ICTPODCAST

Hosted by Brandon Paulseen

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300

Latest episode

Jun 2026

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About the show

Entrepreneurs are driven, focused, and succeed under pressure. We talk with people who do difficult things at the highest level. Through these conversations we see how they power through adversity to build their businesses and their lives.

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60 recent

June 12, 20261 hr 15 min

Jeremy Hill, Kansas City Federal Reserve Regional Economist

"This is still an upward mobility story." -Jeremy Hill Jeremy Hill, regional economist for the Kansas City Federal Reserve, breaks down Missouri and Kansas's economy, the drivers behind persistent inflation, and why high oil prices are keeping costs elevated across the board. He explains how energy costs ripple through everything we buy and what needs to happen for inflation to finally stabilize. Hill also shares how the Federal Reserve operates with districts across the country, how each one votes differently to maintain the integrity of the Federal Reserve, and its core role in stabilizing prices while aiming for maximum employment.

May 31, 202635 min

Kristof Slupkowski, Chief Credit Officer Equity Bank and his Persistent Journey to American Opportunity

When you immigrate to the United States from a former communist country, your point of view about opportunity is different. Kristof's first visit to the US was to New York and he thought it was all like that. As a Top high school decathlete in Poland, he had the chance to come to the United States and he chose Wichita USA. As an outstanding athlete for the Wichita State Shockers, he soon wanted to apply his dedication and capabilities to the business world. Many of us in the US take for granted our opportunities. Chief Credit Officer of Equity Bank, Kristof Slupkowski shares in our conversation how difficult it is to legally immigrate so that you can take advantage of the wonderful opportunities in the land of the free. He is an outstanding disciplined human being, and I am grateful to share his story.

May 13, 202626 min

Gene Camarena, Founder/CEO La Raza Inc., Entrepreneur, Philanthropist

Anytime I am mentoring, with a group of young people or students, I give them my number and ask them to use it. I encourage that. And its up to them. -- Gene Camarena, Founder/CEO La Raza Inc. Gene and his wife Yolanda have changed so many lives because they believe in education and they chose to be entrepreneurs They have validated their success by giving of their time, their talents and their treasures to young people. They give and they keep giving with one caveat, you must participate in their generosity. Gene knows how difficult it is to be an entrepreneur and it get started and that's one of the main reasons why he continues to be accessible and open and honest about that path. As an incredibly successful franchisees in restaurants and hotels, Gene will tell you directly that the most fun is sharing that success with the next generation to grow more opportunities for those in the Latino community and with any young person willing to take a risk and continue to take action. Gene's leadership is meaningful effective and never boastful. I thank him for what he has done and continues to do every day for the benefit of others.

May 4, 202651 min

Clint Stevens, Founder/CEO Phy-Cy.X Security Group

Science Fiction does a better job explaining where we are going than any Historian or Economist. -Clint Stevens, Founder/CEO Clint Stevens, the founder and CEO of Phy-Cy.X Seciruty Group where IT and Operational Technology meet. It's at this convergent point where they solve problems for business all over the world. He served our country in the Air Force for 24 years and we are indebted to him for his service. And while it is his entrepreneurial courage to solve problems for profit that make up his day-to-day life it is his service to our country that makes this conversation with him so interesting. All of us have to contend with information. There's good information. There's bad information. There's purely falsified information with the intention of confusing. It sure is confusing. This is easier said than done, but don't let things confuse you. You're probably not gonna figure them out. Have a principal centered value system that loves and respects humanity and work at that every day. We thank Clint Stevens for his service to our country and I think him even more for showing people how to take action and help people through his entrepreneurial ventures.

April 21, 202636 min

Who Builds Equity Rick Sems, CEO Equity Bank

More than anything, you have to be someone that people can count on. -- Rick Sems, CEO Rick leads through action. He spent his career leading teams and developing people so they can understand how to take care of customers needs. It takes vision, but it also just takes hard work and when you put the two together, every day, you have compounding. That positive compounding is what Rick uses to drive the success of Equity Bank.

