The Third Way. Hosted by Justin Foster

In his seminal book, “The Go Giver”, Bob Berg coins the term “The Connector”; a role he esteems as the highest level of influence in business. A Connector creates value by bringing people together, sharing knowledge, and creating relationships that expand opportunity for everyone involved - all with no guile. no manipulation and no strings attached. My friend, Marc Shaffer, is the premier embodiment of being a Connector. So I was honored to have a conversation with him about his new book, “One for All”. We discuss his model for systemizing kindness (yes, it can be done in a sincere way), how to grow your network when you don’t like networking, and the incredible karma of supporting others, as it says in the book’s sub-title, “Like it’s your job”. We also explore the intricacies of personal branding, nerd out over the concept of Dunbar’s Number in a hyper-connected world, and the spiritual aspects of building relationships in business. Buy Marc's Book HereConnect with Marc:LinkedInWebsite

Joseph Fasano is a poet, novelist, and educator who spent two decades teaching literature before leaving academia to build his own independent academy focused on cultivating full human expression through language. In a conversation that felt like channeling the Beatnik days of City Lights bookstore in San Francisco, listen in as two writers compare scars, laugh through heresy, and tell the truth about art, God, and why crafting words is still one of the best forms of resistance.Joseph grew up in a house that prized silence over feeling. I grew up in a church that worshiped control over wonder. We both turned to language to find oxygen for our souls and meaning for our minds. We went everywhere: Rilke, Merton, Thomas Keating, Christ, moral clarity, fatherhood, and the sacred weight of words. We talked about how real faith feels less like belief and more like surrender.Links:Joseph’s websiteJoseph’s Academy Pre-order Joseph’s new bookJoseph’s Instagram

This episode of The Third Way Podcast was a gift. I got to sit down in person with my dear friend Wendy Colonna, a much loved Austin-based singer-songwriter, creative coach, and one of those rare artists who is both a master of her craft and endlessly collaborative. Wendy is woven into some of my most cherished Austin memories, from surprising Virginia with a tear-inducing cover of “Humble and Kind” for her 50th birthday to Wendy featuring the song she wrote for my dear friend, Mohan Rangarao, at her concert at the Regal Room. We recorded the episode on the back patio of The Hive in South Austin, just days before Virginia and I left Austin to move to Mexico City. Our conversation covers a lot: Wendy’s journey from being “too much” as a kid to releasing nine studio albums, her work helping creatives escape the poverty mindset, and her role in founding Wavemakers: Women in Music 40+ , a movement amplifying the voices of women who are in the prime of their creativity, defying industry ageism, and building bridges with brands who want real connection with women over 40.We dig into the craft of songwriting, the difference between songs written to serve an artist vs. songs written to stand on their own, and the magic of turning everyday objects and moments into talismans of meaning (including my favorite Wendy song, The Water’s Fine).We also talk about activism without burnout, paradigm-breaking approaches to music and business, and why intentionally choosing to be joyful might be the most subversive act of all.This one’s part music geek-out, part creative manifesto, and part love letter to the power of women’s voices.LinksWendy’s websiteWavemakers website Wendy’s YouTube channelWendy’s Instagram

In this special in-person episode, I sit down with my dear friend Sarah King inside Aurora House, the creative sanctuary she founded in Austin, Texas. The last time I did an in-person interview, I was in Idaho talking horse training with my little brother. This one’s a bit different.Sarah’s story is a remarkable transformation. A former top product leader in the high-growth tech world, she climbed the ladder fast and played the game well, until she realized the game was costing her her health, her values, and her true self. So, she walked away. What followed was a powerful reckoning: surgery, travel, deep embodiment work, and ultimately, the creation of Aurora House, a space for women and non-binary individuals to reconnect with creativity, community, and their essence.We talk about:How her rise through tech was fueled by charisma, grit, and a quiet desperation to prove herself.The inner cost of performing a version of herself that wasn’t true.Her journey from corporate warrior to creative founder, through grief, burnout, and a literal reconnection to her womb.The cultural binaries that distort feminine identity and how Aurora House exists to dissolve them.This episode is also a broader conversation about reclaiming our creative life force, why entrepreneurship is a spiritual act, and what happens when women gather without performance or pretense. Sarah shares wisdom for women in corporate life, calls bullshit on the “boss babe” hustle myth, and casts a vision for the future of Aurora House, including expansion, sponsorships, and community impact.LinksAurora House websiteAurora House InstagramBooks MentionedWomen Who Run With the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola EstésThe Artist’s Way by Julia CameronThe War of Art by Steven PressfieldSapiens by Yuval Noah Harar

