Our guest this week is Tom Van Dyke. He lives with his wife, Mary, on their ranch in the foothills of Tonto National Forest, Cave Creek, Arizona. He is the author of "A Cowboy Christmas: An American Tale" which received high praise from Elmore Leonard, Michael Blake, Don Collier, Marshall Trimble, Ken Rotcop, and so many others. Tom created and wro…

Our guest this week is Tom Smith, President of Wrap Technologies in Tempe, Arizona. A graduate from both the University of Arizona (B.S. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology) and Northern Arizona University (Masters of Business Administration), Tom co-founded TASER International (now Axon Enterprise, Inc.) in 1993, and served as President of TASER u…

Our guest this week is George Weisz, the President of Weisz Ventures and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Scottsdale Community Bank. A man of many interests and talents, George is a co-owner of two minor league baseball teams (proud affiliates of the Arizona Diamondbacks) and a partner in Majerle’s Sports Grill with former Phoenix Suns All-Sta…

Our guest this week is Phil Boas, the editor of the editorial pages of The Arizona Republic. Before that, he was editor of The Republic’s Sunday Viewpoints section and editor of its Community editorial pages. He joined The Republic in 1999. Before that, he was metro editor at The East Valley Tribune and a reporter at the Los Angeles Daily News. He …

Our guest this week is Chris Ronzio, the founder and CEO of Trainual, a leading SaaS company that helps fast-growing businesses automate their onboarding and training by documenting every process, policy, and procedure in one simple, searchable, teachable system. After helping hundreds of entrepreneurs create scalable systems and processes with his…

Rachel Mertensmeyer has long been captivated by understanding the consumer mindset and making people’s lives better with product innovation. She has a decade of marketing management experience in Fortune 100 companies including Unilever and Avon in New York and BBDO and WPP in Shanghai. Rachel’s first professional opportunity supported her entrepre…

Our guest this week is Jamie Baxter, the co-founder and CEO of Qwick. He began learning computer programming in the second grade, and by the time he was 16, he started his first company. With the sale of two companies he started under his belt, along with 18 years in major roles with Willis Towers Watson, Jamie has begun his latest entrepreneurial …

Our guest this week is Rick Smith - the founder of Axon, the company formerly known as TASER International. We have a broad ranging conversation where Rick shares his thoughts about everything from being a reluctant Harvard student to the differences between being a founder and a CEO to his new book, The End of Killing.…

Our guest this week is Karen Rasmussen - the CEO of PrePass Safety Alliance - a non-profit public-private-partnership dedicated to bringing technology to the trucking industry in an effort to increase efficiency, compliance, and safety. With a career in transportation safety spanning more than 40 years, Karen has been a key player in all aspects of…

This week our guest is Dr. Jeff Johnston who serves as the Chief Medical Examiner for the Maricopa County Office of the Medical Examiner; a position he has held since 2013. He oversees the Office which provides all statutory forensic medical death investigations for the 4th-most populous and fastest growing county in the the United States. Dr. John…

Our guest this week is Brig. Gen. Todd D. Canterbury - the Commander, 56th Fighter Wing, Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. A true "Arizona Original", General Canterbury spent many of his formative years at Luke AFB where his fatheralso served as the commander. General Canterbury entered the Air Force in May 1993 after graduating from Arizona State Univ…

This week our guest is Brian Steele, CEO and Executive Director of City Help - also known as the Phoenix Dream Center - a nonprofit organization serving several populations we’ll discuss in the show, including victims of human trafficking. Brian has been with the Dream Center since its start in 2007 and oversees campuses across the state which hous…

Our guest this week is Tom Espinoza, President and CEO of Raza Development Fund (RDF). Tom has over 45 years of experience that span the breadth of the public, private sector, and nonprofit spectrum. In 1998, he co-founded RDF; and is responsible for the overall strategy, performance, and management of the fund, which has grown into the largest Lat…

This week our guest is Steve Sossaman, who describes himself as the Major Domo at Sossaman Farms in Queen Creek, Arizona. This year marks the 100th anniversary of Sossaman Farms, and Steve does an amazing job telling the story of the farm and explains how he approaches farming, family, and life. So, if you’re curious about gluten, innovation in agr…

This week our guest is Jason Beck, the founder and owner of TYR Tactical located in Peoria, Arizona. TYR Tactical provides tactical gear to law enforcement and military all over the world and has seen consistent growth under Jason’s leadership. In our conversation, he provides a very frank description of his life growing up in an abusive home and d…

This week we're joined by Ellen Pallestrant, South African-born writer and artist and filmmaker. She was educated in South Africa and Britain and immigrated with her family to the USA in 1987. Palestrant has been a writer, artist, creativity expert, game inventor, hydroponic farmer, special education teacher, television scriptwriter (adult document…

This week our guest is Brian Mohr. He was a founding member of Jobing.com and later became director of talent strategy & acquisition for P.F. Chang’s China Bistro and Pei Wei Asian Diner restaurants until he joined forces with co-founder, Max Hansen, to create the first purpose-based leadership search firm, Y Scouts, in March of 2012. In the summer…

