The Self-Belief Podcast

Chris Swanson - Running for Governor of the State of Michigan

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

What are the motivations of someone to run for governor? Hear what they are for the current Sheriff of Genessee County.

He not only details his goals but also how he will lead with optimism, unity and strong leadership.

Chris is no stranger to tough situations. In recent years he had to deal with a mass shooting at an LDS church in Grand Blanc and he explains that in a number of ways out of chaos, he saw order emerge. A community came together from all different faiths and the LDS church showed forgiveness and even raised over $300,000 for the shooters special needs child.

Seeing strong outcomes develop in challenging areas is not a new task for Chris. He talks about his G.H.O.S.T. program that combats human trafficking and his I.G.N.I.T.E. progran that focusies on education in prisons nd the successes that have been achieved.

As Chris says, "what other profession has an app tracking how many are killed that year, in real time, at their job?" Being an underdog and challenging the norm is well within Chris' comfort zone and as he says, "underdogs make the best stories"

Chris is focused on earning all votes by visiting people where they are all over the state so when the primary arrives on August 4th he is the candidate chosen to move on to November.

Take a listen to this episode to get a feel of how engaging Chris is and his focus to get the job done across party lines to keep moving Michigan forward.

For more info on Chris and his campaign, go to www.swansonformichigan.com

We aim for you to enjoy each episode as we talk to people from a wide array of industries.

If we have achieved our aim and you are enjoying these discussions then please like, subscribe, share and give us a high star rating.

Please feel free to contact us at

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sponsored by

Regal Payments - helping businesses accept payments in the most efficient and cost effective way possible

www.regalpayments.com

Office Evolution Troy - Professional co working space at I 75 and Big Beaver

Ian Prukner, Author, Serial Entrepreneur and Business Coach

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 06:00:00 -0500

Ian Prukner grew a huge insurance business before exiting for 8 figures and now runs multiple wide ranging investments while being an author and a business coach.

In a wide ranging interview we talk about his journey from finding faith and marriage at a young age when he was in a situation where he was struggling financially to being able to build and rebuild his business after a third of it went away in one day.

Ian shares some of his principles, especially on time management, that have helped him and others he mentors excel.

Rob Kjellberg - Owner of Zmash Padel Club in Sterling Heights

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 22:00:00 -0500

In this episode hear how Rob not only opened a business but how he opened a business based on a sport most Americans have never heard of' in an already crowded racquet space.

Rob initially came to America to play tennis in college where he was #1 ranked and after returning to Sweden he started playing padel instead as the sport swept Europe. After vocalizing his desire to bring padel to America he teamed up with the correct people to help make that dream a reality.

From educating your customers, to setting the right culture and managing staff from a long distance, there were plenty of challenges for him.

Hear how Rob's sport background dealing with pressure and the experience of moving to a different country alone at a young age has helped shape him as an entrepreneur.

If you want to try padel and have not been to the club before then call Zmash Padel and mention this podcast and you get a court and all equipment free for an hour. An instructor will debrief you on the basics of how to play.

www.zmashpadel.com

"It's not about getting by, it's about getting better". Amanda Treppa - Democratic candidate for State Senate District 10.

Sat, 15 Nov 2025 08:00:00 -0500

"It's not about getting by, it's about getting better".

Hear Amanda, who is running for Michigan's Senate in the 10th district, talk about her vision and solutions for helping to make her constituents lives better.

We not only talk about her plans, but also about her past and the experiences that shaped her. From dealing with an umempathetic situation at work when she had a miscarriage and then post partum depression, Amanda has personal reference points as she looks to make workplaces even better for women and families.

Her district lies within the two counties of Oakland and Macomb and she discuss the challenges both district face collectively and how solutions can be found even when it feels both counties are opposed on an issue.

Get to know Amanda and what shapes her decisions as she looks to earn peoples support to help her shape policies that will benefit District 10 and beyond.

www.treppaformichigan.com

Paul Bhatti - CEO of Kronk Boxing Gym in Detroit

Mon, 27 Oct 2025 14:00:00 -0400

Paul came to America from England 20 years ago working in an industry completely unrelated to sports. Now, after a successful career, he is combining his business acumen and skills of team leading with his love of boxing to bring back Detroits iconic Kronk brand and gym.

Hear how Paul developed over the years and how when people and passion for growth are aligned then success happens, regardless of the product and service.

Taking that formula and combining it with his passion of boxing and the world famous Kronk name, Paul is excited to launch and open the new gym this Fall. Kronk already has a pro fighter, Hunter Lee, and the gym will have a pro aspect in the evenings and a community fitness aspect in the mornings and afternoons.

If you have ever wanted to 'throw your hat in the ring' to run a business aligned with your lifelong passion then this is an episode you need to hear so you can gain the know how of the steps to do that strategically.

Forest Bakery - The 3 person partnership shares their recipe for success regarding their products, work life balance and aligned goals

Tue, 20 May 2025 11:00:00 -0400

Hear how Jo, Kyle and Humna came together from different experiences in Detroits food scene to open a highly successful bakery in Oak Park.

Forest bakery is open Thursday, Friday and Saturday 10 -2 but those limited hours require a full week of prep and dedication to produce the high quality products they have become known for.

