Extraordinary Stories

Extraordinary Collaborative
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Business

Conversations with Extraordinary people about the moments that changed how they think, lead, and live.

  1. 5d ago

    Ryan Burch: "Most Things Just Don't Matter."

    “Most things just don’t matter.” Ryan Burch built his career inside high-pressure advertising environments where clients, revenue, performance, and deadlines could easily feel like life or death. Then his mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, and Ryan learned what life-and-death pressure actually felt like. What changed him as a leader wasn’t only losing his mother. It was watching how other leaders treated him while he was going through it. One executive privately prepared Ryan before delivering difficult news to the company. Later, bosses who had never met Ryan’s mother took red-eye flights across the country to attend her funeral. Those experiences gave Ryan a different definition of leadership: notice people, understand what they’re carrying, and show up when it matters. Ryan also gets candid about entrepreneurship, focus, AI, delegation, work-life balance, and the danger of confusing activity with progress. After years in advertising, he has learned another uncomfortable lesson: sometimes expertise means knowing enough to recognize that you still don’t know what will work. What You’ll Learn:• Why entrepreneurship often begins with “irrational confidence” • How grief changed Ryan’s relationship with professional pressure • The leadership moments Ryan still remembers years later • Why delegation without follow-up isn’t really management • Why the entrepreneurial lifestyle rarely looks like Instagram • How AI creates an unprecedented temptation to chase every idea • Why not everything you can build deserves to be built • How great ideas can initially look completely wrong • Why patience matters when testing creative ideas • How Ryan thinks about recognition, mentorship, and celebrating small wins • What “defeat the defeatist that dares to deny you” means to him At a moment when technology makes it easier than ever to create, optimize, and stay busy, Ryan’s story is a reminder that extraordinary leadership is still profoundly human: knowing what matters, recognizing what doesn’t, and being there for people when they need you. Learn more about this guest and the Extraordinary community at https://extraordinary.network/ ChaptersOpening Hook Meet Ryan Burch The Irrational Confidence of Entrepreneurs The Myth of Work-Life Balance How Ryan Prioritizes Chaos Learning What Actually Matters Losing His Mom The Leadership Moment Ryan Never Forgot What Grief Changes About Pressure Celebrating the Wins Nobody Sees AI Is the Biggest Rabbit Hole When Strategy Becomes a Comfort Zone Being an Expert—and Knowing You Don’t Know Why Good Ideas Need Patience The Mentorship Ryan Wishes He Had Defeat the Defeatist Ryan Burch, Tobie Group, Ryan Burch podcast, Extraordinary Stories, entrepreneurship, entrepreneur mindset, leadership, human leadership, grief and leadership, business leadership, marketing leadership, advertising, agency life, agency founder, entrepreneurship reality, work life balance, focus, AI and business, artificial intelligence, AI productivity, delegation, management, mentorship, emotional intelligence, business relationships, creative leadership, decision making, priorities, signal versus noise, business pressure, resilience, personal growth, curiosity, experimentation, marketing strategy, patience, founder mindset, visionary entrepreneur, team leadership, extraordinary leadership #ExtraordinaryStories #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #RyanBurch #HumanLeadership

    Ryan Burch: "Most Things Just Don't Matter."

  2. Aug 17

    Jade Nangah: "Life Is Experimentation"

