Find partners
The Executive Podcast

The Executive Podcast

Hosted by Dr. Benjamin Ritter

BusinessCareersInterviews guests

Episodes

62

Latest episode

May 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

You got the seat. Now make it yours. The Executive Podcast brings you inside real conversations with CEOs, founders, and next-gen leaders navigating the pressure, decisions, and responsibility that come with leading at the top. Hosted by Dr. Benjamin Ritter — executive coach and author of Becoming Fearless — this show is for leaders who don’t need more frameworks, but a clearer way to think, decide, and lead when the stakes are real. Learn more at liveforyourselfconsulting.com

Listen to episodes

60 recent
May 25, 202626 min

How to Use Inner Work to Become a More Effective Leader with Scott Britton

What if the inner work you've been avoiding is the exact thing standing between you and the leader you're capable of becoming? Scott Britton built and sold a startup to Salesforce, wrote a book called Conscious Accomplishment, and still found himself asking why he'd done it all and what he was really chasing. That question changed everything.In this conversation, Scott and Dr. Benjamin Ritter explore the false tension between self-discovery and professional achievement. Scott makes a compelling case that introspection doesn't detract from performance, it expands it.They get into what happens when a leader's external circumstances shift and their old strategies stop working, why high-performers often suppress the very awareness that could elevate them, and how embracing fear and anxiety (rather than managing them away) leads to the kind of clarity that no productivity system can produce. Scott also shares how his own path through meditation and plant medicine unfolded over eight years, not as a shortcut, but as a response to real life.If you're someone who has hit the milestones and still feels like something's missing, or if you've written off inner work as soft or beside the point, this episode will meet you where you are. Scott's perspective is practical, grounded, and earned and this conversation is a direct challenge to the idea that self-leadership is separate from real-world results.Connect with Scott Britton @ https://blog.scottbritton.me/book - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FTDKPT14?ref_=pe_93986420_775043100linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jscottbritton/conscious talent - https://www.conscioustalent.com/podcast - https://podcast.scottbritton.me/ X - https://x.com/britton

March 23, 202635 min

Leave Your Ego in the Office with Cory Geffre

Cory Geffre is a healthcare executive, author, and speaker on a mission to help highly engaged leaders become their best, so they can help their organizations achieve operational excellence as well helping them improve quality, experience, and sustainability.Drawing from his three decades of healthcare experience, Cory has developed three frameworks he uses and teaches. They are: The Framework for Leadership Success, The Framework for Operational Excellence and The Framework for Clinical Distinction. Geffre has used these frameworks to guide numerous organizations (both inside and outside of healthcare) grow leaders, improve operations, and deliver high quality.Cory currently works as an Executive Vice President of Hospital Operations & Chief Nursing Officer as well as recently authored the book “Lead Your People – A Framework for Leadership Success”. Find out more about Cory at: www.corygeffre.comand connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/corygeffre/

January 19, 202644 min

Leading with Belief: Building a Global Mezcal Brand with Steve McGarry

In this episode, I sit down with Steve McGarry, CEO of Rosaluna Mezcal, to explore what it really takes to build a brand people believe in, from its roots in the agave fields of Oaxaca to its rapidly growing presence across the U.S. and beyond.Steve shares his leadership philosophy shaped through decades in hospitality, distribution, and brand building. We talk about the power of curiosity, the importance of the apprenticeship mindset, and how to make the right leadership decisions when you're responsible for growing both people and a brand.We also dive into Rosaluna’s incredible heritage:A sixth-generation mezcaleroA family lineage dating back to 1750A single-estate, vertically integrated production modelThe sustainable practices that earned Rosaluna the “Distintivo Verde" CertificationWhy their lightly smoked, citrus-forward mezcal is redefining the categoryIf you're a leader, founder, or someone navigating your own growth journey, this conversation is packed with insights on culture, hiring, belief, and building something that lasts.What We CoverThe mindset shift from “I want it now” to meaningful career masteryHow to hire people who actually believe what your organization believesThe real cost of keeping the wrong people in the wrong seatsWhy culture gets threatened — and how to protect itRosaluna’s unique process, history, and sustainability commitmentsWhat leaders can learn from a brand built on heritage and craftAbout RosalunaRosaluna is a single-estate, handcrafted mezcal rooted in six generations of tradition. Their proprietary roasting process, Capón agave, and deep sustainability practices create a stunning, citrus-forward mezcal loved by bartenders and fans around the world.👉 Try Rosaluna Mezcal or find it near you: https://mezcalrosaluna.com/

