Ep. 107 Tom Wardach - Actor and Producer

Ep. 107 Tom Wardach - Actor and Producer

Thomas Metelski

Show Notes

What do our decisions tell us about our core values?

On this episode of The Value of Values, Tom Wardach discusses how his career and life have taken him through politics, technology, consulting, acting, writing and producing.

Tom identifies integrity as one of his core values, along with a strong desire to help and mentor others. As we explore those values, the conversation moves through some of the experiences and people that have influenced him along the way.

We talk about his unexpected entry into Philadelphia politics at 18, building a career in technology and consulting, and eventually deciding—at nearly 50—to pursue a longtime interest in acting.

Tom also shares how acting training forced him to look inward, break down some of the corporate persona he had developed, and think differently about vulnerability, empathy, communication and relationships.

And throughout the conversation, we keep coming back to decisions: the opportunities we pursue, the people we listen to, where we choose to put our time and energy, and the impact those choices can have on where we ultimately end up.

Tom puts it simply: “Every single moment of every day is nothing more than a series of choices.”

Ep. 106 Aaron Price, CEO TechUnited

Ep.106 Aaron Price, CEO TechUnited

Thomas Metelski

Show Notes

What happens when core values move beyond words and start influencing how you actually build, lead and execute?

In this episode of The Value of Values, I talk with Aaron Price, CEO of TechUnited:NJ and Founder and Managing Director of BetterFutureLabs, to explore a career that began in tech entrepreneurship and eventually grew into building communities, creating Propelify, leading TechUnited:NJ and launching new ventures.

Aaron identifies three values at the center of TechUnited — accountability, ambition and fun — and our conversation explores what those values actually look like when they're lived.

Accountability becomes focus, discipline and follow-through. Ambition becomes a willingness to imagine the “why not?” instead of simply accepting the “why.” And fun becomes a reminder that the people we work with — and the experience of doing the work itself — matter.

We also explore entrepreneurship, determination, community, the rapidly changing role of AI, and an idea that may be increasingly important in a transactional world: give before you ask.

In this conversation, we explore:

• How Aaron's entrepreneurial career evolved into building communities

• Accountability, ambition and fun as operating values

• Why focus and discipline can be expressions of values

• The relationship between founders and organizational values

• Determination and the entrepreneurial ability to find a way through

• Balancing conviction with listening to the market

• Why businesses increasingly need to become AI-enabled

• Using AI for leverage rather than simply experimentation

• Why surrounding yourself with smart people can improve decision-making

• The power of asking “How can I help?” before asking for something in return

• How values ultimately show up in behavior, execution and results

Ep. 105 Gary Gregory, Author

Ep. 105 Gary Gregory

Thomas Metelski

Show Notes Summary

I've spent years studying, exploring and working with core values, and the more time I spend with the subject, the more I appreciate the perspectives that emerge when we create space for thoughtful conversation.

In this episode, Gary Gregory joins me for a wide-ranging discussion about values—how we understand them, how they move beyond words, and how they ultimately show up in our lives, our leadership and our organizations.

We explore the difference between simply stating values and actually embedding them into behavior. What happens when values exist on a website or a wall but aren't reflected in the everyday experience of the people inside an organization? And what role do our individual values play alongside the values of the organizations we choose to join?

We also explore the changing nature of work. As technology and AI assume more routine tasks, the human side of organizations may become increasingly important: relationships, judgment, development, leadership and the ability to bring something uniquely human to the work. And that raises another important question—are organizations continuing to develop the people who will become their next generation of leaders?

Eventually, the conversation becomes more personal as we talk about family, the people who influence us, responsibility, guardrails and legacy. Gary describes wanting his children to build upon what came before them—so that his “ceiling becomes their floor.”

We cover a lot of ground, and we don't approach every idea from exactly the same place. That's one of the things I value about conversations like this.

Different perspectives don't have to become debates. When they're met with curiosity, openness and mutual respect, they can create room for richer questions—and perhaps a deeper understanding of something as fundamental as the values that influence how we live and lead.

