https://www.linkedin.com/in/keith-bearden-736821/
https://www.alterecofoods.com/

In this episode of The Quiet Work Podcast, I sit down with Keith Bearden — CEO of Alter Eco, private equity operating partner, and executive coach.

We discuss:

• Turnarounds and value creation
• Climate conviction vs. performative sustainability
• Leading high-performance teams
• Private equity discipline inside purpose-driven brands
• Why culture breaks before numbers do

Keith has led domestic and international organizations across food, beverage, and consumer brands — and brings a rare mix of operational rigor and values-driven leadership.

If you’re a CEO, board member, founder, or operator — this episode is for you.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jnbrooksiv/
http://wowtrailers.com

In this episode of The Quiet Work Podcast, I sit down with Jonathan Brooks, CEO of Warehouse on Wheels.

We talk about:

• The invisible pressure inside the supply chain
• Why most companies don’t plan for storage chaos
• Acquiring mom-and-pop businesses at scale
• Risk-taking as a recovering CFO
• The mindset behind 100 locations and 100,000 trailers

This is a conversation about calculated growth, trust, and building something durable in a fragmented industry.

If you operate in manufacturing, logistics, private equity, or industrial services, this one is for you.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordanalexandersle/
Website: https://www.straightlineentrepreneur....

In this episode of The Quiet Work Podcast, I sit down with Jordan Alexander, entrepreneur, transformation coach, and founder of Straight Line Entrepreneur.

We talk about why successful men feel empty after hitting their money goals, the internal work that drives real growth, fatherhood, identity, and what it takes to win in every area of life — not just business.

Timestamps

0:00 – Introduction & Who Is Jordan Alexander
1:11 – How the Name "Straight Line Entrepreneur" Was Born
5:19 – 17 Years of Prep Before Starting His Business
16:03 – You're Not Broken. You Don't Need Fixing.
18:27 – What Absent Fathers Pass Down to Their Kids
21:22 – Pain Is Fuel — But Only Up to a Point
36:28 – How Jordan Grows as a Coach: His Daily Practice
38:46 – Why Breath Work Starts Every Client Call
41:27 – Jordan's Goal: 8-Figure Personal Brand & Impact at Scale

Connect with David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-wagner-536717241/

In this episode of The Quiet Work Podcast, I sit down with David Wagner — entrepreneur, systems thinker, and VP of Technology inside a private equity-backed manufacturing organization.

We talk about leadership, systems, scale, AI, mergers & acquisitions, and what separates fragile companies from anti-fragile ones.

If you’re building, leading, or scaling — this conversation will challenge you.

Virtual Workshop: https://metaexperts.com/free-leadership-alignment-workshop/

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

http://metaops.com

In this episode of The Quiet Work Podcast, I sit down with Ron Crabtree, Founder and CEO of MetaOps.

Ron has spent over four decades inside operations, supply chain, and digital transformation. From paper-and-pencil planning in the 1970s to today’s AI-driven workflows, he has seen every major shift from the inside.

We talk about:

• What digital transformation actually means

• Why AI fails without process clarity

• How leaders should think about ROI before buying software

• Kaizen, operational excellence, and continuous improvement

• Why “people using AI will replace people who don’t”

• The danger of skipping fundamentals

• How to scale without chaos

This conversation is for operators, founders, and executives who want real leverage. Not tools. Not hype. Systems that work.

https://braincx.ai/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/tariqalinur/

In this episode of The Quiet Work Podcast, I sit down with Tariq Alinur, CEO of BrainCX, to unpack what most companies get wrong about AI-driven customer experience.

This is not a conversation about hype or replacing people.

It’s about how voice AI can replicate the best human conversations at scale, especially in high-trust environments like healthcare, higher education, and financial services.

