Thrive LouD with Lou Diamond

Oz Akgun is a visionary leader in the luxury transportation industry, driven by his passion for hospitality and commitment to exceeding client expectations.  At an early age he launched launched Limo Miami, a company dedicated to delivering unparalleled hospitality and service excellence. His unwavering dedication has transformed Limo Miami into one of the largest fleets in Miami, setting new standards for luxury transportation. Hear his story and his passion for providing unparalleled comfort, convenience and focus for his clients on Thrive LouD with Lou Diamond. ***CONNECT WITH LOU DIAMOND & THRIVE LOUD***

Dan Tocchini III is a business and social entrepreneur, a published author, a master trainer, executive coach, leadership whisperer and culture development specialist. He is the Founder and Senior Partner at Take New Ground where he champions founders & executives to scale their organizations. Dan shares his wisdom on Thrive LouD with Lou Diamond. ***CONNECT WITH LOU DIAMOND & THRIVE LOUD***

When companies need to inspire, engage, and develop their people while at the same time delivering stellar results in today’s hyper-competitive and complex business environment, they call URS KOENIG. His message of Radical Humility in leadership draws on his world-spanning career growing leaders on four continents. Urs’ research-backed Radical Humility Framework is packed with tangible tools and practical takeaways, leaving audience members with the ultimate actionable blueprint for a new type of leader for a new type of world. Urs sits down and chats with Lou sharing how to unlock leaderships winning edge. ***CONNECT WITH LOU DIAMOND & THRIVE LOUD***

Bethany Ayers is a seasoned Chief Operating Officer and has helped raise over $200m from top funds - Softbank, Bessemer, TCV, MCC, Notion and Oxx. She’s built the GTM engines at Peak AI, NewVoiceMedia and Codilty. She now sits on the boards of AI companies ToffeeAM and DeepOpinion. She’s a seasoned scale-up executive and strategic powerhouse. She’s an advocate for women in tech and champions authenticity in leadership. She’s been a CRO at numerous companies and her podcast The Operations Room, a podcast for COOs, is one that every person operating an organization needs to check out. Bethany shares with Lou that she’s still trying to figure out who she wants to be when she grows up. ***CONNECT WITH LOU DIAMOND & THRIVE LOUD***

Josiah (JJ) Harling has devoted his life to helping shepherd others towards the good works they’ve been designed for.  He serves as the co-founder and President of Compel Global, a nonprofit organization that helps people connect with opportunities for world impact – from digging wells to planting churches, medical volunteers, and theological educators. Whatever your skillset, he will help you find a way to use it to serve the world. JJ shares how he’s serving the world with Lou on Thrive LouD. ***CONNECT WITH LOU DIAMOND & THRIVE LOUD***

Dave Wolcott started his career serving the country as a Captain in the Marine Corps. In 2000, he and his wife won the baby lottery having triplets which inspired him to challenge the traditional financial planning advice of Wall Street. He then started an obsessive journey to understand how the top one percent were building their wealth. A serial entrepreneur at heart, Dave spent the next 20 years building several businesses, investing in alternative assets and creating The Pantheon Holistic Wealth Strategy: the playbook to becoming ultra-wealthy and having not only freedom of money, but freedom of purpose, time and relationship. Today, Dave is the Founder and CEO of Pantheon Investments and is more passionate than ever about helping entrepreneurs build wealth by passively investing in superior real estate and alternative assets that provide predictable cash flow, tax efficiency, and upside potential as a reliable alternative to the volatility of the stock market. Dave is the author of “The Holistic Wealth Strategy”, A Framework for Building Real Wealth and Living an Extraordinary Life and is also the host of the top rated “Wealth Strategy Secrets of the Ultra-Wealthy” podcast. Enjoy this ‘wealth creation’ episode as Dan shares some of his lessons with Lou on Thrive LouD. ***CONNECT WITH LOU DIAMOND & THRIVE LOUD***

Owen Sammarone is a former D1 Basketball Conference Champion, entrepreneur, online business builder, book reader and book marketer, social media growth expert and lifelong learner. He is the host of The Daily Author and the founder of Unleash the Knowledge where he’s connecting authors to listeners to readers across the globe. His unique marketing and branding expertise are highlighted in this fun episode of Thrive LouD with Lou Diamond. ***CONNECT WITH LOU DIAMOND & THRIVE LOUD***

