Episodes

Travis Hahler: Wired for Change, Part 1 | Leading Humans Through AI Transformation Guest: Travis Hahler, Senior Director of Global Strategy and Transformation at Salesforce | Founder of Neurological Nomad | Author of Rethink Resistance Host: Julie Riga Overview In this powerful episode, Julie welcomes Travis Hahler to explore what it truly means to be wired for change. Travis brings nearly two decades of experience in human behavior and neuroscience to unpack why so many organizations are stumbling as they introduce AI to their workforce. This conversation reveals the deeper challenge beneath every transformation initiative: the human brain itself. Whether you are a leader trying to drive adoption or a professional navigating uncertainty, this episode offers clarity, strategy, and a new way of thinking about change in the age of AI.

Theresa Benvenuto: Fathers, Legacy, and Living Your Purpose Guest: Theresa Benvenuto, Doctor of Connections Host: Julie Riga Overview In this heartfelt Father's Day tribute episode, Julie Riga sits down with her dear friend Theresa Benvenuto, the Doctor of Connections, for a deeply personal conversation about fathers, legacy, grief, purpose, and the invisible thread that connects us to the people we love even after they are gone. Whether your father is still here, no longer with you, or someone you carry complicated feelings about, this episode speaks directly to your heart.

Bryan Daly: The Power of Epic Business Networking Overview In this episode of Stay On Course, Julie Riga sits down with Bryan Daly, a financial planner and the creator of Epic Business Connections. Bryan shares how networking transformed his business and his life, turning a career setback into nearly two decades of growth, friendship, and community. Together, they explore what makes Epic Business Connections different from traditional networking groups, the unexpected benefits of authentic connection, and why showing up consistently can open doors people never knew existed. This conversation is about leadership, purpose, and building a legacy through relationships rather than transactions.

Founder's Story: From the Bronx to the Boardroom, Figuring It Out Part 3 Overview In Part 3 of her Founder's Story, Julie Riga takes us into her early career years and the two jobs that shaped everything. From coordinating training video productions to working as a personal assistant for legendary rap artist KRS-One, Julie learned one of the most important lessons of her entrepreneurial life: figure it out. She also pulls back the curtain on the deeper fabric of her story, immigrant parents, a mother carried through a Siberian forest fleeing Nazi Germany, and a family legacy rooted in resilience, trauma, and survival. This is the episode that puts everything in perspective.

Founder's Story: Starting Over, Studying Hard, and Finding My Voice Part 2 Overview In Part 2 of her Founder's Story, Julie Riga takes us inside her college years: the first time in her life she got to start over with a clean slate, build real friendships, and discover what she was truly capable of. From spending eight hours at a time in the library to make up for lost learning, to quitting a sorority on induction night to chase a radio station opportunity, Julie shares the raw truth about resilience, reinvention, and what happens when you finally find your voice. This is the story of a woman who refused to let her past define her future and who put in every rep it took to get there.

Founder's Story: Bullied, Broken, and Built for Purpose Part 1 Host: Julie Riga | Episode Type: Solo Episode Part 1 Overview In this deeply personal solo episode, Julie Riga pulls back the curtain on the story behind the Stay On Course Podcast and the legacy, purpose, and faith that built its foundation. For the first time, Julie shares the raw truth about her childhood years battling an undiagnosed illness, eating lunch alone in a bathroom, and being bullied from the age of five. This is not a pity story. This is a purpose story. Julie reveals how her hardest lessons became the very ingredients that shaped her conviction, her tenacity, and her drive to help others find their own purpose-driven path. If you have ever felt like an outsider, like you do not belong, or like life has knocked you down one too many times, this episode will remind you that your story is not over.

David Aferiat: Stop the Bottleneck and How a 3D Decision Engine Transforms Leadership Teams Overview What if the biggest thing holding your business back is not the market, not your team, and not your strategy, but you? In this episode of the Stay On Course Podcast, host Julie Riga sits down with seasoned growth coach and entrepreneur David Aferiat to unpack one of the most overlooked leadership killers in business: decision bottlenecks. David draws on over 25 years of experience, including scaling a fintech company to the Inc. 5000 list six years in a row, to share a practical, repeatable framework that frees founders, empowers leadership teams, and builds companies designed to thrive with or without the owner in the room.

