Shows
conventioNOT PodcastEscape from Status Quo - Michael Wayne FosterMichael Wayne Foster breaks molds. Foster was a teacher in the high schools of his hometown when he started life after college. Pretty normal, but this larger than life dude is far from normal. It wasn't long after spending time in classrooms that he was presented with an opportunity for love... on season 3 of The Bachelorette. Earnestly, this dude packed up his things and moved to Hollywood. He didn't find the romantic love of his life on NBC in 2005... she would come much later. What he did find is that his fascination with the entertainment in...
2022-07-281h 24
conventioNOT PodcastA Father’s Tale - Dan Sinnott SrDan Sinnott Sr has experienced more in a single lifetime than most families. He was a young man when he realized that the life of a Detroit Police Officer - and the negative experiences life as a cop brought wasn't for him. Sure, lots of guys switch careers... but this guy, a man with a desire for adventure, decided to be an educator. You'll have to listen to the episode for the details, but Dan eventually moves halfway across the world, young family in tow. It's pretty obvious somewhere along the line, he also honed his talents...
2022-06-201h 14
conventioNOT Podcast#82 - Brick by Brick - Taylor DuerrWhen Taylor Duerr first stepped onto the professional fight scene, he was already kind of a big deal. Not just because of his size, because of his heart. He's had plenty of nicknames in his career and Duerr, a former cruiserweight champion is the star of a newly released documentary, "We Can Be Heroes." Taylor joins the guys just before the launch of the film and the "Machine Gun" fires on about some of the cool stuff that happens when promoting a movie, his true love for his family and opens up about the real struggles he's...
2022-05-121h 05
conventioNOT Podcast#81 - Know Your Why - Jim BaudinoWhen Jim Baudino first told his friends that he was leaving his acclaimed automotive career to get into the cannibis business, his friends undoubtedly wondered what he was thinking. The thing is, he'd always been looking for something more than traditional route for a kid from metro detroit who went to the University of Michigan and UCLA. Then he got into busines with Snoop Dog. No seriously, Baudino jumped from branding Toyota Camry's to helping a gernerational icon reframe an industry. What listeners will find is that the dude still hasn't looked back and carries his inspiration t...
2022-04-201h 06
conventioNOT PodcastFinding Joy - Dana FrostDana Frost wakes up every day feeling life’s full effect. As a young person, she lost her spouse, Brad to cancer, fought her own battle with the disease and faced the realities that most people don’t see until much later in life. Thankfully, this cheerful guest found time to sit with Mike and McD on this host-favorite episode. The thing about Dana is that she’s channelled the tragedy and has learned to be vulnerable in ways that we thing most listeners should pay attention to. Her husband left her 100 days after he was diagnosed and he...
2022-04-1358 min
conventioNOT PodcastEye of the Storm - Matt AllenMatt Allen lovingly recalls the days when his work was as simple as cleaning up oil spills. This lifelong scientist and creative thinker has now moved on to larger pastures, so to speak. Mike was excited to reconnect with Matt and to introduce Ryan, who he knew would instantly be interested by this guest. Certainly the episodes of conventioNOT lean toward science, data and nature - and this one touches all of our pillars quickly. Growing up in Canada, Matt talks about setting up an executive career that he enjoys today and shares infinite wisdom about traveling t...
2022-03-211h 13
conventioNOT Podcast#78 - Hawaii 22 - conventioNOT PodcastJust like that, conventioNOT is nearing 100 hours of content. Funny to think that through all those interviews, teary stories and podcast bliss - Mike & McD have never recorded in the same room. After almost a decade of residence in Hawaii, Ryan finally made it out to share some sun and surf in the Aloha state. We spent the week consuming all that Oahu has to offer, from Honolulu's Kith Store to Kona beans and somehow Mike convinced Ryan to be on the hot seat and relive his best moments on the island. After poking some fu...
2022-02-0653 min
conventioNOT Podcast#77 - Seeking Authenticity - Flint Mitchell Flint Mitchell is a unique guest who is busy stacking perspective. He’s an engineer, scientist, surfer, podcaster… and now author. What’s really cool about this guy is that he’s humble about the way opportunities arrive in his world. Listeners will find that this guy’s world started in a place that most of us are familiar with, but don’t really understand: the San Fransisco Peninsula, AKA Silicon Valley. He shares a bit about the very real perspective that growing up in the Valley can create. Just like the factories of Detroit, it’s not all roses. Mi...
2021-12-161h 01
conventioNOT PodcastSeeking Authenticity - Flint Mitchell Flint Mitchell is a unique guest who is busy stacking perspective. He’s an engineer, scientist, surfer, podcaster… and now author. What’s really cool about this guy is that he’s humble about the way opportunities arrive in his world. Listeners will find that this guy’s world started in a place that most of us are familiar with, but don’t really understand: the San Fransisco Peninsula, AKA Silicon Valley. He shares a bit about the very real perspective that growing up in the Valley can create. Just like the factories of Detroit, it’s not all roses. Mi...
2021-12-151h 01
conventioNOT Podcast#76 - Endurance Executive - Eric MannixEric Mannix is a competitor. Lots of senior leaders at big companies are. The CFO of Blue Water Systems is dedicated to growing the success of the manufacturing plants that he now runs. But there’s something a little different about Eric’s story. What a lot of guys like Eric don’t share when walking the halls of facilities are why they do what they do. This episode sets that old-school mentality aside. Eric operates his life on a really cool philosophy: try something hard every day. When he found himself in a misaligned intern...
2021-11-1456 min
conventioNOT Podcast#75 - Supreme Ability - Justice Richard BernsteinMichigan State Supreme Court Justice Richard Bernstein joins the guys and holds court about issues near and dear to heart, career and his strong faith. Sure, the guy has been elected to one of the highest courts in America, but that’s only happened over the past few years and this conversation is very special. Prior to his current gig, Bernstein became a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Michigan and earned his law degree from the Northwestern University School of Law. Justice Bernstein has also been elected for an eight-year term on the Board of...
