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PODCAST

The Corporate Couch: Work Stories I Only Tell My Friends

Interviews with successful leaders and company founders sharing stories of their career journey, great leadership, and not-so-great. It will help you become a better leader while poking fun at all the crazy shit that happens in corporate America. Hosted by Jeff Pelaccio who has over 40 years of leadership experience for every t-shirt size company - Small (4 employees) to XL (over 1 million employees). Listen, learn, and laugh each week to learn from great leaders from all walks of life.

business careers

All Episodes

63:10

From Classroom Chaos to Manufacturing Momentum with...

The Corporate Couch: Work Stories I Only Tell My Friends ·

2026/06/01

What do baby chicks, broken feet, youth sports, elementary school classrooms, and precision manufacturing have in common?Katherine O’Toole (bio below). Katherine’s career journey starts in the classroom, where she spent 11 years as an elementary educator, and eventually leads to her current role as Executive Director of the Kansas City Chapter of the National Tooling & Machining Association. Along the way, she discovered that teaching, workforce development, and manufacturing have more in

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25:16

Special Edition: It’s 5 O’Clock Somewhere – Big...

The Corporate Couch: Work Stories I Only Tell My Friends ·

2026/05/27

In this May edition of *It’s 5 O’Clock Somewhere*, Marc Shaffer and I are back with another happy hour-style conversation about what’s working, what we’re learning, and why the best connections often happen when you least expect them. We start with the aftermath of Searcy Financial’s 50th anniversary celebration, including a harmless little parking lot prank involving Marc’s car. From there, we talk about the incredible momentum behind Run for the Roses, which has raised more than $320,000 for

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81:49

From Hard Knocks to Big Wins: Building Teams That...

The Corporate Couch: Work Stories I Only Tell My Friends ·

2026/05/25

What does it take to turn a company losing millions into a high-performing organization with hundreds of millions in revenue? Ron Cox (see bio below) has lived that story. But his leadership journey started long before the turnaround. In this episode of *The Corporate Couch*, Ron shares a powerful story of resilience, reinvention, and purpose. He opens up about overcoming deep personal hardship, including childhood abuse, serious health challenges, and a moment in his life when he nearly gave up

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64:47

Leadership Isn’t a Light Switch: Parenting, Pressure,...

The Corporate Couch: Work Stories I Only Tell My Friends ·

2026/05/18

What if the best leadership lesson of your life didn’t happen in a boardroom…but in a preschool?That’s exactly what happened for Kori Bloom (bio below). In this episode, Kori shares how her journey from high school art teacher to corporate trainer, pharmaceutical sales professional, parent, author, speaker, and leadership coach helped her discover one powerful truth: We don’t lead in pieces. We lead as one whole person. Kori’s new book, The Business of Parenting, explores the connection between

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65:12

Esther George: The Economy, the World Cup, and the...

The Corporate Couch: Work Stories I Only Tell My Friends ·

2026/05/11

What’s the one question a former Federal Reserve President gets asked at every happy hour? “What’s the Fed going to do with interest rates?” According to my guest, Esther George (see bio below)… the honest answer is: “Yes.” In this episode of The Corporate Couch, Esther, former President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City and a voting member of the Federal Open Market Committee, pulls back the curtain on the decisions that quietly shape the economy…and our everyday lives. But this

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73:48

From Showgirls, Sea Stacks, and Stand-Up Comedy to...

The Corporate Couch: Work Stories I Only Tell My Friends ·

2026/05/04

What do rock climbing in Thailand, stand-up comedy, Walmart leadership, and an apartment complex full of strippers have in common?Frank Niles (bio below). In one of the most entertaining and unexpectedly insightful conversations on The Corporate Couch, Frank shares a career journey that refuses to fit inside a neat corporate box. He was kicked out of private school. Barely graduated high school. Became one of the youngest paramedics in Los Angeles County. Climbed mountains around the world. Earned

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26:14

Special Edition: It’s 5 O’Clock Somewhere - Zero...

