Join Michael Levitt, Chief Burnout Officer of the Breakfast Leadership Network, as he dives into the exciting world of Podcasthon 2025! In this episode, Michael introduces Podcasthon—an annual event that unites the global podcasting community to support charities and amplify causes that truly make a difference. Learn how this powerful movement blends purpose-driven leadership, sustainability, and human-centered values with podcasting’s unique ability to create real-world impact. Discover why 202...
Mar 17, 2025•2 min•Ep. 1098
Todd Bertsch is a dynamic entrepreneur, motivational speaker, life-optimization coach, and host of The BOLT Podcast. His remarkable journey from overcoming challenges in his youth to a life-changing transformation in his 20s has shaped his career and established him as a respected figure in digital marketing, education, and leadership. In 2009, Todd founded Evolve Marketing, a successful digital agency that reflects his curious spirit and dedication to excellence. Driven by a passion to inspire,...
Mar 17, 2025•27 min•Ep. 1113
The Power of Fractional Leadership: Lior’s Entrepreneurial and Technological Journey In this episode of the Breakfast Leadership Show , I sit down with Lior, a self-taught technologist and growth expert who has been building and scaling businesses since he was 14. Originally from Israel, Lior moved to the U.S. 14 years ago and has successfully built and sold multiple companies. Now, as a fractional Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and Chief Growth Officer (CGO), he helps businesses navigate techno...
Mar 14, 2025•26 min•Ep. 1112
Episode Summary: In this episode of the Breakfast Leadership Show , we explore the silent productivity killer: procrastination. Whether you’re a business leader, entrepreneur, or managing multiple responsibilities, procrastination can hinder your ability to reach your goals. Discover seven actionable strategies to help you stop procrastinating and take control of your time, enabling you to achieve more and unlock your full potential. Tune in to uncover proven tips to transform your workflow, enh...
Mar 13, 2025•4 min•Ep. 1148
Building Sustainable Businesses Through Human-Centered Leadership In this insightful conversation, Glen and Michael dive deep into the critical role of human capital in building sustainable businesses. They challenge the outdated mindset of treating employees as mere assets and emphasize the need to recognize them as people first. Glen shares his powerful personal experience of being fired for prioritizing his family, a moment that inspired his book advocating for work-life balance. Together, th...
Mar 12, 2025•26 min•Ep. 1138
Management Training, Trust, and the Evolving Role of Leaders In this episode, Michael sits down with David Dilger, founder of Edge Legal, to explore managers' challenges and why so many struggle in leadership roles. David shares his career journey and what led him to help organizations build positive, trust-based workplaces. Michael highlights a common workplace issue—managers being promoted for their technical skills rather than leadership abilities—leaving them unprepared for the realities of ...
Mar 11, 2025•26 min•Ep. 1070
Introductions and background @ 0:00 Michael and Schuyler introduce themselves and discuss Schuyler's background, including his time in the military, his MBA, and how he got into the real estate and laundromat businesses. Schuyler shares that he has a family, multiple businesses, and around 70 employees. Schuyler's new book @ 12:40 Schuyler discusses his upcoming book "The Steady Leader", which focuses on leadership principles and models he has developed through his diverse experiences. The book ...
Mar 10, 2025•27 min•Ep. 1103
AI Security in High-Risk Sectors In a recent conversation, Alec and I dove into the critical role of AI security, especially in high-risk sectors like healthcare and banking. Alec stressed that AI must be secure and aligned with business strategies while ensuring governance, risk management, regulatory compliance, and cybersecurity remain top priorities. I couldn’t agree more—AI in the wrong hands or without proper safeguards is a ticking time bomb. Sensitive data needs protection, and businesse...
Mar 07, 2025•24 min•Ep. 1104
Innovation as a Catalyst for Growth Bruce and I had a deep dive into the role of innovation in driving organizational success, particularly for small and medium-sized businesses that have reached maturity. Bruce underscored the necessity of renewal—companies can't afford to stay stagnant. Not every innovation initiative will hit the mark, but every attempt offers valuable lessons. I couldn’t agree more. Innovation isn't just about flashy new ideas; it’s about fostering a mindset of curiosity and...
Mar 05, 2025•26 min•Ep. 1125
Adam Malone is a renowned keynote speaker, leadership consultant, and a father of five. In this episode, he shares insights on developing practical authenticity as a leader. Malone discusses how he learned to balance his inner drive for success with empathy and emotional intelligence, taming his "inner jerk" to become a more effective and respected leader. He covers topics such as building trust and empathy, managing teams across time zones, and the importance of soft skills for long-term succes...
