your secret weapon. From why your customers ignore emails from "[email protected]" but open ones from "Steve" to the surprising data point that changes everything about your ideal customer profile.

What You'll Discover:

• Why AI is accidentally making authentic connection more valuable (and easier to spot!)
• The simple shift from company emails to personal brands that boosts open rates
• How to turn your team into trusted voices without losing them to competitors
• The one data analysis that shocks every marketing, sales, and ops team
• Why founder-led companies plateau (and how to break through)

Perfect for: Marketing leaders, sales teams, and anyone tired of burning bridges with spray-and-pray campaigns.

The bottom line: In our H2H (human-to-human) world, the companies building real relationships are the ones winning deals. Time to stop hiding behind your brand and start connecting as people.

Ready to make your outreach feel like a breath of fresh air instead of another pitch slap? Hit play!

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You can connect with Corrina Owens here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/corrina-owens/

https://www.cognism.com/fix-your-funnel/corrina-owens

You can connect with Karl Pontau here:

www.thehumanconnectionpodcast.com

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

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

Ready to make your business unforgettable?

This week, Karl sits down with storytelling powerhouse Victoria Carrington Chavez to uncover why your unique story might be the most underutilized tool in your business arsenal. From her brand The Story Saloon, Victoria reveals how to transform scattered messaging into a cohesive narrative that actually connects with your audience.

You'll discover:

• Why your brain remembers stories 10x better than facts (and what this means for your marketing)
• The simple question that helped one nonprofit clarify their message after working with SIX different agencies
• How to find the golden thread that weaves all your different stories together
• The psychological trick that stops people from procrastinating on transformation

Whether you're a solopreneur or scaling a team, Victoria's approach will help you stop blending into the noise and start standing out by simply being authentically, unapologetically you.

Because at the end of the day, business isn't B2B or B2C—it's human to human.

Connect with Victoria: [Links in show notes] Love the show? Hit subscribe and leave us a review!

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You can connect with Victoria Carrington Chavez here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoria-carrington-ch%C3%A1vez%E2%9C%A8-b58136211/

https://bio.site/victoriasharesstories

You can connect with Karl Pontau here:

www.thehumanconnectionpodcast.com

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

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

Guest: Kate McRoberts, CEO & Managing Principal of Fathom Consulting

When the data you've always relied on becomes unreliable, how do you make confident business decisions? Kate McRoberts has the answer: get back to talking to real humans.

In this episode, Kate shares why the most successful companies are slowing down just enough to involve the people who will actually use their products and services. From medical devices designed without considering surgeons' hand sizes to teams struggling to collaborate after The Great Resignation, Kate reveals how putting humans at the center of decision-making is the ultimate way to de-risk your business.

You'll discover:

• Why "soft" relationship-building is actually the hardest metric for business success
• The simple practice that can prevent costly product failures
• How to build trust and alignment on teams where everyone is new to each other
• Why moving too fast is when the real harm happens

Key Quote: "It's pay now or pay later – you're going to have much better success when you involve people in your decisions."

Whether you're launching a product, making strategic choices, or trying to get your team to gel, this conversation will remind you that behind every business decision are the humans who make it work.

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 Kate McRoberts here:

www.consultfathom.com

www.linkedin.com/in/kate-tropman-mcroberts

www.linkedin.com/company/consultfathom

You can connect with Karl Pontau here:

www.thehumanconnectionpodcast.com

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

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