Hear how they were very intentional with their business plan so that they would have a work life balance that works for them. This includes not wanting to hire employees and a focus on sustainability and quality, not on continued growth and expansion.

I hope you enjoy this episode and if it makes you suitably hungry, make sure you stop by Forest bakery and get a danish, croissant, banana bread, earl grey tea cake or any of a number of items.

Justin Craig, owner of Run Detroit on running.....and running a business

Tue, 06 May 2025 12:00:00 -0400

It can be said running a business is like running a marathon however running a business or a marathon does not have to be grueling slog like that phrase infers.

Here we talk to Justin about his love of running itself as well as starting up a business in downtown Detroit before downtown started to regenerate.

Hear Justin talk honestly about business challenges and how his store has evolved from a fight to survive, to innovative sales and marketing techniques with Garmin watches 10 years ago, to now having the mission statement of aiming, "to inspire physical, mental and social well-being through movement and connection".

Run Detroit is more than just a store, it is a meeting place for people to come move and connect together and every Saturday morning at 8am there is a group run where people can chose to do 3, 6 or 10 miles. From newbies to experienced runners, come check out a Saturday run and meet Justin where he can answer any question for you......just don't ask him about movies as I found out!

Run Detroit is at 1948 Division st in the Eastern market in Detroit

Awenate Cobbina - CEO of Shinola.

Tue, 02 Jul 2024 08:00:00 -0400

Awenate speaks about what made him leave a great role at the Whitehouse to come to Detroit with the Pistons initially before taking a role with the Bedrock Manufacturing group where he became CEO and is heading up the Shinola brand.

His journey is one of always demanding more from himself and never accepting staying 'comfortable' whether that was in his role at the NFL, The Whitehouse or The Pistons.

Take a listen to this episode with Awenate and you will understand why he is a respected leader in the Detroit business community and how he got there. He also talks about his plans for the future and the expansion of Shinola Hotels.

Cam Crowder - How to venture into the world of Venture Capitalism

Tue, 25 Jun 2024 01:00:00 -0400

Cam shares his candid insights from leaving college early to help run his familys Tim Hortons franchises.

While there he found more efficient ways to serve customers in the drive through and he also started considering other food related technologies that could increase efficiency.

During COVID the decision was made to sell the franchises and Cam went full time into investing in start ups in the food industry, which was something he had been learning about the past few years.

With the right research and connections made Cam was able to join venture groups for not a huge monetary investment and he has grown from there learning many things along the way.

Connie Smith - From growing up in foster care, to becoming a foster parent.......and running a PR firm

Tue, 18 Jun 2024 13:00:00 -0400

Hear Connie not only talk about her career but about what it was like growing up in foster care. At 10 years old she had to make a mature decision about her living arrangements and ever since Connie has been decisive in her choices and with her strong work ethic and drive she progressed in the news and TV industry.

During COVID, she was home with her 6 kids and realized she didn't want to go back full time to the role she had built for herself in TV. She wanted more flexibility and that led her to set up her own PR firm, High Five PR.

Connie's story is inspiring and impressive and you will get a lot of potential take aways in the areas of attitude, drive, determination and work ethic.

Terry McCarthy - Successfully working with your spouse while growing multi location animal clinics

Tue, 11 Jun 2024 01:00:00 -0400

Hear Terry talk about how he and his wife Theresa decided to work together but in separate roles. Theresa is a vet and Terry runs the business side and that formula has seen them grow successfully over the past 30 plus years to where they now run;

Dandy Acres in South Lyon
Easthaven in Ann Arbor
Shelter Bay in Novi

If you want to run your own business in the medical space or are thinking about working with your significant, other then you need to listen to this episode

Colleen Budde - Franchise owner of Office Evolution of Troy

Tue, 04 Jun 2024 01:00:00 -0400

Hear Colleen talk about the decision by her and her husband for her to leave the corporate world of being an engineer and decide to invest in a franchise. Hear how they chose and researched the franchise and came to the decision to go for it even though they had busy lives with a young daughter at home.

Not only that but COVID hit shortly after they opened and provided more challenges.

In this episode Colleen reflects on her successes and challenges since then and life lessons learned.

Dr Tony Capone - World Renowned Pediatric Eye Surgeon

Tue, 28 May 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Dr. Capone is an internationally recognized clinician, surgeon and educator. He has authored or co-authored over 200 publications in peer-reviewed medical journals, book chapters, and publications from clinical trials. He is currently a Professor of Biomedical Sciences at Oakland University, and Professor at the European School for Advanced Studies in Ophthalmology, Lugano, Switzerland.

He is also Chief clinical Officer for EyeCare Partners. EyeCare Partners is the nation’s leading provider of clinically integrated eye care. Their national network of over 300 ophthalmologists and 700 optometrists provides a lifetime of care to their patients with a mission to enhance vision, advance eye care, and improve lives.

Hear in this episode from the man behind this impressive resume about his road to this specialist profession and what his daily 'focus' is.

Chris Swanson - Sheriff of Genessee County

Tue, 21 May 2024 01:00:00 -0400

Listen to this fascinating and uplifting conversation with Sheriff Swanson where we talk about his personal story but also about the challenges facing police officers today and how he and his department are facing them.

