EP408 - Jeff Ostroff on interview skills when hosting a podcast

In this episode of Chasing the Insights, I talk to digital pioneer Craig Cooke. Craig talks to us about his new book - Business Kung Fu. Craig Cooke is a best-selling author and CEO of C-Squared Professional consulting. He is a successful entrepreneur who had the foresight to start a “digital first” company utilizing the Internet long before “digital first,” “digital transformation,” and other buzzwords of today were created. With extremely limited resources of $1,300 and an Apple computer, he started RhythmNet.com with a couple friends from college. Over the years of struggle, adaptation, and repositioning the brand, “Rhythm“ was sold to a world-class digital creative agency in 2019. Craig stayed with the company for just over 3 years, completing a 26-year marathon of running the company as CEO. During his tenure at Rhythm®, Craig worked with middle market to large enterprise companies. Today, Craig shares his business wisdom, experience, and expertise in three key areas: executive leadership, brand development, and marketing communications. He has published his first book, "Business Kung Fu" which has attained best seller status on Amazon.com. Also, he has studied and served as a practitioner of Chinese Medical Qigong since 2015, bringing energy healing to hundreds of people. Currently, he is pursuing a doctorate of Chinese Energy Medicine from the Temple of Change and Transformation.

In this episode of Chasing the Insights, I talk to sales expert Benjamin Brown. Ben talks to us about the lack of confidence in sales people. Benjamin Brown is a sales expert, author, and a father of two young children. He has worked in sales for over 23 years and currently works with small businesses that have sales issues and low sales. When it comes to sales, Ben has done it all! From stock brokerage style cold calling, to car salesman, to gym memberships, to medical devices- he can sell anything. Ben has gathered all of his sales experiences, 20 years worth, and put them into a 10-step process, a proven and tested sales process to help you get more clients and MORE SALES. When sales is done right, it is a pleasing process!

In this episode of Chasing the Insights, I talk to sales expert Bryan Charleau. Bryan talks to us about the struggles that new sales people face. Bryan Charleau is the author of the book "Pitching Sales! A Complete Guide to Becoming a Sales Professional. Bryan is an expert in sales guidance for individuals entering the sales profession, sales training for companies hiring new sales reps with no previous experience, sales training consultant, and of course, sales coaching.

In this episode of Chasing the Insights, I talk to marketing and brand expert Ann Carden. Ann talks to us about Stepping Into The Expert Spotlight & Sell Ultra-High-Fee. Ann Carden is a Strategic Business Growth Consultant and Marketing & Sales Coach, CEO of A. Carden Inc., and founder of the “Expert In You” brand and programs. She is a 3x Author & #1 Int. Bestselling Author, Speaker, and podcast host of “EXPERT IN YOU.” Ann has more than forty-one years of business, marketing, and sales experience. She spent thirteen years in corporate business management managing multiple-million-dollar departments for a multi-billion-dollar national retail corporation. She has been an entrepreneur for over thirty years, building and selling five previous businesses. Working as a consultant/coach since 2010, Ann has helped hundreds of coaches, consultants, and service businesses add hundreds of thousands and millions of dollars to their business in over fifty different types of businesses. She has also trained and educated thousands of business owners, entrepreneurs, and professionals through speaking, workshops, seminars, and social media channels. Ann was recently inducted into Who’s Who in America for Entrepreneurship and into Who’s Who in America for Professional Women. Ann has been featured on various media channels with articles and hundreds of syndicated podcasts.

In this episode of Chasing the Insights, I talk to empathetic author and entrepreneur Kat Kennan. Kat talks to us about the importance of empathic marketing. Kat Kennan is a bestselling author, entrepreneur, and marketing expert, known for building impactful, customer-driven strategies for companies of all shapes and sizes. As the founder and CEO of Radical Customer Experience™️, she specializes in trauma-informed and inclusive marketing services. She has developed the 3 R's proprietary model, an empathy-driven customer approach combining inclusive marketing, technology, and infrastructure to deepen brand loyalty based on the Radical Human Intelligence™ platform, home of the Cancel Culture Check-Up™️ and Brand Sensitivity Score™️.

In this episode of Chasing the Insights, I talk to advertising expert Robert Brill. Robert talks to us about how to properly use paid media to grow your business. Robert Brill has worked in advertising for 20 years, and is the CEO of Brill Media, a digital advertising agency for scalable business growth. The company has been honored 10 times across Inc 5000 and Financial Times 500.

In this episode of Chasing the Insights, I talk to inspirational author Ryan Penley. Ryan talks to us about exploring the landscape of becoming an author. Ryan Penley is a new author and solopreneur. With more than four years of hard-won sobriety, Ryan has transformed his life's adversities into valuable lessons for those still struggling with addiction. Today, he lives a life that is unimaginably blessed, exceeding even his own expectations. His debut book, "Man Up. Sober Up.," serves as both a testament to his resilience and a practical guide for those seeking to reclaim control over their lives. More than a survivor, Ryan is a beacon of hope for those still battling their demons. He demonstrates that from the depths of despair, it is indeed possible to forge a life filled with purpose and joy.

