Milestone Moments in Business & Leadership

What does it take to walk away from Hollywood, survive a cancer diagnosis, and build a literary career on your own terms?

Kay Oliver is a dynamic storyteller with over three decades in entertainment, spanning studios, TV stations, and film production. Armed with degrees in radio, TV, film, and an MBA, she made a bold decision to leave it all behind and prove that female-centric stories could not only sell, but win awards.

And win she did. Her debut novel alone earned four literary awards. Now on her 15th book and named Fiction Author of...

What if the skills that determine your success in life were never taught in school, and most parents don't even know they're missing?

Minesh Baxi is a TEDx speaker, author of 12 books, and business and financial coach with over 25 years of experience helping entrepreneurs, professionals, and speakers build influence and income. But what he shares in this episode goes far beyond business strategy.

Minesh made a bold decision early in life, one that reshaped how he raised his children, built his career, and thinks about success entirely.

In this episode, Minesh challenges everything...

What happens when a mental health nurse becomes the patient? Katrina Stephenson spent over 20 years on the frontlines of mental health and trauma nursing, only to find herself drowning in the very crisis she helped others navigate. Compassion fatigue, panic, depression, and a moment she describes as her darkest point changed everything.

But what happened next surprised even her.

Katrina is the founder and CEO of Nurse to Nurse Peer Support and Mindful Nurse Gardener, two powerful initiatives reshaping how healthcare workers heal. She turned a published letter during COVID into a movement, and built...

The Financial Truth Killing Your Business Growth (Before You Even See It Coming) with John Morris

Most CEOs think their biggest growth problem is revenue. John Morris says the answer is hiding in plain sight on your income statement, and most business owners are reading it completely wrong.

John scaled his agency from $10,000 to nearly $40 million before a successful exit. Now as founder of Fiscal Advocate, he works with CEOs on the financial blind spots that quietly strangle profitable growth.

In this episode, John reveals the three numbers every service business owner must...

What if the secret to marketing that actually converts has nothing to do with the latest AI tool or trending strategy? Rachel Allen built a global copywriting career across 21 countries starting with $200, a one-way ticket to Hong Kong, and a $3.25 freelance gig.

In this episode, Rachel reveals the one AI mistake most marketers are making right now, why your human voice is your most underutilized asset, and the dead-simple action you can take today that most business owners completely neglect.

If your marketing feels like it sounds like everyone else's, you need to hear this.<...

What if the thing holding you back from launching isn't your expertise, it's your definition of ready?

Jake Wysocki spent years training hundreds of professionals inside Fortune 200 companies before one conversation with his wife changed everything. He walked away from a job he loved, skipped the side hustle, and built something entirely new. But the path that followed wasn't straight, and what he discovered along the way reframed how he thinks about programs, perfection, and the cost of waiting.

In this episode, Jake breaks down why chasing perfection is the wrong goal entirely, and what...

What if everything you've been told about burnout recovery is missing the most important piece?

Samantha Catone spent eight years as a litigation attorney doing everything "right" — whole foods, meditation, specialists, supplementation — and still watched her health collapse completely. What she discovered on the other side wasn't another wellness hack. It was something far more fundamental, and it changed everything.

In this episode of Milestone Moments in Business and Leadership, former attorney turned burnout coach Samantha Catone shares the surprising truth she uncovered when conventional advice stopped working — and how the very traits that made her su...

What if everything you're working toward is actually taking you further from the life you want? Gwen Bortner has spent four decades and 47 industries watching business owners hit their goals and still end up burned out, disconnected, and quietly miserable.

As an operational strategist and business advisor, Gwen asks one deceptively simple question that most entrepreneurs can't actually answer. And until you can, no system, hire, or strategy will fix what's really wrong.

In this episode, she challenges the definition of success you've been chasing, reframes what burnout is actually about, and shares a one-word...

What happens when a combat veteran, space operations specialist, and math teacher picks up a pen — and uncovers an ancestor who lost everything at 22, yet was remembered as one of the most dignified women of her era?

