Author: ericpratum

In this episode of The Unfolding Thought Podcast, host Eric Pratum welcomes Lucas Mack—former morning TV reporter, creative agency founder, and head of brand for Kubota. Through personal stories of adversity and triumph, Lucas explains how telling the truth—both to yourself and to others—can become a powerful catalyst for transformation in business and life.

Topics Explored:

1. Resilience Rooted in Hardship – Lucas shares how surviving a difficult childhood taught him not only grit but also the importance of authenticity.
2. Finding the Real Story – From local news segments to advertising campaigns, Lucas shows how a deep dive into human motivations and emotions uncovers the hidden spark that inspires customers, employees, and entire organizations.
3. Leading With Courage – Why surrounding yourself with humble yet bold people elevates team performance—and what it looks like to call out executive assumptions.
4. Building a Next-Level Brand – Beyond “being number one in your category,” Lucas argues for building a brand that stands for something big—so big that profit becomes the byproduct, not the prime product.
5. Truth as Freedom – Whether it’s refusing to settle for surface-level answers or owning your own story, Lucas reveals why naming the truth is the only way to break free from cultural constraints and unlock genuine innovation.

If you’re curious how bold honesty, personal resilience, and a well-defined ‘why’ can turn a brand—or any team—into a lasting success, Lucas’s insights will help you bring deeper authenticity to your own work.

Links:

• Lucas Mack’s website: https://lucasmack.com
• Connect with Lucas on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucasmack/
• Lucas Mack’s book: https://www.lucasmack.com/ebooks/everyone-has-a-plan-until-they-get-punched-in-the-face-by-lucas-mack
• Lucas’s TEDx talk (2019): https://www.lucasmack.com/lucas-mack-speaking
• Lucas Mack’s podcast: https://www.lucasmack.com/the-lucas-mack-show
• Mrs’ Baird’s bread: https://www.mrsbairds.com/products
• Joseph Campbell’s The Hero with a Thousand Faces: https://amzn.to/43NjVcV
• The Truman Show (film reference): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120382

For more episodes, visit: https://unfoldingthought.com

Join the conversation by emailing Eric at: eric@inboundandagile.com

In this episode of The Unfolding Thought Podcast, host Eric Pratum welcomes Juli Rush, whose work spans educating everyone from middle-schoolers to adults in strategic foresight and supporting individuals as a death doula. Drawing on her background in thanatology (the study of death and dying) and her role as Director of the Foresight Activation Lab at the University of Houston, Juli reveals how these seemingly different fields share a surprising thread:

1. When the Future Dies — Juli explains her framework—Hospice, Vigil, Compost—for guiding both individuals and organizations through endings. It’s not just about literal death; it’s about letting old visions go, so new ones can flourish.
2. Emotional Intelligence & Scenario Thinking — Facilitating “collapsing” scenarios in strategic foresight can trigger strong emotional reactions. Juli shows how grief techniques help leaders remain resilient and empathetic when confronting unsettling possibilities.
3. Fostering Resilience in Children — From teaching kids how to map out the future of war to letting them creatively debate AI, she illustrates why early exposure to foresight concepts can build crucial adaptability in a rapidly changing world.
4. Culture, Systems, and Hard Conversations — Whether it’s organizational “end-of-life” decisions or moral dilemmas around technology, Juli believes in honest—and often uncomfortable—dialogue that unearths root values and reorients us to what truly matters.
5. Beyond ‘Sustain at All Costs’ — At times, sustaining a job, product, or personal project just to avoid the label failure can be more harmful than letting go. Juli describes how knowing when to say goodbye can transform complacency into possibility.

If you’re curious about how deeper reflection on mortality can spark more vibrant futures—for your team, your community, or yourself—Juli’s integrative approach will challenge assumptions and offer practical frameworks you can apply right away.

Links:

• When the Future Dies (Juli’s project): https://whenthefuturedies.com
• University of Houston Foresight Program: https://uh.edu/technology/programs/graduate/foresight/
• Imagining After Capitalism by Andy Hines: https://amzn.to/41H6GYB
• Theory U (Otto Scharmer / Presencing Institute): https://www.presencing.org/
• Being Mortal by Atul Gawande: https://amzn.to/41Wg63N
• The Association of Professional Futurists: https://www.apf.org
• Juli’s SXSW talk “When The Future Dies: Putting Endings In Our Beginnings”: https://schedule.sxsw.com/2025/events/PP146642
• World Future’s Review: https://journals.sagepub.com/home/WFR