Jill Lublin is a 25+ year Media Magnet. She is a world-renowned publicity expert, international speaker and 4x Best Selling author. Jill has made thousands of stage appearances alongside celebrities such as Tony Robbins, Jack Canfield and Barbara Corcoran, to name a few. She has worked with over 100,000 clients implementing her signature formula for getting media attention, creating next-level visibility in the marketplace that results in boosted sales. These lead and profit generating formulas are included in her signature program, the Media Mastery Intensive and her monthly Kindness Circles. Jill and Lou talk shop on Thrive LouD with Lou Diamond and talk about creating buzz, going viral, getting great press and stealing the spotlight via good publicity. ***CONNECT WITH LOU DIAMOND & THRIVE LOUD***

Paul M. Caffrey is a master of the sales craft.  An elite sales professional that focuses on preparation to help sales people prospect better, sell more and get promoted faster. He is the lead author of “The Work Before the Work” - which shares the hidden habits that elite sales professionals use to outperform the competition.   Paul and Lou talk shop and break down all of the preparation you need to think about before the real work happens. ***CONNECT WITH LOU DIAMOND & THRIVE LOUD***

Retired Major League Baseball catcher and baseball Olympian, Ryan Lavarnway played for eight MLB teams over his 10-year career, winning a World Series with the Boston Red Sox in 2013. Beyond the diamond, Ryan has transitioned into diverse roles, serving as a television broadcaster, leadership consultant and motivational speaker. He recently launched an inspirational podcast, “Finding the Way” and wrote a children’s book, “Baseball and Belonging.”  Ryan has emerged as a sought-after motivational speaker where his speeches draw from a wealth of personal and professional experiences and offer a high-performance mindset to help audiences unlock their untapped potential.  His narrative is not just about baseball; it’s a compelling story of resilience, success and the universal pursuit of greatness. Ryan and Lou round the bases on Thrive LouD as they cover playing for Team Israel, finding his own place in the world off the field and how his message resonates with so many across the globe.   ***CONNECT WITH LOU DIAMOND & THRIVE LOUD***

Coach JV (John Vasquez) is the founder and operator of Freedom Asset Management Company which specializes  in  scaling  businesses  to  their  highest  potential  and  co-founded  a  company  called  Merlin  which  is a revolutionary crypto tracker that will change the industry.   Besides  being  owner  of  7+  companies  thus  far,  he  is  an  author  of  two  books,  a  top  podcast  host,  a  social  media  influencer  and one heck of an amazing cool dude. Coach JV and Lou talk alternative investments, crypto, strategy and how Coach JV has grown his brand so successfully on Thrive LouD.   ***CONNECT WITH LOU DIAMOND & THRIVE LOUD***

Lauren Magers, a visionary Thought Leader and creator of the Happy Life System, leads the charge for family empowerment and transformation, bringing life-changing magic to homes worldwide. Her mission? Equipping children, parents, and families with the keys to unlock their happiness and live successful lives. Through her groundbreaking, gamified approach to parenting, she has invented a solution that builds self-mastery, develops character, and empowers each individual to live their most meaningful life together. In this inspiring and energizing episode of Thrive LouD, Lauren shares with Lou the Happy Life System and all of its benefits. To learn more about Lauren Magers AND receive 20% off the Crack The Parenting Code Course, click the link below and use the promo code = THRIVELOUD  www.laurenmagers.com/crackthecode?affiliate=thriveloud    ***CONNECT WITH LOU DIAMOND & THRIVE LOUD***

Marc Polymeropoulos worked for 26 years at the CIA before retiring in July 2019 at the Senior Intelligence Service level. He was one of CIA’s most highly decorated operations officers who served in multiple field assignments for the U.S. government. He is the recipient of the Distinguished Career Intelligence Medal, the Intelligence Commendation Medal, the Intelligence Medal of merit, and the Distinguished Intelligence Medal.  He specialized in counterterrorism, the Middle East and South Asia, including extensive time in Iraq and Afghanistan. Prior to his retirement, Marc served at CIA headquarters and was in charge of CIA’s clandestine operations in Europe and Eurasia. He frequently comments on international events in the US and international media.  He is an on-air contributor for MSNBC, a regular on “Morning Joe,” and also is a non resident senior fellow for the Atlantic Council specializing in hybrid warfare.  Marc is a sought after leadership speaker, and his book “Clarity in Crisis:  Leadership Lessons from the CIA” was published by Harper Collins in 2021.  Marc lives in Northern Virginia and is married with two children. An interview that’s been over 30 years in the making, Lou and Marc reconnect on Thrive LouD. ***CONNECT WITH LOU DIAMOND & THRIVE LOUD***