In this episode, we explore:

• Moving values beyond words and into behavior

• Personal values and organizational values

• The relationship between individual identity and organizational culture

• Why organizations need individuality as well as alignment

• The human side of leadership and work

• AI and the changing workplace

• Developing the next generation of organizational talent

• Building and maintaining a leadership bench

• Reflection, awareness and intentional behavior

• Values as guardrails—and whether boundaries can actually create freedom

• The influence of family and the people around us

• Responsibility and legacy

• The value of bringing different perspectives into the same conversation

Ep. 104 Penny Carlton, Keuka Roots

Ep. 104 Penny Carlton, Keuka Roots

Thomas Metelski

Show Notes Summary

Sometimes a conversation about a place becomes a conversation about something much bigger.

Penny Carlton started Keuka Roots as a simple blog about the people, places and history surrounding Keuka Lake. But as she began writing from the heart, something changed. People connected with the stories — including people who had never lived in the region.

And maybe that's because this conversation isn't really just about Keuka.

It's about roots.

It's about understanding the stories of the places we call home. It's about slowing down enough to notice the people around us. And it's about values that can sound almost old-fashioned today — kindness, respect, dignity, faith, family and simply being a good neighbor.

Penny shares a childhood story about her grandfather that shaped how she sees human dignity, the lessons she learned from people experiencing homelessness while making a documentary in Nashville, and why she sees younger generations searching for something simpler and more connected.

We also talk about history, storytelling, authenticity, faith, and the realization that perhaps our greatest opportunity to influence the world isn't somewhere far away.

Maybe it's right next door.

In this episode, we explore:

• How Keuka Roots grew from a simple blog into something Penny believes has a much larger purpose.

• Why storytelling can connect us to a place, its history and one another.

• The childhood experience that shaped Penny's understanding of kindness, respect and human dignity.

• Why Penny believes we've lost something by no longer truly being neighbors.

• The surprising history that even lifelong residents may not know about the places around them.

• Why Penny sees younger generations searching for simpler lives and reconnecting with their roots.

• The importance of authenticity as Keuka Roots continues to grow.

• What Penny learned about accountability and faith from the people she met while documenting homelessness.

• Why meaningful change may begin with everyday conversations — and the person living next door.

Guest: Penny Carlton, Founder, Keuka Roots™
Explore Penny's work: Keuka Roots™

Ep. 103 Bryan Williams, Squirrel Solutions

Ep. 103 Bryan Williams Squirrel Solutions

Thomas Metelski

Show Notes

This conversation with Bryan Willimas of Squirrel Solutions explores what happens when values stop being words on a wall and become standards we choose to live under.

Bryan shares the six core values that have emerged through marriage, parenting, entrepreneurship, and years of intentional reflection. Rather than describing values as aspirational labels, he argues they should function as a "north star"—guiding decisions at work, at home, and everywhere in between.

We also explore why organizations struggle with values, why single-word values often fail to change behavior, and why meaningful conversations begin only after we define what those words actually mean. Communication, integrity, presence, kindness—all of them require shared understanding before they can become shared practice.

If you're a leader, parent, entrepreneur, or simply someone trying to live more intentionally, this conversation offers a thoughtful reminder:

Your values aren't what you write down.

They're what the people closest to you experience.

In this episode we explore:

• Why core values should serve as a "north star," not a checklist.

• The six values Bryan intentionally lives by:

  • Be a Good Neighbor

  • Be Meaningfully Present

  • Know Your Why

  • Never Stop Growing

  • Keep Your Word

  • Follow the Truth.

• Why personal values and professional values shouldn't be different.

• How children often become our greatest leadership coaches.

• The difference between standing over truth and standing under it.

• Why one-word values often fail inside organizations.

• How defining what a value actually means creates stronger teams and better relationships.

• The role legacy, self-reflection, and intentional living play in leadership.

