BLTNT Podcast

Dr. Klint Pleasant has spent his career doing things that don't fit neatly into one box:

Head Coach. Senior Vice President. Doctor of Education. Father. Son of a Legend.

He grew up literally living in the dormitories of a college his grandfather built, watching his dad coach, pastor, teach, and lead all at the same time. Basketball was the world he knew.

It's also the world he eventually had to outgrow.

We covered:

→ How post-traumatic growth differs from post-traumatic stress, and why the distinction matters

→ What 28 years of c...

Todd has spent 27 years proving that hiring is much, much more than finding the right resume.

Todd Hohauser is the CEO of Harvey Hohauser & Associates, a boutique and relationship driven retained executive search firm. He grew up watching his dad build the business while talking about culture and fit before Todd really understood their implications. When it was time to take over, he inherited his dad's philosophy.

In this episode we talk about:

→ Why 90% of executives are firstborn children... and what that explains about leadership

→ The ONE interview question that reveals a ca...

1) The “Oh Crap” Call (Incident Response)

A Detroit-area manufacturer came to us during a cyber incident. We helped respond to the issue, and then stayed with them to improve security and support their CMMC compliance work.

Translation: We help you stabilize the emergency and reduce the odds it happens again.

2) “I’m Frustrated With My MSP”

Leaders come to us overwhelmed — too much confusion, too much waiting, too stressful. We assess what’s broken, build a strategy and budget, clean up the noise, and create a better path forward as a true partner...

Jan Griffiths grew up on a farm in Wales and was supposed to stay there.

Instead, she left at 23 with no real plan and spent the next three decades building a career in automotive, working her way from a temp role on a factory floor to VP of Global Supply Chain Management.

She's held leadership positions at companies like BorgWarner, Bosch, GKN, and Inteva Products. She was named one of the top 100 leading women in the automotive industry. But through all of it, she watched the same fear-driven, command-and-control culture hold the industry back.

Katie Bigelow, a former Black Hawk pilot, launched Mettle Ops in the summer of 2013 — the same season she was diagnosed with melanoma while facing significant personal challenges.

By early fall, life had intensified in ways that required her to step away from the business for about a year.

But she started again.

Today, Mettle Ops builds reactive armor tiles for Army combat vehicles, manufactures U.S.-made drone motors, and employs 65 people across Michigan and Huntsville, Alabama.

Katie talks about:

the moment a million-dollar invoice made it feel real

From an early age, Mark Panciera's dream was to become a funeral director just like his dad.

He became exactly that. Also...

￫ He 5x'd the family business.

￫ He was covered in the Wall Street Journal.

￫ He had private equity firms calling.

But it all it nearly destroyed his relationship with his father.

Mark spent years on the wrong side of ego, choosing to be right instead of staying in the relationship. That tension led him to The Pacific Institute, a global performance organization built on a simple but re...

Christine spent eight years at Northern Trust managing billion-dollar philanthropic portfolios. Adam helped steward 400-year-old legacy brands in the music industry.

But when COVID hit, something shifted. They needed a change. T

hey both cashed out their 401ks, sold their house, and bought a 50-year-old ski shop in Northern Michigan.

My conversation with Christine Donovan and Adam Weems covers their leap from corporate comfort to business ownership and what it means to steward a legacy brand.

Key takeaways:

→ The power of having a partner who says "I got you"

From ICU rooms to the boardroom, Lori Lancaster’s story is one of reinvention, resilience, and fearless leadership.

Lori Lancaster Vice Chair at Dakkota Integrated Systems joins Matt Loria, CEO of Auxiom, to share how she went from critical care nursing to leading multi-million dollar manufacturing and mobility companies, including her latest bold move with Emotiv Mobility, set to debut at CES 2026.

In this episode, you’ll hear about: - Her unconventional career path through healthcare and tech - Scaling operations and pivoting through supply chain crises - Launching new tech in mobility — from smart transf...

In this episode of the BLTnT Podcast, Matt Loria, CEO of Auxiom, sits down with Jay Hawreluk, founder of AcuMax, a cutting-edge assessment platform that helps organizations hire better, lead smarter, and build teams that functions.

With decades of experience helping private companies — from startups to multi-million-dollar enterprises — Jay shares how understanding a person’s natural wiring can completely shift how leaders build trust, reduce friction, and drive performance.

Matt and Jay dig into:

· Why most assessments fall short — and how AcuMax is changing the game

· What “natural wiring” really means, and how it aff...

Bite-sized insights across BLTnT—built for leaders, learners, & curious minds who want faster takeaways that stick & ignite something explosive 🧨

Bite-sized insights across BLTnT—built for leaders, learners, & curious minds who want faster takeaways that stick & ignite something explosive 🧨

On this episode of the BLTnT Podcast, Matt Loria, CEO of Auxiom, sits down with Guy Gordon — a legendary Detroit broadcaster, journalist, and radio host who’s spent four decades helping people make sense of the world around them.

