The Culture Matters Podcast with host, Jay Doran, is a platform to talk with business owners, executives, and cultural alike to get inside each individual's eco-system in which they practice culture in the workplace. We speak to some of the most interesting people about why culture is important.
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November 9, 2026Episode 115556 min
Season 97, Episode 1155: Guest: Ken Walls: Break Through YOUR Walls
What if the biggest obstacle standing between you and the life you want is the story you've been telling yourself? In this episode of The Culture Matters Podcast, Jay Doran welcomes Ken Walls, entrepreneur, author of Walls of Wisdom , and host of Breakthrough Walls , for an honest and inspiring conversation about overcoming adversity, personal responsibility, entrepreneurship, and the power of changing your mindset. Ken opens up about his difficult childhood, his battle with alcoholism, and the moment that ultimately led him to sobriety after years of personal and professional struggles. From building multimillion-dollar businesses to losing everything and starting over, Ken shares the experiences that transformed how he approaches life, leadership, and success. In this episode: Breaking negative patterns: How the conversations we have with ourselves shape our future. The power of community: Why Ken credits Alcoholics Anonymous and the people around him with helping transform his life. Mindset and affirmations: How intentional, positive reinforcement can influence the next generation. Taking responsibility: Why personal growth begins when we stop blaming others. Meditation and self-awareness: How creating space for reflection has become a nonnegotiable part of Ken's life. Lessons from Grant Cardone: Why entrepreneurs must stop hiding from their potential and embrace visibility. Leadership and culture: Why the biggest problem inside a business sometimes starts with the person leading it. Building meaningful connections: How humor, authenticity, and a genuine love for people create lasting relationships. Jay and Ken also explore the importance of creativity, the ability to recognize opportunities, and why the most successful entrepreneurs are often those willing to take action before they have everything figured out. The biggest takeaway? Your past may explain where you've been, but it doesn't have to determine where you're going. A powerful conversation about resilience, faith, self-awareness, and the courage to rebuild your life with greater intention. Because sometimes the most important walls you'll ever break through are the ones you've built within yourself.
November 5, 2026Episode 115458 min
Season 97, Episode 1154: Guest: Dave Specht: A Family Legacy That Lasts
What does it really mean to leave a legacy? Is it the wealth you accumulate, the business you build, or the people you prepare to carry it forward? In this episode of The Culture Matters Podcast, Jay Doran welcomes Dave Specht, founder and president of Advising Generations and author of The Family Business Whisperer , for a thoughtful conversation about family businesses, generational wealth, leadership, and the responsibility of preparing the next generation. With more than two decades of experience advising business-owning families, Dave shares why preserving relationships must come before perpetuating businesses, and why financial wealth alone cannot guarantee a family's future. In this episode: Why family businesses are more common, and more complex, than most entrepreneurs realize. The challenges of transitioning ownership and leadership between generations. Why money magnifies existing family dynamics rather than solving them. The importance of human, intellectual, social, and spiritual capital. How clear expectations, accountability, and communication protect family relationships. Why family constitutions and shared values must be created together. The role of trusted advisors in protecting a family's long-term vision. Jay and Dave also explore the pressures placed on children who inherit a family name, the risks of mixing family relationships with business responsibilities, and why shared purpose can become the foundation of a lasting legacy. The biggest takeaway? The greatest inheritance isn't simply what you leave behind. It's how well you've prepared the people who will receive it. A meaningful conversation for entrepreneurs, family business owners, and anyone thinking about what it truly means to build something that lasts for generations.
November 3, 2026Episode 115346 min
Season 97, Episode 1153: Guest: Sam Shargo: Building A Business That Gives You Freedom
What if the business you built to create freedom has become the very thing holding you back? In this episode of The Culture Matters Podcast, Jay Doran welcomes Sam Shargo, entrepreneur, author of The Liberated Path , and CEO of ScaleRight Partners , for a powerful conversation about conscious leadership, resilience, entrepreneurship, and redefining success. Sam shares his remarkable journey from arriving in America as a refugee from Moldova to building his first business at just 13 years old. He also opens up about the personal tragedies that changed his perspective on life and why the systems and culture he built within his company gave him the freedom to be present for his family when it mattered most. In this episode: Why true entrepreneurial success is about freedom, not just money. How to build a business that doesn't depend on its founder. Turning core values into behaviors that actually shape company culture. Why leaders must learn to let go of control and empower their teams. How personal identity and fear can prevent entrepreneurs from growing. The role of AI, community, and conscious leadership in the future of business. Jay and Sam also explore the philosophy behind The Liberated Path and Sam's vision for ScaleRight Collective, a community built around meaningful growth, accountability, and human-centered leadership. The biggest takeaway? Your business should support the life you want to live, not consume it. A thoughtful reminder that the greatest measure of success isn't how much you've built, but the freedom you've created to be present for the people and experiences that matter most.