Ep. 102 Woody Woodward, Chief Coaching Officer, BetterUp

Ep. 102 Dr. Woody Woodward, Chief Coaching Officer BetterUp

Thomas Metelski

In this episode of The Value of Values, I sit down with Dr. Woody Woodward, Chief Coaching Officer at BetterUp, for a thoughtful conversation about values, leadership, coaching, and what it means to lead in an increasingly complex world.

We explore why values matter most when circumstances are uncertain, how leaders can identify the values they truly live—not just the ones they aspire to—and why clarity around those values creates trust, consistency, and confidence in those we lead.

Woody shares the values discovery process he has used with leaders, executives, and coaching students for years, along with insights from his own journey. We discuss relationships, achievement, playfulness, craftsmanship, coaching, and the importance of continually examining ourselves as leaders and human beings.

We also explore the impact of AI on the workplace, the growing need for reflection in a reactive world, and why the future of leadership may depend as much on self-awareness and values as it does on strategy and technology.

Some conversations leave you with answers. This one leaves you with better questions.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why values become critical when leaders face uncertainty
• How to distinguish aspirational values from lived values
• The four-part litmus test for identifying what you truly value
• Why values create trust and predictability in leadership
• How values evolve through life experiences and major transitions
• The concept of values congruence and its impact on work and life
• Why relationships remain foundational to leadership effectiveness
• The role of playfulness, humor, and balance in leadership
• The growing importance of reflection in a fast-moving AI-driven world
• The science and craft of coaching
• Lessons from Stoicism, self-awareness, and examining our assumptions
• Why improving the human experience of work remains an enduring leadership challenge

Ep. 101 Mike Halpern, Ocean City Winery

Ep. 101 Mike Halpern Ocean City Winery

Thomas Metelski

This conversation explores what happens when a lifetime of business, engineering, public service, and problem-solving gets poured back into the land. Mike Halpern from Ocean City Winery in New Jersey shares the realities of building a winery from the ground up in New Jersey — not from a romantic fantasy, but from persistence, adaptability, spreadsheets, family, and a willingness to keep pivoting when conditions change.

What stood out to me was how much leadership showed up in unexpected places: volunteer firefighting, parenting, agriculture, customer conversations, and even rebuilding vineyards after deer damage and litigation. This wasn’t just a conversation about wine. It was a conversation about awareness, resilience, honesty, and learning how to respond when life changes the conditions around you.

There’s also something deeply human in hearing someone who has traveled the world, worked at high levels in business, and still finds peace sitting alone in a tractor spraying vines for six hours.

This episode explores:

• How problem-solving frameworks from firefighting shaped Mike’s leadership style

• Why adaptability and “pivoting” are essential in both business and farming

• The hidden realities and economics behind running a winery

• The importance of honesty, fairness, hard work, and empathy in leadership

• What farming taught Mike’s children about responsibility and discipline

• Why customer listening matters more than ego in product development

• The differences between growing grapes on opposite coasts of New Jersey

• The emotional connection between terroir, labor, and what ends up in the bottle

• Why great businesses require both passion and financial awareness

• The value of staying connected to local agriculture, local people, and local stories

Ep. 100 Tim Harrison, Global Expert on AI in Coaching

Ep. 100 Tim Harrison, Global Expert on AI in Coaching

Thomas Metelski

Tim Harrison isn't someone who stumbled into purpose — he excavated it. From a Division I basketball career that ended with a torn meniscus and a hard pivot, to turning down a dream job at Accenture because Howard Thurman's words hit him like a two-by-four — what makes you come alive? — Tim has been doing the harder, slower, more deliberate work of building a life around three C's: Contribution, Cultivation, Connection.

This conversation moves from a heckler in a 400-person room, to a Christmas Eve discovery of ChatGPT, to a nonprofit that raised six-figure support out of public conflict. But what's underneath all of it is something Tim calls simply: who we are is how we prompt. The technology changes. The question of who's operating it doesn't. That's the thread this episode pulls on — and it doesn't let go.

