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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

21:59

Special Edition: It's 5 O'clock Somewhere - From...

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

2025/06/25

Marc Shaffer returns for round four of It’s 5 O’Clock Somewhere, the recurring happy hour-style Special Edition of The Corporate Couch: Work Stories I Only Tell My Friends. It’s the kind of conversation that flows between business, family, books, and community, with a splash of margarita-shirt energy. Marc opens up about how becoming a dad to two young children has transformed the way he works, delegates, and protects his time. He also shares reflections from The Five Regrets of the Dying

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01:00:09

A Voice for the Voiceless: Christal Watson’s Path...

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

2025/06/23

Christal Watson (see her bio below) has spent her entire career guided by one mission: To be in a position of influence so I can be a voice for those who don't have one. That mission has shaped every role she’s taken on—from championing students in Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools to revitalizing the Heartland Black Chamber of Commerce into a powerhouse for minority-owned businesses. Now, with more than two decades of impact behind her, Christal is stepping into her boldest chapter yet: running

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21:16

Special Edition: How AI Can Help You Scale Smarter...

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

2025/06/18

In this Special Edition of The Corporate Couch, Greg Deitch (CEO) and Jeremy Stephens (President) of Fluent Consultants demystify how small and mid-sized businesses can harness AI to boost efficiency, cut costs, and stay competitive without needing a tech army or Silicon Valley budget.Greg and Jeremy break down how AI is moving from trend to tool, and why now is the time for growing companies to experiment with automation, language models, and data-driven insights. From double-checking

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01:14:25

From Ivory Tower to Inclusive Leadership: Dr....

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

2025/06/16

Dr. Victoria Farris (see her bio below) traded a tenured track in academia for the unpredictable path of entrepreneurship. As a transformational leadership strategist, she now helps business leaders foster high-trust, inclusive workplaces where people want to show up and contribute. Our conversation explores the modern leader’s reality: managing five generations in the workplace, each with their own expectations, communication styles, and values. Victoria breaks down how trust isn’t built

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57:46

From Southern China to Strategic Force: Fiona Lin on...

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

2025/06/08

Fiona Lin (see her bio below) brings a global lens to leadership, starting with her childhood in southern China and leading to her rise as a business transformation expert in the U.S. As the first guest on the podcast born and raised in China, Fiona shares how growing up without toys or pets (and carving fish with friends in the river) shaped her creativity, resilience, and lifelong love of learning.We explore Fiona’s evolution from English teacher to COO, her passion for aligning strategy and

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01:05:00

From Packaging to Powerhouse: How Mary-Catherine...

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

2025/06/02

Mary-Catherine “M-C” Reinert (see her bio below) isn’t just a brand strategist, she’s a force of nature. In this episode of The Corporate Couch, M-C shares her journey from a quiet, science-loving kid from Kansas City to the founder of Fortissima, a bold branding and marketing firm whose name (Italian for “very loud”) reflects both her fierce personality and her Sicilian roots.M-C opens up about the lessons she learned in the family restaurant, the middle school teacher who helped her find

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28:30

Special Edition: It’s 5 O'Clock Somewhere with Marc...

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

2025/05/28

In this third Special Edition of It’s 5 O’Clock Somewhere, Marc Shaffer and I enhance our usual conversation by doing what any good happy hour calls for: sipping a cold beer. From deep work strategies and smart calendar hacks to journaling habits and our favorite recent reads, this episode is packed with personal insights and practical takeaways.We also swap stories about standout people we’ve recently met, the power of connecting others, and the local causes we’re proud to support. It’s a relaxed

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01:05:43

Charting Your Own Path: Massimo Backus on...

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

2025/05/27

This episode of The Corporate Couch features Massimo Backus (see his bio below), executive coach, organizational psychologist, and author of Human First, Leader Second. One of the least traditionally “corporate” guests we’ve had on the show, Massimo brings depth, vulnerability, and candor to a conversation about how to thrive in work and life by embracing our full humanity.From attending seven different colleges to working in door-to-door sales, film, commercial real estate, and ultimately

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25:43

Special Edition: Inside TIGER 21 of Kansas City –...

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

2025/05/23

In this special edition of The Corporate Couch, we explore the elite world of TIGER 21 with Kansas City Chairs Heidi Lehmann and Joe Kessinger (see their bios below). For high-net-worth individuals navigating success, succession, and significance, TIGER 21 is the global peer network that offers more than just financial advice, it provides a trusted community, deep reflection, and powerful perspective.Heidi, a five-time tech entrepreneur and nationally recognized investor, and Joe, a veteran finance

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01:13:46

From KC Chiefs Fan to Media Mogul: Zach Best on...

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

2025/05/19

In this fun and insightful episode, Zach Best, co-founder of FanSided and Executive VP at Minute Media, joins to talk about turning fandom into a media empire, building thriving remote teams, and why culture beats everything. Zach’s Kansas City roots and love for the Chiefs sparked a journey that turned a humble sports blog into a major digital media player acquired three times, including by Time/Sports Illustrated and Meredith Corporation. You’ll hear about: How Zach built a strong remote culture

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01:05:05

Branding the Biggest Games on Earth: Inside Sports...

