Business Leadership Series

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Episodes

100

Latest episode

Aug 2026

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EN-US

About the show

Our audience is comprised of business owners, leaders, and entrepreneurs who desire to learn from our guests’ knowledge, advice, and experience for personal and professional growth. We interview pro athletes, rock and roll hall of famers, best selling authors, and other leaders with an inspiring story. We are also a syndicated show regionally on ESPN radio. ]]>

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60 recent

August 23, 2026Episode 148229 min

Episode 1482: Psychologist for NFL, NBA, WNBA, MLB, NHL, & All Stars

Derek Champagne talks with Dr. Justin Anderson. Dr. Justin Anderson is one of the nation's leading high-performance sport psychologists and the Founder and CEO of Premier Sport Psychology and Premier Performance Advising. With over 20 years of experience, his work has supported Hall of Famers, All-Pros, world and national champions, and organizations across the NFL, NBA, WNBA, MLB, NHL, MLS, and NWSL, as well as collegiate, Olympic, and executive clients across industries. His approach is grounded in neuroscience, counseling and organizational psychology, and thousands of hours embedded in real performance environments (locker rooms, sidelines, and boardrooms) where attention, decision-making, and emotional regulation are tested in real time. That applied experience forms the foundation of his book, Intentional Attention. A licensed psychologist, Certified Mental Performance Coach, and former collegiate quarterback, Justin brings a blend of scientific rigor, clinical depth, and lived experience to his work. He is a sought-after keynote speaker at national and international conferences and designs scalable performance and leadership programs for organizations seeking clarity, confidence, and consistency under pressure. "Intentional Attention" is the ability to deliberately direct and sustain focus on what drives performance, especially when distraction, emotion, and uncertainty surge. In a world engineered to capture our attention, this skill has become one of the rarest and most decisive competitive advantages. In his book, Intentional Attention: The Science and Practice of Focus Under Pressure, Justin introduces a practical, science-backed framework for strengthening the attentional systems that drive performance. Order "Intentional Attention" Business Leadership Series Intro and Outro music provided by Just Off Turner: https://music.apple.com/za/album/the-long-walk-back/268386576

August 16, 2026Episode 148125 min

Episode 1481: Success Is A Number's Game

Derek Champagne talks with Kyle Austin Young. Kyle Austin Young is an award-winning strategy consultant for high achievers, entrepreneurs, and leaders in a wide range of fields. This work has allowed him to develop and refine a powerful system for accomplishing big, meaningful goals that focuses on understanding and changing your odds of success. Kyle is a popular writer for Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, The Boston Globe, CNBC, Psychology Today, Forbes, and Business Insider. His new book, SUCCESS IS A NUMBERS GAME : Achieve Bigger Goals by Changing the Odds (Hay House Business, November 2025), details this system. In the context of a single goal, it could be the secret advantage that changes your outcome. Over the course of several goals, it could transform the trajectory of your career. Applied to a lifetime of goals, it can level up your legacy. Business Leadership Series Intro and Outro music provided by Just Off Turner: https://music.apple.com/za/album/the-long-walk-back/268386576

August 9, 2026Episode 148036 min

Episode 1480: CEO of The Weather Company

Derek Champagne talks with Rohit Agarwal, CEO of The Weather Company. Rohit Agarwal is the CEO of The Weather Company, the world’s most accurate forecaster. In this role, Rohit is responsible for setting the strategic vision that spans the company’s digital consumer properties, including The Weather Channel app and weather.com , as well as its enterprise business across media, advertising, aviation, defense, and a variety of other industries. He stands behind the belief that high-performing teams are critical to innovation, growth, and impact, and diverse backgrounds and thinking benefit the end customer. Prior to joining The Weather Company, Rohit was the chief product and revenue officer at SoundCloud, the world’s largest online community of artists, bands, DJs, and audio creators, where he led the vision, strategic execution, and revenue. This included overseeing business and product strategy, delivery and operations, design, product marketing, and growth. Through Rohit’s leadership, SoundCloud refactored the product, doubled its subscriber base, and meaningfully improved its ads business, leading the company to its first profitable year in its 16-year history. Rohit previously served as chief product and growth officer at CNN. Throughout his career, he has driven 2-3x user and revenue growth across leading companies in industries including music ( Last.fm , CBS), media (CNN/WarnerMedia, The Economist, Bild), banking (HSBC), B2B SaaS (Trustpilot, Akamai), and consumer internet (AOL). Rohit is a frequent speaker at leading conferences (Google I/O, SXSW, CES, RISE, WebSummit, Product Summit), an active advisor and investor in startups, and launched his own startup in the past. He is also a committed supporter of diverse and inclusive education initiatives – both as a board member of the Smithsonian’s Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage and as a board member of Leap Year, a unique program based in metro Atlanta dedicated to improving college access and early adolescent reading skills to under-represented youth. Rohit lives in Atlanta with his wife and two daughters. An avid sports fan, he also enjoys playing soccer and tennis, painting, and cooking, and he acknowledges that his creative endeavors make him a better leader. Business Leadership Series Intro and Outro music provided by Just Off Turner: https://music.apple.com/za/album/the-long-walk-back/268386576