This week our guest is Dr. Warren H. Stewart, Sr., a native of Coffeyville, Kansas. Today he serves as the Senior Pastor of the First Institutional Baptist Church of Phoenix, Arizona and has served there since July 1, 1977. Dr. Stewart served as the first General Chairperson for ARIZONANS FOR A MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. STATE HOLIDAY which contribute…

This week is our final episode of Season 3 - thanks for being part of this fantastic community! Stay tuned for Season 4 which should launch in early 2019! In Season 2 Episode 12, we spoke with David Kolbe, the CEO of Kolbe Corp. If you haven’t already listened to that episode, I encourage you to do so. David was kind enough to share his thoughts on…

In Season 2 Episode 12, we spoke with David Kolbe, the CEO of Kolbe Corp. If you haven’t already listened to that episode, I encourage you to do so. David was kind enough to share his thoughts on a variety of topics in short, topical episodes which we share intermittently. This week we spend a few moments with David on the topic of preventing organ…

In Season 2 Episode 12, we spoke with David Kolbe, the CEO of Kolbe Corp. If you haven’t already listened to that episode, I encourage you to do so. This week we spend a few moments with David on the topic of empowering and engaging employees. We touch on several issues including accountability, transparency, delegation, and tolerance for failure. …

This week our guest is Mark Jacobs, the dean of Barrett Honors College at Arizona State University. He came to ASU in the fall of 2003 from Swarthmore College, where he had held an endowed chair in biology and had been both chair of the Biology Department and associate provost of the College. He received his B.A. magna cum laude from Harvard in bio…

This week our guest is Greg Peterson, founder of the Urban Farm in Phoenix. His mission is inspire people to embrace their own greenness,which he does daily by living what he speaks. He received his master’s degree in Urban and Environmental Planning (MUEP) in December 2006 from Arizona State University. His academic training has been augmented by …

This week our guest is Jonathan Keyser - the founder of Keyser…a commercial real estate firm in Scottsdale, AZ. Jonathan’s enthusiasm is unmistakable and you’ll benefit from hearing how this son of missionaries was driven to pursue success, but more importantly, how his views of success and wealth have evolved. Jonathan discusses topics ranging fro…

This week our guest is Sharon Orlopp - formerly the SVP of Human Resources and Global Chief Diversity Officer for WalMart. Today, she is an author and continues her work as a leader in human resources for Core Scientific and Orangetheory Fitness. We cover a range of issues from mentoring, to the role of diversity in innovation, to proactive goal se…

This week our guest is John Jennings - formerly the CEO of Safeguard Security, CEO of CQR Technologies and founder of QuickPass. A native Arizonan, John shares his story which took him from the early days of the security business to growing one of the larger businesses in the industry. He also discusses some important lessons learned from Jim Colli…

This week our guest is Joshua Becker- bestselling author, blogger and popular speaker on the topic of minimalism. You won’t want to miss his story and his thoughts on everything from building a platform, navigating career change, determining what your "first filter" is, dealing with online trolls and haters, to building a team around you to make yo…

This week our guest is Park Howell - founder of the Business of Story…and you also might know him from the ad agency he founded, Park & Co. This conversation is packed with great stories and very practical advice about how you can tell better stories to help you grow your business and your personal platform. SELECT LINKS FROM THE SHOW: The Business…

Ron Robertson is the co-founder and CEO of Picmonic, a revolutionary visual learning platform proven to help students master critical information and retain it longer. Ron grew up in Show Low, Arizona and his journey takes him from the cool pines of Arizona to the beaches of San Diego, and then back to the University of Arizona for medical school. …

Olympic gold medalist Misty Hyman won a stunning upset victory at the 2000 Sydney games when she came from behind to break the American record and win the 200-meter butterfly. Recognized as a pioneer in the sport for her innovative underwater dolphin kick, she won 13 U.S. and five NCAA national titles. Hyman is recognized as one of the most inspira…

Our guest is Russ Perry, the founder of Design Pickle - a subscription-based, on-demand graphic design service based in Scottsdale, AZ. Russ recently released his new book, The Sober Entrepreneur. Russ is a 3rd generation Arizonan with roots in the historic Copper Triangle mining area. Our conversation not only covers his personal story, but includ…

This week our guest is Shiva Planjery - the co-founder and CEO of Codelucida, a Tucson-based company working to improve error-correction solutions for everything from flash drives to hard disk drives. Shiva shares his story which took him from the US to South Korea to India to Canada and, ultimately, to Tucson. He not only shares insights about lif…

In Season 2 Episode 12, we spoke with David Kolbe, the CEO of Kolbe Corp. If you haven’t already listened to that episode, we encourage you to do so. David was kind enough to share his thoughts on a variety of topics in short, topical episodes which we will share intermittently over the coming months. This week we spend a few moments with David on …

