PODCAST · business
SHIFT with Elena Agar
by Elena Agaragimova
Welcome to Shift with Elena Agar, real conversations about what it actually takes to build something.I talk with founders, operators, and business leaders about scaling, leadership, and performance under pressure. No corporate fluff, no rehearsed talking points, just the real stuff about building companies that actually work.New episodes weekly/bi-weekly, mixing solo takes and guest conversations.
Episodes
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Episode 262 - Should You Speak for Free? The Truth About Paid vs Free Stages
Do you have to be paid to make money from speaking? Marta Spirk says no. Marta Spirk is a speaking strategist and TEDx speaker who helps women entrepreneurs turn their expertise into signature talks that actually bring in clients. She grew up in Brazil, built a career as a translator and...
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Episode 261 - You Need a Minute. Why She Turns Clients Away
Precious Azurée has been an entrepreneur for 13 years, since the year she graduated college, which by her own account makes her an outlier. Most people find entrepreneurship later. She found it out of survival, and has been building, pivoting, and rebuilding ever since. In this episode of Shift,...
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Episode 260 - Two Ex-Federal CFOs on Why They Quit Government to Start From Zero
Kate Aaby and Kelsey Do spent years in federal budgeting and CFO roles, Kate as CFO of the U.S. Small Business Administration, Kelsey as a senior advisor and budget director there, before deciding to build something of their own. The result is Kado Executive Operations: a fractional CFO/COO firm...
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Episode 259 - No Empire Was Built Without Sweat and Tears
Louai Alsaman fled the civil war in Syria as an architecture student in Damascus, rebuilt his path on a Fulbright scholarship in the US, and has since founded two companies: RENDEREXPO, a digital construction and AI-powered visualization studio, and DLA, an architecture practice built on what he...
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Episode 258 - How Top Operators Manage Energy Before It Manages Them
Burnout doesn't announce itself, it builds quietly, especially for the people leading. In this episode of Shift, Elena Agar talks with Sophie Theen, founder of The Burnout Detox Kit®, about the real cost of always-on leadership and how founders and operators can manage their energy instead of…
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Episode 257 - How to Own Your Career: Self Awareness, Branding, and Asking for Help
Welcome to another inspiring episode of Shift with Elena Agar! Today, Elena sits down with Andy Storch, career development expert and author of “Own Your Career, Own Your Life” and “Own Your Brand, Own Your Career.” Together, they dig into the essential steps for taking charge of your…
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Episode 256 - Breaking Barriers to Belonging: Food, Friendship, and the Future of Connection
Welcome back to Shift with Elena Agar! In this episode, Elena sits down with Arshnoor Kohli, the dynamic founder of Grangu—a platform on a mission to foster real, meaningful connections in an increasingly disconnected world. From navigating the challenges of moving to a new city to reimagining…
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Episode 255 - Practical Tips for Energized Leadership
Welcome back to the Shift with Elena Agar Podcast! In this episode, Elena sits down with Rebecca Macieira-Kaufmann, author of "FitCEO: Be the Leader of Your Life." Together, they dive into what it really means to be a holistic leader—touching on mental, physical, and even spiritual wellbeing....
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Episode 254 - Building Workplace Wellness: How Investing in Employees Drives Business Growth and Mental Health
On this episode of the Shift with Elena Agar Podcast, Elena sits down with Lauren Roche, founder of The Naked Truth with Lauren, to explore the evolving landscape of workplace wellness and mental health. Lauren opens up about her journey from a fast-paced career in government consulting to...
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Episode 253 - How In-Person Experiences Transform Teams and Lives
Welcome back to the Shift with Elena Agar Podcast! In today’s episode, Elena welcomes special guest Amanda Hietter, the founder of Across the Horizon Travel. Together, they explore the power of connection through curated group travel experiences—whether for coaches, teams, ministry leaders, or...
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Episode 252 - What It Really Takes to Build a People-First Organization
Welcome to the Shift with Elena Agar Podcast! In this episode, Elena sits down with Tamika L. Mason—a dynamic leader in the HR and talent consulting space—to talk all things career pivot, entrepreneurship, and the evolving world of people strategy. Tamika shares her journey from aspiring engineer...
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Episode 251 - Leadership Lessons You Won’t Learn in School
Welcome to the Shift with Elena Agar Podcast! In this episode, we dive into the inspiring journey of Chantell Preston, a trailblazing leader with over 30 years in the healthcare space. Hosted by Brandon, this conversation uncovers Chantell’s unique path—from an unexpected pivot into healthcare to...
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Episode 250 - Lazy Leadership Exposed: Why Distracted Leaders Kill Company Culture | GAV Group Founder
Welcome to the Shift with Elena Agar Podcast! In this episode, Elena sits down with Corinne Gavlinski, founder of the GAV Group, to explore the concept of "lazy leadership" and what it truly means to lead with intentionality. Corinne shares her transformative journey from finance to healthcare to...