2021-10-281h 07
conventioNOT Podcast#74 - Imposter Warrior - Lacey TrostLacey Trost is clearly one of our favorite guests in recent history. Her story and humility are one of a kind as far as conventioNOT guests go. After growing up in Florida, she and her wife undertook one of the biggest goals of many youngsters in America: moving away from home. The thing is, Trost was just getting started down her list of personal goals then and she hasn’t looked back since. She opens up with Mike and McD about the struggles of Imposter Syndrome and her drive to succeed. Unlike many of our guests - she...
2021-10-051h 05
conventioNOT Podcast#73 - Talking Through It - conventioNOTThe guys catch up one on one for their annual summer-ending episode. It gets a little deep, including a how-to-travel guide when living out of state, new show formating and some really deep discussion about recent losses in Mike's life. It's not all heavy-hearted, Mike and McD save space to dive into seeing boobs on a plane, couples travel ideas and even a secret or two that longtime listners will probably pick up on. We're committed to publishing more of these 1:1 style shows over the next year. If you haven't subscribed yet, click the button on...
2021-09-0751 min
conventioNOT Podcast#72 - A Grow Culture - Graham Meriwether Graham Meriwether started his career as a filmaker in an interesting way, chasing bodies around the streets of Detroit. Even though the young documentatian hadn't found his calling, he knew that he was inspired enough to create content that mattered. By the time he turned his focus to his bigger films like American Meat and Farmers For America, he'd filmed countless dead bodies and foraged the Detroit Police Department's Delta Zones and produced content for The Julliard School of Dance. American Meat eventually became his first theatrical release and It contrasts industrial feedlots with Joel Salatin's Polyface Farms, a model wh...
2021-07-221h 15
conventioNOT#72 - A Grow Culture - Graham MeriwetherGraham Meriwether started his career as a filmaker in an interesting way, chasing bodies around the streets of Detroit. Even though the young documentatian hadn't found his calling, he knew that he was inspired enough to create content that mattered. By the time he turned his focus to his bigger films like American Meat and Farmers For America, he'd filmed countless dead bodies and foraged the Detroit Police Department's Delta Zones and produced content for The Julliard School of Dance. American Meat eventually became his first theatrical release and It contrasts industrial feedlots with Joel Salatin's Polyface Farms, a model wh...
2021-07-221h 15
conventioNOT PodcastPractice Mentality - Johnny GillespieJohnny Gillespie is a true revolutionary. To state it simply, he has developed a system to teach people how to move more efficiently and safely. He also has has a decorated educational career and even runs and Yoga Certification Program at his facility, Empowered Wellness Studio in Wilmington Delaware. The thing is... he doesn't fit the mold. And he's proud of it. Mike and McD are eager to get their questions out about how and why he's followed the path that he has. It's easy to see how Johnny inspires people - and he's kind enough to...
2021-05-201h 15
conventioNOT PodcastGritty Love - Dave ReganDave Regan has been able to experience more than one life in his years. Growing up in the times and neighborhoods that built the America we walk in today, Dave’s journey includes nights on horseback, saddling up a chopper and logging trip after trip. The thing is - he was doing these things while spending his days building the ads that spread Detroit's auto industry across the country. After living a full life as an adman, he turned his trail toward becoming an educator, helping to lead the industry into the next frontier. Today he spends his...
2021-05-111h 10conventioNOT#69 - Culinary Cousins - conventioNOT MastersOur love for food and flavors is pretty evident in the conventioNOT episode archives. Mike and McD have interviewed cookbook authors, pit masters and chefs more than a few times. Those familiar with the show have heard their origin stories and these three showed up ready to break down all things food and even get a little personal about the challenges facing their businesses, insight for the future and their favorite gadgets.
2021-03-291h 10
conventioNOT Podcast#69 - Culinary Cousins - conventioNOT MastersOur love for food and flavors is pretty evident in the conventioNOT episode archives. Mike and McD have interviewed cookbook authors, pit masters and chefs more than a few times. The only thing tough about bringing chefs Chris Warsow, Lawrence LaPianta & Will Branch for this expert roundtable was narrowing them down for the episode. We even pulled this one off without a technical hitch. Those familiar with the show have heard their origin stories and these three showed up ready to break down all things food and even get a little personal about the challenges fa...
2021-03-291h 10
conventioNOT PodcastGreatest Clips: Volume 2Closing 2020, an idea was born: to let our listeners hear some of the behind-the-scenes commentary about the many guests who decide to share their time and record stories about the details of their lives. This episode is the second rendition of our favorite clips from previous guests and conversations. You'll find some really cool snippets from the detailed stories we get to hear nearly every week. New conventioNOT listener? This one is a nice primer to the other episodes of our show. Make sure you subscribe and review us on your podcast channel. Yo...
2021-03-171h 11conventioNOT#68 Favorite Clips: Volume 2Closing 2020, an idea was born: to let our listeners hear some of the behind-the-scenes commentary about the many guests who decide to share their time and record stories about the details of their lives.This episode is the second rendition of our favorite clips from previous guests and conversations. You'll find some really cool snippets from the detailed stories we get to hear nearly every week. New conventioNOT listener? This one is a nice primer to the other episodes of our show.
2021-03-171h 11
conventioNOT PodcastInternational Sole - Jay ShuangJay Shuang is one of the most humble social media influencers you will meet. @shanghaisole is his handle on Instagram and if you think this guy is just another sneaker head, think again. A fifth-grade teacher and stellar guy, Jay uses his network and late-budding shoe addiction started as an obsession during undergrad to connect and inspire with his students and the world. McD is again enthralled with the depth of this guy's knowledge and Mike takes a couple swipes at the hobby of stacking sneaker boxes. Neither of them are phased and Jay goes on to ex...
2021-03-091h 18
conventioNOT PodcastPeople and Possibility - Brett M CooperBrett M Cooper's early career in global businesses is nothing to shake a stick at. He focused on process, lean organizations and the actions it takes to be highly profitable. Through his time, he noticed that something was often overlooked: the social skills required by leaders to motivate people. Fair warning, McD and Brett start to really nerd out on their commonalities before Mike interrupts and brings the two back from outer space - and some kind of deep space nine discussion. Thankfully, this makes space for Brett to talk about his passions as a dad, an a...
