Your Wealth & Beyond

Many professionals and entrepreneurs struggle with burnout, imposter syndrome, and the challenge of aligning their daily actions with their true passions. Without a clear vision and strategy, it’s easy to lose momentum and feel disconnected from what truly matters. But today’s guest has a proven track record of helping entrepreneurs and business leaders clarify their purpose and build lives that inspire them.  Carly Pepin is the Founder and Senior Advisor at West Coast Growth Advisors, a human behavior specialist, coach, and speaker who has spent years helping individuals and business leaders break through mental barriers and unlock their full potential. With a background in behavioral psychology and mindset coaching, Carly has worked with high-level executives, entrepreneurs, and organizations to refine their leadership, streamline their operations, and amplify their impact. In our conversation, Carly shares actionable insights on overcoming self-doubt, applying core values to your decision-making, and avoiding the comparison trap that holds so many back. Whether you’re looking to take your career to the next level or simply want to feel more fulfilled in your daily life, this episode provides a roadmap to get there.   In this podcast interview, you’ll learn:  How your personal struggles and voids shape your life’s purpose. The importance of recognizing daily patterns to uncover what truly drives you. Why comparison leads to imposter syndrome—and how to overcome it. How to balance ambition with authenticity in business and life. The role of mission, vision, and values in creating long-term success. How to cultivate a mindset that fuels growth instead of burnout. Interview Resources West Coast Growth Advisors Carly Pepin Carly Pepin on LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube  Sony Electronics Elon Musk Brené Brown

In a rapidly evolving business landscape, customer experience is no longer just a department—it’s a company-wide mindset. How can leaders create a customer-first culture that drives loyalty, improves engagement, and fuels long-term success? Today’s guest, Blake Morgan, is a globally recognized customer experience futurist, keynote speaker, and best-selling author. She has worked with some of the world’s top brands, helping them redefine the customer journey in an era shaped by technology, AI, and changing consumer behaviors. In our conversation, Blake shared insights from her latest book, The Eight Laws of Customer-Focused Leadership, and explained why customer experience is not just about service—it’s about mindset, culture, and operational efficiency. We also discussed the impact of AI on customer relationships and practical strategies that businesses of any size can implement to stay ahead. In this podcast interview, you’ll learn:  How customer experience has evolved over the last 20 years—and where it’s headed. Why CX is a company-wide philosophy, not just a department. The biggest mistakes businesses make in understanding their customers. How AI can enhance, not replace, human connection in customer service. The power of storytelling, content creation, and brand building in today’s digital world. Practical steps small businesses can take to improve CX and stand out in competitive markets. Interview Resources Blake Morgan.com Blake Morgan on LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | X/Twitter The 8 Laws of Customer-Focused Leadership: New Rules for Building A Business Around Today’s Customer by Blake Morgan Leveraging AI in Contact Centers: Overcoming Volume and Improving Customer Experience (Blake Morgan’s LinkedIn Course on AI and Change Management) Zappos Tony Hsieh Drew Brees Lynsi Snyder Joe Rogan Toastmasters Bo Eason Jacob Morgan

What does it take to scale a business from the ground up, navigate male-dominated industries, and build a company culture that thrives? As you’ll hear from today’s guest, leaders provide inspiration and remove obstacles to empower their teams. Kristin Steele is a serial entrepreneur and co-founder of Doozy Solutions and Crafted ERP, which are revolutionizing tech solutions for the beverage alcohol industry. With a background in ERP consulting and a keen eye for inefficiencies, she saw an opportunity to modernize an industry still reliant on outdated systems. She took the leap from corporate stability to entrepreneurship, building two companies that transformed operations for craft breweries, wineries, and distilleries across the country. In this episode, Kristin shares how she and her co-founders bootstrapped their companies, the lessons learned while scaling, and why fostering a strong leadership mindset is key to sustainable success.  In this podcast interview, you’ll learn:  The unexpected path that led Kristin into entrepreneurship. How to identify inefficiencies in an industry and turn them into business opportunities. The power of scrappy, guerrilla-style marketing for early-stage startups. How great leaders inspire their team and remove obstacles. Trends shaping the beverage alcohol industry, from shifting consumer habits to the rise of tequila brands. Interview Resources Crafted ERP Crafted Erp on LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram Doozy Solutions Doozy Solutions on LinkedIn | X/Twitter Kristin Steele on LinkedIn Great American Beer Festival Salesforce CRM Founder Mode 

