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C4 Leaders – the ONLY nonprofit to utilize the pizza making process to create space for our companions to be seen, heard, and loved. We work with businesses, sports teams, hospitals, churches…anyone looking to RISE TOGETHER. We also write children’s books and use the most amazing handmade, hand-tossed, sourdough pizza to bring out the best in each other. Please check out c4leaders.org to support our important work.

Season 6 Episode #17 LeAnn Flores is coming from Tampa, Florida.

You can find LeAnn via her website vecinacafe.com

LeAnn grew up in a home filled with unconditional love, laughter, sacrifice, and strong values. Her parents, who were youth pastors and hard-working young parents of four, modeled leadership not through titles, but through their actions. From them, LeAnn learned that true leadership is grounded in service, compassion, and unwavering commitment to others. These early lessons planted the seeds of purpose that would eventually grow into her lifelong mission.

Inspired by the love and unity of her childhood neighborhood, LeAnn set out to create a space that would embody those same values: connection, mentorship, leadership, and love. A place where everyone—no matter their background—could find belonging, build relationships, and grow together.

Those feelings, those principles, those values, and LeAnn’s deep roots inspired her to create The Vecina Café – a nonprofit built by the community for the community. The Venica Café’s programs are dedicated to empowering individuals to achieve their personal and professional goals. Through targeted training, mentorship, and support, The Café helps participants build confidence and skills to unlock their full potential…leading to fulfilling lives.

TOTD – “Leadership is about empathy. It is about having the ability to relate to and connect with people for the purpose of inspiring and empowering their lives.”

Oprah Winfrey

Build a habit - to create intention - to live your purpose!

In this episode:

Let’s talk family and culture…guat-rican…What was life like growing up?

Studied at USF with course work in the public relations and advertising fields..first generation….

Parents have given you many gifts…which ones stand out the most

Dadz in Motion program…is that where your nonprofit career started

Pathway to Success

Future Film…DEAR FUTURE ME…

Feeling you get when one of your former members…comes back and tells you how good life is…

Plans for the future…

Books you recommend?

Legacy

Send us Fan Mail

C4 Leaders – the ONLY nonprofit to utilize the pizza making process to create space for our companions to be seen, heard, and loved. We work with businesses, sports teams, hospitals, churches…anyone looking to RISE TOGETHER. We also write children’s books and use the most amazing handmade, hand-tossed, sourdough pizza to bring out the best in each other. Please check out c4leaders.org to support our important work.

Season 6 Episode #16 Bryan Blackman is coming from Huntington Beach, CA (inform, inspire, & transform)

You can find Bryan via his website crabcrewlife.com

Bryan Blackmon knows what rock bottom looks like. Moving from Texas to California with a dream, a drug addiction, and a crippling dependence on alcohol — and no real plan. Sleeping in tents. Losing everything. The kind of darkness most people don't come back from.

But he chose differently — one day at a time — and rebuilt his life from nothing into something real. Today he's a well-known TikTok influencer whose livestreams have established a community that is built on experience, strength and belief.

The CRAB CREW tattoo on his knuckles isn't just ink. It's a declaration. It's a reminder of where he came from — and a promise of where he's going.

Bryan, thanks for sharing your many gifts and talents, thanks for being genuine and thanks for being on our guest on Life’s Essential Ingredients…welcome to the show!

TOTD – “We can spend our lives letting the world tell us who we are. Sane or insane. Saints or sex addicts. Heroes or victims. Letting history tell us how good or bad we are. Letting our past decide our future. Or we can decide for ourselves. And maybe it's our job to invent something better.”― Chuck Palahniuk

Build a habit - to create intention - to live your purpose!

In this episode:

What was life like growing up?

What are your life’s essential ingredients..

Let’s talk music…how long have you been playing…

TikTok and what opportunities has that platform created for you…

876 days of sobriety…congrats…

The importance of consistency/routine

Building a brand around sobriety, resilience, and transformation

The path back to yourself

The Elaine moment..

Crab Mentality .. pulling each other down…voice in your head.. but lead you to FROM THE DEPTHS WE RISE…= Crab Crew

CRAB Pillars (Clean, Resilient, Adaptability, Belief)

Replacing Hope with TRUST

Program is for people who are Ready, who Show Up, and who Take Action…

Write down a thing that is not serving you…

Mirror Work…

Journaling is a big part of your transformation…

Belief that you are worth it…

Redemption and how it is your routine

Being unhoused and the misconceptions

Advice for the tent – both physical and mental

6 week transformation experience

Legacy

Send us Fan Mail

C4 Leaders – the ONLY nonprofit to utilize the pizza making process to create space for our companions to be seen, heard, and loved. We work with businesses, sports teams, hospitals, churches…anyone looking to RISE TOGETHER. We also write children’s books and use the most amazing handmade, hand-tossed, sourdough pizza to bring out the best in each other. Please check out c4leaders.org to support our important work.

