Talking to Cool People w/ Jason Frazell

Jason Frazell
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Talking to Cool People w/ Jason Frazell

Do you ever wish you could sit down with the most interesting people on the planet and just talk?  That’s exactly what happens on Talking to Cool People. Host Jason Frazell sits down with thought leaders, creatives, entrepreneurs, and disruptors for real, unfiltered conversations. Sometimes it’s about expertise. Sometimes it’s a powerful story. And sometimes—it’s just a damn entertaining conversation. Whether you’re here for insight, inspiration, or laughs, you’ll leave with something to think about and something to implement.

  1. Shubhangi Srivastava - CTO of NEP Services

    APR 16

    Shubhangi Srivastava - CTO of NEP Services

    Send us a text How does a girl from a small Indian factory town become the CTO of a thriving U.S. tech company? In this inspiring and honest conversation, Shubhangi Srivastava—“Shoey” to her friends—shares her powerful journey from her humble beginnings to leading as a woman in tech at NEP Services. We dive into the cultural shift of moving to the U.S., her early challenges in tech, and the moments of burnout that shaped her leadership approach. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to rise through the ranks in a fast-moving, male-dominated industry—or how to stay true to your roots while building a bold future—you’ll love Shoey’s grounded wisdom and practical insights. “Burnout isn’t just being tired. It’s when even your passion feels like a burden.” Shubhangi Srivastava is chief technology officer of NEP Services. A visionary leader with deep technical expertise, Shubhangi is the driving force behind the creation and launch of Connect Plus+, NEP’s employee management and empowerment solution. She not only architected the platform, overseeing it from concept to reality, but also spearheaded its intuitive design and led a cross-functional team to overcome technical challenges and ultimately achieve the project’s goals. Shubhangi began her career at NEP as a web developer and received several promotions leading to her current position as CTO. She is an advocate for women in STEM, serving as a mentor for girls pursuing STEM careers. Shubhangi holds a Master’s Degree in Computer Science from California State University, Long Beach, and a Bachelor of Technology in Computer Science and Engineering from SRM University in India. https://www.nepservices.com/  https://www.facebook.com/nepconnects  https://www.instagram.com/nepconnects/#  https://www.linkedin.com/in/srivastavashubhangi/  Free Resource Get better-quality, faster results from your teams with these coaching methodologies here. Connect with Jason If you enjoyed listening, then please take a second to rate the show on iTunes. Every podcaster will tell you that iTunes reviews drive listeners to our shows, so please let me know what you think and make sure you subscribe using your favorite podcast player. It means a lot to me and the guests. https://www.jasonfrazell.com https://www.jasonfrazell.com/podcasts https://www.instagram.com/jasontfrazell https://www.https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonfrazell/

    40 min
  2. Stacey Yudin - CEO of NEP Services

    APR 16

    Stacey Yudin - CEO of NEP Services

    Send us a text Stacey Yudin wears a lot of hats—CEO, innovator, strategist, and truth-teller. As the head of NEP Services, she leads in the fast-paced, ever-evolving world of tech, all while embracing imperfection and promoting a human-first work culture. In this candid conversation, Stacey pulls back the curtain on what it really means to lead in tech as a woman today. From balancing sprints and self-care, to letting go of perfectionism, to using client feedback as fuel—she gets real about the rollercoaster of building software that actually serves people. This is a must-listen for anyone navigating leadership, entrepreneurship, or simply trying to do meaningful work without burning out. “Letting go of perfectionism opened the door to building something better—and more human.” Stacey Yudin is chief executive officer of NEP Services and a champion of change. A tech leader, Stacey is known for her unstoppable drive and creating transformative technology to advance nonprofits and build strong communities. Stacey is the visionary behind Connect Plus+ mobile app platforms for building communities, communication and empowerment. Under her leadership, the company was named a 2024 Fast Company Most Innovative Company and has created a world-class team that celebrates gender diversity and female empowerment. Prior to NEP Services, Stacey was in the healthcare sector as well as a consumer products entrepreneur. She actively supports numerous nonprofits, served as Collegiate President for Face Aids and UNICEF at UCLA and is an active speaker at industry events. Stacey earned her bachelor’s degree in History and Public Health from the University of California, Los Angeles. She is passionate about the industrial 4.0 and believes that tech is the bridge to building a better future for nonprofits. Check out https://www.nepservices.com/products/help-a-hero https://www.nepservices.com/  https://www.facebook.com/nepconnects  https://www.instagram.com/nepconnects/#  https://www.linkedin.com/in/stacey-yudin-722a101b/  Free Resource Get better-quality, faster results from your teams with these coaching methodologies here. Connect with Jason If you enjoyed listening, then please take a second to rate the show on iTunes. Every podcaster will tell you that iTunes reviews drive listeners to our shows, so please let me know what you think and make sure you subscribe using your favorite podcast player. It means a lot to me and the guests. https://www.jasonfrazell.com https://www.jasonfrazell.com/podcasts https://www.instagram.com/jasontfrazell https://www.https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonfrazell/

