Get Back 2 Work

Bob Campana

Get Back 2 Work is a candid, no-nonsense podcast for seasoned entrepreneurs and operators who know that building something meaningful requires more than ideas — it requires resilience, reinvention, and real work. Hosted by serial entrepreneur and author Bob Campana, who has started and grown eight companies over more than five decades, the show explores what it actually takes to build, lead, and rebuild through both good years and hard ones. Bob brings the perspective of someone who has lived the pressure, responsibility, and identity that come with creating and running businesses at a high level. Each episode features honest conversations with experienced founders, executives, and problem-solvers who have moved beyond theory and into execution. Together, they dig into leadership under pressure, smart decision-making, reinvention, and the realities of growing companies in an unpredictable world. This isn’t startup hype or surface-level motivation. It’s real dialogue for people who have built something, learned from it, and are ready to get back to work — smarter, stronger, and more intentional than before.

Episodes

  1. Laureen Campana-Schermeister: Tai Chi & Qigong Energy Practices for Modern Health

    3 DAYS AGO

    Laureen Campana-Schermeister: Tai Chi & Qigong Energy Practices for Modern Health

    In this episode, Bob Campana and Laureen Campana-Schermeister discuss: What Tai Chi and Qigong Are (and How They Differ/Relate)Origins and History of Qigong and Tai ChiHealth and Scientific Benefits of Tai Chi/QigongHow to Practice: Frequency, Class Structure, and AccessibilityEnergy, Grounding, and Emotional Effects Key Takeaways: Tai Chi and Qigong are presented as intertwined practices: Tai Chi Chuan emerging from martial arts with a “supreme ultimate boxing” lineage, and Qigong as a much older energy practice focused on cultivating and moving chi. When chi is blocked, it’s associated with disease, pain, and emotional distress; when it flows freely, vitality, mood, and overall health improve.Rather than being treated as mystical or fringe, these practices are positioned as evidence-backed complements to Western medicine.Practice frequency is portrayed as both accessible and powerful: even 15 minutes a day of simple Qigong or Tai Chi can create noticeable benefits, and you don’t need mastery to feel results after a first session. The class structure Laurie uses, warmups, varied Qigong sets like the “Frolic of the Five Animals,” then a short Yang-style Tai Chi form, shows how practice blends physical exercise, visualization, and focused intent.  “Chi is this word that essentially means the animation of all life... when your chi runs out, you die, you expire your last breath, and you become back into the earth.” - Laureen Campana-Schermeister About the guest, Laureen Campana-Schermeister: Laureen Campana-Schermeister, NP, MPH, is an Advanced Practice Holistic Nurse and National Board-Certified Nurse Practitioner with decades of clinical experience. A graduate of the University of Arizona Integrative Medicine Fellowship and a Registered Herbalist Candidate with the American Herbalist Guild, she focuses on bridging conventional medicine with integrative and traditional healing practices. Laureen works collaboratively with clients to develop personalized approaches to health that may include botanicals, nutrition, mindfulness, and lifestyle therapies. In addition to her clinical work, she is a longtime Tai Chi and Qigong practitioner and instructor with more than 30 years of experience, teaching practices that support balance, focus, and overall well-being. Her work centers on compassionate listening, evidence-informed care, and empowering people to navigate their own healing journeys. Book Laureen as your guest speaker today! Email: mountainherbalssonora@gmail.com  Connect with Laureen: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laureen-campana-a93b205/  Website: https://www.laureencampana.com/  About the host, Bob Campana: Bob Campana is a California-based serial entrepreneur, author, and advisor with over 50 years of experience building businesses across various industries, including manufacturing, hospitality, real estate, and aviation. He is known for sharing candid reflections on the pressures of leadership, the necessity of grit and adaptability, and the importance of fostering human connection in business. Connect With Bob Campana: Website: https://www.bobcampana.com/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@getback2workk  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-campana-entrepreneur/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bobcampana_/  Show notes by Podcastologist: Hanz Jimuel Alvarez Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

    51 min
  2. Neil Buettner: From Campfires to Career: How He Built a Life in Music

    28 MAR

    Neil Buettner: From Campfires to Career: How He Built a Life in Music

    In this episode, Bob Campana and Neil Buettner discuss: Suzuki method and early violin trainingCamp Jack Hazard and campfire music influenceTransition from education/autism work to full-time musicBuilding a local music career as a businessReal estate investing and long-term financial planning Key Takeaways: Treat music (or any craft) as both art and service, and Neil shows that when you think in terms of what you can give an audience or a venue rather than what you can get, you create a sustainable career and stronger relationships.Outworking your competition often beats out-talent-ing them. Neil leveraged relationships from gigs into a home purchase and then into rentals, proving that creative people can build real wealth without abandoning their art.The Suzuki method, campfire performances, and working in special education all taught Neil to value practice, listening, and serving others—principles he now applies to business and life.Neil encourages younger musicians to figure out why they’re doing music, identify the specific markets they can serve, and then design their bookings, pricing, and song choices around that reality. “What makes art come alive is actually the imperfections and the spin through the lens of the artist themselves.” - Neil Buettner About the guest, Neil Buettner: Neil Buettner is a Central Valley–based professional musician, real estate investor, and martial arts practitioner who has built a 20+ year career by treating music as both art and service. Starting with Suzuki-method violin as a child and later falling in love with acoustic guitar at Camp Jack Hazard, he’s evolved into a sought-after solo performer for fine dining venues, country clubs, and private events, known for crafting “active background” experiences that elevate the room rather than dominate it. Connect with Neil Buettner: Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/neil.buettner.9/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neil_b_/?hl=en  Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/neil-buettner/316378674  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2RgCgnT8IZVPpQ8a0oIXfe  About the host, Bob Campana: Bob Campana is a California-based serial entrepreneur, author, and advisor with over 50 years of experience building businesses across various industries, including manufacturing, hospitality, real estate, and aviation. He is known for sharing candid reflections on the pressures of leadership, the necessity of grit and adaptability, and the importance of fostering human connection in business. Connect With Bob Campana: Website: https://www.bobcampana.com/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@getback2workk  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-campana-entrepreneur/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bobcampana_/  Show notes by Podcastologist: Hanz Jimuel Alvarez Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

