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Arizona Originals

Arizona Originals, hosted by Jason Isaak, brings you the stories, leadership lessons, and life lessons of the people who make Arizona a great place to live and work.
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Now displaying: 2018
Nov 28, 2018

This week is our final episode of Season 3 - thanks for being part of this fantastic community!  Stay tuned for Season 4 which should launch in early 2019!  

In Season 2 Episode 12, we spoke with David Kolbe, the CEO of Kolbe Corp.  If you haven’t already listened to that episode, I encourage you to do so.

David was kind enough to share his thoughts on a variety of topics in short, topical episodes which we share intermittently.  This week we spend a few moments with David on the topic of navigating our passions with a focus on how self-awareness plays into the equation.

Nov 21, 2018

In Season 2 Episode 12, we spoke with David Kolbe, the CEO of Kolbe Corp.  If you haven’t already listened to that episode, I encourage you to do so.

David was kind enough to share his thoughts on a variety of topics in short, topical episodes which we share intermittently.  This week we spend a few moments with David on the topic of preventing organizational paralysis, including how success can paralyze an organization.

Nov 14, 2018

In Season 2 Episode 12, we spoke with David Kolbe, the CEO of Kolbe Corp.  If you haven’t already listened to that episode, I encourage you to do so.

This week we spend a few moments with David on the topic of empowering and engaging employees.  We touch on several issues including accountability, transparency, delegation, and tolerance for failure.

Also check out David's discussion about Demystifying Millennials from last season.

Nov 7, 2018

This week our guest is Mark Jacobs, the dean of Barrett Honors College at Arizona State University.  He came to ASU in the fall of 2003 from Swarthmore College, where he had held an endowed chair in biology and had been both chair of the Biology Department and associate provost of the College. He received his B.A. magna cum laude from Harvard in biology and earned his Ph.D. at Stanford University in biological sciences.

During his tenure at Barrett Honors College, Dean Jacobs has overseen tremendous growth, and during our conversation, he shares his story, the influences in his life, and his approach to leading and learning which influence the way he approaches his job and the students and culture at Barrett.

You will also want to be sure you have listened to our episode with  Ambassador Barbara Barrett!

SELECT LINKS FROM THE PODCAST

1491

Oct 31, 2018

This week our guest is Greg Peterson, founder of the Urban Farm in Phoenix.  His mission is inspire people to embrace their own greenness,which he does daily by living what he speaks. He received his master’s degree in Urban and Environmental Planning (MUEP) in December 2006 from Arizona State University. His academic training has been augmented by 34 years of real world self-study, ownership of multiple businesses and a rich background in entrepreneurship, computer training, software development and management.

Our conversation covers everything from nurturing curiosity, finding passion, building community, engaging in lifelong learning, and creating a long-lasting impact in our communities.  Greg's story engages and his enthusiasm inspires.

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Urban Farm Podcast

Ocean Robbins

John Lee Dumas

Scott Murray

GrowPHX

Diet For A New America

Ishmael

Oct 24, 2018

This week our guest is Jonathan Keyser - the founder of Keyser…a commercial real estate firm in Scottsdale, AZ.  Jonathan’s enthusiasm is unmistakable and you’ll benefit from hearing how this son of missionaries was driven to pursue success, but more importantly, how his views of success and wealth have evolved.  

Jonathan discusses topics ranging from his views on:

  • Developing a long-term, sustainable and successful business thru helping others,
  • Developing resilience and patience,
  • Identifying what gets in the way of living out our values,
  • Pursuing intentional imbalance in your life.

And he also provides some insights into mindset and offers some great tools including the 30-day Positivity Challengeand the Everything Is A Gift Challenge.

