How Great Leaders Embrace Uncertainty - Dr. Connie Book Elon University
Your E.P.I.C Pursuit
What does it take to lead boldly when the world is telling you to stand down? In this episode of Your Epic Pursuit, host Mike Mooney, CSP sits down with Dr. Connie Book, President of Elon University — a trailblazing leader who made some of the boldest institutional decisions in higher education during one of the most uncertain periods in modern history. Under Dr. Book's leadership, Elon has been ranked #1 in the nation for excellence in undergraduate teaching by U.S. News & World Report — five consecutive years. But the real story is how she...
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Stop Chasing Trophies. The Pursuit is the Prize! Guest Chad Biagini
Your E.P.I.C Pursuit
What separates leaders who chase trophies from those who build lasting legacies? In this episode of Your E.P.I.C. Pursuit™, host Mike Mooney, CSP welcomes Chad Biagini, President of Excel Search and Advisory — one of the most respected executive search and leadership consultancies in global sports, media, and entertainment. Chad is a Sports Business Journal 40 Under 40 honoree who has overseen 400+ executive placements at organizations including the Chicago Bears, Houston Texans, Arizona Cardinals, Detroit Pistons, World Surf League, and leagues...
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Bet On The People Who Show Up - Tim Flanagan
Your E.P.I.C Pursuit
From Bold Decisions to People-First Leadership: Tim Flanagan on Scaling, Strategy & Courage | Your Epic Pursuit Podcast What does it really take to lead through a strategic inflection point? In this episode, Mike Mooney sits down with Tim Flanagan - third-generation leader, General Agent at the Pelora Group (MassMutual), Charlotte's 40 Under 40 honoree, and Most Admired CEO - for a raw, honest conversation on leadership, courage, and building high-performance teams. Tim shares the moment he looked across a conference table and realized his team had split into two camps - and what he did...
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Ramon Ray - Stop Chasing What Isn't Yours!
Your E.P.I.C Pursuit
What happens when you stop chasing what everyone else says you should do — and finally go all in on what you're built for? In this episode of Your E.P.I.C. Pursuit, I sit down with Ramon Ray — serial entrepreneur, small business evangelist at Bitdefender, author of Celebrity CEO, and one of the most unapologetically positive humans I know. Ramon has started five companies, sold three of them, interviewed all five Shark Tank sharks and President Obama, and shared stages with Simon Sinek, Seth Godin, Gary Vaynerchuk, and Deepak Chopra. And yet — what makes...
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When the Storm Hits at 1 AM, What Kind of Leader Shows Up?
Your E.P.I.C Pursuit
What happens when a thunderstorm destroys your entire event course at 1 AM - and 2,500 athletes show up in 5 hours? In this episode of Your E.P.I.C. Pursuit, Carl Thomas shares the leadership lessons that helped him navigate that crisis and build triathlon's Olympic format from scratch. As a USA Triathlon Hall of Fame and World Triathlon Hall of Fame inductee with 30+ years of C-suite leadership experience, Carl reveals the unconventional principles that transformed his vision into a global movement. 🎯 KEY TAKEAWAYS: ✅ Lead From the Front – Why showing up and getting your...
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80% of Your Week in Meetings? Here's the Cure!
Your E.P.I.C Pursuit
In this conversation, Mike Mooney talks with Shane Yount and Rob Kornblum to explore the evolution of leadership development, focusing on the introduction of Process Intelligence (PQ) as a vital component for sustainable and scalable leadership. They discuss the importance of curiosity, effective communication, and the need for systems that transcend individual personalities to foster high-performing teams. The dialogue also addresses the current crisis in leadership engagement and the necessity of connecting employees to organizational goals to enhance performance and morale. Key Takeaways...
