Making More: The Podcast

16. Brage Garofalo

In this episode of Making More, Billy Fischer sits down with Brage Garofalo for a powerful conversation about transition, identity, service, and the deep human need for belonging. Brage has spent years supporting veterans, first responders, elite operators, and high performers as they navigate the difficult space between who they were, who they served with, and who they are becoming next. Drawing from her background in clinical research, her work in mental health, and her commitment to those moving through major life transitions, Brage brings a deeply compassionate perspective to what happens when structure fades and the uniform comes off. Billy and Brage explore the loss of tribe many veterans experience after service, the emotional and intellectual side of transition, and why rebuilding community is just as important as building a resume or LinkedIn profile. They also discuss leadership lessons from military teams, the importance of psychological safety, and what business leaders can learn from people who have been trained to operate with trust, humility, loyalty, and mission focus. The conversation also takes a memorable turn into open-water swimming, including Brage’s story of participating in the Frogman Swim under the Golden Gate Bridge, where a mysterious bump in the water became a vivid metaphor for fear, focus, and the instinct to keep moving forward. At the heart of this episode is Brage’s answer to the title question: she wants to make more of a difference. Whether through supporting someone in transition, helping a veteran feel less alone, or simply leaving the world better than she found it, Brage reminds us that meaningful impact often begins with showing up for people when they need a tribe the most. Find Billy on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/bigeyedfisch/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/bigeyedfisch/] or visit his website, billyfischer.focalpointcoaching.com. [https://billyfischer.focalpointcoaching.com]

15. JD Miller - Rothschild & Co

In this episode of Making More, Billy Fischer sits down with JD Miller, PhD— a seasoned executive leader, board advisor, and author who has helped organizations navigate growth, complexity, and renewal across decades in the technology industry. JD’s story starts in an unlikely place: an internship connected to the Clinton White House. From there, his path moved into tech sales and leadership, where he learned how trust is built (and lost) when relationships increasingly happen through screens, meetings, and digital noise. We also dig into JD’s work as an author — including The CRO’s Guide to Winning in Private Equity — and how his perspective on leadership has evolved into something both simple and difficult: building a life that makes room for the people in it. In this conversation, we cover: * Why trust is harder (and more important) in modern professional environments * What executive presence actually means beyond titles and credentials * Lessons from writing for CROs and leaders navigating private equity * How to think about AI and sales without losing the human element * The leadership discipline of “making more time for quality interactions” Connect with JD Miller: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdmillerphd [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdmillerphd] New Book: The AI Handbook for Sales Professionals: A Practical, Tactical Guide for Sellers, Managers, and Executives to Reclaim Their Time and Expand Their Humanity. (https://a.co/d/09BWuO6s [https://a.co/d/09BWuO6s]) JD's Foundation: https://www.jdmja.org/ [https://www.jdmja.org/] Find Billy on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/bigeyedfisch/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/bigeyedfisch/] or visit his website, billyfischer.focalpointcoaching.com. [https://billyfischer.focalpointcoaching.com]

14. Luís Dias - Legau

In this episode of Making More, I’m joined by Luís Dias, founder of Legau, to talk about what it really takes to build a product, build a team, and build conviction when the road is not predictable. Luís and I get into the daily realities of startup leadership, what it looks like to earn clarity through action, and why “better tools” only matter when they’re paired with better thinking and stronger habits. We also talk about the difference between being busy and being effective, the importance of shaping your workflow before you automate it, and how leaders can stay grounded when the stakes feel high and the pace is constant. Toward the end, Luís answers the signature question of the show with a response I’ll be thinking about for a while: “making more fun.” Not comfort. Not ease. Fun, as in learning to enjoy the long game so you can sustain the work and keep building with energy. In this episode, we cover: * What Luís is building with Legau and the problem it’s designed to solve * Why good process matters more than flashy tooling * How to think about sustainable execution when the work is never “done” * The mindset shift from chasing outcomes to enjoying the build * Luís’s “Making More” answer: making more time for fun in the process Connect with Luís / Legau: * Luís Dias on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luis-alves-dias [https://www.linkedin.com/in/luis-alves-dias] * Legau: https://legau.com/ [https://legau.com/] Find Billy on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/bigeyedfisch/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/bigeyedfisch/] or visit his website, billyfischer.focalpointcoaching.com. [https://billyfischer.focalpointcoaching.com]

13. Jonathan Bench - Kirton McConkie

Global business is not just bigger business. It’s different business. In this conversation, I’m joined by Jonathan Bench of Kirton McConkie, host of the Lawbalization podcast, to talk about what leaders often underestimate when their work crosses borders: how trust is built, how influence works across cultures, and why clarity and relationships become even more important when the stakes and the complexity rise. We talk about the real-world friction points that show up when legal, business, and human dynamics collide, and how Jonathan thinks about leadership when the “right answer” is rarely simple. We also get into the hidden cost of shallow networking, and why he’s focused right now on making more time for quality interactions, both online and in person. In this episode, we cover: * How global work changes the leadership playbook * The difference between activity, connection, and real influence * Why clarity and trust beat speed when complexity shows up * What “quality interactions” actually look like in a busy professional life * The question every leader should ask before they scale anything Connect and learn more * Jonathan Bench [https://www.linkedin.com/in/benchjonathan]: Lawbalization podcast [https://pods.link/us/i/1837196942]; Kirton McConkie [https://www.kirtonmcconkie.com] Find Billy on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/bigeyedfisch/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/bigeyedfisch/] or visit his website, billyfischer.focalpointcoaching.com. [https://billyfischer.focalpointcoaching.com]

12. Gordon L. Sansaver III

In this episode of Making More, Billy sits down with Gordon Sansaver, Associate Executive Director at the Virginia Mason Institute, to explore what happens when the principles behind the Toyota Production System collide—beautifully—with the realities of modern healthcare. Gordon shares the Virginia Mason origin story: a health system at a crossroads, facing rising costs, patient safety risk, and workforce strain… and deciding to bet on a different path—continuous improvement and respect for people. From there, we unpack why “process” in healthcare isn’t just a set of tools—it’s a full management system, how executive alignment shapes culture (for better or worse), and why you can’t delegate improvement work and expect it to stick. We also talk about Gordon’s early frontline path in healthcare, his experience leading a study tour to Japan, and how Virginia Mason’s approach expanded into the UK’s National Health Service—with independent evaluation from Warwick Business School. In this conversation: * Why improvement and culture change can’t be “handed off” * Executive + board alignment as a force multiplier * “VMPS” (Virginia Mason Production System): making TPS your own * “Better never stops” as a leadership posture, not a slogan * What healthcare leaders can borrow from manufacturing without losing the human side Guest: Gordon Sansaver — Associate Executive Director, Virginia Mason Institute Find Billy on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/bigeyedfisch/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/bigeyedfisch/] or visit his website, billyfischer.focalpointcoaching.com. [https://billyfischer.focalpointcoaching.com]