Can humor really make you a better leader? Paul Osincup thinks so—and he’s got the research (and hilarious stories) to prove it. In this episode, we explore why fun > funny, how to lead with levity without losing credibility, and why your brain (and team) need more laughter. From third-grade “potty jokes” to leadership-level strategy, this is your permission slip to stop taking work so seriously—without being unprofessional. If you’re looking for ways to lead with more impact, connection, and authenticity, this conversation is full of actionable insights.

In this episode of The Savage Leader Podcast, Darren Reinke sits down with Maggie Brady, VP of HR and Talent at White Cap, for a powerful conversation about leading with vulnerability, clarity, and purpose. Maggie shares her path from consultant to HR executive, including the early leadership challenges that forced her to confront imposter syndrome and lean into vulnerability. She opens up about a pivotal misstep that reshaped her management style—and the lessons she’s carried with her ever since. From navigating global teams to fostering psychological safety, Maggie offers practical insights on building high-performing teams through trust, open communication, and shared values. She also dives into the deeply personal work of separating self-worth from job performance and redefining success through alignment with purpose. This episode is packed with honest stories, actionable takeaways, and a fresh perspective on what it really means to lead authentically in today’s workplace.

In this episode of The Savage Leader podcast, Darren Reinke sits down with Michael Glass, Head of Talent Management and Learning & Development at Resmed, for an unfiltered dive into the world of people management. Drawing from his 38-year career, Michael shares a pivotal moment that changed his leadership approach - a $6 movie expense that cost him a talented employee. With raw honesty, Glass deconstructs the myths of career development, offering insights into mentorship, professional growth, and the art of leading people. From navigating generational workplace shifts to understanding the true meaning of career success, this conversation provides a roadmap for emerging and established leaders alike. Packed with personal stories, practical advice, and hard-earned wisdom, this episode challenges listeners to rethink their approach to work, leadership, and personal development.

Homelessness is a crisis, but one organization is making remarkable strides in San Diego. In this episode, Darren Reinke sits down with Drew Moser, CEO of the Lucky Duck Foundation, to uncover their innovative and impactful approach. Drew shares the inspiring story behind the foundation's formation and the personal transformations they've witnessed. From providing immediate shelter to funding life-changing job training and addiction recovery, the Lucky Duck Foundation is tackling this issue head-on. Hear the stories of hope and learn about the common misconceptions that often prevent progress. Drew offers practical solutions and a refreshing dose of optimism in the face of one of society's most pressing challenges. Don't miss this inside look at an organization making a tangible difference.

In this episode, Darren Reinke interviews Ramon Marquez, the COO and CMO of the iconic retail brands Sears and Kmart. Ramon shares his fascinating journey from selling sweaters in college to rising through the ranks of fashion and retail, working for leading brands like Old Navy, American Eagle, and Abercrombie & Fitch. He discusses the importance of living the brand, the challenges of fast fashion, and the leadership lessons he's learned through personal growth and reviving storied retail names. Ramon provides unique insights on fostering creativity through scarcity, the power of empathy and humility in leadership, and the opportunity to breathe new life into beloved brands like Sears and Kmart. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in retail, branding, and the mindset of an experienced, purpose-driven executive.

In this episode, Darren Reinke interviews Alok Chanani, the co-founder and CEO of BuildOps. Alok shares his fascinating journey from serving in the military as a combat engineer to founding a technology company focused on serving the "unsung heroes" of the trades industry. Alok talked about how he creates a sense of mission by focusing on their customers’ customers, the danger of following a playbook and copying and pasting what your competitors are doing, the value of setting a big, Herculean goal, and much more.

In this episode, host Darren Reinke interviews Bonni Pomush, the inspiring CEO of Working Wardrobes. Bonni shares transformative stories of uplifting others and her insights on building a purpose-driven organization, the power of partnerships, and ways to create positive change. This is a must-listen for anyone seeking inspiration and guidance on making a difference.

