Shaun Mader defies easy categorization. Leadership strategist, brown belt in jiu-jitsu, celebrated photographer documenting resilience in Calcutta's Red Light District — these diverse facets converge around his profound curiosity about people and what makes them thrive.

During our conversation, Shaun reveals the genesis of his "TeamFlow Architecture" methodology and forthcoming book "Teamware." Born from frustration watching executives perpetually stuck in crisis management, Shaun developed a system that helps leaders and teams simultaneously grow while doing their actual work. "There was no regular structure in place to develop leaders and teams simultaneously on the work they're actually working on," he explains, highlighting how organizations meticulously maintain their hardware and software while neglecting the human systems connecting them.

What makes Shaun's approach unique is how he draws wisdom from seemingly unrelated domains. His jiu-jitsu practice taught him humility and camaraderie through physical challenge, especially meaningful after years battling chronic pain. "It pushes every single button about your own insecurities," he says of the martial art. "Anybody who's got a fragile ego doesn't last." This physical practice becomes a metaphor for leadership development — showing up consistently, embracing vulnerability, and growing through challenge.

Perhaps most striking is Shaun's photography work in Calcutta. His story about a woman who initially refused to be photographed until she could dress properly reveals a profound leadership lesson: "I wanted to see her, but she wanted to be seen how she wanted to be seen." This insight directly applies to organizational dynamics, where assumptions and misunderstandings often stem from failing to truly see people as they wish to be seen.

Shaun ultimately advocates for a societal reset based on human connection in an increasingly isolated world. "There's something that happens when you're around people where there is trust, where there's a sense of mutuality and camaraderie, that starts to literally light up the brain, the heart, your endocrine system and brings about healthier states."

CONNECT WITH SHAUN 🎙️

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaun-mader/
• Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/1wHBDigKYI9t402Igk

CONNECT WITH RESET 🎙️

• Podcast: https://www.reset-podcast.com
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tonyajlong-RESET
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/reset-with-tonya
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/resetwithTonya
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570923056203
  

CONNECT WITH TONYA 🚊

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonyajlong/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tonyajlong
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tonya.j.long/
  

• Check out my bestselling book, "AI and the New Oz: Leadership’s Journey to the Future of Work" available on Amazon [https://a.co/d/aTBJmEr]. Go to the "AI and the New Oz" website at https://www.ai-and-the-new-oz.com/ to learn more!

#thejourneyisthejob

What if everything you thought you knew about financial planning was based on an outdated model? Mike Clark, a financial professional who cringes at being called a "financial planner," is revolutionizing how we think about building wealth through collaboration, technology, and education.

The traditional approach to finance has been siloed and often mysterious to clients. Financial advisors, CPAs, and attorneys rarely coordinate effectively, leaving clients confused and frustrated. Mike's revolutionary approach builds "digital family offices" where professionals work together seamlessly, creating clarity and optimizing outcomes. This coordinated team approach eliminates the all-too-common scenario where clients are bounced between professionals who each claim "that's not my department."

Mike's journey is fascinating – from a kinesiology undergrad to raising millions for ventures involving China, he's accumulated diverse experiences that shape his holistic approach. When his first grandchild was born, something "snapped" in his brain, driving him to create generational wealth that goes beyond mere dollars. He redefines wealth to include the education and skill sets that enable better financial decision-making, illustrated beautifully through teaching his seven-year-old granddaughter to use AI tools like Midjourney.

For listeners feeling uncertain about their financial future, Mike offers reassurance: "Most individuals are in a far better position than they think they are." His approach starts with comprehensive cashflow analysis before any product recommendations – the opposite of typical advisors who lead with products. He also shares insights on democratized investment opportunities through crowdfunding real estate platforms, self-directed IRAs, and using debt strategically.

Ready to transform your financial mindset? Connect with Mike on LinkedIn, where he's built a substantial educational library through 119 podcast interviews with various financial experts. His commitment to making financial knowledge accessible and actionable might just change how you think about money forever.

