Leaders & Legacies

Jack Cohen, CEO of Dark Knight Ventures, joins Craig Andrews to explore the leadership tools that shaped his 40+ year career in commercial real estate and finance. In this episode, Jack breaks down the principles from his book, The Freedom Frameworks, revealing how practical tools—not empty platitudes—help leaders accelerate growth and stay grounded.

Jack shares his philosophy: great leaders acquire skills, accumulate experiences, a...

Ken Cox doesn’t just talk about leadership—he builds systems that enable it. In this episode, Ken shares how a turbulent upbringing and early tech exposure shaped his leadership style. From hanging around small-town entrepreneurs to diving into the early days of the internet, Ken turned challenges into fuel. He opens up about his dyslexia and how technology gave him a voice, eventually becoming a champion for small businesses and d...

Steve Duddy doesn’t just lead companies—he shapes cultures, mentors future leaders, and makes bold moves under pressure. In this episode, he shares hard-earned leadership lessons from the operating room to the boardroom. From his early days in medical device sales to running multimillion-dollar divisions, Steve reveals how leadership is less about credentials and more about people.

He discusses how real leadership happens in uncerta...

Devan Gonzalez didn’t stumble into leadership—he forged it in the fire of martial arts mats and business mistakes. In this episode, Devan unpacks how discipline, mindset, and purposeful mentorship shaped his journey from teen instructor to fitness franchise founder. He shares what most leaders miss: showing up beats motivation every time. Leadership isn’t about knowing everything—it’s about building systems so others don’t need you...

Leadership isn’t about titles—it’s about impact. In this episode of Leaders and Legacies, Craig Andrews sits down with Ritavan, founder of Bavarian Tiger Ventures and author of Data Impact, to break down the principles of high-performance leadership.

Ritavan shares why blindly following best practices leads to failure and how first principles thinking drives real success. Drawing lessons from Napoleon’s military strategy, he explain...

Leadership isn’t about maintaining the status quo—it’s about seeing problems, rallying people, and creating solutions. In this episode, Lester Morales, founder and CEO of Next Impact, exposes the broken incentives in healthcare and how business leaders can take control.

Lester shares how his family’s devastating financial struggle with medical bills ignited his passion for fixing the system. He explains why healthcare isn’t "broken"...

Leadership isn’t about doing more—it’s about doing the right things. In this episode, James Robbins, leadership expert and author of Nine Minutes on Monday, breaks down the simple yet powerful leadership strategies that deliver the biggest impact. He explains why most leaders waste time on low-value tasks and how focusing on key engagement drivers—autonomy, recognition, challenge, and purpose—can transform teams.

James shares insigh...

Leadership isn’t about making noise—it’s about making an impact. In this episode of Leaders and Legacies, host Craig Andrews talks with Dennis Meador, founder of the Legal Podcast Network. Meador’s leadership journey started early, from hustling in sales as a teenager to scaling businesses to multi-million-dollar success.

Meador shares why authenticity is the ultimate leadership tool—especially in marketing. His approach? Cut the fl...

Leadership isn’t just about titles—it’s about relationships. In this episode of Leaders and Legacies, Michael Morgan shares how networking has been the cornerstone of his career. From his early days at Penn State to leadership roles at major corporations, Morgan reveals how strategic connections opened doors, accelerated his growth, and helped him navigate career moves across the country.

He breaks down the myth that networking is p...

Great leaders aren’t just visionaries—they’re persuasive communicators. In this episode of Leaders and Legacies, Scott Nichols, CEO of Velocity Pitch Decks, shares how leadership and storytelling intersect in the high-stakes world of venture capital pitches.

Scott emphasizes the importance of clarity and confidence when presenting ideas, whether to investors, customers, or internal stakeholders. He draws parallels between pitching a...

Scott Morris, former police officer, actor, and now CEO of PropulsionAI, joins Leaders and Legacies to share powerful insights on leadership, trust, and transformation. He dives into the critical distinction between “fit” and “fitting in” and explains why trust is the foundation of any successful team.

Morris believes HR is broken—not because of people, but because of a mindset that prioritizes compliance over productivity. He argue...

Kevin Wilkins built a successful corporate career with Fortune 100 companies like Procter & Gamble and Fidelity Investments. But when he sold his company and moved to New Orleans, he faced an identity crisis—no more corporate brand, no predefined path. He had to redefine leadership for himself.

Wilkins discovered that true leadership isn’t about titles or company logos. It’s about people, culture, and impact. He founded Trepwise...

Albert Ramos joins the "Leaders and Legacies" podcast to unpack transformative leadership strategies. Through personal anecdotes and professional insights, Albert shares how authenticity, vulnerability, and embracing failure shape impactful leaders. He highlights the critical role of mental health, recounting his personal challenges and the importance of seeking support. Albert also explores the power of AI in leadership, explainin...

Kerim Kfuri is the CEO of the Atlas Network and an expert in global supply chain management. From his roots in Baltimore to his work with Damon John's CEO Access Program, Kerim emphasizes the importance of education, tone at the top, and adaptability in leadership.

Kerim discusses the complexities of supply chains, their global interdependencies, and how they reflect broader leadership challenges. He underscores the critical role of...

Anthony Franco is the founder of Launch Partners and a serial entrepreneur with six successful ventures across various industries. Franco shares his insights on the trials and triumphs of entrepreneurship, including the delicate art of delegation and the necessity of simplifying messaging to connect with audiences.

Franco delves into the challenges founders face, such as overcoming ego and staying connected to the operational intric...

Teresa Wagonseller discusses how effective leadership empowers teams to thrive, even in the absence of their leader. Both Craig and Teresa share personal experiences of stepping away from work unexpectedly due to medical emergencies, revealing how their teams upheld business operations without skipping a beat. Teresa credits her leadership approach—mentoring, fostering trust, and implementing strong systems—as the key to her team's...

Damon Lembi shares powerful insights on how great leaders prioritize continuous learning, foster curiosity, and create environments where failure becomes a stepping stone to success. He emphasizes the critical role of empowering teams, allowing space for mistakes, and modeling the behaviors leaders expect from their teams.

The conversation delves into the thin margins that separate good leaders from great ones, highlighting the ment...

Jeff Panik shares his journey from overcoming a childhood stutter to building a mission-driven business. His passion for financial literacy is evident as he discusses teaching kids the basics of managing money and helping business owners plan for sustainable futures.

Jeff emphasizes the importance of succession planning and creating businesses that thrive without their owners. He shares actionable advice on avoiding common pitfalls ...

Ken Rusk, the bestselling author of Blue Collar Cash and founder of Rusk Industries, shares profound insights on leadership, entrepreneurship, and designing a fulfilling life. He challenges the conventional narrative of sacrificing the present for a better tomorrow, advocating instead for building a clear life vision and living proactively. Ken emphasizes the importance of creating autonomy for employees, encouraging them to work f...