Business Leadership Series

Business Leadership Series

Our audience is comprised of business owners, leaders, and entrepreneurs who desire to learn from our guests’ knowledge, advice, and experience for personal and professional growth. We interview pro athletes, rock and roll hall of famers, best selling authors, and other leaders with an inspiring story. We are also a syndicated  show regionally on ESPN radio. 

  1. 3d ago

    Rhino Records Co-founder: Richard Foos

    Derek Champagne talks with the Godfather of reissue culture, Richard Foos. Richard Foos launched his entertainment career shortly after college in a small storefront on Santa Monica Boulevard. What began as a quirky record store evolved into Rhino Records, one of the most respected reissue labels in the world. It became a hub for collectors, and in 1978, he and his partner, Harold Bronson, launched the label. The Rhino team is credited with inventing “reissue culture,” which in the aggregate has sold many hundreds of millions of records and CDs. In 1998, Rhino Entertainment Company was fully acquired by Time Warner. It became the catalogue development and marketing division of Warner Music Group, where it continues today, reissuing the great artists on Warner labels. Richard stayed with the company until 2002. In 2003, Richard and his two partners, Bob Emmer and Garson Foos, launched Shout! Factory, shifting the focus toward TV and film. Shout! Studios is now a part of Radial Entertainment, where Richard serves as a consultant for the company. Beyond business, Richard is also known for his social activism. Foos currently serves as Board Chair of both TheNarrative Method and Volunteer Collective. He also serves on the Board of Governors of Cedars Sinai, and on the boards of Pico Union Project, Inc., Brave New Films, College Match LA, and Hoover Intergenerational Care, which he co-founded in 1976. Richard is married to therapist Shari Foos, who is the founder of The Narrative Method.Visit Radial EntertainmentBusiness Leadership Series Intro and Outro music provided by Just Off Turner: https://music.apple.com/za/album/the-long-walk-back/268386576

    Rhino Records Co-founder: Richard Foos
  2. Aug 30

    NBA Alumni Enes Kanter Freedom

    Derek Champagne talks with Enes Kanter Freedom. Enes is a human rights activist, NBA star, Nobel Peace Prize nominee, and NY Times Best Selling author of the book: In The Name of Freedom. summary In this conversation, Ennis Cantor-Freedom shares his remarkable journey from a childhood in Turkey, where he faced societal pressures to hate, to becoming a prominent NBA player and a human rights activist. He discusses the challenges he faced in speaking out against injustices, particularly regarding the treatment of Uyghurs in China, and the personal sacrifices he made, including estrangement from his family and the threat to his safety. Through his story, he emphasizes the importance of empathy, the responsibility of influential figures, and the need to educate the next generation about human rights and social justice. takeaways Ennis Cantor-Freedom's journey from Turkey to the NBA is marked by a commitment to human rights. He faced societal pressures to hate America but chose to embrace understanding instead. His family's support played a crucial role in shaping his values. The NBA provided a platform for him to speak out against injustices. He faced severe consequences for his activism, including threats to his family. Empathy is a key theme in his message to the world. He encourages others to use their platforms for social justice. The importance of educating the next generation about human rights is emphasized. He believes that silence in the face of injustice is complicity. His story illustrates the power of individual choices in the fight for freedom. Chapters 00:00Introduction to Ennis Cantor-Freedom 01:18Childhood in Turkey: A Journey of Understanding 06:45Transition to America: First Impressions and Cultural Adjustments 11:23NBA Career: From Draft to Stardom 13:21Activism Begins: Standing Up for Human Rights 16:51Consequences of Activism: Family and Personal Sacrifices 18:52Living Under Threat: The Interpol List and Travel Restrictions 20:58The Threat of Violence and Personal Safety 22:22Joining the Boston Celtics: A New Chapter 24:04Awakening to Human Rights Issues 25:47Using Basketball as a Platform for Activism 29:05The Cost of Speaking Out 31:08Empathy: The Missing Ingredient 32:23The Consequences of Activism 37:26The Business of Basketball and China 38:17The Responsibility of Influential Athletes 40:46Taking Action: What Can We Do?Business Leadership Series Intro and Outro music provided by Just Off Turner: https://music.apple.com/za/album/the-long-walk-back/268386576