August 2, 2026Episode 147923 min

Episode 1479: The Go-Giver Marriage

In this interview, Derek talks with John and Ana Mann about their new book "The Go-Giver Marriage". John and Ana share the "why" behind writing this new book, their process for collaboration, and highlight some of the secrets to lasting love. Learn more at https://gogivermarriage.com John David Mann is coauthor of more than 30 books, including four New York Times bestsellers and five national bestsellers. His classic 2008 parable The Go-Giver (coauthored with Bob Burg) earned the 2017 Living Now Book Award’s “Evergreen Medal” for its “contribution to positive global change.” Ana Gabriel Mann, M.A. , earned her degree in clinical psychology before going on to serve as an educator, therapist, corporate trainer, speaker, and coach. She currently coaches Go-Giver Marriage clients and leads the Go-Giver Marriage Coaches Training Program, training coaches from around the globe. Business Leadership Series Intro and Outro music provided by Just Off Turner: https://music.apple.com/za/album/the-long-walk-back/268386576

July 26, 2026Episode 147831 min

Episode 1478: Leadership Beyond Performance with Rennie Curran

Derek Champagne talks with former NFL player Rennie Curran. Rennie shares stories from his unique upbringing, leadership lessons learned along the way, and more about his new venture: Formr . Formrapp.com - The professional platform where former athletes build what's next, fans connect for life, and businesses find the most competitive people on earth. Free leadership resources from Rennie Curran: https://renniecurran.com/ Rennie Curran is a former professional athlete who currently serves as an active Keynote Speaker, Author, and the CEO of Game Changer Coaching. Recently inducted into the Gwinnett County Sports Hall of Fame, the Georgia vs Florida Hall of Fame, and the UGA 40 Under 40, he uses his platform to inspire students, athletes, and business professionals to reach their fullest potential. Born in Atlanta, GA, and the son of Liberian immigrants, Rennie Curran and Josie Curran, he has a diverse background with humble beginnings. He began his football career at Brookwood High School in Snellville, GA, becoming the all-time leading tackler in Gwinnett County history. He was initially considered undersized according to various critics, but quickly silenced the doubters by exploding onto the field as a true freshman at the University of Georgia. His experiences of overcoming many circumstances to reach his childhood dream of becoming a 3-time All American, Butkus Award Finalist, permanent team Captain a 3rd round draft pick in the 2010 NFL Draft (Tennessee Titans) and transitioning into becoming a successful entrepreneur has given him a unique perspective on what it takes to handle adversity and maximize opportunities while having a positive impact on others. Through his innovative presentations he teaches individuals, teams and organizations how to transform their personal and professional lives through leadership, teamwork and personal development. Rennie Curran has been counseling and inspiring people for many years. He is the CEO of Game Changer Coaching whose mission is to help business executives and entrepreneurs become high performing leaders by improving performance, personal brand and communication skills. In 2013, he published a motivational self-help book entitled ‘Free Agent’ The Intangibles for Overcoming Adversity and Times of Transition. This motivational self-help book discusses how to overcome adversity during the times of transition that we all face along our journey to achieve our dreams. He also has a children’s book entitled “What Does It Take to Be a Star” which was co-written with his daughter, Eleana Curran. He has been featured in The New York Times, USA Today, Fox Sports, ESPN College GameDay, The Huffington Post, and much more. When Rennie Curran is not speaking, coaching or writing he is usually spending time with his daughter or catching up on one his favorite hobbies, music. He grew up playing the piano, drums and viola. He is also a public servant who spends lots of time giving back through several organizations including. The Boys and Girls Club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and his foundation. The Game Changers Foundation, which provides resources to student athletes to help them become leaders in sports, business and life through mentorship and leadership development. Curran is a man of faith, humility, integrity and resilience. Business Leadership Series Intro and Outro music provided by Just Off Turner: https://music.apple.com/za/album/the-long-walk-back/268386576

