Best Gary Frey Podcasts (2025)

1
EPISODE 123 [guest]: “Unmasking Your Imposter” with Gary Frey 48:33

Play Pause

12d ago48:33

48:33

From perfectionism at age ten to coaching CEOs who quietly wonder if they belong, Gary exposes how comparison, credentials and hidden shame steal confidence. Join this lively conversation as Gary gets brutally honest about the sneaky scripts that fuel imposter syndrome. He also shares personal stories of betrayal, resilience and finding freedom thr…

1
EPISODE 124 [guest]: Navigating the Tech-Talent Shift with Brooks Raiford 39:35

5d ago39:35

39:35

North Carolina is becoming one of the fastest rising tech hubs in the country. Matt sits down with Brooks Raiford, CEO of NC Tech, to unpack the forces shaping the region’s innovation economy. They get into hiring trends, the truth about the AI skills gap, why non-tech companies now dominate tech hiring, and the surprising drop in computer science …

1
157: Solving The Ugly Problems Nobody Wants with Kenneth Lopez 52:28

7d ago52:28

52:28

“I like to solve problems, & I never give up.” – Martin Kenneth Lopez Most founders talk tough. Kenneth grew up in a place that required it. Lima, Peru — beautiful on the surface, unforgiving underneath. Corruption. Precarity. An environment built to break entrepreneurs. There’s no help desk in a place like that. You either solve problems… or you g…

1
156: Getting Past Safety to Solve Early Tech Adoption with Jim Marascio 1:09:17

21d ago1:09:17

1:09:17

“I think if I’m gonna be remembered some way, it’s for the way I’ve served & helped others.” – Jim Marascio Seven-year-old Jim dreamed big — Notre Dame quarterback, Heisman, NFL Hall of Fame. But he grew up in Augusta, ME, where you chose something steady & respectable. His parents were educators; the path was predictable. So, when it came time for…

1
155: Helping CEOs Move Beyond Hurdles to Scale with Shay Prosser 1:05:05

1M ago1:05:05

1:05:05

“Entrepreneurship is scary as well as compelling in a weird way.” – Shay Prosser That’s the quiet admission of someone who’s lived the tension of building something that matters—between fear & purpose, risk & reward—and kept moving anyway. Shay started in chaos: a newborn on the floor, the economy unraveling, & a business idea that couldn’t wait fo…

1
154: How Japanese Philosophical Values Have Led To A Life Of Purpose with Mark Fujiwara 1:00:30

2M ago1:00:30

1:00:30

“I don’t give advice to my kids. I lead by example.” – Mark Fujiwara Mark’s compass isn’t a slogan on a wall—it’s lived. Born to a Japanese father and Chinese mother, he grew up between two worlds that both valued humility, presence, & community. ✨Wabi-sabi: embrace the cracks & fill them with gold. ✨Ichigo ichie: the sacredness of one moment. ✨Kai…

1
153: Nonprofit Leadership, Foster Care, and Creating Impact with Susanna Kavanaugh 53:28

2M ago53:28

53:28

By Gary Frey & Ben McDonald

1
152: Early Adoption of New Technologies with Rob Norris 1:02:43

3M ago1:02:43

1:02:43

“You have an opportunity to take your natural skills and put ’em in a place that they aren’t naturally found.” – Rob Norris That’s not advice. That’s a dare. Because it’s easy to keep your talents where they stack neatly, to stay in the aisle with the labels facing forward. Safe. Predictable. Comfortable. Rob refused the shelf. He dropped sales ski…

1
151: Former KGB Spy Jack Barsky Returns For Part 2 1:12:16

3M ago1:12:16

1:12:16

“I am staying.” – Jack Barsky Three words on a dirt road. Three words that ended one life & cemented another. Three words that turned a mission into a calling. Because by the time Moscow ordered this KGB agent home, Jack wasn’t just a spy with a cover story. He was a college valedictorian, a successful corporate executive, a father raising a little…

1
150: Lessons From KGB Spy Jack Barsky 1:12:02

3M ago1:12:02

1:12:02

“I became an American & said goodbye to them [the KGB].” – Jack Barsky Sounds like the opening line of a spy thriller. Except this one’s real. For a decade, Jack lived undercover in the U.S. as a KGB agent. His mission wasn’t excitement. No tuxedos. No martinis. Just the discipline to disappear — and never get caught. And he did it so well that he …

