Joe Roberts, known as the “Skid Row CEO”, transformed his life from homelessness and addiction on the streets of Vancouver into becoming a successful business executive, author, and internationally recognized speaker.

His journey has been featured in Forbes, CBC, and numerous global platforms. Joe is the author of four books and the founder of The Push for Change, a 17-month walk across North America (averaging 35,000 steps per day) to raise awareness and funds for youth homelessness—helping drive meaningful change in federal support programs.

Through powerful storytelling and lived experience, Joe inspires individuals and organizations to reframe adversity, unlock potential, and lead with empathy. His keynotes are consistently described as life-changing, leaving audiences with a renewed sense of purpose and possibility.

SHOW SUMMARY

In this episode of the Selling from the Heart Podcast, Larry Levine and Darrell Amy are joined by Joe Roberts to explore the transformative power of empathy, resilience, and human connection. Joe shares how a simple conversation on a park bench changed the trajectory of his life, sparking a journey from addiction and homelessness to leadership and impact.

He defines selling from the heart as seeing potential in others before they can see it in themselves. Joe introduces his AIR model (Action, Inspiration, Roadblocks), explaining that resilience is not about feeling strong, but about taking action despite negative emotions.

The conversation highlights how internal barriers like self-doubt and perfectionism often limit growth, while consistent action and belief unlock potential. This episode is a powerful reminder that sales and leadership are ultimately about helping others and that even small moments of connection can change lives.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Purpose makes authentic selling natural, when your work aligns with meaning, trust follows.
• Qualification is a time management strategy, not just a sales process.
• Sales optimism can become a liability when it blinds you to disqualifying signals.
• The Three Whys—Why buy? Why now? Why us?—help determine if a deal is real.
• Your champion must be able to sell internally on your behalf.
• No decision is often your biggest competitor.
• Great salespeople qualify early to avoid wasting time on false opportunities.

HIGHLIGHT QUOTES

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Explore the secrets of heart-centered leadership and thriving workplace cultures with Culture from the Heart Podcast! Nominate a visionary CEO at www.culturefromtheheart.com!

Listen to Larry Levine’s Bestselling Book: Selling in a Post-Trust World! Now available on Audible! Transform your sales approach with insights that matter.

Subscribe to The Selling from the Heart Podcast Youtube Channel! Stay updated with the latest episodes and leadership tips: Selling from the Heart YouTube

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Darius Lahoutifard is a visionary sales leader, serial entrepreneur, and founder of MEDDIC Academy, the premier global MEDDPICC® certification platform. A former executive at PTC and Oracle, Darius is best known for scaling PTC France’s revenue from $4M to $27M in just three years—outperforming major industry competitors.

Originally trained as a robotics engineer, Darius combined technical expertise with sales excellence, becoming CEO of a Schlumberger subsidiary at just 28 years old. He has since launched four successful tech startups, raised over $20 million in funding, and authored Always Be Qualifying. Today, through MEDDIC Academy, he equips sales professionals worldwide with the discipline, clarity, and strategy needed to improve qualification, forecasting, and win rates.

SHOW SUMMARY

In this episode of the Selling from the Heart Podcast, Larry Levine and Darrell Amy are joined by Darius Lahoutifard to discuss how authentic selling starts with purpose—and how strong qualification creates better sales outcomes. Darius shares that when purpose aligns with your work, selling from the heart becomes natural rather than forced.

The conversation focuses on one of the biggest weaknesses in sales: poor qualification. Darius explains how optimism, urgency to close, and self-deception often cause sales professionals to hold onto deals that were never real. He introduces the Three Whys—Why buy anything? Why buy now? Why buy from us?—as a simple but powerful filter for qualification.

He also breaks down the MEDDIC/MEDDPICC framework—Metrics, Economic Buyer, Decision Process, Decision Criteria, Paper Process, Pain, Champion, and Competition—showing how disciplined qualification protects time, improves forecasting, and increases trust. This episode is a masterclass in selling smarter, not just harder.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Purpose makes authentic selling natural—when your work aligns with meaning, trust follows.
• Qualification is a time management strategy, not just a sales process.
• Sales optimism can become a liability when it blinds you to disqualifying signals.
• The Three Whys—Why buy? Why now? Why us?—help determine if a deal is real.

HIGHLIGHT QUOTES

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Explore the secrets of heart-centered leadership and thriving workplace cultures with Culture from the Heart Podcast! Nominate a visionary CEO at www.culturefromtheheart.com!

Listen to Larry Levine’s Bestselling Book: Selling in a Post-Trust World! Now available on Audible! Transform your sales approach with insights that matter.

