Derek Crager is an engineer, former Program Manager at Amazon, a visionary AI Solutions Architect, and the founder of Practical AI, a service that helps businesses embrace simple, ethical, and profitable uses of artificial intelligence. Most recently, Derek has created Pocket Mentor & Pocket SME, the world's first voice-accessible AI customer support system.

Along the way we discuss­—Amazon Employee Training (2:15), 70/20/10 Learning Model (7:30), The Forgetting Curve (11:00), Downtime as a Knowledge Gap (14:00), Pocket Mentor (18:30), AI Amplification (25:14), Neurodivergence (26:45), and Derek's Memo (36:30).

Grab a copy of Derek's book @ Human First AI: Save Your Business, Save Your Job

This podcast is teamed with LukeLeaders1248, a nonprofit that provides scholarships for the children of military veterans. Help us sponsor 5 scholarships for 2027. Send a donation, large or small, through our website @ www.lukeleaders1248.com, PayPal, or Venmo @LukeLeaders1248.

Music intro and outro from the creative brilliance of Kenny Kilgore. Lowriders and Beautiful Rainy Day.

Vincent Van den Broeck is the founder of Until It's Done (UID), a brand movement to help people and companies make the impossible achievable through the alignment of five pillars: Mindset, Health, Lifestyle, Action, and Structure. In this podcast, Vincent shares his journey from a catastrophic accident, that left him near death, to a life of renewed meaning and purpose.

Along the way we discuss­—In Brussels, Before the Accident (2:30), Recovery (7:15), The Muscle Called Resilience (11:30), Why Not Me? (15:30), What Strong Means (22:00), A Reminder (26:30), Who's Setting the Rules? (28:00), and Vincent's Memo (32:00).

Grab a copy of Vincent's book @ Everything Feels Impossible Until It's Done: How the life you build becomes the life that saves you

This podcast is teamed with LukeLeaders1248, a nonprofit that provides scholarships for the children of military veterans. Help us sponsor 5 scholarships for 2027. Send a donation, large or small, through our website @ www.lukeleaders1248.com, PayPal, or Venmo @LukeLeaders1248.

Music intro and outro from the creative brilliance of Kenny Kilgore. Lowriders and Beautiful Rainy Day.

Ben G. Kaiser is a content strategist and founder of Kaiser Media Group, a company that helps businesses build credibility, strengthen customer relationships, and generate opportunities through authentic video storytelling. Ben helps turn an audience's attention into profitable business engagement.

Along the way we discuss­—The Journey (1:30), Provide the Answer (7:30), Metrics Can Be Dangerous (8:30), Vanity Content (10:45), Fountain Pens (12:30), The Authority Gap (15:00), Core 40 (16:30), Beware of Experts (20:30), Your Skill Stack (22:00), Pillar Content Flywheel (23:45), Random Act of Content (25:30), Developing your Product Story (26:45), What does AI Think? (29:00), and Ben's Memo (37:00).

Looking to strengthen your digital presence? Connect with Ben Kaiser @ Kaiser Media

Checkout Ben's favorite YouTube channel @ Barry's Economics – "Creators don't realise what is happening to them."

This podcast is teamed with LukeLeaders1248, a nonprofit that provides scholarships for the children of military veterans. Help us sponsor 5 scholarships for 2026. Send a donation, large or small, through our website @ www.lukeleaders1248.com, PayPal, or Venmo @LukeLeaders1248.

Music intro and outro from the creative brilliance of Kenny Kilgore. Lowriders and Beautiful Rainy Day.

Steve Harmon is a successful business leader with a core focus on supply chain management and real estate development. As the 2nd Generation President of NAI Harmon Group of Toledo, Ohio he remains engaged with all aspects of the family businesses: Spartan Logistics, Logan Creek Construction, Harmony Family Development, and the Benchmark Restaurant Group. The Harmon holdings employ over 400 people and control more than six million square space of industrial space.

