TAILGATING WITH GENIUSES artwork

TAILGATING WITH GENIUSES

33 episodes - English - Latest episode: 5 months ago - ★★★★★ - 15 ratings

Lawn chair conversations with A-listers from the worlds of business, media, entertainment, sports and academia. The show's primary objective is to help listeners improve the competitiveness of their businesses and be more personally successful. Tailgating with Geniuses (TWG) is hosted by: Ken Schmidt, Martin Flaherty and Lekan Bashua

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Episodes

Let's Talk About CEX

November 30, 2023 16:00 - 50 minutes - 34.8 MB

Customer Experience: how to do it, how to make it real and how to make it matter. Geoff DeVito of Explora Journeys shares his background, TED talk content and the basics of creating REAL/high value customer experiences. His employer Explora is a cruise ship unlike any other on the seas, they're creating deep experience for both passengers and crew.  We discuss hospitality and the thinking behind creating great experiences, plus how those lessons can cross over to all businesses.   The "Wha...

The Marketing Detective and the Mystery of Positioning

October 19, 2023 15:00 - 45 minutes - 31 MB

Author and professor Scott Habegger shares stories about positioning and how companies can do it better. Scott talks about the need for a shift in focus to what he calls "small data". We all know "big data" but it's the small data that colors what people think and say about your company. Scott shares stories related to banking, retail and Harley's.  We discuss Bed Bath and Beyond as well. 

A.I. Made Me Do It, or..."Dammit Lekan!"

June 07, 2023 19:00 - 47 minutes - 32.3 MB

We throw out a run of show in favor of a discussion about a practical and unexpected application of A.I. that Lekan demonstrated. We discuss what happened and welcome the remarkable Amanda Schneider, President and Founder of ThinkLab.  With Amanda we discuss the ideas about where work is going and the notion that it's process and not any product that will inform the next wave of how work gets done. Amanda also joins us for our "What's Got Your Attention" feature.  To put it mildly, Amanda ...

Gin, Storytelling, Brands and Wieners!

May 22, 2023 20:00 - 42 minutes - 29 MB

We welcome Portuguese entrepreneur and founder Antonio Cuco of Sharish gin to the show this week. A literal start from nothing 10 years ago, to becoming the #1 gin maker in Portugal, Antonio tells a story everyone needs to hear.  Tolerable Host Lekan Bashua had to answer his version of the Bat Signal leaving Ken and Martin to go "duo".  We discuss storytelling and highlight its value through the perspectives of legendary brands Harley-Davidson and The Coca-Cola Company.  Plus we talk sad so...

Season 2: We're Back! (Teaser Episode)

May 02, 2023 13:00 - 16 minutes - 11.4 MB

After 14 months, we're back with Season 2! Rumors of Ken starting a perineum sunning center were proven to be false. Lekan's move from the northwest to the southeast proved to be true. And Martin's perpetual reading of arduous and mostly boring content is a constant. We discuss everything from the new show structure, A.I. changing the world, Ken's frustration with Hallmark cards and the remarkable - on brand - send off of legendary drag/female impersonator Dame Edna (R.I.P.). 

"Get Your Groove On" - The Psychology of Movement with Dr. Peter Lovatt

February 14, 2022 14:00 - 56 minutes - 38.7 MB

Get your groove on, Tailgaters! We’re betting you’ve never wondered how adding a “boogie room” to your workplace can make you and your team mates more productive. Or how the timing of a woman’s fertility cycle, combined with dancing, increases her attractiveness. Hoo boy! You’ve got a lot to learn and we’ve got the best teacher for the job, Dr. Peter Lovatt, who’s one of the world’s leading authorities on the psychology of movement, with an academic career that extends from Cambridge Univers...

2022: Prognostications, Prophesies, Predictions and Pile-Ups

January 25, 2022 23:00 - 1 hour - 43.6 MB

After Episode 19’s postmortem of a particularly painful 2021, your Tolerable Hosts to kick off a new season by copping to the many imprecise projections we posited in the past year’s shows and making pragmatic predictions for 2022. Meaning: We’re setting ourselves up for another year of mid-course corrections and mea culpas (plus more cheap alliteration). But that’s just business as usual. The return to work story will never die. Ditto supply chain issues. But cannabis, crypto and climate ar...

Episode 19: Tolerable Hosts: The Year That Was

December 28, 2021 15:00 - 42 minutes - 29.4 MB

Ooof...what a year! Our Brilliant Guests get a break and we wrap up 2020 with a show about the biggest event each host felt defined the year that was and what it means going forward.  Lekan talks January 6th that includes part of his life story as an immigrant to the US: Ken talks division and how it's affecting his day to day life; and Martin talks supply chain and the Ever Given that blocked the Suez Canal and how our entire system of business was rocked.  And we conclude with a year end...

