This podcast episode features an insightful conversation between Coach Hughes and Doug Flutie, a renowned athlete known for his remarkable football career and inspiring personal journey. Flutie’s story spans from his early days as an undersized quarterback to a celebrated career in both the NFL and CFL, demonstrating resilience, leadership, and motivation against the odds. The discussion explores his approach to leadership, the importance of discipline, mental preparation, and continuous lear...

In this insightful episode of the Be Best You podcast, Coach Hughes interviews Bill Blum, founder and CEO of Alpine Business Systems, about the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) and its transformative impact on business, education, healthcare, and society at large. Bill brings over 37 years of experience in business systems and technology integration, offering a grounded, practical perspective on how AI can be leveraged effectively by individuals and organizations, especially sm...

In this episode of the - Be Best You - podcast, Coach Hughes speaks with Jennifer Wallace, a bestselling author and founder of the Mattering Institute. Her book, *Never Enough*, addresses feelings of inadequacy in young people and the pressure to prove their worth. Her upcoming book, releasing in 2026, will focus on “mattering” — the need to feel valued and contribute to one's community. They discuss how the lack of mattering causes anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem in both youth and ...

This episode features a rich and heartfelt conversation between Coach John Hughes and Charlie Morrison, the new COO of Jersey Mike’s, alongside insights from Patrick Lencioni, a renowned author and expert on organizational health and team dynamics. The dialogue centers on leadership, trust, vulnerability, and culture within organizations, with a particular focus on how these elements shape high-performing teams and foster personal growth within a business environment.

I'm excited to finally have the opportunity to chat with customer experience expert Dan Gingiss. In our conversation, we explore the vital role that customer experience plays in today's business landscape. Dan's insightful book, *The Experience Maker*, serves as an excellent guide for anyone looking to create unforgettable customer interactions that set their business apart. This book is truly a treasure for those eager to enhance their strategies and make a unique mark in their industr...

Coach Hughes interviews TJ Schier, discussing leadership, employee recognition, and the evolution of workplace culture over two decades. Highlights 🎙️ Coach Hughes welcomes TJ Schier, reminiscing about their 22-year friendship.📚 Schier’s book “Send Flowers to the Living” emphasizes recognizing employees while they are still with the company.🤝 Leadership involves creating a supportive culture and valuing employees’ contributions.🌱 The importance of continuous learning and adapting in leadershi...

What a pleasure it was to have an amazing conversation with an incredible young lady that "WILL" be making a name for herself sooner than later. Watch Out. Thank You Jennifer! SUMMARY: Jennifer and I discuss her 1st book called Puzzle Progress where she "Maps Out" steps to become the best version of ourselves. Jennifer shares her journey from a young employee at Jersey Mike’s to becoming a marketing coordinator and author, inspiring others to find their career direction. Wait til you he...

In this episode, Coach Hughes teams up with his friend and work colleague, Mookie Golden, to have an engaging conversation with Will Guidara, an American restaurateur and best-selling author of the book "Unreasonable Hospitality." Importance of Intentionality: Leaders must be intentional about their actions and relationships, fostering a culture of openness and support. This builds trust within teams.🤝 Mentorship Dynamics: Effective mentorship involves both teaching and learning. Leaders shou...

Listening with your eyes - What are people saying? We might be able to understand more if we paid less attention to the words people are using to communicate and more attention to how they are saying it. This is known as body language. Whether you are a speaker, teacher, coach, parent, athlete, or even a spouse, listening to body language can be important in better understanding what is really being said. In today's world, we trust less what people say and more what they do. To get a be...