Growth Episodes

Artificial intelligence is everywhere, but many business owners are still asking the wrong question. Instead of wondering "What can AI do?", they should be asking "What business problem are we trying to solve?" In this episode, Rob Levin sits down with brand strategist, author, and Bornstein Group CEO Gal Borenstein to discuss why AI should be viewed as a force multiplier, not a replacement for people. They explore how leaders can use AI to improve decision-making, strengthen trust, and create m...

Most businesses think marketing drives growth. Shawn Busse argues that it starts much earlier, with your culture. In this episode, Rob Levin sits down with the founder and CEO of Kinesis and author of Marketing From the Inside Out to discuss why brand and culture are inseparable, how a strong employer brand attracts better talent, and why mission, vision, and values should shape every hiring decision. If you're struggling to recruit great people or differentiate your business, this episode is yo...

Rob Levin breaks down key findings from SmarterX's 2026 State of AI for Business report and translates them into a practical roadmap for founders and SMB leaders. The big message: AI is no longer optional, and the companies that start building skills, workflows, and a culture of experimentation now will outpace those that wait. Key takeaways Most employees believe AI will eliminate more jobs than it creates, but only 20% are worried about their own role, a sign that awareness is lagging behi...

Most business owners are too busy working IN their business to ever work ON it. After 30 years running Frieda's Specialty Produce, Karen Caplan knows exactly what that costs. She now coaches CEOs and leaders of companies from $10M to $200M in revenue. In this episode, Karen breaks down the three patterns keeping business owners stuck, why really wanting a shift is non-negotiable, and the four coaching questions that redefine the annual performance review forever. About the Guest Karen Caplan ...

Most business owners face a paralyzing choice: leap into AI or wait until it's proven. Rob Levin cuts through the false binary. The cost of waiting isn't just competitive lag, it's cultural stagnation and missed efficiency gains happening right now. In this solo episode, he walks you through a practical, risk-managed framework that separates owners who'll thrive from those who'll get crushed: starting with secure infrastructure, building something yourself to demystify AI's power, then scaling a...

What separates leaders who scale from those who hit a ceiling? Damon Gersh, founder and former CEO of Maxons Restorations, has navigated both, building a team that stayed calm and effective during 9/11 and Superstorm Sandy, then evolving from operator to strategist. In this episode, he breaks down the counterintuitive moves that unlock growth: delegating authority before you need it, maintaining non-negotiable standards that attract top talent, and fundamentally shifting from working in your bus...

Over 80% of business owners can't find qualified people. But 15–25% are thriving, hiring, retaining, and growing at the same time. The difference isn't luck or budget; it's strategy. Rob Levin breaks down the three fundamental shifts that separate winners from everyone else: designing culture instead of hoping for it, competing for talent with the same intensity you compete for customers, and expanding your talent pool beyond local markets. Episode Highlight "Talent deserves the same strategi...

Alan Pentz, AI investor and operator, cuts through AI hype with a clear framework: we're entering the era of "multiplayer AI," where individual productivity gains transform into company-wide business transformation. AI success isn't about replacing people—it's about shifting from doing work to managing AI agents. This structural change in how businesses operate will separate forward-moving founders from the rest. Episode Highlight "The reality is the opportunities on the table right now, ever...

Most companies treat AI as an efficiency play, bolt it onto existing workflows and hope for faster output. Rob Levin went deeper. After recognizing AI's potential in early 2023 and spending two years experimenting, he made a pivotal decision: transform WorkBetterNow into an AI-first company. This isn't about doing the same work faster; it's about redesigning workflows from the ground up where AI does the heavy lifting and humans design and oversee the process. Episode Highlight "Any workflow th...

Most business owners are leaving $100,000+ on the table every year doing administrative work that costs $25/hour while their time is worth $200–$1,000+/hour. Rob Levin breaks down why an assistant is no longer a luxury—it's a necessity—and delivers a step-by-step playbook for hiring one, whether full-time, part-time, onshore, nearshore, or offshore. You'll learn to calculate your true hourly rate, identify what to delegate in three days, and avoid the costly mistakes most owners make (like hirin...

Every headline screams that AI will transform your business overnight. Most SMB leaders find themselves caught between two extremes: either diving recklessly into every new tool, or staying frozen on the sidelines. Ryan Paugh, publisher of Senior Executive and co-founder of Community.co, cuts through the noise with a pragmatic framework that works for small and mid-size businesses. Rather than chasing unicorn-level AI deployment or ignoring the shift entirely, Paugh reveals what the most success...

Traditional annual reviews fail because they focus on output alone, leaving companies wondering why growth stalls. Rob Levin interviews leadership coach Mike Goldman on a practical alternative: the Talent Density framework—treating people growth as profit growth's true driver. Learn to evaluate performance beyond theater, separate real results from "busy," and implement a quarterly leadership cadence that builds resilience without bottlenecking HR. About the Guest Mike Goldman is a leaders...

