JD's Journal

John 'jd' Dwyer
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Everyone we know has experienced their unique journey of life, and along the way they have had their share of success and failure. Each of us have learned important lessons and gathered valuable resources that have allowed us to survive and thrive. This podcast is a place for sharing our stories and our resources for the benefit of others. It's a celebration of the resilience and tenacity of people in all walks of life, our local heroes.  Welcome aboard! 

  1. Radhika Dutt: Stop Chasing Unicorns, Start Solving Puzzles

    DEC 11

    Radhika Dutt: Stop Chasing Unicorns, Start Solving Puzzles

    Tired of fluffy vision statements and endless metric chasing that never change how your team actually works? We sit down with product leader and author Radhika Dutt to trade slogans for substance and show how a clear, fill‑in‑the‑blank vision can align every decision you make. Radhika names the product diseases that quietly drain momentum—pivotitis and obsessive sales disorder—and then gives you practical ways to treat them by balancing long‑term vision with short‑term survival. The goal isn’t a prettier roadmap; it’s a shared understanding of who you serve, why it matters, the end state you want to create, and how your product gets you there. We also unpack why OKRs so often reward theater over truth. Instead of ranking people and retrofitting numbers, Radhika’s OLA loop—Objectives, Hypotheses, Learnings, Adaptations—turns work into a continuous puzzle worth solving. You’ll hear how teams use three questions to move faster and smarter: how well did it work, what did we learn, what will we try next. This approach gave leaders “ears on the track,” doubled sales in a tough market, and cut churn by focusing on real customer puzzles instead of vanity targets. From building a national platform with the Monetary Authority of Singapore to fighting “AI product slop,” we get candid about responsibility, culture, and what it takes to ship work you’re proud of. You’ll leave with a usable vision template, a decision model for avoiding vision debt, and a lightweight ritual for more honest measurement and sharper reviews.  For more information and to engage with Radhika: https://rdutt.com/ http://www.radicalproduct.com radhika@radicalproduct.com

    1h 23m
  2. Hanna Bauer: From Catheter Ablation to Culture & Systems Transformation

    NOV 20

    Hanna Bauer: From Catheter Ablation to Culture & Systems Transformation

    What if a life-saving medical breakthrough could teach us how to heal broken businesses systems? That’s the spark of this conversation with Hanna Bauer, whose childhood struggle with a dangerous heart arrhythmia led to a pioneering catheter ablation—and later inspired a powerful framework for organizational change. Hanna shares "I was the first child to undergo the procedure, which has since saved thousands of others” The surgery didn’t just restore her rhythm; it offered a blueprint for leaders: clear the noise, create a pathway, and let healthy energy flow. We explore how Hanna translates that lifesaving experience into practical tools for executives and founders under pressure. She walks us through her HEART values—Hope, Empowerment, Accountability, Results, Trust—and how they underpin cultures that learn fast without fear. Then we dive into BEAT, a personal rhythm for alignment (Believe, Engage, Act, Transform) and CORE, an organizational growth cycle (Cultivate, Optimize, Reach, Elevate) that marries purpose and process. If you’ve ever wondered how to scale without burning out your team—or how to prune the work that drains momentum—this playbook is refreshingly clear. Hanna also opens the curtain on Baldrige Excellence, a whole-system lens that helps leaders map seven interdependent business systems and close the gaps between siloed metrics. We talk about AI as an amplifier of time and insight—useful for surfacing buried documents, synthesizing surveys, and freeing humans to coach, design, and decide. Along the way, we hit real-world hurdles: resisting shiny objects, building psychological safety, capturing failure learnings, and staying consistent when results lag. Her simple, repeatable habits—like box breathing and weekly mini shifts—show how hope becomes a practical catalyst, not a poster on a wall. Resources for this episode: https://heartnomics.com/about/#FullBiohttps://www.heartnomics.com/https://www.youtube.com/@heartnomicshttps://www.linkedin.com/in/bauerhanna/