The Corporate Couch: Work Stories I Only Tell My Friends ·

2026/04/29

In this April edition of It’s 5 O’Clock Somewhere, Marc Shaffer and I have another happy hour-style conversation about what’s working, what we’re learning, and why playing the long game matters. Marc shares the shocking secret behind his zero calcium heart score: Mountain Dew and Skinny Pop. Medical professionals may disagree. We also talk about: • The incredible success of Run for the Roses and Growing Futures • Health, walking, mobility, and meditation • New connections through The Table

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55:38

Work Hard, Speak Up, Build Something Better with...

The Corporate Couch: Work Stories I Only Tell My Friends ·

2026/04/27

What happens when you combine a relentless work ethic, blunt honesty, and a passion for helping people? You get Ericka Beeler (see her bio below). In this episode of The Corporate Couch, Jeff sits down with Ericka, founder of Beeler Consulting and Succession Health, to talk about building a career by outworking, outlearning, and outlasting just about every obstacle in her path. Her story starts with working at 14, putting herself through college, asking CEOs for opportunities no one was handing out,

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69:26

Brian Rosen: No Half Measures - From Family Business...

The Corporate Couch: Work Stories I Only Tell My Friends ·

2026/04/20

What do Ironman races, bourbon barrels, and billion-dollar investment funds have in common?Brian Rosen. In this episode of The Corporate Couch, Brian (see his bio below) shares a wildly entertaining and insightful journey through three generations of the adult beverage industry from his grandfather’s Chicago saloon days (with some “alleged” connections you’ll want to hear about) to building one of the most sophisticated investment platforms in the space today. Brian is the General Partner of

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61:30

Mo Bunnell: Stop Selling. Start Giving. Watch What...

The Corporate Couch: Work Stories I Only Tell My Friends ·

2026/04/13

What if everything you’ve been taught about selling…is backward? My guest, Mo Bunnell (see his bio below), believes the best way to win business isn’t by pushing harder, closing faster, or perfecting your pitch. It’s by giving first. Mo is the founder of Bunnell Idea Group and the author of Give to Grow, a system used by some of the world’s most respected professional services firms to build deeper relationships and drive sustainable growth. But his journey didn’t start there. He began as an

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64:30

Robin Ferguson: From Pressure to Power - The Coaching...

The Corporate Couch: Work Stories I Only Tell My Friends ·

2026/04/06

What if the way you’ve been leading…is exactly what’s holding your team back?My guest, Robin Ferguson (see her bio below), has spent more than two decades helping high-achieving leaders make a powerful shift, from pressure-filled management to a more intentional, empowering coaching style. As a Master Certified Coach (the highest credential in the field), Robin doesn’t deal in surface-level advice. She helps leaders cut through the noise, challenge the stories they’ve been telling

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75:08

Steve Bernstein: From Happy Meals to Billion-Dollar...

The Corporate Couch: Work Stories I Only Tell My Friends ·

2026/03/30

What do the McDonald’s Happy Meal, Blockbuster Video, and some of the most recognizable brands in America have in common?Steve Bernstein (bio below). In this episode, Steve shares a career that started with a childhood idea that turned into one of the most iconic promotions in history and evolved into leading Bernstein-Rein Advertising, helping build powerhouse brands like Walmart, McDonald’s, Hostess, and Blockbuster. But this isn’t just an advertising story. Steve has lived on both sides of the

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23:30

Special Edition: It’s 5 O’Clock Somewhere – KC BBQ...

The Corporate Couch: Work Stories I Only Tell My Friends ·

2026/03/25

In this March edition of It’s 5 O’Clock Somewhere, Marc Shaffer and I are back with another happy hour-style conversation where business, life, and Kansas City culture all collide.We kick things off with Marc rescheduling our recording…for a TV appearance. I’ve officially been bumped. But it leads to a bigger conversation about visibility, promoting causes that matter, and the growing momentum behind Run for the Roses supporting the not-for-profit Growing Futures. Along the way, we cover: -A job

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72:32

Dan Krouse: From the Wild West of Global Supply...

