Tissa Richards has a problem with the word resilience, specifically, the part where you're supposed to bounce back. In this episode, the TEDx and keynote speaker, CEO, and author of Rethinking Resilience makes a compelling case that the bounce-back model was borrowed from material science, designed for rubber balls and metal springs, not human beings navigating real organizational pressure. It puts leaders in a perpetual reactive crouch, strips them of agency, and quietly installs a victim mentality disguised as toughness. Her alternative, Intentional Resilience, reframes the whole equation: resilience as a trainable muscle, built deliberately, that converts pressure into clear decisions and measurable outcomes rather than just survival.

The conversation gets sharper from there. Tissa and John dig into narrative ownership and why most leaders have buried their own story under operational noise. They tackle burnout as an organizational diagnosis, not a personal failing, and ask the harder question: when we train individuals to absorb dysfunction, are we simply giving broken systems permission to stay that way? Big ideas, zero fluff.

0:00 — Welcome and Introduction to Tissa Richards

1:58 — Growing Up in Canada and the Roots of a "Why Not?" Mindset

2:57 — Why the Bounce-Back Model of Resilience Is Broken

3:46 — Where the Definition Actually Came From — Material Science

4:10 — Intentional Resilience: Building the Muscle Deliberately

6:05 — Agency vs. Victim Mentality — Owning What Happens Through You

12:46 — Grit Isn't Enough Without Accountability

15:10 — Narrative Ownership: Losing Your Story in the Operational Grind

16:49 — The "So What" Framework — Stop the Information Dump

19:47 — Are We Training Leaders to Absorb a Broken System?

23:12 — Burnout: Don't Take Things Off the Plate, Change the Plate

32:36 — More Books, Bigger Stages, and a Strict No-A--hole Policy

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What happens when the plan hits the wall, the clock is running, and nobody's reading the manual? For Michael Gips, that's not a hypothetical: it's Tuesday.

With over 30 years navigating the intersection of security, risk, and leadership, Michael is Managing Director at Kroll, one of the world's foremost global risk advisory firms. He's a Certified Protection Professional, a Chartered Security Professional, and the author of It's Not In the Manual: Real World Leadership For Security and Risk Professionals, a title that, as Dr. John Dentico notes, may be the most honest thing anyone in leadership has said out loud in years. He also writes a monthly leadership column for Security Magazine.

In this episode, Michael pulls back the curtain on what leadership actually looks like when the crisis doesn't follow the playbook, which, as it turns out, it never does. He shares the counterintuitive reframe that has defined his career: great security leaders aren't the "Department of No." They're the "Department of KNOW" know the people, know the processes, know the business deeply enough to be an indispensable partner, not just a gatekeeper.

From the post-9/11 breakdown of public-private trust to the modern reality of perma-crisis (where a ransomware attack, a geopolitical flashpoint, and a natural disaster can land simultaneously), Michael maps the terrain of 21st-century security leadership with clarity, candor, and a wry humor that only comes from having survived enough chaos to find it funny in retrospect.

He and Dr. Dentico also dig into one of the most under-discussed leadership questions of our time: what does it take to develop the next generation of leaders, not just the ones who already look the part?

This is a conversation packed with hard-won insight, zero fluff, and the kind of grounded wisdom that doesn't come from a textbook. It comes from showing up in the room when things go sideways; and knowing what to do next.

0:00 Welcome & Introduction — Who Is Michael Gips?

1:55 From New Rochelle to Kroll: The Creative Roots of a Security Leader

4:00 When the Manual Runs Out — Leading on Principle, Not Plans

7:30 Mission Clarity: The One Sentence That Guides Every Decision

12:30 The Department of KNOW: From Gatekeeper to Strategic Partner

16:30 Building Influence Without Authority — Getting a Seat at the Table

17:30 Post-9/11 Lessons: When Public & Private Sectors Finally Started Talking

20:00 Perma-Crisis & Poly-Crisis: Welcome to the New Normal

23:00 Technology, Privacy & Geopolitics: Even Simple Problems Are Now Global

28:00 Developing the Next Generation: Leaders Who Grow Leaders

32:00 Leadership Is a Process, Not a Personality Type

36:00 Adaptive Leadership: Why One Size Never Fits All

40:00 Embracing Doubt — The Counterintuitive Key to Collaboration

43:00 The Ego Trap: Humility, Self-Awareness & the Ongoing Work of Leading

45:30 What's Next: Michael's Vision for His Second Book

47:00 Closing Thoughts & Farewell

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In this episode, Dr. John Dentico sits down with Oleg Danyliuk to explore a transformative vision of Artificial Intelligence—one where technology acts as a powerful co-pilot rather than a replacement for human talent. Moving beyond the overwhelming hype and fears of job displacement, Oleg explains how AI is "collapsing" routine, repetitive tasks—the digital drudgery that often drains productivity. By automating these everyday workflows, professionals are liberated to focus on high-level strategy, complex logic, and creative problem-solving.

