Connection Interrupted

Latest Episodes:

Season 2. Episode 2. Ted Coine: The Halo Effect Apr 24, 2018

Show notes

Sam speaks to Ted Coine, a man who made his fortune as a CEO but has the heart of a teacher. Ted Coine has spoken at Ted Talks and inspired countless students young and old with his teachings. Now he's sitting down with Sam to share the secrets of his success and why he's able to do the things he can.

Sam asks Ted about what he needs from his students, how business helped him even after he left to become a teacher and why he's a capitalist even if no-one believes him.

This is Ted’s story...

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Season 2. Episode 1. Gary Vaynerchuk: The man behind the brand Apr 06, 2018

Show notes

Sam speaks to Gary Vaynerchuk, arguably the most prolific content provider on the planet. His GaryVee brand helped him establish himself as one of the most prolific social media users on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat.

Sam spent weeks preparing for the interview. One thing that’s stayed consistent across all of Gary V’s 20 year body of work is his overall message. Sam and Gary discuss the reasons why he’s kept the same underlying message for all this time. Plus it turns out the two of them have met briefly once before.

Gary V lets us in on the key priorities in his life, how they're rarely revealed to the spotlight, and explains the importance of a solid work/life balance no matter how hard your hustle. Of course, he has a few choice words about the Jets too.

Sam grills Gary V on his shoes, Gary tells us all about the necessity of constantly expanding his line of brands and what’s next for the media giant.

This is Gary’s story...

Special Guest: Gary Vaynerchuk.

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Episode 12. Scott Monty - Lessons in Leadership Jan 30, 2018

Show notes

I sincerely appreciate the art of storytelling. I view this as a lost art, one in the digital age we are desperately seeking to reinvest in. This is why I’ve enjoyed getting to know Scott Monty so much. Scott is a master storyteller. He can “spin a yarn” as my grandmother used to say.

Authenticity is at the core of Scott’s approach, not only to storytelling, but in everything. You’ll hear this theme repeated throughout this interview. Scott learned the importance of authenticity during his time as the Global Digital & Multimedia Communications Manager for Ford Motor Company from 2008-2014. You might recall this wasn’t exactly the most stellar time in the auto industry. Scott joined Ford as it was struggling to even survive as a company during the Great Recession.

Luckily, Ford had Alan Mulally as their CEO at this time, one of the greatest CEO’s of modern times. Scott was able to witness firsthand the leadership qualities Alan consistently demonstrated throughout his tenure as Ford’s CEO and how these leadership qualities translated into business success for the company. We focus in on these leadership lessons throughout this interview.

This is Scott’s story…

Special Guest: Scott Monty.

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Episode 11. Rob Frohwein - The Passionately Curious Founder Jan 23, 2018

Show notes

I love Kabbage, the incredibly popular small business lending company based out of Atlanta. To be fair, I also love cabbage, a highly underrated vegetable in my opinion.

One of the key reasons I love Kabbage, besides their outstanding product, is their founders. Both Rob Frohwein and Kathryn Petralia are inspiring leaders; both extremely funny, extremely bright, and extremely personable. I will be interviewing Kathryn (recognized by Forbes in 2017 as the 9th most powerful woman in finance) at a future date. I have to as Rob wouldn’t quit telling me how great she was during my interview with him.

This little anecdote is a prime example of Rob’s character. He always looks to put others first, whether that be with his teams, his customers, or his partners. He is simply a nice guy.

Our conversation is a masterclass in entrepreneurship, in what it takes to found a successful company, in how to build a strong company culture, and in how to maintain focus while still evolving the company’s products.

This is Kabbage’s story…

Special Guest: Rob Frohwein.

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Episode 10. Aaron Foley: Motown Storyteller Jan 13, 2018

Show notes

I first learned about Aaron Foley when I came across a CNN story on his role as the official Chief Storyteller for Detroit. I love the art of storytelling and I’m originally from Detroit so this profile on CNN resonated with me.

I added Aaron to my list of targeted interviews and began my research. It didn’t take long for me to realize Aaron is a kindred spirit. We both have a complicated relationship with our hometown, we are both a bit of a smart ass (take a look at his book How to Live in Detroit Without Being a Jackass), we both believe Faygo Red Pop is easily the best flavor they have, and we both believe it is important to balance a city’s regeneration while respecting and maintaining its history and culture.

The role of a Chief Storyteller (CSO) isn’t a new concept. Microsoft’s Steve Clayton has held this role since 2010 and IBM’s Louis Richardson is always fascinating to listen to. Aaron is simply the first and only Chief Storyteller I’m aware of for a major city and appointed by a government official (Detroit’s Mayor Duggan).

