We started this podcast in July 2025 with a bold goal: Hit 50 episodes by the end of the year Why? Ambitious goals can help you figure things out faster. I had to learn how to Do. The. Thing. and not let my fear or shyness get in the way. The purpose of the podcast is to bring true, trusted, vetted business advice and leadership advice to the world, where more and more ai slop and hype messaging is sending founders in dangerous, costly misdirections. Plus, it is a blast to geek ...

Consistency is rarely flashy. It's little actions you take again and again (even if boring or hard), and finally... momentum clicks. In this episode of the Growth Department podcast, Chelsey Reynolds sits down again with Dee Henry, founder of The Sales Loft and creator of Boundaries, to unpack what actually happened after her layoff story went viral. Dee returns to share how “The Great Lock In” became her personal operating system for growth. From building two businesses at once to land...

Successful growth depends on more than new technology or big initiatives. It depends on people. In this episode of the Growth Department podcast, Chelsey Reynolds sits down with Scott Sheinbaum, Founder and Senior Managing Partner at Anthros Partners, to unpack what truly drives adoption and ROI during organizational change. Scott brings nearly three decades of consulting experience, having led transformation initiatives at firms like KPMG, IBM, Wipro, and Cognizant. His work spans ERP ...

Strong leadership does not start in the boardroom. It starts at home, with the personal systems that create clarity, confidence, and calm. Are you taking care of yourself first? In this episode of the Growth Department podcast, Chelsey Reynolds sits down with financial advisor Jessica Scola, CFP®, to talk about the five personal finance systems every leader needs in place. This conversation is practical, human, and refreshingly shame free. Jessica brings her experience as a former...

Get ready to rethink how you lead, hire, and scale for remote businesses. On this episode of the Growth Department podcast, Dennis “DM” Meador returns to share the mindset and systems that helped him grow the Legal Podcast Network to nearly 60 remote team members in under two years. Dennis is the founder of The Legal Podcast Network and a nationally recognized expert in legal marketing. With more than 25 years of experience helping law firms grow with clarity and credibility, he brings ...

Culture can feel fuzzy and unimportant until it starts to cost you growth, people, and momentum. In this episode of the Growth Department podcast, we turn culture into something you can actually design, measure, and manage. Strategic growth and M&A executive Matthew Person returns to unpack his concept of constrained independence and his Square Management System, a practical way to align structure, strategy, and behavior as you scale. He explains why the best companies are the most ...

The creative world is evolving fast, and the leaders who know how to blend branding, culture, and strategic thinking are the ones shaping what comes next. In this episode of the Growth Department podcast, Chelsey sits down with Jesse Vuona, a multi versed digital creative director and cofounder of Fresh, a boutique agency trusted by brands like Adidas, New Balance, Converse, Panera, Foxwoods, NCAA, and YMCA. Jesse brings a rare mix of conceptual thinking, visual design, UX expertise, an...

Leaders everywhere are rethinking how they show up for their teams. This conversation with Julia Rock brings clarity to what modern leadership really requires. Her philosophy is simple: Leadership isn’t complicated, it’s just hard, and small daily actions create the culture your people feel every day. In this episode of the Growth Department podcast, Julia shares how clarity, consistency, connection, courage, and celebration shape engaged teams and healthy workplaces. You’ll hear how to...

Build faster. Spend less. Keep control. In this episode of the Growth Department podcast, Chelsey and no-code expert Xan Hong, founder of Drive Phase Consulting, reveal how founders ship MVPs in weeks, connect tools with APIs, and launch AI agents that act like real team members. You’ll hear how Xan built his first app to track an ice cream truck with his daughter and how that moment turned into a thriving consulting business helping founders create software without a single line of cod...

Ethical persuasion is not slick sales tactics or trickery. Ethical persuasion is a super power that unlocks how people truly make decisions and how to communicate in ways that feel genuine for everyone involved. In this episode of the Growth Department podcast, Chelsey Reynolds sits down with Patrick Van Der Burght, a Cialdini Certified Trainer and co-author of How to Hear Yes More Often. Patrick shares the science of ethical persuasion, explaining why most of our decisions come from in...

