Wise Up with OpenWater

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Jun 2026

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About the show

Wisdom provides more than answers, it delivers context and connects the dots. And when you’re a professional with decades of experience, you have lots of wisdom to share. Wise up and gain insights from OpenWater experts on a range of topics each week.

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June 16, 2026Episode 5233 min

Leading the Loop: How to Use AI Without Losing Your Edge – With Carl Loeb

Artificial intelligence can make us faster, more productive, and more efficient. But what happens when we start outsourcing not just our work—but our judgment? In this episode, I speak with strategist and creative leader Carl Loeb about the growing risk of "cognitive surrender" and how professionals can use AI without losing the uniquely human capabilities that create real value. Drawing on research, practical examples, and his own experience integrating AI into creative work, Carl offers a framework for staying in control while taking advantage of these powerful new tools. We cover topics including: Why deadline pressure, confirmation bias, and AI "sycophancy" can lead people to trust bad answers The difference between being "in the loop" and "leading the loop" when working with AI Why originality, judgment, taste, emotional intelligence, and point of view remain uniquely human advantages If you're trying to figure out how to use AI without becoming dependent on it, this conversation provides a thoughtful and practical roadmap. The Wise Up! Podcast is your regular dose of business wisdom, brought to you by the members of OpenWater.

June 10, 2026Episode 5132 min

The Strength Behind Success – with Denis Champagne

What if the biggest threat to your business performance isn't market conditions, competition, or technology—but the gradual decline of your own capacity? In this episode, I speak with entrepreneur, coach, and former competitive athlete Denis Champagne about the connection between physical strength, mental resilience, personal alignment, and long-term success. Drawing on more than 35 years in business and a lifetime of athletic competition, Denis shares why leaders must treat themselves as their most important asset—and why discipline ultimately matters more than motivation. We cover topics including: Why "refusing decline" begins with making—and sticking to—difficult decisions How physical strength creates the capacity to recover from setbacks, adapt to change, and sustain performance over time Why structure and discipline outperform motivation when it comes to achieving lasting personal and professional growth If you've ever felt overwhelmed, fragmented, or simply less effective than you once were, this conversation offers a practical framework for rebuilding capacity from the inside out. The Wise Up! Podcast is your regular dose of business wisdom, brought to you by the members of OpenWater.

May 27, 2026Episode 5038 min

Always Be Connecting – with Sharon Schanzer

What if the real secret to business development isn’t selling at all, but building genuine, friction-free relationships over time? In this episode, I speak with entrepreneur, implementation expert, and self-described “superconnector” Sharon Schanzer about the hidden mechanics of networking, execution, and sustainable business growth. Drawing on decades of experience spanning design, technology, consulting, and community-building, Sharon shares why connection is a long game, why most people underestimate the work of business development, and how generalists are becoming increasingly valuable in a specialized world. We cover topics including: Why “always be connecting” matters more than “always be closing” How friction-free communication and follow-through create trust, referrals, and opportunity Why execution—not just ideas—is the real differentiator for entrepreneurs and organizations If you’ve ever struggled with networking, pipeline-building, or turning ideas into action, this conversation offers a refreshingly practical perspective on what actually moves business forward. The Wise Up! Podcast is your regular dose of business wisdom, brought to you by the members of OpenWater.

April 28, 2026Episode 4934 min

Rethinking Cost as a Growth Strategy – with Jeff Peduto

What if the fastest path to growth isn’t chasing new revenue, but improving the profitability already inside your business? In this episode, I speak with operations executive and cost optimization advisor Jeff Peduto about why cost optimization should be treated as a strategic growth lever—not just a reactive cost-cutting exercise. Drawing on decades of experience leading operational transformation and business optimization, Jeff explains how organizations can uncover hidden inefficiencies, improve supplier spend, protect margins, and create lasting operational discipline. We cover topics including: Why cost optimization is a growth strategy—and how smarter supplier management and operational efficiency can unlock meaningful working capital and EBITDA improvement Why improvement programs often fail over time, and how accountability, operating discipline, and ownership make results stick How a pay-for-performance consulting model aligns incentives around outcomes, not activity—reducing risk while increasing trust and execution If your business is working hard but margins still feel tighter than they should, this conversation offers a practical roadmap for creating stronger financial performance. The Wise Up! Podcast is your regular dose of business wisdom, brought to you by the members of OpenWater.

February 24, 2026Episode 4831 min

Tying Profit to People – with Jared Koesten

What if your organization’s margin challenges, client churn, or execution gaps aren’t operational problems at all, but leadership ones? In this episode, I speak with executive coach and fractional leader Jared Koesten about how aligning people, process, and strategy unlocks measurable business performance. Drawing on decades as a global CHRO and advisor to CEOs, Jared shares a practical framework for eliminating friction, achieving greater team engagement and strengthening leadership EQ. We cover topics including: Why clarity, alignment, processes and systems (“CAPS”) are the foundation of sustainable growth How operating rhythm can exposes (and help resolve) hidden financial and organizational friction The difference between strategic ambiguity in branding—and the danger of ambiguity in leadership If you’ve ever been told to “just fix it,” this conversation offers a smarter, more durable way forward for leaders to inspire engagement and achieve sustainable improvements to their businesses. The Wise Up! Podcast is your regular dose of business wisdom, brought to you by the members of OpenWater.

