Épisodes

  • Why Oil and Gas Still Power the World | John Casiano

    Why Oil and Gas Still Power the World | John Casiano
    Jan 14 2026
    What actually powers modern life, and why does oil and gas still matter more than most people realize?

    In this episode of Executive Connect, host Bryan Hancock sits down with John Casiano, an independent consulting geologist based in San Antonio, to unpack how geology drives oil and gas investments, energy security, and the global economy. John explains how petroleum geology works in real terms, from identifying source rocks to understanding pay zones, fracking, and horizontal drilling.

    The conversation also tackles the energy transition, the realities of renewables, the role of infrastructure, and why oil and gas remain essential for everything from manufacturing and transportation to emerging technologies like AI and data centers. If you want a grounded, technical, and practical perspective on energy without political spin, this episode delivers.

    What You Will Learn
    • How geologists evaluate oil and gas prospects
    • The difference between conventional and unconventional drilling
    • What fracking actually does inside the rock
    • Why Texas remains a global energy leader
    • How infrastructure and private land ownership shape production
    • The real limits of renewable energy today
    • Why future energy demand is accelerating, not slowing down


    Chapters
    (0:00) Why oil and gas still power modern life
    (0:23) Meet John Casiano and his geology background
    (2:00) San Antonio’s role in the oil and gas industry
    (3:59) What geologists actually do on oil and gas projects
    (6:27) Field operations, safety, and modern drilling technology
    (10:32) Conventional vs unconventional drilling explained
    (13:25) Fracking, porosity, and horizontal wells
    (15:40) Why Texas dominates oil and gas production
    (18:54) Energy transition myths and global demand
    (22:00) Oil, renewables, and the future of energy
    (26:16) Career paths and opportunities in geology
    (28:04) Final thoughts on energy, economics, and reality

    Guest Bio
    John Casiano is an independent consulting geologist with over a decade of experience in the oil and gas industry. Based in San Antonio, he has worked extensively in exploration, operations, and unconventional resource development. John holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in geology and a master’s degree in operations management, and he is passionate about energy education, mentorship, and responsible resource development.

    Connect with John Casiano
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johncasianogeo/

    Connect With Executive Connect
    Website: https://www.executiveconnectpodcast.com
    YouTube: Executive Connect YouTube Channel
    LinkedIn: Melissa Aarskaug
    Instagram: @executiveconnectpodcast
    TikTok: @executiveconnectpodcast
    Facebook: Executive Connect
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    28 min
  • Leading Under Pressure: Identity, Resilience, and Systems | Michael Allison

    Leading Under Pressure: Identity, Resilience, and Systems | Michael Allison
    Jan 13 2026
    What if burnout isn’t a personal failure but a broken system?

    In this episode of the Executive Connect Podcast, Melissa sits down with Michael Allison, a Marine and Purple Heart recipient turned entrepreneur, to unpack what it truly means to lead under pressure.

    Michael shares how battlefield experiences shaped his approach to leadership, why clarity and conviction matter more than charisma, and how founders and executives can build identity-driven systems that prevent burnout before it starts. This conversation goes beyond motivation and gets practical about decision-making, culture, resilience, and sustainable scale.

    If you’re building something meaningful in a high-stakes environment, this episode offers a grounded, real-world blueprint for leading with strength and integrity.

    What You’ll Learn
    • How burnout is often a system failure, not an individual weakness
    • Why identity-driven leadership creates clarity under pressure
    • How to design repeatable systems that reduce chaos and decision fatigue
    • The role of conviction in decisive, high-trust leadership
    • How leaders can build resilience before stress breaks the organization


    Episode highlights:
    (1:27) Michael Allison’s battlefield experience and leadership clarity
    (3:41) Translating combat decision-making into business leadership
    (6:56) Identity-driven leadership explained
    (8:22) Rediscovering leadership identity under pressure
    (12:12) Preventing burnout while scaling fast
    (14:42) Break the bottle, protect the house framework
    (17:24) Common leadership mistakes during high stress
    (19:21) Leadership re-entry during growth and transition
    (24:26) Turning adversity into a scaling advantage
    (28:49) Culture as an operational system
    (32:42) The three pillars: clarity, creativity, conviction
    (35:25) Final leadership principles from Michael Allison

    Michael Allison is a Marine and Purple Heart recipient turned entrepreneur, leadership strategist, and founder of the Adversity Leadership Institute. Drawing from firsthand experience in combat and business, Michael helps leaders build identity-aligned systems that drive clarity, resilience, and sustainable growth. His work focuses on decision-making under pressure, burnout prevention, and creating cultures that scale without breaking people.