July 19, 2026Episode 147732 min

Episode 1477: The Buy-In Advantage with Dave Garrison

Derek Champagne interview USA Today best selling author Dave Garrison. Dave Garrison is a nationally recognized business strategist and co-founder of Garrison Growth, a leadership development and executive consulting firm. As Chief Navigation Officer of Garrison Growth, Dave helps CEOs and senior leaders generate meaningful buy-in and drive results across their organizations. With more than 30 years of leadership experience — including board roles at companies such as Ameritrade and executive leadership of public and venture-backed firms — Dave brings a rare blend of strategic insight, operational expertise, and on-the-ground leadership to every engagement. A renowned CEO and strategic advisor, Dave is the creator of a groundbreaking framework that addresses the critical ingredients needed for sustainable buy-in. Author of the bestselling book, The Buy-In Advantage: Why Employees Stop Caring ― and How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Give Their All, Dave equips leaders with practical, low-cost tools to build trust, align teams, and unlock performance—especially during times of growth, change, or disruption. Drawing from extensive research and real-world success stories, he reveals how leaders can implement this no-cost methodology to transform their culture and drive measurable results. Dave is a sought-after speaker, workshop leader, and trusted advisor to executives across a variety of industries. He has delivered hundreds of high-impact sessions for corporations, nonprofits, and chapters of the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO) both in the U.S. and abroad. His workshops consistently earn top ratings for their clarity, energy, and immediate usefulness. In addition to his client work, Dave has served as a guest lecturer at leading business schools and as a boardroom coach to CEOs navigating complex growth challenges. He holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and resides in Tucson, Arizona. In today’s workplace, effort isn’t the problem ― buy-in is. Teams may be showing up, but they’re not fully engaged. They delay decisions, resist change, and underperform quietly. In The Buy-In Advantage: Why Employees Stop Caring ― and How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Give Their All (Matt Holt Books), executive coach and former CEO Dave Garrison delivers a clear, practical roadmap to help leaders earn real commitment—not just compliance—and build teams that execute with energy, ownership, and purpose. Purchase The Buy-in Advantage book Free assessments and resources Business Leadership Series Intro and Outro music provided by Just Off Turner: https://music.apple.com/za/album/the-long-walk-back/268386576

July 12, 2026Episode 147634 min

Episode 1476: American Film Maker: Larry Kasanoff

In this episode Derek Champagne talks with Larry Kasanoff. Larry Kasanoff, Chairman/CEO of Threshold Entertainment, as a studio head or producer, makes movies, animated movies and location based entertainment/theme park attractions. He is the Producer or Executive Producer of MORTAL KOMBAT, including three Number One films, a television series, an animated series, platinum selling soundtracks, direct to dvd, and a live tour, with a new Mortal Kombat movie coming Summer '26. Larry is Executive Producer of the box-office smash film, TRUE LIES, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and directed by James Cameron. As president and co-founder of Lightstorm Entertainment, Larry supervised production, marketing, publicity and merchandising for the four-time Academy Award winning hit, TERMINATOR 2 JUDGMENT DAY, directed by James Cameron. He is Executive Producer of movies, STRANGE DAYS and BLUE STEEL, with Academy Award winning director Kathryn Bigelow. Larry - as a producer or studio head - has made over 200 feature films, including the biggest selling multi artist sound track in history, DIRTY DANCING, and Academy Award Winning Best Picture PLATOON. He has raised well over a billion dollars in the film business. He makes animated movies: LEGO STAR WARS THE EMPIRE STRIKES OUT; and BOBBLEHEADS THE MOVIE starring Cher. Larry also makes location based entertainment, or theme park, attractions, including STAR TREK THE BORG EXPERIENCE; MARVEL SUPERHEROES 4D; and THE AMAZING ADVENTURES OF SPIDERMAN. In the music world, Larry has packaged or produced video projects with several of the world’s biggest talents, including Michael Jackson, The Rolling Stones and Elton John. For Terminator 2, he produced MTV’s top video of the year, “You Could Be Mine” with Gun’s ‘N Roses. He produced and directed the feature documentary, MINDFULNESS: BE HAPPY NOW, starring Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh and Deepak Chopra. It is available on Amazon. Larry is the author of A TOUCH OF THE MADNESS - How To Be More Innovative by Being a Little Crazy (Ben Bella Books via Penguin Random House). Larry holds an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a BA from Cornell University. Order A TOUCH OF THE MADNESS HERE Business Leadership Series Intro and Outro music provided by Just Off Turner: https://music.apple.com/za/album/the-long-walk-back/268386576

