TAILGATING WITH GENIUSES

Kevin Wenzel spent over 20 years as a brand VP at Procter & Gamble developing marketing and marketing initiatives for some of the biggest name brands in the world. In his final years he was asked to lead the training and integration of an AI system the company rolled out to move faster and smarter as they managed their brand portfolio. Inadvertently, P&G created one of the most well rounded thinkers on how to actually "use" AI to support research, teamwork and create ideas that test ideas faster than ever before. 

We go over all of that plus h...

Derrick Kayongo was a happy child living in Uganda until civil war forced him and thousands more to flee. As an immigrant to the US he was told by his father that America is an experiment and that he needed to seize the opportunity. To date he's changed a massive waste stream in the hotel industry and turned that waste to save lives in the developing world. He's been the CEO of the Civil and Human Rights Museum in Atlanta and is now working with companies around the world to take bad acting chemicals out of products. 

W...

From tending sheep on an Iowa farm to revolutionizing cow burps, Joan Salwen isn't your typical climate change warrior. Picture this: a former Accenture Managing Director who once led organizational strategy now spends her days wrestling with bovine digestion and seaweed science. As the CEO of Blue Ocean Barns, Joan has transformed from corporate strategist to agricultural innovator, proving that sometimes the most unexpected solutions to global challenges come from the most surprising places. Today, we're diving into a conversation about how a simple red seaweed supplement could be the unexpected hero in our fight against climate change – one co...

“Hey Siri: What’s the most beloved podcast right now?”  Siri: “Are you kidding? Tailgating With Geniuses.”  Siri’s right. Siri’s always right. Her calm, assuring voice – even when we swear at her (you’ve done it) – is always there.  So we wondered, “Who is Siri?” Or at least, “Who is the voice of Siri?” Now we know. She’s voice-over mega-talent Susan Bennett and she’s our brilliant guest this week. How’d she land such an amazing gig? How do people get work in the voice market? Does it help if you sing with famous rock and rollers? She’s got your answers...

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Enough already with the over-hype, over-promising and over-committing to A.I. It’s time for a sensible, fact-based look at what’s really happening and how global businesses should be reacting. And who better to guide us down the road to sensibility than Nikhil Suresh, executive director of Hermit Tech –  a software engineering consultancy focused on a model of “radical honesty and trust” – and writer with a bazillion followers? We’re all in on honesty and trust at TWG. Well, sorta.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sarah Furness is a genuine badass. She served 21 years in the Royal Air Force as a squadron leader and helicopter fighter pilot. After leading on combat operational tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, she taught at the Defence Academy of the UK and became a leading voice in prioritizing, focusing and staying calm under pressure. We learned some awesome combat techniques that can be used to train our minds to be bulletproof when we’re facing the worst.. Great stuff!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ken and Martin talk to Jamie Clark. Jamie Clark is a master at the psychology of motivation and how to foster it, bring it to life and put it to work. From the Stanley Cup winners, The Washington Capitals to the tallest peaks around the world; Jamie helps people reach heights they didn't know they could reach but does so by fostering camaraderie while balancing both fear and the euphoria of freedom. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Clark is more than a motivational speaker. Jamie Clark is a master at the psychology of motivation and how to foster it, bring it to life and put it to work. From the Stanley Cup winners, The Washington Capitals to the tallest peaks around the world; Jamie helps people reach heights they didn't know they could reach but does so by fostering camaraderie while balancing both fear and the euphoria of freedom. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ken and Martin follow Bob Keefe's suggestion and simply "follow the money". Partisanship, the economy and how American's are making more money than now (through stock investments mostly) than before. And still...we're being told things are going badly. 

We discuss the personal effect of living with boredom as a result of Hurricane Helene. Ken wrestles with the fact that the algorithms have targeted him as a Brady Bunch super fan. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you want to uncover where sweet, sexy buckets of money are being made today, do what we did: Talk with Bob Keefe about America’s clean economy revolution. Wait. What?! When the world’s largest businesses are actively supporting and pursuing clean energy policies and working to convince elected officials to get on board, issues such as climate change and income inequality become solvable. Why? Because they’re incredible money-generating machines. Keefe, author of “Clean Economy Now,” breaks it down in language we can all understand. Wow. Just wow.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sure, there's been a movie. And if you're fortunate, you'll have heard Aron speak and tell his story. We took our time with him to discuss not only what happened, but what it's meant to him and what the human body can endure in the most extreme conditions.  

