From Drug Dealer to Strong Leader — with Doug Smith

Fired Six Times From The Same Dealership — with Benny Fisher

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2375403/fan_mail/new] Join hosts Tim Tannert, CEO of BetterRx and Certified EOS Implementer, and Josh Roberts, CEO of USA Talent Solutions, as they sit down with visionary entrepreneur Benny Fisher for one of the most unfiltered stories yet. From being fired six times from the same dealership to getting raided by police and hit with two felonies, Benny’s journey has been anything but straight. He opens up about hitting rock bottom—living out of his car, overdosing on fentanyl, and nearly losing it all—only to rebuild from the ground up as the founder of Big Fish Contracting, one of Pittsburgh’s fastest-growing roofing companies. Benny shares how knocking on doors led to his first million in sales, what it felt like to sell his business after nearly a decade, and why losing his younger brother to a drug-related shooting became the catalyst for him to share his story more openly. Along the way, he reflects on EOS, leadership, addiction, faith, and what it truly means to build a life worth living. If you’ve ever doubted whether redemption is possible—or just want to hear how a fired car salesman turned felonies into five-star reviews—you won’t want to miss this one. 📚 Books & Resources Mentioned Rocket Fuel — Gino Wickman & Mark C. Winters Traction — Gino Wickman The EOS Life — Gino Wickman Shine — Gino Wickman & Rob Dube Miracle Morning — Hal Elrod 👉 Listen in for stories about overdoses, golf course phone calls that change everything, and how Benny went from a $1,200 debt to selling a multimillion-dollar company.

My Son Called Me Out for Bad Leadership — with David McGlennen

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2375403/fan_mail/new] Join hosts Tim Tannert, CEO of BetterRX and Certified EOS Implementer, and Josh Roberts, CEO of USA Talent Solutions, as they dive into the wins, failures, and the crazy leadership stories you truly can’t make up. This week’s guest, David McGlennen, CEO culture expert and executive coach, brings over three decades of experience in the insurance and wellness industries before launching Impact Leadership Consulting. David works with leadership teams to design intentional cultures that actually get lived out—not just framed on a wall. From getting fired 10 months into a new city with a family of seven, to hiring his own son as his bookkeeper (and getting called out for overspending), David shares candid stories about vulnerability, accountability, and growth. He also talks about why CEOs have to become teachers of their values, how to have the tough conversations leaders often avoid, and what it means to build a family culture at work without the unhealthy baggage. If you’ve ever wondered how to hold people accountable to values, or what it feels like when your kid calls out your leadership flaws—it’s all here. 📚 Books & References Mentioned Never Split the Difference — Chris Voss Intentional Living — John Maxwell Halftime: Moving from Success to Significance — Bob Buford 👉 Tune in for stories about fired CEOs, family feuds over budgets, and why being vulnerable might be the most powerful leadership move you’ll ever make.

My Robot Caught Fire... They Bought It Anyway — with Rich Lunak

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2375403/fan_mail/new] Join our hosts Tim Tannert, CEO of BetterRx and Certified EOS Implementer, and Josh Roberts, CEO of USA Talent Solutions, as they dig into the wins, failures, and wild stories from leaders who’ve lived them. This episode features Rich Lunak — entrepreneur, investor, and former Group President at McKesson Corporation. From building robots in a two-bedroom apartment to selling his startup to a Fortune 50 company, to mentoring the next generation of founders through Innovation Works, Rich has seen it all. Rich shares how wearing “every hat” as a young founder shaped his leadership, what it takes to avoid common traps in scaling a business, and why job security is about building marketable skills—not the logo on your paycheck. He also opens up about hilarious demo-day disasters (including a prototype that literally smoked mid-pitch), the hard lessons of hiring the wrong leaders, and his perspective on AI’s disruptive future. If you’ve ever wondered how to grow from scrappy founder to seasoned CEO—or just need to hear a story about how a smoking robot still landed a major deal—this one’s for you. 📚 Books Mentioned The Lean Startup — Eric Ries The Four Steps to the Epiphany — Steve Blank Steve Jobs — Walter Isaacson Elon Musk — Walter Isaacson The Everything Store — Brad Stone Shoe Dog — Phil Knight Einstein: His Life and Universe — Walter Isaacson The Wright Brothers — David McCullough 👉 Listen now and subscribe for more stories you truly can’t make up.

From Drug Dealer to Strong Leader — with Doug Smith

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2375403/fan_mail/new] Join our hosts Tim Tannert, Certified EOS Implementer, and Josh Roberts, CEO of USA Talent Solutions, as they celebrate the wins and, more hilariously, the failures we’ve made as leaders.  Each episode of the You Can’t Make This Shit Up Podcast, we’ll be interviewing successful, inspiring leaders about some of the people issues they have faced, and what they’ve learned in their leadership journey.  This episode, Doug Smith, Assistant Executive Director of Light of Life Rescue Mission and founder of L3 Leadership, shares his inspiring journey from a troubled past to becoming a passionate leader and mentor.  Thanks for joining us for Season 3! Stay tuned for more stories and leadership insights in future episodes. 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 01:12 Doug's Background and Career at Light of Life 01:56 Leadership Development and Personal Transformation 02:47 Family Life and Podcasting Journey 03:52 Podcasting Tips and Consistency 06:05 Overcoming Insecurities in Interviewing 07:04 Doug's Origin Story and Turning Point 15:45 Mentorship and Its Impact 30:27 Daily Routines and Systems for Success 37:37 Impact of Light of Life and Final Thoughts 39:50 Heartfelt Stories of Transformation 41:54 Faith's Role in Recovery 43:24 From Client to Staff: Hutch's Journey 45:49 The Power of Mentorship and Community 46:27 Leadership and Vulnerability 51:02 Personal Struggles and Therapy 55:57 Balancing Life's Demands 57:45 Reflecting on Leadership and Future Goals 01:05:30 Overcoming Dyslexia and Negative Labels 01:18:01 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

Hired by Microsoft at 13 — with Bob Stein

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2375403/fan_mail/new] Join hosts Tim Tannert and Josh Roberts as they welcome Bob Stein, Executive Director and Associate Vice Chancellor at the University of Pittsburgh's Institute for Entrepreneurial Excellence, to the 'You Can't Make This Shit Up' podcast.  In this episode, Bob shares his remarkable journey from running a gaming community at 13 to being hired by Microsoft. He discusses leadership lessons, the importance of perseverance, and the challenges faced by family-owned businesses.  Listen in as Bob talks about his passion for supporting entrepreneurs, organizing impactful events, and his impressive 950-day running streak that exemplifies his dedication and grit. Stay tuned for more inspiring stories and leadership insights. 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 01:04 Bob Stein's Background and Early Career 01:49 Transition to University of Pittsburgh 03:12 Entrepreneurial Journey and Family Influence 06:22 Steel City Con and Entrepreneurial Ventures 07:43 Supporting Entrepreneurs at University of Pittsburgh 09:29 Challenges and Trends in Business 23:47 Leadership and Mentorship Insights 24:55 Running and Personal Discipline 32:34 Navigating Mentorship and Personal Growth 33:27 The Role of Scouting in Leadership Development 36:38 Family Business Dynamics and Challenges 42:16 Event Planning and Speaker Selection 48:44 The Resilience of Entrepreneurs 57:44 Supporting Local Businesses 58:54 Conclusion and Final Thoughts