Conversations That Count

David Shaft
  • 5,0 (2)
  • GESTION

What separates the people who make it from those who almost did? Conversations That Count with David Shaft pulls back the curtain on the habits, pivots, and hard-won lessons behind real success — in business, leadership, and life. Each episode delivers honest conversations with top performers, founders, and industry leaders who share what actually moved the needle — and what they'd do differently. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, iHeartRadio, Amazon Music, and wherever you get your podcasts. Visit ctcpodcast.media for full episodes, show notes, and resources.

  1. 3 Competitors Built 1 Product That Changed RV Travel Forever | Mark Fecker & Steven Loving

    -2 J

    3 Competitors Built 1 Product That Changed RV Travel Forever | Mark Fecker & Steven Loving

    Three companies walked into a room that should have been a competition. They walked out with one product that changed how families travel with their pets, stay connected on the road, and never lose a day of vacation to a broken part. In this episode, David Shaft sits down with Mark Fecker (CEO of Robo) and Steven Loving (Core Wireless) at Auto Tech 2025 in Novi, Michigan to unpack the communication strategy behind Winnebago Connect. What you will learn: Why listening before you design prevents the most expensive communication mistake in product development. The Google and Nest footprint strategy and how it applies to every professional relationship you build. How vulnerability became a leadership tool when field testing failures hit. The Tuckman model (forming, storming, norming, performing) and why real teams never skip the storm. Why 60 to 70 percent of RV owners travel with pets and how that insight became a flagship feature. The communication move that turned three competitors into one team. Try This Tomorrow: Sit in your client’s seat for three to four hours this week. Picture your perfect customer. What is their day actually like? What would you build for them if you stopped thinking about your product first? Free Communication Playbook: https://ctcpodcast.media/free-playbook Follow Conversations That Count on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday at 5 AM EST. Website: https://ctcpodcast.media LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/davidshaft

    37 min
  2. How to Build Trust Across Companies: The Three Leaders Behind Winnebago Connect

    -4 J

    How to Build Trust Across Companies: The Three Leaders Behind Winnebago Connect

    In this episode of Conversations That Count, David Shaft sits down with Mark Fecker, CEO of Robo, and Steven Loving, Core Wireless, to discuss the Winnebago Connect partnership and what it takes to build trust across companies. Mark and Steven share the story behind how Robo and Core Wireless came together to create a groundbreaking solution for the RV industry. They dive deep into the communication strategies that made this partnership successful, the importance of putting the customer first, and how authentic leadership creates stronger business relationships. Key highlights include: — The power of vulnerability in executive communication — How to navigate partnerships with different company cultures — Real customer stories that shaped the product development — The communication moves that turned a bold vision into reality — Building teams that embrace both collaboration and individual accountability Perfect for leaders, entrepreneurs, and anyone interested in how great communication creates great partnerships. Try This Tomorrow: Identify one cross-company partnership opportunity in your world and have a real conversation about what you both need to succeed together.

    37 min
  3. Halloween Icon Sandy Johnson on the One Conversation That Can Change Everything

    9 AVR.

    Halloween Icon Sandy Johnson on the One Conversation That Can Change Everything

    What if the most powerful communication skill you have is simply showing up for someone when it matters most? Sandy Johnson, the actress who brought Judith Meyers to life in John Carpenter's Halloween, proves exactly that. Sandy Johnson has been a fixture in horror culture since 1978 and never stopped working. She is currently filming multiple independent projects including Para Dolia, The Executioner, Black Sheep, and the upcoming Halloween Shark, all while juggling conventions, fan appearances, and working with an acting coach to sharpen her craft. In this episode, recorded live at GalaxyCon Nightmare Weekend in Chicago, Sandy sits down with David Shaft to talk about the mentors who shaped her, the advice she would give her younger self, and the two-hour phone call that reminded her why communication is the most human thing we do. In this conversation, you will learn: How Sandy finds coaches and mentors through organic connection rather than formal searches, and why that approach builds the deepest professional relationships Why the willingness to be vulnerable in a conversation is not a weakness but the most powerful communication move you can make How a single two-hour phone call with a grieving fan reminded Sandy that showing up fully in a conversation is the greatest gift you can give another person Follow Sandy Johnson: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unicornsandyj/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Sandy-Johnson-Actress-61572085745072/ Website: https://www.unicornsandyj.com Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/bWAR-6hQHnM Website: https://ctcpodcast.media Conversations That Count is a communication skills podcast hosted by David Shaft. New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday. Follow on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube for conversations that help you communicate with more clarity, confidence, and impact. Grab the free Communication Playbook: https://conversations-that-count.kit.com/e7fa86a708