    🔗 Connect with Michael Allison
    Website: https://michaelwallison.com/
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iammichaelwallison/
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iammikewallison/

    🔗 CONNECT WITH EXECUTIVE CONNECT
    Website: https://www.executiveconnectexperience.com/
    Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ExecutiveConnect
    Subscribe on Newsletter: https://www.executiveconnectexperience.com/join/
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/my-executive-connect/

    🎧 SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST
    Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ro/podcast/the-executive-connect-podcast/id1816477167
    Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1zggDnblvD9Pa0Nn37o1TD?si=JVvZfm5rTryxJZh6nlO6yQ
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    37 min
  • How Great Leaders Handle Hard Conversations | Jen Hardy

    How Great Leaders Handle Hard Conversations | Jen Hardy
    Jan 12 2026
    Avoiding hard conversations might feel safer, but it quietly limits growth, trust, and leadership effectiveness.

    In this episode of the Executive Connect Podcast, host Melissa Aarskaug sits down with Jen Hardy to unpack why difficult conversations trigger fear at a nervous system level and how leaders can learn to regulate themselves before trying to influence others.

    Jen shares her journey from results-driven athletic coaching to emotionally intelligent leadership, explaining why vulnerability is not weakness and why clarity begins with self-regulation. Together, they explore how psychological safety, emotional awareness, and intentional communication frameworks allow leaders to navigate conflict without losing authority or trust.

    This episode is a practical guide for executives who want stronger teams, healthier cultures, and conversations that actually move people forward.

    Key Takeaways
    • Why avoiding conflict shuts down logical thinking and decision-making
    • How nervous system regulation impacts leadership communication
    • The difference between vulnerability and oversharing
    • Why emotional safety is required before clarity can exist
    • How to lead difficult conversations without losing authority
    • Simple frameworks leaders can use to reduce defensiveness and resistance
    • Why courage, not certainty, drives long-term leadership growth

    Timestamp Chapters
    (00:00) Why logic fails without emotional safety
    (01:10) From performance coaching to conscious leadership
    (03:30) Vulnerability versus weakness in leadership
    (05:55) Self-regulation before difficult conversations
    (07:26) Psychological safety and communication breakdowns
    (10:04) Leading with strength and transparency
    (12:54) Conflict, courage, and growth in modern teams
    (15:26) Tools for navigating high-stress conversations
    (17:24) Pre-framing communication for better outcomes
    (21:43) Why uncertainty creates leadership growth
    (23:39) Supporting leaders through emotional mastery
    (25:03) Final leadership reflections

    About the Guest

    Jen Hardy is the COO at the Academy of Motive Action, where she supports high-stress professionals through communication, emotional literacy, resilience, and self-mastery. With a background in athletics, education, and executive coaching, Jen helps leaders transform discomfort into clarity and connection.

    Connect With Jen Hardy
    Website: https://motivaction.academy/home-614511
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/the-jenhardy/

    Connect With Executive Connect
    Website: www.executiveconnectpodcast.com
    YouTube: Executive Connect YouTube Channel
    LinkedIn: Melissa Aarskaug
    Instagram: @executiveconnectpodcast
    TikTok: @executiveconnectpodcast
    Facebook: Executive Connect
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    26 min
  • Leadership Is Not What You Say. It Is How You Make People Feel | Andrea Wanerstrand

    Leadership Is Not What You Say. It Is How You Make People Feel | Andrea Wanerstrand
    Jan 8 2026
    Leadership is not just about vision, strategy, or charisma. It is about the emotional footprint you leave behind.

    In this episode of Executive Connect, host Melissa Aarskaug sits down with leadership strategist and cultural transformation expert, Founder & CEO of A3 Culture Lab, Andrea Wanerstrand to explore why emotional awareness is now one of the most critical leadership skills.

    Andrea explains how leaders unintentionally create stress, confusion, and fear through tone, energy, and emotional inconsistency, even when their intentions are good. She breaks down the science behind emotional intelligence, how the nervous system shows up at work, and why people remember how leaders make them feel more than what they say.

    This conversation is a practical guide for leaders who want stronger trust, higher engagement, and better performance without burning out their teams or themselves.


