<![CDATA[The Quiet Work]]>https://riverside.comRiverside.fm (https://riverside.com)Thu, 14 May 2026 13:49:22 GMTMon, 29 Sep 2025 19:17:00 GMT60Matt WisWelcome to The Quiet Work — where I sit down with founders, operators, and quiet builders to explore what it really takes. Honest conversation about the work that matters. If you’re building something of your own, you’re in the right place.episodicMatt Wismatt@wismanagement.comno<![CDATA[EP. 92 | This AI Answers Your Phone at 3AM and Books the Job — CallTex Co-Founder]]>Connect with Casey:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/casey-purington-537103ab/
Website: https://www.usecalltex.com/

Casey Purington has spent 15 years obsessing over one thing: what happens when a customer calls a home service company.

Most of the time — especially after hours — nothing good happens. The phone rings. No one answers. The customer calls the next company on the list. And the HVAC company just wasted $300 in marketing to get that call.
Casey built CallTex to fix that. An AI voice agent that answers in under a second, pulls the customer's history from Service Titan, quotes the right price, books the job, and logs everything — without a single human involved.

We talk about how AI voice agents actually work behind the scenes, why transparency with callers matters, how Casey cold calls companies at midnight to prove his point, his plan to land private equity groups, and why he's betting everything on AI.

Timestamps:

0:00 – Welcome + Casey introduces himself and CallTex
0:55 – From the car business to call centers at 18
2:30 – His first day in a contact center: a chair, a headset, and a notepad
3:40 – What great call handling actually looks like — and why most companies miss it
6:04 – How AI pulled him out of consulting and into building
7:00 – Three buckets: inbound, outbound, and proactive follow-up
8:00 – Happy check calls, tune-up campaigns, and the CRM integration
9:55 – Playbooks, tagging, and how the back end works
11:16 – Who's adopting AI fast — and who's still talking about it
13:39 – The Yellow Pages moment: early adopters win, resisters get left behind
14:36 – Should you disclose the caller is talking to AI?
17:00 – Transparency, hallucination, and the hybrid approach
20:09 – What happens to the call center agents he trained? His honest answer.
22:09 – The full customer journey with CallTex — demo to live
24:47 – Tagging, routing, knowledge base, and advertisement integration
27:12 – This is not an answering service — what makes CallTex different
29:23 – Onboarding takes days, not weeks — but you need one owner
30:18 – Why every home service company needs a call center manager
32:38 – Can the manager role be remote? Yes — and Casey plans to offer it
36:01 – How they find customers: calling companies at midnight
37:00 – The leakage report: Casey records missed calls and sends them to the owner
39:27 – The private equity play — scaling dozens of locations at once
41:00 – "We couldn't get the big players to do what you did" — a client this week
43:22 – Where is AI voice going over the next decade?
45:28 – Why off-the-shelf AI won't cut it — the builders vs. the plug-and-play crowd
48:19 – Matt's take: AI is the direction, human in the loop stays
49:46 – Closing thoughts

]]>2c997ef5-5191-4b18-83f1-7334a2e4978eFri, 08 May 2026 04:16:46 GMT<p>Connect with Casey:<br />LinkedIn: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/casey-purington-537103ab/" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/casey-purington-537103ab/</a><br />Website: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.usecalltex.com/" target="_blank">https://www.usecalltex.com/</a><br /><br />Casey Purington has spent 15 years obsessing over one thing: what happens when a customer calls a home service company.<br /><br />Most of the time — especially after hours — nothing good happens. The phone rings. No one answers. The customer calls the next company on the list. And the HVAC company just wasted $300 in marketing to get that call.<br />Casey built CallTex to fix that. An AI voice agent that answers in under a second, pulls the customer's history from Service Titan, quotes the right price, books the job, and logs everything — without a single human involved.<br /><br />We talk about how AI voice agents actually work behind the scenes, why transparency with callers matters, how Casey cold calls companies at midnight to prove his point, his plan to land private equity groups, and why he's betting everything on AI.<br /><br />Timestamps:<br /><br />0:00 – Welcome + Casey introduces himself and CallTex<br />0:55 – From the car business to call centers at 18<br />2:30 – His first day in a contact center: a chair, a headset, and a notepad<br />3:40 – What great call handling actually looks like — and why most companies miss it<br />6:04 – How AI pulled him out of consulting and into building<br />7:00 – Three buckets: inbound, outbound, and proactive follow-up<br />8:00 – Happy check calls, tune-up campaigns, and the CRM integration<br />9:55 – Playbooks, tagging, and how the back end works<br />11:16 – Who's adopting AI fast — and who's still talking about it<br />13:39 – The Yellow Pages moment: early adopters win, resisters get left behind<br />14:36 – Should you disclose the caller is talking to AI?<br />17:00 – Transparency, hallucination, and the hybrid approach<br />20:09 – What happens to the call center agents he trained? His honest answer.<br />22:09 – The full customer journey with CallTex — demo to live<br />24:47 – Tagging, routing, knowledge base, and advertisement integration<br />27:12 – This is not an answering service — what makes CallTex different<br />29:23 – Onboarding takes days, not weeks — but you need one owner<br />30:18 – Why every home service company needs a call center manager<br />32:38 – Can the manager role be remote? Yes — and Casey plans to offer it<br />36:01 – How they find customers: calling companies at midnight<br />37:00 – The leakage report: Casey records missed calls and sends them to the owner<br />39:27 – The private equity play — scaling dozens of locations at once<br />41:00 – "We couldn't get the big players to do what you did" — a client this week<br />43:22 – Where is AI voice going over the next decade?<br />45:28 – Why off-the-shelf AI won't cut it — the builders vs. the plug-and-play crowd<br />48:19 – Matt's take: AI is the direction, human in the loop stays<br />49:46 – Closing thoughts</p>no00:46:14EP. 92 | This AI Answers Your Phone at 3AM and Books the Job — CallTex Co-Founderfull<![CDATA[EP. 91 | He Helped His Client Exit for €167M (Then Moved to the French Riviera)]]>https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-kennedy/

https://businessclubcotedazur.com/

Joshua Kennedy started his first business at 18. By his thirties, he'd helped a client grow a data center from a €100M dream to a €167M exit in two years. Then he packed up, moved to the French Riviera, and started over.

Today Josh runs Business Club Côte d'Azur — a highly vetted founder community in the south of France — and Next Locals, a social network for people living abroad. We talk about why European entrepreneurship culture is broken, how he grew and sold multiple companies, what it actually takes to scale a service business beyond yourself, and why moving to Nice with two kids and no network was the best decision he ever made.

Oh, and a €150 hospital bill for delivering his son. Yes, really.

Timestamps:

0:00 – Welcome + Joshua introduces himself

0:55 – How Business Club Côte d'Azur started — from a social project to a vetted founder network

2:30 – Why Europe's entrepreneurship culture kills ambition before it starts

3:29 – The Hampton model — what Josh is building for the French Riviera

5:35 – Why he just relaunched the club and what it looks like now

7:30 – Moving abroad changes you permanently — Matt and Josh compare notes

8:15 – The micro-entreprise trap: why most founders in France stay small

11:30 – Surrounding yourself with people who match your mindset

15:17 – How it started: walking out of the chamber of commerce and into his first sale

16:06 – Websites for €30,000–€50,000 and why clients paid it

18:29 – From web design to online marketing to growth agency

20:34 – The data center client: €100M exit goal, €167M actual result in two years

23:12 – Why Josh won't build in AI despite the opportunity

26:49 – How the data center model actually works (simple, brilliant, boring)

31:39 – Entrepreneur ADHD and why focus is the only thing that matters

33:59 – 90 days to change everything in your business

35:03 – Josh flips the mic and starts consulting Matt live on air

36:37 – Niche down or stay invisible — why "B2B founders" is too broad

40:02 – Don't create demand, capture it — the principle behind every good go-to-market

41:20 – If Alex Hormozi is right: go where the hungry crowd already is

42:13 – Life on the French Riviera — 300 days of sun, great food, and kids who forage

44:43 – French healthcare: €150 out-of-pocket for a full private clinic birth

47:00 – The $91,000 US hospital bill and a €150 cup of coffee

50:21 – Raising kids abroad and why Matt thinks the world needs more babies

51:22 – Closing — Matt promises to show up at one of Josh's events

]]>f010572a-ecf2-426a-afc2-6721e8501796Thu, 30 Apr 2026 01:54:57 GMT<p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-kennedy/" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-kennedy/</a></p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://businessclubcotedazur.com/" target="_blank">https://businessclubcotedazur.com/</a></p><p>Joshua Kennedy started his first business at 18. By his thirties, he'd helped a client grow a data center from a €100M dream to a €167M exit in two years. Then he packed up, moved to the French Riviera, and started over.</p><p>Today Josh runs Business Club Côte d'Azur — a highly vetted founder community in the south of France — and Next Locals, a social network for people living abroad. We talk about why European entrepreneurship culture is broken, how he grew and sold multiple companies, what it actually takes to scale a service business beyond yourself, and why moving to Nice with two kids and no network was the best decision he ever made.</p><p>Oh, and a €150 hospital bill for delivering his son. Yes, really.</p><p>Timestamps:</p><p>0:00 – Welcome + Joshua introduces himself</p><p>0:55 – How Business Club Côte d'Azur started — from a social project to a vetted founder network</p><p>2:30 – Why Europe's entrepreneurship culture kills ambition before it starts</p><p>3:29 – The Hampton model — what Josh is building for the French Riviera</p><p>5:35 – Why he just relaunched the club and what it looks like now</p><p>7:30 – Moving abroad changes you permanently — Matt and Josh compare notes</p><p>8:15 – The micro-entreprise trap: why most founders in France stay small</p><p>11:30 – Surrounding yourself with people who match your mindset</p><p>15:17 – How it started: walking out of the chamber of commerce and into his first sale</p><p>16:06 – Websites for €30,000–€50,000 and why clients paid it</p><p>18:29 – From web design to online marketing to growth agency</p><p>20:34 – The data center client: €100M exit goal, €167M actual result in two years</p><p>23:12 – Why Josh won't build in AI despite the opportunity</p><p>26:49 – How the data center model actually works (simple, brilliant, boring)</p><p>31:39 – Entrepreneur ADHD and why focus is the only thing that matters</p><p>33:59 – 90 days to change everything in your business</p><p>35:03 – Josh flips the mic and starts consulting Matt live on air</p><p>36:37 – Niche down or stay invisible — why "B2B founders" is too broad</p><p>40:02 – Don't create demand, capture it — the principle behind every good go-to-market</p><p>41:20 – If Alex Hormozi is right: go where the hungry crowd already is</p><p>42:13 – Life on the French Riviera — 300 days of sun, great food, and kids who forage</p><p>44:43 – French healthcare: €150 out-of-pocket for a full private clinic birth</p><p>47:00 – The $91,000 US hospital bill and a €150 cup of coffee</p><p>50:21 – Raising kids abroad and why Matt thinks the world needs more babies</p><p>51:22 – Closing — Matt promises to show up at one of Josh's events</p>no00:53:24EP. 91 | He Helped His Client Exit for €167M (Then Moved to the French Riviera)full<![CDATA[EP. 90 | Tinder for Hiring? How Two Siblings Built an AI Platform for Restaurants (Swob Co-Founders)]]>https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-florio-51397765/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexanderflorio/
https://www.swobapp.com/

Stephanie and Alex Florio weren't engineers. They were marketers — both working at agencies, both quietly dreaming of building something of their own.

