Shows
UntoldSE01E15 - The Business of Hope: How Chris Croswhite Is Changing Lives | Chris Croswhite | UntoldIn this powerful and personal episode of Untold – The Best Kept Secrets of Utah, host Jon Spiesman steps away from his usual lineup of for-profit founders to sit down with Chris Croswhite, Executive Director of the Rescue Mission of Salt Lake — a faith-based nonprofit tackling homelessness through compassion, transformation, and purpose.Chris shares a deeply human perspective on Utah’s growing homelessness crisis, the personal stories behind the problem, and the business realities of running a nonprofit organization. He discusses the life-defining role of leadership, faith, and purpose-driven decision making while offering insights on how business and nonprofit leader...2025-07-2253 minUntoldSE01E14 - Building a Brand by Building for Others | Clay Christensen | UntoldIn this episode of Untold – The Best Kept Secrets of Utah, host Jon Spiesman sits down with Clay Christensen, President of Mountainland Technical College (M-Tech), to unpack the often overlooked but incredibly powerful world of technical and vocational education.Clay shares how M-Tech became Utah’s leader in industry-driven, debt-free career training, with a staggering 99.7% of students graduating without student debt. They dive into the importance of partnerships with local businesses, why competency-based education is the future of workforce training, and how accessible, skill-based programs are changing lives and communities.This conversation isn’t just about...2025-07-1545 minUntoldSE01E13 - Building a Brand by Building for Others | Jeff Durham | UntoldIn this episode of Untold – The Best Kept Secrets of Utah, host Jon Spiesman sits down with Jeff Durham, co-founder and CEO of Gimme Beauty, to talk about what it really takes to build a brand with purpose in one of the most competitive industries out there.Jeff shares how Gimme Beauty went from a small family business to a disruptive force in the hair accessories market — and why their mission and clarity of purpose drives every decision they make. From pivoting product lines to innovating based on overlooked hair types, Jeff opens up about the realities of e...2025-07-0845 minUntoldSE01E12 - Most Companies Ignore These Voices. He Built a Business Around Them | Jace Norton | UntoldIn this episode of Untold – The Best Kept Secrets of Utah, host Jon Spiesman sits down with Jace Norton, Founder and CEO of Maya Bridge Language Services, for a conversation that might just change how you think about language, culture, and the communities often left out of the conversation.Jace pulls back the curtain on the rich, diverse world of indigenous languages in Central and South America — and the growing number of indigenous language speakers right here in the United States. He shares his personal journey into this underserved industry, the creation of language proficiency testing for Kekc...2025-06-241h 09UntoldSE01E11 - Breaking the Cycle - How to Cure the Patient | Dr. Ken Huey | UntoldIn this powerful episode of Untold – The Best Kept Secrets of Utah, host Jon Spiesman sits down with Dr. Ken Huey, CEO of The Hope Group, to talk about one of the most overlooked crises in America: the broken behavioral health system for at-risk youth.Dr. Huey pulls no punches as he exposes the harsh realities families face when navigating insurance, care access, and the trauma-driven challenges affecting kids today. But this isn’t a story about problems — it’s about hope, healing, and leadership that matters.They dive deep into the critical importance of early interven...2025-06-1042 min
The Voice of Hope with Dr. Ken HueyJon Spiesman: Leading with Purpose, Scaling with FreedomIn this compelling episode of The Voice of Hope, Dr. Ken Huey sits down with Jon Spiesman - executive coach, founder of One Percent Better Leader, and former leader at Monsanto and Bayer - to explore what it really means to lead effectively without losing yourself in the grind.From confronting brutal truths to redefining success through purposeful growth, Jon shares hard-won insights from a career that spans decades in corporate leadership and coaching. You’ll hear how he helps executives escape the trap of working in their business so they can return to working on it...2025-06-0924 minUntoldSE01E10 - Future-Proofing Fitness - Building a Franchise that Lasts | Charlie Graves | UntoldIn this episode of Untold — The Best Kept Secrets of Utah, host Jon Spiesman sits down with Charlie Graves, CEO of Athletic Republic, the franchise on a mission to turn raw potential into peak performance.