In October 2023, Neil Smith walked into a hospital — and didn't walk back out. What began as unexplained pain on a family vacation turned into a rare neurological diagnosis, months of chemo, and a total rebuild of everything he thought defined him.

On this episode, Neil and his wife Angie share the real, unfiltered story of walking through suffering: the fear, the identity crisis, the marriage strain, and the small Ohio community that carried them when they couldn't carry themselves. They talk about what it means to find freedom instead of fear, how physical health is tied to mental and spiritual health, and why redefining your identity might be the hardest — and most important — work you'll ever do.

If you've ever faced a season that stripped away everything familiar, this conversation will show you what it looks like to find peace on the other side.

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00:00 Introduction to Neil and Angie Schmitz

03:18 The Beginning of a Health Journey

09:13 Community Support and Family Dynamics

12:52 Current Life and Daily Challenges

18:42 Faith and Personal Growth Through Suffering

23:24 Finding Meaning in Adversity

25:19 The Power of Perspective

28:01 Coaching and Life Lessons

29:34 Celebrating Small Victories

32:12 Mind, Body, and Spirit Connection

35:33 Living in the Moment

39:18 Fear vs. Freedom

41:13 Youth and Faith Today

45:02 Strengthening Relationships

48:22 Messages for the Next Generation

Originally recorded two years ago, the late Tim Kight, founder of Focus 3 and longtime leadership coach for Ohio State football, was and still is a major influence on Phil's leadership journey, and this conversation is a fitting reminder of that impact.

In it, Tim breaks down the R Factor, a simple equation (Event + Response = Outcome) that shaped leaders across sports, business, and his own life. He and Phil dig into the mindset cycle that drives every human reaction, why discipline beats default, and how the same tool that fixes a bad commute carried Tim through his own cancer diagnosis. Tim explains the Performance Pathway connecting leadership, culture, behavior, and results, and introduces "20 square feet" — the idea that everyone owns a piece of the outcome, no title required. The conversation closes on identity and purpose: why values have to be chosen, not absorbed, and why timeless principles matter more than trends.

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26 years in law enforcement, thousands of lives touched. From the DARE program to CASA, Make-A-Wish, and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Nick Schulze has spent his life showing up for people nobody else would. In this episode, Phil sits down with the Mercer County law enforcement veteran, probation officer, and community advocate to talk about faith, fellowship, and the power of surrounding yourself with the right people. Nick shares the story behind a Make-A-Wish family's heartbreaking request, why FCA is changing the way young people talk about faith, and what happened when he opened his home to priests, brothers, and sisters from around the world for seven straight years. If you've ever wondered whether one person's willingness to serve can actually change a community, this episode is your answer.

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00:00 Nick Schulze's Journey of Service

00:57 Introduction to Nick Schulze's Experience

12:39 The DARE Program and Its Impact

15:48 Involvement with FCA and Youth Engagement

21:47 Building Community Through Faith and Support Groups

27:44 Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

28:38 The Role of FCA in Community Engagement

30:26 Embracing Fear and Seeking Growth

33:25 Setting Goals and Looking Forward

36:47 The Impact of Community and Faith

42:19 Serving Others: CASA and Make-A-Wish

49:24 Reflecting on a Life of Service

Phil and Mark dig into the tax strategies most business owners miss, R&D credits, cost segregation, and cash-basis accounting, before shifting into what actually separates financially successful business owners from everyone else: knowing your numbers. The conversation moves into real leadership territory as Mark opens up about his own transition from technician to managing shareholder, comparing it to becoming a first-time dad. The back half covers estate planning (why "winging it" with an outdated will is a real risk), staying grounded during tax season, and Mark's own hierarchy of faith, family, and work, and how that order shapes decisions at his firm.

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Tax Planning by Age: 22 to 42 — what to prioritize at each career stage

The R&D Tax Credit Most Businesses Miss

Cost Segregation & Bonus Depreciation Explained

Cash Basis vs. Accrual: The Deferral Opportunity

Year-End Moves: Roth Conversions & Charitable Giving

What Separates Successful Business Owners — financial acumen vs. hustle

From CPA to Managing Shareholder — Mark's "new dad" leadership analogy

Self-Awareness as a Leadership Skill — "the problem isn't not knowing; it's not knowing what you don't know"

Estate Planning 101: Wills vs. Trusts

Does Tax Season Ever Get Easier? — how Mark protects family time in Q1

Faith, Family, Work: Mark's Hierarchy — and how it filters decisions

Alex Brau built the career most people chase — CFO, mergers and acquisitions, a run helping build Inter Miami from the ground up. He had it all, or thought he did. Then his 15-year-old son started watching him a little differently, and Alex realized something that had nothing to do with finance: his kids didn't need a wealthy father; they needed a courageous one. This episode digs into what actually held him back for years — not strategy, not timing, but fear — and the underwater moment during a scuba certification that cracked it wide open for him. Phil and Alex talk about being aggressive with action but patient with results, why "having more to lose" in your 40s is mostly an illusion built on stuff that doesn't matter, and why regret from inaction outweighs regret from failure almost every time. It's a conversation for anyone sitting on a dream they've been circling for years, waiting for the "right time" that never quite comes.

