Some episodes entertain. This one will change you. Dr. Gregory Fried’s story is not just about surviving 9/11—it's about everything that came after. As the Executive Chief Surgeon for the NYPD, he wasn’t just a witness; he was a first responder standing at the very edge of collapse. What he saw, what he carried, and what he still remembers is etched into every word of this conversation. Let me introduce you to my father-in-law.

Find It Quickly

• 01:15 - Early Career and Becoming a Police Surgeon
• 02:45 - Rising Through the Ranks
• 07:13 - September 11th: The Day That Changed Everything
• 11:48 - Surviving the Collapse
• 20:33 - Escape and Rescue
• 27:00 - Arrival in Jersey City
• 27:15 - Hospital Recovery and Miscommunication
• 29:21 - Transfer to NYU and Initial Challenges
• 30:37 - Return Home and Medical Diagnosis
• 31:26 - Involvement in Recovery Efforts
• 33:46 - Health Concerns and Documentation
• 35:26 - Exposure to Toxic Dust
• 38:10 - Long-term Health Impacts
• 48:26 - Decision to Retire
• 52:02 - Reflections on 9/11 and Its Legacy

Connect with Dr. Greg

• gfriedmd.com
• Life on The Thin Blue Line

What if the key to growing your business was actually less time online? That’s exactly what we’re diving into with today’s guest, Sarah Erickson, the intentional brand designer behind Sarah Ann Design. Sarah helps creatives build unforgettable brands without living on Instagram.

We chat about the systems she uses to stay mostly offline while still booking dream clients, her Pinterest-first strategy that works 24/7, and the magic of personalized client experiences. If you’ve ever felt like visibility equals value, this episode is your loving but firm wake-up call.

3 Key Takeaways:

• The secret to an evergreen marketing strategy that doesn’t rely on social media
• How to build a systems-driven brand experience that speaks for itself
• The mindset shifts that help you resist the scroll and reclaim your time

Find It Quickly

• 00:14 - Meet Sarah Erickson: Intentional Brand Designer
• 01:25 - Collaborating on Templates: A Fun Project
• 03:18 - Assistive Reboot: Getting Out of a Bad Mood
• 05:51 - Running an Online Business While Staying Offline
• 10:38 - Effective Systems for Client Communication and Marketing
• 18:01 - Reclaiming Attention and Time from Social Media
• 21:28 - Promoting Sarah's Courses and Offerings
• 23:43 - System Shutdown: Romanticizing the Boring

Connect with Sarah

• sarahanndesign.co
• Pinning with Purpose
• Pinterest
• shop.sarahanndesign.co

When you think of templates, do you picture robotic emails that suck all the personality out of your client experience? In this episode, we're joined by Colie James, a Disney-loving client experience strategist and host of the Business First Creatives podcast.

Colie shares why templates get such a bad rap (hint: it’s not the template, it’s how people use them), how to infuse your brand personality into even the most automated workflow, and why voice of customer research is your secret weapon for sounding relatable instead of robotic.

From her favorite must-have templates to the genius way she makes her automated emails feel like a high-touch experience, Colie proves that systems don’t have to mean stiff communication. Templates can actually help you be more personal, consistent, and stress-free.

3 Key Takeaways:

• Why templates often feel cold—and how to fix that
• How to capture your authentic voice (hint: start by talking out loud)
• The three templates every creative needs to have on hand

Find It Quickly

• 00:45 - System Reboot: Fun and Personal Questions
• 02:38 - The Power of Templates
• 04:15 - Infusing Personality into Templates
• 11:38 - Essential Templates for Creatives
• 15:50 - Encouragement and Final Thoughts
• 19:00 - Disney's Operational Excellence

Mentioned in this Episode

• Dubsado
• HoneyBook

Connect with Colie

• coliejames.com
• Email Like You Mean It
• Business-First Creatives
• instagram.com/coliejames