Subscribe to The Selling from the Heart Podcast Youtube Channel! Stay updated with the latest episodes and leadership tips: Selling from the Heart YouTube

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Dan Dominguez is the Founder and CEO of WHY NOT Leadership, a coaching and consulting firm grounded in the belief that leadership is about impact, not titles. As a sought-after coach, speaker, and podcast host, Dan helps leaders and teams unlock their full potential through self-awareness, authentic connection, and bold, values-driven action.

Driven by his core motivators, Contribute, Challenge, and Make Sense, Dan equips organizations to build trust-centered cultures and develop people-first leadership at every level. His work focuses on helping individuals understand what drives them and how to use that insight to lead, communicate, and perform more effectively.

SHOW SUMMARY

In this episode of the Selling from the Heart Podcast, Larry Levine and Darrell Amy welcome back Dan Dominguez to explore how congruency, self-awareness, and understanding your “Why” transform leadership and sales. Dan defines selling from the heart as showing up authentically with the intention of making a meaningful difference for others.

The conversation dives into the Why Operating System (YOS)—a framework that helps individuals understand why they act, how they bring it to life, and what they deliver. By recognizing these internal “filters,” sales professionals and leaders can better communicate in the language of their clients and teams, applying the Platinum Rule to build trust and eliminate friction.

Dan shares practical examples of how YOS improves communication, strengthens relationships, and enhances performance across teams and even personal relationships. This episode reinforces that authentic connection, adaptability, and self-awareness are the true drivers of trust and long-term success.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Understanding your Why, How, and What is foundational to authentic leadership and selling.
• Congruency—being the same person everywhere—is essential for building trust.
• Adapting to how others think and communicate strengthens relationships and results.
• Trust is the most important long-term metric in sales success.

HIGHLIGHT QUOTES

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Explore the secrets of heart-centered leadership and thriving workplace cultures with Culture from the Heart Podcast! Nominate a visionary CEO at www.culturefromtheheart.com!

Listen to Larry Levine’s Bestselling Book: Selling in a Post-Trust World! Now available on Audible! Transform your sales approach with insights that matter.

Subscribe to The Selling from the Heart Podcast Youtube Channel! Stay updated with the latest episodes and leadership tips: Selling from the Heart YouTube

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Mitch Matthews is a success coach, keynote speaker, and creator of the top 1% podcast DREAM THINK DO. Through his coaching and content, Mitch helps high-achieving leaders and entrepreneurs dream bigger, think better, and pursue meaningful work aligned with their purpose.

Over the past two decades, Mitch has worked with organizations like NIKE, NASA, Disney, and United Airlines, helping leaders clarify direction and lead with impact. He has interviewed world-class performers—including Brendon Burchard, Michael Hyatt, Jamie Kern Lima, elite athletes, and Oscar winners—bringing powerful insights to his global audience. Mitch is also the creator of The Authority Bridge™, a coaching experience designed to help seasoned professionals build purpose-driven, legacy-worthy businesses.

SHOW SUMMARY

In this episode of the Selling from the Heart Podcast, Larry Levine and Darrell Amy are joined by Mitch Matthews to explore a refreshing approach to modern selling: Filter, Coach, Commit. Mitch explains that selling from the heart is about connecting the right people with the right solutions at the right time—even if that solution isn’t yours.

The conversation emphasizes the importance of intentional branding to attract ideal clients and repel poor-fit opportunities, as well as the power of saying “no” to build trust and long-term credibility. Mitch reframes sales conversations as coaching conversations—focused on listening deeply, clarifying needs, and guiding people toward meaningful action.

This episode highlights the shift from transactional selling to relationship-driven coaching, where authenticity, alignment, and long-term thinking create lasting success.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Focus on connecting the right people with the right solutions at the right time.
• The Filter, Coach, Commit framework helps attract, guide, and serve ideal clients.
• Saying “no” creates clarity, builds trust, and strengthens your brand.
• Approach sales conversations as coaching conversations—not pitches.

HIGHLIGHT QUOTES

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Mitch is offering Selling from the Heart listeners free access to the Next Chapter workshop! Use codes HEART or LOVE at checkout: https://members.matthewstraininginternational.com/next-chapter

Explore the secrets of heart-centered leadership and thriving workplace cultures with Culture from the Heart Podcast! Nominate a visionary CEO at www.culturefromtheheart.com!

Listen to Larry Levine’s Bestselling Book: Selling in a Post-Trust World! Now available on Audible! Transform your sales approach with insights that matter.

