Overview

In this episode of Culturally Sound, Chandler Cutler sits down with Allan Richards, Growth Manager at EasyDMARC, to unpack the real-world challenges of email authentication, MSP enablement, and protecting digital trust in a rapidly evolving cybersecurity landscape.

Allan’s career spans nearly two decades in cybersecurity channel sales, from building MSP ecosystems at AppRiver to leading partner growth across North America at OpenText. Today, he helps MSPs and businesses operationalize DMARC, SPF, and DKIM to secure their domains, improve deliverability, and protect their brand reputation.

This conversation blends technical insight with practical leadership. Allan shares how he went from the car industry to cybersecurity, why MSPs should treat DMARC as non-negotiable, and how his philosophy of “finding a way to say yes” helps partners turn security into growth.

Guest Bio

Allan Richards is a seasoned cybersecurity channel sales expert with nearly twenty years of experience. He has a proven track record of driving partner growth and revenue, most recently as Channel Sales Manager at OpenText, where he oversaw the North American sales team and trained channel partners across its ecosystem.

Before OpenText, Allan spent more than a decade at AppRiver, playing a key role in developing and executing successful channel sales strategies that shaped one of the industry’s strongest MSP communities.

Now as Growth Manager at EasyDMARC, Allan leads a global team focused on helping managed service providers deliver best-in-class email authentication, DMARC compliance, and deliverability solutions that protect businesses from phishing, spoofing, and brand impersonation.

Episode Breakdown

From Cars to Cyber (00:00 – 03:25)

How Allan’s early career in the automotive industry led to a head-turning leap into email security and channel sales.

The DMARC Wake-Up Call (03:25 – 08:43)

Demystifying DMARC, SPF, and DKIM — and why they’re essential for every business, not just enterprises.

Protecting the Modern Inbox (08:43 – 16:26)

Real-world examples of business email compromise and how unmanaged domains create hidden vulnerabilities.

The MSP Advantage (16:26 – 30:48)

Why MSPs should view DMARC as part of a layered cybersecurity stack — DNS, TLS, filtering, and continuous monitoring.

From None to Reject (30:48 – 35:06)

The right way to move from “none” to “reject” without breaking your email systems — and how EasyDMARC supports that journey.

Leading with ‘Yes’ (36:12 – 45:27)

Allan’s leadership philosophy, daily routines across time zones, and how empathy builds stronger global teams.

Human Side of Cybersecurity (48:37 – 56:10)

Why listening, respect, and emotional awareness matter just as much as technical skill in protecting digital trust.

Final Takeaway (56:10 – 56:44)

“Email is the bloodstream of your business. Protect it, and you protect your reputation.”

Summary

Allan Richards bridges the gap between cybersecurity strategy and human connection. His approach to DMARC and channel growth reframes email security as a business enabler, not a burden — empowering MSPs to safeguard clients, build trust, and grow revenue through reliability and clarity.

Relevant Links

🔗 Learn more about EasyDMARC –

In this episode of Culturally Sound, Chandler Cutler sits down with Farid Yaghini, veteran, author, wellness coach, and CEO of Camp Aftermath, to explore what it really takes to transition from service to civilian life and rebuild a lasting sense of identity.

After fleeing Iran as a child and serving over a decade in the Canadian Armed Forces with deployments to Afghanistan and Latvia, Farid knows firsthand the hidden costs of duty. His journey through anger, loss, and identity crises ultimately fueled the creation of Camp Aftermath, a Canadian charity that helps veterans, first responders, and frontline workers living with PTSD and operational stress injuries reclaim resilience through peer support, structured volunteerism, and professional mental health oversight.

This conversation is deeply personal and practical. Farid shares how he turned painful transitions into a blueprint for healing, why “flicker moments” of service can override trauma, and how the right balance of discipline, community, and compassion can carry someone through the hardest seasons of life.