Season 6 Episode #15 George Rivera is coming from Austin, Texas (inform, inspire, & transform)

You can find George through his website https://buybacktimeformula.com

George Rivera helps successful founders escape the trap of building a business that depends on them for everything. After scaling multiple companies to 8 and 9 figures, he realized success was quietly costing him the moments that mattered most at home. Today, George helps founders buy back 10–20 hours a week and build businesses that run without them… so they don’t miss what matters most.

George’s work has impacted thousands and continues to grow its global impact through partnerships with top founders, thought leaders, and investors. Thanks for sharing your many gifts, thanks for being a father who cares and wants to be a positive role model in your son’s life and thanks for being our guest on Life’s Essential Ingredients. Welcome to the show!

TOTD – "Time is free, but it's priceless. You can't own it, but you can use it. You can't keep it, but you can spend it. Once you've lost it you can never get it back." — Harvey Mackay

Build a habit - to create intention - to live your purpose!

In this episode:

What was life like growing up?

Life’s essential ingredients

How did your career get started…

Investing in yourself…

You started your entrepreneurial care back in 1995 (were in hs) and have learned so much along your journey…what are some of the life lessons you learned along the way…

The power of failure (learning)…

What was the catalyst for your Buy Back Time Formula…

Burnout and not delegating…leading to no time/energy for the things that are truly most important…

The price of success

Congrats on your book, what was the inspiration to put your thoughts on paper…how will AI help with some of your concepts…

Being present

The biggest lie…how to help performers reach beyond their current ability…

The impact of AI

I know your dad was a big inspiration in your life…what did you love most about him and what are some of the ways he impacted your life…

Two minute scorecard…

Books you recommend

Legacy

Send us Fan Mail

C4 Leaders – the ONLY nonprofit to utilize the pizza making process to create space for our companions to be seen, heard, and loved. We work with businesses, sports teams, hospitals, churches…anyone looking to RISE TOGETHER. We also write children’s books and use the most amazing handmade, hand-tossed, sourdough pizza to bring out the best in each other. Please check out c4leaders.org to support our important work.

Season 6 Episode #14 Ron Platt is coming from St. Peterburg, Florida (inform, inspire, & transform)

You can find Ron via his website https://www.nasdf.org

A serial entrepreneur with over 35 years of experience across insurance, real estate, and social advocacy, Ron has built a career defined by innovation and impact. But it’s his personal experience, both as a foster parent and advocate for families in crisis that shaped his true mission: to reform the systems that fail single-parent and divorced households.

This passion led to the creation of NASDF (National Association for Single and Divorced Families), a first-of-its-kind membership organization offering an umbrella of products, services, support and resources to support families nationwide.

Ron is also responsible for creating and launching the only divorce insurance product on the market called Support Insured, which guarantees the continuation of child support and alimony payments for up to one-year should the payor die, become disabled, involuntarily unemployed or declares a business bankruptcy.

Ron, thanks for sharing your gifts with children and families and thanks for being our guest on Life’s Essential Ingredients.

TOTD – “Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.” Gandhi

Build a habit - to create intention - to live your purpose!

In this episode:

What was life like growing up?

Florida State graduate…what was life like back then…

Very successful real estate career (over 300 million in sales)….what does it take to be successful in that field…

Why is it so important to advocate for children…

What changes would you implement if you were in charge of the foster care system

Gap in care, finances, education, social workers…

Kids need stability but that is the missing ingredient…how do we fix that

Ingredients that we all need to be a family

Relationships

Best part of building your family

Gap in Insurance and how you and your father filled it

Legacy

Send us Fan Mail

C4 Leaders – the ONLY nonprofit to utilize the pizza making process to create space for our companions to be seen, heard, and loved. We work with businesses, sports teams, hospitals, churches…anyone looking to RISE TOGETHER. We also write children’s books and use the most amazing handmade, hand-tossed, sourdough pizza to bring out the best in each other. Please check out c4leaders.org to support our important work.