    1h 21m
  3. Tommy D: The 15 Year Fight for Fair Live Entertainment

    NOV 9

    Tommy D: The 15 Year Fight for Fair Live Entertainment

    The price of a ticket tells a bigger story—and Tommy D is here to pull back the curtain. From a kid throwing house parties to the promoter behind packed midweek rooms and an award-winning club sound, his path was set for festivals at the Meadowlands. Then came a meeting that changed everything. Tommy recounts how a dominant player, he alleges, used its grip on talent, venues, and ticketing to force an ultimatum. He says the fallout didn’t just hit his business; it hit artists’ paychecks and fans’ wallets—and reshaped the live events market. We go deep on how consolidation affects creativity, artist development, and the price you pay at checkout. Tommy lays out his case against hidden “rebates,” why artists often don’t see the true costs attributed to their shows, and how those expenses push ticket prices higher. He argues that when one company controls routing, rooms, and rails, new ideas struggle to breathe. The ripple effect is real: fewer choices for fans, slower growth for emerging acts, and a fragile local scene. This conversation also maps a way forward. We explore practical reforms—transparent accounting, structural separation of ticketing and promotion, and real competition across markets—so artists can choose their partners and fans can choose where they buy. Tommy shares the grit behind a 15-year legal fight heading to a rare jury trial, the personal toll and motivation that keep him going, and why AI can draft assets but can’t replace human passion on a dance floor. If you care about fair prices, independent culture, and the future of live music, you’ll find substance and urgency here. Stay connected for updates and resources to speak up where it counts. If this resonates, follow the show, share with a friend who loves live music, and leave a review to help others find it. Your voice—and your vote—can move this conversation from complaint to change. Resources for this episode: https://www.tommydjuiceentertainment.com/ Contact: mediajuiceentertainment@gmail.com https://www.gruffalo.com/

    59 min
  4. Jillian Reilly: The 10 Permissions

    OCT 31

    Jillian Reilly: The 10 Permissions

    The ground is shifting faster than our old rulebook can keep up, and pretending we can project-manage our way to certainty only makes us brittle. Today we sit down with author, activist, and leadership coach Jillian Reilley to unpack why lasting transformation starts with self-permission rather than big budgets, and how a life built on small, intentional experiments can outperform the grand five-year plan. Jillian’s story begins in post-apartheid Africa, where hope and hardship lived side by side. Those years taught her a hard lesson: institutions can fund programs, but they can’t grant consent. Whether it’s international aid or a corporate change initiative, the real turning point happens in private—within families, teams, and the inner conversation we have with ourselves. That insight powers her new book, The Ten Permissions, a provocative set of invitations designed to help us navigate a fluid world: Go Astray to shed linear myths, Think Small to iterate like a pro, and Feel Your Way to move beyond over-analysis and into embodied action. We dive into AI anxiety and name the uncomfortable truth: if your value is repeatable, a machine will eventually do it. The way forward isn’t fear; it’s accelerated human learning—curiosity, sense-making, creativity, and connection. Jillian shares practical rituals that keep you grounded under pressure, from walking and breathwork to micro-steps that silence the inner critic through momentum. We also talk about education’s urgent update, shifting from memorizing facts to practicing navigation skills so young people can thrive in ambiguity. If you’ve felt “off-script” lately, this conversation will feel like both validation and a roadmap. You’ll leave with language for what you’re experiencing, permission to play a different game, and concrete ways to build a career and life that adapt as fast as the world does.  Resources from this episode: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillianreilly/https://tenpermissions.com/https://tenpermissions.com/ten-permissions-quick-guide.pdfhttps://tenpermissions.com/bookVain Aid: Jillian Reilly at TEDxCapeTown