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Just WOW! Mariana Atencio gave us so much great content, and better still...items you can do right now to create change in yourself and your company. We'll talk about what we learned, and helped us better understand more about uniqueness and visibility. 

What Got Our Attention showcases Martin talking about tone, language and discourse is taking place in US politics (and works really hard not to be political!). Ken discusses teen sex and badminton. Really...he does that.  

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Navigating change and uncertainty in life is hard for everyone. It’s even harder when you’re not confident about who you are (see: TWG’s Tolerable Hosts). Peabody Award-winning journalist, network news anchor and reporter, Mariana Atencio came to America from Venezuela, felt uncomfortable trying to fit in, became a hugely successful journalist  and turned her story into a Ted Talk that’s been viewed more 24 million times. That’s not a mis-print. Mariana’s message and great stories speak to the glorious benefits that come from being different and that channeling authenticity unlocks human potential in ways most of us ne...

We discuss the Monday interview with Jeff Henderson, the former cocaine dealer found redemption in a prison kitchen, where he discovered a new direction for his life, then went on to become a massive success as the first African American executive chef at The Bellagio in Las Vegas. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chef Jeff Henderson is the ideal role model for anyone who needs the encouragement to reinvent their life. The former cocaine dealer found redemption in a prison kitchen, where he discovered a new direction for his life, then went on to become a massive success as the first African American executive chef at The Bellagio in Las Vegas. His New York Times best-seller, “Cooked” united him with Oprah and TV stardom followed. Equally impressive, his Chef Jeff Project creates opportunities for disenfranchised youth, formerly incarcerated individuals and anyone seeking a second chance. Jeff’s story is one you’ve got to h...

We discuss the Monday interview with Theresa Payton, the tactics she shared to protect yourself from cybercrime as well as "What Got Our Attention" where Ken talks hotdogs and Martin discusses his love of nice people, great roads and our lovely neighbor to the north. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Right now, some scumbag, somewhere, is scamming you or your business – or tying to. We all know how if feels to be a victim and the futility of trying to stop it from happening again. Because it always does.  Protecting yourself and your family, protecting your business, protecting your sanity can be overwhelming because the crooks are always one stop ahead of the good guys. TWG breaks it down and simplifies personal and business protection with Theresa Payton, the first-ever woman to serve as CIO in the White House, star of CBS series “Hunted”  and one of the world’s premiere...

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Power of Simplification with FutureThink Founder Lisa Bodell. We’d all love to stop wasting so much time (looking at you, Flaherty) doing crap that sucks the productivity, life and joy out of our workdays. Impossible, you say?  Let’s learn from the person who teaches the major businesses you buy from every day how to do it. Lisa Bodell is a two-time best-selling author and the founder of FutureThink, the world’s largest source of simplification and innovation tools and training. We like her alot. 

Books:

 - https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B006J7TYT...

In less than 15 minutes you’ll hear your TWG tolerable hosts offer up a few how-to storytelling lessons based on our recent episode with Disney/Pixar’s Matthew Luhn, then listener-favorite “What’s Got Our Attention” with Ken delving into how all-you-can-eat shrimp dinners can be fatal and Martin shamelessly promoting Apple. Again. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Matthew Luhn is a former storyboard artist, animator and "story guy" on Pixar's "Toy Story" films, "Monsters Inc.," "Finding Nemo," "UP," "Cars," "Ratatouille" and other smash hits.

Today we discuss the power of great stories to build demand, differentiation and memorability -- withone of the greatest story creators of all time. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Customer Experience: how to do it, how to make it real and how to make it matter. Geoff DeVito of Explora Journeys shares his background, TED talk content and the basics of creating REAL/high value customer experiences. His employer Explora is a cruise ship unlike any other on the seas, they're creating deep experience for both passengers and crew. 

We discuss hospitality and the thinking behind creating great experiences, plus how those lessons can cross over to all businesses.  

The "What's Got Our Attention" has Ken angry about self-checkout, Geoff discusses attending an AirSupply co...

Author and professor Scott Habegger shares stories about positioning and how companies can do it better. Scott talks about the need for a shift in focus to what he calls "small data". We all know "big data" but it's the small data that colors what people think and say about your company. Scott shares stories related to banking, retail and Harley's. 