2021-03-021h 18conventioNOT#66 - People and Possibility - Brett M CooperBrett M Cooper and Ryan begin to nerd out on their commonalities before Mike brings the two back from outer space - and some kind of deep space nine discussion about six sigma. conventioNOT listeners don't need to be part of a big company with deep pockets to take advantage of Cooper's teachings. After listening to the show, you'll find that he gives a FREE offer to get a copy of his new book, Solving the People Problem.
2021-03-021h 18
conventioNOT PodcastIntersectional Trail - Neel AgrawalJust typing out Neel Agrawal’s resume would burst the character limit on most Podcast platforms that stream conventioNOT’s episodes. Thankfully, the Lord Huron collaborator joins Mike & McD in an exhilarating biography that spans Neel’s youth, lugging a violin case in cold Michigan winters, hustling through law school, becoming a world-class musician and even playing on stage at Coachella. Hard to believe that this social justice warrior can make time to do what he does - until you hear the details about what fuels him. Intersectionality is a newer buzz word that Agrawal explains well and em...
2021-02-171h 17conventioNOT#65 - Intersectional Trail - Neel AgrawalJust typing out Neel Agrawal’s resume would burst the character limit on most Podcast platforms that stream conventioNOT’s episodes. Thankfully, the Lord Huron Drummer joins Mike & McD in an exhilarating biography that spans Neel’s youth, lugging a violin case in cold Michigan winters, hustling through law school, becoming a world-class musician and even playing on stage at Coachella.
2021-02-171h 17
conventioNOT PodcastFavorite Clips: Volume 1Our hosts have spent a lot of interesting times together. Now and again, a story slips out about yesteryear and Mike or McD recall memories from shared times. Over the holidays closing 2020, an idea was born: to let our listeners hear some of the behind-the-scenes commentary about the many guests who decide to share their time and record stories about the details of their lives. Our team doesn't take these times lightly - and there's even a variance of opinion or two that come out as we look back on snippets from conventioNOT's archive. Listen up...
2021-02-0945 minconventioNOT#64 - Favorite Clips: Volume 1Over the holidays closing 2020, an idea was born: to let our listeners hear some of the behind-the-scenes commentary about the many guests who decide to share their time and record stories about the details of their lives. Our team doesn't take these times lightly - and there's even a variance of opinion or two that come out as we look back on snippets from conventioNOT's archive.
2021-02-0945 minconventioNOT#63 - Mastering 2021 - conventioNOTCo-hosts Mike and McD get back to basics with our first episode of the year. The guys don't usually get into politics, but they do share the happenings in their lives and the things we want to accomplish in 2021.They're thankful for 2020's wins and curious about quarantine challenges state by state and dive into a couple goals - including Ryan's lates bourbon trip and new mastermind group. Most people are streaming more TV now... and listeners get a treat to hear about what we're watching and why.
2021-01-2756 min
conventioNOT PodcastMastering 2021 - conventioNOTCo-hosts Mike and McD get back to basics with our first episode of the year. The guys don't usually get into politics, but they do share the happenings in their lives and the things we want to accomplish in 2021. They're thankful for 2020's wins and curious about quarantine challenges state by state and dive into a couple goals - including Ryan's lates bourbon trip and new mastermind group. Most people are streaming more TV now... and listeners get a treat to hear about what we're watching and why. A couple predictions from McD later, it seems like w...
2021-01-2756 min
conventioNOT PodcastChef Artisan - Will BranchWill announces himself as a cofounder of Corridor Sausage. The thing is, listeners will find depth in discussion very quickly that plunges through choices, successes, disasters and a company to company merger. Mike and McD aren't strangers to Will - they all started their adult lives in East Lansing at Michigan State University. After a couple decades without catching up, the experienced Chef breaks down his growth as a person, business owner and creator. If you're in the midwest, you can find his sausages in a bunch of stores. If you're considering a trip here, he even g...
2020-12-231h 06
conventioNOT PodcastCreative Zeitgeist - Javid JahJavid Jah's early infatuation with lettering and his culture isn't necessarily a rare thing about this lifelong creator. conventioNOT listeners will be pleasantly surprised in the honesty and transparency about how he took the angles he has in his career. Almost every creative has depth behind their work. Javid's career as a muralist, street artist and now working with living spaces all combine to a cornucopia of beauty. This written explanation of what gets spoken on this episode just doesn't do it justice. Take a few minutes to digest this episode. The nuggets of advice an...
2020-12-171h 15
conventioNOT PodcastPinball Whiz Kid - Matthew YahesMatthew Yahes from Extend Your Team has stacked years of self-starting experience into his resume. After beginning his career with one of the Big 5 Consulting firms - he quickly realized that his power in starting from scratch was real. So much so, that when he entered his first startup, he was able to be the center of the machine for a nationwide restaurant franchise. It didn't get to the spot of development his efforts had intended - but it started to teach him the valuable lessons that he shares on this episode. What Mike and M...
2020-12-091h 13
conventioNOT PodcastBionic Bada$$ - Jorden RiekeJorden Rieke is an essential worker. She battles day and night in her ICU to help care for the communities around her. Many clinicians fairly end their efforts at the end of each shift. For Jorden, her efforts are just beginning. Now an insulin dependent diabetic and advocate, she learned about fighting her health during the earliest days of her education at Case Western University in Cleveland. In classic conventioNOT format, the guys get after some personal details with Rieke, trying to understand what fuels her. WARNING: It's pretty hard to sit through this episode a...
2020-11-2551 min
Seeking Authenticity with Flint Mitchell#34 - Recreating Yourself in Paradise with Forensic Biomechanist Mike SinnottSend us a textMike Sinnott is a forensic biomechanist, determining the true causes of accidents, and the human and mechanical factors that may have contributed to it. In this conversation we talk a bit about how he got into the field and why he loves it, including a really insane story from his graduate school years and the work ethic required at a young age to pursue a field that didn’t really exist yet in industry. After that, however we talk about a transformation he had to undergo, when he and his wife left their al...
2020-11-251h 00
conventioNOT PodcastDo the Right Thing - Marvin WilliamsMarvin Williams, Mike and Ryan have known each other for more than 20 years. In 1999, covered in Spartan Green and the smell of youthful exuberance, this trio came together in the streets of East Lansing, Michigan. Marvin and McD have worked through several businesses together and are currently scaling Williams' company, Logical Owl. Most of our listeners know quite a bit about different projects and companies that our hosts hustle on - but Mike and Marvin haven't caught up much in the past decade. This episode is really dives deep with a mid-career entrepreneur who shares honestly.