"Made You Look!" From Forest Gump to Motley Crew: How Key Art (movie posters) Get Made

December 22, 2021 14:00 - 59 minutes - 41.1 MB

You've been moved by Robert Tepper. His work creating the artwork we all see for the entertainment we love is burned in your consciousness. As a Creative Director working on the art for movies featuring Tom Hanks (Forrest Gump), Marlon Brando (The Freshman), Robert De Niro, Amy Schumer, Johnny Depp (Pirates of the Caribbean)  and animated features like Moana as well as The Masked Singer on Fox, Robert tells a story in a single visual that makes you stop, pay attention  spend your money.  Ro...

"Made You Look!" From Forrest Gump to Motley Crüe: How Key Art (movie posters) Get Made

December 22, 2021 14:00 - 59 minutes - 41.1 MB

You've been moved by Robert Tepper. His work creating the artwork we all see for the entertainment we love is burned in your consciousness. As a Creative Director working on the art for movies featuring Tom Hanks (Forrest Gump), Marlon Brando (The Freshman), Robert De Niro, Amy Schumer, Johnny Depp (Pirates of the Caribbean)  and animated features like Moana as well as The Masked Singer on Fox, Robert tells a story in a single visual that makes you stop, pay attention  spend your money.  Ro...

Episode 17 Leadership Lessons from Everest and Beyond

December 02, 2021 18:00 - 1 hour - 50.1 MB

Alison Levine is an author, explorer, mountain climber and a  kick ass person. Accomplishing unbelievable feats in the elements and in business is even more bonkers given the fact she has had three heart surgeries and suffers from Raynaud’s disease. From a career that includes work at pharmaceutical companies, Goldman Sachs and then as deputy finance director for Arnold Schwarzenegger in his successful bid to become Governor of California; Alison knows adversity and success.  Her work  at t...

Episode 17 Leadership Lessons from Everest and Beyond

December 02, 2021 18:00 - 1 hour - 50.1 MB

Alison Levine is an author, explorer, mountain climber and a  kick ass person. Accomplishing unbelievable feats in the elements and in business is even more bonkers given the fact she has had three heart surgeries and suffers from Raynaud’s disease. From a career that includes work at pharmaceutical companies, Goldman Sachs and then as deputy finance director for Arnold Schwarzenegger in his successful bid to become Governor of California; Alison knows adversity and success.  Her work  at t...

Episode 16 - Nowhere to HELLRAISER. Life Directing Horror Films (Passion, Hard Work and Luck)

October 28, 2021 11:00 - 55 minutes - 38.2 MB

Dave Bruckner knows what terrifies us.  And he knows the grittiness and struggle of believing in what you want to do and doing it. Starting as a kid in a backyard with a DV camera to rebooting horror icon Pinhead in Clive Barker's story and classic Hellraiser; Dave has come a long way. He talks about the psychology of fear, making things, why we love to be scared and the thinking and craft behind the movies we watch.  From his writing, co-directing to directing work on critical and fan fav...

Episode 14 - Business Funny

October 21, 2021 17:00 - 46 minutes - 31.8 MB

Greg Schwem is an author, nationally syndicated humor columnist, TV travel host, as built a career doing so along with developing a unique perspective on the changing state business. His views on  corporate communications, marketing and the need for businesses to take themselves less serious show a need for more humor in the workplace, but with limitations. 

Business Funny

October 21, 2021 17:00 - 46 minutes - 31.8 MB

Greg Schwem is an author, nationally syndicated humor columnist, TV travel host, as built a career doing so along with developing a unique perspective on the changing state business. His views on  corporate communications, marketing and the need for businesses to take themselves less serious show a need for more humor in the workplace, but with limitations. 

Episode 14 - Money, Players and the Future of Football

October 11, 2021 12:00 - 1 hour - 51.4 MB

With an 11-year playing career in the NFL and two Super Bowl rings with the New England Patriots, Don Davis knows the game. At the NFL Players Association he knows the business of the game having just lead the negotiations for the CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement) that will change all aspects of players financial lives in and after their time in the league.  Candid, funny and blunt...Don shares insights to the changing nature of the game of football, how we now look at the game and how ...

