Together at the Top

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/]

Greg Reynolds: From Top Draft Pick to First Responder

Former MLB and Stanford pitcher and number two pick in the 2006 draft, Greg Reynolds, joins Nick on the podcast today. Having pitched for the Colorado Rockies and Cincinnati Reds, Greg left baseball after suffering a career ending injury, only to start a new career in public service as a firefighter in Marin County, California. In his conversation with Nick, he details this transition from professional sports to the fire service and so much more. Together, they discuss the high pressure of the Major Leagues, and Greg describes his shift from a star athlete to a rookie firefighter. He also shares stories about playing in Japan and the injury that ended his baseball career. The two go on to compare the camaraderie of a sports locker room with life in a fire station, concluding that humility and hard work define success more than past achievements. Episode Highlights: 00:00 – Greg Reynolds and His Major League Background 01:42 – Discovering Talent and Staying Grounded Through Family 03:48 – Stanford Development and Growing Through High Standards 05:46 – Being Humbled Early and Adapting to Higher Competition 09:40 – Transition to Professional Baseball and Business Realities 12:48 – Setbacks, Injuries, and Building Mental Resilience 17:48 – Reaching the Majors and Handling Pressure and Expectations 21:49 – Playing in Japan and Expanding Life Perspective 25:47 – Career-Altering Home Invasion and Forced Transition 32:47 – Family, Parenting, and Redefining Life Purpose 36:14 – Becoming a Firefighter and Rediscovering Camaraderie 40:58 – Leadership, Learning, and Passing Knowledge Forward 42:37 – Family Motivation and Pursuing Purpose in Midlife Key Takeaways: "Helping others is a duty. Whether as a firefighter or a person, impart wisdom and lessons learned." "In professional sports, belief in yourself is key. Success comes when you truly feel you belong." "College sports taught me time management and adaptability. Both are crucial for growth." "In the minors, it's not about winning but developing skills. Repetition is the key to success." "In professional sports, it's a business. Everyone's fighting for their job, and you must produce." "Injuries taught me resilience. No time to feel sorry, just focus on recovery and moving forward." "Family is my ultimate motivation. Being a good role model and providing for them is paramount." "In firefighting, it's about camaraderie and helping others. It's like being on a team again." "Financial literacy is crucial. Trustworthy mentors can guide you in managing wealth wisely." "Humility and vulnerability go hand in hand. Learn from mistakes and keep pushing forward." Links: Nick Warner Consulting: https://www.nickwarnerconsulting.com/ [https://www.nickwarnerconsulting.com/] Greg Reynolds: https://www.mlb.com/player/greg-reynolds-453353 [https://www.mlb.com/player/greg-reynolds-453353]

Nick Notes 2.0: Reflecting on Experience

Welcome back to a new "Nick Notes" edition of Together at the Top. Building on the previous installment, Nick again sits down with producer Riley Byrne to distill key lessons from his ongoing work with leaders. This episode moves beyond raw experience to emphasize an important principle: we don't learn from experience, we learn from reflecting on our experience. Nick shares fresh themes and powerful anecdotes, offering a detailed look into the art of sustainable leadership. In this conversation, Nick explores the transition from individual talent to robust business systems, captured in the phrase, "You rise to your talent, but you settle to your systems." He underscores why "team chemistry" has proven to be a significant differentiator for successful organizations and breaks down the impacts of modeling good leadership behavior—from the value of timeliness to the importance of procedural justice. The discussion also ventures into personal evolution, examining how to adapt your executive presence as you climb the corporate ladder and how to re-engineer the social contracts in both your professional and personal life to support your growth. Episode Highlights: * Moving from talent to sustainability by building systems ("Rise to your talent, settle to your systems"). * Why team chemistry, free of drama and drag, is fundamental to success. * The importance of modeling good leadership behavior through timeliness and procedural justice. * The concept of "cruising altitude" and how to strategically use that time to professionalize your brand. * Using "hustle" not just to work hard, but to intelligently bridge your experience gap. * The necessity of re-evaluating and refreshing the "social contract" with your boss and at home. * How to consciously evolve your executive presence—from how you dress to the company you keep—as you advance in your career. * Understanding the difference between a "mistake of the mind" and a "mistake of the heart." * The effect of your professional vibe and how it attracts your tribe. Key Takeaways: * "We don't learn from our experience. We learn from reflecting on our experience." * "I'm not impressed by your hard work... It's about smart work, it's about efficient work. It's about saying no to the right things so you can say yes to the right things." * "You rise to your talent and you settle to your systems." * "If you make a mistake of the mind, I'll have your back. If you make a mistake of the heart, I will have your ass." * "Your vibe attracts your tribe." * "Anyone who says they don't have 30 minutes [for themselves] is full of shit." * "Advance the professionalization of your brand by creating systems that support the business without you. Because with you, it's only a practice. If we can spread it out over other people and create systems, then it's a real business." Links: * Nick Warner Consulting: https://www.nickwarnerconsulting.com/ [https://www.google.com/url?sa=E&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nickwarnerconsulting.com%2F] * How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie: https://www.amazon.com/How-Win-Friends-Influence-People/dp/0671027034/ [https://www.google.com/url?sa=E&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FHow-Win-Friends-Influence-People%2Fdp%2F0671027034%2F] * Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap... and Others Don't by Jim Collins: https://www.jimcollins.com/books.html [https://www.google.com/url?sa=E&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jimcollins.com%2Fbooks.html] * Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don't by Simon Sinek: https://www.amazon.com/Leaders-Eat-Last-Together-Others/dp/1591845327/ [https://www.google.com/url?sa=E&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FLeaders-Eat-Last-Together-Others%2Fdp%2F1591845327%2F]