2020-11-031h 05
conventioNOT PodcastThe Underwear EpisodeAt the heart of conventioNOT Podcast's focus is a love for greatness. Time and again our listeners hear from guests who blaze new trails in industry, break gender barriers or just flat out create something that hadn't existed before. The Underwear Episode puts over 150 years of experienced contributors (and their nether regions) together to discuss various brands they've been testing. True, there are plenty of jokes and awkward pauses in this one, but we really are applying a serious tone to upping one's game down below. Certainly, Tommy John, SAXX, LuLu Lemon or Seperatec had no...
2020-10-2752 min
conventioNOT PodcastQueen Amongst Kings - Dani MerrittDani Merritt's creativity always helped deliver respite in a challenging world. Growing up in a tough environment around Cleveland, Ohio, Elusion Clothing Brand's founder stumbled a little before she started printing thousands of pieces of clothing and creating a brand that melds with professional athletes and hype beasts worldwide. The thing is, Elusion isn't another fly-by-night brand that's built on the back of social media. It's been around since the days of myspace and it's hard to imagine some of the challenges that Dani alludes to in this show. When she dove into creating comics decades ago, s...
2020-10-201h 00
conventioNOT PodcastNew Wave - conventoNOTRamping back up for the fall season, Chris, Mike & McD spice it up with what some of us thought was a normal Sunday afternoon. This was until Chris drops some news that he is afraid he might lose his job for his behavior. Still a little confused, Mike & McD quickly learn that he's playing with them and Chris' love for surprises comes quick with the introduction of a song he's been working on about the show. It's live on all of the streaming services - but you can hear the new show music hear first on...
2020-10-1431 min
conventioNOT PodcastThe Moving Episode - conventioNOTEverybody's back after a short break at the end of the month. Chris, Mike & McD mix it up and talk about moving - an experience that affects nearly every household. The other thing is that everybody approaches moving day a bit different. Ryan gets personal about his recent experience in moving from Atlanta to Metro-Detroit and the team laments on moves past and the first thing that's most important when finding a new locale. There are big things coming for the show for fall 2020 and the guys are eager to share what's coming up. You'll f...
2020-10-0959 min
conventioNOT PodcastPersonal Link - Jenna RighiJenna Righi is a really dynamic person. Sure, she has a cool career, awesome social media presence and even an additional hustle that makes shiny things. The thing that really shines about Jenna though, is that all of this stuff is based on her desire to help elevate the people around her. Her day job, she helps startup companies find money. Certainly that's no easy task - but her other hustle is even cooler because Link Before You Sink helps people connect with each other. It's not just beautiful jewelry that the company ships, it's the chance t...
2020-10-0148 min
conventioNOT PodcastArresting Development - Jason GoggansJason Goggans' fitness career is deep. Really deep. He's been in the game for over 20 years, owned several gyms and transitioned to the online marketplace. The thing is, his career and weight-loss business seeks a really cool client: somebody who already heads to the gym. It's not because Jason likes the easy route. In fact, his career has been anything but easy. After re-routing his career goals from Federal Law Enforcement, Goggans hasn't abandoned his love for civil servants charged with protecting America - he has charged toward them. How does a former officer help...
2020-09-141h 12
conventioNOT PodcastLife Skills - Chris HoogerhydeWhen Chris Hoogerhyde decide to get clean almost two decades ago, he was a celebrated expert in some pretty dirty things. Now, after helping countless humans find their better selves, Hoogerhyde finds a lot of joy in finding what makes other people happy. Not only is he funny in some of the stories he shares, but his self depreciation truly an art form. This episode is a little different than the norm. Many of our guests share about their success, challenges and how they won. Chris is open about his time in prison and the hours he s...
2020-09-041h 11
conventioNOT PodcastGamers Episode - conventioNOTVideo Games are a multi billion dollar industry. Most people get how big that is and our guests this episode all consider themselves "Gamers," in one way or another. Mike sits down with Mike Dougherty, Anna McD and Chris Harris to dive deep into the nooks and crannies of gaming, its impact on their lives and the very real value that the hobby brings to each of them. Don't miss out on this new episode format that the guys from the show are playing around with. We'd love to hear what you think. Unfamiliar with the episode g...
2020-08-3157 min
conventioNOT PodcastHumble Aurora - DeMarvelous CarterWhen DeMarvelous and Chris met years ago in a Detroit production studio - their relationship started off with a joke and a smile. It didn't take long before their fire connected and a creative partnership was born. Even then, these two good dudes were questioning some of the perils of their beloved art: violence, drugs and disrespect. Fast forward nearly a decade later and after producing music for some of hip hops biggest names and DeMarvelous had an awakening in his spirit that you need to hear. A little teaser, it started with a not-so-typical meeting of a...
2020-08-171h 13
conventioNOT PodcastEvent Ready - Wendi FreemanWendi Freeman is no stranger to the big leagues. After a strong exit from planning events in startup-heavy Atlanta's tech space, Freeman was left in a place where she knew she needed to draw on her experience and self improvement to launch herself back into the market. When she and Be Bright Events emerged a short time later, it was with a breath of fresh air in approaching a stale market that she knew well. Mike and McD joke with her time planning sorority events and better than average dinners while learning more about the ways they m...
2020-08-101h 01
conventioNOT PodcastSaving Grace - Suzanne JohnsonEven with YouTube and the internet, It's really hard to believe that all humans aren't awesome at everything. One thing that nearly all of us need is help on training ourselves to be financially secure. There are countless books, webinars and weekend conferences on saving, preparing for life and increasing stability in our lives through the way Americans spend money. Problem is, a lot of that stuff is motivated by the presenter and lacks deployable advice and feedback on effort. Suzanne Johnson has carved a really valuable spot for herself in our economy: a financial co...
