In episode 036, Sam Donaghey and Michael Johnson sit down with Vistage Master Chair and leadership coach Kurt Graves to explore what it really takes to grow as a leader—personally and professionally.

Kurt shares powerful lessons on vulnerability, values, and the mindset shift required to scale well. Whether you're a CEO, founder, or future executive, you’ll hear candid stories and actionable insights on building great teams, defining reality, and investing in people the right way.

Tune in for a conversation that’s equal parts challenging and encouraging—and loaded with takeaways you’ll want to revisit.

In episode 035, Sam Donaghey is joined by sales advisor and former Fast Slow Motion leader Barry Thomason to explore how service firms can train delivery teams to drive internal sales—without feeling pushy or salesy.

Barry shares why internal sales is essential for sustainable growth, how delivery teams can spot and act on opportunities, and why selling the right way is just another form of service.

Tune in for practical advice and simple strategies to unlock more revenue from the clients you already have.

In episode 034, Sam Donaghey and Michael Johnson are joined by Derrick Mains—also known as The Process Fixer—to explore one of the most overlooked growth tools in business: process.

Derrick shares how mapping, measuring, and mobilizing your team around better processes can unlock innovation, drive profitability, and help leaders build a business that runs smoothly without burning out their people.

Tune in for real-world stories, practical frameworks, and a fresh perspective on how intentional process improvement can fuel both business success and a better quality of life.

In episode 033, Sam Donaghey sits down with Michael Smith, Director of People at Fast Slow Motion, for part three of our series on hiring superstars—this time, focusing on what happens after the hire.

Michael shares how FSM approaches onboarding with intention, starting before day one and continuing through the first several months with coaching, culture-building, and real-time feedback.

Tune in for practical strategies to set your team up for success and create an onboarding experience that keeps top talent engaged for the long haul.

In episode 032, Sam Donaghey and Michael Johnson sit down with George Appling, entrepreneur, author, and Vistage chair, to discuss building a business that aligns with personal passion.

George shares how he transitioned from corporate leadership to launching Sherwood Forest Faire, the lessons he learned about timing, self-awareness, and intentionality, and how he built businesses that thrive without him. He also dives into scalable hiring strategies, business ownership vs. legacy wealth, and why choosing the right path matters.

Tune in for insights on scaling with purpose, building a self-sustaining company, and making business decisions that align with your values.

In episode 031, Sam Donaghey and Michael Johnson sit down with John Barnhart, CIO of American Cast Iron Pipe Company, to explore how technology is shaping the future of manufacturing.

John shares how American Cast Iron Pipe is leveraging AI, automation, and data integration to drive efficiency, improve decision-making, and stay ahead in a competitive industry. He also dives into the challenges of integrating technology across a large, vertically integrated business and the importance of cybersecurity, change management, and the right technology partners.

Tune in for insights on scaling manufacturing operations, maximizing the value of technology, and preparing for the future with AI and automation.

In episode 030, Sam Donaghey talks with Zack Terry, Fast Slow Motion’s Director of AI, about the key updates in Salesforce’s Spring ‘25 release and what they mean for businesses.

Zack shares how Agentforce, the rebranded Einstein Copilot, is expanding AI-driven automation for sales and service teams. They discuss multilingual support, AI-powered service enhancements, and new admin tools, including version control for AI agents.

Tune in to learn how businesses can leverage AI to streamline processes, enhance customer interactions, and drive efficiency—without losing the human touch.

In episode 029, John Burdett continues his conversation with Billy Claunch, VP of Sales and Marketing at Brindlee Mountain Fire Apparatus, to dive deeper into how Brindlee leveraged Salesforce.

Billy shares how Brindlee cut their financial close time from 60 days to mere hours, improved visibility across the business, and empowered leadership to make faster, smarter decisions. They also discuss the mindset shift from viewing technology as an expense to recognizing it as a tool for exponential growth.

Tune in for insights on scaling an industrial business, eliminating bottlenecks, and achieving work-life balance with the right systems in place.