David Aferiat: Stop the Bottleneck and How a 3D Decision Engine Transforms Leadership Teams Overview What if the biggest thing holding your business back is not the market, not your team, and not your strategy, but you? In this episode of the Stay On Course Podcast, host Julie Riga sits down with seasoned growth coach and entrepreneur David Aferiat to unpack one of the most overlooked leadership killers in business: decision bottlenecks. David draws on over 25 years of experience, including scal...

The Operations Advantage: Business Success Beyond Sales Guest: Tonya Odio, Author and Founder of Executive Foundations Host: Julie Riga Overview What separates a passionate idea from a thriving, sustainable business? Operations. In this milestone episode recorded live in the studio for the very first time, Julie Riga sits down with Tonya Odio, author of The Operations Advantage: Business Success Beyond Sales , to unpack the systems, structures, and mindset shifts every entrepreneur needs to buil...

The Operations Advantage: Why Clarity, Systems and Profit Are the True Ingredients for Business Success Guest: Tonya Odio, Operational Strategist and Founder of Executive Foundations Host: Julie Riga What if the secret to scaling your business had nothing to do with selling more, and everything to do with how you run things behind the scenes? In this episode, Julie Riga sits down with Tonya Odio, founder of Executive Foundations and author of The Operations Advantage. Together, they uncover what...

Happiness Is a Skill: Neuroscience, Resilience, and the Triumph Steps Framework Guest: Beatriz Martinez-Peñalver, Licensed Psychotherapist and Creator of Triumph Steps Host: Julie Riga Overview What if happiness was not just a feeling but a skill you could learn, practice, and master? In this episode of the Stay On Course Podcast, Julie Riga sits down with Beatriz Martinez-Peñalver, a licensed psychotherapist with over 30 years of experience and the creator of Triumph Steps, a neuroscience-based...

Resilient Leadership Starts Within: The Three Practices That Change Everything Guest: Dr. Trisha Vinatieri, Clinical Psychologist and Healthcare Leadership Consultant Host: Julie Riga 📌 Visit the Episode Stack: stacklist.app/julieriga | All the links, resources, and key information from this episode in one easy place. Overview What does it truly take to lead with resilience when the world around you is shifting and you are running on empty? In this episode, Julie Riga sits down with Dr. Trisha V...

Thriving in College: What Nobody Tells You Guest: Danielle Barone, LCSW, Founder of Waves Therapy Group Host: Julie Riga 📌 Visit the Episode Stack: stacklist.app/julieriga | All the links, resources, and key information from this episode in one easy place. What if the gap between struggling and thriving in college came down to a few key skills nobody ever taught you? In this episode, Julie Riga sits down with licensed clinical social worker, trauma-informed therapist, and founder of Waves Therap...

Redefining Healthcare Through Relationships, Purpose, and Personalized Care with Dr. Stevi Jenkins-Kelly Guest: Dr. Stevi Jenkins-Kelly, PharmD, Founder of My Concierge Pharmacy Host: Julie Riga What if your pharmacist knew your name, your goals, and your complete health story rather than just your prescription number? In this episode, Julie Riga sits down with Dr. Stevi Jenkins-Kelly, a visionary pharmacist and founder of My Concierge Pharmacy. Together they explore how she left corporate pharm...

The Trust Advantage: How Leaders Turn Complexity Into Confidence Overview In this episode of the Stay On Course Podcast, host Julie Riga sits down with Jeff Willinger, a globally recognized digital transformation leader, Microsoft MVP, and one of the leading voices in enterprise AI and the future of work. Jeff shares the three ingredients that separate visionary leaders from those who fall behind. In an AI-driven world, the most valuable thing a leader can offer is not a solution. It is confiden...

