If The Public Only Knew- Behind Every Success, a Story Worth Telling

Justin Banner: Turning Restaurant Chaos into Simple, Scalable Systems

Most businesses run on invisible, fragile know‑how stuck in someone’s head. This episode explores a practical way to pull that knowledge into clear, automated processes so the work gets done right—even when you’re not on site. In this episode, Gary and Justin Banner discuss: * Transition from marketing tech and lighting SaaS to process-focused products * Origin story and development of Noggin for restaurants * Power of digital checklists and preventative maintenance * Practical, non-hype uses of AI in everyday business * Real-world advice on bootstrapping, venture capital, and validating ideas Key Takeaways: * The biggest wins often come from solving obvious, painful problems with simple tools rather than overbuilt enterprise tech. * Translating “institutional knowledge” into structured, repeatable checklists is one of the fastest ways to reduce stress and dependency on the owner. * AI is most powerful when it enhances human problem-solving—debugging, organizing information, and surfacing insights—rather than trying to replace creativity. * The safest path into entrepreneurship is to keep your job, validate your idea with a handful of real customers, and only then consider scaling. * Money from venture capital rarely fixes a weak business model; resourcefulness, customer validation, and a willingness to grind matter far more than early funding. "If you think money is going to build your business, it won't. Money is going to give you a bigger problem of people who want to get paid back at 10x what they gave you." — Justin Banner About Justin Banner: Justin Banner is a tech entrepreneur and former CEO who led a merged SaaS and marketing technology company serving lighting showrooms through a successful exit to private equity in 2022. Drawing on his early experience in restaurants and years building software, he co-founded Noggin (noggn.com), a digital checklist and process-automation platform that helps restaurant owners and other operators get critical tasks out of their heads and into simple, role-based workflows.  Justin is passionate about using practical AI and lightweight software to solve real operational problems, reduce owner stress, and turn chaotic, people-dependent businesses into scalable systems. Connect with Justin Banner:   Website: https://noggn.com/ [https://noggn.com/]  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61563544711299 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61563544711299]  To get in touch with Gary: Website: https://betterpathtraining.com/ [https://betterpathtraining.com/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gsinderbrand/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/gsinderbrand/] Audio production by https://www.turnkeypodcast.com/Turnkey Podcast Productions. [https://www.turnkeypodcast.com/] You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

Katharine Manning: Leading Through Trauma with Clarity, Consistency, and Choice

When organizations hit moments of crisis—layoffs, violence, upheaval—most leaders freeze or fall back into old patterns. In this conversation, you’ll learn how trauma‑informed leadership, grounded in empathy and clear-eyed decision-making, can turn those breaking points into catalysts for lasting cultural change. In this episode, Gary and Katharine Manning discuss: * Origin and meaning of Blackbird and transformation through trauma * Trauma-informed leadership and organizational change * Handling layoffs with clarity, consistency, and choice * Moving from conflict avoidance to courageous, empathetic decisions * DOJ experience, Me Too, and creating The Empathetic Workplace Key Takeaways: * Truly effective organizational change work is less about a one-time “sage on the stage” presentation and more about equipping people with practical skills they can keep using after the consultant leaves. * Layoffs and other hard decisions should be handled through clarity, consistency, and choice—leaders must be transparent, apply rules fairly, and still preserve a sense of agency for those affected. * What often gets mistaken for empathy is actually conflict avoidance; sometimes the most compassionate act is to make a difficult decision sooner, not later. * To prevent training from fading the next day, it helps to build in follow-ups, micro-commitments, and simple, immediately usable tools that keep the learning alive. * There is a growing effort to rigorously measure how trauma-informed leadership impacts burnout, absenteeism, and retention, bringing hard data to what has often been seen only as a “soft” people investment. "Sometimes being empathetic means making the hard decision more quickly."  — Katharine Manning About Katharine Manning: Katharine Manning has more than 25 years of experience helping organizations respond to trauma and crisis. She spent 15 years as a Senior Attorney Advisor at the U.S. Department of Justice, advising leaders nationwide on victim response in high-profile cases, including the Boston Marathon bombing, the Madoff investment fraud, the Pulse nightclub shooting, the Larry Nassar case, and the Charlottesville uprising. In that role, she provided strategic guidance on supporting individuals during times of profound stress while maintaining organizational resilience and integrity. Today, as President of Blackbird, Katharine advises corporations, nonprofits, government agencies, schools, and law firms on building more compassionate and effective responses to trauma in the workplace. Her clients rely on her deep expertise and practical tools to help them address sensitive issues around employee well-being, compliance, and culture. She is the author of The Empathetic Workplace: Five Steps to a Compassionate, Calm, and Confident Response to Trauma on the Job (HarperCollins Leadership, 2021), a guide for leaders seeking to support their teams through times of crisis and change. Her insights have been featured in the Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, Newsweek, Business Insider, and CNBC. Katharine is a graduate of Smith College and the University of Virginia School of Law. She teaches at American University and serves as a Senior Fellow at the Center for Excellence in Public Leadership at George Washington University. Connect with Katharine Manning:   Website: https://katharinemanning.com/ [https://katharinemanning.com/]  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katharine-manning/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/katharine-manning/]  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EmpatheticWorkplace [https://www.facebook.com/EmpatheticWorkplace]  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/empatheticworkplace/ [https://www.instagram.com/empatheticworkplace/]  Book: The Empathetic Workplace: 5 Steps to a Compassionate, Calm, and Confident Response to Trauma on the Job: https://amzn.to/4hBzTvR [https://amzn.to/4hBzTvR]   To get in touch with Gary: Website: https://betterpathtraining.com/ [https://betterpathtraining.com/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gsinderbrand/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/gsinderbrand/] Audio production by https://www.turnkeypodcast.com/Turnkey Podcast Productions. [https://www.turnkeypodcast.com/] You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

