Adeptus On Air

Hosted by Adeptus Partners

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Episodes

174

Latest episode

Aug 2026

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About the show

Welcome to Adeptus On-Air, the show where we pull back the curtain on the strategies industry leaders leverage for their business and personal success. Each week, we do a top-down analysis of industries Adeptus has been on the cutting edge of for the last 30 years, including sports, business, and entertainment. Join us for real conversations with industry executives, entertainers, athletes, celebrity brands, and community stakeholders. We will be navigating the challenges facing various types of businesses and how our solutions-based collaborative problem-solving approach helps individuals and businesses alike solve their most pressing issues. If you have any questions related to this podcast or have a request for what you would like to hear next, please email us at marketing@adeptuscpas.com . You can find us at adeptuscpas.com or follow us at @adeptuscpartnersllc. Disclaimer: The views and opinions of podcast hosts and guests are solely their own and do not reflect the opinions of Adeptus. This podcast provides general information only and is not intended to constitute legal, tax, business, professional or personal advice.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

August 13, 202630 min

Building a World of Faith, Positivity & Purpose with DPB

Today on Adeptus On-Air host Mike Hoffman chats with David Paul Brooks, aka DPB, a positive rap artist, songwriter, entrepreneur, and motivational speaker. DPB shares how his gospel upbringing and early years in New York’s rap scene led him to pursue Christian rap when the genre was still struggling for acceptance. He reflects on creating his own path in music and expanding that vision into the “World of DPB.” DPB explains the mindset behind his book No Bad Days and how changing the way he speaks about difficult circumstances has shaped his outlook on life. He emphasizes the importance of practicing positivity rather than allowing negative thoughts or other people to control your perspective. Tune in to hear more about finding purpose through faith, learning to speak life, and creating success that benefits others.

August 6, 202630 min

The Art of Becoming a Creative Trailblazer with Adriana Kaegi

Today on Adeptus On-Air, host Mike Hoffman chats with Adriana Kaegi, a multimedia entrepreneur, producer, and digital pioneer who founded and executive produces ADDY.media and StyleCulture.TV. Adriana discusses her creative journey from an early interest in performance and journalism to co-founding Kid Creole and the Coconuts and touring the world as Mama Coconut. She shares memorable experiences performing at Carnegie Hall, meeting Princess Diana, appearing on Saturday Night Live, and performing in the film Against All Odds. An early adopter of the internet, Adriana discusses how she launched Cyber Cabaret, one of the first interactive live-webcast series, and recognized the potential of online video long before it became mainstream. She explains how she continues to evolve StyleCulture.TV while remaining committed to creating content “by humans, for humans.” Tune in to hear Adriana’s perspective on entrepreneurship, the changing media landscape, and both the opportunities and challenges presented by AI.

August 5, 202623 min

Using AI for Business Growth with Elias Curtis | Solving Problems Through Technology

Today on Adeptus On-Air, host James Walker chats with Elias Curtis, founder of Transformed Design, a branding and digital marketing agency that helps businesses grow through artificial intelligence. Elias shares how he turned his passion for design and technology into a business that has grown for more than 17 years. He explains why AI should be viewed as a tool that helps businesses solve problems and improve efficiency. He discusses how different AI platforms serve different purposes and why choosing the right tools matters more than chasing the newest trends. Tune in to hear more insights from Elias about AI adoption, digital entrepreneurship, and building scalable businesses.

July 30, 202630 min

Embracing a Nonlinear Path with Connor Treacy | Turning Experience into Ownership

Today on Adeptus On-Air, host Mike Hoffman chats with Connor Treacy, a Los Angeles-based entrepreneur and talent manager who works with artists and produces events. Connor began organizing events at 19 using the money he earned as a tennis coach. He explains how years of competitive judo and tennis prepared him for the demanding pace of the entertainment industry. His work at Universal Music Group brought major career successes, but it also made him realize that he did not own what he was helping to build. Connor left to start his own company shortly before the pandemic brought much of the entertainment industry to a standstill. He shares how an unexpected opportunity to become a nightclub partner eventually fulfilled a goal he had set years earlier. Today, Connor approaches artist management by first understanding what each person wants and then helping amplify their vision. Tune in to hear more about navigating career highs and lows, learning from failure, and staying confident through the unknown.

July 16, 202629 min

Living Nine Lives with Calvin Schwartz | Reinvention, Resilience, and the Power of Belief

Today on Adeptus On-Air host Mike Hoffman chats with Calvin Schwartz, an author, podcaster, and former pharmacist. Calvin shares how he walked away from a stable pharmacy career, reinventing himself in eyewear sales, and later retiring only to discover a novel forming in his mind after watching Casablanca for the thirty fourth time. He explains how that spark led to award winning fiction, multiple published books, and a renewed creative life. He discusses the discipline behind his flexitarian lifestyle, the mindset that helped him rebuild his health, and the belief that the body and spirit respond when you fully commit. He discusses launching his global podcast, Conversations with Calvin, after one meaningful call with a Rutgers student revealed how many powerful stories are hiding in plain sight. He describes interviewing guests from around the world while intentionally avoiding politics and religion to keep the focus on shared humanity. He emphasizes that he sees himself as an ordinary man who simply chose to act when intuition or opportunity called. Tune in to hear more about dramatic life pivots, sustaining health and creativity into your eighties, and why Calvin believes reinvention is always within reach.

