Daily Influence

IA Business Advisors

Discover a world where everyone’s influence matters. Welcome to Daily Influence, co-hosted by Brian Smith, founder and managing partner at IA Business Advisors and author of the 'I in Team' series, along with IA Business Advisors Partner Gregg Brooke Koleno. Each day, Brian and Gregg craft episodes designed to elevate your influence and transform it into a force for positive and responsible influence. Every episode is a journey through real-life experiences, transformative concepts, and powerful tools that help you FIND, BE & BUILD Your Influence. We aim to help you radiate your unique influence, find balance, celebrate victories, and shape your reality. The podcast highlights the art of leading yourself and those around you, remaining humble and composed, learning effectively, and embracing true diversity. Whether you tune in during your morning coffee, mid-day break, or your evening wind-down, Daily Influence is your daily dose of inspiration and upliftment, relevant to your everyday life. The goal is not just to influence you but to equip you with insights you can share within your sphere of influence. Join Brian and Gregg as they explore the principles and practices that align with IA Business Advisors' S.M.A.R.T. Management Consulting Methods, offering practical advice and thought-provoking discussions. Remember, it’s not just about being part of the team; it’s about finding the ‘I’ in every team. So, listen, learn, share, and expand your influence with Daily Influence. Tune in and discover how to make your influence matter, every day.

  1. 30M AGO

    671. From Hollywood to Humanity: Peter Samuelson on Service, Storytelling, and Finding Happy

    What if the key to happiness isn’t success, wealth, or recognition — but helping someone else? On this episode of Daily Influence, Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with film producer, social entrepreneur, and humanitarian Peter Samuelson to explore how influence, storytelling, and service intersect to create lasting change. From producing major Hollywood films like Revenge of the Nerds and Return of the Pink Panther to founding global nonprofits including Starlight Children’s Foundation, First Star, and Everyone Deserves a Roof (EDAR), Peter shares the pivotal moments that shaped his life of purpose. In this powerful conversation, you’ll hear: • How one teacher’s belief changed the trajectory of Peter’s life • The deeply personal story that inspired the creation of Starlight • Why “selflessness can be selfish” — and why that’s a good thing • How First Star is helping foster youth attend college at 10x the national rate • Why failure is essential to growth and responsible influence • The connection between storytelling, philanthropy, and real-world impact • His perspective on AI, ethics, and protecting young minds • Why helping others is the most reliable path to long-term happiness Peter reminds us that influence is not about accumulation — it’s about contribution. It’s about recognizing asymmetry in the world and choosing to apply energy where it’s needed most. Whether you’re a leader, parent, entrepreneur, or simply someone who wants to make a difference but isn’t sure where to begin, this episode will challenge and inspire you to step outside yourself and take action. Because as Peter says, the meaning of life isn’t found in what we gather — it’s found in what we give. Learn more at: Listen now and be reminded: small actions truly can create extraordinary impact.

    44 min
  2. FEB 12

    666. Regulate to Lead: Nervous System Science for Responsible Influence

    So many high-achieving women quietly carry burnout that goes far deeper than a packed calendar and today’s conversation names what’s really happening underneath it. Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Dr. Julie Merriman, licensed mental health clinician, counselor educator, burnout researcher, author, and founder of the Soul Joy brand, to unpack what she calls identity burnout: the slow erosion that happens when we keep performing a role (dependable, capable, self-sacrificing) long after it stops being sustainable. Dr. Julie shares her personal turning point when outward success masked an inner emptiness and how that experience shaped the Soul Joy Method, a body-based path back to wholeness through somatic awareness, nervous system regulation, chakra psychology, and reconnection to purpose and relationships. You’ll also hear why resentment isn’t a character flaw it’s information and how tiny “micro-boundaries” can become the first step toward real change. Plus, Dr. Julie shares a grounded take on using AI as a support tool not a substitute for connection by clearing mental load so we can return to what makes life feel meaningful. If you’ve been feeling exhausted, invisible, stuck in obligation, or like you’ve lost yourself under responsibility, this episode will bring clarity, language, and practical first steps—because positive and responsible influence doesn’t start with doing more. It starts with listening more deeply to yourself. Connect with Dr. Julie: Website: https://www.juliemerrimanphd.com/ Book: In Pursuit of Soul Joy https://a.co/d/3HJtsnU

    22 min
  3. FEB 10

    664. Dancing for Good: How Energy, Accountability, and EQ Create Lasting Influence

    What if influence wasn’t about perfection, polish, or titles—but about energy, accountability, and how you show up for others? In this episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Chris Starkey, partner at Mojo Maker and the personality behind Dance Dad TV, to explore what positive and responsible influence looks like in real life. Chris shares his journey from performer and entrepreneur to purpose-driven leader, shaped by his daughter’s life-changing medical challenges and the special needs community that became his tribe. Through dance, storytelling, and intentional connection, Chris has built a community rooted in joy, inclusion, and momentum—both online and off. Together, Gregg and Chris discuss: • How accountability and humility strengthen influence • Why emotional intelligence (EQ) matters more than ever in leadership • Turning personal challenges into purpose-driven action • Using energy, creativity, and consistency to uplift communities • How giving—without expectation—creates impact that multiplies This conversation is a reminder that influence lives in everyday moments: how we listen, how we include, and how we lead with intention. Whether you’re a business owner, parent, creator, or community leader, this episode will encourage you to lean into connection and use your influence responsibly—one interaction at a time. Listen in and take your daily dose of positivity. Connect with Chirs: https://www.instagram.com/dancedad_starkey/ https://www.facebook.com/chris.starkey.142 https://www.youtube.com/@dancedadtv2874 https://www.chrisstarkey.com/

    17 min
5
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

Discover a world where everyone’s influence matters. Welcome to Daily Influence, co-hosted by Brian Smith, founder and managing partner at IA Business Advisors and author of the 'I in Team' series, along with IA Business Advisors Partner Gregg Brooke Koleno. Each day, Brian and Gregg craft episodes designed to elevate your influence and transform it into a force for positive and responsible influence. Every episode is a journey through real-life experiences, transformative concepts, and powerful tools that help you FIND, BE & BUILD Your Influence. We aim to help you radiate your unique influence, find balance, celebrate victories, and shape your reality. The podcast highlights the art of leading yourself and those around you, remaining humble and composed, learning effectively, and embracing true diversity. Whether you tune in during your morning coffee, mid-day break, or your evening wind-down, Daily Influence is your daily dose of inspiration and upliftment, relevant to your everyday life. The goal is not just to influence you but to equip you with insights you can share within your sphere of influence. Join Brian and Gregg as they explore the principles and practices that align with IA Business Advisors' S.M.A.R.T. Management Consulting Methods, offering practical advice and thought-provoking discussions. Remember, it’s not just about being part of the team; it’s about finding the ‘I’ in every team. So, listen, learn, share, and expand your influence with Daily Influence. Tune in and discover how to make your influence matter, every day.