Leaders & Legacies

Craig Andrews
  • 5.0 (71)
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Leaders & Legacies

The Leaders & Legacies Podcast celebrates leaders who are making a difference beyond themselves. It was inspired from events in 2021 when the host, Craig Andrews went into a 6-week coma. Even after waking up, his brain was scrambled for another two weeks. When his mind cleared, his wife started telling him how his team stepped up and ran the company without him. Freelancers reached out to his team and offered to do whatever was necessary while he was in the hospital. Craig believes we all make an impact greater than we realize and wants to honor owners and founders as they lead others. Craig Andrews is the founder and Principal Ally at allies4me. He’s been in the marketing space for more than two decades and has driven over a half-billion dollars of revenue. He’s spoken on dozens of podcast as well as conferences including Conversion Conference.

  1. 3D AGO

    211 - Own Your Lane - Michelle Griffin's Framework for Leading with Clarity

    Michelle Griffin joins Craig Andrews to deliver a sharp message for leaders flying under the radar—visibility is not vanity, it's your responsibility. As founder of Brand Leaders and creator of the “Own Your Lane” framework, Michelle helps professionals become the go-to voice in their space. In this episode, she breaks down the four key steps of her method: Launch Your Vision, Articulate Your Difference, Navigate Your Brand, and Elevate Your Authority. She argues that talent alone doesn’t get you noticed—strategic visibility does. Michelle challenges leaders to define their purpose, clarify their niche, and own a positioning that sets them apart. Her framework moves from internal clarity to external credibility, enabling leaders to drive impact, attract opportunities, and grow their authority. She also dismantles the myth that branding is only for big-budget companies. Her message is clear: if you’re not telling your story, someone else is—or worse, no one is. Want to learn more about Michelle Griffin's work? Check out her website at https://michellebgriffin.com/. Connect with Michelle Griffin on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellebgriffin/. Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply at https://podcast.allies4me.com/podcast-guest/. Want to learn more about Craig Andrew's work at allies4me? Check out his website at https://allies4me.com/.

    43 min

  2. 5D AGO

    210 - Building Systems That Set You & Your Business Free - Lessons from David Forster

    David Forster joins Craig Andrews to dismantle one of the most persistent myths in business: that people are the problem. With eight businesses under his belt, Forster explains why 94% of business issues stem from broken or missing processes—not bad hires. He shares how simplifying systems, building checklists, and offloading mental bandwidth into clear SOPs empowers teams to thrive. Craig and David dive into leadership lessons learned the hard way—like when Forster realized his wife was miserable in a "successful" business, or when Craig’s team kept the company running while he lay in a coma. Forster explains how true leadership means letting go of control and creating scalable systems that free both the owner and the team. He also breaks down why simplicity beats complexity, and how business owners can build a company that doesn’t rely on their daily involvement—creating optionality, not dependency. Want to learn more about David Forster's work? Check out their website at https://www.systemsoversweat.com. Connect with David Forster on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/rdavidforster/. Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply at https://podcast.allies4me.com/podcast-guest/. Want to learn more about Craig Andrew's work at allies4me? Check out his website at https://allies4me.com/.

    32 min

  3. JUL 10

    209 - From Green Beret to Cybersecurity Leader - Josh Wathen on Business Resilience

    Josh Wathen, COO of Triad InfoSec and former Green Beret, joins Craig Andrews to sound the alarm on a growing leadership challenge: cyber resilience. In a world where ransomware is a billion-dollar business and hackers operate in full-fledged corporate teams, Josh breaks down why small businesses are soft targets—and how leadership complacency can be fatal. He shares hard-earned insights into the psychology of cyber threats, the high failure rate of insurance claims, and why reactive security costs 10x more than prevention. Josh outlines a leadership approach rooted in responsibility, training, and smart risk transfer. His advice? Stop assuming you're safe. Get real, get proactive, and lead by example. Want to learn more about Josh Wathen's work? Check out their website at https://triadinfosec.io. Connect with Josh Wathen on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-wathen/. Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply at https://podcast.allies4me.com/podcast-guest/. Want to learn more about Craig Andrew's work at allies4me? Check out his website at https://allies4me.com/.

    31 min

  4. JUL 8

    208 - The Three Keys to Success - Philip Portman's Formula for Leading Growth

    Philip Portman, founder of Textdrip and author of Three Keys to Success, shares his raw journey through entrepreneurship and leadership. At his lowest point—deep in debt, grieving the loss of his dog, and questioning his choices—Philip made a commitment: he would never work for anyone else again. That moment became his turning point. In this episode, he explains how personal hardship catalyzed business growth, ultimately scaling his startup across six states. Philip lays out the three pillars of his leadership philosophy: written goals, healthy habits, and what he calls “arrogant confidence”—a mindset just bold enough to fuel breakthrough action. He also digs into the power of SMS marketing, explaining why it delivers stronger engagement than email and how to use it without annoying your audience. His insights on human connection, especially in a world saturated with AI-generated content, emphasize authenticity as a core leadership trait. Want to learn more about Philip Portman's work? Check out their website at https://philportman.com. Connect with Philip Portman on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/philportman/. Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply at https://podcast.allies4me.com/podcast-guest/. Want to learn more about Craig Andrew's work at allies4me? Check out his website at https://allies4me.com/.

