The Quiet Work

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dean-fougere/
https://www.d-2.com/

In this episode, I sit down with Dean Fougere from D2 Incorporated, a defense contractor building critical technology used by the US military, NATO forces, and global energy companies.

We break down:

- The sensor technology used on US submarines and aircraft
- How fuel systems can explode, and how they’re prevented
- Why conductivity in fuel matters more than most people realize
- How military teams can capture and reuse fuel in the field
- Ocean technology, climate systems, and why we know less about oceans than space
- How a 25-person company built technology used worldwide

This conversation sits at the intersection of defense, energy, and engineering.

If you care about how real-world systems actually work behind the scenes, this one is worth your time.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-butler-43medicaldevice/

In this episode, I sit down with Michael Butler, a serial entrepreneur and medical device operator with 30+ years of experience across pharma, devices, and healthcare innovation.

We break down how the industry actually works behind the scenes. Not the polished version.

We cover:

The real difference between pharma and medical devices
Why regulation is the biggest hidden risk in any business
What “market involution” is and why industries collapse
How AI is being used in healthcare today
The rise of peptides, longevity, and self-directed medicine
Why most companies don’t fail suddenly… they slowly decay
The uncomfortable truth about how we judge “good doctors”

Michael has:

Helped develop 100+ surgical products

Secured 150+ patents
Built and scaled companies used in 30+ countries
One of the most important questions from this episode:

“How do you know who a good doctor is?”

This conversation challenges assumptions about healthcare, innovation, and truth itself.

https://coalfire.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherkresge1/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jefflmil/

In this episode of The Quiet Work Podcast, I sit down with Chris Kresge and Jeff Miller from Coalfire to talk about the high-stakes world of cybersecurity and how Global 2000 companies should evaluate risk, resilience, and strategy.

We discuss:

• Why startups should take cybersecurity seriously from day one
• Why cyber is now a business and revenue issue, not just an IT issue
• How threat actors are targeting retailers, manufacturers, and healthcare companies
• Why identity, third-party risk, and human error are still major weak points
• How enterprises should think about cyber posture, resilience, and recovery
• What AI is changing for both attackers and defenders

If you lead a fast-growing company, manage enterprise risk, or sell into large organizations, this conversation will sharpen how you think about cybersecurity.

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