Guest Bio

Farid Yaghini is the CEO of Camp Aftermath, a Canadian-registered charity supporting veterans, first responders, and frontline workers with PTSD and operational stress injuries. For more than 7 years, he has overseen national and international program delivery, including partnerships with Veterans Affairs Canada and the Commemorative Partnership Program.

Farid is also the author of Life in Rotations, a memoir chronicling his refugee story, military service, and path to healing. A certified wellness coach, yoga and meditation instructor, and holistic recovery advocate, he is currently pursuing a Master’s in Counselling Psychology to bridge clinical practice with lived experience. His mission is to ensure those who have sacrificed in service to others find belonging, strength, and a renewed sense of self beyond the uniform.

Episode Breakdown

• From Refugee to Soldier (00:00 – 12:00)
• Escaping Iran, growing up in Canada, and choosing military service.
• Deployments and Their Cost (12:00 – 25:00)
• Afghanistan and Latvia tours, the toll of war, and the struggle of transition.
• The Birth of Camp Aftermath (25:00 – 40:00)
• Building a three-phase program combining volunteerism, peer support, and long-term follow-up.
• Flickers of Purpose (40:00 – 50:00)
• Why small moments of service can transform trauma into meaning.
• Life in Rotations (50:00 – 60:00)
• Writing as therapy, documenting lessons for his daughter, and shaping legacy.
• Preparedness Over Regret (60:00 – 70:00)
• Why routines, discipline, and community-based healing keep the mission alive.

Summary

Farid Yaghini’s journey, from refugee to soldier to founder, is a powerful reminder that resilience is not about avoiding hardship but transforming it into purpose. His work at Camp Aftermath provides a living model for long-term recovery, showing that with structure, compassion, and community, those who serve can thrive beyond the uniform.

Relevant Links

🔗 Connect with Farid Yaghini on LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/farid-yaghini-a17079211/

🔗 Learn more about Camp Aftermath – campaftermath.org

🔗 Listen to more episodes of Culturally Sound –

In this episode of Culturally Sound, Chandler Cutler sits down with Kristina Fahl to unpack how a daily school run problem became an InsurTech mission. After more than fifteen years in large financial institutions, Kristina left a stable career to launch a student transportation company. She scaled fast, hit the wall on commercial auto insurance economics, then joined venture backed teams to learn how risk is structured at scale. Today at Shuttlebee she is unlocking trapped supply in student transportation by equipping small operators with tools, training, and embedded insurance so they can deliver big fleet standards safely and reliably.

The conversation is candid about imposter syndrome, learning in public, and turning setbacks into operating advantages. Kristina explains how she moved from purely tactical problem solving to strategy and people first leadership, why feedback loops and community make or break momentum, and how preparedness reduces anxiety when safety and compliance are on the line.

Guest Bio

Kristina Fahl is the founder and CEO of Shuttlebee, an InsurTech platform that merges predictive dispatch, compliance automation, and embedded commercial auto insurance to expand safe and reliable student transportation. Previously she led operations at Bus.com, scaling logistics across North America, managing vendor compliance, and leading end to end RFPs for institutional clients. Her inspiration for Shuttlebee came from running an award winning student transportation company where she saw strong small operators priced out of insurance. Kristina is a graduate of RevTech Labs Accelerator Cohort 22 and Scout InsurTech’s Recognized Leader program. Her mission is to make student transportation safer, smarter, and more accessible.

Episode Breakdown

• From Corporate Comfort to Startup Chaos (00:00 – 02:15)

Why Kristina walked away from 15 years in financial services, the school drop off problem that sparked her first venture, and the hard lesson of insurance costs that forced a shutdown.

• Finding Her Footing in Transportation (02:15 – 03:25)

Joining venture backed startups, leading operations at Bus.com, and stepping into insurance and regulatory work that would shape Shuttlebee.

• Confidence, Rage, and Imposter Syndrome (03:25 – 06:25)

The reality of building in a male dominated industry, the power of frustration as fuel, and why imposter syndrome never fully disappears.

