The Jedburgh Podcast

Risk exists in every corner of our professional and personal lives. Risk is something we as leaders cannot - and should not - shy from. How we choose to detect, assess, respond and learn determines if our organizations  (and we as leaders) succeed or fail. In this episode General Stan McChrystal joins Host Fran Racioppi and special guest host Lisa Jaster, to break down Stan's new book "Risk: A User's guide." They define the Risk Immune System and explain how the 10 Factors of Control guide us in understanding and mitigating risk by taking action. They tie-in Afghanistan as Stan provides his assessment of the 20-year Global War on Terror. Stan explains the decisions behind the withdrawal. And he shares his insight on the next battlefield. This is our Veteran's Day episode. In honor of all those who have served our nation Fran, Stan and Lisa share their thoughts on America today, our position as the bastion of hope and freedom, and how we all come together as Americans to build a resilient future. Read the full episode transcription here and learn more on The Jedburgh Podcast Website.Highlights:-Stan defines risk as a simple mathematical equation and how buying into risk analysis breeds responsibility, accountability and ownership in organizations. -The Risk Immune System is made up of our ability to Detect, Assess, Respond and Learn from the threats that come to us.-The 10 Factors of Control are the levers leaders use to respond to and mitigate risks. -Stan challenges traditional thought on recruiting mid to senior level military leaders  from the civilian workforce, in addition to growing talent from the junior levels. -Stan discusses the priorities of the war in Afghanistan providing his assessment of the risk checklist President Biden faced when determining strategic policy and its effect on diplomacy, military action and people.-Fran asks Stan to provide an After Action Review of the Global War on Terror, the 9/11 response and the invasion of Iraq resulting in the toppling of Saddam Huseein and the effect on the entire Middle East. -Fran, Stan and Lisa provide their assessment of the state of America, the next battlefield of cyber & hybrid warfare, and the role of politics and disunity today. Quotes:-”If we can do away with all our threats, good on us. Because anything times zero is zero. But we can’t do that.”-“We put leaders in positions to take very difficult, sometimes hazy situations and make bold but probability-based rational decisions.”-”Each of these 10 Factors forms into a system...you don’t have to max all of them perfectly in your plan, but any you violate...you’ve got a gaping hole of vulnerability.”-”Whether it’s the right decision, or the wrong one, I think President biden’s decision was courageous because he was going to get attacked no matter what he did.”-“We are viewed as less reliable partners, less consistent, less resolute than we would like to be considered...but we have to navigate from where we are; not from where we wish we were.”   -”I would describe America as a promise...a promise that we can be stronger, more prosperous, safer...if we unite.”Stan’s Three Daily Foundations to Success:-Work out to remain centered -Take care of the family-Fulfill promises made to othersThis episode is brought to you by 18A Fitness and Analytix Solutions.

Special Operations Forces volunteer to answer the call to protect our nation and its people in every corner of the world. They look out for us so we can live our lives in freedom and liberty. Daniel Elkins founded Special Operations Association of America to give a voice to our Special Operators in policy and legislative affairs.This episode is our lead up to the first Veterans Day in two decades in which our nation is not in a declared war. However, brave men and women stand ready to serve - and take action - each and every day. Daniel joins host Fran Racioppi to discuss the founding of SOAA and their work supporting Special Operators, displaced Afghan refugees, those affected by burnout and Operator Syndrome, as well as to share his personal story of service as a Green Beret. Read the full episode transcription here and learn more on The Jedburgh Podcast Website.Highlights:-The history of SOAA and its goal to provide policy advocacy as the voice of Special Operations Forces on legislative affairs. -Daniel shares how his early career in anti-human and sex trafficking shaped his views on injustice in the world instilling in him the Special Forces motto of “De Oppresso Liber” - free the oppressed.-Fran and Daniel have an in-depth conversation about violence in the world, how it affects our Special Operators, how different cultures in the world view violence as a part of life, and why military action is the final step of diplomacy.-A breakdown of current SOAA initiatives to include advocating for changes in policy that currently restrict Special Operators from decision-making on the ground, the rise of Operator Syndrome among high-level performers, and the application of VA benefits.-SOAA’s efforts to relocate and resettle Afghan refugees displaced by the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, as well as their assistance to continue to assist and evacuate many still there.-Daniel shares his emotional personal story of supporting friends with Operator Syndrome and how quickly it has debilitated high performers around him. Quotes:-”The idea was formed around being a voice for the SOF community.” -”The goal is to get operators who have recently transitioned and people with the ground truth that have dirt under their fingernails into the highest levels of policy makers and decision makers to help them make informed decisions.”-”I was confronted with the reality of the world we live in.”-”If you engage in violence in war should you be happy about that, or should you be ashamed?” -”I realized that...there was a vast disconnect between the ground truth and what policy-makers and decision-makers were considering and why.”-”Many people who we have resettled are from the Afghan National Army or the Commando Force.”-”Walking someone through that process galvanized me...if no one does this, who will?”-“Suicide is 30% higher in the SOF community than it is in the rest of the military...these people are not coming into this program and these pipelines broken.”Daniel’s Three Daily Foundations to Success:-Wake up before the sun and conduct physical activity-Do the most important task of the day first-Learn continuously (And do all this before breakfast!)This episode is brought to you by 18A Fitness and Analytix Solutions.

WHOOP has changed the game in human performance and our ability to understand what our body is telling us so we can make actionable decisions about our physical, mental and emotional health. In this episode WHOOP's VP of Performance Science, Kristen Holmes joins host Fran Racioppi to break down human performance, the evolution of data and how we use it to reach our peak levels, the importance of rest as the driver of workload, her four characteristics of elite performance, how to build successful teams and athletes for the long term, and what we have coined Kristen’s Pathways to Attention.WHOOP just closed a $200m funding round and is the fastest growing wearable technology in the world. They are now valued at over $3.6 billion. Kristen spent 13 years as the Head Coach of Princeton University's Women's Field Hockey Team where she won 12 Ivy League Championships and the school's first National Championship. She is a 2021 Iowa Athletics Hall Fame Inductee, 3 x All American, 2 x Big 10 Athlete of the Year competing in both Field Hockey and Basketball and a 7-year member of the U.S. National Team.Read the full episode transcription here and learn more on The Jedburgh Podcast Website.Highlights:-WHOOP’s rise to incredible valuation, the focus on data as a leading indicator of performance, and their positioning in the wearables market.-Our choices affect our behavior, including our sleep patterns, nutritional choices and how we choose to recover mentally and physically.-Kristen breaks down her decision to join WHOOP after winning 12 championships in 13 years as a Division 1 collegiate coach. -Kristen provides insight into her coaching mindset, developing a culture of performance, and the principles she instilled in the organization to set a foundation for winning.-Why tolerance, innovation, presence and internal fitness are Kristen’s core leadership values.-Fran coins the term “Kristen’s Pathways to Attention” and she explains the importance of breathwork. Quotes:-”It’s not data for the sake of data, it’s data so we can coach you to a better future.”-“We see incredible behavior modification...data really helps you face the truth.“-”You can’t just talk yourself into a better future. You really have to get your physiology on track.”-”We can’t perceive our own cognitive and physical declines.”-”I’ve never been one to chase security and happiness…those are kind of illusions.”-”I chase personal growth, professional growth and intellectual growth...I chase impact.”-”Tolerance is just a reminder that I don’t necessarily have the answer to everything.”-”I love the idea of being able to discover. I love the idea of being able to innovate.”-”Being present is the path to peace.”-”If I understand who it is I want to be, I can align my behaviors in the right way.”-”If you come to training with capacity, and you then train with quality, it is very hard to lose.”Kristen’s Three Daily Foundations to Success:-Go to bed and wake up at the same time to set a repeatable pattern-Find sunshine within 20 minutes of waking up-Breathe through your nose to control your physiologyThis episode is brought to you by 18A Fitness and Analytix Solutions.

The Head of The Charles is rowing's premier international competition. The sport requires the highest standards of physical and mental drive, discipline, toughness, preparation and the need for precision execution. In this episode, host Fran Racioppi is joined by one of rowing's fiercest competitors and the greatest of all time on the Charles River. Gevvie Stone is a three-time Olympian and the 2016 Rio Games Silver Medalist in the women's single. She has won the Head of The Charles 10 times in the Championship Single, including six in a row from 2014-2019. Gevvie lays out the importance of physical, mental and emotional strength; how a dedication to standards is essential to compete at the highest levels; and why trust and confidence in yourself and your team are developed one stroke at a time over years.Read the full episode transcription here and learn more on The Jedburgh Podcast Website.Highlights:-Fran and Gevvie recall the history of The Head of The Charles, the importance of the event to the sport of rowing, and the community developed through shared purpose.-Gevvie breaks down the race course, explains her mental approach to the competition and how to effectively execute a race plan.-As the all-time leader in wins, Gevvie talks about the expectations of winning and her decision to step away from the elite category.-Gevvie’s parents were both national team members and her father is her coach. She shares the importance of being able to ‘choose’ rowing for herself, her lessons for parents raising athletic children and the dynamic relationship with her father.-In 2008 Gevvie was cut from the US National Team; something that lit a fire in her to earn three Olympic appearances. -Gevvie’s 2016 Silver Medal Olympic experience was the result of controlling the uncontrollables as a freak storm forced her to adapt and focus her energy on the fundamentals.  -Fran and Gevvie dig deep into the mental, physical and emotional aspects of performance in rowing and how the sport is filled with some of the toughest athletes on the planet.Quotes:-“Head of The Charles holds a special place in my heart.”-”If I feel nauseous. If I feel butterflies. That is a good thing. It means that my body is ready to go.”-”My parents put no pressure on me to row. In fact, avoided rowing at first because it was their thing and I didn’t want to do what my parents did.”-“On the National Team you make it or you don’t. Only half the team will actually race...I don’t think I was mature enough to understand that.”-“I didn’t make the team. I shouldn’t have made the team.”-”Rowing is hard...hard things bond people together more than easy things.”-”Being a successful rower is more up to the mental side of things than the physical side of things.” -”I couldn’t have asked for a better year in my career to be in the double. It strengthened my weaknesses.”-“We came to practice every day wanting to improve and with intent; and put it all on the table in the run up to Tokyo.”-”People need to find what fuels them up...for me it was the underdog.”Gevvie’s Three Daily Foundations to Success:-Stretch the mind and the body-Communicate a major goal for the day and talk through challenges-Keep a journal with a focus on achieving expectationsThis episode is brought to you by 18A Fitness and Analytix Solutions.