Curious about AI but short on time? This episode of the Growth Department podcast gives leaders and operators a plain-English playbook. Chelsey sits down with AI engineering leader and author Sairam Sundaresan to unpack what actually moves the needle. No jargon. Just practical wins you can plug into your business this week. You will hear how Sairam thinks about AI literacy for leaders, why simple tools beat shiny toys, and where agents fit in. He also shares a 30-minutes-a-day routine to buil...

Modern buyers are tuning out the cold pitch, so smart founders and sales leaders are changing how they sell. In this episode of the Growth Department podcast, Chelsey sits down with Joe Candido, founder of Fifth Element Associates and best selling author of Leadership Selling, to explore how sales leaders can ditch outdated tactics and start leading with outcomes that matter. Joe breaks down why traditional selling is dead, what it means to “sell to leaders,” and how the best sales teams are ...

You don’t need a massive following to see real results on LinkedIn. In this episode of the Growth Department podcast, Chelsey sits down with Kayla Ihrig, founder of Writing From Nowhere, to uncover how entrepreneurs can grow their visibility and revenue on LinkedIn with just 30 minutes a day. Kayla shares her best strategies for clear positioning, daily engagement, and creating content that builds genuine relationships instead of chasing algorithms. Whether you’ve avoided LinkedIn becau...

AI is changing marketing fast. Wes Towers used it to rebuild Uplift 360 and create the most profitable year in company history, all while doubling down on authenticity. In this episode of the Growth Department podcast, Chelsey and Wes break down the systems, content, and team moves that let a boutique agency serve construction brands at a higher level. You will learn how Uplift 360 helps builders, trades, and materials companies show up in AI overviews and search. Wes walks through thei...

Every founder and executive leader wants a high-performing team. But when cracks start to form in your company culture, performance and retention take the hit. In this episode of the Growth Department podcast, Chelsey Reynolds sits down with Janice Brathwaite, CEO & founder of Workplace Transformations, creator of the Workplace Transformation Method™, and an expert in helping organizations diagnose and repair cultural breakdowns before they turn into business problems. With over 17 years ...

Clean data. Clear revenue. Is this dream-come-true world in a CRM possible? In this episode of the Growth Department podcast, Chelsey Reynolds sits down with Jasz Joseph, Founder & HubSpot Strategist, human-centered growth advocate, and connector of people and opportunities. Jasz shares how lean teams can get more from HubSpot without adding more complexity. After years working for top HubSpot partner agencies, Jasz saw a pattern she couldn’t ignore. Companies were investing thousands in ...

What if we could prove that prioritizing inclusion = a more profitable way to run your business? In this episode of the Growth Department podcast, Chelsey talks with Joseph Santana, executive advisor, inclusion strategist, and host of the ERG PowerTalk® Podcast. Together, they explore how companies can move inclusion beyond HR checklists and turn it into a measurable business advantage. Joe is the Chairman of the CDO PowerCircle and a trusted advisor to executives from companies that collecti...

When culture feels confusing, growth stalls. In this episode of the Growth Department podcast, Chelsey sits down with organizational strategist and author Matthew Person to unpack why so many company cultures quietly break down and how his “Square Management System” helps leaders create alignment, trust, and scalable clarity. Matthew brings nearly 25 years of experience helping companies create and capture enterprise value. He’s the creator of the proprietary Square Management System, and aut...

Growing a transferable business starts with clarity. In this episode of the Growth Department podcast, Chelsey Reynolds sits down with Stephen Wolford of Foresight Growth Advisors to explore what it takes to build a company that gives you freedom today and flexibility tomorrow. Stephen shares how to remove owner dependency, improve financial visibility, and strengthen leadership so your business runs smoothly with or without you. You’ll hear how proactive planning turns exit readiness into an...

What if your brand could become the trusted voice your audience looks for first? In this episode of the Growth Department podcast, Arias WebsterBerry shares how he built multiple businesses by shifting from random acts of marketing to conversations at scale. He breaks down Social Authority, his blend of smart PR and consistent content, and shows how creative-first thinking gives founders a real growth edge. You’ll hear his incredible journey from homelessness to running arena-sized campaigns ...