The New Luxury in an AI World with Sam Torgerson (Viceroy)

The New Luxury in an AI World with Sam Torgerson (Viceroy)

What if the most powerful thing a brand can offer isn't a product or a price point, but a moment you will never forget? Sam Torgerson is Vice President of Global Sales for Viceroy Hotels & Resorts, an independent lifestyle luxury brand with properties around the world. With 20+ years in high-end hospitality spanning Vail Resorts, Marriott International, and Ritz-Carlton, Sam has built a career on trust, deep listening, and experiences guests never forget. Sam shares what luxury hospitality has always understood that other industries are still catching up to: the most memorable moments aren't the most expensive ones. And in an AI-driven world, human connection isn't a nice-to-have. It's the new luxury. In this episode, you'll learn: ✨ Why the brands winning right now are investing in what AI can't replicate ✨ How deep listening is the foundation of world-class sales and marketing ✨ Why the simple moments make big impressions and how to create them ✨ How empowering front-line team members inspires enduring customer loyalty ✨ How following your passion can lead to a career, a team, and a life you love A conversation for brand leaders who want to borrow from the best in hospitality, and bring luxury thinking to create memorable customer experiences in any category. Sam's Creative Inspiration Book: Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara [https://www.unreasonablehospitality.com/] Brand: Nordstrom [https://www.nordstrom.com/] Beverage: Paloma [https://www.loveandlemons.com/paloma/] Song: "Confident" by Demi Lovato [https://music.apple.com/us/album/confident/1440649084?i=1440649303]

If You Think of It, You Can Do It: Lessons on Purpose, Adventure, and Service with Dr. Alexander T. McCulloch

Most people spend their lives trying to find the right path. Dr. McCulloch continues to find the perfect ones. Liz’s dad is an adventurer, doctor, entrepreneur, rancher, investor, husband, father of six, grandfather of 24, and volunteer physician for 30+ international medical missions. His story began in the woods of Ohio, where a love of nature sparked a fascination with biology. That curiosity led him to medicine, becoming a talented plastic surgeon, and the founder of the Aesthetic Surgery Center of Colorado. Along the way, he met and worked with his true love, Carole, built a 25,000-acre cattle ranch, raised a family, and spent decades exploring the world, pursuing opportunities many only dream about. The common thread is a simple philosophy: “If you don’t think of it, you can’t do it.” In this special father-daughter conversation, Dr. McCulloch shares lessons from life following curiosity, embracing opportunity, and creating impact with work and service. IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN: ✨Why finding work you genuinely enjoy matters more than chasing a title ✨How mentors can help shape your future long before you realize it ✨Why the most successful people create opportunities instead of waiting for them ✨Why choosing the right life partner is the most important decision you’ll ever make ✨How a philosophy of “If you think of it, do it” can guide every chapter of life Whether you’re beginning your career, making a change, or deciding what’s next, this is a reminder that a meaningful life is created with honesty, curiosity, and courage. DR. MCCULLOCH’S CREATIVE INSPIRATION Book: Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes Brand: Apple Song: “Gratitude” by Brandon Lake; also songs by Jerry Jeff Walker, Willy Nelson, Garth Brooks, Maná, Carlos Vives, and Bad Bunny Beverage: Sidecar

How to Rebrand Yourself and Land Your Dream Job with Marita Swift (The Big Biscuit)

Most people only apply for jobs they're already qualified for. But what if you're meant for more — or something completely different? Marita Swift knew what she wanted to do next. She just wasn't qualified. Yet. Marita is the VP of Strategic Growth at The Big Biscuit, a Kansas City-based breakfast and lunch concept where she leads franchise development, market expansion, and growth strategy. Her path there was anything but conventional. She started as a fine dining chef, cut her teeth in scratch kitchens, and spent a decade building culinary expertise before making a deliberate, methodical pivot into brand strategy and growth. Marita shares the three-step process that made her personal rebrand work, and how the same discipline shapes the way she builds and protects her business today. In this episode, you'll learn: ✨How to rebrand yourself when you’re ready for what’s next ✨Why the best leaders study the role they want before they step into it ✨How to differentiate in a crowded category by knowing what you do best ✨How to balance short-term execution with long-term strategic vision ✨How brand architecture helps teams make smarter decisions as they grow For rising and established leaders alike who are ready to define where they’re going, and build the skills, story, and strategy to get there. Marita's Creative Inspiration: Book: Ego Is the Enemy by Ryan Holiday Brand: Whole Foods Beverage: Pinot noir Song: Anything by Rihanna or Billie Eilish

How to Use Setbacks to Build What’s Even Better with Katrina Markoff (Violet Flame Chocolate)

What if crisis and conflict can be the beginning of your most meaningful work? Katrina Markoff, founder of Violet Flame Chocolate and Vosges Haut-Chocolat, has spent her career building brands that are impossible to replicate. Long before “immersive experiences” became a marketing trend, Katrina was blending storytelling, global ingredients, rituals, craftsmanship, and imagination to create the most distinctive luxury chocolate brands. She has been named one of the Top 10 Chocolatiers in the World by National Geographic, Top 100 Most Creative People in Business by Fast Company, Food Artisan of the Year by Bon Appetit, and more. But after profound personal and professional upheaval, Katrina found herself rebuilding from the ground up. And instead of recreating what already existed, she created something entirely new. In this episode, we explore how creativity became part of her healing process and why some of the strongest brands emerge after disruption, reinvention, and loss. In this episode, you'll learn: ✨ Why the strongest founders use disruption to carve out new territory ✨ How setbacks can become the catalyst for better, more meaningful creativity ✨How sensory experiences and ritual create deeper emotional brand connection ✨ Why brands that are emotionally resonant stand apart in an AI-driven world ✨ Why the future belongs to brands that create truly immersive experiences This conversation is a powerful reminder that the best brands and versions of ourselves are not created by avoiding hardship, but by overcoming obstacles to become stronger, more intentional, and more original. Katrina’s Creative Inspiration Book: Coction: The Alchemy of Food Brands: Ulla Johnson and Flamingo Estate Beverage: Toffee and Scotch whiskey Song: Florence + the Machine

The Secret to Leading Brands That Never Go Out of Style with Paul Damico (Perkins/Huddle House)

How do you ensure 60-year-old brands last another 60 and beyond? Paul Damico is the CEO of Ascent Hospitality Management, parent company of Perkins and Huddle House, two breakfast brands that have been serving guests for generations. Paul brings more than four decades leading brands from Moe's Southwest Grill and Cinnabon to Fuzzy's Taco Shop, NAF NAF Grill, and Global Franchise Group. Paul shares what it truly means to lead iconic brands that can outlast pandemics, recessions, labor shortages, new concepts, and more. He shares advice about what to protect, what to evolve, and how to create teams that drive long-lasting results. In this episode, you'll learn: ✨ How to protect and leverage legacy brand equities to continue success ✨ What to look for to create and motivate high-performing teams ✨ How to introduce brands to new audiences while retaining loyal guests ✨ Why the best franchise systems scale people and not just new stores ✨ How servant leadership drives better teams, stronger culture, and lasting results A conversation for leaders ready to revive legacy brands, build top-performing teams, and create what truly stands the test of time. Paul's Creative Inspiration Book: The Monday Morning Emails by former Focus Brands CEO Russ Frith Brand: Steak 48 Beverage: Classic Negroni (Monkey 47 gin, Italian sweet vermouth, Campari) Song: "September" by Earth, Wind & Fire