The highest levels of physical performance require the utmost mental and emotional strength. To achieve the impossible, we must first believe that the impossible can be achieved if we only put our minds - and our bodies - to the test. Jessie Graff is an American Ninja Warrior, a stuntwoman, a martial arts expert and an inspiration to all those who seek to defy physics and elite performance. Jessie joins host Fran Racioppi to share her leadership lessons on competition, the mental approach to negotiating complex problems, combatting failure through expectation management and how every setback is an opportunity to grow. Read the full episode transcription here and learn more on The Jedburgh Podcast Website.Highlights:-Jessie describes how her affection for flying, love for the freedom of weightlessness, and the open air has been a driving force in her career and decision-making.-Effective training is guided by purpose, but clarity of purpose is not required to generate positive results.-Jessie explains how preparation and planning for the unknowns is the key to handling the uncontrollables. We cannot control all aspects of a competition but we can control how we prepare and how we react. -Fran and Jessie discuss effective ways to handle the pressure of the moment when all eyes are on us to perform. Jessie explains her ability to focus on the details of the task at hand vs the noise around her when in the spotlight. -No stranger to injury, Jessie is one of the most resiliency and adaptive competitors. She provides a glimpse into her mental approach to recovery from injury, how she focuses on expectations, ad her focus on small victories.  -Jessie shares how her love for learning, exploring new skills, and building new capability has helped her through injury, become a better strength trainer herself, and learn sign language during “Signing Sundays.”Quotes:-”I’m willing to do the work if it gets me to this amazing goal.” -”There is this community of ‘if I help you become a better performer, we work together as a better team when we get hired on a job.”-”Engineering comes into so much stunts and so much Ninja Warrior.”-“I assume there is a trick in every obstacle. If you look at something and think, ‘I should be able to do that...you are missing something.”-“I love impossible goals...those are the ones that drive me the most.”-”If I don’t respect the challenge..it will surprise me.”-”Having a specific purpose you are passionate about is almost a luxury.”-”When I fall it can initially feel really heartbreaking...so I really have to look at ‘what is the purpose of this training.’”-”You can blame a lot of outside sources., but does that make me better?”-”What thought process is going to give me the best results. What situations does that pressure help me...and when does it hurt me.”-”I’ve been able to grow from every injury I’ve had.”Jessie’s Three Daily Foundations to Success:-Sleep to enhance focus and drive-Hydrate to maintain nutrition and balance-Exercise to stay active and engagedThis episode is brought to you by 18A Fitness and Analytix Solutions.

On August 11, the Chaos were given a 3.2% chance of winning the Premier Lacrosse League. They were the sixth seed going into the playoffs and were given no respect. Today, they are the 2021 PLL champions.Head Coach Andy Towers joins host Fran Racioppi on the first follow-up episode of The Jedburgh Podcast proving that his goal to peak at the right time was achievable. Coach Towers explains how he focused the team to play the same style of game, how he valued chemistry over raw talent in personnel decisions, the resiliency the team showed after starting the season 0-3, and how the best players prepared relentlessly for precision execution. Read the full episode transcription here and learn more on The Jedburgh Podcast Website.Highlights:-The importance of creating a team culture in which every player is playing the same style and with the same goals.-How chemistry was the critical component to success on the 2021 team; a value that led to difficult personnel decisions for some of the top-rated players.-Coach Towers provides a detailed breakdown of the playoff run, the resiliency in the semifinal game after going down in the second quarter, and the tactics he used to keep the team focused on the big picture and playing their game. -Fran and Andy highlight the leadership and work ethic of some of the key players, including PLL MVP Blaze Riorden and Defenseman Jack Rowlett.-Coach Towers evaluates his performance in the league after initially being deemed an alternate head coach and having gone on to win Coach of the Year, a PLL Championship and second place finish. Quotes:-“The only opinions that matter are the opinions of the people in your locker room.”-“Balance in all areas is something that you strive for.”-“Finding that commonality, that binding element that creates a better group than they are a group of individuals “-“A team that is connected can become dangerous very very quickly”-“We were able to peak at the right time and prove that chemistry is the most important factor as it relates to winning the PLL championship.”-“Responsibility is for the group. Accountability is for yourself.”-“It’s easy to be team first when you are in the lineup…you find out who is truly, authentically in it for team success when you take them out of the lineup.”-“Everything in our locker room is a conversation.”-“Instead of us going into the locker and losing our minds, it was us going into the locker room and regaining our mind.”-“Make them have to manage us…make them have to deal with us.”-“The 2021 Chaos Lacrosse Club accomplished its goal…but we go into 2022 with the 2022 Chaos Lacrosse Club.”Chaos Lacrosse Club Offseason Foundations to Success:-Don’t forget the importance of remaining connected-Next season is a new and unique opportunity-Have fun and enjoy playing This episode is brought to you by 18A Fitness and Analytix Solutions.

Stuckey's has been a staple of America's highways. At its peak, Stuckey's pecan rolls, Texaco gas, and homemade candies dotted almost every interstate across every state. But a series of buy-outs and lack of attention shuttered this iconic American staple.  In this episode, Fran Racioppi is joined by Stephanie Stuckey - the third generation Stuckey to run the brand after buying it out of near bankruptcy two years ago. Stephanie is a lawyer by trade now leading not only a chain of franchised roadside stops and a pecan snack company, but also the resurgence of the American road trip.Read the full episode transcription here and learn more on The Jedburgh Podcast Website.Highlights:-Stephanie explains the opportunity in owning and scaling family businesses, recounts the history of how Stuckey’s grew, and lays out her path to turn the company around. -The Stuckey’s brand is an example of a company’s need to continuously evolve and pivot to meet changing customer requirements, while maintaining quality control and brand value.-Stephanie provides her views on entrepreneurship, failure and the definition of “The Girl Boss.” -Stephanie shares her perspective on storytelling, building a community on social media and how she grew her following from 0 to over 60,000 in 18 months.-Fran and Stephanie show the importance of brands placing focus on their strengths and the value they bring to their customers through an in depth discussion on Pecans. Quotes:-”Initially it was just making money. It was his side hustle...When he started to get the vision was when he realized he was starting to solve a problem.”-“The visionary founder was no longer around to help steer the direction of Stuckey’s...it lost the magic.”-”There is a reason that family businesses fail. It’s because that sense of excitement and entrepreneurial spirit gets lost over the generations.”-“Handing wealth to the next generation does not instill hard work ethic at all.”-”I focused on my strengths. I’m a big believer in strength building and looking at what is your core competency; and then you compliment that with others who fill in your gaps.”-”The great thing about being at the bottom is that you have nothing to lose.” -“I think it’s poor manners if all you ever do is post about yourself and you don’t comment on other people’s posts.” -”Empowering a smart, energetic management team to then filter down to the people they supervise is what is going to help create the brand.”-”In any good brand you are building a community internally and externally.”-“For every ‘yes’, there are four to five ‘no’s.’ You are constantly having to pick yourself up, dust yourself off and keep going.”-”When you are small and scrappy, you have to distinguish yourself. You cannot win the volume game.”-”If you are not failing, you are not truly an entrepreneur.”Stephanie’s Three Daily Foundations to Success:-Do something creative-Keep a gratitude journal-Exercise to maintain consistencyThis episode is brought to you by Analytix Solutions; improving the efficiency of your business across people, process and technology through multi-divisional outsourcing solutions.

Race is an uncomfortable conversation. Recent events like the death of George Floyd and Breana Taylor sparked race conversations, racial tensions, movements like Black Lives Matter, and corporate action. These events have forced us to look inward and challenge our thoughts, perspectives and views on race and the role race plays in our conscious and unconscious bias. In this episode, host Fran Racioppi joined by investigative journalist, Dax Devlon-Ross to discuss his new book, Letters To My White Male Friends. Dax and Fran break down the race divide between black and white. They define and analyze present day examples of systemic racism and why they exist. Dax shares his personal experiences of growing up in Washington, DC. We lay out Dax's LENS (Listen, Empathize, Notice, Speak) framework for how we move forward...together. And in a section called, Dax's Decision-Points, he lays out his checklist for solving any complex issue. Read the full episode transcription here and learn more on The Jedburgh Podcast Website.Highlights:-Dax provides examples of systemic racism in America, an explanation of how we got here, and how we change it. -We tie the Special Operations nine characteristics of elite performance into Dax’s seven core beliefs of Bravery, Community, History, Honesty, Humility, Inquiry, and Story.-Fran and Dax discuss the role of charities in society, the gap they fill and the impact many do (and do not) have.-Identity, and how a person identifies themself, is an important factor in how they view dominance, subordination and their role in society. -Dax explains the current, and dangerous, tendency of leaders to not make important decisions, default to group think and their genuine fear of taking action that some people may not agree with.-How to develop diversity, equity and inclusion programs that are not a result of woke culture, but focused on accepting the current norms, identifying the true goals and empowering community in the organization.-Dax shares an emotional personal account of becoming a victim of racism and violence towards black youth.  Quotes:-”I resist the idea that I was well off. I embrace the idea that I was middle class.”-”A system can pivot to create opportunity, or a system can pivot to close off opportunities.”-”Systemically racist policies typically have an effect on a disparate group of people, even though the writing or the letter of the policy may appear to be neutral.”-”I have to be convinced of the belief of a racial hierarchy in order for me to subjugate other human beings.” -”These are societal problems that society must solve. This is the role of government.”-“If you are born into poverty the likelihood is that you will live in poverty, die in poverty, and your children will live and die in poverty.”-”When you create more diversity you create more equity.”-”I don’t just want to hear about your success...what I want to know is how you navigated your shortcomings.”Dax’s Three Daily Foundations to Success:-Love my family-Set aside time for deep reflection-Movement (exercise)This episode is brought to you by Analytix Solutions; improving the efficiency of your business across people, process and technology through multi-divisional outsourcing solutions.