The conversation highlights the growing necessity of mastering nuance; much like a new form of prompt engineering, success in this era depends on our ability to clearly describe processes and guide AI outputs to ensure accuracy and prevent hallucinations. Ultimately, the episode presents a compelling argument for "scaling human ability." As we integrate these intelligent tools into our workflows, the goal is not merely automation, but an evolution where technology amplifies our unique creative potential, allowing us to reach new heights of productivity while preserving the essential human element in business.

01:01 Introduction to Oleg Danyliuk and His Mission

01:54 Early Influences: From Ukraine to the World of Tech

03:35 Why Human Connection remains Vital in Sales

04:02 The Role of AI as a Co-Pilot for Sales Teams

12:23 Using AI to Unlock and Express Creative Ideas

12:45 Feeding the Nuance: How to Guide AI Outputs

13:00 Accelerating Professional Content with Automation

34:38 The Evolution of Duanex: From Staffing to Expertise

35:01 Identifying Opportunities for Process Automation

35:15 Scaling Companies While Preserving Their Humanity

34:25 The Future Vision for Duanex and Insightful

37:23 Final Reflections and Closing Remarks

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Lindsay White carries Alberta homesteader DNA, generations of powerful, independent women who earned the vote through partnership work, not permission. That matriarchy shaped everything about her 20+ year HR career, though she insists it's never been about HR. It's about the messy inflection point where brilliant female founders can no longer touch everything in their business yet still try, burning out as Chief Everything Officers because nobody taught them the operator-to-CEO transition.

Her LPC Method, Lead, People, Culture, targets the strategic gap most women face: hiring too early, hiring wrong, hiring before understanding their zone of genius. Lindsay's devastating insight? Before bringing on that first person, founders must answer: What am I really good at? What do I love? What would I die happy never doing again? Then hire for the gaps, not the tasks. Her mission is becoming the go-to strategic partner for women scaling businesses, teaching them that leadership isn't about being the hero who saves everyone, but building teams that don't need saving. No fluff. No judgment. Just clear strategies and real talk from someone who knows the messy middle intimately.

02:01 - Alberta Homesteader Matriarchy Legacy

02:36 - Calgary Roots and Powerful Women

03:19 - Never Really About HR

03:36 - The Messy Inflection Point

04:14 - Operator to CEO Transition

04:41 - Chief Everything Officer Syndrome

08:30 - The LPC Method Explained

12:45 - Hiring Mistakes Female Founders Make

18:20 - Stop Being the Hero

22:15 - Code-Switching Cost in Leadership

32:05 - Zone of Genius Before First Hire

33:49 - Go-To Strategic Partner Mission

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In this deeply personal and transformative episode of the Throttle Up Leadership Podcast, host Dr. John Dentico welcomes Raul Pereyra, a first-generation Latino leadership coach with over 25 years of experience. Raul's approach to leadership is forged not in academia, but in the challenging environment of East LA, where he learned to navigate the "invisible weight" of growing up with an alcoholic father.

The conversation centers on Raul's innovative "The Bag We Carry" framework, which helps leaders identify the Beliefs, Assumptions, and Guardians (like the inner critic) that often weigh them down and hinder growth. Raul and John dive into the psychology of behavioral change, discussing the importance of self-awareness, self-acceptance, and the courage to reframe past trauma into a "jet pack" for future success. From the "parable of the two arrows" to the pursuit of contentment over fleeting happiness, this episode offers a roadmap for leaders ready to do the hard work of internal growth to achieve external excellence.

00:00 – Introduction to Raul Pereyra and his "Inside Out" coaching philosophy.

02:12 – Growing up in East LA: Influences of family, immigrants, and trauma.

04:10 – The turning point: Finding intellectual stimulation and a mentor who believed.

06:07 – Unpacking the BAG: Beliefs, Assumptions, and Guardians.

08:28 – The Inner Critic: Transitioning from a protective force to an acknowledged guide.

11:42 – Jet Pack Thinking: Reframing self-doubt into a propelling force.