💡Athletes train for performance. Business owners should too. Preferably without the spandex.Charlie shares the journey of leading a performance training business that’s more than just reps and drills — it’s about building cultures of trust, core values, and continuous improvement. From youth athletes chasing college scholarships to adults reclaiming fitness post-pandemic, Charlie breaks down where sports performance is heading and...2025-06-0345 minUntoldSE01E09 - The Tiffany of Flowers: Speaking Roses | Rene Rodriguez | UntoldWhat if you could print your feelings onto a rose? In this unforgettable episode of Untold – The Best Kept Secrets of Utah, host Jon Spiesman sits down with Rene Rodriguez, CEO and founder of Speaking Roses, a company rewriting the rules of the flower industry.Rene shares the bold, unexpected journey from running a promotional product business to creating a global brand built on emotion. From a game-changing request by JCPenney to navigating logistics nightmares and skeptical markets, Rene reveals how he turned a simple idea—printing messages on real roses—into a thriving business model.💡 In...2025-05-2746 minUntoldSE01E08 - Reinventing the Agency Model | Kim GrobIn this episode of Untold – The Best Kept Secrets of Utah, host Jon Spiesman sits down with Kim Grob, co-founding partner of Right On, a content strategy agency with a mission to elevate sustainability communications through clarity, creativity, and co-creation.Kim shares the origin story of Right On—from the decision to build a more balanced, creative workplace to navigating the rise of AI in content creation. But at the heart of this episode is a powerful conversation about how we talk about sustainability, why that conversation is shifting, and what sustainability will need to do to go b...2025-05-2043 minUntoldSE01E08 - We started with $462 and no clue what we were doing — but we had drive | Conner Atkin | Untold"We started with $462 and no clue what we were doing—but we had drive."In this episode of Untold – The Best Kept Secrets of Utah, Conner Atkin, co-founder of Tagg N Go Express Car Wash, shares how he turned $462 and a bold idea into one of the fastest-growing regional car wash brands in the West.From sketching ideas with business partners to building 30+ locations across Utah and Idaho, Conner walks us through the highs, lows, and lessons of scaling a business from nothing. You'll hear how creative financing, strong partnership, ambition, and a whole lot of e...2025-05-1340 minUntoldSE01E06 - Grow or Die - Silicon Sign's journey from the brink | Chase Dalton | UntoldIn this episode of Untold, Jon Spiesman interviews Chase Dalton, founder and CEO of SiliconSigns. They discuss Chase's journey from starting an outdoor advertising company to founding SiliconSigns amidst legal challenges. The conversation explores themes of growth, overcoming complacency, and the importance of core values in business. Chase shares insights on the challenges of scaling a company and the pivotal moments that led to renewed focus and commitment to growth. In this conversation, Chase Dalton discusses the challenges of maintaining company culture and core values as a business scales. He emphasizes the importance of prioritizing customer experience over profits...2025-05-0655 minUntoldSE01E05 - You'll Love Steel Encounters! | Tom Jackson | UntoldWhat happens when a company isn’t just a business—but a shared mission? In this episode of Untold – The Best Kept Secrets of Utah, we sit down with Tom Jackson, Chairman & CEO of Steel Encounters, a specialty construction firm shaping some of Utah’s most iconic structures.Tom takes us behind the scenes of landmark projects, shares the story behind the viral “I LOVE STEEL ENCOUNTERS” video, and reveals the powerful culture that makes this employee-owned company truly unique.But leading an employee-owned firm isn’t for the faint of heart. Tom opens up about the tran...2025-04-2944 minUntoldSE01E04 - Staying True to Core Values while Growing Rapidly | Jordan Smith | UntoldIn this episode of Untold – The Best Kept Secrets of Utah, we sit down with Jordan Smith, Co-Founder and CEO of JetDental, the mobile dental service that’s disrupting the industry. Jordan shares the remarkable origin story of JetDental—how a simple idea to bring dental care directly to workplaces turned into a thriving business. But it hasn’t been an easy ride.Jordan opens up about how COVID-19 nearly shut JetDental down and the surprising way the crisis ultimately strengthened the company’s prospects. He walks us through the challenges of scaling a service-based business, perfecting operations...2025-04-2253 minUntoldSE01E03 - Solving the Hidden Danger of Intermittent Electrical Failures | With Ken Anderson | Untold PodcastImagine - you are piloting an F-35 jet and in the middle of a 7-G turn, your display goes dark and you are blind. Have you even taken your car to the shop with a 'check engine' light and been told there was nothing wrong? Both scenarios are caused by the same problem, although the consequences are very different....Intermittent Electrical Failures.In this episode, we dive into the world of intermittent electrical failures—the hidden but costly problem plaguing the defense, aviation, and consumer electronics industries. Our guest, Ken Anderson, President & CEO of Universal Synaptics, shares