The Honest Mic

About a year ago, Ryan Drumheller unexpectedly lost a leadership role that had become a huge part of his identity. Not because he was bad at his job. Not because he failed. Just because that's how corporate life works sometimes.In this episode of The Honest Mic, Ryan, an extroverted IT leader, Fractional CIO, and host of the Decline Invite Podcast, gets honest about what that loss felt like in real time. We talk about what he got wrong about networking before it mattered, why communication skills matter more than technical skills for people who want to lead, and how to cut through AI hype when everyone is selling something.Ryan holds two master's degrees and over 170 certifications. He's led major mergers and acquisitions, cybersecurity programs, and enterprise transformations. He also built a golf simulator in his house and he's not even good at golf. That willingness to be bad at something might be the most underrated leadership trait there is.If your current role disappeared tomorrow, would people come looking for you? This conversation might change how you think about that question.Connect with Ryan:Website: stellarhorn.comPodcast: Decline Invite (available everywhere)LinkedIn: Ryan Drumheller

For over a decade, Mitesh Jani wrote constantly. Reflections, observations, philosophies about life and achievement. And he never showed any of it to anyone. Not even his family. It all sat in a folder on his computer called "New Folder."Then he hit a low point, business, physical health, and mental health all crashing at once. When he finally opened that folder, he was overwhelmed by what he found. The insights he had collected over years grounded him. They sparked an overhaul of his entire life.In this episode of The Honest Mic, Mitesh, a practicing dentist by day, a thinker by night, and author of The Process: Six Mechanics of Achievement, talks about the voice in his head that kept that folder closed for so long, the tension between the precise dentist and the messy writer, and why waiting for perfect conditions is usually just fear wearing a disguise.Most people never share their voice because they're waiting for permission that never comes. Mitesh stopped waiting. This is what happened when he did.Connect with Mitesh:Book: The Process: Six Mechanics of Achievement on AmazonWebsite: selfworth.ca

Tom Fox has done two major business pivots since 2010. The first came when he was laid up from a bicycle accident and built an entire international consulting business in anti corruption compliance from his bedroom while on a walker. The second came during the pandemic and led him to create a whole new business model as a podcast network guru.Today, Tom is the Compliance Evangelist. He's won 33 awards for podcast hosting and producing. He runs two podcast networks, releases between four and six shows every single day, and has written 30 books including a number one best selling children's book called Being a Compliance Officer is Awesome.In this episode of The Honest Mic, Tom gets honest about the courage it takes to walk through an open door when you're scared, why preparation plus opportunity equals luck, and why he believes every business person and entrepreneur needs a podcast, even in a saturated market.Tom built an international business from his bedroom on a walker. What's your excuse again?Connect with Tom:Network: CompliancePodcastNetwork.comBooks: Available on Amazon (search Tom Fox compliance)Podcasts: Compliance Podcast Network and Texas Hill Country Podcast Network

Most businesses say people matter.But what happens when profits become the priority and people become an afterthought?In this episode of The Honest Mic, Fortune sits down with Glenn Bostock, founder of SnapCab and author of A Human Business, to explore why traditional management often fails, what leaders misunderstand about motivation, and how businesses can grow without sacrificing their humanity.Glenn shares how his early struggles with learning disabilities shaped his leadership philosophy, why he believes the human body provides the perfect model for a healthy organization, and how kindness, usefulness, and clarity can create stronger cultures and better business results.We discuss:• Why profit-first thinking eventually hurts profits• The five principles of a human business• Why management is often wrong about people• The connection between leadership and purpose• What "love" actually means in a workplace• How to improve employee engagement and retention• Why companies waste more employee time than they realizeWhether you're a founder, manager, entrepreneur, or simply curious about the future of work, this conversation offers a different way to think about leadership and organizational success.Learn more about Glenn and his work at glennbostock.com.If you enjoyed this episode, follow The Honest Mic and leave a review. It helps more people discover conversations that matter.

In this episode of The Honest Mic, we sit down with Wes Towers, founder of Uplift 360 and a digital strategist who’s spent more than twenty years helping builders and trades get found, trusted, and chosen online.We talk about why so many construction companies struggle online despite doing great work, the website mistakes quietly killing leads, whether SEO still matters in the age of AI, and how smaller firms can compete with bigger brands without massive budgets.Wes also shares lessons learned from building a business the hard way: mistakes, tough seasons, adapting to change, and why authenticity matters more now than ever online.If you run a business, work in construction, or want to understand how customers actually find and trust companies today, this conversation is packed with practical insights.Topics include:Website mistakes that cost businesses leadsSEO vs AI: what’s actually changingHow small firms compete onlineBuilding trust through authentic marketingResilience, growth, and learning through failureLearn more about Wes Towers and Uplift 360:https://uplift360.com.au/If you enjoyed the episode, follow The Honest Mic, leave a review, and share it with someone building something real.

What makes people say yes?Why do some leaders create momentum while others create resistance?In this episode of The Honest Mic, we sit down with Joe Rockey to unpack the psychology behind sales, leadership, incentives, recruiting, and building businesses that actually grow.Joe shares lessons from founding 29 companies and making over 2,500 media appearances, breaking down what separates average communicators from people who influence, persuade, and lead effectively. From business growth to team buy-in, this conversation is packed with practical insights entrepreneurs, creators, and future leaders can apply immediately.If you've ever wondered why some people naturally command attention in business while others struggle to get traction, this episode is for you.Learn more about Joe Rockey: https://elitebusinesscruises.com/The Honest Mic is where real conversations meet real experience. No fluff. Just lessons you can actually use.

You finish school thinking life is finally about to begin.Then suddenly… you’re sending applications, watching time move, questioning yourself, comparing your life to everybody else’s, and trying to stay hopeful while nothing feels certain.In this episode of The Honest Mic, we talk honestly about the first year after graduation... the pressure, the silence, the job search, money struggles, self-doubt, and the reality most people don’t post online.No motivational speeches.No fake success stories.Just a real conversation about figuring life out after school.If you’ve ever felt lost after graduating, this episode will probably feel familiar.

Dropping out is usually seen as failure. But what if it’s not that simple?In this episode, we talk about the decision to walk away from school... what led to it, what people don’t understand about it, and what comes after.No sugarcoating. Just the reality behind a choice most people are too afraid to make… or too quick to judge.This is for anyone questioning the “normal” path.

Let me ask you something…When was the last time someone actually told you the truth about life after school, career pressure, or trying to figure things out?This isn’t another polished podcast full of safe answers.The Honest Mic is where real conversations happen... the kind people usually keep private.In this introductory episode, I’m opening the door to what this podcast is really about… and why it exists.If you’re tired of surface-level talk, you’re in the right place.