This week our guest is Jordan Lancaster - the co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Avery Therapeutics, a Tucson-based company working to solve the problem of heart tissue regeneration. Jordan comes from a long line of cardiologists and has found himself focused on the research side of the heart…and now is leading an entrepreneurial endeavor t…

This week our guest is Mac Perlich - the president and publisher of ON Media Publications. Mac shares what I believe are two of the best life lessons we can all learn from and discusses her journey from nursing into publishing. I know you’ll enjoy her insights and her passion for everything she is involved with from publishing, to the Culture Pass …

Joann MacMaster brought extensive background in entrepreneurship and startups to her position as the Director of Business Development for the University of Arizona's Tech Launch Arizona. In addition to having three successful exits (including one IPO) in private enterprise, she has served as Director of the Arizona Center for Innovation (AzCI) tech…

John Phelps is the CEO and executive director of the State Bar of Arizona, an organization focused on improving the administration of justice and the competency, ethics, and professionalism of lawyers in Arizona. John's introduction to Arizona came when his father was stationed at Ft. Huachuca in Sierra Vista, Arizona. Ultimately, John became a sec…

We’re joined by three generations of leaders from Hickman’s Family Farms - Bill Hickman, Sr., Glenn Hickman, and Branden Hickman. Each one shares stories and insights I know you will enjoy and learn from. They share some unique insights to being part of a family business, engaging with community, the importance of education, and how they approach c…

David Kolbe - the CEO of Kolbe Corp - shares insights into how they help individuals and companies thrive, how leveraging technology can grow your audience and simultaneously reduce costs, and how seeking feedback from users can lead to new product offerings. Additionally, David shares his story which takes him from Brophy College Prep to the Whart…

This week we talk with Zach Ferres - the CEO of Coplex, a startup accelerator focused on founders who are not coders. Zach grew up in Ohio and we talk about everything from leadership lessons he has learned from Ohio State football coach Urban Meyer, to lessons he learned from his parents who instilled a strong, customer-centric work ethic. Zach sh…

This week we talk with Max Hansen, the CEO of Y Scouts, a purpose-based executive recruiting firm. Max grew up in Glendale, Arizona and went to Northern Arizona University thinking football would be his future. He discusses that change in plan and what ultimately led him to the field of recruiting. Max covers a wide range of topics, including how t…

This week we talk with Justin Gray, the CEO and founder of LeadMD, co-founder of PaidSuite, co-owner of Greyson Organics (an organic farm in rural Missouri), and co-founder of Six Bricks. Justin, who grew up in Fountain Hills and attended the University of Arizona, talks with us about his passion for entrepreneurship and modern-day marketing - topi…

Todd Belfer is the managing partner of the venture capital firm Canal Partners. Todd shares his early entrepreneurial days when he bused fraternity and sorority students to Laughlin and later found himself founding software companies, restaurants (Ra Sushi Bar), and supplement and herbal tea companies. Today, he and his partners focus on helping en…

Ambassador Barbara Barrett joins us for this week's conversation. She currently serves as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees for The Aerospace Corporation and as the CEO of Triple Creek Ranch. Ambassador Barrett has served as the US Ambassador to Finland, the Deputy Director of the Federal Aviation Administration, the President of the Thunderbir…

Heidi Jannenga is the president and co-founder of WebPT, a SaaS company providing support to physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech-language pathologists. WebPT has been on the INC 5000 list of fastest growing companies in the US for five years straight and is one of Arizona's fastest growing companies. Our conversation takes us f…

This week Jeffrey Pruitt, founder and CEO of Tallwave, joins us for a fascinating conversation about his journey from accountancy to entrepreneurship and from "running through walls" to leading smarter. An Arizona native, Jeffrey explores taking ideas to market, finding capitol for those ideas, and building a strong organization based on values and…

This week, Colleen Jennings-Roggensack returns for the second installment of our conversation. When she last joined us in Season One, we left her in Colorado, and today we hear the rest of the story. In addition to her journey, Colleen addresses topics each of us can learn from. Those range from mentoring, to life-long learning, to taking risks, an…

Jason Pistillo is the president of the University of Advancing Technology in Tempe, Arizona. Our conversation takes us from Jason building his first computer game at the age of eight, to becoming a network engineer at 21, to his 23-year career at UAT. He has been recognized as a leader in business and was most recently given the East Valley Institu…

Greg Head has spent most of his professional life in the world of software, including being part of the startup and growth stages of two major Arizona companies and as the chief marketing officer for Chandler-based Infusionsoft. Today, Greg consults founders and CEOs, curates Gregslist (an active list of Arizona-based software companies...over 300 …

Our first guest of the new season is Brian Mueller - Chairman, President and CEO of Grand Canyon University. Our conversation begins in Milwaukee, WI where Brian grew up along with his parents and seven siblings. We then look at his years as a teacher and basketball coach and ultimately to his move into leading two major higher education institutio…