    1h 17m
  5. Kevin Hubschmann: How “Laughter as a Service” Builds Stronger Teams

    OCT 23

    Kevin Hubschmann: How “Laughter as a Service” Builds Stronger Teams

    What if the shortest path to better leadership is a good laugh? We sit down with Kevin Hubschmann, founder of Laugh Dot, to explore how “laughter as a service” and applied improv transform tense rooms into brave ones. Kevin walks us through how improv games—used not for performance, but for practice—retrain teams to listen, validate, and build on ideas with “yes, and” instead of shutting momentum down with “no, but.” The result is real: lower stress, stronger bonds, and sharper problem-solving where it counts. Kevin shares the surprising data behind laughter’s impact—endorphins up, cortisol down, serotonin up when we laugh together—and how that chemistry translates to trust and recall in fast-moving organizations. We get specific on formats that work: musical improv to craft team anthems, visual-heavy virtual shows across time zones, and simple in-room exercises that strip hierarchy so a CEO and a new hire can learn side by side. He explains why keeping these sessions in the same spaces where work happens matters for lasting change, and how short “laugh breaks” before standups keep skills from fading. We also dig into the business journey: reframing improv so teams aren’t intimidated, iterating away from comedy-club habits to a clean, corporate-fit baseline, and using feedback to boost customer satisfaction while preserving spontaneity. Then we zoom out to the AI era. Kevin draws a line between convergent tasks machines do well and the human “power skills” we must strengthen—divergent thinking, storytelling, active listening, and comfort with risk. Along the way, he shares practical leadership advice, energy-management habits, and the simple mindset shift that helped him show up more authentically: stop being so salesman, start being more human. If you’re looking to raise engagement, spark creativity, and make your culture braver without adding more slides, this conversation delivers tools you can try tomorrow and a new way to see your team. Enjoy it, share it with a manager who needs a nudge, and if it resonates, subscribe and leave a review so others can find it too. How to contact Kevin:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-hubschmannn/https://laughrx.laugh.events/ Other resources from the episode:  Jess Glynne:  Ain't Got Far To Go - https://youtu.be/GxPcu7F7gWg?si=QsKELiQH8NpLAv3fOlivia Deane:  Man I Need - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOKaC-w8XpUNike book - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/520632.Swoosh

    1h 35m
  6. Sara Elizabeth Joyce: Making Movie Magic, Art and Storytelling

    OCT 15

    Sara Elizabeth Joyce: Making Movie Magic, Art and Storytelling

    A movie producer and director who’s built 15 features. An ethical hacker who loves RF puzzles. A poet and resin artist whose tables glow in the dark. Meet Sara Elizabeth Joyce, whose life makes a single argument: when in doubt, make art and keep moving forward. We start with purpose—why Sara creates across film, poetry, and visual art—and how coming out in 2014 turned down the noise and turned up the signal. She takes us through learning every crew job before producing, the high-wire work of development, and a new true-story prison escape project brewing with Screen NSW. Then we zoom out to storytelling as a cultural engine: a Tokyo distribution triumph that imploded in the GFC, paying back debts the hard way, and the quiet power of Indigenous perspectives that shape how she names places, chooses stories, and shows respect on Country. The tech turn is pure cyberpunk. Sara contrasts the joy of hacking’s deep puzzles with the burnout churn of corporate cybersecurity, then opens her RF lab: software-defined radio, careful air-gap discipline, and that infamous pub Rickroll—done with consent and a wink. We talk media narratives, Gaza and Ukraine, and practical activism you can do today. We also rewrite toughness: procrastination can be intuition; sensitivity can be a superpower. Her mantras—keep moving forward; an honorable life before death—anchor candid talk about asthma-triggering vapes, growing up with abuse, and finding steadiness in small, right actions. If you’re curious about AI, Sara’s stance is clear: use it as a tool to learn and extend, not to replace artists. And if you need a material metaphor for all of this, you’ll find it in her resin art—technique born on an alien set, refined through teaching, now living on cocktail tables at PS40 and in homes around the country. The joy is in making art and letting go. https://saraelizabethjoyce.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/saradarkmedia/ Machete Girl - https://machetegirlmagazine.com/  Dark & Dangerous Poetry: https://saraelizabethjoyce.com/poetry-short-stories/  The Stainless Steel Rat:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Stainless_Steel_Rat