Subscribe to The Selling from the Heart Podcast Youtube Channel! Stay updated with the latest episodes and leadership tips: Selling from the Heart YouTube

Get Your Daily Dose of Inspiration:
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James Laughlin is a globally recognized high-performance leadership strategist, #1 bestselling author of Habits of High Performers, and a 7-time world champion musician. He has coached everyone from PGA Tour professionals and elite athletes to Fortune 500 CEOs, helping leaders and teams achieve extraordinary results through intentional habits and mindset mastery.

As an international keynote speaker and host of the top-ranked Lead on Purpose podcast, James blends elite performance principles with practical leadership frameworks that drive personal growth, resilience, and sustainable success. Whether working with world-class rugby teams or senior executives, James helps people win in both life and business by building habits rooted in trust, wellbeing, and high performance.

SHOW SUMMARY

In this episode of the Selling from the Heart Podcast, Larry Levine and Darrell Amy are joined by James Laughlin to explore what truly drives high performance. James shares that selling from the heart begins with trusting who you are, and explains why vulnerability is not weakness but one of the most powerful ways leaders and sales professionals build trust and connection.

The conversation introduces James’s powerful skillset, mindset, and heart set framework, reframing mindset as “mind flex”—the belief that our minds are not fixed, but adaptable through intentional habits. He defines high performance as consistently exceeding norms while maintaining healthy relationships and wellbeing, challenging the traditional “win at all costs” mentality.

James also dives into belief systems, daily reflection habits, storytelling as a trust-building tool, and the importance of radical clarity around what success actually looks like. This episode is packed with practical wisdom for anyone looking to perform at a higher level without sacrificing authenticity or wellbeing.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• High performance requires three pillars: skillset, mind flex, and heart set.
• Vulnerability is a leadership strength that builds trust and connection.
• True high performance includes wellbeing and healthy relationships.
• Beliefs drive attitudes, which shape behaviors and results.

HIGHLIGHT QUOTES

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Explore the secrets of heart-centered leadership and thriving workplace cultures with Culture from the Heart Podcast! Nominate a visionary CEO at www.culturefromtheheart.com!

Listen to Larry Levine’s Bestselling Book: Selling in a Post-Trust World! Now available on Audible! Transform your sales approach with insights that matter.

Subscribe to The Selling from the Heart Podcast Youtube Channel! Stay updated with the latest episodes and leadership tips: Selling from the Heart YouTube

Get Your Daily Dose of Inspiration:
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Ben Ortlip is a culture architect, strategist, and bestselling author who helps organizations turn workplace culture into measurable business success. As the founder of The Culture MRI®, Ben created a data-driven system that assesses and improves employee engagement and organizational performance—transforming culture from a “soft” concept into a strategic advantage.

Ben has worked with leading brands such as UPS, Delta, Salesforce, and Chick-fil-A, bringing decades of research and real-world insight into what truly motivates people at work. He is the author of Culture Is the New Leadership and Be the Sale, and a sought-after speaker on how human-centered culture drives performance, retention, and long-term profitability.

SHOW SUMMARY

In this episode of the Selling from the Heart Podcast, Larry Levine and Darrell Amy are joined by Ben Ortlip to explore what it truly means to “be the sale.” Ben explains that authentic selling is rooted in alignment, where both buyer and seller objectives are served through trust, not pressure.

Drawing from workplace psychology and culture research, Ben shares how today’s buyers are driven by autonomy, purpose, and connection. He introduces three core human needs, craft, cause, and community, and explains how sales professionals can become “magnetic” by mastering their expertise, championing their client’s mission, and building meaningful relationships.

This conversation challenges transactional selling and replaces it with a values-driven approach that fosters long-term trust, loyalty, and business success.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Trust significantly increases the likelihood of successful sales outcomes.
• Mastering your craft builds credibility and positions you as a true expert.
• Align with your prospect’s cause—focus on their mission, not your quota.
• Building community strengthens relationships and deepens trust.

HIGHLIGHT QUOTES

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Explore the secrets of heart-centered leadership and thriving workplace cultures with Culture from the Heart Podcast! Nominate a visionary CEO at www.culturefromtheheart.com!

Listen to Larry Levine’s Bestselling Book: Selling in a Post-Trust World! Now available on Audible! Transform your sales approach with insights that matter.

Subscribe to The Selling from the Heart Podcast Youtube Channel! Stay updated with the latest episodes and leadership tips: Selling from the Heart YouTube

Get Your Daily Dose of Inspiration:
Click Here for Your Daily Dose

Sheri Jacobs is an innovation keynote speaker, researcher, and CEO who helps organizations embrace change, spark innovation, and build smart risk-taking cultures. As founder of Avenue M Group, she has led research across more than a million data points, guiding leaders across industries, from healthcare to technology, on how to empower teams and drive sustainable growth.