• Failing Forward and Listening Hard (06:25 – 09:14)

Reframing failure as essential to growth, learning to see blind spots, and surrounding herself with people unafraid to tell her the truth.

• Momentum and Venture Backing (10:03 – 11:26)

How Shuttlebee shifted from a grind uphill to a venture backed company with growing speed, thanks to the right team, board, and advisors.

• Measuring Leadership in Real Time (12:41 – 15:37)

Why reviews should hold no surprises, the practice of writing letters to her future self, and how intentional check-ins build stronger teams.

• The Limits of Optimism (25:22 – 26:31)

Believing in people’s potential vs seeing where they are today, and how optimism without balance can lead to tough leadership calls.

• The Power of Community and Asking for Help (27:58 – 30:29)

Why networking felt intimidating at first, and how mentors and peers turned into the biggest accelerators of growth.

• Preparedness Over Anxiety (32:59 – 37:06)

Her morning and evening routines, the difference between aspirational and realistic habits, and how maximizing

In this episode of Culturally Sound, Chandler Cutler sits down with Brian Purkiss to trace his path from customizing MySpace layouts to leading high performing eCommerce teams. Brian explains why he left college when coursework lagged real world tech, what agency life taught him about wearing every hat, and how moving in house unlocked long term ownership of product, performance, and growth.

The conversation digs into servant leadership in technical teams, the shift from being in the code to empowering experts, and the practical ways positivity, structure, and shared ownership multiply output. Brian also offers a grounded view on AI, exploring where it is already valuable in processing unstructured information and where hype outpaces reliability with autonomy and hallucinations.

Whether you are scaling an online store, leading cross functional product work, or modernizing your team’s operating system, this episode is a field guide to building websites and teams that actually move the numbers.

Guest Bio

Brian Purkiss is a well rounded web professional with 18 years of experience designing, developing, growing, and optimizing high performing websites across agencies and eCommerce brands. As Digital Product Manager at OnePet, he designs and executes product roadmaps that blend quick wins with durable long term growth.

A servant leader, Brian pairs collaborative leadership with a solution and data driven approach to product management, creating conditions for ownership, retention, and multiplicative team output.

Selected accomplishments

• Reversed decline at an eCommerce brand and guided it back to growth

• Built a top 1 percent conversion rate eCommerce site in two years (AMMD), driven by constant analysis, iteration, team collaboration, optimization, and A/B testing

• Maintained 100 percent team retention through COVID and the Great Resignation while scaling from the smallest to the largest team in marketing and operations

• Repeatedly grew store revenue despite industry downturns

• Built a personal project end to end that reached one million pageviews in the first year and two million shortly after, with 8 to 10 pageviews per visit and less than 10 percent bounce rate

Episode Breakdown

From MySpace to Web Careers (00:00 – 12:00)

Self teaching HTML and CSS to customize profiles, early agency rotations, and why he left college when coursework lagged industry reality.

Agency Hats to In House Ownership (12:00 – 25:00)

What one and done projects teach and why longer horizons, integrated stacks, and compounding improvements pulled him in house.

From Coder to Leader (25:00 – 40:00)

Staying technical enough to ask the right questions while letting specialists own execution, creating space for subject matter expertise to win.

The Referee Meeting that Changed Everything (40:00 – 50:00)

A collaborative problem solving session on automated discounting where Brian only asked questions and captured ideas, turning many good ideas into one great solution.

Communication Overhaul and Humility (50:00 – 60:00)

Moving from blunt to tactful and effective. Influences include Extreme Ownership, How to Win Friends and Influence People with shared agreement first, Ryan Holiday’s stoicism, and Peak Performance.

Culture, Safety, and AI Boundaries (60:00 – 70:00)

Building psychological safety for experimentation with AI while setting guardrails so core work still ships.