Jordana Cole: Scaling Human-Centered Leadership with AI Coaching

Most companies say they care about engagement, but keep running the same broken playbook. Jordana Cole reveals how she’s using AI coaching to tackle burnout, stagnant surveys, and “check-the-box” training at the root. In this episode, Gary and Jordana Cole discuss: * Nonlinear career path into learning and development * Intrapreneurship and building scrappy, high-impact L&D programs * Why traditional training fails to create lasting behavior change * Using AI to scale coaching, engagement, and organizational insight * The vision and mechanics behind Shift Well and AI coach “Clara” Key Takeaways: * Lasting impact from training only happens when people apply what they’ve learned in real contexts, not when they passively consume content in a classroom. * Focusing on behavior change, enablement, and adoption is far more powerful than simply “delivering learning” as an abstract objective. * Employee engagement problems are ecosystem problems; solving them requires aligned actions at the individual, manager, and organizational levels. * AI can massively extend the reach of coaches and L&D leaders by providing personalized, on-demand support at scale while freeing HR and managers to focus on higher-value work. * Ethical, well-designed AI coaching that respects privacy and human motivation can help people set better goals, build new habits, and connect personal well-being to business outcomes. "We need a sense of autonomy. We need a sense of belonging and we need a sense of competence."  — Jordana Cole About Jordana Cole: As a recognized Leadership Coach, Consultant, Workshop Facilitator, and Learning and Development Strategist, Jordana Cole is renowned for empowering leaders to transform behaviors that unlock team potential and drive business results. With a background leading teams and L&D strategy within non-profit, higher education, financial services, e-commerce, and tech industries, she excels at bridging the gap between HR and business units, drawing upon advanced education in the psychology of well-being. Over the past 10 years, she has led internal, enterprise global L&D programs across industries and organizational sizes—from start-ups to Fortune 500s—tailoring methods to diverse leader and client needs. Her expertise spans strategic design and delivery, client relationship management, coaching, and workshop facilitation, where she is known for “making magic” with limited resources and building scalable, sustainable approaches from scratch. Tech-savvy and adaptable, Jordana is proficient in various learning management systems, virtual learning tools, and online application systems, ensuring seamless delivery of coaching and development programs in both in-person and virtual environments. With a passion for cultivating leadership excellence and fostering environments where leadership skills and results flourish, she is committed to partnering with individuals and organizations that want to spark behavioral change and unlock more of their potential. Connect with Jordana Cole:   Website: https://ignitedbyjordana.com/ [https://ignitedbyjordana.com/] | https://www.shiftwell.ai/ [https://www.shiftwell.ai/]  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordana-cole-mapp-pcc-a8445a8/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordana-cole-mapp-pcc-a8445a8/]  TEDx Talk: “What to Do When You Don’t Know What’s Next” — coming soon. To get in touch with Gary: Website: https://betterpathtraining.com/ [https://betterpathtraining.com/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gsinderbrand/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/gsinderbrand/] Audio production by https://www.turnkeypodcast.com/Turnkey Podcast Productions. [https://www.turnkeypodcast.com/] You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

