Today, Dirk sits down with William Bourdeau, a Marine Corps veteran, entrepreneur, and California farmer operating at the center of the state’s water and food-security challenges.

William shares how water supply decisions shape the future of farming, why domestic food security is a leadership issue, and how discipline, community, and long-term thinking guide his work across agriculture, policy, and business.

In this episode, they explore:

• Why water infrastructure is as much a leadership challenge as a political one

• How farming, community stability, and national resilience are deeply connected

• The role of discipline and systems thinking in high-risk, long-cycle businesses

• Why innovation, from data to irrigation, matters in traditional industries

• And why pistachios may be one of the most underrated superfoods

This is a conversation about leadership under constraint, resilience in complex systems, and what it really takes to build something that lasts when short-term thinking dominates the system around you.

Interested in joining the conversation? Talk to us: https://calendly.com/horn-mab-partners/30min-tpatc-brief

Check out The Winning Balance: https://www.mab-partners.com/thewinningbalance

Stay connected with us here:

Connect with Dirk: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dirkhorn/

Website: https://www.mab-partners.com/tpatc

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepitchandthecatch?igsh=aGw2M3hqeThndHVr&utm_sourc

In this week’s episode of The Pitch and The Catch Podcast, host Dirk Horn explores the intersection of science, innovation, and leadership with Michael Anthonavage, VP of Innovation at Vitaquest and a biochemist who has spent more than 30 years turning complex ideas into practical breakthroughs. They discuss what real empowerment looks like, why innovation begins with recognizing opportunity, and how to navigate a world overflowing with information.

Michael breaks down biohacking, truth in a shifting landscape, and the art of listening with intent. A conversation about clarity, curiosity, and making smarter decisions in a world that rewards noise.

Key Takeaways:

• Leadership is about empowering others to take on leadership roles themselves, fostering a culture of growth and development.

• Recognizing opportunities is a fundamental aspect of innovation, driving progress and transformation in various fields.

• Biohacking is revolutionizing personal health management by allowing individuals to tailor their health strategies based on personal data.

• Managing information overload requires a strategic focus, enabling individuals to navigate the vast sea of available data effectively.

• Empowerment goes beyond mere permission; it involves creating the right conditions for individuals to succeed and thrive.

New episode every Thursday.

Interested in joining the conversation? Talk to us: https://calendly.com/horn-mab-partners/30min-tpatc-brief

Check out The Winning Balance: https://www.mab-partners.com/thewinningbalance

Stay connected with us here:

Connect with Dirk: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dirkhorn/

Website: https://www.mab-partners.com/tpatc

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepitchandthecatch?igsh=aGw2M3hqeThndHVr&utm_sourc

Timing is rarely the issue. Staying the course is.

This week on The Pitch & The Catch, host Dirk Horn spoke with Benoit La Salle, President and CEO of Aya Gold & Silver.

Benoit has spent more than three decades building mining companies across commodity cycles, geopolitical shifts, and moments where decisions had to be made years before results were visible. From academia to West Africa to leading one of the fastest-growing silver companies in Morocco, his career is a case study in long-cycle leadership.

We talked about:

• Why perseverance matters more than timing

• How leaders make judgment calls when outcomes are years away

• Why most value is created before anyone believes the story

• How to lead through sustained uncertainty

• What separates leaders who endure from those who give up

In a world obsessed with short-term signals, this conversation is a reminder that the most successful decisions are often made quietly, early, against consensus and with long-term vision.

Listen in and join the conversation.