Rounding The Bases With Joel Goldberg

Today’s guest on Rounding the Bases has a passion for introducing good people…to each other, to modern approaches and to perfect-fit workplaces As so many people in the workforce reconsider their professional future, how do they navigate change and find the ideal culture that will enable them to succeed? One person knows best, Casey Wright. Casey is the President and Owner of Chief of Staff, the Kansas City recruitment firm building the workforce of tomorrow, from entry level to executive. Meeting the challenges of the future means building a business unlike any other. So with proprietary techniques and a team of the best, he’s bringing his industry into the now, building connections that matter for job seekers and creators alike. Chief of Staff Kansas City Website: https://www.chiefofstaffkc.com

Retired MLB pitcher Kevin Moran and NHL center Matt Lombardi consider themselves opposites. But after each sustained his own career ending injury, the former classmates found commonality in the thrill of elite competition. A lifetime of pushing their bodies to the brink had them in need of a safe, effective remedy to their aches and pains. And so Beam was born. The all-natural, pharmaceutical grade and 100% THC-free CBD lifestyle products were the answer they had been searching for. Beam changed their lives, and now the co-founders are on a mission to empower people to live happier, healthier lives as well. For more conversation with Matt and Kevin visit our YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/RTBMattandKevinBeam Website: https://shopbeam.com/

There’s bravery, and then there’s my guest today, who is downright fearless. Throughout her career, she’s been esteemed as the secret weapon to high-stakes contract negotiations with some of the world's largest financial institutions. Her name is Mary Redmond, the always passionate and sometimes shocking body language boss more commonly known as the Fearless Negotiator. She’s a businesswoman who means business, and manages to do it all by wearing many hats, literally and figuratively. As an experienced coach, speaker and trainer, Mary helps her clients turn the no’s into yeses and challenges into opportunities. After all, everything is negotiable, if only you are fearless enough to ask.For more conversation with Mary visit our YouTube page: https://bit.ly/RTBMaryRedmond

He may not consider himself to be an inspirational person, but Jason Benetti is one of the most profound, humble (and inspirational) men in baseball. He aspired to become a sports broadcaster and was lucky enough to make that dream his reality. He has claims to fame on both ESPN and NBC, though is best known as the voice of the Chicago White Sox. He has followed in legendary footsteps creating his own unique and different path. For more with Jason Benetti visit our YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/RTBJasonBenetti

On this episode, Joel talks with a serial entrepreneur and political prodigy behind the best kept secret in real estate. His first foray into politics was at the age of 22, with a grassroots campaign aimed at returning his hometown to glory. He finished in a close second, but the campaign opened his eyes to the influence that property ownership has on shaping local communities. Five years later, he’s the quiet riot who’s shaking up an entire industry. His name is Luke Babich, CEO and Co-Founder of Clever Real Estate, the revolutionary approach to buying and selling. By creating a more affordable process, his startup from St. Louis is opening more doors to home ownership than ever before, bridging divides from coast to coast.For more conversation with Luke Babich visit: https://bit.ly/RTBLukeBabichWebsite: https://listwithclever.com

Leadership is a journey, not a destination. In this episode, Joel sits down with the brains and unrelenting passion behind a truly remarkable achievement nearly two decades in the making. Joining him is Dr. Roy Jensen, a brilliant pathologist, widely published scientific authority and the Director of the University of Kansas Cancer Center. His vision put Kansas City on the map, medically speaking, and was a process he will admit was no walk in the park. With persistence, he led the effort in earning our region its first ever NCI designation, a major success in itself. But there was still room to become even better. Under Dr. Jensen’s tireless guidance, the University is now well on its way to becoming a comprehensive cancer center, a rare appointment reserved for the most elite. He’s on the cusp of the ultimate achievement, and only time will tell what he accomplishes next.

Time for our "Best of the Month" episode! Danny Beckley took over as executive director of the Kansas City Symphony in 2019 and found himself navigating the pandemic months later. The entertainment industry took a massive hit during Covid, yet the Kansas City Symphony figured out how to stay sharp and in rhythm by continuing to play in a unique way.