Season 6 Episode #13 Russell Van Brocklen is coming from West Sand Lake, NY (inform, inspire, & transform)

You can find Russell via his website https://dyslexiaclasses.com

Dyslexia touches as many as 15–20 % of all learners, yet most families still hear “wait and see.” Russell flips that script. As the Dyslexia Professor, he translates structured-literacy methods proven most effective for struggling readers into bite-size actions parents can use right now. Russell’s clients know exactly why multisensory routines beat generic worksheets and with Russell’s expertise, start seeing progress before the next report card.

Russell has over 10 years of experience in teaching students with Dyslexia techniques to overcome their current struggles and recognize the superpower they’ve been given. Russell is a frequent speaker at various reading and writing conferences and has helped thousands of students reach for and achieve their dreams.

Thanks for sharing your many gifts with people all over the world and thanks for being our guest on Life’s Essential Ingredients…welcome to the show.

TOTD – “You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.” Maya Angelou

Build a habit - to create intention - to live your purpose!

In this episode:

What was life like growing up?

Best part of growing up with Dyslexia?

Most exciting part of helping individuals with dyslexia…

What was special education like when you grew up and educators didn’t have the knowledge they have now…

Helping individuals find their secret sauce…

Best thing a parent can do to help their child?

Writing to Read…is a process you created…

PRACTICE….

Developing trust in one’s self to know they can do it…

Books you recommend?

Legacy

Send us Fan Mail

C4 Leaders – the ONLY nonprofit to utilize the pizza making process to create space for our companions to be seen, heard, and loved. We work with businesses, sports teams, hospitals, churches…anyone looking to RISE TOGETHER. We also write children’s books and use the most amazing handmade, hand-tossed, sourdough pizza to bring out the best in each other. Please check out c4leaders.org to support our important work.

Season 6 Episode #12 Jason Lyle is coming from North Georgia (inform, inspire, & transform)

You can find Jason via his website thesacredgrit.com and https://www.skool.com/sacred-grit-6182/about

About Jason’s work: Jason Lyle is a wilderness guide, retreat leader, and spiritual coach with a passion for helping men reclaim their inner strength and truth. After 13 years as a pastor and over a decade working in Uganda on sustainable development, Jason founded Adventures in Recovery, a nonprofit using nature, movement, and mindfulness to support men’s mental health. He also leads Sacred Grit, a coaching and retreat platform built on the belief that healing begins when we stop running from our pain and start facing it with courage. Jason’s work is raw, grounded, and deeply human—just like the men he serves.

Thanks for helping, healing, and guiding men to reclaim their true identity and purpose in life. Thanks for being our guest on Life’s Essential Ingredients…welcome to the show!

TOTD – “resolve to live as a grown-up who is making progress, and make whatever you think best a law that you never set aside. And whenever you encounter anything that is difficult or pleasurable, or highly or lowly regarded, remember that the contest is now: you are at the Olympic Games, you cannot wait any longer.” Epictetus (Manual 51)

Build a habit - to create intention - to live your purpose!

In this episode:

What was life like growing up?

Nervous System Regulation

The Power of Reflection

Self – Love…the most loving thing you can do…

Mind, Body, Soul…

Mindful Masculinity – three core pillars: Tools, Stillness, Authentic Masculinity

Feeling Whole…

Self- Awareness

The ability to separate from everyday life….

Creating Capacity to hold DISCOMFORT

Yoga..

Identifying TRIGGERS… then Dealing with Anger…regulate..

Perspective

Road Map

Do the hard work…

Meaningful planting ritual for growth and intention

Cold Plunging

Releasing the pressure to FIX oneself vs. learning how to love who you currently are…

The Sacred Grit Podcast…

Purpose, Guilt, Forgiveness, Books you recommend?

Legacy

Send us Fan Mail

C4 Leaders – the ONLY nonprofit to utilize the pizza making process to create space for our companions to be seen, heard, and loved. We work with businesses, sports teams, hospitals, churches…anyone looking to RISE TOGETHER. We also write children’s books and use the most amazing handmade, hand-tossed, sourdough pizza to bring out the best in each other. Please check out c4leaders.org to support our important work.

Season 6 Episode #11 Victoria Pelletier is coming from Miami Beach, Florida (inform, inspire, & transform)

You can find Victoria via her website victoria-pelletier.com

About Victoria’s work: Victoria is a 20+ year Corporate Executive, Board Director, #1 selling author and Professional Public Speaker. Nicknamed the “Turn Around Queen” and the “CEO Whisperer” by former colleagues and employers, Victoria inspires and empowers her team and clients to change mindsets and drive growth in business, leadership and culture.