AI: Useful Now vs Hype (70:00 – 78:00)

Real value today is processing unstructured information, market research synthesis, and structured back and forth ideation. Limits include unreliable autonomy,...

In this episode of Culturally Sound, Chandler Cutler sits down with James Church, author of the Amazon best-selling book Investable Entrepreneur and co-founder of Robot Mascot, to explore why so many great business ideas fail to raise the funding they deserve.

James has spent years helping founders bridge the gap between vision and investment. From spotting the “zombie stare” investors give when pitches fall flat to building a proven process that makes entrepreneurs 40x more likely to secure capital, he shares what it really takes to turn a bold idea into an investable business.

This conversation dives into the realities of scaling an agency, the power of niching down, and why clear communication is the single most underrated skill for any founder. Whether you are raising your first round or rethinking your growth strategy, this episode offers a masterclass in how to win investor confidence and avoid the costly mistakes that sink too many startups.

Guest Bio

James Church is the author of the Amazon best-selling book Investable Entrepreneur: How to Convince Investors Your Business is the One to Back and the co-founder and COO of Robot Mascot, a global award-winning investment readiness agency.

He has been featured in Forbes and Entrepreneur Magazine and won Business Advisor of the Year at the Growing Business Awards. Through Robot Mascot, his clients have secured more than £200M in funding and are 40x more likely to raise investment. The agency is the preferred pitch partner to international VCs, Crowdcube, Republic, SeedLegals, and global accelerator programs.

Episode Breakdown

From Branding to Investment Readiness (00:00 – 12:00)

How James went from design and communication into the fundraising world and why founders needed a new approach to pitching.

The “Zombie Stare” Problem (12:00 – 25:00)

What happens when investors stop listening and how James built a formula to fix it.

Scaling Pains and Hard Lessons (25:00 – 40:00)

The mistakes that nearly broke Robot Mascot, from hiring missteps to scaling too fast.

The Power of Niching Down (40:00 – 50:00)

Why focusing on a hyper-specific niche transformed the agency’s growth.

Becoming a Key Person of Influence (50:00 – 60:00)

How publishing Investable Entrepreneur turned James into a thought leader and trusted advisor in the investment space.

Sustainable Growth and the Road Ahead (60:00 – 70:00)

What James has learned about building systems, sustaining momentum, and staying resilient as a founder.

Summary

James Church has dedicated his career to helping founders present clear, credible, and compelling cases to investors. His work shows that fundraising success is not about flashy pitches but about structure, clarity, and confidence. This episode reveals the tools and mindset shifts every entrepreneur needs to secure capital and build a business that lasts.

Relevant Links

🔗 Connect with James on LinkedIn – www.linkedin.com/in/jamescchurch

🔗 Listen to more episodes of Culturally Sound – www.corethos.com/culturally-sound

Overview

In this episode of Culturally Sound, Chandler Cutler sits down with Jeff Parnell—interim CEO, trusted advisor, and author of the upcoming book The Heart of Transition—to explore how businesses can unlock transformative growth when they lean into change instead of fearing it.

With over 30 years in C-level roles spanning ecommerce, B2B, retail, manufacturing, and more, Jeff shares what it really means to navigate the messy middle—when companies get stuck, lose momentum, or hit a wall.

From rebuilding a tech incubator to tripling a stagnant ecommerce business, Jeff doesn’t speak from theory—he speaks from execution. This conversation unpacks why transition is the most overlooked phase of growth, what it takes to lead through it, and how founders can build systems that scale without losing their soul.

Whether you’re prepping for succession, navigating a plateau, or simply trying to make the numbers work, this episode offers a rare glimpse into the mindset of a leader who’s been through it all—and come out stronger.

Guest Bio

Jeff Parnell is a seasoned executive, growth strategist, and operator with over three decades of experience across digital and direct marketing, consumer products, ecommerce, B2B, and manufacturing. He’s served 15+ years as a CEO and now provides fractional CEO services focused on execution, exit planning, and organizational transformation.

