In this episode of THE MENTORS RADIO, Host Dan Hesse talks with Jim Tracy, founder and Chairman of the Legacy Companies and former CEO of Legacy Telecommunications, to discuss the importance of purpose and culture in business. Jim Tracy has been called the “Curator of Culture” and is also known as “The Grampion,” the title of his podcast, for his stories reflecting real life leadership experience. Legacy Telecommunications, where he served as CEO, is an infrastructure and technology services firm is a company he co-founded to make his son’s work safer. Prior to this, Jim spent 16 years leading firms in the manufacturing, sales and distribution of engineered construction products internationally. He was inducted into the Wireless Hall of Fame in 2021, honored with the Bill Carlson Lifetime Service Award from NATE in 2022, and received the Business ICON of Idaho Award in 2024. He has also been recognized for his volunteerism including Habitat for Humanity, Ducks Unlimited and SIPA. His best-selling book, “Building Men – Character Lessons From Influencers” has garnered widespread praise from critics and won multiple prestigious awards leading to a three-book deal with Morgan James Publishing. His next work, Management by Cliché publishes soon. LISTEN TO this radio broadcast live on iHeart Radio, or go to “THE MENTORS RADIO” podcast any time, anywhere, on any podcast platform – subscribe here and don’t miss an episode! SHOW NOTES JIM TRACY BIO: https://thejimtracy.com/about-the-jim-tracy/ BOOK: Building Men: Character Lessons From Influencers, by Jim Tracy Management by Cliché: Business Proverbs that Worked, by Jim Tracy WEBSITE: https://thejimtracy.com/

In this episode of THE MENTORS RADIO, Host Tom Loarie talks with Tom Hardin, dubbed the FBI’s “Tipper X.” An undergraduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s prestigious Wharton School of Business, Hardin’s promising career as a young financial analyst and junior partner at a small hedge fund in Manhattan, segued into Hardin becoming the youngest trader to be caught in a massive insider training FBI sting. Hardin agreed to cooperate with the FBI—agreeing to wear a hidden wire on more than 40 occasions—and ultimately becoming one of the most prolific informants in securities fraud history. His cooperation helped to build more than 20 of the 80+ individual criminal cases in “Operation Perfect Hedge,” the largest insider trading investigation of a generation. This episode delivers a riveting, raw, unvarnished conversation with Hardin on self-deception, the high price of “fitting in”, and how to survive life’s absolute worst moments. He wasn’t publicly dubbed “Tipper x” until early 2010. At the time, he had less than 12 hours to prepare his relatives before his name was made public. As you’ll hear, Tom Hardin doesn’t hide behind the word “mistake.” He openly admits: “I did this intentionally.” That radical accountability is what allowed him to rebuild his life, find his faith, and serve as a warning sign to keep other leaders from sliding down the same slippery slope. Of course he cannot work in the financial field with a felony conviction, but in 2016 the FBI invited him to speak to agents about his side of the story, which proved to be quite eye-opening for some of the younger agents. A few of the agents told Harding they felt others in the financial, hedge fund industry would benefit from his story. He has now shared his first-hand cautionary tale to more than 150 audiences, including 90 hedge fund firms. In broader context, we tend to think that massive personal and professional failures happen overnight. But they don’t. In reality, these failures happen through quiet, everyday compromises in two critical areas: (1) The Trap of “Fitting In” — There is a dangerous difference between finding a place where you belong and twisting yourself to “fit in.” Fitting in is an active sacrifice. To fit in with an elite crowd, we silence our voice, compromise our values, and erase our true self. When young Wharton graduate Tom Hardin entered the high-stakes world of Wall Street, his desperate desire to fit in clouded his moral judgment. Because Hardin lacked grounded mentors early in his career to model real ethics, he slipped into self-deception. Once you deceive yourself, you can deceive anyone – and lose your soul in the process. (2) The Danger of “Turning Against” Your Spouse — Statistics show that only 15% of marriages survive a federal felony conviction. Yet, Tom’s wife, Sue, stood fiercely by his side. When asked how she survived the trauma of his arrest, her answer was simple: “He never turned on me.” He made terrible, illegal choices, but he never demeaned her, hid from her, or directed his failures at her. Ultimately, too many relationships dissolve – sometimes invisibly – because one partner slowly begins to turn against the other, chip away at their dignity, or demean them. In a crisis, if you turn on each other, destruction is guaranteed. LISTEN TO this radio broadcast live on iHeart Radio, or go to “THE MENTORS RADIO” podcast any time, anywhere, on any podcast platform – subscribe here and don’t miss an episode! SHOW NOTES: BIO: https://www.tipperx.com/about BOOK: Wired on Wall Sreet: The Rise and Fall of Tipper X, One of the FBI’s Most Prolific Informants, by Tom Hardin WEBSITE: https://www.tipperx.com/ OTHER: “Tom Hardin’s journey from hedge fund trader to FBI informant“, Institutional Investor