Episode 13 - Follow The Money: A Finance Master Makes It Easy to Understand

October 04, 2021 10:00 - 59 minutes - 40.9 MB

Helping firms like Coca-Cola, Nestle and 50 other firms set up their venture funds, Mark Kaiser is the go to guy in the corporate world for getting it right from the get go. Mark has been a CEO at a publicly traded firm where he bought over 30 companies and now sits as an External Advisor to Bain & Company. No one knows both sides of a deal like Mark and fewer still are as funny, candid and willing to talk about how it all works. He even discusses the red flags that show up as the game gets...

Episode 12 - THE HITS! Volume 1. Failing, Scaling and Demi-Gods

September 29, 2021 19:00 - 44 minutes - 30.7 MB

Listener mail, phone calls and reviews drove us to  showcase elements of our first three shows with Mitch Lowe (founding exec) of Netflix and COO at Redbox, CEO Sarah Robb O'Hagan of EXOS and former President at Gatorade, and Dana Arnett, founding Partner and CEO at VSA Partners.  Short excerpts about scaling, learning that what got you where you are won't get always get you where you (and your company) need to be, failing and how great brands think their ways to better success.

Episode 11 - USS Cole Commander Kirk Lippold, (Ret.) - Leadership Lessons Through the Lens of Al Qaeda Terrorist Attack

September 13, 2021 22:00 - 1 hour - 44.1 MB

This week we discuss Leadership with Commander Kirk Lippold, USN (Ret.). We discuss what good leadership is, why it's imperative, the consequences of not having it and why he believes leaders must do better to uphold this critical skill. Commander Kirk Lippold was the Commanding Officer of the USS Cole when it came under a suicide terrorist attack by al Qaeda in the port of Aden, Yemen. During his command, he and his crew distinguished themselves by saving the American war ship from sinking...

Episode 11 - USS Cole Commander Kirk Lippold, (Ret.) - Leadership Lessons Through the Lens of Al Qaeda Terrorist Attack

September 13, 2021 22:00 - 1 hour - 44.1 MB

This week we discuss Leadership with Commander Kirk Lippold, USN (Ret.). We discuss what good leadership is, why it's imperative, the consequences of not having it and why he believes leaders must do better to uphold this critical skill. Commander Kirk Lippold was the Commanding Officer of the USS Cole when it came under a suicide terrorist attack by al Qaeda in the port of Aden, Yemen. During his command, he and his crew distinguished themselves by saving the American war ship from sinking...

Episode 11 - Leadership Matters with Commander Kirk Lippold, USN (Ret.)

September 13, 2021 22:00 - 1 hour - 44.1 MB

This week we discuss Leadership with Commander Kirk Lippold, USN (Ret.). We discuss what good leadership is, why it's imperative, the consequences of not having it and why he believes leaders must do better to uphold this critical skill. Commander Kirk Lippold was the Commanding Officer of the USS Cole when it came under a suicide terrorist attack by al Qaeda in the port of Aden, Yemen. During his command, he and his crew distinguished themselves by saving the American war ship from sinking...

Episode 10 - Are you (Customer) Experienced?

September 07, 2021 12:00 - 53 minutes - 36.4 MB

Tiffani Bova, Salesforce Growth and Transformation Advisor joins us to talk about the staggering gaps between what companies are doing and what needs to be done to get ahead. It is all about the customer, and companies still keep getting it wrong. However in an unexpected shift, she encourages companies to first focus on their employees. Eye opening stats, observations and perspective make Tiffani a joy to listen to and learn from.  Also we talk Ford's shift to "build to order", bad custome...

Episode 10 - Are you (Customer) Experienced?

September 07, 2021 12:00 - 53 minutes - 36.4 MB

Tiffani Bova, Salesforce Growth and Transformation Advisor joins us to talk about the staggering gaps between what companies are doing and what needs to be done to get ahead. It is all about the customer, and companies still keep getting it wrong. However in an unexpected shift, she encourages companies to first focus on their employees. Eye opening stats, observations and perspective make Tiffani a joy to listen to and learn from.  Also we talk Ford's shift to "build to order", bad custome...

Episode 9 - A Better Place: Work, Society and the World Right Now

August 23, 2021 02:00 - 1 hour - 46.7 MB

Cheryl Durst is a treasure trove of perspectives on work, place, design and how we navigate our surroundings. As CEO of the largest commercial design association with over 13,000 members in over 60 countries, Cheryl brings perspective to a practice that literally informs how we move through our world. Funny, blunt, deeply empathetic and fearless in what she'll talk about; Cheryl provided us with profound insights, laughs and hope. 