14:02 – Thinking Fast vs. Thinking Slow: The neuroscience of behavior change.

16:01 – The formula for change: Thoughts + Beliefs + Values = Behavior.

18:51 – Moving from self-awareness to self-acceptance and ownership.

20:56 – Progress through truth-telling: Breaking the victim mentality.

22:48 – The Parable of the Two Arrows: Choosing healing over suffering.

25:27 – The Achievement Trap: Why "keeping up with the Joneses" leads to misery.

27:40 – Finding Contentment: Accepting humanity over the chase for perfection.

31:48 – Reframing the past: Grateful that it happened for you, not to you.

Raul is offering a free consultation. Contact him at ftplearning.com/tiny

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In this compelling episode of the Throttle Up Leadership Podcast, host Dr. John Dentico sits down with Zoe Arden, a fellow at the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership and author of Story Centred Leadership: Crafting Cultures of Change. Zoe brings over 20 years of experience to the table, demonstrating that storytelling is not just a "soft skill" but a vital strategic infrastructure for modern leadership.

The discussion explores Zoe's Five-Stage Story Centred Leadership Model—story listening, building, shaping, sharing, and living. She explains how narrative can bridge divides and catalyze action in an era of polarization and fragmentation. John and Zoe dive into the psychological and practical depths of storytelling, touching on Aristotle's parts of rhetoric and the essential balance between logic and meaning. From walking in a stakeholder's shoes to using storytelling as a lever of influence, this episode provides a roadmap for leaders looking to build authentic, purpose-driven cultures.

00:00 – Introduction to Zoe Arden and her 20-year journey in storytelling.

02:12 – Profound beginnings: Growing up in London and early influences.

03:51 – Overcoming self-limiting stories that box in leaders.

05:59 – Defining the essence of story: Little packets of meaning.

07:03 – The power of story listening and empathy for stakeholders.

09:01 – Logic and Meaning: The two fundamental elements of a story.

10:46 – Interactive story-making through realistic leadership simulations.

12:03 – Immersing yourself in your stakeholder's world.

14:56 – Shifting perspectives: Putting the powerful at the powerless table.

16:37 – Levers of influence vs. hard levers of power.

18:36 – The importance of cross-training and escaping the internal silo.

20:00 – The irreplaceability of personal liaison and human connection.

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In this insightful episode of the Throttle Leadership Podcast, host Dr. John Dentico welcomes Leanna DeBellevue, founder of DeBellevue Consulting and an international speaker. After building and scaling an award-winning global marketing agency for over 15 years and successfully selling it in 2025, Leanna realized a profound truth: success often creates its own set of blind spots. She now specializes in helping successful leaders who have outgrown their current operating models identify what is truly slowing them down, fostering a culture of perspective-driven accountability.

The conversation delves into the psychology of leadership, specifically how ego and the need for control can lead to "founder bottlenecks" and burnout. Leanna and John explore the shifting dynamics of the modern workforce, identifying Gen Z as the "canaries in the coal mine" who are exposing a deep-seated workplace crisis by demanding meaning, purpose, and personal agency in their roles. From embracing doubt and ambiguity to moving beyond the myth of work-life balance toward true work-life integration, this episode offers a roadmap for leading with grace and intentionality in an increasingly complex world.

00:00 – Introduction to Leanna DeBellevue and her 15-year agency journey

02:04 – Early influences: The value of hard work and the company you keep

04:10 – Identifying the "Something is Off" syndrome in successful leaders

06:14 – The struggle between the conscious and subconscious mind

08:56 – Embracing doubt and ambiguity to foster collaboration

10:20 – The mechanism of blind spots: Why ego is often the root cause

12:14 – The Orchestra Analogy: Moving from player to conductor

14:50 – Meaning and personal agency as the ultimate motivators

17:10 – Gen Z: The canaries in the coal mine for workplace culture

19:10 – Previewing the field report: "Throttle Up from the Field"

22:23 – Mindset shifts: Transitioning from scarcity to abundance

25:01 – Work-life integration vs. the myth of 50/50 balance

26:56 – The power of accepting your own humanity and leading with grace

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In this episode of the Throttle Leadership Podcast, host Dr. John Dentico sits down with Cortney Watson, a fractional advisor and business coach with over 20 years of experience. Cortney shares her journey of scaling a consulting firm to $40 million in revenue and growing a network from 50 to over 450 consultants.

