Unfolding Thought

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  • 40–Ian Mai: Mastering ADHD and Impulse Control through Inner Strength

    40–Ian Mai: Mastering ADHD and Impulse Control through Inner Strength

    In this episode of The Unfolding Thought Podcast, Eric Pratum is joined by Ian Mai, an ADHD and impulse-control coach dedicated to helping people understand and transform their impulsive behaviors into strengths. Ian shares his deeply personal journey—from confronting internet addiction and infidelity to achieving meaningful and sustainable recovery through ADHD awareness and inner strength training.

    Ian outlines the psychological foundations of impulsive behavior, describing how emotional disregulation, dopamine-seeking, and conditioned responses play crucial roles. He provides practical strategies for building emotional resilience and impulse control, emphasizing mindfulness, intentional discomfort, and honest self-reflection.

    This conversation goes beyond ADHD to explore how impulsive behaviors affect relationships, career success, and self-worth. Ian’s passion and clarity around these topics offer valuable guidance for anyone facing similar challenges or looking to understand those who do.

    Topics Explored:

    • Ian’s Personal Journey: From addiction and impulsivity to awareness and coaching
    • Understanding ADHD and Impulsive Behavior: Emotional regulation, dopamine, and conditioned responses
    • Practical Strategies for Managing ADHD and Impulse Control
    • Relationship Dynamics: How impulsivity impacts marriage and family life
    • Transforming Shame into Inner Strength
    • Cultivating Mindfulness and Intentional Discomfort to Build Resilience
    • The Importance of Being Comfortable with Misunderstanding and Authentic Self-Expression

    Links:

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

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

  • 41–Ryan Scott: The Intersection of Behavior & AI

    41–Ryan Scott: The Intersection of Behavior & AI

    In this episode of The Unfolding Thought Podcast, Eric Pratum talks with Ryan Scott, Head of Product at DNA Behavior, a company focused on delivering precise behavioral analytics using AI and machine learning. Ryan outlines his career growth from finance intern to AI innovator, highlighting how behavioral insights can dramatically improve business outcomes.

    Ryan discusses the innovative ways DNA Behavior utilizes AI—from predicting communication styles and job titles based on minimal data, to automating client interactions through advanced chatbots. We delve into practical applications of AI for businesses of all sizes, the challenges of integrating AI into existing workflows, and how AI is reshaping organizational structures and personal roles.

    This episode offers invaluable perspectives on the power and potential of AI-driven insights to enhance customer relations, streamline operations, and future-proof businesses.

    Topics Explored:

    • Ryan’s Path: From finance student to Head of Product at DNA Behavior
    • AI and Behavioral Analytics: How DNA Behavior is leveraging big data
    • Practical AI Applications: Enhancing client relationships and communication strategies
    • Automation and Efficiency: Tools and tactics for integrating AI into business processes
    • Predictive Modeling and Machine Learning: Advanced techniques for business insights
    • Challenges and Best Practices in AI Integration
    • The Future of Work: AI’s impact on organizational structures and personal roles

    Links:

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

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

  • 38–David Greer: Building Entrepreneurial Clarity and Conquering Addiction

    38–David Greer: Building Entrepreneurial Clarity and Conquering Addiction

    In this episode of The Unfolding Thought Podcast, Eric Pratum sits down with David Greer, entrepreneurial coach and author of “Wind In Your Sails: Vital Strategies That Accelerate Your Entrepreneurial Growth.” David shares powerful lessons from his journey—from building and exiting a successful software company to confronting and overcoming alcoholism, and eventually shaping a fulfilling career coaching other entrepreneurs.

    David explains the importance of strategic clarity, intentional quarterly planning, and the value of aligning personal strengths with professional goals. He emphasizes the critical balance of personal resilience and high performance, offering practical advice on how entrepreneurs can better manage their businesses, their teams, and themselves.

    Topics Explored:

    • Navigating Addiction and Sobriety: David’s transformative personal journey
    • Strategic Planning and Execution: Using clear, actionable plans to drive growth
    • Entrepreneurial Challenges: Transitioning from startup phase to scalable organization
    • The Importance of Written Goals and Accountability
    • Balancing Self, Family, and Business for Sustainable Success
    • Coaching Entrepreneurs through Organizational and Personal Obstacles
    • How Personal Growth Impacts Professional Performance

    Links:

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

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

  • 37–Shannon Watson: Getting Beyond Politics

    37–Shannon Watson: Getting Beyond Politics

    In this episode of The Unfolding Thought Podcast, Eric Pratum speaks with Shannon Watson, Executive Director of Majority in the Middle, an organization committed to fostering bipartisan collaboration and more effective governance. Shannon shares her journey and insights into why America has grown increasingly divided politically, and more importantly, what we can do about it.