Mar 03, 2025•34 min•Ep. 1110
Are you feeling the weight of inefficiency in your business? You're not alone. Many entrepreneurs struggle with time-wasting processes that drain energy and resources. But what if we told you that a few small changes could lead to significant gains? First, take a closer look at your workflows. Streamlining tasks can save precious time. Consider using automation tools. Think of them as your new best friends. They can handle repetitive tasks, leaving you free for the creative stuff. Next, engage w...
Feb 26, 2025•1 min•Ep. 1137
Summary Discussing Workforce and Company Success In the meeting, Michael and Bryan discussed their work and the importance of strong teams in creating great companies. Bryan, the owner and CEO of Peoplyst, a workforce consultancy, shared his experience in the people space for almost three decades. The conversation then shifted to Bryan's book, which Michael expressed interest in discussing further. The conversation ended with Michael's intention to delve deeper into the book's content and its re...
Feb 24, 2025•29 min•Ep. 1056
Tricia's Speech Direction and Impact Tricia, a former professional dancer and choreographer, now directs and produces for film, television, and theater. She founded her company, The Big Talk, to help thought leaders, entrepreneurs, and professionals effectively communicate for impact. Tricia has worked with numerous high-profile clients, including mayoral candidates and World Economic Forum speakers. She aims to unite humanity through effective speech. Michael acknowledged the importance of Tric...
Feb 21, 2025•22 min•Ep. 1131
Positive Mindset and Entrepreneurial Journey @ 0:00 Neil and Michael discuss the importance of maintaining a positive mindset and embracing the entrepreneurial journey, even when faced with challenges. Neil shares how he pivoted from a corporate career to building his own businesses, overcoming obstacles like financial setbacks and family changes along the way. Building Sustainable E-commerce Businesses @ 1:56 Neil outlines his experience building online companies over the past 17 years, includi...
Feb 19, 2025•25 min•Ep. 1099
Brandon Blewett, author of the best-seller How to Avoid Strangers on Airplanes , just released his witty and insightful take on navigating both literal and professional journeys. While the book hilariously examines the “6 Habits of Highly Annoying Travelers,” it also draws compelling parallels to the workplace—outlining how dealing with delays, turbulence, and pivots helped shape his career. Key talking points Brandon discusses: Knowing when to admit a role, path, or environment isn’t the right ...
Feb 17, 2025•25 min•Ep. 1114
Leadership, Culture, and Algorithmic Design Michael and Shanda explored leadership, workplace culture, and the role of algorithms. Shanda emphasized positive culture and communication, while Michael stressed that all leaders are human and that algorithms should be people-designed. Leadership and Culture Building Journey Shanda shared their 20-year leadership journey, highlighting employee retention and experience across 20 industries. As President of Mays and Associates, they’ve impacted 22,000 ...
Feb 12, 2025•29 min•Ep. 1120
Transitioning from corporate to entrepreneurship @ 1:32 Jim shares his background, explaining that after a 35-year corporate career, he has transitioned to full-time entrepreneur, coach, speaker, and writer. He discusses the challenges and benefits of this shift, noting that his extensive corporate experience has provided him with valuable tools and insights to apply in his new roles. The value of coaching and mentorship @ 8:06 Jim describes his experience receiving coaching while at Disney, whi...
Feb 10, 2025•27 min•Ep. 1100
Summary Personal Experiences and Job Market Michael and Andrew discussed their personal experiences and professional backgrounds. Michael appreciated their conversation and mentioned some recent articles in the Wall Street Journal related to job postings and the job market. Andrew shared his background, including his experience in starting various businesses, focusing on labor market data and job creation. He also mentioned his current location in Idaho and his family. The conversation ended wit...
Feb 03, 2025•25 min•Ep. 1082
The Become More Group, led by co-founders and co-CEOs Tammy and Scott, discussed the importance of continuous improvement and growth in individuals and companies, emphasizing the need to avoid the comfort of the status quo. They also highlighted the value of outside perspectives, diverse teams, and innovation in leadership roles. They identified challenges organizations face, such as organizational design, growth of future leaders, and building strong relationships within the team. The conversat...
Jan 29, 2025•32 min•Ep. 1074
Luisa's entrepreneurial journey and community focus @ 0:00 Luisa shares her passion for empowering and joyful entrepreneurship, and how she aims to bring more joy to the entrepreneurial journey. She discusses the two extremes she sees - those who dive in headfirst and those who are hesitant due to the challenges. Luisa's goal is to find the middle ground and help entrepreneurs embrace the process, learn from setbacks, and build a supportive community. The value of community for entrepreneurs @ 2...