This is a move I applaud and one that I wish more cities adopt going forward. This is modernizing (or digitizing) the age old practice of telling a community’s oral history. Ages ago this happened over a fire or in a tribe’s communal space. The desire to listen to stories is an innate human characteristic, one we can’t afford to lose as we become more and more dependent upon technology in our everyday lives.

This is both Aaron’s and Detroit’s story.

Special Guest: Aaron Foley.

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Episode 9: Javad Khazaeli, The Immigrant's Story Jan 09, 2018

Show notes

On October 25th, 2017 Javad Khazaeli wrote an op-ed piece for the New York Times titled I Prosecuted Terrorists for President Bush. Now My Family in Iran May Be Banned From Visiting.
Javad, one of the early hires for Homeland Security and who spent nine and a half years with the organization, wrote of his own family’s personal experience with President Trump’s travel ban. Dr. Sadegh Khazaeli; Javad’s father, American Citizen, and hero to the many students he influenced over the years; had been diagnosed with terminal cancer. His family back in Iran was repeatedly denied entry to the U.S. despite passing multiple background checks and Javad’s dedication and service to his country.

We recorded this interview in early December 2017.

Javad’s father passed away on Christmas Day 2017.

Due to the White House Administration his family in Iran was never able to pay their respects and say their goodbyes.

This is Dr. Khazaeli and Javad’s story.

Special Guest: Javad Khazaeli.

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Episode 8: Devika Thapar - The Intersection of Science & Serendipity Jan 02, 2018

Show notes

I will personally pay anyone a finder’s fee of $50 if they can tell me what Bollywood movie Devika danced in when she was 17 years old. I couldn’t get her to tell me no matter how hard I tried during our interview.

This is why I admire Devika so much. Her love of the arts and science is such a refreshing blend. Yes, she is an incredibly accomplished executive with IBM’s Watson team in NYC, but she also has channeled her love of dance and passion for working with kids in her support of @stemfromdance as a board member.

This is her story..

Special Guest: Devika Thapar.

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Episode 7: Mary-Catherine Chambliss and Ross Daniel: STEAM engines Dec 26, 2017

Show notes

I’ve know that Mary-Catherine Chambliss has “IT” since she was a child. “IT” being that special spark, that inner drive, that talent at the next level, that personality the size of Texas. Full disclosure - I’m Mac’s uncle. Yes, that does mean she calls me Uncle Sam.

Both Mac and her boyfriend Ross Daniel are two of the most talented artists I personally know. Mac is the entire package: she can sing, dance, act, teach, choreograph, and make you laugh with a simple glance. Ross is one of the most talented young dancers and instructors I’ve run across. Both grew up in small towns in Georgia and have now moved to the Big Apple to make their mark on the world. And man, are they ever doing that…

This is their story.

Special Guests: Mary-Catherine Chambliss and Ross Daniel.

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Episode 6: Kate O'Neill: Tech Humanist Dec 19, 2017

Show notes

I’d only briefly met Kate O’Neill in person once before doing this interview. We’ve “known” each other for a while now on social media channels but had never really spent a lot of time taking in real life prior to sitting down for this interview. My loss…

It's easy to see why Kate, the founder of KO Insights, is such a popular speaker, author, mentor, and consultant when it comes to human centric marketing and design. It's because she’s so, well, human. She’s real. No pretences, no BS, simply real. And in this day and age that is a rare commodity.

Please do me one favor before you listen to this interview. Take a good look at this pic of Kate (her guest profile pic).

Trust me, it will make all the sense in the world after you listen to the entire interview. It just might bring a tear to your eye as it did mine.

Special Guest: Kate O'Neill.

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Episode 5: Dr Sue Black: The Ripple Effect Dec 12, 2017

Show notes

Computer scientist Dr. Sue Black is a force of nature. From working her way out of public housing with three young kids in tow, to earning a PhD in Engineering and becoming a professor at the University of Westminster in London, to publishing a book about how she helped save WWII code-breaking site Bletchley Park from ruin, to working tirelessly as an advocate for women in tech, she has accomplished more than most of us could hope to achieve in a lifetime.”

This is the opening paragraph of Forbes magazines profile of Dr Sue Black that was published in Mar of 2016.

“A force of nature” is an excellent description of Dr Sue. She earned her PhD studying the ripple effect, when you through a pebble into water and watch the ripples cascading outward from it’s point of impact. Dr Sue is that impact point. She’s proven that over and over throughout her career.

She is the embodiment of George Eliot’s quote “It is never too late to be what you might have been.”

This is her story.

Special Guest: Dr Sue Black.

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