You know exactly what you should do. Eat better. Speak up. Ask the question. Start the thing.

And somehow, you still don't do it.

Because it's uncomfortable. Because it's scary. Because it's easier not to.

This week on The LIV Lab, I sit down with Jeff Jonas, an Ironman athlete, CEO of Senzing, former IBM Fellow, and honorary doctorate holder, to talk about what happens when you stop avoiding hard things and start choosing them on purpose.

But his story doesn't start there.

It starts in the back of a car, at 23, unable to breathe.

This episode is part survival story, part comeback story, and part "wait... I could actually do that too?"

In this episode, we explore:

• How a car accident left him temporarily paralyzed, and what he decided in that exact moment
• Why he dropped out of high school to build software, and what happened when it all fell apart
• Going bankrupt, living in his car, and the guarantee he invented to rebuild trust from nothing
• Why he took up rock climbing specifically because he was scared of heights
• How he went from blacking out during public speaking to becoming IBM's highest-rated speaker
• The real reason curiosity matters more than formal education
• What it means to be "signal," and how to actually be remembered
• The three traits he looks for when hiring: ethics, energy, and curiosity

Learn:
Confidence doesn't always come before the hard thing. Sometimes it comes after you decide to do it anyway. Notice one place in your life where you're waiting to feel ready before you start.

Innovate:
Build yourself a small "delivery guarantee." Pick one thing you've promised someone, or promised yourself, and find the smallest, most doable way to actually follow through this week.

Venture:
Ask the question you're embarrassed to ask. In a class, a meeting, a group chat, say "wait, what does that mean?" out loud, just once, this week.

📩 Share your week's LIV! Email me at thelivlabpodcast@gmail.com

Learn more about Jeff Jonas at senzing.com and email him at jeff@senzing.com

We hear a lot about success.

The title.
The promotion.
The company.
The money.

But we hear a lot less about what actually builds it:

The mentor who believed in you.
The relationship that opened a door.
The risk you took before you felt ready.
The courage to ask for more.

This week on The LIV Lab, Jeff Burgess and Kelly Nagel take over the mic.

Jeff built BCD Video into a $100 million company. Kelly rose to become President of North America at Jabra and now helps others grow through executive coaching and leadership at The WIT Network.

But the real story is that they spent 40 years learning, growing, and succeeding alongside each other.

This episode is full of honest lessons on ambition, mentorship, confidence, and building a meaningful career.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why relationships matter more than most people realize
• How to ask for opportunities instead of waiting
• Why mentors can change your path
• How to take risks before you feel ready
• Why curiosity is a superpower
• What legacy really means

The LIV Call to Action

Learn:
Notice who brings out your best and learn from them.

Innovate:
Choose one thing you've been wanting and say it out loud.

Venture:
Start one conversation this week that could change your future.

📩 Share your week's LIV! Email me at thelivlabpodcast@gmail.com

You finally get the thing you wanted… and somehow, it still doesn't feel like enough.

The new gym set. The hoodie. The car. The house. The "this is gonna change everything" purchase.

For a moment, it does feel exciting.
And then… it fades.
And suddenly, you're onto the next thing.

So what's actually going on?

This week on The LIV Lab, I sit down with John Lanza, author of The Art of Allowance and creator of Money Mammals, to talk about money, but not in the way you're used to.

Not just budgets or investing.
But the feeling behind it all.

Because money is more than math.
It's emotional and psychological.

This episode is part mindset shift, part practical tools, and part "wait… why do I do that?"

In this episode, we explore:
• Why buying things doesn't lead to lasting happiness
• The difference between wanting something and actually valuing it
• Why money is more emotional than logical (yes, even for you)
• The 3 core habits: saving, spending, and investing, simplified
• How to stop impulsive spending (without guilt)
• The concept of "paying your future self"
• What financial independence actually means (and why it looks different for everyone)
• Why there is no "perfect" career path, and why that's okay

Learn:
Start noticing your patterns. The next time you want to buy something, pause and ask: Do I actually want this… or do I want how I think it will make me feel?

Innovate:
Create a system that works for you. A one-week waiting rule, a spending cap, or even just a quick "check-in" before purchases. Build a little friction.

Venture:
Make one intentional money decision this week. Skip one impulse buy, or choose something that truly adds value to your life.

📩 Share your week's LIV! Email me at thelivlabpodcast@gmail.com

Learn more about John Lanza at johnlanza.com and themoneymammals.com

Check out his must-read book: The Art of Allowance

What do a maxed-out credit card, a gas station meltdown, and one of the biggest money podcasts in the country have in common?

Joe.

This week on The LIV Lab, I sit down with Joe Saul-Sehy, host of Stacking Benjamins, to talk about the story he doesn't hide: the messy one.

Before the awards.
Before the financial advice.
Before helping millions of people feel confident about money.

There was confusion, and a few (a lot of) questionable decisions. And some very real wake-up calls.

Joe shares how he went from feeling completely out of control to building systems, surrounding himself with the right people, and redefining what "success" actually means.

We talk about money, but we also talk about identity, creativity, leadership, risk, and the difference between security and opportunity.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why making more money doesn't automatically fix anything
• The mindset shift that changed everything
• "Who not how" and why community matters more than we think
• The illusion of security in careers and life
• How creativity became his unexpected superpower
• What money can do, and what it absolutely cannot

Learn:
More money will not fix bad habits. Learn one new system this week. Talk to someone who is good with money, watch something, or read something that stretches you.

Innovate:
It is not about working harder. It is about building better systems. Create one small habit that makes your future easier.

Venture:
Have one uncomfortable but important money conversation. Be honest about where you are at.

📩 Share your week's LIV! Email me at thelivlabpodcast@gmail.com

Learn more about Joe at https://joesaulsehy.com/.