July 9, 202613 min

Challenging the Algorithm with Octavian Cristea | Putting Human Judgment Back into Music

Today on Adeptus On-Air host Mike Hoffman chats with Octavian Cristea, a Romanian entrepreneur and former game developer who founded an alternative music platform designed to move beyond algorithm driven recommendations. Octavian explains how most major platforms rely on shallow behavioral metrics to predict what users want, often reinforcing addictive and repetitive content rather than meaningful discovery. He argues that algorithms reward predictability and volume, which pressures creators to chase trends instead of investing time in deeper, more original work. He shares how his platform pays real users to compare songs head-to-head, allowing human judgment rather than automated metrics to determine what rises to the top. He reflects on his own career shift from game development to investing to building this platform, driven by concerns about inequality and the way digital systems shape taste. Tune in to hear more about how algorithms shape creativity, why addictive content is not always valuable, and what happens when people rather than machines decide what deserves attention.

June 25, 202626 min

Amplifying Stories in PR with Nicole Magagnin | Turning Visibility into Purposeful Growth

Today on Adeptus On-Air host James Walker chats with Nicole Magagnin, founder of Growth Grabber, a public relations strategist who helps leaders and brands turn visibility into meaningful impact. Nicole shares how a life-altering diagnosis of Cushing’s syndrome in her twenties forced her to step away from her career and confront a long recovery marked by uncertainty and rebuilding. She explains how listening to motivational speakers and reading personal development books shifted her mindset and showed her the power of a single story to reach someone at exactly the right moment. She breaks down how the media landscape has evolved from traditional outlets to podcasts and short form content, and why human connection still matters more than automation and AI generated pitches. She shares how Growth Grabber focuses on thought leadership for CEOs, strategic podcast placements, and teaching clients how to leverage exposure for real return on investment rather than vanity metrics. Tune in to hear more about rebuilding after a health crisis, navigating perception in the digital age, and why the right story told at the right time can change someone’s life.

June 11, 202636 min

Building a Family Business with Stephen Shortt | Turning Conflict into Continuity

Today on Adeptus On-Air host Mike Hoffman chats with Stephen Shortt, a business consultant, advisor, and author who specializes in family business succession and leadership development. Stephen shares how growing up in two family businesses nearly led him to walk away after conflict and exhaustion reached a breaking point at his own kitchen table. He reflects on the moment he realized he did not want his children growing up unable to sit in the same room as their grandparents, and how that decision launched a 16-year journey to repair and rebuild both the business and the family dynamic. He explains why succession is rarely about competence and more often about identity, control, and fear of irrelevance for the current generation. He walks through his framework for successful succession, including clarifying purpose, choosing the right leader, preparing them properly, publicly promoting their authority, and practicing patience during the transition. He discusses how generational differences around risk, technology, and remote work can either fracture a company or force it to evolve intentionally. Tune in to hear more about navigating identity in leadership transitions, preventing sibling rivalry from derailing a company, and helping the next generation build confidence without losing the family.

June 4, 202624 min

Building a Life Around Adventure with Toby Richardson | Choosing Risk Over Routine

Today on Adeptus On-Air, host Mike Hoffman chats with Toby Richardson, an Australia based tour operator, pilot, writer, stand-up comedian, and filmmaker whose work centers on adventure, travel, and deliberate living. Toby shares how earning his commercial pilot license just before the world shut down forced him to rethink his path and led him toward building an off-road tour business in some of the most remote regions of Western Australia. He explains what it takes to guide self-drive expeditions deep into the Outback, where distance, isolation, and risk demand preparation, restraint, and respect for the environment. He talks about expanding the business internationally while trying not to sacrifice the lifestyle freedom that drew him to entrepreneurship in the first place. He reflects on motorcycle travel across Australia and South America, creating adventure films with his father, and why fully immersive experiences without distraction feel restorative rather than exhausting. Tune in to hear more about life in the Australian Outback, balancing business growth with personal freedom, and why choosing adventure has shaped every chapter of Toby’s life.

May 28, 202627 min

Designing with Intention with Kim Depole | Creating Spaces That Reflect Who You Are

Today on Adeptus On-Air host Mike Hoffman chats with Kim Depole, a New York City based interior designer known for integrating mindfulness into her design practice. Kim shares how her career began as a creative director before burnout led her to move to Japan, recalibrate her life, and eventually fall in love with interior design. She reflects on learning through trial by fire when she was unexpectedly put in charge of a major show house project, an experience that shaped her confidence and direction. She explains why deep listening is central to her process and how designing a home often means navigating life transitions such as divorce, loss, or reinvention. She talks about blending meditation with design, helping clients create spaces that support emotional well being rather than simply follow trends. She discusses her experience appearing on The Oprah Winfrey Show and how that moment expanded her reach while reinforcing the importance of authenticity. Tune in to hear more about intentional living, designing through life changes, and why your home should evolve as you do.