We discuss Bed Bath and Beyond as well. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We throw out a run of show in favor of a discussion about a practical and unexpected application of A.I. that Lekan demonstrated. We discuss what happened and welcome the remarkable Amanda Schneider, President and Founder of ThinkLab. 

With Amanda we discuss the ideas about where work is going and the notion that it's process and not any product that will inform the next wave of how work gets done. Amanda also joins us for our "What's Got Your Attention" feature. 

To put it mildly, Amanda is pretty damned cool. 

See omnystudio.com...

We welcome Portuguese entrepreneur and founder Antonio Cuco of Sharish gin to the show this week. A literal start from nothing 10 years ago, to becoming the #1 gin maker in Portugal, Antonio tells a story everyone needs to hear. 

Tolerable Host Lekan Bashua had to answer his version of the Bat Signal leaving Ken and Martin to go "duo".  We discuss storytelling and highlight its value through the perspectives of legendary brands Harley-Davidson and The Coca-Cola Company.  Plus we talk sad songs and our collective shock at the loss of the Wiener mobile.

See omnystudio.com/lis...

After 14 months, we're back with Season 2! Rumors of Ken starting a perineum sunning center were proven to be false. Lekan's move from the northwest to the southeast proved to be true. And Martin's perpetual reading of arduous and mostly boring content is a constant.

We discuss everything from the new show structure, A.I. changing the world, Ken's frustration with Hallmark cards and the remarkable - on brand - send off of legendary drag/female impersonator Dame Edna (R.I.P.). 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Get your groove on, Tailgaters! We’re betting you’ve never wondered how adding a “boogie room” to your workplace can make you and your team mates more productive. Or how the timing of a woman’s fertility cycle, combined with dancing, increases her attractiveness. Hoo boy! You’ve got a lot to learn and we’ve got the best teacher for the job, Dr. Peter Lovatt, who’s one of the world’s leading authorities on the psychology of movement, with an academic career that extends from Cambridge University to the Royal Ballet School. He’ll also share how movement impacts...

After Episode 19’s postmortem of a particularly painful 2021, your Tolerable Hosts to kick off a new season by copping to the many imprecise projections we posited in the past year’s shows and making pragmatic predictions for 2022. Meaning: We’re setting ourselves up for another year of mid-course corrections and mea culpas (plus more cheap alliteration). But that’s just business as usual. The return to work story will never die. Ditto supply chain issues. But cannabis, crypto and climate are even more fun to talk about. As are four-day and hybrid work-weeks. And the upcoming epic billionaire space disaster...

Ooof...what a year! Our Brilliant Guests get a break and we wrap up 2020 with a show about the biggest event each host felt defined the year that was and what it means going forward. 

Lekan talks January 6th that includes part of his life story as an immigrant to the US: Ken talks division and how it's affecting his day to day life; and Martin talks supply chain and the Ever Given that blocked the Suez Canal and how our entire system of business was rocked. 

And we conclude with a year end "What Go...

You've been moved by Robert Tepper. His work creating the artwork we all see for the entertainment we love is burned in your consciousness. As a Creative Director working on the art for movies featuring Tom Hanks (Forrest Gump), Marlon Brando (The Freshman), Robert De Niro, Amy Schumer, Johnny Depp (Pirates of the Caribbean)  and animated features like Moana as well as The Masked Singer on Fox, Robert tells a story in a single visual that makes you stop, pay attention  spend your money. 

Robert shares stories about the process of this work as well as stories abo...

Alison Levine is an author, explorer, mountain climber and a  kick ass person. Accomplishing unbelievable feats in the elements and in business is even more bonkers given the fact she has had three heart surgeries and suffers from Raynaud’s disease. From a career that includes work at pharmaceutical companies, Goldman Sachs and then as deputy finance director for Arnold Schwarzenegger in his successful bid to become Governor of California; Alison knows adversity and success. 

Her work  at the Thayer Leader Development Group at West Point and stories about starting out and getting noticed created great...

Dave Bruckner knows what terrifies us.  And he knows the grittiness and struggle of believing in what you want to do and doing it. Starting as a kid in a backyard with a DV camera to rebooting horror icon Pinhead in Clive Barker's story and classic Hellraiser; Dave has come a long way. He talks about the psychology of fear, making things, why we love to be scared and the thinking and craft behind the movies we watch. 

From his writing, co-directing to directing work on critical and fan favorite horror anthologies Th...