BLTNT Podcast

Matt Loria
  • 5.0 (2)
  • BUSINESS

We can all agree that some of the best moments occur over a meal. For eons, “breaking bread” has been the common element among all cultures for human bonding. Think about the many conversations that you’ve had over lunch that you wish you could share. This show is a platform to extend inspiring conversations about what we call BLTnT – Business, Life, Technology, and Transformations. Our guests are people we can learn from. They are storytellers. They are game changers, luminaries, business leaders, tech gurus, and friends. The show’s host, Matt Loria, is the CEO of Auxiom, an IT and Cyber Security company serving businesses. Matt considers himself to be blessed to make numerous connections in his daily life and have meals with a lot of interesting people. He draws upon his love of connecting to inspire the most intriguing thoughts and perspectives from his guests. He is here to continue the conversation that typically started over lunch. Of all the layers of BLTnT, transformations are arguably the most energizing. They take courage, luck, and fortitude. In each episode, our host will highlight at least one notable transformation or transition that the person has made, and we can be inspired by. Come join us for stimulating conversations with people making BLTnT moves! You can contact Matt Loria at: podcasts@auxiom.com www.auxiom.com www.linkedin.com/in/mattloria/

  1. Why the Best Leaders Give Their Power Away | Klint Pleasant

    4D AGO

    Why the Best Leaders Give Their Power Away | Klint Pleasant

    Dr. Klint Pleasant has spent his career doing things that don't fit neatly into one box: Head Coach. Senior Vice President. Doctor of Education. Father. Son of a Legend. He grew up literally living in the dormitories of a college his grandfather built, watching his dad coach, pastor, teach, and lead all at the same time. Basketball was the world he knew. It's also the world he eventually had to outgrow. We covered: → How post-traumatic growth differs from post-traumatic stress, and why the distinction matters → What 28 years of coaching taught him about servant leadership and trust → Why he turned down a major coaching opportunity → The role mentors (like Don Meyer) played in shaping who he became → His take on AI in higher education and why he still won't let a machine write for him Klint has an incredible depth of character that I’ve only seen come from going through hard things. Thank you Klint for being so open about Rachel, the fear and the growth that came from it. Thank you for sharing such an incredible story. Chapters 0:00 - Introduction & Teaser 1:20 - Meet Dr. Klint Pleasant 2:40 - Appointed President of Southwestern Michigan College 5:36 - On Nervousness, Change & Denzel's Quote 6:20 - Career Origins & Family Roots at RCU 9:11 - Playing Football in Texas & Leaving Home 10:42 - Learning Under Don Meyer at Lipscomb 12:05 - Kent State's Cinderella Run & the Elite Eight 14:39 - Mentorship: The Common Thread 18:08 - Servant Leadership & Ego 23:09 - Rachel's Brain Crisis: The Night Everything Changed 29:36 - Post-Traumatic Growth: Pain as a Teacher 43:15 - Why He Said Yes to the Presidency 56:53 - Faith in a Public Institution 57:15 - AI, Human Intelligence & the Pilot Analogy 1:06:34 - What Success Looks Like at SMC 1:11:39 - Enrollment, Culture & Building Trust ~~~ This episode is brought to you by Auxiom Find out more: https://auxiom.com/

    1h 15m
  2. The Real Reason Family Businesses Fail | Todd Hohauser

    MAR 20

    The Real Reason Family Businesses Fail | Todd Hohauser

    Todd has spent 27 years proving that hiring is much, much more than finding the right resume. Todd Hohauser is the CEO of Harvey Hohauser & Associates, a boutique and relationship driven retained executive search firm. He grew up watching his dad build the business while talking about culture and fit before Todd really understood their implications. When it was time to take over, he inherited his dad's philosophy. In this episode we talk about: → Why 90% of executives are firstborn children... and what that explains about leadership → The ONE interview question that reveals a candidate's values better than any assessment → How retained executive search works and why the best hires take three months to get right → Why most succession plans fail in family owned businesses → And so much more! What struck me is that you don't need more information to become a better leader... You just need clearly defined values and someone who asks the right questions. Thanks so much Todd for coming into the studio to share your story and expertise! ~~~ This episode is brought to you by Auxiom Find out more: https://auxiom.com/

