The LIV Lab

What 40 Years of Success Taught Them | The LIV Lab Episode 33 ft. Jeff Burgess and Kelly Nagel

We hear a lot about success. The title. The promotion. The company. The money. But we hear a lot less about what actually builds it: The mentor who believed in you. The relationship that opened a door. The risk you took before you felt ready. The courage to ask for more. This week on The LIV Lab, Jeff Burgess and Kelly Nagel take over the mic. Jeff built BCD Video into a $100 million company. Kelly rose to become President of North America at Jabra and now helps others grow through executive coaching and leadership at The WIT Network. But the real story is that they spent 40 years learning, growing, and succeeding alongside each other. This episode is full of honest lessons on ambition, mentorship, confidence, and building a meaningful career. In this episode, we explore: * Why relationships matter more than most people realize * How to ask for opportunities instead of waiting * Why mentors can change your path * How to take risks before you feel ready * Why curiosity is a superpower * What legacy really means The LIV Call to Action Learn: Notice who brings out your best and learn from them. Innovate: Choose one thing you've been wanting and say it out loud. Venture: Start one conversation this week that could change your future. 📩 Share your week's LIV! Email me at thelivlabpodcast@gmail.com [thelivlabpodcast@gmail.com]

Money Won't Fix It (But It Still Matters) | The LIV Lab Episode 32 ft. John Lanza

You finally get the thing you wanted… and somehow, it still doesn't feel like enough. The new gym set. The hoodie. The car. The house. The "this is gonna change everything" purchase. For a moment, it does feel exciting. And then… it fades. And suddenly, you're onto the next thing. So what's actually going on? This week on The LIV Lab, I sit down with John Lanza, author of The Art of Allowance and creator of Money Mammals, to talk about money, but not in the way you're used to. Not just budgets or investing. But the feeling behind it all. Because money is more than math. It's emotional and psychological. This episode is part mindset shift, part practical tools, and part "wait… why do I do that?" In this episode, we explore: • Why buying things doesn't lead to lasting happiness • The difference between wanting something and actually valuing it • Why money is more emotional than logical (yes, even for you) • The 3 core habits: saving, spending, and investing, simplified • How to stop impulsive spending (without guilt) • The concept of "paying your future self" • What financial independence actually means (and why it looks different for everyone) • Why there is no "perfect" career path, and why that's okay The LIV Call to Action Learn: Start noticing your patterns. The next time you want to buy something, pause and ask: Do I actually want this… or do I want how I think it will make me feel? Innovate: Create a system that works for you. A one-week waiting rule, a spending cap, or even just a quick "check-in" before purchases. Build a little friction. Venture: Make one intentional money decision this week. Skip one impulse buy, or choose something that truly adds value to your life. 📩 Share your week's LIV! Email me at thelivlabpodcast@gmail.com Learn more about John Lanza at johnlanza.com [https://www.johnlanza.com/] and themoneymammals.com [https://themoneymammals.com/] Check out his must-read book: The Art of Allowance [https://www.theartofallowance.com/]

The Truth About Money, Failure, and Starting Over | The LIV Lab Episode 31 ft. Joe Saul-Sehy

What do a maxed-out credit card, a gas station meltdown, and one of the biggest money podcasts in the country have in common? Joe. This week on The LIV Lab, I sit down with Joe Saul-Sehy, host of Stacking Benjamins, to talk about the story he doesn't hide: the messy one. Before the awards. Before the financial advice. Before helping millions of people feel confident about money. There was confusion, and a few (a lot of) questionable decisions. And some very real wake-up calls. Joe shares how he went from feeling completely out of control to building systems, surrounding himself with the right people, and redefining what "success" actually means. We talk about money, but we also talk about identity, creativity, leadership, risk, and the difference between security and opportunity. In this episode, we explore: • Why making more money doesn't automatically fix anything • The mindset shift that changed everything • "Who not how" and why community matters more than we think • The illusion of security in careers and life • How creativity became his unexpected superpower • What money can do, and what it absolutely cannot The LIV Call to Action Learn: More money will not fix bad habits. Learn one new system this week. Talk to someone who is good with money, watch something, or read something that stretches you. Innovate: It is not about working harder. It is about building better systems. Create one small habit that makes your future easier. Venture: Have one uncomfortable but important money conversation. Be honest about where you are at. 📩 Share your week's LIV! Email me at thelivlabpodcast@gmail.com [thelivlabpodcast@gmail.com] Learn more about Joe at https://joesaulsehy.com/ [https://joesaulsehy.com/]. Read his (awesome) book: Stacked: Your Super-Serious Guide to Modern Money Managemen Listen to his (fantastic) podcast: Stacking Benjamins at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/