CONNECT WITH MIKE 🎙️

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeclarknationalreferralnetwork/

CONNECT WITH RESET 🎙️

Podcast: https://www.reset-podcast.comYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tonyajlong-RESETLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/reset-with-tonyaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/resetwithTonyaFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570923056203

CONNECT WITH TONYA 🚊

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonyajlong/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tonyajlongFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/tonya.j.long/

Check out my bestselling book, "AI and the New Oz: Leadership’s Journey to the Future of Work" available on Amazon [https://a.co/d/aTBJmEr]. Go to the "AI and the New Oz" website at https://www.ai-and-the-new-oz.com/ to learn more!

#thejourneyisthejob

When you've spent four decades as a punk rock frontman, you've seen it all – the rise and fall of trends, the shifting landscape of music consumption, and the evolution of what it means to be rebellious. In this fascinating conversation – originally broadcast on KPCR 92.9FM – Blag Dahlia of The Dwarves takes us behind the persona that's been shocking audiences since the early 1980s.

Starting as college students playing Chicago punk clubs, The Dwarves built their reputation through chaos, controversy, and unapologetic extremity. "We got thrown out of a lot of clubs, we got in a lot of fights," Blag recalls with a hint of nostalgia. "After a while it kind of became a joke and people would say, you know, we're the Dwarves, we're rock legends." This self-proclaimed legendary status wasn't about commercial success but about cultivating an authentic underground presence that has outlasted many of their more commercially successful peers.

What makes Blag truly fascinating is his creative range beyond The Dwarves. Under the persona Ralph Champagne, he creates country and lounge music with "more room to kind of sing and more room to have an arrangement." He's also an author, writing fiction that extends his artistic expression beyond music. These contradictions reveal a multidimensional artist who defies easy categorization – someone who loves musical theater and Steely Dan as much as hardcore punk.

Through changing audiences and music industry upheavals, Blag has maintained relevance by understanding his niche: "My stuff is more like I'm making a cool underground album for the couple thousand people that are going to understand it... For those 5,000 people, it means everything. For the other 8 billion people it means nothing." This clarity about his artistic purpose has allowed him to navigate decades in music without losing his creative compass.

Ready to discover the surprising dimensions of a punk rock legend? Listen now and catch The Dwarves on tour this fall – proving that true rebellion isn't about fleeting youth but about sustaining authentic creative expression against all odds.

CONNECT WITH BLAG and THE DWARVES 🎙️

• Website: https://thedwarves.com/

When Eric McHenry and his wife LaVerne first joined the Airstream Club fifteen years ago, they didn't see many people who looked like them. As an African American man in a predominantly white organization, Eric might have simply enjoyed the camping experience and kept to himself. Instead, he embarked on a leadership journey that would transform both himself and the entire community.

From his early days in Silicon Valley when "the gods still walked the earth" (as he describes Hewlett and Packard) to his role as CIO for the City of Santa Rosa, Eric has always sought meaningful work that makes a tangible difference. This search for purpose eventually led him to assume leadership of the 18,000-member Airstream Club International, where he faced the delicate challenge of modernizing a beloved institution while preserving its cherished traditions.

In this wide-ranging conversation on RESET with Tonya, from the beautiful coastline of Half Moon Bay, Eric reveals the leadership principles that guided his success. He shares how he deliberately expanded the club's inclusivity by establishing new groups for single women travelers and LGBTQ+ members. He discusses the art of change management — knowing when to push forward and when to step back, always keeping focused on the "quiet majority" rather than the vocal few.

What emerges is a masterclass in community building. Eric describes the sense of family that develops among Airstreamers, creating what the company calls "brand stickiness" — a connection so strong that people remain loyal to Airstream because leaving would mean losing their community. As he transitions to focus on local impact through environmental protection and STEM education initiatives, Eric reflects on finding balance in an increasingly AI-driven world and the enduring importance of genuine human connection.

