Nate Bruns had the identity every small-town Midwest kid dreams of — state champion in football and basketball, all-conference at Findlay, top-five in program scoring history. Then two things stripped it all away: losing his best friend and teammate Ty Mescher his junior year, and getting shot twice in a random Columbus shooting two years later — one bullet two inches from costing him his leg. This episode is about what's left when the identity you built your whole life around gets taken from you, and what Nate found underneath it. Straight line to "Remember Who You Are" — and a direct challenge to leaders on why faith at work isn't a liability, it's an advantage for attracting the next generation.

0:51 – Welcome Nate, his athletic résumé at Marion Local and Findlay

3:00 – Junior year peak — academically, spiritually, on the court

5:00 – Losing Ty Mesher, what real leadership through energy looks like

10:00 – You don't have to be the loud one to lead — lead yourself first

14:00 – Senior year drift, questioning faith, "why would this happen to a great guy"

17:00 – Coach Ernst's leadership conversation — adapting style, not identity

25:00 – 2024 — the leadership shift starts to take root

27:00 – The shooting in Columbus — what actually happened

32:00 – Recovery, the infection scare, three weeks of surgeries

38:00 – Leaning into faith — the Romans 5:3-5 "God wink" moment

44:00 – Identity — athlete vs. who God made him to be

48:00 – Starting the Watch Men’s Group with Alex Kanapke

53:00 – Choosing your associations — the roommates story

57:00 – Closing challenge: faith at work is an advantage, not a risk

Phil talks with Gary Lipske about entrepreneurship, leadership, and how to build real momentum by staying focused on one priority at a time. Gary shares how his early hustle, business experiments, and work across real estate, youth leadership, and creative projects all come back to the same core skill set: solving problems, creating value, and leading people well. They also dig into courage, mentorship, and why strong teams need ownership, clear communication, and genuine connection. Gary explains how those ideas shaped his work with thousands of K through 12 students and how they continue to guide his real estate leadership today.

03:34 - Why Gary focuses on one business at a time

05:57 - Finding the courage to leave safety behind

13:33 - How Gary got into youth leadership work

20:48 - Gary’s leadership philosophy in real estate and with staff

23:58 - Why communicating the “why” changes team performance

27:59 - People want to feel accepted, appreciated, and valued

30:12 - Building the right team so each person can play to strengths

31:12 - How Gary decides what to focus on next

32:43 - Creating win-win outcomes in real estate

34:33 - Crucial Conversations and the value of hard discussions

35:20 - Why he’s optimistic about multifamily real estate

36:09 - Where to learn more about Gary and his work

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Phil Moeller talks with Chuck Huggins, Chief Growth Officer at Aileron, about the hidden burden many business owners carry: overwhelm, loneliness, and the tendency to hold onto too much. Chuck shares how Aileron helps owners shift from telling to asking, build stronger leadership teams, and create businesses that can function without the founder being present every day. The conversation also explores Aileron’s broader mission to improve quality of life through professionally managed organizations, plus the ripple effect that leadership has on employees, families, and communities.

00:00 "Business owners often feel overwhelmed and lonely."

10:42 "Effective delegation is crucial for growth."

16:43 "Leadership supercharges business fundamentals."

18:22 "Aileron provides a supportive community."

25:33 "Self-leadership is essential for positive influence."

27:43 "Asking questions is more influential than telling."

37:46 "The ripple effect of leadership impacts families."

38:15 "I get to go to work."

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