Episodes

Short Description: In this episode, former D1 Basketball Player and West Point Graduate Mike Canty shares his journey from West Point and Army service to becoming the founder of ARC, breaking down how military leadership, discipline, and decision-making translate into entrepreneurship and innovation. Full Description: In this episode, Mike Canty shares an in-depth look at his journey from West Point and Army service to becoming a startup founder building mission-critical defense technology. Thi...

In this episode, Lorin Jeppsen shares an unfiltered conversation about identity, leadership, discipline, and what it really means to live authentically. From being adopted and growing up in Utah, to flying B-52s in the U.S. Air Force, to transitioning into leadership consulting and personal development work, Lorin reflects on the moments that shaped who he is today. This conversation explores the long road from military structure to self-led growth — including lessons from aviation, special war...

In this deeply honest and wide-ranging conversation, Jeff sits down with Joshua Kahn to explore identity, trauma, purpose, and what it really means to grow when life refuses to follow a straight line. Joshua’s story is shaped by movement — across states, countries, careers, and inner landscapes. Born in Texas, raised on a farm outside Atlanta, and educated through an unconventional mix of experiential learning and global travel, Joshua’s life has been anything but traditional. From spending his...

In this conversation, CEO and Founder (Snow Magazine, Snow Tequila, and The Snow Society) Barb Sanders shares her journey from aspiring ski instructor to successful entrepreneur, highlighting her passion for skiing and the community it fosters. She discusses her experiences teaching skiing, the creation of Snow Magazine, and her ventures into tequila and writing a book. Throughout the conversation, Barb emphasizes the importance of perseverance, relationships, and believing in oneself, while als...

In this episode, Jeff sits down with Desai Link to explore an unconventional career journey— how he walked away from a career in law to work in a warehouse driving a forklift. From studying law and history to working fly-in fly-out roles on some of the largest mining and energy projects in the world. Des shares how leaving the legal profession led him to a career in health and safety, the realities of FIFO life in Western Australia, and what it’s really like working on remote sites with thousan...

From a $1.25 subway arrest in New York City to graduating from the Wharton Business School at the University of Pennsylvania, Himani Naresh’s story is a masterclass in resilience, reinvention, and navigating life across cultures. Himani Naresh: Tech & Nonprofit Executive | M&A | Strategy Born in India, raised in the UK and New Jersey, and now rooted in Seattle, Himani brings humor, vulnerability, and hard‑earned wisdom to this conversation. She shares what it was like being the only woman on her...

In this powerful episode of the Four Fs Podcast, filmmaker and storyteller Elijah Donnelly shares an extraordinary journey shaped by resilience, reinvention, and the courage to start over when life doesn’t go as planned. Raised between Nashville, Tennessee and rural Alabama, Elijah opens up about childhood neglect, finding belonging through the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving a two‑year mission in Argentina, and discovering filmmaking through an unexpected spark — a br...

Join Linda Grizely, CFP® and financial educator, as she shares practical strategies to transform your relationship with money. From her journey into personal finance to her signature “Me Money” method and permission‑based budgeting, Linda explains how to reduce guilt, level the playing field in relationships, and make confident financial choices. We cover everything from charitable giving and donor‑advised funds to understanding financial advisor types, the value of the CFP® certification, and ...

Senior VP at Truist Bank Michelle Foley (Truist Cloud Center of Excellence) joins the Four Fs Podcast for an Authentic Conversation about career pivots (pre‑med → IT → 18 years at Microsoft), frontline support and incident response (DART), practical cybersecurity habits, and the humble power of showing up. What you’ll hear (quick bullets) Real Microsoft support stories: Windows 2000 surge support, mass‑reimage prevention, and product supportability wins Boots‑on‑the‑ground incident res...

What happens when a near-death experience reshapes your perspective on leadership and life? Join us in this riveting episode of the Four Fs Podcast as host Jeff engages in an authentic conversation with Rich Kaplan, a former Microsoft executive whose remarkable journey includes pivotal moments like the launch of Windows 95 and the monumental Y2K compliance initiatives. Rich’s insights on leadership challenge the notion that charisma is the key to success; instead, he emphasizes the critical impo...

Have you ever wondered how the art of negotiation can transform your career and personal life? Join host Jeff Cluff on the latest episode of the Four Fs Podcast, where he engages in an authentic conversation with Professor Stacey Lee, a renowned law and ethics expert from Johns Hopkins University. Together, they unpack the psychological intricacies of negotiation, revealing how preparation and empathy can serve as your greatest strategic advantages in both business and personal realms. Stacey’s...