Ep. 099 Prince Johnson, 2026 New York State Teacher of the Year

Ep. 099 Prince Johnson, 2026 NYS Teacher of the Year

Thomas Metelski

Show Notes

There’s something powerful about hearing someone talk about education not as a system… but as a responsibility.

In this conversation with 2026 New York State Teacher of the Year Prince Johnson, we explore what happens when teaching becomes bigger than curriculum, testing, or even the classroom itself. What started as a conversation about an award quickly became a deeper discussion about vocational education, sustainability, identity, leadership, and the spaces “between systems” where real transformation often happens.

Prince shares his path from pre-med student to teacher, from working at Rikers Island to advocating for career and technical education, and how food, history, culture, and sustainability can intersect in ways that make students feel seen. This conversation challenged me to think differently about leadership — noticing students, employees, or people who are quietly blending into the wall… and deciding not to let them disappear. Leadership should start in the classroom, not the boardroom!

What This Episode Explores

• The intense process behind becoming New York State Teacher of the Year

• Why leadership often begins with self-reflection and identity

• The hidden inequities inside education and workforce development

• How career and technical education can restore dignity and opportunity

• The connection between sustainability, systems thinking, and leadership

• Why some students thrive outside traditional academic models

• The importance of meeting people where they are

• How food, culture, and history can create deeper engagement in learning

• The “spaces between systems” where innovation often happens

• The difference between teaching information and inspiring action

Ep. 098 Tom Bergeron, Owner/Editor BINJE

Ep. 098 Tom Bergeron Owner and Editor BINJE.com

Thomas Metelski

Show Notes

There was something grounding about this conversation with Tom Bergeron, the owner/editor of BINJE.com - Business in New Jersey Everyday news site.

Not just in what was said—but in how it was said.

We explored leadership through a lens that doesn’t get enough attention:
character under repetition.

When you’re doing something over and over again—interview after interview, decision after decision—it becomes easy to move fast, to treat interactions as routine.

But for the person on the other side…that moment might matter more than you realize.

That tension—between volume and presence—kept surfacing.

And underneath it, a deeper truth:
Leadership isn’t about control. It’s about creating the conditions for others to operate.

Whether it’s journalism, business, or building something new…
the leaders who scale are the ones who trust, let go, and stay anchored in character.

What this episode explores

• The role of character, integrity, and honesty in high-volume decision environments

• Why each interaction matters more to the other person than it does to you

• The evolution of media—and what it reveals about trust and credibility today

• Why attention spans aren’t shrinking—choice is expanding

• Leadership as setting direction, then letting people operate

• The danger of micromanagement and over-structure in scaling organizations

• How strong leaders create environments where people can try, fail, and succeed

• Why culture fit and values alignment outweigh raw talent

• A reframing of “job hopping” as a search for alignment, not instability

• How treating interns (and early talent) reflects the true culture of an organization

• Why business journalism—and business itself—is ultimately about relationships and connection

Ep. 097 Nova Cadamatre Master of Wine

Ep. 097 - Nova Cadamatre, Master of Wine

Thomas Metelski

Show Notes

There’s a difference between saying you value quality… and building something where every single decision reflects it.

This conversation with Nova Cadamatre, a Master of Wine (MW) is a masterclass in intentional leadership. Not loud. Not performative. But deeply considered down to the bottle, the cork, the label, and the long-term strategy behind a business most people would assume is driven by tradition alone.

What stood out to me wasn’t just the commitment to quality or creativity—it was the discipline behind it. The willingness to say no. The ability to pause and think. And the courage to keep going when shutting it down would’ve been completely reasonable.

There’s a thread running through this entire conversation:
👉 Leadership isn’t just about doing more.
👉 It’s about knowing when to stop, reflect, and decide what actually matters.

And when that clarity shows up… everything changes.

