Most founder-led companies hit a wall. Not because the idea was wrong, but because the energy that built the business starts working against it. In this episode, Travis sits down with Phil Murray, President of Marbella Interests and an operator who has worked directly under nine founders, to dig into one of the most important and least-discussed tensions in entrepreneurship: what do you do with founder energy as your company scales? Phil and Travis explore the moment founder energy shifts fro...
Jun 22
52 min
We all know time is finite. So why is it so hard to actually live like it matters? In this episode, Travis sits down with Mike Sharrow, CEO of C12, the nation's leading peer advisory organization for Christian CEOs and executives, to wrestle with one of the most deeply human tensions there is: making it count. Mike has spent a decade helping top leaders build businesses and lives of real significance, and in this conversation, he gets personal. From his own story of growing up around domestic...
Jun 1
54 min
If you've ever felt guilty for keeping or burned for giving, this one's for you. Travis sits down with his longtime friend Justin Lopez, President of 25 Giving, for a conversation about why stewardship and generosity aren't the same thing…and why getting that wrong can cost you more than you expect. Justin shares how growing up in a family where radical giving was simply the culture shaped a black-and-white worldview that eventually got put to the test. When his family moved into a struggling...
May 11
52 min
In this episode, Travis Penfield sits down with Elizabeth Odegaard to explore what it means to show up personally and for others in the hardest seasons of life. With honesty and depth, she reflects on the tension between carrying pain and continuing to show up for others, the people who showed up for her, and how small acts of presence can carry profound weight. Together, they unpack what it looks like to lead, support, and live with intention as life continues after heartache. This con...
Apr 20
50 min
In this episode, Travis sits down with Doug McNamee, Vice President and Director of Athletics at Baylor University, to explore the tension between relentless pursuit and the ability to let go of outcomes. Doug shares his unconventional journey—from working inside Baylor Athletics to stepping away to help lead the fast-growing Magnolia brand, and ultimately finding his way back to Baylor to lead the entire athletic department. Along the way, he reflects on the pressure of defining success, the...
Mar 23
54 min
In this episode, Travis sits down with Amber Allen to unpack the weight and responsibility of representation. What it means to be the only one in the room, to carry expectations that aren’t always spoken, and to navigate identity while building credibility. Amber shares how representation can be both an honor and a burden, how it shapes confidence and leadership, and why authentic conversations matter. This is a thoughtful conversation about identity, responsibility, and leading with bo...
Mar 2
45 min
In this episode, Travis sits down with Scott Neils, Executive Vice President at 49 Financial, to unpack the lifelong tension between wanting to be liked and needing to be respected. Scott shares how early experiences shaped his identity, pushing him first to chase acceptance, then to over-index on achievement, recognition, and results. Through vulnerable reflection, Scott walks through the cost of tying identity to approval or performance—and the moment it all came crashing down. This episode...
Feb 9
52 min
In this episode, Travis sits down with Kylie Allen, CPA to explore what happens when ambition outpaces capacity. Drawing from her journey as a high-performing professional, leader, and mother, Kylie shares how growth, done well, actually creates the capacity we’re searching for. They discuss boundaries, prioritization, and self-belief—and why learning to do hard things, rather than running from them, is essential for long-term fulfillment at work and at home.
Jan 19
46 min
In this episode, Travis sits down with Brandon Lanz, VP at 49 Financial, to explore how delayed gratification has shaped every part of his story—from the legendary two-and-a-half-year journey from a borderline cringy first date to marriage, to the early grind of building a career, to learning how to wait well in seasons of personal heartbreak and loss. Brandon shares how shifting from self-focused outcomes to intentional inputs, service, and surrender has transformed his work, his relationshi...
Dec 8, 2025
51 min
What happens when the beliefs you were taught collide with the lessons you’ve lived? In this episode, Travis sits down with Dean Dillenberg, VP at 49 Financial, overseeing Los Angeles and Austin, to unpack how we evolve from what we’ve inherited to what we’ve chosen. Through stories of family, faith, career, and fatherhood, Dean reflects on the frameworks that have shaped him—from his parents’ Sunday dinners and “seven F’s” to defining success on his own terms.
Nov 24, 2025
52 min
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