December 22, 202542 min

From Human Doing to Human Being with Tom Feegel, CEO of Beond

High performers are taught to keep score: more tasks, more wins, more doing. But what if better leadership, and a better life, starts with being? In this conversation, Ben is joined by Tom Feegel (CEO & co-founder of BEOND) to unpack the shift from “human doing” to “human being” and how that mindset transforms executives, teams, and clinical care.They explore practical ways leaders can model presence and vulnerability without sacrificing excellence; why “science, but not more than compassion” guides BEOND’s care model; and how simple daily rituals (like a 10-minute gratitude meditation) create trust, connection, and durable performance. Tom also shares how psychedelic-assisted therapy with ibogaine is used in a clinically rigorous setting to support healing and growth—and what leaders can learn from that approach even outside healthcare.In this episode:Human Doing → Human Being: redefining success beyond scorekeepingConfidence, fear, and the permission to be vulnerable as an executiveRituals that anchor culture: meditation, gratitude, and shared storytelling“Science—but not more than compassion”: data, protocols, and humanity working togetherBen’s “tree-hugging break,” flow states, and finding meaning in the workA simple relationship challenge: swap phones at dinner to be fully presentNote: This episode discusses psychedelic-assisted therapy in a professional, medically supervised context. It is not medical advice.Find out more at: https://beondibogaine.com/

October 27, 202531 min

Leading as Your Unique Self with Henrik Johansson

Henrik Johansson is a serial entrepreneur and the co-founder of Gembah, a product development platform and marketplace. He previously co-founded and built Boundless, which became a $100 million leader in the promotional products space.As CEO of Gembah, he aims to help entrepreneurs and small businesses navigate the product creation process, offering services from research and design to manufacturing. Gembah focuses on democratizing product creation, providing a comprehensive platform for e-commerce sellers and small businesses to develop and market their products effectively.Check on Gembah | Connect with Henrik on LinkedIn and listen to the episode for his direct email!

September 29, 202539 min

Visionary Leadership with Bryan Myers

Bryan Myers is the President & Chief Executive Officer for [solidcore] and is an active [solidcore] Coach. In his role as CEO, Bryan is responsible for all aspects of delivering business performance, including [solidcore]’s national footprint growth and building a strong, inclusive community of clients and employees.Prior to joining the [solidcore] team in 2018, Bryan was a member of the leadership team of sweetgreen, the national leader in the healthy fast casual category. He joined sweetgreen in 2014 and, over the course of 4 years, wore many hats as he helped the company grow from a regional chain of 20 restaurants to almost 100 locations nationally. Bryan began his career as a consultant for The Boston Consulting Group, providing strategic advice on topics of growth, organizational design, and operational transformation.When Bryan isn’t sweating it out under the blue lights, you can find him immersed in the performing arts and attending shows at the many, amazing performance venues in the DC area. Bryan is also passionate about finding ways to give back to the community and serves in several advisory and mentorship capacities – with a particular focus on traditionally marginalized communities.In 2023, Bryan was recognized as an EY Entrepreneur of the Year Mid-Atlantic Award Winner. He has also been nominated for and won several awards from the Washington Business Journal, including the Growth Award as a part of its CEO of the Year celebration in 2023. Bryan has also been featured as a speaker at national events, on podcasts, on television, and was featured in the March 2023 issue of Essence Magazine. Follow Bryan on -Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bmysoflyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/bmysofly/And find the closest [solidcore] studio near you: https://solidcore.co/