In this episode, host Darren Reinke interviews Karen Brasch, the Head of Business Strategy & Operations at AWS. Karen shares her remarkable journey from growing up as the daughter of an Air Force pilot to becoming a pioneering female Navy helicopter pilot. Listeners will be inspired by Karen's perseverance in overcoming doubters and breaking barriers to achieve her dreams. She also provides valuable insights on effective leadership, including empowering your team and maintaining a positive mindset. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in stories of determination and finding purpose in one’s career.

In this episode, Darren Reinke sits down with Margie Newman Tsay, an expert in reputation management and crisis communication. Margie discusses her journey from theater to leading a communications firm, emphasizing the importance of trust and authenticity in leadership. She provides practical advice on managing personal and corporate reputations, handling crises effectively, and maintaining a communication mindset. Intesa Communications Group specializes in public relations, government affairs, crisis communications, and executive coaching. The firm focuses on building confidence and strategic communication skills for leaders and organizations. Show Notes: -Margie’s background in theater and how it influenced her communication skills [00:19] -Margie’s transition from theater to a career in communications, including her first job in a gubernatorial campaign [01:06] -Why adaptability and public speaking were the most important skills Margie gained from theater [03:35] -The importance of building trust and being coachable in leadership [05:14] -Why public relations can be defined as reputation management [12:34] -The necessity for leaders to maintain a communications mindset and the role of self-awareness [18:07] -The importance of a personal brand and its impact on authentic leadership [22:12] -Margie’s top crisis management strategies, and why she focuses on preparation and response [40:24] -Practical steps for managing crises, including targeted communication and public perception management [49:27]

In this episode of The Savage Leader Podcast, Darren Reinke sits down with Jordan Justus, the innovative co-founder and CEO of Automotus. Dive into the world of curb management solutions that are reshaping cities and airports worldwide. Jordan shares his journey from a $780 tradeshow test that led to the launch of his successful company. He offers powerful insights on the realities of entrepreneurship, building resilience, and developing thicker skin as an entrepreneur. Automotus specializes in bringing cutting-edge technology to curb management, helping cities reduce congestion, improve safety, and cut emissions through automated parking management, enforcement, and data collection. Their solutions offer a holistic approach to modern urban mobility challenges. Show Notes: -Jordan’s early exposure to entrepreneurship and family background in business [01:12] -The importance of building trust and transparent relationships in business [04:54] -Learning from a mentor and the value of integrity in entrepreneurship [06:21] -Transition from college student to CEO and the inspiration behind Automotus [08:39] -Initial steps and challenges in establishing Automotus, including the first tradeshow [11:31] -Overcoming early-stage challenges and securing initial pilots and customers [15:18] -The pivotal role of curb management in urban mobility and the spark of his business idea [24:05] -Practical applications and the impact of curb management solutions on reducing traffic and emissions [27:19] -Jordan’s journey through Automotus’s stages, including cold calling and setting up pilots [30:09] -How reflecting on criticism led Jordan to develop thicker skin [33:31] -Jordan’s personal milestones and recent professional achievements [41:07] -Insights on scaling the business and future directions for Automotus [42:36] Links: -Jordan’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordan-justus/ -Automotus Website - https://www.automotus.co/

In this episode, Darren Reinke speaks with Mike Kijewski, the founder and CEO of MedCrypt. Mike discusses his journey from teaching high school physics to pioneering cybersecurity solutions for medical devices. He shares insights into his career transitions, the challenges of starting a tech company, and the impact of cybersecurity on medical technology. Medcrypt is a team of medical device experts who are laser-focused on supporting MDMs and bringing cybersecurity to the next generation of healthcare technology. Medcrypt helps healthcare technology companies ensure medical devices are secure by design. They provide cybersecurity products and strategic consulting to expedite the go-to-market process of medical device manufacturers' new life-saving connected technologies. Show Notes: -Mike's background as a high school physics teacher and his transition to the business world [00:47] -The decision to leave teaching for better financial prospects and the jump to healthcare technology [02:36] -Early career steps in medical device field and entrepreneurship insights [03:00] -From teaching to founding a tech company: The value of communication skills acquired as an educator [05:29] -Discussing the practical applications of physics and education's impact on Mike’s career [05:53] -Reflections on business risks and transitions into the entrepreneurial space [07:00] -The genesis of MedCrypt and the critical importance of cybersecurity in medical devices [08:58] -Challenges and pivotal moments in establishing MedCrypt [17:20] -Developing leadership and managerial skills in a technical environment [20:03] -The role of soft skills in technical fields and the journey of continuous learning [22:36] -The importance of human connection in business and personal anecdotes from Mike’s life [26:41] -Future directions for MedCrypt in the evolving landscape of medical device security [30:43]

