What would happen if you stopped waiting for permission and simply started tackling big problems?

Patrick talks with Tommy Pennington, a Vanderbilt graduate and rising innovator, about what it means to think boldly at any age. Tommy has explored everything from fusion-powered technology to traffic flow systems to helping nonprofits gain access to large-scale donated goods through his work at SIMPLI.

What makes Tommy stand out is not just the size of the problems he takes on. It’s his willingness to move toward complexity instead of away from it.

This conversation explores curiosity, initiative, innovation, and the mindset required to pursue ideas that most people would never even attempt.

What happens when you step away from the spotlight and choose to lead in an entirely new way?

Patrick sits down with internationally acclaimed opera performer Keri Alkema to discuss reinvention, leadership, creativity, and the future of the arts. After a celebrated career performing on some of the world’s biggest stages, Keri is stepping into a new role as the future director of the Nashville Opera.

Together, they explore the transition from performer to leader, what it means to carry forward an art form while challenging the status quo, and how disruption often requires the courage to leave behind an identity that once defined you.

Keri brings energy, honesty, and vision to a conversation about purpose, leadership, and building something bigger than yourself.

How do you find your voice and stay steady when the world feels chaotic?

Patrick sits down with Lydia Hu, attorney turned journalist and familiar face on Fox Business, for a conversation about career pivots, high-pressure moments, and navigating disruption in real time. The two first connected while appearing together on Varney & Company during the height of Patrick and James Patterson’s media tour.

Lydia shares her journey from practicing law to becoming a nationally recognized business reporter covering some of the most disruptive moments in recent history, including COVID, financial uncertainty, and rapidly changing economic conditions.

This episode explores communication, reinvention, and the importance of stepping into uncomfortable opportunities before you feel fully ready.