For anyone navigating career transitions, building inclusive communities, or simply seeking more meaningful connections, Eric's journey offers valuable wisdom about leading with authenticity, embracing change, and creating spaces where everyone feels welcomed.

CONNECT WITH RESET 🎙️

• Podcast: https://www.reset-podcast.com
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tonyajlong-RESET
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/reset-with-tonya
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/resetwithTonya
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570923056203
  

CONNECT WITH TONYA 🚊

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonyajlong/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tonyajlong
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tonya.j.long/

• Check out my bestselling book, "AI and the New Oz: Leadership’s Journey to the Future of Work" available on Amazon [https://a.co/d/aTBJmEr]. Go to the "AI and the New Oz" website at https://www.ai-and-the-new-oz.com/ to learn more!

#thejourneyisthejob

Imagine navigating the intersection of cutting-edge AI, traditional finance, and corporate governance during history's most significant technological transformation. That's exactly where Joyce Li thrives, bringing her unique experience as a software engineer and investment leader managing billions in hedge funds to help organizations reimagine their futures.

Joyce reveals how problem-solving has been her lifelong approach, instilled by watching her engineer father teach himself computer programming in his 40s. "Everything in life is a problem waiting to be solved with your current tools," she explains, "and those tools can change." This adaptable mindset serves as her foundation for guiding others through AI's rapid evolution.

Board governance poses particular challenges in the AI era. When quarterly board meetings collide with weekly or even daily technological advances, traditional oversight mechanisms strain under pressure. Joyce offers a brilliant framework that transcends this timing mismatch by focusing leaders on three enduring questions: Does the AI initiative align with long-term business objectives? Is the right talent and culture in place? Are appropriate risk management metrics established?

Joyce's love of improv theater shapes her advisory approach. The core principles of improv — curiosity, trust, and collaboration — have become essential tools for helping leaders navigate uncertainty. "Be very curious and open-minded during that curiosity surge," she advises, "but also have trust that things will work out." This mindset allows organizations to embrace exploration while maintaining confidence in their direction.

The financial sector amplifies both the challenges and opportunities of AI transformation. Joyce describes how CFO organizations are rapidly adopting AI solutions despite their traditionally conservative nature, reducing financial close processes from over ten days to just three or fewer. This acceleration happens because they've established alignment and put the risk guardrail in place: "when you put the auditable process in place, you can move fast."

Connect with Joyce on LI or subscribe to her newsletter "AI Simplified for Leaders" on Substack to join her in building bridges between technology, strategy, and human potential during this transformative era.

CONNECT WITH JOYCE LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjoyceli/

CONNECT WITH RESET 🎙️Podcast: https://www.reset-podcast.comYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tonyajlong-RESETLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/reset-with-tonyaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/resetwithTonyaFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570923056203

CONNECT WITH TONYA 🚊LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonyajlong/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tonyajlongFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/tonya.j.long/

Check out my bestselling book, "AI and the New Oz: Leadership’s Journey to the Future of Work" available on Amazon [https://a.co/d/aTBJmEr]. Go to the "AI and the New Oz" website at https://www.ai-and-the-new-oz.com/ to learn more!

#thejourneyisthejob

What if you could build a system of 38 AI agents that autonomously researches investors, evaluates their fit with your company, and sends perfectly personalized emails – all while you sleep? That's exactly what tech entrepreneur Jesse Anglen has created, and it's just one example of how Digital Labor is transforming business.

In this mind-expanding conversation, Jesse shares his remarkable journey from starting his first construction business at 17 to becoming a pioneer in AI systems that augment human capabilities. With refreshing clarity and zero hype, he explains how he discovered the power of AI when an employee secretly used ChatGPT to complete a six-week process in just four days.

Jesse introduces his vision for Ruh.ai – an operating system for digital labor that allows anyone to build sophisticated AI workflows through natural conversation. Want your email organized into urgency quadrants with draft responses prepared twice daily? Simply ask, and your new digital employee gets to work.

