Pull the Chute - Grow your People, Grow your Company Podcast

Hosted by Jeff Sesol and Janna Landry

Business ManagementInterviews guests

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Episodes

329

Latest episode

Aug 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

The goal of this podcast is to interview business owners and/or C-level executives to get an understanding of how they built their culture, what worked, what failed, and what tips can they give new and upcoming business owners. Our goal over the next ten years is to help as many small to medium-sized businesses get to the next level by growing their people, which will grow their company. Through coaching and transformational leadership, Pull the Chute can guide company leaders to invest time to get to know their people and understand their roles, goals, and challenges to provide learning & growth opportunities - ultimately helping their people be the best they can be.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

August 21, 2026Episode 9526 min

Stop Wearing Every Hat in Your Business Featuring Adam Spector

Send us Fan Mail Most entrepreneurs don't fail because they lack passion. They fail because they're overwhelmed by everything that comes after starting the business. Payroll. HR. Bookkeeping. Compliance. Endless admin work. These tasks are necessary—but they shouldn't consume the time meant for growing your business. One of the biggest takeaways from our conversation with Adam Spector is this: Your time is your most valuable investment. Every hour spent on low-value tasks is an hour you're not spending with customers, building your vision, creating new opportunities, or even with your family. Great leaders don't try to do everything—they learn what to delegate, what to automate, and where they create the greatest impact.

August 19, 2026Episode 9427 min

Your Best Employees Don't Need Better Titles... They Need Better Leadership Development Featuring Shruti Rustagi

Send us Fan Mail Are we investing enough in the people who keep organizations moving? Middle managers are often expected to execute strategy, lead teams, navigate change, and adapt to new technologies—all while receiving the least amount of coaching and development. In this episode of Pull the Chute , leadership coach Shruti Rustagi shares why developing middle managers is one of the smartest investments an organization can make. 💡 Key takeaways: • Leadership development should extend beyond the C-suite. • AI isn't replacing leaders—it rewards those who continue learning and adapting. • Emotional intelligence, executive communication, and influence are becoming essential leadership skills. • Organizations that invest in their people build stronger cultures and retain top talent. One quote that stood out: "When the winds of change blow, some build windows. Others build windmills." The question is… what are you building?

August 17, 2026Episode 9329 min

Are You Building the Business... or Chasing Validation? Featuring Mike Brcic

Send us Fan Mail Success isn't always the finish line. In this episode of Pull the Chute , Mike Brcic shares how building a thriving global business eventually led him to an unexpected realization: he wasn't chasing purpose anymore—he was chasing validation. The conversation explores why so many entrepreneurs experience burnout after years of growth, how our need for control can hold us back, and why the most meaningful journey begins when we stop asking, "How can I build more?" and start asking, "Who am I becoming?" If you've ever felt successful on paper but disconnected inside, this episode is for you.

August 14, 2026Episode 9231 min

The Best Podcasts Don't Sell. They Serve Featuring Roger Nairn

Send us Fan Mail The best podcasts don't feel like advertisements—they feel like conversations worth having. In this episode of Pull the Chute , Roger Nairn, Co-Founder & CEO of JAR Podcast Solutions, shares why the most successful podcasts focus less on promoting a brand and more on delivering value to the audience. One of the biggest takeaways? 👉 Every podcast should have a purpose. Whether it's educating, inspiring, building trust, or creating community, your audience should leave every episode with something meaningful. The conversation also dives into: ✨ Why storytelling beats selling ✨ How brands can create deeper audience engagement ✨ The role of AI in content creation ✨ Why authenticity will always outperform perfection In a world flooded with content, the creators who consistently provide value are the ones people remember.

August 13, 2026Episode 9125 min

Retail Isn’t Dying—It’s Evolving Featuring Jon Dario

Send us Fan Mail Retail isn't disappearing—it's transforming. In this episode of Pull the Chute , Jon Dario shares why today's retail leaders face more complexity than ever: more technology, more data, higher customer expectations, and the constant pressure to execute consistently. One takeaway stood out: People want to succeed. Great leaders create the environment where they can. Whether you work in retail, lead a team, or run a business, this conversation is packed with practical leadership insights—from improving frontline execution to building a culture of accountability through Focus, Follow-Up, and Feedback . The best customer experience will always start with great leadership.

August 12, 2026Episode 9027 min

Your Brain Was Never Meant to Hold Everything Featuring Lisa Woodruff

Send us Fan Mail Your brain isn't designed to remember everything—it was designed to think. In this episode of Pull the Chute , Lisa Woodruff shares why so many people feel mentally exhausted today. The biggest challenge isn't just the physical work of running a home—it's the invisible mental load: • Keeping track of schedules • Managing endless apps and notifications • Remembering hundreds of small tasks • Constantly switching between responsibilities One of her simplest yet most powerful tips? ✍️ Get it out of your head. Write your tasks down, organize them, and stop expecting your brain to act like a storage device. When you free your mind from remembering everything, you create more space to focus, be present, and make better decisions. Sometimes productivity isn't about doing more—it's about carrying less.

August 11, 2026Episode 8929 min

Building a Startup Isn't the Hard Part... Building a Business That Lasts Is Featuring Maximus Lih

Send us Fan Mail Growing a startup isn't just about raising capital—it's about building leaders, systems, and a business that can scale. In this episode of Pull the Chute Podcast , startup coach Maximus Lih shares why founders often become the biggest bottleneck in their own companies, how to build teams that scale with your business, and why AI should amplify people—not replace them. One of the biggest takeaways? Building a product, building a company, and building a business are three completely different challenges. The best leaders know when to let go, trust their team, and create systems that prevent problems instead of constantly putting out fires.

August 10, 2026Episode 8828 min

Success Isn't Instant. It's Built One Day at a Time Featuring Benjamin Chen

Send us Fan Mail Everyone wants success—but very few are willing to embrace the process it requires. In this episode of Pull the Chute Podcast , entrepreneur, martial artist, and author Benjamin Chen shares timeless lessons from over four decades of martial arts and years of building successful businesses. One lesson stood out: Success isn't about doing something extraordinary once. It's about consistently showing up. Benjamin introduces the idea of building your "silence muscle" —training yourself to pause before reacting so you can make better decisions under pressure. He also reminds us to focus our energy on what we can actually control instead of worrying about every possible outcome. And perhaps the simplest, yet most powerful lesson: Mastery doesn't come from talent—it comes from consistency. Whether you're building a business, leading a team, or improving yourself, the formula is the same: 👉 Keep showing up. 👉 Keep learning. 👉 Keep growing. Because the biggest breakthroughs are rarely instant—they're earned one day at a time.

August 7, 2026Episode 8733 min

The Best Leaders Don't Have All the Answers Featuring Honor Jensen

Send us Fan Mail Many leaders believe they're expected to have all the answers. But what if the most effective leaders are the ones who ask the best questions ? In this episode of Pull the Chute Podcast , leadership coach Honor Jensen shares why leadership isn't about fixing every problem for your team—it's about helping people think critically, build confidence, and discover their own solutions. One of the biggest takeaways: ✨ Stop answering every question. Start asking better ones. When leaders shift from giving directions to coaching conversations, they create teams that are more engaged, more capable, and more confident. Another powerful reminder: The skills that got you where you are today won't necessarily take you where you want to go next. Growth requires letting go of old habits, trusting your people, and creating an environment where learning—even through failure—is safe. Great leaders don't create followers. They create more leaders.

August 5, 2026Episode 8628 min

You Don't Need a Million Views. You Need the Right People Watching Featuring Jake Isham

Send us Fan Mail Everyone wants to go viral. But what if you don't need a million views to grow your business? In this episode of Pull the Chute Podcast , filmmaker and creative strategist Jake Isham reminds us that successful marketing isn't about reaching everyone—it's about connecting with the right people . One of the biggest takeaways: ✨ Tell stories instead of selling. ✨ Speak to one person, not the crowd. ✨ Focus on the audience you want to serve—not on chasing viral numbers. For entrepreneurs, personal brands, and leaders, your experiences are often your greatest competitive advantage. The stories that feel "ordinary" to you may be the exact stories your audience needs to hear.