Best Tonya Davis Podcasts (2025)

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Failing My Way to Success: Phillip Cantrell on Scaling vs. Scrambling in Business 39:01

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2d ago39:01

39:01

My guest for Episode #325 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Phillip Cantrell, EVP of Strategy at United Real Estate, founder of Benchmark Realty, and author of Failing My Way to Success: Lessons from 42 Years of Winning and Losing in Business. EPISODE PAGE WITH VIDEO, TRANSCRIPT, AND MORE Phillip reflects on more than four decades of entreprene…

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Spinal Tap’s Greatest Mistakes — And Why They Still Matter 41 Years Later 13:40

9d ago13:40

13:40

In this very special solo episode of My Favorite Mistake, Mark Graban breaks down the gloriously ridiculous — and surprisingly instructive — mistakes made by the characters in his all-time favorite film, This Is Spinal Tap. With the long-awaited sequel, Spinal Tap II: The End Continues, now in theaters, Mark explores why Spinal Tap endures not just…

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How an MLM Failure Taught Trevor Schade to Lead, Grow, and Succeed in Real Estate 45:02

16d ago45:02

45:02

My guest for Episode #324 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Trevor Schade. Episode page with video, transcript, and more Trevor began his career as a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt with a strong background in coding and process improvement. He consulted on business efficiency and outsourcing before shifting into real estate in 2008. After earning hi…

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NFL Kickers on Mistakes, Pressure, Rejection, and How to Succeed in Football and Life 10:03

25d ago10:03

10:03

In this special episode of My Favorite Mistake, host Mark Graban celebrates the kickoff of football season with a unique perspective: five legendary kickers who know what it means to perform under pressure. Guests include former NFL kickers Jay Feely, Shane Graham, David Akers, Nick Lowry, and University of South Carolina’s all-time leading scorer …

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Mistakes in Houses and Hospitals: Grace Bourke on Trust, Verification, and Lasting Improvement 53:45

1M ago53:45

53:45

My guest for Episode #323 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Grace Bourke, Consulting Director of the Performance Excellence Practice at Baker Tilly. With nearly 40 years of experience in healthcare quality improvement and industrial engineering, Grace has worked in clinical care, biotech, global public health, and senior leadership roles at org…

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Quitting My PhD: Rob Dorgan on Redefining Success, Beating Burnout, and Finding Purpose 43:32

1M ago43:32

43:32

My guest for Episode #322 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Rob Dorgan, a multi-talented professional whose career path has taken him from paralegal to college professor, retail store owner, manufacturing company president, and now licensed massage therapist, certified yoga educator, meditation teacher, and astrologer. Rob is also the author of…

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Why Listening to Yourself Is the First Step to Better Communication — Cynthia Kane on Learning to Pause 42:19

1M ago42:19

42:19

My guest for Episode #321 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Cynthia Kane, founder and CEO of the Kane Intentional Communication Institute and author of several books, including How to Communicate Like a Buddhist and The Pause: How to Keep Your Cool in Tough Situations. Cynthia shares a pivotal mistake from early in her life: letting other peopl…

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From Lab Work to Leadership: Dr. Jen Heemstra’s Guide to Thriving in Science Careers 11:39

2M ago11:39

11:39

🎙️ In this bonus episode of My Favorite Mistake, Mark Graban welcomes back Dr. Jen Heemstra, Charles Allen Thomas Professor and Chair of Chemistry at Washington University in St. Louis. Jen joins us to talk about her new book, Lab Work to Leadership: A Concise Guide to Thriving in the Science Job You Weren’t Trained For. She shares how the book was…

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The Costly Expansion Mistake That Made Damon Lembi a Better 'Learn it All' CEO 43:53

2M ago43:53

43:53

My guest for Episode #320 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Damon Lembi, CEO of Learnit, a live learning and development platform that has helped upskill over 2 million professionals. Episode page with video, transcript, and more A former college baseball player and now a two-time bestselling author, Damon shares the story of how youthful ambit…

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Your Work Won’t Speak for Itself: Mistakes & Branding Lessons from Sapna Pieroux 44:46

2M ago44:46

44:46

My guest for Episode #319 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Sapna Pieroux, award-winning author of Let’s Get Visible!, a branding consultant, and the founder of Inner Visions ID. Episode page with video, transcript, and more With a background spanning 20 years in media and experience working with major brands like Toyota, Sony, and L’Oréal, Sap…

