NYT bestselling author Shaka Senghor talks with Derek Champagne about his personal story and his powerful new book, How to Be Free: A Proven Guide to Escaping Life’s Hidden Prisons.

"I love this book—because it teaches you how to manifest freedom in your own life and how that work allows you to rise to your greatest glory." —Oprah Winfrey, The Oprah Podcast

After 19 years in prison—7 of them in solitary—Shaka emerged not just with a story, but with a methodology. In this book, he distills the inner work that helped him survive, heal, and grow into practical tools that anyone can apply to their own life.

Because not all prisons have bars. We all live inside systems, stories, and cycles that can hold us back—doubt, fear, disconnection. And for men in particular, a flawed definition of manhood—emotional suppression, isolation, performative strength—can quietly destroy us. Shaka challenges that directly and offers a radically honest path to healing, self-trust, and real leadership.

Each chapter blends hard-won wisdom with actionable steps (including “Keys to” sections at the end of each chapter that offer concrete, practical guidance), perfect for readers hungry for a path that’s real, not performative. Shaka’s work has been praised by figures ranging from Oprah to Ben Horowitz, and he’s regularly sought after by CEOs and changemakers for his insights on leadership, trust, and mindset.

Business Leadership Series Intro and Outro music provided by Just Off Turner: https://music.apple.com/za/album/the-long-walk-back/268386576

Derek Champagne talks with Terry Healey, author of The Resilience Mindset: How Adversity Can Strengthen, Individuals, Teams, & Leaders.

A survivor of a permanent facial difference and life-threatening cancer, Terry Healey is an
author, keynote speaker, and business strategist. Healey challenges audiences to face their
adversities and apply his framework of four key principles to gain confidence, build resilience,
and find joy in their personal and professional lives.

Having endured more than thirty surgical procedures to reconstruct his face while in his early
twenties, Healey discovered tools that could help him transform his changed life. He shares
ways to take control, overcome challenges, build trust and teams, embrace change, and learn
the value of acceptance and tolerance. He views the lessons he learned as gifts, and believes
his greatest reward is being able to teach others how to overcome any kind of adversity and
celebrate life.

His experience led him to a successful thirty-five-year career as a high-tech sales and marketing
executive, including being on the founding team of a company that had a successful initial
public offering. His popular programs are presented to healthcare organizations, corporations,
educational institutions, associations, and nonprofits nationwide. They include Cisco Systems,
Inc., Charles Schwab, the University of California Berkeley football team, Santa Clara University,
Ligand Pharmaceuticals, Genomic Health, Perkin Elmer, Stanford University, UC San Francisco,
Kaiser Permanente, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Greater Baltimore Medical Center,
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and many others.

A graduate of UC Berkeley, Healey is the author of The Resilience Mindset: How Adversity Can
Strengthen Individuals, Teams, and Leaders [September 2025], and his previous title, At Face
Value: My Triumph over a Disfiguring Cancer, and is a contributing author to Open My Eyes,
Open My Soul: Celebrating Our Common Humanity; Make Your Own Miracle: Surviving
Cancer, an Anthology; and Reading Lips and Other Ways to Overcome a Disability.

His work has appeared in Psychology Today, Metro UK, The San Francisco Chronicle,
Guideposts, NurseWeek, U.S. News and World Report, Sales and Marketing Magazine, Coping
and CURE Today. He has appeared on dozens of national and local TV networks and has been
interviewed on more than seventy-five radio stations across the U.S. and Canada.

Order a copy of The Resiliance Mindset here: https://terryhealey.com/product/the-resilience-mindset/

Business Leadership Series Intro and Outro music provided by Just Off Turner: https://music.apple.com/za/album/the-long-walk-back/268386576

Derek interviews NY Times best selling author, Brian Moran.

Brian Moran has over thirty years of expertise as a CEO, corporate executive, entrepreneur, consultant and coach. His background as a corporate executive combined with his experience as an entrepreneur positions him with a unique skill set to help individuals and organizations grow and prosper.
Brian’s corporate experience includes management and executive positions with UPS, PepsiCo, and Northern Automotive. As an entrepreneur he has personally launched and led successful businesses and been instrumental in the success of many others. In addition, he has consulted for dozens of world-class companies including Coldwell Banker, Mass Mutual, Medtronic, New York Life, and Tiffany & Co.

Brian is a recognized expert in the field of leadership and execution. His realization that most people don’t lack ideas but struggle with effective implementation led him to the development of The 12 Week Year. In addition to his books, Brian has been published in many of the leading business journals and magazines. He is a sought after speaker, educating and inspiring thousands each year.

He is a visionary with a passion for helping others go beyond what they think they are capable of and achieve more than they ever thought possible. His greatest strength might be his ability to take success principles and strategies and help others apply them in a way that is powerful and effective, and gets results.

Learn more at: https://12weekyear.com/

Business Leadership Series Intro and Outro music provided by Just Off Turner: https://music.apple.com/za/album/the-long-walk-back/268386576

In this episode Derek talks with Melissa Proctor, Executive Vice President & CMO of the Atlanta Hawks. Melissa, the author of the book “From Ball Girl to CMO”, shares her inspiring personal story and recipes for ongoing success.