July 5, 2026Episode 147537 min

Episode 1475: Shark Tank Veteran & Entrepreneur: Beau Oyler

In this episode Derek Champagne, CEO of The Artist Evolution, interviews Beau Oyler. Beau talks with Derek about his experience on Shark Tank, building a successful company, and some valuable lessons he has learned along the way. Having founded Enlisted Design and Urbio, he has created rich product and brand experiences for fortune 500's and small startups. He pioneered the design cooperative movement and has a unique ability to truly collaborate with his partners. His designs have received every major design award including Red Dot, Spark, IDEA, GOOD Design, TheDieline, Wired Editor’s Choice and Best of Show at Dwell on Design. Business Leadership Series Intro and Outro music provided by Just Off Turner: https://music.apple.com/za/album/the-long-walk-back/268386576

June 28, 2026Episode 147425 min

Episode 1474: Race For The Cure

Listen to this powerful interview with Dr. David Fajgenbaum who has an incredible new memoir, "Chasing My Cure: A Doctor's Race to Turn Hope into Action". David’s story is truly unique; it’s a tale of learning to live, while dying: a universally relatable story about getting up and fighting back after life knocks you down. A former Georgetown quarterback nicknamed "The Beast," David Fajgenbaum was also a force in medical school, where he was known for his unmatched mental stamina. But things changed dramatically when he began suffering from inexplicable fatigue. In a matter of weeks, his organs were failing and he was read his last rites. Doctors were baffled over a condition they had yet to even diagnose; floating in and out of consciousness, Fajgenbaum prayed for the equivalent of a game day overtime: a second chance. Miraculously, Fajgenbaum survived, but only to endure repeated near-death relapses from what would eventually be identified as a form of Castleman disease—an extremely deadly and rare condition that acts like a cross between cancer and an autoimmune disorder. When he relapsed on the only drug in development and realized that the medical community was unlikely to make progress in time to save his life, Fajgenbaum turned his desperate hope for a cure into concrete action: between hospitalizations he studied his own charts and tested his own blood samples, looking for clues that could unlock a new treatment. With the help of family, friends and mentors, he also reached out to other Castleman disease patients and physicians, and eventually came up with an ambitious plan to crowdsource the most promising research questions and recruit world- class researchers to tackle them; instead of waiting for the scientific stars to align, he proposed to align them himself. More than five years later and now married to his college sweetheart, his hard work has paid off: a treatment that he identified has induced a tentative remission and his novel approach to collaborative scientific inquiry has become a blueprint for advancing rare disease research. His incredible story demonstrates the potency of hope, and what can happen when forces of determination, love, family, faith and serendipity collide. David Fajgenbaum, MD, MBA, MSc is one of the youngest individuals to be appointed to the faculty at Penn Medicine. Co- founder and executive director of the Castleman Disease Collaborative Network (CDCN) and an NIH-funded physician- scientist, he has dedicated his life to discovering new treatments and cures for deadly disorders like Castleman disease, which he was diagnosed with during medical school. He is in the top 1 percent youngest grant awardees of an R01, one of the most competitive and sought-after grants in all of biomedical research. Dr. Fajgenbaum has been recognized on the Forbes 30 Under 30 healthcare list, as a top healthcare leader by Becker's Hospital Review, and one of the youngest people ever elected as a Fellow of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia, the nation's oldest medical society. He was one of three recipients – including Vice President Joe Biden – of a 2016 Atlas Award from the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia. Order "Chasing My Cure" at bookstores nationwide or at http://www.chasingmycure.com/ Business Leadership Series Intro and Outro music provided by Just Off Turner: https://music.apple.com/za/album/the-long-walk-back/268386576