    NBA Alumni Enes Kanter Freedom
  3. Aug 23

    Psychologist for NFL, NBA, WNBA, MLB, NHL, & All Stars

    Derek Champagne talks with Dr. Justin Anderson. Dr. Justin Anderson is one of the nation's leading high-performance sport psychologists and the Founderand CEO of Premier Sport Psychology and Premier Performance Advising. With over 20 years of experience, his work has supported Hall of Famers, All-Pros, world and national champions, and organizations across the NFL, NBA, WNBA, MLB, NHL, MLS, and NWSL, as well as collegiate, Olympic, and executive clients across industries.His approach is grounded in neuroscience, counseling and organizational psychology, and thousands of hoursembedded in real performance environments (locker rooms, sidelines, and boardrooms) where attention,decision-making, and emotional regulation are tested in real time. That applied experience forms the foundationof his book, Intentional Attention. A licensed psychologist, Certified Mental Performance Coach, and former collegiate quarterback, Justin brings a blend of scientific rigor, clinical depth, and lived experience to his work. He is a sought-after keynote speaker at national and international conferences and designs scalable performance and leadership programs for organizations seeking clarity, confidence, and consistency under pressure."Intentional Attention" is the ability to deliberately direct and sustain focus on what drives performance, especially when distraction, emotion, and uncertainty surge. In a world engineered to capture our attention, this skill has become one of the rarest and most decisive competitive advantages.In his book, Intentional Attention: The Science and Practice of Focus Under Pressure, Justin introduces a practical,science-backed framework for strengthening the attentional systems that drive performance.Order "Intentional Attention"Business Leadership Series Intro and Outro music provided by Just Off Turner: https://music.apple.com/za/album/the-long-walk-back/268386576

    Psychologist for NFL, NBA, WNBA, MLB, NHL, & All Stars
  4. Aug 9

    CEO of The Weather Company

    Derek Champagne talks with Rohit Agarwal, CEO of The Weather Company.Rohit Agarwal is the CEO of The Weather Company, the world’s most accurate forecaster. In this role, Rohit is responsible for setting the strategic vision that spans the company’s digital consumer properties, including The Weather Channel app and weather.com, as well as its enterprise business across media, advertising, aviation, defense, and a variety of other industries. He stands behind the belief that high-performing teams are critical to innovation, growth, and impact, and diverse backgrounds and thinking benefit the end customer. Prior to joining The Weather Company, Rohit was the chief product and revenue officer at SoundCloud, the world’s largest online community of artists, bands, DJs, and audio creators, where he led the vision, strategic execution, and revenue. This included overseeing business and product strategy, delivery and operations, design, product marketing, and growth. Through Rohit’s leadership, SoundCloud refactored the product, doubled its subscriber base, and meaningfully improved its ads business, leading the company to its first profitable year in its 16-year history. Rohit previously served as chief product and growth officer at CNN. Throughout his career, he has driven 2-3x user and revenue growth across leading companies in industries including music (Last.fm, CBS), media (CNN/WarnerMedia, The Economist, Bild), banking (HSBC), B2B SaaS (Trustpilot, Akamai), and consumer internet (AOL). Rohit is a frequent speaker at leading conferences (Google I/O, SXSW, CES, RISE, WebSummit, Product Summit), an active advisor and investor in startups, and launched his own startup in the past. He is also a committed supporter of diverse and inclusive education initiatives – both as a board member of the Smithsonian’s Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage and as a board member of Leap Year, a unique program based in metro Atlanta dedicated to improving college access and early adolescent reading skills to under-represented youth. Rohit lives in Atlanta with his wife and two daughters. An avid sports fan, he also enjoys playing soccer and tennis, painting, and cooking, and he acknowledges that his creative endeavors make him a better leader. Business Leadership Series Intro and Outro music provided by Just Off Turner: https://music.apple.com/za/album/the-long-walk-back/268386576

