Brian McRae walked away from a comfortable W-2 job to chase something more fulfilling—control, freedom, and impact. What followed was a leadership journey rooted in service. In this episode, Brian shares how he transitioned from the mortgage world to building a coaching and mastermind business that thrives on authentic relationships.

He didn’t advertise. He didn’t pitch. Instead, he launched a free monthly event focused on giving away practical strategies—like handwritten notes—that made attendees feel seen. Within three years, 60% of his business came through that event, and he never once asked for referrals.

Brian shares the "Ezra Principle"—study, practice, teach—as his guiding framework. He also talks about how building community led to the creation of The Boardroom, a mastermind group for financial professionals looking to lead with heart, not hustle.

His story is a masterclass in leadership through generosity and consistency. If you want to grow by helping others win, this episode is your playbook.

Want to learn more about Brian McRae's work? Check out their website at https://www.briankmcrae.com.

Connect with Brian McRae on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/briankmcrae/.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply at https://podcast.allies4me.com/podcast-guest/.

Want to learn more about Craig Andrew's work at allies4me? Check out his website at https://allies4me.com/.

Kyle Schwarz brings clarity to what leadership really looks like. A U.S. Naval Academy graduate and surface warfare officer, Kyle shares how a blunt rejection from his blue and gold officer nearly derailed his academy ambitions—but ultimately became a catalyst for transformation. He didn't quit. He trained, returned, and earned one of the strongest recommendations in years.

Now with 17 years of leadership experience, including more than a decade in recruiting, Kyle shows how those same principles apply in business. He draws sharp lines between managers and leaders, emphasizing the need for tough conversations, personal accountability, and seeing people as humans—not transactions. His approach at Risus Talent Partners rejects the churn-and-burn model. Instead, it prioritizes connection, fit, and long-term relationships.

Craig and Kyle discuss the dangers of avoiding confrontation, the flaws in transactional thinking, and how real leadership requires self-awareness and emotional intelligence. Kyle doesn’t just talk about leadership—he embodies it.

Want to learn more about Kyle Schwarz’s work? Check out his website at https://risustalent.com.

Connect with Kyle Schwarz on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-t-schwarz/.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply at https://podcast.allies4me.com/podcast-guest/.

Want to learn more about Craig Andrew's work at allies4me? Check out his website at https://allies4me.com/.

Alan Gregerman nearly lost everything after a stroke robbed him of his ability to speak and see. But instead of giving in, he turned that moment into one of his greatest leadership lessons. In this episode, Alan shares how navigating life without communication forced him to rethink how leaders engage, innovate, and lead. Through his recovery, he uncovered deeper truths about humility, clarity, and the need to constantly evolve.

Alan breaks down why most organizations fail at innovation—and how the smartest people in the room may not be the answer. His latest book, The Wisdom of Ignorance, argues that not knowing is often the key to seeing clearly and moving boldly. He introduces his six-part framework for unlocking genius: be purposeful, curious, humble, respectful, future-focused, and yes—just a bit paranoid.

With stories from his own life and business consulting career, Alan makes a compelling case for breaking with expertise, embracing fresh perspectives, and looking outside your industry for inspiration.

Want to learn more about Alan Gregerman's work? Check out their website at https://www.alangregerman.com.

Connect with Alan Gregerman on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/alan-gregerman-a33b236/.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply at https://podcast.allies4me.com/podcast-guest/.

Want to learn more about Craig Andrew's work at allies4me? Check out his website at https://allies4me.com/.

Emily Erstad joins Craig Andrews for a candid conversation about the real heart of leadership—emotional intelligence. A former speech-language pathologist turned hospice leader, Emily shares how leading in high-stakes environments taught her the power of trust, vulnerability, and consistency.

She explains why leadership isn’t about commanding—it’s about partnering. Whether guiding patients through recovery or teams through chaos, Emily leans into emotional truth over cold logic. She emphasizes that great leaders don’t just give direction—they create safety, clarity, and alignment in moments of fear or uncertainty.

Drawing from her book It’s Not That Deep, Emily discusses how her own struggles and leadership pivots helped her shape a human-centric approach to influence and impact. She also reveals how building teams that thrive without her has become her quiet legacy.

Want to learn more about Emily Erstad’s work? Check out her website at https://eepublicationsllc.wixsite.com/ee-publications.

Connect with Emily Erstad on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-erstad-m-a-ccc-slp-381346135/.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply at https://podcast.allies4me.com/podcast-guest/.

