Enthusiastic Life | with Brendan Walsh

Ep 34 — Marie Wallace: From France to Detroit, Building The French Cow & Chasing a Dream

In Episode 34, Brendan sits down with Marie Wallace, founder of Detroit’s beloved crepe shop, The French Cow, for a conversation that’s as inspiring as it is unexpected. Marie shares her journey from growing up in France to immigrating to Detroit in 2004 — a dream sparked, in part, by her love for Eminem. What started as a bold leap across the world eventually became a growing business, beginning as a small pop-up at Eastern Market and evolving into a staple in the Detroit food scene. But this conversation goes far beyond crepes. Marie opens up about her passion for storytelling and screenwriting, including a TV series she once wrote based on her own journey to America. They also explore the realities of entrepreneurship, the emotional and cultural layers of immigration, and what it means to build a life — and a business — in a new place. This episode is about taking risks, chasing something bigger, and finding your place along the way. In this episode, we cover: *  Marie’s journey from France to Detroit  *  The unexpected influence of American culture (and Eminem) on her path  *  Starting The French Cow as a pop-up and growing it into a Detroit staple  *  The realities of running a food and catering business  *  Her passion for screenwriting and storytelling  *  The immigrant experience and building a life in a new country  *  Her favorite Detroit restaurants, coffee spots, and film picks  🎙 THE ENTHUSIASTIC LIFE PODCAST Hosted by Brendan Walsh Produced by Ryan Dewan, Wave Media 📲 Instagram → @enthusiasticlifepod 📲 Facebook → Enthusiastic Life Podcast 🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube & all major platforms.

Ep 33 - Eric Larson: A Life in Real Estate, Building Detroit & Generational Lessons

In Episode 33, Brendan sits down with Eric Larson, CEO of the Downtown Detroit Partnership and a longtime leader in real estate development and urban revitalization. Eric shares the winding path that led him into real estate, the decades of change he’s witnessed across Detroit, and the pivotal moments that helped shape the city into what it is today. From large-scale development to infrastructure investment, his career offers a front-row seat to Detroit’s evolution. They also dive into the personal side of the journey — including Eric’s relationship with his father, the lessons he learned working alongside him, and how mentorship and family shaped his approach to leadership. This conversation is about perspective, legacy, and what makes Detroit such a special place — both now and in the future. In this episode, we cover: *  Eric’s path into real estate and development  *  The transformation of Detroit over the past few decades  *  What makes Detroit a city to watch moving forward  *  Leadership lessons from a career in large-scale development  *  Working with his father and the impact of mentorship  *  What’s bringing him joy in this season of life  🎙 THE ENTHUSIASTIC LIFE PODCAST Hosted by Brendan Walsh Produced by Ryan Dewan, Wave Media 📲 Instagram → @enthusiasticlifepod  📲 Facebook → Enthusiastic Life Podcast 🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube & all major platforms.

Ep 32 - Dawn Riley: First Woman to Win an America’s Cup & Sail Around the World Twice

In Episode 32, Brendan sits down with Dawn Riley, one of the most accomplished sailors in the history of the sport. A four-time competitor in the America’s Cup—the oldest international competition in the world—Dawn has sailed over 33,000 miles in a single race, competed in multiple around-the-world expeditions, and earned her place in multiple Halls of Fame. Today, she serves as Executive Director of Oakcliff Sailing, where she’s developing the next generation of leaders through the sport. This conversation is packed with incredible stories from the open ocean, lessons on leadership under pressure, and a deep passion for what it means to dedicate your life to a craft. Even if you know nothing about sailing — this one will pull you in. In this episode, we cover: *  What it’s like competing in the America’s Cup  *  Sailing 33,000 miles around the world  *  Leadership and teamwork in extreme environments  *  The evolution of sailing as a sport  *  Dawn’s role at Oakcliff Sailing  *  Stories from a lifetime spent on the water  🎙 THE ENTHUSIASTIC LIFE PODCAST Hosted by Brendan Walsh Produced by Ryan Dewan, Wave Media 📲 Instagram → @enthusiasticlifepod  📲 Facebook → Enthusiastic Life Podcast 🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube & all major platforms.

Ep 31 - Brendan Walsh: From Host to Guest - Life, Podcasting & What Matters Most

For the first time, Brendan Walsh — the host and founder of The Enthusiastic Life Podcast — steps into the guest seat as Ryan takes over the mic. This conversation pulls back the curtain on Brendan’s story, from his background and life experiences to the habits, mindsets, and lessons he’s picked up from the incredible guests he’s met along the way. They talk about what inspired him to start the podcast, what he’s learned through the process, and how those conversations have shaped the way he approaches life. More than anything, this episode is about perspective — slowing down, reflecting, and focusing on what truly matters. And most importantly, Brendan shares what’s bringing him joy these days. In this episode, we cover: *  Brendan’s background and personal journey  *  The habits and mindsets he’s adopted from podcast guests  *  What inspired him to start The Enthusiastic Life Podcast *  His favorite part about building the show  *  Lessons learned through conversations with others  *  What’s currently bringing him the most joy  🎙 THE ENTHUSIASTIC LIFE PODCAST Hosted by Brendan Walsh Produced by Ryan Dewan, Wave Media 📲 Instagram → @enthusiasticlifepod  📲 Facebook → Enthusiastic Life Podcast 🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube & all major platforms.

Ep 30 - Matt Loria: AI, Cybersecurity, Podcasting & the Power of Modern Leadership

In Episode 30, Brendan sits down with Matt Loria, CEO and Managing Partner of Auxiom, to talk about the journey from early sales roles to building and leading a high-performing technology and cybersecurity company. Matt shares stories from his early days selling extreme sports equipment, his experience working with Midwest Technology Leaders, and how those chapters shaped his approach to leadership and business. He walks through the process of starting and scaling Auxiom, the mindset required to build a strong team, and what it means to lead in today’s fast-moving tech landscape. They also dive into the impact of Vistage, the peer-to-peer leadership network both Matt and Brendan are part of, and Matt’s newest creative outlet — the BLTNT Podcast — where he’s exploring ideas around performance, mindset, and growth. This episode is about evolution, leadership, and building something that lasts. In this episode, we cover: *  Matt’s early career and selling extreme sports equipment  *  His experience with Midwest Technology Leaders  *  Building and growing Auxiom into a cybersecurity and IT leader  *  What great leadership looks like in today’s environment  *  The role of Vistage in personal and professional growth  *  Why he started the BLTNT Podcast  *  Lessons from entrepreneurship, team building, and scaling a business  🎙 THE ENTHUSIASTIC LIFE PODCAST Hosted by Brendan Walsh Produced by Ryan Dewan, Wave Media 📲 Instagram → @enthusiasticlifepod  📲 Facebook → Enthusiastic Life Podcast 🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube & all major platforms.