Joseph Bolton spent years chasing a mystery hidden behind his French-Canadian, Native American, Spanish, English, and Irish roots. What he found in the archives of 17th-century Quebec stopped him in his tracks — and ignited a book series that readers of all ages can't put down.

In this episode, Joseph shares how a real Algonquin woman named Mirimete Ouagwe — whose...

What if the gap between where you are and where you want to be isn't about skill, it's about what you're doing when no one's watching?

Sabine Kvenberg spent decades as a stage and TV actress in Germany, a director, and a performing arts school founder before bringing those hard-won performance secrets into the business world. She didn't just study communication. She lived it on real stages, in real auditions, with real stakes.

In this episode, Sabine introduces a concept that might reframe everything about how you show up in your business. She calls it...

What if the thing holding you back from video isn't your gear, your lighting, or your editing skills — but something far more fixable?

Sarah Berry spent 20 years as a corporate trainer before discovering that the same skills that made her valuable inside companies could build something iconic outside of them. But first, she had to survive the cringe. Her unconventional experiment changed everything — and the results were nothing like she expected.

In this episode, Sarah reveals why most people approach video content completely backwards, the mindset shift that separates those who gain traction from those who...

Your Voice Could Be Your Most Valuable Business Asset , Are You Still Keeping It Silent? with Harry Duran

What if the podcast you've been putting off could become your most powerful business development tool? Harry Duran, founder of Fullcast and host of 500+ episodes across multiple shows, didn't just build a podcast — he built an entirely new life with one. But it wasn't until a near-death experience on a waterfall in Thailand that he discovered the real reason he does it all.

In this episode, Harry reveals the counterintuitive strategy that landed him a sponsor before he...

What if the biggest threat to your sales team isn't the competition—but the complete lack of leadership development that's silently crushing performance?

Rebecca Gebhardt, former top 1% sales leader who generated over $50 million in revenue, exposes a shocking industry secret that's costing companies millions. After burning out at 33 despite loving her job, Rebecca discovered something that fundamentally changed how she views sales leadership development.

"80% of sales leaders are given zero training once being promoted," Rebecca reveals. "The average person gets their first leadership promotion at age 30, but their first leadership development at age 42. That's 12 years of...

Dr. Angela Mulrooney, known as "The Arsonist," lost her thriving dental practice in an instant and watched her world burn down. But what she discovered while building five successful businesses from the ashes will change how you think about career pivots, AI, and the hidden crisis facing accomplished professionals today.

Why are highly intellectual people being pushed out of corporations while those in their 70s are thriving as entrepreneurs? What's the shocking truth about multi-generational teams that companies are ignoring? And how did Angela turn a 12-hour manual process into an AI tool that reveals your "niche...

Are you drowning in tasks that aren't really yours? What if the biggest leadership trap isn't about doing too much—it's about doing the wrong work entirely?

Liz Weber, named one of 2025's Top Global Gurus for Leadership alongside Simon Sinek and John Maxwell, reveals a shocking truth that's been plaguing organizations for 30+ years: most leaders don't actually understand what their job is. But here's what's more surprising—neither do their teams.

What happens when high performers unknowingly shoulder 125% of the workload while others coast at 75%? How does a training room conversation expose problems that seni...

What if every problem you're frantically solving is actually making things worse?

Vandana Piranek spent 25 years watching brilliant teams pour millions into solutions that missed the mark entirely—until a factory worker with a desk fan exposed the fatal flaw in how we think. After surviving a two-week coma and delivering her TEDx talk three days post-hospital, she decoded what separates leaders who thrive from those trapped in endless problem-solving cycles.

Here's the unsettling truth: 95% of your daily thoughts are redundant. You're solving problems instead of outcomes. And that perfume manufacturer? They spent millions overhauling th...

Are you achieving everything on paper but feeling empty inside? What if the very traits driving your success are secretly fueling your burnout—and you can't even see it yet?