Episode 8 - There Be Monsters! Storytelling and Changing Media Landscape

August 11, 2021 16:00 - 45 minutes - 31.2 MB

Dan Bush is a film maker, director, writer, producer and now podcast creator who has taken his ideas from independent movies to international renowned.  Most recently his 13 episode immersive sci-fi thriller "Tomorrow's Monsters" starring John Boyega and Darren Criss has become a podcast hit that's gotten the attention of both the media and Hollywood.  We talk about the determination, goals, focus and the essential need of pivoting to different thinking when the opportunity presents itself....

Episode 7 - Media, Truth, an Olympic Bombing and Hollywood

July 27, 2021 14:00 - 53 minutes - 36.8 MB

Author Kevin Salwen talks about his and co-Author Kent Alexander book, "The Suspect: An Olympic Bombing, the FBI, the Media, and Richard Jewell, the Man Caught in the Middle" went from a NYT best seller to a Clint Eastwood major motion picture. Kevin's experience of over 18 years at the Wall Street Journal gave him the opportunity to perfect his craft and develop a sense of story that's apparent in his works.   We also talk about, the media, our institutions and the perilous state of truth ...

Episode 7 - Media, Truth, an Olympic Bombing and Hollywood

July 27, 2021 14:00 - 53 minutes - 36.8 MB

Author Kevin Salwen talks about his and co-Author Kent Alexander book, "The Suspect: An Olympic Bombing, the FBI, the Media, and Richard Jewell, the Man Caught in the Middle" went from a NYT best seller to a Clint Eastwood major motion picture. Kevin's experience of over 18 years at the Wall Street Journal gave him the opportunity to perfect his craft and develop a sense of story that's apparent in his works.   We also talk about, the media, our institutions and the perilous state of truth ...

Episode 6 - Massive Growth Powered by Passion

July 20, 2021 11:00 - 56 minutes - 38.9 MB

For Chuck Runyon, CEO of Self Esteem Brands, building Anytime Fitness into one of the largest and most valuable non-food franchises in the world takes passion and resolve in equal measure. Being at the helm during the shutdown of more than 4,000 mom-and-pop franchises around the world during the pandemic was a challenge few could have weathered so successfully. Now Anytime Fitness and Self Esteem's other health, fitness and nutrition brands are roaring back to life to the delight of its legi...

Episode 5 - Corporate Behavior and the Ethical Company

July 12, 2021 20:00 - 53 minutes - 36.5 MB

Gabe Wing has spent 20 years at Herman Miller and is their Director of Sustainability. When Gabe talks about ethical companies and corporate behavior we listen. Herman Miller is renowned as a leader in corporate social responsibility, environmental stewardship all while making some of the most beautiful products available around the world.    We talk about what the capital markets are looking for and the value brands that present their diversity, governance, sustainability actions; and the ...

Episode 4 - Scaling with Soul: Leading with Design

July 07, 2021 15:00 - 45 minutes - 31 MB

Dana Arnett is a founding partner and CEO of VSA Partners, one of the world's largest and most successful design and marketing firms. Dana and his teams have led design, marketing, digital and interactive initiatives for multiple household-name brands, including Nike, Anheuser Busch, Google, IBM, AT&T, Harley-Davidson and Toyota.. There's a great reason CEO's of top companies want his advice on how to build their businesses: Nobody tops his wealth of experience and success.  Also: Additiona...

Episode 4 - Scaling with Soul: Leading with Design

July 07, 2021 15:00 - 45 minutes - 31 MB

Dana Arnett is a founding partner and CEO of VSA Partners, one of the world's largest and most successful design and marketing firms. Dana and his teams have led design, marketing, digital and interactive initiatives for multiple household-name brands, including Nike, Anheuser Busch, Google, IBM, AT&T, Harley-Davidson and Toyota.. There's a great reason CEO's of top companies want his advice on how to build their businesses: Nobody tops his wealth of experience and success.  Also: Additiona...

Episode 3 - Step up. Stand out. Kick ass. Repeat

June 23, 2021 20:00 - 38 minutes - 26.6 MB

Sarah Robb O'Hagan  - CEO at EXOS, The Human Performance Company. Named among Fast Company’s “Most Creative People in Business” and Forbes’ "Most Powerful Women in Sports,” she led the reinvention and turnaround of Gatorade as its global president and led major marketing initiatives at Nike and Virgin Atlantic. Fearless, frank, and funny in talking about learning from failures and inspiring greatness.  Also: Multiple surveys indicate massive shifts in worker expectations about how they work

Episode 2 - Netflix Founding Exec Talks Disruption

June 14, 2021 12:00 - 59 minutes - 40.7 MB

Mitch Lowe - Founding Exec at Netflix, COO at Redbox and discusses retail,  growth, pivoting business models and making tough decisions. His start from a Northern California video store owner put him on a path that changed how the world watches movies and consumes content.