Project Candor: Ordinary People. Unexpected Stories

Jeanne Andersen

Everyone has a story worth telling. On Project Candor, host Jeanne Andersen sits down with entrepreneurs, veterans, educators, creatives, leaders, and everyday people to explore the moments that shaped who they became.  Through thoughtful conversations and our signature Two Truths and a Lie segment, guests share authentic stories filled with unexpected turns, hard-earned lessons, humor, resilience, and hope.  Learn more at ProjectCandor.com

  1. Follow the Money with Albert Butler | Ship's Log #24

    3d ago

    Follow the Money with Albert Butler | Ship's Log #24

    "Accounting is the heartbeat of business and the key to personal finance success."  — Albert Butler  Episode Summary  Albert Butler is a CPA, MBA, and Resident Partner-in-Charge of a national accounting firm — but the conversation in Ship's Log #24 isn't really about accounting. It's about what happens when you treat your own life like a balance sheet. Albert walks Jeanne through the frameworks he's lived by for 25 years — Plan, Act, Review and Train, Practice, Work — and lands on a deceptively simple idea: you have to scale yourself before you can scale anything else.  From there the conversation opens up. Albert shares the origin of his personal mantra — "I can because I will" — born from a back-porch conversation with his father two decades ago, and now the spine of the book he's written for his four children. He talks about being whole on the inside before the world starts pushing on the outside, about why discipline beats motivation every time, and about why most people get stuck in the in-between — that space right before a breakthrough where everything feels hardest.  The episode closes with one of the most quietly powerful Two Truths and a Lie reveals of the show so far. The ICU headline turns out to be a twisted truth — and the story behind it is a tribute to Albert's mother that will sit with you long after the episode ends.    Guest Bio  Albert Butler, CPA, MBA, is the Resident Partner-in-Charge of a national accounting firm, where he has led with integrity, strategy, and purpose for over 25 years. He's a father of four, a youth coach, and the author of LIFE: Truth, Love, Loss, Success & Failure — a book written for fathers, families, and anyone navigating their financial and personal journey. He lives by two principles: accounting is the heartbeat of business, and if you follow the money, you'll find the answers.  Guest Links  Website:  https://albertbutler.com/about/  LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/butleralbert/  YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx6-wOn2tbc7Pkv0bc58NSQ  Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577977890720  Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/albertbutlercpa/  Twitter / X:  https://x.com/albertbutlercpa  Book on Amazon:  https://bit.ly/46prpmZ  (LIFE: Truth, Love, Loss, Success & Failure)  Who do you know who'd make a great guest for the show? Please let us know. Email: info@projectcandor.com Website:   https://www.projectcandor.com Social Media Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/ProjectCandor/ LinkedIn:     https://www.linkedin.com/company/projectcandor/ Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/project.candor/ YouTube:    https://www.youtube.com/@ProjectCandorPodcast

    43 min
  2. Cast Bold. Lead Bright with Mickey Fitch-Collins | Ship's Log #23

    Jun 4

    Cast Bold. Lead Bright with Mickey Fitch-Collins | Ship's Log #23

    Episode Summary  In this episode of Project Candor, host Jeanne welcomes Mickey Fitch-Collins, PhD — leadership facilitator, speaker, and host of The Learnit Lounge — for a candid conversation about what it takes to lead with both joy and depth. Mickey's story is anything but linear: she was a professional bass fisherman at 14, a college student leader when 9/11 happened, and someone who turned getting fired into a professional turning point.   Mickey and Jeanne dive into the hidden exhaustion of middle managers, the trap of "productivity theater" and the Busy Olympics, and what it really means to build a career on relationships — one at a time. The episode closes with a lively round of Two Truths and a Lie that will surprise you.  Guest Bio Mickey Fitch-Collins, PhD (she/her) is not your average leadership skills facilitator. With a PhD in Leadership in Higher Education and a career that spans academia, educational technology, and corporate training, Mickey brings a collection of L&D "goods, bads, and uglies" to the table.   At Learnit, she specializes in transforming human skills — like communication, empathy, and resilience — into actionable strategies that drive organizational success from the individual outward. From teaching people how to fish (literally), to helping her peers navigate 9/11, to managing diverse teams across various sectors, Mickey's career is a testament to adaptability and authentic leadership.   Her speaking and workshops blend scholarly insight and relatable storytelling with humor and real-world applications. She's the kind of guest who doesn't just share ideas — she sparks conversations that linger long after the episode ends.   Mickey is also the host of The Learnit Lounge podcast.  Website: https://www.learnit.com/mickey  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mickeyfitchcollins/  Podcast: The Learnit Lounge: https://www.learnit.com/podcast Free 45-Day TeamPass: https://www.learnit.com/mickey — use code LOUNGE at checkout  Who do you know who'd make a great guest for the show? Please let us know. Email: info@projectcandor.com Website:   https://www.projectcandor.com Social Media Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/ProjectCandor/ LinkedIn:     https://www.linkedin.com/company/projectcandor/ Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/project.candor/ YouTube:    https://www.youtube.com/@ProjectCandorPodcast

