Episodes
May 1, 2026
475. Guest Mentor Vienna Pharaon shares how to break destructive cycles that hold us back, in business and in life
In this episode of THE MENTORS RADIO, Host Tom Loarie talks with Vienna Pharaon, a highly regarded licensed marriage and family therapist practicing in New York City and author of an off-the-charts best-selling book, The Origins of You: How Breaking Family Patterns Can Liberate the Way We Live and Love. This episode addresses some of the most fundamental and powerful forces in each of our lives that directly affect our individual ability to reach our full potential, in life, relationships, athle...
April 24, 2026
474. The Rising Role of Geopolitical Risk in Business Strategy, with Guest Bruce Mehlman
In this episode of THE MENTORS RADIO, Host Dan Hesse talks with Bruce Mehlman, CEO of Mehlman Consulting, a bipartisan firm he founded after serving at senior levels in politics, policy and business, to discuss the growing role that geopolitical risk plays in the strategy of all companies, large and small. Mehlman Consulting helps Fortune 500 companies and innovative startups understand, anticipate and navigate the ever-evolving policy environment and trends likely to impact the global marketpla...
April 17, 2026
473. World-Renown Neurosurgeon Dr. Robert F. Spetzler Exemplifies the Power of Focus, Teamwork and Treating others with Dignity, to Achieve Breakthrough Results in Brain Surgery and Life
In this episode of The Mentors Radio, Host Tom Loarie talks with Robert Spetzler, M.D., a world-renown neurosurgeon specializing in cerebrovascular disease and skull base tumors. He served as the J.N. Harber Chairman Emeritus of Neurological Surgery, and Director Emeritus, as well as President and CEO Emeritus, of the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, Arizona. Under Dr. Spetzler’s leadership, the Institute grew from a regional center to a global destination for the treatment, education, ...
April 10, 2026
472. What Sports Reveals about Presidents and Leaders, with Guest Mentor Chris Cillizza
In this episode of THE MENTORS RADIO, Host Dan Hesse talks with Chris Cillizza, an American political analyst, journalist, and digital media creator. He is best known for his sharp, accessible breakdowns of U.S. politics. He now runs a popular YouTube channel and publishes on Substack, where he explains political news in clear, engaging terms. In his latest book, Power Players: Sports, Politics, and the American Presidency, Chris takes a non-partisan and fascinating approach to understanding lea...
April 4, 2026
471. Is your career and lifestyle at risk from China’s ‘90% strategy’? Find out with Guest Mentor Ram Charan
In this episode of THE MENTORS RADIO, Host Tom Loarie talks with global advisor Ram Charan on whether your career and lifestyle are at risk from China’s “90% Strategy”. Ram Charan has been a foundational force in global business strategy for more than six decades, sought after for growth strategy and advice by CEOs including Jeff Bezos and more. Widely recognized as the advisor who tells you what you need to hear—not what you want to hear—Ram joins us for his sixth appearance to deliver a messag...
March 28, 2026
470. The Transformative Power of Creative Work and “Safe Danger” with Guest Ben Swire and Host Tom Loarie
In today’s episode of THE MENTORS RADIO, Host Tom Loarie talks with Ben Swire, former Design Lead at IDEO, about the power of creative work, “safe danger”, the importance of staying inspired and more. It’s the ultimate toolkit for those who crave meaning and purpose in every aspect of their life. Guest Mentor Ben Swire shows us the way to achieve it. Most of us have a “wish list” for our lives: we want inspiring experiences, deep relationships, and work that truly matters. But there is a massive...
March 20, 2026
469. Good Leaders Get Their Hands Dirty, with Guest Mentors Nelson Repenning and Don Keiffer
In this episode of THE MENTORS RADIO, Host Dan Hesse talks with MIT Professors Nelson Repenning and Don Keiffer to discuss their new book, There Has Got to Be a Better Way- How to Deliver Results and Get Rid of the Stuff That Gets in the Way of Real Work, describing Dynamic Work Design. Work design is the primary reason work often fails to get done well, and why leaders need to thoroughly know the business and get involved with the front line to be effective and respected. Nelson is the Faculty ...
March 13, 2026
468. Guest Mentor Shirin Behzadi – From Bulletproof Glass to a Billion-Dollar Exit: The Architecture of an Unexpected CEO
In this episode of THE MENTORS RADIO, Host Tom Loarie talks with Shirin Behzadi, author of The Unexpected CEO and an extraordinary leader who has lived what many would call three lifetimes in one. Shirin’s journey is a masterclass in perseverance, resiliance and what some would describe as anti-fragility. She rose from being alone, as an 18-year-old immigrant, working behind bulletproof glass as an all-night gas station cashier, to becoming the CEO of a billion-dollar home improvement franchise ...