2020-08-051h 10
conventioNOT PodcastA TV Paradox - conventioNOTChris, Mike and Ryan get back around the microphone and record discuss some of the events that happen between the guys when not recording the show. Dj Scrilla just published his first book, “You can be anything, Major” and as usual, the CHarris train is rolling strong with TV interviews and autographed copies hitting the mail. Mike & McD can’t help but inquire about his creative process. conventioNOT Groupies are in for a treat when our hosts get vulnerable by recounting offline personal conversations and the discussion turns to the differences in TV and the way that race a...
2020-07-291h 03
conventioNOT PodcastFaith Maverick - Rick JordanRick Jordan’s background is deep. Matter of fact, he had just returned from a visit to the Whitehouse hours before joining Mike & McD on this episode. A longtime advocate for his religion, church and freedom - Rick’s history with technology is pretty cool. He started with a well-earned spot early on with Best Buy’s Geek Squad, back when cyber security was at its infancy. Jordan found himself helping America’s homes understand tech and today he helps people realize their full potential. Today, he's offering protection across the world. And it’s working. conventioNOT's premise is...
2020-07-271h 14
conventioNOT PodcastYea, You - Rob OliverRob Oliver is a dad, husband, best selling author, motivational speaker - and all around inspirational human. Mike & McD learn about his patience the hard way as they experience some technical difficulties getting started with the episode. Rob is unshaken and shares a really touching story about his newest book: “Who me? Yea, You,” which tackles some of the realities of bullying and speaking to readers about their very powerful ways to stop it. A Pittsburgh native, Oliver shares about a trip to the Outer Banks, North Carolina that changed his life forever, including a turned down prop...
2020-07-191h 00
conventioNOT PodcastContext is Everything - conventioNOTMike, McD & Chris welcome Anna McDevitt and dive deep into communication, context and tolerance. It's taken a long time to get Mrs. McD on the show - and the wait was worth it. Chris and Anna went to Kent State university and reflect back on Facebook's validation rules. Social Media and its value in our world has come up often on the show... and it organically finds its way into this complex discussion about context and holding space for others. Anna, a dedicated yogi shares quite a bit about her time reconnecting with yoga practice, meditation and l...
2020-07-1355 min
conventioNOT PodcastPerfect vs Done - Hernan SiasHernan Sias has a number of certifications and professional designations like High School Financial Algebra Teacher, Real Estate Sales License, Life and Health License, CTEC Certified Tax Professional, and a bachelor’s degree in Accountancy. Aside from all of these valid credentials - Hernan Sias has something that most conventioNOT guests share: fire in his heart. Sias has become one of California's most notable podcasters and has some really monumental goals - including recording 500 episodes on his BusinessBros show and launching a couple other business forward podcasts over the next year. Mike and McD didn't now...
2020-07-061h 13
conventioNOT PodcastExperience Design - J CorneliusJ Cornelius' consulting career started at age 15, when he agreed to take $200 an hour to run sound and lighting in Texas. J shares life beyond sleeping in a tire swing as a teenager and building successful relationship with friends, clients and the world. Though his earlier career was mired in necessity, J started building digital products since 1996, including one of the early platforms that had over a million users. Fast forward almost 25 years, Cornelius now runs Nine Labs, a digital product strategy, design, and experience consultancy operating in Atlanta and New York City. J raps w...
2020-06-221h 08
conventioNOT PodcastCommunicative Opportunity - Dr. Susan TamasiDr. Susan Tamasi is a pedagogist at Emory University. Spending the last decade and a half researching, authoring and teaching some of the brightest minds to communicate. The thing is, her approach to education and leaning is filled with a casual and comfortable tone. conventioNOT episodes are filled with interviews, but none quite like this. Dr. Tamasi informs Mike and McD about the NBC Pronunciation Standards they learned as elementary students and dives deeper into the fundamentals of communication in the US. Shockingly enough, her drive as a linguist isn't to speak all of the languages... but t...
2020-06-151h 10
conventioNOT PodcastSneaker Heads - conventioNOTSneakers come up often on the episodes of our show. Mike & McD's banter usually ends somewhere around a new pair of Jordan 1's or an anecdote about McD's swelling budget for Nike and Yeezy. This time, the guys get deep with Chris "Chops" La Torre about the industry, all the terms and a few hacks on how to freshen your feet. Even if you think flashy Adidas are silly or have never even heard of Balenciaga - this episode is worth a listen. For longtime conventioNOT Podcast listeners a new style of episode is coming forward this s...
2020-06-031h 11
conventioNOT PodcastStyle Therapy - Lillian Gray Charles Join Mike & McD with our guest, Lillian Gray Charles. Lillian established STYLE THERAPY in 2011 as a way to help women remove physical, emotional and mental barriers that keep them from living fully expressed lives. From wardrobe editing, personal shopping and public speaking to energy healing sessions and self-inquiry workshops, Lillian is on earth to help people express themselves. She holds a B.A. in Women's Studies and French from Agnes Scott College, is a lululemon ambassador, a Master Reiki healer and a full-time cheerleader of bad ass women stepping into their power. She has been featured in CNN’s...
2020-05-251h 02
conventioNOT PodcastForensic Todd - Dr Todd BarrCleveland's Deputy Medical Examiner, Todd Barr joins conventioNOT in one of our most exciting episodes yet. Mike and McD get a chance to hear his wild story, ask some really deep questions and even hear some of the really gritty details about the macabre truths in his current job. His biography is not shy of shocking stories and his activist passion is really showcased on the show while recounting some of the monumental events that led him to his home near Lake Erie. It's such a unique story, with clear stops along the way with Dr Barr e...
2020-05-171h 35
conventioNOT PodcastNew Cipher - conventioNOTThe fact is that most conventioNOT listeners could care less what season or episode number it is. The fact is that there are hundreds of happiness through career stories in our archives. As Mike and McD get more experienced, we find that people like Chris Harris are just too important to the spirit of the show to be one and done interview guests. Chris already shared his biography in Game Ready, which was released in early 2020. Now he's back, speaking on his lifestyle, personal grooming habits and even a little bit about his misguided NBA fanhood. ...
2020-05-101h 01
conventioNOT PodcastFuture Proof - Steve BearAlmost all of us know an engineer. They’re easy to typecast, right? The pleated khakis, mismatched socks and superior mathematical and analytical skills almost always prevail. conventioNOT’s premise is to find the oddballs… those who swim against the stream, are the cream of the crop or any other stereotypical cliches we might utter. Steve Bear isn’t any of those things… except an engineer. Starting as an outcast runaway enrolled in a homogenous high-school, he recounts some of the seemingly normal things that could have changed his outcome - including a scary memory after being thrown from a motorcyc...