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

2025/05/12

In this episode of The Corporate Couch, Kansas City native and sports marketing legend Mike Goff shares stories, lessons, and the occasional war wound from his trailblazing career in brand strategy and sponsorship. From his early days dreaming of sports journalism to leading iconic campaigns with the NFL, World Cup '94, and Rolling Stones tours, Mike’s career is a masterclass in storytelling, strategy, and savvy execution.Mike, whose resume includes everything from being the force behind Sprint’s

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01:13:19

From Cattle Ranch to Conscious Rebellion: Justin...

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

2025/05/05

What happens when one of the least corporate minds steps onto The Corporate Couch?You get a conversation that’s anything but business as usual. In this episode, Justin Foster (see his bio below), poet, agitator, and co-founder of Massive Change, pulls no punches as he unpacks the hidden forces behind branding, leadership, and personal transformation. Raised on a cattle ranch and now based in Austin, Justin’s deep thinking and sharp tongue challenge the traditional playbook with radical honesty and

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28:00

Special Edition: It's 5 O'clock Somewhere with Marc...

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

2025/04/30

In this second installment of our It’s 5 O’Clock Somewhere series, Marc Shaffer and I kick back for another happy hour-style conversation—no scripts, no slides—just two friends swapping stories, ideas, and what’s working for us in business and life.We cover everything from the value of connecting people and respecting your time to why your calendar system might be secretly ruining your productivity. We discuss the benefits of using ChatGPT compared to Claude AI. Also, Marc shares how he’s

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01:14:57

Born to Help: Samantha Shepherd on Law, Legacy, and...

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

2025/04/28

Samantha Shepherd (see her bio below) joins The Corporate Couch to discuss making career choices based on personal reasons, going to law school with Mel Robbins, why she decided to focus on Elder care law (and launch three organizations to support her mission), and being born to help people. She is a powerhouse attorney, a law firm and trust company CEO, and an advocate for some of the most vulnerable members of the Kansas City community. With a legal career built on compassion and expertise,

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01:03:04

Bootstraps, Buyouts, and the Business Lessons No One...

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

2025/04/21

In this episode, I’m joined by Scott Schaper (see his bio below), the President of RSM Marketing, serial entrepreneur, and self-proclaimed “empathy-driven business builder.” If you’ve ever dreamed of buying, selling, or merging a business—or are just curious how the sausage is made—this episode is your behind-the-scenes mini-course in small business acquisitions.Scott takes us on a candid journey from his early days managing First Watch restaurants to launching multiple startups, building IFTA Plus

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56:18

From Politics to Purpose: Joni Wickham on Strategic...

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

2025/04/12

Please join me as I chat with Joni Wickham (see her bio below), one of Kansas City’s most influential voices in government and strategic leadership. From her roots in rural North Carolina to serving as Chief of Staff to Kansas City, MO, Mayor Sly James, Joni shares her journey through public service, political strategy, and entrepreneurship.We explore: The pivotal moment in a city council meeting that led her to a career in public service Her experience leading transformative city initiatives

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01:18:40

Love Your Weird: Frankie Russo on Genius Cultures,...

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

2025/04/07

In this wild and wisdom-packed episode, Jeff sits down with Frankie Russo (see his bio below) - serial entrepreneur, bestselling author, and the man behind the “Love Your Weird” movement - to explore how authenticity, imagination, and generosity fuel extraordinary growth.Frankie shares the deeply personal story of overcoming drug and alcohol addiction in his 20s and how that journey shaped the visionary leader he is today. From building a tech company that grew 60X in just three years (and was

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17:17

Special Edition: Optimizing Performance and...

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

2025/04/05

In Part III of our special series with Rick Mathes (see his bio below), co-founder of Align Pain Solutions, we shift the conversation to athletes and high performers who may not be in chronic pain, but want to stay that way. Rick discusses the often-overlooked role posture plays in maximizing performance and preventing injuries, even for those in peak physical condition. He shares insights from his work with an NBA player and explains how his postural therapy approach can help athletes maintain

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22:19

Special Edition: Reimaging Leadership By Creating A...

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

2025/04/02

In this Special Edition episode, Leslie Anderson (see her bio below) returns to The Corporate Couch to explore the transformative power of coaching in leadership. Drawing from her extensive experience as an executive coach and insights from Coaching Skills for Leaders, Leslie breaks down what it takes to cultivate a coaching culture within organizations.We discuss why modern leadership demands more than just authority—it requires empathy, active listening, and the ability to empower teams. Leslie

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01:03:48

Breaking Barriers: Shattering Glass Ceilings, Sticky...

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

2025/03/31

In this episode, I learn and laugh with the powerhouse Erica Rooney (see her bio below)—Chief People Officer, keynote speaker, and bestselling author of Glass Ceilings and Sticky Floors. From dreaming of becoming the University of Florida’s head football coach to becoming a trailblazer in HR and leadership, Erica’s journey is anything but conventional. We tackle a range of topics, including: Why sticky floors—the limiting beliefs and behaviors we hold—can be just as career-stifling as the

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197 results

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