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The Art of Preventing Stupid: Lawyer and Author Matthew Davis on Business Mistakes and Growth 45:12

2M ago45:12

45:12

My guest for Episode #318 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Matthew Neal Davis, an attorney, entrepreneur, and author of the provocative book The Art of Preventing Stupid. Episode page with video and more Matthew is the founder and managing partner of Davis Business Law, which has grown more than 1,000% in six years, earning a spot on the Inc. …

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Why Going to Law School Was Her Favorite Mistake – Davina Frederick of Wealthy Woman Lawyer 44:47

2M ago44:47

44:47

My guest for Episode #316 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Davina Frederick, founder of Wealthy Woman Lawyer, host of the Wealthy Woman Lawyer Podcast, and a business coach who has helped women law firm owners scale their practices to seven figures and beyond. Episode page with video, transcript, and more In our conversation, Davina shares why…

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The Danger of Optimism: CEO Jim Schleckser on His Biggest Leadership Mistake 49:22

3M ago49:22

49:22

My guest for Episode #316 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Jim Schleckser, founder and CEO of The CEO Project. Episode page with video, transcript, and more Jim is a seasoned business leader, bestselling author, and trusted advisor to CEOs around the world. With experience spanning 42 countries and multiple industries, Jim has spent decades he…

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Why 100 Coffee Meetings Didn’t Work—And What Kat Halushka Did Instead 37:43

3M ago37:43

37:43

My guest for Episode #315 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Kat Halushka, a business and visibility strategist for coaches, consultants, and speakers. She’s the founder of Profitable Impact Academy, where she helps entrepreneurs grow their audience, automate marketing, and land clients through speaking and streamlined funnels. EPISODE PAGE Kat’…

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How Culture Creates Freedom and Profit: Josh Cunningham Returns to Share His New Book 13:57

3M ago13:57

13:57

In this special bonus episode of My Favorite Mistake, host Mark Graban welcomes back Josh Cunningham, founder and CEO of Rokrbox and guest from Episode 244. Josh returns to share insights from his brand-new book, Culture Is the Key: How to Unlock Massive Profits and Freedom. We dive into: How Josh built a culture-first company that’s thriving—even …

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The Mistake of Unrealistic Expectations: Mark Struczewski’s Solopreneur Journey 44:03

3M ago44:03

44:03

My guest for Episode #314 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Mark Struczewski, also known as “Mister Productivity.” Mark is a Houston-based productivity coach, speaker, and host of The Mister Productivity Podcast, with over 1,300 episodes to his name. He helps overwhelmed professionals cut through distractions and focus on what truly matters. Ep…

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Avoiding Bad Marketing: Amber Gaige on Mistakes, AI, and the Four Cs 32:41

3M ago32:41

32:41

My guest for Episode #313 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Amber Gaige, a marketing strategist, international bestselling author, and founder of Far Beyond Marketing. With over 20 years of experience, Amber helps entrepreneurs simplify their marketing and drive real results. She’s also the author of The Far Beyond Marketing Guidebook: Stop Bei…

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Ballet, Mistakes, and Masked Performances: Jared Redick’s Story of Grace Under Pressure 42:44

4M ago42:44

42:44

OOPS! Due to an editing mistake, I had to reupload the file. Again. My guest for Episode #312 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Jared Redick, a third-generation ballet dancer, choreographer, and award-winning educator. Episode page with links and more Jared is a full professor and Assistant Dean of Dance at the University of North Carolina Scho…

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How a Mistake in Confronting Workplace Discrimination Shaped a Leadership Career – Karin Hurt on Speaking Up the Right Way 40:51

4M ago40:51

40:51

My guest for Episode #311 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Karin Hurt, CEO of Let’s Grow Leaders, a global leadership development firm. Karin is a former Verizon Wireless executive and the award-winning author of five books, including her latest, Powerful Phrases for Dealing with Workplace Conflict. Episode page with video, transcript, and mor…

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What Nearly Killed Andrew Laws’ Business—and Why He’s Now Grateful for It 41:48