    51 min
  3. Richard White - CEO of Fathom AI NoteTaker

    MAR 19

    Richard White - CEO of Fathom AI NoteTaker

    Send us a text Jason talks with Richard White, the CEO of Fathom AI Note Taker. They talk about Richard's journey to becoming a successful founder, why a free product is sometimes the best marketing strategy for growth, and how he thinks about what it takes to successfully scale a team of people from below ten to over fifty. “When you build a business, build one that plays to your strengths—not what someone else tells you to do.” Richard White is the founder and CEO of Fathom.video, a free app that records, transcribes & highlights your calls so you can focus on the conversation instead of taking notes.  Fathom was a part of the Y-Combinator W21 batch, is one of only 50 Zoom App Launch Partners, and is one of a small handful of companies Zoom has invested in directly via their Zoom Apps Fund. Prior to Fathom, Richard founded UserVoice, one of the leading platforms that technology companies, from startups to the Fortune 500, use for managing customer feedback and making strategic product decisions. UserVoice was notable for being the company that originally invented the Feedback tabs shown on the side of millions of websites around the world today. Richard previously worked on Kiko, a company in the first batch of Y-Combinator, with Justin Kan and Emmett Shear who subsequently went on to found Twitch. Richard is passionate about designing intuitive productivity tools with delightful user experiences. Try Fathom for free: https://fathom.video https://www.linkedin.com/in/rrwhite/ Free Resource Get better-quality, faster results from your teams with these coaching methodologies here. Connect with Jason If you enjoyed listening, then please take a second to rate the show on iTunes. Every podcaster will tell you that iTunes reviews drive listeners to our shows, so please let me know what you think and make sure you subscribe using your favorite podcast player. It means a lot to me and the guests. https://www.jasonfrazell.com https://www.jasonfrazell.com/podcasts https://www.instagram.com/jasontfrazell https://www.https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonfrazell/

    45 min
  4. James Harrington - CEO of Ugandan Water Project

    MAR 12

    James Harrington - CEO of Ugandan Water Project

    Send us a text Jason sits down with James Harrington, the CEO and founder of the Ugandan Water Project (UWP), to discuss his mission of providing clean and accessible water to communities in Uganda. James shares his journey from working in retail and tour management to becoming a leader in global humanitarian efforts. Together, Jason and James explore the power of water, the impact of grassroots efforts, and the challenges of running a nonprofit like a high-performance business. “When you have safe water, you have the privilege of a thousand problems. When you don’t, you only get one.” https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesbharrington/ https://secure.givelively.org/teams/ugandan-water-project-inc/16th-annual-5k-2025/sunshine-daydream Free Resource Get better-quality, faster results from your teams with these coaching methodologies here. Connect with Jason If you enjoyed listening, then please take a second to rate the show on iTunes. Every podcaster will tell you that iTunes reviews drive listeners to our shows, so please let me know what you think and make sure you subscribe using your favorite podcast player. It means a lot to me and the guests. https://www.jasonfrazell.com https://www.jasonfrazell.com/podcasts https://www.instagram.com/jasontfrazell https://www.https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonfrazell/

    57 min
  5. Mike Ganino - Making a Scene: How to be Unforgettable in Every Spotlight