What this episode explores:

• The difference between authentic brands vs. “marketing brands”

• How quality as a core value shows up in real decisions—not just words

• The role of intentional design and subconscious consumer psychology

• Why being experimental and “edgy” requires discipline, not chaos

• The power of “think time” in leadership and decision-making

• How reflection drives clarity, energy, and better decisions

• A defining leadership moment during 2020 disruption—shut down vs. go all in

• What it means to ride the “winds of change” instead of resisting them

• The importance of focus, saying no, and protecting core competency

• How growth without discipline leads to brand dilution and strategic drift

Ep. 096 - Mike Renna - CEO SJI

Ep. 096 - Mike Renna, CEO SJI

Thomas Metelski

Show Summary

There’s a certain kind of leadership you don’t have to explain. You can feel it.

In this conversation with Mike Renna, the CEO of SJI, what stood out wasn’t just what was said about values—but how consistently those values showed up in decisions, culture, and outcomes over time.

Integrity. Authenticity. Humility.

Not as words—but as operating principles.

We explored what it actually takes to build a culture where people trust leadership…where innovation is expected…where change is embraced…where people genuinely want to explore their career - where ever that takes them.

What this episode explores:

• How early life experiences shape leadership values and decision-making

• Why integrity isn’t optional if you want real leadership

• The connection between authenticity and trust in leadership curation

• What it takes to build a culture people don’t want to leave

• How values show up in moments of change and uncertainty

• Why innovation is often a byproduct of culture—not a mandate

• The difference between developing people vs. trying to replicate yourself

• How organizations sustain culture over decades—not just define it once

• The role of inclusion, safety, and service as lived—not stated—values

• Why leadership is learned…not inherited

Ep. 095 - Tamer El-Ashmawy - Executive Leader

Ep. 095 Tamer El-Ashmawy Executive Leader

Thomas Metelski

Show Notes

There’s something interesting that happens when you step into conversations with leaders from very different environments.

Different countries. Different industries. Different lived experiences.

And yet… when the conversation gets real—when it moves from strategy to decisions—you start to hear similar questions underneath it all.

In this conversation, Tamer El-Ashmawy brings that to life through his own journey. From the stillness of the desert to the complexity of global business, he shares how clarity isn’t something you force—it’s something you create space for.

But what stood out most wasn’t where he’s worked… it’s how he thinks. The discipline of asking hard questions. The refusal to separate who you are from how you lead. And the belief that values aren’t something you talk about—they’re something you’re tested on.

Not as a theory. Just as something that seems to show up… again and again.

Episode Themes

• Why leaders often find clarity only after stepping away from the noise

• The role of self-questioning in building real self-awareness

• Values as a practical filter for decisions—not a philosophical exercise

• The difference between achieving results and sustaining a team

• Why leadership is defined by how you do things, not just what you achieve

• Patterns that emerge across different environments when decisions get real

• Learning leadership not just from executives—but from everyday interactions

Ep. 094 Rick Rainey, Managing Partner - Forge Cellars

Ep. 094 Rick Rainey, Managing Partner Forge Cellars

Thomas Metelski

🎙 Show Notes

This conversation goes deep into the reality behind doing something meaningful — the grind, the cost, the authenticity, and the quiet satisfaction that keeps people in it. Rick Rainey from Forge Cellars talks candidly about building a winery, balancing optimism with hard reality, learning to live with uncertainty, and why “following the path” sometimes means jumping without a plan.

It’s not just about wine. It’s about the mindset that sits behind craftsmanship, entrepreneurship, and staying human in a world that increasingly feels transactional. We talk about resilience, authenticity, discomfort, craft, family, and why the most meaningful work rarely comes easy.