As we approach Memorial Day, this episode provides a truly vulnerable and courageous discussion with two remarkable women, Kelli Campbell and Colleen Katzenberger. Kelli and Colleen are members of a distinguished class of military spouses known as Gold Star Wives. They are survivors of those who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect our freedom. Kelli and Colleen were given the insurmountable task of keeping their soldiers' stories alive while finding a way to rewrite their own often times finding a loss of words. Folds of Honor helped the women create a legacy for themselves and their children. By offering support and scholarships, Fold of Honor helped these women chart new paths forward. Now, through their work with Folds of Honor, Kelli and Colleen are paying it forward, and helping other military families who are forced to deal with the unimaginable. As we honor our fallen brothers and sisters this Memorial Day, let us also remember the ones they left behind. The heroes preserving the memory of their ser

For 20 years, John Mikos provided people with creative thinking tools giving them the chance of equal opportunity to reach their full potential. And in doing so, he’s made a mark on preserving a societal legacy. He is the President and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Kansas City. While the goal of the YMCA is to strengthen a community, the pandemic brought paralyzing ambiguity, which gave John the opportunity to take innovative measures keeping the YMCA's mission alive. He mobilized essential services, offering a critical lifeline to a vulnerable urban core, and brought the culture of excellence he so aptly fosters to the forefront. With leadership that’s as reliable as the YMCA itself, John has made certain that as long as there is a need for exploration and growth, the YMCA will be there to help make it happen.

While on an assignment in London, Heath Wessling learned about the concept of wellness and discovered a strong passion for finding a healthy way in all aspects of life. After investing nearly two decades building a career in health tech, he left corporate life to pursue his passion. Now he’s the Owner and Founder of the award-winning Kansas City Wellness Club, an all-encompassing respite in the historic heart of downtown. He invites us to press pause on the modern stressors of our ever-connected world, and cultivate mindfulness of our best selves, kindly leaving hustle at the door, if only for a while. For more conversation about wellness with Heath Wessling, check out https://bit.ly/RTBHeathWesslingKansas City Wellness Club Website: https://www.kcwellnessclub.com/

Maki Moussavi is the fiercest of the anti-hustle variety, and she would like to welcome you to your discomfort zone. It’s the place conventional career advice tells you to avoid, and also where she found her authentic self. In a previous version of her life, this relentless high achiever reached heights on the corporate ladder, but that was before she started living on her own terms. Today, Maki is an author and coach who empowers you to do the same. By granting permission to reject tradition or even bend the rules, she helps uncover your own truth and pursue your most fulfilling, successful life, whatever that may be. For more with Maki Moussavi check out our YoutTube Channel: https://bit.ly/RTBMakiMoussaviMaki Moussavi Website: https://www.makimoussavi.com/

Joel's guest on this episode has an affinity for bringing the right people and organizations together. Membership is his passion, so it's fitting that his firm is dedicated to making the connections that allow them to thrive. Joining Joel on Rounding the Bases is Lucas McCann, the President and CEO of Core Affinity, whose calm is legendary and professionalism exceptional. His leadership has paved the way for growth and transformative change that are rooted partnerships. And as the undisputed expert at aligning vision with solutions, he skillfully enhances the value prop for clients and employees in equal measure.For more conversation with Lucas please visit our YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/RTBLucasMcCannCore Affinity Website: https://coreaffinity.com/

On this special Mother's Day edition, Joel Goldberg welcomes his mom Nancy Goldberg to the podcast as well as his brother Marc Goldberg. Marc and Joel's full conversation is a past episode, but we repurpose the brotherly chat as they talk about their childhood and the love and respect they have their mother. Nancy has a fantastic story, one that the boys greatly respect and admire. They tribute much of their successes to both parents, but Nancy's story is unique and incredibly inspiring. Happy Mother's Day!

