Episodes

Social Sparkling Wine is a truly clean, organic, low-calorie, gluten and sulfite-free sparkling sake rice wine now available in more 4,000 retail locations nationwide. Leah Caplanis joins Justin to discuss her experience launching and growing the business. It's time to enjoy alcohol without compromising your healthy habits! Leah joins Justin to share her insights on launching the business on this best-of-ContenderCast episode.

Originally a UCLA professor of psychiatry for over 25 years, and a former FBI and police hostage negotiation trainer, Dr. Mark Goulston's expertise has been forged and proven in the crucible of real-life, high stakes situations. An influencer who helps influencers become more influential, his unique background has made him an indispensable and sought after resource and change facilitator to Fortune 500 leaders, entrepreneurs, and educators across the nation. Mark joins Justin to discuss leadersh...

Maxwell-Scott is a family-run business based in the historic cathedral city of York in North Yorkshire. Despite honoring traditional craftsmanship, Maxwell-Scott is an eCommerce business that aspires to be at the very forefront of the digital age. With eight websites worldwide, the culturally diverse team works with every corner of the globe, from France to Australia! William Scott Forshaw, CEO and Founder, joins Justin to discuss the business.

"The Consumer Markets have never experienced disruption at a faster pace than at this very moment, with implications, actions, and opportunities to serve. In a phrase, we are faced now with the ultimate "Black Swan" where business as usual is no longer an option. New technologies, changing consumer demands and digital-first companies will be in the vanguard, as should we all. As such, we can no longer talk about individual solutions and projects in isolation, we must work together, to solve for ...

Basia and Courtney Gillespie are co-founders at Life's Grape – a family-owned, California-grown brand of vine-dried grapes (yes, they are technically raisins). Because their signature Selma Pete grapes used to make the product are dried directly on the vine rather than the ground like most raisins, they translate into a product with more flavor, nutrition and juiciness. Come hungry to this episode of the ContenderCast as we unpack a "grape" idea!

Sherry Stewart Deutschmann founded her first venture, LetterLogic, in her basement and grew it to a $40 million company by putting her employees first and creating an empathetic work culture. Sherry initiated a practice called "Lunch with Lucy" where any employee could invite "Lucy" (Sherry's midday moniker) to lunch as a coworker and she credits this approach with the success of her company. She wrote "Lunch with Lucy" to share her insights into transformational leadership through empathy. Sher...

Stephen Opie and Charlotte Heim are the co-founders of Sweetmobility. With their combined insights and skills, they are delivering products that support mobility with decorative style. Sweetmobility's first product, CaneWraps, is a product set to help people who want to stay active and be seen as an individual. Stephen and Charlotte join Justin to discuss this new product!

Known as the Disaster Avoidance Expert, Dr. Gleb Tsipursky is on a mission to protect leaders from dangerous judgment errors known as cognitive biases, which devastate bottom lines and bring down high-flying careers. His expertise and passion is developing the most effective and profitable decision-making strategies, based on pragmatic business experience and cutting-edge behavioral economics and cognitive neuroscience, to empower leaders to avoid business disasters and maximize their bottom lin...

Rick Clark, Georgia Tech's director of undergraduate admissions joins Justin to discuss the college admissions process – tactics that work and a few that don't!! Rick joins Justin to share his admissions experiences on this best-of-ContenderCast episode.

Kaihan Krippendorff is the founder and CEO of Outthinker and bestselling author of Driving Innovation from Within: A Guide for Internal Entrepreneurs. Driving Innovation from Within provides the toolkit, frameworks, and know-how that leaders need to transform their organizations and drive growth by activating employee-driven innovation and entrepreneurship. Kaihan joins Justin to discuss all things innovation!

For the past 15 years, "DreAllDay" (Dre Baldwin) has changed the lives of over 60 million entrepreneurs, athletes and business professionals, sold thousands of copies of his books, courses and programs, pioneered personal branding through content, and built a business that helps tens of thousands of people master their "Game" in business, sports and in life, from the inside-out. Dre joins Justin to discuss his book "Work On Your Game: Use The Pro Athlete Mindset To Dominate Your Game In Business...

