Ninety percent of top performers share one thing in common: emotional intelligence. Yet many organizations still focus on technical skills over the human skills that drive trust, retention, and growth.
In this episode of The Bliss Business Podcast, we sit down with Jennifer Lemcke, CEO of Weed Man, to explore how emotional intelligence transforms leadership, culture, and the bottom line.
Jennifer shares her insights on:
• The link between empathy and franchise success
• How emotional intelligence scales culture across hundreds of locations
• What leaders can do to strengthen trust and engagement
• Why purpose and care create the foundation for growth
🎙️ Hosted by Stephen Sakach and Mike Liwski
🎧 Produced by Tullio Siragusa
Emotional intelligence is not just a skill. It’s a strategy for lasting success.
According to Gartner, companies with strong marketing–sales alignment can see up to a 208% increase in marketing revenue contribution. Yet many organizations still treat marketing as a cost center instead of a strategic growth driver.
In this week’s Marketing With Purpose Kit from The Bliss Business Podcast, we’re joined by Jennifer Sullivan, Fractional Chief Growth Officer at Hollywood Dialect Coach. Jennifer brings nearly two decades of experience driving profitable growth and transformation across finance, SaaS, entertainment, media, and technology. Known for her rare combination of financial rigor, creative vision, and executive alignment, she shares how turning marketing into a true revenue engine requires the right balance of data, creativity, and strategy.
PST 🎙️ Hosted by Mike Liwski
🎧 Produced by Martha Huerta
🧭 In this episode, we cover:
• How to transform marketing from support function to growth driver
• Why revenue alignment begins with shared vision and metrics
• Practical strategies for integrating marketing, sales, and finance
• Real-world insights on leveraging AI and creativity to fuel business results
🎧 Whether you’re leading a startup, scaling a franchise, or guiding a corporate brand, this conversation will help you unlock the full growth potential of marketing.
In a world obsessed with productivity, many leaders overlook the one factor that drives it all: connection.
A recent Deloitte study found that 74% of employees want more flexibility and meaning in how they work. Yet too many companies still design systems for control instead of trust.
In this episode of The Bliss Business Podcast, we sit down with Patrick Cowden, CRO and Architect of Warmspace, to explore what it takes to build human-centered work models for the future.
Patrick shares powerful insights on:
• Why trust, not technology, defines the future of work
• How emotionally intelligent leaders build stronger teams
• The systems that create real connection in hybrid and digital workplaces
• Why love and purpose are essential to performance
🎙️ Hosted by Stephen Sakach and Mike Liwski
🎧 Produced by Tullio Siragusa
The future of work isn’t just about innovation. It’s about remembering what makes us human.
According to Harvard Business Review, purpose-driven companies outperform competitors by 42 percent in profitability and retention.
Yet too often, leaders treat profit as the goal instead of the result of meaningful, people-centered business.
In this episode of The Bliss Business Podcast, we explore what Conscious Capitalism looks like in practice, where purpose and profit grow together.
Our guest, Neal Courtney, CEO of Cookie Cutters, joins us to share how leading with heart, joy, and purpose creates loyal teams, happy customers, and sustainable business growth.
🎙️ Hosted by Stephen Sakach and Mike Liwski
🎧 Produced by Tullio Siragusa
🧭 In this episode, we explore:
• How Conscious Capitalism transforms culture and profit
• The role of love and empathy in sustainable leadership
• What it takes to balance play, purpose, and performance
• Why joy is a strategic advantage in business
Love and purpose are not opposites of profit, they are the foundation of it.
A Deloitte study found that organizations with strong cross-functional collaboration are 60% more likely to exceed performance expectations. Yet many marketing teams still operate in silos, leading to missed opportunities, duplicate work, and inconsistent customer experiences.
In this week’s Marketing With Purpose Kit from The Bliss Business Podcast, we’re joined by Katherine LeBlanc, SVP of Marketing at 4Ever Young Anti-Aging Solutions.