March 6, 2026
467. Why JFK’s Bay of Pigs Mistakes May Have Saved the World, with Dr. Kaushik Basu and Host Dan Hesse
In this episode of THE MENTORS RADIO, Host Dan Hesse talks with Dr. Kaushik Basu, Professor of Economics and of International Studies at Cornell University. Dr. Basu was formerly Chief Economist of the World Bank, Chief Economic Adviser to the Indian Government, and president of the International Economic Association. He is currently co-Chair of the United Nations High-Level Expert Group “Beyond GDP”. Widely published, Dr. Basu’s works have been translated into several languages, including Chine...
Feb. 26, 2026
466. Jim Loehr on “Sapiens Reinvented” and The Essence of a Meaningful Life, with Host Tom Loarie
In this episode of THE MENTORS RADIO, Host Tom Loarie talks in a new episode with Jim Loehr, one of the world’s leading performance psychologists, a true pioneer in understanding human potential who has worked with the most elite athletes and business leaders, and who is a prolific author including his most recent book—and perhaps his most important—Sapiens Reinvented. You’ll learn about the real root of fear and bias, why it affects all of us, and why Loehr believes that families are the key to...
Feb. 20, 2026
465. How Mentors helped Ginni Rometty become Fortune’s “#1 Most Powerful Woman”, with Host Dan Hesse
In this episode of THE MENTORS RADIO, Host Dan Hesse talks with Ginni Rometty, who was the ninth Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of IBM. Under her leadership, the 100-year-old company reinvented 50 percent of its portfolio, built a $25 billion hybrid cloud business, and established leadership in AI and quantum computing. IBM acquired 65 companies during Ginni’s tenure as CEO, including Red Hat, the largest acquisition in the company’s history. She also drove record results in wo...
Feb. 13, 2026
464. Stop Selling and Start “Falling into Trust” with Richard Harris, and Host Tom Loarie
In this episode of The Mentors Radio, Host Tom Loarie talks with Richard Harris, the global sales expert who trained the teams at SalesForce, Zoom and General Electric, founder and principal of The Harris Consultant Group, and author of bestseller “The Seller’s Journey: Your Guidebook to Closing More Deals with N.E.A.T. Selling”. You’ll learn why everyone is in sales, regardless of whether you are sharing ideas, influencing a corporate direction, an entrepreneur, a landscaper, have a career in s...
Feb. 6, 2026
463. Learn to Live Your Values and Say No, with Dr. Sunita Sah and Host Dan Hesse
In this episode of THE MENTORS RADIO, Host Dan Hesse talks with Dr. Sunita Sah, national bestselling author, award-winning professor at Cornell University and an expert in organizational psychology. Dr. Sunita Sah joins Dan Hesse to discuss her bestselling book, Defy: The Power of No in a World That Demands Yes, which teaches us how to say “No” when saying “Yes” conflicts with our personal values. Dr. Sah leads groundbreaking research on influence, authority, trust, compliance and defiance. A tr...
Jan. 31, 2026
462. Performance Reviews are a Lie; Find out why with Guest Ashley Goodall and Host Tom Loarie
In this episode of THE MENTORS RADIO, Host Tom Loarie talks with Ashley Goodall, former Cisco executive and co-author of Nine Lies About Work, about lies we are told about work. For example, we are told that the best companies cascade goals and the best people are well-rounded. We are told that people leave because of ‘culture’ and that feedback is a gift. But what if every one of those statements is a lie?! In this episode, often-repeated work ‘dogmas’ will be dismantled—including the myth of “...
Jan. 23, 2026
461. Turning an Industry’s Business Model Upside Down with Andy Beckstoffer
In this episode of THE MENTORS RADIO, Host Dan Hesse talks withAndy Beckstoffer, named “the most powerful grapegrower by Wall Street Journal and the Wine Spectator. Few people have played a more pivotal, pioneering role in Napa Valley’s evolution into a world class wine region than Andy Beckstoffer, who owns Beckstoffer Vineyards. Beckstoffer Vineyards includes six Napa “Heritage sites” which consistently produce some of the best wines in the world, being awarded 100 point scores year after year...
Jan. 16, 2026
460. Guest Dr. Natali Edmonds on Becoming an Accidental Entrepreneur and Providing Genuine Answers and Support for Dementia Caregivers
In today’s episode of The Mentors Radio, Host Tom Loarie talks with Dr. Natali Edmonds, a board-certified geropsychologist and the founder of Dementia Careblazers. Did you know that right now, one in four adults in the United States is providing care for someone else? That represents 63 million Americans—a silent army navigating complex medical needs, crushing financial pressures, and heavy legal responsibilities. As our population ages, this role is rapidly becoming one of the most defining exp...