A three-time bestselling author, including The Unexpected Power of Boundaries, Sheri blends data, strategy, and real-world insight to help leaders turn bold ideas into action. With over 300 keynotes and workshops delivered worldwide, she is known for making complex challenges practical, actionable, and inspiring. Outside of her professional work, Sheri is a marathoner, board leader, and wildlife photographer, bringing curiosity and clarity into everything she does.

SHOW SUMMARY

In this episode of the Selling from the Heart Podcast, Larry Levine and Darrell Amy are joined by Sheri Jacobs to explore why boundaries are not limiting—they are liberating in sales and leadership. Sheri shares how clearly defined boundaries create trust, safety, and focus while enabling creativity and smarter risk-taking.

Using powerful analogies, from fenced playgrounds to global marketing campaigns, Sheri explains the importance of defining the “what” (outcomes and constraints) before the “how” (execution). She also connects lessons from wildlife photography to sales, emphasizing patience, preparation, and adapting to changing conditions rather than trying to control outcomes.

The conversation highlights how boundaries improve deal quality, strengthen relationships, and create clarity for both sales professionals and clients. This episode offers practical guidance for setting guardrails that drive better performance, deeper trust, and more meaningful results.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Clear boundaries create trust, safety, and stronger performance.
• Boundaries enable creativity and innovation, they don’t restrict it.
• Define the “what” (outcomes) before the “how” (execution).
• Patience and observation build more trust than rushing the sales process.
• Preparation makes success look effortless.

HIGHLIGHT QUOTES

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Explore the secrets of heart-centered leadership and thriving workplace cultures with Culture from the Heart Podcast! Nominate a visionary CEO at www.culturefromtheheart.com!

Listen to Larry Levine’s Bestselling Book — Selling in a Post-Trust World! Now available on Audible! Transform your sales approach with insights that matter.

SUBSCRIBE to our YOUTUBE CHANNEL! Stay updated with the latest episodes and leadership tips: Selling from the Heart YouTube

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Owen Burns is a trusted advisor to CEOs and executive teams, with decades of leadership experience spanning Fortune 500 companies, Series A startups, and leading management consulting firms. Throughout his career, Owen has guided transformative cultural initiatives, supported IPOs, and delivered strategic impact across some of the world’s most respected organizations.

His work has been featured in Forbes and Entrepreneur Magazine, and he is widely recognized for helping leaders build high-trust relationships that drive meaningful results. Owen is the author of The Power of Love and The Love Switch, where he explores how courage, care, and authentic connection transform leadership and business outcomes.

SHOW SUMMARY

In this episode of the Selling from the Heart Podcast, Larry Levine and Darrell Amy are joined by Owen Burns to explore the powerful role that love, defined as courage, care, and authenticity, plays in sales and leadership. Owen explains that “selling from the heart” means having the courage to genuinely care for others, even when outcomes are uncertain.

He challenges the common belief that the opposite of love is hate, arguing instead that fear is the real barrier preventing people from building meaningful relationships and taking action. Owen introduces his relationship frameworks, Seven to Heaven and Five to Thrive, which help leaders and sales professionals build, strengthen, and sustain trust-based relationships.

The conversation also highlights the Love Switch, a practical technique for responding with intention rather than reacting from fear. By recognizing fear and reframing interactions with empathy and clarity, sales professionals can foster deeper engagement, healthier conversations, and stronger long-term business relationships.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Courage to care is the foundation of authentic selling and leadership.
• Fear, not hate, is the primary barrier that prevents meaningful conversations and relationships.
• The Seven to Heaven framework builds trust through truth, desire, courageous communication, humility, equality, commitment, and intimacy.
• The Five to Thrive principles sustain relationships through inspiration, patience, kindness, forgiveness, and celebration.
• The Love Switch process helps professionals respond intentionally rather than reacting from fear.
• Accountability grounded in care creates growth and stronger relationships.
• Loneliness and disconnection impact workplace performance and employee well-being.
• Trust-centered leadership unlocks deeper engagement and stronger results.

HIGHLIGHT QUOTES

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Explore the secrets of heart-centered leadership and thriving workplace cultures with Culture from the Heart Podcast! Nominate a visionary CEO at www.culturefromtheheart.com!

Listen to Larry Levine’s Bestselling Book — Selling in a Post-Trust World! Now available on Audible! Transform your sales approach with insights that matter.

SUBSCRIBE to our YOUTUBE CHANNEL! Stay updated with the latest episodes and leadership tips: Selling from the Heart YouTube

et Your Daily Dose of Inspiration:
Click Here for Your Daily Dose