Ep. 078 Greg Kahn - CEO and Angel Investor

In this conversation, Greg and Thomas explore how core values are formed, cultivated, and tested over time — especially as careers evolve, technology accelerates, and the world becomes more interconnected. From growing up in New Jersey to studying and working across France, Los Angeles, and global tech ecosystems, Greg reflects on how education, community, integrity, and curiosity shaped his journey across media, advertising, and deep technology.

The discussion moves beyond résumés and titles into questions that feel increasingly urgent:

How do we embrace rapid change without losing who we are?

What does it mean to remain human-first in an age of AI?

And why does progress depend less on technology itself and more on bringing the right people together around shared purpose?

This is a thoughtful, wide-ranging conversation about values as anchors — not constraints — and why meaningful progress still begins with trust, curiosity, and connection.

This episode explores:

• How core values are formed early in life — and refined through awareness and experience

• The role of education, community, integrity, and work ethic in shaping long-term direction

• The impact of global exposure on perspective, empathy, and leadership

• Navigating non-linear careers across media, advertising, and deep technology

• Curiosity as a driving force behind innovation and career pivots

• The responsibility that comes with emerging technologies like AI

• Why progress happens when trusted people collaborate with purpose

• Holding fast to values while embracing constant change

Ep. 077.5 Daniel Naro - Retired Air Force, deeply human man (Pt. 2)

This is Part 2 of a two-part episode series. As noted, it’s a little different and more personal – its family, even if not by blood.  My guest on this episode is Daniel Naro - a retired Air Force veteran, family man, and deeply thoughtful human — my wife’s cousin.

From conversations at family gatherings to the pod. Our discussion can get deep and I was right to say he would be a great guest!

What unfolds in Part 2 is something deeper.

Part 2 gets more intense and tough – in a good way.  Daniel shares candidly about his transition out of the military, the anger and anxiety that surfaced, and how he began searching for healthier ways to manage pain, trauma, and identity. We also wade into uncomfortable but important territory — responsibility, student debt, work, cannabis, stigma, and why curiosity matters more than judgment.

From there, the conversation turns toward healing — including a thoughtful, stigma-aware discussion around cannabis as a medical and personal tool, not a punchline.

This isn’t advocacy. It’s exploration. And it’s ultimately about agency — choosing how you move forward when no one is telling you what to do anymore.

I can’t thank Daniel enough for his authenticity!  See ya at the next family gig… 

Ep. 077.0 Daniel Naro - Retired Air Force, deeply human man (Pt. 1)

My podcast conversations don’t have a script or predefined questions but it’s a pod about values – we go where the energy takes us.  This two-part episode is a little different and more personal – its family even if not by blood.  My guest on this episode is Daniel Naro - a retired Air Force veteran, family man, and deeply thoughtful human — my wife’s cousin.

I usually end up hanging out with him at family functions – we have some crazy conversations, and I thought he would be a great guest.  I was right!

In this two-part discussion, we explore what happens when identity shifts, systems change, and the old rules no longer fit.  Our conversation started the way real conversations usually do — with aging jokes, family stories, and a little laughter at how quickly life reminds you that you’re not 25 anymore.

What unfolds is something much deeper.

In Part 1, we talk about family values versus personal values, what the military gives you (and takes from you), and what it means to rebuild yourself after structure you relied upon disappears.

This is not a polished take. It’s not a debate. It’s a real conversation about agency, responsibility, healing, and choosing a path forward — even if the path isn’t clear yet.

I can’t thank Dan(ny) enough for this real conversation!  Catch the rest in Pt. 2… 

Ep. 076 Mohamed Mejbar Caribou Coffee CEO MENAT

Show Summary

In this conversation, I sit down with Mohamed Mejbar CEO for the Middle East, North Africa and Turkey Regions for Caribou Coffee for a deeply honest reflection on leadership, values, and what happens when experience, responsibility, and reality collide.

We explore how core values like spirituality, family, and fairness show up differently when you move from large, highly structured organizations into smaller, entrepreneurial environments. Mohamed speaks candidly about culture, leadership calibration, financial dynamics, and the quiet emotional weight that comes with being “the one at the helm.”

This is a conversation about living your values — not as slogans, but as daily decisions. About what happens when your values are tested. And about the importance of revisiting them as life, leadership, and circumstances evolve.