    Shannon highlights how the erosion of trust at local and national levels affects policy effectiveness, the critical role of relationship-building across ideological lines, and why finding common ground is more crucial than ever. We explore historical insights on political cooperation, recent data on bipartisan attitudes, and practical strategies individuals and communities can adopt to reverse political polarization.

    Topics Explored:

    • Bridging the Political Divide: Shannon’s work with Majority in the Middle.
    • The Importance of Bipartisan Cooperation and Practical Governance.
    • How Trust and Social Capital Influence Community Success.
    • The Impact of Polarization on Governance and Everyday Life.
    • Actionable Steps Toward Effective Political and Community Engagement.
    • Lessons from History and Contemporary Examples of Successful Bipartisanship.
    • Understanding the Evolution of Group Dynamics and Polarization.

    Links:

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

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

  • 36–Ryan Hogan: The Recruiting Industry is Broken

    36–Ryan Hogan: The Recruiting Industry is Broken

    Eric Pratum sits down with Ryan Hogan, founder of Talent Harbor and the creative mind behind ventures like Run For Your Lives and Hunt a Killer. Ryan shares insights from his unique journey—from entrepreneurial experiments as a child, through notable successes and tough lessons, to his current mission of reshaping the recruiting industry.

    Ryan discusses the flawed standard recruiting model, his innovative “Recruiting as a Service” approach, and the critical importance of hiring for cultural alignment rather than just skills. He opens up about lessons learned from his entrepreneurial and military careers, emphasizing resilience, the power of micro-actions, and the necessity of embracing failure as a learning tool.

    Topics Explored:

    1. From Creepy Crawlers to Talent Harbor: Ryan’s entrepreneurial journey
    2. Disrupting Traditional Recruiting: What’s broken in the standard recruiting model?
    3. Recruiting as a Service: Aligning incentives, eliminating success fees, and reducing friction
    4. Lessons from the Military: Discipline, structure, and why some rules exist
    5. Hiring for Cultural Fit: The overlooked key to long-term organizational success
    6. Failure as a Teacher: Why Ryan embraces mistakes and what they’ve taught him
    7. Future-Proofing Careers: The role of AI, automation, and human authenticity in the workplace

    Links:

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

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

  • 35–Jessica Rhodes: Master the Podcast Guesting Game

    In this episode of The Unfolding Thought Podcast, host Eric Pratum sits down with Jessica Rhodes, founder and CEO of Interview Connections. Jessica discusses her journey from booking her dad’s podcast interviews to establishing an agency that has facilitated tens of thousands of guest appearances.

    She explains the nuances of becoming a successful podcast guest, addressing common pitfalls, misconceptions, and the strategies behind making every podcast appearance a meaningful part of your broader marketing and networking efforts. Jessica also explores how podcast guesting can yield impressive returns, even from shows with smaller audiences, emphasizing the importance of authenticity, preparation, and strategic repurposing of content.

    Topics Explored:

    1. Jessica’s Journey: From VA to Podcast Guesting Expert
    2. What Makes a Great Podcast Guest?
    3. Leveraging Podcast Appearances for Marketing & SEO
    4. Misconceptions About Podcast Audience Sizes
    5. How to Strategically Repurpose Podcast Content
    6. Measuring ROI from Podcast Guesting
    7. Authenticity & Emotional Resonance in Interviews
    8. Future Trends in Podcasting and Guesting

    Links:

    For more episodes, visit: https://unfoldingthought.com
    Join the conversation by emailing Eric at: eric@inboundandagile.com

  • 34–Dustin Ryen: Making Millions Shucking Coconuts

    Eric Pratum sits down with Dustin Ryen—entrepreneur, marketer, and yes, professional coconut shucker. Dustin shares his journey, from early entrepreneurial lessons learned while selling sandpaper to becoming known as “The Coconut Guy.”

    Dustin reveals how personal struggles and early life experiences shaped his entrepreneurial spirit, his willingness to embrace change and risk, and why authenticity has been central to his lasting success. He discusses the importance of emotional resonance in business, insights gained from difficult experiences—including being fired by Eric—and why finding joy in your work matters so much.

    This conversation explores themes like taking control of your career, the evolving landscape of AI-driven change in business, and why personal connections remain irreplaceable. It’s an episode rich with stories, insights, and practical advice for anyone navigating their career and life.

    Topics Explored:

    1. From Sandpaper to Coconuts: Lessons learned from Dustin’s unconventional career path.
    2. Entrepreneurship and Risk: How Dustin’s early life shaped his attitude toward risk and opportunity.
    3. Being Fired (by the Host!): Reflections on turning challenging career moments into valuable life lessons.
    4. Emotional Resonance in Business: Why creating authentic connections matters more than ever.
    5. Adapting to AI and Automation: Preparing yourself for the evolving career landscape and embracing personal responsibility.
    6. Joy and Authenticity in Work: Why true passion and a sense of authenticity can define entrepreneurial success.