    53 min
  3. Every Port a Purpose with Kameelah Howard | Ship's Log #22

    May 28

    Every Port a Purpose with Kameelah Howard | Ship's Log #22

    "It is a true honor and gift to be able to assist those people at that moment, at that very time. I believe in divine timing... that always will stay with me - knowing how important it is to always stay in gratitude whenever a person is vulnerable with you, because they don't have to be."  Episode Summary  Kameelah Howard has spent her entire adult life in service to others - as a Child Protective Specialist on the front lines of Brooklyn, as an international flight attendant navigating chaos at 35,000 feet, and as a licensed massage therapist bringing physical relief and human presence to people facing serious illness. In this episode, she shares what the common thread through all of it has always been: the privilege of being trusted with someone else's vulnerability.   Kameelah and Jeanne talk about what it means to truly connect with people - why Kameelah asks "are you calling to vent or for feedback?" before a conversation goes anywhere - and how a toddler's instinct to walk up and down her tired sister's back planted a seed that would take decades to fully bloom. She talks about the friend who let her in at his lowest moment, and what that taught her about what it really means to show up for someone.   Kameelah is now pursuing her Master's in Social Work, with her sights set on medical social work. The catalyst? A Beyonce concert, a morphing dress, and a voice that said - you're going to go back to school. And she did. Two Truths and a Lie settles a question she's been fielding her whole life: just how many sevens does one person's birthday actually need?  Guest Links  LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/kameelah-howard-43183015b  Who do you know who'd make a great guest for the show? Please let us know. Email: info@projectcandor.com Website:   https://www.projectcandor.com Social Media Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/ProjectCandor/ LinkedIn:     https://www.linkedin.com/company/projectcandor/ Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/project.candor/ YouTube:    https://www.youtube.com/@ProjectCandorPodcast

    39 min
  4. Worth Nothing at the Dock with Louis Swart | Ship's Log #21

    May 21

    Worth Nothing at the Dock with Louis Swart | Ship's Log #21

    “Business is worth nothing because I literally have to find another you to be able to do this business. You who wants to buy this to do it? And that was such a massive wake-up call for me.” Episode Summary  Louis Swart went to sell his plumbing business and got a wake-up call he’s never forgotten. The broker told him straight: the business was worth nothing. Because everything ran through Louis. If you want to buy it, you have to find another Louis first — and good luck with that. That moment cracked open a lifelong commitment to delegation, systems, and building businesses that don’t need you in the engine room.   In this conversation, Louis and Jeanne dive deep into why delegation isn’t just a productivity hack — it’s the whole game. They talk about the 60% rule, why big picture thinkers need to hire their opposite, and how 450 staff later, Louis built a company called Ironbrij to help coaches do what he had to learn the hard way. They also go deep on gratitude, AI, and why chasing external success leaves people standing in a shopping center with designer bags looking miserable.   And then there’s Two Truths & A Lie — which takes Louis into bush fire territory, childhood bomb-making, and a Filipino love story. Only two of those are true. Jeanne guesses wrong.   Guest Bio  Louis Swart is a business coach for coaches and the founder of Ironbrij, a human-AI company helping coaches escape burnout and build businesses that don’t revolve entirely around them. With more than 35 years of experience building and selling companies, Louis has led teams of up to 450 staff and trained coaches across the globe. He’s a Top 50 Speaker finalist who now helps coaches turn their expertise into a self-sustaining business.   Guest Links  Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/louistswart  Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/coachlouistswart  LinkedIn:  https://linkedin.com/in/coachlouisswart  Who do you know who'd make a great guest for the show? Please let us know. Email: info@projectcandor.com Website:   https://www.projectcandor.com Social Media Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/ProjectCandor/ LinkedIn:     https://www.linkedin.com/company/projectcandor/ Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/project.candor/ YouTube:    https://www.youtube.com/@ProjectCandorPodcast