In this episode of Chasing the Insights, I talk to inspirational entrepreneur Barbara Spitzer. Barbara talks to us about living your dream: marrying mission and money. Barbara Spitzer is the founder and CEO of Two Rivers Partners, LLC (TRP). TRP is a strategy firm that prepares organizations to navigate today's most disruptive forces by aligning business and workforce strategies and building organization effectiveness and strategy execution capabilities. Barbara works with senior executives to drive growth with digitization, sustainability, and leadership development, resulting in large-scale, purpose-driven transformation. Barbara works with CEOs to galvanize their teams around corporate goals. Since leaving her 35-year career, most recently with Accenture - which was primarily focused on helping clients make more money - Barbara re-launched TRP to make it possible for purpose-led organizations (nonprofits and start-ups) to tap the world's best consulting talent to help drive growth and impact. Barbara is the US Board Chair of Restless Development, a global nonprofit that prepares youth worldwide to lead transformation around today’s most pressing issues: climate, LGBTQ+, gender equality, and others. Barbara has a BS in Psychology from James Madison University and an MA in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from Columbia University. Barbara is a certified NACD Director.

In this episode of Chasing the Insights, I talk to author and real estate expert Sonny R. Moyers. Sonny talks to us about marketing to someone that doesn't know you. Sonny R. Moyers, the author, “The Architecture of the Real Estate Practice,” is a distinguished professional with a rich and diverse background. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Management & Communications and a Master of Science Degree in Psychology, with a focus on Human Behavioral Theory, Interpersonal Communications Theory, Organizational Design, and Research Methods. Sonny's journey in the real estate industry began in 1971 when he obtained his Texas Real Estate Sales License, followed by his Texas Real Estate Brokers License in 1988. His dedication and expertise have earned him numerous accolades and awards, establishing him as a respected figure in the field. Between 2004 and 2018, he consistently ranked among the top 4% of real estate agents nationwide, and in Texas, he often found himself among the top 1% by various indices. As the President of The Renaissance Group, a Real Estate Brokerage, Consulting, and Publishing Company in the DFW area, Sonny has made significant contributions to the industry. In 2015, Sonny received the prestigious McSam Award and was named the REALTOR® of the Year in Dallas by the Dallas Builders Association—an honor bestowed upon him after rigorous evaluation and selection by a panel of experts. This recognition set him apart as the best REALTOR® among thousands in the DFW Metropolitan Area, emphasizing his unique contributions to the real estate realm. As an Enterprise Consultant, Sonny contributed to the development of business planning methodology practices for AT&T, Ericsson Network Project, Inc., and Zurich Corporation managers. Sonny's unparalleled expertise in developing co-working and collaboration environments led him to become a recognized expert in the Business Center-Shared Office Industry. Sonny's dedication to community service was evident in his leadership roles with the Frisco Association for the Arts, where he served as Board President and contributed to the organization's remarkable growth. Now, with his book, Sonny R. Moyers shares his extensive knowledge and insights, offering a valuable resource for new and aspiring real estate professionals looking to thrive in the industry. Sonny, his partner, and his wife, Judi, live in Prospect, Texas. The Architecture of the Real Estate Practice released in February 2024.

In this episode of Chasing the Insights, I talk to the Casino Sales Master himself, Joseph Rockey Jr. Joe talks to us about his upcoming book Casino Sales Master. Joseph Rockey Junior is a serial business creator and founder. Beginning in real estate, he has created a number of successful entities that have lived well beyond a decade, which is an incredibly rare feat in any industry, let alone real estate. Joe operates Elite Business Conversations, which is a specialty coaching and consulting firm helping individuals and companies create elite sales cycles. Elite Business Conversations teaches how to create an enduring culture that people want to work for, despite the company paying less in employee wages. Elite Business Conversations provide solutions to businesses that have no exit plan after the current owner retires. These solutions include selling the business or developing a new ownership structure. Joe finds joy in seeing the companies thrive. Additionally, Joe can be found on many stages across the world, presenting keynote addresses about how to achieve greatness in sales, and discussing elite business cultures which his company is known for. Joe is a founder of three media outlets. The Elite Business Conversations TV show is currently syndicated in 43 countries and is in 55 million households. In addition to being streamed on both Amazon and Roku, it is a flagship program on a podcast network with over 100 million downloads each month. Joe is the host of the podcast ‘Father and Joe’. Joe aims to teach individuals about their relationships, always looking through the lens of the relationship that we have with ourselves, each other, and God. Joe co-founded the YouTube show ‘Local Football Flavor', which is an NFL show that discusses the teams in the league from the fan’s perspective; fans talking about football with other fans, learning from each other, and becoming more knowledgeable about the sport, and gaining valuable insights regarding the NFL. Joe is constantly creating new businesses. It is highly possible that by the time you read this, Joe will have created something else that will be the darling in the spotlight. In all of his ventures, he starts by creating honest human connections to ensure his clients experience real value, real impact, and real change. Joe 100% believes that salespeople will heal the world.