October 31, 2026Episode 115233 min
Season 96, Episode 1152: Guest Maria Quattrone: Listings Are A Business
What separates real estate agents who struggle to find their next deal from those who consistently build thriving businesses? In this episode of The Culture Matters Podcast, Jay Doran welcomes back Maria Quattrone, real estate entrepreneur, author, and founder of More Listings Now , for a conversation about discipline, relationships, consistency, and creating predictable success in real estate. With more than 3,500 homes sold throughout her career, Maria shares the philosophy behind her new book, More Listings Now , and why she believes real estate professionals must stop chasing leads and start building meaningful relationships with the people already in their network. In this episode: Listings vs. buyers: Why Maria believes listings create stability while buyers bring unpredictability. The power of your database: How consistent follow-up creates opportunities that many agents overlook. Conversations create conversions: Why building relationships matters more than traditional sales tactics. The calendar tells the truth: How discipline, time blocking, and accountability drive results. From 130 to 192 listings: The strategy behind Maria's remarkable production growth. Building trust: Why empathy, authenticity, and understanding people's needs win business. More Listings Now: Maria's vision for helping agents build predictable businesses and achieve greater freedom. Confidence follows courage: Why taking action before you're ready is essential to growth. Jay and Maria also discuss the importance of knowing your market, creating systems that support long-term success, and recognizing that freedom in business is earned through discipline. The biggest takeaway? You don't need more opportunities nearly as much as you need to make the most of the relationships and opportunities already in front of you. Whether you're a real estate professional, entrepreneur, or business leader, this episode is a reminder that consistent action, genuine connection, and a commitment to doing the work can change everything. Because success doesn't happen by accident. It starts with a conversation.
October 29, 2026Episode 115155 min
Season 96, Episode 1151: Guest: Jay Falconio: The Cost of Being Unprepared
What happens when the business you've worked so hard to build faces a risk you never saw coming? In this episode of The Culture Matters Podcast, Jay Doran welcomes Jay Falconio, Chief Visionary Officer of REMCO Insurance Services , for a conversation about entrepreneurship, leadership, customer experience, and the importance of protecting what you've built. Jay Falconio shares his unconventional journey from hospitality and food services to the insurance industry, including a costly experience in his own business that completely changed how he understood risk. After discovering that his insurance coverage fell short when he needed it most, he developed a passion for helping other entrepreneurs avoid the same mistakes. In this episode: Lessons from hospitality: Why listening and treating people like people are essential to great sales. The $30,000 lesson: How an unexpected insurance claim changed Jay's approach to business. The moment of truth: Why the true value of a service provider becomes clear when something goes wrong. Understanding risk: Why business owners must think beyond simply purchasing the cheapest insurance policy. Relationships over transactions: How personal connections create loyalty and lasting business partnerships. Leadership and culture: Why being present, approachable, and willing to listen matters. Innovation and AI: How REMCO is building new systems while preserving the human experience. The power of focus: Why choosing to specialize in commercial insurance helped REMCO grow. Supporting small businesses: How REMCO Around Town and REMCO Real Talk spotlight the entrepreneurs behind local businesses. Jay and Jay also explore the challenges of growing an independent business, the importance of surrounding yourself with great people, and why successful entrepreneurs take the time to understand what they don't know. One of the biggest lessons? You don't truly understand the value of protection until the moment you need it. Ultimately, this conversation is about more than insurance. It's about taking responsibility, building meaningful relationships, and creating a business culture where doing what's right matters more than making a quick sale. Because great leadership isn't just about taking risks. It's about accepting responsibility for what those risks can affect.