The conversation dives deep into the "founder bottleneck" and the critical inflection point, typically around 30 to 40 employees, where instinct-driven leadership must transition into structured systems and strategic planning. Cortney and John discuss the rise of fractional C-suite roles, the importance of values alignment in preventing employee burnout, and why the best leaders empower their teams to thrive independently of the founder. Cortney also reflects on her personal shift toward a more balanced, "less goal-oriented" life after years of high-pressure leadership.

00:00 – Introduction to Cortney Watson and her background

02:04 – Lessons from growing up in a small-business family

04:10 – Identifying the founder bottleneck and the power of delegation

06:14 – The 30-40 employee inflection point and the need for strategic plans

08:56 – Discussing the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) and leadership as a process

11:13 – Distinguishing between productive intensity and destructive burnout

14:42 – The role of meaning, purpose, and values alignment in retention

19:40 – Why employee opinions are vital for organizational change

22:42 – The impact of management quality on employee success

25:09 – The booming world of fractional work and its benefits

29:10 – Fractional roles as a "doorway" to full-time hires

31:54 – Cortney's shift toward balance and living in the moment

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In this insightful episode of the Throttle Up Leadership Podcast, host Dr. John Dentico sits down with Scott Geller, a fractional CFO who has carved out a powerful niche supporting staffing agencies with revenues under $30 million. Scott shares his journey from the rigid corporate world to the agile fractional model, explaining how he helps underserved firms bridge the gap between basic bookkeeping and high-level financial strategy. They dive deep into the "profitability illusion" many agency owners face due to the massive time gap between weekly payroll and client payments, highlighting why moving from cash to accrual accounting is a non-negotiable for long-term health.

The conversation shifts toward the future of work, exploring the critical role of AI and the shifting values of Gen Z in the workplace. Scott introduces his PathPredict framework, a six-step method designed to build "financial muscle" through continuous forecasting rather than static annual budgeting. Whether discussing the "human-in-the-loop" requirement for AI or the need for strategic clarity, this episode offers a masterclass in adapting leadership and finance to a hyper-dynamic world.

0:00 Hello again and welcome to the Throttle Up Leadership Podcast

1:58 The Fractional Model and the Future of Work

3:51 Solving the Employee Engagement Crisis

6:00 Unique Cash Flow Challenges in Staffing

7:28 Why Cash Accounting Fails Staffing Agencies

10:49 AI's Impact on the Staffing Industry

13:20 The Ultimate AI Hack: Humans in the Loop

14:41 Real-World Perspective vs. AI Generics

16:45 Integrating Financial Clarity with EOS

22:38 Beyond Budgeting: The Power of Continuous Forecasting

25:37 Strategic Thinking vs. Strategic Planning

28:19 Recruiting vs. Staffing: Key Differences

33:10 PathPredict: The Six-Step Financial Method

37:40 Gen Z: The Canaries in the Coal Mine

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What happens when a billion-dollar CIO decides the nonprofit world deserves better strategic planning tools? You get StratSimple — and one of the most honest conversations about strategy, leadership, and AI you'll hear this year. Mike Burns spent over two decades driving organizational transformation, including serving as CIO of Benco Dental. In 2023, he co-founded StratSimple, an AI-powered platform built to make high-quality strategic planning accessible to nonprofits and consultants who've long been priced out of the game.

In this episode, Dr. John Dentico and Mike dig into the critical difference between strategic thinking and strategic planning, why the five-year static plan is officially dead, and how AI is reshaping what it means to truly listen to your organization. They explore why leaders fail to operationalize their plans, the irreplaceable role of human facilitators, and why "context engineering" is the real skill of the AI era. If your organization has ever confused activity for strategy, this conversation is your wake-up call.

0:00 — Meet Mike Burns: From Army Brat to AI Strategist

2:30 — Why Nonprofits Are in an Existential Crisis Right Now

4:30 — The Death of the Five-Year Plan — and What Replaces It

6:15 — Strategic Thinking vs. Strategic Planning: A Critical Distinction

10:00 — Leadership as Process, Not Position

13:00 — The Fence Company Story: What a Salesperson Saw That the CEO Missed

15:00 — How AI Enables Real Listening at Scale

17:30 — Context Engineering: The Skill That Actually Matters

20:00 — Nonprofits Have Competitors — Whether They Like It or Not

23:00 — Why Having a Plan Means You're Just at the Starting Line

27:00 — Process Mapping, Deming, and the Power of the How-To

32:00 — Empowerment, Delegation, and Letting Go of the Seesaw

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