What if the thing you thought was holding you back was your biggest strength? We’ve learned that over 62% of successful entrepreneurs have some form of ADHD. Struggling with distraction, impulsivity, and the constant pull of new ideas is something many people deal with on a daily basis, but what if they were the keys to your success? That’s why I’m thrilled to be speaking with John Torrens. John is an entrepreneur, professor, and author of Lightning in a Bottle: How Entrepreneurs Can Harness Their ADHD to Win—to explore how neurodiversity can be a superpower in business.  With over 25 years of entrepreneurial experience and a deep passion for teaching, John shares his journey of building successful businesses, coaching the next generation of leaders, and optimizing performance while managing ADHD. In our conversation, you’ll learn how to harness ADHD and hyperfocus as a superpower and build a team that balances your strengths. We’ll also dig into the latest science-backed strategies for improving energy, decision-making, and overall leadership. If you’re a high-achiever looking to level up, you’ll love this episode. In this podcast interview, you’ll learn:  The link between ADHD and entrepreneurial success. Why impulsivity can be both a strength and a weakness and how to harness it. The key to balancing visionary thinking with structured execution. How proper nutrition, sleep, and exercise leads to making better decisions. Strategies to manage distractions and avoid burnout. How leveraging the right technology can improve focus and efficiency. Interview Resources John Torrens John Torrens on LinkedIn | Instagram Syracuse University Lightning in a Bottle: How Entrepreneurs Can Harness Their ADHD to Win by John M. Torrens, PhD Syracuse University Project Advance Dan Martell Buy Back Your Time EO Peter Attia Andrew Huberman David Sinclair

Entrepreneurship is a rewarding yet challenging journey. Entrepreneurs often feel isolated when working long hours, solving problems, and trying to grow their businesses. Many suffer from a lack of sleep and both mental and physical fatigue, which ultimately can lead to burnout. That's why I'm thrilled to have Jodi Hume on the podcast today. Jodi Hume is the Founder and CEO of At the Core. For over 20 years, she's used neuroscience and performance psychology to help first-time founders and Fortune 150 companies overcome decision fatigue, leadership challenges, and self-sabotage. Jodi focuses on finding a balance between business goals and personal well-being and empowers leaders to unlock their potential while fostering healthier, more productive work environments. In our conversation, Jodi provides tips and strategies for entrepreneurs to create spaces for reflection. If you're looking for ways to recharge your creative energy, build a cohesive leadership team, or overcome imposter syndrome and self-sabotage, this episode provides actionable advice to help you grow both personally and professionally. In this podcast interview, you’ll learn:  How reflection and celebrating wins fuels team motivation and growth. How to overcome decision fatigue by using breaks and routines to recharge. The value in aligning work with personal energy and planning tasks around peak focus times. Collaboration often leads to better strategic decisions and creates buy-in. How retreats allow creativity to thrive when you create time and space to let ideas percolate. Why curiosity is a superpower to combat procrastination and self-sabotage. Interview Resources At The Core Jodi Hume on LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok Download the Free Gift: Essential Recharge Guide for Entrepreneurs Asana Microsoft Outlook Practice HoneyBook Entrepreneurs’ Organization

If you’re an entrepreneur, a typical day can feel like you’re juggling a million things and being pulled in a hundred directions. Dealing with marketing, team building, client acquisition… the list goes on. But if your financial planning isn’t dialed in, all that hard work could be for nothing. In this episode, we’re breaking down The Entrepreneur’s Financial Planning Checklist for 2025—a step-by-step guide to ensuring your business is profitable, your taxes are optimized, your cash flow is strong, and your personal wealth is growing. Today, I’ll walk you through some actionable tips and strategies to take control of your finances, avoid the most common pitfalls, and set yourself up for long-term success. Whether you’re just starting out or have been in the game for years, this episode will help you run your business efficiently, save money, create healthy habits to scale your business, and prepare for your exit when you’re ready to retire. Download your copy of The Entrepreneur's Financial Planning Checklist! In this podcast interview, you’ll learn:  Tax tips and strategies that could save you thousands each year. Tools that can optimize your cash flow management to keep your business and payroll afloat. The smartest way to build wealth beyond your business Manage risk by reviewing your insurance and cybersecurity needs to protect yourself, your business and your clients. Strategies to scale your business and prepare your exit strategy for retirement. Healthy habits that help entrepreneurs avoid burnout. Interview Resources The Entrepreneur's Financial Planning Checklist SEP IRA Solo 401(k) QuickBooks Xero HSA SBA Warren Buffett

We’ve all been there: you’re at a business conference or a dinner. You get introduced to a handful of people, you introduce yourself, you hear their names, and within two minutes, you completely forget all of them. One person who hasn’t had this problem for years is Chester Santos. Chester won the US Memory Championship over a decade ago and has spent the last 15 years training individuals, business owners, and executives how to use simple tips and strategies to remember names, information, and even entire presentations without notes. You don’t need any innate talent for memorization to be great at it - you simply need to spend a little bit of time training this muscle. Today, Chester joins the podcast to share and demonstrate tactics you can use right now to improve your mind and your memory. ‍In this podcast interview, you’ll learn: Why anyone can develop a powerful memory with practice - and why Chester says he was merely “above average” when he first learned about the US Memory Championship. The proven framework Chester uses to memorize over 200 names in a matter of minutes when he walks into a room - among many other things. The three principles that make every memorization technique work. How our dependency on digital tools affects our memory and creates a massive business opportunity for people with memory skills. How Chester has pivoted his business (and his techniques) in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Interview Resources: Memory School - $200 off to first 50 listeners who use coupon code “bayntree” at checkout! Follow Chester Santos on Twitter, Facebook, Insta, LinkedIn & YouTube How To Win Friends and Influence People The $14 Billion Man: Why Nike Lost NBA Superstar Stephen Curry to Under Armour