    14 min
  4. What Conversations That Count Is and Why It Was Built for You

    7 AVR.

    What Conversations That Count Is and Why It Was Built for You

    This communication skills podcast exists for one reason: to help you close the gap between what you mean and what people actually hear. Conversations That Count is hosted by David Shaft, a Presidents Club Banker, director, and Detroit native who has spent years studying what separates the professionals who get overlooked from the ones who command every room they walk into. The answer is always communication. Every Tuesday and Thursday, David sits down with artists, entrepreneurs, executives, and culture makers to examine the one move that changed everything for them. Whether you are a founder building a brand on Woodward, an executive leading a team through change, or a creative who needs the world to finally pay attention, this show gives you something actionable every single episode. What you will get from Conversations That Count: Real conversations with real leaders about how they communicate their value, their vision, and their story Tactical takeaways at the end of every episode called the Try This Tomorrow challenge, so you can apply what you learn immediately A front row seat to the communication strategies behind some of the most compelling careers and businesses being built today Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/RjdJ9pyguA0 Website: https://ctcpodcast.media New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday. Follow on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. Grab the free Communication Playbook: https://conversations-that-count.kit.com/e7fa86a708

    1 min
  5. Detroit Artist Nappi Devi on Staying Local, Building Community, and Making Music That Matters

    25 FÉVR.

    Detroit Artist Nappi Devi on Staying Local, Building Community, and Making Music That Matters

    Nappi Devi lives five minutes from the stage and still showed up like he was headlining a national tour. That energy is exactly why Detroit keeps pulling him back in. Nappi Devi is a Detroit based artist, performer, and creative who just dropped a new single and music video called "Ight Bet!" with an EP on the way. He works with producers, musicians, and videographers all across the city because keeping the local creative ecosystem alive is part of how he builds. In this special Indie Fest segment of Conversations That Count, David catches up with Nappi Devi right before his live set to talk about how he ended up on the bill, what it means to stay rooted in your city while growing your craft, and why connecting with people in your community is the most underrated career development move an artist or professional can make. What you'll learn in this episode: Why networking through genuine relationships, not cold outreach, is how Nappi Devi keeps landing stages and building creative partnerships across Detroit How he balances new releases with live performance strategy, dropping a single the same day he performs to keep momentum going The power of staying local and investing in your city's talent instead of chasing opportunities somewhere else, and how that approach keeps opening doors Connect with Nappi Devi: Instagram: https://instagram.com/nappidevi Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/nappidevi Facebook: https://facebook.com/NAPPIdevi Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/nappi-devi/1475305936 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/61BB3hPh8PHMagEw1pftW4 Stream "Ight Bet!" on all platforms now. EP dropping October 10th. Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/8TRphgQBp34 Visit: https://ctcpodcast.media New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube. Follow on Spotify so you never miss an episode. Free Communication Playbook, 10 frameworks and scripts to communicate like a pro: https://conversations-that-count.kit.com/e7fa86a708

    6 min
  6. From the Alleyway to the Louvre: How Author Gene Belcher Wrote His Way Out

    11 FÉVR.

    From the Alleyway to the Louvre: How Author Gene Belcher Wrote His Way Out

    Gene Belcher grew up in an alleyway in Binghamton, New York with a family of 10 and believed he would be dead by 30. Instead, he wrote a novel that is now in Detroit Public Schools, Detroit libraries, and earning five star reviews on Amazon. Gene Belcher, writing under the pen name JL James, is the author of "The Other Side of Color: Prejudice Is Not Always an Outside Affair," a novel exploring prejudice within the same ethnicity through the eyes of a light skinned boy named Frankie navigating two worlds. Gene is also a songwriter, businessman, and lifelong storyteller whose work has been recognized by Governor Whitmer and embraced by academia across Michigan. In this episode of Conversations That Count, David sits down with Gene to hear the full story behind the book, the music, and the philosophy that drives a man who turned a burning story in his belly into a published body of work while holding down a day job for decades. What you'll learn in this episode: The hedgehog concept for career fulfillment: find your skill, love what you do, and make money at it, and why most professionals are missing at least one of those three How Gene went from shoveling snow and shining shoes to self publishing a novel, and the sales and communication skills that made it possible Why the most powerful stories come from your own personal "alleyway" and how telling them authentically can open doors you never expected Get the book: "The Other Side of Color" by JL James on Amazon and Barnes and Noble Watch "Soft Pillows" music video: YouTube, TikTok, and LinkedIn under JL James Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ConversationsThatCount-CTC Visit: https://ctcpodcast.media New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube. Follow on Spotify so you never miss an episode. Free Communication Playbook, 10 frameworks and scripts to communicate like a pro: https://conversations-that-count.kit.com/e7fa86a708