The idea hit Alex while using Tinder. What if hiring worked like that? Swipe left or right on candidates. Simple, fast, human.

That idea became Swob — an AI-powered hiring platform built specifically for restaurants, where turnover is brutal, managers are stretched thin, and the guest experience lives or dies by who shows up for their shift.

We talk about how Emma (their AI hiring assistant) works, why restaurants are still struggling to hire despite dozens of job boards, what it's like to build a company with your sibling, and how two non-technical founders with a marketing background are taking on one of the oldest problems in hospitality.

]]>a04c72dc-bc8d-49b2-8fab-cfbedc9912f2Tue, 21 Apr 2026 19:22:29 GMT<p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-florio-51397765/" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-florio-51397765/</a><br /><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexanderflorio/" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexanderflorio/</a><br /><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.swobapp.com/" target="_blank">https://www.swobapp.com/</a><br /><br />Stephanie and Alex Florio weren't engineers. They were marketers — both working at agencies, both quietly dreaming of building something of their own.<br /><br />The idea hit Alex while using Tinder. What if hiring worked like that? Swipe left or right on candidates. Simple, fast, human.<br /><br />That idea became Swob — an AI-powered hiring platform built specifically for restaurants, where turnover is brutal, managers are stretched thin, and the guest experience lives or dies by who shows up for their shift.<br /><br />We talk about how Emma (their AI hiring assistant) works, why restaurants are still struggling to hire despite dozens of job boards, what it's like to build a company with your sibling, and how two non-technical founders with a marketing background are taking on one of the oldest problems in hospitality.</p>no00:38:18EP. 90 | Tinder for Hiring? How Two Siblings Built an AI Platform for Restaurants (Swob Co-Founders)full<![CDATA[EP. 89 | From State Championship Coach to Leadership Consultant (Nick Reich)]]>https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-reich05/
https://www.abundantempowerment.com/

Nick Reich built a state championship basketball team at a school that had never played a home game. Then he walked away from coaching forever.
What he took with him was a question that's driven the last 15 years of his career: what actually makes a team great — and why do most leaders never figure it out?

Today Nick is the co-founder of Abundant Empowerment and the author of an upcoming book, Every Player Is Bigger Than the Program. We talk about why leadership development takes 6 to 12 months (not a ChatGPT prompt), what the People-First Playbook actually looks like in practice, why most people have had 3 toxic leaders for every 1 great one, and what it means to be a full circle leader.

If you lead people — or want to — this one's for you.

Timestamps:

0:00 – Welcome + Nick introduces himself and Abundant Empowerment
0:58 – Who they serve and how the work is structured
1:49 – Can AI replace 6-12 months of leadership development?
2:20 – Why EQ and empathy are more in demand than ever in the age of AI
3:54 – Three paths to work with Abundant Empowerment
5:07 – Online, in-person, or hybrid — how the model works
6:28 – How the company name was born: a GoDaddy domain bought in 2007
8:51 – How leaders and organizations find them
9:06 – The Full Circle Leader framework: 5 characteristics
11:04 – Community-rooted leadership and the Blue Zone connection
13:18 – How they assess leaders before starting a program
14:43 – The People First Leadership Assessment (free, 5 minutes)
15:35 – Nick's story: from school social worker to basketball coach
16:00 – Winning Indiana's state championship without ever playing a home game
17:38 – What he learned from that team that now drives everything he does
18:30 – 3 toxic leaders for every 1 great one — why that ratio matters
19:17 – Great leaders know their personnel and put people in the right roles
20:03 – Leaders are readers — but it's not a knowledge problem
20:30 – The real challenge: taking what you learn and actually implementing it
21:51 – Book recommendations: Leadership Challenge, Patrick Lencioni, Simon Sinek
23:13 – His book: Every Player Is Bigger Than the Program — out September 8
24:13 – What gives Nick the most fulfillment
25:40 – Everyone in your organization is a leader — why that framing matters
26:23 – What's coming next at Abundant Empowerment
28:12 – Why every organization should invest in leadership development now

]]>37ac8fee-d635-4120-99c9-11fa1b42f3c9Wed, 15 Apr 2026 22:31:57 GMT<p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-reich05/" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-reich05/</a><br /><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.abundantempowerment.com/" target="_blank">https://www.abundantempowerment.com/</a><br /><br />Nick Reich built a state championship basketball team at a school that had never played a home game. Then he walked away from coaching forever.<br />What he took with him was a question that's driven the last 15 years of his career: what actually makes a team great — and why do most leaders never figure it out?<br /><br />Today Nick is the co-founder of Abundant Empowerment and the author of an upcoming book, Every Player Is Bigger Than the Program. We talk about why leadership development takes 6 to 12 months (not a ChatGPT prompt), what the People-First Playbook actually looks like in practice, why most people have had 3 toxic leaders for every 1 great one, and what it means to be a full circle leader.<br /><br />If you lead people — or want to — this one's for you.<br /><br />Timestamps:<br /><br />0:00 – Welcome + Nick introduces himself and Abundant Empowerment<br />0:58 – Who they serve and how the work is structured<br />1:49 – Can AI replace 6-12 months of leadership development?<br />2:20 – Why EQ and empathy are more in demand than ever in the age of AI<br />3:54 – Three paths to work with Abundant Empowerment<br />5:07 – Online, in-person, or hybrid — how the model works<br />6:28 – How the company name was born: a GoDaddy domain bought in 2007<br />8:51 – How leaders and organizations find them<br />9:06 – The Full Circle Leader framework: 5 characteristics<br />11:04 – Community-rooted leadership and the Blue Zone connection<br />13:18 – How they assess leaders before starting a program<br />14:43 – The People First Leadership Assessment (free, 5 minutes)<br />15:35 – Nick's story: from school social worker to basketball coach<br />16:00 – Winning Indiana's state championship without ever playing a home game<br />17:38 – What he learned from that team that now drives everything he does<br />18:30 – 3 toxic leaders for every 1 great one — why that ratio matters<br />19:17 – Great leaders know their personnel and put people in the right roles<br />20:03 – Leaders are readers — but it's not a knowledge problem<br />20:30 – The real challenge: taking what you learn and actually implementing it<br />21:51 – Book recommendations: Leadership Challenge, Patrick Lencioni, Simon Sinek<br />23:13 – His book: Every Player Is Bigger Than the Program — out September 8<br />24:13 – What gives Nick the most fulfillment<br />25:40 – Everyone in your organization is a leader — why that framing matters<br />26:23 – What's coming next at Abundant Empowerment<br />28:12 – Why every organization should invest in leadership development now</p>no00:30:43EP. 89 | From State Championship Coach to Leadership Consultant (Nick Reich)full<![CDATA[EP. 88 | You're Not Selling Software. You're Selling Trust. (Chordify CEO, Silicon Valley)]]>https://chordify.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenmorris/

Ken Morris left India, landed in Silicon Valley in 2000, and has spent the last 12 years building Chordify — a software engineering firm that helps startups and funded companies build products without burning through their runway.
But what I found most interesting wasn't the technical side. It was how Ken thinks about trust, relationships, and what it actually takes to build a services business in one of the most competitive markets in the world.

We talk about how AI has changed startup development timelines, what happens after Series A when a company needs to scale engineering fast, how offshore teams actually work when done right, and why Ken is now training engineers at a 125-year-old university in Uganda.


Timestamps:

0:00 – Intro: What Chordify does
0:41 – Welcome + Ken introduces himself
1:05 – From India to the Middle East to Silicon Valley
2:24 – How software development has changed over the last two decades
3:05 – Java, mobile, cloud, big data, AI — the evolution in one answer
5:36 – Don't let AI control you — keep the human in the loop
6:04 – Who Chordify works with and at what stage
6:24 – How Chordify was founded: from solo consultant to offshore operation
8:07 – Their offshore development center in Trivandrum Technopark, India
8:30 – Two customer profiles: early-stage startups vs. post-Series A companies
9:44 – MVP timelines pre-AI vs. today
13:05 – Do they work with European companies?
14:58 – Startup success rates: the real numbers
16:12 – A customer who's been with them for 10 years and pivoted twice
19:34 – How they find clients — and why references are the whole game
20:16 – "You're not selling software. You're selling trust."
21:50 – The trust gap in offshore development and how to avoid getting burned
24:00 – The 6-step deal process — and why references skip you to step 5
28:13 – Trust, consistency, and what it looks like in practice
30:01 – Why Ken co-sponsors events for years before expecting anything in return
31:42 – The joy of working with startups vs. enterprise
33:30 – "If you want a nine to five job, this is not the place"
34:06 – Ken reads Matt's mind (seriously)
36:45 – Expanding into Central Asia and East Africa
37:49 – Training 10 engineering students at Uganda's oldest university
39:39 – Building a development center in Mexico in 2026
40:40 – Closing thoughts

]]>06acf34f-1fb9-435a-9a64-9517720e53deTue, 14 Apr 2026 04:16:08 GMT<p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://chordify.com/" target="_blank">https://chordify.com/</a><br /><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenmorris/" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenmorris/</a><br /><br />Ken Morris left India, landed in Silicon Valley in 2000, and has spent the last 12 years building Chordify — a software engineering firm that helps startups and funded companies build products without burning through their runway.<br />But what I found most interesting wasn't the technical side. It was how Ken thinks about trust, relationships, and what it actually takes to build a services business in one of the most competitive markets in the world.<br /><br />We talk about how AI has changed startup development timelines, what happens after Series A when a company needs to scale engineering fast, how offshore teams actually work when done right, and why Ken is now training engineers at a 125-year-old university in Uganda.<br /><br /><br />Timestamps:<br /><br />0:00 – Intro: What Chordify does<br />0:41 – Welcome + Ken introduces himself<br />1:05 – From India to the Middle East to Silicon Valley<br />2:24 – How software development has changed over the last two decades<br />3:05 – Java, mobile, cloud, big data, AI — the evolution in one answer<br />5:36 – Don't let AI control you — keep the human in the loop<br />6:04 – Who Chordify works with and at what stage<br />6:24 – How Chordify was founded: from solo consultant to offshore operation<br />8:07 – Their offshore development center in Trivandrum Technopark, India<br />8:30 – Two customer profiles: early-stage startups vs. post-Series A companies<br />9:44 – MVP timelines pre-AI vs. today<br />13:05 – Do they work with European companies?<br />14:58 – Startup success rates: the real numbers<br />16:12 – A customer who's been with them for 10 years and pivoted twice<br />19:34 – How they find clients — and why references are the whole game<br />20:16 – "You're not selling software. You're selling trust."<br />21:50 – The trust gap in offshore development and how to avoid getting burned<br />24:00 – The 6-step deal process — and why references skip you to step 5<br />28:13 – Trust, consistency, and what it looks like in practice<br />30:01 – Why Ken co-sponsors events for years before expecting anything in return<br />31:42 – The joy of working with startups vs. enterprise<br />33:30 – "If you want a nine to five job, this is not the place"<br />34:06 – Ken reads Matt's mind (seriously)<br />36:45 – Expanding into Central Asia and East Africa<br />37:49 – Training 10 engineering students at Uganda's oldest university<br />39:39 – Building a development center in Mexico in 2026<br />40:40 – Closing thoughts</p>no00:42:00EP. 88 | You're Not Selling Software. You're Selling Trust. (Chordify CEO, Silicon Valley)full<![CDATA[EP. 87 | From $70M to $9M in One Quarter — Then Back. The Tigo Energy Comeback Story (CMO)]]>LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jd-dillon/
Website: https://www.tigoenergy.com/

In Q2 of 2023, Tigo Energy hit almost $70 million in revenue. By Q4, it was under $9 million.