In this episode of THE MENTORS RADIO, Host Dan Hesse talks with Ed Hawkins, former All-American soccer player and Founder and CEO of SixBeacons Partners. As we watch the World Cup, it’s fitting that Ed Hawkins, a former All-American soccer player and the first US born African-American to wear the USA jersey, joins Dan Hesse on The Mentors Radio to describe the business lessons that the game of soccer can teach us. Ed explores how leadership, culture and human development intersect in organizational life. He’s the CEO of SixBeacon Partners where his work focuses on helping organizations design environments that allow people and systems to grow with purpose in the age of artificial intelligence. They discuss Ed’s fourth book, Beacon of Hope—Cultivating Excellence Across Generations, which also serves as a tribute to a special mentor.  LISTEN TO this radio broadcast live on iHeart Radio, or go to “THE MENTORS RADIO” podcast any time, anywhere, on any podcast platform – subscribe here and don’t miss an episode! SHOW NOTES: BIO: Bio: Edward “Ed” L. Hawkins BOOKS: Creating Amazing Customer Experiences Using Sustainable Frameworks, by Ed Hawkins GLOW: The Humanization of Intelligence, by Ed Hawkins Silicon Heart Reclaiming Humanity Through AI, by Ed Hawkins Beacon of Hope: Cultivating Excellence Across Generations, by Ed Hawkins WEBSITE: https://www.sixbeacons.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hawkinsthoughts/

In this episode of THE MENTORS RADIO, Host Tom Loarie talks with Lifang He, a global tech brand strategist and marketing leader who is known for her more than 20 years experience launching record-breaking, popular tech innovations that include Apple’s iPhone and more. Data shows that up to eighty percent (80%) of technology ventures fail—not because their technology doesn’t work, but because they fail to drive consumer adoption. Why? We dive deep into the engine room of the modern tech economy to explore how great ideas actually win hearts, minds, and lasting market share. Too many business builders treat branding as a superficial creative mask to be slapped onto a product at the very end of its development cycle. Our guest today—Lifang He—argues that this exact mistake is what kills promising products and drains investor capital. She should know. A standout global brand strategist and tech marketing leader, Lifang He brings nearly twenty years of masterclass experience driving go-to-market excellence for the world’s most influential market leaders. She grew up as a competitive athlete in China, stepped into the advertising arena with Wieden+Kennedy on the Nike business, and after moving to the U.S., landed inside Apple’s dedicated global advertising agency, Media Arts Lab, where she helped orchestrate multiple global iPhone launches and worked on the historic “Shot on iPhone” campaign. From there, she built categories at Amazon, scaled product ecosystems at Ring, and directed brand integration for Amazon Pharmacy. Her career has been defined by building products and brands that scale fast and deliver results. She has earned industry recognition such as a Cannes Lions Grand Prix Award, a Fastest Growing Brands Award, and a Jay Chiat Award for Strategic Excellence. She now leads a consultancy specializing in brand strategy, product innovation, and go-to-market. Lifang is also the author of the brilliant new guide, Brand Power Built In: How Tech Products Really Win Hearts and Minds. LISTEN TO this radio broadcast live on iHeart Radio, or go to “THE MENTORS RADIO” podcast any time, anywhere, on any podcast platform – subscribe here and don’t miss an episode! SHOW NOTES: LIFANG HE: BIO: https://www.lifanghe.me https://www.linkedin.com/in/lifanghe BOOK: Brand Power Built In: How Tech Products Really Win Hearts and Minds, by Lifang He