You're Not Being Ignored—Your Message Is | The LIV Lab Episode 30 ft. Carmine Gallo

What if the problem isn't your ideas, but just how they're landing? You can be smart, prepared, and genuinely onto something… and still watch your message float right past the room. Painful. Confusing. Weirdly common. In this episode of The LIV Lab, I sit down with Carmine Gallo, who's spent decades studying why some messages stick—and others quietly disappear, no matter how good they are. This isn't about talking louder, adding more slides, or using bigger words. It's about understanding how humans actually pay attention, why simplicity is so hard (and so powerful), and what storytelling has to do with getting people to lean in—at work, in interviews, and even in your relationships. We talk about persuasion without the salesy energy, clarity without dumbing things down, and why being "interesting" has very little to do with being flashy. There's also a reality check on AI, attention spans, and the myth that great communicators are just born that way. If you've ever thought, "I know this makes sense—why isn't it clicking?" This conversation might finally give that question a shape. Learn more about Carmine Gallo at carminegallo.com [https://www.carminegallo.com/] Check out his new audio original, Viral Voices, when it gets released on February 24, 2026! Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6UyZ3VQrWsCq7tCFOedjkq?si=88cbaeae1e6d4593&nd=1&dlsi=c0b92289942347bc [https://open.spotify.com/show/6UyZ3VQrWsCq7tCFOedjkq?si=88cbaeae1e6d4593&nd=1&dlsi=c0b92289942347bc] Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/audiobook/viral-voices/id1746109065?ign-itscg=30200&ign-itsct=books_box_link [https://books.apple.com/us/audiobook/viral-voices/id1746109065?ign-itscg=30200&ign-itsct=books_box_link] Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/Viral-Voices-Audiobook/B0D488T3BV [https://www.audible.com/pd/Viral-Voices-Audiobook/B0D488T3BV] 📩 Share your thoughts: Carmine talked so much about stories, so I want to hear one of yours. Tell me about a moment that stuck with you—and why it still does. Email me at thelivlabpodcast@gmail.com [thelivlabpodcast@gmail.com]. 🎧 Listen in—and stay curious. 00:00 Introduction: The Power of Communication 01:21 Meet Carmine Gallo: Communication Expert 02:20 The Importance of Communication Skills 04:00 Misconceptions About Persuasion 06:49 The Role of Storytelling in Communication 19:21 Simplifying Complex Information 25:28 Thinking Like a Movie Director 32:05 Debunking the TikTok Brain Myth 33:33 The Power of Concise Communication 35:31 The Art of Storytelling 37:48 Ethos, Pathos, and Logos in Modern Communication 41:39 Leveraging AI in Communication 49:53 The Importance of Soft Skills 55:35 The Lab Notes

The Business of Being You | The LIV Lab Episode 29 ft. Jeff Burgess from The BurgeCast

What if you ran your life the way great founders run their companies? In this episode of The LIV Lab, I feature a blogcast by Jeff Burgess, founder of BCD Video and author of It Worked for Me. Jeff shares ten business principles that helped him build a $100 million company — from trusting your gut to holding yourself accountable. Throughout the episode, I connect these ideas to everyday life through one central theme: you are your business. Your values shape your culture. Your actions are your product. And your reputation is your brand. As the new year begins, this episode encourages you to aim high, move forward without waiting for perfect clarity, and build trust through confidence, listening, and integrity. 00:00 Welcome to The LIV Lab 00:24 Introducing Jeff Burgess and His Business Philosophy 01:46 10 Easy Business Rules That Apply to Everyday Life 01:51 The Power of OPFD: Speed, Accountability, and Quality 04:18 10 Business Commandments for Entrepreneurs 05:05 Connecting Business Principles to Personal Life 13:08 Final Thoughts and Reflections 17:47 Lab Notes