00:00 Introduction to Alex Brau and His Journey

03:02 The Balance of Corporate Success and Entrepreneurial Passion

05:51 Navigating Fear and Courage in Business Decisions

09:00 Mindset and Daily Affirmations for Success

12:10 The Importance of Core Values in Business

14:46 Fractional CFO: Supporting Business Growth and Transitions

18:10 Overcoming Fear of Failure and Embracing Growth

21:00 The Role of Community and Accountability in Business

24:06 Looking Ahead: Opportunities in Business and Technology

26:57 Recommended Reading: Mindset by Carol Dweck

Email: alex@thebayfrontgroup.com
Phone: (786) 326-2255
Website: https://thebayfrontgroup.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexbraucpa/

Nate Bruns had the identity every small-town Midwest kid dreams of — state champion in football and basketball, all-conference at Findlay, top-five in program scoring history. Then two things stripped it all away: losing his best friend and teammate Ty Mescher his junior year, and getting shot twice in a random Columbus shooting two years later — one bullet two inches from costing him his leg. This episode is about what's left when the identity you built your whole life around gets taken from you, and what Nate found underneath it. Straight line to "Remember Who You Are" — and a direct challenge to leaders on why faith at work isn't a liability, it's an advantage for attracting the next generation.

0:51 – Welcome Nate, his athletic résumé at Marion Local and Findlay

3:00 – Junior year peak — academically, spiritually, on the court

5:00 – Losing Ty Mesher, what real leadership through energy looks like

10:00 – You don't have to be the loud one to lead — lead yourself first

14:00 – Senior year drift, questioning faith, "why would this happen to a great guy"

17:00 – Coach Ernst's leadership conversation — adapting style, not identity

25:00 – 2024 — the leadership shift starts to take root

27:00 – The shooting in Columbus — what actually happened

32:00 – Recovery, the infection scare, three weeks of surgeries

38:00 – Leaning into faith — the Romans 5:3-5 "God wink" moment

44:00 – Identity — athlete vs. who God made him to be

48:00 – Starting the Watch Men’s Group with Alex Kanapke

53:00 – Choosing your associations — the roommates story

57:00 – Closing challenge: faith at work is an advantage, not a risk

Phil talks with Gary Lipske about entrepreneurship, leadership, and how to build real momentum by staying focused on one priority at a time. Gary shares how his early hustle, business experiments, and work across real estate, youth leadership, and creative projects all come back to the same core skill set: solving problems, creating value, and leading people well. They also dig into courage, mentorship, and why strong teams need ownership, clear communication, and genuine connection. Gary explains how those ideas shaped his work with thousands of K through 12 students and how they continue to guide his real estate leadership today.

03:34 - Why Gary focuses on one business at a time

05:57 - Finding the courage to leave safety behind

13:33 - How Gary got into youth leadership work

20:48 - Gary’s leadership philosophy in real estate and with staff

23:58 - Why communicating the “why” changes team performance

27:59 - People want to feel accepted, appreciated, and valued

30:12 - Building the right team so each person can play to strengths

31:12 - How Gary decides what to focus on next

32:43 - Creating win-win outcomes in real estate

34:33 - Crucial Conversations and the value of hard discussions

35:20 - Why he’s optimistic about multifamily real estate

36:09 - Where to learn more about Gary and his work

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Phil Moeller talks with Chuck Huggins, Chief Growth Officer at Aileron, about the hidden burden many business owners carry: overwhelm, loneliness, and the tendency to hold onto too much. Chuck shares how Aileron helps owners shift from telling to asking, build stronger leadership teams, and create businesses that can function without the founder being present every day. The conversation also explores Aileron’s broader mission to improve quality of life through professionally managed organizations, plus the ripple effect that leadership has on employees, families, and communities.

00:00 "Business owners often feel overwhelmed and lonely."

10:42 "Effective delegation is crucial for growth."

16:43 "Leadership supercharges business fundamentals."

18:22 "Aileron provides a supportive community."

25:33 "Self-leadership is essential for positive influence."

27:43 "Asking questions is more influential than telling."

37:46 "The ripple effect of leadership impacts families."

38:15 "I get to go to work."

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https://www.instagram.com/philonpurpose

https://www.facebook.com/philonpurpose