4M ago41:48

41:48

My guest for Episode #310 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Andrew Laws, Founder of the SEO agency Yeseo IO and host of The Business Amplifier Podcast. Andrew has been working in digital marketing for over 25 years and has seen just about every shift in the SEO landscape. But one of the biggest lessons of his career came not from Google’s algor…

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How Busy Teams Can Better Execute Growth Plans: Andrea Jones on 'Executagility' and Mistakes 14:20

4M ago14:20

14:20

In this special bonus episode of My Favorite Mistake, Mark Graban talks again with Andrea Jones, Principal at AJC and CEO of The Executagility Company. Andrea was previously featured in Episode 105, and she returns to discuss the release of her new book: The Executagility Field Guide: How Busy Teams Can Execute Growth Plans. Andrea shares a new “fa…

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Burnout to Breakthrough: How La Tonya Roberts Found Harmony by Leaving Corporate Consulting 29:39

4M ago29:39

29:39

My guest for Episode #309 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is La Tonya Roberts, the founder and CEO of Harmony Consulting Group. La Tonya is a fractional COO, HR consultant, and executive coach who helps women entrepreneurs scale their service-based businesses from six to seven figures through systems, strategic planning, and operational excellen…

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Mistakes vs. 'Stupidity': C.J. Stewart Breaks Down Life Lessons from Baseball to Social Justice 48:35

5M ago48:35

48:35

My guest for Episode #308 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is C.J. Stewart, co-founder and Chief Visionary Officer at the LEAD Center for Youth, an Atlanta-based nonprofit focused on empowering Black youth through sports-based development. Before dedicating his life to mentorship and advocacy, C.J. was drafted twice by the Chicago Cubs and built …

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How the NFL Is Reducing Head Injuries Without Losing the Kickoff: A Conversation with Dr. Thom Mayer 12:55

5M ago12:55

12:55

In this bonus episode of My Favorite Mistake, host Mark Graban welcomes back Dr. Thom Mayer, the longtime Medical Director for the NFL Players Association. Thom previously joined us in catch up on his original episode here 🌐 Learn more about Dr. Mayer and his work with the NFLPA 💡 Subscribe at MarkGraban.com/mistake…

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Selling Books Isn’t the Publisher’s Job: Terry Whalin What Authors Must Learn Early On 49:10

5M ago49:10

49:10

My guest for Episode #307 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Terry Whalin, an accomplished editor and author of more than 60 books, several of which have sold over 100,000 copies. Terry is the owner of Whalin and Associates, a communications firm, and he serves as an acquisitions editor for Morgan James Publishing. Drawing from decades of experi…

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Losing Her Best Employee Was the Wake-Up Call Betsy Pepine Needed to Reinvent Her Real Estate Company 44:44

5M ago44:44

44:44

My guest for Episode #306 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Betsy Pepine, a serial entrepreneur in real estate and the founder of Pepine Realty. Betsy leads a top-producing real estate team consistently recognized by The Wall Street Journal and has built a family of companies that includes a property management firm, title company, real estate …

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How a ‘Happy Mistake’ Led to a Leadership Journey in ADHD Education — John Willson of SOAR 41:31

5M ago41:31

41:31

My guest for Episode #305 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is John Willson, Executive Director of SOAR, the world’s premier outdoor adventure program serving youth with ADHD and learning disabilities. Episode page with video and more With over 30 years of experience, John is a passionate advocate for experiential education and life skills develop…

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Why Staying Silent Was Her Favorite Mistake: Dr. Tia Warrick on Career Growth and Speaking Up 43:11

5M ago43:11

43:11

My guest for Episode #304 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Dr. Tia Warrick, a clinical research leader, epidemiologist, author, and entrepreneur who has spent nearly a decade working in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. Episode page with video, transcript, and more She’s the founder of Lesous Consulting, a firm dedicated to supporting…

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Why the Corporate Ladder Was My Biggest Mistake – Kason Morris on Redefining Work and Purpose 44:03

6M ago44:03

44:03

My guest for Episode #303 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Kason Morris, a corporate executive, speaker, coach, and self-described life-work revolutionary. With a career that spans consulting, financial services, and global learning and development leadership, Kason has spent years helping organizations and individuals prepare for the rapidly …

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Fired by a Tech Bro: How Getting Sacked from Postmates Launched Author Tash Doherty's True Career 41:42