JD Dillon, their Chief Marketing and Customer Experience Officer, was in the room for all of it — the IPO, the collapse, and eight straight quarters of growth since.

We talk about what actually caused the crash, how they rebuilt, what a real B2B marketing system looks like at a publicly traded company, why JD combined marketing with customer experience, the pricing secrets behind the $.99 you see everywhere, and why the solar industry still has a long way to go on quality.

JD is a West Point grad, a former Army officer, a pricing obsessive, and one of the most structured thinkers I've had on the show.

Timestamps:
0:00 – Intro: What Tigo Energy does
1:14 – Welcome + JD introduces himself
1:36 – Optimizers, inverters, batteries — and Antarctica
2:58 – 101 countries, including Antarctica
3:51 – How JD went from the Army to semiconductors to solar
4:52 – Why he combined marketing with customer experience
7:01 – The solar industry is immature — and it costs everyone
8:29 – Total Quality Solar: what it is and why it matters
11:31 – Self-policing the industry before the government does it
13:47 – JD wakes up at 3:30 AM and drives 54 miles to the office every day
14:33 – 62% of revenue comes from Europe — why early mornings make sense
15:32 – Why he won't use Tesla Autopilot
17:40 – The turnaround: $70M to $9M in two quarters
19:00 – How they rebuilt — eight straight quarters of growth
19:54 – Four strategic pillars: Thunder, Lightning, Roots, and Balance
20:59 – 45 metrics tracked across four areas (yes, in Excel)
22:32 – Four active AI use cases at Tigo — translations, battle cards, routing, and agents
25:26 – Why they're being careful about replacing humans with AI in tech support
27:05 – What gives JD the most fulfillment after 30 years in business
28:48 – His plan to become a college professor (pricing is his favorite topic)
30:22 – The real reason everything is priced at $.99 (not what you think)
31:59 – Book recommendations: Sales Pitch by April Dunford + Lead With No
33:42 – Reading three books at a time — always
36:00 – A plug for his local bookstore in Danville, California

]]>13e3be4a-2de0-4287-812d-2580a39f429bFri, 10 Apr 2026 03:59:25 GMT<p>LinkedIn: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jd-dillon/" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/jd-dillon/</a><br />Website: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.tigoenergy.com/" target="_blank">https://www.tigoenergy.com/</a><br /><br />In Q2 of 2023, Tigo Energy hit almost $70 million in revenue. By Q4, it was under $9 million.<br /><br />JD Dillon, their Chief Marketing and Customer Experience Officer, was in the room for all of it — the IPO, the collapse, and eight straight quarters of growth since.<br /><br />We talk about what actually caused the crash, how they rebuilt, what a real B2B marketing system looks like at a publicly traded company, why JD combined marketing with customer experience, the pricing secrets behind the $.99 you see everywhere, and why the solar industry still has a long way to go on quality.<br /><br />JD is a West Point grad, a former Army officer, a pricing obsessive, and one of the most structured thinkers I've had on the show.<br /><br />Timestamps:<br />0:00 – Intro: What Tigo Energy does<br />1:14 – Welcome + JD introduces himself<br />1:36 – Optimizers, inverters, batteries — and Antarctica<br />2:58 – 101 countries, including Antarctica<br />3:51 – How JD went from the Army to semiconductors to solar<br />4:52 – Why he combined marketing with customer experience<br />7:01 – The solar industry is immature — and it costs everyone<br />8:29 – Total Quality Solar: what it is and why it matters<br />11:31 – Self-policing the industry before the government does it<br />13:47 – JD wakes up at 3:30 AM and drives 54 miles to the office every day<br />14:33 – 62% of revenue comes from Europe — why early mornings make sense<br />15:32 – Why he won't use Tesla Autopilot<br />17:40 – The turnaround: $70M to $9M in two quarters<br />19:00 – How they rebuilt — eight straight quarters of growth<br />19:54 – Four strategic pillars: Thunder, Lightning, Roots, and Balance<br />20:59 – 45 metrics tracked across four areas (yes, in Excel)<br />22:32 – Four active AI use cases at Tigo — translations, battle cards, routing, and agents<br />25:26 – Why they're being careful about replacing humans with AI in tech support<br />27:05 – What gives JD the most fulfillment after 30 years in business<br />28:48 – His plan to become a college professor (pricing is his favorite topic)<br />30:22 – The real reason everything is priced at $.99 (not what you think)<br />31:59 – Book recommendations: Sales Pitch by April Dunford + Lead With No<br />33:42 – Reading three books at a time — always<br />36:00 – A plug for his local bookstore in Danville, California</p>no00:37:54EP. 87 | From $70M to $9M in One Quarter — Then Back. The Tigo Energy Comeback Story (CMO)full<![CDATA[EP. 86 | The Dirty Secret Inside Your Dentist's Water Lines (Solmetex VP of Sales)]]>LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevecraig20/
Website: https://solmetex.com/

Most people walk into a dental office and never think twice about the water being used on them. Steve Craig says that's exactly the problem.

As VP of Sales at Solmetex, Steve has spent decades in the dental industry, and his message is simple: water is the number one instrument in dentistry, and about 70% of practices aren't properly managing it.

We talk about what's actually in dental unit water lines, why 60% of Americans stopped going to the dentist after COVID, why dental "insurance" is really just a coupon, how Solmetex built the only end-to-end water solution in the space, and what it takes to lead and scale a niche sales organization.

If you've ever sat in a dental chair, this one's for you.

]]>fd978b0d-81ec-48b1-923d-50bace4368f0Thu, 02 Apr 2026 23:35:54 GMT<p>LinkedIn: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevecraig20/" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevecraig20/</a><br />Website: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://solmetex.com/" target="_blank">https://solmetex.com/</a><br /><br />Most people walk into a dental office and never think twice about the water being used on them. Steve Craig says that's exactly the problem.<br /><br />As VP of Sales at Solmetex, Steve has spent decades in the dental industry, and his message is simple: water is the number one instrument in dentistry, and about 70% of practices aren't properly managing it.<br /><br />We talk about what's actually in dental unit water lines, why 60% of Americans stopped going to the dentist after COVID, why dental "insurance" is really just a coupon, how Solmetex built the only end-to-end water solution in the space, and what it takes to lead and scale a niche sales organization.<br /><br />If you've ever sat in a dental chair, this one's for you.</p>no00:34:39EP. 86 | The Dirty Secret Inside Your Dentist's Water Lines (Solmetex VP of Sales)full<![CDATA[EP. 85 | He Started at $79/Month. Now He Has 500 Designers in 80 Countries (Penji.co Co-Founder)]]>https://www.linkedin.com/in/grzybowskij/
https://penji.co/

Jonathan Grzybowski didn't start with investors, a big team, or a fancy office. He started with a problem he couldn't solve — getting quality design done fast. So he built Penji.

From charging $79/month to serving clients in 80+ countries with 500+ team members and 24-hour delivery, Jonathan breaks down exactly how they did it — and what almost killed them along the way.

We talk about productized services, bootstrapping vs. funding, company culture, AI in creative work, and why the hardest part of scaling isn't sales — it's hiring.

If you run a business and you're wasting time on design work, this one's for you.

]]>e4f783ee-eda4-48cd-9d24-e3de67d03273Thu, 02 Apr 2026 03:13:34 GMT<p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/grzybowskij/" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/grzybowskij/</a><br /><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://penji.co/" target="_blank">https://penji.co/</a><br /><br />Jonathan Grzybowski didn't start with investors, a big team, or a fancy office. He started with a problem he couldn't solve — getting quality design done fast. So he built Penji.<br /><br />From charging $79/month to serving clients in 80+ countries with 500+ team members and 24-hour delivery, Jonathan breaks down exactly how they did it — and what almost killed them along the way.<br /><br />We talk about productized services, bootstrapping vs. funding, company culture, AI in creative work, and why the hardest part of scaling isn't sales — it's hiring.<br /><br />If you run a business and you're wasting time on design work, this one's for you.</p>no00:35:51EP. 85 | He Started at $79/Month. Now He Has 500 Designers in 80 Countries (Penji.co Co-Founder)full<![CDATA[EP. 84 | Joy Wanichkul – Inner Peace, Beauty & Real Transformation]]>Connect with Joy:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/joyvanichkul/
https://www.wellnessofjoy.com/

In this episode, I sit down with Joy Wanichkul, founder of Wellness of Joy and creator of the Intelligent Beauty Method.

Joy went from being a top supermodel in Thailand to building multiple wellness businesses and now helping people integrate inner peace with outer confidence.

We talk about:

The difference between external beauty and internal fulfillment
Why confidence without inner work doesn’t last
How meditation, mindset, and energy shape how you show up
The concept of “Intelligent Beauty” (inner + outer alignment)
Why self-care is not optional for high performers
The rise of wellness, recovery, and biohacking centers

One simple idea from this episode:

If everyone spent just 5 minutes a day in stillness… the world would be a different place.

This conversation is about slowing down, reconnecting, and building a version of yourself that actually feels good to live with.

]]>50dc946d-641d-4091-a0db-cbb5c9181553Sat, 21 Mar 2026 19:13:53 GMT<p>Connect with Joy:<br /><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/joyvanichkul/" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/joyvanichkul/</a><br /><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.wellnessofjoy.com/" target="_blank">https://www.wellnessofjoy.com/</a><br /><br />In this episode, I sit down with Joy Wanichkul, founder of Wellness of Joy and creator of the Intelligent Beauty Method.<br /><br />Joy went from being a top supermodel in Thailand to building multiple wellness businesses and now helping people integrate inner peace with outer confidence.<br /><br />We talk about:<br /><br />The difference between external beauty and internal fulfillment<br />Why confidence without inner work doesn’t last<br />How meditation, mindset, and energy shape how you show up<br />The concept of “Intelligent Beauty” (inner + outer alignment)<br />Why self-care is not optional for high performers<br />The rise of wellness, recovery, and biohacking centers<br /><br />One simple idea from this episode:<br /><br />If everyone spent just 5 minutes a day in stillness… the world would be a different place.<br /><br />This conversation is about slowing down, reconnecting, and building a version of yourself that actually feels good to live with.</p>no00:35:08EP. 84 | Joy Wanichkul – Inner Peace, Beauty & Real Transformationfull<![CDATA[EP. 83 | How One Sensor Prevents Fuel Explosions and Saves Lives (D2 Inc.)]]>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.

]]>35167a94-002b-4582-b2fa-1b0120b4184fSat, 21 Mar 2026 01:03:04 GMT<p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/dean-fougere/" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/dean-fougere/</a><br /><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.d-2.com/" target="_blank">https://www.d-2.com/</a><br /><br />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.<br /><br />We break down:<br /><br />- The sensor technology used on US submarines and aircraft<br />- How fuel systems can explode, and how they’re prevented<br />- Why conductivity in fuel matters more than most people realize<br />- How military teams can capture and reuse fuel in the field<br />- Ocean technology, climate systems, and why we know less about oceans than space<br />- How a 25-person company built technology used worldwide<br /><br />This conversation sits at the intersection of defense, energy, and engineering.<br /><br />If you care about how real-world systems actually work behind the scenes, this one is worth your time.</p>no00:42:29EP. 83 | How One Sensor Prevents Fuel Explosions and Saves Lives (D2 Inc.)full<![CDATA[EP. 82 | From Pharma to Devices to AI: 30 Years Inside Healthcare’s Real Game]]>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.