    43 min

  5. JUL 3

    207 - Leadership in Action - How Dr. Cristin Dickerson Makes Healthcare Work for Everyone

    Dr. Cristin Dickerson isn’t waiting for the healthcare system to fix itself—she’s leading the charge. As founder of Green Imaging, Dr. Dickerson cuts through red tape and bloated bureaucracy to deliver affordable, high-quality imaging. In this episode, she walks through how leadership rooted in ethics, transparency, and accountability can change the industry from the inside out. She breaks down the rising costs of care, how private equity is warping priorities, and why independent physicians matter now more than ever. Dr. Dickerson also dives into her strategic decisions, including how she scaled a national imaging network without selling out to private investors. Along the way, she shares a powerful story about seeking affordable care for her son—and why empathy drives every business choice she makes. This episode is a crash course in practical leadership in a broken system. Dr. Dickerson’s story proves that real leaders don’t follow trends—they set new standards. Want to learn more about Dr. Cristin Dickerson's work? Check out her website at http://www.greenimaging.net. Connect with Dr. Cristin Dickerson on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/cristin-dickerson-md-a1a1b013/. Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply at https://podcast.allies4me.com/podcast-guest/. Want to learn more about Craig Andrew's work at allies4me? Check out his website at https://allies4me.com/.

    34 min

  6. JUL 1

    206 - Leading Through Numbers - Why Smart CFOs Predict the Future with Ken LaCroix

    Ken LaCroix, Chief Insight Officer at Insightful Partners, brings a sharp leadership lens to financial strategy. In this episode, he explains why a good CFO doesn’t just report history—they help leaders forecast and shape the future. Ken shares stories from the trenches, including uncovering a private jet buried in company expenses, and warns how these tactics might slash a company's valuation. He breaks down common leadership missteps: over-reliance on a single client, underinvesting in marketing, and clinging too tightly to founder control. Ken pushes leaders to hand off responsibility, plan for exits—even if they never intend to sell—and value their businesses like an outside investor would. Whether you’re preparing for an acquisition or planning to pass the torch to the next generation, Ken's insights are direct, actionable, and critical for any serious business leader. Want to learn more about Ken LaCroix's work? Check out their website at https://insightfulpartners.com. Connect with Ken LaCroix on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenlacroix/. Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply at https://podcast.allies4me.com/podcast-guest/. Want to learn more about Craig Andrew's work at allies4me? Check out his website at https://allies4me.com/.

    41 min

  7. JUN 26

    205 - Owning the Dirt - Jeff Peterson’s Leadership Lessons from Business & Real Estate

    Jeff Peterson didn’t start with investors, privilege, or a fallback plan. At 17, he jumped into business and never looked back. On this episode of Leaders and Legacies, Jeff breaks down the leadership lessons behind building a $150 million real estate project from the ground up. What started as a cash-flowing trailer park evolved into a 316-unit, mixed-use development—thanks to years of patience, calculated risk, and grit. Jeff reveals how starting small taught him discipline. From driving a school bus in high school to running his family’s upholstery shop without knowing the craft, every challenge refined his resilience. He also shares a sharp strategy: always charge your own business market rent. If it can’t afford that, it doesn’t belong there. Leadership, to Jeff, is about vision, but also survival. He teaches why speculative investing is dangerous for beginners and why long-term thinking always wins. This episode is a masterclass in entrepreneurial endurance, strategic property ownership, and staying grounded while scaling big. Want to learn more about Jeff Peterson's work? Check out their website at https://petersonproperties.co. Connect with Jeff Peterson on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-peterson-b4a4534/. Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply at https://podcast.allies4me.com/podcast-guest/. Want to learn more about Craig Andrew's work at allies4me? Check out his website at https://allies4me.com/.

    34 min

  8. JUN 24

    204 - From Ghana to California - A Spine Surgeon’s Global View on Leadership with Dr. Kushagra Verma

    Dr. Kushagra Verma doesn’t just run a spine care practice—he leads it with intention, integrity, and data. In this episode, Dr. Verma lays out a clear blueprint for what leadership looks like in medicine. He shares how rejecting volume-based care in favor of concierge-level attention has allowed him to maintain high standards and build lasting trust with patients. Craig Andrews explores Dr. Verma’s early pivot from engineering to surgery, his work in global outreach, and the leadership lessons learned while operating under extreme constraints. Dr. Verma explains how creating an evidence-based practice means blending data, experience, and patient preferences—never defaulting to one-size-fits-all decisions. From his surgical philosophy to the way he builds patient relationships, Dr. Verma demonstrates that leadership in healthcare is about discipline, education, and consistency. This episode is a masterclass in doing hard things the right way. Want to learn more about Dr. Kushagra Verma's work? Check out their website at https://www.advancedspinecare.com. Connect with Dr. Kushagra Verma on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/kushagra-verma-99595714. You can also follow him on Instagram at @asc.md.  Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply at https://podcast.allies4me.com/podcast-guest/. Want to learn more about Craig Andrew's work at allies4me? Check out his website at https://allies4me.com/.

    34 min
See All (211)

5
out of 5
71 Ratings

About

The Leaders & Legacies Podcast celebrates leaders who are making a difference beyond themselves. It was inspired from events in 2021 when the host, Craig Andrews went into a 6-week coma. Even after waking up, his brain was scrambled for another two weeks. When his mind cleared, his wife started telling him how his team stepped up and ran the company without him. Freelancers reached out to his team and offered to do whatever was necessary while he was in the hospital. Craig believes we all make an impact greater than we realize and wants to honor owners and founders as they lead others. Craig Andrews is the founder and Principal Ally at allies4me. He’s been in the marketing space for more than two decades and has driven over a half-billion dollars of revenue. He’s spoken on dozens of podcast as well as conferences including Conversion Conference.

Information

  • Creator
    Craig Andrews
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2025
  • Episodes
    211
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 Craig Andrews
  • Show Website
    Leaders & Legacies

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