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Episode 249 - Workplace Trauma: Why Your 'Elephant in the Room' Is Destroying Productivity | Psychologist Reveals
Welcome to another inspiring episode of the Shift with Elena Agar Podcast! Today’s guest is Joyce Kyles, a speaker, author, and leadership consultant whose thoughtful approach to both personal and professional growth has impacted countless lives. In this conversation, Elena and Joyce dive into...
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Episode 248 - Gen Z Can't Get Jobs (And It's Not Their Fault) | Starteryou Founder Exposes Education Gap
Welcome back to the Shift with Elena Agar Podcast! In today’s episode, Elena sits down with Michael Berlingo, founder of Starteryou, a platform designed to bridge the gap between education and early career experience for students. Michael opens up about his entrepreneurial journey, starting from...
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Episode 247 - Why Employees Stay Broke: The 'Emploneur' Method That Doubles Your Income | Executive Coach
Welcome to another episode of the Shift with Elena Agar Podcast! Today, Elena sits down with Federico Rodriguez, an executive coach and the creator of "Emploneur," a game-changing movement designed to revolutionize the traditional world of work. Federico shares his unique journey from aspiring...
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Episode 246 - HR Is Dying (Unless You Do This) | HR Leader on AI Transformation
In today’s conversation, Elena sits down with Stephen, co-host of the Modern People Leader podcast, to dive deep into the twists and turns of his remarkable career—from growing up in a Mexican-American family in Texas, to becoming an HR leader at powerhouse organizations like Ernst & Young and...
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Episode 245 - Traditional Leadership Is Dead: What Top Performers Need Instead | Former VP Reveals
In today’s episode, Elena sits down with Matt Poepsel, author of "Expand the Circle: Enlightened Leadership for Our New World of Work." Matt’s journey from a career in the Marine Corps to leading talent and workforce analytics in the business world gives him a unique perspective on leadership and...
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Episode 244 - L&D Professionals: Adapt or Die | Dr. Keith Keating's Survival Framework for 2026
In this episode, Elena sits down with Dr. Keith Keating—a powerhouse in learning and development, keynote speaker, and author of "The Trusted Learning Advisor" and "Hidden Value." From humble beginnings, dropping out of high school and working in fast food, Keith shares his journey into the L&D...
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Episode 242 - From Engineer to YouTuber: How Mindset Pivots Created a 7-Figure Agency | Stephen Seidel
In today’s conversation, Elena sits down with Stephen Seidel—entrepreneur, creative connector, and founder of the Seidel Agency and Gents Journey—to explore the power of transformation in our personal and professional lives.From his early days navigating family dynamics as a people pleaser, to...
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Episode 243 - AI Is Taking Jobs: Why Human Skills Are Your Only Defense
In today’s episode, we dive deep into the ever-evolving world of leadership, learning, and career transitions with the dynamic Mickey Fitch-Collins, PhD. From her unexpected beginnings as the youngest professional bass fisherman in the United States at age 14, to a vibrant career in higher...
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Episode 241 - Childhood Abuse to Anti-Trafficking Advocate: Dr. John King's Healing Framework
Today, Elena sits down with Dr. John A. King, founder of the Give Them a Voice Foundation and a passionate advocate for trauma recovery and anti-trafficking work. In this candid and deeply moving conversation, John opens up about his own journey—from surviving years of childhood abuse and...
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Episode 240 - Customer Service Is Broken: How AI LLMs Are Fixing What Humans Couldn't
In today’s episode, Elena sits down with Jonathan Shroyer, CEO and founder of Quimby, to explore the future of customer experience powered by AI and large language models. Jonathan shares his unique journey from growing up in rural Texas with a passion for technology, through pivotal roles at…
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Episode 239 - Why 90% of Job Applications Fail: The Warm Referral System That Actually Works
In today’s episode, Elena sits down with Asher King Abramson, founder of Warmer Jobs, to tackle one of the toughest challenges facing job seekers: breaking through the noise of today’s job market. Asher shares his own winding journey from psychology major and accounting intern to bootcamp...
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Episode 238 - How This Man Turns Cold Emails into Enterprise Deals
In this episode, Elena is joined once again by sales expert Brendan McAdams for a practical, deep-dive conversation perfect for anyone looking to sharpen their sales skills—especially startup founders and entrepreneurs. Brendan shares the story of his unconventional path into sales, how his…
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Episode 237 - Job Security Is a Myth: Are You Prepared to Shift at Any Moment?