    49 min
  5. No Cancer Could Sink Her With Racquel Foster | Ship's Log 20

    May 14

    No Cancer Could Sink Her With Racquel Foster | Ship's Log 20

    Guest Quote "Have undying faith at all cause and at every junction of your life. Through all hardships are many lessons to learn from." - Racquel Foster Episode Summary Racquel Foster has always moved to her own rhythm. Born in Jamaica and raised on music, she was dancing at four years old and making up songs before she could read. That love of movement and voice grew into a life that spans musical theater, choreography, cabaret performance, fitness training, and yoga - each thread woven into a story about what it means to take creativity seriously. But this episode goes deeper than performance. Racquel opens up about three major surgeries before the age of 50 - all potentially life-threatening - and how each one sharpened her conviction to listen to her body and advocate for herself. One of them was cancer. She found it herself. And she walked out the other side with a quote that guides everything she does now. The conversation closes with a spirited round of Two Truths and a Lie that reveals Racquel ziplining through 14 cables in a Costa Rican rainforest, performing 60s pop and R&B in the tri-state area, and the truth behind those three scars. Tune in to find out which one is the twisted truth. Guest Bio Racquel Foster is a wellness advocate, writer, and speaker with over a decade in media. A certified fitness trainer, yoga instructor, and cabaret vocalist, she brings humor, empathy, and creativity to every space, inspiring others to grow, thrive, and see their best selves. Guest Links Email:  rockyfos2004@yahoo.com LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/racquel-foster-b6557a15/ Instagram:  @rockyfos Website:  https://fosterrac.wordpress.com/ Speaking Engagement CTA For speaking engagements on overcoming health challenges and building resilience, please reach out to Racquel at rockyfos2004@yahoo.com Who do you know who'd make a great guest for the show? Please let us know. Email: info@projectcandor.com Website:   https://www.projectcandor.com Social Media Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/ProjectCandor/ LinkedIn:     https://www.linkedin.com/company/projectcandor/ Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/project.candor/ YouTube:    https://www.youtube.com/@ProjectCandorPodcast

    37 min
  6. $1M Hanging Over His Rack with Joel Salomon | Ship's Log 19

    May 7

    $1M Hanging Over His Rack with Joel Salomon | Ship's Log 19

    “Whatever the mind of man can conceive, and bring himself to believe, he can achieve.” - Joel Salomon Episode Summary: In this episode of Project Candor, Jeanne Andersen sits down with Joel Salomon, a former hedge fund manager turned prosperity coach known as the “Money Doctor.” Joel shares his journey from managing hundreds of millions of dollars on Wall Street to helping people transform their relationship with money through mindset and belief. He explains how his perspective shifted during the 2008 financial crisis, when he noticed a direct link between his emotional state and financial performance. Inspired by books like Think and Grow Rich, Joel began exploring the “inner game” of money—beliefs, gratitude, and mindset—and saw how these could shape real-world results. Throughout the conversation, Joel challenges common assumptions about success, including the idea that hard work alone leads to wealth. Instead, he emphasizes flow, leverage, and aligning actions with belief and intention. He introduces the concept of “money stories,” explaining how limiting beliefs like “I’m not good with money” can quietly hold people back—and how small mindset shifts and intentional actions can begin to change that narrative. Blending practical experience with mindset principles, Joel offers a different lens on financial success: one rooted not just in strategy, but in belief, clarity, and personal alignment. Guest’s Bio: Joel Salomon is a Prosperity Coach, international speaker, and former hedge fund manager who helps people transform their relationship with money and achieve financial freedom. Known as “The Money Doctor,” he combines Wall Street experience with mindset and abundance principles to help clients break through limiting beliefs and create healthier money stories. He previously managed a $700 million portfolio at Citi, delivering strong performance even during the 2008 financial crisis, and later founded his own hedge fund, SaLaurMor Capital, named after his daughters. Joel is the author of three books, including The 9 Money Rules Millionaires Use, Infinite Love and Money, and Mindful Money Management. He is also a TEDx speaker and has delivered over 30 workshops across corporate, academic, and community audiences worldwide. He has been featured in outlets such as the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Bloomberg Radio, and more than 150 podcasts. In addition, he founded a nonprofit focused on financial literacy for children under 18. Today, he blends financial expertise with mindset coaching to help individuals and organizations rethink money, abundance, and possibility. Links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joel-salomon/ Website: https://salaurmor.com/ An individualized roadmap call for an extra $10,000 in the next 30 days. This is normally a $997 call but for the first 11, I will give it to them complimentary if they mention this show when they fill out this form: https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule/fa93ee09/appointment/8774948/calendar/2407980 Who do you know who'd make a great guest for the show? Please let us know. Email: info@projectcandor.com Website:   https://www.projectcandor.com Social Media Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/ProjectCandor/ LinkedIn:     https://www.linkedin.com/company/projectcandor/ Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/project.candor/ YouTube:    https://www.youtube.com/@ProjectCandorPodcast