What the episode explores

• The hard truth behind entrepreneurship: not the highlight reel, but the grind

• Why authenticity is not a buzzword — it’s a lived cost

• Hyper-realism as a survival skill in small business

• Discomfort, pain, and growth — the real ingredients of evolution

• How values shape decisions under pressure

• Why small producers are creating meaning that mass scale cannot replicate

• Family, legacy, and the impact of modeling values for the next generation

• The emotional connection between craft, land, people, and purpose

Ep. 093 Rudy Racine, Author and founder of HireLearners

Ep. 093 Rudy Racine Author and founder of HireLearners

Thomas Metelski

Show Summary

There’s something off in the way we talk about work.

We say we value people.
We say connection matters.
But when pressure shows up — deadlines, budgets, layoffs — those words get tested.

In this conversation with Rudy Racine, we don’t stay at the surface.
We get into what leadership actually looks like when it’s lived… not just stated.

From early career moments that stick with you forever… to the quiet, almost invisible behaviors that build trust (or destroy it)… this one is about the gap between what we say matters — and how we actually show up.

Because sometimes… it’s not the big decisions that define you.
It’s the small, consistent ones no one’s measuring.

Episode Themes

• Listening as a leadership skill — and why most leaders struggle with it

• Burnout as a symptom… not the root issue

• The difference between motivation and inspiration in leadership

• How small, intentional gestures create lasting impact

• Values alignment (or misalignment) as a driver of retention and performance

Ep. 092 Steve Sargent, C12 Chair and Executive Coach (and all-around great guy)

Ep. 092 - Steve Sargent, C12 Chair, Executive Coach

Thomas Metelski

Show Summary

This conversation goes deeper than “values matter.”

It gets into the uncomfortable truth: most organizations say they have values… but don’t actually use them. And when that happens, culture drifts, decisions get fragmented, and people disconnect from their work.

Steve Sargent brings a grounded, real-world lens to what values actually look like in practice — not as words on a wall, but as filters for hiring, decision-making, and how people experience the business every day.

We explore the gap between personal values and organizational values, the role of awareness, and why most leaders skip the foundational work in favor of what feels more urgent.

Because the reality is simple — if values aren’t lived, something else is driving your decisions.

What This Episode Explores

• Why core values are the foundation of business success — not an accessory

• The danger of values being “just words” (and why most companies fall into this trap)

• What a toxic culture looks like when values aren’t integrated

• Why values must be modeled at the top of leadership or they fail

• Hiring through values: attracting the right people and repelling the wrong ones

• The difference between personal values vs. organizational values — and why they shouldn’t be identical

• How lack of awareness creates misalignment inside leadership teams

• The idea of two P&Ls: profit & loss vs. people & legacy

• Why most leaders skip the “unsexy” foundational work — and pay for it later

• How values directly impact employee experience → customer experience → business performance

Ep. 091 James Ferguson - Speaker, Author and FATHER

Ep. 091 James Ferguson - Speaker, Author and Father

Thomas Metelski

🎙️ Show Summary

There’s a difference between saying you have values… and finding out if they actually hold when everything breaks.

This conversation with James Ferguson goes there. Not conceptually—personally. What happens when life compresses everything at once: diagnosis, loss, uncertainty… and you don’t get to prepare. What shows up in that moment isn’t theory. It’s who you are.

What emerged here isn’t just resilience—it’s clarity. A lived understanding that values aren’t promises. They’re practices. And if you’re not living them when it’s hard, you don’t actually have them.

Episode Themes

• Values are not declared—they’re revealed under pressure

• Perspective isn’t mindset fluff—it’s a daily decision under stress

• Hardship doesn’t build character—it exposes it

• Culture doesn’t come from posters—it comes from practiced behaviors

• Feedback only works if your ego doesn’t block it

• Legacy becomes real the moment life feels fragile

• Leadership starts when you stop waiting for permission to live your values

Ep. 090 Diane Wasser - Managing Partner EisnerAmper NJ

Ep. 090 Diane Wasser EisnerAmper Managing Partner

Thomas Metelski

Show Summary

There’s something about leadership that doesn’t show up on a LinkedIn profile.

It shows up in how you respond.
In how you treat people when things are uncertain.
In whether your values are actually present when they’re tested.