    1h 41m
  7. Kim Acosta's Journey: Corporate Recruiter to Entrepreneur

    OCT 8

    Kim Acosta's Journey: Corporate Recruiter to Entrepreneur

    What does it take to leave the security of a corporate career and build a business from scratch? Kim Acosta, founder and CEO of UCentric recruitment, shares her remarkable journey from corporate recruiter to entrepreneur in this candid conversation. As a mother who had her first child at 22, Kim's purpose has always been clear: to be a positive role model for her daughters. This driving force led her through an MBA, international relocation, and eventually to founding her own recruitment company with a distinctly human approach. The conversation explores how Kim balances entrepreneurship with family life, breaking traditional stereotypes along the way. Her husband's equal partnership at home proves crucial to their shared vision and success—a refreshing perspective on modern family dynamics that challenges conventional gender roles. Kim's recruitment expertise shines as she explains how her experience as an internal recruitment leader at Amazon shapes UCentric's approach. Unlike typical agencies rushing to place candidates, she focuses on long-term business outcomes and authentic candidate assessment. Her insights on building personal brands and activating networks are gold for anyone navigating today's uncertain job market. Perhaps most fascinating is the parallel Kim draws between marathon running and entrepreneurship. Neither a runner nor a business owner until recently, she's embraced both challenges with the same philosophy: consistent small steps lead to remarkable achievements. "Consistency always wins," she explains, breaking down how she applies this mindset to business growth. Whether you're contemplating entrepreneurship, seeking career advice, or simply love stories of people defying limitations, this episode delivers authentic insights from someone who's living proof that stepping outside your comfort zone is where growth truly happens. To learn more about Kim and UCentric: https://www.ucentric.com.au/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/ucentricpeople/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimacosta1/

    1h 25m
  8. Albert Bramante: Overcoming Self-Sabotage - Lessons from Broadway to Business

    OCT 1

    Albert Bramante: Overcoming Self-Sabotage - Lessons from Broadway to Business

    Albert Bramante sits at a fascinating intersection of psychology, performing arts, and innovation. With 20 years of experience coaching Broadway stars, teaching psychology, and helping people overcome limiting beliefs, he brings unique insights into how we sabotage our own success. At the heart of our conversation is a profound exploration of why our brains resist the very achievements we claim to want. Albert explains how fear of success can be more paralyzing than fear of failure—because success demands identity change, increased responsibility, and shifted relationships. When you succeed, you become someone new, and that terrifies the part of your brain designed to maintain stability. The revelation that hit me hardest was about impostor syndrome. Albert shares stories of A-list actors questioning their performances despite their fame and accolades. Rather than viewing these feelings as weaknesses to overcome, he suggests they're natural human experiences that keep us humble and growing. We don't eliminate impostor syndrome; we learn to work with it. Drawing from his doctoral research, Albert unpacks the personality factors that contribute to self-sabotage: high neuroticism combined with low conscientiousness creates the perfect storm for undermining our own efforts. His book "Rise Above the Script" provides practical strategies for recognizing and rewriting these self-limiting narratives. What makes this conversation particularly valuable is Albert's integration of cognitive behavioral techniques with NLP (Neurolinguistic Programming). He demonstrates how shifting perspective—literally seeing situations from different viewpoints—can break the grip of negative self-talk. The simple act of questioning "According to whom?" when we tell ourselves "I'm not good enough" can open entirely new possibilities. Whether you're pursuing creative ambitions, navigating career transitions, or simply trying to understand why you keep hitting the same ceiling, this episode offers both the psychological framework and practical tools to break through. As Albert reminds us, "There's no such thing as rejection, only a simple reminder that your services are not needed today." Resources from this episode: https://www.linkedin.com/in/albertbramante/ https://linktr.ee/albertbramante https://bramanteartists.com/ https://albertbramante.com/ https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0CY1XJMKM

    1h 40m
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About

Everyone we know has experienced their unique journey of life, and along the way they have had their share of success and failure. Each of us have learned important lessons and gathered valuable resources that have allowed us to survive and thrive. This podcast is a place for sharing our stories and our resources for the benefit of others. It's a celebration of the resilience and tenacity of people in all walks of life, our local heroes.  Welcome aboard! 

Information

  • Creator
    John 'jd' Dwyer
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    31
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 JD's Journal
  • Show Website
    JD's Journal