If AI feels overwhelming, or you have been quietly avoiding it because you are not sure where to start, this episode is going to be a relief.

Len Ward is the founder and CEO of Commexis, an AI consulting and product development firm that helps businesses eliminate bottlenecks and scale through automation. He started his career as a stockbroker at Morgan Stanley and went on to become VP of Institutional Equity Sales and Trading at Credit Suisse, where he developed a sharp ability to read where things are heading. And where things are heading, according to Len, is a complete shift in how business gets done.

In this conversation, Len and I dig into why so many business owners are resistant to AI and what is really behind that fear. He breaks down the difference between what the media says AI can do and what is actually happening on the front lines, and his answer might surprise you. We also talk about the shift from what Len calls search and retrieve to solve my problem, and why the companies that make that shift fastest are the ones that will win.

Len shares real examples of how AI is cutting marketing budgets, eliminating unqualified leads, and putting sales teams on the one-yard line before they even pick up the phone. We also get into what he believes is the next most valuable job title inside every company, and why the idea that AI is going to replace human judgment is still a long way off.

If you are a coach, consultant, or business owner who knows AI is important but has not quite figured out how it fits into what you do, this episode will help you get clear.

Connect with Len: commexis.com or find him on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/lenward

Ready to get your story in front of the right audiences? Schedule a free discovery call at interviewconnections.com/call.

When George Wiseman first reached out to Interview Connections, I had no idea that our conversation would move me to tears. George is an inventor, engineer, and founder of Eagle Research, and his story is one of the most powerful I have ever heard on this podcast.

George has spent decades developing Brown's gas technology, originally as an alternative energy solution for fuel efficiency and combustion systems. But it was a series of deeply personal experiences, including years as the full-time caretaker for his late wife as she battled lupus, that transformed his life's mission entirely.

In this episode, George shares how Brown's gas went from a fuel-saving technology to something he believes saved his own life after the devastating loss of his wife in 2016. He walks us through the science of hydrogen therapy, why most people are hydrogen deficient, and the remarkable changes he experienced in his own body after inhaling Brown's gas, from the disappearance of a 50-year-old virus to the healing of a heart murmur he had carried since childhood.

We also talk about why stories like George's rarely make it into traditional media, and why podcasting remains one of the most powerful platforms for ideas that challenge the status quo.

If you have been curious about hydrogen therapy, alternative wellness, or what it looks like to rebuild your life around a mission that is bigger than yourself, this episode is for you.

Connect with George and grab his free ebook on how Brown's gas can support life extension and whole-body health: https://eagle-research.com/can-hydrogen-help-you-live-longer-download/

Are you ready to share your story on podcasts? Schedule a free consult at interviewconnections.com/call

If you have been pouring your heart into writing a book and wondering how to actually get people to read it, this episode is for you.

I was introduced to Jenn T. Grace by one of our clients, Linda Hunt, and the moment we got on a call, I knew I needed to get her on the show. She is an award-winning author, nationally recognized speaker, and publishing strategist with more than 20 years of experience in marketing, communication, and storytelling. She is the founder of Publish Your Purpose, a certified B Corp hybrid publisher, and the creator of the Institute for Author Growth and Impact, an educational platform supporting nonfiction and memoir writers through every stage of their author journey.

And I have to be honest: after nearly 400 episodes of this podcast, I somehow never did an episode about using podcast appearances to promote a book. Jenn helped me fix that.

In this conversation, we get into why podcast guesting converts so much better than traditional media for authors, what realistic book sales numbers actually look like, and why the authors who talk about their book constantly are the ones who win long-term. Jenn also shares the sweet spot for when to start marketing your book, how to grow your email list before your book even launches, and how some of her clients have landed six-figure consulting deals simply by getting their book into the right hands.

If you are an entrepreneur, coach, or thought leader who is writing a book or thinking about writing one, this episode will show you exactly how to use podcast guesting to build momentum before, during, and long after your launch.

Connect with Jenn: publishyourpurpose.com

Ready to get booked on podcasts and promote your book? Schedule a free discovery call at interviewconnections.com/call.