Want to learn more about Craig Andrew's work at allies4me? Check out his website at https://allies4me.com/.

Lee Pepper brings battlefield-tested leadership into the boardroom. In this episode, Lee breaks down how military strategies—some dating back to the Romans—can drive success in today’s marketing and business landscape. Drawing from his Army background, time at Fort Knox, and career in behavioral healthcare marketing, Lee explains how setting clear intent and empowering teams to execute leads to superior outcomes.

He makes the case for clarity over control and strategy over tactics. Citing leaders like Patton, Schwarzkopf, and Ross Perot, Lee calls out the real enemy: indecision. Whether in combat or campaign strategy, action wins. Leadership isn’t about managing from a spreadsheet—it’s about removing barriers and letting your people attack the mission.

Lee also dives into how old-school intelligence gathering—listening to 10,000+ sales calls—has given him insights that most companies miss. His advice is simple and sharp: stop micromanaging, start trusting, and use history as your manual.

Want to learn more about Lee Pepper's work? Check out their website at https://www.NeverOutmatchedBook.com.

Connect with Lee Pepper on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/leepepper/.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply at https://podcast.allies4me.com/podcast-guest/.

Want to learn more about Craig Andrew's work at allies4me? Check out his website at https://allies4me.com/.

Stan Sukhinin knows what it’s like to rebuild from scratch. After a meteoric rise in Eastern Europe’s finance world—managing a $450M mezzanine loan portfolio—he moved to New York to launch a hedge fund. It didn’t survive the pandemic. What did survive? His ability to spot financial blind spots and fix them fast.

Now, as founder of The Sorso, Stan serves as a fractional CFO for outpatient clinics across the U.S. He combines deep financial rigor with AI-powered forecasting to help healthcare providers operate with precision. In this episode, Stan breaks down the unique challenges in the outpatient clinic model—especially the widespread misreporting of revenue due to insurance reimbursement complexity.

He shares why many seemingly healthy businesses collapse overnight, and how bad debt, shallow risk planning, and poor scenario modeling are usually to blame. For clinic owners and business leaders alike, Stan offers practical insight into financial structure, AI use cases, and creating stability in volatile times.

Want to learn more about Stan Sukhinin's work? Check out their website at https://www.thesorso.com.

Connect with Stan Sukhinin on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/stan-sukhinin/.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply at https://podcast.allies4me.com/podcast-guest/.

Want to learn more about Craig Andrew's work at allies4me? Check out his website at https://allies4me.com/.

Hark Herold brings three decades of military precision to the entrepreneurial world. As a retired U.S. Air Force colonel turned EOS implementer, Hark shares how his leadership experience in high-stakes environments—from serving in Desert Storm to overseeing base recovery during rocket attacks in Iraq—shaped his approach to business.

Now, he empowers small and medium-sized businesses to build clarity, cohesion, and execution with the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS). In this episode, Hark explains why leadership alignment is non-negotiable, how ego can cripple growth, and what it means to have the “right people in the right seats.” He also highlights resources available for veteran-owned businesses and shares why coaching is essential, even when all the tools are already at your fingertips.

Want to learn more about Hark Herold's work? Check out their website at https://www.eosworldwide.com/hark-herold.

Connect with Hark Herold on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/joeharkherold/.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply at https://podcast.allies4me.com/podcast-guest/.

Want to learn more about Craig Andrew's work at allies4me? Check out his website at https://allies4me.com/.

Hillary Gale didn’t just pivot careers—she rewrote the script entirely. A former college writing teacher, she stepped away from academia, launched a one-woman marketing firm, and then discovered she was pregnant—all within days. With nine months on the clock, she had to lead fast, build smart, and carve out space for maternity leave while launching Moneta Copy.

In this episode, Hillary breaks down how strong writing skills are foundational to leadership. She challenges the myth that good writing must follow rigid rules, arguing instead for authenticity, emotion, and real connection. Craig and Hillary dig into what makes content persuasive, how AI is changing the writing landscape, and why personal voice still matters.

Her story is a lesson in resilience and resourcefulness. She didn’t wait for permission to lead—she made the deadline non-negotiable. If you’re a business owner relying on stale content and ChatGPT shortcuts, this conversation will remind you that powerful words—and clear leadership—still win.

Want to learn more about Hillary Gale's work? Check out her website at https://monetacopy.com.

Connect with Hillary Gale on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/hillary-meehan/.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply at https://podcast.allies4me.com/podcast-guest/.

Want to learn more about Craig Andrew's work at allies4me? Check out his website at https://allies4me.com/.