Heartbeat For Hire with Lyndsay Dowd

The Heartbeat for Hire Podcast was created to inspire leaders on how to get through the most difficult of circumstances. I feature CEOs, Olympians, Professional Athletes, Authors, Disruptors, Emmy Winning Journalists and more as they share their stories of resilience with my lens on leadership and culture. My guests share their vulnerability and lessons learned so those of you who have never had a good leader can see the possible in the way they lead. My goal is to transform leadership as we know it and this podcast features the best of the best in showing you the way.

Heartbeat For Hire with Lyndsay Dowd is a business podcast hosted by Lyndsay Dowd, with 218 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Lyndsay Dowd hosts Heartbeat For Hire with Lyndsay Dowd, a business show with 218 episodes published.

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  Episode #219

  219: The Swiss Army Captain Who Changed the Olympics with Victor Bergonzoli

  Sep 2, 202622 min

  Victor Bergonzoli is the CEO of SportsEdTV and a longtime entrepreneur in sports technology and education. He previously co-founded Dartfish, helping grow the company globally through sales, partnerships, and business development. Known as a natural networker and dealmaker, Victor has spent more than 25 years connecting people, companies, and opportunities across sports, technology, media, and education. A former Swiss national-level weightlifter and Swiss Army captain, he now leads SportsEdTV with a mission to make world-class sports knowledge accessible to everyone. Connect with Victor Bergonzoli: - LinkedIn: Victor Bergonzoli - Email: victor@sportsedtv.com - Website: sportsedtv.com Episode Summary: Victor Bergonzoli's path to the Olympics didn't start with a broadcast deal — it started with a bag of VHS tapes and the nerve to knock on an NBC trailer door. In this episode, Victor traces his journey from competitive weightlifting in Switzerland to co-founding Dartfish, the video technology behind the "simulcam" effect used in Olympic broadcasts and now used by 70% of Olympic medal winners. He shares how relentless listening — not flashy technology — built the trust that got him in front of NBC, the U.S. Olympic Committee, and coaches worldwide. Victor also opens up about why he left Dartfish to found SportsEdTV, a free platform built to bring high-quality sports coaching and education to every athlete, parent, and coach — not just the elite. The conversation closes on what really drives him: family, helping others, and the moments when the work changes someone's life. Key Takeaways: - Listen before you build. - Relationships open doors. - Honesty builds trust fast. - Keep it simple. - Quality beats quantity. Episode Chapters: 00:00 Cold open — three things you'll learn 00:33 Welcome to Heartbeat for Hire & guest introduction 01:41 Victor's origin story: Swiss weightlifting and an early love of sports 02:48 Discovering "simulcam" technology in India — the spark for Dartfish 04:02 Breaking into Olympic broadcasting: the NBC "Video Finish" trailer story 05:37 Partnering with the U.S. Olympic Committee and scaling through trust 06:31 Why listening — not selling — is the real skill 09:41 What Dartfish became: from broadcast tech to coaching tool to VAR 10:55 Why Victor left Dartfish to found SportsEdTV 12:04 The personal story behind SportsEdTV: his son, lacrosse, and bad YouTube content 13:01 Building a trusted brand: 800+ cinema-quality videos and 1,800 articles 15:41 Sponsor break (Cozy Earth) 16:22 What inspires Victor: family, travel, and helping people 17:29 Legacy: the Olympic gold medalist story that still gives him chills 19:05 What's next: Chicago Public Schools and the Shape America partnership 20:08 Where to find Victor: LinkedIn, email, and sportsedtv.com 20:42 Final thoughts for listeners