]]>cf693fe9-a4ed-4fe1-a557-96bae9d112aaThu, 19 Mar 2026 23:55:01 GMT<p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-butler-43medicaldevice/" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-butler-43medicaldevice/</a><br /><br />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.<br /><br />We break down how the industry actually works behind the scenes. Not the polished version.<br /><br />We cover:<br /><br />The real difference between pharma and medical devices<br />Why regulation is the biggest hidden risk in any business<br />What “market involution” is and why industries collapse<br />How AI is being used in healthcare today<br />The rise of peptides, longevity, and self-directed medicine<br />Why most companies don’t fail suddenly… they slowly decay<br />The uncomfortable truth about how we judge “good doctors”<br /><br />Michael has:<br /><br />Helped develop 100+ surgical products<br /><br />Secured 150+ patents<br />Built and scaled companies used in 30+ countries<br />One of the most important questions from this episode:<br /><br />“How do you know who a good doctor is?”<br /><br />This conversation challenges assumptions about healthcare, innovation, and truth itself.</p>no00:49:37EP. 82 | From Pharma to Devices to AI: 30 Years Inside Healthcare’s Real Gamefull<![CDATA[EP. 81 | How Global 2000 Companies Should Evaluate Cyber Risk (Coalfire)]]>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.

]]>b8cba15a-c850-4a5c-ac3c-6221e5646e37Fri, 13 Mar 2026 20:31:56 GMT<p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://coalfire.com/" target="_blank">https://coalfire.com/</a><br /><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherkresge1/" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherkresge1/</a><br /><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jefflmil/" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/jefflmil/</a><br /><br />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.<br /><br />We discuss:<br /><br />• Why startups should take cybersecurity seriously from day one<br />• Why cyber is now a business and revenue issue, not just an IT issue<br />• How threat actors are targeting retailers, manufacturers, and healthcare companies<br />• Why identity, third-party risk, and human error are still major weak points<br />• How enterprises should think about cyber posture, resilience, and recovery<br />• What AI is changing for both attackers and defenders<br /><br />If you lead a fast-growing company, manage enterprise risk, or sell into large organizations, this conversation will sharpen how you think about cybersecurity.<br /></p>no00:42:01EP. 81 | How Global 2000 Companies Should Evaluate Cyber Risk (Coalfire)full<![CDATA[Ep. 80 | Can Ethical Chocolate Actually Scale? (CEO of Alter Eco)]]>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.

]]>7ba98173-4fc3-4d18-a9ff-d7d5f962142fSat, 28 Feb 2026 17:40:25 GMT<p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/keith-bearden-736821/" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/keith-bearden-736821/</a><br /><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.alterecofoods.com/" target="_blank">https://www.alterecofoods.com/</a><br /><br />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.<br /><br />We discuss:<br /><br />• Turnarounds and value creation<br />• Climate conviction vs. performative sustainability<br />• Leading high-performance teams<br />• Private equity discipline inside purpose-driven brands<br />• Why culture breaks before numbers do<br /><br />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.<br /><br />If you’re a CEO, board member, founder, or operator — this episode is for you.<br /></p>no00:36:14Ep. 80 | Can Ethical Chocolate Actually Scale? (CEO of Alter Eco)full<![CDATA[EP. 79 | Nobody Cares. Work Harder. (CEO Mindset in Industrial America)]]>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.

]]>dd113600-2f52-42a6-bdb2-fd0484ec09ecThu, 26 Feb 2026 19:25:51 GMT<p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jnbrooksiv/" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/jnbrooksiv/</a><br /><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://wowtrailers.com" target="_blank">http://wowtrailers.com</a><br /><br />In this episode of The Quiet Work Podcast, I sit down with Jonathan Brooks, CEO of Warehouse on Wheels.<br /><br />We talk about:<br /><br />• The invisible pressure inside the supply chain<br />• Why most companies don’t plan for storage chaos<br />• Acquiring mom-and-pop businesses at scale<br />• Risk-taking as a recovering CFO<br />• The mindset behind 100 locations and 100,000 trailers<br /><br />This is a conversation about calculated growth, trust, and building something durable in a fragmented industry.<br /><br />If you operate in manufacturing, logistics, private equity, or industrial services, this one is for you.</p>no00:27:36EP. 79 | Nobody Cares. Work Harder. (CEO Mindset in Industrial America)full<![CDATA[ Ep. 78 | Why Successful Men Feel Empty After Hitting Their Goals (And What To Do Next)]]>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

]]>5d28e792-973e-4e6c-a8a3-b7235fc36b1dSun, 22 Feb 2026 00:33:17 GMT<p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordanalexandersle/" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordanalexandersle/</a><br />Website: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.straightlineentrepreneur" target="_blank">https://www.straightlineentrepreneur</a><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.straightlineentrepreneur" target="_blank">....</a><br /><br />In this episode of The Quiet Work Podcast, I sit down with Jordan Alexander, entrepreneur, transformation coach, and founder of Straight Line Entrepreneur.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />Timestamps<br /><br /><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttw_x88LABA">0:00</a> – Introduction &amp; Who Is Jordan Alexander<br /><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttw_x88LABA&amp;t=71s">1:11</a> – How the Name "Straight Line Entrepreneur" Was Born<br /><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttw_x88LABA&amp;t=319s">5:19</a> – 17 Years of Prep Before Starting His Business<br /><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttw_x88LABA&amp;t=963s">16:03</a> – You're Not Broken. You Don't Need Fixing.<br /><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttw_x88LABA&amp;t=1107s">18:27</a> – What Absent Fathers Pass Down to Their Kids<br /><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttw_x88LABA&amp;t=1282s">21:22</a> – Pain Is Fuel — But Only Up to a Point<br /><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttw_x88LABA&amp;t=2188s">36:28</a> – How Jordan Grows as a Coach: His Daily Practice<br /><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttw_x88LABA&amp;t=2326s">38:46</a> – Why Breath Work Starts Every Client Call<br /><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttw_x88LABA&amp;t=2487s">41:27</a> – Jordan's Goal: 8-Figure Personal Brand &amp; Impact at Scale</p>no00:55:01 Ep. 78 | Why Successful Men Feel Empty After Hitting Their Goals (And What To Do Next)full<![CDATA[Ep. 77 | The Doer vs Planner Trap That Destroys Companies]]>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.

]]>cfb6e80e-1a57-4381-927b-b34aaeebfe94Mon, 16 Feb 2026 02:36:36 GMT<p>Connect with David: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-wagner-536717241/" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-wagner-536717241/</a><br /><br />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.<br /><br />We talk about leadership, systems, scale, AI, mergers &amp; acquisitions, and what separates fragile companies from anti-fragile ones.<br /><br />If you’re building, leading, or scaling — this conversation will challenge you.</p>no00:58:25Ep. 77 | The Doer vs Planner Trap That Destroys Companiesfull<![CDATA[Ep. 76 | AI Didn’t Break Your Business. Your Operations Did.]]>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.

]]>aab1bab4-cab5-4ad1-ace8-dbaab4bf484fFri, 30 Jan 2026 06:32:02 GMT<p>Virtual Workshop: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://metaexperts.com/free-leadership-alignment-workshop/" target="_blank">https://metaexperts.com/free-leadership-alignment-workshop/</a></p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/roncrabtree/" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/roncrabtree/</a></p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://metaops.com" target="_blank">http://metaops.com</a></p><p></p><p>In this episode of The Quiet Work Podcast, I sit down with Ron Crabtree, Founder and CEO of MetaOps.</p><p>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.</p><p>We talk about:</p><p>• What digital transformation actually means</p><p>• Why AI fails without process clarity</p><p>• How leaders should think about ROI before buying software</p><p>• Kaizen, operational excellence, and continuous improvement</p><p>• Why “people using AI will replace people who don’t”</p><p>• The danger of skipping fundamentals</p><p>• How to scale without chaos</p><p>This conversation is for operators, founders, and executives who want real leverage. Not tools. Not hype. Systems that work.</p>no00:49:21Ep. 76 | AI Didn’t Break Your Business. Your Operations Did.full<![CDATA[Ep. 75 | Why 95% of AI Projects Fail and How BrainCX Gets It Right]]>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.

]]>5d4090fc-336e-40de-b390-078af05c2324Thu, 29 Jan 2026 03:30:40 GMT<p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://braincx.ai/" target="_blank">https://braincx.ai/</a><br /><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/tariqalinur/" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/tariqalinur/</a></p><p></p><p>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.</p><p>This is not a conversation about hype or replacing people.</p><p>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.</p><p>We cover:</p><p>→ Why AI should augment people, not replace them</p><p>→ How BrainCX eliminates IVRs and “press one, press two” systems</p><p>→ What makes voice AI feel human, not robotic</p><p>→ Why 95% of AI initiatives fail and how to avoid it</p><p>→ How AI-generated insights can fuel marketing, sales, and growth</p><p>→ Building trust, loyalty, and better experiences in high-stakes industries</p><p>This episode is for founders, executives, and operators thinking seriously about AI, customer experience, and long-term brand trust.</p>no00:43:19Ep. 75 | Why 95% of AI Projects Fail and How BrainCX Gets It Rightfull<![CDATA[Ep. 74 | Building a Franchise That Helps Seniors Stay Independent]]>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

]]>6b0d43a5-aaa0-4a61-b050-e7d689dbc031Tue, 27 Jan 2026 01:42:43 GMT<p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/davepazgan/" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/davepazgan/</a></p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.liftology.com/" target="_blank">https://www.liftology.com/</a></p><p></p><p>Liftology is a home mobility service built to help older adults and people with disabilities stay safe, independent, and confident in their own homes.</p><p>In this episode of The Quiet Work Podcast, I sit down with Dave Pazgan, founder of Liftology, to talk about:</p><p>• The real mobility challenges seniors face at home</p><p>• Why independence and safety matter more than strength or performance</p><p>• How Liftology supports aging in place through practical solutions</p><p>• What it takes to grow a care-driven service through franchising</p><p>• How trust, referrals, and local relationships fuel sustainable growth</p><p>Timestamps:</p><p>00:00 Introduction and why mobility matters</p><p>02:15 What Liftology actually does and who it serves</p><p>05:10 The real problems seniors face at home</p><p>08:40 Mobility as dignity, not fitness</p><p>12:05 How Liftology earns trust with families</p><p>15:30 The franchise model</p><p>19:10 What makes a good Liftology franchisee</p><p>23:00 Word of mouth vs systems in senior care</p><p>26:20 The biggest growth challenges today</p><p>30:10 Staying mission-driven while scaling</p><p>34:20 Advice for founders in care-based businesses</p><p>37:10 Closing thoughts</p>no00:38:37Ep. 74 | Building a Franchise That Helps Seniors Stay Independentfull<![CDATA[Ep. 73 | From Bouncy Castles to Manufacturing. How Matt Faizey Built Businesses Under Pressure]]>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

]]>5c7e4bdc-e7e8-449d-9f19-a650c1ea0604Mon, 19 Jan 2026 02:15:32 GMT<p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-faizey-a70598383/" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-faizey-a70598383/</a> <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://loopsuite.ai/" target="_blank">https://loopsuite.ai/</a></p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://shieldmfg.co.uk/" target="_blank">https://shieldmfg.co.uk/</a></p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p>Matthew shares what it takes to operate under pressure, manage risk, build teams you trust, and spot opportunities without trying to reinvent the wheel.</p><p>We also cover the origin of LoopSuite, an all-in-one marketing and outreach platform built from real operational pain. Not theory.</p><p>Topics include:</p><p>• Building businesses without outside funding</p><p>• Scaling manufacturing during a national crisis</p><p>• Managing risk when everything is on the line</p><p>• Why not reinventing the wheel often wins</p><p>• How LoopSuite was born from real-world needs</p>no00:51:15Ep. 73 | From Bouncy Castles to Manufacturing. How Matt Faizey Built Businesses Under Pressurefull<![CDATA[Ep. 72 | How a Laid-Off Engineer Built a Baseball Product Used in the MLB]]>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.