In today’s episode, Elena sits down with career strategist and HR expert Kate Sargent for a candid and practical conversation about navigating career transitions in today’s fast-changing world. With a wealth of experience ranging from high-level talent acquisition at top brands like Allbirds and...
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Episode 236 - Why Personal Resilience Is Essential for Every Entrepreneur
On this episode of the Shift with Elena Agar Podcast, host Elena welcomes Catharine Montgomery, founder of Better Together Agency, for an unfiltered conversation about resilience, career pivots, and the ongoing challenges of building a purpose-driven business. Catharine opens up about her journey...
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Episode 235 - How Authentic Connections Can Supercharge Your Career Growth
Welcome back to the Shift with Elena Agar Podcast! In this episode, Elena sits down with trailblazing executive Jennifer Langton, known for her remarkable career spanning finance, technology, and sports leadership—including 14 years at the NFL.Jennifer opens up about her unconventional journey,...
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Episode 234 - How Your Workplace Can Benefit from Creativity (Backed by Research)
Welcome back to Shift with Elena Agar! In today’s episode, Elena sits down with the incredibly insightful Tasha Golden, who shares her fascinating journey from being a touring indie pop artist to becoming a behavioral scientist with a PhD in Public Health Sciences. Together, they dive into the...
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Episode 233- Why You Don’t Need to Stick to the Traditional Career Path
Welcome back to the Shift with Elena Agar Podcast! In today’s episode, Elena sits down with Lidia Axe, a dynamic guest whose journey takes us from her early days in Moscow, working part-time at a beer company, to building a successful corporate career at PwC, and ultimately, venturing into...
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Episode 232 - Why should prioritize problem solving vs passion projects as an entrepreneur
In today’s conversation, Elena sits down with Saad Bin Shafiq, a relentless serial entrepreneur whose journey takes us from a tiny Himalayan village in Pakistan to scaling companies, overcoming failures, and building innovative products in the heart of the tech world. Saad shares how he went from...
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Episode 231 - Why Most Corporate Training Fails—and What Actually Works
In this episode, Elena sits down with Matt Gjertsen, founder of Better Everyday Studios and former SpaceX learning and development leader—who also happens to be an Air Force veteran and pilot. Together, they dive into the world of talent and leadership development, exploring what really makes...
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Episode 230 - How to Pivot Careers: Andy Lipshultz Shares Lessons on Reinvention and Resilience
In this episode, Elena reconnects with Andy Lipshultz, a dynamic voiceover talent whose professional journey is anything but ordinary. Andy—who previously joined the podcast a couple of years ago—shares his experience navigating career changes across vastly different industries, from the music...
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Episode 229 - Elevating Individual Contributors: The Overlooked Key to Organizational Success
Welcome to another episode of the Shift with Elena Agar Podcast! In today’s conversation, host Elena sits down with Andrew Barry, founder of Curious Lion, to dig into the evolving world of people, talent, and learning in the workplace. Andrew shares his journey from corporate life at KPMG in…
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Episode 228 - Why L&D Matters More Than Ever: Insights on AI, Retention, and Human Skills
Welcome back to the Shift with Elena Agar Podcast! In today’s episode, Elena sits down with Candice Mitchell, a powerhouse in the world of talent and learning development. Candice shares her unique journey into the L&D space, highlighting how she chose the field from the very beginning—unlike…
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Episode 227 - Power of a Learn-It-All Mindset in Life and Leadership
Welcome back to another episode of Shift with Elena Agar Podcast! Today, Elena sits down with Damon Lembi, CEO of Learnit, to explore the art of personal reinvention and leadership through change. From living the dream as a Division 1 baseball star to weathering career-ending injuries and…
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Episode 226 - From Chaos to Calm: Mindset Shifts for Overcoming Setbacks and Finding Purpose
Welcome back to Shift with Elena Agar! In today’s episode, Elena sits down with Dr. Michael Durnin—a dynamic leader whose journey spans college football coaching, higher education administration, and a deep commitment to mentoring others through life’s inevitable chaos. Together, they dive into…
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Episode 225 - The High Cost of Neglected Mental Health and How We Move Forward
Welcome back to Shift with Elena Agar Podcast! In this episode, Elena sits down with Janelle Miller Moravek, an executive director, mental health advocate, and seasoned nonprofit leader who unexpectedly found her calling in the world of behavioral health. Together, they dive into the complexities...
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Episode 224 - The Future of Work: Addressing Job Market Problems with Mariam Matin
On this episode of the Shift with Elena Agar Podcast, Elena welcomes Mariam Matin, an inspiring entrepreneur and the founder of Forward, for an in-depth conversation on the realities of today’s job market and the world of social impact careers. Mariam shares her personal journey from her early...