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Why Heart-Driven Leadership Changes Everything with VaynerX's Claude Silver
Your E.P.I.C Pursuit
In this engaging conversation, Mike Mooney and Claude Silver explore the transformative power of leadership rooted in love, accountability, and authenticity. Claude shares her journey as the Chief Heart Officer at VaynerX, emphasizing the importance of creating a culture of psychological safety and empowering individuals to take ownership of their energy and actions. They discuss the significance of feedback as a tool for connection rather than correction, and the necessity of embracing vulnerability in leadership. Claude also highlights her upcoming book, 'Be Yourself at Work,' which aims to...
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He Lost 150lbs & Gained a Vision that is Transforming Workplaces
Your E.P.I.C Pursuit
In this episode of Your E.P.I.C. Pursuit, host Mike Mooney engages in a profound conversation with Mark Mahammadpour, founder and chief wellbeing officer of Chasing the Sun. They explore Mark's journey from a senior executive in public relations to a wellbeing advocate, focusing on leadership, personal transformation, and creating a culture of wellbeing. Mark shares his personal weight loss story and how it inspired him to help others prioritize their health and wellbeing. The discussion delves into leadership principles, the importance of small steps, and the power of listening tours to...
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Why Most Leaders Lose Their Edge & How To Keep Yours
Your E.P.I.C Pursuit
In this episode of Your E.P.I.C. Pursuit, Mike Mooney engages in a deep conversation with Chris McKee, the director of global partnerships for motorsports at FloSports. They explore Chris's extensive journey in the motorsports industry, discussing the importance of curiosity, making bold decisions, navigating challenges, and the critical role of trust in leadership. Chris shares insights from his career, emphasizing the need for leaders to earn trust continuously and to foster an environment where team members can grow and succeed. Key Takeaways: -The journey in leadership is about...
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The Culture Shift That Put His Team Back On Top
Your E.P.I.C Pursuit
In this conversation, Mike Mooney and Stephen Botino discuss the challenges and strategies in the real estate industry, focusing on leadership, team empowerment, and navigating market fluctuations. Stephen shares insights on controlling the controllables, the importance of talent development, and the need for a cultural shift towards a listing-focused approach. They explore unconventional strategies for success and the significance of fostering a supportive team environment. Takeaways -The real estate industry has faced significant challenges in recent years, including low sales and...
info_outlineFrom Bold Decisions to People-First Leadership: Tim Flanagan on Scaling, Strategy & Courage | Your Epic Pursuit Podcast
What does it really take to lead through a strategic inflection point? In this episode, Mike Mooney sits down with Tim Flanagan - third-generation leader, General Agent at the Pelora Group (MassMutual), Charlotte's 40 Under 40 honoree, and Most Admired CEO - for a raw, honest conversation on leadership, courage, and building high-performance teams.
Tim shares the moment he looked across a conference table and realized his team had split into two camps - and what he did about it. He unpacks why hope is not a plan, how to think 10X when the pressure is on, and the "slow down to speed up" strategy he and his business partner use to cut through the chaos without stopping the business.
In this episode, you'll learn:
✅ How to apply 10X thinking to compress your vision timeline
✅ Why strategic inflection points demand bold people decisions
✅ The "slow down to speed up" practice for leaders under pressure
✅ What "honoring someone's choice" means in real leadership
✅ How micro moments and experience wakes build (or break) culture
✅ The people-first principle that's driven decades of Charlotte business success
Whether you're a founder, executive, team leader, or aspiring entrepreneur, this episode delivers the kind of practical leadership wisdom you can put to work immediately.
🎙️ Guest: Tim Flanagan | General Agent, Pelora Group | MassMutual | Charlotte, NC
🏆 Charlotte's 40 Under 40 | Most Admired CEO | Best Places to Work
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📌 Chapters:
0:00 – Welcome & Tim's Introduction
2:16 – The Science of Scaling & 10X Thinking
10:37 – The Bold Decision That Changed Everything
24:02 – Slow Down to Speed Up
31:40 – The People-First Leadership Principle
37:33 – Micro Moments & Experience Wakes
39:21 – Closing Thoughts