    45 min
  7. Women Don't Cheat and Other Dating Truths: Savanna, Hailey, and Adrianna Get Honest

    23/07/2025

    Women Don't Cheat and Other Dating Truths: Savanna, Hailey, and Adrianna Get Honest

    Three women walk onto a music video set and end up having the most honest conversation about dating, money, cheating, and what they actually want from men that most people are too afraid to say out loud. Savanna is a model and recording artist whose new single "Girls Just Wanna Have Fund$" was the spark for this conversation. Hailey is studying Health and Human Services at the University of Michigan Dearborn. Adrianna owns HTV Ipsy, a custom clothing and esthetics business in downtown Detroit. Together, they hold nothing back. In this episode of Conversations That Count, David sits down with all three right after filming Savanna's music video to talk about why women are outpacing men in education and careers, what that means for modern relationships, and why the standards conversation is really a communication skills conversation disguised as a dating debate. What you'll learn in this episode: Why the way you communicate your value in a relationship mirrors exactly how you communicate your value at work, and how raising your standards in one raises the bar in the other The real reasons men and women cheat, broken down honestly from three very different female perspectives, and what it reveals about insecurity, scarcity, and emotional intelligence How to stop settling by writing down the 10 traits you want in a partner and becoming those things yourself first Connect with the guests: Savanna: https://instagram.com/iamsavannas Hailey: https://instagram.com/haileyalamo Adrianna: https://instagram.com/follow_adrianna Stream "Girls Just Wanna Have Fund$" on all platforms now. Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/TBZaFC7oVh0 Visit: https://ctcpodcast.media New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube. Follow on Spotify so you never miss an episode. Free Communication Playbook, 10 frameworks and scripts to communicate like a pro: https://conversations-that-count.kit.com/e7fa86a708

    1 h 16 min
  8. Self Taught Cosplayer to Convention Judge | How Astra Void Communicates Her Value at 24

    02/07/2025

    Self Taught Cosplayer to Convention Judge | How Astra Void Communicates Her Value at 24

    Title: Self Taught Cosplayer to Convention Judge | How Astra Void Communicates Her Value at 24 Description: What communication skills does it take to turn a self taught hobby into a professional career before age 25? Cosplayer, makeup artist, and GalaxyCon contracted guest Astra Void shares how she did exactly that. Astra Void started cosplaying at 12 years old with zero formal training. Over the next decade, she taught herself sewing, foam fabrication, wig styling, LED wiring, and professional makeup artistry. Now at 24, she holds a contract with GalaxyCon, guest judges cosplay contests across the country, and co hosts the Heroes of Cosplay Sanctuary podcast. In this episode, recorded live at GalaxyCon Nightmare Weekend in Chicago, Astra sits down with David Shaft to talk about the communication and leadership lessons behind building a creative career on your own terms. In this conversation, you will learn: How Astra earned professional credibility in rooms full of people twice her age by letting her work communicate for her Why setting boundaries around online safety is a critical communication skill for any public facing creator How self advocacy and knowing when to say no shaped her path from college student to full time creative professional Follow Astra Void: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/astravoidcosplay/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AstravoidCosplay Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/astravoidcosplay TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@astravoidcosplay X: https://x.com/AstraVoidCos Heroes of Cosplay Sanctuary Podcast: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0BApX2BjjTG6VtRL0RhhT6 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@heroesofcosplaysanctuary6695 Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/TNv3UNct6mQ Website: https://ctcpodcast.media Conversations That Count is a communication skills podcast hosted by David Shaft. New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday. Follow on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube for conversations that help you communicate with more clarity, confidence, and impact. Grab the free Communication Playbook: https://conversations-that-count.kit.com/e7fa86a708

    33 min
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À propos

What separates the people who make it from those who almost did? Conversations That Count with David Shaft pulls back the curtain on the habits, pivots, and hard-won lessons behind real success — in business, leadership, and life. Each episode delivers honest conversations with top performers, founders, and industry leaders who share what actually moved the needle — and what they'd do differently. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, iHeartRadio, Amazon Music, and wherever you get your podcasts. Visit ctcpodcast.media for full episodes, show notes, and resources.

Informations

  • Création
    David Shaft
  • Années d’activité
    2 k
  • Épisodes
    29
  • Classification
    Contenu explicite
  • Copyright
    © 2026 David Shaft
  • Site web de l’émission
    Conversations That Count