Biography
Melissa Proctor began her NBA experience in highschool as the first ball girl for the Miami Heat. After highschool, she attended Wake Forest University where she got her Bachelor’s degree in communications and her masters degree in design studies/branding from Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design at The London Institute. After obtaining her degree, she went on to work for Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. serving in senior brand development and strategy leadership positions. Proctor was with Turner for 9 years before moving on to the Atlanta Hawks as VP of brand strategy. She quickly made her way up and is now the executive vice president and chief marketing officer.

Order Melissa’s new book here: https://melissamproctor.com/

Business Leadership Series Intro and Outro music provided by Just Off Turner: https://music.apple.com/za/album/the-long-walk-back/268386576

Derek Champagne sits down for a special conversation with his dear friend, Charles Kochel. Charles is a husband, father, entrepreneur, and author.

Charles is also the CEO of Infinity Blue, North America, a borderless e-commerce agency helping brands engage with new customers on multiple platforms and continents.

Charles talks with us about business, life…and cancer.

Charles new must-read book is More: A Mindful Guide To Intentional Living

In More, Charles Kochel presents a heartfelt exploration of what truly matters in life: spirituality, health, relationships, time, and freedom. This book is not about imparting absolute truths but rather about encouraging readers to embark on their own unique journeys toward fulfillment.

Through personal stories and valuable lessons, Kochel invites you to reflect on your path, recognize your potential, and embrace the richness of life. With an emphasis on mindfulness and intentionality, More serves as a guide to inspire you to live fully, love deeply, and discover the beauty in every moment. Join Kochel on this transformative journey and empower yourself to do more and be better.

Order a copy of Charle’s book at https://kochelhill.com/

Business Leadership Series Intro and Outro music provided by Just Off Turner: https://music.apple.com/za/album/the-long-walk-back/268386576

Derek Champagne interviews Quang X. Pham.

Quang is a biotech executive, war veteran, author, speaker, and community leader with a remarkable journey shaped by resilience, service, and entrepreneurship. He made history as the first Vietnamese American to earn naval aviator wings in the Marine Corps and lead an initial public offering (IPO) on Nasdaq.

His inspiring American underdog journey, told in first person, is unlike any other. Born in Saigon, South Vietnam, Quang and his family fled as refugees when he was 10, while his father, a Republic of Vietnam Air Force pilot,

remained and was imprisoned for more than a decade.

After earning a degree from UCLA, Quang served seven years on active duty, flying CH-46 helicopters in the Persian Gulf War, Somalia, and the Reserves. Following his military career, Quang transitioned into business, founding multiple pharmaceutical companies. In 2000, he launched MyDrugRep.com (which became Lathian

Systems), an innovative online platform for physician marketing engagements, which was later acquired. In 2015, he founded Espero Pharmaceuticals and Jacksonville Pharmaceuticals. His leadership and entrepreneurial success earned him the Florida EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2018. Today Quang serves as Chairman and CEO, Cadrenal Therapeutics (Nasdaq: CVKD).

Quang is also the author of the award-winning father-son memoir, A Sense of Duty: Our Journey from Vietnam (Penguin Random House), and his new book, Underdog Nation: Zero In on Effort and Results for Success (Forbes Books).Committed to giving back, Quang has served on the boards of private companies, veteran

charities and educational organizations. He lives in Florida with his family, continuing to

lead and inspire.

Order Quang's new book here: https://quangxpham.com/books/

Business Leadership Series Intro and Outro music provided by Just Off Turner: https://music.apple.com/za/album/the-long-walk-back/268386576

Derek talks with Brett Goode, former AR Razorback and Superbowl XLV champion with the Green Bay Packers. Brett shares his unique story from being in the right place at the right time, walking on to the Razorbacks without a scholarship, his over decade long career in the NFL, the experience of winning a Super Bowl, transitioning after sports, and the lessons he's learned along the way.

Derek talks with guest Verne Harnish, founder of the world-renowned Entrepreneurs'​ Organization (EO) and author of the best-selling book “Scaling Up”, about including his family in his business, building anti-fragile children and companies, and what’s new for Scaling Up.

Verne Harnish is the founder of the world-renowned Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO), with over 14,000 members worldwide, and chaired for fifteen years EO’s premiere CEO program, the “Birthing of Giants” held at MIT, a program in which he still teaches today.

Founder and CEO of Gazelles, a global executive education and coaching company with over 200 partners on six continents, Verne has spent the past three decades helping companies scaleup.

The “Growth Guy” syndicated columnist, he’s also the Venture columnist for FORTUNE magazine. He chairs the bi-annual ScaleUp Summits in collaboration with Bloomberg LIVE.

He’s the author of the bestseller Mastering the Rockefeller Habits which is translated into 9 languages; and along with the editors of Fortune, authored The Greatest Business Decisions of All Times” for which Jim Collins wrote the foreword. His latest book Scaling Up (Rockefeller Habits 2.0) has won eight major international book awards including the prestigious International Book Award for Best General Business book.

Verne serves on several boards including chairman of The Riordan Clinic and the newly launched Geoversity. A private investor in many scaleups, Verne enjoys piano, tennis, and magic as a card-carrying member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians.

Learn more at https://scalingup.com/