Entrepreneurs are always looking for an edge to stand out from their competition. One of the best ways to do this is by attracting and retaining driven talent and building a culture and atmosphere that the teams and customers enjoy working with. And that’s precisely what today’s guest has been doing for over two decades. Veronique James is the CEO and founder of the James Agency, a full-service integrated marketing agency in Scottsdale, Arizona, where she’s worked with clients like USA Pickleball, Northern Arizona University, Travel Costa Mesa, and the Phoenix Children’s Foundation, to name just a few. She prides herself on building a respectful, honest, and ego-free environment and helps clients connect their brand to their audience with authenticity. In our conversation, she shared how she finds moments of calm in her hectic schedule, the hard lessons that helped her build a high-performance luxury agency that retains clients and talent, and the mistakes that so many businesses make when trying to find their ideal customers. In this podcast interview, you’ll learn: How Veronique’s first job at a marketing agency showed her what not to do as she started to build and grow her business. Why the James Agency avoids churning employees, stays lean, and maintains a strong culture even when scaling. Why customers are hungrier than ever for authenticity. How Veronique is using AI as a supplement–not a replacement–at work. What Veronique did during the COVID pandemic to avoid cutting a single employee, maintain culture, and keep up morale during what was otherwise a very challenging year for her business. How to screen prospective clients early on–and help a client that isn’t a good fit leave on their own. Interview Resources The James Agency The James Agency on LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | X/Twitter Veronique James on LinkedIn | Instagram | X/Twitter EO Rim to Rim to Rim Brené Brown Megan Simoes Audible Scaling Up Compensation: 5 Design Principles for Turning Your Largest Expense into a Strategic Advantage by Verne Harnish, Sebastian Ross  

In some ways, building the business of your dreams is like building your dream home. It starts with a concept and vision to create a place where everyone can relax, enjoy themselves, and make great memories in a beautiful space they can't wait to return to. But how do you turn your vision and your story into reality? That's where a professional like today's guest comes in to help. Dala Al-Fuwaires is responsible for some of the most iconic spaces you'll see here in Arizona and around the world. She's the founder, CEO, and principal designer of House of Form, an interior design firm in Phoenix that Dala describes as "experience design" that activates all five senses, helping clients become a go-to hospitality space. Their mission revolves around crafting an accessible form of luxury with an intangible vibe that's ethereal and elusive, all achieved through the medium of impeccable interior design.  In our conversation, Dala shares how House of Form has set itself apart from typical design firms and how she helps her clients tell their stories through design. You'll also hear how her clients become clients for life instead of a "one and done" and what she's doing to inspire others, especially women with a passion for entrepreneurship.  In this podcast interview, you’ll learn: How a chance encounter with a fortune teller as a child inspired Dala to follow her passion for architecture and design. The unconventional technique Dala uses with new clients to help them design spaces based on intuition and feeling. How Dala uses equity, “reverse reviews,” and team research trips to build a loyal team and company that can grow and scale together. How Dala’s experience with the gender pay gap prompted her to take the leap into entrepreneurship in 2015. The activities and competitions Dala hosts to empower innovators in the Valley.  Interview Resources House of Form House of Form on LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | Spotify | YouTube | Pinterest Dala Al-Fuwaires on LinkedIn | Instagram |Facebook | X/Twitter Pulitzer Amsterdam Clockwork: Design Your Business to Run Itself by Mike Michalowicz Donald Miller StoryBrand Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business by Gino Wickman Unreasonable Hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect by Will Guidara Profit First: Transform Your Business from a Cash-Eating Monster to a Money-Making Machine by Mike Michalowicz

One of the best ways for a business owner to obtain new business is through referrals. It’s really hard to put a value on marketing from word of mouth. Now, imagine the possibilities if most of your clients were singing your company’s praises like fans at a Taylor Swift concert. And that’s why I’m thrilled to share this conversation with Brittany Hodak. Brittany has spent her entire career building superfans. She’s an award winning entrepreneur, author of Creating Superfans, a former Shark Tank participant, Guinness World Record holder, and someone who has helped countless business owners connect with their clients and customers on a deeper level.  In today’s episode, you’ll learn all about Brittany’s journey from the music business to corporate branding, what it really means to be a superfan, and her powerful model for creating deep connections that instill confidence to drive referrals, repeat business and growth.  Interview resources, including show notes and links to resources mentioned, can be found on the episode page: https://www.bayntree.com/101 In this podcast interview, you’ll learn: Lessons every business owner can learn from Taylor Swift. Key differentiators that create deep brand loyalty for companies like Trader Joe’s. Three things that define a superfan–and why these people are most likely to turn people into more customers. The big mistakes that so many business owners make when it comes to finding and nurturing customers–and how AI and automated personalization can make them worse. The power of intentionally elevating the customer experience.   Interview Resources: Brittany Hodak Brittany Hodak on: Instagram | LinkedIn | Facebook | X/Twitter | YouTube Creating Superfans: How To Turn Your Customers Into Lifelong Advocates by Brittany Hodak Shark Tank Taylor Swift Dr. Tony Alessandra ChatGPT