Jan 28, 2025•25 min•Ep. 1107
Emily is a dedicated mental health counseling graduate intern passionate about helping individuals navigate challenges like anxiety, depression, trauma, and relationship dynamics. Currently pursuing her master’s in rehabilitation and mental health counseling at the University of South Florida, Emily specializes in marriage and family therapy, aiming to empower her clients to achieve healing and growth. A former collegiate athlete from North Greenville University, Emily retains her love for runni...
Jan 27, 2025•23 min•Ep. 1064
Doug Drysdale Chief Executive Officer An experienced Corporate Director and CEO: Doug has chaired the board of directors of a NASDAQ-listed company and, as a CEO for the past 12 years, has built and turned around three pharmaceutical companies. Doug has 30 years of experience in the healthcare sector. During this time, he has formed cohesive management teams, recruited board members, completed 15 corporate acquisitions across three continents, and raised $4 billion in public and private capital....
Jan 21, 2025•21 min•Ep. 1115
Roy is a renowned asset protection expert in the top 1% of finance professionals. He has helped thousands of families and entrepreneurs plan their finances to survive market fluctuations, unexpected life events, and other future hardships. In the 1990s, when the US stock market crashed and his mother was disabled in an accident, Roy’s family lost their home, savings, and assets. Roy, who was 14 then, realized the power of financial protection, social security, and long-term care. He chose a care...
Jan 20, 2025•25 min•Ep. 1078
The holiday season is over, but the financial impact is beginning for many Americans. Recent surveys show that 70% of Americans admit they can't pay off their credit card debt this year. With the pressure to spend on gifts, travel, and celebrations, it's no surprise that credit card balances have ballooned. Credit cards were the most popular financing choice for 62% of respondents who said they took on holiday debt. You're not alone if you're feeling the weight of holiday debt. Breakfast Leaders...
Jan 13, 2025•12 min•Ep. 1117
In this episode, we dive into the familiar ways freelancers can be taken advantage of by clients, especially long-term ones. Whether you're just starting or have been freelancing for years, it's essential to understand your rights and how to safeguard your work. We cover: Avoiding Unpaid Work – Learn how to prevent "scope creep" and ensure clients respect your original agreement. I am setting Boundaries – Tips for maintaining work-life balance by establishing precise working hours and communicat...
Jan 10, 2025•2 min•Ep. 1096
In any job, there are bound to be obstacles. Workplace challenges can impact your focus and enjoyment at work, from conflicts with coworkers and unfair treatment to overwhelming workloads. But with the right strategies, you can tackle these issues head-on and create a more positive work experience. Tune in as we dive into practical tips for managing common workplace issues and building a healthier work environment! Key Discussion Points: - Navigating Conflicts with Coworkers Conflicts are a natu...
Jan 08, 2025•2 min•Ep. 1097
Exploring Light Therapy for Healing Zulia shares her experience in a car accident and how it led her to explore energy medicine and the healing properties of light. She studied the scientific aspects of how light and electricity interact with the human body at the Dr. Weber Institute in Germany. Michael agrees that natural light from the sun makes people feel better, as the human body is energetic and can benefit from light therapies to repair damage naturally. Red and Infrared Light Therapy Ben...
Jan 06, 2025•22 min•Ep. 1069
In today’s episode, we explore businesses' challenges when expanding too quickly and how to ensure sustainable growth. Rapid growth may feel like a victory but can strain operations, resources, and customer satisfaction. We discuss the critical factors businesses must manage to avoid long-term pitfalls and maintain stability. Key Takeaways: Operational Overload: Learn how scaling can overload existing systems, leading to logistical issues, inventory challenges, and under-resourced operations. Ca...
Jan 03, 2025•3 min•Ep. 1094
In today's competitive landscape, businesses need more than general marketing to succeed—they must tailor their strategies to meet the unique needs of their industry. This episode explores the importance of industry-specific marketing and how it helps businesses stand out, build stronger customer relationships, and enhance brand credibility. Key Topics: What is Industry-Specific Marketing? It is the understanding of how tailored strategies can help businesses connect meaningfully with the right ...
Jan 01, 2025•4 min•Ep. 1095
Dr. Janet Schwartz, an expert in forensic behavioral science, received a B.S. in Education from Valparaiso University and advanced degrees from the University of Pittsburgh, where she was recognized as a University Scholar. Her advocacy emerged during her high school years amid the Civil Rights era. Schwartz initially dedicated 17 years to working with children and families before transitioning to forensic fraud research following significant discoveries. She leads Forensic Fraud Research, Inc.,...
Dec 30, 2024•27 min•Ep. 1055