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Episode 223 - Career Agility and Human Skills: Preparing for the Future of Work and AI
On this episode of Shift with Elena Agar, we welcome back Aysha Alawadhi for a powerful conversation about transformation in the people and HR space. It’s been over two years since Aysha ’s last appearance, and a lot has changed—both in her personal journey as a mom and in her approach to…
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Episode 222 - From Hollywood to Building a Company: Steven Puri on Productivity, Wellness, and Building Business
Welcome back to the Shift with Elena Agar Podcast! In today’s episode, Elena sits down with Steven Puri—an accomplished entrepreneur whose career has taken him from engineering and Academy Award-winning film production to tech startups and, most recently, wellness innovation as the founder of the...
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Episode 221 - Inside Publishing with Nana Twumasi: Success, Marketing, and the Future of Books
Welcome back to the Shift with Elena Agar Podcast! In this episode, Elena sits down with Nana Twumasi, an accomplished publisher with a rich background in both editing and building imprints within the book industry. Nana shares her fascinating journey from aspiring novelist and photo researcher…
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Episode 220 - Retirement Crisis: What They Don't Tell You About Identity Loss After 40 | Career Coach
Welcome back to the Shift with Elena Agar Podcast! In this episode, Elena reconnects with Millree Williams, a certified career and retirement coach, for an eye-opening conversation about what it really means to transition into retirement in today’s rapidly changing world. As more baby boomers…
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Episode 219 - Unleashing the Power of AI in Business and Personal Life
In this episode of Shift with Elena Agar, we welcome the insightful Zeev Wexler, a digital marketing expert with over 20 years of experience. Zeev discusses the transformative power of AI and its rapid integration into our daily lives, emphasizing the shift from mere technological curiosity to...
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Episode 218 - Life Insurance Explained: What You Need to Know
On this episode of Shift with Elena Agar, we welcome Scott Zimmerman, a seasoned entrepreneur with over three decades of experience in sales and the life insurance industry. Join Elena and Scott as they explore Scott's journey from holding minimum wage jobs to discovering his passion for sales...
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Episode 217 - Navigating Leadership Challenges in Modern Work Environments
Welcome to the latest episode of the Shift with Elena Agar Podcast, where we're diving deep into the art of leadership with our distinguished guest, retired Lieutenant Colonel Oakland McCulloch. With over 40 years of dedicated service in the Army, Oak brings a wealth of experience and insights…
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Episode 216 - The Art of Creating Opportunities and Building a Meaningful Career
In this episode, we're joined by the inspiring Bofta Yimam, a trailblazing journalist and Emmy-winning news anchor. Bofta shares her journey from being a first-generation American captivated by the world of journalism to becoming a prominent leader in the field. Despite challenges like breaking...
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Episode 215 - How Intentionality Shapes Success: Lessons from Brandon J. Hurst
In this episode of the Shift podcast, we sit down with Brandon J. Hurst, a dynamic entrepreneur and franchise owner with a unique journey from his Southern upbringing in Atlanta to the bustling streets of Brooklyn, New York. Elena dives deep into Brandon's inspiring story, exploring his early...
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Episode 214 - Are You Really Building High Performers or Just Hiring Extroverts?
In this enlightening episode of the Shift with Elena Agar Podcast, we are joined by the insightful Rob Lion, a professor at Idaho State University and an expert in leadership development and high performance. Rob shares his academic and professional journey, shedding light on the intricacies of...
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Episode 213- Reimagining Education: NewComm's Approach to Learner Ecosystems
Welcome to this episode of the Shift with Elena Agar Podcast, where we're diving into an inspiring journey with our guest, Chidi Asoluka. Growing up as the child of Nigerian immigrants in New Jersey, Chidi was expected to follow the traditional career paths of a doctor or lawyer. Despite his…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Welcome to Shift with Elena Agar, real conversations about what it actually takes to build something.I talk with founders, operators, and business leaders about scaling, leadership, and performance under pressure. No corporate fluff, no rehearsed talking points, just the real stuff about building companies that actually work.New episodes weekly/bi-weekly, mixing solo takes and guest conversations.
HOSTED BY
Elena Agaragimova
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does SHIFT with Elena Agar have?
SHIFT with Elena Agar currently has 295 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is SHIFT with Elena Agar about?
Welcome to Shift with Elena Agar, real conversations about what it actually takes to build something.I talk with founders, operators, and business leaders about scaling, leadership, and performance under pressure. No corporate fluff, no rehearsed talking points, just the real stuff about building...
How often does SHIFT with Elena Agar release new episodes?
SHIFT with Elena Agar publishes regularly with 295 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to SHIFT with Elena Agar?
You can listen to SHIFT with Elena Agar on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts SHIFT with Elena Agar?
SHIFT with Elena Agar is created and hosted by Elena Agaragimova.
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