Katherine is a dynamic marketing leader with over 20 years of experience in franchising across industries including food, experiential, and health & beauty brands. She shares how breaking down silos between IT, Operations, and Marketing can unlock innovation, drive growth, and create purpose-driven impact.
🎙️ Hosted by Michelle Brasfield
🎧 Produced by Martha Huerta
🧭 In this episode, we cover:
• Why silos persist and the hidden costs they create
• How shared purpose aligns marketing, operations, and technology
• Practical steps to foster collaboration and creativity across teams
• Real-world insights on driving growth through cross-functional unity
🎧 Whether you’re leading a startup, scaling a franchise, or running a corporate team, this conversation will help you reimagine collaboration as your ultimate marketing advantage.
Only 33 percent of employees strongly agree they feel connected to their company’s mission (Gallup, 2024).
That lack of connection impacts everything from engagement to innovation.
In this episode of The Bliss Business Podcast, we explore how community and connection can transform not only workplace culture but also business performance.
Our guest, Mark Van Wye, CEO of Zoom Room, joins us to discuss how purpose, empathy, and relationships can become a company’s greatest growth engine.
🎙️ Hosted by Stephen Sakach and Mike Liwski
🎧 Produced by Tullio Siragusa
🧭 In this episode, we explore:
• How purpose drives connection across franchise systems
• Why empathy and emotional intelligence improve performance
• The ROI of community-driven business models
• What leading with love looks like in practice
This episode reminds us that connection is not a soft skill. It is the foundation of scalable, sustainable success.
Only 31 percent of employees strongly agree that their company cares about their well-being (Gallup, 2024). That’s not just a people problem, it’s a business problem.
In this episode of The Bliss Business Podcast, we sit down with Brian Kellerman, CEO at GoGather, to explore how intentional connection transforms company culture, leadership, and performance.
🎙️ Hosted by Stephen Sakach and Mike Liwski
🎧 Produced by Tullio Siragusa
🧭 In this episode, we explore:
• How connection and belonging drive business performance
• Systems that help scale emotional connection across organizations
• The link between purpose and community in building lasting culture
• Why love, care, and empathy are the strongest leadership tools in business today
🎧 Connection isn’t built by accident, it’s designed by leaders who care.
According to McKinsey, 70% of consumers say their sense of connection to a brand influences their purchasing decisions. Yet many companies still overlook the importance of empathy and purpose in shaping authentic marketing strategies that truly resonate.
In this week’s Marketing With Purpose Kit from The Bliss Business Podcast, we’re joined by Stephen Sakach, Founder and CEO of Zero Company and aiCMO. Stephen brings over two decades of experience helping brands grow through data-driven marketing, AI innovation, and purpose-led leadership. He shares how bringing empathy and intention into marketing strategies creates stronger alignment between technology, teams, and customers.
🎙️ Hosted by Michelle Brasfield
🎧 Produced by Martha Huerta
🧭 In this episode, we cover:
• How purpose fuels meaningful customer engagement
• Why empathy is key to effective marketing leadership
• Practical ways to balance AI, data, and human connection
• Real-world insights from decades of purpose-driven innovation
🎧 Whether you’re leading a startup, scaling a franchise, or guiding a corporate team, this conversation will inspire you to bring purpose and empathy to the heart of your marketing and leadership.
Only 32% of employees believe their company truly lives its stated values (Deloitte, 2024). That gap between words and actions is where trust is lost — and where conscious capitalism steps in.
In this episode of The Bliss Business Podcast, we sit down with Rachel Fine Wilson, Founder and CEO of Gigglewaters, to explore how values-driven leadership and authentic connection can transform a business from profitable to purposeful.
🎙️ Hosted by Stephen Sakach and Mike Liwski
🎧 Produced by Tullio Siragusa
In this episode, we explore:
• What conscious capitalism looks like inside a fast-growing hospitality brand
• How to scale culture and care without losing authenticity
• Why purpose and profit are not opposites, but partners in progress
• How empathy and emotional intelligence drive sustainable success
• What “love in leadership” really means in the world of franchising
This episode will challenge how you think about business, purpose, and growth.