]]>34d587e5-76d9-422f-b3f1-3379c9cea133Fri, 16 Jan 2026 04:51:12 GMT<p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/craig-first-5b2973281/" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/craig-first-5b2973281/</a> <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://baseballthumbguard.com" target="_blank">http://baseballthumbguard.com</a> <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.baseballthumbguard.com/community/blog/baseball-thumb-guard" target="_blank">https://www.baseballthumbguard.com/community/blog/baseball-thumb-guard</a> <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/thumbpro_baseball/" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/thumbpro_baseball/</a></p><p>Craig First invented a baseball product in his basement.</p><p>Today, MLB players use it on the field.</p><p>In this episode of The Quiet Work, Craig shares the real story behind ⁨@thumbpro⁩ .</p><p>We talk about:</p><p>• how a violin problem led to a baseball product</p><p>• getting laid off and deciding to bet on himself</p><p>• building prototypes by hand</p><p>• launching at a baseball conference with zero guarantees</p><p>• seeing his product show up in MLB dugouts</p><p>• why courage matters more than confidence</p><p>This is a conversation about:</p><p>• invention</p><p>• risk</p><p>• family-run businesses</p><p>• and building something real without pretending it’s easy</p><p>Craig is an engineer by trade.</p><p>ThumbPro started in his basement.</p><p>His wife helped turn it into a real company.</p><p>If you are building a product, thinking about it, or scared to start, this one will hit.</p><p></p>no00:33:45Ep. 72 | How a Laid-Off Engineer Built a Baseball Product Used in the MLBfull<![CDATA[Ep. 71 | Jill Lublin on Publicity, Visibility, and Getting Media Attention Without a PR Agency]]>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.

]]>4c6d86fc-c31d-4af2-b57c-f6f3ee6de70dTue, 13 Jan 2026 03:18:16 GMT<p>Connect with Jill:<br /><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jilllublin/" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/jilllublin/</a> <br />Jill's Website:<br /><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://jilllublin.com/" target="_blank">https://jilllublin.com/</a> <br />Jumpstart Your Publicity: <br /><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://jilllublin.com/guide/" target="_blank">https://jilllublin.com/guide/</a> <br />Monthly Kindness Circle:<br /><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://jilllublin.com/kindnesscircles/" target="_blank">https://jilllublin.com/kindnesscircles/</a></p><p></p><p>In this episode of the Quiet Work Podcast, I sit down with Jill Lublin, a publicity expert, speaker, and author of Guerrilla Publicity.</p><p>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.</p><p>→ Why publicity is not social media</p><p>→ How podcasts, media, and interviews build trust faster</p><p>→ Finding stories founders are afraid to tell</p><p>→ Turning personal background into powerful visibility</p><p>→ Why being seen leads to clients, not chasing them</p><p>→ Confidence, courage, and owning your message</p><p>→ Mentors, money, and building a sustainable business</p><p>This episode is for founders, consultants, and creators who want to be seen without begging for attention.</p>no00:20:53Ep. 71 | Jill Lublin on Publicity, Visibility, and Getting Media Attention Without a PR Agencyfull<![CDATA[Ep. 70 | Eddie DeAngelis on Business Funding, Credit Strategy, and Building Qualifi]]>https://www.linkedin.com/in/-edward-deangelis-ceo-qualifi-llc/

http://goqualifi.com

In this episode of The Quiet Work Podcast, I sit down with Eddie DeAngelis, CEO of Qualifi.

We talk about the real mechanics of business funding, why founders misunderstand credit, and how financing decisions impact long-term control, growth, and survival. No hype. No shortcuts. Just clear thinking from someone who has seen both sides of the table.

→ How business funding actually works behind the scenes

→ Why “approved” does not always mean “smart”

→ Credit myths that hurt founders long term

→ Building a finance company in a trust-driven industry

→ Lessons from decades in business and leadership

→ When capital helps growth and when it creates risk

This episode is for founders, operators, and executives who want to understand money before they need it.

]]>c5167754-cf98-48cf-9e52-4ed53a15a867Fri, 02 Jan 2026 22:16:17 GMT<p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/-edward-deangelis-ceo-qualifi-llc/" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/-edward-deangelis-ceo-qualifi-llc/</a></p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://goqualifi.com" target="_blank">http://goqualifi.com</a></p><p>In this episode of The Quiet Work Podcast, I sit down with Eddie DeAngelis, CEO of Qualifi.</p><p>We talk about the real mechanics of business funding, why founders misunderstand credit, and how financing decisions impact long-term control, growth, and survival. No hype. No shortcuts. Just clear thinking from someone who has seen both sides of the table.</p><p>→ How business funding actually works behind the scenes</p><p>→ Why “approved” does not always mean “smart”</p><p>→ Credit myths that hurt founders long term</p><p>→ Building a finance company in a trust-driven industry</p><p>→ Lessons from decades in business and leadership</p><p>→ When capital helps growth and when it creates risk</p><p>This episode is for founders, operators, and executives who want to understand money before they need it.</p><p></p>no00:40:49Ep. 70 | Eddie DeAngelis on Business Funding, Credit Strategy, and Building Qualififull<![CDATA[Ep. 69 | Nathan Chaney on Building Supply Chaney, Networking &Turning Experience Into a Media Brand]]>https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanchaney/

https://supplychaney.com/

Nathan Chaney has spent 15 years in logistics across SEVA, PepsiCo, Crane Worldwide Logistics, Mainfreight, Texas Instruments, and autonomous trucking before launching Supply Chaney, a growing media and networking platform for the logistics world. He has built supply chain events, a podcast, a crowdsourced newsletter, a community, and a calendar that tracks industry events across North America.

In this episode we talk about his career journey, the power of relationships, building a media brand from scratch, and why supply chain is really a network of people.

]]>e248c1c1-c5cc-49ce-a3d4-8a4960e3dfe5Tue, 09 Dec 2025 01:24:45 GMT<p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanchaney/" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanchaney/</a></p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://supplychaney.com/" target="_blank">https://supplychaney.com/</a></p><p>Nathan Chaney has spent 15 years in logistics across SEVA, PepsiCo, Crane Worldwide Logistics, Mainfreight, Texas Instruments, and autonomous trucking before launching Supply Chaney, a growing media and networking platform for the logistics world. He has built supply chain events, a podcast, a crowdsourced newsletter, a community, and a calendar that tracks industry events across North America.</p><p>In this episode we talk about his career journey, the power of relationships, building a media brand from scratch, and why supply chain is really a network of people.</p>no00:45:12Ep. 69 | Nathan Chaney on Building Supply Chaney, Networking &Turning Experience Into a Media Brandfull<![CDATA[Ep. 68 | The Southern Domestic Diva: Red Lipstick. Pecan Pies. $4M Brand.]]>https://www.linkedin.com/in/allie-williamson-1a559b42/

https://www.instagram.com/southerndomesticdiva/

https://southerndomesticdiva.com/

Allie Williamson — known online as The Southern Domestic Diva — built a multimillion-dollar cleaning company out of her garage using one thing most businesses overlook: branding with heart. From red lipstick to pecan pies, she turned authenticity into her growth engine and grew her company to over $4 million in revenue — all without paid ads or SEO agencies.

In this episode of The Quiet Work Podcast, we talk about building a brand from the ground up, turning storytelling into sales, and leading with faith, family, and vision.

→ How Allie grew from a garage startup to an 85-person team

→ The power of brand consistency: red cars, red nails, red mops

→ Why storytelling and tradition are her best marketing tools

→ Turning authenticity into business growth

→ Her grandmother Hattie’s legacy (and the famous pecan pies)

→ Building company culture with faith and family values

→ How to stay resilient through setbacks and personal growth

→ Lessons from 11 years of leadership and reinvention

]]>28d7a0ad-f6e9-4687-886f-63e605fd8941Tue, 09 Dec 2025 00:20:54 GMT<p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/allie-williamson-1a559b42/" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/allie-williamson-1a559b42/</a></p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/southerndomesticdiva/" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/southerndomesticdiva/</a></p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://southerndomesticdiva.com/" target="_blank">https://southerndomesticdiva.com/</a></p><p>Allie Williamson — known online as The Southern Domestic Diva — built a multimillion-dollar cleaning company out of her garage using one thing most businesses overlook: branding with heart. From red lipstick to pecan pies, she turned authenticity into her growth engine and grew her company to over $4 million in revenue — all without paid ads or SEO agencies.</p><p>In this episode of The Quiet Work Podcast, we talk about building a brand from the ground up, turning storytelling into sales, and leading with faith, family, and vision.</p><p>→ How Allie grew from a garage startup to an 85-person team</p><p>→ The power of brand consistency: red cars, red nails, red mops</p><p>→ Why storytelling and tradition are her best marketing tools</p><p>→ Turning authenticity into business growth</p><p>→ Her grandmother Hattie’s legacy (and the famous pecan pies)</p><p>→ Building company culture with faith and family values</p><p>→ How to stay resilient through setbacks and personal growth</p><p>→ Lessons from 11 years of leadership and reinvention</p>no00:45:56Ep. 68 | The Southern Domestic Diva: Red Lipstick. Pecan Pies. $4M Brand.full<![CDATA[Ep. 67 | How Randy Peyser Helps Authors Land Traditional Book Deals and Get Published]]>https://authoronestop.com/

Randy Peyser has helped authors land deals with publishers like Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, McGraw-Hill, and Wiley. She breaks down how acquisitions really work, why publishers insist on strong platform and engagement, and how outcome-driven titles win committees.

→ From magazine editor to “pitch queen” for traditional deals

→ What publishers measure. content vs platform, committee votes, engagement thresholds

→ Platform reality. Why 100k networks matter for business books, how they check engagement

→ Title science. outcome-driven, keyword-aware, promises that deliver A→Z

→ Editing that sells. reading like a publisher, not like the author

→ Self-publish to trad pitfalls. Sales history can block the next deal

→ Courage, imposter syndrome, and forward motion. “Speak truth, be a way-shower.”

]]>3f1e0b56-bdd0-48fc-80bb-5fcd1765220eTue, 09 Dec 2025 00:17:23 GMT<p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://authoronestop.com/" target="_blank">https://authoronestop.com/</a></p><p>Randy Peyser has helped authors land deals with publishers like Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, McGraw-Hill, and Wiley. She breaks down how acquisitions really work, why publishers insist on strong platform and engagement, and how outcome-driven titles win committees.</p><p>→ From magazine editor to “pitch queen” for traditional deals</p><p>→ What publishers measure. content vs platform, committee votes, engagement thresholds</p><p>→ Platform reality. Why 100k networks matter for business books, how they check engagement</p><p>→ Title science. outcome-driven, keyword-aware, promises that deliver A→Z</p><p>→ Editing that sells. reading like a publisher, not like the author</p><p>→ Self-publish to trad pitfalls. Sales history can block the next deal</p><p>→ Courage, imposter syndrome, and forward motion. “Speak truth, be a way-shower.”</p>no00:39:35Ep. 67 | How Randy Peyser Helps Authors Land Traditional Book Deals and Get Publishedfull<![CDATA[Ep. 66 | Terri Braun on Kids, Confidence, and How Movement Shapes the Mind (the Kidokinetics story)]]>https://www.linkedin.com/in/terri-braun-72292521/

https://www.kidokinetics.com/

Terri Braun is the Founder and CEO of Kidokinetics, a national franchise that helps children build confidence, strength, and coordination through movement. What began as a local passion in South Africa became a 25-state operation built on one simple idea: kids who move, thrive.

