What's Your Story? with Mike & Scott

Mike Lindstrom + Scott Leese

Everyone has a story worth telling. Prolific executive coach Mike Lindstrom & legendary startup advisor Scott Leese sit down with athletes, entrepreneurs, thought leaders, and everyday people to uncover the pivotal moments that shaped their journeys. From boardrooms to locker rooms, victories to setbacks, this podcast digs into the lessons, struggles, and triumphs behind the headlines. Authentic, raw, and inspiring—these are the stories that connect us all.

  1. 1d ago ·  Video

    AI's Not Replacing You. But Someone Who Knows How to Use It Will | Gabe Cooper

    Gabe Cooper told his own son not to take a software developer job. Then he made 180 people at Virtuous build AI agents from scratch so they would not get replaced by somebody who already knows AI. He told Mike Lindstrom and Scott Leese the line his team did not want to hear. You are not going to get replaced by AI necessarily. You are definitely going to get replaced by somebody who knows AI. If you leave because of that, you will walk into the same problem somewhere that is not as generous. That is the tension inside this episode of What's Your Story? with Mike and Scott. Gabe is the Phoenix founder and CEO of Virtuous, the nonprofit CRM people call HubSpot for charities. Fifth straight year on the Inc. 5000. About $100 million Series C. A company mission to create $10 billion in net new generosity. Almost $2 billion of that is already live through customers. The path there is messy on purpose. West Texas. A record label that made zero dollars. Golf Shot with Tiger Woods and Paul Azinger. Selling a consumer app company because it felt like eight seconds on a bull. Then 12 years of Virtuous, a mortgage, five kids, and the kind of endurance he now compares to a pain cave at mile 20. He also says this is the last company. COVID. Every operating dollar in Silicon Valley Bank on the day it collapsed, found out on a pickleball court with a beer in his hand. Now AI. He is done collecting black swans. Topics Covered West Texas, a high school sweetheart, five kids, and the rockstar plan that did not payHow you know when to pull the plugWhy endurance beats vision, and why a mortgage creates a different kind of founderThe chip on your shoulder, and the people who spin up when you walk awayWhy he told his son to take the construction job instead of writing codeAnthropic Opus, Claude Code, and why “hands on the wheel” will not lastWhy Virtuous is the last companySilicon Valley Bank, pickleball, and the moment worrying stopped helpingHalf listening to customers, half jumping off a cliff you cannot validateEmployee letters, faith and work, and hiring people who do not think like you$10 billion in net new generosity, and what “for profit” looks like in this sectorFounder mode, 11 weekly one-on-ones, and no readout meetings Chapters 00:00 Cold open: push everybody in the pool00:50 Theme song01:45 Welcome, and the Jeremy Beer referral02:55 Gabe, what is your story?03:19 Software, a dead record label, then the agency04:11 Golf Shot, Tiger Woods, and getting off the bull05:07 Why Virtuous exists05:43 HubSpot for nonprofits, 180 people, $100M Series C07:47 Andrews, Texas, Indiana Jones, and the rockstar plan08:50 College, MIS, and getting a real job09:47 How you know when to shut a company down12:09 Marriage, mortgage, and mouths to feed13:39 We do not hire people who act like a big deal15:51 Don't take the software developer job17:39 180 jobs and the AI problem19:36 The AI Olympics20:56 This is the last company22:18 COVID, Silicon Valley Bank, and black swans23:44 Build what they ask for, and what they cannot imagine24:46 The letters from employees25:36 Faith and work without an echo chamber28:12 Why the CEO is a LinkedIn ghost34:09 The $10 billion generosity goal36:14 Rapid fire: what kids actually teach you37:00 Founder mode and 11 one-on-ones37:51 Closing a nonprofit deal vs a for-profit deal38:26 The Emerald Mile40:00 Burn out rather than rust out40:54 N of 1 Philanthropy and virtuous.org41:56 Outro Episode Links Virtuous: https://virtuous.orgGabe on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabecooperN of 1 Philanthropy (October): search “N of 1 Philanthropy” where books are sold If this one sat with you, send it to a founder who is staring at AI and a payroll at the same time. Then tell us in the comments. Would you tell your kid not to become a software developer right now, and why? Thanks for watching! If this episode moved you, hit LIKE, drop a comment with your biggest takeaway, and SUBSCRIBE for more raw stories, mindset shifts, and real conversations. New episodes drop every Tuesday morning! TikTok: tiktok.com/@whatsyourstorypod_comInstagram: instagram.com/whatsyourstorypod_comX: x.com/WYSPodcast_comFacebook: facebook.com/WhatsYourStoryPodLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/whatsyourstorypod This episode is sponsored by e3 wealth & NectarFlow. They are absolutely amazing, so please support them by checking them out today and tell them Mike & Scott sent you. Websites New Show Website: whatsyourstorypod.comMike's Website: mikelindstrom.comScott's Website: scottleeseconsulting.com