Driving change begins with the need to build something you believe in. Seth Goldman is the founder and Chief Change Agent at Eat The Change. He is also the Chairman of the Board at Beyond Meat and the Co-founder and former Tea-EO of Honest Tea. Seth joins this episode to break down entrepreneurism, how to build something from nothing and how the nine characteristics of elite performance are required to scale and exit a successful business. Seth also shares his 3-P's of Entrepreneurship, how the Boston Red Sox taught him important lessons on resilience and adaptability, the selection process for choosing the right business partner, and how entrepreneurs cannot delegate anything in the very beginning. Seth and Fran also discuss his New York Times bestseller Mission in a Bottle, written with Honest Tea Co-Founder Professor Barry Nalebuff, and Seth’s newest initiatives around plant-based burgers and mushroom jerky!Read the full episode transcription here and learn more on The Jedburgh Podcast Website.Highlights:-Seth quantifies ‘drive’ and the need to be all-in on the risks behind starting a business; including his journey at Honest Tea which he started and led for 21 years from nothing to sales of over 100 million units/year and acquisition by Coca-Cola. -Seth explains his 3-P’s of Entrepreneurship, the need to remain resilient and adaptable, and the importance of being fiscally responsible.-Fran presses Seth on his most challenging moments building Honest Tea and Eat the Change, and what he learned from each of these experiences. -Team ability and partnership define Seth’s career as an entrepreneur. He shares his lessons on role clarity, how to pick the right business partner, and how he selects his team.-Seth shares insights into his new initiative creating mushroom jerky and plant-based burgers alongside Chef Spike Mendelsohn.Quotes:-“Change is about moving from where we are to where we should be. It’s an aspirational vision.” -“You can’t wait for the world to change. You must be changing it.”-”Every time we eat a meal we have a chance to make an impact.”-“For all entrepreneurs we have to be optimists. You wouldn’t start something if you didn’t have the hope that it would work out.”-”The most important resource an entrepreneur has isn’t time…it’s energy.”-”If I had said I can only get in with a big distributor the business wouldn’t have gotten off the ground.”-”Understand the terrain. Understand your tools. Don’t try to compete with someone else’s tools.” -”Can a business be a vehicle for change? If we are meeting the consumers' needs then we get to pursue the issues we care about.” -“Unless you have humility, you are not really going to empower your team.”-”As long as there is clarity of roles then co-founders can be great...As long as we have clarity of roles then we can be complementary to each other.” Seth’s Three Daily Foundations to Success-Make the bed with my wife to achieve something together.-Exercise to clear my head and connect with myself.-Do what I say I am going to do.This episode is brought to you by Analytix Solutions; improving the efficiency of your business across people, process and technology through multi-divisional outsourcing solutions.

September 11, 2001 changed the world forever. The United States of America was attacked by Osama Bin Laden and the Al-Qaeda Terrorist Network. They were provided safe haven and protection by the Taliban. Within weeks of the attack, United Special Forces - the Green Berets launched an offensive into Afghanistan backed by the power of the US Air Force. The Taliban was defeated in weeks. Since then, the United States and the international community have built and supported the Afghan government and the Afghan military as part of the Global War on Terror. Now, 20 years later, the United States has left Afghanistan. The Taliban is back in control of the country. Thousands of Afghans are displaced and back under threat by an oppressive regime. An unknown number of American citizens remain stranded. And the world is left wondering both...how did we get here...and where do we go from here. Host Fran Racioppi is joined by former Secretary of Defense Chris Miller, No One Left Behind Board Members Mariah Smith and JD Dolan, and Sonia Nawrooz - an Afghan immigrant whose family remains stranded in Kabul. Secretary Miller was one of the first Green Berets into Afghanistan in 2001. Mariah, JD and Sonia lead No One Left Behind and its mission to support the relocation, resettlement and humanitarian efforts to aid displaced Afghan refugees. Mariah and JD have each served in Afghanistan three times. Sonia is an Ambassador to incoming Afghan immigrants to the United States. Read the full episode transcription here and learn more on The Jedburgh Podcast Website.Highlights:-The group shares their 9/11 stories of where they were, the impact the attack had on each of them and how they have answered the nation's call since. -We break down the rise of the Taliban and how 200 Special Operators and Paramilitary Officers defeated them in 2001. -We analyze how America’s investment and presence for 20 years in Afghanistan has still resulted in a chaotic withdrawal, the resurgence of the Taliban and an equally dire situation in Afghanistan now.-The group lays out the next steps politically, diplomatically and militarily for the United States and the international community in Afghanistan. -No One Left Behind explains their mission to resettle Afghan refugees now displaced, how the Special Immigrant Visa process works, and how we can all get involved. Quotes:-”My heart and my mind are with all the women and girls stuck there...history is repeating itself.”-”We trained them to fight a different way...it was completely predictable to me.”-”I had hoped that there would be a way that the international community and us, the US, would have stayed involved for multiple generations.”-“This is what we created Special Forces for. The mission of the Special Forces Regiment was to go behind enemy lines, link up with insurgent, surrogate forces and overthrow tyrannical regimes.”-”My translator’s still there. My friend is still there. What can I do? What should I do?”-“If I don’t do this, who will perish? This becomes a moral obligation.”This episode is brought to you by Analytix Solutions; improving the efficiency of your business across people, process and technology through multi-divisional outsourcing solutions. 

Music generates an emotional response in all of us. Music can motivate us and make us smile. It can transport us to the past and make us cry. Music can bring us together. Or...it can remind us when it's time to move apart. Country music has taken center stage in the battle for musical dominance. In this episode, Lauryn Snapp, writer, producer and on-air personality at Country Music Television,  shows us how Country is built on connecting fans and artists through meaningful connection, community, and how the days of boots, spurs, hats and tumbleweeds have evolved into a genre we can all identify with. Read the full episode transcription here and learn more on The Jedburgh Podcast Website.Highlights:-Lauryn explains the rise in popularity of country music, its inclusivity and its ability to bring people together in meaningful ways.-Fran and Lauryn break down the entertainment industry’s adoption of social media as the primary means of communication with fans and how the shift from CDs to streaming has advanced the pace and authenticity of the industry.-Lauryn defines the importance of building in person relationships on our teams and within our organizations; relationships that cannot be replicated remotely. -How Tik-Tok has changed how artists connect with their audience.-Lauryn shares her “Space to Create” and “Makes You Feel” campaigns aimed at driving creative spirit and innovation at Warner Media. -Fran challenges Lauryn’s leadership lessons on a segment called Lauryn’s Leadership Chords:--"Realize the things that you are really good at and what you are not good at - and own it"--"Problem solve something until you know you cannot find the answer"--"I would rather have someone ask a million questions and do a knockout job then not ask any questions and do quasi"--"Act with integrity"--"We are always in edit mode"--"Be a part of now. There is freedom in presence"Quotes:-”Country music is a human genre...if you have a heartbeat, there is going to be a song for you in country music.”-”We are all human and we want to feel emotion.”-”I got to grow up with people who were constantly challenging me.”-”Nashville is a relationship-based town.”-”I want to make music visual. I want to be telling stories. I want to help curate the future of country music.”-”It’s our responsibility to find innovative ways to bring people together.”-”Empower the people...invigorate the process...find ways to lead the industry.”-”If you are a leader...do it with a people first mentality.”-“Show up fully and be completely prepared.”-”Luck is founded fully in people who are prepared to take on a new opportunity.”-”People want to work with people who work hard and have a great attitude.”-”There are going to be times in your life where you need to be present or you are going to miss out on an opportunity.”Lauryn’s Three Daily Foundations to Success:-Do what is needed for overall wellness-Be vulnerable and intentional-Show up fully...put everything you have into everything you do.This episode is brought to you by Analytix Solutions; improving the efficiency of your business across people, process and technology through multi-divisional outsourcing solutions. 

Most of us wake up every day and should all over ourselves. In fact we should all over ourselves all day every day. We rarely ever take a step to do the things we actually want to do. Instead, we do all the things we think we should do. What if we decided one day to stop the madness. To stop shoulding all over ourselves, and on everyone else, and pursue our own dreams along our own path. Shelley Paxton spent 26 years as one of the world's top marketing and advertising executives. She led iconic brands like Harley-Davidson, Visa, McDonald’s, and AOL. But in 2016 she walked into her boss's office and declared she was mentally, emotionally, and physically sick from pursuing the goals and agendas of everyone else. She was "soul-sick."  She left the corporate world to become the Chief Soul Officer of her own life and launched Soulbbatical, her movement to liberate the souls of one billion people by showing us that we have a choice in how we live our lives and nurture our souls. Read the full episode transcription here and learn more on The Jedburgh Podcast Website.Highlights:-Shelley defines Soulbbatical and the need to stop rebelling against tradition and corporate norms and start rebelling for our own lives, fullment and paths forward.-Shelley walks us through an exercise to define our Soul Fuels and our Soul Sucks to identify what in our life gives us passion and purpose vs what makes us miserable. -Fran & Shelley lay out the S-O-U-L Process as the starting point to take action.-How do we liberate ourselves from the shackles of should and get comfortable cutting out that which makes us unhappy. -Our why-dentity defines our decision-making process and allows our ego to affect our decision-making.-Courage and confidence are needed to convert fear into fuel. Quotes: -”Soulbbatical is a forever journey of living our truth.” -”Rebellion…is often unsuccessful because it’s on someone else’s terms.” -”It’s about what lights you up from the inside out. That’s what ‘successful’ looks like.” -”Is that someone else’s goal? Is that someone else’s expectation? Is that in alignment with my values?”-”What is that shackle of should?-”Every badass accomplishment is a series of tiny steps.”-“What surprises you. What scares you. What inspires you. What do you want more of or less of. Where are the ‘shoulds’?”-”I’m doing more things that fuel my soul than suck my soul.“-”I worked 25 years to get to this point and I feel empty.” -”What are you pretending not to know?”-“The strongest leaders in the world know how to ask for help.”-”Am I moving closer to who I want to become, or further away?”-“Busyness was a badge of honor for me.”-“We are not going to be playing big in the arena if we let fear in the driver seat.”-”Show up as who you want to be every day.”Shelley’s Three Daily Foundations to Success:-Start the day with Soul Statements that define my reality.-Remind myself of my values - freedom, authenticity and courage.-Check in with myself to understand what I need to do to show up as my best self today.This episode is brought to you by Analytix Solutions; improving the efficiency of your business across people, process and technology through multi-divisional outsourcing solutions.

Coaches are teachers, mentors, role-models, friends, and parents to many athletes. For most of us, Coaches impact and influence our lives during our most impressionable years. They drive us to be our best and give it everything. They show us that winning is the product of the team effort. They push us back out there when we fail. No matter what sport we play, or what level we play at, coaches lead.  Andy Towers is the Head Coach of the Chaos Lacrosse Club in the Premier Lacrosse League. He is a member of the United States Lacrosse Connecticut Hall of Fame ,as well as the Brown University Sports Hall of Fame. He is a world champion, multiple time All American, All Ivy and All New England; and the Ivy League Player of the Year. He was the 2019 coach of the year in the PLL's inaugural season. Read the full episode transcription here and learn more on The Jedburgh Podcast Website.Highlights:-Andy recounts the start of the Premier Lacrosse League, how he was selected as a coach, and how the PLL is the highest level of competition in lacrosse.-The characteristics coaches look for in building a team from scratch and the difficulty in selecting and managing the best players in the world.-Andy shares the lessons of bounceback through his difficult Junior year at Brown where despite his lacrosse All-American status, he failed out of school and was forced to re-apply after demonstrating a change in attitude and behavior.  -Andy defines the ‘the decision to fail’ and explains that success is the product of proactively doing everything you can to succeed. -The importance of the athlete-coach partnership today and what coaching style works best for today’s teams. -How to display authenticity and real-ness to build trust, community and ownership among the players, coaches and staff. Quotes:-”Our only goal is to win the PLL championship.”-“You don’t have to be a great player. You have to be a great teammate. You have to be a great competitor. You have to choose focus. You have to choose toughness.” -“It was the most humiliating experience I have ever had, but the best thing that has ever happened to me, because it created a bounceback opportunity.”-”What sets you free is knowing you did everything you could proactively.”-”As coaches, your players and the culture of the program are going to take on the characteristics you consistently show them.”-“Everything that we do, we are going to have a purpose to it and we are going to be able to verbally defend why we are making these decisions.”-“There is no other way to be with people, than to be straightforward; and honest; and proactive.”-“Your success is the team’s success. And the team’s success is your success.”-“The best players are the ones who appreciate the importance of being zero maintenance as people, players and teammates.”Coach Towers's Three Daily Foundations to Success:-Get a workout in-Handle my business administration-Make sure my family knows I love themThis episode is brought to you by Analytix Solutions; improving the efficiency of your business across people, process and technology through multi-divisional outsourcing solutions. 