Brandon Calloway is one entrepreneur with two businesses, and each is an opportunity for him to design a better kind of world. As a graphic novel artist, he founded Dark Moon Comics where his characters normalize black heroes in their crime-fighting worlds. Perhaps more notably, Brandon is also the CEO and Founder of Kansas City G.I.F.T, where he works vigorously to close the wealth gap in Kansas City and forge a path to more equitable prosperity. To date, G.I.F.T has granted more than $500,000 in assistance to local, Black-owned small businesses. By making early startup capital and technical expertise available for traditionally underserved communities, he’s playing a leading role in the fight against systemic racism. To hear more from Brandon Calloway and his mission please visit our YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/RTBBrandonCallowayKansas City G.I.F.T website: https://www.kansascitygift.org/Dark Moon Comics website: https://www.darkmooncomics.com/

On this episode of Rounding the Bases, the spirit of innovation and the tradition of music unite in perfect harmony. Innovation and music may not be the most obvious pairing, but for Danny Beckley, the two have always been inextricably linked. Danny Beckley is a peerless trombonist, distinguished leader, and most notably the Executive Director of the Kansas City Symphony. His foundation may be classical, but his approach to business is anything but. Danny’s repertoire is heavy on entrepreneurship, as evidenced by Kansas City’s evolution into an artistic stalwart on the music scene. And under his continued orchestration, it’ll continue its crescendo to the ranks of world-renowned Symphony with a sound that’s as richly unique as its distinctive style. For more conversation with Danny please visit the YouTube link: https://bit.ly/RTBDannyBeckleyThe Kansas City Symphony Website: https://www.kcsymphony.org/

As we wrap up another great month on Rounding The Bases, we celebrate Sam Mellinger as he transitioned into his new role as the Kansas City Royals Vice President of Communications. After spending 21 years as a writer for the Kansas City Star, Sam made a massive pivot last winter, as he moved into his new role working for the team he covered for decades. It's a success story of changing career paths, switching industries, and continuing to pursue one's passions. Joel talked to Sam about the differences in building trust and relationships in his old role versus his new one, plus leadership, culture and some baseball.For bonus coverage with Joel and Sam please check the YouTube link: https://bit.ly/RTBSamMellinger

Joining Joel Goldberg is Chef Ashley Bare, a culinary hustler and local Kansas City food legend. Ashley is a gastro-genius whose signature flavor is defined as east meets midwestern cooking. She finds inspiration wherever she goes, and her latest creation sets her apart in the kitchen. Drawing influence from the Swedish word meaning ‘at home’, she founded Hemma Hemma KC, the premier meal delivery service that’s changing the rules of the game. With it, she’s building community around the table, one thoughtfully prepared meal at a time. To hear more from Ashley Bare, please visit our YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/RTBAshleyBareAshley's website can be found at: https://www.ashleybare.com/Hemma Hemma Website: https://hemmahemma.com/

On this episode, our audience will hear the incredible story of a former athlete who learned to fail forward. His football career was a charmed one. In college, he was a two-time all conference offensive lineman and also the MVP of his senior year. In 2003 his dreams of playing in the NFL became reality when he was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars, and his athletic success helped pave the way for a lucrative commercial construction endeavor. But within a decade, a business deal gone awry left him without a home or a car, just a choice. It was then that Marques Ogden traded eight figures in revenue for $8.25 an hour to moonlight as a janitor. Even though the work was humble, it was his first step forward on the path to rebuilding the life he envisioned for himself. Now Marques is a speaker, best selling author, executive coach who has taken that failure - and its hard won lessons - to help others succeed. For more about Marques Ogden please visit https://marquesogden.com/

Joining Joel Goldberg is a special personal guest, Marc LeBlanc, the corporate dropout turned legendary speaker, four-time author and masterful business coach. As a rookie he was accused of not having what it took to make it on his own. Determined to prove the naysayers wrong, he went into business for himself at the ripe, young age of 21 and has never looked back. After years of trial, error and choosing action over perfection, he’s become known as the grow your business guy. With unique perspectives and an approach to business that breaks the mold, it’s no wonder he’s garnered a reputation for success that reverberates around the globe.

Barry Litwin is the commercial strength CEO and ace of initiatives for worldwide supply distributor Global Industrial, a $1.1 billion distribution leader of industrial and MRO products. Barry is a veteran e commerce executive with an extensive knowledge of optimizing experiences for his consumers and his associates. With his focus kept firmly on best-in-class execution, Barry’s award-winning leadership has enabled the company to not just survive, but actually thrive, in recent years. It’s a success few can attest to and proof that no matter what, he’s got this.