The Hiring Experiment Part 2: The Connection

The Hiring Experiment Part 2: The Connection

What does a great interview actually sound like? In Part 2 of The Hiring Experiment, the roles are reversed as Curt interviews Melody using the hiring framework he relies on today. Instead of searching for perfect answers, Curt demonstrates an approach built on curiosity, authenticity, and understanding who a candidate really is beneath the resume. Throughout the conversation, Melody steps into the role of a candidate applying for a customer success position, giving listeners a front-row seat to a modern interview process designed to uncover values, motivations, communication style, and cultural fit. Along the way, Curt explains why he avoids leading questions, how he evaluates expertise without giving away what he's looking for, and why he believes entrepreneurs should stop hiring people they've never worked with before. This episode is part interview demonstration, part hiring masterclass, and a practical look at how thoughtful questions can reveal far more than rehearsed answers ever will. What They Talk About * Curt’s framework for interviews: extreme curiosity, not showing his hand, and never feeding answers * Why Melody thinks classic interviews are pressure-cookers that rarely show you who someone really is * The story about being fired for “working too hard” and why pretending to be busy might actually be the rule in some companies * The trauma of being a teenage elf—with a glued-on mustache (and what that says about sticking it out) * What makes a workplace culture truly great (spoiler: it’s not the perks, it’s the people) * How both hosts have moved to paid, real-world projects as part of hiring—not just talking about fit, but testing it * Conversations about remote work: the risks of micromanagement, the power of memes, and staying human over Zoom * Melody’s favorite interview question (hint: it’s about your best friend, not your résumé) Key Takeaways * You can’t game a genuinely curious interview.. if it’s done right, there is no “right answer” * Testing real work (not hypothetical scenarios) reveals so much more than traditional questions * Job fit is about values, energy, and growth.. not just skills or step-by-step instructions * Being honest about growth, conflict, and even failures leads to way better hires and happier teams TIMESTAMPS 0:00 – Melody in the hot seat, and why this experiment matters 6:16 – Curt lays out his interview framework 13:09 – The window cleaning story and what lights Melody up at work 18:27 – Mustaches, quitting, and drawing boundaries with bad bosses 26:34 – What 75% of a truly great workplace agrees about 30:27 – The real deal on remote company culture 42:23 – The paid trial project and why it’s their “business prenup” 54:47 – Debriefs, ride-alongs, and prepping people for honest interviews 64:19 – Letting go of “forever hires” and making space for growth

The Hiring Experiment Part 1: The Checklist

Melody just got back from a whirlwind week of deep cleaning an inn on Cape Cod while launching a full-blown vegan detox.. yes, at the same time! This episode kicks off with that chaotic personal story before rolling into a hilarious, slightly cringey role-play of how she used to run job interviews (and all the mistakes that came with it). It’s all about the messy, mysterious art of hiring: what’s changed, what still stumps us, and why nailing the “culture fit” is way harder than anyone admits. Key Takeaways: * Most interviews are performances.. people say what you want to hear because survival (aka getting paid) is on the line. * True alignment isn’t about reciting the boss’s values, but about what motivates someone when no one is watching. * Even after hundreds (or thousands) of hires, you can’t game the mystery out of people.. you can only build better systems and expect a little failure. * Culture, capability, and manager fit all matter; a red flag in any one can unravel everything. * If someone’s not a morning person, no “pretend” morning enthusiasm will last longer than a few weeks—ask us how we know. Timestamps: * [00:01:29] Melody’s innkeeping and vegan cleanse escapades * [00:10:14] “Hiring mistakes from a decade ago” * [00:13:07] Interview style confessions (awkward silences, overselling) * [00:25:53] The myth of “values-based hiring” * [00:32:21] Testing tools, culture clashes, and international surprises * [00:35:27] Admitting we’re still not hiring experts Definitely one for anyone who’s ever sweated over hiring… or wondered why “just hire nice people” never works out that simply.