The Corporate Couch: Work Stories I Only Tell My Friends ·

2026/03/23

What does it look like to build a global supply chain…before there was a playbook? That’s exactly what Dan Krouse (see his bio below) did. In this episode, Dan shares his journey from small-town Indiana to becoming a corporate officer at Hallmark, leading global procurement, logistics, and supply chain operations across a multi-billion-dollar enterprise. Early in his career, a single conversation led to a 12-year international assignment in Hong Kong, where Dan helped build supplier networks from

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60:05

From Homebrew to a Kansas City Hospitality Empire...

The Corporate Couch: Work Stories I Only Tell My Friends ·

2026/03/16

What does it take to turn a passion for homebrewing into one of Kansas City’s most recognizable hospitality brands?In this episode of The Corporate Couch, Jeff sits down with Matt Moore (see his bio below), founder of Martin City Brewing Company, to talk about entrepreneurship, community, and the journey from a single brewpub to a growing family of restaurants and hospitality concepts across the Kansas City metro. Matt’s story starts long before the first pint was poured. Growing up in a restaurant

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70:53

Charlie Cole Talks Turnarounds, Transformations, and...

The Corporate Couch: Work Stories I Only Tell My Friends ·

2026/03/09

What does it take to walk into a struggling company, make the tough calls, and turn it into a high-performing business?That’s the world Charlie Cole (see bio below) lives in. Charlie is a private-equity-backed CEO who has built a reputation for stepping into complex situations and creating momentum fast. From transforming global consumer brands to scaling AI and SaaS platforms, his career has been defined by high-stakes leadership and measurable results. In this episode, Charlie shares the real

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24:34

Special Edition: Give a Damn – Why Caring Is the Most...

The Corporate Couch: Work Stories I Only Tell My Friends ·

2026/03/05

What if the real competitive advantage in business isn’t strategy, hustle, or technology… but simply caring? In this Special Edition episode, Justin Ricklefs returns to the Corporate Couch to discuss his first book, Give A Damn: The Catalyst for Caring Companies. Justin shares how the book began as scribbles on napkins during a conversation with his wife in a Colorado saloon and turned into a powerful framework for building stronger teams and cultures. We talk about why care and commerce can

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66:20

From Seminary to Small Business: Rebuilding Community...

The Corporate Couch: Work Stories I Only Tell My Friends ·

2026/03/02

What happens when a pastor, a public servant, and a nonprofit leader decides to buy a coffee shop? You get Keith Davenport (see bio below), founder of 030 Holding Company, on a mission to bring more and better jobs to Gardner, Kansas, zip code 66030. Keith’s journey is anything but linear, from a small-town Illinois upbringing with a graduating class of 49… to pastoral ministry… to higher education… to Johnson County, KS government crisis communications during COVID… to launching a holding company

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24:50

Special Edition: It’s 5 O’Clock Somewhere – Walking...

The Corporate Couch: Work Stories I Only Tell My Friends ·

2026/02/25

In this February edition of It’s 5 O’Clock Somewhere, Marc Shaffer and I pull up a couple of barstools and let you eavesdrop on a conversation that ranges from Kansas City networking rooms to Florida marinas, from Super Bowl parties to superhero costumes. We kick things off with our new Kansas City business community, “The Table,” a curated group of leaders focused not just on swapping business cards, but actually helping each other make money and grow. It’s intentional. It’s selective. And it’s

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80:04

Laid Off, Locked Down, and Leveling Up: Reinventing...

The Corporate Couch: Work Stories I Only Tell My Friends ·

2026/02/22

What do competitive tug-of-war, executive search, career transition, and Kansas City networking have in common? Gentry Ferguson (see his bio below). In this episode, Gentry shares a career journey that spans lawn-care entrepreneurship, leadership roles at Garmin and AMC Theatres, a layoff just months before COVID shut down the world, and the bold decision to build what is now Talent Solutions Partners. We talk about: What he learned working inside two iconic Kansas City companies The emotional

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244 results

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