For more episodes, visit: https://unfoldingthought.com

Join the conversation by emailing Eric at: eric@inboundandagile.com

In this episode of The Unfolding Thought Podcast, host Eric Pratum welcomes Andy Bales, whose extensive experience spans from the Door of Faith Mission in Des Moines to serving as CEO of Union Rescue Mission in Los Angeles—often described as the epicenter of homelessness in the U.S. Andy dives into the forces that lead individuals into homelessness, the hidden traumas that often go unseen, and why providing a roof alone won’t repair lives. Sharing personal stories of heartbreak and renewed hope—from a father coping with his son’s tragic accident to families left with no support network—Andy illustrates how homelessness is more a loss of community than it is a loss of housing.

Together, Eric and Andy explore:

1. Homelessness as Disconnection – How the lack of any family or friend “safety net” is usually the biggest factor in ending up on the streets.
2. Life-Changing Encounters – Andy’s pivotal moment—and the regret that led him to a new path of truly seeing people, not just walking past them.
3. Beyond Housing First – Why a harm-reduction “roof only” model often traps people in cycles of addiction and exploitation by street gangs.
4. Community & Mentorship – Stories of individuals who found stability through mentorships, job training, and the dignity that comes from paying their own way.
5. Working With Kids Today – Why Andy now focuses on children at Children and Family Urban Movement (CFUM), preventing future homelessness by instilling reading skills, emotional support, and real hope for the next generation.

If you’re curious about practical ways to help—not just with donations, but by becoming that vital link to real community—Andy offers actionable insights you can bring to organizations in your own hometown.

Links:

• Children and Family Urban Movement (CFUM): https://cfum.org
• Union Rescue Mission: https://urm.org
• Union Rescue Mission getting a mother contact with her long lost son: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_K9NYjriAQ
• Andy Bales on X: https://x.com/abales
• “San Fransicko”, a book that Andy features prominently in: https://amzn.to/4h5FlFm
• Learn about Housing First: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Housing_First
• Learn about Harm Reduction: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harm_reduction

For more episodes, visit: https://unfoldingthought.com

Join the conversation by emailing Eric at: eric@inboundandagile.com

In this episode of The Unfolding Thought Podcast, host Eric Pratum talks with Dan Reus, founder of Openly Disruptive, about how creative pivots and unexpected collaborations can drive innovation—whether in theme parks, brand marketing, or entire city ecosystems. Dan’s path stretches from designing roller-coaster experiences to advising corporate leaders on how to align competing teams, and even competitors, around a shared vision of the future.

Together, Eric and Dan explore:

1. Finding the Real “Why” — How Dan’s endless questioning—and a few unorthodox requests—uncovered the deeper reason behind big-budget ideas.
2. Innovation as an “Experience Matrix” — Designing everything from car-product launches to public programs by plotting emotional beats and real-world payoffs.
3. Communities & Coalitions — Why leaders, founders, and even direct competitors can benefit from building bigger pies instead of fighting for the same slice.
4. MVP vs. Real-World Feedback — Why a purely digital artifact may not cut it—and how small, tangible “prototypes” can glean far more honest responses.
5. Disruptive Diner — Dan’s live events—past and present—where people don’t just sit and listen, but actively participate to discover fresh insights and alliances.

If you’ve ever worried about launching a new idea only to crash into office politics, budget constraints, or the fear of the unknown, Dan’s practical frameworks and real-life stories show how to unify diverse interests and create a shared path to long-term success—without just “praying” a big idea will magically succeed.

Also, the air nailer story Eric talked about comes from Ted Wright, who is an upcoming guest on this podcast.

Links:

• Openly Disruptive: https://openlydisruptive.com
• Email Dan for the tear-off pads: dan@openlydisruptive.com
• Connect with Dan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danreus
• Episode with Jeremy Nulik: https://unfoldingthought.com/jeremy-nulik-how-vision-shapes-strategy/
• For more episodes, visit: https://unfoldingthought.com
• Join the conversation by emailing Eric at: eric@inboundandagile.com

In this episode of The Unfolding Thought Podcast, host Eric Pratum chats with Adam Wallace, who has spent a career solving the puzzle of why good plans so often fail in execution. Adam’s background spans broadway technical direction, multi-billion dollar oil projects, enterprise software rollouts, and now a family office portfolio. Across these diverse domains, he’s seen the same patterns: people aim for the “promised land,” but hidden assumptions, outdated incentives, and unspoken constraints stop them from acting on what they say they want.

