Today’s episode is for anyone who’s ever sat in a cubicle at a soul-sucking job and thought, “There’s gotta be more than this.” Meet Andrew Stanley. Eight years ago, he was crunching numbers as a financial analyst. And now? He’s doing stand-up comedy; telling jokes on stages across the country. And not just any jokes — clean, smart, relatable comedy that’s earned him a spot among the South’s funniest (literally — he won “ Search for the South’s Funniest Accountant” ). In this episode, we talk ab...
Jun 03, 2025•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 34
A few months back, I was grabbing dinner with my friend Mark Fogel, and in the middle of our conversation about this very podcast, he leaned in and said, “You have to interview James Sarvis.” So I did. James is the kind of person who’s built a career of commitment . He started at Delta Air Lines over 50 years ago — yes, five-zero — starting at the very bottom: cleaning bathrooms. Today, he’s the VP of Global Cleanliness. But his story goes way beyond job titles. Over the years, James has held ju...
May 20, 2025•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 33
This week I was truly fortunate to meet with David Guthrie, an extremely successful technology executive, who has built and enjoyed the sale of multiple tech companies, worked in venture capital, continues to serve on multiple boards, holds 20 patents, has been married for 33 yrs and has 5 amazing children. Sounds like a charmed life, right? Well, not so fast. David’s life might be better described as a miraculous 57-year mountain climb without a rope. You see, David was born with Cystic Fibrosi...
Sep 16, 2024•58 min•Ep. 32
We circle back with Chris Schramm who we interviewed in episode 15 with one question I Forgot2Ask. Click to text Bruce now! About Bruce Smith: Over the past 40 years, I’ve covered a lot of ground in my career: white collar, blue collar, college drop-out, college graduate, practicing CPA, multiple business owner, elected official, recruiter and career consultant. Each chapter has equipped me to better help others navigate their career decisions and has fueled my passion to help people find meanin...
Sep 09, 2024•6 min•Ep. 31
Did you know that there are approximately 400,000 children in the foster care system in the U.S. alone, but many children age-out of foster care without a permanent or lasting sense of family? This week on Consuming Careers, we’re meeting with Andy Cook. Andy’s the President & CEO of Promise686, where, for the last 11+ years, he and his team have been working tirelessly on the frontlines of the child welfare crisis by mobilizing church communities to care for vulnerable children. We’re talki...
Sep 02, 2024•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 30
We circle back with Laurie Gray who we interviewed in episode 21 with one question I Forgot2Ask. Click to text Bruce now! About Bruce Smith: Over the past 40 years, I’ve covered a lot of ground in my career: white collar, blue collar, college drop-out, college graduate, practicing CPA, multiple business owner, elected official, recruiter and career consultant. Each chapter has equipped me to better help others navigate their career decisions and has fueled my passion to help people find meaning,...
Aug 29, 2024•7 min•Ep. 29
In this episode of Consuming Careers, we’re meeting with Mar Kushner. Now, you’ve probably never heard of Mar Kushner, but I’ve been working with Mar for the last 4 years, but it wasn’t until 2 years ago that I got a chance to hear her inspiring story of perseverance. Raised in Pakistan, a casualty of an arranged marriage that brought her to the US and into an abusive relationship, escaping back to Pakistan into cultural isolation due to her divorce, and ultimately a last chance opportunity to s...
Aug 27, 2024•1 hr•Ep. 28
It’s been said that ‘culture is what we make of the world around us’. It’s episode 27 of Consuming Careers podcast, and we’re meeting with Chris Carneal, founder and CEO of Booster. And if you’re not familiar with Booster, you’re gonna hear all about it in a few minutes. But more than just a successful company, there’s a bigger story here. It's how Chris and his team took their core Virtues (not “values”) and put them to the test, most notably the virtue of GRIT. What you’ll hear is more than ju...
Jul 15, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 27
On this week’s episode of Consuming Careers, we’re meeting with Cathy Cox, the President of Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville, Georgia. And if you don’t know Cathy, then you’re in for a real treat! Born and raised in Bainbridge, Georgia, Cathy's journey is a remarkable blend of journalism, law, politics and education. She is a woman of extraordinary accomplishment, a beacon of inspiration, and a true testament of what it means to embrace a servant leader lifestyle. Cathy is n...
Jul 01, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 26
On this weeks’ episode of Consuming Careers, we’re sitting down with Caleb Bonsi, a young professional who shares his journey to discover purpose and meaning in his work, as he endeavors to integrate his Ghanaian roots into his career at LinkedIn and beyond. He also shares his experience of working at LinkedIn, as well as the contrast between the GenZ, Millennial and BabyBoomer views of work. You can find Caleb Bonsi on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caleb-bonsi/ Multiply Men podcast: ...