    CEO of The Weather Company
  5. Jul 26

    Leadership Beyond Performance with Rennie Curran

    Derek Champagne talks with former NFL player Rennie Curran. Rennie shares stories from his unique upbringing, leadership lessons learned along the way, and more about his new venture: Formr.  Formrapp.com - The professional platform where former athletes build what's next, fans connect for life, and businesses find the most competitive people on earth.Free leadership resources from Rennie Curran: https://renniecurran.com/   Rennie Curran is a former professional athlete who currently serves as an active Keynote Speaker, Author, and the CEO of Game Changer Coaching. Recently inducted into the Gwinnett County Sports Hall of Fame, the Georgia vs Florida Hall of Fame, and the UGA 40 Under 40, he uses his platform to inspire students, athletes, and business professionals to reach their fullest potential.   Born in Atlanta, GA, and the son of Liberian immigrants, Rennie Curran and Josie Curran, he has a diverse background with humble beginnings. He began his football career at Brookwood High School in Snellville, GA, becoming the all-time leading tackler in Gwinnett County history. He was initially considered undersized according to various critics, but quickly silenced the doubters by exploding onto the field as a true freshman at the University of Georgia.   His experiences of overcoming many circumstances to reach his childhood dream of becoming a 3-time All American, Butkus Award Finalist, permanent team Captain a 3rd round draft pick in the 2010 NFL Draft (Tennessee Titans) and transitioning into becoming a successful entrepreneur has given him a unique perspective on what it takes to handle adversity and maximize opportunities while having a positive impact on others.   Through his innovative presentations he teaches individuals, teams and organizations how to transform their personal and professional lives through leadership, teamwork and personal development. Rennie Curran has been counseling and inspiring people for many years. He is the CEO of Game Changer Coaching whose mission is to help business executives and entrepreneurs become high performing leaders by improving performance, personal brand and communication skills.   In 2013, he published a motivational self-help book entitled ‘Free Agent’ The Intangibles for Overcoming Adversity and Times of Transition. This motivational self-help book discusses how to overcome adversity during the times of transition that we all face along our journey to achieve our dreams. He also has a children’s book entitled “What Does It Take to Be a Star” which was co-written with his daughter, Eleana Curran.   He has been featured in The New York Times, USA Today, Fox Sports, ESPN College GameDay, The Huffington Post, and much more.   When Rennie Curran is not speaking, coaching or writing he is usually spending time with his daughter or catching up on one his favorite hobbies, music. He grew up playing the piano, drums and viola. He is also a public servant who spends lots of time giving back through several organizations including. The Boys and Girls Club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and his foundation. The Game Changers Foundation, which provides resources to student athletes to help them become leaders in sports, business and life through mentorship and leadership development. Curran is a man of faith, humility, integrity and resilience. Business Leadership Series Intro and Outro music provided by Just Off Turner: https://music.apple.com/za/album/the-long-walk-back/268386576

    Leadership Beyond Performance with Rennie Curran
  6. Jul 19

    The Buy-In Advantage with Dave Garrison

    Derek Champagne interview USA Today best selling author Dave Garrison. Dave Garrison is a nationally recognized business strategist and co-founder of Garrison Growth, a leadership development and executive consulting firm. As Chief Navigation Officer of Garrison Growth, Dave helps CEOsand senior leaders generate meaningful buy-in and drive results across their organizations.With more than 30 years of leadership experience — including board roles at companies such as Ameritrade and executive leadership of public and venture-backed firms — Dave brings a rare blend of strategic insight,operational expertise, and on-the-ground leadership to every engagement. A renowned CEO and strategic advisor, Dave is the creator of a groundbreaking framework that addresses the critical ingredients needed for sustainable buy-in. Author of the bestselling book, The Buy-In Advantage: Why Employees Stop Caring ― and How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Give Their All, Dave equips leaders with practical, low-cost tools to build trust, align teams, and unlock performance—especially during times of growth, change, or disruption. Drawing from extensive research and real-world success stories, he reveals howleaders can implement this no-cost methodology to transform their culture and drivemeasurable results.Dave is a sought-after speaker, workshop leader, and trusted advisor to executives across a variety of industries. He has delivered hundreds of high-impact sessions for corporations, nonprofits, and chapters of the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO) both in the U.S. and abroad. His workshops consistently earn top ratings for their clarity, energy, and immediate usefulness. In addition to his client work, Dave has served as a guest lecturer at leading business schools and as a boardroom coach to CEOs navigating complex growth challenges. He holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and resides in Tucson, Arizona.In today’s workplace, effort isn’t the problem ― buy-in is. Teams may be showing up, but they’re not fully  engaged. They delay decisions, resist change, and underperform quietly. In The Buy-In Advantage: Why Employees Stop Caring ― and How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Give Their All (Matt Holt Books), executive coach and former CEO Dave Garrison delivers a clear, practical roadmap to help leaders earn real commitment—not just compliance—and build teams that execute with energy, ownership, and purpose. Purchase The Buy-in Advantage bookFree assessments and resourcesBusiness Leadership Series Intro and Outro music provided by Just Off Turner: https://music.apple.com/za/album/the-long-walk-back/268386576

    The Buy-In Advantage with Dave Garrison
5
out of 5
107 Ratings

About

Our audience is comprised of business owners, leaders, and entrepreneurs who desire to learn from our guests’ knowledge, advice, and experience for personal and professional growth. We interview pro athletes, rock and roll hall of famers, best selling authors, and other leaders with an inspiring story. We are also a syndicated  show regionally on ESPN radio.