We also discuss issues affecting the community such as drugs, mental health, guns and jails. It is in the jails that Chris is championing the I.G.N.I.T.E. program to help give inmates skills and qualifications.

Being a sheriff is more than enough for many but Chris also runs Swanson leadership training.

Kathy Skubik - Owner of Irene's Myomassology Institue in Southfield

Tue, 14 May 2024 01:00:00 -0400

Kathy and her mother Irene opened this nationally acclaimed massage school in 1987 after so many people were requesting for Irene to teach them her specialized methods.

Hear how Kathy and Irene had very defined roles and worked together as a great team to develop and hold extremely high standards. Standards that mean some spas will only hire massage therapists who have been trained at Irene's.

Since Irene passed at age 90 in 2010 hear how Kathy has continued and built upon Irene's legacy. Kathy is a great example of how a family team can successfully and harmoniously grow a business together.

Darryl Woods - Founder of "Fightin' the Good Fight" and "Better Together"

Tue, 07 May 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Imagine being 18 years old with children aged 18 and six months old and hearing the sentence of life without parole, or death while incarcerated as Darryl calls it, being announced by the judge for a crime you didn't commit.

If that did not test Darryl's self belief sufficiently, 7 years in to his sentence the original judge said his conviction should not stand however the Michigan Supreme court would not give him a retrial. After exhausting all efforts down that route Darryl ended up staying in prison another 22 years for a total of 29 before he was released by Gov Snyder in 2018.

We talk with Darryl about how he found purpose and was active in his kids lives from behind bars. He got an education and became a president of the NAACP while behind bars and created programs such as 'cared straight' for the youth.

We discuss the programs Darryl runs today such as Better together where he facilitates fellowship between police officers, gang members and all members of society without labels to help break down barriers.

You will hear Darryl's infectious energy as he promotes many projects and initiatives working alongside the Detroit police, business leaders and the community working to have people turn to each other, not on each other.

Dr Sarah Kirsch - Owner of Balanced Wellness in Berkley MI. Focusing on wellness and business even when you are going through a health crisis.

Tue, 30 Apr 2024 01:00:00 -0400

Dr. Sarah Kirsch's journey is an inspiring testament to resilience and determination in the face of adversity. Despite experiencing a sudden health challenge, she didn't let it derail her passion for helping others through her chiropractic and functional medicine practice. Instead, she used her own experience as a patient to enhance her understanding and empathy towards her clients.

Her holistic approach to healthcare, influenced by her own positive experience with a chiropractor who looked at her health from a comprehensive perspective, highlights the importance of addressing underlying issues rather than just treating symptoms. By integrating chiropractic care, massage therapy, and functional medicine, Dr. Kirsch provides her patients with a well-rounded approach to wellness.

Dr. Kirsch's story serves as a reminder that setbacks can be turned into opportunities for growth and learning. Through her dedication and commitment to her patients, she exemplifies how resilience and a patient-centered approach can lead to success even in the face of challenges.

Tune in to her episode to gain insights and inspiration for overcoming obstacles and thriving in both personal and professional endeavors.

Tom Sheppard - Head of School at University Liggett School in Grosse Pointe MI

Tue, 23 Apr 2024 01:00:00 -0400

Education has always been forefront in many people's lives from their decision of which school district to live in to their decision of whether to educate their child via private, public or home school.

Hear about Toms journey where he details working in a number of prestigious schools in different states in roles such as head of admission, to his last couple of roles as head of school.

Education and managing a school community is more than just teaching, its handling a diverse campus of strongly held viewpoints by students and parents. Hear Tom talk about navigating those issues to foster a thriving school environment.

Jason Dungjen - Former Olympic figure skater and current coach/manager at Detroit skating club

Tue, 16 Apr 2024 01:00:00 -0400

What does it take to be an Olympian? You may not think that the answer is to take 2 years away from the sport between 18 and 20 years old but this is a part of Jason's story.

Jason shares his story about being adopted when he was a few days old and how he went from ice hockey to figure skating, then almost walking away from the sport when he went to college.

When he decided to return to it, things were just falling short and he had a gut check moment where he asked himself what were the extra 2% actions he needed to do to effectively give it his all. Once he did that and applied those small changes, he went from finishing 9th in the '94 Olympics to finishing controversially 4th and not 3rd in the '98 Nagano Japan Olympics.

Now in the role of a coach, Jason shares what can set some young skaters apart and how he helps teach skaters to thrive in a sport where no matter what you do and control about your training and the routine, the judging is still very subjective and not in the athletes control.

If you would like to see one of Jason's Olympics routines here is a Youtube link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=raAMeSBybRU

Season 2 wrap up - Lessons from the last 20 minutes

Tue, 27 Feb 2024 01:00:00 -0500

As we wrap up season 2 we go back through some of our guests this season and take lessons from the thoughts they have shared in the last 20 minutes of each of their episodes.

We have found that the first part of the interview sets the stage for their story and that in the last 20 minutes people are fully emersed and comfortable. This can be where raw truths and heartfelt reflections take place.

While we haven't had time in this wrap up to play exerts from all our interviews, they all had clip worthy segments we could have used.