2020-05-051h 16
conventioNOT PodcastLife Compatible - Adam BlackerOrgan Donation is pretty descriptive. It involves serious medical alignment. In this episode Mike & McD get schooled on the science behind finding matches from Adam Blacker, histocompatibility scientist, about the technology and physical process for Organ Procurement. Way before he started matching DNA at for his current role, Blacker spent plenty of time in a lab paying his dues. His recount of the mentors who affected him and honesty about the advice he takes to heart is really touching. For our more detail based listeners, Blacker gets specific about procuring tissues, heart valves and even g...
2020-04-291h 15
conventioNOT PodcastPredator EgoWorking with Predators is clearly an exotic topic right now and conventioNOT Podcast joins the big streaming media players with Dave Salmoni, Large Predator Expert from Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, Facebook, Jimmy Kimmel and all kinds of other places you might imagine a regular dude living amongst Lions and Bears and all kinds of other scary stuff. Despite what’s displayed recently on Netflix, it turns out it takes much more than a camera and a clown with a crazy haircut to share your life with some of the world’s most dangerous creatures. Dave’s aspirations while gro...
2020-04-181h 50
conventioNOT PodcastMountain Air - Joe GuardiolaThe aviation business isn't a simple one. It's loaded with all kinds of requirements - and the pilots like Joe Guardiola are the people who organize each of those missions that we take for granted when jumping on a plane to zip across timezones. This episode dives into some of the stories, nutty clients and risks that a private jet pilot's life encounters. Most of us haven't landed on a strip in Central America - but nearly all of us can identify with Guardiola's sense of passion and desire to seek adventure. Shortly after recording this and t...
2020-04-131h 07
conventioNOT PodcastDog Park Workout - Dave Salmoni & NicoleSpecial Edition of conventioNOT: Nicole Sinnott and Wailer step in to host for Mike with Dave Salmoni in an excerpt of an upcoming episode with the Predator Expert. Other than the Netflix Tiger King, you probably don't not know many folks who have the types of stories that Dave does - like training to live with a Pride of Lions on the other side of the world. If you haven't seen Dave on Animal Planet or Facebook - after hearing this episode, you'll want to be sure to check out some of the amazing experiences this guy's h...
2020-04-0108 min
conventioNOT PodcastQuarantine Silo - conventioNOTMike & McD sit down with each other to discuss the covid-19 virus' effect on the world, the future and suggest some ways to get by in these times. If you're familiar with conventioNOT, you know that science and economics are our thing. As a self diagnosed armchair economist, Ryan gives a Scrooge McDuck visual description of the national economy in these unprecedented times... money pool and all. Mike shares worldwide experience with such different standards of enforcing quarantine, including where one of Mike's sisters lives, in Northern Italy - the worst affected area at the time of r...
2020-03-231h 07
conventioNOT PodcastGame Ready - Chris HarrisSometime in the mid nineties, Chris Harris unwrapped a Numark DJ in a box system in Cleveland. Neither he or his family knew that the gift would start training him for the rest of his creative career. Fast forward past an undergrad at Kent State University, almost a decade at the Cuyahoga County County Coroners office (aka the morgue) and hundreds of songs... it's unlikely that you haven't heard his music. That's right - of all the stars, spitting lyrics and spending overnights in the studio... Harris' rhymes are so frequently played, he has friends from decades ag...
2020-03-101h 08
conventioNOT PodcastBrave MOFO - Jen LeonJennifer Leon’s powerful voice has travelled around the halls of every company she’s ever worked for. She’s built her software career from the ground up, helping to build company after company in post-acute healthcare. If conventioNOT were a show about careers and aptitude - Leon would be a star guest. But it’s not. conventioNOT is about achieving happiness despite a work life that includes details upon details and work upon work. You’ll find this episode with Mike & McD cruising along, discussing college party life, first jobs and small hometowns… Jen drops a bomb...
2020-02-241h 07
conventioNOT PodcastFlavor Ambassador - Chris WarsowMany food career dreams start with a kid washing dishes in the back of a restaurant, going to culinary school and writing a Michelin Star quality menu that’s recognized worldwide. Our next guest, Chris Warsow had the foresight early on that his happiness wasn’t going to be found in the back of a restaurant. From a young age, his intrigue with science and flavor drove him to solve food’s problems - and now his work is so much more than building an unbreakable Caesar dressing and collecting chef trading cards. In one of conventioNOT’s most e...
2020-02-091h 07
conventioNOT PodcastFulfilling Something Different - conventioNOT PodcastTypically, the guys are five or six hours away from each other when they record the show. This time, they share a time zone and a deep, one on one conversation about a lot of Ryan’s past few months - which seem to be a bit tumultuous. Neither Mike or McD are typically too excited to share about themselves and becoming who they are. Show after show, we’re able to to speak with some of the most dynamic examples of unconventional success and listeners who don’t know much about our hosts will hear our take a...
2020-01-291h 00
conventioNOT PodcastFood feels right - Lindsay-Jean HardLindsay-Jean Hard's introduction to exotic food started when wandering smaller markets in Japan about a decade ago. Even then, her exploratory nature and documentation of the results sparked interest online. After blogging and moving on to a food based startup back in the states, her column, “cooking with scraps” drew the attention of a publisher that wanted to expand upon the ideas she was sharing at Food52. Tens of thousands of copies later, She joins mike and McD to talk about community, connections and being open enough to follow her own destiny. By the end of t...
2019-12-3155 min
conventioNOT PodcastFunctional Kinetics - Graham PolakoffGraham Polakoff has spent almost all of his early adult years in clinical care. After studying to become a physical therapist, physicians assistant, working with spinal cord injuries and discovering the very real limitations of American health care practices. This episode is filled with more than just golf swings and stretching - it's more about creating something new, while battling conventional wisdom of both the system and athlete knowledge. Fast forward to 2019, Polakoff now owns a functional movement gym called Omni Kinetics in Birmingham, Michigan and has changed the way that he approaches his athletes entirely. Although h...