In this episode of The Mentors Radio, Host Dan Hesse talks with General (Ret.) Stanley McChrystal about his career, leadership, building teams, risk management and more. A one-of-a-kind commander with a new perspective on organizational dynamics, Ret. General Stan McChrystal is known for helping elite teams tap into the potential of their people to better compete in a complex and interconnected world. Few can speak about leadership, teamwork, technology and international affairs with as much insight can he. Ret. General McChrystal is the former Commander of U.S. and International Forces in Afghanistan, former leader of Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) and co-founder of The McChrystal Group. His exceptional and innovative understanding of organizational dynamics has led to remarkable achievements in both military and business applications. McChrystal is the author of several best-selling books on leadership, building teams, engagement and risk management. After retiring from the U.S. Army as a four-star general, General McChrystal turned his expertise to the business world. He is the Founder and CEO of the McChrystal Group, which helps Fortune 500 Companies strike the right balance between hierarchical and decentralized team mindsets and structures. He and his firm focus on the power of network analysis and machine learning to strengthen how companies connect, internally and externally. As the author of several best-selling management books, General McChrystal offers a battle-tested system for detecting and responding to risk. LISTEN TO the radio broadcast live on iHeart Radio, or to “THE MENTORS RADIO” podcast any time, anywhere, on any podcast platform – subscribe here and don’t miss an episode! SHOW NOTES: GENERAL (RET.) STANLEY A. McCHRYSTAL: BIO: https://www.mcchrystalgroup.com/people/stan-mcchrystal/ BOOKS: My Share of the Task: A Memoir, by Stanley McChrystal Team of Teams: New Rules of Engagement for a Complex World, by Stanley McChrystal Leaders: Myth and Reality, by Stanley McChrystal Risk: A User’s Guide, by Stanley McChrystal WEBSITE: www.mcchrystalgroup.com/

In this episode of THE MENTORS RADIO, Host Dan Hesse talks with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, who, in two decades as Commissioner, has built the NFL into a sports, media and cultural leader—growing the NFL to be not only America’s, but the world’s top sports league, with 13 of the world’s 20 most valuable teams being NFL teams. Ninety-three (93) of the top 100 rated programs on American television were NFL games. Starting as an intern for Commissioner Pete Rozelle in the early ’80s, Roger became the league’s first Chief Operating Officer, and he succeeded Commissioner Paul Tagliabue as Commissioner in 2006. Roger has focused on strengthening the game for players and fans alike. He prioritized improving player health and safety through new rules and better equipment, driving down concussions and other major injuries. Under his leadership, the NFL has secured consecutive, ten-year transformative collective bargaining agreements with the NFL Players Association, allowing the league to grow and thrive, enhancing pay and benefits for current and retired players and ensuring decades of labor peace. In 2021, he negotiated long-term media agreements with CBS, ESPN/ABC, FOX, NBC and Amazon, which brought Thursday Night Football to a streaming platform for the first time. He has since spearheaded groundbreaking deals with YouTube for NFL Sunday Ticket and Netflix for the NFL’s Christmas games, reaching a generation of younger fans. Under Roger’s leadership, an increasing number of regular-season games are played outside of the US, and he’s supported the rise of flag football globally. He also moved the NFL Draft from New York to cities and fans across the country. LISTEN TO the radio broadcast live on iHeart Radio, or to “THE MENTORS RADIO” podcast any time, anywhere, on any podcast platform – subscribe here and don’t miss an episode! SHOW NOTES: ROGER GOODELL: BIO: BIO: Roger Goodell https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Goodell  BOOKS: Every Day is Sunday, by Ken Belson The Biography of Roger Goodell, by Christopher Mateo

In this episode of The Mentors Radio, Host Tom Loarie talks with Raj Sisodia, PhD, co-founder of the global Conscious Capitalism movement, respected global business scholar, and author of 11 influential books. Today’s broadcast was originally intended to be a conversation with visionary business leader Bob Chapman, the founder of Barry-Wehmiller. Tragically, Bob recently passed away after a courageous battle with cancer. So we decided to anchor this show as a tribute to Bob Chapman’s remarkable life and monumental legacy by talking with his close friend and co-author, Raj Sisodia, and the results far exceeded all expectations! Earning his PhD from Columbia University, Dr. Sisodia’s distinguished 42-year academic career includes teaching at institutions such as Boston University, George Mason, and serving as the FW Olin Distinguished Professor of Global Business and Scholar at Babson College. Over the past five years, he has served as a distinguished professor at Tecnológico de Monterrey—the MIT of Mexico—where he helped establish a Conscious Enterprise Center that has scaled these leadership principles to hundreds of professors and thousands of students across Latin America. Driven by a profound life purpose to open hearts and elevate human consciousness, he partnered with Bob to write the groundbreaking, national bestseller Everybody Matters: The Extraordinary Power of Caring for Your People Like Family. LISTEN TO the radio broadcast live on iHeart Radio, or to “THE MENTORS RADIO” podcast any time, anywhere, on any podcast platform – subscribe here and don’t miss an episode! SHOW NOTES: RAJ SISODIA, PhD: BIO: https://rajsisodia.com/#about-raj BOOKS include: Everybody Matters: The Extraordinary Power of Caring for Your People Like Family, by Bob Chapman and Raj Sisodia Healing Leaders: 7 Steps to Recovery of Self, by Raj Sisodia and Nilima Bhat Conscious Capitalism, With a New Preface by the Authors: Liberating the Heroic Spirit of Business, by John Mackey and Raj Sisodia WEBSITE: https://rajsisodia.com/

In thios episode of THE MENTORS RADIO, Host Dan Hesse talks with Greg LeMond, widely considered the King of American Cycling, to share his story of coming back to win the world’s greatest and most demanding race, the Tour de France, after he barely survived a horrific and life-altering accident. You’ll learn how hard work changed LeMond’s psyche from one of despair to pure joy. In yet another battle, this three-time Tour de France champion describes his decade-long fight against the cycling industry’s powers as he fought to clean up his beloved sport from scandal by those who engaged in doping. Reading LeMond’s bio, linked below, reads like a can’t-put-it-down novel showcasing principled leadership, deep-rooted ethical principles, fierce yet respectful competition, willing self-discipline and self-leadership… In this episode, you’ll find an abundance of inspiring take-away learnings. LISTEN TO the radio broadcast live on iHeart Radio, or to “THE MENTORS RADIO” podcast any time, anywhere, on any podcast platform – subscribe here and don’t miss an episode! SHOW NOTES: Greg LeMond: BIO: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greg_LeMond BOOK: The Comeback: Greg LeMond, the True King of American Cycling, and a Legendary Tour de France, by Daniel De Vise. DOCUMENTARY: The Last Rider

