From Barber Chairs to Boardrooms (with Thad Forrester)

Protecting Company Culture as You Grow (with Scott Bybee)

What actually creates a company culture that survives growth? In this episode of Magic & Logic, Josh sits down with Scott Bybee, longtime leader of SC, to talk about leadership, core values, generosity, succession, and the responsibility that comes with building something that lasts. Scott shares the story of stepping into leadership after his father founded the company, earning trust inside a growing organization, and learning how culture must be protected intentionally as teams scale. They discuss the difference between values written on a wall versus values that actually shape decisions, why ownership mentality matters, and how clear thinking leads to better leadership. The conversation also explores generosity, faith, stewardship, and why Scott believes success becomes more meaningful when it is used to serve others. If you care about leadership, culture, business, or legacy, this conversation is for you. Episode Overview * Taking over a family business and earning trust * Building a company culture that actually lasts * Why core values only matter if they are enforced * Leadership lessons from Scott’s father * The importance of ownership mentality in teams * Scaling a business without losing alignment * Clear writing and clear thinking in leadership * Generosity, stewardship, and purpose beyond business * Why protecting culture gets harder as companies grow * Building a legacy that outlives the business Helpful Links Learn more about Hook → hookcreative.co Read the Magic & Logic Book → hookcreative.co/book Follow Us on LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/company/hookcreative [https://www.linkedin.com/company/hookcreative] Instagram / Facebook / YouTube → @hookcreative

Protecting Company Culture as You Grow (with Scott Bybee)

What actually creates a company culture that survives growth? In this episode of Magic & Logic, Josh sits down with Scott Bybee, longtime leader of ESC, to talk about leadership, core values, generosity, succession, and the responsibility that comes with building something that lasts.Scott shares the story of stepping into leadership after his father founded the company, earning trust inside a growing organization, and learning how culture must be protected intentionally as teams scale. They discuss the difference between values written on a wall versus values that actually shape decisions, why ownership mentality matters, and how clear thinking leads to better leadership.The conversation also explores generosity, faith, stewardship, and why Scott believes success becomes more meaningful when it is used to serve others. If you care about leadership, culture, business, or legacy, this conversation is for you. Episode Overview - Taking over a family business and earning trust - Building a company culture that actually lasts - Why core values only matter if they are enforced - Leadership lessons from Scott’s father - The importance of ownership mentality in teams- Scaling a business without losing alignment - Clear writing and clear thinking in leadership - Generosity, stewardship, and purpose beyond business- Why protecting culture gets harder as companies grow - Building a legacy that outlives the business Helpful Links Learn more about Hook → hookcreative.co Read the Magic & Logic Book → hookcreative.co/book Follow Us on LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/company/hookcreative Instagram / Facebook / YouTube → @hookcreative

From Barber Chairs to Boardrooms (with Thad Forrester)

Faith, Humility, and the Long Game of Leadership In this episode of Magic & Logic, Josh sits down with Thad Forrester, a brand builder, entrepreneur, and leader whose career has followed a non-linear path shaped by relationships, conviction, and a steady willingness to do the hard work when no one is watching. From advertising and technology to co-founding Hudson & Hawk Barbershop and later stepping into a leadership role in fintech, Thad shares how his life and career have been formed less by strategy alone and more by people. He reflects on the grind of the early days, being the last one paid, learning when to step back, and how humility and teachability have become essential leadership muscles over time. This conversation explores why protecting relationships is the most valuable skill a leader can develop, how faith informs decision-making in seasons of uncertainty, and what it looks like to release control without losing purpose. If you’re building something across seasons, navigating change, or learning how to lead without ego, this one is for you. Episode Overview - Thad’s journey from marketing and tech into co-founding Hudson & Hawk Barbershop - Why relationships, not transactions, are the foundation of sustainable success - The grind of the early years and being “the last man to eat” - Lessons learned about humility, followership, and leading without having all the answers - How faith shaped major career decisions and moments of transition - Letting go of control while still stewarding what you’ve built - The importance of community, mentors, and honest voices in leadership - Why attitude and teachability often matter more than talent Helpful Links Learn more about Hook → hookcreative.co [hookcreative.co] Read the Magic & Logic Book → hookcreative.co/book [https://www.hookcreative.co/book] Follow Us on LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/company/hookcreative [https://www.linkedin.com/company/hookcreative] Instagram / Facebook / YouTube → @hookcreative