October 27, 2026Episode 115059 min
Season 96, Episode 1150: Guest: Anthony Casa: Fear, Focus, and the Power of Reinvention
What if the challenges that once scared you became the very experiences that shaped your success? In this episode of The Culture Matters Podcast, Jay Doran sits down with longtime friend and mortgage industry leader Anthony Casa, Executive Partner at NEXA Lending , for a candid conversation about entrepreneurship, leadership, relationships, and reinvention. Anthony takes us back to his earliest days, growing up in poverty, leaving school at 13 to help support his family, and eventually finding his way into the mortgage industry at just 17 years old. He shares a remarkable story about the mentor who gave him a second chance and how that single decision changed the trajectory of his life. From founding Garden State Home Loans to helping build the independent mortgage broker movement, Anthony reflects on the successes, mistakes, and lessons that have shaped his leadership philosophy. In this episode: Fear and focus: How uncertainty became one of Anthony's greatest motivators. The power of mentorship: Why one person's belief in you can change everything. Relationships over transactions: The customer-first philosophy that helped build Garden State Home Loans. Leading through difficult markets: Why commitment, consistency, and relationships matter more than chasing quick wins. Growth versus culture: How expanding faster than an organization can improve can destroy trust. Transparency and loyalty: Why the mortgage industry needs stronger relationships between leaders and loan officers. A new chapter at NEXA: What brought Anthony and Mike Kortas together after years as competitors. The discipline of simplicity: Why doing the fundamentals consistently can be more rewarding than chasing the next big thing. Redefining success: Why Anthony's greatest legacy won't be the companies he's built, but the relationships he's created with his children. Anthony also opens up about entering a new season of life. After years of carrying the pressure of business ownership, he's embracing the opportunity to learn again, contribute to a larger vision, and focus on what matters most. The takeaway? Success isn't just about building something extraordinary. It's about having the humility to evolve, the courage to start again, and the wisdom to recognize that relationships will always matter more than accomplishments. A conversation about where we come from, who we become, and what we ultimately want to leave behind.
October 24, 2026Episode 114948 min
Season 96, Episode 1149: Guest: Chris Vester: Are You Successful or Just Out of Alignment?
What if you've spent your entire life climbing the ladder of success, only to discover it's leaning against the wrong building? In this episode of The Culture Matters Podcast, Jay Doran welcomes back Christopher Vester, founder of Align Your Nine , for a meaningful conversation about faith, family, leadership, personal growth, and the difference between achieving success and living a truly fulfilling life. Chris introduces the philosophy behind Align Your Nine, a biblically rooted approach to bringing nine essential areas of life into alignment: body, soul, mind, spirit, spouse, parent, worker, steward, and circle of genius. He explains why excelling in one area while neglecting others can create an imbalance that affects everything from marriage and parenting to business performance and personal purpose. The conversation becomes personal when Chris shares the question that changed his life in 2014: Would you want your daughters to marry someone like you? That moment sparked a decade of self-reflection, transformation, and a renewed commitment to becoming the husband, father, and leader he wanted to be. In this episode: Why conventional success doesn't always lead to fulfillment. The nine areas of life that Chris believes must work together. How childhood experiences can shape limiting beliefs and false identities. Why honest feedback and self-awareness are essential to personal growth. The question that transformed Chris's approach to fatherhood and marriage. How Chris learned to support his wife Suzanne's dreams alongside his own. Why effective leaders take responsibility before blaming their teams. The difference between coaching and advisory relationships. How recognizing people's unique strengths can improve organizational culture. A practical exercise for identifying where your life may be out of alignment. Chris also shares how his own transformation influenced his marriage, family, and leadership philosophy. Through Align Your Nine, he now helps others recognize the areas where their actions may not reflect their intentions and develop a clearer understanding of who they are called to become. The biggest takeaway? Alignment begins with an honest look in the mirror. Before you can lead your family, your team, or your business more effectively, you must be willing to examine how you're showing up in your own life. Success isn't simply about achieving more. It's about becoming someone whose values, actions, relationships, and purpose are all moving in the same direction.