Interview with Josh Latimer Part 3

In Part 3 of Curt and Melody’s conversation with Josh Latimer, the discussion moves far beyond business tactics and into the deeper questions entrepreneurs wrestle with underneath the surface. Josh shares candidly about boredom in business, the tension between creativity and leadership, why so many entrepreneurs chase goals they don’t actually want, and how identity shapes pricing, confidence, growth, and decision-making. The episode explores the difference between cravings created by outside expectations versus genuine desires rooted in purpose and conviction. Curt, Melody, and Josh also unpack sales psychology, delegation, startup culture, mentorship, boundaries, and what it really takes to grow into the next version of yourself. This conversation feels equal parts business coaching session, philosophical discussion, and honest reflection on the emotional side of entrepreneurship. Key Takeaways: * Most of what entrepreneurs claim they want is just social conditioning—figuring out your real, internally-motivated desire is a much messier process. * Serving customers you “should” want to help (instead of the ones who value you) is a fast road to burnout and under-earning. * Boundaries actually make people respect you more—overgiving just makes everyone (yourself included) take your value for granted. * Pricing transforms how your clients show up (and how you see yourself). Sometimes doubling your price is the most generous thing you can do for both sides. * Iterating in public, embracing mistakes, and treating your business as a living "science experiment" beats waiting for perfect. Timestamps: * [00:00:00] Desires vs. cravings and deathbed regrets * [00:07:13] The “so that” story that strips ambition to the core * [00:16:13] Melody’s “oughtness” trap and finding the right customer * [00:24:07] Pricing, confidence, and the weird truth about value * [00:33:35] Boundaries, burnout, and the hard lessons of letting go * [00:56:37] F.R.A.P. and the art (and science) of making profit actually work * [01:07:08] Can you market ethically and build wealth? (Hint: yes) Connect with Soul Proprietor: Website: The Soul Proprietor Podcast [https://soulproprietorpod.com/] Instagram: @soulproprietorpodcast [https://www.instagram.com/soulproprietorpodcast/] LinkedIn: The Soul Proprietor Podcast [https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-soul-proprietor-podcast/] Facebook: Soul Proprietor Podcast [https://www.facebook.com/soulproprietorpod] Youtube: The Soul Proprietor Podcast [https://www.youtube.com/@SoulProprietorPod]

We Were Dreamers Before We Were Entrepreneurs

At what point do entrepreneurs stop dreaming and start only solving problems? In this deeply honest conversation, Curt and Melody explore the tension between creativity, ambition, technology, and being human in a world that never stops moving. What started as a conversation about entrepreneurship and AI turned into something much bigger: a reflection on dreaming itself. They unpack the addictive nature of execution, the pressure entrepreneurs place on themselves, and how modern technology is changing not just the way businesses operate — but the way people think, create, rest, and connect. Curt opens up about getting consumed by late-night AI building sessions and the moment Rachel confronted him about being present with his family. Melody reflects on the difference between dreaming, creating, and constantly reacting to the endless stream of possibilities AI creates. Together, they wrestle with questions many entrepreneurs are quietly asking right now: -What happens when ideas can become reality instantly? -What do humans lose when every problem gets outsourced? -And how do we protect wonder, creativity, and connection in the middle of nonstop execution? By the end of the episode, Curt and Melody challenge themselves to reconnect with something they haven’t practiced in a long time: ridiculous, childlike dreaming. Because before they were entrepreneurs… they were dreamers. Timestamps: * 00:10 – Melody’s travel spiral & Kurt’s homebody era * 05:00 – Dreaming vs. implementing (and why teams panic at new ideas) * 13:10 – Addicted to AI, missing dinner, and marital intervention * 21:30 – “Dreaming” now just means executing—what’s lost? * 32:00 – Overwhelm, mental health, and sheltering our brains * 39:00 – Dreaming for family, dreaming as community * 45:05 – Ridiculous dreams (flying, performing, being a kid again)

Mel Infiltrates A Christian Business Conference

What happens when your values deeply align with a room full of people… but your identity still feels complicated? In this episode, Melody joins Curt live from a Christian business conference in Arkansas and opens up about something unexpectedly vulnerable: feeling like a fraud in spaces where she actually feels deeply at home. What starts as a conversation about faith quickly becomes a much bigger exploration of entrepreneurship, authenticity, self-worth, and the emotional tension many founders feel around visibility, networking, and asking for what they want. Curt and Melody unpack: * Why purpose-driven entrepreneurs often struggle to advocate for themselves * The difference between authentic connection and strategic collaboration * Why “being business-minded” can feel manipulative to relational people * The fear of rejection hiding underneath networking discomfort * What it means to “hold the pose” of the person you’re becoming * Why promoting a shared mission feels easier than promoting yourself * The surprising overlap between faith-based leadership values and ethical entrepreneurship Along the way, Melody reflects on hearing speakers like Auntie Anne’s founder Anne Beiler, wrestling with identity in unfamiliar spaces, and realizing that maybe the hardest part of growth isn’t becoming someone new — it’s allowing yourself to fully step into who you already are. This episode is honest, funny, uncomfortable in the best way, and deeply relatable for anyone building a business without wanting to lose themselves in the process. CONNECT WITH THE SOUL PROPRIETOR Website: The Soul Proprietor Podcast [https://soulproprietorpod.com/] Instagram: @soulproprietorpodcast [https://www.instagram.com/soulproprietorpodcast/] LinkedIn: The Soul Proprietor Podcast [https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-soul-proprietor-podcast/] Facebook: Soul Proprietor Podcast [https://www.facebook.com/soulproprietorpod] Youtube: The Soul Proprietor Podcast [https://www.youtube.com/@SoulProprietorPod]