SELECT LINKS FROM THE PODCAST

Disruptive

Mindset

The Way of Mastery

Please follow the Arizona Originals podcast on these social media platforms: Instagram, Twitterand Facebook.  And thanks to Beth Lewallen at Italicized Consulting for all her help getting our social media up and running…and be sure to follow her on Twitter

 

Oct 16, 2018

This week our guest is Sharon Orlopp - formerly the SVP of Human Resources and Global Chief Diversity Officer for WalMart.  Today, she is an author and continues her work as a leader in human resources for Core Scientific and Orangetheory Fitness.  We cover a range of issues from mentoring, to the role of diversity in innovation, to proactive goal setting, to the lessons she learned from her parents and how her experiences as a child set her on a path to leadership within one of the largest retailers in the world.

She recently released "Standing Up After Saigon" which she co-wrote with Thuhang Tran.  The book tells Tran's story of resilience, courage and survival as she faced polio and life in Saigon after its fall in the Vietnam War...and Sharon shares more detail about the book and how it came about in our conversation.

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Standing Up After Saigon

Granite Mountain

Granite Mountain Hotshots Memorial State Park

Blockchain Revolution

The Story of Blockchain

Truth Machine

Oct 10, 2018

This week our guest is John Jennings - formerly the CEO of Safeguard Security, CEO of CQR Technologies and founder of QuickPass.  A native Arizonan, John shares his story which took him from the early days of the security business to growing one of the larger businesses in the industry.  He also discusses some important lessons learned from Jim Collins and how some counter-intuitive strategies led to tremendous growth for his company.

Additionally, John discusses the lessons learned transitioning a family business from one generation to the next, the value of making mistakes, the lessons learned from his work with Hospice of the Valley, and the difference between leadership and management.  He covers that and so much more.

Please follow the Arizona Originals podcast on these social media platforms: Instagram, Twitterand Facebook.  And thanks to Beth Lewallen at Italicized Consulting for all her help getting our social media up and running...and be sure to follow her on Twitter

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Jim Collins

James Patterson's Michael Bennett books

Vince Flynn's Mitch Rapp books

Homeland

Start-up Nation

Oct 3, 2018

This week our guest is Joshua Becker- bestselling author, blogger and popular speaker on the topic of minimalism.  You won’t want to miss his story and his thoughts on everything from building a platform, navigating career change, determining what your "first filter" is, dealing with online trolls and haters, to building a team around you to make you your best.

He takes us on his journey from studying banking and finance, to attending seminary and becoming a minister, to a particular Saturday speaking with a neighbor who would be a catalyst for where Joshua is today.  And if you have never thought about the topic of minimalism, this conversation will not only be a solid introduction, but will also be thought provoking.

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The Hope Effect

Simplify Magazine

Simple Money Magazine

The 80/20 Principle

Journey Church

The Good Place - NBC

The More of Less

Clutterfree with Kids

The Minimalist Home

 

 

Sep 25, 2018

This week our guest is Park Howell - founder of the Business of Story…and you also might know him from the ad agency he founded, Park & Co.  This conversation is packed with great stories and very practical advice about how you can tell better stories to help you grow your business and your personal platform.  

SELECT LINKS FROM THE SHOW:

The Business of Story

Park Howell's website

Save the Cat

The Hero With 1,000 Faces

Save the Cat Goes to the Movies

Origin Story: A Big History of Everything

The Business of Story podcast

What My TEDx Talk Taught Me About Storytelling

Park's TEDx talk

Sep 19, 2018

Ron Robertson is the co-founder and CEO of Picmonica revolutionary visual learning platform proven to help students master critical information and retain it longer.

Ron grew up in Show Low, Arizona and his journey takes him from the cool pines of Arizona to the beaches of San Diego, and then back to the University of Arizona for medical school.  During his preparation for the US Medical Licensing Exam, his life took an interesting turn...and he tells that story which led to the founding of Picmonic.

In our conversation, Ron covers a variety of topics of interest to students, lifetime learners, entrepreneurs and anyone interested in improving yourself.  He also makes a good case that everyone could benefit from knowing a great tattoo artist!

