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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

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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78:51

Dr. Russ Barnes: From B-52s to Business Strategy -...

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

2026/02/16

What do you get when you combine Division I basketball, 27 years in the U.S. Air Force, a PhD in Organization Development, and a passion for helping small businesses become profitable?You get Dr. Russ Barnes (see his bio below). In this episode, I reconnect with my former Manhattan College dorm mate, now retired Air Force Colonel, strategist, author, and founder of Systro Solutions, for a wide-ranging conversation about leadership, preparation, resilience, and what it really takes to build a

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70:15

Paul Sullivan: From the New York Times to the Carpool...

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

2026/02/08

What happens when a dream career collides with real life and real priorities?In this episode, I sit down with Paul Sullivan (see bio below), a longtime New York Times columnist, author, and founder of The Company of Dads, to explore a career journey that spans elite journalism, bestselling books, keynote stages, and ultimately, a bold reinvention. Paul shares how growing up in a working-class Massachusetts town shaped his ambition, how mentorship and failure sharpened his voice as a writer, and

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68:14

Meetings Are Broken: Rebecca Hinds on Fixing How We...

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

2026/02/02

Do you hate work meetings? Meetings consume more time than any other business process, and yet they’re often the most frustrating part of the workday. According to Rebecca Hinds (see her bio below), that’s not a coincidence. It’s a design problem. Rebecca is a leading expert on organizational behavior and the future of work, with deep experience at the intersection of research, technology, and real-world execution. In this conversation, she shares insights from her new book, Your Best Meeting Ever:

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22:18

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

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

2026/01/28

The first It’s 5 O’Clock Somewhere of the new year felt less like goal setting and more like catching up with a friend who knows you well enough to keep it real.In this January conversation, Marc Shaffer and I ease into 2026 by talking about what actually matters when the calendar flips: health, energy, relationships, and letting go of the pressure to start the year at full throttle. We swap stories about holiday parties that got a little bigger than expected, birthdays for four-year-olds, bourbon

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76:45

The Likeable Leader: Why People Follow (and Why They...

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

2026/01/26

What if being a great leader isn’t about having all the answers, but about how people feel when they’re around you? In this episode, Jason Young (see bio below) joins me on The Corporate Couch for a wide-ranging, candid conversation about leadership, emotional intelligence, burnout, and why “likability” may be one of the most underrated leadership skills in business today. Jason shares stories from his early life, formative mentors, and unexpected career pivots that shaped his approach to

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66:42

From Basketball Courts to Boardrooms: Seth Deutsch on...

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

2026/01/19

In this powerful episode, Jeff Pelaccio sits down with Seth Deutsch (see his bio below), founder of Samson Partners Group and former President and CEO of multi-billion-dollar divisions at AECOM. Seth shares his unconventional journey from Division I basketball player at Rice University to leading global teams across 80 countries and executing over 70 acquisitions. Seth opens up about growing up in a small Ohio town, choosing basketball as his path forward, and dealing with career-ending injuries

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56:33

Frank Keck: Embracing Your Freakness, Being Seen, and...

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

2026/01/12

Frank Keck (see his bio below) believes leadership starts with being fully yourself and laughing a little more along the way.With over 25 years of experience helping leaders and teams communicate better, Frank blends humor, neuroscience, and real-world insight to show why people thrive when they feel seen, heard, and empowered. In this conversation, he shares how his journey from teaching Dale Carnegie courses to building a speaking career around “Embrace Your Freakness” shaped his approach to

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69:19

Rich Chungong: From Professional Athlete to Web3...

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

2026/01/05

Rich Chungong’s (see his bio below) story is anything but linear, and that’s exactly the point. A former professional football player, lifelong gamer, and naturally curious builder, Rich has reinvented himself at the intersection of Web3, AI, gaming, and community-driven innovation.In this conversation, Rich shares how the abrupt pause of the 2020 pandemic forced him to confront a question many athletes and high performers eventually face: What’s next when the identity you’ve always known comes to

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70:19

Todd Ziegler: From Filet Mignon Heists to Blockchain...

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

2025/12/29

Todd Ziegler (see his bio below) has seen the trucking industry from angles most people never do, from stolen loads of six-figure filet mignon to the quiet financial mechanics that determine whether carriers survive or fail. And according to Todd, the biggest issue in trucking isn’t drivers, trucks, or capacity. It’s how long it takes people to get paid and how much it costs them to wait.Todd is a seasoned C-suite transportation veteran and the CEO of TCS, a company using blockchain technology to

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27:41

Special Edition: It’s 5 O'clock Somewhere - Holidays,...

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

2025/12/23

In this December edition of It’s 5 O’Clock Somewhere, Marc Shaffer and I wrap up the year the only way we know how by catching up like old friends over a wide-ranging, unscripted conversation that blends business, life, laughter, and reflection.We talk about the blur between November and December, holiday parties, birthdays, book parties (not book launches), and the reality of trying to slow down during the busiest time of the year (including Jeff's Reiki session). Marc shares what he’s learning

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214 results

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