Jun 10, 2024•48 min•Ep. 25
Have you heard of the “Paradox of Generosity”? It goes like this: the more you give, the better off you are; but, very few people are especially generous. Why is that? This week on Consuming Careers, we’re meeting with Chris Gabriel who discovered his purpose and passion (and his training) has equipped him to not only be generous, but to build a framework to help others, if done wisely and well, be generous in ways that can make a transformational impact on the giver, receiver, society and the w...
Jun 03, 2024•59 min•Ep. 24
I’ve been working since I was about 14 yrs old, and though I’ve tried to stay healthy, I haven’t really given much thought to what impact fitness might have on my career. On this week’s episode of Consuming Careers, we’re meeting with Russ Yeager, a renowned fitness expert and trainer, who shares his encouraging journey from being a husky 11yr old, to competitive bodybuilder, to helping train friends, and ultimately building a successful career around fitness. But early in his fitness career, Ru...
May 28, 2024•1 hr•Ep. 23
On this episode of Consuming Careers, we spend some time with Joe Oquist, a recognized thought leader in the areas of Generative AI, Humanoid Robotics and Quantum Computing. We discuss how GenAI is impacting the future of work, the influence it will have in our daily lives, and some practical steps you can take to stay informed on its benefits and risks. You can find and follow Joe Oquist on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joeoquist/ Our interview was recorded live Cauley Creek Park in ...
May 20, 2024•48 min•Ep. 22
Let's be honest, who among us hasn't felt like they were in way over their heads at some point? On this week’s episode of Consuming Careers, we're blessed to have the incredible Laurie Gray with us. She shares her deeply personal journey through something many of us can relate to - impostor syndrome. Yep, she's been there, she's lived it, and she's come out the other side. We're going to delve into her experiences, the physical and emotional challenges she faced, and how she overcame them all. L...
Apr 15, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 21
Hey Friends, this week on Consuming Careers, I want to introduce you to a man who's taken a simple, everyday thing, like firewood, and turned it into a luxury experience. His name is Leroy Hite, the visionary founder of Cutting Edge Firewood. From their hub in Atlanta, Georgia, Cutting Edge Firewood delivers kiln dried firewood to thousands of customers all over our nation. For over a decade-and-a-half, Leroy has been on a relentless pursuit to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary: to p...
Apr 03, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 20
Talk about leaving a legacy… What if you could directly influence the customer experience of millions of people who visit one of America’s most successful restaurant chains? On this weeks’ episode of Consuming Careers, we’re meeting with Andre’ Kennebrew who, over his 15 year career with Chick-fil-A, was directly responsible for hiring and mentoring over 500 store operators across the country. His passion for growing people and leaving a legacy has not only shaped the impact he’s made throughout...
Mar 21, 2024•50 min•Ep. 19
How many 2-sport professional athletes can you name? Jim Thorpe, Tim Tebow, Deion Sanders, Bo Jackson…? On this weeks’ episode of Consuming Careers, I had the privilege of having a very transparent conversation with another 2-sport pro athlete, Quincy Carter. You may remember Quincy as a former Chicago Cubs minor league outfielder, quarterback for The University of Georgia Bulldogs, and NFL quarterback with the Dallas Cowboys and the New York Jets. But on August 4, 2004, everything changed, with...
Mar 04, 2024•54 min•Ep. 18
I’ve always loved a good story about entrepreneurship, but today, we're going to talk about something a little different - intrapreneurship. On this episode of Consuming Careers, I’m thrilled to share a brisk conversation I recently had with the brilliant Louis Gump. Louis has just penned an insightful book called "The Inside Innovator". It's all about how you can spark innovation and launch new products or services right where you are - within your current company. And Louis knows what he's tal...
Feb 26, 2024•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 17
Entrepreneurship often comes in many flavors: and some people thrust themselves into it, and others have it thrust upon them. This week on Consuming Careers, I’m meeting with Paul Masters, who fell “accidentally” into a lifelong career of entrepreneurship, and learned that it was exactly where he needed to be. Not without his fair share of challenges, Paul grew his passion for leading his own business into a platform for coaching others so that they could build legacies of success in their own l...
Feb 19, 2024•58 min•Ep. 16
Have you ever thought of trading in your career to pursue a lifetime dream? I’m sure we all have at one time or another. On this weeks’ episode of Consuming Careers we’re sitting down with Chris Schramm who, along with his wife Renee, traded in his lucrative career and comfortable suburban lifestyle for a 52 foot yacht, and has been sailing the world for the past 3 years. Do you have a vision for a different career path or lifestyle shift? Could you be persuaded to make that trade… to burn the s...