Guy’s voice is iconic — but his perspective is even more powerful.

Now stepping into the next chapter of life and leadership, Guy reflects on the state of the media, the evolution of trust, and the responsibility that comes with having a microphone.

Episode Highlights:

Media in Crisi...

Bite-sized insights across BLTnT—built for leaders, learners, & curious minds who want faster takeaways that stick & ignite something explosive 🧨

Bite-sized insights across BLTnT—built for leaders, learners, & curious minds who want faster takeaways that stick & ignite something explosive 🧨

Use a Reverse Bucket List: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGBVf1wwAj0&t=2s

On this episode of the BLTnT Podcast, Matt Loria talks with Corinne Hancock Scott—globally recognized leadership consultant, former CEO, TEDx speaker… and current Peace Corps volunteer living in rural Namibia.

No car. No electricity. No WiFi. But what she’s learning about human performance, trust, and leading through real chaos? It’s priceless.

In this conversation:

· The mindset shift of stepping out of the comfort zone

· How to lead teams when you're not in control

· Why the best leaders are systems thinkers, even in survival mode

·...

This is Five Bites—The BLTnT Podcast’s weekly serving of bite-sized insights for leaders, learners, and curious minds who want takeaways that stick and just might ignite something explosive. 🧨

This is Five Bites—The BLTnT Podcast’s weekly serving of bite-sized insights for leaders, learners, and curious minds who want takeaways that stick and just might ignite something explosive. 🧨

On this episode of the BLTnT Podcast, Matt Loria, CEO of Auxiom, sits down with Chuck Edwards — founder of Solutions to Live By.

Chuck has spent years walking with people through addiction, burnout, and grief — including CEOs and high performers who look great on paper… but are quietly breaking inside. His message is raw, redemptive, and deeply relevant for anyone leading in today’s high-pressure world.

Episode Highlights:

You Can’t Outperform Your Wounds – Chuck explains why unresolved pain will always catch up with leaders — and how healing becomes the key to growth.

This is Five Bites—The BLTnT Podcast’s weekly serving of bite-sized insights for leaders, learners, and curious minds who want takeaways that stick and just might ignite something explosive. 🧨

This is Five Bites—The BLTnT Podcast’s weekly serving of bite-sized insights for leaders, learners, and curious minds who want takeaways that stick and just might ignite something explosive. 🧨

This is Five Bites—The BLTnT Podcast’s weekly serving of bite-sized insights for leaders, learners, and curious minds who want takeaways that stick and just might ignite something explosive. 🧨

This week on the BLTnT Podcast, Matt Loria sits down with Doug Mans, 4th-generation CEO of Mans Lumber and Millwork, a 125-year-old, family-run, highly successful business that's still growing strong — and still growing smarter.

From duck blinds to boardrooms, Doug brings a down-to-earth, deeply personal perspective on leadership, legacy, and the kind of growth that doesn't forget where it came from.

In this episode they cover:

- The power of family-first culture in business

- Why AI isn't just for tech firms anymore

- Stewardship, succes...

Welcome to Five Bites — a weekly serving of bite-sized insights built for leaders, learners, and curious minds who want faster takeaways that stick and ignite something explosive. 🧨

In this powerful and emotional episode, host Matt Loria sits down with:

Senator John Damoose, Michigan’s 37th district

Israel Hernandez, former Deputy Assistant to President George W. Bush

Lt. Col. Robert Darling (Ret.), U.S. Marine and White House Military Officer on 9/11

Together, they share firsthand stories from the White House, the Pentagon, and Ground Zero—offering rare insight into the chaos, courage, and clarity that defined September 11th, 2001.

From near misses to critical national decisions, these stories aren't just history—they're remind...

We all know The Little Engine That Could—“I think I can, I think I can.” But what about when we don’t think we can? That’s where the voices around us matter most. We need someone to say “I think you can”…and we need to trust their trust just enough to make the first move. That one move can change the entire trajectory of a life.

As Zig Ziglar put it: “A lot of people have gone further than they thought they could because someone else thought they could.”

And here’s the truth: when someon...

On this episode of the BLTnT Podcast, Matt Loria, CEO of Auxiom sits down with Paul Glantz, co-founder and chairman of Emagine Entertainment—a visionary who transformed a borrowed $125,000 into a luxury cinema empire. Quietly, bravely, and always evolving, his story defines what success looks like.

Episode Highlights:

Who’s On Your Theme?

That’s not a typo.

You probably thought I was about to ask, "Who's on your team?" But this week, I'm leveling up. Let’s talk about the Theme behind the team—the throughline, the backdrop, the compass.  