1
149: Changing Course to Find Your True Calling with Ryan Monk 1:02:57

4M ago1:02:57

1:02:57

"I thought my calling was to be a Catholic priest." – Ryan Monk It wasn’t a whim. Ryan devoted years — undergrad, master’s, a year of theology in seminary — to answering what he believed was his life’s purpose. But somewhere along the way, a quiet unease began to grow. His head said priesthood but his heart whispered his gifts might belong in a dif…

1
148: Using Data and AI In Business with Andrew James 1:04:55

4M ago1:04:55

1:04:55

“That’d be impossible… unless?” – Andrew James How do you respond when life throws a punch? If you’re like most people, when you hit a wall, you just push harder—longer hours, more stress, hoping brute force will somehow get you through. If you’re like Andrew, you stop. Take a breath. And then ask the simple question that’s carried him through ever…

1
147: Growing, Running, And Selling On Your Terms with Ron Weatherly 55:37

5M ago55:37

55:37

“It’s me just wanting freedom… freedom to make my own choices & live life on my terms.” - Ron Weatherly Ron didn’t start his waterproofing company, Dry Pro Foundation and Crawlspace Specialists, with a business plan, angel investors, or even a clue how to fix a foundation. He started with a crawlspace, raw knees, whatever tools he could scrounge, &…

1
EPISODE 122 [GUEST] – How Underdogs Win: Leading with a Healthy Mindset (Mike Hartman) 45:56

5M ago45:56

45:56

What does it take for an underdog to win their face-off against adversity? Former NHL enforcer and Stanley Cup winner Mike Hartman joins the show to share his journey from house league long shot to professional athlete and how mindset made all the difference. Now as founder of the Healthy Mindset App, Mike is guiding both corporate and professional…

1
146: Serving Your Way To Success with David Amigo 1:07:43

5M ago1:07:43

1:07:43

"I’m not in charge… & it’s a really nice feeling.” – David Amigo Most entrepreneurs chase control. David finds peace in letting go. Because when you’ve been a factory scab at 11, a product manager slinging cookies in your 20s, & a minority owner pushed out of your own family’s business — you learn fast: control is an illusion. What isn’t? Character…

1
EPISODE 121 [guests]: Thrive or Survive: HR’s New AI Reality with Jason Walker and Rey Ramirez 45:19

6M ago45:19

45:19

As the mind-boggling pace of AI continues, how can a self-respecting HR professional keep pace? More to the point, how can one find ways to thrive rather than just survive or, worse yet, become irrelevant? Joining the show for this powerful conversation, Jason Walker and Rey Ramirez, co-founders of Thrive HR Consulting, unpack how artificial intell…

1
145: How Curiosity Can Lead to Fulfillment with Behdad Jamshidi 53:43

6M ago53:43

53:43

"Business… is the best way for me to reach my full potential & see who I can become." – Behdad Jamshidi (Bee) Growing up doing math drills at the kitchen table, Bee didn’t dream. Structure, discipline, grit—that was his operating system. When he became an engineer, it wasn’t out of passion. It was logic. A clear, safe path. But underneath it all? A…

1
EPISODE 120 [guest] - Shifting from Fear to Fire with Heather Hansen O'Neill 42:42

6M ago42:42

42:42

In this high-energy episode, award-winning speaker, TEDx powerhouse, and leadership igniter Heather Hansen O’Neill talks about how to stop letting fear run the show and start leading with fire through purpose, passion, and action. From literally flying on the trapeze to metaphorically helping leaders leap into their fullest potential, Heather share…

1
EPISODE 119: [guest] Being a Limitless Leader with Dr. Mary Hemphill 43:27

6M ago43:27

43:27

What does it take to become a truly limitless leader? Joining the show is Dr. Mary Hemphill, a global leadership strategist and founder of The Limitless Leader. Mary shares game-changing insights about self-leadership, human-centered growth, and the courage to unlearn what no longer serves us. From conducting a “human audit” of your life to redefin…

1
144: The Accidental Entrepreneur Journey with Austin Palmer 57:30

6M ago57:30

57:30

"Vanilla is a great flavor." – Austin Palmer Austin may have raised some eyebrows as a kid at 31 Flavors, but he’s always known one thing: flashy doesn’t equal better. So, whether he’s picking ice cream or building financial portfolios, his approach is the same: Simple. Steady. No sprinkles required. His path started predictably—son of a CPA, becam…