    AI's Not Replacing You. But Someone Who Knows How to Use It Will | Gabe Cooper

  2. Aug 26 ·  Video

    Why You Feel Stuck (And How to Fix It) | Dr. Adrienne Adler-Neal

    Mike was boarding a plane to head back from a family event this past summer. When he plopped down, little did he know that he was sitting next to an accomplished doctor with more letters after her name than you can shake a stick at. Dr. Adrienne Adler-Neal MD PhD MPH isn't your typical psychiatrist. She studied the neuroscience of mindfulness meditation now runs a private practice that treats the whole person. Psychological. Biological. Spiritual. She says medications can help, but they are never the full answer. In this episode she explains why so many people keep looking outside themselves for the fix and why that approach keeps them stuck. She walks through how she helps patients build an internal place they can return to when life gets hard. She shares the exact practice she uses before hard days. She talks about becoming a mother while holding other people’s pain. And she gives the simple daily steps that actually move people toward a life that feels like theirs. If you've been vibrating at the wrong frequency or needed a nudge to spend a few minutes in meditation, this episode is for you. Topics Covered How a chance plane ticket turned into this conversationWhy 17-plus years of schooling forced her to find meaning inside herselfThe difference between treating symptoms and creating a life of real alignmentWhat most people get wrong about psychiatric medicationThe heart-centered practice that works when traditional meditation feels impossibleHow she protects herself from absorbing patient pain after becoming a parentTelehealth versus in-person and how she decidesAddiction, the 12 steps, and why peer support mattersThe advice she gives clients that she still struggles to take herselfThree practical things anyone can start doing today Chapters 00:00 Crisis resources and intro02:08 Welcome and how Mike met Dr. Adler-Neal on a plane03:56 What’s your story? Ballet dancer or doctor?05:30 Building an internal locus of meaning during the PhD years07:06 17 and a half years of advanced schooling08:35 Why psychiatry and the gift of having a place to return to09:49 Growth potential instead of “everyone is broken”11:34 Blending Eastern and Western approaches without fighting12:28 Heart-centered compassion when the mind won’t quiet14:14 Isolation, connection, and what people struggle with most15:20 “Invite it in for tea”16:28 Holding patient pain without carrying it home18:20 The mentor and the book that redirected her entire path20:20 Motherhood and switching from doctor to mom21:40 Telehealth effectiveness and when in-person is needed23:24 Addiction work and the power of the 12 steps24:29 The advice she gives that she doesn’t always take25:00 What pop culture gets wrong about psychiatric medication26:32 Medications are not a quick fix and nothing external is the answer27:14 Stabilization first. Getting people to zero so real work can begin29:29 Three everyday practices for staying grounded30:50 Purpose, social media comparison, and protecting kids’ brains33:40 Adrienneisms and “invite it in for tea”34:20 Herbalism potions and learning to play bad golf35:28 Closing and thank you Episode Links Instagram: https://instagram.com/@dradlernealDr. Adler-Neal's website: https://www.adlerneal.comUS Crisis Hotline: https://988lifeline.org If you or someone you know needs support, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It is free, confidential, and available 24/7. Thanks for watching! If this episode moved you, hit LIKE, drop a comment with your biggest takeaway, and SUBSCRIBE for more raw stories, mindset shifts, and real conversations. New episodes drop every Tuesday morning! TikTok: tiktok.com/@whatsyourstorypod_comInstagram: instagram.com/whatsyourstorypod_comX: x.com/WYSPodcast_comFacebook: facebook.com/WhatsYourStoryPodLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/whatsyourstorypod This episode is sponsored by e3 wealth & NectarFlow. They are absolutely amazing, so please support them by checking them out today and tell them Mike & Scott sent you. Websites New Show Website: whatsyourstorypod.comMike's Website: mikelindstrom.comScott's Website: scottleeseconsulting.com