Feb 05, 2024•57 min•Ep. 15
I think you’d agree that one of the most tragic artifacts of today’s society is the proliferation of human trafficking. In this weeks’ episode of Consuming Careers, we’re meeting with Ian Mitchell, who, while on his quest for a meaningful purpose in his life, was awakened to the horrors of human trafficking. Slowly, he began to realize that his entire career was preparing for a battle. Today, Ian is a leader in the fight against sex trafficking, child exploitation, and elder scams, but not with ...
Jan 30, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 14
As Yogi Berra once said, “When you come to a fork in the road, take it.” In this weeks’ episode of Consuming Careers, we’re spending time with Mark Myers, who, after 20yrs in the electronics industry, found himself facing a life-altering tragedy: the loss of his youngest daughter to childhood cancer. In the aftermath, Mark found a new sense of purpose for his work and his relationships, and a redeeming clarity to focus on the things that really matter in his life, but not without the struggle of...
Jan 17, 2024•48 min•Ep. 13
If you work, then you’re all too familiar with networking. But do you network to make a sale or to truly make a difference? In this weeks’ episode of Consuming Careers, I’m meeting with Ricky Steele who has invested his life in investing in others. Ricky has become one of the most well known and respected business developers in the Southeast, but not without significant personal sacrifice. Ricky not only shares his approach to networking, but also his calling for pursuing relationships with auth...
Jan 08, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 12
Maybe you’ve heard it said that “God doesn’t call the equipped, but equips those He calls.” In this week's episode of Consuming Careers, we’re sitting down with Kitti Murray, who, with her husband Bill, saw a need in the Atlanta refugee community for jobs, skills training, and a place where refugees could feel welcomed. Answering the call, the Murray’s jumped in with both feet and created Refuge Coffee, now with 4 locations, continuing what they call “The Work of Welcome”. A bit of a caveat here...
Jan 01, 2024•59 min•Ep. 11
Have you ever had one of those jobs where you thought it was your calling, but it just turned out to be a soul draining experience? In this weeks’ episode we’re speaking with Chad Parsons who shares his experience of growing up in a rather dysfunctional home, and how he learned that the path to a more fulfilling career comes far less from external affirmation than from living an authentic life. You can find Chad Parsons at: http://linkedin.com/in/chad-parsons-ctp-9287b09 or email at: parsons4656...
Dec 25, 2023•59 min•Ep. 10
When life punches you in the face and demands every ounce of your energy and attention to persevere, how would you respond? In this week’s episode of Consuming Careers, we sit down with Anthony Roman who shares how his life has been shaped by unexpected obstacles, and how those challenges left him no alternative but to dig deep to find the grit of his character, which ultimately fueled his ability to focus on the things that truly matter in his life and his career You can find Anthony Roman at: ...
Dec 18, 2023•47 min•Ep. 9
How do you find the courage and strength to redefine your career when the “next right step” can lead you down a radical path into very unfamiliar territory? In this episode of Consuming Careers, we’re meeting with Kurt Kandler who, at a crossroads in his career, took what he believed was the next right step to follow an unexpected calling that led him to Uganda, Kenya and beyond. You can connect with Kurt Kandler at: [email protected] For more info on The 410Bridge: https://www.410bridge.org/ Y...
Dec 11, 2023•56 min•Ep. 8
Have you ever considered the power of having a clearly defined point of view? In this episode of Consuming Careers, we’re talking with Jeremy Garlington who has spent his career, not only guiding leaders in articulating their unique points of view, but also shares how his personal point of view has evolved while navigating the adversity in his own life. You can find Jeremy Garlington at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremygarlington/ Podcast recorded live on the roof of B&W Burgers, Buns &...
Dec 04, 2023•35 min•Ep. 7
In this episode we’re going to do something a little different, and to be honest, something a bit self-indulgent. Recently, I spent the weekend at an Asheville mountain cabin with several close friends including three brothers that I interviewed for this podcast. As you’ll see, each has quite a different career path, point of view, and offers their unique perspectives on things like ‘grit or quit’, perseverance, and relationships in the workplace. We also take some time to relish our 40 years of...
Nov 27, 2023•56 min•Ep. 6
Is it really possible to have a calling or a purpose? If so, is it possible to know your calling… with certainty and clarity? In this episode of Consuming Careers, we’re meeting with Jeff Feldhahn who shares his experience of how he found his calling and the principles he applied to finding clarity in his purpose. You can connect with Jeff Feldhahn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-feldhahn-19814b/ For more info on World2One: https://www.world2one.com/ Check out the many books by Jeff Feldhah...
Nov 20, 2023•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 5