how...2025-04-1553 minUntoldSE01E02 - Revolutionizing the disposable battery industry | with Tom Bishop | Untold PodcastIn this episode of "Untold – The Best Kept Secrets of Utah," we sit down with Tom Bishop, CEO and Founder of PaleBlue—a company on a mission to revolutionize the disposable battery industry. For decades, the battery business has remained stagnant, flooding landfills with single-use waste and contributing to environmental harm. Tom and his team at PaleBlue are determined to change that.Inspired by Carl Sagan’s reference to our "pale blue dot," PaleBlue is tackling one of the most overlooked environmental challenges by combining the best rechargeable battery chemistry with cutting-edge battery management systems. Their innovative approa...2025-04-081h 10UntoldSE01 E01 - Transforming the Family Business into a Powerhouse of Growth and Innovation | With Tyler Margetts | Untold🚀 Untold: The Best Kept Secrets of Utah – Featuring Tyler Margetts, CEO and Owner of LR DynamicsIn this episode of "Untold – The Best Kept Secrets of Utah," we sit down with Tyler Margetts, CEO and Owner of LR Dynamics—a leader who took an unexpected path to transform the family business into a powerhouse of growth and innovation.Tyler never saw himself in the family business. He started his career in software, building valuable skills in a completely different industry. But when the time came to step into the family legacy, he brought those ski...2025-04-0152 min
Encouraging LeadersWhat I Wish I Knew: Advice from Leaders Who’ve Been ThereWhat would you tell your younger self if you could go back in time?In this special episode, we’ve compiled wisdom from past guests who share the lessons they wish they had known earlier. From trusting your gut to embracing failure and leading with confidence, these insights will make you rethink your own journey.Featuring Guests (In Order of Appearance):- John Jennings - President & Chief Strategist of the St. Louis Trust & Family Office- Todd Brand - President & CEO of Brand Asset Management Gr...2025-02-0719 min
The Team Engagement PodcastLearning Starts with the Leader | Jon SpiesmanJon SpiesmanMeet Jon Spiesman, Founder and CEO of One Percent Better Leader, a company dedicated to helping individuals and organizations achieve leadership excellence—1% at a time. With over three years leading OPBL, Jon has guided countless leaders through a journey of continuous improvement, proving that leadership is a skill that grows with consistent effort and dedication.Jon believes that no one becomes a great leader overnight. Through strategic coaching, hands-on mentorship, and a mindset of daily progress, he empowers professionals to refine their leadership skills, drive impactful change, and reach their full po...2025-01-3115 min
The Faces of BusinessFrom Firefighting to Futureproofing Building Problem-Solving TeamsIn this episode of The Faces of Business, Jon Spiesman, Founder and CEO of One Percent Better Leader, discusses how business owners and leaders can transform business teams into proactive, future-ready problem-solvers.
Jon is the Founder and CEO of One Percent Better Leader. He brings over two decades of leadership excellence in roles spanning global supply chains and executive coaching. His tailored frameworks have empowered countless senior leaders to improve their organizations and regain precious personal time. A certified executive coach with a results-driven approach, Jon helps leaders implement measurable improvements that drive impactful change.
2025-01-0246 min
Encouraging LeadersCoaching Leaders: The Gift that Keeps on Giving Back - Jon SpiesmanJon Spiesman is the CEO and founder of 1% Better Leader. With over 30 years of leadership experience at Monsanto and other agricultural industries and over three years as an executive coach, Jon emphasizes the importance of vulnerability, coaching, and respect in leadership. He shares personal and professional insights, demonstrating how thoughtful leadership can transform both organizations and individuals.
In this episode, we delve into:
- The pivotal moment when he realized effective leadership requires collaboration.
- Early challenges that taught him the importance of emotional intelligence and connecting...2024-11-2236 min
Business Buying BanterMaximize Your Business Sale: Sell Smarter with No BSJon Spiesman joins Deb Curtis and Richard Parker to dive into the world of business buying and selling with No BS Business Buying Banter. Learn how to maximize your business sale and sell smarter by considering key factors that can make the process more efficient. Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur or a first-time seller, this video will provide valuable insights to help you navigate the selling process with confidence. Don't miss out on this opportunity to elevate your selling game and achieve a successful business transaction. Stay tuned for expert tips, real-life examples, and practical advice that...2024-06-1135 min