    Why You Feel Stuck (And How to Fix It) | Dr. Adrienne Adler-Neal

  3. Aug 18 ·  Video

    How I Beat Sheriff Joe Arpaio After Losing Once | Paul Penzone

    Former Maricopa County Sheriff Paul Penzone lost once to Sheriff Joe Arpaio after getting outspent 13 to 1. His wife heard him complaining at the TV, took his man card, and told him to step up again. He did. Then he won by 13 points. Paul tells Mike Lindstrom and Scott Leese the part most people never hear. He was a volunteer bailiff in high school. He spent 21 years at Phoenix PD. He ran as a Democrat after Republican strategists told him he had no shot. He refused to endorse anybody, including two presidential candidates, because he did not want the badge used as a political weapon. His first week on the job, a naked woman stole a patrol car in Casa Grande. A deputy grabbed a blanket to cover her. She jumped in the car and took off. That is the job. Paul also gets into the hard stuff. Culture over entertainment. Why he closed the circus around Tent City and pink jumpsuits. Why deadly force is not a choice, it is the lack of a choice. Why cameras and tools can steal the skill of talking someone into handcuffs. And what it costs a family when you have to knock on a door and tell a wife she is a widow. If you have ever been told you cannot win, this one will sit with you. Topics Covered Paul’s path from Trenton, New Jersey to Cortez High School and Phoenix PDThe courtroom summers that taught him to seek the truth and speak the truthWhy he will not let a bully have the last wordThe living room fight with his wife that launched the race against Joe ArpaioLosing in 2012 by four points, then getting a birthday job rejection that sent him backElection night 2016 with no TVs, no radios, and 35 people in a sandwich shopJoe Arpaio’s concession call after 24 years in officeThe first change he made as sheriff: cultureWhy law enforcement should work like a good referee, not a reality showCameras, Big Brother, and what happens when discretion disappearsHow body cams and 2020 changed an officer’s instincts on a stopTasers versus talking, and why he never once maced anyone“The use of deadly force is not a choice. It is the lack of a choice.”Leaving the badge without letting the title eat your identityPraying the rosary, Sundays with no detail, and four line-of-duty death notificationsThe bathroom stall at D-backs stadium and what it costs to be “on” everywhereThe mantra: do not live for the approval of people Chapters 00:00 First week as sheriff, a naked lady steals a patrol car01:27 Welcome to What’s Your Story with Mike and Scott02:25 Paul’s story, from Trenton to Phoenix PD04:22 Volunteer bailiff and seeking the truth06:31 Why he never backed down from bullies08:38 Taking on Sheriff Joe Arpaio13:08 Losing in 2012, then running again16:12 Election night 2016 with no TVs18:42 Joe Arpaio’s concession call19:40 Culture over entertainment22:46 Cameras, Big Brother, and discretion24:42 How body cams changed everyday stops28:49 Deadly force is the lack of a choice29:22 Leaving the badge without losing yourself31:48 Family, faith, and knocking on a widow’s door35:15 The bathroom stall and being “on” as sheriff37:17 The mantra he lives by38:32 Outro If this one hit, subscribe and send it to somebody who still thinks one person cannot move a machine that big. Then tell us in the comments. When did somebody tell you that you had no shot, and what did you do with that? Thanks for watching! If this episode moved you, hit LIKE, drop a comment with your biggest takeaway, and SUBSCRIBE for more raw stories, mindset shifts, and real conversations. New episodes drop every Tuesday morning! TikTok: tiktok.com/@whatsyourstorypod_comInstagram: instagram.com/whatsyourstorypod_comX: x.com/WYSPodcast_comFacebook: facebook.com/WhatsYourStoryPodLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/whatsyourstorypod This episode is sponsored by e3 wealth & NectarFlow. They are absolutely amazing, so please support them by checking them out today and tell them Mike & Scott sent you. Websites New Show Website: whatsyourstorypod.comMike's Website: mikelindstrom.comScott's Website: scottleeseconsulting.com