Carol Sanford is a recognized thought-leader working side by side with Fortune 500 and new economy executives in designing and leading systemic business change and design. Through her university and in-house educational offerings, global speaking platforms, multi-award-winning books, and human development work, Carol works with executive leaders who see the possibility to change the nature of work through developing people and work systems that ignite motivation everywhere.

Anne Carlson is the founder and CEO of Jiminy's LLC. Anne decided one day that while she enjoyed working in the pet industry, she wanted to be a part of something that made a positive impact on the environment and on pet health, so she founded Jiminy's dog treats. They come in a variety of different flavor combinations, and contain all-natural dog-friendly ingredients, including CRICKET (yes!) protein powder, which is found to be an actual superfood! Anne joins Justin to discuss launching and gr...

Janece Shaffer is an award-winning and internationally produced playwright and has written more than a dozen works. Janece has translated her story-telling expertise into a business collaborating with companies and individuals to create impactful stories for professional success and also a class at Georgia Tech. Janece joins Justin to share her story on this best-of-ContenderCast episode.

Raymond D. "Ray" Zinn is an inventor, entrepreneur and published author. In addition to a number of significant inventions improving wireless radio (RF) communication and voltage/power regulation devices, he is also the longest-serving Chief Executive Officer of a Silicon Valley company (Micrel Corporation). Ray joins Justin to discuss his experience creating a winning business and winning with employees and staff.

Captain David Marquet imagines a workplace where everyone engages and contributes their full intellectual capacity, a place where people are healthier and happier because they have more control over their work—a place where everyone is a leader. David is the best-selling author of Turn The Ship Around: A True Story Of Turning Followers Into Leaders and his newest book, Leadership Is Language: The Hidden Power Of What You Say - And What You Don't. David joins Justin to discuss intent-based leader...

Max Berg is one of the founders of Eliqs, a start-up that creates custom-designed craft beverage cans for any occasion worth celebrating. Max joins Justin to discuss launching and growing this unique beverage start-up!

Dan Chan Master Magician is an internationally renowned, award-winning magician whose magic has taken him all over the world. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, Dan is regarded as one of the nation's top corporate magicians and performs at events for thought leaders and influencers worldwide. Dan Chan Presents is the ultimate entertainment experience, featuring world-class sleight of hand, playful pick-pocketing, and thoughtful sleight of mind. Dan joins Justin to discuss building the family m...

Ever thought of starting a business in the garbage space?! Tom Szaky did – from Princeton dorm room to global business leader – he's built one of the most innovative global recycling companies focused on recycling hard-to-recycle waste. Tom joins Justin to discuss launching, growing and evolving the business. Enjoy this "best-of-ContenderCast" episode.

The Clean Pet Food Revolution lifts the lid on the current pet food industry: its claims of what constitutes a "natural" diet for pets, its shocking record on animal welfare, and its devastating effect on the environment and climate change. The book explodes myths about "grain-free" diets, protein intake, and what our pets "want." Finally, it details the many exciting scientific developments in alternative proteins. Ryan Bethencourt joins Justin to discuss the book.

Bryan Falchuk is a life and executive coach, public speaker, C-level executive and the best-selling author of "Do a Day," in which he teaches people how to overcome challenges and achieve goals. His most recent book, "The 50 75 100 Solution: Build Better Relationships," deals with an issue all of us face – tough relationships – and shares a path to making them more supportive, productive, happy and overall, better. Bryan joins Justin to discuss.

Rick Clark is the Director of Undergraduate Admissions at Georgia Tech and author of The Truth About College Admissions: A Family Guide to Getting In and Staying Together. Rick joins Justin for part 2 of their conversation on the college admissions process!

Michael O'Brien is a business leadership coach, speaker and two-time, best-selling author including his most recent book, My Last Bad Day Shift: How To Prevent Bad Moments From Turning Into Bad Days. Michael helps elevate leaders by preventing bad moments from turning into bad days. Michael joins Justin for part 2 of their conversation – this episode focused on conversational intelligence.

Connection Creator, Speaker, Trainer, Coach, Author and CEO - Michelle Tillis Lederman is a people expert who inspires organizations and individuals to build real relationships and get real results. Having worked with organizations large and small, she's identified the common struggle…it's people challenges. Michelle joins Justin for Part 2 of their "connector" conversation!