Together, Eric and Adam explore:

• From Corporate Fixer to Family Office: How Adam’s narrow skillset in value creation and alignment has turned into multiple investments.
• Pinpointing the “Why” Behind Stalled Projects: Surfacing the real reasons teams say yes in meetings but fail to follow through.
• The Power of Constraints: That New Mexico oil well story—where a manager wouldn’t buy enough belts because of a $100k monthly budget—reveals how small barriers derail big visions.
• Pricing & “Revalue”: Aligning what you do with what customers truly cherish so you can charge more and still deliver better.
• In-Person Experiences in a Digital Age: Why Adam thinks experiential marketing and live events may be poised for major growth—even as AI transforms how we engage online.

If you’ve ever wondered how organizations can remove “foot on the brake” moments or re-align around value instead of just vision, Adam’s practical stories and insights reveal a path to capturing new opportunities—without the usual friction.

Links:

• Adam’s website: https://adamwallace.com
• TGN (Executive Mobilization): https://www.tgn-consulting.com
• (Re)Value: Raise Your Prices and Build Your Legacy: https://amzn.to/4k5ZFcf
• Episode with Andy Hite: https://unfoldingthought.com/14-andy-hite-from-broadway-to-the-boardroom-empowering-leaders-and-teams/
• Episode with Kevin Hughes: https://unfoldingthought.com/12-kevin-hughes-branding-athletes-and-rewriting-the-rules-of-sports-marketing/
• Execution Certainty: https://lumeri.com/execution-certainty/
• GDX Studio: https://www.gdxstudios.com

For more episodes, visit: https://unfoldingthought.com

Join the conversation by emailing Eric at: eric@inboundandagile.com

In this episode of The Unfolding Thought Podcast, host Eric Pratum interviews Bill Jacobs, who has spent over two decades helping nonprofits use data to drive better fundraising results. Bill explains how donor behavior is shifting—especially in today’s economic and cultural environment—and why many nonprofits find themselves behind the curve when it comes to analytics and innovation.

Together, Eric and Bill explore:

• Fundraising as Both “Art & Science”: Balancing data insights with creative storytelling to grow sustainable donor relationships.
• The Agency Shake-Up: How private equity and cultural mismatches are reshaping the fundraising agency world.
• Changing Donor Landscapes: Why donor file counts have been shrinking since 2008, and the growing dominance of major donors.
• New vs. Established Approaches: Why “testing something new” is so risky in nonprofits—and yet increasingly necessary. Bill: “They support ideas that work. They do not support ideas that fail.”
• Predicting What’s Next: How AI, rising costs, and generational shifts might transform nonprofit fundraising in the near future.

If you’ve ever wondered how organizations can keep donor pipelines strong amid uncertainty, Bill’s data-driven perspective offers both caution and fresh ideas for navigating a rapidly evolving sector.

The quote that Eric was searching for at one point came from Fred Polak: “The rise and fall of images of the future precedes or accompanies the rise and fall of cultures. As long as a society’s image is positive and flourishing, the flower of culture is in full bloom. Once the image begins to decay and lose its vitality, however, the culture does not long survive.”

Links

• AnalyticalOnes (Bill’s Company): https://analyticalones.com
• Connect with Bill on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-jacobs-a617321/

For more episodes, visit: https://unfoldingthought.com

Join the conversation by emailing Eric at: eric@inboundandagile.com

In this episode of The Unfolding Thought Podcast, Eric Pratum sits down with Eliot Frick, founder of Bigwidesky, to discuss how our deeply ingrained, mechanical view of business and culture can actually limit innovation and true leadership. Eliot explains why some challenges can’t be solved simply by adopting best practices, and how leaders can learn to operate effectively in uncharted territory.

Together, Eric and Eliot delve into:

• The tension between reductionist “just give me the solution” thinking and the reality of ever-evolving, complex problems.
• Jobs to Be Done Theory and the famous “milkshake” example—why simply copying best practices misses the mark.
• The importance of vision, foresight, and genuine human meaning—even for businesses that seem ordinary on the surface.
• Why marketing and advertising often fail to create real alignment between companies and their audiences.
• Insights from philosophy, neuroscience, and biology—including references to Iain McGilchrist, Stuart Kauffman, Stephen Jay Gould, and more.

If you’ve ever felt that standard solutions or one-size-fits-all frameworks weren’t enough for the complexities you face, this episode is a must-listen. Eliot offers a refreshing take on how to engage the unknown, inspire grander visions, and rediscover meaning in the process.