In this episode, Darren Reinke sits down with Michael Burns, a serial entrepreneur with a diverse background ranging from tech recruiting to cannabis farming. Michael shares his journey to becoming a multifaceted business leader, emphasizing the pivotal role sales has had on his career, the power of showmanship, and how the Grateful Dead's philosophy influences his approach to business. Show Notes: -How Michael started and continued his diverse entrepreneurial journey [00:37] -An overview of Michael's early ventures, from lemonade stands to T-shirt sales [01:05] -Lessons learned in tech recruiting and the importance of management [02:17] -How Michael broke into cybersecurity and sales enablement for SaaS companies [09:36] -The significance of sales skills in entrepreneurship and leadership [13:52] -Building operations and the 'tribe' mentality in startups [23:41] -How Michael created a strong personal brand [23:57] -Why Michael believes operations is the spinal cord of a company [27:28] -The concept of 'Candelabra Way' and the essence of showmanship [32:16] -Developing greater showmanship and becoming more engaging [35:34] -The 'Shield, Diamond, Love' framework explained [43:58] -Michael’s Next Steps [49:17]

In this episode of The Savage Leader Podcast, Darren Reinke chats with Aaron Fulkerson, CEO of Opaque Systems. Aaron discusses his transition from entrepreneurship to ServiceNow and how he's found his way back to the entrepreneurial world. He also discusses the issue of trust erosion within the technology sector and how Opaque Systems is spearheading efforts to rebuild this trust through secure application development for collaborative analytics and AI. Opaque Systems is on a mission to unlock the high-growth market of confidential computing by creating the first Confidential AI platform. It enables secure, collaborative analytics and the usage of AI on confidential and sensitive data stored in Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs). Show Notes: -Aaron’s journey from entrepreneurship to ServiceNow to entrepreneurship again [01:10] -Aaron’s transformative experience in taking time off, reconnecting with personal roots, and sparking new business ideas [02:12] -How Opaque Systems led Aaron back to entrepreneurship [04:29] -How UC Berkeley's RISE Lab led to the founding of Opaque Systems [06:48] -Opaque’s mission and the importance of privacy in data utilization [10:43] -Addressing the erosion of trust in tech and how Opaque Systems is enabling developers to secure user data and rebuild consumer trust [13:13] -Balancing entrepreneurship with personal life and strategies for managing work, family, and self-care [14:39] -The importance of physical and mental fitness in maintaining balance and enhancing productivity [17:08] -How Aaron plans to capitalize on the rapid developments in artificial intelligence [22:10] -Generative AI's transformative impact on society and the industry [28:29] -Aaron's approach to making a positive impact [30:32] Links: Aaron’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronfulkerson/ Opaque’s Website: https://opaque.co/

In this episode, Darren Reinke sits down with Anthony Lee, CEO of Westcliff University. Anthony shares his journey from childhood passions to leading a university that's making a significant impact in the education sector. They delve into the future of education, how Westcliff University is preparing students for a rapidly evolving job market, and Anthony's personal insights on entrepreneurship and leadership. Westcliff University was established to provide quality education for students wishing to enter the fast-growing fields of business and education. Westcliff University’s curriculum consists of graduate and undergraduate degree programs in business and education as well as other certificate programs. Westcliff University emphasizes the importance of preparing students personally, academically, and professionally. Show Notes: -Anthony's early interests and the influence of sports on his life [00:47] -The entrepreneurial lessons from Anthony's father [01:25] -Taking over Westcliff University and early challenges [04:18] -Learning to lead and the importance of listening and learning from others [05:38] -The pivotal decision to pursue accreditation for Westcliff University [08:28] -Early wins and strategic moves that fueled growth [10:50] -The emotional journey to achieving regional accreditation [12:59] -Expanding Westcliff University through strategic acquisitions and new programs [15:54] -The approach to making degree programs practical and relevant to today's job market [19:15] -Keeping up with the pace of innovation and the future of education [21:09] -The importance of culture, support, and fit in choosing a college [27:19] -Anthony's advice for students entering the workforce and the significance of internships [28:11] -Anthony's personal definition of greatness and striving for it [30:08] -Where to learn more about Anthony Lee and Westcliff University [31:06]