    How I Beat Sheriff Joe Arpaio After Losing Once | Paul Penzone

  4. Aug 11 ·  Video

    She Left a Fortune to Raise Her Kids — Now She's Back | Susan McGalla

    Susan McGalla walked away from the presidency of American Eagle Outfitters at its peak. She helped grow the brand from $300 million to $3 billion. The company was her baby. Those people were her family. Leaving to raise her kids was gut-wrenching. She never looked back. That choice opened every door after. Including the one her son helped open at Brophy Prep. She now serves as Vice President for Advancement and Strategic Communications. Her office sits on the same campus where her son goes to school. He stops by for snacks. Friends leave sticky notes on her computer. She is exactly where she wants to be. In this episode of What’s Your Story? with Mike & Scott, Susan shares the full arc. Ohio sports family roots. Early retail days that left her sure she would get fired. The leap to American Eagle in her late twenties. The three principles behind the explosive growth. Hard truths about career and family choices women still face. Building Steelers Nation Unite. And the Brophy classroom moment that pulled her out of retirement. She talks about mentors who saw more in her than she saw in herself. The family motto she repeated every morning dropping the kids at school. And why the most meaningful success is still the life you touch. This one is full of heart, hard-earned wisdom, and full-circle moments that stick. Topics Covered: The gut-wrenching decision to leave American Eagle Outfitters at the height of its successGrowing a single brand from $300 million to $3 billion while staying profitableThe three principles behind that growth: daring to dream, fiscal responsibility, and staying small as you scaleHard choices women still face between career and familyHow her son brought her out of retirement and into the Brophy Prep roleWhat “advancement” really means at a high school and why the work mattersBuilding the Steelers Nation Unite loyalty program and combining sports with businessMentors who believed in her before she fully believed in herselfFamily values, a daily motto, and the quiet power of picking up trash Timestamps: 0:00 Cold Open1:31 Meet Susan McGalla2:18 Ohio roots, sports family, and the start in retail4:29 Joseph Horne training and the American Eagle knock7:26 From $300 million to $3 billion8:18 How they actually grew it: dream, fiscal responsibility, stay small11:05 Leaving for family and the hard choices women face12:23 Life at Brophy with her kids on campus14:09 How her son brought her out of retirement17:14 What makes Brophy special (financial aid, diversity, brotherhood)18:13 What “advancement” really means20:28 The Pittsburgh Steelers chapter and Steelers Nation Unite23:06 Goals at this stage and the common thread of young people24:50 Nonprofit work that still means the most25:52 Mentors who believed first27:54 Rapid fire: books, travel, family motto31:31 Trash on the ground is your trash If this conversation hit you the way it hit us, share it with someone who needs to hear it. Subscribe so you never miss the next story. What’s the hardest career or family decision you’ve ever made, and how did it turn out? Drop it in the comments. We read every one. Thanks for watching! If this episode moved you, hit LIKE, drop a comment with your biggest takeaway, and SUBSCRIBE for more raw stories, mindset shifts, and real conversations. New episodes drop every Tuesday morning! TikTok: tiktok.com/@whatsyourstorypod_comInstagram: instagram.com/whatsyourstorypod_comX: x.com/WYSPodcast_comFacebook: facebook.com/WhatsYourStoryPodLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/whatsyourstorypod This episode is sponsored by e3 wealth & NectarFlow. They are absolutely amazing, so please support them by checking them out today and tell them Mike & Scott sent you. Websites New Show Website: whatsyourstorypod.comMike's Website: mikelindstrom.comScott's Website: scottleeseconsulting.com