Hear us discuss a few of these exerts and why we chose them.

If you have enjoyed this series please give us 5 STARS on Spotify and whatever platform you listen on and help keep spreading the word as we continue to be blown away by the growth of our listening audience.

We have a number of great guests lined up for series 3 which will be coming in April.

Until then, go back through some episodes you haven't heard yet and if you have any potential guests you want to suggest, please contact on instagram or email hosts@selfbeliefpodcast.com

Lastly on episode 9 of this season we spoke with Dave Dwaihy of DCFC. Their season opener is March 23rd @4pm and tickets are available on their website.

See you in 5 weeks!

Lee Smith - Senior Executive Vice President and President of Mortgage at Flagstar Bank

Tue, 20 Feb 2024 01:00:00 -0500

Hear how Lee, who is originally from England, completed an economics degree and then followed opportunities that took him to America and then eventually into banking.

This discussion talks about his leadership style and how he bases a lot of it on principles talked about in Jim Collins book, "From Good to Great."

Before the interview I had asked Lee, "What is a stereotype about your industry that you disagree with?" He replied, "I don't agree with the stereotype that banking is boring. There are many varied businesses under the umbrella of banking".

Hear Lee discuss these points on leadership, banking and more on this weeks episode of The Self Belief Podcast.

Victoria Eisenmenger - Owner of From the Heart Dog Services (Dog training in Metro Detroit)

Tue, 13 Feb 2024 01:00:00 -0500

When is the perfect time to start your own business?

I think the general answer I can deduce from many of our guests is, "When it feels right and you can no longer resist the urge to".

That moment came for Victoria just after she was married and they were living with her parents for a year while their house was being remodeled. Victoria decided to leave her corporate job she had worked her way up in to start her dog training company.

In less than a year Victoria has grown tremendously and is growing her staff. Hear about some of her challenges as well as opportunities she has embraced.

Lastly you can also hear some practical dog training tips and some do's and donts. You may even learn some new phrases such as what a 'sniffari' is!

Keith Baldwin - Owner of Regal Payments

Tue, 06 Feb 2024 01:00:00 -0500

"If you can fill the unforgiving minute with 60 seconds worth of distance run - yours is the earth and everything that's in it" - Rudyard Kipling

Doing the interviews with our guests on the podcast inspires me as I hear how they overcame challenges and moments of self doubt. A main theme between them all is that they took action. They filled the unforgiving minute with their version of 60 seconds worth of distance run

Now for our 25th episode overall, I am on the other side of the microphone. There are many more interesting and inspirational stories than mine but as I look back on my story so far, I am grateful for all the challenges that have shaped me and I feel very fortunate for all the twists and turns that have led me to now.

I grew up in South London, England and during and after college I was able to come to America to coach soccer. From coaching soccer in my 20's and many different challenges, twists and turns, I followed opportunities in sales where eventually I made my way to the merchant services industry. After a couple of years running the Midwest for a company I struck out on my own to form Regal Payments in 2009.

When doing an interview like this you can always feel, "I should have said this" or "I should have described this better" but ultimately this is not an Abe Lincoln 6 part documentary so I tried to keep it concise and hopefully I was able to paint a picture of my journey so far for people.

My last comment is a quote from one of my favorite movies, 'Catch me if you can' that symbolizes hustle , struggle and finding a way through not giving up.

"Two little mice fell in a bucket of cream. The first mouse quickly gave up and drowned. The second mouse, wouldn't quit. He struggled so hard that eventually he churned that cream into butter and crawled out."

Mark Rieth - Owner Atwater Brewery (2005-2022). Current owner of Ful Beverage and Detroit Liquid Ventures

Tue, 30 Jan 2024 01:00:00 -0500

Transitioning from the alcoholic beverage world to the Non-Alcoholic business world.

Mark is best known for his role with Atwater Brewery, the company he first invested in and later purchased in its entirety. During his two decades at the helm, Mark leveraged his automotive background to help Atwater grow into the fourth largest (of more than 350) craft breweries in Michigan, producing and distributing dozens of beers, plus award-winning hard seltzers, spirits and four unique taphouse destinations.

Mark successfully sold his business to Molson Coors in 2020 and then remained as its president for 18 months to ensure a smooth transition

Since then Mark has started Detroit Liquid Ventures and has as a flagship product - Ful non-alcoholic beer. Mark is passionate about producing a great product to fill the demand in the ever growing 'sober curious' market sector.

Hear how Mark made Atwater successful, coming through challenges such as being 2 weeks away from closing in 2008, to now deciding when to exit and how to pivot to a fast growing emerging sector worldwide.

Terry Bean - Keynote speaker, business coach and producer of TedXDetroit

Tue, 23 Jan 2024 01:00:00 -0500

Do you find speaking in front of a few people or even larger groups is out of your comfort zone?

Terry shares great tips as he himself sees each day as an adventure to be lived expanding his and others comfort zones. Ultimately, growth doesn't happen by staying comfortable, successful and tangible growth happens when people put themselves in new situations and learn new skills intentionally.

Terry also talks about his upbringing and some challenges he has had in his life and how he refocused and got himself through those tough times.

