The Culture Matters Podcast

“The way people behave is a reflection of what leaders tolerate.” — John C. Maxwell

What if the biggest problem in sales isn’t the product… but the experience?

In this episode, Jay sits down with Drew Pearlman, a lifelong operator in the automotive industry who has built winning cultures in one of the most high-pressure environments in business.

From starting on a car lot at 14 years old to leading top-performing dealerships, Drew sha...

"Out of every 100 men, 10 of them should not be there. 80 are nothing but targets. Nine of them are real fighters and we are lucky to have them for they make the battle. Ah, but one, one is a warrior and he will bring the others back."

Back again like we never left, we have the founder of Arena Securities and co-host of our ongoing Value Investor Series, Aleck Arena, and if you are in to investing, conversations ...

"When you are finished changing, you are finished." - Benjamin Franklin

Everybody's favorite mortgage expert, leader of the Bill Mervin Mortgage Team, and frequent guest here on The Culture Matters Podcast Bill Mervin is back on the program again and we're looking forward to another fantastic round of conversation with the man himself.  On today's episode, Bill and Jay are diving deep on a myriad o...

"Anyone who wants to learn the human psyche will learn next to nothing from experimental psychology He would be better advised to abandon exact science, put away his scholar's gown, bid farewell to his study, and wander with human heart throughout the world. There, in the horrors of prisons, lunatic asylums, in drab suburban hubs, brothels, and gambling halls; in the salons of the elegant, the stock exchanges, socialist m...

"You can't think yourself out of writing block. You have to write yourself out of a thinking block."

Our guest today the Chief Marketing Officer of Paramount Residential Mortgage Group and a frequent contributor on the show, Paul Lucido, and we've got him back for yet another conversation surrounding our very own Jay Doran's work, Thirty Days of Thought.  The discussion for this episode is based ar...

"If you want to make a lot of money, solve big problems." - Elon Musk

Our guest today is an early supporter Culture Matters and Senior Loan Officer with NJ Lenders Corp., Jeff Winick, and we're very excited to have him back for his sophomore appearance on the show.  There is a lot to cover in this episode, so buckle up and get ready to ride!  Jeff and Jay are unpacking the power of focus and how concentratin...

"When Zarathustra was 30 years old, he left his home and lake of his home, and went into the mountains. Here, he had the enjoyment of his spirit and his solitude and he did not weary of it for 10 years. But at least, his heart turned and one morning he rose with the dawn, stepped before the sun, and spoke to it thus: Great star! What would your happiness be if you had not those for whom you shine? You have come up here to my c...

What if everything you’ve been told about AI is wrong?

In this thought-provoking episode, Jay sits down with Scott Schang to explore a perspective far deeper than tools, automation, or productivity. This is a conversation about a paradigm shift—a true renaissance.

Drawing inspiration from Nikola Tesla’s vision of a connected world, Scott reframes AI not as a replacement for human intelligence, but as a mirror for it. A collaborator. ...

What if everything in your business comes down to one thing: incentives?

In this episode of the Culture Matters Podcast, Jay Doran sits down with Nick Brignola, Chief Financial Officer of Informative, for a powerful conversation on leadership, culture, compliance, and the hidden forces that drive behavior inside organizations.

Starting with a quote from Charlie Munger—“Show me the incentive and I will show you the outcome”—Nick break...

What does it actually take to build something meaningful—and is it worth it?

In this episode of the Culture Matters Podcast, Jay Doran sits down with returning guest Mark Perkins, founder of Pivot Realty and creator of the Are You Worth It? Conference, for a powerful and honest conversation on entrepreneurship, execution, and what separates those who grow from those who stay stuck.

Mark shares lessons from nearly two decades of build...

In this episode of the Culture Matters Podcast, Jay Doran sits down with Doug Bertram, founder and CEO of Structural Elements, for a deeply thoughtful conversation on the body, stress, healing, performance, and what it really means to create health before crisis ever arrives.

Doug shares his unique journey from psychology and manual therapy into traditional Chinese medicine, systems thinking, and the creation of Structural Elements ...

In this episode of the Culture Matters Podcast, Jay Doran sits down with Jay Stoll, founder of All Things Retirement Group, for a powerful conversation about reinvention, discipline, service, and purpose.

All Things Retirement Group operates within the ecosystem of All Things Insurance Group, founded by longtime friend of the Culture Matters Podcast and frequent guest, Pete Fournier.

Jay Stoll shares his incredible journey from servi...

"Nothing captures human interest more than human tragedy." - Dan Brown

Host of "The Relief Podcast", author of How to Get Your Life Back, and founder of Real Estate Relief Demetri Stakias is joining us once again for a second round of "Tales of Giving".  The conversation got started before anyone hit record, but as all of our loyal listeners know, we're always interested in the space betw...

"There are, first of all, two kinds of authors: those who write for the subject's sake and those who write for writing's sake. The truth is, that when an author begins to write for the sake of covering paper, he is cheating the reader because he writes under the pretext that he has something to say." - Arthur Schopenhauer

Today, on The Culture Matters Podcast, we are back with Thirty Days of Thought featuring our...

"It's hard, it's hard to be consistent in anything and that's why so few people can do it successfully. But when you do, when you are consistent in whatever goal you're trying to get to, typically you get the results you want."

Scotsman Guide Top 500 in the Country Loan Officer, Mortgage Executive Magazine Top One Percent Mortgage Originator, Philadelphia Magazine Five Star Mortgage Professional Award r...

Episode 21 marks Part 1 of a reflection on the impact of the 2025 NYE Lollapalooza series.

In this episode, Jay begins revisiting select words of the year shared by guests throughout the Lollapalooza, unpacking what those words represent and why they mattered — not only to the individuals who shared them, but to the broader Culture Matters community.

Rather than recapping conversations, this episode focuses on patterns: the themes th...

2025 NYE Lollapalooza Episode 20: The Impact This Series Has Made

Episode 20 serves as the reflection point of the 2025 NYE Lollapalooza, a moment to pause, look back, and name the impact this series has already had.

In this episode, Jay Doran discusses why the Lollapalooza exists in the first place, how it has evolved year over year, and what happens when long-form, values-driven conversations are given space to breathe. Rather than...

Jay Doran’s Word for 2026: LOVE

In Episode 19, Jay Doran closes the NYE Lollapalooza series by sharing his personal word for 2026: LOVE — and redefining it far beyond how the word is commonly used.

This episode is not about romance alone, and it’s not about sentiment. It’s about love as a discipline, a standard, and a responsibility.

Jay breaks down what love actually looks like when it’s lived out:

• In partnership 
• In leadership and...

In Episode 18, Jay Doran and Jenna Silverman step back and reflect on the full scope of the NYE Lollapalooza — a day-long series of conversations designed to help people close one year with intention and step into the next with clarity.

Jenna, who joined as co-host for the final stretch of the day, brings a fresh lens to the recap as they unpack the patterns, themes, and through-lines that emerged across the episodes. Together, they...