In this episode, Darren Reinke explores the journey of entrepreneurship with Co-Founder of Wove, Andrew Wolgemuth. Andrew recounts his unique journey from West Point to becoming an Army Ranger to starting a jewelry company, highlighting why nobody should face entrepreneurship alone. He shares insights on leveraging distribution channels that help your business win, building a supportive community, and the pivotal moments that shaped Wove. Wove is a 21st century jeweler, bringing the jewelry designer directly to couples for custom engagement ring creation. Show Notes: -What Drew Was Like as a Kid [0:53] -Andrew's Experience at West Point [1:35] -Andrew's Experience with His First Deployment and How He Prepared [6:26] -How Andrew Earned the Trust of His Team [8:02] -How a Major Industry Fueled Andrew's Transition Out of the Military [9:50] -How Andrew Created a New Identity After the Military [11:45] -Why Andrew Decided to Start His First Jewelry Business [14:38] -The Specific Moment Andrew Knew His Business Was Viable [17:02] -Why Humility Is Critical When Raising Money for Your Company [17:43] -How Drew Maintained His Belief in His Business [19:42] -The State of Drew's Business Today [22:18] -How Wove Positions Itself to Tackle New Markets [24:20] -What's Next for Wove [26:19] -What Drew Has Learned About Himself Running a Startup [28:06] -Drew's Advice for Building a Community Within Your Customer Base [29:12] -Wove's 10-Year Plan [31:15]

In this episode, Darren Reinke chats with Som Shahapurkar, leading AI expert and founder of OzzSom AI. Som discusses the current state of AI, the importance of guardrails in preventing unintended consequences, why you should prioritize curiosity over judgement, and everything you need to know about ChatGPT, AI, and its future in society. OzzSom AI guides small and medium business to adopt AI/ML cost effectively to grow their business, improve efficiency or become lean, with expertise across fintech, health tech, telematics, manufacturing, IoT, automation, and document processing. Show Notes: *How Som became interested in Artificial Intelligence [00:58] *What Som was interested in as a kid [1:49] *Where AI started and where we are today [2:54] *Defining neural networks [5:30] *Defining generative AI [7:48] *What ChatGPT is and how people are using it [10:22] *Understanding the robustness of ChatGPT’s data set [15:04] *Where did ChatGPT come from [17:50] *What is next in the near term for ChatGPT [21:40] *What guardrails are needed for AI to be more efficient [25:13] *Understanding the greatest misconception surrounding AI [30:35] *Describing the next wave of AI [33:09] *Where you can go to learn more about AI [37:22]

In this episode, Darren Reinke chats with Zack Zarrillo, the co-founder of Alternate Side, a full service music company that represents a diverse roster of platinum and gold talent with a combined catalog of over 5 Billion streams throughout alternative, rock, indie, electronic, and metal. Zack shares how he got into the music business, how he creates brands and businesses for his artists, the raging epidemic of mental health in music industry, how he got involved in the donut business, and why he tells his artists that nobody can care more about their music than they can. Show Notes *Where Zack found his passion for music [00:58] *The moment Zack knew he could make a living from music [3:00] *How the Property of Zack blog was started by accident [4:30] *Navigating an acquisition as an 18-year-old [6:22] *How Zack went from blogging to band manager [7:48] *Understanding the different roles within the music industry [8:58] *How Zack used his brand manager experience to start a business [10:14] *The arc of success in music [12:16] *Understanding the economics of music [14:12] *How Zack helps educate his clients on how to take better deals [16:18] *How Zack works with his clients to be more proactive in guiding their careers [19:28] *How Zack builds a brand out of each artist [21:20] *Helping artists stay both relevant and viable [23:37] *How Zack addresses the issue of mental health within the music industry [25:49] *Zack's definition of Greatness [29:25] *How Zack got involved in the donut business [31:13]