What does it take to revolutionize an entire industry while staying true to your roots? Join host Jeff Cluff in this captivating episode of the Four Fs Podcast as he engages in an authentic conversation with Matt Alston, a dynamic entrepreneur from McGrath, Alberta, Canada. Matt's inspiring journey from a small-town upbringing to the helm of a successful tech business, Surex, offers invaluable entrepreneurship lessons that resonate with anyone looking to make their mark in the world. Throughout...

What do broken surfboards, cattle ranches, and spreadsheets have in common? For David Porter, a senior executive at ServiceNow and former U.S. Army Ranger, they each taught him something essential about resilience, decision-making, and the pursuit of purpose. In this episode of The Four F’s Podcast, host Jeff Cluff sits down with David to trace an unconventional path — from surfing the North Shore of Oahu to leading elite teams in combat and now steering global operations in tech. David shares...

What does it take to reinvent yourself six times—and still lead with purpose?In this episode, Jeff sits down with Gina Tesla, a global tech executive and social impact leader whose journey has taken her from Queens to the Peace Corps to leading corporate social responsibility at IBM, Microsoft, and Coupa Software.Gina opens up about:💡 How her humble start and community college education shaped her global career🌎 Life lessons from two years in the Peace Corps in Panama🏢 Building IBM’s Corporate S...

Have you ever wondered what it takes to transform curiosity into a thriving career in entrepreneurship? Join us on this captivating episode of the Four Fs Podcast as host Jeff sits down with Kevin Schreck, the visionary co-founder and CEO of Elevate Consulting and Elevate Innovations. Kevin's journey from a math-loving child in Southern California to a successful entrepreneur managing multiple startups is not just inspiring; it’s a masterclass in resilience and innovation. Throughout this authe...

How is the economy being reshaped by the dual forces of AI technology and shifting educational priorities? Join host Jeff Cluff as he engages in an authentic conversation with Dr. Gordon Bodnar, a renowned expert in international finance and esteemed professor at Johns Hopkins University and the Wharton School. This episode of the Four Fs Podcast dives deep into the transformative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on education and the economy, revealing how students today are redefining their path...

What does it take to transform from a Texas tennis player into a tech trailblazer in the world of cybersecurity? Join host Jeff Cluff on the Four Fs Podcast as he dives deep into an authentic conversation with Andreae Pohlman, a remarkable cybersecurity expert and Air Force veteran, affectionately known as Dr. Dre. Andreae's inspiring journey is a testament to resilience, discipline, and the pursuit of a purpose-driven career in technology. From her early fascination with gadgets to her impress...

In this episode, Jeff is joined by Mike Owen—a former Microsoft engineer whose 18+ year tech career started in a unionized grocery store and ended with an unexpectedly powerful final act. Mike shares how he rebounded from a rare “zero rewards” performance review, how a blood transfusion changed his life (and his commitment to donating), and why he became a vocal advocate for salary transparency, mental health, and reverse mentorship at one of the world’s biggest tech companies. From surviving u...

Worms, Y2K, and Wine Cellars. How Chris Walker helped Solve for some of the most prolific Internet Worms in history is much more than BASIC. From Dartmouth’s BASIC revolution to Microsoft’s Y2K firefight, Chris Walker helped shape the digital world in ways most users never see. In this candid conversation, he opens up about navigating billion-dollar bugs, surviving worm outbreaks, and why being escorted out of Bill Gates’ backyard wasn’t even the weirdest part of his job. Packed with wit, wisdo...

An artist’s evolution: How theater and the arts shaped Jan Nelson’s career in technology Jan Nelson’s journey spans software revolutions, spiritual resilience, and cosmic creativity. In this episode, Jan reflects on the tension between artistic calling and tech industry demands, recounts surreal Microsoft moments, and explores how his artwork became part of the Lunar Codex. From geometries inspired by Bucky Fuller to navigating a career “interrupted” by innovation, Jan shares stories that stret...

Step into the world of early tech pioneers with a former Microsoft leader who turned project failures into career-defining wisdom, helped launch a vaccine finder during the pandemic over a long weekend, and still managed to teach at the University level! From debugging with punch cards to shutting down airspace for Bill Gates’ wedding, this episode captures the grit, humor, and heart of a remarkable life in and around technology. If you listen to any of the following shows, we're sure you'll lo...