    MAR 5

    Mike Ganino - Making a Scene: How to be Unforgettable in Every Spotlight

    Send us a text Like the Avengers all came back in Endgame (spoiler!), Mike Ganino is back for round 2 on the podcast! Mike joins Jason for a high-energy, no-fluff conversation on what it really takes to communicate with impact. Mike—speaker coach, improv performer, keynote director, and now author of Make a Scene—shares why storytelling, stage presence, and vocal delivery are critical skills for anyone looking to own their space in meetings, sales, and leadership. From bad advice about public speaking to practical ways to own your voice and physicality, Mike and Jason break down the five Stage Languages that make or break a communicator. 🔹 Why everyone needs to care about communication—even if you're "not a speaker" 🔹 The biggest mistakes speakers & business leaders make (and how to fix them) 🔹 Why storytelling works and how to use it in your everyday life 🔹 Practical exercises to make you a better speaker TODAY 🎤 PLUS: Mike shares his favorite award season speech, Jason drops some tough love on bad Zoom etiquette, and they even give you a quick homework assignment—are you up for it? 🎧 Listen now and get ready to MAKE A SCENE. Mike Ganino is a storytelling expert, speaking coach, and creative director who helps professional speakers, bestselling authors, and entrepreneurs make unforgettable scenes on stage. He’s the author of the new book Make A Scene: Storytelling, Stage Presence, and the Art of Being Unforgettable in Every Spotlight, a guide to showing up boldly and connecting deeply through with storytelling + stage presence.  A former TEDx Executive Producer and sommelier (because why not?), Mike has trained over 5,000 speakers using his signature Mike Drop Method—helping them craft messages that hit harder than a double espresso. His work has shaped viral TEDx talks, launched bestselling books, and transformed even the most stage-shy scientists into magnetic performers. When he’s not turning everyday presenters into speaking superstars, you’ll find him sipping wine, doing Olaf and Sven (Frozen) impressions to make his daughter laugh, or trying (unsuccessfully) to convince his dog Elliott to appreciate Shakespeare. Instagram X Facebook https://www.mikeganino.com/ Free Resource Get better-quality, faster results from your teams with these coaching methodologies here. Connect with Jason If you enjoyed listening, then please take a second to rate the show on iTunes. Every podcaster will tell you that iTunes reviews drive listeners to our shows, so please let me know what you think and make sure you subscribe using your favorite podcast player. It means a lot to me and the guests. https://www.jasonfrazell.com https://www.jasonfrazell.com/podcasts https://www.instagram.com/jasontfrazell https://www.https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonfrazell/

    50 min
  6. Ellen Patnaude - Coach, Author, Speaker, Elder Care Advocate

    12/11/2024

    Ellen Patnaude - Coach, Author, Speaker, Elder Care Advocate

    Send us a text In this episode, Jason talks with Ellen Patnaude, author, coach, and dementia educator, about her journey as a caregiver for her mother with Lewy body dementia. Ellen shares her experiences navigating family dynamics, systemic gaps in elder care, and the importance of planning for the future. With honesty and humor, this conversation offers practical insights and support for anyone dealing with caregiving challenges or aging parents. “Plan. Talk to your loved ones, an attorney, and put something in writing. Don’t leave the burden of guessing to your family.” Ellen Patnaude has always been fascinated by how a person’s nature and lived experiences cause them to interact with others. She is a Detroit native and graduated from Alma College with a BA in Biology & French. She thought she wanted to be Jacques Cousteau, but her first few science-based jobs pointed clearly towards working with people. She worked for several years as a community organizer in Indiana and Ohio. Returning to Michigan in 2005, her reputation followed her for challenging people to see and be a better version of themselves, and the phone started ringing. Since then, Ellen has built an internationally recognized company supporting teams and their leaders in improving everyday interactions. Ellen is the author of two books, “I Thought You Knew… Confessions of a Chronic Assumer (and How to Stop Guessing Your Way Through Important Interactions)” and “You’re Not Doing It Right: Loving My Mother Through An Unpredictable Caregiving Journey.” https://patnaudecoaching.com/ Free Resource Get better-quality, faster results from your teams with these coaching methodologies here. Connect with Jason If you enjoyed listening, then please take a second to rate the show on iTunes. Every podcaster will tell you that iTunes reviews drive listeners to our shows, so please let me know what you think and make sure you subscribe using your favorite podcast player. It means a lot to me and the guests. https://www.jasonfrazell.com https://www.jasonfrazell.com/podcasts https://www.instagram.com/jasontfrazell https://www.https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonfrazell/

    46 min
  7. Tamsen Webster is back!- Author, Speaker, Persuasive Message Designer