6M ago41:42

41:42

My guest for Episode #302 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Tash Doherty, a British-Irish-American author, blogger, and podcaster currently based in Mexico City. A graduate of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, Tash previously worked in analytics for Postmates and Vox Media. Episode page with video, transcript, and more Today…

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Overcoming Setbacks: Jonathan Small on the Career Mistake That Sparked His Success 45:22

6M ago45:22

45:22

My guest for Episode #301 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Jonathan Small, an award-winning journalist, editor, podcast host, and producer based in Los Angeles. Episode page with video and more As president of Strike Fire Productions, he has built a diverse career that spans magazine editing at top publications—from Child Magazine to Maxim—and…

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Marketing Over Bourbon with Sheila Butler: Data-Driven Strategies & Bold Moves 43:35

6M ago43:35

43:35

Episode page with video, transcript, and more My guest for Episode #300 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Sheila Butler, a Chief Marketing Officer with over 25 years of experience shaping integrated marketing strategies, building global loyalty programs, and driving customer engagement across both B2C and B2B sectors. She's the founder of Butle…

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Transforming Brilliant Jerks into Leaders: Luis Velasquez’s Coaching Strategies and Resilience 42:35

7M ago42:35

42:35

My guest for Episode #299 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Luis Velasquez, an executive coach in Silicon Valley and a Stanford Graduate School of Business facilitator. He's also the founder of Velas Consulting. Episode page with video, transcript, and more Once a university professor and research scientist, Luis helps mid-level managers to C-s…

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General Hospital Actor and QVC Host Andy Paige Turned a Bold Misstep into a Beauty Revolution 44:30

7M ago44:30

44:30

My guest for Episode #298 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Andy Paige. She's a soap opera actress, podcast host, QVC guest host, and national beauty/image/lifestyle expert. As Pearl on ABC's General Hospital, she brings real-life QVC flair to captivating audiences with innovative advertising. Episode page with transcript, video, and more She h…

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Aviation Safety Explained: MIT’s Arnold Barnett on Why Flying Remains Incredibly Safe 23:08

7M ago23:08

23:08

In this special bonus episode of "My Favorite Mistake," host Mark Graban welcomes back Arnold Barnett, a renowned expert in aviation safety, to discuss public perception of air travel safety in light of recent air incidents. They explore common misconceptions about aviation risks, temporal fluctuations in safety data, and the factors contributing t…

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Learning from Mistakes: Norman Wolfe’s Guide to Building High-Performing Teams 50:52

7M ago50:52

50:52

My guest for Episode #297 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Norman Wolfe, the Founder and CEO of Quantum Leaders. EPISODE PAGE with video, transcript, and more Norman's journey as both a successful executive and a trusted coach to countless leaders has been driven by one central question: How can we improve our ability to achieve the results we…

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How a Brutally Honest Communication Mistake Sparked Growth: Sherianna Boyle 35:52

7M ago35:52

35:52

Episode page with video and more My guest for Episode #296 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Sherianna Boyle, a renowned psychic healer, speaker, and founder of Emotional Detox Coaching® and The Cleanse Method®. She has written over ten books, including the best-selling Energy in Action: The Power of Emotions & Intuition to Cultivate Peace & Fr…

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The Mistake That Cost Hundreds of Thousands: Josh Chernikoff on Business Growth and Sales 47:04

8M ago47:04

47:04

My guest for Episode #295 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Josh Chernikoff, a seasoned expert in the education sector with nearly 20 years of experience in EdTech, sales, and entrepreneurship. Episode page with video, transcript, and more Josh is the founder of the EdSales Elevation Experience, a 12-week program designed to help education comp…

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How Authenticity and Resilience Shape Leadership Success: Mandolen Mull’s Insights 40:29

8M ago40:29

40:29

My guest for Episode #294 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Mandolen Mull. Episode page with video, transcript, and more She has worked with global clients in various industries, helping organizations with change implementation and leader development training. The daughter of a master stone mason entrepreneur, Mandolen has a great appreciation …

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Nuggets of Advice from NBA Rookie Spencer Jones on Navigating NIL, Personal Branding, and Building a Legacy 45:31

8M ago45:31

45:31

My guest for Episode #293 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Spencer Jones, a rookie forward with the Denver Nuggets and a Stanford University graduate, where he earned a degree in Management Science and Engineering. Episode page with links and more He averaged 11 points per game over five standout years at Stanford, leading the Pac-12 in three-…

