Emerging Leaders Series: Torrey Sims, President of WMH Media

The Game Knows with UC Davis Head Coach Jim Les

Nick sits down with Jim Les, head coach of UC Davis men’s basketball. With seven seasons in the NBA and 25 years as a collegiate head coach, Coach Les brings deep insights into high-stakes management. Nick and Jim explore effective leadership, relentless work ethic, and the value of mentorship in sports and corporate settings. Listeners will learn to cultivate sustainable success by prioritizing trust, clear communication, and professional excellence. The conversation covers elite team building, detailing how to recruit and retain top talent competitively. Jim explains how adapting your coaching style and building deep relationships serves as the ultimate anchor against turnover. They also highlight essential leadership behaviors like extreme accountability, vulnerability, and admitting mistakes. Finally, they discuss balancing a demanding career with family life, including Jim's experience coaching his son to a Division I championship. This is a truly fascinating discussion for business leaders and sports enthusiasts alike - one which clearly demonstrates that true success requires personal growth and mutual respect. Episode Highlights: 00:00 - Introduction 03:31 - Why Urgency Creates Great Leaders 08:15 - Turn Adversity Into Long-Term Success 09:44 - Build Trust Before You Lead 19:06 - Coach the Person, Not Just the Performance 24:27 - Never Stop Growing as a Leader 27:03 - Develop Leaders Beyond the Game 30:11 - How Great Cultures Retain Top Talent 38:26 - Lead With Honesty and Accountability 47:48 - Balance Leadership, Family, and Success 59:53 - Win With Gratitude and an Underdog Mindset Key Takeaways: "If you're not where you want to be in your life, personally or professionally, you’ve got to edit your life. What are the things that are preventing you from getting to those areas?" “In order to grow, you’ve got to go through adversity... and your limits have to be constrained in order to take steps forward." "I can deliver a good message, but if I don't live that message on a daily basis, the kids are going to pick up on that." "If a young man's not playing well or playing up to his potential, rather than point the finger at him, I tell our staff, we’ve got to point it at us." "If you run your organization or you run your team or run your program to try and retain, you're going to lose people. You have to be who you are." "I saw people that didn't respect the game, didn't work at it... and, man, the game humbled them." "There have been a lot of times I've walked in after the game and I said, 'You know what? That was a horrible play I drew up.'... I think it's important for us to own that in front of them." Links: Nick Warner Consulting: https://www.nickwarnerconsulting.com/ [https://www.nickwarnerconsulting.com/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nick-warner-consulting/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/nick-warner-consulting/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nickwarnerconsulting [https://www.facebook.com/nickwarnerconsulting] X: https://x.com/NickWarnerCoach [https://x.com/NickWarnerCoach] Together at the Top @ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/together-at-the-top/id1606943728 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/together-at-the-top/id1606943728] Jim Les @ UC Davis: https://ucdavisaggies.com/staff-directory/jim-les/29 [https://ucdavisaggies.com/staff-directory/jim-les/29]

From the Flight Deck with Captain Kyle Koukol

Captain Kyle Koukol, co-host of the From the Flight Deck podcast, joins Nick to dive into the topic of bridging the gap between aviation leadership and entrepreneurship. Discussing high-altitude discipline and his mission at his company, Dial a Pilot, Kyle demonstrates how humanizing the cockpit helps flyers overcome anxiety. This episode also provides an insider’s look at the grit needed to lead in both the sky and in business. Together, Kyle and Nick explore "shared mental models" and the necessity of "upstream feedback" as Kyle explains why leaders must invite correction to ensure safety and accountability. They discuss delegating to experts to avoid becoming a managerial bottleneck. Finally, Kyle shares his strategy for decompressing to balance a high-stakes career with a restorative home life and offers a roadmap for high-performance teams. Episode Highlights: 00:00 - Introduction 02:23 - Building a Career as an Airline Captain 05:25 - Balancing Leadership, Marriage, and Life at Home 11:22 - What Airline Pilots Love About the Job 14:42 - Managing Stress and High-Stakes Decisions 21:36 - Leading Older, More Experienced Team Members 24:22 - The Power of Debriefs and Continuous Improvement 29:37 - Solving the Fear of Flying Crisis 36:53 - Turning a Passion Project Into a Startup 42:25 - Building High-Performance Teams 46:38 - Leadership Lessons From Aviation 51:48 - Scaling Dial A Pilot and Impacting Millions Key Takeaways: "I really, really appreciate when people can give that upstream feedback, because I need to have that accountability." "The most important time for me to really receive good quality feedback is when I am the one making the call." "My first six months as captain, I really had to change the way that I would make those announcements... under-promising and over-delivering." "I am an airline pilot, we do calls with nervous flyers... and we will talk to you for as long as you want about flying." "A news agency... has to hit on negative emotions. Fear, anxiety, anger, all of those are just absolutely ripe in aviation." "I very much try to take the perspective that I know the least in the room." "I naturally surround myself with the people that are bought-in. If somebody is not passionately bought-in, I just won't work with them." "Surrounding yourself with the right people is just so incredibly important." Links: Nick Warner Consulting: https://www.nickwarnerconsulting.com/ [https://www.nickwarnerconsulting.com/] Kyle Koukol: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylekoukol/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylekoukol/] Dial a Pilot: https://www.dialapilot.com/ [https://www.dialapilot.com/] From the Flight Deck: https://www.dialapilot.com/podcast-episodes/podcast [https://www.dialapilot.com/podcast-episodes/podcast]