    She Left a Fortune to Raise Her Kids — Now She's Back | Susan McGalla

  5. Aug 5 ·  Video

    The Man Outliving a 90% Mortality Rate | Dan Lier

    Dan Lier walked into the Mayo Clinic thinking he might die that night. Doctors told him he had cardiac amyloidosis — a rare blood disease that kills 40% of patients in the first 12 months and only 10% make it past 10 years. He’s in year 9. In this powerful episode of What’s Your Story? with Mike & Scott, Dan goes deep on the mindset that refused to accept the statistics. From growing up on welfare and food stamps, to winning two national basketball championships as the 9th or 10th most athletic player on the roster, to becoming Tony Robbins’ top field leader after an integrity moment that could have ended his career… this is the unfiltered story of a 6’8” mindset architect who turned every setback into fuel. Dan shares the moments of real fear, the nightly affirmation audio he created while going through two years of chemo, how he became one of the top amyloidosis influencers in the country (and worked with Pfizer), and why he still believes every obstacle is preparing you for something bigger. If you’ve ever faced a diagnosis, a career crossroads, or a moment that felt like the end — this conversation will reframe everything. Topics Covered Growing up on public assistance and the mindset shift that started everythingTwo national championships at Fort Hays State and the psychology of hustle over talentThe wacky coach who hung upside down like a bat and rewired Dan’s brainSelling insurance, reading Tony Robbins, and becoming the #1 producer at 23The integrity moment that got him promoted to Tony Robbins’ leadership teamLeaving Robbins, starting his own seminars in LA, and building a keynote empire in VegasThe cardiac amyloidosis diagnosis, Mayo Clinic, chemo, and the stats that should have broken himBecoming an amyloidosis influencer and advocate almost by accidentHow the disease made him more patient, present, and selective with his timeThe power of nightly affirmations and programming the mind for healingWhy 90% of success is psychology — and how to actually change behaviorCurrent work with Janek Performance Group and ongoing rare disease advocacy Chapters 00:00 – Cold Open: "40% Die in Year One — I'll Take the Other 60%"01:38 – Welcome: Mike's Most Personal Episode Yet02:04 – Meet Dan Lier — Champion, Tony Robbins Leader, Rare Disease Survivor02:31 – How Dan Single-Handedly Destroyed Mike's Legal Career02:48 – Small-Town Michigan to Two-Time National Champion04:11 – From Basketball to Insurance: The Accidental Salesman04:33 – Welfare, Food Stamps & a Dad Who Hated Salespeople06:28 – Finding Tony Robbins at 23 — Tripled His Income, Became #106:46 – The Championship Secret: Hustle Over Talent08:43 – The Coach Who Hung Upside Down Like a Bat11:00 – "I'm a Mindset Architect, Not a Motivational Speaker"13:57 – The $400 Theft That Almost Ended Everything… Then Got Him Promoted16:19 – The Baby Monitor Betrayal — Hearing a Friend Trash Him19:50 – Turning Down Tony Robbins & Starting Over in Hermosa Beach21:00 – "I Think I'm Gonna Die Tonight" — The Red-Eye Flight to Mayo Clinic24:42 – The Diagnosis: 40% Die in 12 Months, Only 10% Survive 10 Years26:15 – How Chemo Videos Accidentally Made Him an Amyloidosis Influencer28:00 – Why a Near-Death Diagnosis Made Him a Better Man31:16 – The Nightly Affirmation Audio That Kept Him Alive35:40 – What's Next: Keynotes, Janek & Rare Disease Advocacy37:17 – Dan's Closing Lesson: Everything Happens FOR You38:41 – "I'm 63 and Just Opening the Biggest Chapter of My Life"40:27 – Sign-Off & Outro Connect with Dan Lier Website: https://danlier.comInstagram: https://instagram.com/danlierX: https://x.com/DanLierMindsetYouTube: Search “Dan Lier” or “Dan Lier Amyloidosis” Thanks for watching! If this episode moved you, hit LIKE, drop a comment with your biggest takeaway, and SUBSCRIBE for more raw stories, mindset shifts, and real conversations. New episodes drop every Tuesday morning! TikTok: tiktok.com/@whatsyourstorypod_comInstagram: instagram.com/whatsyourstorypod_comX: x.com/WYSPodcast_comFacebook: facebook.com/WhatsYourStoryPodLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/whatsyourstorypod This episode is sponsored by e3 wealth & NectarFlow. They are absolutely amazing, so please support them by checking them out today and tell them Mike & Scott sent you. Websites New Show Website: whatsyourstorypod.comMike's Website: mikelindstrom.comScott's Website: scottleeseconsulting.com