Jordanna Cheifetz - Owner JAC Digital

Tue, 16 Jan 2024 01:00:00 -0500

What do your social media channels say about you and your company's brand?

From thinking she wanted to specialize in fashion PR to starting her own digital marketing company, check out how Jordanna came to fill a need for specially curated content for brands across the US.

We discuss practical tips, as well as why it is important to use social media no matter what your business is.

Jordanna also talks about some of her favorite guests since joining the podcast.

George Clark - Exonerated after being wrongly imprisoned for 17 years. (accompanied by Valerie Newman)

Tue, 09 Jan 2024 01:00:00 -0500

It is 9 days in to 2024 - how are you resolutions going? Are you sticking to them and going strong working towards your goals?

What if I told you it would take 6,415 days before you would achieve your goal? How would you handle that mentally?

George Clark had to deal with the mental anguish, sense of injustice and many other challenges when he was sentenced to life in prison. He missed 17 years of his kids lives and his mother died the 3rd year he was in prison.

We talk to George about how he kept his self belief, especially when re trails 5 years into his sentence of his fellow exoneree in the case, Kevin Harrington, ended up in a hung jury twice then another conviction on the third time. If Kevin had been exonerated at that time it would have been likely George would have too.

We also discuss with George and Valerie about the many mis steps that lead to a conviction of George even though he had an alibi and there was no DNA evidence against no.

Listen to George and compare his story to how you would imagine you would cope in the same situation. Also, if you are a person who thinks, "well, there is no smoke without fire" and finds it hard to believe all exonerees are truly innocent, then you need to listen to this.

Lee Padgett - Owner of Busted Bra Shops - 6 locations in the Midwest

Tue, 02 Jan 2024 01:00:00 -0500

"When we opened in Detroit there was a population of 700,00 of which 53% were women. That meant there were more boobs than people!" - Lee Padgett

Hear Lee talk about her inspiration for opening a bra shop in downtown Detroit and her growth since to multiple stores and cities. When Lee ran a coffee shop downtown in the early 2000's, a conversation with a judge who was having an 'emergency bra issue' sowed a seed. That seed would literally wake her up in the middle of the night 5 years later with the idea and conviction to return to Detroit from North Carolina and open a bra shop.

It wasn't a straight line to bra shop owner it was one via the Navy, then via being a chemist, to a coffee shop owner and then retail. Hear how Lee made those choices and how personal experiences and tragedy has shaped her and called her to question her previously held definitions of strength and weakness.

Sure, the subject matter may not entice our male listeners straight away but I encourage you to listen to get insights on business from Lee. As for insights on bras..... all you need to know is to go ahead get your female significant others a Busted Bra shop gift voucher for Valentines Day!

Lastly, Lee has started a hashtag, #doorsnotapps to encourage people to shop local and support local small businesses rather than order online at giant, out of state companies.

Tori Cohen - Toritheorganizer.com Professional Organizer.

Tue, 26 Dec 2023 10:00:00 -0500

Now you have a lot of new gifts in your house, do you have a place to put them?

Professional organizing is really about creating new habits that will work for you and your family.

Hear how Tori got into the profession and she shares some tips on organizing.

Organizing is more than just putting things in places, its about setting yourself up for success every day.

Dave Dwaihy - Co Founder and Co Owner of Detroit City Football Club

Tue, 19 Dec 2023 01:00:00 -0500

The story of DCFC has been well publicized nationally and internationally however Dave, who rarely gives interviews, shares a number of new perspectives on the DCFC journey since himself and Sean Mann started loosely discussing forming a soccer team back at Kalamazoo college, Michigan.

Since 2012 DCFC has become emblematic of the city's growth and in some ways, just literally like their mascot uniform, it has emerged from a dumpster, starting from scratch and going from strength to strength.

Dave talks about the philosophy of their ownership since their first match at Cass Tech where they embodied the concept of, "Our supporters are the life of the party and we are just the hosts".

The club motto, Passion for Our City, Passion for the Game, evokes the three ideas the grassroots organization was built upon: to satisfy the demand for soccer in downtown Detroit, represent the city in a positive light, and build community through “the beautiful game.”

Now the club, that is well known for its raucous atmospheres, plays in the second tier of North American soccer and Dave is not only an owner but also the head coach of the DCFC women's team.

Hear Dave get personal and talk about what the growth has meant to him, his family, his friends, and what he hopes he and the club will keep bringing and contributing to the city as a whole.

Ryan Cooley - Co founder of Slows BBQ and owner of O'Connor Real Estate in Corktown, Detroit

Tue, 12 Dec 2023 01:00:00 -0500

Imagine in 2023 standing on Michigan Avenue in the middle of the day opposite Grand Central station in Corktown Detroit and only seeing about 1 car every 10 minutes. That was the scene 20 years ago.

There were no cocktail bars, restaurants and modern condos. Corktown and downtown Detroit was a place many stayed away from. Ryan and his brother Phil saw opportunity and purchased a building for $40,000 which they then built out a number of businesses into, including Slows BBQ. Slows started to gain some local and national attention as they and a few others became the green shoots of growth in a city that had been arid for too long.

Even though Slows started doing well, it certainly wasn't plain sailing without a number of challenges.