Trevor Perry and I have something rare in common: we were both raised in one of the most controlling Christian sects you’ve never heard of, the Two by Twos. Trevor got kicked out at 19 for keeping the wrong company. I walked out on my own terms years later. Either way, we both know what it’s like to have your identity dictated by dogma.In this episode, we get honest about what it means to grow up in a system that fears questions, punishes doubt, and demands obedience. We talk about the lasting imprint of that kind of control, how it screws with your sense of self, and how the internet—and some good old-fashioned courage—has helped a lot of folks break free.Trevor’s now a non-theist, a skeptic, and the founder of the School of Dangerous Ideas—a place where he helps teams and leaders inject courage, play, and perspective back into their work. We talk about why dangerous ideas matter, not just in religion, but in business, leadership, and life. We also dig into family secrets, the power of fellowship, and the upside of questioning everything.Connect with Trevor:WebsiteLinkedIn

For a lot of business owners, marketing feels like a necessary evil—something you know you need but would rather not spend your time on. That’s why delegation isn’t just practical; it’s freedom. Handing off the parts you don’t love (and probably shouldn’t be doing anyway) gives you the space to focus on what actually matters—your vision, your craft, your people.In this episode of The Third Way Podcast, I sit down with the brilliant and badass Javiera Corea, the founder of Motion Rocket. Javiera shares her story of walking away from corporate law in Nicaragua to follow something that made her feel much more alive—helping businesses tell their story through marketing. Javiera believes that marketing doesn’t have to be a grind or a numbers game. To her, it’s an ecosystem—one that only works when it’s built on clarity, connection, and something real.We talk about why so many small business owners struggle with marketing—not because they aren’t trying, but because they’re approaching it like a checklist instead of a creative process. Javiera breaks down the idea of a Virtual Marketing Team (VMT) and why it works when it’s built on shared values, not just tasks.This conversation is about more than marketing. It’s about alignment, intuition, and learning to trust the process. LinksBook a Discovery CallWebsite LinkedIn

Leadership isn’t about control—it’s a creative act. Yet too often, leaders default to org charts, titles, and vanity metrics instead of the courage and creativity needed to build real trust. The bottom line gets in the way of belonging, and businesses exploit people rather than empower them.In this conversation, Dan Dowman and I unpack why so many organizations struggle to create cultures of connection—and why three core virtues can change everything:🔹 Wholeness over Rightness – Wholeness is a superpower. It disrupts defensiveness, creates space for adaptability, and reveals when to break from the status quo. It’s the foundation for real collaboration and innovation.🔹 Reciprocity over Extraction – True leadership moves from “me” to “we.” When reciprocity is prioritized, teams transform into ecosystems of shared interest, trust, and advocacy.🔹 Sovereignty over Commodity – People aren’t resources or targets. Sovereignty honors agency and autonomy, leading to genuine connection, shared ownership, and lasting trust.If you want to lead with liberation instead of control, this conversation is for you.Dan's LinkedInCulture CrushAnthem website

In this Manologue, I dig into a truth too many people would rather ignore: silence is the fuel that keeps tyranny burning. Authoritarianism isn’t just about silencing dissenters—it thrives on the privileged keeping their mouths shut. From my own experience in a high-control religious environment to the broader patterns of history, I break down why silence is complicity and why moral clarity matters now more than ever.I call on business leaders—those with influence, resources, and platforms—to speak up. It doesn’t always have to be loud and brash; sometimes, a simple, firm "no" is enough to shake the foundations of power. I also re-introduce the New Resistance Roundtables, a space for business leaders committed to resisting authoritarianism.The next New Resistance Roundtable is on March 11. Register here.

This episode is about a different kind of grief—the kind that lingers when something you believe in gets betrayed. I was raised on the Western Code: protect women, judge a person by their work, and give no mercy to horse thieves. It wasn’t an idea. It was a lineage that started in the grit and dust of the Old West and was lived by every generation - until the last 10 years.Now, I see men who once embodied that code looking the other way, making excuses for a man who assaults women, flaunts his ill-gotten wealth, shits on the military, and dismantles democracy. A man who, in the Code of the West, would’ve been run out or worse.This isn’t just about politics—it’s about the loss of honor, the erosion of trust, and the heart ache of seeing people trade integrity for excuses. Some betrayals you can’t come back from.

In this episode of The Third Way Podcast, I sit down with my friend and client, Joe Bova, for a deep and insightful conversation about his unconventional journey—from Hollywood to owning a bakery to becoming a therapist and coach.Joe shares his “Finding the Gold” story, inspired by a clay-covered Buddha, which serves as the core metaphor for his Story Restoration™ model. He opens up about the struggles of self-acceptance and the lifelong work of uncovering who we really are beneath the layers of conditioning and expectations.Together, Joe and I explore identity, personal growth, and empowerment. We talk about the unique challenges facing Millennials and Gen Z, the weight of social labels, and the power of owning your truth. Joe’s perspective is a reminder that we all have inherent resilience—if we’re willing to tap into it.Joe is, in every sense of the term, the ideal client and a case study of who I love to work with in my Studio Sessions. He has done the inner work, listened to his calling, committed to the process - and along the way built a visually and mentally stimulating brand and a unique offer in a very crowded space. Learn more about Joe’s work on his website.As mentioned in the episode, use the code BADASS20 at checkout to receive 20% off his upcoming 3-part Story Restoration workshop series.