Leveraged Storytelling with Arick Wierson

Tunheim

Some people just know how to tell a damn good story. Arick Wierson is one of them. There are the Storytellers who can make you hang on every word—whether they’re top journalists talking about their craft, political candidates trying to win your vote, CEOs and Entrepreneurs selling the next big thing, or artists shaping culture in real time. That’s what Leveraged Storytelling, presented by Tunheim, is all about. How the best of the best use stories to get their message across—and what the rest of us can learn from them.

Episodes

  1. FEB 17

    Tyler Lorenzen – Pro Team to Protein

    Season 2 of Leverage Storytelling, presented by Tunheim, continues with a standout Episode 2 featuring Tyler Lorenzen, CEO of Puris, the Minnesota/Iowa-based plant protein leader.  A former National Football League quarterback-turned-tight end, Tyler jokes that “NFL” stands for Not For Long. After retiring from pro football, he returned home to run his family’s agricultural business and helped scale it into one of the world’s most important plant-based protein platforms.  In this candid conversation with Arick Wierson, they dig into:  The surge, and cooling, of plant-based meats  Why interest in plant-based protein supplements never really went away  The difference between consumer hype cycles and long-term nutritional demand  The coming rise of “clear proteins” ingredients that could soon power everything from Red Bull and Celsius to Coca-Cola  The plant-based meat category may have boomed and corrected. But the underlying demand for functional, sustainable protein? That’s remained durable and in many ways, is just getting started.  This episode is about reinvention, market timing, and building enduring businesses beyond the headlines.

    15 min

  2. JAN 27

    Steve Grove - The Business Behind Storytelling

    Season Two of Leverage Storytelling kicks off with a jolt. In the premiere episode, host Arick Wierson sits down with Steve Grove, CEO and publisher of the Minnesota Star Tribune, for a candid, high-energy conversation about leadership, reinvention, and why local journalism is anything but dead.   Grove opens up about building one of the country’s most successful digital media models, the unexpected feedback he’s received since publishing his book last year, and what it’s like leading a newsroom that’s become a national test case for the future of media.   The conversation also zooms out to something bigger: Minnesota is having a moment—and the state is commanding attention in ways it hasn’t historically. Smart, reflective, and forward-looking, this episode sets the tone for where the season is headed.   Please note that this interview was recorded prior to the current unrest enveloping Minnesota and the Twin Cities.

    15 min

  3. 11/11/2025

    Jill Renslow – Crafted Customer Experience

    Few places capture the American imagination quite like the Mall of America — the largest shopping and entertainment complex in the Western Hemisphere and one of the most recognizable landmarks on the planet.  In this episode of Leverage Storytelling, I sit down with Jill Renslow, MOA executive, to explore how this modern-day icon tells its story — through its merchants, attractions, and the millions of people who walk through its doors every year.  We talk about what’s next for the Mall, how it continues to reinvent itself in a rapidly changing retail landscape, and why storytelling is the secret ingredient behind its enduring global appeal.  Watch now to see how one of America’s most iconic destinations keeps inspiring wonder, connection, and commerce — all under one roof.

    14 min

  4. 10/21/2025

    Mike Nathan - Influential Investing

    In this episode, Arick Wierson sits down with Mike Nathan, one of the Twin Cities’ most prolific startup investors, best known for his work in healthcare ventures, but with a portfolio that spans everything from whiskey to tele-legal platforms.  A partner at Exit 156 Capital, Nathan has earned a reputation as a CEO whisperer — someone with an uncanny ability to read entrepreneurs and see around the curve before anyone else. He shares hard-won lessons from years of building, funding, and scaling startups: how to spot great founders, when to walk away, and what it really takes to win early-stage.  Wierson also explores Nathan’s latest evolution. His emergence as a modern business influencer. On LinkedIn and beyond, Nathan has built a loyal following with his sharp, short-form takes on leadership, strategy, and growth — and he opens up about what inspired him to start creating content of his own.  A fast-moving, insight-packed conversation on investing, influence, and the instincts that separate good entrepreneurs from great ones.

    15 min

  5. 10/02/2025

    Michelle Bellanca - Breakthrough to Business

    In this episode of Leveraged Storytelling, host Arick Wierson sits down with Michelle Bellanca, CEO and co-founder of Claros Technologies, to unpack the science, stakes, and solutions around PFAS—the so-called “forever chemicals.” Bellanca explains why, while substitutes exist for things like nonstick cookware and food wrappers, PFAS remain irreplaceable in life-saving applications such as heart stents and in the semiconductor chips that power everything from microwaves to supercomputers and data centers. Outright bans, she argues, simply aren’t realistic for these essential uses.  Together, they explore Claros’ two-pronged approach: world-class analytics and total destruction of PFAS across long-, short-, and ultra-short-chain compounds—permanently eliminating them rather than fragmenting them into smaller, equally harmful pieces. The conversation also contrasts EU and U.S. regulatory paths, dives into Minnesota’s consumer-driven push, and explores how targeting PFAS at the industrial source can enable responsible use without perpetuating environmental damage.  After decades as a senior executive at 3M, Bellanca identified and helped spin out a revolutionary technology from the University of Minnesota—scaling it into what is now known as Claros Technologies. Today, Claros is recognized across the industry as a game-changing solution that is, quite literally, taking the “forever” out of forever chemicals.   Bellanca also reflects on the tradecraft of communicating about an issue that sits at the crossroads of environmental science and public health: how to make a complex, technical problem accessible to the public, while also persuading stakeholders, regulators, and commercial partners that solutions are both possible and necessary.