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The Hard Thing About Hard Things

Moonwalking with Einstein

Galvanize Phoenix Campus

Sep 12, 2018

Olympic gold medalist Misty Hyman won a stunning upset victory at the 2000 Sydney games when she came from behind to break the American record and win the 200-meter butterfly. Recognized as a pioneer in the sport for her innovative underwater dolphin kick, she won 13 U.S. and five NCAA national titles.

Hyman is recognized as one of the most inspirational athletes of our time. Her knowledge of the sport, gained from two decades of competitive swimming for two of America’s top swim coaches, coupled with her friendly and encouraging personality, have made her one of the country’s leading swim instructors.

She is the former Senior Assistant Coach for the Arizona State University swimming program and offers personalized and private coaching at The Sanctuary Resort in Paradise Valley, AZ. She also hosts clinics and camps throughout the United States. As a motivational speaker, Hyman helps athletes, students, and corporations alike set and reach seemingly unattainable goals.

In this episode, Misty shares her story and discusses topics ranging from facing challenges, to finding balance, to surrendering to imperfection, and how she evaluates life and success.

 

Feb 15, 2018

Our guest is Russ Perry, the founder of Design Pickle - a subscription-based, on-demand graphic design service based in Scottsdale, AZ.  Russ recently released his new book, The Sober Entrepreneur.

Russ is a 3rd generation Arizonan with roots in the historic Copper Triangle mining area.  Our conversation not only covers his personal story, but includes insights on a wide range of issues affecting your personal and professional life.  Russ also shares a powerful story about a Pepsi vending machine...you will not want to miss that story or the moral of that tale.

Find us at Arizona Originals!

Feb 7, 2018

This week our guest is Shiva Planjery - the co-founder and CEO of Codelucida, a Tucson-based company working to improve error-correction solutions for everything from flash drives to hard disk drives. Shiva shares his story which took him from the US to South Korea to India to Canada and, ultimately, to Tucson. He not only shares insights about life and work stemming from his formative years, but how they help inform how he approaches his life as an entrepreneur.

It’s another great story coming out of Tech Launch Arizona at the University of Arizona...I know you will learn from our conversation.

Jan 24, 2018
In Season 2 Episode 12, we spoke with David Kolbe, the CEO of Kolbe Corp.  If you haven’t already listened to that episode, we encourage you to do so.
 
David was kind enough to share his thoughts on a variety of topics in short, topical episodes which we will share intermittently over the coming months.
 
This week we spend a few moments with David on the topic of millennials and the multi-generational workforce.  He shares some common-sense insights which demystify what many make out to be complex and potentially counterproductive.
 
Reach us at contact@azoriginals.net
 
Check out what is happening at the AZ Chamber
Jan 17, 2018

This week our guest is Jordan Lancaster - the co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Avery Therapeutics, a Tucson-based company working to solve the problem of heart tissue regeneration. Jordan comes from a long line of cardiologists and has found himself focused on the research side of the heart…and now is leading an entrepreneurial endeavor to bring scientific innovations to make the next leap forward in cardiac care.

Jordan, who cycled for the University of Arizona and rode his first El Tour de Tucson at the age of eight, discusses topics ranging from mentoring, to building a culture of teamwork, to bringing research into the entrepreneurial space.

SELECT LINKS FROM THE PODCAST

Avery Therapeutics on LinkedIn

McGuire Center for Entrepreneurship - Eller College of Management - University of Arizona

Tech Launch Arizona

Zach Ferres podcast

Hickman's Family Farms podcast

Reach us at contact@azoriginals.net

Check out what is happening at the AZ Chamber 

Jan 9, 2018

This week our guest is Mac Perlich - the president and publisher of ON Media Publications. Mac shares what I believe are two of the best life lessons we can all learn from and discusses her journey from nursing into publishing. I know you’ll enjoy her insights and her passion for everything she is involved with from publishing, to the Culture Pass program, to the Act One Foundation.

We cover a wide range of topics from how to develop meaningful and mutually-beneficial business relationships, to thoughts about retirement, and much more.

Follow us on our new social media channels - Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook (thanks to Beth Lewellen for all her help on this)!

 

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