Outside Insights
Outside Insights with Chris Burkhard is a podcast for people who want more — more clarity, more purpose, more impact. Hosted by entrepreneur and lifelong learner Chris Burkhard, the show explores how bold leaders, builders, and thinkers close the gap between the life they have and the life they want. Through honest conversations and powerful stories, we unpack the lessons that shape real lives and careers. If you're looking for ideas that challenge you, motivate you, and help you grow, you’re in the right place. 🎙️ New episodes drop once a month. 🌐 Listen at myplacers.com/outside-insights 📩 Follow for fresh insights that meet you where you are, and push you further.
Episodes
Why slowing down, listening better, and taking the long way still matters
I sat down with Jeff Ton expecting a conversation about leadership and history. What I didn’t expect was how much we’d end up talking about attention, where we place it, how rarely we slow down, and what happens when we actually do.
Jeff calls himself a “hippie coder turned CIO,” and that range alone tells you he’s lived in very different worlds. ...
I had the opportunity to sit down with Sam Maddula, a founder whose career does not fit a clean headline. What stood out immediately wasn’t the size of the business he built, but the decisions he made along the way, and the ones he chose not to make.
This conversation isn’t about hacks or hypergrowth. It’s about judgment, timing, and the quiet moments when leaders realize the path forward isn’t obvious.
A Business ...
I had the honor of hosting a long-time mentor and friend, Robert Larson, CPC. Bob’s journey is one I’ve followed since the start of my first business, and he even inspired my own early yoga practice by bringing his personal interests into the workplace.
The episode is less about business growth and more about personal resilience and the powerful difference between working on your business versus in it; and ultimately, ...
Welcome back Marnie Stockman, Ed.D. and Nick Coniglio, authors of the phenomenal new book, The Business of You.
This episode provides a complete methodology for anyone doing the “right things” (good grades, internships, etc.) but still struggling to stand out or land the job they actually want. It's time to stop letting the world define your value and start defining it yourself.
The traditional career ladder is obs...
I’ve wanted Ari Weinzweig on the show for a long time. If you don’t know Ari, he co-founded Zingerman’s in Ann Arbor and helped grow a single deli into a whole community of businesses including a bakehouse, coffee shop, candy store, ZingTrain, and more, without losing soul. That’s rare.
We cover a lot, but here are the big beats, human-sized:
From Dishes to Direction
Ari didn’t plan a career in food. He connected with gr...
This week on Outside Insights, I sat down with my good friend John Sanders, founder of Bridgeforce, to talk about what it really takes to build a business that endures.
John’s story isn’t about quick wins or flashy exits. Over the past 25 years, he and his partner have built a management consultancy serving global banks, credit unions, fintechs, and lenders — staying true to the values they set on day one.
The Leap of F...
How business coach Nikhil Paul helps companies grow by going narrow, not wide
Most business owners think scaling means reaching more people.
Nikhil Paul says it’s the opposite.
In this week’s Outside Insights, my longtime friend and small business growth coach shares why the fastest path to growth is going narrow, not wide—and how identifying your cult customer can transform your business.
“You don’t need...
“It didn’t ruin anything. This was the most incredible memory — one I’ll take to my deathbed that can never be taken away.” — Rose Willard
What would it take to step away from a life that looks successful — but no longer feels like your own?
In Episode 63 of Outside Insights, I talk with Rose and Glynn Willard — entrepreneurs, parents, adventurers, and creators of Reset Your Journey. After ...
In this week’s episode of Outside Insights, I sit down with longtime friend, entrepreneur, and mechanical engineer turned CEO, Tom Embley—and he tells the kind of founder story we rarely get to hear in full.
From his earliest days as employee #1 at a small industrial startup to founding a direct competitor, merging businesses, buying out partners, and ultimately selling to a global player, Tom’s path is one of grit, st...
What it really takes to grow into the leader you're meant to be—on your terms, over time, and from the inside out.
As we head into the July 4th holiday, a time when we reflect on freedom, progress, and reinvention, it feels fitting to bring you this powerful new episode with Dr. Bryan Deptula, leadership expert and author of Leaders Are Born to Be Made.
Bryan is one of the most grounded, engaging, and purpose-drive...
This week’s episode of Outside Insights is a special one.
I had the opportunity to sit down with Peter Samuelson, film producer, philanthropist, and now, the author of Finding Happy: A User’s Guide to Your Life with Lessons from Mine. Before our conversation, I had a chance to read an early copy of the book (officially released June 10), and I couldn’t put it down. It’s heartfelt, funny, profound, and filled with stori...
Are You a Farmer or a Fisherman? A New Take on Purpose at Work
What if the secret to long-term success wasn’t the hustle, but the harvest?
This week on Outside Insights, I’m joined by Jonathan Stanley—purpose strategist, author of Purposeful Performance, and surprise TikTok star with a viral story that proves empathy still wins in business (and in bookstores).
We talk about what it really means to lead with purpose—from ...
What Happens When You Stop Chasing and Start Serving?
In Episode 58 of Outside Insights, I sit down with one of the most influential voices in business and leadership—Bob Burg, bestselling co-author of The Go-Giver.
We dive deep into what makes success sustainable, meaningful, and surprisingly simple: giving value first. Bob shares the origin story of the book, how 24 rejections led to a global bestseller, and why “mone...
This week on Outside Insights, I sit down with Dr. Wes Bowman — a man whose path was anything but linear. Labeled in grade school. Flunked out of college — three times. Built a successful practice by learning to turn shame and failure into the fuel for a meaningful life.
Wes is a career psychologist, the Director of the Delaware Family Center, and someone who’s spent decades helping people reframe their reality — and f...
“For an entrepreneur to be successful, you need the strength of family and support from home. The family strength is not just the immediate family; it’s a higher power, a higher calling. For us to be successful, I had to have that sense of purpose.” — Andrew Cottone
What does it take to turn scientific expertise into a thriving business? In this episode of Outside Insights, host Chris Burk...
Have you ever wondered what IT services and barbecue have in common? There’s more overlap than you might expect! In this episode of Outside Insights, I talked with Jake Ruddy, the President of PCS, a leading IT services company. He is also the creative force behind Rum and Cook, a rapidly growing YouTube channel dedicated to barbecue.
Jakes’s journey focuses on building, scaling, and leading businesses while enjoying s...
In this episode of Outside Insights, I sit down with Raymond Lee, founder of Careerminds, to explore his inspiring journey from HR professional to building a global virtual outplacement company. Starting his business during the 2008 recession, Raymond shares how he pivoted, embraced innovation, and ultimately scaled and sold the company—all while continuing to lead it.
We discuss the challenges of entrepreneurship, lik...
What does it take to lead with purpose and create meaningful impact in your community? Is it resilience, creativity, or perhaps the ability to connect with others in unexpected ways?
In the latest episode of Outside Insights, I sat down with Colleen Davis, Delaware’s State Treasurer, to uncover her journey from a small-town childhood to managing billions in state investments. Colleen’s path is anything but conventional...
What does it take to build a life or career you’re proud of? Is it grit, a strong network, or maybe just a willingness to admit you don’t have all the answers? In the latest episode of Outside Insights, I sat down with Mark Doughty, founder of Looper Consulting. Mark assists leaders in making informed decisions, refining strategies, and developing leadership skills.
During our discussion, we delved into the u...
What if the key to success isn’t about what you achieve, but how much you give back?
In this week’s episode of Outside Insights, I sat down with Mike Smith, a public servant whose inspiring journey proves that leadership is rooted in service.
Currently serving in Delaware’s House of Representatives for the 22nd district, Mike’s approach resonated with me on a deep level. We both believe that true l...
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