What this episode explores

• How Mohamed identified his core values: spirituality, family, and fairness

• Why values can be easier to practice in large corporations — and harder in smaller businesses

• The leadership style transition of moving from CFO to CEO

• Talent and the hidden cost of leadership decisions

• Fairness and values-driven discomfort

• Culture without structure — and why good intentions aren’t enough

• The emotional isolation that can come with senior leadership

• Why revisiting your values may be essential at each new chapter of life

• How reflection, perspective, and conversation keep values alive

Ep. 075 Mark Parmerlee, Golden Chick

🎙️ Show Summary

This conversation is a reminder that long-term success is rarely about clever strategy alone—it’s about trust, honesty, and how you treat people when no one is watching.

I sat down with Mark Parmerlee, the longtime leader behind Golden Chick, to talk about a career that spans hospitality, real estate, finance, franchising, and family. What emerged wasn’t a playbook—it was a philosophy.

We explore how rebuilding trust after failure can become a foundation for growth, why collaboration beats control in franchising, and how values like honesty, dignity, and service quietly shape culture over decades. Mark shares stories of mistakes, hard conversations, generational leadership, and why reputation—once lost—is nearly impossible to regain.

This is a conversation about leadership without ego, growth without shortcuts, and success that lasts because people believe in it.

🔍 What This Episode Explores

• How trust was rebuilt after franchise breakdown and bankruptcy

• Why honesty—even uncomfortable honesty—creates long-term credibility

• The role of franchisee collaboration and shared decision-making

• Lessons learned from hospitality, real estate, and investment banking

• Why servant leadership outperforms command-and-control leadership

• How core values became explicit only after they were already lived

• The connection between culture, longevity, and sustainable growth

• Reputation as an asset that outlives profit cycles

Ep. 074 Secretary of Agriculture for NJ Ed Wengryn

Show Summary

This conversation with the Ed Wengryn, Secretary of Agriculture for New Jersey, opened my eyes even more to the depth, pride, and possibility inside my home state’s wine scene. We talk love of land, evolving quality, native grapes, how geography shapes flavor, and why New Jersey may be one of the most exciting—and underrated—wine regions in the country.

We explore why wine here is more about connection, curiosity, and community. From Cab Franc to Albariño, from the Pine Barrens to my Warren County, we unpack why drinking local isn’t just a movement—it’s an invitation to explore what’s right in our backyard - wherever you back yard is!

In this episode we explore:

• How passion is driving the NJ’s wine culture

• Why New Jersey’s diverse climate allows multiple wine styles across a small state

• The gap between how much wine NJ produces vs how much we consume—and the opportunity it creates

• Sweet wine lovers, dry wine seekers, curious newcomers—why everyone has a seat at the table

• Treating wine like art: drink what you love, not what a label tells you to love

• Varietals thriving in NJ—Cab Franc, Chambourcin, Albariño, Riesling & more

• The new Secretary Select program spotlighting 100% Jersey-fruit wines

• Why visiting wineries—and talking to the people behind the bottle—matters more than technical tasting notes

• How wine helps protect farmland & strengthens connection to place

Ep. 073 Jim Quarella Bellview Winery

📄 Show Summary

In this conversation, I sit down with Jim Quarella from Bellview Winery, where we explore 25 years of New Jersey wine, family legacy, and what it means to grow something from the ground up — literally. From vegetable farming to vinifera, from two acres at age 16 to over 20 wine grape varieties today, Jim walks through the real work behind wine — the land, the weather, the humility required, and the joy of seeing a guest’s face light up during that first taste. We talk values, vintage variation, new hybrid varieties, and why wine is more than a drink — it’s connection.

We explore:

• The journey from family farm (est. 1914) to winery (est. 2000)

• Family & quality as the core values driving Bellview

• Growing over 20 grape varieties — and why experimentation matters

• Sustainability & disease-resistant genetics for the future of wine

• Vintage variation, palate evolution, and why spitting matters at tastings

• Why wine is community, story, and shared table — not pretension

• The New Jersey wine scene: progress, camaraderie & sustainability

Ep. 072 Mike Beneduce - Beneduce Vineyards

📄 Show Summary

In this conversation, I sit down with Mike from Beneduce Vineyards — a winemaker shaped by family roots, land, and a grandmother's influence that still guides his work today. What unfolds is a rich exploration of passion, farming, and legacy, and how wine becomes more than a drink — it becomes story. Soil, weather, people, memory… bottled.

Together, we explore discover 5 things most people don’t know about wine — the things you won’t often hear in tasting rooms, marketing campaigns, or wine culture:

1. You don’t need wine vocabulary or expertise to enjoy wine.
Wine has been unintentionally gatekept for generations. Joy comes first — language comes later, if ever.