From Zero to Trader: The Beginner's Blueprint for Financial Freedom Guest: Mitch Abel, Founder of Investment Current Host: Julie Riga What if losing $150,000 was the beginning of your greatest financial breakthrough? Mitch Abel retired in 2015 and lost $150,000 in his first six months of trading. His partner Diana looked at him and said two words: "Keep going." Six months later, he made it all back. Today, over 250 students have come through his program at Investment Current. This episode walks ...

Why Your Data Is Not the Star of the Show: The Human Science of Powerful Presentations Guest: Anthony Greiter, Founder of Agent, Technical Translator and Presentation Coach Host: Julie Riga, Leadership Coach and Founder of the Stay On Course Podcast 📌 Visit the Episode Stack: stacklist.app/julieriga | All the links, resources, and key information from this episode in one easy place. Overview Most scientific experts believe their data is the main event. But Anthony Greiter, founder of Agent and s...

Stop Letting Your Business Own You: The Role Alignment Secret Behind an $18M Exit Guest: Brandon Lee, Business Alignment Coach and Founder of Build By Design Host: Julie Riga Podcast: Stay On Course Podcast 📌 Visit the Episode Stack — All the links, resources, and key information from this episode in one easy place. Overview What if the real reason your business is not growing is not your strategy or your sales pitch? What if it is you, operating in the wrong role? In this episode of the Stay On...

Whole Health Wealth: The Money Mindset Shift That Changes Everything Guest: Matt Paradise, Author, Financial Wellness Speaker and Liver Transplant Survivor Host: Julie Riga 📌 Visit the Episode Stack: stacklist.app/julieriga | All the links, resources, and key information from this episode in one easy place. From homeless teenager to award-winning author, Matt Paradise has empowered over 100,000 people to transform their relationship with money. As a liver transplant survivor and author of Financ...

📌 Visit the Episode Stack: stacklist.app/julieriga | All the links, resources, and key information from this episode in one easy place. Go Tell Your Story: How Powerful Storytelling Transforms the Way You Connect, Communicate, and Grow Your Business Guest: Ken Fay, Emmy Award-Winning Storyteller, Director and Creative Strategist Host: Julie Riga What if the most powerful business tool you have is not a product, a pitch, or a platform? It is your story. In this episode, Emmy Award-winning storyte...

Showing Up as Your Authentic Best Self: Ingredients for Success Guest: Dr. Lori Smith | Government Contracting Expert, Serial Entrepreneur and Founder Host: Julie Riga Overview What does it truly mean to show up as your authentic best self every single day? In this powerful episode of the Stay On Course Podcast, host Julie Riga sits down with Dr. Lori Smith, a DBA-trained government contracting expert, serial entrepreneur, and advocate for women, minority, and veteran-owned small businesses. Wit...

Cooking Up Your One-of-a-Kind Signature Offer: The Four Ingredients for Success Guest: Deborah C. Smith, Marketing Strategist and Holistic Business Coach Host: Julie Riga Overview What does it really take to build a signature offer that sells, scales, and sets you free? In this episode, Julie Riga sits down with Deborah C. Smith, a marketing strategist, holistic business coach, and host of the Mindset to Market Podcast, to break down four essential ingredients every purpose-driven entrepreneur n...

Leadership Lessons from the Kitchen: The Three C's Every Great Leader Needs What does cooking have to do with building a business? Everything. Julie Riga sits down with Sutton C. McCraney and Lace Flowers, co-founders of the Flavor Room, to explore how kitchen wisdom transforms the way leaders lead and grow. From curry goat to lamb biryani, this conversation is packed with purpose, authenticity, and real talk that leaders need. This episode is a masterclass in intentional, purpose-driven leaders...

How to Be an Unforgettable Podcast Guest: Ingredients for Success on Any Show Guest: Steve Ramsey Host: Julie Riga What separates a forgettable podcast guest from one that hosts cannot stop talking about? In this candid conversation, Julie Riga and Steve Ramsey unpack the real tips every guest needs to show up prepared, authentic, and impactful before the mic even turns on. If you are stepping into podcasting as a guest, this episode is your blueprint. How to Be an Unforgettable Podcast Guest: I...