Tired of being the smartest person in the room? In this episode we break open a better path: become the conductor who assembles and orchestrates a circle of genius. Drawing on the Renaissance playbook of Lorenzo de Medici and the realities of modern boardrooms, we show how curated, cross‑disciplinary advisors can change the trajectory of a business faster than any internal meeting ever will.

Some topics covered are:

• Why you shouldn't be the smartest person in the room
• Lessons from a Medici fresco on leadership
• Curating cross-disciplinary advisory boards
• The cost (and value) of surrounding yourself with genius
• Moving from ego to orchestration
• How intention builds confidence
• Making board meetings energizing, not boring
• When and how to build a mastermind or board
• And more...

Deals don’t fall apart because of numbers. They fall apart because people feel unheard, cornered, or disrespected. In this episode we pull lessons from a Congo standoff and a mafia sit-down to show how hostage negotiation tactics translate into everyday business. We share practical tools—framing, mirroring, humor, and tone—to keep deals calm, human, and effective.

Some topics covered are:

• Surviving a real-life hostage scenario in the Congo
• Navigating a tense property deal with mafia connections
• Why negotiation is more emotional than logical
• How to read the room and de-escalate tension
• Lessons from Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss
• Using humor, tone, and body language to shift conversations
• When to choose Zoom, phone, or in-person for hard talks
• Framing and anchoring techniques for better outcomes
• And more...

What if the real test of your success isn’t just the health of your company, but the health of your city? In this episode, we challenge business owners to think beyond the balance sheet and take responsibility in the civic arena. From a Medici fresco to modern coalitions, we lay out a practical path to be political in the classical sense: serving the common good with humility and patience.

Some topics covered are:

• Why business owners should be political
• The original meaning of “politics”
• Lessons from Lorenzo de' Medici
• Blending business, faith, and city impact
• 3 key questions to guide civic action
• Leading through collaboration
• Humility and patience in change-making
• Civic impact as part of your brand
• And more...