2. Vintage variation isn’t inconsistency — it’s identity.
Some wineries chase sameness. Here, the year matters. Weather writes chapters in the bottle.

3. Great wine doesn’t require Old World prestige.
Blind tastings change everything. Sometimes the best bottle is the one grown 30 minutes away.

4. Marketing sells wine — terroir makes wine.
Quality comes from the vineyard, not the label. Farming decisions carry more weight than PR.

5. Winemaking starts in the soil — long before stainless steel or oak.
Clone choices, canopy management, light vs. shade… flavor is grown, not manufactured.

We explore passion and risk, collaboration among wineries, the pursuit of craft over shortcuts, and the long-game mindset it takes to make wine meant to outlive the person who planted the vines. This episode is for wine lovers, growers, and anyone curious about how values + land shape what ends up in the glass.

Ep. 071 Marshall Goldsmith, Business Coach and Leadership Thought Leader

🎙️ SHOW SUMMARY

This conversation with Marshall Goldsmith is one of those rare moments where wisdom lands so clearly that you feel it in your chest. We cover generosity, values, daily discipline, human behavior, and the courageous honesty required to look in the mirror. Marshall takes us into his world of “knowledge philanthropy,” his philosophy of helping people live “just a little better life,” and the humbling daily practices he uses himself — even as the world’s top leadership thinker.

We talk about values alignment, the six daily questions, the tension between knowing and doing, lessons from Peter Drucker, how leaders stay anchored during uncertainty, the purpose-driven lives of people who inspired him, and the simple power of imagining your 95-year-old self offering advice.

It’s honest. It’s challenging. And there’s so much heart in it. We explore:

Marshall’s idea of “knowledge philanthropy” and why he shares everything freely

• Why generosity matters more as we age

• LinkedIn as a platform for meaning, community, and “one better minute”

• Marshall’s core value: helping people have a little better life

• The six daily questions that improve happiness, meaning, and engagement

• Why most people quit the process in two weeks

• The painful truth about measuring your life vs. talking about your values

• Lessons from other leaders that have impacted him

• Values alignment vs. burnout

• How professions rooted in purpose sustain energy over time

• The discipline of letting go

• The “95-year-old self” exercise and the three life lessons people regret ignoring

• Why helping others matters for reasons far deeper than success

Ep. 070 Dustin Tarpine, Cedar Rose Vineyards

🎙️ SHOW NOTES

This conversation with Dustin from Cedar Rose Vineyards is one of those episodes where the story behind the wine is as compelling as what’s in the glass.

We talk about origin stories, hard work, terroir, New Jersey’s evolving wine identity, and what it actually takes to build something from absolute scratch—no shortcuts, no safety nets, no pretense.

What struck me most was the honesty. The humility. The grit. And the way a vineyard can carry the fingerprints—literal and figurative—of the people who tend it.

This episode isn’t just about wine. It’s about purpose, values, identity, and the kind of perseverance that can only come from deciding you’re going to create something real, even when the path makes zero sense on paper.

What this episode explores

• The rise of the New Jersey wine industry and why quality—not quantity—is its defining story.

• How Dustin and Steve went from clearing land with a chainsaw to planting 20 acres… and then building an entire winery from raw farmland.

• Vintage variation, terroir, and why “truth in the bottle” matters more than marketing.

• Cedar Rose’s values: authenticity, hard work, 100% Jersey-grown fruit, and keeping the wines honest to place.

• The birth of Vine Tech and how vineyard management became part of the story.

• Running a business through autonomy, trust, and genuine collaboration—not hierarchy.

• Why people increasingly care who makes their wine and how it’s made.

• What it means to build something with purpose, not permission.

Ep. 069 Jenn Todling - Author

🎧 Show Notes

In this episode, I welcome back my first repeat guest, Jenn Todling from Ep. 006! This conversation is a case study in courage, creativity, and personal evolution.

When we first talked, she was standing at the edge of change: leaving a 20-year career in public accounting, finishing her master’s degree, and writing her first book. Now, she returns on the other side of that leap — grounded, grateful, and more herself than ever.

We explore how values informed her decision to leave stability for purpose, what it takes to rewire a life built on urgency into one led by authenticity, and how she’s learning to listen to the quiet wisdom of her body and her gut.

This is a conversation about transformation — creative, professional, and deeply human.

