Leadership Episodes

What does it take to build a business that people don't just buy from—but belong to? In this episode of The Prosperity Lounge, Joey Ruffalo sits down with Andrew Ingram, owner of Hurricane Cycles and Reef Coffee in Farragut, Tennessee. Together they discuss entrepreneurship, community building, health, cycling, coffee culture, customer loyalty, leadership, and why the best businesses focus on serving people rather than simply making money. Andrew shares lessons learned from building two succe...

In this episode of The Prosperity Lounge, Joey Ruffalo sits down with Jeff Smith, owner of Smitty Photo & Film and Smitty Socials, for a conversation about storytelling, branding, photography, video, social media, networking, and the power of showing up. Jeff shares how a childhood love of photography grew into a full-time business, why relationships have been essential to his growth, and how businesses can use authentic photos, videos, and social content to become more memorable. We also talk...

Entrepreneur, Air Force veteran, and “Your Funnel Godmother” Rita Thomas joins Joey Ruffalo inside The Prosperity Lounge to discuss CRM systems, AI, automation, funnels, workflows, and how entrepreneurs can stop doing everything manually and start building smarter businesses with less chaos and more clarity. Want to support the show- Buy me a Coffee https://coff.ee/prosperitylounge 👉 Want to break free from bad money habits? Visit www.theprosperitylounge.com use code "radio" to get our How to ...

Welcome to The Prosperity Lounge, where growth gets personal. In this episode, Joey Ruffalo sits down with returning guest and Knox County mayoral candidate Kim Frazier for a real conversation on leadership, growth, infrastructure, and the financial realities of running a county. From managing rapid population growth to understanding the balance between the mayor’s role and county commission, this episode breaks down how local government decisions directly impact your daily life—your commute, ...

What actually makes a great sheriff—experience, leadership, or how they show up when everything’s on the line? In this episode of The Prosperity Lounge, Joey Ruffalo sits down with sheriff candidate David Amburn for a real, in-depth conversation about leadership, law enforcement, and the future of public safety. This isn’t politics. This is clarity. We cover: ✔️ Leadership inside a sheriff’s department ✔️ Proactive vs reactive policing ✔️ The Broken Windows theory ✔️ Transparency and shows li...

What does real leadership actually look like? In this episode of The Prosperity Lounge, Joey Ruffalo sits down with Knox County Commissioner Rhonda Lee for a powerful conversation on resilience, faith, and public service. From battling cancer while commuting to law school… to becoming an attorney protecting constitutional rights… to now serving thousands of families in Knox County — Rhonda’s story is one of determination, purpose, and unwavering conviction. We dive into: Her journey through ...

Leadership doesn’t start in the boardroom. It starts at home. In this episode of The Prosperity Lounge, Joey Ruffalo sits down with small business owner, incoming Rotary Club of Farragut President, and father of Virginia Tech Regimental Commander Adilynn Walker — Brian Walker. Together, they unpack what real leadership looks like in business, in community service, and inside your own home. You’ll hear: • What it takes to lead a business with integrity • Why service is the foundation of infl...

Somewhere between 18 and 35, most people are waiting. Waiting for the right opportunity. Waiting for more money. Waiting for someone to notice them. Waiting for motivation. But what if the breakthrough you’re waiting for… is waiting on you? In this episode of The Prosperity Lounge, Joey Ruffalo delivers a powerful wake-up call: Nobody is coming to save you. This isn’t bad news. It’s empowering news. Because when you stop waiting for rescue and start taking ownership, everything changes...

What does it really take to become a trusted authority in today’s economy? In this episode of The Prosperity Lounge, Joey Ruffalo sits down with Nicky Billou — Christian immigrant, 2× New York Times bestselling author, and one of the most respected voices in thought leadership — to unpack what it means to build wealth, influence, and impact without compromising your faith or integrity. They discuss: Why business is a people game, not a numbers game The danger of “charlatan marketing” Why go...

You can be emotionally intelligent, self-aware, and deeply committed to growth — and still find yourself shutting down, overthinking, or walking on eggshells in love. In this episode of The Prosperity Lounge, Joey Ruffalo sits down with Diane McDowell, therapist-turned-coach and creator of the Brain-to-Heart Code™, to unpack why that disconnect isn’t a failure — it’s wiring. Diane explains what she calls The Brain Hijack™: the nervous system’s survival reflex that quietly takes over in relatio...

What does strong law enforcement leadership actually look like in today’s environment? In this live episode of The Prosperity Lounge, Joey Ruffalo sits down with Mike Davis, a Knox County Sheriff’s candidate and former DEA agent with 25 years of federal service, for a thoughtful, non-political conversation focused on leadership, trust, and public safety. Rather than soundbites or attacks, this discussion centers on: Transparency and accountability in modern policing Officer safety, training,...

Leadership doesn’t happen by accident — it’s forged. In this episode of The Prosperity Lounge, Joey Ruffalo sits down with Anthony Randall, founder of Vanguard XXI, to discuss leadership, character, discipline, and faith under pressure. This conversation reframes prosperity as formation, not performance — and challenges leaders to grow as whole people. 👉 Learn more about Anthony and his work at VanguardXXI.com If this episode challenged your thinking, subscribe, leave a comment with your bigg...