    1h 6m
  3. Issue 00023: Five Bites Newsletter: Don’t Assume Clarity

    MAR 12 ·  BONUS

    Issue 00023: Five Bites Newsletter: Don’t Assume Clarity

    1) The “Oh Crap” Call (Incident Response) A Detroit-area manufacturer came to us during a cyber incident. We helped respond to the issue, and then stayed with them to improve security and support their CMMC compliance work. Translation: We help you stabilize the emergency and reduce the odds it happens again. 2) “I’m Frustrated With My MSP” Leaders come to us overwhelmed — too much confusion, too much waiting, too stressful. We assess what’s broken, build a strategy and budget, clean up the noise, and create a better path forward as a true partner. Translation: If IT feels like chaos, we help you get back to clarity and control. 3) Summer School (Network Upgrade) A school needed a major network upgrade. We designed and implemented the right infrastructure so staff and students had a more reliable day-to-day experience. No more: “The Wi‑Fi is out… again… in the cafeteria.” Translation: If your environment depends on connectivity, it has to be rock-solid. 4) “Build My Network… and Run It” A business in Ohio needed a network built the right way — and then needed someone to run and support it. We helped with both and continue to manage that network and advise on other projects. Translation: We can help you build it, then keep it healthy. 5) Locations Coming and Going (Multi-Site Support) A property management company with locations across the country needed an auxiliary team to help stand up and take down locations. We act as an extension of their team to keep it smooth. Translation: When you’re scaling, you need execution horsepower — without burning out your internal team. Bonus Wisdom Don’t assume people know. Don’t assume clarity. Create it… and confirm it. Because it’s not enough to say it — you’ve got to make sure it landed. Wrap-Up So now that there’s a higher likelihood you know what Auxiom does… I’ll say it again — because I’m not assuming anymore: Auxiom helps leaders manage IT, secure their systems, and make better technology decisions. We’re here whether you’re in the middle of a problem, or trying to improve what’s next. We serve middle-market organizations across a wide range of industries, nationwide. Question to leave you with: What are you assuming people already know about you or your business… or that they understood what you just told them? So long for now. Excelsior!

    6 min
  4. Fear-Based Leadership Built Detroit... But It Won't Save It | Jan Griffiths

    MAR 6

    Fear-Based Leadership Built Detroit... But It Won't Save It | Jan Griffiths

    Jan Griffiths grew up on a farm in Wales and was supposed to stay there. Instead, she left at 23 with no real plan and spent the next three decades building a career in automotive, working her way from a temp role on a factory floor to VP of Global Supply Chain Management. She's held leadership positions at companies like BorgWarner, Bosch, GKN, and Inteva Products. She was named one of the top 100 leading women in the automotive industry. But through all of it, she watched the same fear-driven, command-and-control culture hold the industry back. In her early 50s, she walked away from the C-suite to start Gravitas Detroit, where she now coaches leadership teams, speaks on stages across the country, and hosts the Automotive Leaders Podcast. She's the author of AutoCulture 2.0 and one of the loudest voices pushing the auto industry to rethink how it leads, makes decisions, and treats the people inside it. In this episode of The BLTnT Podcast we cover: → Why fear-based leadership is the biggest threat to the auto industry's future → How Jan lost almost all stability in two years but came back stronger → Why "China speed" is outpacing Detroit and what cultural shifts need to happen right now → The accountability framework that turns ownership into real results → What it actually takes to lead with honesty The biggest transformations in business happen when a leader finally decides that how they've been told to lead isn't how they want to lead; when they choose honesty over fear. Jan, thank you for being so open about the lows and the losses. Your energy is contagious and your story is proof that reinvention can happen the moment a leader gets brutally honest with themselves. ~~~ This episode is brought to you by Auxiom Find out more: https://auxiom.com/

    57 min
  5. Scaling With Purpose In Defense Tech | Katie Bigelow

    FEB 20

    Scaling With Purpose In Defense Tech | Katie Bigelow

    Katie Bigelow, a former Black Hawk pilot, launched Mettle Ops in the summer of 2013 — the same season she was diagnosed with melanoma while facing significant personal challenges. By early fall, life had intensified in ways that required her to step away from the business for about a year. But she started again. Today, Mettle Ops builds reactive armor tiles for Army combat vehicles, manufactures U.S.-made drone motors, and employs 65 people across Michigan and Huntsville, Alabama. Katie talks about: the moment a million-dollar invoice made it feel real why paying vendors on time accidentally saved her company during COVID how checklists and after-action reviews became the backbone of a culture that refuses to cut corners on the people carrying their equipment into combat. Thank you, Katie, for coming into the studio and sharing your heart behind all you do! ~~~ This episode is brought to you by Auxiom Find out more: https://auxiom.com/