Along the way we discuss – Old School (3:00), Core Values (11:00), the Importance of Logistics (13:00), KPI and Numbers (18:15), Delegation and Succession (20:45), AI and Logistics (25:00), the Future of Spartan Logistics (30:00) and Steve's Memo (35:00).

Looking for opportunities in Commercial Real Estate? Reach out to Steve Harmon @ NAI Harmon Group - Commercial Real Estate

Need help moving or storing your logistics? Reach out to @ Spartan Logistics

This podcast is teamed with LukeLeaders1248, a nonprofit that provides scholarships for the children of military veterans. Help us sponsor 5 scholarships for 2026. Send a donation, large or small, through our website @ www.lukeleaders1248.com, PayPal, or Venmo @LukeLeaders1248.

Music intro and outro from the creative brilliance of Kenny Kilgore. Lowriders and Beautiful Rainy Day.

Mike DeJong is an author, TEDx speaker, franchise owner, and turnaround specialist. Mike shares his views on the Operator Trap, that many business owners find themselves in, and ways to escape that constraint.

Along the way we discuss – The Journey (1:15), Nothing Bundt Cakes (4:00), Letting Go of the Ego (9:45), Don't Scale Chaos (12:30), Types of Leaders (17:00), Pilot Stuff (20:30), Instructor Pilots (23:45), You Have the Controls (27:00), IFR vs. VFR (27:45) and What do you want More? (32:45).

Grab a copy of Mike's book @ Grow Smart: Your Path to Freedom

This podcast is teamed with LukeLeaders1248, a nonprofit that provides scholarships for the children of military veterans. Help us sponsor 5 scholarships for 2026. Send a donation, large or small, through our website @ www.lukeleaders1248.com, PayPal, or Venmo @LukeLeaders1248.

Music intro and outro from the creative brilliance of Kenny Kilgore. Lowriders and Beautiful Rainy Day.

Matthew Bradbury is a business consultant and Managing Director of BAMA (Business Acquisition & Merger Associates). Matt helps unleash the equity in your company for retirement, giving, or the next chapter in life.

Along the way we discuss – The Journey (2:00), Value Driven (7:30), The "Bama" Brand (12:45), Business Evaluation (17:00), EBITA and Clean Numbers (20:15), Deal Killers (21:30), Tips for Success (25:00), Representation and Warranties Issurance RWI (30:00), Getting Ready to Sell (34:15), and Management Buyout (40:15).

Prepping to Sell Your Business? Reach out to Matt @ Business Acquisitions & Merger Associates

This podcast is teamed with LukeLeaders1248, a nonprofit that provides scholarships for the children of military veterans. Help us sponsor 5 scholarships for 2026. Send a donation, large or small, through our website @ www.lukeleaders1248.com, PayPal, or Venmo @LukeLeaders1248.

Music intro and outro from the creative brilliance of Kenny Kilgore. Lowriders and Beautiful Rainy Day.

Jim Varney is an engineer, a product development consultant, and now the head brewmaster at Wavelength Coffee. In this podcast, Jim explains his purpose-driven approach in a direct-to-consumer business.

Along the way we discuss – The Journey (1:45), The Coffee Industry (4:30), Air vs. Drum Roasting (7:30), Start-Up Start (12:30), Burn the Boats (17:00), Importance of Sustainability (20:15), Picking the Right Partners (27:30), The Husband and Wife Business Team (33:00), and the New England Coffee Scene (39:30).

Grab yourself a steel tin of Jeff's exceptional coffee @ Wavelength Coffee Roasters

This podcast is teamed with LukeLeaders1248, a nonprofit that provides scholarships for the children of military veterans. Help us sponsor 5 scholarships for 2026. Send a donation, large or small, through our website @ www.lukeleaders1248.com, PayPal, or Venmo @LukeLeaders1248.

Music intro and outro from the creative brilliance of Kenny Kilgore. Lowriders and Beautiful Rainy Day.