Episodes

Leadership from the Saddle: What Horses Teach Us About Leading Guests: Britain Mills-Dawes and Tea Di Lillo Host: Julie Riga In this episode of Stay On Course, leadership coach Julie Riga is joined by equine practitioner Britain Mills-Dawes and Alberta horse trainer Tea, co-hosts of the Uncinched podcast. Together they explore the leadership lessons hidden between horse and rider: trust, presence, intuition, and the quiet confidence that makes others gravitate toward you. Whether you lead a co...

Give First and Win Bigger: How Great Partnerships Start with Generosity, Not Negotiation Guest: Stan Valo, Founder of eDots Host: Julie Riga Overview What if the key to business growth wasn't in closing deals, but in giving first? In this episode of Stay On Course, Julie Riga sits down with Stan Valo, founder of eDots and a 21-year e-commerce veteran, to explore a transformational mindset shift. Stan unpacks his three-ingredient recipe for partnership success that helped him build a purpose-...

Rebellious Success: Failure, Bigger Games, and Playing Full Out Guest: Toni Will | Host: Julie Riga | Stay On Course Podcast What if failure was your greatest leadership asset? In this bold and energizing episode, Julie Riga sits down with Toni Will, a two-time Guinness World Record holder, General Manager of the Kalamazoo Wings, TEDx speaker, entrepreneur, and author of the upcoming book Rebellious Success. Toni brings contagious energy and hard-won wisdom to a conversation about competence, c...

Your Brand Is Your Business Outfit: The Unspoken Rules of Brand Identity That Drive Real Growth Guest: Lexy Rubin, Owner and Creative Director of Rubin Design Company Host: Julie Riga Overview In this episode of the Stay On Course Podcast, Julie Riga sits down with Lexy Rubin, Owner and Creative Director of Rubin Design Company, an award-winning branding agency in South Florida. Lexy is a purpose-driven brand strategist whose career spans NASA internships, New York City corporate branding, an...

When Uncommon Becomes Destiny: Faith, Discipline, and Divine Alignment Transform Your Calling into Purpose Guest: Minister Bernard Marrow Host: Julie Riga What happens when you stop trying to fit in and start owning the uncommon path God placed in you? In this episode of Stay On Course, host Julie Riga sits down with Minister Bernard Marrow, founder of By Faith We Good Ministry Inc., musician, author, and motivational speaker. Together they explore how divine alignment, unshakeable faith, and ...

From Trauma to Triumph: The Three Ingredients for Post-Traumatic Growth Guest: David Dachinger, Retired Fire Lieutenant, EMT, Peer Coach and Grammy-Nominated Producer Host: Julie Riga What if your greatest trauma became your most powerful mission? In this transformational episode, Julie Riga sits down with David Dachinger, a stage four cancer survivor, retired fire lieutenant, Grammy-nominated producer, and resilience advocate, to unpack the three essential ingredients for post-traumatic growt...

Selling from the Soul: Confidence, Grit and Purpose-Driven Success Host: Julie Riga | Guest: Monique Iacobacci What does it truly take to show up every day with confidence, resilience, and authentic purpose, even when doors are being slammed in your face? In this heartfelt episode, Julie Riga sits down with her longtime friend and powerhouse sales leader Monique Iacobacci to explore the mindset and soul-driven conviction behind over a decade of transformational selling. From polar-vortex cold ...

From Corporate Boardrooms to Small Business Breakthroughs: Ingredients for Success with James Orsini Stay On Course Podcast | Host: Julie Riga | Guest: James Orsini What does it really take to build a thriving small business and how do the lessons of the Fortune 500 world translate to the entrepreneurial journey? In this candid and inspiring conversation, Julie Riga sits down with seasoned executive James Orsini to unpack the mindset shifts, operational disciplines, and leadership principles t...

When Success Feels Heavy: The Architecture of Trust That Holds Guest: Debbie Simmons, Legacy Architect, Keynote Speaker and Bestselling Author Host: Julie Riga What is your life really built on, and will it hold when pressure hits? In this powerful episode, Julie sits down with Debbie Simmons, founder of the multimillion-dollar nonprofit Anchor Point and creator of the Architecture of Trust. Debbie shares how she turned a breaking point into a blueprint, why hustle and control eventually crack...

From Content Overload to Curated Influence: The Future of Connection Overview In this transformative episode, Julie Riga sits down with Kyle Hudson, founder and CEO of Stacklist, to explore how curation, not content creation, is becoming the future of trust and influence in an AI-driven world. Kyle shares his journey from building digital solutions for Google, Disney, and Coca-Cola to creating a platform that helps service professionals own their client relationships. Together, they dive into t...

Living with Purpose Today So You're Remembered Tomorrow: The Sacred Art of Legacy Building Overview In a world that often feels overwhelming and chaotic, Rabbi Daniel Cohen reminds us that our greatest power lies not in changing the entire world, but in transforming one moment, one encounter, one life at a time. This deeply inspiring conversation explores the sacred ingredients for living with intentional purpose and creating a legacy that matters - starting today, not someday. Through powerful...

Stop Chasing Maybes: The Perfect Fit Client Method for B2B Sales Success Overview In this transformative episode, Julie Riga sits down with Nicoleta Hajek, founder of Pro Sales and the voice behind Empower Sales by Nico, for her very first podcast appearance. Nicoleta reveals her powerful Perfect Fit Client Method - a simple yet revolutionary approach that helps SME founders and technical teams build repeatable B2B sales systems. Together, they explore the three-part framework (FIT, IMPACT, URG...