    1hr 2min
  3. Bob Campana: Human Connection - The Real Competitive Advantage

    28 MAR

    Bob Campana: Human Connection - The Real Competitive Advantage

    In this episode, Bob Campana and Doug Sandler discuss: Power of human connection in businessEvolving, empathetic leadershipDesigning experiences, not just productsGrowth through immersive, hands-on experiencesLegacy built on relationships and memories Key Takeaways: Genuine human connection is a business advantage, not a soft extra; Bob built his pool company and restaurants by making people feel heard, respected, and understood at a deep level. Leadership style can and should evolve; Bob shifted from being reactive and abrasive to intentionally leaving every interaction in a “spirit of joy or happiness.” The restaurant isn’t just about food; it’s a carefully designed environment for escapism, warmth, and community connection. By placing people in safe but stretching situations, leaders can help them confront fear, build confidence, and form lasting emotional associations with the brand and with the relationship.Long-term fulfillment comes more from relationships and memories than from physical assets like cars, planes, or buildings.  “My goal on every exchange that I have with people now is to leave them in a spirit of joy or happiness, or feel that I heard them and respect them as a person.” - Bob Campana About the host, Bob Campana: Bob Campana is a California-based serial entrepreneur, author, and advisor with over 50 years of experience building businesses across various industries, including manufacturing, hospitality, real estate, and aviation. He is known for sharing candid reflections on the pressures of leadership, the necessity of grit and adaptability, and the importance of fostering human connection in business. Connect With Bob Campana: Website: https://www.bobcampana.com/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@getback2workk  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-campana-entrepreneur/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bobcampana_/  Show notes by Podcastologist: Hanz Jimuel Alvarez Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

    37 min
  4. Get Back to Work: Real Talk for Entrepreneurs at Every Stage

    25 MAR

    Get Back to Work: Real Talk for Entrepreneurs at Every Stage

    In this episode, Bob Campana and Doug Sandler discuss: Human connection in businessEntrepreneurship after 60Brick-and-mortar business challengesGlobal sourcing and travel experiencesInspiration, resilience, and persistence in work Key Takeaways: Bob created this podcast to share five decades of small business experience and the lessons learned from the people he’s met along the way, as he believes those relationships and stories can offer real value to listeners who are still “in the game.”The show is aimed at multiple audiences: seniors or people over 60 who want to start something new, brick-and-mortar entrepreneurs in the trenches, and corporate folks considering a move into private enterprise. Episodes may dive into very specific, practical situations like sourcing products in China or working with agents who grease the wheels of global business.Bob emphasizes that businesses succeed through relationships and real people, not just technology or theory.Each episode is intended to spark inspiration and action, and Bob wants people to finish an episode feeling less alone in their challenges and more confident about pursuing their goals, no matter their age or stage. “I'm a lifelong entrepreneur. I'm 72 years old. I still have passion for life.” - Bob Campana About the host, Bob Campana: Bob Campana is a California-based serial entrepreneur, author, and advisor with over 50 years of experience building businesses across various industries, including manufacturing, hospitality, real estate, and aviation. He is known for sharing candid reflections on the pressures of leadership, the necessity of grit and adaptability, and the importance of fostering human connection in business. Connect With Bob Campana: Website: https://www.bobcampana.com/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@getback2workk  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-campana-entrepreneur/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bobcampana_/  Show notes by Podcastologist: Hanz Jimuel Alvarez Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

    8 min

About

Get Back 2 Work is a candid, no-nonsense podcast for seasoned entrepreneurs and operators who know that building something meaningful requires more than ideas — it requires resilience, reinvention, and real work. Hosted by serial entrepreneur and author Bob Campana, who has started and grown eight companies over more than five decades, the show explores what it actually takes to build, lead, and rebuild through both good years and hard ones. Bob brings the perspective of someone who has lived the pressure, responsibility, and identity that come with creating and running businesses at a high level. Each episode features honest conversations with experienced founders, executives, and problem-solvers who have moved beyond theory and into execution. Together, they dig into leadership under pressure, smart decision-making, reinvention, and the realities of growing companies in an unpredictable world. This isn’t startup hype or surface-level motivation. It’s real dialogue for people who have built something, learned from it, and are ready to get back to work — smarter, stronger, and more intentional than before.