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  Episode #218

  218: Stop Blaming Strategy It's Your Subconscious with Annie Yatch

  Aug 26, 202623 min

  Annie Yatch is the Chief Transformation Officer at Northstar Leadership, helping high-achieving entrepreneurs and executives break through subconscious patterns that limit their leadership potential and financial success. With over 15 years of experience guiding leaders through transformative change, Annie combines elite performance strategies with deep neurological and emotional intelligence work to fast-track personal and professional breakthroughs. Annie's unique methodology connects the dots between unresolved trauma, leadership performance, and business growth. By identifying blind spots in the subconscious and rewiring neural pathways, she helps clients achieve remarkable results in their businesses and lives. Connect with Annie Yatch: Website: reinventionxo.com Instagram: @reinventionxo.annie LinkedIn: Annie Yatch Episode Summary: In this episode, Lyndsay Dowd welcomes back Annie Yatch — a former Defense Intelligence Agency-affiliated counter-terrorism analyst turned subconscious pattern-breaking expert for high-achieving entrepreneurs. Annie shares her unconventional path from government intelligence work to leading anti-piracy operations alongside Navy SEALs, and finally to building a methodology that helps entrepreneurs identify and dissolve the subconscious blocks capping their income, leadership, and relationships. The conversation dives deep into why willpower alone is an unreliable strategy for growth, how an unregulated nervous system silently limits revenue, and why a spouse or partner can become either an entrepreneur's greatest asset or their greatest liability. Annie also shares candid stories from her own 15-year marriage to a Navy SEAL, client success stories involving multi-million-dollar breakthroughs, and what she's building next — including her group coaching program, The Authority Shift, and an upcoming women's retreat in Croatia. Key Takeaways: - Willpower runs out. - Your nervous system can cap your income. - Home life impacts business. - Instability comes from feeling unseen. - Not everyone should be an entrepreneur. Episode Chapters: 00:00 — Intro: Three things you'll learn in this episode 00:40 — Welcome to Heartbeat for Hire 00:55 — Introducing Annie Yatch 01:32 — Annie's origin story: from CIA rejection to finding her purpose 02:20 — What is the DIA? Life as a counter-terrorism liaison 03:14 — Leading anti-piracy missions with Navy SEALs (Jerry Bruckheimer & Disney) 04:02 — Annie's three companies: youth leadership, defensive fitness, and SEAL Team Leaders 04:56 — Starting over after divorce: building a 1:1 coaching practice 05:30 — Relationships as assets vs. liabilities 07:00 — When a partner becomes a liability 09:29 — Understanding willpower: why it's the wrong tool for lasting change 12:04 — How the nervous system quietly caps your income 14:16 — Annie's own story: calming her nervous system with her Navy SEAL ex-husband 15:46 — Are some people just not cut out to be entrepreneurs? 16:31 — Sponsor break: Cozy Earth (code LEADWITHHEART) 17:24 — What inspires Annie 17:53 — Annie's legacy: raising kids to be unapologetically themselves 18:40 — Where to find Annie (Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, website) 19:10 — The Authority Shift group coaching program 20:16 — What's next: client visits and a 2027 women's retreat in Dubrovnik, Croatia 20:40 — Final message: self-awareness work isn't hard, it's fun 21:18 — Client success stories: a $20M deal and finding $750K in hidden business value 22:16 — Closing and thank-you

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  Episode #217

  217: Two Careers, One Kitchen Table Truth with Carla Hall & Deborah Grayson Riegel

  Aug 19, 202629 min

  Carla Hall is a celebrated chef, TV personality, and author known for her appearances on Top Chef and The Chew. With her signature catchphrase "Hootie Hoo!" and infectious warmth, Carla has built a career on making cooking—and life—more joyful and accessible. She brings her culinary expertise and authentic personality to The MeMenu, transforming complex personal development concepts into digestible, actionable steps. Deborah Grayson Riegel is a leadership communication expert, executive coach, and Wharton School faculty member. With a Master's degree in Applied Positive Psychology and decades of experience coaching executives, Deb brings research-backed methodologies and practical tools to The MeMenu. Her work has been featured in Harvard Business Review, Forbes, and Psychology Today. Website: https://www.thememenu.com/ Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H6WPBR7D Episode Summary: In this episode, Lyndsay sits down with two powerhouse women: Carla Hall, Top Chef fan favorite and former co-host of The Chew, and Deborah Grayson Riegel (Deb), a Wharton professor, executive coach, and author. Together they've written The Me Menu, a book that uses a cooking analogy — recipes, flavors, and mise en place — to help women over 50 (and anyone ready to join them) put themselves first and lead their own next chapter with what they call "main dish energy." Carla and Deb share the story of how they connected, what's inside the book, what inspires them, and the legacy they each hope to leave. Key Takeaways: - Self-development doesn't need to feel like a chore. - You don't need one big life overhaul. - You are already enough. - Staying connected doesn't take hours. - Fun and rigor aren't opposites. - Put yourself on the menu. Episode Chapters: 0:00 Cold open: the cooking analogy behind The Me Menu 0:57 Welcome to Heartbeat for Hire 1:09 Meet Carla Hall & Deb Riegel 2:17 How Carla and Deb connected 4:15 From the kitchen to coaching: Carla's leadership journey 6:36 Who The Me Menu is for 9:38 Inside the book: the six flavors and the recipe format 14:56 Sponsor break: Cozy Earth 15:34 What inspires Carla and Deb 18:03 On friendship and the eight-minute rule 21:08 What's next for The Me Menu (keynotes and retreats) 23:56 Legacy: what they want to leave behind 26:49 Final takeaways for listeners

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  Episode #216

  216: Great Leaders Aren't Smarter, They're Better Storytellers with Jacquelyn Fletcher Johnson

