In this episode, LinkedIn Top Voice and personal branding strategist Kait LeDonne reveals the real driver of a powerful personal brand—and it’s not viral content, clever hooks, or massive followings.

It’s relationships. Tight ones. Deep ones. Offline ones. And if you understand how to build them, everything else accelerates.

In this conversation, you’ll learn:
• How your offline relationships fuel your online influence
• Why intimacy at scale outperforms traditional “influencer” tactics
• The order of operations for building real authority (relationships → referrals → media → opportunity)
• Why many large accounts can’t sell, and what actually moves people to action
• The future of branding in an age of AI and social fragmentation
• Tactical advice for founders, creators, and leaders building communities

If you want to grow your brand without compromising your values—or your sanity—this episode is a blueprint.

More about Kait LeDonne here: https://kaitledonne.com

In this solo pre-launch update, Matt takes a moment on Thanksgiving to reflect on the early momentum behind The Building Business Relationships Show and share what’s coming next.

You’ll hear:
• The early data on downloads, views, and global reach
• Why this show is needed now more than ever
• How human connection fuels resilience, growth, and adaptability
• Plans for upcoming panel episodes and new show formats
• A new partnership with Podstream Studios in Times Square
• What the pre-launch journey will look like from here

If you're an entrepreneur, entrepreneurial thinker, or someone who believes in the power of great relationships, this episode gives you a clear view of what we’re building—together.

In this pre-launch conversation, Matt Stone talks with Paul Banks about why trust starts at 100%, how video accelerates connection, and why authenticity is the ultimate business differentiator in the AI era.

Connect with Paul Banks:
Web: https://javelincontent.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-banks007/

Full Description

What if trust wasn’t something people had to earn slowly… but something you gave freely from the start?

In this pre-launch episode of The Building Business Relationships Show, Matt Stone speaks with Paul Banks, founder of Javelin Content Management, about the surprising psychology behind trust, the power of storytelling, and why video has become one of the fastest ways to build authentic relationships in today’s AI-driven world.

Paul shares the story of the leader who saw his potential long before he saw it himself, and how that single moment transformed the trajectory of his career. From there, the two dive into the role relationships play in business, why people buy you before they buy your service, and how creators can stand out in a world flooded with content.

These early episodes are part of our pre-launch exploration phase, designed to spark ideas, test concepts, and hear from you about what this show should ultimately become.

💬 Tell us what you think:
What topics do you want more of?
Which guests should we bring in?
Your input helps shape the show.

Go to https://mattstone.co and use the Contact form to send us your thoughts.

🎧 More episodes → https://bbrshow.transistor.fm

📺 Watch the video version → https://youtube.com/@buildbizrelationships

In this pre-launch conversation, Matt Stone talks with Nobantu Mpotulo, a globally recognized Master Certified Coach from South Africa, about how the ancient African wisdom of Ubuntu can transform leadership, deepen connection, and bring more heart into business.

Connect with Nobantu Mpotulo here: https://nobantucoaching.co.za/

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What if leadership started with the heart?

In this pre-launch conversation of The Building Business Relationships Show, Matt Stone sits down with Nobantu Mpotulo — a globally recognized Master Certified Coach, mindfulness teacher, and leadership facilitator — to explore how the ancient African philosophy of Ubuntu can change the way we lead, connect, and build trust in business.

Nobantu shares her powerful story of growing up during apartheid in South Africa, and how those experiences inspired her to dedicate her life to helping people see and hear one another. Together, she and Matt explore what it means to lead with both heart and backbone, how compassion builds high-performing teams, and why business relationships are always human relationships first.

💡 In this episode, you’ll learn:

• What Ubuntu really means — and how it applies in modern organizations
• How to lead with presence, compassion, and accountability
• Why “seeing and hearing others” unlocks trust and innovation
• What leaders can do to humanize performance and connection at work

These early conversations are not the final format of the show — they’re part of the creative pre-launch phase, where we explore what matters most and invite you to help shape the conversations to come.

🎧 Listen, reflect, and send us your thoughts: What topics or guests would you love to see next?