The most powerful insight comes through Jesse's construction metaphor: "Inside your company right now, probably 80% of what you do is a waste of time... it is moving dirt." This dirt-moving – necessary but intrinsically valueless work – is precisely what AI should handle, freeing humans to focus on vision, curation, and meaningful connection.

Unlike many technologists, Jesse balances technological enthusiasm with deep respect for human relationships. He warns about the dangers of synthetic relationships and celebrates how younger generations are returning to authentic human connections after seeing the damage of social media.

Whether you're a tech enthusiast or just beginning to explore AI, Jesse's practical wisdom and clear examples will transform how you think about the future of work. The question isn't if digital labor will transform your industry – it's whether you'll be part of shaping that transformation.

CONNECT WITH JESSE 🦾

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jesseanglen/

Website: https://www.rapidinnovation.io/

Website: https://ruh.ai/

CONNECT WITH RESET 🎙️

Podcast: https://www.reset-podcast.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tonyajlong-RESET

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/reset-with-tonya

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/resetwithTonya

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570923056203

CONNECT WITH TONYA 🚊

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonyajlong/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tonyajlong

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tonya.j.long/

Check out my bestselling book, "AI and the New Oz: Leadership’s Journey to the Future of Work" available on Amazon [https://a.co/d/aTBJmEr]. Go to the "AI and the New Oz" website at https://www.ai-and-the-new-oz.com/ to learn more!

#thejourneyisthejob

What if music could respond to you? What if your favorite songs could shift to match your exact mood, energy level, or the vibe of your surroundings? That's the breakthrough Bryan Fenchel and his team at Starchild Music are bringing to life with their revolutionary adaptive music format.

Bryan's journey from jazz trumpet virtuoso to music tech innovator reveals how personal challenges can spark profound innovation. After losing feeling in his lips from an illness that temporarily halted his performance career, Brian pivoted into music production before eventually studying computer science. This unique blend of artistic intuition and technical expertise led him to identify music's untapped potential: while films became immersive and games became interactive, music remained stubbornly static.

Starchild Music's solution—adaptive music that "listens back"—transforms passive listening into creative collaboration. Their intuitive platform allows anyone to remix songs in real-time, shifting genres, arrangements, and emotional tones with simple controls on their phone or laptop. No production experience needed. One moment your favorite track might be a gentle acoustic ballad; with a few taps, it transforms into an energetic electronic anthem or a cinematic orchestral piece.

What makes Starchild truly revolutionary isn't just the technology but their ethical approach. Artists maintain control over how their music can be adapted, ensuring their vision remains intact while opening new dimensions of fan engagement. The platform's attribution system ensures everyone—from original artists to AI model creators to musicians whose catalogs helped train those models—receives proper recognition and compensation.

The implications reach far beyond entertainment. Adaptive music promises to transform gaming experiences, fitness applications, wellness platforms, and even how brands connect with consumers through emotionally tailored sound. As Bryan puts it, "Music becomes truly alive when it makes you feel alive."

Ready to experience the future of music? Visit starchildmusic.ai to try their player today and discover how music that responds to you can create deeper, more meaningful connections to the songs you love.

CONNECT WITH BRYAN 🎙️

Website: https://starchild.music/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryan-fenchel-3a6048245/

CONNECT WITH RESET 🎙️

Podcast: https://www.reset-podcast.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tonyajlong-RESET

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/reset-with-tonya

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/resetwithTonya

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570923056203

CONNECT WITH TONYA 🚊

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonyajlong/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tonyajlong

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tonya.j.long/

Check out my bestselling book, "AI and the New Oz: Leadership’s Journey to the Future of Work" available on Amazon [https://a.co/d/aTBJmEr]. Go to the "AI and the New Oz" website at https://www.ai-and-the-new-oz.com/ to learn more!

#thejourneyisthejob