We discuss:

• What it takes to walk away from security and step into the unknown

• Reclaiming identity after years in corporate culture

• Energy work, nervous system regulation, and self-care as leadership practices

• The vulnerability and freedom of writing a memoir

• Building community, finding your authentic expression, and dancing through change

• Why trusting your gut isn’t reckless — it’s wisdom in motion

Ep. 068 Matthew Horkey - YouTuber, Author, Speaker

🎙️ Show Notes

In this captivating conversation, Dr. Matthew Horkey shares his extraordinary journey from chiropractor to world-traveling wine expert and YouTube creator. What began with a childhood curiosity about “communion wine” grew into a lifelong pursuit of travel, taste, and meaning.

Together, we explore:

• How a chance viewing of Sideways sparked his fascination with wine.

• The practical lessons he learned from seven years traveling the globe and tasting thousands of wines.

• The role of core values—and how knowing yours shapes every decision and outcome.

• Why curiosity might be the ultimate value that sustains purpose and creativity.

• How values reveal themselves in winemakers, regions, and even in the character of a bottle itself.

• The unseen discipline behind wine competitions, content creation, and global judging.

• Reflections on mentors, humility, and what it means to keep showing up—no matter what.

At its heart, this episode isn’t just about wine; it’s about the human pursuit of alignment—between who we are, what we value, and how we live it every day.

Ep. 067 Scott Donnini - Auburn Road Vineyards

🎙️ Show Summary

In this grounded and heartfelt conversation, I sit down with Scott Donnini from Auburn Road Vineyards — a former corporate lawyer turned winemaker — to explore how values, terroir, and intention intersect to shape not only the wine in the glass but the life behind it.

We talk about how Valroir — my fusion of values and terroir — reveals itself in every bottle, every vineyard, and every act of creation. Scott shares how leaving a high-powered legal career led him and his wife, Jules, to a life rooted in creativity, connection, and courage. We unpack what it means to live deliberately, to “find what you love and let it kill you,” and to infuse purpose into every act — from plowing fields to pouring wine.

It’s a conversation about art, authenticity, and the quiet power of living by what matters most.

💡 Highlights

• The origin of Valroir — how values and terroir intertwine to express place and purpose

• The philosophy behind “Everything Matters” and Auburn Road’s soulful approach to winemaking

• How Scott and Jules built a life centered on creativity, courage, and partnership

• Why imperfection, compassion, and consciousness belong in the same bottle

• Lessons from 20 years of farming, hospitality, and community — and what it means to be truly “great” at what you do

• The wisdom of Walt Whitman, Bugs Bunny, and Bukowski — unlikely but perfectly fitting heroes in the vineyard of life

Ep. 066 Holly Benner - Metta Performance

🎧 Show Summary

In this heartfelt and high-energy conversation, I sit down with Holly Benner, Metta Performance, to explore what it really means to pursue excellence — not just in sport, but in life. From her journey as a rower chasing Olympic dreams to her evolution as a leadership and performance coach, Holly shares how she helps high-achievers balance ambition with self-compassion.

We talk about the power of values, redefining what it means to “coach,” and the subtle art of translating lessons from endurance sports into business and personal growth. Along the way, we touch on courage, community, and the surprising ways physical challenges mirror the inner ones.

It’s an inspiring reflection on drive, balance, and the transformative energy of doing hard things — not to prove something, but because you love it.

💡 Episode Highlights

• The story behind Holly’s transition from Olympic training to leadership coaching

• How Metta Performance (METTA) blends athletic and executive coaching

• What it truly means to be a “Type A+” personality — and how to thrive with it

• The difference between training plans and coaching

• How values evolve and serve as a compass for fulfillment

• “Metta” as loving-kindness: why softening your inner dialogue changes everything

• Why everyone is an athlete — and how movement becomes meditation

• Lessons from endurance sports that fuel clarity, courage, and compassion

Living Between Two Selves | Duality, Identity & My Type 1.5 Diabetes

🎙️ Show Summary

This quick rant - something to get off my chest - goes into the space between who we think we are and who the world expects us to be. I open up about a personal health diagnosis—Type 1.5 diabetes—and how it’s reshaped my understanding of control, identity, and duality. From the Brooks Brothers “A side” to the Bukowski “B side,” it’s an honest exploration of living in between, and what it means to finally bring more of yourself—flawed, whole, and human—into every part of your life.

What this episode explores:

• The lifelong tension between the polished professional and the creative rebel

• The shock of a Type 1.5 diabetes diagnosis—and how it reframed control and vulnerability

• Why identity and illness can both strip away illusion and reveal truth

• The call to live with more honesty, imperfection, and presence

• The reminder that our core values are the very anchors we need most in uncertain seasons

Ep. 065 Marcia Reynolds, PsyD, MCC

🎧 Show Summary

In this rich, human conversation with Marcia, we explore what it truly means to know who you are. From childhood expectations to career pivots, from judgment to curiosity, and from the noise of doing to the quiet of being seen—this exchange goes deep into values, identity, and the timeless search for meaning.