    Jade Nangah has built her life around a simple conviction: if she’s in the room, she belongs there. From starting a video production company in college to unexpectedly working with T-Mobile executives, moving from Atlanta to New York to Phoenix, and spending six months in Thailand, Jade has learned to treat identity as something that can keep evolving rather than something that needs to be settled. That philosophy has required some consequential choices. Jade walked away from the conventional career path her family imagined for her, went through a divorce, moved across the country, and repeatedly allowed herself to pivot even when things were going well. For her, freedom isn’t about escaping responsibility. It’s having options—and being willing to choose the life that actually fits you. The conversation explores the relationship between curiosity, confidence, community, and action. Jade talks about collecting people rather than possessions, learning from cultures radically different from her own, asking directly for help, and building friendships through acts of service. Even her belief in manifestation comes with a practical requirement: wanting something means very little without executing on it. Her larger lesson is one that applies far beyond entrepreneurship: life is experimentation, so act like it. Try things. Pay attention. Change when something stops working. Stay curious enough to admit how much you don’t know—and confident enough to keep moving anyway. What You’ll Learn• Why Jade believes that if you’re in the room, you belong there • How authenticity can coexist with confidence and uncertainty • Why freedom, for Jade, ultimately means having options • What travel taught her about how little any of us actually know • How to build community by becoming willing to inconvenience yourself for others • Why asking directly for help can strengthen relationships • How to recognize a pivot before life forces one on you • Why manifestation without execution doesn’t produce change • How Jade “collects people” and uses what she admires in others to shape her own growth • Why experimentation may be one of the most useful ways to approach an uncertain life About Jade NangahJade Nangah is an entrepreneur and the founder of Jet Set Productions, a company that grew from a college video-marketing business into work centered on personal branding and thought leadership. A traveler, creator, and relentless experimenter, Jade brings a perspective shaped by entrepreneurship, reinvention, curiosity, and an unusually strong commitment to living according to her own definition of freedom. About Extraordinary StoriesExtraordinary Stories explores the ideas, people, and experiences that shape extraordinary lives. Hosts Forbes Shannon, Christine Butler, and Aaron Bare sit down with entrepreneurs, thinkers, creators, and leaders to uncover the moments that changed how they see the world.

    Jade Nangah: "Life Is Experimentation"

  3. Jul 31

    Vincent Van den Broeck: The Life You Build Becomes the Life That Saves You

    When Vincent Van den Broeck left work one afternoon, he kissed his wife goodbye and told her, "I love you more than anything in this life." Minutes later, he was struck by a car. Doctors gave him only a ten percent chance of surviving, and an even smaller chance of ever returning to the life he once knew. But Vincent doesn't describe his recovery as a miracle. Instead, he believes something far more profound happened. The habits, mindset, relationships, and character he had spent years building before the accident became the foundation that carried him through months of rehabilitation. As he says, "The accident taught me nothing. It reminded me of everything." In this conversation, Vincent shares why impossible goals require a willingness to look delusional, how gratitude and personal responsibility shape resilience, and why the people surrounding you matter more than you realize. His story challenges the idea that extraordinary lives are built in dramatic moments. They're built quietly, long before anyone notices. This episode is a reminder that none of us knows when life will change. The best preparation isn't certainty about the future—it's becoming the kind of person who can meet whatever future arrives. What You'll LearnWhy "the life you build becomes the life that saves you"How resilience is developed long before adversity arrivesWhy extraordinary goals often sound unrealistic to everyone elseThe difference between learning from tragedy and being reminded of what already mattersA simple framework for aligning mindset, health, action, and daily habitsWhy gratitude is a practice rather than a feelingHow surrounding yourself with like-minded people changes what's possibleWhat it means to live without regret instead of chasing certaintyAbout Vincent Van den BroeckVincent Van den Broeck is an entrepreneur, speaker, and author of Everything Feels Impossible Until It's Done. After surviving a devastating accident that left doctors expecting the worst, he rebuilt his life around the belief that resilience isn't created in crisis—it is revealed by the choices we make every day. Through his work and his community, Until It's Done, he helps people bridge the gap between ambition and action. About Extraordinary StoriesExtraordinary Stories explores the ideas, people, and experiences that shape extraordinary lives. Hosts Forbes Shannon, Christine Butler, and Aaron Bare sit down with entrepreneurs, thinkers, creators, and leaders to uncover the moments that changed how they see the world. Every conversation reveals not just what remarkable people have accomplished, but the experiences, relationships, and decisions that shaped who they became.