In this episode, Rob Levin (Founder of Work Better Now and author of The New Talent Playbook) distills the biggest concepts from the book into one clear framework, and introduces a key reframe: this isn't a temporary "talent crisis," it's a permanent talent shift. Rob breaks down what the top ~15% of companies do differently to attract and retain great people, why culture and core values are the foundation, how to fix retention and hiring for today's reality, why global/remote expands your optio...

In this episode, Rob Levin sits down with Andrew Schenkel, founder of Double Play Marketing and Sales, to explore what it really takes to scale a marketing agency through intentional team design, systems, and leadership. Andrew shares how his approach to talent has evolved since launching the business in 2020, why EOS and DISC became foundational tools, and how nearshore talent and AI are shaping the future of his company. This conversation is a practical look at how great talent decisions drive...

In this episode, Rob sits down with Jonathan B. Smith, Expert EOS Implementer® and negotiation strategist with The Black Swan Group, to explore how Tactical Empathy® can transform leadership, communication, and team health. Jonathan breaks down why self-awareness is a leader's greatest advantage, how every conversation is a negotiation, and why great systems (like EOS) reduce emotional fires so teams can focus on meaningful work. About the Guest Jonathan B. Smith has led more than 1,500 EO...

In this episode, Rob talks with Joe Romano, founder of Romano & Associates, a tax planning and preparation firm with 19 full-time employees and more than 1,500 clients. Joe shares how his team stays sane during tax season, the deliberate choices he's made to reduce burnout, and why offshore talent has become essential to both client satisfaction and employee wellbeing. He also breaks down the ROI of administrative support, the importance of professional development in a rapidly changing tax land...

In this powerful conversation, mindset transformation coach Curtis McCullom breaks down the hidden patterns that quietly limit a leader's success—no matter how accomplished they are on paper. Curtis explains why subconscious beliefs formed early in life can sabotage performance, stall growth, and affect how leaders show up at home and at work. He also walks through his LGET Mindset™ framework (Learn, Grow, Expand, Transform) and shares how tools like NLP, Mental Emotional Release®, and Hypnot...

In this episode, Rob Levin sits down with Alex Kunz, CEO of OP2 Labs, a company providing innovative collagen-based nutrition and a five-time Inc. 5000 fastest-growing business. A former U.S. Navy SEAL turned multi-industry leader, Alex shares what he's learned about building high-performing, self-sustaining teams—and why the best companies can function without their founders. He opens up about the importance of adaptability, how to hire for culture before skill, and how to make offshore team...

In this special LinkedIn Live edition of The New Talent Playbook Podcast, marketing expert John Jantsch sits down with Rob Levin, co-founder of WorkBetterNow and author of The New Talent Playbook. Together, they explore why so many small and mid-sized businesses are quietly facing a talent crisis, and what leaders can do to build their dream teams in today's rapidly changing world. Rob shares the inspiration behind his new book, lessons learned from two decades of entrepreneurship, and why "t...

In this episode of The New Talent Playbook Podcast, Rob Levin sits down with Ron Karr, speaker, advisor, and creator of the Velocity Mindset®. Ron has spent over three decades helping leaders and sales teams eliminate friction, gain buy-in, and achieve results faster. Rob and Ron unpack how clarity of direction and how leaders can build alignment, accountability, and trust to accelerate growth without burning out their teams. About the Guest Ron Karr has worked with leaders, sales executiv...

What does it take to build a standout team in a creative, fast-paced industry like fashion? In this episode, Rob sits down with Drew Pizzo, who has led Collection 18 for over 30 years, to explore how a commitment to unique ability, clear values, and ongoing development has helped him build one of the most admired cultures in his space. From rigorous hiring to daily team rhythms and executive coaching, Drew shares the behind-the-scenes strategies that keep his team engaged, aligned, and competiti...

In a world moving from change to chaos, Lisa Bodell makes the case for subtraction: kill needless rules, cut administrivia, and restore focus to meaningful work. She shares a simple, leader-led process to remove friction, the cultural and retention gains from clarity, and how to use AI as a coach to identify what to stop, simplify, and stress-test. The takeaway: mandate simplification, model it, and reset leadership norms so teams spend time where it counts. About the guest Lisa Bodell is ...

In this episode, Rob sits down with Kurt Wilkin—entrepreneur, advisor, and author of Who's Your Mike?—to unpack what it really takes to scale a business with the right team. Kurt shares why so many CEOs stall their own growth by holding onto the wrong people for too long, what “hiring better” actually looks like, and how to level up your leadership by embracing self-awareness. It’s a candid, BS-free conversation from someone who’s helped hundreds of founders build companies that grow—and last. ...

What if the biggest barrier to sales growth isn’t your product or your pitch — but your people? In this episode, globally recognized sales strategist Morné Smit shares how he helps companies unlock 30% to 130% year-over-year growth by aligning talent, process, and proposition. From diagnosing flatlining pipelines to scaling without bloated sales teams, Morné reveals the sales leadership moves that drive sustainable results. About Morné Smit Morné Smit is the CEO of Emerse Sales and a globa...