    The Man Outliving a 90% Mortality Rate | Dan Lier

  6. Jul 28 ·  Video

    This "Swiftie Liftie" Reps in the Gym AND on the Roster! | Alexy Posner

    Alexy Posner built AP Brand Group from absolute zero after her identity as a professional equestrian was ripped away at 21. What followed was deep depression, a string of low-paying sports jobs, a four-word text that changed everything on her 26th birthday, and a decision to bet on herself even when her parents basically called her a failure. Today she manages NFL players like Mack Hollins, works with Jaleel White, and is producing a major movie on Ric Flair with Dwayne Johnson’s Seven Bucks Productions. She also turned her love of Taylor Swift into Swiftie Liftie Club, a fitness movement that has exploded across the globe with one simple rule: if you know the words, you sing. In this episode of What’s Your Story with Mike & Scott, Alexy gets real about authenticity over easy money, why most athletes destroy their brand by saying yes too fast, the spiderweb exercise she uses with every client, and the non-negotiables that keep her sharp while scaling. Topics Covered Losing your identity when the sport ends and the depression that followsWhy she walked away from a Lee Steinberg opportunity and started overBuilding AP Brand Group completely through word of mouthMeeting Ric Flair at a cannabis convention with Mike Tyson and Jaleel WhiteHow Swiftie Liftie Club went viral and the community ethos behind itMack Hollins and the power of saying no to protect authenticityLong-game branding versus chasing the next checkThe exact process she uses to help athletes define their brandWhy most podcasts fail and what actually moves the needle on socialHer non-negotiables: 4:44 a.m. wake-ups, making the bed, and staying soberThe upcoming Ric Flair movie with The Rock’s company Chapters 00:00 Ric Flair teaser00:46 Intro01:41 Welcome and introducing Alexy Posner02:48 What’s Your Story? From Philly and horses to the unknown05:46 Getting fired, the Lee Steinberg text, and betting on herself09:18 Creating Swiftie Liftie Club and the Taylor Swift effect12:28 Mack Hollins, authenticity, and the art of saying no15:01 How she met Ric Flair (and why he called her Young Brooke Shields)16:33 Long game versus short money in athlete branding19:17 Family influences, her mom the neuroradiologist, and her brother21:30 When should athletes actually start building their brand?25:40 Podcast strategy, social clips, and why most shows fail29:17 Growing up on horses and living on airplanes31:00 Non-negotiables, scaling herself, and making the bed33:03 Next chapter: the Ric Flair movie with Seven Bucks and finding balance35:55 Favorite books (Harry Potter 22 times, The Alchemist, The Four Agreements)36:49 Wrap and where to follow Alexy Follow Alexy Instagram: https://instagram.com/AlexyPosnerSwifty Lifty Club: https://instagram.com/SwiftieLiftieClubAP Brand Group: https://apbrandgroup.com Thanks for watching! If this episode moved you, hit LIKE, drop a comment with your biggest takeaway, and SUBSCRIBE for more raw stories, mindset shifts, and real conversations. New episodes drop every Tuesday morning! TikTok: tiktok.com/@whatsyourstorypod_comInstagram: instagram.com/whatsyourstorypod_comX: x.com/WYSPodcast_comFacebook: facebook.com/WhatsYourStoryPodLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/whatsyourstorypod This episode is sponsored by e3 wealth & NectarFlow. They are absolutely amazing, so please support them by checking them out today and tell them Mike & Scott sent you. Websites New Show Website: whatsyourstorypod.comMike's Website: mikelindstrom.comScott's Website: scottleeseconsulting.com

    This "Swiftie Liftie" Reps in the Gym AND on the Roster! | Alexy Posner

  7. Jul 21 ·  Video

    Not All Masculinity Is Toxic: The Truth Everyone Needs to Hear | Jon McQueen & Nick Lowery