Leading with Grace with Kristin Olsen-Cate

California lobbyist, former state and local government leader, and Aspen Rodel fellow Kristin Olsen-Cate joins Nick on the podcast to share what it looks like to lead with civility in an era of toxic politics. From moderating the recent Central Valley gubernatorial debate to building a bipartisan dialogue program through California Rodel, Kristin offers a window into a career spent at the center of the biggest issues, and the convictions that have kept her grounded along the way. Together, Nick and Kristin explore what she calls the "exhausted majority" and her belief that real change happens not at the Capitol, but at dinner tables and in neighborhoods. They discuss her path from the Modesto Planning Commission to the State Assembly to the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors, the realities women still face in leadership, and the "don't tread on me" moment that taught her how to reshape perception. The conversation also covers stress, family, and her 2026 word, rest, alongside her enduring belief that "clear is kind" and that hard work paired with grace can still move mountains. Episode Highlights: 00:00 - Introduction 02:32 - Moderating a Bipartisan Gubernatorial Debate in the Central Valley 06:35 - The Exhausted Majority and Choosing Rest as Her 2026 Word 10:37 - From Capital Fellows to a Career in California Public Policy 14:03 - Returning to Modesto, Planning Commission, and the City Council Run 17:00 - Outworking the Field to Win a State Assembly Seat 22:40 - Women in Leadership and the Power of Being Asked 25:23 - Never Let Them See You Sweat and Reshaping First Impressions 30:03 - Clear is Kind: Civility, Smiles, and Choosing Joy 32:20 - Trust, Relationships, and What Makes a Great Lobbyist 36:39 - California Rodel and Transformational Change One Conversation at a Time 49:14 - Team Building, Stress Management, and Failing Forward Key Takeaways: "We don't need to be people's greatest critics. We need to be their greatest encouragers." "Clear is kind. We can treat each other with kindness and with respect while at the same time being adamant about our policy positions." "Walk through the doors that open and don't get too disappointed over the doors that close, and you might be surprised what's right in front of you." "Relationships are primary. Everything else is derivative." "True transformational change in a society and in people's lives happens one conversation at a time, one dinner table at a time, one neighborhood at a time." "Goals are just a wish without a plan." "Never apologize for your kids." "Failures are fingertips on the way to achievements." "We need to lead through politics and have friendships that are more important than political disagreements." "Choose joy. You can always find a reason to smile and make somebody else's day better." Links: Nick Warner Consulting: https://www.nickwarnerconsulting.com/ Kristin Olsen-Cate: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-olsen-cate-41b2446 California Strategies: https://calstrat.com/

