For the Curious and Confused

Dane Wagner an organizational psychologist, serial entrepreneur, and speaker. He works with venture capitalists and entrepreneurs to help them improve individual, team, and organizational performance. With over a decade of experience in data analytics and user experience research, he has contributed to industry understanding on topics such as loss prevention, behavior modification, employee satisfaction and designs for neuro-divergency. He’s also an active adjunct faculty at Florida International University giving lectures and workshops on topics such as personnel selection, research methods, psychometrics, and the psychology of entrepreneurship.Check out Dane's links here!https://www.linkedin.com/in/dane-l-wagner/https://symeta.science/

Dr. Benjamin Ritter is an executive coach, organizational leadership expert, speaker, and author. With a PhD in organizational leadership and more than a decade of coaching and development experience, he has supported leaders at Google, Amazon, Coursera, DoorDash, and Northwestern, among others. He’s recently published a book titled “Becoming Fearless”, where he provides digestible perspectives to developing courage and overcoming fear. The book’s framework encompasses all aspects of life, from mindset and purpose, to personal relationships, to leadership and practical career strategies.Check out Dr. Ritter’s links:"Becoming Fearless" bookCoaching website Also, Terry Tucker’s (episode 8) latest book, “Four Truths and a Lie” launches today, September 12th, 2025, and will be available to download for free for 48 hours until September 13th at midnight. Terry is aiming for 100 downloads and 75 reviews on Amazon in the first 72 hours, so consider helping out a past guest with a download and review!

Today I’m joined by Michael Shepherd and Gubaz Giorgadze. Michael is currently a student at Syracuse University majoring in architecture and has a strong academic record where he has been listed consistently on the Dean’s list. Gubaz graduated from the University of Buffalo with a degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics. Together, they are co-founders for Test Prep Academy, a company aimed at empowering students though personalized and high-quality online tutoring.Check out Test Prep Academy here!https://www.testprepacademy.net/

Alexandra Dotcheva was born and raised in Bulgaria to a family of musicians. After earning a bachelor’s degree in music from the National Academy of Music in Bulgaria, she came to the United States in 2000. At Louisiana State University, Alexandra earned a Doctor of Musical Arts in Violin Performance in 2007.After spending some time in the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra, Alexandra decided to pursue a career in nursing, which she has been doing since 2011. A few years later, she began her investing career with a focus on real estate and currently owns 3 real estate businesses and a holistic coaching business.Alexandra’s passion for health, financial independence, and her experiences relating to cultural integration prompted her to write a book titled, “It Really Is Simple: A Holistic Approach to Self-Confidence – A Practical Guide”, in which she shares her path to success in an effort to motivate readers to embrace change and pursue their dreams, despite fear and insecurity. Her mission is to help people overcome self-imposed limitations, find peace of mind, and acquire prosperity.Check out Alexandra's links!https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandra-dotcheva-96435515a/https://www.holisticselfconfidence.com/

Daniel Dluzneski is a retired U.S. Secret Service Lieutenant with over 24 years of service where he spent time in the canine bomb detection unit, served on protection forces for presidents and their families, and as a crime scene search technician. After retiring from federal service in 2013, Daniel became the Emergency Management Coordinator for Pinellas County Schools in Florida, where he led safety planning for over 140 schools and 100,000 students. He recently published a book on active shooter training titled, “The First Five Minutes: School Shooting survival guide for Administrators and Teachers.”In today’s conversation, we’ll talk about the real-world complexity of keeping schools safe not just from active shooters, but from fires, bomb threats, and systemic failures in training and policy. We’ll hear about the myths that dominate school safety conversations, the bad training practices that have somehow become the norm, and what does make a difference—both physically and psychologically—for teachers and students alike.Check out Daniel's links!https://www.linkedin.com/in/danieldluzneski/https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BLFW5FBK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Sharon Rolph is a behavioral scientist, retirement coach, and author. She holds a master’s degree in behavioral science from the City University of Seattle, and worked at Boing for many years as an employee involvement facilitator where she helped bring out the collective potential and wisdom of her teams. Upon entering retirement in 2016, she suddenly found herself bouncing off the walls trying to figure out how to find meaning in her new environment. Drawing on her background as a behavioral scientist, Sharon decided to focus this energy into a mission devoted to helping others discover their own inner spark.Today, Sharon specializes in guiding newly retired individuals through the confusion of what comes next and into an energized way of life. She focuses on replacing feelings of frustration, invisibility, and disengagement with true self-awareness. Her passion lies in helping people tap into their intrinsic motivation, find meaning, and feel confident about who they truly are.Check out her links!https://www.instagram.com/sharon_queenofcourage/https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharon-rolph/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPh2wkaTJr_20-hpdkxv_vwhttps://www.effortlessvitality.org/https://www.etsy.com/shop/quiltedpetunia

