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 every other week. 🌐 Listen at myplacers.com/outside-insights 📩 Follow for fresh insights that meet you where you are — and push you further.
Episodes
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...
In life, there are assets and liabilities. An asset is a resource that brings value to others and a liability, on the other hand, is a responsibility or obligation. When it comes to your job, the question is simple: would you rather be an asset or a liability?
We all strive to be assets! But let’s acknowledge that no one is an asset 100% of the time—and that’s okay. There are moments when o...
On the latest episode of Outside Insights, I had the pleasure of speaking with Sheila Bravo, president and CEO of DANA (Delaware Alliance for Nonprofit Advancement). Sheila’s career journey—from corporate marketing with brands like Vlasic Pickles and Godiva to nonprofit leadership—is all about adaptability, purpose, and lifelong learning. Her story holds valuable lessons for anyone, no matter their field. If you’re se...
Our daily choices craft your life’s story — what will today’s chapter be?
I have a long list of goals, life ambitions, projects, and tasks I want to accomplish. I bet you do too. No matter the goals someone has already achieved, it’s human nature to crave more — to want to be better. That’s why everyone I speak with has at least one goal or idea that haunts them — a nagging sense that they just can’t find the time to d...
I believe the best ideas come from listening to people who see things differently. If everyone at the table thinks the same way, you’re not innovating—you’re just reinforcing the status quo. The spirit of this idea was a prominent topic in the latest episode of Outside Insights all about effective change management.
I had the pleasure of sitting down virtually with Miriam Dicks, the dynamic Founder and CEO of 180 Manag...
I officially started my business 23 years ago — the morning of September 11, 2001.
Of course, history and our lives changed forever that day. It was certainly a challenging start for the business, but challenges have been a constant companion throughout my journey.
Today, I’m known as the guy who started a business from one dollar and scaled it to mid-market size without partners or investors. I bootstrapped it so that ...
Imagine transforming recycled tires into a thriving footwear business, then pivoting to reduce homelessness and run for governor. Sounds impossible, right? Not for Matt Meyer, this week’s Outside Insights guest. I had the privilege of speaking with Meyer to explore his approach to leadership, the impactful initiatives he's been part of, and his vision for Delaware's future.
Matt's desire to make a p...
Let’s face it: life is a series of decisions. From something as simple as what we eat for breakfast to major career moves, we make thousands of choices each day (between 33,000–35,000!). Some are automatic, handled by our subconscious to keep us sane, while others require careful consideration and come with their fair share of anxiety. Reflecting on our decisions — big and small — can reveal patterns that shape our li...
In the latest episode of Outside Insights, I had the pleasure of interviewing the dynamic duo, Marnie Stockman and Nick Coniglio, tech leaders, co-founders of Lifecycle Insights and co-authors of “Lead It Like Lasso“.
During our conversation, we dove into their unique approach to leadership, drawing inspiration from none other than the TV character, Ted Lasso. From their journey co-founding and scaling Lifecycle Insig...
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