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Why Culture Is Your Secret Weapon for Success – A Conversation with Jessica Kriegel 38:44

8M ago38:44

38:44

My guest for Episode #292 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Dr. Jessica Kriegel, Chief Strategy Officer of Workforce and Labor at Culture Partners and an internationally recognized speaker. Episode page with video, transcript, and more Known for her transformative 'Culture Equation,' Jessica has been featured on CNBC, MSNBC, CNN, and more. At C…

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World Series Coach Trent Clark on Mistakes, Leadership, and Building Winning Teams 55:55

8M ago55:55

55:55

My guest for Episode #291 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Trent Clark, CEO of Leadershipity and Founder of Courage Coach LLC. Having spent his adult livelihood among the top 1% producers in sports and business, Trent is dedicated to empowering people to reach their goals, peak performance, and attain their dreams. Episode page with transcript…

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From Sports Executive to Entrepreneur: How Michelle Rankine Built a Multimillion-Dollar Home Care Franchise 45:13

9M ago45:13

45:13

My guest for Episode #290 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Michelle Rankine, Ph.D., a trailblazing entrepreneur in the health space who built a multimillion-dollar home care franchise business to address disparities in Black and Brown communities. Episode page with video, transcript, and more A former sports executive with roles at major organ…

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Off for 2 Weeks; Special Kindle Book Price 1:08

9M ago1:08

1:08

I’m taking the next two weeks off, but I’ll be back with new episodes on January 6th. Please check out the back catalog of episodes! If you’re looking for something to read over the holidays, my book The Mistakes That Make Us: Cultivating a Culture of Learning and Innovation (that contains many stories and lessons learned from my guests… and my own…

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Lessons in Intellectual Property and Self-Trust with Plagiarism Expert Jonathan Bailey 45:46

9M ago45:46

45:46

My guest for Episode #289 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Jonathan Bailey, founder of PlagiarismToday.com. He’s also a Copyright and Plagiarism Consultant at CopyByte, with background and education in Journalism. Episode page with video, transcript, and more He’s spoken at conferences worldwide, including four of the International Plagiarism …

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Randy Scott of ESPN: The Live TV Blunder That Became His Favorite Mistake 4:12

10M ago4:12

4:12

My guest for this bonus episode of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is ESPN anchor Randy Scott. He shares a hilarious yet humbling story from his early days on live television. Reflecting on an on-air blunder during Highlight Express, Randy reveals how the moment taught him resilience, the power of adaptability, and the importance of laughing at you…

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From CIA to CEO: Rupal Patel on Leadership, Resilience, and Owning Your Weird 45:28

10M ago45:28

45:28

My guest for Episode #288 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Rupal Patel - she’s a former CIA analyst turned serial entrepreneur, who has embarked on an unconventional journey from military briefing rooms in jungles to corporate boardrooms and international stages. Episode page with video, transcript, and more Her newly released book, From CIA t…

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Learning from Havana: CEO Steven L. Blue’s Reflections on Mistakes & Success 46:00

10M ago46:00

46:00

My guest for Episode #287 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Steven L. Blue, the CEO of Miller Ingenuity, a global manufacturer and supplier of railroad parts and high-technology rail safety systems and services. Episode page with video, transcript, and more He’s a recognized expert in business transformation. With 50 years of experience leading…

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Nancy Ho on Losing $300K in 5 Months: Lessons on Overcoming Failure, Life Purpose, and Work-Life Integration 41:22

10M ago41:22

41:22

My guest for Episode #286 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Nancy Ho, a distinguished Life Strategist, Clarity Messenger, and State of Mind Specialist with over 26 years of experience guiding individuals toward holistic success. Oops! The original audio file was not playing properly due to an editing error. My mistake! Episode page with video, …

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Bonus: Janet Polach, Ph.D. on The Strategic Leader’s Mindset, Her New Book 10:03

10M ago10:03

10:03

Welcome back to My Favorite Mistake! In this bonus episode, host Mark Graban reconnects with returning guest Dr. Janet Polach, a retired U.S. Marine Corps lieutenant colonel and PhD in organizational development. Janet, who previously appeared on Episode 175, shares insights from her new book, "The Strategic Leader's Mindset: Unlocking the Keys to …