Professional football requires its players to be fast, strong, and smart. It's a sport, but it’s also a $16B business where results are the only thing that matters.  Austin Collie played wide receiver for the Indianapolis Colts and the New England Patriots. He was drafted in the 4th Round of the 2009 draft and is a member of the Brigham Young University Hall of Fame. Austin joins host Fran Racioppi to discuss how our drive for perfection is based on competition, the identification of our faults, and the need to correct those faults quickly, without compromise and without delay - or risk having our weakness exploited.  Read the full episode transcription here and learn more on The Jedburgh Podcast Website. Highlights: -Austin and Fran break down the importance of chemistry on a team and how the greatest of all time demonstrate personal accountability and responsibility to their team before themself. -Austin discusses the series of devastating concussions and injuries that slowly forced the end of his playing career. He explains the difficulty we face in accepting the end, but also how we can embrace new opportunities if we bring the same level of passion, dedication and drive to our new endeavors. -An NFL wide receiver turned technology start-up executive in Remote Process Automation at JOLT Advantage Group, Austin proves that we are the only ones who can control how hard we work. He is the definition of our core tenets... "hire for character, train for skill."Quotes:-”The only way you are going to get better is if you put yourself in an uncomfortable position.”-”I wasn’t ever afraid to lose because I knew at the end of the day I was going to find out what my weaknesses were.”-”Practice was where you found the most competition; where your job was on the line.”-”Competition is what catapults you to figure out who you are.”-”There is one thing that I could control and that is how hard I worked.”-”I can’t talk enough about the selflessness that went on being on the Colts.”-“How can I help the team? How can I make the team better? Not how can the team make me better?”-“You put in the work, you become the best.”-“They wanted to be the best. They wanted to win every game they played in. So they prepared like it.”-“Talent wasn’t given. It was earned. Wins weren’t given. It was earned.”-”Whatever corrections need to be made are made the same day the mistakes are realized.”-”What makes elite athletes elite is they have one mind track...one center focus...becoming the best.”-”Robotic Process Automation is replicating what humans do.”Austin’s Three Daily Foundations to Success:-Communicate; especially when I need help.-Remain humble; don’t be afraid to say you don’t know it all.-Don’t get outworked; the only thing I can control is the amount of work I put into it.This episode is brought to you by Analytix Solutions; improving the efficiency of your business across people, process and technology through multi-divisional outsourcing solutions. 

Over 80% of the world is still powered by fossil fuels like oil, natural gas and coal. The Middle East and North Africa are home to over 90% of proven fossil fuel reserves. There is shelf life on fossil fuels and limited availability means higher prices.In this episode host Fran Racioppi is joined by Cornelius Matthes, CEO of Dii Desert Energy; the world's leader in the development and enhancement of renewable energy. Fran and Cornelius describe how the world's largest oil producers are becoming the world's largest renewable energy providers, how green hydrogen is changing our lives and an initiative to link the solar and wind power generated in North Africa to Europe through a series of underground power distribution systems. Cornelius also provided his keys to successful product development, launch, scale and funding.Read the full episode transcription here and learn more on The Jedburgh Podcast Website.Highlights: -Renewable energy is a diversification play for economic and political security in the traditional fossil fuel-driven countries of The Middle East & North Africa.-History of Dii Desert Energy; its place as a consortium of renewable expertise and community, and its history of bold action and development seeking to bring renewable energy to Europe.-Why 2050 is the critical year for significant energy transformation. -Cornelius explains the importance of green hydrogen, how industries are harnessing and using it, the economics behind the reductions in cost, and the benefits of the near 100% clean production and use.-How energy start-ups are rapidly advancing innovation and technology in renewable energy.-Cornelius shares his leadership lessons from Pawame, where he led a company bringing solar power to the residents of the most remote regions of Kenya while also helping them develop credit and financial security. Quotes:-”This decade will be the decade of disruption; positive disruption.”*-”The game changer of green hydrogen is the affordable price.”-”Green hydrogen is nothing else than converting water via electrolysis to water and hydrogen.”*-“The Middle East has a huge opportunity because there is extremely low cost wind energy, extremely low cost solar energy, and abundant space.”*-”In 1910 you saw one car in the middle of many horses. In 1920 you saw one horse in the middle of many cars.”-”Over the last five years we have electrified something like 20,000 households.”-“I’ve learned to be persistent in many things in my life...there is no golden recipe.”-“This is a wonderful way to focus on what is essential in life; nature, silence, respect, respect of nature, respect of knowing your limits.” -”The impossible is possible. Everything is possible. You have to aim high. Be ambitious. Believe in your objectives. Just do it.”*Cornelius’s Three Daily Foundations to Success:-Communicate effectively-Extreme persistence in everything you do-Exercise and sports to clear your mindThis episode is brought to you by Analytix Solutions; improving the efficiency of your business across people, process and technology through multi-divisional outsourcing solutions. 

Over 40 million people are the victims of Human Trafficking. It's the fastest growing crime in the world, a $150B industry, and disproportionately affects women and children. Mitzi Perdue  is the founder of Win This Fight!, a non-profit dedicated to eradicating this vicious crime. She is the heiress of Sheraton Hotel Chain, widow of another family business poultry magnate, Frank Perdue, a businesswoman in her own right, and an author. Mitzi joins host Fran Racioppi for a candid discussion on how we must all jump in to combat labor and sex trafficking, the keys to running and scaling a successful family business, and in a surprising twist, Mitzi calls out her rival in the battle for hotel chain heiress superiority - Paris Hilton. Join the fight to raise $100M by visiting winthisfight.org or text ELEVATE to 55312.Read the full episode transcription here and learn more on The Jedburgh Podcast Website.Highlights: -Fran & Mitzi define human trafficking, its unacceptable practices, and it’s impact of victims and the labor market. -Win This Fight! has pioneered a method of donation through auctioning high-value items their owners just don't really need. -Mitzi shares the keys to success in Sheraton's rise to the largest hotel chain in the world through a commitment to empowering people and organizations. -How implementing “The Great Failed Project Award” allows for bottom-up input in organizations while fostering innovation and creativity.-The lessons of Frank Perdue in investing in the development of employees and a leader’s need to focus on the present in order to fully understand and solve complex issues.  -Mitzi turns the tables and forces Fran to define his thoughts on failure and the importance of encouraging teams to learn through pushing past their limits. -Embracing an attitude of lifelong learning will allow us to continue to grow, be genuine, human, authentic and personable; something Mitzi learned as she has overcome her fear of public speaking and being in large crowds.  Quotes:-”If you are a trafficker, you are really trying to ‘break’ the person that you are trafficking.”-”People live up to or down to your expectations.” -”If you are focused on what am I going to get out of this, you are probably going to be disappointed.”-”If I were Paris Hilton and I was reading that Mitzi Perdue - she is the Sheraton heiress - wanted to meet me, I wouldn’t believe it.”-“To make somebody feel important, listen to them.”-”I don’t want them to know what I want to hear. I want their ideas.”-”95%of an award is communicating to the rest of the company what we value and what is important.”-“People like you a lot more for being human, than they like you for being perfect.”Mitzi’s  Three Daily Foundations of Success:-”Eat a live frog” - do the hardest thing you need to do today first-Make a list of tasks to be completed-Focus on that which energizes us and provides positive mental energyThis episode is brought to you by Analytix Solutions; improving the efficiency of your business across people, process and technology through multi-divisional outsourcing solutions. 

What happens when we push ourselves too hard - over too long a period of time? What happens to our mental, physical and emotional states? Even the most elite performers reach a point when they can't go any further. We are not talking about a single event, or a single day. We are talking about years, or decades, of driving to the limit, pushing through, and winning; only to wake up one day with nothing left in the tank. This is called Operator Syndrome - and it affects the most successful champions in the world, first responders, doctors, lawyers, restaurateurs, and the rest of us driving to make it in the world. Dr. Chris Frueh is a Professor of Psychology at the University of Hawaii and a leader in the research and clinical evaluation of Operator Syndrome. He joins host Fran Racioppi on this episode to show us that even as we push ourselves to the limit every day, we must be conscious of the cumulative effect of stress over long periods of time; and how sleep, nutrition and mindfulness are the "survival skills" we need to combat Operator Syndrome and its negative effects on our performance. Read the full episode transcription here and learn more on The Jedburgh Podcast Website.Highlights:  -Chris and Fran define “Operator Syndrome” and list the “impairments” that are associated with it’s evaluation.-Evaluation can be as easy as self-evaluation, but also may involve a team of specialists that can assess a person's holistic health across mental, physical and emotional contexts. -Operator Syndrome affects all types of high performers in a variety of industries such as emergency services, first responders, law enforcement, financial services, lawyers & the military, among others. -Chris explains how sleep, nutrition and mindfulness are the “survival skills” needed to combat Operator Syndrome, aid recovery and increase a balanced perspective on life. -Most high performers are unable to identify they suffer from Operator Syndrome, postponing needed medical treatment, or even conversations about the stress they consistently live under.  Quotes:  -”The natural consequences of an extraordinarily high allostatic load; the accumulation of physiological, neural, and neuroendocrine responses resulting from prolonged chronic stress; and physical demands.”-”What I recommend is a framework that takes the whole person and all of the systems into account as simultaneously as possible.”-”These things are all connected and causative. We can have vicious cycles and virtuous cycles.” -”If you are not sleeping, it is really hard to heal your brain. It’s not just about getting enough sleep. It is about getting the right sleep.” -”We don’t need sugar. We don’t need soda. We don’t need fast food. Junk food. Processed food.”-”Find the ability to sit, be quiet, and notice what’s going on.”-”We have some agency. We have some control over our lives.”-"You are not crazy because you have some of these symptoms, but you can learn to deal with those symptoms with a multi-tiered approach." This episode is sponsored by Analytix Solutions; improving the efficiency of your business across people, process and technology through multi-divisional outsourcing solutions. 

