Pull the Chute - Grow your People, Grow your Company Podcast

Jeff Sesol and Janna Landry
  • 5.0 (4)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

The goal of this podcast is to interview business owners and/or C-level executives to get an understanding of how they built their culture, what worked, what failed, and what tips can they give new and upcoming business owners. Our goal over the next ten years is to help as many small to medium-sized businesses get to the next level by growing their people, which will grow their company. Through coaching and transformational leadership, Pull the Chute can guide company leaders to invest time to get to know their people and understand their roles, goals, and challenges to provide learning & growth opportunities - ultimately helping their people be the best they can be.

  1. Beyond The Title: Are you focused on your title or your impact? Featuring Henry Rao

    3D AGO

    Beyond The Title: Are you focused on your title or your impact? Featuring Henry Rao

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Beyond the Title, Jeff Sesol and John Zettler sit down with Harry Rao, the founder and CEO of Testgrad. Harry shares the story of building a multimillion-dollar bootstrapped company and why his success has very little to do with his title. We explore the "nuggets" of career acceleration, the necessity of pivoting in an era of constant change, and how to build a high-performance culture that asks a lot of its people while maintaining a foundation of trust and relationship. Key Takeaways Execution Over Title: It is never about the title you hold; it is about whether you can get things done and deliver results for your partners and team.The Power of Pivoting: In a business world where change is the only constant, the ability to pivot and adapt is the most relevant skill a leader can possess.High Standards, Deep Trust: You can push your team to work hard and achieve great things, but only if you have first built a solid foundation of relationship and trust.Bootstrapping Success: Harry discusses the discipline required to grow a multimillion-dollar business from the ground up through strategic partnerships and team alignment.Retaining Top Talent: Discover the key drivers behind keeping great people and how leadership development plays a role in sustaining business growth. Are you focused on your title or your impact? Tune in to this episode of Beyond the Title to hear Harry Rao’s insights on accelerating your career and leading through constant change. Listen now!

    25 min
  2. Why do so many student-athletes feel like their coach doesn't even know them? 🏀 Featuring Nolan Recker, CEO - HeyCoach

    MAR 10

    Why do so many student-athletes feel like their coach doesn't even know them? 🏀 Featuring Nolan Recker, CEO - HeyCoach

    Send a text In this episode of Pull the Chute, Jeff and Jana sit down with Nolan Recker, the founder of HeyCoach. Nolan shares his journey from ministry to sports and explains how his new platform is bridging the "relational gap" between coaches, players, and parents. Discover how simple, automated text messaging can foster self-reflection in Gen Z athletes and create a safer, more connected environment for growth.  Key Takeaways: The Power of Connection: Humans are "communal animals" wired for connection; intentionality in sports culture helps athletes truly "come alive." Management vs. Leadership: While managers expect behaviors, true leaders connect with their people to help them understand the "belief behind the behavior." Meeting Gen Z Where They Are: Texting is a native form of communication for today’s students; HeyCoach uses this to encourage "automated self-reflection" and digital journaling. Safety and Transparency: The platform provides a "third space" that protects coaches and students by documenting all digital correspondence, meeting high standards like those of AAU travel sports. Tune in to this episode today! 🎙️ Join the Conversation: Pull the Chute Podcast Discussion Group!  Ever listen to an episode of Pull the Chute and wish you could dig deeper into those "aha!" moments with others who get it? Now you can. Join our Facebook Discussion Group here.

    28 min
  3. Why CEOs struggle between short-term survival and long-term growth Featuring Rajesh Nagjee

    FEB 26

    Why CEOs struggle between short-term survival and long-term growth Featuring Rajesh Nagjee

    Send us Fan Mail Most leaders think their problem is strategy. It’s not. It’s a bottleneck. In this episode of Pull the Chute, we talk with Rajesh Nagjee about: ✔ Why every system has a constraint ✔ Why CEOs struggle between short-term survival and long-term growth ✔ How fear and regret quietly sabotage decision-making ✔ Why “should” and “must” create pressure — but “works” creates movement ✔ And why coaching isn’t about giving answers One of the biggest takeaways: You don’t eliminate the past. You park it. Then you choose where to stand. Leadership isn’t about complexity. It’s about clarity. 🎧 Listen now. 💬 Comment “WORKS” if this resonated. 🎙️ Join the Conversation: Pull the Chute Podcast Discussion Group!  Ever listen to an episode of Pull the Chute and wish you could dig deeper into those "aha!" moments with others who get it? Now you can. Join our Facebook Discussion Group here.

    29 min
  4. What if the fastest way to become a better leader… Was learning improv? Featuring Kevin Hubschmann

    FEB 26

    What if the fastest way to become a better leader… Was learning improv? Featuring Kevin Hubschmann

    Send us Fan Mail What if the fastest way to become a better leader… Was learning improv? In our 250th episode of Pull the Chute, Kevin Hubschmann shares how comedy skills — not jokes — help leaders: • Listen more effectively • Communicate with clarity • Think on their feet • Create psychological safety • Build stronger, more connected teams One of the biggest takeaways: Humor isn’t just personality. It’s a trainable skill set. Active listening. “Yes, and” communication. Self-awareness. Presence. These are leadership fundamentals. And yes — laughter makes work better. 🎧 Listen now. 💬 Comment “YES AND” if you’re ready to level up your communication. Join the Conversation: Pull the Chute Podcast Discussion Group! 🎙️ Ever listen to an episode of Pull the Chute and wish you could dig deeper into those "aha!" moments with others who get it? Now you can. Join our Facebook Discussion Group here.

