The Fort Builders Podcast

The Fort Builders is a story-driven podcast about how we become who we are. Each episode explores the human journey behind the work — beginning in childhood and following the non-linear path through early influences, defining moments, setbacks, growth, and perspective. Rather than focusing only on accomplishments, these conversations dig deeper into the experiences, relationships, and seasons that shape identity and impact. Host Lance Johnson brings a unique lens shaped by years in engineering, real estate development, entrepreneurship, public service, and personal reinvention. From building forts as a kid to navigating business growth and loss during the Great Recession, Lance approaches each guest with curiosity and humility — seeking to understand not just what they’ve built, but who they’ve become. The Fort Builders is grounded in a simple belief: everyone started somewhere, everyone has walked a different trail, and every story carries value. Thro

The Fort Builders Podcast is a society podcast hosted by Lance Johnson, with 21 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.

Lance Johnson hosts The Fort Builders Podcast, a society show with 21 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

• 

  Episode #20

  TFB 020 - Pt. 2 - How We Become Who We Are: The Story Behind TFB w/Lance Johnson & Stephanie Bessent

  Aug 18, 202654 min

  How We Become Who We Are: The Story Behind The Fort Builders. Every guest who has joined me in The Fort has answered questions about the people, moments, decisions, failures, victories, and relationships that helped shape who they are. Eventually, it was only fair that someone turned those same questions back on me. In this special two-part conversation, my friend and life coach, Stephanie Bessent, takes over the host's chair and interviews me about the experiences that built my own life. We talk about growing up in western Kansas, spending countless hours on construction sites with my dad, building forts with my brothers, creating businesses before I was old enough to drive, and discovering a love for engineering, entrepreneurship, and creating things that didn't exist before. But we also spend time talking about a much more difficult chapter. The collapse of the engineering company I helped build during the Great Recession...losing my confidence...walking through years of uncertainty...and how relationships, gratitude, curiosity, and a willingness to begin again slowly rebuilt my life. This conversation explains why The Fort Builders exists. It isn't simply a podcast about successful people. It's about understanding how ordinary people become who they are. Because every one of us is built by people. By moments. By failures. By victories. By decisions. By grace. And by the people who stayed when life got hard. In this episode and Episode TFB - 019: Growing up around construction sites in western Kansas Building forts, imagination, and creativity as a kid Early entrepreneurial adventures Why engineering became the path Starting and growing an engineering firm Serving on the Lawrence City Commission Losing a business during the Great Recession Depression, identity, and rebuilding confidence The people who carried me through difficult years Why gratitude and curiosity became guiding principles The vision behind The Fort Builders Why everyone's story matters A special Thanks to Stephanie Bessent ( Be-Sent Life Restoration ) for asking the great questions, and Joe Comparato with Daybreak Recording Company for the studio space and technical assistance. If you want to support The Fort Builders Podcast, please Like/Subscribe and follow us on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and find full episodes on YouTube, Spotify and Apple podcats. Thank You!

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #19

  TFB 019 - Pt 1 - How We Become Who We Are: The Story Behind TFB w/Lance Johnson & Stephanie Bessent

  Aug 10, 20261h 2m

  How We Become Who We Are: The Story Behind The Fort Builders. Every guest who has joined me in The Fort has answered questions about the people, moments, decisions, failures, victories, and relationships that helped shape who they are. Eventually, it was only fair that someone turned those same questions back on me. In this special two-part conversation, my friend and life coach, Stephanie Bessent, takes over the host's chair and interviews me about the experiences that built my own life. We talk about growing up in western Kansas, spending countless hours on construction sites with my dad, building forts with my brothers, creating businesses before I was old enough to drive, and discovering a love for engineering, entrepreneurship, and creating things that didn't exist before. But we also spend time talking about a much more difficult chapter. The collapse of the engineering company I helped build during the Great Recession...losing my confidence...walking through years of uncertainty...and how relationships, gratitude, curiosity, and a willingness to begin again slowly rebuilt my life. This conversation explains why The Fort Builders exists. It isn't simply a podcast about successful people. It's about understanding how ordinary people become who they are. Because every one of us is built by people. By moments. By failures. By victories. By decisions. By grace. And by the people who stayed when life got hard. In this episode and Episode TFB - 020: Growing up around construction sites in western Kansas Building forts, imagination, and creativity as a kid Early entrepreneurial adventures Why engineering became the path Starting and growing an engineering firm Serving on the Lawrence City Commission Losing a business during the Great Recession Depression, identity, and rebuilding confidence The people who carried me through difficult years Why gratitude and curiosity became guiding principles The vision behind The Fort Builders Why everyone's story matters A special Thanks to Stephanie Bessent ( Be-Sent Life Restoration ) for asking the great questions, and Joe Comparato with Daybreak Recording Company for the studio space and technical assistance. If you want to support The Fort Builders Podcast, please Like/Subscribe and follow us on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and find full episodes on YouTube, Spotify and Apple podcats. Thank You!