Aaron Coe: Turning Nonprofit Fundraising into Powerful Storytelling

Your nonprofit can raise more money without chasing more donors—simply by changing your story. In this episode, you’ll learn how radically clear messaging, strategic partnerships, and collective impact can transform the way you fund your mission. In this episode, Gary and Aaron Coe discuss: * Journey from music business to nonprofit leadership * Storytelling is the core of effective fundraising * Competing for donor attention and breaking through noise * Collective Impact Alliances and donor-driven collaboration * Donor relationships, due diligence, and political/human dimensions of giving Key Takeaways: * Most organizations don’t suffer from a pure fundraising problem; they struggle to tell a clear, compelling story that quickly communicates who they help and how. * In a marketplace flooded with messages, clarity is a competitive advantage. Vague nuance loses, while “painfully clear” communication wins attention and dollars. * Donors increasingly care more about the cause than the institution, which is fueling the rise of collaborative alliances where multiple organizations align around a shared objective. * Sustainable fundraising is rooted in genuine relationships, where donors feel like essential partners in solving a problem, not mere transactions, writing checks. * Even as government funding shifts, human beings consistently step up in times of real need, creating opportunities for innovation, diversified funding, and new partnerships across sectors. "A philanthropic cause wins when they're able to develop a community of people around the cause who are dedicated to helping eradicate whatever problem they're trying to solve."  — Aaron Coe About Aaron Coe: Aaron B. Coe, Ph.D., is a visionary leader, strategist, and CEO of Future City Now, a consultancy dedicated to empowering mission-driven organizations with strategies that transform potential into significant impact. Aaron specializes in clarifying vision, crafting compelling campaigns, and cultivating immersive experiences that inspire meaningful action. With a proven track record of guiding nonprofit organizations, faith-based ministries, and educational institutions toward breakthrough results, Aaron’s leadership centers around one core belief: organizations don't face fundraising challenges; they face storytelling challenges. Leveraging his expertise in narrative-driven fundraising, Aaron has helped clients collectively raise millions in revenue, amplify their missions, and achieve sustainable growth. His innovative approach is rooted in decades of experience in leadership roles across nonprofit, educational, and faith sectors. Aaron’s background includes significant involvement with major campaigns and strategic projects, such as the Museum of the Bible’s Generations Membership Campaign, Passion Conferences’ global initiatives, and illumiNations' Twelve Verse Challenge, among others. A sought-after speaker, author, and consultant, Aaron holds a Ph.D. In Applied Theology and regularly lectures on strategic leadership, fundraising, and organizational sustainability. His thoughtful insights and practical methodologies have positioned him as a trusted advisor for CEOs, Chief Development Officers, and Chief Marketing Officers seeking transformative results. Aaron's passion extends beyond professional excellence; he is deeply committed to nurturing next-generation leaders, advocating for thoughtful stewardship of resources, and championing ambitious dreams that shape communities worldwide. Connect with Aaron Coe:   Website: https://www.futurecitynow.com/ [https://www.futurecitynow.com/]  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-coe-51b64010b/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-coe-51b64010b/]  To get in touch with Gary: Website: https://betterpathtraining.com/ [https://betterpathtraining.com/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gsinderbrand/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/gsinderbrand/] Audio production by https://www.turnkeypodcast.com/Turnkey Podcast Productions. [https://www.turnkeypodcast.com/] You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

Chris Volk: Why Great Business Models Matter More Than Money

What if everything you think you know about risk, real estate, and raising capital is backwards? In this episode, a three-time REIT founder who went from $15,000 to $10 billion in assets breaks down business models, AI, private markets, and how to think about risk like a real operator, not a textbook. In this episode, Gary and Chris Volk discuss: * Evolution of REITs and “shadow banking” business models * How to raise large-scale capital from a standing start * AI, tech, and the challenge of monetizing powerful tools * What risk really is vs. what business school teaches * Public vs. private markets, leverage, and investor alignment Key Takeaways: * The hardest part of building big companies today isn’t finding money; it’s assembling a strong leadership team, a real problem to solve, and a robust business model that can be optimized. * Breakthrough technologies like search or AI only become enduring businesses when someone figures out how to monetize them with a clear, durable model. * Many operating companies are better off renting real estate than owning it, using specialized landlords as a form of smarter, more flexible financing. * Risk is fundamentally about downside and margin for error, not short‑term price volatility—high leverage isn’t automatically dangerous if it’s structured with a real cushion. * Private vehicles and alternatives often hide more leverage, higher fees, and lower disclosure than their public counterparts, which can quietly raise risk even as they appear “less volatile.” "My whole thing in my career has been to convince people that they're better off having a landlord than a banker."  — Chris Volk About Chris Volk: Christopher (Chris) Volk is a veteran real estate finance entrepreneur, investor, and three‑time public company CEO who has helped reshape how operating companies use real estate capital. Over several decades in the REIT world, he has taken three companies public, including one he helped grow from just $15,000 of his own money into a platform with more than $10 billion in assets, ultimately attracting Berkshire Hathaway as its largest shareholder. Known as a “business model junkie,” Chris pioneered using net lease REITs as a form of “shadow banking,” financing mission‑critical real estate for operating companies so they can deploy their own capital into higher‑return opportunities. Today, as Chairman of Ten (Tenant) Corporation and a member of multiple boards, he writes and speaks extensively on valuation, capital formation, risk as “margin for error,” and why many businesses are better off with a landlord than a banker. Connect with Chris Volk:   Website: www.christopherhvolk.com [http://www.christopherhvolk.com]  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@chrisvolk2278 [https://www.youtube.com/@chrisvolk2278]  To get in touch with Gary: Website: https://betterpathtraining.com/ [https://betterpathtraining.com/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gsinderbrand/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/gsinderbrand/] Audio production by https://www.turnkeypodcast.com/Turnkey Podcast Productions. [https://www.turnkeypodcast.com/] You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.