A recent Deloitte study revealed that purpose-driven brands are 50% more likely to inspire customer loyalty and long-term growth. Yet many organizations still view marketing as a transaction rather than a tool for connection, empathy, and shared values.
In this week’s Marketing With Purpose Kit from The Bliss Business Podcast, we’re joined by Julie Green, Vice President of Marketing for Heights Wellness Retreat. Julie leads marketing initiatives for a fast-growing wellness brand and shares how aligning marketing with purpose and empathy can create meaningful connections with customers while driving brand growth.
PDT 🎙️ Hosted by Mike Liwski
🎧 Produced by Martha Huerta
🧭 In this episode, we cover:
• How empathy and purpose elevate brand storytelling
• Why authentic connection drives customer loyalty
• Practical ways to align brand strategy with human values
• Real-world insights from purpose-driven marketing in action
🎧 Whether you’re leading a startup, scaling a franchise, or steering a corporate team, this conversation will inspire you to bring more purpose and empathy into every aspect of your marketing.
Research from Harvard Business Review shows that 90% of top performers possess high emotional intelligence. Yet many organizations still prioritize technical skills over emotional skills when developing leaders.
In this episode of The Bliss Business Podcast, we’re joined by Kim Daly, Founder and CEO of The Zee Suite. Kim is a nationally recognized franchise consultant, business coach, and one of the top-producing advisors with FranChoice.
With over two decades of experience and nearly 1,000 franchisees created through her consulting work, Kim has become a trusted voice on entrepreneurship, leadership culture, and franchise development strategy.
Her journey from fitness entrepreneur and dot-com founder to performance coach offers a unique perspective on how emotional intelligence fuels business success, resilience, and freedom.
🎙️ Hosted by Stephen Sakach and Mike Liwski
🎧 Produced by Tullio Siragusa
🧭 In this episode, we explore:
• How emotional intelligence influences franchise success and leadership impact
• Ways to build systems that foster emotional growth without sacrificing performance
• The link between purpose, authenticity, and business alignment
• How love and empathy create lasting trust in leadership and customer relationships
🎧 Emotional intelligence is not a soft skill, it is the foundation of effective leadership.
According to Harvard Business Review, purpose-driven brands outperform the market by 42%—yet many organizations still struggle to infuse genuine empathy and meaning into their marketing.
The key lies in understanding that purpose isn’t just a message—it’s a mindset that guides every interaction and decision.
In this week’s Marketing With Purpose Kit from The Bliss Business Podcast, we’re joined by Ash Maher, Chief Marketing Officer at Falcon Wealth Planning. Ash brings extensive experience in growth strategy, financial marketing, and leadership across competitive industries.
With a proven track record of driving 1,000% revenue growth and leading award-winning campaigns, he shares how integrating purpose and empathy can elevate brand trust, engagement, and long-term success.
🎙️ Hosted by Mike Liwski
🎧 Produced by Martha Huerta
🧭 In this episode, we cover:
• How empathy transforms marketing from transactional to meaningful
• Why purpose is the foundation for sustainable growth
• Practical ways to connect authentic values with business outcomes
• Real-world examples of purpose-driven leadership in action
🎧 Whether you’re leading a startup, scaling a franchise, or guiding a corporate team, this conversation will help you bring purpose and empathy to the heart of your marketing strategy.
Seventy-three percent of employees say they want to work for companies that balance profit with purpose, yet fewer than one in four believe their employer truly does (Deloitte Human Values Index, 2025).
The truth is, business has the power to heal or to harm, and that power depends on how consciously it is led.
In this episode of The Bliss Business Podcast, we’re joined by Raj Sisodia, Co-Founder of Conscious Capitalism and Author of Firms of Endearment, to explore how love, purpose, and higher consciousness can reshape the future of business.
