The Executive Podcast

Dr. Benjamin Ritter

What does it mean to be a leader? The Executive podcast highlights the career journeys, struggles, successes, and day to day experiences of leaders. Your host Dr. Benjamin Ritter brings over 10 years of experience as a leadership and career coach, L&D consultant, healthcare executive, and international speaker focused on guiding others in finding, creating, and sustaining a career they love. Find out more at liveforyourselfconsulting.com

  1. Leading with Belief Building a Global Mezcal Brand with Steve McGarry

    JAN 19

    Leading with Belief Building a Global Mezcal Brand with Steve McGarry

    In this episode, I sit down with Steve McGarry, CEO of Rosaluna Mezcal, to explore what it really takes to build a brand people believe in, from its roots in the agave fields of Oaxaca to its rapidly growing presence across the U.S. and beyond. Steve shares his leadership philosophy shaped through decades in hospitality, distribution, and brand building. We talk about the power of curiosity, the importance of the apprenticeship mindset, and how to make the right leadership decisions when you're responsible for growing both people and a brand. We also dive into Rosaluna’s incredible heritage: A sixth-generation mezcalero A family lineage dating back to 1750 A single-estate, vertically integrated production model The sustainable practices that earned Rosaluna the “Distintivo Verde" Certification Why their lightly smoked, citrus-forward mezcal is redefining the category If you're a leader, founder, or someone navigating your own growth journey, this conversation is packed with insights on culture, hiring, belief, and building something that lasts. What We Cover The mindset shift from “I want it now” to meaningful career mastery How to hire people who actually believe what your organization believes The real cost of keeping the wrong people in the wrong seats Why culture gets threatened — and how to protect it Rosaluna’s unique process, history, and sustainability commitments What leaders can learn from a brand built on heritage and craft About Rosaluna Rosaluna is a single-estate, handcrafted mezcal rooted in six generations of tradition. Their proprietary roasting process, Capón agave, and deep sustainability practices create a stunning, citrus-forward mezcal loved by bartenders and fans around the world. 👉 Try Rosaluna Mezcal or find it near you: https://mezcalrosaluna.com/

    44 min
  2. From Human Doing to Human Being with Tom Feegel, CEO of Beond

    12/22/2025

    From Human Doing to Human Being with Tom Feegel, CEO of Beond

    High performers are taught to keep score: more tasks, more wins, more doing. But what if better leadership, and a better life, starts with being? In this conversation, Ben is joined by Tom Feegel (CEO & co-founder of BEOND) to unpack the shift from “human doing” to “human being” and how that mindset transforms executives, teams, and clinical care. They explore practical ways leaders can model presence and vulnerability without sacrificing excellence; why “science, but not more than compassion” guides BEOND’s care model; and how simple daily rituals (like a 10-minute gratitude meditation) create trust, connection, and durable performance. Tom also shares how psychedelic-assisted therapy with ibogaine is used in a clinically rigorous setting to support healing and growth—and what leaders can learn from that approach even outside healthcare. In this episode: Human Doing → Human Being: redefining success beyond scorekeeping Confidence, fear, and the permission to be vulnerable as an executive Rituals that anchor culture: meditation, gratitude, and shared storytelling “Science—but not more than compassion”: data, protocols, and humanity working together Ben’s “tree-hugging break,” flow states, and finding meaning in the work A simple relationship challenge: swap phones at dinner to be fully present Note: This episode discusses psychedelic-assisted therapy in a professional, medically supervised context. It is not medical advice. Find out more at: https://beondibogaine.com/

    43 min
  3. Visionary Leadership with Bryan Myers

    09/29/2025

    Visionary Leadership with Bryan Myers

    Bryan Myers is the President & Chief Executive Officer for [solidcore] and is an active [solidcore] Coach. In his role as CEO, Bryan is responsible for all aspects of delivering business performance, including [solidcore]’s national footprint growth and building a strong, inclusive community of clients and employees. Prior to joining the [solidcore] team in 2018, Bryan was a member of the leadership team of sweetgreen, the national leader in the healthy fast casual category. He joined sweetgreen in 2014 and, over the course of 4 years, wore many hats as he helped the company grow from a regional chain of 20 restaurants to almost 100 locations nationally. Bryan began his career as a consultant for The Boston Consulting Group, providing strategic advice on topics of growth, organizational design, and operational transformation. When Bryan isn’t sweating it out under the blue lights, you can find him immersed in the performing arts and attending shows at the many, amazing performance venues in the DC area. Bryan is also passionate about finding ways to give back to the community and serves in several advisory and mentorship capacities – with a particular focus on traditionally marginalized communities. In 2023, Bryan was recognized as an EY Entrepreneur of the Year Mid-Atlantic Award Winner. He has also been nominated for and won several awards from the Washington Business Journal, including the Growth Award as a part of its CEO of the Year celebration in 2023. Bryan has also been featured as a speaker at national events, on podcasts, on television, and was featured in the March 2023 issue of Essence Magazine.  Follow Bryan on -Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bmysofly Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bmysofly/ And find the closest [solidcore] studio near you: https://solidcore.co/

    39 min
  4. Uncommon Connections with Thom Singer

    08/25/2025

    Uncommon Connections with Thom Singer

    Thom Singer is a keynote speaker, business relationship strategist, and the creator of The H.I. (Human Interaction) Blueprint™; a five-step framework for building intentional connections in a world transformed by artificial intelligence. As CEO of the Austin Technology Council, Thom sits at the intersection of innovation and human interaction, helping leaders and teams rediscover the power of trust, collaboration, and community. For over 18 years, Thom has spoken to audiences at over 1,000 events, from corporate meetings and legal industry summits to major association conferences. His mission is simple: to remind professionals that all opportunities come from people, and that even in a digitally dominated world, real success still hinges on meaningful relationships. His work focuses on creating Uncommon Connections that drive business outcomes, deepen team engagement, and elevate the attendee experience. Thom doesn’t just deliver speeches, he sets the tone for events. His engaging style, humor, and actionable insights have made him a favorite opening keynote for meeting planners who care about energizing their audiences and fostering connection. Thom’s belief in relationship-building started early. His first job as a busboy at the Big Yellow House Restaurant in Southern California taught him the value of adapting to people’s needs and showing up in service of others. That lesson stuck and continues to inform how he shows up for clients, colleagues, and communities today. He is the author of 12 books on networking, sales, presentation skills, and business relationships. His podcast, “Making Waves at C-Level,” features conversations with entrepreneurs, executives, and thought leaders on how human connection shapes leadership and innovation. Thom is also a Certified Speaking Professional (CSP), a designation earned by fewer than 10% of professional speakers worldwide. He’s the creator of the Conference Catalyst™, a unique program that transforms passive audiences into active participants, turning events into connection-rich experiences. A believer in lifelong growth, Thom lives by the motto “Try New Things.” After decades of being a self-described couch potato, he became a distance runner, discovered a love of nature, and now regularly performs at stand-up comedy open mics… proving it’s never too late to stretch outside your comfort zone. Whether he’s keynoting a conference, hosting a podcast, or helping a company connect better from the inside out, Thom Singer delivers more than a message – he sparks a movement around Human Interaction (H.I.) in an AI World. Find out more at: https://thomsinger.com/

    37 min
5
out of 5
17 Ratings

About

What does it mean to be a leader? The Executive podcast highlights the career journeys, struggles, successes, and day to day experiences of leaders. Your host Dr. Benjamin Ritter brings over 10 years of experience as a leadership and career coach, L&D consultant, healthcare executive, and international speaker focused on guiding others in finding, creating, and sustaining a career they love. Find out more at liveforyourselfconsulting.com