[INTERUPPTION: you know I like side bars…so a quick thank you to my buddy Scott Schoeneberger for teaching me about “throughlines”…if I over use the term, blame him…I never knew what it meant until recently…just kidding, I love you buddy, thanks for always teaching me something new.]

Old MacDonald had a farm… and today’s executives have an AI farm. But not every “animal” is the same. Most leaders are working with Generative AI (GenAI) — powerful but limited. Emerging quickly is Agentic AI — systems that can take initiative. And still further out is General AI (AGI) — the wildcard of AI’s future.

We are going to rock our first 5 Bytes edition (tech = bytes instead of bites…pretty clever!). Coming off of Auxiom’s first-ever Auxiom Community Appreciation Event (ACA), I’m feeling technologically inspired. Those of you who attended heard from amazing speakers like Scott Schonenberger of...

What happens when you stop building a business around yourself—and start building one that can run without you?

On this episode of the BLTnT Podcast, Matt Loria, CEO of Auxiom talks with John Glon, Owner of Great Lakes Essential Power, Bloom Growth Coach, and host of the Roll Call podcast.

In this episode they talk about: ✅ The mindset change that changed everything ✅ How coaching sharpened his leadership focus ✅ The hard truth about ego in entrepreneurship

If you're in the thick of building something bigger than yourself—or think...

As you know I’m reading the book by Michael Erath, the 5 obsessions of elite organizations and I’m loving it…in it he reminds us that Nick Saban once said:

“Mediocre people don’t like high achievers, and high achievers don’t like mediocre people.”

It’s blunt, but boy is it true. Excellence has a way of exposing the gap between those willing to push and those who settle. That gap always creates tension. It’s a reminder of something we explored in our issue 00005 “Know thyself” when I referred to a book my buddy, James Hall...

Welcome to 5 Bites — bite-sized insights across BLTnT, built for leaders, learners, and curious minds who want faster takeaways that stick & ignite something explosive 🧨

Part 2 is here!!

In this week’s episode of the BLTnT Podcast, Matt Loria, CEO of Auxiom continues his conversation with Dan Weingartz, President of W&P Management and third-generation leader in one of Michigan’s most respected family businesses.

If you lead a team, a family, or a legacy — this one will speak to you.

#BLTnTPodcast #FamilyBusiness #PurposeDrivenLeadership #BusinessTransformation #DanWeingartz

A weekly serving of bite-sized insights built for leaders, learners, and curious minds who want faster takeaways that stick and ignite something explosive. 🧨

This week on the BLTnT Podcast, Matt Loria sits down with Dan Weingartz, President of Weingartz for a 2-part podcast episode!

From navigating decades of growth in the power equipment industry to walking alongside families living in global garbage dump communities, Dan’s story is a masterclass in faithful leadership—and what it means to lead with your values in every season of life.

In this episode, they discuss:

✅ Why being “unqualified” can be a leadership superpower ✅ Faith as a compass through business decisions ✅ Learning to work from your strengths, not...

I’ve been loving a book that was recently recommended to me called The Five Obsessions of Elite Organizations by Michael Erath, and it’s hitting hard. His emphasis on structure, clarity, and people as the lifeblood of great companies has me thinking deeply about what we’re building—and why it works (or doesn’t). It's resonating because much of what Erath teaches goes along with something you hear me say often:

“You are uniquely qualified to be exactly where you are [doing what you are doing] today.” This carries both responsibility and reassurance.

I...

Welcome to 5 Bites - a weekly serving of bite-sized insights across Business, Life, Technology, and Transformations—built for leaders, learners, and curious minds who want faster takeaways that stick and ignite something explosive 🧨

This week on the BLTnT Podcast, Matt Loria talks with Mykolas Rambus, Co-Founder and CEO of Hush, a company rewriting the rules of online privacy and security. He explains how Hush was born from a simple but urgent question: “What’s online about me that shouldn’t be?” And how AI is both a threat and a tool in the fight for privacy.

Together they dig into:

· What CEOs Are Getting Wrong About Risk Why digital traceability is becoming a top-tier business risk—and how most leaders are still overlooking it.

· Building a C...

Welcome to 5 Bites - a weekly serving of bite-sized insights across Business, Life, Technology, and Transformations—built for leaders, learners, and curious minds who want faster takeaways that stick and ignite something explosive 🧨

Welcome to 5 Bites - a weekly serving of bite-sized insights across Business, Life, Technology, and Transformations—built for leaders, learners, and curious minds who want faster takeaways that stick and ignite something explosive 🧨

This week on the BLTnT Podcast we are kicking off (The Summer of AI)! Matt Loria welcomes York Moore, CEO & President of CCO (Coalition for Christian Outreach), for a conversation about faith, transformation, and navigating the intersection of culture, leadership, and technology.

York’s story spans from homelessness to Harvard fellowships, from Wall Street to launching anti-trafficking movements—and now leading one of the largest campus ministries in the country.

In this episode, they dig into: