The Bird's Nest

Hosted by Dave Lehmkuhl

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Latest episode

May 2026

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About the show

In life and business, we all try to find that missing something that will make our lives or careers better. In this podcast, We talk to guests on what they have found in their journey - the good and the bad, ups and the downs - and what that has meant for them along the way. Come join us for a sit down with some amazing people!

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58 recent

May 4, 2026Episode 638 min

He Quit Tech Sales and Bought a Business

Alejandro Vega had a resume most people would be proud of — Account Executive at Gartner, building a territory from scratch at Sysco in Savannah, then Seamless.AI, then Prezent. At 28, he walked away from all of it to buy a concrete coating company in Greenville, SC.In this episode, Dave sits down with Alejandro and gets into the real story — not the LinkedIn version. Alejandro traces his entrepreneurial instincts all the way back to lemonade stands, door-to-door cookie sales, and a college marketing agency. He talks about the book that changed his thinking, a friend who bought a plumbing company that pushed him over the edge, and the moment his wife told him she believed in him — the kind of conversation that makes everything feel possible and terrifying at the same time. They get into Day 1 of ownership, what it actually felt like to make his first sale as the boss, and the difference between grinding for a quota versus building something of your own. Alejandro closes with a message that's hard to forget: get off social media, stop waiting, and be a doer. If you've been sitting on something — this is the episode that might finally push you to go do it.

April 27, 2026Episode 538 min

The Choices That Changed Everything: Charles Thompson on Faith, Football, and Fatherhood

Charles Thompson grew up one of five kids with a single mom, surrounded by gangs and drugs — and made a deliberate choice to go a different way. He leaned on football, coaches, and his faith to carve a path that took him to Bucknell University and into a corporate career. In this conversation, Charles shares what it was like being the first in his family to graduate college, living with a host family in high school who helped shape him, and how getting laid off from his job led to one of his most grounding moments — showing up to coach his son's flag football practice that same day. This is a story about choices, gratitude, fatherhood, and what it really means to equip the next generation. Honest, warm, and worth every minute.

March 21, 2026Episode 431 min

How to Continously Hit "Quotas"

What keeps someone at the top of the leaderboard for over a decade? In this episode, Adam Kronemeyer of Sage shares how mindset, personal drive, and a commitment to providing for his family fueled 11 straight years of hitting quota. We get into the importance of building real relationships with clients—regardless of deal size—and how understanding a prospect’s true priorities can help you navigate obstacles and protect your time. Adam also talks about investing in professional coaching, even at the top of his game, and what he’s learned from recent losses that have made him even sharper. If you’re in sales, leadership, or just trying to stay consistent at a high level—this conversation delivers real takeaways you can apply immediately.

February 26, 2026Episode 336 min

Connecting the Dots: Turning Every Career Move into Momentum

Most people don’t take a straight path into sales. Tyler Meckes definitely didn’t. In this episode of The Bird’s Nest, Tyler hares how he went from majoring in Exercise Science to building a career in sales — and eventually making the leap into Revenue Operations at Eleven Software. What changed? He realized the skills he developed in college weren’t wasted. They were transferable. Teaching complex concepts. Breaking down problems. Communicating clearly. Those same abilities helped him win in sales — guiding prospects, diagnosing challenges, and leading conversations with confidence. And when he transitioned into Revenue Operations, those communication skills became even more valuable. Now he’s working cross-functionally — aligning sales, systems, data, and leadership to drive revenue performance at scale. This conversation is about career pivots, betting on your strengths, and realizing that no experience is wasted if you’re willing to connect the dots. If you’re in sales, RevOps, or thinking about your next move — this episode will challenge the way you look at your own path.

February 9, 2026Episode 235 min

The Power of Confidence in Sales | Career Moves, Quotas, and Closing

This episode of The Bird's Nest features Lauren Szuchan, a top Senior Account Executive at SourceWhale, sharing a candid look at how her sales career truly took shape.Lauren breaks down the early foundation of her sales mindset from her time at Red Bull, what it was like stepping into a commission- and quota-carrying role, and how she evaluates new opportunities when deciding on her next move. A consistent theme throughout the conversation is her confidence—confidence in herself, confidence in the product she sells, and the importance of directly asking for the sale.The conversation also explores what fuels her outside of work: a deep love for travel, why Italy remains a favorite destination, and her firm belief that ice cream should always be a non-negotiable part of life.This episode is a must-listen for sellers navigating career transitions, leaders building confidence at the table, and anyone who believes success comes from preparation, conviction, and the courage to ask.