In this episode of The Quiet Work Podcast, we talk about early childhood development, how movement builds the brain, and what parents can do to help their kids grow strong — physically, mentally, and emotionally.

→ How movement shapes the brain from ages 0–5

→ Why confidence and coordination start early

→ The story of Kidokinetics — from South Africa to 25 U.S. states

→ The rise of homeschool enrichment pods

→ How play develops social and emotional intelligence

→ The long-term impact of screen time on kids

→ Building a national franchise rooted in education and empathy

]]>c3e16e55-9f42-4a31-9858-e8a5d44fa6d7Sat, 25 Oct 2025 04:01:12 GMT<p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/terri-braun-72292521/" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/terri-braun-72292521/</a></p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.kidokinetics.com/" target="_blank">https://www.kidokinetics.com/</a></p><p></p><p>Terri Braun is the Founder and CEO of Kidokinetics, a national franchise that helps children build confidence, strength, and coordination through movement. What began as a local passion in South Africa became a 25-state operation built on one simple idea: kids who move, thrive.</p><p>In this episode of The Quiet Work Podcast, we talk about early childhood development, how movement builds the brain, and what parents can do to help their kids grow strong — physically, mentally, and emotionally.</p><p></p><p>→ How movement shapes the brain from ages 0–5</p><p>→ Why confidence and coordination start early</p><p>→ The story of Kidokinetics — from South Africa to 25 U.S. states</p><p>→ The rise of homeschool enrichment pods</p><p>→ How play develops social and emotional intelligence</p><p>→ The long-term impact of screen time on kids</p><p>→ Building a national franchise rooted in education and empathy</p>no00:34:59Ep. 66 | Terri Braun on Kids, Confidence, and How Movement Shapes the Mind (the Kidokinetics story)full<![CDATA[Ep. 65 | Matthew Schneider on Real Estate Data, Smart Cities, and the Future of the Built World]]>https://www.linkedin.com/in/realmattschneider https://www.building.inc/

Matthew Schneider is the Founder and CEO of Building Inc., a technology company transforming how real estate developers organize, verify, and activate data. A true Gen Z entrepreneur, Matthew is helping the built world move at the speed of the internet — combining blockchain, AI, and real estate to make properties more transparent, secure, and efficient.

In this episode of The Quiet Work Podcast, we talk about innovation, transparency, and what it takes to build trust in an industry still held together by paperwork.

→ From author and musician to tech founder and global speaker

→ The lessons from day trading and early startups

→ How Building Inc. solves real problems for developers

→ Why “data is the new oil” in real estate

→ Cybersecurity, blockchain, and data sovereignty

→ How smart cities will change how we live and invest

→ Lessons from pitching in Hong Kong and speaking worldwide

→ The mindset, philosophy, and future vision behind Building Inc.

]]>a67bcc6b-c47d-41b0-b296-ef6148438c46Fri, 24 Oct 2025 23:28:32 GMT<p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/realmattschneider" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/realmattschneider</a> <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.building.inc/" target="_blank">https://www.building.inc/</a></p><p></p><p>Matthew Schneider is the Founder and CEO of Building Inc., a technology company transforming how real estate developers organize, verify, and activate data. A true Gen Z entrepreneur, Matthew is helping the built world move at the speed of the internet — combining blockchain, AI, and real estate to make properties more transparent, secure, and efficient.</p><p>In this episode of The Quiet Work Podcast, we talk about innovation, transparency, and what it takes to build trust in an industry still held together by paperwork.</p><p>→ From author and musician to tech founder and global speaker</p><p>→ The lessons from day trading and early startups</p><p>→ How Building Inc. solves real problems for developers</p><p>→ Why “data is the new oil” in real estate</p><p>→ Cybersecurity, blockchain, and data sovereignty</p><p>→ How smart cities will change how we live and invest</p><p>→ Lessons from pitching in Hong Kong and speaking worldwide</p><p>→ The mindset, philosophy, and future vision behind Building Inc.</p>no01:02:42Ep. 65 | Matthew Schneider on Real Estate Data, Smart Cities, and the Future of the Built Worldfull<![CDATA[Ep. 64 | Frank Rieger on Building Las Vegas’ Top Solar Company and 16 Years in Clean Energy]]>https://www.linkedin.com/in/frank-rieger-88946179/ http://www.solup.com/

Frank Rieger is the Founder and CEO of Sol-Up, Las Vegas’ largest locally owned solar company. Originally from Berlin, Frank left the software world in 2009 to start a renewable energy company in the middle of the desert — just as the 2008 housing crisis hit. Sixteen years later, Sol-Up has become a symbol of quality, innovation, and integrity in one of the toughest solar markets in the U.S.

In this episode of The Quiet Work Podcast, we explore Frank’s journey from Germany to Nevada, what it takes to build a trusted solar brand, and how the future of energy will be shaped by storage, technology, and ethics.

→ How Frank built Sol-Up during the 2008 crash

→ Why education, not sales, built their reputation

→ The European mindset behind U.S. solar success

→ What separates good installers from bad actors

→ The future of battery storage and heterojunction technology

→ Building trust through engineering, not hype

→ Lessons from 2,000+ five-star reviews

→ The philosophy behind work, money, and fulfillment

]]>9e01460a-04c9-4212-9ceb-134744914948Fri, 24 Oct 2025 22:12:20 GMT<p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/frank-rieger-88946179/" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/frank-rieger-88946179/</a> <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://www.solup.com/" target="_blank">http://www.solup.com/</a></p><p></p><p>Frank Rieger is the Founder and CEO of Sol-Up, Las Vegas’ largest locally owned solar company. Originally from Berlin, Frank left the software world in 2009 to start a renewable energy company in the middle of the desert — just as the 2008 housing crisis hit. Sixteen years later, Sol-Up has become a symbol of quality, innovation, and integrity in one of the toughest solar markets in the U.S.</p><p>In this episode of The Quiet Work Podcast, we explore Frank’s journey from Germany to Nevada, what it takes to build a trusted solar brand, and how the future of energy will be shaped by storage, technology, and ethics.</p><p>→ How Frank built Sol-Up during the 2008 crash</p><p>→ Why education, not sales, built their reputation</p><p>→ The European mindset behind U.S. solar success</p><p>→ What separates good installers from bad actors</p><p>→ The future of battery storage and heterojunction technology</p><p>→ Building trust through engineering, not hype</p><p>→ Lessons from 2,000+ five-star reviews</p><p>→ The philosophy behind work, money, and fulfillment</p>no00:47:24Ep. 64 | Frank Rieger on Building Las Vegas’ Top Solar Company and 16 Years in Clean Energyfull<![CDATA[Ep. 63 | Lance Queen on Family, Leadership & Building Wild Construction Into a Nashville Powerhouse]]>https://www.linkedin.com/in/lance-queen-a4183086/

https://www.wildbuilding.com/

Lance Queen is the Director of Operations at Wild Building Construction, a Tennessee-based general contractor specializing in civil and heavy construction. What started as a family trade became a lifelong passion — and now, a thriving division in one of the fastest-growing markets in the South.

In this episode of The Quiet Work Podcast, we explore what it means to build — not just roads and sites, but teams, culture, and legacy.

→ From sweeping job sites to leading a 200-person company

→ How father-son teamwork strengthens Wild Building’s culture

→ Recruiting good people in a tough labor market

→ Integrity, honesty, and the “non-negotiables” of leadership

→ The future of construction tech: GPS systems and automation

→ Mentorship and developing young talent

→ The importance of relationships in private projects

→ Family, work ethic, and the joy of seeing others grow

]]>6557ce84-bf3d-4de8-81e7-1a68812e9d5bFri, 24 Oct 2025 21:38:54 GMT<p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/lance-queen-a4183086/" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/lance-queen-a4183086/</a></p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.wildbuilding.com/" target="_blank">https://www.wildbuilding.com/</a></p><p>Lance Queen is the Director of Operations at Wild Building Construction, a Tennessee-based general contractor specializing in civil and heavy construction. What started as a family trade became a lifelong passion — and now, a thriving division in one of the fastest-growing markets in the South.</p><p>In this episode of The Quiet Work Podcast, we explore what it means to build — not just roads and sites, but teams, culture, and legacy.</p><p>→ From sweeping job sites to leading a 200-person company</p><p>→ How father-son teamwork strengthens Wild Building’s culture</p><p>→ Recruiting good people in a tough labor market</p><p>→ Integrity, honesty, and the “non-negotiables” of leadership</p><p>→ The future of construction tech: GPS systems and automation</p><p>→ Mentorship and developing young talent</p><p>→ The importance of relationships in private projects</p><p>→ Family, work ethic, and the joy of seeing others grow</p><p></p>no00:28:38Ep. 63 | Lance Queen on Family, Leadership & Building Wild Construction Into a Nashville Powerhousefull<![CDATA[Ep. 62 | Dr. Kathryn Messegee on Decentralization, Freedom, and Building the Future of Web3]]>https://www.linkedin.com/in/gurukathryn/

https://geodechain.com/

Dr. Kathryn Messegee is the founder of Geode, a decentralized Layer 1 blockchain with a native suite of apps designed to set humanity free. Before entering the world of blockchain, she served as a DARPA program manager, built defense technologies, taught mathematics, and became a powerful advocate for technological freedom and personal sovereignty.

In this episode of The Quiet Work Podcast, we talk about decentralization, freedom, and what it truly means to take control of our digital lives. Dr. Messegee explains how Geode’s architecture is transforming how people interact with money, data, and ownership — and how her mission is to empower individuals around the world to reclaim their digital autonomy.

→ From NASA to DARPA to Web3: Kathryn’s journey into blockchain

→ What a Layer 1 blockchain really is (in simple terms)

→ Why decentralization matters for humanity’s future

→ How she gave up her “God powers” to make Geode fully community-owned

→ The difference between centralized and decentralized systems

→ The problem with crypto hype — and why ethics will outlast the noise

→ Building apps that let users profit from their own time and attention

→ The psychology of technology, freedom, and human connection

→ Teaching, mentoring, and setting people free through innovation

]]>c3427808-8c0a-4bdf-9e40-cb510b750010Fri, 24 Oct 2025 21:20:00 GMT<p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/gurukathryn/" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/gurukathryn/</a></p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://geodechain.com/" target="_blank">https://geodechain.com/</a></p><p>Dr. Kathryn Messegee is the founder of Geode, a decentralized Layer 1 blockchain with a native suite of apps designed to set humanity free. Before entering the world of blockchain, she served as a DARPA program manager, built defense technologies, taught mathematics, and became a powerful advocate for technological freedom and personal sovereignty.</p><p>In this episode of The Quiet Work Podcast, we talk about decentralization, freedom, and what it truly means to take control of our digital lives. Dr. Messegee explains how Geode’s architecture is transforming how people interact with money, data, and ownership — and how her mission is to empower individuals around the world to reclaim their digital autonomy.</p><p>→ From NASA to DARPA to Web3: Kathryn’s journey into blockchain</p><p>→ What a Layer 1 blockchain really is (in simple terms)</p><p>→ Why decentralization matters for humanity’s future</p><p>→ How she gave up her “God powers” to make Geode fully community-owned</p><p>→ The difference between centralized and decentralized systems</p><p>→ The problem with crypto hype — and why ethics will outlast the noise</p><p>→ Building apps that let users profit from their own time and attention</p><p>→ The psychology of technology, freedom, and human connection</p><p>→ Teaching, mentoring, and setting people free through innovation</p>no00:57:37Ep. 62 | Dr. Kathryn Messegee on Decentralization, Freedom, and Building the Future of Web3full<![CDATA[Ep. 61| David Oppman on Building a Private Jet Brokerage & Mastering the Art of Client Relationships]]>https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-oppman-aviation/ https://oppflightcharter.com

David Oppman is the founder of Opp Flight Charter, a private jet brokerage dedicated to providing a seamless, concierge-level experience for high-net-worth travelers. With years of experience in the aviation industry, David has built a reputation for precision, transparency, and trust.