Raj has inspired a global movement that challenges the traditional definition of success, proving that when businesses lead with purpose and compassion, profit follows naturally.
🎙️ Hosted by Stephen Sakach and Mike Liwski
🎧 Produced by Tullio Siragusa
🧭 In this episode, we explore:
• How conscious capitalism balances performance with purpose
• The systems that make empathy and accountability work together
• The role of love and care in building resilient organizations
• How AI can amplify human flourishing when guided by ethics and compassion
• Why purpose is the most strategic advantage a company can have
🎧 This episode is a masterclass in leading with humanity while creating lasting value for all stakeholders.
79% of consumers say they want brands to create real connections, not just transactions (Edelman Trust Barometer, 2024).
Community isn’t just a buzzword. It’s a growth strategy.
In this episode of The Bliss Business Podcast, we’re joined by Jonathan Weathington, CEO of Shuckin Shack Oyster Bar. Since 2014, Jonathan has led the company from a single coastal location to a nationally recognized brand featured in The Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, and Good Morning America.
Known for his no-nonsense approach, Jonathan has made Shuckin Shack a model for how hospitality and community can scale side by side.
🎙️ Hosted by Tullio Siragusa and Mike Liwski
🎧 Produced by Tullio Siragusa
🧭 In this episode, we explore:
• Why community must be more than marketing to create real business growth
• How systems and culture can scale connection across multiple locations
• The deeper purpose driving Shuckin Shack’s expansion
• Why empathy and compassion are as essential to leadership as strategy
🎧 Whether you’re in hospitality, franchising, or any industry built on trust, this episode will show you how community can be your strongest competitive edge.
A Deloitte study found that customer-centric companies are 60% more profitable than those that are not.
Yet in a world overflowing with analytics and automation, many businesses struggle to create authentic customer connections that go beyond the data.
In this week’s Marketing With Purpose Kit from The Bliss Business Podcast, we’re joined by Dan Wheeler, Chief Marketing Officer at K9 Resorts Luxury Pet Hotel. Dan brings decades of experience leading marketing, guest experience, and innovation across top brands, and he shares how companies can blend data with empathy to strengthen customer loyalty and business performance.
🎙️ Hosted by Mike Liwski
🎧 Produced by Martha Huerta
🧭 In this episode, we cover:
• Why customer connection is a competitive advantage in today’s market
• How to use data to enhance, not replace, human interactions
• Practical steps to integrate analytics with customer experience strategies
• Real-world examples of brands building trust and loyalty through connection
🎧 Whether you’re leading a startup, scaling a franchise, or steering a corporate team, this conversation will help you rethink customer connection in the era of data-driven marketing.
74% of companies say they are rethinking their work models to remain competitive (Deloitte, 2024).
The challenge is no longer whether work will change — it is how leaders will design models that sustain both people and performance.
In this episode of The Bliss Business Podcast, we’re joined by Ashley Wright, Founder and CEO of Plantista, an investor-backed startup pioneering the use of AI to scale expertise in the green industry.
Featured on Nasdaq, AP News, NBC, Fox, WGN, and Forbes, Ashley is modernizing an entire industry by blending AI innovation with sustainability at its core.
🎙️ Hosted by Tullio Siragusa and Mike Liwski
🎧 Produced by Tullio Siragusa
🧭 In this episode, we explore:
• The risk of leaving AI out of small businesses once driven by individual skill and expertise
• How AI and human creativity and expertise can thrive together
• Systems that make innovation scalable instead of overwhelming
• The deeper purpose behind Plantista’s mission to modernize the green industry
• Why empathy and humility remain essential to any innovative work model
🎧 Whether you’re a founder, executive, or team leader, this conversation will inspire you to see how the future of work can be built with both purpose and performance in mind.
Only 31% of U.S. employees say they feel engaged at work (Gallup). That disengagement, combined with turnover and poor hiring decisions, costs companies nearly $1.9 trillion each year.
Most CEOs treat these issues as people problems. In reality, they are profit problems, hidden drains in the org chart that quietly erode growth.