As someone who does not subscribe to the status quo, she is always ready for new challenges becoming one of the youngest Chief Operating Officers at the age of 24, president by 35 and a CEO at age 41.

As a prolific motivational and inspirational speaker, Victoria has delivered keynotes discussing the significance of Whole Human Leadership - being an empathetic and authentic leader, as well as the importance of personal branding and its impact on professional growth; the power of DEI on corporate cultures and building a life of resilience.

Victoria, thanks for sharing your many gifts, thanks for empowering the people you serve to develop their best selves, and thanks for being our guest on Life’s Essential Ingredients…welcome to the show.

TOTD – “It’s hard to know whether to laugh or to cry at the human predicament. Here we are with so much wisdom and tenderness, and - without even knowing it – we cover it over to protect ourselves from insecurity. Although we have the potential to experience the freedom of a butterfly, we mysteriously prefer the small and fearful cocoon of ego.”

The Places That Scare You by Pema Chodron

Build a habit - to create intention - to live your purpose!

In this episode:

What was life like growing up?

Harmony in you doing you, raising children, empowering staff, building culture, writing books, …how do and did you do it…

What is Leadership and how is it changing? Affect of AI? Skills needed now and in the future…

The Power of Reflection

Self – Love…the most loving thing you can do…

Healthy Resilience…Congrats on your tedx talk…1.8 million views…

Your adoptive mother was an inspiration…

Begins with anchoring yourself to a goal…

Self- Reflection leads to Self- Awareness

Permission to Fail…give yourself time to grieve and then

Books – The Power of Whole Human Leadership: Managing Modern Workers Toward Purpose and Profit, Influence Unleashed, Unstoppable, The Leadership Transition Guide…

The Power of Empathy….

Legacy

Send us Fan Mail

C4 Leaders – the ONLY nonprofit to utilize the pizza making process to create space for our companions to be seen, heard, and loved. We work with businesses, sports teams, hospitals, churches…anyone looking to RISE TOGETHER. We also write children’s books and use the most amazing handmade, hand-tossed, sourdough pizza to bring out the best in each other. Please check out c4leaders.org to support our important work.

Season 6 Episode #10 Patton Dodd is coming from San Antonio, Texas (inform, inspire, & transform)

You can find Patton via his website pattondodd.com

About our guest: Patton brings 20 years of experience in media, publishing, and communications to this current role as executive director of communications for the H.E. Butt Foundation. Patton has served as editor of multiple national publications and has been widely published in the Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, Newsweek, TheAtlantic.com, CNN.com, and Christianity Today among others. Previously an instructor at the United States Air Force Academy, Patton has taught courses in composition, literature, and film studies. He holds a doctorate in religion and literature from Boston University.

His most recent book is Patton’s memoir, The Father You Get: And the Ones You Make, Believe In, and Become, is all about fatherhood's challenges and beauty. He opens up about the wounds left by his own father's absence, the mentors who helped fill those gaps, and his own journey as a dad trying to create a path forward. It's a story of healing, faith, and crafting a legacy, a theme that dovetails with the conversations you bring to life.

Patton, thanks for having the courage to share your story, for being vulnerable and honest with life’s challenges, for continuing to believe in a higher power, and for sharing your faith, belief, and life with our listeners on Life’s Essential Ingredients…welcome to the show!

TOTD – “Owning our story can be hard but not nearly as difficult as spending our lives running from it. Embracing our vulnerabilities is risky but not nearly as dangerous as giving up on love and belonging and joy – the experiences that make us the most vulnerable. Only when we are brave enough to explore the darkness will we discover the infinite power of our light.” Brene Brown

Build a habit - to create intention - to live your purpose!

In this episode:

What’s life like in San Antonio…river walk, the spurs…Wemby….

What was life like growing up?

Know Your Neighbor – South Side of San Antonio have a 20 year lower life expectancy than their neighbors on the north side of town…

Everyone Needs a Home…Share a Meal Together..

The Father You Get: And the Ones You Make, Believe In, and Become – congrats on the book, came out in September of 2025…”Dodd does not shy away from showing the profound wounds that come when our fathers are absent, harmful, or simply incapable. At the same time, his storytelling is infused with insight, honesty, and care, offering a mirror for our own stories. Reading it brought unexpected clarity and resonance in my own life.”

Dealing with a father who was an alcoholic…

Father Hunger… in the book…

Laity Lodge…

The Power of Story Making…

Has big sister…KC who took great care of you growing up…

22, 19, 15…three children…best part of fatherhood

The Echoes Podcast is part of the HE Butt Foundation?

Legacy