In this episode of The Quiet Work Podcast, we dive into what it takes to build a private jet brokerage from the ground up — the regulations, the challenges, and the client relationships that define long-term success in private aviation.

→ From working late nights at a global brokerage to launching Opp Flight

→ How to earn trust in a luxury service industry

→ FAA regulations and why “private” doesn’t always mean “safe”

→ The value of speed, transparency, and expertise

→ Networking lessons: “If you can’t buy, you can’t sell.”

→ How relationships with operators drive pricing and success

→ The psychology of selling to high-net-worth clients

→ Why “margins are earned through expertise”

→ Entrepreneurship lessons from the first year in business

→ Mentorship, mindset, and finding fulfillment in your craft

]]>cc70c921-3d25-4cc7-9ae2-09b16ef9ef0bWed, 22 Oct 2025 21:57:32 GMT<p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-oppman-aviation/" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-oppman-aviation/</a> <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://oppflightcharter.com" target="_blank">https://oppflightcharter.com</a></p><p></p><p>David Oppman is the founder of Opp Flight Charter, a private jet brokerage dedicated to providing a seamless, concierge-level experience for high-net-worth travelers. With years of experience in the aviation industry, David has built a reputation for precision, transparency, and trust.</p><p>In this episode of The Quiet Work Podcast, we dive into what it takes to build a private jet brokerage from the ground up — the regulations, the challenges, and the client relationships that define long-term success in private aviation.</p><p>→ From working late nights at a global brokerage to launching Opp Flight</p><p>→ How to earn trust in a luxury service industry</p><p>→ FAA regulations and why “private” doesn’t always mean “safe”</p><p>→ The value of speed, transparency, and expertise</p><p>→ Networking lessons: “If you can’t buy, you can’t sell.”</p><p>→ How relationships with operators drive pricing and success</p><p>→ The psychology of selling to high-net-worth clients</p><p>→ Why “margins are earned through expertise”</p><p>→ Entrepreneurship lessons from the first year in business</p><p>→ Mentorship, mindset, and finding fulfillment in your craft</p>no00:59:20Ep. 61| David Oppman on Building a Private Jet Brokerage & Mastering the Art of Client Relationshipsfull<![CDATA[Ep. 60 | Mike Salvaggio on 20 Years of SEO, AI Search, and Building an Agency That Lasts]]>http://www.linkedin.com/in/mikesalvaggio

https://seobrand.com

Mike Salvaggio is the CEO and co-founder of SEO Brand, a digital marketing agency celebrating over 20 years in business. Since 2005, Mike and his team have been helping brands grow through SEO, CRO, and data-driven digital strategy.

In this episode of The Quiet Work Podcast, Mike shares lessons from two decades in the ever-changing world of search — from the early days of affiliate marketing and Google’s first algorithm, to the rise of AI-driven search and the future of online visibility.

→ How SEO has evolved from 2005 to 2025

→ The impact of AI and large language models on search

→ What businesses must do to stay visible in the age of ChatGPT

→ Why quality still beats quantity in content

→ The real purpose of backlinks and keyword research today

→ Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO) and heat mapping insights

→ Agency longevity: 20 years of lessons, mistakes, and values

→ How to build a brand that lasts beyond hype and algorithms

]]>ae52a30e-eb29-4c8c-803d-ab966fcabc5cMon, 20 Oct 2025 20:17:16 GMT<p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/mikesalvaggio" target="_blank">http://www.linkedin.com/in/mikesalvaggio</a></p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://seobrand.com" target="_blank">https://seobrand.com</a></p><p>Mike Salvaggio is the CEO and co-founder of SEO Brand, a digital marketing agency celebrating over 20 years in business. Since 2005, Mike and his team have been helping brands grow through SEO, CRO, and data-driven digital strategy.</p><p>In this episode of The Quiet Work Podcast, Mike shares lessons from two decades in the ever-changing world of search — from the early days of affiliate marketing and Google’s first algorithm, to the rise of AI-driven search and the future of online visibility.</p><p>→ How SEO has evolved from 2005 to 2025</p><p>→ The impact of AI and large language models on search</p><p>→ What businesses must do to stay visible in the age of ChatGPT</p><p>→ Why quality still beats quantity in content</p><p>→ The real purpose of backlinks and keyword research today</p><p>→ Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO) and heat mapping insights</p><p>→ Agency longevity: 20 years of lessons, mistakes, and values</p><p>→ How to build a brand that lasts beyond hype and algorithms</p>no00:41:07Ep. 60 | Mike Salvaggio on 20 Years of SEO, AI Search, and Building an Agency That Lastsfull<![CDATA[Ep. 58 | Thierry Arys Ruiz on Gold-Backed Money and the Future of Decentralized Finance]]>https://www.linkedin.com/in/joethierryarysruiz/

https://agau.io/

Thierry Arys Ruiz is the founder and CEO of AGAU.io, a Swiss-based company redefining money through gold- and silver-backed tokens. By merging precious metals with blockchain technology, AGAU allows individuals and corporations to store, transact, and protect their wealth outside the traditional banking system — all while holding real, audited gold.

In this episode of The Quiet Work Podcast, Thierry explains how the global financial system became a confidence game, why Switzerland remains the fortress of private property, and how gold-backed digital money could restore stability and freedom to global trade.

]]>7b80fcd6-a4ec-4ac4-9ff9-a3b91abd0a3bSat, 18 Oct 2025 18:40:25 GMT<p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/joethierryarysruiz/" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/joethierryarysruiz/</a></p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://agau.io/" target="_blank">https://agau.io/</a></p><p>Thierry Arys Ruiz is the founder and CEO of <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://AGAU.io" target="_blank">AGAU.io</a>, a Swiss-based company redefining money through gold- and silver-backed tokens. By merging precious metals with blockchain technology, AGAU allows individuals and corporations to store, transact, and protect their wealth outside the traditional banking system — all while holding real, audited gold.</p><p>In this episode of The Quiet Work Podcast, Thierry explains how the global financial system became a confidence game, why Switzerland remains the fortress of private property, and how gold-backed digital money could restore stability and freedom to global trade.</p>no00:54:54Ep. 58 | Thierry Arys Ruiz on Gold-Backed Money and the Future of Decentralized Financefull<![CDATA[Ep. 57 |Cameron Parker on Private Aviation, Client Relationships, and the Business of Jet Management]]>https://www.linkedin.com/in/camlparker/

Cameron Parker is the Director of Aviation Sales at Jet Access, a leading aviation company providing charter, management, maintenance, and acquisition services for jet owners nationwide.

In this episode of The Quiet Work Podcast, Cameron shares what it takes to earn trust in the private aviation business — from managing multimillion-dollar aircraft to delivering the level of service that keeps clients flying for life.

→ How Jet Access builds long-term client relationships

→ What “full-service aircraft management” actually means

→ Turning jet ownership into an asset, not just an expense

→ Client experience, transparency, and trust in private aviation

→ How education drives retention and referrals

→ The value of consistency and human connection in a digital world

→ The future of aviation and emerging client expectations

]]>dac4a104-530e-411d-b882-bc85d2b8571dTue, 14 Oct 2025 20:15:29 GMT<p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/camlparker/" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/camlparker/</a></p><p>Cameron Parker is the Director of Aviation Sales at Jet Access, a leading aviation company providing charter, management, maintenance, and acquisition services for jet owners nationwide.</p><p>In this episode of The Quiet Work Podcast, Cameron shares what it takes to earn trust in the private aviation business — from managing multimillion-dollar aircraft to delivering the level of service that keeps clients flying for life.</p><p>→ How Jet Access builds long-term client relationships</p><p>→ What “full-service aircraft management” actually means</p><p>→ Turning jet ownership into an asset, not just an expense</p><p>→ Client experience, transparency, and trust in private aviation</p><p>→ How education drives retention and referrals</p><p>→ The value of consistency and human connection in a digital world</p><p>→ The future of aviation and emerging client expectations</p><p></p>no00:43:09Ep. 57 |Cameron Parker on Private Aviation, Client Relationships, and the Business of Jet Managementfull<![CDATA[ Ep. 56 | Elan Divon on Emotional Intelligence, Soft Skills, and the Future of Education]]>https://www.linkedin.com/in/elan-divon/

https://divonacademy.com/

https://www.instagram.com/divon_academy/

Elan Divon is an author, educator, and founder of Divon Academy and ElevateU. His work focuses on helping companies, universities, and young professionals build the soft skills that AI can’t replace — emotional intelligence, communication, resilience, and leadership.

In this episode of The Quiet Work Podcast, Elan shares insights from his book The Initiation: A Practical Guide to Finding Your Spark and Leaving Your Mark on the World, and explains why breakthroughs come not in times of comfort, but through challenges and hardships.

→ From ancient wisdom to modern leadership lessons

→ Why every breakthrough begins with struggle

→ The human skills AI will never automate

→ How Divon Academy equips young talent for the workforce

→ Emotional intelligence and communication as career superpowers

→ The role of accountability and community in growth

→ Patience, surrender, and letting go as keys to success

]]>a36fb440-1ccc-4579-8859-b535a66215b1Wed, 01 Oct 2025 00:18:57 GMT<p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/elan-divon/" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/elan-divon/</a></p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://divonacademy.com/" target="_blank">https://divonacademy.com/</a></p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/divon_academy/" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/divon_academy/</a></p><p>Elan Divon is an author, educator, and founder of Divon Academy and ElevateU. His work focuses on helping companies, universities, and young professionals build the soft skills that AI can’t replace — emotional intelligence, communication, resilience, and leadership.</p><p>In this episode of The Quiet Work Podcast, Elan shares insights from his book The Initiation: A Practical Guide to Finding Your Spark and Leaving Your Mark on the World, and explains why breakthroughs come not in times of comfort, but through challenges and hardships.</p><p>→ From ancient wisdom to modern leadership lessons</p><p>→ Why every breakthrough begins with struggle</p><p>→ The human skills AI will never automate</p><p>→ How Divon Academy equips young talent for the workforce</p><p>→ Emotional intelligence and communication as career superpowers</p><p>→ The role of accountability and community in growth</p><p>→ Patience, surrender, and letting go as keys to success</p>no00:46:10 Ep. 56 | Elan Divon on Emotional Intelligence, Soft Skills, and the Future of Educationfull<![CDATA[Ep. 55 | Sean Dowdell on Building Club Tattoo, 30 Years of Branding & Future of the Tattoo Industry]]>https://clubtattoo.com

https://www.instagram.com/sean_dowdell/?hl=en

Sean Dowdell is the founder of Club Tattoo, launched in 1995 in Tempe, Arizona. What started as a side hustle with his bandmates has grown into 12 locations nationwide under The Tattoo Partners. From guerrilla marketing with stickers in the 90s to innovating with AI and luxury branding today, Sean has redefined what it means to scale a tattoo and piercing studio.

