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.

Most people see waste, excess, or leftover materials as a problem. David Mendelson sees opportunity.

Patrick talks with David Mendelson, leader of multi-generation family-owned company DONCO, about creativity, problem solving, and operating in a world where every phone call brings a new challenge. David and his team help organizations rethink industrial byproducts, excess inventory, and unused materials by finding innovative ways to put them back into use.

Featured in Disrupt Everything and Win, David exemplifies what positive disruptors do best: seeing what others miss and thinking differently when faced with uncertainty.

This conversation is about mindset, ingenuity, adaptability, and why some people are able to find possibilities where others only see obstacles.

What does it take to reinvent yourself in a world shaped by layoffs, AI, uncertainty, and constant change?

In this episode, Patrick sits down with career and leadership expert Kathy Caprino, Forbes columnist, executive coach, educator, and host of the Finding Brave podcast. The two first met at the World Business Forum in New York City, where Kathy’s thoughtful questions and genuine care for people immediately stood out.

Together, they explore career reinvention, leadership visibility, personal growth, and what it really means to navigate disruption well. Kathy shares insights from years of helping professionals find clarity, courage, and direction in moments when the future feels uncertain.

Whether you’re considering a career pivot, trying to lead through change, or simply wondering what’s next, this conversation will help you think differently about your path forward.

What does it really mean to find your voice?

In this episode of Disruption Lab, Patrick sits down with Megan Piphus to explore how voice is not just something you have. It is something you develop, refine, and sometimes fight to uncover.

Megan’s journey is anything but typical. She started as a self-taught ventriloquist at a young age, went on to appear on America's Got Talent, built a career that spans performance, music, and storytelling, and eventually became a puppeteer and cast member on Sesame Street. 

But what makes this conversation stand out is not just what she has accomplished. It is how she disrupted herself along the way. From finance and real estate to creative work that aligns with who she truly is, Megan made intentional choices to step into her voice rather than settle for a path that did not fully fit. 

This conversation will challenge you to disrupt the assumptions you carry about who you are supposed to be and how you are supposed to show up. It is about finding the confidence to use your voice, even when it looks different from what others expect.

Megan’s story is also featured in the New York Times bestselling book Disrupt Everything and Win, which Patrick coauthored with James Patterson.

To learn more about Megan and her work, visit her website: https://www.MeganPiphus.com

What if success doesn’t follow a single path?

In this episode of Disruption Lab, Patrick sits down with Colleen Brown and her son Pierce Brown for a conversation that highlights two very different journeys, both pursued with clarity and intention.

Colleen has led at the highest levels as a CEO and board member. Pierce has built a global following as the author of the Red Rising series. Their careers look nothing alike, and that is exactly the point.

This conversation will push you to disrupt the belief that there is one right way to build a meaningful life. You will hear how each of them found and committed to their own path, how they think about their work, and how they continue to grow without trying to become someone else.

What stands out most is the dynamic between them. There is a deep sense of respect, admiration, and appreciation for each other’s journey. It is a reminder that we do not have to choose the same path to support, value, and learn from one another.

If you are navigating your own direction, this episode offers a grounded perspective. You do not need a single path. You need your path, and the awareness to recognize and respect it in others.

Learn more about Pierce’s work at https://www.piercebrown.com

What if the stress you’re feeling isn’t something to manage but something to rethink entirely?

In this episode of Disruption Lab, Patrick sits down with Amy Leneker to explore how our relationship with stress shapes the way we show up at work and in life. Too often, we treat stress as the enemy and joy as something we will get to later. Amy challenges that thinking and offers a more practical approach that helps you navigate pressure without losing yourself in the process.

This conversation will push you to disrupt the way you think about stress, success, and what it means to enjoy the life you are building.

Amy is the author of Cheers to Monday, where she shares insights and tools to help people create more energy, clarity, and fulfillment in their everyday lives. You can learn more at her website https://www.amyleneker.com