1
143: Peak Performance Strategies From Professional Sports with Carlos Salum 1:06:42

7M ago1:06:42

1:06:42

“I take people as a story… I can see their higher self before they can.” – Carlos Salum Carlos grew up under Argentina’s military dictatorship—surrounded by uncertainty, but also by entrepreneurs, poets, and principled people who knew how to thrive despite it. That tension didn’t crush him. It sharpened his vision—so much so that, by adulthood, tra…

1
142: Building Canada's Largest Snowboarding Brand at 24 with Perry Gladstone 1:03:06

7M ago1:03:06

1:03:06

“I want to know what I'm capable of… but I'm not an adrenaline junkie. I just want to know how far I can take it—because I want to know what my greatest potential is.” – Perry Gladstone At 8, Perry was selling comic books at flea markets. At 15, he opened a skateboard shop that pulled in $100K that summer. By 24, he launched a snowboard company in …

1
141: Retiring at 27 To Pursue Entrepreneurship 1:03:02

8M ago1:03:02

1:03:02

"If I can be good about business, & I can do my business well—but then also care about my people & have that noticed in the marketplace—that’s way more important to me." – Greg Lafferty At 27, Greg seemingly had it all: the pedigree, the projects, the prestige of a big job at NASA. But what he really wanted was a life of impact. So, he retired (yes…

1
140: When Kindness Is A Strategy In Business with John Hall 1:02:08

8M ago1:02:08

1:02:08

“So, it's not just about your business growth. It's also about … creating value & meaningful relationships.” – John Hall In third grade, John launched a lunch brokerage business. By college, he was building a student housing empire. And today? He’s a keynote speaker, investor, & co-founder of multiple companies — wildly different ventures but all r…

1
139: From Soviet Russia to Transforming Lives with Natalia Worthington 1:02:12

9M ago1:02:12

1:02:12

“I believe that the more my clients know I care about them, the more I can nudge them toward success.” – Natalia Worthington Natalia wasn’t supposed to be here—literally. As her parents rode a bus to make a life-altering decision, her father had a change of heart. That choice sparked a life defined by curiosity, compassion, & quiet rebellion. Born …

1
138: Addiction, Feeling Stuck, And Transforming Your Life with Robbie Shaw 1:12:20

9M ago1:12:20

1:12:20

“One sip of alcohol literally leads to prison...there’s nothing in between anymore.” – Robbie Shaw For years, Robbie tried to outmaneuver the consequences of addiction—until the day the truth hit him like a bus. No more negotiating, no more "just one more time." His choices were death, jail, or life. We’re so grateful he chose life. That choice set…

1
137: Breaking The Scarcity Mindset with Dan Flaherty 1:07:27

10M ago1:07:27

1:07:27

“If you’re not uncomfortable, you’re not doing the job correct.” – Dan Flaherty With a career that has ventured from the disciplined halls of corporate American to unconventional sales & management consulting, Dan’s story comes with a powerful lesson: Growth comes from embracing calculated risk, stepping out of our comfort zones, & learning not to …

1
The Audiobook - Z-isms: Insights to Live By 9:00:33

10M ago9:00:33

9:00:33

BOOK CAPSULE: Richly authentic, deeply personal and highly motivating, Z-isms offers new ways to better ourselves, our experiences and our encounters. Matt keeps it casual, as though in private conversation with readers, freely sharing his life experiences as an entrepreneur, athlete, single parent, caregiver and nonprofit founder with practical in…

1
EPISODE 118 [solo]: Z-isms 5th Anniversary Special 14:30

10M ago14:30

14:30

The show is BACK! Following a record hiatus, Matt reemerges to explain where he’s been, what’s happened since, what’s occurring now and what lies ahead. These include his relocation, progress with THE BRIGHT SIDE (newsletter for LinkedIn), two high-profile upcoming presentations, show plans for 2025-2026, and a special announcement in concert with …

1
136: Helping Chick-Fil-A, Lowe's, and More Create Brand and Purpose with Jamey Boiter 1:04:13