  Aug 12, 202625 min

  Jacquelyn Fletcher Johnson is an executive communication strategist, keynote speaker, conference designer, and founder of the Heartwood Leadership Institute. She helps leaders, founders, and organizations transform powerful ideas into unforgettable messages that inspire action through the power of story. The belief that stories can change lives has shaped her work from the very beginning. Jacque has coached executives and advised leaders at Fortune 100 companies and global brands including Amazon, Accenture, General Mills, Salesforce, Stripe, Target, Visa, Walmart, and more. She's the host of the Ideas Love Community podcast, creator of the Gateway Gathering & Pitch Fest, and the author of 14 books. She's trained thousands of professionals in communication, executive presence, and thought leadership. When she's not launching voices, you'll likely find her paddling with her gold medal-winning dragon boat team of all breast cancer survivors. Episode Summary: In this episode of Heartbeat for Hire, host Lyndsay Dowd sits down with Jaquelyn Fletcher Johnson — communication strategist, conference designer, 14-time author, and founder of the Heartwood Leadership Institute. Jaquelyn traces her lifelong obsession with storytelling back to a childhood prank on her younger brothers, then walks through a career that wound from freelance writing and magazine editing into pioneering "Creative Writing at the Bedside" and an on-set interview show at Mayo Clinic, and eventually into executive coaching and leadership development. Key Takeaways: - Stories shape how people feel long after they're told. - "Trail angels" are the people who show up right when you need them. - A meandering career can still add up to a clear pattern. - Starting something of your own means giving up full control. - Executive presence isn't about polish — it's about being grounded. - A health scare can clarify your legacy. - You don't have to act on every calling — but it won't disappear. Episode Chapters: 00:00 Cold open: three things you'll learn from this episode 00:43 Welcome to Heartbeat for Hire + guest introduction 01:36 Jaquelyn joins the show 02:08 Origin story: the Jolly Green Giant and the power of story 04:58 Career path: freelance writer to magazine editor to Mayo Clinic storytelling programs 08:33 What is a "trail angel"? 10:06 The tough reality of the conference and speaking world 10:43 Why Jaquelyn decided to build her own conference 14:25 Lessons learned building the Gateway Gathering and Pitch Fest 17:53 Listener thank-you and sponsor spotlight (Cozy Earth) 18:34 Redefining executive presence 21:19 What inspires Jaquelyn 22:01 Legacy, breast cancer, and dragon boat racing 23:18 What's next: Gateway Gathering, Pitch Fest, and family milestones 24:04 Where to find Jaquelyn 24:09 Final takeaway for listeners

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  Episode #215

  215: Ritual Is the New Rebellion with Letha Sandison

  Aug 5, 202625 min

  Letha Sandison, CEO + Founder, Four Moons Spa A lifelong creative and service-driven visionary, her work has always centered around creating spaces that help people feel more seen, supported, and inspired. Before founding Four Moons, Letha lived in Uganda, where she ran an NGO supporting pediatric cancer patients and their families—an experience that deeply shaped her understanding of healing, human connection, and the power of community care. Upon returning home, she envisioned a new kind of wellness space: one where beauty, healing, artistry, and meaningful connection could coexist under one roof. Under her leadership, Four Moons has evolved into more than a spa. It is a wellness playground and community gathering place designed to help people slow down, reconnect to themselves, and experience wellness as a way of life. Through thoughtful details, transformative experiences, and a deeply human approach to hospitality, Letha continues to shape Four Moons as a space where ritual becomes a return to self. Outside of Four Moons, she finds inspiration in travel with family and loved ones, painting, and all things art and design. For her, self-care looks like daily morning and evening rituals that support a conscious and mindful life. She feels most lit up when creating art, connecting with interesting people, and exploring the world with family and friends. Connect with Letha: Instagram socials: @fourmoonsspa and @lethasandison LinkedIn: @lethasandison Episode Summary: Lyndsay Dowd sits down with Letha Sandison, founder of Four Moons, a wellness "playground" in Encinitas, California, built for slowing down and reconnecting. Letha shares how nearly a decade running an NGO in Uganda — creating a fashion line that funded chemotherapy for pediatric cancer patients — shaped her belief that self-care isn't a once-a-year luxury but a daily necessity. She and Lindsay dig into why wellness has become a critical leadership tool, what sets Four Moons apart from a traditional spa (community programming, "healers and mystics," makers markets, women's tables), and why prescriptive wellness advice ("meditate for 30 minutes or you're failing") often backfires. Letha closes with a look at Four Moons' upcoming at-home ritual product line and her hope that listeners give themselves permission to be honest about what they actually need. Key Takeaways: - Self-care isn't a treat for your birthday — it's daily fuel that shows up in how you lead and show up for others. - Working harder doesn't make you better. It just burns you out faster. - Wellness works best when it's a two-way street: healers with formal training paired with more intuitive, esoteric support. - Rigid wellness rules ("you must meditate 30 minutes a day") can make people feel like failures. Start small and build the muscle instead. Episode Chapters: 00:00 Cold Open: Why Self-Care Isn't Optional 00:48 Welcome & Guest Introduction 01:53 Letha's Path: Art School to Nonprofit Work 03:08 Founding a Fashion Line to Fund Pediatric Cancer Care in Uganda 06:13 Coming Home and Reimagining Wellness 07:37 Why Wellness Is a Leadership Imperative 10:23 Inside Four Moons: A Wellness Playground, Not a Spa 13:00 Community as Medicine (and Coming Home to Social Media) 14:55 What Leaders Experience and Take Away 16:04 Ditching One-Size-Fits-All Wellness 19:01 Sponsor Break: Cozy Earth 19:59 What's Next: Bringing Spa Rituals Home 22:26 Where to Find Letha and Four Moons 22:43 Inspiration, Legacy, and Final Advice

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