Kassandra Hamilton, leadership and alignment coach and two-time best-selling author, collapsed on her floor after losing three family members, her dog, and her relationship in just months. What she discovered in that moment of surrender contradicts everything we're taught about achievement.

How does a single word—"abracadabra"—hold the key to reshaping your entire reality? Why do most high achievers refuse to believe they're burned out un...

What if the visibility strategy you're betting on is actually keeping you invisible?

Julie Lokun, J.D., went from law school labor pains to building Chicago's premier visibility summit, but her journey revealed a controversial truth that most entrepreneurs refuse to accept. While everyone chases followers and engagement, there's a completely different game being played by those who actually dominate their industries.

Here's what makes this conversation urgent: Julie works with everyone from Fortune 500 companies to White House insiders, and she's watched countless businesses waste years on the wrong platform. The answer? It's not about...

What if one question asked to hundreds of podcasters could reveal a million-dollar opportunity?

Alex Sanfilippo did exactly that at PodFest 2020. After 15 years in corporate aerospace, he walked away with a calculated plan. Today, PodMatch has paid over $1 million in commissions to podcasters on the platform.

But here's what most people don't know: the single question that started it all, and the four-step framework he used to turn community frustration into a thriving platform.

Listen now to discover what he asked and why it changed everything.

To connect with Alex Sanfilippo...

What if the reason your leadership training never sticks has nothing to do with the quality of the program? Chris Majer—who's trained everyone from U.S. Special Forces to Microsoft executives—reveals the uncomfortable truth: understanding happens instantly, but your body only learns through practice. And practice takes time.

Why do most adults never actually learn anything new? We're more committed to being comfortable than to changing. Majer shares the exact moment executives realize they've been "practicing being bad" at their own skills, what happened when he put a Fortune 500 leader on a 40-foot pole, and why...

What makes someone abandon a potential real estate podcast to spend years dissecting financial crimes? Davreen Dixon, JD discovered her calling through a law school assignment that changed everything—and turned it into a podcast that's redefining compliance training.

Here's what most compliance professionals face: dry regulations, endless technical documents, and training that puts people to sleep. But what if financial crime cases were told like the true crime stories millions of people binge-listen to every week?

The Compliance Times takes real money laundering cases, fraud schemes, and sanctions violations and asks three questions that tr...

What happens when your side gig makes more than your stable $45K job? Paul Eric Pape—"Santa for Nerds" who's designed for Disney, Universal, and Nickelodeon—faced that exact choice. His wife gave him one year. Within four months, something happened that changed everything.

Here's what most creatives get wrong about pricing: they're competing with the wrong companies. Paul reveals why the moment he stopped doing one specific thing, his worst customers disappeared and the right clients started showing up willing to pay premium prices.

But there's a bigger problem killing creative businesses before they star...

What if the path you've been told to follow is exactly what's holding you back? CEO and scientist-turned-entrepreneur Sabine Hutchison reveals why career pivots don't mean starting over – and the surprising skill that determines whether your reinvention succeeds or fails spectacularly.

From touring with David Copperfield to launching companies across multiple industries, Sabine has cracked the code on pivoting without losing momentum. But here's the catch: most professionals make one critical mistake when changing directions that costs them thousands in lost salary and years of advancement.

What's in your "Spotify list of skills"? And why do...

What if being quiet doesn't mean you have nothing to say—it means no one's giving you the space to say it?

Tonya Lehman stood in her husband's manager's bathroom, reading every ingredient on the hand lotion bottle, killing time to avoid returning to a party where she'd been completely ignored. That moment became her turning point: just because she's an introvert doesn't mean she deserves to be invisible.

Now Tonya helps quiet professionals gain the skills and confidence to speak up for personal growth and professional impact. But here's what most leaders miss: introverts ar...

Meet Andrew Brummer, "the business polygraph"—who discovered at 53 that the worst career crisis could become his greatest breakthrough. But the pivotal moment didn't come from what happened to him. It came from what he understood about fear itself.