10M ago1:04:13

1:04:13

“People don’t manage people. People lead people.” – Jamey Boiter Growing up, Jamey was blessed by a father that didn’t just raise him. He led him. In doing so, he gave Jamey a blueprint for servant leadership that would shape his entire career. From an early passion for architecture to pivoting into graphic design, Jamey learned that the true essen…

1
135: Empowering Employees and ESOPs with Don Baker 1:05:08

10M ago1:05:08

1:05:08

"I’m not a greedy guy. I don’t chase money—it follows me." – Donald Baker What does success look like to the average entrepreneur? For most, it’s all about wealth. For Don, it’s about impact. From the beginning, he’s sought to empower his employees & do the right thing, no matter the cost. Whether transforming air quality standards in pools to prot…

1
134: Master Class In Leadership with Jay Woelkers 1:17:16

11M ago1:17:16

1:17:16

"Everyone you meet is somebody's hero—even though you don't think they are." – Gerard "Jay" Woelkers Born into a family of 15 children, Jay learned at a young age what it means to serve. At 18, he joined the Navy, starting as an E1—the lowest rank—and rose to O6 over 39 years, commanding thousands of sailors. But his decades-long journey wasn't abo…

1
133: No Clients, No Calls, No Problem with Billy Austin 59:55

11M ago59:55

59:55

“So, this is a story I like to tell. We're in the office. The phone's not ringing. It's just a regular workday. We're just sitting there, & I said, ‘Well, I'm going to go out and find some work.’” – Billy Austin What happens when an engineer from Charlotte, NC buys an engineering firm in 2007, only to face the Great Recession a year later? For Bill…

1
132: Designing The Second Half of Your Life with Lloyd & Linda Reeb 1:03:42

12M ago1:03:42

1:03:42

"The essence of an entrepreneur is you can build whatever you want — come up with an idea for goodness' sake & get started!” – Lloyd Reeb At 16, Lloyd did just that – he got started. When he overheard his dad say, "Our kids will never be able to afford a house at the beach," he didn’t accept it. Instead, he asked his dad to co-sign a loan so he cou…

1
131: Two Cultures Creating Greater Success Together with Klar Ventures 58:30

1y ago58:30

58:30

"We just try to do good work & have that lead to the next introduction." – Justin Cunningham What happens when a former investment banker & food allergy app creator joins forces with a corporate operations expert who left Berlin, Germany, for Disney (yes, Disney!) to bring big ideas & investment strategies to business owners? Magic…eventually! Like…

1
130: From $13 to $400 Million in 4 Years with Charlie Workmon 1:02:27

1y ago1:02:27

1:02:27

"I want to build a platform, and my team wants to build a platform that blesses people—not a business empire, but a platform to bless people." – Charlie Workmon When you picture logistics companies, what do you see? Gruff individuals scrambling around hectic warehouses, driven only by tight deadlines? That's definitely the norm. But not in Charlie'…

1
129: Failing Forward with Fabi Preslar 1:06:59

1y ago1:06:59

1:06:59

“I’m not sure I ever really wanted to be an entrepreneur.” – Fabi Preslar Ever turned your biggest fear into your proudest achievement? That’s Fabi’s story. Inspired by her father’s ambitious (but unsuccessful) business ventures—from running a French restaurant in rural South Carolina to raising chinchillas—Fabi saw firsthand the risks of entrepren…

1
128: Just Get Started with Brian Ondrako 1:01:09

1y ago1:01:09

1:01:09

"My life is being a navigator and helping navigate people just get started." – Brian Ondrako Listening to Brian now, it's hard to imagine him as a young child in small-town NY, struggling with feelings of inadequacy & lack of self-belief, but those are his roots. A persistent negative mindset & placing blame on others were his defense mechanisms of…

1
127: Building Community with David & Monica Hickman 1:04:04

1y ago1:04:04

1:04:04

“We just really love living life with other people.” – Monica Hickman Rural Tennessee might not seem like the obvious place to birth a business, but that’s just where David & Monica Hickman’s radical love for community – & their eventual business --was born. Neighbors helping neighbors & new faces at the dinner table were the norm & solidified the …

1
126: Turning Android Messages Blue with Danny Mizrahi 59:25

1y ago59:25

59:25

"I really do want to be known for getting the most out of the people around me and helping them grow."— Danny Mizrahi From New York's breakneck pace to building powerhouse companies, Danny Mizrahi is the ultimate growth champion. Whether launching tech startups or scaling businesses to the Inc. 5000, his approach is all about helping others reach n…