Welcome to The Prosperity Lounge, where growth gets personal. In today’s episode, Joey Ruffalo sits down with Dr. Lani Jones, a clinical psychologist and leadership advisor who helps high-performing leaders close what she calls The Final 1% — the invisible gap between success and legacy. Most leaders don’t struggle at the beginning. They don’t struggle with effort. They struggle with the last stretch — the internal wiring, decision fatigue, boundaries, and clarity required to turn achievemen...

In this episode of The Prosperity Lounge, Joey Ruffalo sits down with Rep. Monty Fritts, Tennessee State Representative and candidate for Governor, for a values-driven conversation about leadership, service, and stewardship — without the noise of typical political talking points. Monty shares his background in military service, the private sector, and public office, and how those experiences shaped his views on responsibility, decision-making, and the role of government. Rather than campaign sl...

Culture isn’t a buzzword — it’s the invisible force that shapes decisions, behaviors, and long-term success. In this episode of The Prosperity Lounge, Joey Ruffalo sits down with Steve Gandara and Israel Gandara of Excellent Cultures, a leadership organization that has spent nearly five decades helping businesses, universities, and organizations build cultures rooted in purpose, clarity, and excellence. Steve brings decades of experience working with corporate leaders and organizations to tran...

What does it take to keep going when life does everything it can to stop you? In this powerful episode of The Prosperity Lounge, Joey Ruffalo sits down with Jay Setchell — a Marine veteran, entrepreneur, and author whose life is defined by resilience, faith, and personal responsibility. Jay has been clinically dead three times, endured 73 surgeries, survived a broken neck, paralysis, and COVID Delta when doctors believed he wouldn’t make it. And yet, he continues to lead, build, and serve with...

What happens when faith, technology, and leadership intersect — not in theory, but in practice? In this episode of The Prosperity Lounge, Joey Ruffalo sits down with Chris Migura, CEO of Logos Bible Software, one of the most widely used digital Bible platforms in the world, serving millions of pastors, students, and lifelong learners. Chris shares insights from his journey from CFO to CEO, how Logos is navigating growth with purpose, and why faith and profitability don’t compete — they reinfor...

Full, polished version: In this powerful Prosperity Lounge episode, Joey sits down with Jason McCoy, President of Endex Archery, a nonprofit using archery as a pathway to healing for veterans, first responders, and others battling post-traumatic stress. Jason’s story is raw, honest, and full of purpose — and it all began with a bow, a breath, and a life-changing realization. Jason shares how he returned from deployment carrying trauma, survivor’s guilt, and destructive coping patterns — and how...

In this powerful conversation from the Liberty University CEO Summit, Joey Ruffalo sits down with Lizette Arches — international speaker, certified leadership coach, and bestselling author of The Passionate Leader — to talk about how faith, self-awareness, and purpose can reignite leadership in a world that’s running on empty. Lizette shares the three powerful secrets that help leaders stay grounded, inspired, and connected: 1️⃣ Own it — You are a leader 2️⃣ Get to know YOU 3️⃣ Lead YOU Toge...

What does it take to think big, act bigger, and lead with purpose? In this episode of The Prosperity Lounge, Joey Ruffalo sits down with Jeffrey Hayzlett — Chairman & CEO of the C-Suite Network, bestselling author, and host of All Business with Jeffrey Hayzlett — for a high-impact conversation on grit, growth, and the mindset behind billion-dollar leadership. Jeffrey shares how his journey from a small-town entrepreneur to a Fortune 100 executive shaped his philosophy on hard work, purpose...

What if prosperity wasn’t just about money — but about peace, partnership, and purpose between nations? In this episode, former U.S. Ambassador to Costa Rica S. Fitzgerald Haney joins Joey Ruffalo in The Prosperity Lounge to discuss faith-driven leadership, the creation of the Isaac Accords, and how the Genesis Prize Foundation is building bridges between Israel and Latin America. From growing up in Tennessee to serving in Israel, Ambassador Haney shares how faith, humility, and empathy guide...

In this episode of The Prosperity Lounge, host Joey Ruffalo sits down with Brent Gibson, former University of Tennessee football player, veteran law enforcement officer, and candidate for Knox County Sheriff, for a powerful conversation on leadership, integrity, and community service. Brent shares his journey from the gridiron to the badge, the lessons he learned from mentors like Coach Phillip Fulmer, and how those lessons shaped his philosophy of “service over status.” He opens up about trans...

What does real success look like when the game ends? In this Inside the Lounge episode, Joey Ruffalo takes you behind the mic to unpack lessons from his recent conversation with Caitlin Ryan, former Lady Vol softball player and Assistant Director of Student-Athlete Development at the University of Tennessee. Caitlin helps lead the groundbreaking VOLeaders Academy — a program shaping student-athletes into global leaders who use their platform for positive change. In this post-show reflection, ...

When you think of Tennessee sports, hockey probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. But the Tennessee Ice Vols are changing that. In this episode of The Prosperity Lounge, Joey Ruffalo sits down with Patrick Green — President and Goalie of the Tennessee Ice Vols — to talk about what it means to play for the love of the game, how club hockey stacks up against NCAA competition, and why the future of SEC hockey may be closer than you think. Patrick shares his journey from Boston to Rock...