Are leaders born or made? Major General Clay Hutmacher believes that leadership is a learned skill. He spent 41 years in the United States military and commanded the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment; one of the most lethal projections of combat power the world has ever seen. Precision execution is required every second of every day to assume - and succeed - at the extreme level of risk at which this unit operates. Major General Hutmacher is now the President and CEO of The Special Operations Warrior Foundation where he has dedicated his post-military career to providing education to the children of our fallen Special Operations warriors and Medal of Honor recipients. MG Hutmacher joins host Fran Racioppi, and special guest host TWG Founder and Navy SEAL Mike Sarraille, to discuss raising the standards of leadership, the importance of organizations creating expertise across functional, technical and strategic thought domains, realistic training, and the balance between mission and people when the mission calls for relentless dedication.Read the full episode transcription here and learn more on The Jedburgh Podcast Website.Highlights: -How a motto like “Night Stalkers Don’t Quit” unifies an organization around a common purpose and mission.-Standards are required in any organization, but it is the adherence to the standards that separates the elite from everyone else. -Lessons on managing elite performers who have a very high operational tempo, a no fail mission and the effects of prolonged operation. -MG Hutmacher shows us how leaders evaluate risk, and how longevity and experience of an organization’s personnel will allow a leader to assume more risk in their operations. -Special Operations Warrior Foundation empowers the families and children of our fallen and severely wounded Special Operators and Medal of Honor recipients. Learn how you can support their mission at specialops.org.-MG Hutmacher provides an invaluable history lesson of combat aviation in special operations throughout the world including Somalia, South America, and The Middle East. Quotes:-”You lead by example in your personal and professional life”-” I learned a lot through that process, about change, being an agent of change. Land mines that are out there that you need to be careful of. But taking the long view on change.”-”I have learned more hearing things that I wanted to hear the least.” -”That policing and enforcing of standards isn’t just me at the top, it’s all throughout the depth and breadth of your organization.”-”At one level it is understandable they are doing this based on fatigue, but it is unacceptable, regardless. “-”I believe leadership is a learned skill. I don’t buy into the natural leadership thing. And I still learn.”-I didn’t shy away from making hard decisions and holding people accountable, but I was also very cognizant of the perspective of a young soldier.”-”There is an argument to be made that when you come into an organization your most productive time is that first three to six months.”-“If we put you in, you can bank on it, we will come get you. I don’t care what it takes.”MG Hutmacher’s Three Daily Foundations of Success:-Pray everyday-Workout Everyday-Spend time with family everyday

Ranger School, and the Ranger ethos have defined military leaders, and leadership in general, for over 70 years. But until 2016, the opportunity to earn a Ranger qualification was limited only to men. In this episode, host Fran Racioppi is joined by Lisa Jaster, one of three women to attend the first integrated Ranger School class. Most attendees of Ranger School are in their 20's, men and and from the Infantry or Special Forces. Lisa graduated at 37 years old, a mother of two, a woman, and an engineer. She also faced the utmost mental and physical challenges of resilience as she recycled every phase of the course; being forced to do every exercise again. We highlight the difference between those who say and those who do; the importance of physical preparation; the optionality of quitting; and what it means to truly build an organization on uncompromised standards. Lisa shares her three C's of leadership, what it means to #deletetheadjective when it comes to women leaders; and how leaders must earn respect every damn day. Ranger School graduates, Fran & Lisa also show us how the Ranger ethos can be applied to any organization. Rangers lead the way!Read the full episode transcription here and learn more on The Jedburgh Podcast Website.Highlights:-Explanation of the leadership lessons taught and learned in Ranger School and how they are needed in any organization. -How living by the six stanzas of the Ranger Creed create world class leaders. -Fran and Lisa bond over the shared pain and suffering of Ranger School and the differences in their experiences while attending the school.-Physical fitness is a controllable aspect of our lives in that we ourselves directly determine how fit we are. Being in a higher state of physical fitness allows us to focus our mental capacity on other challenges we face. -Lisa challenges all organizations and leaders to create one standard and hold everyone accountable to it; there should not be women standards and men standards. -Fran asks Lisa to describe her 3 - C’s of leadership and how displaying them on a daily basis will set us apart.Quotes:-”If women are even in the discussion that we can be capable leaders, then to deny us access to the Army’s most rigorous leadership course would be saying the opposite.”-”Can I add value without taking away the shine.”-”I’ve been constantly competing against the status quo, against the norms, against the nay-sayers.”-”Always be prepared also includes always being willing to do what you need to do to reach your goals, to be a creative thinker, to think outside the box.”-”We often forget when you have an under-represented population that the over-represented population is also affected by these changes.”-”You can’t let the quit in...if it's not in your head it's not there.”-”When you are not winning, you are learning.”-”A title helps me understand what you do for a living, but it doesn't help me respect you.”  -”Once you lose respect words have no meaning and you have to start rebuilding from the foundation up.”Lisa’s Three Daily Foundations of Success:-Write down must dos and want to do’s (having a plan)-Executing the plan vigorously (conduct the plan)-Adapt the plan (change the plan when needed)

Colin Beavan is a man of impact. Or no impact. Author, transformational coach, and instigator of thought and action, Colin lived in New York City for a year with a net zero impact on the environment. He joins host Fran Racioppi on this episode to discuss his mission in life to drive people to take action for what they believe in, even if at first it doesn’t seem important. He shows us that we should become Lifequester’s and drive ourselves towards personal change before we can try to change others.Colin challenges us to break through the limiting beliefs and the standard life approach that society has defined for us. He also explains the importance of servant leadership, the pressure fame puts on your voice and podium, and how Zen philosophy can help us to understand that we may not be able to change the world, but we can certainly try.Colin is the author of How to Be Alive: A Guide To The Kind Of Happiness That Helps The World, No Impact Man, and one of the best historical accounts of Operation Jedburgh. Colin has been named one of MSN’s Ten Most Influential men and one of Elle Magazine’s Eco-Illuminators. Read the full episode transcription here and learn more on The Jedburgh Podcast Website.Highlights:-The importance of being a “doer” vs a “sayer”-The difference between an organization’s mission and their vision. Mission is an action. Vision is an idea.-The four tenets of being a “Lifequester” and their need to  take a stand for what they believe in within society.-How to challenge the “Standard Life Approach” society has defined for us as what we need and want.-Limiting beliefs are false pretenses that prevent us from taking action. We must break through these.-The importance of “servant leadership” and “engaged citizenship” to drive change in ourselves and society.-The loss of “agency” if you put your fate in the hands of others.-“Ukulele Approach” to learning new skills and driving change.-Zen philosophy and how Zen can teach us to try.Quotes:-"To make change we need to think about taking gentle first steps that aren’t so huge and are more manageable. It’s a training-wheel approach to changing your life. The big things can come later.”-“Just as I have to accept certain things about the world…the world has to accept certain things about me.”-“In community when one person floats up we pull others up with us.”-“I didn’t want to write a book about how all of you people should change. I thought I maybe should write a book about how I can change.”-"The old concept of leadership conflated leadership with status. Real leadership is based in listening.”-“The real expertise of a leader is to listen to the concerns of their various stakeholders.”-“Sometimes the most generous act we can do is accept the fact that we can be publicly wrong.”-“To make change the first thing you have to do is measure where you are.”-“People can be more forgiving than you think if you are really sincere about making change.”-“We can’t insist that we are praised.”Colin’s Three Daily Foundations of Success:-Daily meditation to calm anxiety and worry-Envision the world as loving, kind, safe and equitable to determine how I can help the world get there today-Talk to my daughter

Stand-up comedy is not just about making people laugh. It is about creating a connection with a group of strangers to evoke an emotional response and influence them; something critical to leaders at every level and in any organization. Comedian and Author Selena Coppock, is the artist behind Seen Better Days, a comedy album that hit #1 on the iTunes Comedy chart. She is ranked one of the 8 funniest feminists on Twitter and joins host Fran Racioppi to unpack the leadership characteristics required to stand up in front of total strangers and make them like you. She showed the differences between improv and a team's ability to hide your flaws vs stand-up, where there is no one but yourself to blame for failure. She explained how you pick yourself up off the floor, forget about the times the audience threw tomatoes, and grab the mic for another round. Selena also highlighted her book, The New Rules for Blondes, where she and Fran challenged stereotypes about women, their place in society, and how we all can learn to shine if we believe in ourselves first. Read the full episode transcription here and learn more on The Jedburgh Podcast Website.Highlights:-The characteristics needed to build a career as a comedian when competition is fierce and options are endless.-Subjective vs objective results in performance.-The team aspect of Improv comedy and how the team can hide an individual’s flaws.-Stand-up comedy as an individual’s need to perform in the moment based on detailed preparation and planning.-New York City as the epicenter of the comedy industry.-How you present yourself to an audience matters in how they interpret what you are saying.-How to approach difficult and controversial topics with care, but also in a way that resonates with the audience; off limit topics; what makes a good joke.-Building an audience and following that resonates with you, your brand and your message.-Rejection of the negative connotations associated with blonde women.-Feminism and the need to focus on becoming good people.-Men’s need to break out of the stereotypical characteristics society has placed on male behavior. Quotes:-“I am a firm believer that the universe will open up to you if you are on the right path.”-“You don’t really take things personally because it’s so subjective.”-“If you have an audience of 100 people, you can’t somehow not offend someone.”-“You can’t please everyone, but you can be mindful of your position on things.”-“It’s not fun or enjoyable to punch down.”-“I had a bad set Tuesday. Oh well...I have another one Wednesday.”-“The best jokes are self-effacing.”-“If you're a blonde, cute woman, people don’t take you seriously.”-“I am who I am without apologies”-“Some people are going to like you. Some people are not going to like you. It’s ok to just do your thing.”-“The goal of feminism is to get rid of these rigid notions of what is man and what is women.”-“The first step is finding your voice.”-“The most wonderful feeling in life is feeling understood.”-“Comedy is earned 10 minutes at a time over decades.”Selena’s three daily foundations of success:-Make your bed everyday-Go outside everyday-Be upbeat, positive and be aware of what is coming into your life (especially on social media)