Building Rally: Faith, Fatherhood, and Family Leadership (with Lain McCanless)

From Broken Home to Building Legacy In this episode of Magic & Logic, Josh sits down with Lain McCanless, co-founder of Rally Family Branding, host of the Fathergood podcast, and member of the teaching team at Woodland Hills Church. What began as personal pain at 14 years old became a lifelong commitment to fatherhood, leadership, and helping families articulate who they are and where they are going. Lain shares how growing up in a broken home shaped his obsession with family culture, why he believes faith and ambition must coexist, and how Rally was born from a burden to help builders lead at home first. They unpack stewardship, bias toward action, foxhole friendships, people-pleasing, and what it really means to build something that lasts. If you are building a business but do not want to lose your marriage, your kids, or your integrity in the process, this conversation is for you. Episode Overview: How Lain’s parents’ divorce at 14 shaped his calling toward fatherhood and family leadership The origin story of Rally Family Branding and why “you can either lead your family, or the world will” What it means to build with balance instead of scale at all costs Why the greatest threat to any business is moral failure, not money The tension between faith and ambition and why they actually strengthen each other How to cultivate “foxhole” friendships that sharpen and protect you Why both quantity time and quality time matter in fatherhood The habits that keep Lain grounded including faith rhythms, CrossFit, phone boundaries, and weekly date nights Letting go of people-pleasing and choosing faithfulness over fame What legacy really means and why it starts at home Helpful Links: Learn more about Hook → https://hookcreative.co Read the Magic & Logic Book → https://hookcreative.co/book Follow Us on LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/company/hookcreative Instagram / Facebook / YouTube → @hookcreative Musicbed SyncID - MB01IYO6LVDR61M

How Silver Dollar City is Led at Scale (with Brad Thomas)

Stewardship, Focus, and Leading Something Bigger Than Yourself In this episode of Magic & Logic, Josh sits down with Brad Thomas, longtime president of Silver Dollar City and a steady-handed leader who has spent more than three decades shaping one of the most beloved destinations in the country. Brad’s story is not about chasing what’s next, but about faithfully carrying a vision forward, year after year, decision after decision. Brad shares how a broken-hearted fourth grader found belonging in the Ozarks, why he took a pay cut to step into a calling he couldn’t ignore, and how servant leadership, research-driven strategy, and humility have guided Silver Dollar City through seasons of growth, risk, and reinvention. From sacred cows like Fire in the Hole to bold moves like the new resort, Brad unpacks how to preserve what matters while still evolving with intention. This conversation is about focus in a distracted world, building culture that outlasts titles, and leading with care when the work impacts millions of lives. If you’re responsible for carrying something bigger than yourself, a business, a team, a legacy, or a vision, this one is for you. Episode Overview * Brad’s journey from a widowed pastor’s son to president of Silver Dollar City * Why he took a pay cut to pursue a chapter he felt called to step into * How servant leadership and consultative decision-making shape culture * The balance between heritage and innovation in a legacy brand * What “sacred cows” are and why protecting them matters * The strategic thinking behind major bets like Christmas, Nickelodeon, and the new Fire in the Hole * Why focus and prioritizing the “big rocks” are essential for long-term leadership * How faith, humility, and stewardship guide decision-making at scale * Lessons for leaders tasked with building something meant to outlast them Helpful Links Learn more about Hook → https://hookcreative.coRead the Magic & Logic Book → https://hookcreative.co/bookFollow Us on LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/company/hookcreativeInstagram / Facebook / YouTube → @hookcreativeMusicbed SyncID - MB01IYO6LVDR61M