    1h 21m
  6. The Neuroscience Behind Peak Performance | Mark Panciera

    FEB 6

    The Neuroscience Behind Peak Performance | Mark Panciera

    From an early age, Mark Panciera's dream was to become a funeral director just like his dad. He became exactly that. Also... ￫ He 5x'd the family business. ￫ He was covered in the Wall Street Journal. ￫ He had private equity firms calling. But it all it nearly destroyed his relationship with his father. Mark spent years on the wrong side of ego, choosing to be right instead of staying in the relationship. That tension led him to The Pacific Institute, a global performance organization built on a simple but research-backed premise: you can physically change your brain. Now as CEO Emeritus of The Pacific Institute and a TEDx speaker with over 1.5 million views, Mark teaches leaders how to uncover blind spots, recast limiting beliefs, and drive real behavior change at the belief level. In our episode, we get into family business tension, grief and transcendence, the formula I × V^E = R, coping mechanisms that mask deeper pain, and why the best leaders debrief even after a win. Thanks Mark for your time and energy in coming to the studio and chatting! ~~~ This episode is brought to you by Auxiom Find out more: https://auxiom.com/

    1h 8m
  7. Christine Donovan & Adam Weems - They bet their retirement and bought a 50-year-old ski shop

    JAN 20

    Christine Donovan & Adam Weems - They bet their retirement and bought a 50-year-old ski shop

    Christine spent eight years at Northern Trust managing billion-dollar philanthropic portfolios. Adam helped steward 400-year-old legacy brands in the music industry. But when COVID hit, something shifted. They needed a change. T hey both cashed out their 401ks, sold their house, and bought a 50-year-old ski shop in Northern Michigan. My conversation with Christine Donovan and Adam Weems covers their leap from corporate comfort to business ownership and what it means to steward a legacy brand. Key takeaways: → The power of having a partner who says "I got you" → Why worst-case-scenario thinking actually reduces fear → The question "how much is enough" is a powerful question 0:00 Intro 2:00 The 50-Year Legacy of Bahnhof Ski Shop 3:45 Christine's Journey: From Flutist to Finance 8:17 Adam's Path: Grocery Stores to Zildjian Drums 16:08 Purpose-Driven Work and the Question of "Enough" 25:10 The Leap: Why Fine Careers Weren't Enough 29:04 "You're Not Fun Anymore" 36:35 Finding the Listing on New Year's Day 44:04 Cashing Out Everything for Retirement 46:42 What "I Got You" Really Means 55:02 Building Kindness Into a Specialty Shop 1:00:03 Keeping a Legacy Brand Alive 1:06:56 What Surprised Them Most About Running a Ski Shop 1:12:32 The Moment the Switch Flipped 1:21:02 You Belong Here ~~~ This episode is brought to you by Auxiom Find out more: https://auxiom.com/

    1h 26m
  8. Lori Lancaster - Mobility, Manufacturing & Leadership

    12/30/2025

    Lori Lancaster - Mobility, Manufacturing & Leadership

    From ICU rooms to the boardroom, Lori Lancaster’s story is one of reinvention, resilience, and fearless leadership. Lori Lancaster Vice Chair at Dakkota Integrated Systems joins Matt Loria, CEO of Auxiom, to share how she went from critical care nursing to leading multi-million dollar manufacturing and mobility companies, including her latest bold move with Emotiv Mobility, set to debut at CES 2026. In this episode, you’ll hear about: - Her unconventional career path through healthcare and tech - Scaling operations and pivoting through supply chain crises - Launching new tech in mobility — from smart transformers to flying vehicles - Building culture through compassion and high performance - And why she believes change is always worth the risk This one is packed with lessons for entrepreneurs, operators, and future-focused leaders. Let’s dig in!! #Leadership #MobilityTech #WomenInBusiness #Manufacturing #AutomotiveIndustry #SmartTech #FemaleFounders #Innovation #BusinessPodcast #CareerReinvention #BLTnTPodcast

    1h 13m
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

We can all agree that some of the best moments occur over a meal. For eons, “breaking bread” has been the common element among all cultures for human bonding. Think about the many conversations that you’ve had over lunch that you wish you could share. This show is a platform to extend inspiring conversations about what we call BLTnT – Business, Life, Technology, and Transformations. Our guests are people we can learn from. They are storytellers. They are game changers, luminaries, business leaders, tech gurus, and friends. The show’s host, Matt Loria, is the CEO of Auxiom, an IT and Cyber Security company serving businesses. Matt considers himself to be blessed to make numerous connections in his daily life and have meals with a lot of interesting people. He draws upon his love of connecting to inspire the most intriguing thoughts and perspectives from his guests. He is here to continue the conversation that typically started over lunch. Of all the layers of BLTnT, transformations are arguably the most energizing. They take courage, luck, and fortitude. In each episode, our host will highlight at least one notable transformation or transition that the person has made, and we can be inspired by. Come join us for stimulating conversations with people making BLTnT moves! You can contact Matt Loria at: podcasts@auxiom.com www.auxiom.com www.linkedin.com/in/mattloria/

Information

  • Creator
    Matt Loria
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    75
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Show Website
    BLTNT Podcast

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