2019-12-171h 05
conventioNOT PodcastGrey Area Matters - Justin TurkowskiMike sits down in a solo interview with Justin Turkowski, lifelong producer, photographer and now owner of Variables Productions to discuss filming professional athletes, spear fishing and dive into the depths of what makes him function. We find out very quickly that Justin sees the world in not just black and white - but a large, grey area that matters very much in the way we approach our happiness. Grey Matter is a major component of the central nervous system, consisting of neuronal cell bodies, neuropil, glial cells, synapses, and capillaries. Most people think it's just an i...
2019-12-071h 15
conventioNOT PodcastInformed Sensitivity - Taylor PiedmonteFrom sitting alone at lunch for months at a new high school, allowing himself to be encouraged and then chasing one of the most challenging careers around, Taylor’s kind and happy spirit has helped direct him around the country and in front of cameras and microphones since 2010. In this episode - Mike & McD check in with Taylor on the pursuit of creativity, and the support system that continues to scaffold his endeavors as an actor, musician, podcaster and screenwriter. We continue to identify that conventioNOT guests are certainly matched through their tolerance of risk and Taylor talks about how his...
2019-12-051h 11
conventioNOT PodcastOG Transplant - Amy HooverBeing called a Transplant is common for the millions of folks who have relocated to Atlanta over the past decade or so. Our guest, Amy Hoover made her way south to ATL before Y2K and has been active in building employment and entrepreneurship opportunities in the city for more than a decade. In this compelling episode, the guys learn about how bootstrapping two businesses through both economic downturns in the past twenty years and the type of nimble grit that she displayed to be at the forefront of coworking. It’s hard to realize the type of...
2019-11-151h 09
conventioNOT PodcastOpen Water Pasture - Jon PerryWhen most people think of an Arborist... it's not likely to include somebody like our guest zip-lining with a chainsaw while studying the biological makeup of the forest around him. Jon Perry, owner of Oahu Tree Works on the North Shore of Hawaii first found his passion for trees while living at a Buddhist Monastery in California. After continuing on to the University of Hawaii and honing his crafts for years, he decided to go into business for himself... but not for the reasons that most people do. He has been in search of his craft being p...
2019-10-301h 00
conventioNOT PodcastSay What You Need To - Mitchell SternThe first thing many of us look forward to every morning is coffee. So much so - that it provides a bridge across continents and flavor palates. Our guest, Mitchell Stern is building a career in the coffee business and joins Mike and McD to share his lifelong pursuit of passion. Starting in the humdrum world of marketing in Toronto, Stern's creative ideas and spirit yearned for a deeper influence on a business. So one day, he just quit. Many of our listeners dream of that... and Mitchell did it. Shortly thereafter, he met with h...
2019-10-211h 15
conventioNOT PodcastClimbing Over the Dragon - Dan SinnottThis is the first interview episode of the conventioNOT podcast and features Dan, a long time leader who started the first three decades of his life on a really tough path. We decided to release this show again, for a bunch of reasons. Mike talks about them in the intro. Even if you've heard it before, we think it bears another listen. This hour long show gets deep into his story, which included more than a few run-ins with addiction and hard luck. Today, his 80+ person business dedicates itself to working with and helping recovering te...
2019-09-3057 min
conventioNOT PodcastCommunication Rejects - @conventioNOT_PodcastThe guys catch up about this season’s guests, and those that haven’t been as excited about joining the show as we were having them. After 17 episodes, we get to look back on the best parts of 2019 and poll our listeners for ideas on Season 3. ConventioNOT rarely pulls punches when it comes to current events and this episode is no different... diving into both Freedom of Speech and Gun Rights, while rounding out with commentary on news coverage and our love for standup comedians. Our less than professional technology nearly stole our gusto a couple...
2019-09-2553 min
conventioNOT PodcastFreakshow Origins - Mikey and BobIt's rare that two guests join conventioNOT at once on the same show. When Mikey and Bob from 96.1 KISS in Pittsburgh agreed to join and share their story from grade school forward - Mike and McD were eager to schedule them. Weird thing is, these two hosts of the Freakshow started working together in the stockroom of a shoe store more than 20 years ago and never stopped. One time, Bob's mom even tried to support their civil union over video games. Luckily for both of their wives, Mike Dougherty and Bob Mason moved from that couch of l...
2019-09-171h 45
conventioNOT PodcastSmartPhone DumbAss - @conventioNOT_PodcastBack after a few weeks off, Mike and McD chat fall sports, concussions and ponder how much longer the NCAA can maintain its monopoly. Ryan is fresh off a trip to Nashville for the DeepTropcs music festival. The subjects get deep in this episode, including Ryan's thoughts on Chick-Fil-A, getting accosted by country music fans and both of their breakdown of the NCAA monopoly on sports and entertainment. We are cruising through our summer break, where the guys have been scheduling interviews and planning to kick the show up a notch. We're now live on P...
2019-09-0952 min
conventioNOT PodcastIt Takes What it Takes - Steve HetzelUnderstanding what it takes to perform at the highest level of your profession is a rabbit that almost all of us chase. Steve Hetzel, of the Orlando Magic (and 10+ year coaching veteran of the NBA) joins Mike and McD from Summer League in Las Vegas to share about everything from his headphones named "heaven" to the real dedication that it takes to get what you want in life. After joining the Michigan State University basketball program with Tom Izzo, Hetzel has worked for the San Antonio Spurs, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, Charlotte Hornets and Orlando Magic. Changes i...
2019-07-251h 07
conventioNOT PodcastPassion in the Pit - Lawrence La PiantaAlmost all of us have thought about quitting our job at one point in time or another. Lawrence La Pianta of Cherry Street Barbecue in Toronto not only left his day job in film production - but he is successfully chasing his dream every day he steps into one of his three restaurants. Join us for Episode 2 of Season 2 to hear about his view of positivity and happiness. Thankfully, Lawrence had time when Mike stepped into the original Cherry Street location and sat down with the well-decorated Canadian Pitmaster. We learned about smuggling barbecue in the 90's...