Dani Gottschalk is an eccentric and dynamic personality with a positive attitude. She has a strong intuitive understanding of the factors and feelings that make up the personal social, and eternal worlds. She was a delight to chat with and left me with a touch of her glow after we ended the call. Professionally, Dani is an interior designer and the founder of Tinzeltown, a project development and interior design firm based in Camp Bays, South Africa. Dani is known for her bold, immersive interiors, and her landmark project in Camps Bay. Dani is also a psychotherapist and is a proponent of intentional self-reflection and expression.Check out her links!https://tinzeltown.com/https://www.instagram.com/thebohoho/#Chapters:(0:00) – Intro and Background(4:12) - Therapy Insights Informing Aesthetics(8:12) – Fearless Finance & Entrepreneurial Mindset(15:57) - Hospitality Philosophy & Space as Mirror(22:06) – Sourcing & Styling Tricks(26:00) – Feelings of Magic & Closing Advice

Kevin Palmieri and Alan Lazaros are the co-founders of Next Level University, a podcast dedicated to holistic discussions around mindset, relationships, self-worth, and related topics. Both Kevin and Alan have been shaped by struggles in their personal lives, and these struggles have helped fuel their mission to create more meaningful conversations around holistic personal growth.I was struck by their candid banter-y style of communication, especially in how they discuss their own strengths and weaknesses but also the strengths and weaknesses of the other. The depth of their relationship is clear and in my opinion, a nice model for male friendship.Check out Next Level University!https://www.nextleveluniverse.com/Chapters(0:00) - Introduction and Background(6:53) - From early friends, to drifting and reuniting(10:29) - Complementary strengths: self-awareness and acceptance(13:15) - Defining success: process, fulfillment, and trade-offs(17:50) - Building Next Level University(24:05) - Crafting content: story-driven vs lesson-driven(30:34) - AI and automation: tool vs crutch(41:00) - Final advice

Terry Tucker is a motivational speaker, author, and international podcast guest. Terry has a business administration degree from The Citadel, where he also played D1 basketball, and a master’s degree from Boston University. In his professional career, Terry has been a marketing executive, a hospital administrator, a SWAT team hostage negotiator, high school basketball coach, business owner, and motivational speaker. He has also been battling cancer for the last 13 years.Terry is passionate about sharing stories of transformation and speaks on topics such as 'How to Live Your Uncommon and Extraordinary Purpose' and 'The 4 Truths To Leading A Resilient Life'. He uses these ideas as practical guidelines to empower others in leading a more fulfilling and purposeful life.Check out Terry's links!Motivational Check Website: https://www.motivationalcheck.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/terry-tucker-9b5605179/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/motivationalcheckX (Twitter): https://mobile.twitter.com/terrytucker2012Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sustainableexcellenceauthor/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCl2CUA6R1zP2ZcjzhzGKWkQSustainable Excellence, Ten Principles to Leading Your Uncommon and Extraordinary Life - Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DXBW98K1Chapters:(0:00) - Introduction and Background(5:01) - Building deeper connections in a superficial world(14:07) - Finding meaning through Terry's cancer journey(16:02) - Embracing adversity(29:49) - "Tactical" empathy in hostage negotiations(34:22) - Staying centered under pressure(42:16) - Everyday negotiations and the value of trust(54:07) - Final advice