John McNellis didn't set out to become one of the most respected commercial real estate developers on the West Coast. He was a journalism major turned lawyer who stumbled into real estate—and never looked back. In this episode, John shares the honest, unfiltered story of how he built a career deal by deal, including the wins, the spectacular losses, and everything in between.

John is the author of Making It in Real Estate, now in its third edition with 34 new chapters. What started as a 25,000-word insider favorite has grown into required reading at Stanford, Berkeley, Clemson, Vanderbilt, Georgetown, and universities across the country. Students and seasoned investors alike call it their real estate Bible.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why real estate is one of the only businesses you can start as a side gig—no matter what your day job is
• John's origin story: from a $25,000 duplex at age 24 to shopping center development across California
• The skills that matter most in real estate (hint: emotional intelligence and listening rank higher than you'd think)
• Why the path to success was anything but linear—and what John's worst deals taught him
• How to manage the psychological weight of big money and real risk
• The "four Ds" formula for finding your first investment property
• Why John recommends starting small, staying conservative, and building your reserves before swinging for the fences
• His take on flipping land vs. houses—and why he'd never put debt on bare land
• What actually drives him (spoiler: it was never about the money)

Resources mentioned:

Making It in Real Estate by John McNellis — available on Amazon, Audible, and as an e-book. Bulk orders of 25+ copies are available at $10/copy (vs. $20 retail) at https://www.johnmcnellis.com

Malcolm Reid Sr. is the founder of ProGlobal Business Advisors, a business-in-a-box model that has helped over 1,000 coaches worldwide build profitable, values-driven practices over the past 12 years. Malcolm provides coaches with everything they need to run a thriving business — positioning, systems, enrollment processes, delivery frameworks, software, and long-term operational support — all branded to the coach.

In this episode, Jess and Malcolm get into a conversation that's been brewing since Malcolm joined Interview Connections earlier this year. When Jess's salesperson left, it was Malcolm who had planted the seed that the best closers aren't salespeople — they're the coaches themselves. That insight changed the way Jess runs her business, and in this episode they unpack why.

What we cover:

• Why Malcolm's company doesn't have a sales team — and how the people doing the fulfillment are also the ones doing the enrollment
• The difference between a sales call and a selection process (and why it matters for client quality and retention)
• The "business in a box" model — what it means, how it works, and why it's modeled after a franchise but branded entirely to the coach
• How Malcolm helps coaches get clients through a diagnostic tool that finds six figures of hidden revenue in under 60 minutes — before asking for the business
• The power of strategic alliances and JV partnerships as a low/no-cost client generation strategy
• Malcolm's origin story: growing up in Baltimore, a conviction, and the turning point that led him to help small business owners build the lives they dreamed of
• Why both Jess and Malcolm believe that money is a result — not a motivation — and how leading with genuine care builds businesses that last

Connect with Malcolm:

Grab Malcolm's book, Massive Action, which outlines the 22 strategies he uses with his clients: 100KLeak.com

What if financial freedom has nothing to do with how much you accumulate? Dan Scott, founder of Spotlight Advisory Group, built his career around a simple but powerful reframe: financial freedom is about having enough money to live in full alignment with your purpose.

In this episode, Dan shares the philosophy behind his work with artists, entrepreneurs, and creatives, the origin story of his firm, and what his upcoming book, The Experience of Financial Freedom, is really about. He also opens up about his lifelong relationship with music, his punk rock roots, and why he sees folk music as the original punk.

What We Cover:

• Why "enough" is more important than "more" when it comes to money
• How Dan's quest for happiness at age 16 led to his definition of financial freedom
• The connection between purpose, positive psychology, and financial design
• Why money was never meant to be the goal, and what happens when we treat it like one
• His work with artists and creatives, and why he says everyone is creative
• His upcoming book The Experience of Financial Freedom and what's inside it
• The through-line between punk rock, folk music, and freedom as a philosophy
• Why he thinks the entertainment industry is a tool for artists, not the measure of success

About Dan Scott:

Dan Scott is the founder of Spotlight Advisory Group, a personal and business management firm working with artists, entrepreneurs, and creatives. Through financial strategy, accountability, and mindset work, he helps clients break free from industry constraints and build lives that reflect their values and long-term vision. He is also the soon-to-be author of The Experience of Financial Freedom.