October 23, 2026Episode 11481 hr 9 min
Season 96, Episode 1148: Guest: Demetri Stakias: The Courage to Evolve
What happens when the person you are becoming no longer fits the life you have built? In this episode of The Culture Matters Podcast, Jay Doran welcomes back Demetri Stakias for a thought-provoking conversation about personal evolution, leadership, philosophy, relationships, and the importance of living with intention. From the extraordinary customer experience at Buc-ee's to the timeless lessons of Greek philosophy, Jay and Demetri explore how the standards we establish shape our businesses, relationships, and identities. They discuss why genuine service matters more than appearances, why vulnerability is essential to meaningful connection, and how easily entrepreneurs can lose sight of their original mission while pursuing financial success. The conversation also turns personal as Demetri reflects on learning to release relationships that no longer serve his growth, while Jay discusses rediscovering his purpose, embracing philosophy, and taking action on ideas rather than allowing them to remain thoughts. In this episode: What Buc-ee's teaches us about customer experience, consistency, and high standards. Why authentic service and genuine relationships create lasting business value. How Greek philosophy and The Odyssey reveal lessons about identity, struggle, and finding your way home. The importance of communicating complex ideas in ways people can understand. Why personal growth sometimes requires letting go of relationships and expectations. How entrepreneurs can lose their mission when money becomes the primary focus. Why self-awareness means little without meaningful action. The difference between transactional sales and approaching people with genuine care. How community, fitness, and shared experiences create belonging and personal growth. Jay's evolving vision for Culture Matters, the CEO Manual, and bringing people together through meaningful conversations. Throughout the discussion, Jay and Demetri challenge one another to think beyond conventional definitions of success. They explore what it means to lead by example, maintain integrity, embrace change, and build a life aligned with personal values. Ultimately, this episode is about recognizing when it is time to evolve. Whether in business, relationships, or personal development, growth requires the courage to question what you believe, release what no longer serves you, and act on what matters most. Culture matters because the standards we live by shape not only the organizations we build, but the people we become.
October 21, 2026Episode 11471 hr 14 min
Season 96, Episode 1147: Guest: Jonathon Haddad: Your Strength Through Your Struggle
“No man is free who is not master of himself.” — Epictetus What does it really take to become a stronger leader? Is strength measured by physical ability, professional accomplishments, financial success, or the willingness to confront the parts of ourselves that still need to grow? In Season 96, Episode 1147 of The Culture Matters Podcast, Jay Doran welcomes back longtime friend and returning guest Jonathon Haddad , CEO of the Association of Independent Mortgage Experts (AIME), for a conversation about discipline, accountability, competition, personal transformation, and the responsibility that comes with leadership. Having joined Jay for several previous episodes, including the New Year's Eve Lollapalooza series, Jonathon returns with a renewed perspective on what it means to lead others while continuing to work on yourself. From the challenges of representing thousands of mortgage professionals to his personal journey with fitness, faith, family, and entrepreneurship, Jonathon shares the experiences that have shaped his understanding of success. The conversation begins with a friendly but serious challenge. Jay and Jonathon have committed to a yearlong fitness competition culminating on July 9, 2027, featuring a sub-six-minute mile, pull-ups, push-ups, bench presses, squats, and deadlifts. While the competition provides plenty of entertaining banter, its deeper significance lies in what it has already accomplished. Both men are pushing themselves harder, holding each other accountable, and discovering how meaningful competition can bring people together rather than drive them apart. For Jonathon, the challenge has become something much more personal. After years of struggling to reconnect with the fitness discipline he once knew, he describes finding genuine enjoyment in the process again and reaching his best physical condition in more than a decade. His experience opens a broader discussion about the relationship between physical health, mental clarity, spiritual well-being, and the habits that sustain high-performing leaders. Jay and Jonathon also explore what distinguishes genuine expertise from popularity. Having an audience does not automatically make someone an expert, and professional success means little if you cannot communicate what you know. Jonathon shares how he used his own mother to evaluate mortgage training materials, removing or rewriting anything she could not understand. His philosophy is simple: if you truly understand something, you should be able to explain it clearly to someone encountering it for the first time. In this episode, Jay and Jonathon discuss: Competition as accountability: Why their yearlong fitness challenge is about more than winning and how healthy competition can inspire personal transformation. The connection between mind, body, and soul: How physical discipline influences Jonathon's approach to leadership, marriage, fatherhood, and professional performance. Leading an entire industry: What Jonathon has learned transitioning from mortgage production and team leadership to serving as CEO of AIME. Protecting organizational culture: Why a leader must sometimes prioritize the mission and identity of an organization over individual relationships. Learning to receive feedback: Why Jonathon prefers direct, private conversations with trusted people and how leaders can communicate the conditions that help them grow. The purpose of AIME: How the Association of Independent Mortgage Experts supports mortgage brokers, advocates for the independent channel, and educates consumers. What independence really means: The freedom to build a business around relationships, consumer needs, and personal values rather than someone else's sales requirements. The difference between influence and expertise: Why consistent results, professional trust, and the ability to simplify complicated information matter more than audience size. The power of simplifying complexity: How Jonathon tested mortgage education materials with his mother to ensure consumers could actually understand them. Learning from exceptional thinkers: What working alongside Jason duPont and other entrepreneurs has taught Jonathon about mind mapping, systems, and recognizing patterns. Returning to faith: How the loss of his grandmother inspired Jonathon to pursue theology, study scripture, and reconnect with a deeper sense of purpose. Finding meaning beyond achievement: Why accomplishing everything you thought you wanted does not necessarily produce fulfillment. Hope in a difficult mortgage market: What struggling loan officers need to understand about perseverance, opportunity, and maintaining discipline when business slows. Leading without immediate compensation: Why Jonathon volunteered to serve his first year at AIME without pay and what he wanted to prove through that commitment. The reality of early financial success: How earning a $22,000 check on his 22nd birthday changed his understanding of work, opportunity, and responsibility. Turning sales into a skill: How Jonathon developed his abilities through repetition, studying objections, refining conversations, and challenging himself to improve. The four stages of competence: How people move from not recognizing their limitations to performing difficult skills with confidence and consistency. Why improv can make you a better salesperson: Jonathon's unconventional recommendation for improving communication, adaptability, and confidence in conversations. What top mortgage producers do differently: The importance of finding a niche, delegating effectively, maintaining consistency, and committing to a process long enough to evaluate it. The 90-day commitment: Why abandoning a strategy after three weeks rarely provides enough information to determine whether it works. The two moments Jonathon almost quit: How public criticism over his team's performance and the difficult decision to terminate a friend challenged his commitment to leadership. What your calendar reveals about you: Why priorities, discipline, and personal identity become visible through how we organize our time. Understanding your own strengths: How self-awareness, outside assessments, and knowing which tools work for you can improve your ability to execute. The opportunities and dangers of artificial intelligence: Why AI can support learning and self-discovery while also creating misplaced confidence. The future of mortgage lending: Jonathon's predictions about automation, consumer expectations, and the changing role of the loan officer. Using AI without losing your business: Why mortgage professionals should embrace technology without spending their entire workday building tools instead of serving clients. Building toward 2027: Jonathon's ambitions for AIME, Fuse, his technology company Beverie, his education, and his family. Emotional regulation through adversity: Why the hardest seasons of Jonathon's life taught him to appreciate both success and struggle without being controlled by either. One of the most compelling stories comes when Jonathon recalls his earliest years in the mortgage industry. At just 21 years old, he entered a high-volume sales environment and began working extraordinary hours to develop his skills. By his first full month on the sales floor, he had written 40 loans. On his 22nd birthday, he received a $22,000 paycheck, an amount so far beyond anything he had previously experienced that he sat at his desk and cried. Yet that early success did not mean he had mastered money, leadership, or life. By his third year, Jonathon remembers looking at his finances and realizing he had almost nothing saved. He had worked hard, earned substantial money, and enjoyed experiences that helped him grow, but he still had important lessons to learn about responsibility and long-term thinking. Jay challenges him to recognize that the younger version of himself was learning valuable lessons, even if the older version would have made different decisions. Their discussion of leadership also explores the moments when Jonathon nearly walked away from the industry altogether. He recalls the humiliation of having his team's poor performance criticized publicly and the emotional difficulty of having to fire a close friend who repeatedly failed to meet professional expectations. Both experiences forced him to confront the difference between wanting to lead and accepting the responsibilities leadership actually requires. Throughout the episode, Jonathon returns to the word he selected for 2026: strength . What began as a personal commitment has become a philosophy that reaches into every area of his life. He wants to become physically stronger, spiritually grounded, more effective as a leader, more present as a husband and father, and more intentional about the legacy he is building. The conversation closes with a reflection on hardship and emotional regulation. Jonathon explains that the most difficult experiences of his career taught him how much responsibility he could carry and how often the challenges that once seemed impossible eventually became the very experiences that strengthened him. He has learned to appreciate the highs without becoming dependent on them and endure the lows without believing they will last forever.