Coffee and Consciousness with Java City CEO Pete Rogers

Nick welcomes Pete Rogers, CEO of Java City, to share his story of revitalizing a legacy brand and so much more in a conversation that goes far beyond business strategy. Together, they explore the intersection of leadership, personal consciousness, and practical stress management, as they dig into the principles of neuroscience and intentional mindset shifts that can positively affect a company's culture and one's own professional life. Pete details Java City's history, including its transition into a family-led and future employee-owned (ESOP) company. He and Nick go on to explore the unique dynamics of running a family business, highlighting the need to separate personal and professional roles. The conversation really centers on actionable wellness strategies, with Pete sharing a guided breathing exercise for managing stress. This is one episode which definitely offers valuable insights for leaders focused on building a resilient, healthy culture and improving their own mindset. Episode Highlights: 00:00 - Introduction 02:35 - Pete Rogers’ Path to Leading the Java City Coffee Turnaround 06:12 - Rebuilding a Legacy Coffee Brand After COVID Disruption 09:15 - Putting the Right People in the Right Roles as a CEO 11:09 - Running a Family Business Without Hierarchy Conflicts 14:23 - Teaching Neuroscience and Communication Inside Company Culture 18:22 - The Increasing Presence of Stress in Our Lives 20:42 - Pete’s Gift to Listeners 21:46 - The Science Behind Stress and Stress Management 30:39 - Why CEOs Should Teach Mindset and Emotional Intelligence at Work 33:55 - Shifting From “I Have to Work” to “I Get to Work” Thinking 38:36 - Why Personal Responsibility and Choice Drive Career Change 41:04 - Building an Employee-Owned Company With an ESOP Model 44:05 - Rewiring Stress Responses With Daily Leadership Habits 48:30 - Why Authentic Leaders Build Stronger Teams and Culture Key Takeaways: "In our society, we often feel stuck. But realizing life is a choice is empowering. If you don't like it, change it." "I value people and relationships above all else. Next is winning sustainability and healthy culture." "Stress costs U.S. corporations $322 billion a year. Awareness and tools can change that." "Focus your attention on your heart. Breathe in for four seconds, out for five. In 90 seconds, you can change your state." "We live in three letters: B, C, D. Birth, Choice, Death. All we have is choice." "You get to work or you gotta work? Your mindset shapes your reality." "Teaching neuroscience to employees fosters growth. We discuss concepts to solve real challenges." "Humility is a dividing line between good and great. Authentic leaders admit mistakes and change." Links: Nick Warner Consulting: https://www.nickwarnerconsulting.com/ [https://www.nickwarnerconsulting.com/] Java City: https: javacity.com [http://javacity.com/] The Courage to Be Disliked: https://www.amazon.ca/Courage-Be-Disliked-Phenomenon-Happiness/dp/1982107022 [https://www.amazon.ca/Courage-Be-Disliked-Phenomenon-Happiness/dp/1982107022] The Biology of Belief: https://www.amazon.ca/Biology-Belief-Unleashing-Consciousness-Miracles/dp/1401923127 [https://www.amazon.ca/Biology-Belief-Unleashing-Consciousness-Miracles/dp/1401923127]

Emerging Leaders Series: Torrey Sims, President of WMH Media

Continuing his new ‘Emerging Leaders Series’, Nick welcomes entrepreneur and true emerging leader Torrey Sims back to the podcast to offer an update on her experiences as a business president and owner. Having spent nearly two years leading WMH Media after purchasing the 30-year-old company, Torrey shares what she has learned about self-trust, resilience, and leading with purpose and class. Her reflections offer a clear look at the realities of modern leadership. Torrey explains why she starts with trust but has learned to meet people where they are, and talks about not letting the reality of others change who you are at your core. The discussion goes on to cover the loneliness that can come with entrepreneurship, the need to be your own biggest cheerleader, and Torrey’s belief that what is wrong will eventually expose itself, saving you from needing to be the ‘justice police’. She also opens up about how personal loss has reshaped her view of time, health, and what it means to leave a proud legacy. Episode Highlights: 00:00 - Introduction 02:20 - Meet People Where They Are and Stay Resilient 09:43 - Build a Strong Personal Brand Through Purpose and Class 12:41 - Let Problems Expose Themselves and Drop “Justice Police” Energy 19:13 - Build Confidence by Showing Up and Doing Hard Things 26:22 - Define Real Support and Build a High-Trust Inner Circle 31:17 - Buy and Modernize a Legacy Business the Right Way 40:26 - Protect Sleep and Health to Sustain CEO Performance 47:35 - Use Curiosity to Build Strong Relationships and Trust 55:28 - Expand Into New Markets Through Strategic Networking 01:00:01 - Scale the Company With Key Hires and Bold New Initiatives 01:08:35 - Know Yourself Before Making Big Moves in Leadership Key Takeaways: "I don't want everybody to like me just because I'm in charge. I want them to respect and value the product." "Not everyone does the right thing, but don't let that reality change you." "Lead with purpose and class, no matter what is thrown your way." "What is wrong will eventually expose itself with or without your energy." "I have never trusted myself more than I do today." "If it was easy, everybody would do it. It's not easy." "You are your brand. How you carry yourself and the circles you're in all come together." "Meet people where they're at. You don't know what they're going through." "Winning creates confidence, but stepping outside of your comfort zone is key too." "Hard work is hard, but it's also the most rewarding." Links: Nick Warner Consulting: https://www.nickwarnerconsulting.com/ [https://www.nickwarnerconsulting.com/] Torrey Sims: https://www.linkedin.com/in/torrey-sims/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/torrey-sims/] WMH Media: https://wmhmedia.com/ [https://wmhmedia.com/]