    Today we have not one, but two special guests! You're in for a treat. What happens when families in crisis hand their kids over to a loosely regulated $23 billion industry promising to "fix" them? Professor Jon McQueen, a survivor of the Troubled Teen Industry (TTI), pulls back the curtain on wilderness programs, residential boarding schools, and the devastating human cost—450+ deaths and 220,000 kids sent yearly, often starting with a middle-of-the-night "transport." Jon shares his raw journey from Chicago kid to sales leader (realtor.com and more) to full-time ASU sociology professor teaching 1,900 students. He breaks down AI cheating dilemmas in education, why students feel unseen, and his groundbreaking Men & Masculinity class that challenges toxic narratives with multiple masculinities. Later, NFL legend and returning guest Nick Lowery joins for the final stretch—talking his new book Naked and Alone with 80,000 People (now on Audible!), leadership lessons from the Chiefs, factory keynotes, mental health, and his free Companion app helping first responders and beyond. This episode is packed with real talk on resilience, education's evolution, fatherhood, team chemistry, and creating connection in a disconnected world. Topics Covered Troubled Teen Industry (TTI) survivor story & exposéSales-to-academia career pivot and "hacking" the systemTeaching massive classes and making students feel seenAI cheating crisis, detectors, and mental atrophy in educationMultiple masculinities vs toxic masculinity debatesPublic speaking fears and using sales skills in academiaWorst-to-first leadership and team chemistry (Chiefs stories)Mental health companion app for first responders & veteransFan connection, social capital, and performing under pressureRateMyProfessor feedback and evolving with student needs Chapters 0:00 Cold Open: The Troubled Teen Industry0:40 Intro Band & Theme Song1:35 Scott & Mike Welcome – First Professor Guest2:25 Jon McQueen's Story – Son of a Marketer to Sales Life3:50 Pivot During COVID – Master's Degree & ASU Opportunity5:55 From Adjunct to Full Faculty – Teaching 443, Then 1,400 Students7:55 The Troubled Teen Industry – $23B Empire, 450 Deaths, Paris Hilton & Stanford Research12:13 Student Connection Story – The 7-Year ASU Senior Who Finally Felt Seen13:51 AI in Education – Cheating Detection, Syllabus Policies & The Prisoner's Dilemma19:28 Students Can't Read Analog Clocks Anymore21:07 Should Business Leaders Enter Academia?24:35 RateMyProfessor, Pre-Framing Classes & The Zocdoc Sales Lesson28:03 Men & Masculinity – Pitching the Class Nobody Takes, Toxic Masculinity & Helping Young Men32:30 Nick Lowery Returns – Trifecta Appearance32:45 Book Update – Naked and Alone with 80,000 People, Audible & P&G Keynote34:21 Chiefs Turnaround, Eric Bieniemy & Locker Room Chemistry37:16 World Cup, Messi, Fan Energy & Arrowhead Stories38:29 Roger Clemens & Locker Room Chemistry38:41 Getting Recognized at the Royals Game40:22 The Roast, Neil Smith & Kansas City Social Capital42:37 Mental Health Companion App – RFK Jr., BlueCloudX, Clinical Research & Veteran Support46:32 Final Thoughts, Gratitude & Outro Watch the full conversation and let us know in the comments: What’s one system or industry that needs more transparency and reform? Full episode also available on your favorite podcast app. Subscribe, like, and share if this hit home. New episodes drop weekly! Links & Socials Unsilenced (TTI Advocacy): unsilenced.orgNaked and Alone with 80,000 People: nicklowerybook.com (Hardcover, Paperback, Audible)Mental Health Companion App: Search “Nick Lowery Companion” or BlueCloudX Thanks for watching! If this episode moved you, hit LIKE, drop a comment with your biggest takeaway, and SUBSCRIBE for more raw stories, mindset shifts, and real conversations. New episodes drop every Tuesday morning! TikTok: tiktok.com/@whatsyourstorypod_comInstagram: instagram.com/whatsyourstorypod_comX: x.com/WYSPodcast_comFacebook: facebook.com/WhatsYourStoryPodLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/whatsyourstorypod This episode is sponsored by e3 wealth & NectarFlow. They are absolutely amazing, so please support them by checking them out today and tell them Mike & Scott sent you. Websites New Show Website: whatsyourstorypod.comMike's Website: mikelindstrom.comScott's Website: scottleeseconsulting.com