We cover:

→ Why AI should augment people, not replace them

→ How BrainCX eliminates IVRs and “press one, press two” systems

→ What makes voice AI feel human, not robotic

→ Why 95% of AI initiatives fail and how to avoid it

→ How AI-generated insights can fuel marketing, sales, and growth

→ Building trust, loyalty, and better experiences in high-stakes industries

This episode is for founders, executives, and operators thinking seriously about AI, customer experience, and long-term brand trust.

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

https://www.liftology.com/

Liftology is a home mobility service built to help older adults and people with disabilities stay safe, independent, and confident in their own homes.

In this episode of The Quiet Work Podcast, I sit down with Dave Pazgan, founder of Liftology, to talk about:

• The real mobility challenges seniors face at home

• Why independence and safety matter more than strength or performance

• How Liftology supports aging in place through practical solutions

• What it takes to grow a care-driven service through franchising

• How trust, referrals, and local relationships fuel sustainable growth

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction and why mobility matters

02:15 What Liftology actually does and who it serves

05:10 The real problems seniors face at home

08:40 Mobility as dignity, not fitness

12:05 How Liftology earns trust with families

15:30 The franchise model

19:10 What makes a good Liftology franchisee

23:00 Word of mouth vs systems in senior care

26:20 The biggest growth challenges today

30:10 Staying mission-driven while scaling

34:20 Advice for founders in care-based businesses

37:10 Closing thoughts

https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-faizey-a70598383/ https://loopsuite.ai/

https://shieldmfg.co.uk/

In this episode of The Quiet Work Podcast, I sit down with Matthew Faizey, a UK entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience building real businesses.

We talk through his journey. From early sales jobs and weekend side hustles to manufacturing at scale and delivering hundreds of **vid testing sites across the UK.

Matthew shares what it takes to operate under pressure, manage risk, build teams you trust, and spot opportunities without trying to reinvent the wheel.

We also cover the origin of LoopSuite, an all-in-one marketing and outreach platform built from real operational pain. Not theory.

Topics include:

• Building businesses without outside funding

• Scaling manufacturing during a national crisis

• Managing risk when everything is on the line

• Why not reinventing the wheel often wins

• How LoopSuite was born from real-world needs

https://www.linkedin.com/in/craig-first-5b2973281/ http://baseballthumbguard.com https://www.baseballthumbguard.com/community/blog/baseball-thumb-guard https://www.instagram.com/thumbpro_baseball/

Craig First invented a baseball product in his basement.

Today, MLB players use it on the field.

In this episode of The Quiet Work, Craig shares the real story behind ⁨@thumbpro⁩ .

We talk about:

• how a violin problem led to a baseball product

• getting laid off and deciding to bet on himself

• building prototypes by hand

• launching at a baseball conference with zero guarantees

• seeing his product show up in MLB dugouts

• why courage matters more than confidence

This is a conversation about:

• invention

• risk

• family-run businesses

• and building something real without pretending it’s easy

Craig is an engineer by trade.

ThumbPro started in his basement.

His wife helped turn it into a real company.

If you are building a product, thinking about it, or scared to start, this one will hit.

Connect with Jill:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jilllublin/
Jill's Website:
https://jilllublin.com/
Jumpstart Your Publicity:
https://jilllublin.com/guide/
Monthly Kindness Circle:
https://jilllublin.com/kindnesscircles/

In this episode of the Quiet Work Podcast, I sit down with Jill Lublin, a publicity expert, speaker, and author of Guerrilla Publicity.

Jill has helped thousands of small business owners, authors, coaches, and consultants get media exposure without hiring expensive PR agencies. We talk about visibility, credibility, and why publicity still works when done the right way.

→ Why publicity is not social media

→ How podcasts, media, and interviews build trust faster

→ Finding stories founders are afraid to tell

→ Turning personal background into powerful visibility

→ Why being seen leads to clients, not chasing them

→ Confidence, courage, and owning your message

→ Mentors, money, and building a sustainable business

This episode is for founders, consultants, and creators who want to be seen without begging for attention.