    What You Will Learn
    • Why emotional awareness drives trust and loyalty
    • How leadership energy creates ripple effects across teams
    • The difference between being nice and being kind
    • How emotional intelligence improves clarity and execution
    • Why stress kills creativity and innovation
    • How to reset your energy between meetings
    • The real ROI of leading with empathy

    Chapters

    (00:00) Why leadership is emotional, not positional
    (02:45) How leaders unintentionally create fear and confusion
    (06:30) The ripple effect of unmanaged energy
    (10:20) Emotional intelligence explained simply
    (15:40) Navigating tough conversations with clarity
    (20:30) Why micromanaging destroys confidence
    (26:10) Consistency, trust, and psychological safety
    (32:00) The myth of separating work and personal emotions
    (38:10) Feedback, presence, and emotional accountability
    (44:30) Leading with empathy in an AI driven world
    (50:20) Final reflections and how to connect


    Guest Bio

    Andrea Wanerstrand is a leadership strategist and cultural transformation expert who helps executives build emotionally intelligent organizations. Her work focuses on self awareness, trust, nervous system regulation, and high performance leadership.

    Connect with Andrea Wanerstrand

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreawanerstrand/
    Website: https://a3culturelab.com


    Connect With Executive Connect

    Website: https://www.executiveconnectpodcast.com
    YouTube: Executive Connect YouTube Channel
    LinkedIn: Melissa Aarskaug
    Instagram: @executiveconnectpodcast
    TikTok: @executiveconnectpodcast
    Facebook: Executive Connect
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    37 min
  • How Smart Investors Use Real Estate to Build Resilient Portfolios | Mike Zlotnik

    How Smart Investors Use Real Estate to Build Resilient Portfolios | Mike Zlotnik
    Jan 6 2026
    What if chasing individual real estate deals is actually increasing your risk?

    In this episode of the Executive Connect Podcast, Bryan sits down with Mike Zlotnik to break down how experienced investors think about real estate as part of a long-term portfolio strategy, not a one-off deal strategy.

    Mike explains how cap rates really work, why portfolio construction matters more than deal hunting, and how rising interest rates have reset commercial real estate pricing. They also explore why real estate behaves differently from public markets, how cash flow acts as downside protection, and why today’s environment favors disciplined, income-focused investors.

    If you are evaluating commercial real estate, private equity deals, or alternative investments and want a clearer framework for managing risk, leverage, and long-term returns, this episode delivers practical insight grounded in real market cycles.

    What You’ll Learn:
    • How portfolio construction matters more than chasing individual real estate deals
    • Why working with the right people is more important than picking the “perfect” deal
    • How commercial real estate fits into a diversified wealth strategy
    • What cap rates really mean and how interest rates impact property values
    • How to think about leverage, risk, and downside protection
    • Why today’s market cycle presents unique opportunities for patient capital
    • How to evaluate operators, sponsors, and investment terms
    • The importance of defining your personal buy box and don’t-buy box
    • How income-focused real estate can support long-term financial freedom


    Episode highlights:
    01:05 Why portfolio construction beats deal chasing
    02:45 Defining your investment goals before deploying capital
    04:12 Liquid vs illiquid assets in a balanced portfolio
    06:01 Why real estate shines for income and tax efficiency
    07:32 How rising interest rates reset commercial real estate
    08:58 Buying below replacement cost and intrinsic value
    10:41 Positive leverage and margin of safety explained
    12:05 Simple vs complex real estate strategies
    13:34 Why commercial real estate is a contrarian opportunity
    14:56 Choosing the right operator and sponsor
    17:48 How to evaluate deals beyond the spreadsheet
    19:11 Negotiating better terms as a capital partner
    21:00 Funds vs individual syndications
    23:12 Defining your buy box and your do not buy box
    25:55 Final thoughts on risk, leverage, and discipline

    Mike Zlotnik is a seasoned real estate investor, fund manager, and educator with decades of experience across private equity, private lending, and alternative investments. He is the founder of several investment firms and the host of the Big Mike Fund Podcast, where he interviews top investors, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders on building wealth outside traditional markets. Mike is known for his disciplined approach to capital preservation, cash flow, and long-term financial freedom.