Hear how Ryan has been a driving force for growth in Downtown Detroit and specifically Corktown over the last 20 years. His company, O'Connor Real Estate does commercial and residential real estate and he has been a resource for many businesses as they decide on the best location.

Ryan is more excited than ever about the growth of the city and he shares some of his favorite places you should visit next time you are downtown.

Richard Hallowell - Owner of Elivate and Flawless Med Spa in Lake Orion MI

Tue, 05 Dec 2023 01:00:00 -0500

Hear Richard describe his journey into medicine, from working in hospitals where patients had to be there out of necessity, to now owning his wellness and med spa where clients come to him willingly through their choice.

He discuss fundamental business challenges he faced as he grew the business such as balancing the professional relationships and friendships with his staff while creating room for them to grow in their careers.

He also talks candidly about being on the other side of medicine, the patient side, as he and his wife were diagnosed with breast cancer a few years back.

Listen to this episode if you have an interest in business, entrepreneurship, a medical career, knowing exactly what a med spa does and if you have no interest in medicine but are interested in people.

Thomas Willis - Author of 'The Great Engagement' - Creating cultures that foster dramatic personal and organizational growth

Tue, 28 Nov 2023 01:00:00 -0500

"Many times the leader doesn't realize what frustrates them about their culture are the things they are doing unconsciously"

Tom discusses how leaders and leadership teams can break plateaus by acknowledging their own behaviors and self limiting beliefs and then using tools to effectively move past them. Moving from a place of fear to a place of courage and then from a place courage moving towards a place of love and service.

He also touches on how when people describe themselves as being busy all the time, they are essentially just rephrasing that they are constantly running around being in a state of anxiety.

Tom started off in a corporate job, then when he was fired he went to Africa and taught. He then continued teaching when he returned to the U.S working his way up eventually in school administrations before leaving to co found Phoenix Partners.

Listen to Tom share lots of great insights that you can use in your day to day lives.

Andy Appleby - Owner of United Shore Professional Baseball League (USPBL) and former chairman & owner of Derby County Football Club

Tue, 21 Nov 2023 01:00:00 -0500

A lot of people who own sports teams have that role passed on to them from family. That is not the case with Andy Appleby.

Andy arrived in MI in the 80s and started working for the Pistons as they were about to move into The Palace of Auburn Hills. Andy hustled, becoming a top salesperson and he built strong relationships with all his customers.

Andy rose to the role VP in the Palace Entertainment group, working closely with Tom Wilson and Bill Davison. Andy could have stayed in that prestigious, well paying role but he had the urge to strike out on his own and in 1998 he left to set up General Sports.

Since then he has grown and diversified that company and owned Derby County, an English soccer team, and he currently owns the United Shore Professional Baseball League and its stadium in Utica MI.

Hear how Andy has always fallen back on hard work and self belief as he has accomplished many goals. not all were hit and you will hear how he could have been 15 times wealthier by now owning the St Louis Blues had it not been, 'the one that got away'.

For anyone looking to have a career in sports, or just loves sports and wonders what its like to own sports teams, this is a must listen to.

Justin Wedes - Owner of Flow Video

Tue, 14 Nov 2023 01:00:00 -0500

The first 20 minutes have nothing to do with video creation but are about how Justin unknowingly homed his communication skills by working as a teacher in Brooklyn at a 'last chance' school.

By learning how to effectively deliver a message to people by connecting with them as individuals within a collective, Justin was realizing that effective storytelling was his passion.

Now as he leads a staff of 10 at Flow Video, he sees himself as a digital storyteller for his clients so that he can help them engage and connect with their customers.

Hear Justin be open and honest as he opens up about how he has managed his anxiety over the years. Like all our interviews, it is less about their industry and more about their journeys and lessons learnt as they discuss traits that have served them well along the way.

Ethan Baker - Mayor of Troy, MI

Tue, 07 Nov 2023 01:00:00 -0500

Its not a bad first job out of college when you work directly with a president for 4 years. That was the role Ethan got working with President Reagan the last 4 years of his life that set him on a trajectory of public service.

You will hear about some of the lessons learnt by working on a daily basis with President and Mrs Reagan and how the ideas and principles of finding common ground and creating community shape Ethan's leadership style today.

Today, Nov 7, as this episode is being released, it is election day and Ethan is running unopposed for his second term as Mayor of Troy. His first term started 2 months before COVID arrived and changed all his plans and agenda for the role.

Hear how Ethan likes to lead and form consensus. One of his 'secrets' of how to do this is when you want something done, bring people together to an event/meeting and give them food and drink................. Now that's a campaign promise I can get behind!

Frank Lanzkron-Tamarazo - Owner Chazzano Coffee Roasters

Tue, 31 Oct 2023 01:00:00 -0400

How do you know when to make the leap of leaving your job/career to go follow a different passion?

Frank grew up studying opera in NY and then used his musical talents to grow a career as a cantor. Outside of his work he started roasting his own coffee at home in the garage and he became deeply passionate about it. Finally after 10 years of doing that, he left his role as a cantor behind and opened Chazzano coffee roasters.

You will hear Frank talk about being detail orientated in his business plan and how he started to grow his wholesale accounts. It wasn't all plain sailing and he made errors with staffing, wages and on occasion pricing as he started out.