Known for his relentless energy and deep operational insight, Jeff is the author of the upcoming book The Heart of Transition—a playbook for helping companies (and their leaders) move through stuck phases and into sustainable growth. His philosophy is simple: don’t just plan—execute. And always lead with heart.

Episode Breakdown

The Problem with “Stuck” (00:00 – 10:00)

• Why so many businesses plateau—and how to know if you're in one
• What “transition” really means in a business context
• The danger of operating without a clear growth path

The Early Years + Blazing His Own Trail (10:00 – 25:00)

• Making the numbers work in the catalog era
• Becoming a CEO with no playbook—only outcomes
• Why energy, intuition, and execution still beat theory

The Power of Interim Leadership (25:00 – 40:00)

• How Jeff steps into leadership gaps and creates clarity
• The difference between advisory and operational help
• Real stories of rebuilding, turning around, and scaling up

Systems, Succession & Scale (40:00 – 55:00)

• Why every founder should plan their own exit—even early
• How to build systems that grow beyond the founder
• What Jeff teaches CEOs about letting go without giving up

Legacy & The Heart of Transition (55:00 – 65:00)

• Jeff’s life-threatening medical scare—and what it taught him
• Why “transition” isn’t a weakness, but a superpower
• How to create lasting value that outlives your role

Summary

Jeff Parnell built his career helping companies make the hard pivots most leaders avoid. From $100M ecommerce launches to founder exits and recovery playbooks, his approach blends heart, hustle, and hardcore execution.

In a world obsessed with hypergrowth, Jeff invites us to slow down, assess, and transition with purpose. Because building something that lasts isn’t just about scale—it’s about knowing when and how to evolve.

Whether you're leading a legacy company or scaling a startup, this episode will challenge how you think about leadership, transition, and the real cost of staying stuck.

Overview

In this episode of Culturally Sound, Chandler Cutler sits down with Matt Haney — founder of Sinclair Ventures — to explore what it really takes to scale as a visionary entrepreneur.

Matt’s journey has taken him from real estate investing before the 2008 crash to consumer products, private equity, and now running Sinclair Ventures, a fractional COO consultancy. His perspective is simple but rare: vision alone won’t grow a company. It takes humility to admit when you’ve tapped out, and hustle to bring in the right systems and leaders to keep moving forward.

From navigating layoffs during COVID to helping $10M+ founders step out of the chaos, Matt shares how humility, curiosity, and structure create space for growth. This conversation dives deep into leadership blind spots, the rise of AI, and why the best entrepreneurs know when to get out of their own way.

Guest Bio

Matt Haney is the founder of Sinclair Ventures, a consultancy providing fractional COO services to visionary entrepreneurs. With over 20 years of experience across real estate, consumer products, and private equity-backed companies, Matt specializes in building systems, guiding leadership teams, and bridging the gap between vision and execution. Known for his candid and curious approach, he helps small to midsize businesses scale by putting the right people in the right seats — and teaching founders the humility it takes to let go.

Episode Breakdown

Visionaries Need Operators (00:00 – 06:00)

• Why Sinclair Ventures focuses on fractional COO work
• The flooring installer who grew a $10M business — and admitted he needed help
• The humility it takes for founders to say, “I’ve gone as far as I can”

From Real Estate to Fractional COO (06:00 – 12:00)

• Matt’s early career in a family office and the 2008 financial crash
• Lessons learned from visionary leaders who had ideas but couldn’t execute alone
• The moment Matt realized his “place” was beside visionaries as their right-hand operator

Humility, Vulnerability & Candid Leadership (12:00 – 20:00)

• Why leaders who lack humility get stuck — and humble leaders thrive
• How quarterly reviews reveal blind spots and spark honest conversations
• Why candor + curiosity beat “yes-men” cultures every time

The Toughest Moments (20:00 – 27:00)