    🔗 Connect with Mike:
    https://tempofunding.com/
    https://www.linkedin.com/in/mzlotnik/
    https://bigmikefund.com/

    🔗 CONNECT WITH EXECUTIVE CONNECT
    Website: https://www.executiveconnectexperience.com/
    Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ExecutiveConnect
    Subscribe on Newsletter: https://www.executiveconnectexperience.com/join/
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/my-executive-connect/
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    37 min
  • Rebuilding Empathy in an AI-Driven World | Dr. Ginger Carlson

    Rebuilding Empathy in an AI-Driven World | Dr. Ginger Carlson
    Jan 5 2026
    What happens when technology moves faster than our ability to understand one another?
    In this episode of Executive Connect Podcast, Melissa Aarskaug speaks with Dr. Ginger Carlson, founder of the Multarity Project, about the growing empathy deficit and how artificial intelligence can be used to reconnect people rather than divide them.

    Dr. Carlson explains how guided dialogue, diverse perspectives, and AI-powered visualizations are helping individuals and organizations build deeper understanding, improve decision-making, and restore human connection in a polarized world.

    This conversation challenges leaders to rethink how empathy, technology, and courage intersect in the future of work and society.

    What You Will Learn
    • Why society is experiencing a measurable empathy deficit
    • How structured dialogue increases understanding across differences
    • Ways artificial intelligence can strengthen human connection rather than replace it
    • How leaders can reduce fear and resistance around AI adoption
    • Why empathy directly impacts decision-making and organizational health
    • How to use technology without losing your personal voice or identity
    • Practical frameworks for building collective intelligence in teams

    Episode highlights:
    (1:10) What the Multarity Project does
    (2:49) Using AI to build understanding
    (4:22) Why people fear artificial intelligence
    (6:29) AI as a creative partner
    (9:27) Human development and technology
    (13:02) Generational differences in AI adoption
    (18:21) Empathy decline and social division
    (24:25) Using AI without losing your voice
    (32:10) Why empathy is the connective tissue

    Connect with Dr. Ginger Carlson:
    Web: https://www.multarityproject.com/
    Web: https://www.gingercarlson.com/
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drgingercarlson/

    Watch her TEDx Talk on The Power of Multarity Thinking: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMqH55IREIY

    Connect with Melissa Aarskaug:
    LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-aarskaug
    Podcast → https://www.linkedin.com/company/my-executive-connect
    Website → https://www.executiveconnectpodcast.com
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    33 min
  • Why Marketing ROI Is Broken And How AI Fixes It | Jeff Greenfield

    Why Marketing ROI Is Broken And How AI Fixes It | Jeff Greenfield
    Jan 1 2026
    Is marketing really driving revenue or just generating reports no one trusts?

    In this episode of the Executive Connect Podcast, Melissa Aarskaug sits down with Jeff Greenfield, CEO of Provolytics, to unpack why marketing ROI has become one of the biggest trust gaps inside modern organizations. Jeff explains how fractured data, outdated attribution models, and over-reliance on clicks have caused finance teams to lose confidence in marketing performance.

    They explore how AI-powered modeling is helping marketing teams move beyond cookies, rebuild credibility with CFOs and CEOs, and finally connect media spend to real business outcomes across digital, retail, and marketplace channels. This conversation breaks down what AI actually means in marketing today, how privacy changes accelerated innovation, and why AI should elevate marketers rather than replace them.

    If you are responsible for marketing spend, executive decision-making, or proving growth impact in a privacy-first world, this episode will reshape how you think about measurement.

    Watch more in our Tech Leadership and The AI Revolution playlist:
    http://bit.ly/46rlY7R


    • What You’ll Learn:
    • Why marketing ROI problems are rooted in trust, not data
    • How AI replaces broken attribution models without cookies
    • What most leaders misunderstand about AI-powered marketing
    • Why clicks fail to capture real business impact
    • How AI creates a single source of truth for CMOs and CFOs
    • How marketers can reclaim creativity by letting AI handle the math
    • What the future of automated media optimization looks like

    Episode highlights:
    (1:31) The Measurement Crisis Explained
    (2:40) How Digital Broke Attribution
    (4:47) Rebuilding Measurement With AI
    (6:30) Privacy Changes And The End Of Cookies
    (9:17) What AI-Powered Really Means
    (11:21) Measuring Marketing Without Clicks
    (13:23) Proving ROI To CFOs And CEOs
    (17:09) AI Elevates Marketers, Not Replaces
    (22:41) The Future Of AI-Driven Media Buying
    (27:46) Final Advice For Finance And Marketing

    Jeff Greenfield is the Co-Founder and CEO of Provalytics, where he is reshaping marketing attribution with privacy-first, cookie-less solutions built for today’s digital landscape. With over 30 years of experience in strategy, growth, and marketing innovation, he has helped global brands like JP Morgan and Nestlé drive marketing ROI gains of more than 25%. Previously, Jeff co-founded C3 Metrics, pioneering early cookie-less attribution technology, and today he leads Provalytics with a focus on restoring trust, clarity, and measurable impact across modern marketing.