In this episode of The Bliss Business Podcast, we’re joined by Mason Duchatschek, Bestselling Author, Workforce Strategist, and Founder of Workforce Alchemy. Mason has spent his career helping CEOs uncover and fix profit leaks tied to turnover, disengagement, and team misalignment.
🎙️ Hosted by Stephen Sakach and Tullio Siragusa
🎧 Produced by Tullio Siragusa
🧭 In this episode, we explore:
• Where most CEOs unknowingly bleed profit, and why they don’t see it
• Why relying on resumes, gut instinct, or interviews alone is risky
• The real difference between employees who thrive and those who struggle
• How to spot friction before it turns into turnover or disengagement
• Why empathy and care aren’t just “soft skills” but measurable ROI drivers
🎧 If you’re a CEO, founder, or executive leader, this conversation will show you how to stop “hiring and hoping” and start making smarter, faster workforce decisions that protect margins and accelerate growth.
Research from Gartner shows that organizations where marketing is tightly aligned with business strategy are 3.5 times more likely to outperform peers in revenue growth.
Yet many marketing teams still find themselves disconnected from core business goals, limiting their impact and long-term effectiveness.
In this week’s Marketing With Purpose Kit from The Bliss Business Podcast, we’re joined by Jessica Martin, Chief Marketing Officer at Payroll Vault.
Jessica brings extensive experience in marketing leadership, brand development, and driving growth across industries, and she shares how aligning marketing with business strategy can create measurable, sustainable success.
🎙️ Hosted by Michele Brasfield
🎧 Produced by Martha Huerta
🧭 In this episode, we cover:
• Why marketing alignment is essential for business growth
• How CMOs can connect strategy with execution
• Practical steps to ensure marketing supports organizational goals
• Real-world examples of alignment driving stronger outcomes
🎧 Whether you’re leading a startup, scaling a franchise, or steering a corporate team, this conversation will show you how marketing alignment can be the catalyst for long-term business growth.
Only 37% of professionals say they feel their contributions are fully recognized at work (Gallup).
Visibility is more than reputation, it is a career asset. Without it, even the most capable leaders risk being overlooked. With it, they unlock trust, influence, and community.
In this episode of The Bliss Business Podcast, we’re joined by Brooke Clark, Founder of Seat 1A Advisors. With two decades of experience as a talent strategist and leadership advisor, Brooke helps executives and rising leaders treat visibility as an advantage, building careers and communities rooted in trust and connection.
🎙️ Hosted by Tullio Siragusa and Mike Liwski
🎧 Produced by Tullio Siragusa
🧭 In this episode, we explore:
• Why visibility is essential for building connection and community
• Systems leaders can use to stay visible while doing the work
• The deeper purpose behind visibility rooted in service, not ego
• Real-world stories where visibility reshaped careers and culture
🎧 Whether you’re an executive, entrepreneur, or emerging leader, this episode will show you how to own your presence and build the kind of connections that last.
Stories are 22 times more memorable than facts alone (Stanford Graduate School of Business).
Yet in today’s data-driven world, many leaders overlook storytelling as a critical business skill. Without story, even the best ideas struggle to connect, inspire, or move people to action.
In this episode of The Bliss Business Podcast, we’re joined by Gavin McMahon, Author, CEO, and Co-founder of Fassforward and Story Business.
With a career spanning engineering and business, Gavin helps leaders and organizations turn complex strategies into compelling stories that drive connection, alignment, and results.
🎙️ Hosted by Stephen Sakach and Mike Liwski
🎧 Produced by Tullio Siragusa
🧭 In this episode, we explore:
• Why storytelling is the foundation of building connection in business
• How leaders can embed story into culture so it becomes lived, not just told
• The deeper purpose of story in shaping organizational identity
• Real-world examples where story transformed engagement and outcomes
🎧 Whether you’re a founder, executive, or team leader, this conversation will give you practical insights on how to use story as a tool to build stronger communities and more connected organizations.