Here's the question keeping successful leaders stuck: What if the one thing you're protecting yourself from is actually robbing you of eight other wins? Andrew reveals why most CEOs are building their empires on a dangerous lie—and it's not what you think.

Ready to discover what you're leaving on the table?

Tune in now...

Kasey Jones works with coaches and consultants who've discovered an uncomfortable truth: they haven't built a real business. They've created what Kasey calls a "full-time side hustle"—a collection of random referral-based projects that never compound or scale.

The referral trap feels safe because work comes to you. But what happens when those referrals slow down? Without systems or a repeatable process, you're left wondering what to tell people you actually do.

Here's Kasey's perspective shift: if you genuinely believe your work helps people, you have a responsibility to make sure those who need you ca...

What if the painful grind of typing is the only thing standing between you and becoming a published author? Leslie Capps, founder of Wild Woman Marketing, reveals why voice-to-text book writing changed everything for busy entrepreneurs who can't type fast enough to capture their ideas.

Get the book > Turn Your Spoken Words Into a Publish-Ready Book in 30 Days: https://podtobook.com/turn-your-spoken-words-into-a-publish-ready-book-in-30-days/

After her first traditionally-written book left her saying "stab my eye out with a fork," Leslie experimented with basic dictation methods and discovered she could speak 3,000-4,000 words per hour—triple the ty...

What if the biggest mistake podcasters make isn't their equipment or download numbers—but believing they need thousands of listeners before they can profit? Donna Kunde, global radio host and creator of the Podcast Profit System, has produced over 15,000 episodes and discovered something the podcasting industry doesn't want you to know.

After 20 years as a military musician and surviving a debilitating mystery illness, Donna built two internet radio stations during COVID. What she uncovered changed everything: your podcast isn't just content—it's your next lead magnet, your signature offer, and potentially your path to six-figure years.

Wh...

Can One Conversation Really Turn Your Words Into $250,000 in 90 Days?

What if everything you know about business messaging is keeping you invisible? Aurora Winter, award-winning author and founder of SamePagePublishing.com, reveals why most entrepreneurs fail before they even open their mouths—and the neuroscience-backed blueprint that changed everything.

Here's what's shocking: studies show the right story can generate 27 times more revenue. But there's a catch most people miss—and it starts with understanding why your brain filters out 99% of messages in under one second.

What happened when Aurora tested a simple 90-day expe...

What if the biggest barrier to your success isn't the men in the room—it's the conditioning you can't see?

Samantha K. Harris spent 25 years in high-stakes, male-dominated trades environments learning a hard truth: women aren't making communication "mistakes"—they're following patterns conditioned since childhood. Patterns that keep them people-pleasing, seeking approval, and waiting to be picked instead of speaking up.

But here's what changes everything: What if you stopped looking outside yourself for validation?

Samantha reveals why women in leadership struggle differently depending on whether they've "done the work" on themselves—and how un...

What if the leadership approach that made you successful five years ago is now quietly sabotaging your effectiveness?

Kevin Eikenberry, Chief Potential Officer and author of "Flexible Leadership," reveals a harsh truth that's blindsiding even the most experienced leaders. After 30+ years helping leaders across 53 countries, Kevin discovered something that challenges everything we think we know about consistent leadership.

"If we're leading the way we did five years ago, chances are your success is going down," Kevin explains. "It's not going up. It's not staying the same because the world is not the same."

...

Welcome to the 5 Minute Mindset Reset, a simple practice that helps leaders, entrepreneurs, and professionals start their day with clarity, focus, and intention.

I'm Sheila Slick, MS, your host and founder of Five Milestones. I'm joined by co-host Cynthia Rodriguez, EdD, in Organizational Leadership, to guide you through five minutes of breathwork, stretching, and mindful reflection.

Whether you're navigating change, making critical decisions, or simply want to show up as your best self, these 5 minutes will reset your mind and set the tone for everything that follows.

No fluff. No long meditations. Just...