    Connect with Jeff Greenfield:
    Web: https://provalytics.com/
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffgreenfield/

    Connect with Executive Connect
    Website: https://www.executiveconnectexperience.com
    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ExecutiveConnect
    Newsletter: https://www.executiveconnectexperience.com/join
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/my-executive-connect/

    Connect With Us
    Website → www.executiveconnectpodcast.com
    YouTube → Executive Connect YouTube Channel
    LinkedIn → Melissa Aarskaug
    Instagram → @executiveconnectpodcast
    TikTok → @executiveconnectpodcast
    Facebook → Executive Connect
    If you like the content, please do share, subscribe, and like the channel.
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    30 min
  • AI Ethics, Empathy & the Future of Work | Dr. Ayesha Khanna

    AI Ethics, Empathy & the Future of Work | Dr. Ayesha Khanna
    Dec 30 2025
    Is AI helping your business grow or quietly putting it at risk?

    In this episode of the Executive Connect Podcast, Melissa Aarskaug sits down with Dr. Ayesha Khanna, one of the world’s leading voices on artificial intelligence, ethics, and human-centered innovation. Ayesha explains why AI is not a strategy but an accelerant, and why leaders must start with purpose, governance, and trust before adopting new tools.

    This conversation explores how ethical AI actually drives growth, why replacing humans with automation backfires, and how the smartest companies use AI to reduce burnout, strengthen teams, and build long-term trust with customers. From global policy to real-world business examples, this episode offers a clear framework for leaders navigating AI without losing their humanity.

    Watch more in our Tech Leadership & The AI Revolution playlist:
    http://bit.ly/46rlY7R

    What You’ll Learn:
    • Why AI without a clear problem creates more risk, not results
    • The difference between efficiency-driven AI and growth-driven AI
    • How human-centered AI protects trust, talent, and customers
    • What ethical AI governance looks like in real organizations
    • How companies like IKEA use AI without replacing human value
    • Why adaptability and mindset matter more than technical skill
    • How AI can reduce burnout instead of increasing pressure
    • What leaders must prepare for as AI agents become mainstream


    Episode highlights:
    (0:00) AI Is Not a Strategy
    (2:48) Why Human-Centered AI Matters
    (5:45) The Biggest AI Mistake CEOs Make
    (7:34) Growth Mindset vs Efficiency Thinking
    (9:57) How Companies Use AI the Right Way
    (12:27) AI Governance and Guardrails
    (14:55) Human Skills That Matter Most
    (18:51) AI, Burnout, and the Future of Work
    (21:07) Closing Thoughts on Ethical AI

    Dr. Ayesha Khanna is a globally recognized AI expert, entrepreneur, and CEO of Addo, helping businesses leverage AI for growth. With 20+ years in digital transformation, she advises Fortune 500 CEOs and serves on global boards. A thought leader in AI, Dr. Khanna has been recognized as a groundbreaking entrepreneur by Forbes, named Edelman’s Top 50 AI Creators (2025), featured in Salesforce’s 16 AI Influencers to Know (2024) and - most recently - honored with the Her World Hello Possibilities Award in recognition of her impact in empowering women and society through innovative use of technology. Committed to diversity in tech, she founded the charity 21C Girls, which taught thousands of students the basics of AI and coding in Singapore, and currently supports mid-career women in tech through her education company, Amplify.

    Connect with Dr. Ayesha Khanna
    Web: https://www.ayeshakhanna.com/
    Listen to hear podcast: https://www.aiacrossborders.co/
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ayeshakhanna/
    IG: https://www.instagram.com/ayeshakhanna/

    Connect with Executive Connect:
    Website → https://www.executiveconnectexperience.com/
    YouTube → / @executiveconnect
    Newsletter → https://www.executiveconnectexperience.com/newsletter/
    LinkedIn → / my-executive-connect

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    44 min