    40 min

  6. 09/09/2025

    Iván Duque Márquez - Storytelling For Leaders

    What does it take to lead a country of 50 million people? According to Iván Duque Márquez — President of Colombia from 2018 to 2022 — it starts with becoming the nation’s storyteller-in-chief. In this special edition of Leveraged Storytelling (powered by Tunheim), host Arick Wierson sits down with Duque on the sidelines of the Biodiversity Alliance Summit in Georgetown, Guyana to unpack the craft of leadership through narrative.  From the campaign trail to the presidential palace, Duque reflects on his evolution as a communicator, revealing why great storytelling isn’t about ego but about empathy — connecting with people, not performing for them. Packed with lessons that resonate far beyond politics, this conversation offers leaders in business, government, and beyond a masterclass in how to capture attention, earn trust, and move audiences with words that matter.

    17 min

  7. 08/19/2025

    Ross Widmoyer - Tradition Trade & Innovation

    Arick sits down with Ross Widmoyer, President & CEO of the historic Faribault Mill—one of America’s most iconic heritage brands. Together, they explore how a 150-year-old mill weaves its story into the modern era, balancing tradition with innovation.They also dive into a timely conversation about global trade and tariffs: how Faribault Mill, sourcing nearly all its materials within 20 miles of its Minnesota facility, has become a surprising beneficiary of shifting trade policies—while still working to steer clear of politics in a charged global economy.It’s a conversation about brand, resilience, and what it takes to carry a great American story forward.

    25 min

  8. 07/29/2025

    Tyrre Burks - From Grit to Growth: Players Health’s Journey

    This week, we’re joined by Tyrre Burks—a former pro football player and the founder of Players Health, a company that’s transforming how we think about safety and support in amateur athletics.  Tyrre Burks has turned personal struggles and near-failures into a powerful narrative that fuels Players Health’s mission. By leveraging his personal story, Tyrre has built trust with investors, partners, and customers, proving that great entrepreneurs don’t just build businesses, they craft stories that inspire belief.  Originally from Chicago, Tyrre came to Minnesota to play football at Winona State—and he’s been building ever since. Drawing on his own journey through the ranks of amateur and professional sports, he saw the urgent need for a better system to protect young athletes. Now, with over $100 million raised, Player’s Health is leading the charge with an insurance and risk management platform built to keep athletes safe—on and off the field.  With NIL, media attention, and the business of youth sports exploding, this conversation couldn’t be more timely. Don’t miss it.

    29 min

  9. 07/01/2025

    Charlie Youakim - Buy Now, Pay Later, Build Forever

    In this episode of Leveraged Storytelling powered by Tunheim, I sit down with Charlie Youakim, co-founder and CEO of Sezzle — the fastest-growing company on the NASDAQ this year and a proud Minnesota fintech built on values as much as velocity.  We dive into Sezzle’s core mission: helping the next generation of consumers build strong financial habits through its Buy Now, Pay Later platform — while simultaneously delivering the kind of performance Wall Street expects. Charlie shares how he’s managed to keep the company anchored in purpose while scaling aggressively in a competitive space.  We also get into his personal journey — how a previous startup exit didn’t automatically open fundraising doors, and how that experience became the foundation for smarter, sharper decision-making the second time around. We talk about what it takes to raise capital and recruit talent from the Midwest instead of the coasts, and why that’s shaped a unique kind of resilience within the company’s culture.  This episode is full of insights on leadership, perseverance, and the long-game mindset that defines Sezzle today — a breakout company many Minnesotans don’t yet realize is thriving right in their own backyard.  Hosted by Arick Wierson.

    29 min

  10. 06/03/2025

    Jazz Hampton - Startup Standout: How TurnSignl Took Off

    Arick sits down with Jazz Hampton to explore how a startup born from tragedy—after the deaths of Philando Castile and George Floyd—became a breakout national story. As co-founder and CEO of TurnSignl, Jazz landed hundreds of top-tier media hits (NBC, PBS, USA Today, The Observer), using bold, mission-driven storytelling to expand from Minnesota to all 50. Now, as he sets his sights on Minneapolis City Hall, Jazz reflects on the power of momentum, message, and media. You’re not going to want to miss this latest episode of Leveraged Storytelling, presented by Tunheim.

    18 min

  11. 05/06/2025

    Gene Munster - How Visionary CEOs Use Storytelling for Success

    On this episode of Leveraged Storytelling—presented by Tunheim—host Arick Wierson sits down with none other than Gene Munster, the tech investing legend and Wall Street seer. Gene is the go-to authority on Big Tech’s Magnificent Seven and a master at decoding what makes tech leaders truly iconic.In this episode, Arick and Gene dive into why storytelling isn’t just a soft skill for tech CEOs—it’s the ultimate differentiator. They’ll rate some of the industry’s biggest names—Sam Altman, Mark Zuckerberg, even Elon Musk—and unpack why great tech, a strong team, and perfect market fit still aren’t enough without the right narrative. For Gene, storytelling is often the missing piece that separates a great CEO from a legendary one. This is a must-listen masterclass in the power of narrative.

    21 min

  12. 04/01/2025

    Shelley Kohan - The Secret Sauce of a Winning Pitch

    On the inaugural episode of Leveraged Storytelling, Arick sits down with Shelly Kohan to discuss her roles as a Contributor to Forbes, a Professor, and what makes a good story.

    24 min
  • 12 Episodes

About

Some people just know how to tell a damn good story. Arick Wierson is one of them. There are the Storytellers who can make you hang on every word—whether they’re top journalists talking about their craft, political candidates trying to win your vote, CEOs and Entrepreneurs selling the next big thing, or artists shaping culture in real time. That’s what Leveraged Storytelling, presented by Tunheim, is all about. How the best of the best use stories to get their message across—and what the rest of us can learn from them.

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