In this episode of The Quiet Work Podcast, Sean shares the story behind building Club Tattoo into one of the most recognizable brands in the industry and the lessons learned along the way.

→ From touring musician to entrepreneur in 1995

→ How guerrilla marketing and branding made Club Tattoo “go viral” in Phoenix

→ Building consistency across 12 locations

→ Lessons on leadership, delegation, and brand standards

→ Emotional impact of tattoos: creating client experiences, not just art

→ Innovations: AI, instant response systems, luxury positioning

→ Partnerships, community, and giving back

→ The future of tattoo and piercing as a national brand

]]>39ab1013-7f0d-40aa-9f85-8a540e414e49Tue, 30 Sep 2025 23:18:31 GMT<p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://clubtattoo.com" target="_blank">https://clubtattoo.com</a></p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/sean_dowdell/?hl=en" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/sean_dowdell/?hl=en</a></p><p>Sean Dowdell is the founder of Club Tattoo, launched in 1995 in Tempe, Arizona. What started as a side hustle with his bandmates has grown into 12 locations nationwide under The Tattoo Partners. From guerrilla marketing with stickers in the 90s to innovating with AI and luxury branding today, Sean has redefined what it means to scale a tattoo and piercing studio.</p><p>In this episode of The Quiet Work Podcast, Sean shares the story behind building Club Tattoo into one of the most recognizable brands in the industry and the lessons learned along the way.</p><p>→ From touring musician to entrepreneur in 1995</p><p>→ How guerrilla marketing and branding made Club Tattoo “go viral” in Phoenix</p><p>→ Building consistency across 12 locations</p><p>→ Lessons on leadership, delegation, and brand standards</p><p>→ Emotional impact of tattoos: creating client experiences, not just art</p><p>→ Innovations: AI, instant response systems, luxury positioning</p><p>→ Partnerships, community, and giving back</p><p>→ The future of tattoo and piercing as a national brand</p>no00:27:11Ep. 55 | Sean Dowdell on Building Club Tattoo, 30 Years of Branding & Future of the Tattoo Industryfull<![CDATA[Ep. 54 | Kevin Stuart on Family Business, 85+ Franchises, and Building a National Brand]]>https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-stuart-742800153/

https://bloominblinds.com

Kevin Stuart is the youngest of three brothers running Bloomin’ Blinds, a family business turned national franchise with 85+ locations. What started in a garage with their mom 30 years ago has become a fast-growing franchise redefining window coverings through repair, innovation, and family culture.

In this episode, Kevin shares the journey of scaling a family business into a national brand — the fights, the breakthroughs, and the systems that keep the family bond strong while expanding coast to coast.

→ From mom’s garage to 85+ franchises across the U.S.

→ Why repairs became their key differentiator

→ Lessons on running a business with family

→ Training facility that prepares every franchisee for success

→ Marketing strategies: SEO, referrals, social media

→ Family culture vs corporate culture in franchising

→ Innovation: AI, CRMs, and smart window coverings

→ Kevin’s advice to future family-run businesses

]]>915a0cc8-5dcc-426f-ad86-287eab2321f4Tue, 30 Sep 2025 22:11:19 GMT<p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-stuart-742800153/" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-stuart-742800153/</a></p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://bloominblinds.com" target="_blank">https://bloominblinds.com</a></p><p>Kevin Stuart is the youngest of three brothers running Bloomin’ Blinds, a family business turned national franchise with 85+ locations. What started in a garage with their mom 30 years ago has become a fast-growing franchise redefining window coverings through repair, innovation, and family culture.</p><p>In this episode, Kevin shares the journey of scaling a family business into a national brand — the fights, the breakthroughs, and the systems that keep the family bond strong while expanding coast to coast.</p><p>→ From mom’s garage to 85+ franchises across the U.S.</p><p>→ Why repairs became their key differentiator</p><p>→ Lessons on running a business with family</p><p>→ Training facility that prepares every franchisee for success</p><p>→ Marketing strategies: SEO, referrals, social media</p><p>→ Family culture vs corporate culture in franchising</p><p>→ Innovation: AI, CRMs, and smart window coverings</p><p>→ Kevin’s advice to future family-run businesses</p>no00:53:26Ep. 54 | Kevin Stuart on Family Business, 85+ Franchises, and Building a National Brandfull<![CDATA[Ep. 53 | From Coast Guard to Master Trainer: Sergio Cortez on Building Safer, Smarter Electricians]]>In this episode of The Quiet Work Podcast, I sit down with Sergio “El Profe” Cortez — founder of Surge Electrical Training. With over 30 years in the field, from Coast Guard electrician to national trainer, Sergio shares how he’s shaping the next generation of safe, skilled, and certified electricians.

Timestamps

01:47 – How teaching became his passion

04:35 – The “aha” moment that changed his career

07:11 – Training models: hybrid, on-site, and national expansion

09:19 – Building community & supporting graduates

13:21 – Why Skool.com could be a game-changer

18:30 – Training residential, commercial, and solar electricians

24:51 – Innovations: prefab, AI, and safety technology

31:33 – Why companies must invest in training

34:44 – Stories from the field: changing unsafe habits 42:39 – What expansion looks like for SET

45:47 – Advice to his younger self

47:02 – What excites Sergio about 2026 and beyond

52:28 – Why trades are becoming the smarter career path2212

]]>8078eb34-16fe-4fe6-8288-00492a0cb931Mon, 29 Sep 2025 23:37:37 GMT<p>In this episode of The Quiet Work Podcast, I sit down with Sergio “El Profe” Cortez — founder of Surge Electrical Training. With over 30 years in the field, from Coast Guard electrician to national trainer, Sergio shares how he’s shaping the next generation of safe, skilled, and certified electricians. </p><p></p><p>Timestamps</p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2a8Kpt4hoI&amp;t=107s">01:47</a> – How teaching became his passion </p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2a8Kpt4hoI&amp;t=275s">04:35</a> – The “aha” moment that changed his career </p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2a8Kpt4hoI&amp;t=431s">07:11</a> – Training models: hybrid, on-site, and national expansion </p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2a8Kpt4hoI&amp;t=559s">09:19</a> – Building community &amp; supporting graduates </p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2a8Kpt4hoI&amp;t=801s">13:21</a> – Why <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://Skool.com" target="_blank">Skool.com</a> could be a game-changer </p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2a8Kpt4hoI&amp;t=1110s">18:30</a> – Training residential, commercial, and solar electricians </p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2a8Kpt4hoI&amp;t=1491s">24:51</a> – Innovations: prefab, AI, and safety technology </p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2a8Kpt4hoI&amp;t=1893s">31:33</a> – Why companies must invest in training </p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2a8Kpt4hoI&amp;t=2084s">34:44</a> – Stories from the field: changing unsafe habits <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2a8Kpt4hoI&amp;t=2559s">42:39</a> – What expansion looks like for SET </p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2a8Kpt4hoI&amp;t=2747s">45:47</a> – Advice to his younger self </p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2a8Kpt4hoI&amp;t=2822s">47:02</a> – What excites Sergio about 2026 and beyond </p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2a8Kpt4hoI&amp;t=3148s">52:28</a> – Why trades are becoming the smarter career path2212</p>no00:55:41Ep. 53 | From Coast Guard to Master Trainer: Sergio Cortez on Building Safer, Smarter Electriciansfull<![CDATA[Ep. 52 | Will Harris on 6 Generations of Farming, Regenerative Agriculture, and the Future of Food]]>https://whiteoakpastures.com/

Will Harris is the 4th-generation farmer behind White Oak Pastures, a 150+ year-old family farm in Bluffton, Georgia. From running an industrial cattle operation to becoming one of the leading voices in regenerative agriculture, Will’s story is about legacy, resilience, and building a better food system.

→ The history of White Oak Pastures (6 generations since 1866)

→ Lessons from industrial farming and why he turned away from it

→ The rise of regenerative agriculture and “radical traditionalism”

→ Building a $30M vertically integrated farm → Why he wrote A Bold Return to Giving a Damn

→ The challenges of competing with multinational corporations

→ Family succession, legacy, and teaching the next generation

→ What the future of food and farming looks like

]]>2ae64dda-abf9-4216-a209-789705e6e3afMon, 29 Sep 2025 20:21:11 GMT<p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://whiteoakpastures.com/" target="_blank">https://whiteoakpastures.com/</a></p><p></p><p>Will Harris is the 4th-generation farmer behind White Oak Pastures, a 150+ year-old family farm in Bluffton, Georgia. From running an industrial cattle operation to becoming one of the leading voices in regenerative agriculture, Will’s story is about legacy, resilience, and building a better food system. </p><p></p><p>→ The history of White Oak Pastures (6 generations since 1866) </p><p>→ Lessons from industrial farming and why he turned away from it </p><p>→ The rise of regenerative agriculture and “radical traditionalism” </p><p>→ Building a $30M vertically integrated farm → Why he wrote A Bold Return to Giving a Damn </p><p>→ The challenges of competing with multinational corporations </p><p>→ Family succession, legacy, and teaching the next generation </p><p>→ What the future of food and farming looks like</p><p></p>no00:38:19Ep. 52 | Will Harris on 6 Generations of Farming, Regenerative Agriculture, and the Future of Foodfull<![CDATA[Ep. 51 | Johnny Palumbo on AI, Automation, and the Future of Business Growth]]>Johnny Palumbo is the co-founder of Simplify Tech and Simplify Growth, helping companies from $3M–$50M scale with AI, automation, and smart systems. In this episode, Johnny shares his entrepreneurial journey — from raising $22,000 at 17 to building a fast-growing AI consultancy — and lessons on how founders can navigate today’s overwhelming tech landscape. → Why AI is the new internet (and how to think about it like a calculator) → From fanny packs to BlackRock: Johnny’s entrepreneurial journey → How Simplify Tech helps $3M–$50M companies buy back their time → Automations that deliver ROI in 2 months or less → Why raising rates led to growth (quality better than cheap pricing) → AI in real estate, consulting, and education → Staying curious: how to actually learn AI in 2025 → Balancing “seeking” and “savoring” as a young entrepreneur

https://www.simplifytech.ai/

]]>7375c8c8-b2d4-4234-a20c-5a30c6b7cb4eMon, 29 Sep 2025 19:21:19 GMT<p>Johnny Palumbo is the co-founder of Simplify Tech and Simplify Growth, helping companies from $3M–$50M scale with AI, automation, and smart systems. In this episode, Johnny shares his entrepreneurial journey — from raising $22,000 at 17 to building a fast-growing AI consultancy — and lessons on how founders can navigate today’s overwhelming tech landscape. → Why AI is the new internet (and how to think about it like a calculator) → From fanny packs to BlackRock: Johnny’s entrepreneurial journey → How Simplify Tech helps $3M–$50M companies buy back their time → Automations that deliver ROI in 2 months or less → Why raising rates led to growth (quality better than cheap pricing) → AI in real estate, consulting, and education → Staying curious: how to actually learn AI in 2025 → Balancing “seeking” and “savoring” as a young entrepreneur</p><p></p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.simplifytech.ai/" target="_blank">https://www.simplifytech.ai/</a></p>no00:54:49Ep. 51 | Johnny Palumbo on AI, Automation, and the Future of Business Growthfull