If you currently have a 'hobby' that you dream will one day become a business then Frank is a must listen.

Next time you are in Berkley stop by and visit Frank for some great coffee and he is always happy to give people a tour of his roasting operation.

Ken Lear - Owner 2313 Inc. A direct sales and marketing company

Tue, 24 Oct 2023 01:00:00 -0400

How do you keep growing and developing your business when life gets in the way?

On 2/3/2013 Kens first child, Brady, was born which in itself, can be exciting and a lot to deal with at the same time. However the day before Brady was born, Kens father passed away and 3 months earlier in November 2012 Kens mother had passed away.

Ken got his head down and powered through that time, pushing all those emotions inside while running his business and managing his people. The next 3 years were a real struggle and it wasn't until he truly started working on himself and developing personal routines each morning that gave him structure to start his day, that his business started to sky rocket again.

As you will hear, Ken started entry level in B2B full commission sales fresh out of Penn State when he was 23 and he quickly moved through a training program where in just over a year, the business owner he worked for felt comfortable to give him seed money to start his own location in Columbus OH.

Ken grew his company and went from strength to strength, quickly becoming responsible for multiple offices nationwide that provided face to face marketing for large national brands such as AT&T, Verizon and Quill/Staples. He has now run his company for just over 20 years and you will not only hear about his challenges but you will also get a sense for how much Ken cares for everyone who works with him and he shows up with intention each day to help those in his company achieve and exceed their goals

Back in 2006 I worked with Ken in his Atlanta location and when he moved to Michigan in 2013 we reconnected. Not only is Ken a person I respect and like on many levels for all that he has achieved and stands for personally, he is also a team mate of mine on the UK Royals over 40 soccer team!

Please make sure to connect with Ken on Linkedin and follow his YouTube channel, the Klear channel, which is filled with great leadership content.

Lessons learned from our guests so far and an update introducing Jordanna, our new Co-Host

Tue, 17 Oct 2023 22:00:00 -0400

I wanted to take a moment and thank everyone that has helped us achieve hundreds of downloads in our first 5 weeks. Here we take a look back at the episodes so far and some of the main themes discussed by our guests.

I am excited to announce that Jordanna Cheifetz, who owns JAC Digital, has joined the podcast as our new co-host. Jordanna specializes in social media services for corporations and as well as appearing on the podcast she will help deliver video for Youtube and social media content for The Self Belief Podcast.

I also wanted to take a moment to explain the origin and the goals of this podcast.

This podcast was set up to tell local and relatable stories about the careers and journeys of successful and influential people in Metro Detroit. It focuses on those moments where people had to draw deep on their reserves of self belief and determination in their careers.

My aim is to ask questions that make our guests think deeply, and with honesty, as they provide the answers. While I look to challenge our guests in a number of ways we also genuinely want to take them on a journey through their achievements. In doing so we hope they are able to see their legacy up to this point in a new light and that they leave our studio feeling good about that legacy in progress and the results it has provided.

Jen Litomisky - CEO of the Ronald McDonald House Charity of Detroit

Tue, 10 Oct 2023 22:00:00 -0400

Today more than ever people want a higher purpose attached to their work or job and running a charity that positively impacts many lives when people are going through hard times fits that description. However, what does it actually take to successfully manage a lead a non profit?

This conversation with Jen covers many areas such as being in a position where you manage 'down' with all your staff and then manage 'up' when dealing with your board.

We talk about the challenges managing a non profit and constantly needing to meet ever increasing fundraising goals. Jen also relays a story of one of their biggest donations which came from someone who saw Jen talk at a small event.

One other thing we talk about is the concept of building and passing on a legacy as Jen has been in the role over 20 years and she feels that in the next 5 years she may retire.

Lastly, you will learn that Ronald McDonald House Charities only get 30% of their funding from McDonalds and often have to battle the pre conception that McDonalds almost fully funds the charity.

Amy Peterson - Owner of Rebel Nell Jewelry in Detroit

Tue, 03 Oct 2023 01:00:00 -0400

Traditional thinking indicates that you find a great product/service/idea and then you build a business around it.

Traditional thinking was not for Amy, whether that was in her passion for women's rugby or her determination since the age of 14 to break into MLB at the executive level.

When Amy achieved her dream role in her 20's, after a few years she started to feel the pull more and more to create a business around a vision she had to empower women at a local shelter.

Her business culture and vision was formed before she found the vehicle of jewelry to help bring them to life. To help understand her journey from sports executive to a small business owner driven by purpose and mission we spend time talking about where she grew up and how her upbringing helped shape her.

Self belief and resilience is very evident in Amys story, whether it is overcoming the countless rejections for MLB organizations, or the challenges presented from misjudged hires.

Amy candidly talks about moments of self doubt she experienced after a culmination of issues, which she overcame by digging in to her reserves of self belief and focusing on the vision of Rebel Nell.

Be prepared to relate and be inspired by Amy's vision, hustle and entrepreneurial spirit

Mike Palmer - Owner of multi location Premier Pet Supply retail stores

Tue, 26 Sep 2023 01:00:00 -0400

"Sell me 50% of your store and I promise you will make more owning 50% than you are currently owning 100% of it"

This was the offer Mike made to his uncle when he was 24 and wanted to take on more responsibility after having worked in the only location of premier Pet Supply for a few years.