October 19, 2026Episode 11462 hr 1 min
Season 96, Episode 1146: Jason duPont: Love, Part 3: The Courage to Care, Challenge, and Change
“Love is part of how you rewrite your story. It doesn't change what happened. It transforms what happens next.” In this episode of the Culture Matters Podcast, Jay Doran welcomes back Jason duPont for Part 3 of their ongoing exploration of love, struggle, personal growth, leadership, and the relationships that shape who we become. What began as a philosophical question about whether advocating for struggle can be an expression of love has evolved into a much deeper conversation about acceptance, accountability, vulnerability, and the responsibility we have to help one another grow. Jay and Jason explore whether love means accepting someone exactly as they are, challenging them to become more, or finding a way to do both simultaneously. One of the most powerful ideas in this conversation is that you can care deeply about who someone could become without requiring them to become that person to earn your love. Love does not necessarily mean agreement, comfort, or the absence of conflict. Sometimes it requires difficult conversations, uncomfortable feedback, meaningful boundaries, and the willingness to see something in another person that they cannot yet recognize in themselves. The conversation also becomes deeply personal as Jay reflects on past relationships, professional conflicts, moments of disappointment, and the people whose honesty helped him reclaim his agency. Jason challenges Jay to recognize that acknowledging mistakes does not require dismissing the value of the good he has accomplished. Together, they examine how love can transform not only individual relationships but also organizational cultures, leadership philosophies, and entire industries. In this episode: Why love can rewrite your future without changing your past The evolution of Jay and Jason's conversation about love and struggle across three episodes Whether accepting someone and challenging them to grow can coexist Why caring about someone's potential should not make your love conditional The difference between fierce love and behavior that causes harm How difficult feedback can become an expression of genuine care Why understanding someone's perspective does not require agreeing with them The relationship between trust, vulnerability, accountability, and personal growth How environments influence the people we become Why organizations need strong roots of trust and culture to support continued growth The dangers of pursuing business growth without developing the people responsible for it Why independence requires discipline and the internalization of responsibility What mortgage industry leaders should be doing differently to develop their people The importance of investing in yourself when greater opportunities and resources become available Why leaders must demonstrate the behaviors they expect from others Jason's question for every leader: Do the people you lead experience the care you say you have for them? How personal insecurity can coexist with meaningful accomplishments Why owning your mistakes does not mean ignoring your contributions Jay's reflections on former business relationships and the unexpected value of difficult encounters How mentors, friends, and honest conversations can influence transformation years later Why meaningful challenges help build confidence, purpose, and personal agency The difference between allowing fear to inform your decisions and allowing it to control them Why relationships and community can help us accomplish more than we could alone A particularly meaningful moment comes when Jay shares the story of reconnecting with a former business partner after years of separation. At the time, the interaction felt unsuccessful, and some of the words exchanged were difficult to hear. Looking back, however, Jay recognizes that the encounter contributed to changes he would make much later in his life. What initially felt like disappointment eventually became part of his personal transformation. Jason offers another important perspective when he tells Jay that he does not have to resolve every doubt about himself before accepting responsibility for the good he is capable of doing. The conversation becomes an example of the very subject they are discussing: two people willing to challenge one another, listen, reconsider their beliefs, and grow through their relationship. As the episode unfolds, Jay and Jason return to the importance of struggle. Not every hardship is necessary, and peace is not something to avoid, but eliminating every meaningful challenge can also eliminate opportunities to develop confidence, resilience, and purpose. Ultimately, Part 3 challenges us to reconsider what love actually requires. It asks whether we are willing to tell difficult truths, accept accountability, recognize the potential in others, and create environments where people can become more without feeling that their worth depends on their performance. Love does not erase what happened yesterday, but it can change what becomes possible tomorrow. Sometimes the greatest expression of love is not removing the difficulty in front of someone, but believing they can face it and choosing to stand beside them while they do.
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