In this conversation with Diane Wasser, Managing Partner EisnerAmper NJ, we explore what it really means to lead through values—especially when the environment is anything but predictable. From stepping into leadership just weeks before the world shut down…to navigating the everyday realities of people, pressure, and responsibility…this is a grounded look at leadership in motion.

What stands out most is the simplicity of it. Not easy—but simple.

Remember who you are.
Treat people like they matter.
And don’t lose your compass in the noise.

What this episode explores:

• Why leadership is revealed in moments of uncertainty

• The difference between becoming a partner and becoming a leader

• How reacting to “small things” defines trust and credibility

• Integrity as a lived expectation—not just a professional requirement

• Why the accounting profession is built on trust at its core

• The evolving expectations of younger professionals around values and community

• “Everybody matters” as a foundational leadership principle

• The role of family in shaping leadership identity

• The concept of a “moral compass” in decision-making

• Practicing grace and charitable assumption in everyday interactions

Ep. 089 Loraimy Kendall, Executive Director Dress for Success Northern NJ

Ep. 089 Loraimy Kendall, Executive Director Dress For Success, Northern NJ

Thomas Metelski

Show Notes

It’s not about perfectly naming values or going through an exercise—it’s about how life reveals them to you when you least expect them to. Loss. Parenting. Anxiety. Identity. And somewhere in all of that…you either drift or you start to choose how you live.

What stood out to me is how naturally Loraimy has done the work. She hasn’t sat in a formal “values workshop,” but she’s living it—day in and day out. Making decisions rooted in family, joy, presence, and protecting her peace.

There’s a quiet discipline in the way she approaches life. Not avoiding hardship—but reframing it. Not ignoring emotions—but working through them. Not chasing everything—but choosing what actually aligns.

This conversation is a reminder of something simple—and hard:
You don’t find your values in theory. You find them in how you respond when life hits.

What This Episode Explores

• How major life events (loss, parenthood) shape personal values

• The shift from living for others → living in alignment with yourself

• What it really means to “protect your peace”

• Anxiety, panic, and learning to reprogram your response

• Parenting through values vs. control

• The idea of giving children a foundation—not a script

• Living in the present vs. dwelling in past or future

• Finding purpose through service and meaningful work

• The tension between strict beliefs and balance

• How self-awareness develops without formal “values work”

Ep. 088 Bruce Murray, Boundary Breaks Vineyard

Ep. 088 Bruce Murray, Boundary Breaks Vineyards

Thomas Metelski

Show Notes

There’s something powerful that happens when someone steps into alignment with who they are. Not in theory—but in real life.

This conversation with Bruce is exactly that. A journey from the business world—where numbers, pressure, and sometimes questionable decisions dominate—to something far more grounded. Something human.

What struck me most wasn’t just his transition into winemaking. It was why he made it. The friction he felt. The realization that he wasn’t where he was supposed to be. And the courage to build something that actually reflected his values—even if it would take 40 or 50 years to fully realize.

We also explore something deeper happening in the Finger Lakes. Not just wine—but culture. A shared mindset rooted in collaboration, humility, and authenticity. A region shaped not by competition, but by people who believed that rising together mattered more than winning alone.

And maybe that’s the point.

Values don’t just live in people. They show up in what we build…what we grow…and even what we pour into a glass.

What this episode explores:

• The hidden cost of values misalignment in corporate life

• Why success without alignment creates long-term friction

• Bruce’s journey from NYC business world to Finger Lakes winemaking

• The collaborative culture that defines the Finger Lakes region

• “Tone at the top” and how it shapes entire communities

• Why authenticity—not scale—defines great wine regions

• The evolution of Cabernet Franc in the Finger Lakes

• How shared learning and experimentation elevate quality across a region

• The role of hospitality and human experience in winemaking

• Why values show up in the final product—whether we see it or not

• Building something that won’t fully mature in your lifetime

• The importance of listening, mentorship, and developing young talent early