Hollywood has James Bond, Jason Bourne, Jack Ryan, and Jack Bauer. But the real world has Jack Devine and he has a far more interesting story to tell. The author of Spymaster’s Prism, Jack spent 32 years in the CIA as the Acting Director and Associate Director of the agency’s Global Operations directorate. In those three decades he has led and orchestrated some of the most well known clandestine operations, including providing covert support to the Afghan mujahedeen fighting against the Soviet Union and hunting down drug kingpins like Pablo Escobar. Today he is fighting the next war in the cyber and information domains.  Perhaps no one will ever be more qualified than Jack to talk about strategic thinking and leadership in dynamic environments. In this episode he joins our host, Fran Racioppi, to talk about the history of leadership in an ambiguous world, how to manage a host of various and eccentric personalities, and how the future security of our nation lies in our ability to protect our phones, computers and the information we consume on a daily basis. Read the full episode transcription here and learn more on The Jedburgh Podcast Website.Highlights-How organizations unify around a common mission, purpose and sense of importance around their work-The characteristics that make the best spies-History of the OSS, CIA, Jedburghs and the importance of intelligence in business and national security.-The different lenses leaders look through based on the experiences of their past.-The dangers of looking too myopically at our jobs, organizations and goals.-The importance of information in our problem evaluation and problem solving; and how to remove bias from our decision-making process.-The rise of insider threats to organizations, the risks posed from the loss of sensitive information, and how to develop controls to combat them.-The history of traitors within the CIA.-Tips and methods to manage a team of high performers with unique personalities.-The future threat of cyber and information warfare and how Russian meddling in US political affairs is on the rise.  Quotes-“It’s not that you can mass produce leadership.”-“To be an effective person you have to think strategy.”-“Information is what allows leaders to make informed decisions.”-“You need to have a culture.”-“Just give me the facts. I may not like them; but I will deal with them.”-“If you are going to be a leader, people need to say’ he is the real thing’.”-“If there is no upside to the risk, don’t take it.”-“It helps to have a persona.”-“If you strive for mass popularity you might not be able to make the tough decisions.”-“There were rules; called the Moscow Rules.”-“We did not meddle in each other’s internal affairs.”-“Both parties need to come to a position of strength to have a real conversation.”Jack’s three daily foundations of success-Take 10 minutes to think about what you are going to do strategically today-Have a strong handshake -Never take a picture with a drink in your hand

What we do after we find rock bottom is what defines us. Chantel Calloway is the creator and CEO of Rhyme Antics, a fun, engaging and educational game inspired by the roots of hip-hop artistry. Chantel developed the game sitting in jail on New Year’s Eve 2010 after she robbed a bank to provide for her son. Today, Rhyme Antics is the first black-owned game to be sold in big-box retailers, Target and Walmart. Chantel joins Fran Racioppi as she talks about her fall, her learnings, her path to entrepreneurship and how taking responsibility for your actions and accepting when you’re at rock bottom can inspire you to do more. Chantel also provides her lessons on successful crowd-funding and how iteration is critical to developing a product your audience wants, regardless of what the creator thinks it should be. Dive into an inspiring journey of self-development and be motivated to sing your own path, never letting poor choices define your life or your character.Read the full episode transcription here and learn more on The Jedburgh Podcast Website.Highlights:-Fran and Chantel play a heated round of Rhyme Antics -Rhyme Antics as a literacy game to build vocabulary and command of word usage-Rhyme Antics is the first black-owned board game in Walmart and Target-The literacy crisis in the United States-Chantel describes her decision to rob a bank to provide for her son-Bounceback and recovery from hard times-Make personal development a priority-The effective use of crowdfunding and how to develop a crowdfunding campaign-The first steps in developing a concept, pilot products, market research and focus groups-The need for founders to remain true to their vision but accept feedback in the iteration of their products Quotes:-“The hardest work a person has to do is the self development work.”-“As long as you stay the course and stay committed to your goal, you will achieve it.”-“When you have no money, you have to be super creative.”-“I was lost spiritually. Not focused, I forgot my potential, wasn’t living for my purpose...I was just lost and fell upon hard times.”-“It was the best and worst thing that ever happened to me. Through the dark time and having that fall, I rebuilt myself to the person I am today and that would have never happened without that incident happening.”-"Will people you don't know support the product - great test of viability - before you waste your time and money - are you market ready?"-"The thing that separates this product from everything else is that it is fun and educational"-“I turned down the first licensing deal that I was offered because the company didn’t understand the community that this product talks to."-"There will never ever be a little girl that’s black, that will say I can’t be a board game developer because you did it. It was your destiny, you were the one that was supposed to do it.”Chantel’s Daily Three Foundations of Success-Meditation-Make your bed-Set aside undistracted time to focus on work

“The task ahead of you is never greater than the power behind you.” Olympic Gold Medalist Laura Wilkinson, shares her “#DREAMCHASER” journey to compete in her fourth Olympic Games in 2021. Laura joins host Fran Racioppi to provide her lessons on facing fear, the unknown, the pressure of the moment and the drive to not only win, but also to become better versions of ourselves. Laura is the first woman in history to win Olympic Gold, World Cup Gold and the World Championships in 10 meter platform diving. Motivated to reach for her dreams after being cut from her high school team, she won the gold medal on a broken foot. Get ready to be inspired by Laura’s story of courage, determination and longevity at the top.Read the full episode transcription here and learn more on The Jedburgh Podcast Website.Highlights:-The mentality of an Olympic athlete-The need for elite performers to focus on the fundamentals -It is not about being special; it is about doing the basics better than everyone else-Laura’s high school diving experience and her ‘call to action’ after being cut from the team-Failure as a needed part of success-The humility needed to accept failure and the path to improve-Taking ownership of your performance-Winning the gold medal at the Sydney Olympics,  Laura’s pep talk she gave herself, and how suffering the broken foot was the catalyst to winning the gold-Dream Chaser mentality and the drive to push towards our dreams-Her neck surgery and recovery during her return after nine years in retirement-Laura’s thoughts on fear and moving past it-Preparing to qualify for Tokyo-Dealing with the ‘uncontrollables’-Finding balance in life-Achieving longevity in sports-Channeling the pressure of the moment-Laura’s ‘Pursuit of Gold’ podcastQuotes:-"Fate and Determination separate the good from the great"-“It’s not comfortable. It’s not easy. And it may take time. People don’t want to do that. But that is how you move past fear.”-“Every time I fail, it gives me the opportunity to learn.”-“If you are not humble enough to receive corrections, you are never going to accept what you need to do to make a change to become better.”-“It’s about the pursuit. It’s about the hunt. It is about who you become. If you have these dreams, chase them.”-“The challenges that we face are what equip us for what’s ahead.”Laura’s Three Daily Foundations of Success:-Love your family-Be active and move your body-Stay hydrated

We live in a world full of volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity. As leaders we must manage our teams and organizations, but we must first learn to manage ourselves and our responses. In the first of a  “how-to guide” episode, host Fran Racioppi sits down with organizational psychologist Dr. Alan Echtenkamp to understand the elements that build a strong and effective leader in times of challenge and transition. They discuss the four keys to effective communication and how leaders should approach planning with an agile and versatile attitude. They also delve into how leadership must set the conditions for a return to normalcy and how empowering employees will provide them a voice in their future while building trust across the organization.Read the full episode transcription here and learn more on The Jedburgh Podcast Website.Highlights:-Fran & Alan define a VUCA environment (volatility, uncertainty, complexity, ambiguity)-Leadership in VUCA and during crisis (COVID as an example)-VUCA requires leadership, character and caring for other people-VUCA Prime tells us that in times of crisis and confusion, our natural tendency is to become insular and worry only about ourselves-Discussion on the ways to look outward in crisis leadership-Alan defines crisis leadership and tell us how to transform fear action into desire for action-Importance of not downplaying threats and risks to organizations-Transparency among the ranks is about empowerment, not providing all the dirty details of the company-NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern as examples of effective leadership during the early days of COVID-19-In crisis times, leaders must act with urgency, communicate with transparency, respond productively to missteps, continuously update-Strategies to assess when our teams are ready to return to a new normal-Teams will be empowered to have a voice if they are given a choice, connected to a purpose, and given a bridgeQuotes:-”A good and authentic leader recognizes the role and responsibility that comes along with being a leader and becomes the best version of themselves in that.”-“Part of the emotion you are trying to evoke from people depends on the behavior you need from them.”-“In any communication there is the sender, the receiver and the message.”-”There are as many definitions of leadership in the world as there are snowflakes.”-”Leadership is not an equal dynamic.”-”The challenge for leaders is managing your own emotional experience.”-“90% of people consider themselves self-aware. The real number is about 15%.”-”The paradox of senior leadership is that the more senior you are in an organization the less likely people are to give you honest feedback.”-“Clarity and agility help people move through complexity and ambiguity.”-”Any organization at best only has the best strategy for right now.”-”Do I punish failure, or do we reward failure?”-”What are the metrics for performance that we want.”-”Part of what we need from leaders...is to recognize what’s changing and what’s not.”-”People are willing to give more than their share as long as they feel supported and I think loved.”

“Curiosity killed the cat.”  Journalist and novelist Michael Scott Moore, was captured and held hostage for 977 days by Somali pirates during a research trip to Somalia in his effort to write a book about Somali Pirates. As told in incredible detail in his bestselling book, The Desert and the Sea: 977 Days Captive on the Somali Pirate Coast, Michael recounts his memories of the initial shock of being captured, the harsh conditions, forging bonds and connections with the other hostages, the failed escape attempts, how captivity provided the time and space for much needed personal introspection, and how his perspective on life and its challenges has changed.Read the full episode transcription here and learn more on The Jedburgh Podcast Website.Highlights:-Drive: Michael’s “drive” to survive struck even his captors. After two and a half years many would have resigned themselves to failure and hopelessness, but Michael did not. His constant failed attempts to escape his captors showed how willing he was to fight to get his life back.-Resiliency: To say that the conditions Michael endured were harsh is an understatement. It was literally the definition of adversity. Michael survived the years of captivity through stimulating his mind, constantly believing in rescue by United States Special Operations and looking to ransom negotiations.-Adaptability: Michael had to structure his time despite the uncertainty of each day by creating small goals one day at a time. After captivity, Michael had to adapt to “normal” society, which he had been detached from for so long that his return actually made his head hurt from thinking about topics he had long forgotten.-Humility: 977 days was plenty of time for Michael to reflect on his past and humbly accept his mistakes, while making him more vulnerable, aware and conscious of what really matters in life.-Integrity: Michael found it in his heart to forgive his captors, but he never forgot. He was able to get over his feelings of anger and resentment, but he did not buckle in his own sense of good and bad. A Stockholm syndrome skeptic, Michael remained steadfast in his commitment to hold his captors accountable for their actions.-Team Ability: Everything is about relationships, even on a pirate ship. Michael saw his situation as captors and captives alike being forced to play on a team that none of them chose to be on. Building relationships with fellow captives, and even his captors, helped Michael endure even the hardest of days.-Effective Intelligence: Michael’s experience provided a new lens through which to view the world. It changed his perspective on life and gave him a deeper center of gravity. For better or for worse, he is less single-minded and more focused.-Emotional Strength: Depression, anxiety, and even suicide ideation hounded Michael every day, but Michael coped by stepping aside from those emotions and giving himself room to think, analyze and find solutions to his captivity. Through yoga, meditation and writing. -Curiosity: It was what put Michael into the chaos, but it was also one thing that kept him going during captivity.Michael’s Three Daily Foundations of Success:-Make coffee every morning-Dedicate a few hours to focus on work - productive, focused work-Create a list of tasks to complete each day