Glenn Rudin is an accomplished business coach who specializes in messaging and branding. So far in his career, Glenn has worked with many large companies including Disney, Walmart, the NBA, and others to develop effective messaging protocols. His expertise focuses on helping businesses clarify and communicate their value to potential customers.While this is important in the corporate world, the idea of tailoring a message to be most effectively received by another party is a skill that extends well beyond the business ecosystem. Glenn is interested in empowering individuals to identify their personal strengths and abilities and present them in a way that most effectively communicates what they have to offer. Whether through elevator pitches, promotional materials, or business cards, Glenn believes that carefully crafted messaging is the key to personal and professional success.Check out Glenn's links!www.alwaysbeencreative.comhttps://www.instagram.com/glenn_rudin_message_master/https://www.linkedin.com/in/glennrudin/Chapters:(0:00) Welcome & Introduction(2:40) Glenn’s Curiosity & Product Development Roots(6:45) Strengths, Weaknesses & Career Direction(10:35) The Basics of Effective Messaging(15:45) Common Elevator Pitch Mistakes & Tips(21:05) Team Building, Networking & Personal Branding(25:25) Tailoring Your Message to Different Audiences(31:30) The Role of Charisma & Authenticity(35:50) Storytelling as a Communication Superpower(40:10) Glenn’s Perspective on AI(42:40) Final Advice: Mining Your Past for Gold

Richard Blank is the CEO of Costa Rica's Call Center, based in San Juan, Costa Rica. When Richard was 27, he moved from Philadelphia to Costa Rica and has since trained over 10,000 bilingual telemarketers. Richard specializes in advanced telemarketing strategy, conflict management, interpersonal skills, and customer support. He also owns the largest collection of restored American pinball machines in Central America.Our conversation was dynamic and zigzagging, and it's made me revisit the subtle ways we use behavior to influence or gain favor with others.Chapters:(0:00) - Introduction and background(5:00) - Costa Rica and making your own path(12:00) - Telemarketing as artful communication(17:00) - Soft skills and connection(23:00) - Gamification and pinball machines(30:00) - Recruiting and training in Costa Rica(37:00) - Ethics and stereotypes about call centers(43:00) - The purpose of language and empathy(50:00) - Overcoming obstacles(1:01:00) - Extra questions and wrap up

Lindsey DeLoach Jones is a writer investigating how smartphones impact parenting in the modern world. She holds a MA in English and an MFA in Creative Nonfiction. She has taught creative writing at Clemson University and the South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts & Humanities.Linsdey is currently writing a book about the intersection of parenting and our reliance on smartphones. The book seeks to address how smartphones are changing the way we approach both our kids and the role of being a parent. She acknowledges that our phones do make us faster and more efficient, but Lindsey wants to better understand what this constant connectivity is costing our relationships and humanity.She also hosts a Substack page called “Between Two Things” where she writes about the tensions of modern life beyond parenting. I’ve subscribed to her newsletter and enjoy getting a notification when she’s just posted another humorous but perceptive take on the state of the world.Lindsey's Links:Personal websiteSubstack: Between Two Things (highly recommended!)Chapters:(0:00) - Lindsey's background and the weight of words(3:02) - Perspectives on parenting: core values and critical thinking(8:31) - Overcoming uncertainty and embracing failure(11:18) - Parenting styles and marriage dynamics(14:52) - Smartphone culture and pressure on parents(24:25) - Navigating screen time(30:05) - Deciding when kids get phones and the 100-day phone fast(39:41) - Low-tech parenting and recognizing privilege(42:55) - Relearning single-tasking and embracing boredom(46:38) - Embracing contradictions and rejecting simple labels(53:11) - Transhumanism, looking ahead, and final advice