Read his (awesome) book: Stacked: Your Super-Serious Guide to Modern Money Managemen

Listen to his (fantastic) podcast: Stacking Benjamins at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/

What if the problem isn’t your ideas, but just how they’re landing?

You can be smart, prepared, and genuinely onto something… and still watch your message float right past the room. Painful. Confusing. Weirdly common.

In this episode of The LIV Lab, I sit down with Carmine Gallo, who’s spent decades studying why some messages stick—and others quietly disappear, no matter how good they are.

This isn’t about talking louder, adding more slides, or using bigger words. It’s about understanding how humans actually pay attention, why simplicity is so hard (and so powerful), and what storytelling has to do with getting people to lean in—at work, in interviews, and even in your relationships.

We talk about persuasion without the salesy energy, clarity without dumbing things down, and why being “interesting” has very little to do with being flashy. There’s also a reality check on AI, attention spans, and the myth that great communicators are just born that way.

If you’ve ever thought, “I know this makes sense—why isn’t it clicking?” This conversation might finally give that question a shape.

Learn more about Carmine Gallo at carminegallo.com

Check out his new audio original, Viral Voices, when it gets released on February 24, 2026!

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6UyZ3VQrWsCq7tCFOedjkq?si=88cbaeae1e6d4593&nd=1&dlsi=c0b92289942347bc

Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/audiobook/viral-voices/id1746109065?ign-itscg=30200&ign-itsct=books_box_link

Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/Viral-Voices-Audiobook/B0D488T3BV

📩 Share your thoughts:

Carmine talked so much about stories, so I want to hear one of yours. Tell me about a moment that stuck with you—and why it still does. Email me at thelivlabpodcast@gmail.com.

🎧 Listen in—and stay curious.

00:00 Introduction: The Power of Communication

01:21 Meet Carmine Gallo: Communication Expert

02:20 The Importance of Communication Skills

04:00 Misconceptions About Persuasion

06:49 The Role of Storytelling in Communication

19:21 Simplifying Complex Information

25:28 Thinking Like a Movie Director

32:05 Debunking the TikTok Brain Myth

33:33 The Power of Concise Communication

35:31 The Art of Storytelling

37:48 Ethos, Pathos, and Logos in Modern Communication

41:39 Leveraging AI in Communication

49:53 The Importance of Soft Skills

55:35 The Lab Notes

What if you ran your life the way great founders run their companies?

In this episode of The LIV Lab, I feature a blogcast by Jeff Burgess, founder of BCD Video and author of It Worked for Me. Jeff shares ten business principles that helped him build a $100 million company — from trusting your gut to holding yourself accountable.

Throughout the episode, I connect these ideas to everyday life through one central theme: you are your business. Your values shape your culture. Your actions are your product. And your reputation is your brand.

As the new year begins, this episode encourages you to aim high, move forward without waiting for perfect clarity, and build trust through confidence, listening, and integrity.

00:00 Welcome to The LIV Lab

00:24 Introducing Jeff Burgess and His Business Philosophy

01:46 10 Easy Business Rules That Apply to Everyday Life

01:51 The Power of OPFD: Speed, Accountability, and Quality

04:18 10 Business Commandments for Entrepreneurs

05:05 Connecting Business Principles to Personal Life

13:08 Final Thoughts and Reflections

17:47 Lab Notes

When you're standing at a fork in the road, it's tempting to wait for certainty, the "perfect" sign that you're making the right choice. But what if the people who build the most meaningful careers aren't the ones who feel 100% sure... but the ones who learn how to take smart risks without losing their purpose?

In this episode, I sit down with Charles Levin, founder of Mu Avenue Press, novelist, former tech and business leader, and lifelong reinventor, to unpack what it really takes to choose a path when the future isn't guaranteed. Charles shares how he went from studying philosophy and ancient Greek to launching businesses, writing bestselling thrillers, and building a publishing company, and what every pivot taught him about resilience, reinvention, and momentum.

We talk about the 40-70% rule for decision-making (why waiting for 100% certainty can cost you opportunities), what poker taught Charles about calculated risk, and why purpose isn't just a mission statement. It's the people you impact along the way. If you've been stuck trying to pick the "right" option, this conversation will help you move forward with courage, clarity, and a compass.

📩 Share your thoughts:

What's one thing you're 40–70% sure you should try — a project, a class, a leap, a conversation? Commit to it for one week and tell me what you chose. Email me at thelivlabpodcast@gmail.com and follow @thelivlabpodcast on Instagram for more episodes on risk, purpose, and growth.

What if the thing you've spent your whole life trying to hide… is actually the thing that makes you powerful?

In this episode, I talk with Maya Chupkov. She is a podcast host, storyteller, documentary director, and lifelong stutterer. Growing up, Maya's stutter shaped the classes she was placed into, the way adults perceived her, and the confidence she carried into college and her career. But instead of letting it limit her, she learned to see it as a strength.

We talk about how she built a career in communications despite the very thing people told her would hold her back, how she learned to stop hiding and start owning her voice, and why vulnerability became her greatest professional asset. Maya also shares the story behind her successful podcast, Proud Stutter, and the powerful documentary she's directing on stuttering, identity, and generational trauma.

If you are feeling bounded to your challenges, let Maya's story be proof that your struggles don't disqualify you from success. You don't need a perfect voice, a perfect résumé, or a perfect level of confidence to pursue the career you want. You just need the courage to start where you are.

📩 Share your thoughts:

What part of yourself have you been hiding in school or in your career because you think it makes you "less than"? How have you (or how can you) use it as a strength?

Email me at thelivlabpodcast@gmail.com, and follow @thelivlabpodcast on Instagram for more stories on leadership, purpose, and growth.

Learn more about Maya's work and her podcast at proudstutter.com.