    11/13/2024

    Tamsen Webster is back!- Author, Speaker, Persuasive Message Designer

    Send us a text Tamsen is back again for another episode with Jason! They delve into the intricate dance of driving and adapting to change. . Together, they explore the depths of handling change — from personal upheavals to organizational shifts, emphasizing strategies that foster lasting transformations without coercion. "If you act from a presumption that your audience is smart, capable, and good, you open up pathways for understanding and acceptance that are otherwise closed." With over 25 years of experience in persuasive message design, Tamsen Webster is known for her unique approach to creating transformational change. Her work focuses on helping others learn the simplest, strongest ways to build the stories that partners, investors, clients, and customers will tell themselves—and others. It has also helped leaders at major purpose-driven organizations such as Johnson & Johnson and Harvard Medical School drive action from new and novel ideas. As the Idea Strategist for TEDxCambridge (now TEDxNewEngland), Tamsen has honed her expertise in crafting messages that resonate quickly and deeply. She’s been the principal of the boutique message design practice she founded in 2016, helping hundreds of clients and audiences connect with the stakeholders that propel new ideas forward. In 2023, she founded the Message Design Institute, an online learning and development hub that equips leaders and organizations with the knowledge and practical tools they need to craft persuasive messages on their own. She is the author of the critically acclaimed Find Your Red Thread: Make Your Big Ideas Irresistible and the forthcoming Say What They Can't Unhear: The 9 Principles of Lasting Change, which offers a new, principles-first approach to persuasion. http://messagedesigninstitute.com http://TamsenWebster.com Free Resource Get better-quality, faster results from your teams with these coaching methodologies here. Connect with Jason If you enjoyed listening, then please take a second to rate the show on iTunes. Every podcaster will tell you that iTunes reviews drive listeners to our shows, so please let me know what you think and make sure you subscribe using your favorite podcast player. It means a lot to me and the guests. https://www.jasonfrazell.com https://www.jasonfrazell.com/podcasts https://www.instagram.com/jasontfrazell https://www.https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonfrazell/

    40 min
  8. Dr. Mitch Kusy - Why I Don't Work Here Anymore

    09/25/2024

    Dr. Mitch Kusy - Why I Don't Work Here Anymore

    Send us a text I sit down with Dr. Mitch Kusy, an organizational psychologist, professor, and leadership expert, to explore the hidden costs of toxic workplace cultures. Dr. Kusy shares the startling results of his research into how toxic behaviors not only damage team morale but can also have real financial impacts on organizations. Whether you’re a leader struggling with cultural challenges or someone looking to understand how to make your work environment healthier, this episode is packed with actionable strategies for creating a positive, productive workplace. “94% of the 900-plus leaders in our study said they deal with toxic work systems. 94%—it's really amazing.” As an organizational psychologist, Dr. Mitch Kusy brings 25 years of consulting and research on how toxic behaviors and work cultures erode personal well-being, team performance, and patient outcomes. His systems approach to addressing toxic work systems has become a benchmark worldwide for improving patient safety and satisfaction, as well as healthcare team productivity. Mitch has consulted and been a keynote speaker with hundreds of organizations nationally and internationally helping create healthcare cultures of “everyday civility” with demonstrated improvement in team and financial performance. https://www.mitchellkusy.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-mitch-kusy/ Free Resource Get better-quality, faster results from your teams with these coaching methodologies here. Connect with Jason If you enjoyed listening, then please take a second to rate the show on iTunes. Every podcaster will tell you that iTunes reviews drive listeners to our shows, so please let me know what you think and make sure you subscribe using your favorite podcast player. It means a lot to me and the guests. https://www.jasonfrazell.com https://www.jasonfrazell.com/podcasts https://www.instagram.com/jasontfrazell https://www.https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonfrazell/

    43 min
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4.8
out of 5
35 Ratings

About

Do you ever wish you could sit down with the most interesting people on the planet and just talk?  That’s exactly what happens on Talking to Cool People. Host Jason Frazell sits down with thought leaders, creatives, entrepreneurs, and disruptors for real, unfiltered conversations. Sometimes it’s about expertise. Sometimes it’s a powerful story. And sometimes—it’s just a damn entertaining conversation. Whether you’re here for insight, inspiration, or laughs, you’ll leave with something to think about and something to implement.

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