    Vincent Van den Broeck: The Life You Build Becomes the Life That Saves You

  4. Jul 20

    Sandy Martinez: Find Your People

    Sandy Martinez has spent her life stepping into rooms where no one in her family had gone before. A first-generation Mexican immigrant, the first in her family to graduate high school, earn a master's degree, and build a career in emerging technology, Sandy shares how community—not individual achievement—became the foundation of every milestone in her journey. Rather than treating technology as an end in itself, Sandy sees blockchain, AI, and Web3 as tools for expanding opportunity, preserving culture, and ensuring more voices are represented in the future being built today. From launching a Spanish-language Web3 radio show to leading global initiatives at the United Nations, she explains why someone has to be willing to go first—and why fear can't be the deciding factor. This conversation is ultimately about identity. It's about unlearning limiting beliefs, finding people who truly see you, and discovering that extraordinary lives are rarely built alone. Sandy reminds us that the right community doesn't just celebrate your successes—it helps you become the person capable of creating them. As new technologies reshape the world, Sandy offers a refreshing perspective: the future isn't only about innovation. It's about making sure more people have a voice in creating it. What You'll Learn• Why finding the right community can change the trajectory of your life• How first-generation leaders navigate invisible barriers and limiting beliefs• Why blockchain is about more than cryptocurrency—it can preserve culture and expand opportunity• The importance of learning emerging technologies before they become mainstream• How surrounding yourself with people who believe in you creates new opportunities• A practical mindset for overcoming fear when stepping into unfamiliar spaces• Why investing in yourself requires intentional learning, relationships, and experiences• Sandy's philosophy of "dream big, but intentionally"About Sandy MartinezSandy Martinez is a community architect, entrepreneur, author, and founder of Women of Web3. A first-generation Mexican immigrant, she has dedicated her career to expanding access to emerging technologies, empowering women in innovation, and creating global platforms that elevate underrepresented voices—from Arizona to the United Nations. About Extraordinary StoriesExtraordinary Stories explores the ideas, people, and experiences that shape extraordinary lives. Hosts Forbes Shannon, Christine Butler, and Aaron Bare sit down with entrepreneurs, thinkers, creators, and leaders to uncover the moments that changed how they see the world.

    Sandy Martinez: Find Your People

  5. Jul 14

    Jason Applewhite: “Life Doesn’t Care. It Keeps Moving.”

    Jason Applewhite never planned on becoming an entrepreneur. He was trying to help his father walk without pain. That simple act of caring led him from engineering and product development into building a company around one of the most overlooked essentials of human life: oxygen. But this conversation isn't really about technology—it's about purpose, perseverance, and the quiet decisions that change the course of a life. Jason reflects on leaving a stable career, supporting a growing family through years of uncertainty, and learning that building something meaningful requires far more than a good idea. It demands resilience, humility, and the willingness to keep moving forward even when progress feels invisible. Along the way, he shares the lessons he's learning as a husband, father, founder, and leader. At its heart, this episode explores the difference between consuming the world and contributing to it. Jason believes extraordinary lives are built through small, intentional choices: responding instead of reacting, prioritizing recovery as much as performance, and ending each day by asking one simple question—how can I be a little better tomorrow than I was today? In a culture obsessed with speed and constant achievement, this conversation is a reminder that lasting impact is usually built slowly, one decision, one relationship, and one ordinary day at a time. What You'll LearnWhy solving one person's problem can become a life's purposeHow resilience is built through difficult seasons—not after themWhy recovery is just as important as performanceThe difference between reacting to life and responding with intentionHow daily self-reflection creates long-term growthWhy entrepreneurs need purpose more than motivationLessons Jason is teaching his children about work, money, and contributionA practical mindset for balancing ambition, family, and healthWhy becoming a producer changes the people you surround yourself withHow small improvements compound into an extraordinary lifeAbout Jason ApplewhiteJason Applewhite is the founder of Bimini Nano and Bimini Pure O₂, companies developing oxygen-based recovery technologies used by professional athletes, wellness practitioners, and families alike. With a background in biology, engineering, and product development, Jason brings a uniquely practical perspective on innovation, leadership, and building businesses that begin by solving deeply personal problems. About Extraordinary StoriesExtraordinary Stories explores the ideas, people, and experiences that shape extraordinary lives. Hosts Forbes Shannon, Christine Butler, and Aaron Bare sit down with entrepreneurs, thinkers, creators, and leaders to uncover the moments that changed how they see the world.