    Links:

  • 33–Tractor Mike: The Future of Small Farming and Rural Living

    Eric Pratum sits down with Mike Wiles—YouTube’s Tractor Mike—to explore the future of rural America, small-scale farming, and compact tractor markets. Mike shares his extensive experience, beginning with his early days working an apple orchard, through his career managing farm equipment dealerships, to educating hundreds of thousands of people through his popular YouTube channel.

    Mike discusses the growing interest in small-time farming and rural living, particularly among people leaving urban areas. He provides insights into the economic factors, market shifts, and demographic changes affecting this movement. The conversation also covers critical issues such as education gaps among new rural residents, safety in agriculture, and the need for innovation in equipment design and service delivery.

    Topics Explored:

    1. Mike’s journey: From radio farm director to YouTube tractor expert
    2. The boom in small tractors during COVID and its aftermath
    3. Why are more people moving from cities to rural properties?
    4. Economic and demographic impacts on rural markets and farming
    5. Future trends in compact tractor sales and equipment innovation
    6. The importance of education and safety for new rural landowners
    7. Challenges in agricultural service delivery and opportunities for innovation

    Links:

    For more episodes, visit: https://unfoldingthought.com
    Join the conversation by emailing Eric at: eric@inboundandagile.com

  • 32–Jes Deaver: Imagining Our Architectural Future Through Science Fiction

    In this episode of The Unfolding Thought Podcast, Eric Pratum sits down with Jes Deaver, an architect and storyteller who uses interdisciplinary thinking, film, and science fiction to help communities envision better futures. Jes talks candidly about her journey from working with specialty cameras on film sets to exploring architecture through personal and collaborative projects, including the meaningful partnership with her architect father.

    Jes shares fascinating stories of how she uses storytelling to make architecture relatable and exciting to the public, discussing her belief that everyone is an expert in architecture through their lived experiences. The episode also dives deep into the concept of positive constraints—how limitations like building codes or project parameters can inspire creativity, leading to extraordinary outcomes like the unique “eclipse” feature she designed in a home.

    We also explore Jes’ work on public projects, her recent talk “Brave New City” at SXSW, and how embracing entropy and continual change have shaped her personal growth and professional innovation.

    Topics Explored:

    • Jes’ path from filmmaking to architecture and the intersection of these fields.
    • The power of storytelling to demystify architecture.
    • Positive constraints in architecture and creativity, inspired by J.J. Abrams’ “Mystery Box.”
    • The role of architects in imagining and shaping long-term futures.
    • Jes’ approach to making architecture accessible through immersive storytelling and multimedia.
    • Why embracing entropy—introducing deliberate chaos—can foster creativity and personal growth.

    Links:

    For more episodes, visit: https://unfoldingthought.com
    Join the conversation by emailing Eric at: eric@inboundandagile.com

  • 31–Hugh Massie: Reaching 1 Billion Annually with Behavioral Insights

    Eric Pratum speaks with Hugh Massie—founder and executive chairman of DNA Behavior—a behavioral insights company that helps individuals and organizations measure and leverage natural behavior patterns to drive financial performance, cultural alignment, and leadership effectiveness.

    Hugh shares his journey from chartered accountant in Australia to global entrepreneur, explains how “financial DNA” and “business DNA” were born, and reveals how behavioral insights can predict profit, optimize hiring, reduce friction in business processes, and guide strategy in even the most complex environments.

    This episode explores not only Hugh’s unique approach to leadership and entrepreneurship, but also how DNA Behavior has developed psychometric tools that are transparent, scalable, and able to identify performance-driving traits across teams, customers, and leaders. Hugh’s vision of behavior as a predictive tool—not just a descriptive one—is reshaping the way businesses understand their people.

    Topics Explored:

    1. From Accountant to Behavioral Pioneer: How Hugh’s dissatisfaction with a purely financial world led him to psychometrics and human behavior.
    2. Hyper-Personalization in Finance: Why understanding a client’s behavioral profile was the cornerstone of Hugh’s wealth management success.
    3. The DNA Behavior Origin Story: How a coffee shop conversation and a curious team member launched a decades-long mission.
    4. Behavior Makes Money: Hugh’s research linking six core behaviors to profitability in Fortune 500 companies.
    5. The Rise of Digital Behavioral Scanning: How DNA Behavior is eliminating friction and profiling hundreds of millions of people without them ever taking an assessment.
    6. The Future of Behavioral Science: Why Hugh believes behavior is “the last frontier” in business optimization.

    Links:

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

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