October 7, 2025Episode 4732 min

Discovering Opportunity in Search Funds – with Jon Staenberg

Search funds may be one of the best-kept secrets in alternative investing. In this episode, I speak with veteran venture capitalist Jon Staenberg, managing partner of the Agate Hound Fund — the world’s first fund of funds dedicated to this asset class. We explore how search funds empower young entrepreneurs to buy and grow small businesses, why the model has delivered outsized returns for decades, and what the coming “silver tsunami” of retiring owners means for future opportunities. The Wise Up! Podcast is your regular dose of business wisdom, brought to you by the members of OpenWater.

July 28, 2025Episode 4630 min

How to Avoid Public Health Crises with Help from AI – with Jay Varma

Of the three major disciplines in global health, public health is both the least visible and the least well-funded. And yet, effective public health practices are critical to alleviating and even avoiding major health crises (think pandemics). In this episode, I chat about the future of public health with Dr. Jay Varma, who has led public health programs around the world for the past two decades. We discuss the importance of thinking from a prevention and policy mindset, the crisis facing effective public health administration, and the role of AI in relieving the pressures that put public health at risk. Could AI be the single biggest opportunity to improve public health in our lifetimes? We cover topics including: How public health complements R&D and care delivery to keep populations healthier The role AI can play to help public health agencies forced to do more with less Enabling “high touch” public health at scale Please listen in to join this fascinating —and critical—conversation.

June 17, 2025Episode 4531 min

Tapping into the Sage to Combat Ageism with Karl Stewart

How can mid- and late- career professionals break the mold that ageism and other cultural forces try to force us into? Could the OpenWater community play the modern role of a fractional Oracle of Delphi? In a fascinating and wide-ranging conversation, Karl Stewart shares wisdom acquired through a varied career spanning mathematics, dance, acting, HR management and leadership coaching. We explore the concepts of the Sage and Ancestral Intelligence (the other, older AI) as the most powerful of human resources. From Greek mythology to more modern approaches, Karl shows us how to using learned and inherited wisdom to turn ourselves into “magnets” rather than fit existing modes of thinking. We cover topics including: Tapping into the five principles of the Sage to quiet our “fight or flight” instincts Recognizing wisdom as an ancient and powerful currency Defining, recognizing and overcoming internal ageism Please listen in for these and other fascinating pearls of wisdom from Karl. The Wise Up! Podcast is your regular dose of business wisdom, brought to you by the members of OpenWater.

June 10, 2025Episode 4428 min

Facing Uncertainty and Embracing Change with Insight and Humor with Rachel Burr

Every caterpillar goes through an incredibly messy transformation inside its chrysalis – reduced to goo before eventually emerging as a beautiful butterfly. But this only happens once in their lifetime. What about adults in mid-life or mid-career? How many periods of messy change might we encounter and endure during our lifetimes, and how can we emerge as transformed and beautiful as a butterfly? I spoke with executive coach, leadership consultant, people expert and author Rachel Burr about her book, Butterfly Goo, and the opportunities she sees for us to embrace change and develop leadership from our authentic core. Among the subjects we discussed: What it takes to lean in, find your voice and do something scary like writing your first book The benefits of recognizing the tools you’ve been given to navigate times of change The role of humor in navigating leadership, uncertainty and life in general I truly enjoyed this rich and personal conversation with Rachel and I know you will too. The Wise Up! Podcast is your regular dose of business wisdom, brought to you by the members of OpenWater.

June 10, 2025Episode 4324 min

Exploring a World of Interoperability with Julian Durand

Just a few weeks ago, the entire energy grid in Spain and Portugal went dark. This wasn’t the result of malicious activity, it was the consequence of one malfunction in a hugely complex and interoperable system built over several decades. Our world is full of interoperable systems for communications, energy and other elements of critical infrastructure. So how do we monitor these systems, manage their vulnerabilities and minimize events such as the one in Iberia? What can we as individuals do to ensure our world operates as we expect? I spoke with infrastructure and information security expert Julian Durand about these and other topics related to technology, interoperability and our modern world, including: The complexities of modern infrastructure and the vulnerabilities present in everyday services The principles of Zero Trust Architecture as a means of managing and securing complex systems The role you and I have in keeping our critical infrastructure secure and operating Enjoy learning about the macros and micros of interoperability and how you can play your part in keeping critical infrastructure secure. The Wise Up! Podcast is your regular dose of business wisdom, brought to you by the members of OpenWater.