Building a business is tough. Building a business in the yet-to-be-defined cannabis economy is even tougher. One of the biggest conundrums in the cannabis industry is talent acquisition and culture clash between legacy cannabis purveyors and formalized business structure. In this episode, Fran Racioppi lights up the challenges and opportunities in this fast-moving industry. He's joined by Bryan and Jessica Passman, Founders of Hunter + Esquire, a leading cannabis executive search and consulting firm, to discuss how cannabis companies recruit, assess, select, and retain top talent. They also highlight the barriers preventing elite talent from entering cannabis, the preconceived notions around the industry, the cultural challenges faced by operators, and the paths to becoming a successful founder in the industry.Read the full episode transcription here and learn more on The Jedburgh Podcast Website.Highlights: -The opportunities and risks the cannabis industry offers to potential employees.-The legalization of cannabis in different states and at the federal level.-How legalization is affecting the growth of the market and companies in the supply chain.-Combatting stigmas and perceptions of the cannabis industry; equating cannabis to prohibition.-The barriers preventing top talent from entering cannabis.-Structuring a talent management cycle in an industry that has both former drug dealers and wall street executives.-Overcoming the lack of industry experience in cannabis and how the legacy players are accepting new talent in the market.-The culture clash between legacy and new cannabis purveyors.-The business cycle of cannabis and where the major companies lie (existence, survival, early success, rapid growth, maturity, decline/re-launch).-The role of founders in start-ups and how entrepreneurs accept when it is time to step aside as the leader but still contribute to the vision of the company they created. -Positive effects of COVID on cannabis and the designation as an “essential service.”Quotes: -”Your human capital is your most valuable asset, if not your only appreciating asset.”-”She is a CEO. Not a She-CEO.”-”We focus our recruitment process on education.”-”You need the cannabis OG’s and the suits.”-”You do not have to be a consumer to be an effective leader in the industry, but you must respect other people’s consumption.”-”The existence of the illicit market keeps costs down for consumers.”-”If we want to properly monetize this thing, we need to level-up.”-”Open your ears and listen. If you have that self-awareness.” -”Be sure you are clear on what skill gaps you are filling.”-”There has been a huge push for diversity,  women in leadership roles.”-”There are companies focused on optic hiring. They are choosing to hire a woman for the sake of hiring a woman.”-”None of our clients want a slate full of the ‘pale male’ candidate.”-”We have clients who doubled revenue and headcount (through COVID).”Bryan’s Three Daily Foundations of Success:-Get up early and get organized -Communicate candidly and with transparency -Act - be in motionJessica’s Three Daily Foundations of Success:-Make your bed, wash your face, get dressed-Get up early and get organized -Make a list of tasks

For centuries society has clung to the classic archetype of men as protectors, providers, hunters, and gatherers absent of emotion and unable to form meaningful relationships. This perception has impacted the interaction and communication not only between men and women but also between men themselves. In today’s world of rising gender equality, many men have lost the ability to understand what it means to be both a  “good man,” and a “good human.” In this episode, Author & Journalist  Cleo Stiller joins Fran Racioppi to discuss her new book, Modern Manhood: Conversations About The Complicated World of Being a Good Man Today, and share her thoughts on the artificially constructed “Man Box” in which too many men are caught. She explains how her work in journalism, culture, and anthropology has explored the less discussed topics of sex, relationships, money, and workplaces. Most importantly, Cleo discusses how the #MeToo Movement can help men become comfortable having uncomfortable conversations through an introspective look at their past behaviors and a willingness to do better in the future.Read the full episode transcription here and learn more on The Jedburgh Podcast Website.Highlights:-The importance of, and how to, get comfortable having uncomfortable conversations about gender equality, race, sex, relationships, money, self-help, health.-Cleo’s rise through the journalism ranks at Bloomberg. How she pitched and started her show “Sex.Right.Now” on Univision; ultimately being nominated for a Peabody Award for Public Service Journalism.-Deep dive into the book’s  8 core topics: Dating, Sex, Work, Money, Parenting, Friends, Self/Health/Porn, and Media.-Fran comes to grips with his past poor behaviors and commits to being better.-The need for introspection without stigma, blame or judgment to accept that at times in our lives we have not acted appropriately, but we can accept that and move forward. -Fran and Cleo break down societal notions that men and women must act in certain ways towards each other; a concept that prevents them from building meaningful relationships.-The danger of “locker-room talk” in male-male relationships.-The concept of “call up your friend...not call out your friend” for poor behavior.-Fran forces Cleo to challenge common stereotypes about women in a rapid-fire opinion game.Quotes:-”I did not want to miss the opportunity for us to come together and look at our past, future, and not uplevel our behavior.”-”Even if you are a good, modern man, you are going to mess up.”-”I always say no stigma, no judgement. I trust the viewer to interpret this. Just tell them what’s going on.”-”What are the new rules? What can I do?”-”They certainly care that they don’t get dinged for something they did in their past.”-”The amount of money they made had such an impact on their feeling of worth as men.”-”Introspection and communication can change your relationship in meaningful ways.”-”Am I not allowed to talk about the bodies of the people I have been with?”-”When your friend says something shitty, what they are trying to do is bond with you.”-”Everything right now is very awkward and very uncomfortable.”Cleo’s Three Daily Foundations of Success:-Journal-Have coffee-Exercise

Connecting two unrelated fields can lead to world-changing discoveries. Dr. Claudius Conrad has led both the medical and music industry in combining music and surgery, revolutionizing laparoscopic robotic surgery and the approach surgeons take to building their teams and healing their patients. Joining Fran Racioppi as the first in-person guest of the podcast, Dr. Conrad explains how the use of music can not only facilitate the healing process in patients, but also improve the performance of surgeons and other healthcare professionals in the operating room itself. Listen in to learn how being a Steinway & Sons music composer and a German Special Forces Sniper have propelled him to lead the world in minimally invasive pancreatic surgery; and vice-versa! Read the full episode transcription here and learn more on The Jedburgh Podcast Website.Highlights:-An explanation of the connection between music and surgical medicine in terms of skill comparison, precision, zero tolerance for failure and both as a “performance.”-Dr. Conrad talks about his recruitment into the German Special Forces Sniper unit and his double major in medicine and music.-Discussion on the mindset and preparation required to become  an elite surgeon and an elite pianist; the need to work everyday towards the goals.-Dr. Conrad details how to create a recording album and speaks about his piano album Healing Hands.-Fran & Dr. Conrad engage in a detailed discussion on Minimally Invasive Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery and Robotic Laparoscopic surgery and how Dr. Conrad leads the medical industry in the use of robots in this field.-Discussion on the Whipple Procedure and the increase of pancreatic cancer diagnosis over the last 30 years. -Dr. Conrad discusses how he organizes and builds his teams of elite surgeons. What he looks for and how he uses music to form bonds between the team. -Tips on how to manage a group of top performers in a multi-disciplinary team unified by the medical profession tenets of “do no harm” and “for the best of the patient.” -Analysis of the generational shift in medicine from the baby boomers to Gen X and now Gen Z; including the rise of AI & Machine Learning.Quotes:-”If everybody thinks it’s a bad idea, yet your heart tells you to pursue it, it’s a clear sign that this is a perfect idea, and you should go for it.”-”I am certainly a master at failure. But I am also a master at getting back up again.”-”You have to learn how to learn and make it a habit to be uncomfortable.”-”Being a surgeon helps me become a better pianist, and being a pianist helps me become a better surgeon. Science and art, precision and creativity, discipline and transcendence. In the end, both are about connection.”-"Surgeons, who have to execute prolonged motor performance, often enjoy so-called ‘activating’ music."-”Give yourself three goals in life, ideally ones that you are not already excelling in, and make it a point to get better at those. By doing so you will become a better person.”-”I am looking for people who are better than me in at least one aspect.”-“Find what motivates each member on your team.”Dr. Conrad’s Three Daily Foundations of Success:-Improve your technical skill set-Maintain a welcoming personality-Increase knowledge

Your personal brand means everything in digital marketing, especially on social media. But, do you know who your audience is? From her years as a top fashion model, Emily Sandberg Gold knows that building a personal brand takes understanding first yourself, then your audience. Emily combines this balance with the need to listen before speaking, an attribute that has led her to success in both her modeling career and as the founder of her digital marketing agency, Twice Social. Emily attributes success to her never-ending drive and her ability to form meaningful relationships. She joins Fran Racioppi on the podcast to share her whole journey – from the glitz of the runway to the shadows of depression and anxiety – and how she took what she learned from modeling and entrepreneurship to help others build their brands and leverage social media to achieve growth.Read the full episode transcription here and learn more on The Jedburgh Podcast Website.Highlights: -Emily explains her transition from a small Minnesota town to the New York City modeling scene and the importance attitude plays in developing confidence in yourself and your abilities. -When entering any new environment we must first listen to understand what is asked of us. Once we are clear, it is time to render an opinion (if an opinion is even sought).-Emily describes her definition of work ethic and drive as the reasons behind her rise to the covers of Vogue and Elle, and becoming the face of Fendi, Versace, DKNY, Clinique and Gap.-All careers have a shelf life, modeling was no different and required Emily to continuously assess the next steps of her career and her relevancy in the modeling industry.-Emily candidly shares her battle with anxiety and depression, the factors behind it including burnout and constant workload, and how rehab in Los Angeles helped move past these setbacks and get back to modeling.-After a short stint selling shoes and handbags at Nordstrom, Emily leverages her experience building her own personal brand to start Twice Social, her digital marketing agency. -Emily explains the opportunities and challenges in starting a social media business, the value proposition of small teams and a boutique experience.-Defining an audience that resonates with us is the most important aspect of building a brand that requires continuous engagement, community building and partnerships.Quotes:-”Don’t walk into a room thinking that you know what’s up.”-”Listen and pay attention. Do what’s in front of you and educate yourself as much as possible on what it is that you need to learn.”-”The first relationship you build is with yourself.”-”I will pay these contractors twice as much as anyone is paying them and charge clients half as much. That is where I can compete. I can compete on people and I can compete on price.”-”As long as I kept my mouth shut, people would project themselves onto me and they would do the talking for me. I didn't have to sell myself, they sold me to whoever.” Emily’s Three Daily Foundations of Success:-Wake up in the morning and make your bed-Call or text three people every morning to create connections with others-Ask yourself each day; “do I want to give today, or do I want to get today.”