In this episode of THE MENTORS RADIO, Host Tom Loarie talks with Major General David Smith, USAF, deputy to the Chief of Air Force Reserve at the Pentagon. You’ll learn about a realm most people never get to see: the intersection of high-stakes national defense, cutting-edge technology and extreme physical endurance. General Smith is a combat-proven command pilot with over 4,000 flying hours—including 700 in combat across operations like Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. On his last appearance, as an F-16 Squadron Commander, he discussed what it takes to get your goals and dreams airborne. Since then, his leadership journey has scaled significantly. In this episode, we aren’t just talking about flying fighter jets. We are tracking a lifetime journey of constant re-invention—from the cockpit of an F-16, to operationalizing the advanced F-35 platform, to studying Artificial Intelligence at MIT and Harvard. We also dive deep into General Smith’s core thesis: why physical fitness is a non-negotiable leadership responsibility, and how that legacy of grit is carrying forward to the next generation of American leaders. General David Smith has flown in combat and conquered the Ironman World Championship, and shares insights about why physical grit, constant re-invention and data-driven innovation are the ultimate keys to sustaining your life’s goals. You will not only learn about leadership, but also about teamwork, humility, trust, and translating cockpit “wingman” reliance into selflessness and service in corporate culture. General Smith’s own 30+ year career spans commanding fighter squadrons, operationalizing the cutting-edge F-35, and studying Artificial Intelligence at MIT, Harvard and John Hopkins. He knows exactly what skills the next generation will need to navigate a rapidly evolving future. You’ll learn about the Ironman Mindset, breaking down the mental “wall” of an endurance race to conquer massive organizational barriers. And you’ll learn about the Future of Talent; Why tomorrow’s leaders must anchor themselves in STEM and AI while maintaining core human values. General Smith also talks about family legacy, and he and his wife Stacy raised two incredible, service-driven daughters: Sidney (Virgnia Military Institute graduate) and Ella (a standout collegiate athlete at the U.S. Naval Academy). Whether you are an aspiring young professional or a C-suite executive, this discussion is packed with actionable wisdom. LISTEN TO the radio broadcast live on iHeart Radio, or to “THE MENTORS RADIO” podcast any time, anywhere, on any podcast platform – subscribe here and don’t miss an episode! SHOW NOTES: MAJOR GENERAL DAVID SMITH, USAF: BIO: https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Biographies/Display/Article/1723144/david-w-smith/ Major General David Smith, USAF and his daughter, Sydney, at USAF graduation

In this episode of THE MENTORS RADIO, Host Dan Hesse talks with Ambassador Randy Tobias, former Vice Chair of AT&T, and Chair and CEO of AT&T’s primary operating unit, AT&T Communications. Randy left AT&T in 1993 to become Chair, President and CEO of Eli Lilly and Company. In 2003 President George W. Bush nominated him to be the founding United States Global AIDS Coordinator with the rank of Ambassador and with the charge to develop, launch and lead what became PEPFAR, a multibillion-dollar U.S. government initiative to blunt the global HIV/AIDS epidemic, first in sub-Saharan Africa and then globally. Now in its twenty-second year, PEPFAR is credited with having saved more than 26 million lives. Subsequently President Bush named Randy Administrator of USAID and concurrently the first Director of all United States Foreign Assistance with the rank of Deputy Secretary of State. Ambassador Tobias has been recognized with a long and diverse list of honors including five honorary degrees. He has served on a number of corporate and non-profit boards, and in leadership roles with numerous organizations including as chair of the boards of trustees of both Duke University and Indiana University. He is the author of two books, Put The Moose On The Table: Lessons In Leadership From A CEO’s Journey Through Business And Life, and Never Daunted: A Life and Legacy of Embracing Change, a memoir published in 2025. LISTEN TO the radio broadcast live on iHeart Radio, or to “THE MENTORS RADIO” podcast any time, anywhere, on any podcast platform – subscribe here and don’t miss an episode! SHOW NOTES: AMBASSADOR RANDY TOBIAS: BIO: BIO: Ambassador Randy Tobias BOOKS: Never Daunted: A Life and Legacy of Embracing Change, by Randall L. Tobias Put the Moose on the Table: Lessons in Leadership from a CEO’s Journey Though Business and Life, by Randall L. Tobias and Todd Tobias WEBSITE: Tobias Leadership Center, University of Indiana