January 13, 202637 min

Unfiltered: Building a Business On Her Terms

In this episode, Becca Thompson shares her deeply personal journey from medical device sales to launching her own company as a LinkedIn writer and social media consultant for medical companies Becca opens up about the pivotal career decisions that led her to entrepreneurship, how her experience with breast cancer reshaped her outlook on life and business, and why she’s committed to showing up unfiltered, unapologetic, and grounded in her values. This conversation explores: The emotional and practical realities of leaving corporate salesHow adversity can clarify purpose and confidenceBuilding a business without compromising who you areWhy being “yourself” is a competitive advantage — not a riskThis episode is honest, empowering, and inspiring for anyone navigating career change, entrepreneurship, or personal growth. 🎙️ A must-listen for sales professionals, founders, and anyone ready to stop shrinking and start showing up fully.

June 24, 2025Episode 837 min

From the Battlefield to the Boardroom: Joe McNamara on Building Leaders Who Win

Joe McNamara, former Marine Officer and founder of the Iron Leader Team, brings a battle-tested approach to leadership that transforms individuals and teams. With multiple combat tours under his belt, Joe now partners with companies and athletic programs to teach leaders how to lead themselves first—then drive results through disciplined, values-based action.In this episode of The Bird’s Nest, Joe breaks down the core principles behind his leadership development programs, how small mindset shifts lead to massive transformation, and why real leadership starts long before a title. Whether you run a sales team or coach a squad, this episode delivers the blueprint to build leaders who win.

June 17, 2025Episode 731 min

Scott Blostein: From SaaS Sales to Guiding Others Into Tech

Scott Blostein joins The Bird’s Nest to drop a masterclass on landing your next role by thinking like a salesperson.With years in SaaS under his belt, Scott now helps job seekers break into tech by teaching them to treat their job hunt like a sales cycle — complete with prospecting, discovery, and closing.He gets real about his own imposter syndrome, why fulfillment matters more than titles, and the power of serving others. If you're changing careers, breaking into tech, or just feeling stuck, this episode will light a fire under you.

June 10, 2025Episode 642 min

Overcoming Alcohol, Online Hate & Still Helping Others Win — Brianna Chapman Tells All

In this raw and empowering episode, we sit down with Brianna Chapman — a military spouse living in Canada and a powerhouse AE at Offsite — to unpack her incredible story of resilience and reinvention.💥 From quietly battling alcohol dependency and unhealthy social media habits to quitting both cold turkey… 💬 From receiving disturbing harassment on LinkedIn to courageously going public and standing tall through the backlash… 💼 From overcoming personal challenges to building a thriving side hustle that helps others land their dream jobs...Brianna holds nothing back. Her story is about courage, clarity, and the confidence to rewrite your own narrative — no matter who's watching.If you've ever felt stuck, silenced, or underestimated, this conversation is a must-listen.🔗 Like. Share. Subscribe. And don’t forget to leave a review if Brianna’s story moved you.

June 1, 2025Episode 545 min

Back Against The Wall Mentality

Mando Sallavanti is a top 1% nationally recognized financial advisor with MassMutual and he is not even to his fifth year yet. He joined for the second time on the podcast to discuss how in two years he has taken his practice from a good level to now speaking in front of hundreds of advisors from around the country on how to achieve his success. Mando has experienced success some of us only dream about, but he describes his fear in losing it all, how he learns from his mistakes and how he operates with a 'back against the wall' menatality each and every day. I am thrilled to hit the publish button this episode maybe more than any other. Enjoy!!Armando Sallavanti is a registered representative with and offer securities and investment advisory services through MML Investors Services, LLC Member SPIChttp://www.sipc.org2 Bala Plaza, Ste 901Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004Tel: 610-766-3000