Aligning Your Marketing for Long-Term Growth: The 3 Essential Ingredients Every Business Owner Needs In this transformative episode, Julie Riga sits down with Jeremiah Aut, founder and CEO of Involved Digital Marketing, to explore the strategic foundations that drive sustainable business growth. Jeremiah shares his journey from fragmented experimentation to focused execution, revealing the three essential ingredients that align marketing strategy with long-term success. Whether you're a small b...

The Art of Presence: Ingredients for Success in Leadership and Life Guest: Gabriella Salvatore, Global Organizational Effectiveness & Leadership Strategy Advisor Host: Julie Riga Overview In this transformational episode, Julie welcomes Gabriella Salvatore to explore authentic leadership presence. Gabriella shares powerful insights on being truly present in our hyper-connected world. This conversation reveals the deeper practice of presence - how to listen, connect, and lead with clarity even w...

From PodFest to Purpose: Building Your Podcast Legacy Through Growth and Connection Guest: Junaid Ahmed, Home Studio Architect and Host of Hacks and Hobbies: Passion to Profit Stories Host: Julie Riga Overview In this inspiring episode recorded live at PodFest 2026, host Julie Riga connects with Junaid Ahmed for their second annual PodFest conversation. Junaid, known as the Home Studio Architect and host of Hacks and Hobbies: Passion to Profit Stories, shares powerful insights on podcast growt...

Guard the Work: The Unspoken Rules of Legacy Leadership Guest: Dr. (hc) Lisa Ray, Founder of Golden Ray Publishing Host: Julie Riga Overview In this powerful episode, host Julie Riga sits down with Dr. (hc) Lisa Ray, a veteran ghostwriter, publisher, and media strategist who transforms lived experience into legacy. Lisa shares her expertise in authentic leadership, personal brand protection, and the responsibility of stepping into the spotlight with integrity. From her work with ...

Leading Change When The Old You No Longer Works: Navigating High-Stakes Transformation with Heart-Centered Leadership Guest: Lin Coughlin, Executive Coach & Strategic Advisor Host: Julie Riga Overview In this powerful episode, Julie sits down with Lin Coughlin, an executive coach who spent 20 years in C-suite roles leading transformative change. Lin shares her wisdom on navigating high-stakes inflection points, building constituencies for change, and why leading bold transformation requires bo...

Brain-Based Leadership: How Awareness, Curiosity, and Presence Transform the Way You Lead Guest: Tracy Benson, Top 1% LinkedIn Coach & Brain-Based Leadership Expert Host: Julie Riga Overview Join Julie Riga as she sits down with Tracy Benson, a top 1% LinkedIn coach and brain-based leadership expert who has spent over three decades helping senior leaders create clarity, alignment, and real performance. Tracy blends neuroscience, leadership psychology, and practical business strategy to give l...

The Truth About 2025: My Raw Review of Small Business Reality Host: Julie Riga | Episode Type: Solo Episode Overview This isn't your typical year-in-review episode. Julie Riga gets brutally honest about what 2025 really looked like as a small business owner: the hustle that led nowhere, the rejection that stung, the corporate friends who disappeared, and the Friday nights spent wondering if she should just get a "real job" again. But here's the twist: she's not quitting. In this raw, unfiltered...

Three Ingredients for Building Unbreakable Resilience: Lessons from a Firefighter's Journey Guest: Gary Roberts - 20-Year Firefighter & Founder of Neurovus Host: Julie Riga Overview Julie sits down with Gary Roberts, a 20-year Fort Lauderdale firefighter who transformed personal tragedy into mission. After losing his daughter to an opioid overdose on her 27th birthday, Gary created Neurovus, an AI-powered mental health platform combining biometrics, voice-driven AI, and evidence-based therapies...

This episode marks an exciting milestone for the podcast. After launching in 2022, the show has officially begun charting on Apple Podcasts, and the momentum is just getting started. The focus for this year is clear and ambitious becoming a Top Ten podcast in the Entrepreneurship category. Listeners are invited into the Before I Lead community on Skool, a free space designed for small business owners who want greater visibility, stronger leadership skills, and real connection. The community off...

Beyond the Game: How One NBA Player Transformed Adversity Into Impact Guest: Gary Forbes, Former NBA Player, Published Author & Founder of Soul Survivors Host: Julie Riga Overview In this inspiring episode of the Stay On Course podcast, host Julie Riga sits down with former NBA player Gary Forbes to explore what happens when life takes you beyond the game you thought would define you. Gary shares his powerful journey from professional basketball to purpose-driven entrepreneurship, revealing the...

From Corporate Ladder to Freedom: The Franchise Path to Business Ownership Guest: Doris Fink, President of Plan B 2000 Inc | Host: Julie Riga Overview Julie sits down with Doris Fink, who turned an unexpected $300,000 opportunity into two decades of helping professionals create their Plan B. Doris shares her journey from single mom working three jobs to successful business owner, revealing the truth nobody talks about—why the first two years are hardest and how franchise ownership provides the ...

The Elevator Pitch Recipe: Crafting Marketing Messaging That Stops the Scroll Guest: Katie Lantukh, Founder of Murphy Marketing Host: Julie Riga Overview In this transformative episode, Julie Riga sits down with Katie Lantukh, founder of Murphy Marketing, to decode the art of the perfect elevator pitch. Katie reveals her proven recipe for creating marketing messaging that captures attention and inspires action. Together, they explore the critical ingredients every business leader needs to craft...