Jan. 9, 2026
459. Former Senator Jack Danforth Explains How Religious Congregations Can Heal America’s Political Divide
In this episode of THE MENTORS RADIO, Host Dan Hesse talks with former U.S. Senator Jack Danforth about Senator Danforth’s book, The Relevance of Religion, and why and how religious congregations of all faiths should endeavor to heal the political divide in America. An ordained Episcopal priest and former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Senator Danforth explains religion’s gift of “virtue” to politics, and his unique views on success and happiness. Former Senator John C. Danforth (Jack) i...
Jan. 9, 2026
458. How to Lead with Character, with World-renown human performance psychologist Jim Loehr on The Mentors Radio
In this episode of THE MENTORS RADIO, Host Tom Loarie talks with Jim Loehr, a world-renown human performance psychologist, about how to ensure you are leading with character and purposely pursuing what matters most. Loehr knows what he’s talking about. He has literally transformed hundreds of lives, including the most elite tennis competitors in the world, as well as business executives at all levels, and the millions of individuals who have read his books or taken his courses over many yeas. Ji...
Dec. 26, 2025
457. How to stay Anchored in Clear Thinking and Common Sense when everyone around you seems crazy with Professor J. Budziszewski
In this episode of The Mentors Radio, Host Tom Loarie talks with Yale Ph.D. J. Budziszewski, professor of Government and Philosophy at the University of Texas at Austin. The author of more than 20 books, including The Revenge of Conscience, What We Can’t Not Know and his most recent work, Pandemic of Lunacy: How to Think Clearly When Everyone Around You Seems Crazy. A former radical atheist, Dr. Budziszewski underwent a profound conversion that integrated his world-class intellect with deep fait...
Dec. 19, 2025
456. Eswar Prasad Explains the Crypto Phenomenon and Why Cash May Disappear, with Host Dan Hesse
In this episode of THE MENTORS RADIO, Host Dan Hesse talks with Dr. Eswar Prasad, a Professor of Economics at Cornell, a senior fellow at Brookings, and the former head of the IMF’s China division, to discuss his book The Future of Money: How the Digital Revolution Is Transforming Currencies and Finance, which was chosen as a Best Book of the Year by The Economist, The Financial Times, Foreign Affairs, ProMarket, and The Week. In The Future of Money, Dr. Prasad argues that we are at an inflectio...
Dec. 12, 2025
455. Behind the Lens: Renown Portrait Photographer Michael Collopy shares what distinguishes the truly great from the merely famous
In this episode of The Mentors Radio, Host Tom Loarie talks with Michael Collopy, one of the preeminent portrait photographers of our time — a man whose camera has revealed the inner soul of saints, world leaders, Nobel Peace laureates, and some of the most recognizable entertainers on the planet. Over 45 years, he has photographed six U.S. presidents, 37 Nobel Peace Prize laureates, and hundreds of global icons — and in the process, he has observed patterns of character, humility, ego, joy, and...
Dec. 5, 2025
454. Host Dan Hesse talks with Hall of Famer Jerome Bettis about Mentoring and more
In this episode of THE MENTORS RADIO, Host Dan Hesse talks with Jerome Bettis (also known as “The Bus”), who is a Hall of Fame running back and Walter Peyton NFL Man of the Year. Jerome describes how he “broke the cycle” of shunning rookies in the locker room and instead focused on encouraging and mentoring them. He also talks about how the generosity of one pro football player he met as a kid drove him to develop the habit of giving a “hand up” to those in need; a habit that he knows he will co...
Nov. 29, 2025
453. Breaking the Code to Enjoying Life, with former Apple Executive Rusty Gaillard and Host Tom Loarie
In this episode of The Mentors Radio, Host Tom Loarie talks with Rusty Gaillard, a man who built one of the quintessential “A-student” careers of our time: Princeton engineering, GE under Jack Welch, an MBA from Stanford, and ultimately 14 years at Apple, where he served as Worldwide Director of Finance. By any external measure, he had “made it”. But internally, Rusty hit a wall — a wall many high achievers eventually reach. That crisis led to deep introspection, divorce, reinvention, and ultima...
Nov. 21, 2025
452. Sahil Bloom on Why Four Kinds of Wealth Rank Ahead of Financial Wealth in Designing a Dream Life, with Host Dan Hesse
In this episode of The Mentors Radio, Host Dan Hesse talks with Sahil Bloom, author of The 5 Types of Wealth—A Transformative Guide to Design Your Dream Life to describe how important Time, Social, Mental, Physical, and Financial wealth are to leading one’s dream life, and how important it is not to sacrifice one kind of wealth in pursuit of another. In addition to his debut book, Sahill captivates millions of people every week through his insights and biweekly newsletter, The Curiosity Chronicl...