August 25, 202536 min

Uncommon Connections with Thom Singer

Thom Singer is a keynote speaker, business relationship strategist, and the creator of The H.I. (Human Interaction) Blueprint™; a five-step framework for building intentional connections in a world transformed by artificial intelligence. As CEO of the Austin Technology Council, Thom sits at the intersection of innovation and human interaction, helping leaders and teams rediscover the power of trust, collaboration, and community.For over 18 years, Thom has spoken to audiences at over 1,000 events, from corporate meetings and legal industry summits to major association conferences. His mission is simple: to remind professionals that all opportunities come from people, and that even in a digitally dominated world, real success still hinges on meaningful relationships.His work focuses on creating Uncommon Connections that drive business outcomes, deepen team engagement, and elevate the attendee experience. Thom doesn’t just deliver speeches, he sets the tone for events. His engaging style, humor, and actionable insights have made him a favorite opening keynote for meeting planners who care about energizing their audiences and fostering connection.Thom’s belief in relationship-building started early. His first job as a busboy at the Big Yellow House Restaurant in Southern California taught him the value of adapting to people’s needs and showing up in service of others. That lesson stuck and continues to inform how he shows up for clients, colleagues, and communities today.He is the author of 12 books on networking, sales, presentation skills, and business relationships. His podcast, “Making Waves at C-Level,” features conversations with entrepreneurs, executives, and thought leaders on how human connection shapes leadership and innovation.Thom is also a Certified Speaking Professional (CSP), a designation earned by fewer than 10% of professional speakers worldwide. He’s the creator of the Conference Catalyst™, a unique program that transforms passive audiences into active participants, turning events into connection-rich experiences.A believer in lifelong growth, Thom lives by the motto “Try New Things.” After decades of being a self-described couch potato, he became a distance runner, discovered a love of nature, and now regularly performs at stand-up comedy open mics… proving it’s never too late to stretch outside your comfort zone.Whether he’s keynoting a conference, hosting a podcast, or helping a company connect better from the inside out, Thom Singer delivers more than a message – he sparks a movement around Human Interaction (H.I.) in an AI World.Find out more at: https://thomsinger.com/

July 28, 202539 min

Passion, Purpose, People with Michelle Mendoza

Michelle Mendoza is the CEO of Hydration Room where she oversees 35+ IV and injection therapy clinics in Southern California with the goal to provide effective therapies to help patients optimize their health. Before joining Hydration Room, Michelle was most recently VP of Stores for UBreakIFix by Asurion, a network of 700 stores focused on technology repair. Michelle spent 16 years leading operations at Weight Watchers, where she learned that being part of a wellness organization grounded in purpose, full of passion, and powered by incredible people made her feel whole.A little about Michelle personally—I’m a Southern California native and currently reside in Huntington Beach with her husband, a radiologist, and two children. She loves to travel (anywhere and everywhere), enjoy sports (go Lakers and Dodgers), and runs to help offset some of the joys of being a foodie.Find out more about the Hydration Room at https://hydrationroom.com/Connect with Michelle Mendoza on LinkedIn

June 23, 202529 min

Unexpected Gratitude with Will Dahlstrom

Will Dahlstrom is a proven operational leader, graduate of the United States Military Academy, and combat veteran with nearly two decades of experience helping businesses scale and optimize for growth.He has partnered with organizations across industries to drive operational efficiency, align leadership teams, and create sustainable systems for long-term success. With deep expertise in the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) and a track record as a focused Integrator, Will excels in building clarity, prioritizing execution, and driving measurable results for leadership teams.His leadership journey includes serving as Chief Operating Officer for companies navigating rapid expansion, strategic transitions, and operational challenges. As an Operating Partner, Will leverages his military discipline, operational expertise, and EOS knowledge to deliver value creation, operational excellence, and leadership development, maximizing investor returns. Find out more: https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-dahlstrom/

May 26, 202539 min

Your Professional Brand with Brendan Keegan

Brendan P. Keegan is a 6-time president & chief executive officer, 21-time board director, 2-time best-selling author, World’s Most Innovative CEO award winner and the visionary leader behind bFEARLESS Ventures, an investment & advisory firm.As President & CEO, he has successfully led 6 companies through liquidity exits with an average enterprise value increase of 750%.Keegan has raised over $10 billion in capital while leading over 250,000 people globally. Today, he serves as co-owner and board member of Andretti Racing, United Autosports, Merchants Fleet, PURE Electric, Crane Paper, and Sky Meadow Country Club. Additionally, Keegan serves on the boards of McLaren Racing Indy Team, ExpressIT Delivery, RPI Athletics Council, RPI Lally Leadership Council and the Keegan Family Courage & Faith Foundation.Find out more:https://brendanpkeegan.com/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brendan_Keeganhttps://www.instagram.com/bpkfearless/

Is this your show?

Claim this listing to keep it up to date, reach guests who want to pitch you, and manage bookings with Guestify.

Claim this listing

More Business podcasts