Links:

• Bigwidesky: https://bigwidesky.com
• Jobs to Be Done (Milkshake Case Study): https://www.library.hbs.edu/working-knowledge/clay-christensens-milkshake-marketing
• Iain McGilchrist’s “The Master and His Emissary”: https://amzn.to/40YxfcL
• Stuart Kauffman & Exaptation: https://www.npr.org/sections/13.7/2010/01/intelligent_design_no_darwinia.html

Connect with Eliot:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eliotfrick/
• Bigwidesky: https://bigwidesky.com

For more episodes, visit: https://unfoldingthought.com

Join the conversation by emailing Eric at: eric@inboundandagile.com

In this episode of The Unfolding Thought Podcast, Carlos Martinez, Site Director at MilliporeSigma, discusses his journey from growing up in Puerto Rico to work touching on the Human Genome Project and leading innovation in life sciences. Carlos shares how his passion for bridging ideas, disciplines, and people has shaped his leadership style and his career.

Carlos dives into the power of CliftonStrengths as a tool for unlocking individual and team potential, emphasizing the importance of self-awareness and relationship-building in effective leadership. He also reflects on how his unique upbringing, academic pursuits, and early professional experiences inspired his commitment to helping others recognize and maximize their unique gifts.

Tune in for a thought-provoking conversation about blending science, strategy, and personal growth to elevate individuals and organizations.

Mentioned in the Episode:

• CliftonStrengths by Gallup: https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/home.aspx
• BrainChains: https://amzn.to/42w7RMJ
• The Human Genome Project and its influence on modern biotech.
• Insights from Carlos’s leadership journey at MilliporeSigma and in global life sciences.
• The concept of “bridging” as a method for innovation and collaboration.

Links:

Connect with Carlos Martinez: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cimartz/

For more episodes, visit: https://unfoldingthought.com

Join the conversation by emailing Eric: eric@inboundandagile.com

In this episode of The Unfolding Thought Podcast, Andy Hite, founder of Scaling Minds, shares his unique journey from a career in musical theater and production to becoming an executive coach for CEOs and leadership teams. Andy’s story is a testament to resilience, creativity, and the power of personal transformation.

We dive into Andy’s experiences with leadership—both good and bad—and how they shaped his approach to coaching. He discusses the psychological and emotional aspects of leadership, the critical role of self-awareness, and how to empower teams to achieve their full potential. Whether you’re leading a small team or a large organization, Andy’s insights on navigating challenges, fostering alignment, and overcoming blind spots will resonate.

Tune in to hear how Andy blends creativity, strategy, and empathy to help leaders thrive in a competitive, ever-changing world.

Mentioned in the Episode:

• The transition from musical theater to executive coaching.
• Insights into empowering leadership and addressing blind spots.
• Tools for fostering alignment and growth within organizations.
• GROW Model
• Immunity to Change X-ray

Links:

Connect with Andy Hite:

• Website: https://www.scalingminds.com
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-hite/

For more episodes, visit: https://unfoldingthought.com

Join the conversation by emailing Eric: eric@inboundandagile.com

In this episode of The Unfolding Thought Podcast, Julian Scadden, President and CEO of Nexstar Network, shares his incredible journey from humble beginnings to leading one of the most respected organizations in the trades industry. Julian talks about the personal and professional challenges he faced, how he overcame them, and his philosophy on leadership, growth, and community.

Julian also discusses the role of Nexstar Network in helping trades businesses thrive by providing top-tier training, mentorship, and operational support. From his own experiences as a business owner to his current role as a visionary leader, Julian offers actionable insights for anyone looking to grow their business, develop their team, or overcome obstacles with resilience and determination.

Tune in to hear Julian’s thoughts on the power of vision, responsibility, and mentorship in building a thriving business and a fulfilling career.

Mentioned in the Episode:

• The importance of mentorship and community in personal and professional growth.
• How Nexstar Network supports tradespeople in transitioning to business leadership.
• Lessons learned from scaling and running a trades business.
• Julian’s thoughts on vision and responsibility as tools for transformation.

Links:

• The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership: https://amzn.to/4gUats2
• Be Useful: https://amzn.to/4ap5XPV
• Discussion with Jeremy Nulik: Find episode 2 or https://unfoldingthought.com/jeremy-nulik-how-vision-shapes-strategy/

Connect with Julian Scadden:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julianscadden/
• Nexstar Network: https://www.nexstarnetwork.com

Join the Conversation:

Have thoughts about this episode? Share them with us on social media, by leaving a review, emailing Eric at Eric@inboundandagile.com, or visiting the website at https://unfoldingthought.com.