The characteristics that set high-performers apart fascinate Drew Newkirk, a New York City psychotherapist who uses the Enneagram Theory of personality assessment to help people unlock the secret to achieving their goals. Drew focuses on elite performers’ ability to remain proactive and out front. Rather than being on the defense,  he coaches on strategies to push forward while never letting others bring them down. In this episode, Drew joins host Fran Racioppi to share his transition from client to the therapist and how he helps others find joy, happiness, freedom, and fulfillment through a quest to understand life’s purpose. An avid music lover, Drew uses music as a language to connect with his clients, as well as to inspire himself and others. He shares his new docuseries called “The Songs That Saved Your Life” where he explores music as inspiration to those who find solace in specific songs. He also debuts his new YouTube channel where he blends lessons from music and literature.  Read the full episode transcription here and learn more on The Jedburgh Podcast Website.Highlights:-Drew describes how he was bullied as a child resulting in insecurity, which he shielded by developing a “fighter” spirit.-Drew provides his theory of life as a table with four legs, each representing a different passion but each needing to remain in balance with each other to find completeness and fulfillment.-Fran & Drew break down the Enneagram, it’s nine core personality types, and the primary and secondary wings.-Fran describes himself as an “8,” while Drew is classified as a “sexual 4” bringing into the conversation the three centers of “instinct, feeling, and thinking.”-The Enneagram “Instinctual Stack” is used to identify what character traits people display in times of safety and comfort vs times of stress and confusion.-Fran questions Drew on the drivers behind his passion for music and the rationale behind the development of “Songs That Saved Your Life” in partnership with recording artist Darrell McDaniels from RunDMC.-Envy is an emotion that Drew describes as his ‘dark passenger’ through which he professes his jealousy for Hugh Jackman.Quotes:-”Your ‘why’ is the root system. If the tree doesn’t come out of the root system, it is not authentic. If a company is doing it well, they’re putting the ‘why’ first.”-”As a man...I resist the idea that I am a scrapper because I think that was about being defensive, feeling insecure, feeling small and weak.”-”Your ‘why’ is different than the ‘how’ or ‘what’ you do.”-”It’s not if, it’s when. And I have wrestled with that for six years.”-”My way of dealing with envy is to get competitive...but envy also drives me.”-”The idea behind the Enneagram is that you develop both sides of yourself.”-”Most of life's problems are because man cannot sit in a room by themself.”-”The purpose is the core, and the ‘what’ is going to follow that purpose if you are doing it right.”-“You have this opportunity. Who cares what he says? You have to put this into the universe.”Drew’s Three Daily Foundations of Success:-Communicate with compassion-Target your efforts-Move and take action

In loving memory of our friend, mentor and member of our Jedburgh Team - Jerry Remy (1952-2021). We will miss you. In Major League Baseball the glory you see on the field is a very small part of the whole story. As a player, there must exist a dedication to greatness and a commitment to excellence that transcends the field; even at the end of a baseball career. Second Baseman Jerry Remy became a legend in the game and in the broadcasting booth having been inducted into the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame, elected President of Red Sox Nation, and his 32 years as the NESN color analyst for the Red Sox. In one of his last full length interviews, Jerry shows us how to overcome inexperience and lack of skill by focusing on our core strengths and dedicating ourselves to perfecting the fundamentals. He shares the mentality required to perform in the moment and under extreme pressure, and how we can overcome devastating injury, depression and anxiety. Jerry also explains why the 2004 Red Sox team is the best team in history, how managers have been forced to evolve to coach a younger generation of athletes, and the importance of mentors in our professional and personal lives.  Read the full episode transcription here and learn more on The Jedburgh Podcast Website.Highlights: -Jerry shares how nearly being released in his first spring training after being drafted in 1971 forced him to realize how much work was required to be competitive at an elite level and how a dedication to preparation is required to improving his personal skills on the field and in the broadcasting booth.-Analysis of playing in an environment like Boston where winning and perfection is an expectation; how do we as leaders consistently rise to the challenge and not be overcome by the moment. -As a five-time cancer survivor, Jerry shows us how to take life’s challenges one day at a time and apply focus to small victories that compound to achieve a goal and overcome extreme adversity. -Hire for character, train for skill is a fundamental aspect of building elite teams; a challenge NESN accepted when it hired Jerry as the color analyst. -Despite a rough start and inexperience, Jerry explains how we apply our previous knowledge to new tasks and demonstrate effective intelligence.  -Depression affects even the most elite performers. Jerry provides his lessons on overcoming depression and anxiety when your life is on camera and in the spotlight every day.-Based on 50 years of MLB experience, Jerry gives us the inside baseball on the best Red Sox leaders like Jason Varitek and David Ortiz, the best teams, mentors, and the advice he has for the recently retired Dustin Pedroia.Quotes:-”I had so far to go. My talent was so far below all these other guys.”-”If these guys can play there, I can play there. I just have to work harder. I have to do more work. It will all pay off in the end.”-”You had to have a short memory because you could really dislike a lot of these guys who wrote some bad stuff about you. You win them over by playing better.”-“I was terrible. I was awful. And I wanted to drop it. But I never quit anything in my life.”-“They felt like they had nothing to lose and they go on to win this thing.”Jerry’s Three Daily Foundations of Success:-Preparation-A love for the game-Be yourself and don’t be afraid to be wrong

Peter Cancro is the Founder and CEO of Jersey Mike's Subs. In 1971 at the age of only 17, Peter raised $125,000 to purchase the single store sandwich shop called Mike's Subs. Today, Jersey Mike's has over 2000 stores across the globe, and is closing in on over $2 billion in annual sales. Entrepreneur Magazine has ranked Jersey Mike's #7 in the 2021 Franchise 500 Ranking. In this episode, Peter joins host Fran Racioppi to share his recipe for building a franchise empire, and his foundation on a “SubAbove” culture of giving and a commitment to its people - investing over $150 million back into its store owners to update and modernize. Peter was named to the 2021 Power List by Nation's Restaurant News. Read the full episode transcription here and learn more on The Jedburgh Podcast Website.Highlights:-Peter explains the importance of equity in a business and a founder’s role in identifying funding sources, partners and those able to provide capital while allowing the founders to pursue their vision.-Growing a business from a single store to multiple stores, then a franchise requires founders to understand how their people, process and technology must operate at different points in the business cycle. -The normal franchise model puts the responsibility for adherence to standards on the franchisee; Peter speaks about his selection criteria for successful franchisees, his dedication to their training, and how the reinvestment by Jersey Mike’s corporate office in the modernization of the individual stores has empowered owners to work harder.-Peter places focus on location when selecting markets and individual stores for inclusion into the growth phase of Jersey Mikes. He explains that simple and replicable designs reduce the time and cost barriers to entry for new franchisees.-Fran & Peter provide the keys to overcoming business shock as Peter discusses how he pulled Jersey Mike’s out of near bankruptcy twice and how he has responded to COVID-19. -The development of a strong team culture is the most important aspect of leadership to Peter. He provides his thoughts on leading by example and from the front, pulling others along towards your goals. -Community is built through engagement like the Annual Day Giving and the Month of Giving during March. Quotes: -”Show up every day. Go to work and go after it aggressively. Make great products and great service. Get involved in the community and care. That’s the motto.”-”Does it make common sense? This is how we go forward.”-”Don’t walk when you can run.”-”You enjoy it when you are doing your best. Putting it out there. Trying to serve your community. Trying to serve others in the store.”-”It was a good long time I was flatlined. ‘91, ‘92, ‘93. We just didn’t grow.”-“That’s what people love. When they can just be real and genuine. Not some script by the company.”-”We go after it very aggressively. Get the right people...we work hard. Try and get involved in the community. Make great products and great service.” -”Cause-related marketing is what the experts will tell you you should be doing.”Peter’s Three Daily Foundations of Success:-Be ready-Be prepared-Focus on the small details

What can business organizations learn from the military when it comes to talent management and leadership development? Those who have been in the trenches, leading people through some of the most difficult and risky missions in the world know that people are everything. Mike Sarraille and George Randle are two of the authors of The Talent War, an incredibly insightful work that examines the parallels between the talent management practices of special operations forces and the most successful organizations in the world.  Aiming to empower small and medium businesses to achieve excellence every day, Mike and George founded the Talent War Group, a cadre of highly-experienced SOF leaders and business executives who understand the critical importance of human capital management. Listen in as they share some of the principles they talked about in their book as they join Fran Racioppi on this first episode of The Jedburgh Podcast. Read the full episode transcription here and learn more on The Jedburgh Podcast Website.Highlights:-Why Special Operations uses nine characteristics of elite performance to recruit, assess, select and train its people and how the nine are required to build elite performers in any organization. -What it means and why organizations must “hire for character, train for skill.”-Entrepreneurs exist at all levels of an organization; Mike & George explain how encouraging an entrepreneurial spirit drives productivity and innovation.-Assessing people’s response after failure is an important indicator of their character and potential for future success; George describes the most common results of failure given by candidates in the interview process. -Mike provides the tools leaders need to determine and accept risk in order to see risk as opportunities to improve the organization. -The keys to introspective leadership and self evaluation on a continuous basis.-Mike candidly describes the importance of a “tribe” and how the strongest people and organizations rely on a strong sense of community, camaraderie and team.-How the "whole-man" concept requires leaders to evaluate talent on the totality of what they bring to the organization and how they enhance all aspects of the team in addition to their personal skill set or subject-matter expertise.  Quotes:-”A transformational leader builds genuine relationships with their people. They are willing to pay the rent.”-”What are we doing? What should we be doing.”-”What makes Special Operations so special is that they have to be experts in potential-based hiring.”-”I want everyone to be a disruptive thinker. I want everyone to have a sense of autonomy over their lives and their jobs. Ownership to make decisions at their respective level.”-“99% of people see risk and it automatically triggers fear.”-“Everyone has failed at something they tried.”“Iron sharpens iron.” Mike’s Three Daily Foundations of Success:-Develop a growth mindset-Demonstrate humility-Maintain your tribe George’s Three Daily Foundations of Success:-Persistence in personal growth-Have faith in self, tribe and your team-Love and appreciate those around you

Organizations will fail without transformative leaders. The Jedburgh Podcast is a conversation with prominent visionaries, drivers of change and those dedicated to winning. In May 1943 the Allied Forces determined a new type of leader was required to win World War II as an Axis victory seemed certain. These leaders would be assessed using a specific set of character traits, but selected using the “whole-man” concept; a combination of traits needed to simply get things done and win no matter the challenge. Code-named Jedburghs, three-man teams parachuted behind enemy lines onto the shores of occupied France during the nighttime hours before D-Day. Their only directive...Win the war at all costs. With little guidance and scarce resources, 200 specially selected, highly trained, innovative leaders helped turn the tide of the war.Hosted by former Special Forces Green Beret, Fran Racioppi, each episode is an in-depth discussion with trailblazers who have earned success through a dedication to talent development, preparation, introspection and the drive to get things done. Our conversation will empower listeners to define success and operate at an elite level, regardless of the task at hand. Jedburghs lived by the mantra that how you prepare today, determines success tomorrow. The Jedburgh Podcast is sponsored by Talent War Group, an executive search firm and talent advisory. We work with your organization to attract, retain, and develop top talent. We’ll drive you to attract, retain, and develop top talent. With services like talent acquisition, leadership development, training, and seminars we work with you to create talent solutions to business problems. To get started, visit www.talentwargroup.com