Phoenix Prosperity Podcast

In this episode of the Phoenix Prosperity Podcast, Tim sits down with Howard Epstein, a seasoned real estate leader at Bank of America and founder of the Arizona Housing Fund. Howard shares the story behind the Fund, its mission to provide permanent supportive housing across Arizona, and how a simple $25 donation at escrow is transforming lives.

You'll hear about the real math behind homelessness, what most people misunderstand abo...

In this episode, Tim Fergestad welcomes Don Fotsch—innovator, entrepreneur, and community builder—who shares his deep insights into building businesses, bootstrapping startups, and strengthening Arizona’s ecosystem for growth and prosperity.

Don opens up about his career journey across tech giants like Apple, PayPal, and AOL, and how his experiences have shaped his focus on applied AI in food, beverage, and battery inspection start...

Eric Keosky-Smith joins Tim to share how a career that started with color terminals in the ’80s led to launching Intel’s Pentium across Europe, then into startups, U-Haul’s multifamily strategy, and now mission-driven business development in Arizona. Eric unpacks the “three legs” of true biz dev—strategy, marketing, and relationships—and why educating beats selling. He gets candid about failures (including four years with no salary...

What if scaling your business starts with expanding your inner capacity? Former CEO-turned-leadership alchemist Brent Perkins joins Tim to explore how agency, presence, and somatic practices create leaders who don’t just perform — they thrive. Brent shares a simple three-part framework for “purpose” (find your gift, grow it, give it away), why capacity restores our agency, and how “osmotic leadership” scales teams and families by m...

In this episode, Tim sits down with Gabe Alvarez, the Assistant Director of Player Development for the San Francisco Giants. With nearly two decades of experience, Gabe offers a rare inside look at how professional baseball players are developed, mentored, and supported from rookie leagues all the way to the major leagues.

The conversation covers how Gabe helps structure the Giants’ minor league system, how player development has e...

In this episode of the Phoenix Prosperity Podcast, Tim Fergestad sits down with John Kloian, partner at Gapview, to explore how businesses can overcome the chaos that stalls growth. With years of experience as a CIO and entrepreneur, John shares why he left corporate life to build something lasting, and how his focus on people, processes, and vision helps mid-sized companies move past their sticking points.

John explains how misali...

In this episode, Tim Fergestad sits down with legendary Arizona music promoter Stephen Chilton, the founder of Psyko Steve Presents and owner of the iconic Rebel Lounge in Phoenix. Stephen shares how he began booking punk rock shows as a teenager and gradually grew into a leading force in Arizona’s live music scene.

He opens up about the 10-year journey of The Rebel Lounge, how the pandemic disrupted the entire industry, and how he...

Episode Summary: In this eye-opening conversation, Tim sits down with cybersecurity expert and CEO of CISO Global, David Jemmett, to uncover just how vulnerable our digital world really is. David shares staggering facts about the global cost of cybercrime, why education and awareness are the most powerful forms of protection, and how proactive security is the only path forward.

From ransomware threats and global hacking operations ...

On this episode of the Phoenix Prosperity Podcast with Tim Fergestad, branding expert Emily Soccorsy shares how true connection happens when brands lead with authenticity. Emily is the co-founder of Root + River, a brand strategy and content firm that helps leaders uncover the soul of their brand and communicate it with clarity.

Emily’s journey began as a journalist, where she honed the skill of asking deep questions and uncovering...

In this episode of the Phoenix Prosperity Podcast with Tim Fergestad, we sit down with Aram Chavez, Chairman of Morphos AI and lecturer at Arizona State University. Aram opens up about the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, the lessons learned from “crying into his pillow,” and how those challenges shaped his approach to business and leadership.

Aram shares the exciting work happening at Morphos AI, a company building deep AI infr...

In this episode, Tim sits down with Amy Looper, a high-performance resilience coach, to explore how adversity can become the catalyst for deep personal transformation. Amy shares her own powerful journey from burnout and chronic health challenges to a thriving coaching practice that helps high-achieving women build strength through struggle.

Drawing from her background in cybersecurity sales and her certifications in trauma-informe...

In this heartfelt episode of the Phoenix Prosperity Podcast, host Tim Fergestad welcomes Simon Davies, the recently retired Executive Director of Teen Cancer America, to share the powerful story behind the organization’s mission. Simon opens up about his journey from managing social care in the UK to leading the charge in bringing specialized cancer care for teens and young adults to the U.S.

Simon walks us through the early days o...

In this inspiring conversation, Tim sits down with transformational coach and business mentor Therese Skelly, who has spent decades helping mission-driven entrepreneurs grow their businesses while staying aligned with their soul’s purpose. With a background as a therapist and a master’s degree in counseling, Therese blends psychology, marketing, and what she calls “business energetics” to help clients break through mindset blocks, ...

In this inspiring episode of the Phoenix Prosperity Podcast, Tim Fergestad sits down with Cynthia Sassi — a digital marketing and online publishing veteran who has been building and scaling brands since 2007. Cynthia is the founder of Fabulous Media Group, Say Less Media, and Lux Getaways, each thriving in its own niche while sharing a common foundation of creativity, strategic thinking, and heart.

Cynthia shares her journey from a...

In this inspiring conversation, Tim Fergestad sits down with Melissa Del Toro — a former electrical engineer and project manager who traded hard hats for a microphone. Melissa shares her winding journey from the construction industry to full-time voice acting, audiobook narration, and editing, all while raising a young daughter and navigating multiple career pivots.

You’ll hear how she learned to “become” the version of herself she...

In this episode of the Phoenix Prosperity Podcast, host Tim Fergestad sits down with Blake McGilvray, co-founder of Note Pros, to explore the world of residential note brokering. Blake shares his journey from selling citrus fruit to working at a fast-growing fintech startup, and eventually launching his own firm that connects private lenders with institutional buyers.

Blake explains the mechanics of buying and selling performing an...

In this inspiring episode, Tim Fergestad sits down with Brent Lavin, Director of Strategic Growth at BD’s Peripheral Intervention Division, to explore a dynamic life of innovation, service, and smart investing. Brent shares how a personal medical experience shifted his career into medtech, leading him to help bring cutting-edge innovations to market.

We also hear about Brent’s passion for service—both locally and globally—including...

In this insightful episode of the Phoenix Prosperity Podcast with Tim Fergestad, Tim welcomes Linda Michaels, founder of AZHR Hub, an HR outsourcing firm based in Chandler, Arizona. With a sharp blend of experience and empathy, Linda shares how her company helps small and mid-sized businesses avoid costly legal missteps and streamline HR processes.

Linda and Tim dive deep into the realities many business owners face when navigating...

In this episode, Tim Fergestad is joined by Jeff Koenig, a fractional CEO, CFO, and Chair of the Desert Angels investment group. Jeff offers a deep dive into the world of angel investing—what it is, who it’s for, and how it fits into the broader capital landscape. From the early seed stage to eventual exits, Jeff explains the mechanics of startup funding and shares personal insights into why alternative investments can be a powerfu...