    Not All Masculinity Is Toxic: The Truth Everyone Needs to Hear | Jon McQueen & Nick Lowery

  8. Jul 14 ·  Video

    D1 Athlete Gets Brutally Honest About Life After Sports | McKenna Doe

    Former D1 college soccer player McKenna Doe joins hosts Mike Lindstrom and Scott Leese for a raw and inspiring conversation. McKenna shares her journey from Huntington Beach to the University of San Diego, where she played alongside her identical twin sister Mikayla. She opens up about training with future national team players, the unique bond and challenges of competing as twins, and how comparison almost derailed their relationship. The conversation explores what it was really like growing up in a sports-obsessed family, getting recruited into club soccer, and navigating the identity crisis that hit after college athletics ended. McKenna gets honest about a painful breakup, moving home to Huntington Beach for a season of self-work and renewed faith, and the leap of faith that led her to Scottsdale where she finally figured out who she truly is. She also shares her current career reflections after years of remote work and her growing excitement about transitioning into residential real estate, where she can help people with one of life's biggest decisions while staying true to her natural self. The episode closes with a fun rapid-fire round that reveals her favorite movie, current book, biggest influence, and the mom-ism she will never forget. Whether you are a former athlete searching for what comes next, someone in the middle of a personal reinvention, or simply love authentic stories of resilience, this episode delivers. Topics Covered: Former D1 soccer player McKenna Doe storyIdentical twin sister dynamics in competitive sportsLife after college athletics and identity crisisPersonal growth, faith, and major life transitionsMoving to Scottsdale and starting freshFuture career aspirations in residential real estateFun rapid-fire questions Chapters: 00:00 Intro Music00:01:44 Welcome and the wild connection story00:02:36 McKenna joins and shares how she and Scott connected through USD soccer00:03:43 McKenna tells her story: Huntington Beach roots and a sports family00:05:48 What it was like playing D1 soccer with her identical twin sister00:07:39 How close she and her sister are today plus exciting family news00:08:11 The tougher side of twin life: comparison, envy, and identity struggles00:09:07 Moving home after heartbreak and rediscovering herself through faith00:10:07 Why Scottsdale over Nashville and building a brand new life from scratch00:13:31 Soccer influences and why local role models meant more than famous names00:21:17 Career reflections, remote work challenges, and craving real connection00:24:00 Her dream of residential real estate and helping people achieve big moments00:29:00 Rapid fire: favorite beach, book, movie, biggest influence, and more00:31:50 Hosts wrap up the episode Share this episode with someone who needs a reminder that it is never too late to figure out who you really are Like this video, drop your biggest takeaway or your own story in the comments below, subscribe, and share with a friend who needs this message today. Thanks for watching! If this episode moved you, hit LIKE, drop a comment with your biggest takeaway, and SUBSCRIBE for more raw stories, mindset shifts, and real conversations. New episodes drop every Tuesday morning! TikTok: tiktok.com/@whatsyourstorypod_comInstagram: instagram.com/whatsyourstorypod_comX: x.com/WYSPodcast_comFacebook: facebook.com/WhatsYourStoryPodLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/whatsyourstorypod This episode is sponsored by e3 wealth & NectarFlow. They are absolutely amazing, so please support them by checking them out today and tell them Mike & Scott sent you. Websites New Show Website: whatsyourstorypod.comMike's Website: mikelindstrom.comScott's Website: scottleeseconsulting.com

    D1 Athlete Gets Brutally Honest About Life After Sports | McKenna Doe
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Everyone has a story worth telling. Prolific executive coach Mike Lindstrom & legendary startup advisor Scott Leese sit down with athletes, entrepreneurs, thought leaders, and everyday people to uncover the pivotal moments that shaped their journeys. From boardrooms to locker rooms, victories to setbacks, this podcast digs into the lessons, struggles, and triumphs behind the headlines. Authentic, raw, and inspiring—these are the stories that connect us all.

Information

  • Creator
    Mike Lindstrom + Scott Leese
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    48
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    Copyright © 2025-2026 Highway 99 Media. All Rights Reserved.
  • Show Website
    What's Your Story? with Mike & Scott