In this episode, Darren Reinke chats with the Jonathan Friedman, Co-Founder and President of Volo Beauty, about his entrepreneurial journey. Jonathan shares insights into how he dealt with failure as an entrepreneur, how he learned to not take things personally, and how he developed a strong enough risk profile to take the entrepreneurial leap. Volo Beauty is a leading hair care brand dedicated to transforming peoples' daily hair routine. With a mission to make drying and styling your hair easier, faster, and healthier, Volo Beauty has created innovative products that harness the power of cutting-edge technology and thoughtful design. Volo Beauty is committed to empowering individuals to embrace their natural beauty and simplifying their hair care routine with exceptional quality and exceptional results. Show Notes: -When Jonathan knew he wanted to be an entrepreneur [00:57] -How Jonathan went from a MBA student to an entrepreneur [3:53] -The sequence of Jonathan’s career [5:29] -What Jonathan learned from being a scrappy salesperson [7:21] -Jonathan’s journey and key lessons learned from his machine shop and a software company [10:13] -How Jonathan became comfortable with the risks associated with entrepreneurship [13:06] -How Jonathan managed the personal toll entrepreneurship took [16:38] -The Volo Beauty Story [19:40] -How Jonathan successfully executed the art of the pivot [20:50] -The moment Jonathan felt like he “made it” [25:46] -How Volo engineered a wireless hair dryer [28:43] -Why Jonathan decided to raise additional money to pursue the cordless hair dryer [30:44] -What’s next for Volo [32:23] -The challenges Volo has faced while scaling [33:54] -The most important lessons Jonathan has learned from his entrepreneurial journey [35:30]

In this episode, Darren Reinke chats with former Navy Submarine Commander and Sparton CEO William Toti. William discusses what it’s really like to live on a submarine for months on end, the key leadership lessons he learned from the navy, solutions to help transitioning military members thrive, why companies need to hire more veterans, and so much more! Show Notes: -William’s original goal of becoming an astronaut [1:06] -What it's like being in a submarine for extended periods of time [4:36] -How being a submarine captain influenced William’s leadership and communication style [6:27] -The evolution of William’s career and how he transitioned out of the navy [9:47] -The crucial skills William developed that led to his rapid ascent to CEO [16:34] -The importance of mentorship in growing your career [21:43] -The biggest misconception civilians have with transitioning military members [24:58] -William’s suggestions for overcoming the three biggest barriers transitioning military members face [28:06] -The endless benefits companies receive by hiring veterans [30:35]

In this episode, Darren Reinke chats with musician and founding member of the band Hed PE and Korn guitarist, Wes Geer. Wes shares his experience falling in love with music, his inspiring story about addiction and how he overcame it, the factors that led him to starting to Rock to Recovery, and how Rock to Recovery is helping people battling addiction and mental illness all around the world. Rock to Recovery helps people heal and transform their lives through the powerful experience of writing, playing, and performing music as a group. Show Notes: -What Wes was interested in as a kid [00:50] -Wes’s first experience playing music [2:42] -When Wes realized becoming a professional musician was a viable path [5:07] -How Wes took guitar playing and turned it into a career [7:30] -Why Wes embraced vulnerability out on stage [12:14] -Why receiving validation from music is as magical as love [14:05] -Wes’s experience writing for his audience and witnessing their reactions live [15:53] -How Wes prepared for playing in front of large audiences [16:55] -How Wes overcomes negative feedback regarding his music [21:29] -What led Wes to start Rock to Recovery [25:28] -Benefits of Rock to Recovery participation [35:10] -What inspired Wes to turn Rock to Recovery into a business [38:24] -Rock to Recovery’s work with military veterans [40:30]