Together, we reflect on:

• The intersection of values and identity—how knowing what fulfills you shapes who you are.

• The tension between shoulds and authentic joy—why so many live by others’ expectations.

• How coaching helps people see the narratives they can’t see themselves.

• The role of education and why self-awareness should start early.

• How judgment shows up in our bodies—and how curiosity transforms it.

• The need for human connection in an AI-driven world.

• Finding courage in uncertainty, resilience in heritage, and meaning in contribution.

This isn’t just a conversation about coaching—it’s about being human and remembering what it means to be truly seen.

Ep. 064 Gina Martin - Executive Coach

🎙 Show Summary

In this conversation, I chat with executive coach Gina Martin, whose journey to executive coach and cancer survivor reveals the power of living in alignment with one’s values. Together they explore how self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and integrity shape the way we lead and love — both in business and in life.

Gina shares how her experience with breast cancer redefined her core values, moving achievement to the backseat and elevating love, health, and family. She offers thoughtful insights on behavioral change, conscious choice, and the balance between results and empathy in leadership. Their discussion also touches on coaching’s evolving relationship with AI, and the reminder that our humanity — love, gratitude, and connection — remains irreplaceable.

Key themes include:

• The link between values, fulfillment, and self-awareness

• How life-changing events realign what truly matters

• The intersection of emotional intelligence and leadership accountability

• Why trust and data are the twin pillars of effective coaching

• The evolving conversation around AI and the “flight to humanity”

• The enduring importance of love as a core value and leadership force

Ep. 063 Ryan Miller - Founder Peaky Hat

🎧 Show Summary

In this conversation, I sit down with Ryan Miller, founder of Peaky Hat, a small business redefining what it means to wear confidence — one cap at a time.

What began as a simple Facebook ad turned into a deep dialogue about craftsmanship, values, and legacy. Ryan shares how his journey from corporate consulting to hat design became an act of creative and personal renewal.

This episode explores what happens when you infuse business with heart — when quality, purpose, and humanity guide every decision. It’s about finding meaning in the making, honoring family, and building a community around something more than style.

We talk about:

• The evolution from digital strategy to handcrafted design

• The three pillars behind Peaky Hat: quality, experience, and integrity

• Turning a simple cap into a symbol of confidence and connection

• The story behind the “Bob Wayne” hat — and how it honors Ryan’s father

• How entrepreneurship can bring family, creativity, and values together

Ep. 062 Lewin Keller - Founder CoachBot.ai

In this conversation with Lewin from CoachBot.ai, we explore the evolving relationship between technology, coaching, and humanity. There is a deep reflection on presence, values, and how we define freedom in a rapidly changing world.

Together, we examine how personal growth, spiritual awareness, and technology intersect — and why the rise of AI makes it more essential than ever to stay rooted in what makes us human.

Episode Highlights:

• How love, growth, and freedom interact in moments of peace and stress

• Redefining freedom — from financial independence to spiritual surrender

• The evolution of AI coaching and the call for ethical, values-driven design

• Why the future of technology must include philosophers, not just engineers

• A candid look at what makes human coaching irreplaceable

Ep. 061 Dr. Joanne Ciulla, Professor and Director of the Institute for Ethical Leadership - Rutgers University

🎙️ Show Summary

In this powerful and thought-provoking conversation, I chat with Dr. Joanne Ciulla, Professor and Director of the Institute for Ethical Leadership at Rutgers University, to explore the intersection of AI, ethics, philosophy, and humanity.

What unfolds is a rare philosophical deep dive into how artificial intelligence challenges our understanding of agency, morality, and consciousness—and what it reveals about us as human beings.

Together, they discuss everything from moral decision-making in AI, the trolley problem, and the role of fear and courage in modern society, to the importance of critical thinking, literature, and philosophy in shaping ethical leaders of the future.

🧭 This is a grounded, deeply human reflection on what it means to live—and lead—consciously in the age of intelligent machines.

Key topics explored:

• The philosophical roots of AI and what they reveal about human understanding

• What makes an entity an “agent” — and whether AI can ever qualify

• Moral accountability, bias, and the illusion of AI objectivity

• The “trolley problem” and the ethics of decision-making in autonomous systems

• Why humanities and philosophy are essential in an AI-driven world

• The dangers of fear—and courage as a modern moral virtue

• How critical thinking and kindness shape ethical leadership