1
125: Building Businesses and Community with Titus Bartolotta 1:05:08

1y ago1:05:08

1:05:08

“The thing that most excites my soul is creating, establishing, developing, & then making sure it doesn’t die.” – Titus Bartolotta Locals in the Lake Norman area of Charlotte, NC know the name Bartolotta. That’s because Titus & his wife, Christina Bartolotta (also a podcast guest!), do more than run businesses there. They’re community builders, inv…

1
124: Leading A Nonprofit Like A Business with Will Jones 1:12:16

1+ y ago1:12:16

1:12:16

"You have to make decisions to really do the hard things… that's what leadership is." – Will Jones When Will was chosen to lead a well-known Charlotte, NC, philanthropy, he was thrilled. Service to others is woven into the fabric of his life. But he inherited a problem that too often plagues nonprofits: an unwavering passion for service hamstrung b…

1
123: Getting 2 Second Chances At Life with Johan Koornhof 1:04:05

1+ y ago1:04:05

1:04:05

“It’s all about the opportunity to inspire people.” – Johan Koornhof On the surface, Johan has much in common with the executives, business owners, and leaders he serves. He’s smart, successful, & entirely self-made. He owns his own company and serves as an ambassador to several organizations. But what sets him apart is that none of those things ca…

1
122: Thinking Big After Learning from Tony Robbins and Dale Carnegie with Tamara Bunte 1:05:32

1+ y ago1:05:32

1:05:32

“People don’t think big enough.” – Tamara Bunte Growing up in the Midwest, Tamara assumed she’d follow the same path as everyone else: go to college, get a job, and work until retirement. She was smart, safe, and secure, the very values her community shared. But those values weren’t hers. Even as a young child, she was curious. Why are some people …

1
121: Becoming A Playful Human Again with Mike Montague 1:05:01

1+ y ago1:05:01

1:05:01

“Creative nerdery is my personal brand.” – Mike Montague Imagine for a moment you’re an HR rep reviewing resumes. Along comes a successful web designer turned DJ who later became an acclaimed sales expert, podcast host, and author, who later became an improv comedian—all while being a smash at each thing. Where would you put this person in your org…

1
120: Ski Resorts and Member Based Communities for Entrepreneurs with Hollis Carter 1:12:02

1+ y ago1:12:02

1:12:02

“I’m just generally curious about a lot of things.” – Hollis Carter Entrepreneurs, inquisitive & risk-tolerant by nature, tend to have diverse backgrounds. Hollis’ is almost dizzying. This master of the side hustle has started more companies than you can count, beginning in early childhood. But it’s the SAAS company he built into a 7-figure virtual…

1
119: How Focusing on Relationships Became the Foundation For Success with Todd Hirschfeld 56:33

1+ y ago56:33

56:33

“I’m a relationship person at my core.” – Todd Hirschfeld Growing up, Todd had a seat at some impressive dinner tables, a perk of being the son of a celebrity attorney. Athletes, movie stars, and even the legendary Muhammad Ali graced his family’s dinner table on many occasions. For most people, kids especially, that kind of limelight would be blin…

1
EPISODE 117 [solo]: THE BRIGHT SIDE Audio Newsletter v2 56:37

1+ y ago56:37

56:37

https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/the-bright-side-7153431826336759809/By Matt Zinman

1
118: Charlotte's Apparel Brand 704 Shop with Chris Moxley 1:08:13

1+ y ago1:08:13

1:08:13

"Business… that's just a vehicle to make community impact." -Chris Moxley Those of us lucky enough to call Charlotte, NC, home often joke about how rare it is to meet a native Charlottean (so many of us moved here for new opportunities). But Chris is one of those unicorns, born and raised in Charlotte, and his love for his city and its people has i…

1
EPISODE 116 [guest] – Being an Effective Presenter with Shawn Doyle 48:07

1+ y ago48:07

48:07

Few professionals enjoy giving presentations. In fact, most people find public speaking to be anxiety-ridden, yet necessary to advance their career. Here to help make that happen is Shawn Doyle, a Certified Professional Speaker (CSP), Executive Coach and a prolific author of 24 motivational books. He is also a contributing writer for Inc. Magazine,…