Mary Seats, widely recognized as Mz Skittlez, a force to be reckoned with in the business world. Her journey is nothing short of a rollercoaster, marked by triumphs and setbacks that have shaped her into the indomitable business owner she is today. Mz Skittlez came on the scene with the rise and fall of Cupcake Mafia, a multimillion-dollar clothing brand that faced turbulent times. She orchestrated a remarkable comeback. by not only repurchasing her company but also embarked on a new venture – The Icing Agency. Driven by a passion to uplift and empower women in business, Mz Skittlez is also the visionary behind The Bakery Cowork – the largest female-focused co-working space in the United States. Enjoy an engaging, entrepreneurial, fun, brand-focused conversation between Lou and Mz Skittlez on Thrive LouD with Lou Diamond. ***CONNECT WITH LOU DIAMOND & THRIVE LOUD***

Ramon Ray is unapologetically positive and high-energy.  He's an in-demand motivational speaker and event host; and a leading expert on personal branding and small business growth.  Ramon is a serial entrepreneur who has started 5 businesses and sold 3 of them.  Ramon is also the publisher of ZoneofGenius.com and he is pulling together an incredible event on April 18, 2024  called the Entrepreneur Conference and Awards in NYC, with Ramon, Seth Godin and many other amazing thought leaders - the link is below and this episode includes a special promo code to get a great discount (hint: what podcast is this? ;-) ). Ramon catches up with Lou on Thrive LouD as they talk entrepreneurship, events and this incredible gathering he has coming in April. ***CONNECT WITH LOU DIAMOND & THRIVE LOUD***

For the past 20 years Kim Daly has been helping entrepreneurs, investors, and stuck 9-5 professionals take control of their lives and step out of the corporate cycle by investing intelligently in the franchise businesses and become "franchisepreneurs." She is One of America’s Top Franchise Consultants, Author, Speaker, Thought Leader, Franchising Expert and Host of Kim Daly TV on YouTube Kim shares with Lou some “Daly Coach” wisdom how to determine if franchising is right for you. ***CONNECT WITH LOU DIAMOND & THRIVE LOUD***

Scott Beebe works with business owners and their key leaders building systems, process, and purpose using the Business On Purpose Roadmap to liberate businesses from the chaos of working IN their business and help them get their lives back. Scott has worked as a legal drug-salesman for Pfizer selling Lipitor, Viagra, and other well-known products. He and his wife Ashley planted two Churches, pastored one of them, and have been working in rural Nigeria since 2005 building a platform for sustainable partnership with Nigerians through a variety of sectors including business, finance, and agriculture. Scott chats with Lou on Thrive LouD about his latest book Let Your Business Burn: Stop Putting Out Fires, Discover  Purpose, And Build A Business That Matters and its very powerful message.

Cindy Capone has a knack for uncovering top-tier talent in the most innovative corners of the business world. Specializing in executive recruitment for high-growth, game-changing companies, Cindy brings a fresh perspective to the table. Whether it's matching the perfect C-suite leader with a startup poised for greatness or helping established firms reinvigorate their internal functions, she's always up for the challenge. Armed with a unique blend of data-driven insights and a keen eye for cultural fit, Cindy doesn't just fill roles – she transforms companies. Her infectious enthusiasm for finding the "right fit" is matched only by her commitment to fostering growth and innovation at every turn. Cindy shares with Lou a view into the world of top-tier talent recruiting and being an entrepreneur within a very competitive landscape in an engaging episode of Thrive LouD. ***CONNECT WITH LOU DIAMOND & THRIVE LOUD***

Stuart Goffman is an entrepreneur in podcast technology and socially impactful media. He is CEO and founder of Picked Cherries, a social podcasting platform that provides a shared experience and the best listening experience for the podcast listeners. Listeners can listen to full episodes of their favorite podcasts and then easily share ‘picked cherries’ (60-second clips) with their friends and family and post on social media. Stu shares with Lou how this very cool technology came to be and how its connecting more people to great, specific content. ***CONNECT WITH LOU DIAMOND & THRIVE LOUD***

Michelle Tillis Lederman is CEO of Executive Essentials, which provides customized communications and leadership programs for Fortune 500, nonprofit, university, and government clients. Named by Forbes as one of the Top 25 Networking Experts, and one of the Top 30 Communications Professionals in the World by Global Gurus. Michelle is the author of four books including The Connectors Advantage and The 11 Laws of Likability. She’s an animal lover, adrenaline junkie, travel enthusiast, over-involved mom, and hits her 10,000 steps daily. Michelle comes on Thrive LouD to talk about the importance of being a “Connected Leader” and the new course and community she has co-founded with Lou called the Connected Leader Club. ***CONNECT WITH LOU DIAMOND & THRIVE LOUD***