On this powerful episode of The Inside BS Show, Dave Lorenzo sits down with communication expert Lynne Franklin. They unpack the neuroscience of persuasion, explore how to defuse high-stakes conversations, and share practical strategies that can instantly improve your ability to lead, listen, and influence.

Lynne opens up about the formative experience that launched her career: a literal life-or-death encounter with a machete-wielding teenager. From that moment forward, she dedicated herself to understanding how to reach people when it matters most—whether it’s a resistant employee, a controlling boss, or a frustrated spouse.

Dave and Lynne also cover the hidden science behind remembering names, how to sync brains through storytelling, and why you should never introduce yourself in the first seven seconds of a meeting.

Whether you're leading a team, preparing for a tough client conversation, or just trying to avoid bringing work stress into your living room, this episode is packed with practical takeaways.

What You’ll Discover Today:

• The real reason tough conversations feel impossible—and how to fix it
• How a near-violent incident turned Lynne into a communication expert
• The “seven second rule” that makes names stick in your brain
• One powerful question that can turn a company president into a chairman
• Why storytelling isn't about entertainment—it's about brain chemistry
• A breathing technique to reset before walking into your next room
• How to quickly identify if someone is a visual, auditory, or kinesthetic communicator
• The science-backed method to command attention on Zoom

Key Topics Discussed:

• The power of connection in leadership and conflict resolution
• Neuroscience principles behind persuasion and memory
• Transformational coaching success stories
• Virtual communication best practices
• Storytelling strategies that align brainwaves
• Stress management tips for high-pressure roles

What if the key to elite performance wasn’t more effort, but more flow?

On this episode of The Inside BS Show, Dave Lorenzo sits down with peak performance coach Chris King to explore the science behind the flow state, a neurochemical and psychological condition that helps you feel your best and perform at your best. Chris explains how anyone, from surgeons to comedians to small business owners, can tap into flow using proven triggers like risk, novelty, and focus.

The conversation covers everything from mountain biking and stand-up comedy to neuroscience and business resilience during the pandemic. If you've ever wanted to work faster, create more impact, or unlock your full potential without burning out, this episode is your blueprint.

What You’ll Discover Today:

• What the flow state is and how it supercharges performance
• Why fear is a required ingredient for high-level execution
• The 22 “flow triggers” that help you enter this state on demand
• Why burnout often follows flow and how to avoid it
• How to renegotiate your existence and change your reality
• The true cost of peak performance and the dark side of flow

Sarah Finch, a former Second City improv pro turned leadership consultant, explains how techniques like “yes and,” scene framing, and self-deprecating humor translate into stronger executive presence, sharper listening, and teams that trust each other to take risks. She and host Dave Lorenzo discuss why normalizing failure accelerates growth, how CEOs can reset their mindset when stepping into the big chair, and practical ways to read a room whether you are on Zoom or a live stage. The conversation is packed with mini case studies, quick-hit exercises, and clear takeaways any leader can apply today.

Show Notes

“Normalize failure. There is no way you will be perfectly funny all the time.” — Sarah Finch

What You’ll Discover Today
• Why “yes and” is a power tool for collaboration and sales
• How improv’s scene framework helps leaders prepare without scripting every word
• Three traits Sarah looks for in ideal coaching clients: self-awareness, openness to growth, and a willingness to laugh at themselves
• Tactics for staying composed when the unexpected happens in a meeting or on stage
• Practical ways to build a culture that treats small failures as raw material for the next win

Key Topics Discussed

• From Second City to C-Suite coaching
• “Yes and” versus the reflex to say no
• Slowing down to speed up – preparation and presence
• Reading audiences in person and virtually
• Vulnerability, humor, and relationship capital

Call Us: 305-692-5531
Connect with Sarah Finch: 773-799-4571

Call to Action
Ready to lead with more agility and fun? Listen, take one improv tip into your next meeting, and let us know how it works. Then share the episode with a colleague who could use a dose of “yes and.”

Brett Hickey shares how the discipline he gained as a national-level speed skater fuels his success leading Star Mountain Capital. He explains the firm’s flexible capital model that provides loans, minority stakes, or majority buyouts for companies with 20 to 200 million dollars in annual revenue. Data-driven planning, strict risk management, and broad employee ownership underpin Star Mountain’s strategy. Brett details the sectors they favor (business services, healthcare, education, and niche logistics) and why they avoid highly cyclical or vice-related industries.

He closes with practical steps owners should take years before seeking private-equity money.