    23 min
  5. What happens after a successful business? Featuring Sarah Boes

    FEB 26

    What happens after a successful business? Featuring Sarah Boes

    Send us Fan Mail She didn’t plan to become an entrepreneur. She planned to pass her nurse practitioner boards. But during COVID, battling anxiety and panic attacks, she saw something missing in the market: No one was talking about mental health in test prep. So she did. Within 7 months, she built a 7-figure business. Within 2 years, she sold it. And then? She faced something no one warns founders about: The identity shift after success. In this episode of Pull the Chute, Sarah Boes shares: • What panic attacks taught her about leadership • How undiagnosed OCD shaped her journey • Why self-compassion is a performance tool • The truth about life after an acquisition • Why authenticity beats perfection in the AI era One of the biggest takeaways: You can build something incredible. Sell it. Grieve it. And build again. 🎧 Listen now. 💬 Comment “REAL” if you believe authenticity wins long-term. Join the Conversation: Pull the Chute Podcast Discussion Group! 🎙️ Ever listen to an episode of Pull the Chute and wish you could dig deeper into those "aha!" moments with others who get it? Now you can. Join our Facebook Discussion Group here.

    30 min
  6. What if the hardest moment of your life became the foundation of your leadership? Featuring Tami Imlay

    FEB 26

    What if the hardest moment of your life became the foundation of your leadership? Featuring Tami Imlay

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Tami Imlay shares: • Losing her husband in the line of duty • Losing her identity • Becoming a therapist to understand grief • Transitioning into executive coaching • Helping CEOs lead across generations One of the biggest takeaways: You are a whole human. There are no silos. Your personal patterns show up in your leadership. Your fears shape your decisions. Your motivations drive your team. And information alone isn’t power anymore. Application is. If you’re a leader who wants: ✔ More clarity ✔ Better team alignment ✔ Stronger communication ✔ Real accountability This episode is for you. 🎧 Listen now. 💬 Comment “ALIGN” if this resonates. Join the Conversation: Pull the Chute Podcast Discussion Group! 🎙️ Ever listen to an episode of Pull the Chute and wish you could dig deeper into those "aha!" moments with others who get it? Now you can. Join our Facebook Discussion Group here.

    26 min
  7. AI won’t replace you but someone using AI will with Kevin Roy

    FEB 26

    AI won’t replace you but someone using AI will with Kevin Roy

    Send us Fan Mail Is SEO still real? Or has AI killed it? In this episode of Pull the Chute, Kevin Roy (18-year SEO veteran) breaks down: • Why most businesses fail at SEO • The power of stacked relevance • Why junk backlinks don’t work • How AI answer engines are reshaping search • And why credibility is now the #1 ranking factor One of the biggest takeaways: AI won’t replace you. But someone using AI will. If your website isn’t: ✔ Attributing content to real authors ✔ Building relevant backlinks ✔ Structuring pages intentionally ✔ Preparing for AI answer engines You’re already behind. Leadership isn’t just about people. It’s about staying ahead of change. 🎧 Listen now. 💬 Comment “SEO” if you want more episodes like this. Join the Conversation: Pull the Chute Podcast Discussion Group! 🎙️ Ever listen to an episode of Pull the Chute and wish you could dig deeper into those "aha!" moments with others who get it? Now you can. Join our Facebook Discussion Group here.

    24 min
  8. She started a business at 50 and 7 years later...her business is a SUCCESS! Featuring Natalia Zacharin

    FEB 26

    She started a business at 50 and 7 years later...her business is a SUCCESS! Featuring Natalia Zacharin

    Send us Fan Mail She didn’t start her business because it was her passion. She started it because she needed income. At 50 years old. After being demoted. As a single mom. Seven years later? 15 employees. Inc. 5000 honoree. Explosive growth. In this episode, Natalia Zacharin shares: • Why bookkeeping is NOT “just data entry” • Why most businesses are flying blind financially • How to know if you can afford to hire • The truth about delegation • And how imposter syndrome actually signals growth One of the most powerful takeaways: “You feel like an imposter because you’re already acting as your future self.” Growth isn’t clean. Leadership isn’t easy. But if you push past 9 o’clock on the clock… things start working. 🎧 Listen now. Tag a business owner who needs this conversation. Join the Conversation: Pull the Chute Podcast Discussion Group! 🎙️ Ever listen to an episode of Pull the Chute and wish you could dig deeper into those "aha!" moments with others who get it? Now you can. Join our Facebook Discussion Group here.

    28 min
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5
out of 5
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About

The goal of this podcast is to interview business owners and/or C-level executives to get an understanding of how they built their culture, what worked, what failed, and what tips can they give new and upcoming business owners. Our goal over the next ten years is to help as many small to medium-sized businesses get to the next level by growing their people, which will grow their company. Through coaching and transformational leadership, Pull the Chute can guide company leaders to invest time to get to know their people and understand their roles, goals, and challenges to provide learning & growth opportunities - ultimately helping their people be the best they can be.

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