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #18

  TFB 018 - More Than Beer w/ Jason Lieb

  Jul 14, 20261h 12m

  One thing Jason said kept resurfacing in different ways: He likes making things that other people experience. Whether it's a brewery... a downtown... an economic development project... or simply a place where strangers become regulars... he's driven by creating something that didn't exist before. What does it take to build something people want to come back to? For Jason Lieb, it isn't just about brewing great beer. It's about creating a place where people gather, celebrate, reconnect, and build community. Jason is one of the founders of Transport Brewery in Shawnee, Kansas, but his story started long before the brewery. From dreaming of becoming an astronaut, to starting an IT company, running for public office, and now helping shape economic development for the City of Olathe, Jason's path has been anything but linear. In this conversation we talk about why creating something tangible matters, the risks of starting a business, how Transport Brewery nearly had several different homes before finding the right one, and why hearing a stranger compliment your work is one of the greatest rewards of entrepreneurship. Jason also shares what he's learned from business ownership—including failures, unexpected challenges, opening during COVID, and why he believes trying something, even if it doesn't ultimately succeed, is almost always worth it. We also dive into leadership, downtown revitalization, public service, running for office, and why meaningful progress never "just happens." It takes people willing to step forward, invest their time, and play the long game. If you've ever dreamed of starting something, wondered whether the risk is worth it, or simply appreciate hearing how ordinary people build extraordinary lives, I think you'll enjoy this conversation. In this episode we discuss: How Transport Brewery got its name Why experience matters as much as the beer Turning a hobby into a business Opening a brewery in an emerging downtown Why progress doesn't happen by accident Entrepreneurship versus security Lessons from selling an IT company Economic development and building stronger communities Why Jason ran for public office The value of trying—even when you might fail Building something that serves others Transport Brewery

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  The Fort Builders Podcast

  TFB 017 - Collecting Clues w/ Lance Johnson

  Jun 26, 202640 min

  This week is a little different. Instead of sitting down with a guest, I wanted to hit pause and spend a little time reflecting. Over the past several months, I've had the privilege of sitting across from artists, entrepreneurs, coaches, nonprofit leaders, public servants, athletes, adventurers, and people whose life stories have challenged, inspired, and changed me. I originally thought I was simply collecting great stories. Looking back, I think I was collecting something else. I was collecting clues. Clues about one question that has become the heartbeat of The Fort Builders : How do we become who we are? As I reflected on conversations with guests like Jeremy Newman, Mary Shannon, Stephen T. Johnson, Coach Bryant Wright, Ezra, Mike Akers, Dave McClung, Stephanie Bessent, Sherrie Ortiz, Brad Finkeldei, Kirsten Flory, Andrew Kneisler, Chad Dick, Brandon Meek, and many others, I realized something. No one arrived where they are by accident. Each of us is shaped by people, moments, decisions, setbacks, risks, failures, beliefs, and opportunities. Some of those things we choose. Some choose us. In this episode, I share some of my own reflections—from watching communities come together during the World Cup, to a meaningful fishing trip with my dad and brothers in Canada, to looking back on the forts we built as kids and realizing they represented something much bigger than pieces of scrap wood. Maybe we weren't just building forts. Maybe those forts were building us. This isn't a recap of past episodes. It's an invitation to look at your own life. Who and what has shaped you? What moments changed your direction? What are you still building? Because the story isn't over. None of us are finished. We're all still under construction.

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  The Fort Builders Podcast

  TFB 014 - The Next Adventure w/ Dave McClung

  Jun 2, 202657 minS0

  <p>In this episode of <b>The Fort Builders</b>, I sit down with Dave McClung.</p><p></p><p>At first glance, this conversation starts with a recent trek to Everest Base Camp. Eight days of hiking, high altitude, Sherpas, tea houses, and standing nearly 17,600 feet above sea level beneath the tallest mountain on Earth.</p><p></p><p>But as we talked, it became clear that Everest is really just the latest chapter in a much bigger story.</p><p></p><p>Dave has spent a lifetime pursuing experiences.</p><p></p><p>In his 50s, he got...

  ListenShow Notes

Recent guests on The Fort Builders Podcast. Study who booked and why before you pitch.

Based on semantic analysis of episode topics and host coverage, this show is a strong guest fit for executives in:

Industry fit is computed by PitchCentric using vector embeddings of the show's episode catalog.