Justin is a thoughtful and capable "average guy" who runs a YouTube based interview series called “Idea Cast” where he has detailed and technical conversations with experts in the social sciences, philosophy, and arts. In these interviews, Justin aims to better illustrate the frameworks we have to understand meaning making and purpose. He pulls from many tools in cognitive science, psychology and philosophy to explore the world and self. Justin combines these fields to better understand not only the process of how we interact with our environment but also as a means to know ourselves and how we learn and grow.Though Justin has a remarkable depth of understanding on many topics, he’s the first to point out what he doesn’t know, and I believe you’ll notice how his genuine humility only strengthens his credibility.Check out Justin's links!Interview seriesBlueSky accountLinkedInChapters:(0:00) - Meet Justin(3:06) - Childhood to middle age: defining life chapters(10:39) - The chaotic ordering of our 20's(14:45) - Reflections on motivation and the shadow(18:35) - Recovering from brain injury: IdeaCast’s origins(30:01) - Interview style and engaging with intellectual guests(39:36) - Partnership between curiosity and skepticism(45:02) - Serious play, humor and therapy(52:00) - Personal narratives and facing challenges(1:02:20) - Religion's deep roots and positive function(1:09:06) - Tensions between modernity and organized religion(1:18:52) - AI’s emergence and the question of consciousness(1:33:33) - Societal shifts, labor and education in an AI world(1:41:00) - Final Thoughts & Advice for Younger Generations

Join physicist-turned-consulting-maestro Bob Danna on a whirlwind tour of curiosity’s power to reshape careers and lives. From teaching nuclear reactor physics in the Navy to mentoring Gen Z in an AI-disrupted world, Bob unpacks how relentless curiosity propelled him through 45+ years of high-stakes problem-solving.Bob shares the highs and lows of balancing work demands with personal well-being. Tune in to discover how a healthy dose of curiosity, combined with rigorous self-reflection, can open doors to unexpected career paths and more fulfilling relationships.Episode Chapters:(0:00) - Introduction and Bob's Background(4:17) - Fostering Curiosity: World, People, and Self(7:07) - Self-Reflection and Building the Best Version of You(11:16) - Physics, Problem-Solving, and Integrity(15:13) - Curiosity vs. Skepticism: Complementary Forces(17:26) - Team Dynamics and Personality Types(22:32) - Embracing Technology: From Slide Rules to AI(30:33) - Work-Life Balance: A Zero-Sum Game?(35:44) - High-Stakes Consulting: Nuclear Power and Dealing with Stress(42:51) - Values, Principles, and Integrity in Leadership(46:36) - Playfulness and Human Connection in Professional Life(50:00) - Final Advice: Integrity and the Voice of Reason

Noah Healy is a professional algorithm developer and self-proclaimed recreational mathematician. Noah’s interests focus on unpacking what game theory and information theory can teach us about financial systems, and what outcomes result when these theoretical frameworks overlap with the legal system. He has pioneered a patent-pending system aimed at addressing limitations in traditional commodity markets and increasing widespread economic potential.Episode chapters:(0:00) - Noah’s Background & Motivation(3:08) - How Noah Experiences Math(7:16) - High-Dimensional Computation & Complexity(12:03) - Basics of Game Theory & Information Theory(20:00) - Modern Financial Systems and Their Limitations(28:40) - Flash Crashes, Noise, and Structural Failures(36:00) - Proposed Market Redesign: Producer, Consumer, and Forecaster(47:52) - Patent Process and Legal Challenges(1:04:46) - Systemic Failures and Integrating New Knowledge(1:11:04) - Closing Thoughts and Hope for the Future

Mayim is the founder of Arukah.com, a service founded on holistic health and wellness. Her approach blends scientific reasoning, holistic health practices, and spiritual insights to create a powerful framework for personal transformation. She also holds multiple certifications, including those in Nutrition, Herbalism, Holistic Health, and Neuro-Linguistic Programming. This blend of scientific rigor and holistic wisdom allows her to offer a unique, integrative approach to health and wellness, helping individuals unlock their potential and achieve lasting success.Episode chapters:(0:00) - Personal Background & Core Motivation(3:05) - Transition from NASA to Motherhood(5:06) - Health Crisis & Turning Point(7:05) - Holistic Foundations & Indigenous Lessons(8:57) - Reconciling Science, Religion & “Woo-Woo”(11:08) - Stigma Around Holistic Healing(16:15) - Exploring Homeopathy & Unfamiliar Modalities(21:00) - Stress, Family, & Personal Challenges(33:50) - Marriage Coaching, Religion & Mindset Shift