2019-06-2551 min
conventioNOT PodcastThrough the Wire - Gabe BucknerMike and McD are proud that conventioNOT Podcast made it to season #2! First up... Gabe Buckner from Fat Trunk, Prodjex and the Home Medical Equipment Hall of Fame. We may have made that last one up, but you'll be intrigued to hear Gabe's story - which started at 15, building fences. After continuing on to selling software and leading sales teams - he gets brutally honest about being a dad, building nationwide networks of friends and finding mentors. If you haven't subscribed to the show yet? conventioNOT is available wherever you listen: apple podcasts, spreaker, TuneIn, Spotify and a b...
2019-06-081h 03
conventioNOT PodcastSeason One Finale - @conventioNOT_PodcastAll of the stuff gets into the final episode: NFL draft, social media, fashion decisions and stories about Mike's nefarious costume party history and Ryan's addictions to technology. It's been a fun ride in producing conventioNOT for these several episodes - we hope you've heard them all by now. We talk about season two and what you should expect. One more thing... we're live on several more podcast channels, including YouTube, Radio.FM and FreePublic. Make sure you subscribe to the show and follow us on our social platforms: Insta, Facebook and Twitter - all @co...
2019-06-0328 min
conventioNOT PodcastArtificial Assistant Intelligence - @conventioNOT_PodcastBoth of the guys are fresh off professional development conferences and Mike's awareness has increased around home assistant devices - particularly the way that they have been used legally. If Amazon Alexa wasn't already transcribing conventioNOT episodes... they sure as hell are now. As the season nears its end, Mike and McD dive into coaching and Long Term Athletic Development, where Ryan's conference was focused. If you like the cynical spin, there's plenty for you in this episode. Be sure to follow us on twitter & insta: @conventioNOT_podcast
2019-05-2820 min
conventioNOT PodcastSexy Past 35 - @conventioNOT_PodcastIt's no secret that the secret to remaining young has a lot to do with habits and lifestyle. In reality, science and time really don't change that much - and the strategies we use to keep ourselves happy, healthy and youthful rarely do either. In this episode, the guys talk about mortgaging years of vulnerability for survival in adolescence as well as diving deep into their own habits on why they live active lives and pursue happiness through workouts. This is our 10th episode of the first season and the feedback is a solid 5 stars o...
2019-04-3017 min
conventioNOT PodcastMovie Review Episode - @conventioNOT_PodcastIt's movie season and the awards have been handed out. Mike and McD break down two of the season's most popular movies: Bohemian Rhapsody and Free Solo. Shockingly, there's a debate between the two conventioNOT co-hosts that spans everything from personal relationships with homosexuality to whether Red Bull should offer payouts to squirrel suit accident victims. Yea. We keep it real, even when we aren't talking about ourselves and our insecurities. Do you follow us online? The best place to find us is on Instagram page: conventioNOT_podcast. You'll see more about the host's personalities...
2019-04-2218 min
conventioNOT PodcastArguing With Fools - @conventioNOT_PodcastMike and McD steer away from politics when it comes to the show. It's too messy and doesn't age well for the episodes and their archives. We blur that line a bit in this one, analyzing some political strategies like wagging the dog, avoiding arguments with fools and the risk of judging books by the cover. Ryan's infatuation with Trap Music, tattoos and pop culture also come up in the episode and 2Chainz declines his interview after Mike's comments about his educational record. We are on pace to hit 1000 Downloads this month! thanks for your...
2019-04-1517 minconventioNOT PodcastSports Betting and Skin Care - @conventioNOT_PodcastIt’s no secret by now being a sports fan is pretty much required to be part of the conventioNOT team - so our episode saves time on making predictions and jumps right into the anxieties of willing your team to win in the NCAA basketball tournament. Mike also recently bought himself a Wahl beard trimmer and shares his review on the clippers while poking fun at Ryan’s baby face and boyish charm. The show has crossed its 60th day and the downloads have really picked up. Thanks for the support and please keep subs...
2019-04-0815 min
conventioNOT PodcastClimbing Over the Dragon - Dan SinnottThis is the first interview episode of the conventioNOT podcast and features Dan, a long time leader who started the first three decades of his life on a really tough path. This hour long show gets deep into his story, which included more than a few run-ins with addiction and hard luck. Today, his 80+ person business dedicates itself to working with and helping recovering team members find their own happiness. Before we get into the happy parts - we spend some really serious time delving into the idea that spiraling out of control can be a...
2019-03-1057 min
conventioNOT PodcastThe Missed Economics of Education - @conventioNOT_PodcastMike and Ryan both come from families of educators and were very much shaped by their experiences together at Michigan State University. This episode gets deep into the risk and rewards of higher education, if you're so lucky. The guys also talk about their favorite comedians and what it must be like if making people laugh is what makes one happy. This certainly isn't censorship. We're unsure if this particular episode is good for a person approaching college - but we're excited to hear your feedback. Make sure to follow us on Instagram, Twitter and su...
2019-02-2719 min
conventioNOT PodcastVulnerable Back Home - @conventioNOT_PodcastThe guys twirl the world of social media vs face to face experiences and their perspective on a digitized reality by sharing a couple of events that happened back in Metro Detroit. Mike talks about the temptations of judging a person by a snapshot lifestyle and Ryan’s belief that being an Outlier is as much part of birth date and year as Malcolm Gladwell does. The conventioNOT podcast has now been picked up on all podcast channels. Check us out and subscribe there.
2019-02-1911 min
conventioNOT PodcastBeards and Creative Process - @conventioNOT_PodcastMike and Ryan manifest their inner English teachers by discussing guys who are a little too defined by their beards and making sure that we stay within the bro code guide lines. Both of our hosts write professionally and personally and get really honest about their own creative writing strategies. Don't forget to subscribe to conventioNOT - available wherever podcasts are served.
2019-02-1911 min
conventioNOT PodcastNBA & Back in the Day - @conventioNOT_PodcastIf you know our podcast, you know Mike and Ryan are sports fans - so it was inevitable that we have an existential conversation about the leagues. This conventioNOT episode was recorded just after the Super Bowl in Atlanta, where Ryan lives. No doubt the NBA and NFL have a lot of similar qualities, but the guys break down the differences between them and the value that they play in society. It gets pretty deep. Don't forget to subscribe, wherever you listen to podcasts.
2019-02-1912 min