Mike talks about the challenge of being a leader in your 20's managing peers your age as well as older team members. He also discusses how he got people behind his vision of growth for the store after years of being just a one location business.

You will hear how, through focusing on a hands on approach, he has built a community with a loyal customer base. That customer base and the attention to the little details, helped Premier Pet Supply navigate COVID and help hold their market share as online giants like Chewy emerged.

Most importantly Mike will tell you how to use 2 brooms to solve the situation of a wild deer crashing into his store and running rampage!

Valerie Newman - Director of the Conviction Integrity Unit of Wayne County's prosecutors office

Tue, 19 Sep 2023 01:00:00 -0400

This is our longest podcast but I promise you that you will wish it was longer.

Valerie Newman is a titan on the Detroit legal scene and was honored in 2019 by being inducted into Wayne States Hall of Fame. This honor acknowledges graduates whose extraordinary professional success and contributions, profound positive influence on Wayne Law, and high degree of character and integrity are recognized by their peers.

You will hear from Valerie on what it entails to argue a case in front of the supreme court . Not only the vast amount of small details and traditions that need to be adhered to but also the struggle to be able to argue a case there. Many lawyers encouraged Valerie to step away and pass the case on to a large law firm and all refused to partner with her on it apart from one.

Valerie has had to deal with not only the doubters but with outrageous acts of misogyny throughout her career too that have only made her resolve stronger to leave her industry a better place than she found it.

Valerie is always pursuing positive outcomes that benefit the pursuit of justice and in her current role she heads up the conviction integrity unit at Wayne County's prosecutors office. To date, that unit has had over 2000 case requests and has so far delivered relief for 36 individuals.

Valerie talks about the finality of the law and if the system is actually set up more to preserve its process than to truly achieve justice.

We would love to hear from you on this thought provoking episode, so please feel free to get in touch via email or social media

David Lawrence - Owner of MECA - Michigan Elite Conditioning for Athletes

Tue, 12 Sep 2023 01:00:00 -0400

"We all have to go through hard things, and thats OK"

David talks about how he started his business 10 years ago with minimal funds and a small loan at a 32% interest rate. You will hear how he built MECA to where now he has multiple locations and over 60 staff.

Just because the business has grown, it doesn't mean the struggles have gone away and David is very honest about maintaining a work/life balance and being able to be productive when your personal life keeps throwing up challenges.

He has become the go to trainer for many pro athletes but you don't have to be a pro athlete, or indeed an 'athlete' at all to train at his gyms and he details 5 heathy habits that anyone can apply to their life.

Whether its your personal brand or your business, if you want insight in how to be seen as an expert in your field then this is the episode for you.

Thad Szott Part 2 - The Detroit Auto Show

Thu, 31 Aug 2023 13:00:00 -0400

In this episode Thad focuses on the future of the car industry in the next 10 years and discusses how that is being incorporated into this years Detroit Auto Show that he is the president of.

As president he was tasked with getting all the board members, who own companies in the car industry themselves, to move in one direction with energy and enthusiasm. It is no small feat to be able to create buy in, compromise where necessary and drive a show forward, especially over recent years with COVID and serious supply chain issues.

From running dealerships in local communities, to running North America's largest car show Thad brings positivity and a drive, to not only lift up an event itself, but also all those involved in it as well.

If you currently, or aspire in the future to, manage people where they need to accomplish challenging tasks by coming together as one, then this is an episode for you.

Thad Szott Part 1 - Owner Szott Car Dealerships

Thu, 31 Aug 2023 13:00:00 -0400

Thad grew up in the car business with his dad being a close associate of Roger Penske. However this is no tale of someone being handed the keys to the store, rather of someone who has forged his way to the top and earned the respect of Metro Detroit's car dealers.

Thad is passionate about developing a culture that permeates through every aspect of his 5 dealerships in Metro Detroit. One testament to that culture is that he has a large number of employees who have been there over 10 years. You will hear how Thad actively works on that culture everyday that is a lot more than just a code of ethics.

You will also hear about those hard decisions such as when Thad had to part ways with a high performing employee, numbers wise, but they could not fully buy in to the company culture.

If you want to establish a strong culture to be associated with your brand and business then this is a must listen to episode.

Thad has also been heavily involved with charities and the local schools

Mamba Hamissi - Owner Baobob Fare in Detroit

Thu, 31 Aug 2023 13:00:00 -0400

Mamba and his wife Nadia, came to America seeking asylum from Burundi. Their story of how they have solved the many problems that were placed in front of them on their way to running a successful restaurant in Detroit is inspiring.

You will hear Mamba open up about his passion for developing a supportive community around and through his business that has helped him grow and flourish. You will not only learn lessons about the mindset needed to overcome challenges from this interview but you will also gain insight into the joy that he puts into his business which has helped him succeed.

Anyone looking to start a small business needs to listen to this episode to understand how to build a community that will be your support system as you launch and grow.

Mamba has also won an episode of Food Networks 'Chopped' and has been nominated for a James Beard award.