    Jason Applewhite: “Life Doesn’t Care. It Keeps Moving.”

  6. Jul 9

    Isabelle Cutuli: "Learning to Trust What You Can't Control"

    Some people seem unusually grounded long before life expects them to be. Isabelle Cutuli is one of those people. As Director of Canyon Angels and a student preparing to graduate into an uncertain future, she reflects on leadership, ambition, faith, and what it means to keep moving forward without having all the answers. Throughout the conversation, Isabelle shares how disappointment reshaped her understanding of leadership, why she stopped seeing leaders as simply the most talented people in the room, and how studying abroad in Rome became an unexpected lesson in surrender. From navigating unfamiliar cities with a dying phone battery to rebuilding an organization that outgrew its own systems, she reveals how uncertainty slowly became something she could carry instead of fear. Together, Forbes Shannon and Christine Butler explore Isabelle's love of ideas, literature, communication, and human nature. The discussion moves from Jane Austen to negotiation, from argument to curiosity, and from achievement to purpose. Rather than offering easy answers, Isabelle makes the case that extraordinary lives are built by learning to hold both intellect and humility, confidence and uncertainty, ambition and faith. Whether you're stepping into leadership, facing an unknown season, or simply wondering what comes next, this conversation is a reminder that sometimes growth begins the moment you stop demanding certainty. What You'll LearnWhy leadership begins with caring more than being the smartest person in the roomHow uncertainty can become a source of confidence instead of anxietyLessons from rebuilding an organization through better systems and successionWhy healthy conflict starts with understanding before persuasionThe connection between curiosity, communication, and lifelong learningHow literature can deepen our understanding of people and relationshipsThe role faith played in navigating fear, ambiguity, and the futureWhy purpose—not achievement—is what ultimately brings fulfillmentAbout Isabelle CutuliIsabelle Cutuli is the Director of Canyon Angels, where she has helped develop student leaders, strengthen organizational systems, and connect emerging entrepreneurs with early-stage investment opportunities. With a passion for communication, economics, leadership, and lifelong learning, Isabelle brings together analytical thinking, deep curiosity, and a people-first approach to solving meaningful problems. About Extraordinary StoriesExtraordinary Stories explores the ideas, people, and experiences that shape extraordinary lives. Hosts Forbes Shannon, Christine Butler, and Aaron Bare sit down with entrepreneurs, thinkers, creators, and leaders to uncover the moments that changed how they see the world.

    Isabelle Cutuli: "Learning to Trust What You Can't Control"