    48 min
  7. Charts Everything, Even Love With Nick Jain | Ship's Log 18

    Apr 30

    Charts Everything, Even Love With Nick Jain | Ship's Log 18

    Guest Quote "Instinctual thinking is great when you're on a savanna running from a lion. It's not so great in the 21st century." — Nick Jain  Episode Summary Nick Jain came to this conversation carrying credentials that would make most people nervous — Harvard MBA, top of his class, a decade in private equity, three company turnarounds including one he scaled past $100 million. But what comes through immediately is that the math never stays abstract with Nick. It shows up everywhere: in how he proposed to his wife, in how he chooses which poker hands to play, in how he sized up an investment against a senior colleague's instincts and held his ground. The conversation moves through Nick's early encounter with academic failure in college, his two-part framework for making decisions under pressure, the HIPPO principle that quietly kills companies, and a genuinely fascinating breakdown of why elite poker is mostly about patience and folding — not bluffing. He's quick, clear, and unexpectedly funny, and the Battle Rap detour near the end of the episode is one of the show's better 'wait, what?' moments. The episode closes with Nick sharing what Eagle Rock CFO Services is doing — delivering Fortune 500-grade financial analysis to businesses in the $5–50M range at a price point that actually makes sense. Six weeks old at recording. Already has customers. Worth watching. Guest Bio Nick Jain is the co-founder of Eagle Rock CFO Services, where he helps small businesses get elite financial guidance without the Fortune 500 price tag. He trained as a mathematician and physicist, earned his MBA from Harvard Business School — graduating top of his class — and spent a decade in private equity before leading turnarounds as CFO and CEO across trucking, software, and eCommerce. He now works with companies in the $5–50M range, bringing the same playbooks that drive large corporations down to a scale that growing businesses can actually use. Guest Links Website:  http://eaglerockcfo.com/ LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickmjain/ YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@EagleRockCFOServices Eagle Rock Podcast:  https://www.eaglerockcfo.com/podcast Guest CTA Listeners can book a free 30-minute strategy call where Nick reviews their financials and provides 2-3 actionable recommendations to improve profitability or cash flow — no strings attached. Book your free call: https://www.eaglerockcfo.com/podcast Who do you know who'd make a great guest for the show? Please let us know. Email: info@projectcandor.com Website:   https://www.projectcandor.com Social Media Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/ProjectCandor/ LinkedIn:     https://www.linkedin.com/company/projectcandor/ Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/project.candor/ YouTube:    https://www.youtube.com/@ProjectCandorPodcast

    36 min
  8. Star Thrower With Dr. Freda Brazle | Ship's Log 17

    Apr 23

    Star Thrower With Dr. Freda Brazle | Ship's Log 17

    “If you don’t stay relevant, you will become irrelevant.” - Freda Brazle Episode Summary: In this episode of Project Candor, Jeanne Andersen sits with Dr. Freda Brazle, a global leadership strategist and transformation coach, to explore what truly drives effective leadership. With over 30 years of experience across corporate and nonprofit spaces, Freda shares why mindset, not just strategy, is the key to performance, culture, and long-term impact. She highlights the importance of empowering people, building strong relationships, and leading with self-awareness, especially in today’s fast-changing and demanding environment. From addressing disengagement and “quiet quitting” to helping leaders move from feeling stuck to gaining clarity, Freda offers practical insights on leading with intention and empathy. Drawing from her Zambian-American background and global experience, Freda brings a unique perspective on adaptability, communication, and purpose-driven leadership. This episode is a powerful reminder that great leadership starts from within and is ultimately measured by how we show up for others. Guest’s Bio: Freda is a global leadership strategist and transformation coach with over 30 years of experience across five industries. Blending cross-cultural insight with executive expertise, she challenges leaders to view mindset as the new currency. From Fortune 100 roles to global platforms, she drives purposeful change through strategy, storytelling, and human-centered transformation. Links: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/fredabrazle/ Email - freda@fredabrazle.com Business Links: Vistage ZLA Foundation Book: Healthcare Case Management: Using Big Data to Reduce Costs and Improve Outcomes Who do you know who'd make a great guest for the show? Please let us know. Email: info@projectcandor.com Website:   https://www.projectcandor.com Social Media Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/ProjectCandor/ LinkedIn:     https://www.linkedin.com/company/projectcandor/ Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/project.candor/ YouTube:    https://www.youtube.com/@ProjectCandorPodcast

    47 min
5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Everyone has a story worth telling. On Project Candor, host Jeanne Andersen sits down with entrepreneurs, veterans, educators, creatives, leaders, and everyday people to explore the moments that shaped who they became.  Through thoughtful conversations and our signature Two Truths and a Lie segment, guests share authentic stories filled with unexpected turns, hard-earned lessons, humor, resilience, and hope.  Learn more at ProjectCandor.com