Connect with Dan:

Website + weekly blog: www.spotlightadvisorygroup.com

Email: dscott@spotlightadvisorygroup.com

Want to land more podcast appearances and grow your thought leadership? Visit interviewconnections.com/call to schedule a call.

Suzanne Roberts, Principal of UnifyingSolutions, is a seasoned coach, author, facilitator, and speaker, with over five decades of experience in guiding organizations and individuals toward transformative change. Since 1979, she has worked with a diverse range of corporations, businesses, and non-profits, specializing in leadership development, cultural competence, and organizational resilience.

She provides training and facilitation in The Great Reconnection™ and Consulting, helping individuals and teams cultivate vibrant, purposeful, and liberated lives and cultures.

The Great Reconnection™ Coaching is more than just a coaching method—it’s a transformative pathway designed to help you reclaim YOU and step into your authentic power. Through this process, you’ll align with your deepest self, unshackled from the weight of external pressures and societal expectations.

In this episode, Jess and Suzanne discuss:

Being in a "trust recession" and why authentic online sharing builds the kind of connection that leads to real business relationships. Suzanne shares why vulnerability paired with a pathway forward is what moves people to reach out.

How Suzanne launched her podcast in May 2024 for the sheer fun of it and has already reached 35 countries and 2,600 downloads, interviewing guests weekly with a monthly wisdom drop segment called Wisdom Drops.

The unique pre-interview ritual Suzanne uses with every guest: a centering breath, a moment of presence, and an intention set together before recording begins. Jess shares why this was unlike anything she has experienced in hundreds of podcast appearances.

Why there is no amount of strategy and tactics that will sustainably grow your business if your nervous system is dysregulated, and what it looks like to build a culture that is expansive rather than driven by pressure and burnout.

Suzanne's 50-year evolution as a coach, from organizational development and team leadership to somatic work at the Strozzi Institute, to nervous system resets with a literal massage table in her office.

Research Suzanne is now pursuing after discovering that leaders are spending 60 to 85 percent of their day in disconnection and often cannot identify their own signal to reconnect.

Connect with Suzanne Roberts at https://unifyingsolutions.com/

Book your Discovery Call with Jess at https://interviewconnections.com/call

In over 13 years of podcast experience, Jessica has never seen a marketing agency do what Deanna and Ashley are doing with their podcast. Ducks Unplugged isn't just a show about marketing; it's a living, breathing reflection of who Blue Duck Agency is and what it feels like to work with them.

About our guests

Deanna Dolecki is president of Blue Duck Agency, a boutique female-founded marketing agency. A Gen X professional with over 25 years in marketing, Deanna leads with strategy, flexibility, and a refusal to take herself too seriously. Ashley Ruggeri is a senior marketing executive and millennial mom with over 15 years of experience building results-driven programs. Together, they run Blue Duck and co-host Ducks Unplugged, a show as authentic as the agency itself.

What we cover

• Why Deanna and Ashley launched a podcast to differentiate in an industry where agencies all sell the same things
• The insight that changed how Jess sees their show: it's not that the podcast shaped their culture, it's that it mirrors it
• How their low-prep, bullet-point-only approach produces more authentic (and more entertaining) episodes than scripted content ever could
• The basement studio story and why a corner of Ashley's son's toy room beats a professional studio
• Their production process: batching four episodes per shoot, a dedicated producer named Cindy, and a director who has mastered the angles
• Why their ideal clients watch the podcast before ever getting on a call and what that means for their sales cycle
• The dream client Deanna is absolutely going after (hint: it involves online dating)

About Blue Duck Agency

Blue Duck is a full-service, results-based marketing agency specializing in acquisition, retention, and loyalty programs — with deep expertise in membership and subscription businesses. Every client works directly with senior staff. No hand-offs, no junior teams running your account.

Subscribe to Ducks Unplugged on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DucksUnplugged

Ready to leverage podcast guesting to attract dream clients? Schedule a call with Jessica now at http://interviewconnections.com/call