What if the difference between scattered leadership and breakthrough clarity took just five minutes?

In this conversation, Cynthia shares her father's counterintuitive approach to treating everyone from CEOs to janitors the same—and how that philosophy shaped her leadership style. She reveals why schools are facing a teacher crisis as technology races ahead, and what that tells us about leading through any industry transformation.

The real question: Can dedicating just five minutes each day completely reset how you approach challenges, relationships, and opportunities? Cynthia says yes and explains exactly how to make it work.

...

What makes a successful TV producer walk away from interviewing Taylor Swift to pick up her son from daycare? Shannon Russell made that split-second decision while pregnant, running through a Manhattan subway station—and it changed everything.

After 16 years producing television shows, Shannon faced a brutal reality: her dream career was stealing every first moment with her children. First birthday? Missed. Halloween? Missed. The commute, the travel, the endless hours—it all came crashing down in one pivotal moment.

Shannon opened a STEM education franchise teaching kids Lego building, coding, and robotics—despite having zero teachi...

What if the best startup advice came disguised as a story you actually want to read?

Andrew Ackerman has a confession: he doesn't love business books. Even the good ones feel like the same ghostwriter churning out anecdotes and name-drops with forgettable chapter summaries. So when it came time to share lessons from investing in 70+ startups, he did something different.

The Entrepreneur's Odyssey reads like a novel, following a fictional founder from pitching at a law firm event to raising their first round. But hidden inside? The exact strategies that turned one failing startup into...

Women who fight their hormonal cycles instead of working with them miss massive productivity and relationship gains. Peighton Woodard, founder of femtech startup LunaLeaf, discovered this truth during a meditation that sparked an 11-month journey to revolutionize women's wellness.

As a military spouse without traditional business education, Peighton overcame ADD, dyslexia, and imposter syndrome to create an app that synchronizes workouts, nutrition, and daily activities with women's natural hormonal rhythms. Her personal transformation began when cycle syncing saved her 11-year marriage by helping her husband understand her hormonal patterns.

LunaLeaf provides daily workouts, meditations, and...

What if the secret to scaling your business isn't becoming someone new but finally accepting who you've always been?

Susan Fry, holistic business coach with over 25 years of experience, reveals a truth that challenges everything modern entrepreneurship preaches: you can't change your core identity, and trying to is what's holding you back. But here's the uncomfortable question: if women are working themselves to exhaustion trying to prove their worth, what are they really running from?

Susan discovered a troubling pattern working with clients: women would come desperate for transformation, receive exactly what they needed, then...

What if the path to podcasting success isn't about competing with the giants, but about something completely different? Business coach and journalist Becky Mollenkamp discovered something that made her abandon traditional networking entirely and it's keeping 70% of her members actively engaged month after month.

When 15 podcasters first gathered, they had no idea their experiment would challenge everything we've been taught about business growth. But what happened next reveals why working harder alone might be your biggest mistake.

What makes members stay when others quit podcasting entirely? Becky shares the unexpected principle behind her Feminist Podcasters...

What if your biggest business problem isn't your competition, pricing, or market conditions but something you can't even see?

Tom Healy, serial entrepreneur and co-founder of PeopleOps360, reveals why most CEOs are solving the wrong problems. While leaders obsess over strategy and market positioning, there's a silent killer destroying execution: the absence of performance metrics.

Here's the shocking truth: high performers deliver six times the value of low performers. But can you identify who's who in your organization? Tom explains why most companies can't answer this question and what it's costing them in culture erosion...

What if getting fired wasn't a career killer but the catalyst for unprecedented success?

John Follis, advertising veteran and co-founder of one of Madison Avenue's most award-winning agencies, dropped a bombshell: he was fired four times in eight years. Yet somehow, this became the foundation for achievements most creatives only dream about. How does someone transform repeated terminations into White House recognition?

Here's what most people miss: John's "failures" revealed something crucial about his DNA that corporate success would have masked forever. The lesson isn't just about resilience, it's about recognizing when the system is...