April 13, 202636 min

WHO BUILDS EQUITY Julie Huber, COO & Jonathan Roop SVP Retail Banking, Equity Bank

The Chief Operating Officer, Julie Huber and Senior Vice President of Retail Banking, Jonathan Roop work every day on delivering the ease of experience for the customer. When people interface with a financial institution, be it in person or online they want it to be simple and intuitive. Julie Huber, the COO of Equity Bank has been working on this since there was just one Equity Bank office. In 2026. They're all over 85 spread out across the middle of the USA. The ease of doing business from the customers per perspective is more important today than ever. Jonathan Roop has spent his career in banking. With over two decades of experience, he thinks about that personal exchange with a customer every day. Through the leadership of Julie and Jon, the high value on customer attention and delivering in the moment is what defines Equity Bank's value proposition to each and every customer. Delivering great service is common sense. Julie and Jon have made sure that delivering a valuable experience is common sense at Equity Bank.

April 8, 202649 min

Cary Cozby PGA Director of Golf on Golf, Grit and a Good Life

"I had a health double-bogey and it taught me [like golf], you have to stay in the moment." -Cary Cozby, PGA Director of Golf We confess how this beautiful, frustrating game we call golf so perfectly parallels life itself. It's about the grit you build when you simply refuse to quit, the discipline of staying fully in the moment, and learning to embrace every emotion that comes with it. You might love golf. You might hate golf. Some days you'll love it and hate it in the very same round. That's the magic — this game captures the full spectrum of human emotion like almost nothing else. Golf is historical. It's generational. It's something you can share with your family across a lifetime. There are incredible triumphs and painful tribulations. But in the end, if you just keep showing up every single day with that hopeful, joyful desire to get a little bit better… while taking that peaceful walk in the shared experience of humanity… Golf doesn't just mimic life. In many ways, it is life. So don't forget to play every day

March 30, 202631 min

WHO BUILDS EQUITY Opening Day! with Matt Hamilton General Manager Wichita WindSurge

Take me out to the ball game! We are celebrating America's past time with the General Manager of the Wichita WindSurge. Matt has dedicated his career to Major league baseball, and we are grateful that he leads the SURGE! It's an incredibly entertaining and beautiful atmosphere at Equity Bank Park and Matt and his team do everything from taking the tickets, lighting the lights and balancing the budget budgets. Running the Major league affiliate squad in Wichita is an incredibly entrepreneurial undertaking. Matt and his team are impressive with all that they do to create an entertaining day at the park and bringing tremendous value to the city of Wichita. Play ball!

March 30, 20261 hr 7 min

Arab-Israeli Conflict /United States-Iran Conflict with Ambassador David Dunford

"The Iranian objective is to cause so much damage that the US will not attack again. - former Ambassador David J. Dunford The Arab-Israeli conflict confuses people. It is complex. We need to understand the confict and the Region so that we can add constructive questions to conversations instead of hyperbole that ends up in a side choosing battle and humanity loses. Ambassador David J Dunford has spent the majority of his life trying to impart positive change in the Midle East. As the former Ambassador the the Sultan of Oman, he has stood on the south peninsula of the Straits of Hormuz, witnessing speedboats shuttling across with various contriband. And as the Deputy Director of US Trade in the Office of the President he recounts the significants worldwide challenges that come up when confilct over Oil shuts down ships. In order to improve a situation you must better understand it. Professor Dunford expresses his thoughts and gives incredible insight to the last 100 plus years of the Arab-Israeli Conflict.

March 27, 20261 hr 6 min

Energy Policy with Warren Martin, Executive Director Kansas Strong

It takes a lot of energy to do what Warren does. Pun Intended. As the voice of education for the Oil and Gas industry in the state of Kansas, Warren spends his days in front of audiences of all ages to help them understand the importance of reliable and inexpensive energy. People do not thrive without it. World conflicts have exacerbated this issue. It affects us all. Supporting solutions for Energy benefits society. The state of Kansas is home too many Entrepreneur's in the oil and gas industry, and they provide thousands of jobs and sustainable reliable energy so that people can continue to help each other and improve each other's lives.