  7. Jul 4

    B. Taylor: “Don’t Be About Yourself. Be About Others.”

    B. Taylor has lived a life that almost sounds impossible. A college athlete turned Navy sailor, he expected his future to be defined by football. Instead, one split-second decision—blocking the Secretary of the Navy's shot during a basketball game—set off a chain of events that carried him from military service to Motown, Snoop Dogg's family, and a career built on music, philanthropy, and service. But beneath the remarkable stories is something much more universal. B. reflects on the mentors who shaped him—from his parents and military leaders to the legends of Motown—and why discipline, consistency, and character mattered more than talent alone. He shares why he refused to compromise his values, even when the entertainment industry encouraged him to become someone else. Throughout the conversation, B. makes the case that extraordinary leadership isn't about status or recognition. It's about using your story to create opportunities for other people. Whether serving veterans, building wellness programs, mentoring artists, or leading with humility, his philosophy remains remarkably simple: success has little meaning if it only serves yourself. At a time when so much attention is focused on personal brands and individual achievement, B. offers a different model—one rooted in service, gratitude, and the belief that the people around you are part of your success. It's a conversation about becoming the kind of leader whose influence lasts because of how they treat others. What You'll LearnWhy one moment of competition changed the course of B. Taylor's lifeHow military discipline shaped his approach to music, leadership, and serviceWhy great mentors teach systems and character—not just skillsThe connection between storytelling and creating hope for othersWhy staying authentic often takes longer, but creates lasting influenceLessons from Motown about excellence, preparation, and timeless workHow servant leadership creates stronger teams and stronger communitiesWhy your greatest opportunities often come from helping someone else succeedPractical ways to build a life centered on purpose instead of recognitionAbout B. TaylorB. Taylor is a musician, philanthropist, military advocate, and founder whose work bridges entertainment, service, and leadership. Drawing from experiences that span the U.S. Navy, Motown, professional athletics, and decades of charitable work, he offers a perspective grounded in discipline, gratitude, and the belief that the most meaningful success is measured by the lives you impact. About Extraordinary StoriesExtraordinary Stories explores the ideas, people, and experiences that shape extraordinary lives. Hosts Forbes Shannon, Christine Butler, and Aaron Bare sit down with entrepreneurs, thinkers, creators, and leaders to uncover the moments that changed how they see the world.

    B. Taylor: “Don’t Be About Yourself. Be About Others.”

  8. Jul 3

    Dr. Velma Trayham: "You Can Be Fired From Your Job, Never Your Purpose"

    Dr. Velma Trayham knows what it means to build from nothing. Raised in poverty by her grandmother, she became the first entrepreneur, first college graduate, and first millionaire in her family. In this conversation, she shares why those accomplishments were never the destination—they were preparation for a larger purpose: helping others create opportunity through entrepreneurship. Rather than hiding her failures, Dr. Trayham explains how losing her first three businesses became the foundation for everything that followed. She reflects on learning to ask for help, building teams instead of trying to do everything alone, and separating identity from job titles in a world where careers and industries are changing faster than ever. The conversation explores the relationship between purpose, leadership, and mindset. Dr. Trayham argues that poverty is more than a financial condition—it can become a way of thinking that spreads through communities if left unchallenged. She discusses discernment, intentional communication, protecting what we allow into our minds, and why solving meaningful problems is one of the surest paths toward creating lasting value. Whether you're building a business, navigating career uncertainty, or simply asking yourself what you're here to contribute, this episode offers a thoughtful reminder that while titles may come and go, purpose is something no one can take away. What You'll LearnWhy Dr. Trayham believes purpose should never be attached to a job titleHow failing three businesses prepared her to build successful onesThe difference between being broke and living with a poverty mindsetWhy solving problems creates more opportunity than chasing moneyThe leadership shift from doing everything yourself to building great teamsHow intentional communication reduces misunderstandingWhy discernment is a skill built through pattern recognitionPractical ways to protect your attention and mental environmentHow entrepreneurship can become a vehicle for creating generational opportunityWhy resilience is built through purpose rather than circumstanceAbout Dr. Velma TrayhamDr. Velma Trayham is an entrepreneur, bestselling author of Unfirable, and President & CEO of the Black Chamber of Arizona. Through her businesses, community leadership, and advocacy for entrepreneurship, she works to expand economic opportunity and help others build lives rooted in purpose rather than position. About Extraordinary StoriesExtraordinary Stories explores the ideas, people, and experiences that shape extraordinary lives. Hosts Forbes Shannon, Christine Butler, and Aaron Bare sit down with entrepreneurs, thinkers, creators, and leaders to uncover the moments that changed how they see the world.

    Dr. Velma Trayham: "You Can Be Fired From Your Job, Never Your Purpose"
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Conversations with Extraordinary people about the moments that changed how they think, lead, and live.

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  • Creator
    Extraordinary Collaborative
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    73
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Extraordinary Collaborative
  • Show Website
    Extraordinary Stories