Your feedback helps shape the future of The Building Business Relationships Show.

📍 Follow and Subscribe:
Website: bbrshow.transistor.fm
YouTube: youtube.com/@buildbizrelationships

#Leadership #Ubuntu #BusinessRelationships #MattStone #NobantuMpotulo #HumanCenteredLeadership #Trust #Compassion #Podcast #PreLaunch

What’s the secret link between self-awareness and great relationships? 🌱
Dr. Tasha Eurich joins Matt Stone to explore how understanding yourself transforms how you lead, connect, and grow.

In this pre-launch episode of The Building Business Relationships Show, host Matt Stone sits down with Dr. Tasha Eurich, organizational psychologist, New York Times bestselling author of Insight and Shatterproof, and the world’s leading expert on self-awareness.

Together, they explore:

• How self-awareness impacts every business relationship
• Why “loving critics” are the key to your growth
• The hidden cost of reactivity under stress
• The 3 human needs driving your emotions (confidence, choice, and connection)
• How to lead and build relationships that make you shatterproof

If you’re a founder, entrepreneur, or leader building something big in a chaotic world — this conversation is your reminder that the most powerful relationship you’ll ever manage is the one with yourself.

🎙️ This episode is part of our pre-launch series, where we’re testing ideas, learning from incredible guests, and inviting you to help shape what this show becomes.

🕒 CHAPTERS / TIME MARKERS

0:00 – Welcome & Show Intro
0:45 – Meet Dr. Tasha Eurich: The World’s #1 Self-Awareness Expert
1:30 – The Relationship That Changed Everything (Marshall Goldsmith Story)
3:00 – Lessons from a Great Mentor
4:30 – Overcoming Fear of Self-Promotion
6:00 – The Purpose of Leadership: Making a Positive Difference
7:30 – Loving Critics vs. Cheerleaders
9:00 – How Relationships Improve Self-Awareness
10:30 – The Hidden Danger of Reactivity
12:00 – Understanding the 3 Human Needs: Confidence, Choice & Connection
14:00 – Why Love Belongs in Business
15:00 – What Makes This Show Different — and Why It Matters
16:00 – Closing Reflections & What’s Next

Former trial lawyer turned professor, author, and coach Rick Petry joins host Matt Stone to reveal why the smartest leaders don’t go it alone. From courtroom wins to coaching breakthroughs, Rick shares how one relationship changed his life—and what neuroscience teaches us about sustainable success.

If you’re an entrepreneur, founder, or visionary leader, this conversation will challenge how you think about performance, purpose, and human connection.

Part of The Building Business Relationships Show pre-launch series—where we’re testing ideas, learning from guests, and inviting you to help shape what the show becomes.

More About This Episode:

Too many high achievers sacrifice health, happiness, and relationships chasing success. In this episode, Rick Petry, a former trial lawyer turned law professor and performance coach, joins Matt Stone to unpack the science and soul of leadership.

They discuss:

• How one mentor changed Rick’s entire career trajectory
• Why relationships drive every successful business
• The neuroscience behind trust, burnout, and resilience
• How empathy and connection create a competitive edge
• Why today’s divided world needs better conversations, not louder arguments

💡 Listen to rediscover the human side of success—and how to build relationships that scale sustainably.

What happens when curiosity becomes the bridge between people? Author and global curiosity expert Stefaan van Hooydonk joins host Matt Stone to explore how genuine curiosity transforms relationships, leadership, and organizational culture. From his early career in Hong Kong to founding the Global Curiosity Institute, Stefaan shares powerful insights on humility, trust, and how curiosity fuels collective growth.

Part of The Building Business Relationships Show pre-launch series — where we’re testing ideas, learning from guests, and inviting you to help shape what the show becomes.

Former Hollywood storyteller turned marketing exec Adrian Fulle joins host Matt Stone to explore how powerful business relationships shape careers — and why “writing is rewriting.” From Variety Magazine to the C-suite, Adrian shares lessons on curiosity, creativity, and connection that drive growth in business and life. Part of The Building Business Relationships Show pre-launch series — where we’re testing ideas, learning from guests, and inviting you to help shape the show.