• Navigating layoffs during COVID and restructuring a company in crisis
• Why outside perspective helps leaders through their hardest calls
• The difference between leaders who adapt vs. those who spiral

AI, Data & the Future of Work (27:00 – 33:00)

• How small businesses are underusing AI
• Practical ways AI can transform analysis and decision-making
• Why curiosity and adaptability will decide who thrives in the new landscape

Success, Family & Leadership Philosophy (33:00 – 45:00)

• Matt’s three words: Curious, Humble, Playful
• Why family time defines success more than revenue
• The mantra: Stay curious, work hard, be kind

Summary

Matt Haney has built a career on pairing vision with execution. Through Sinclair Ventures, he helps entrepreneurs who’ve outgrown their businesses find structure, leadership, and clarity — without losing their spark. This episode is about more than operations; it’s about humility, vulnerability, and the kind of leadership that invites candor instead of control.

Whether you’re a founder, a second-in-command, or building your career inside a growing company, Matt’s story will shift how you see leadership — and...

Overview

In this episode of Culturally Sound, Chandler Cutler sits down with Essi Monneus, founder of Automatreex LLC, to explore how automation and systems design are quietly reshaping the way modern businesses operate.

A certified project manager with a double master’s in IT and business, Essi has spent over a decade helping companies streamline operations, reclaim time, and scale smarter—not harder. From her early days learning to code after pivoting out of the pharmaceutical industry, to building Automatreex into a trusted optimization partner for startups and enterprises alike, Essi shares how she’s turning everyday bottlenecks into opportunities for transformation.

This episode dives deep into the hidden costs of manual work, the ethical dimensions of automation, and why creating human-centered systems is the real secret to business longevity. If you’re a founder, leader, or team builder looking to free up time and boost impact, this conversation will change the way you think about systems, leadership, and the future of work.

Guest Bio

Essi Monneus is the founder and CEO of Automatreex LLC, an agency specializing in business process optimization and automation. With certifications in PMP, Scrum, Lean Six Sigma, and expert-level mastery of tools like Monday.com, ClickUp, Asana, Make.com, and Zapier, Essi helps companies of all sizes design scalable systems that drive efficiency and growth. A passionate advocate for ethical tech and human-centered automation, Essi brings over 12 years of experience at the intersection of IT, business strategy, and operations. Her mission: help leaders reclaim time, eliminate bottlenecks, and build businesses that run smoothly—without burning out their teams.

Episode Breakdown

– From Africa to Automatreex (00:00 – 10:00)

• Essi’s childhood curiosity about tech

• Moving to the U.S. and pivoting from biotech to software

• Teaching herself to code and building her first applications

– The Rise of Automatreex (10:00 – 25:00)

• How she founded her agency

• Helping clients automate onboarding, invoicing, lead management, and more

• The real-world impact of saving 50% of time and costs

– Automation, Ethics & AI (25:00 – 40:00)

• Why AI is both a massive opportunity and a risk

• The importance of protecting client data and designing secure systems

• How AI agents and automation will reshape small business operations

– Scaling Leadership Through Systems (40:00 – 55:00)

• Why founders need systems before scaling

• How Automatreex matches tech solutions to team needs

• Building a culture of trust, clarity, and shared ownership

– Vision, Legacy & What’s Next (55:00 – 65:00)

• Essi’s upcoming self-led courses for founders

• Why she believes automation is about empowerment, not replacement

• Her personal mantra for leadership and resilience

Summary

Essi Monneus knows that behind every thriving business is a well-designed system. As the founder of Automatreex LLC, she’s on a mission to help leaders stop wasting time on repetitive tasks and start building companies that work with them, not against them. In this episode, Essi shares her journey from self-taught coder to sought-after automation expert, breaking down how ethical, human-centered systems can transform how we lead, collaborate, and grow. If you’re ready to unlock more freedom and scalability in your work, Essi’s insights will leave you inspired and ready to take action.

Relevant Links

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