What You’ll Discover Today

• How athletic grit translates into private-equity resilience
• The three capital structures Star Mountain offers and when each fits
• Why lower-middle-market firms can out-perform bigger deals
• Key filters the firm uses to pick industries and reject others
• The role of data, technology, and alignment in protecting investor capital
• Actionable advice for founders on de-risking and succession planning

Key Topics Discussed

• Building a flexible capital solution for growth, recapitalization, or buyouts
• Aligning incentives by giving every employee equity participation
• Creating a dynamic business plan that balances short-, mid-, and long-term goals
• Importance of diversified revenue, long-term contracts, and low customer concentration
• Systematic sourcing: local deal teams in more than 20 U.S. cities and centralized underwriting
• Using acquisitions to turn fragmented sectors into higher-valued platforms
• Risk categories you can control versus those you cannot (commodity prices, etc.)
• Preparing for private equity: robust systems, clear succession, and documented processes

Call to Action

Ready to position your company for transformative growth? Call us at (305) 692-5531 to discuss how the Inside BS team can help you craft a compelling plan and connect with the right capital partners.

In this episode, Dave Lorenzo reveals the secret to getting powerful client testimonials without the cringe. From when to ask to exactly what to say, Dave breaks down the process so it feels natural and authentic. If you want more referrals, better credibility, and a stronger reputation, it starts with mastering the testimonial ask.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Why professionals struggle to ask for testimonials
• The connection between asking for testimonials and referrals
• A simple, effective script to request testimonials
• When to ask clients for testimonials (timing is everything)
• Why video testimonials are more powerful than written ones
• How to follow up if a client delays sending the testimonial
• Three perfect times to use testimonials in your sales process
• How to showcase testimonials on your personal website and LinkedIn

Call Us:
(305) 692-5531

In this powerful episode of the Inside BS Show, Dave Lorenzo sits down with entrepreneur and author Brittany Anderson to explore how personal adversity can become a driving force behind a life of impact and fulfillment. Brittany shares a pivotal story from her childhood that shaped her entrepreneurial journey and her commitment to building a life of abundance and meaning. Together, Dave and Brittany dive deep into the importance of niche marketing for financial advisors, the true meaning of value creation, and how to transform retirement into a vibrant new chapter of purpose and passion. Brittany also introduces the “Dream Architect” process—a revolutionary approach to legacy planning and living fully beyond traditional retirement. This conversation is a must-listen for anyone seeking clarity in their personal or professional path.

Key Topics Discussed:

• How childhood adversity fueled Brittany’s drive for success
• The difference between chasing money and creating value
• Why niche marketing creates deeper client relationships
• The “Dream Architect” process for meaningful life transitions
• How to redefine retirement as a new beginning, not an end
• Creating a scalable coaching business by living your brand values

Call to Action:
To connect with Brittany Anderson and learn more about the Dream Architect, call 507-235-5587 or email her at brittany@sweetfinancial.com. Visit SweetFinancial.com to explore their approach to helping professionals live with intention and impact.

📞 Call Us: (305) 692-5531

In this episode, Dave Lorenzo shares the six key metrics every professional should track to evaluate their marketing strategy. Whether you're a consultant, CPA, attorney, or small business owner, these insights will help you assess and improve your plan to attract better clients, grow revenue, and boost ROI.

📊 Key Topics Discussed:

1. Ideal Client Attraction – Are you bringing in more of your best-fit clients?
2. Revenue Growth – Is your income increasing month over month and year over year?
3. New Client Acquisition – How many new clients are you consistently converting?
4. Client Lifetime Value – Are existing clients buying more, more often?
5. Client Acquisition Cost – Are you lowering the cost it takes to earn each client?
6. Diverse Lead Sources – Are you using multiple methods to attract new business?

🚫 One Thing You Should Never Do:

Never implement a marketing tactic you can’t measure. If you can’t track the result, it doesn’t belong in your plan.

🎁 Free Resource:

Grab your free Revenue Roadmap – Dave’s marketing plan template that walks you step-by-step through building a measurable and scalable strategy.

The episode insists that cold-calling is dead and that the only way to earn a prospect’s attention is to lead with genuine, tangible help: publish thought-leadership content that educates and scales your credibility, introduce prospects to people who can put money in their pocket, become a recruiter who eases their talent crunch, tap your network to fix urgent headaches even when your product isn’t the answer, and—most overlooked, offer the rare gift of attentive listening; stack these five value-first plays and prospects will see you as an indispensable growth partner, making the eventual sale a mere formality.

What You’ll Discover Today

• Why thought leadership instantly positions you as the go-to expert.
• How a well-timed introduction can put money in a prospect’s pocket and fast-track trust.
• Smart ways to solve a hiring headache so you become indispensable.
• Why stepping outside your product sandbox to fix an urgent problem cements loyalty.
• The overlooked power of simply listening to your prospect’s real challenges.

Key Topics Discussed

1. Thought Leadership Content – Speeches, videos and articles scale your reach from dozens to hundreds while building credibility.

2. Revenue-Generating Introductions – Bring a prospect a new client first, then ask for their business.
3. Talent Recruitment Support – Supplying qualified candidates demonstrates genuine commitment to their success.
4. Problem-Solving via Your Network – Use your connections to eliminate a critical pain point even when it has nothing to do with your offering.
5. Active Listening – Being a sounding board for another business owner fosters a relationship money can’t buy.

Call Us: (305) 692-5531