Podcast
The Culture Matters Podcast
Hosted by Jay Doran · EN
The Culture Matters Podcast with host, Jay Doran, is a platform to talk with business owners, executives, and cultural alike to get inside each individual's eco-system in which they practice culture in the workplace. We speak to some of the most interesting people about why culture is important.
24episodes
Episodes
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Season 91, Episode 1085: Guest: Rob Mccord: Turning Pain Into Purpose
3w ago01:20:55Tap to summarize“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.” — Viktor FranklSome conversations don’t just teach you something…they change how you see everything.In this episode, Jay sits down with Rob McCord—a venture capitalist, entrepreneur, public servant, and now a voice in resilience and post-traumatic growth.But this isn’t a highlight reel.This is a real conversation about success, failure, identity, and what it actually takes to rebuild your life when everything changes.Rob shares a journey that spans elite institutions, political power, venture capital success—and devastating personal and professional adversity. And through it all, one theme emerges:You always have a choice in how you respond.Inside this episode:Why entrepreneurship is about solving real problems—not chasing moneyThe traits that actually define successful entrepreneurs (and what most get wrong)The difference between plans that work and the discipline of planning that always mattersHow adversity reshapes identity—and what it reveals about what we take for grantedThe truth about labels, reputation, and how quickly perception can change What resilience really means (and why it’s not about “bouncing back”)How to turn pain into purpose—without pretending it was ever “worth it”Why being of service to others is the most reliable path to a meaningful lifeRob also gives practical, grounded tools for anyone facing a difficult season:Find people you can be vulnerable withKeep a daily gratitude journal (specific moments, not generalities)Commit to learning something new—especially when life feels heavyThis episode doesn’t offer easy answers.It offers something better: perspective.Because resilience isn’t about avoiding hardship—it’s about learning how to live, lead, and serve through it.
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Season 91, Episode 1084: Guest: Brian Vieaux: The Language of Lending
4w ago00:58:30Tap to summarize“The limits of my language mean the limits of my world.” — Ludwig WittgensteinWhat if the biggest gap in the mortgage industry isn’t rates… but understanding?In this episode, Jay sits down with returning guest Brian Vieaux to unpack one of the most overlooked yet foundational elements of the industry: standards.As President of MISMO, Brian pulls back the curtain on the invisible infrastructure that powers lending—and why the professionals who understand it will win the future.This is not just a conversation about data.It’s a conversation about trust, responsibility, and the evolution of what it means to be a true advisor.Inside this episode:What MISMO actually is—and why it’s called the “language of lending”How standardization impacts cost, efficiency, and the borrower experienceWhy most loan officers overlook the very systems that define their industryThe difference between quoting rates and building trustHow standards create accountability—and enable independence in the broker channelThe hidden cultural gap in mortgage: consumer-first vs self-first thinkingWhy education, not sales, is the future of the loan officer roleBrian also challenges a hard truth:the industry benefits from shared infrastructure—but not everyone takes responsibility for supporting it. At its core, this episode is about raising the standard.Because when you understand how the system works,you don’t just compete—you lead.If you’re serious about your career in mortgage, leadership, or financial services, this is one to listen to more than once.
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Season 91, Episode 1083: Guest: Drew Pearlman: From Pressure to People
Apr 2800:49:35Tap to summarize“The way people behave is a reflection of what leaders tolerate.” — John C. MaxwellWhat if the biggest problem in sales isn’t the product… but the experience?In this episode, Jay sits down with Drew Pearlman, a lifelong operator in the automotive industry who has built winning cultures in one of the most high-pressure environments in business.From starting on a car lot at 14 years old to leading top-performing dealerships, Drew shares what actually transforms teams, builds trust, and drives long-term success.This conversation breaks down:Why most sales environments fail—and how pressure destroys performanceThe difference between a manager and a true coachHow relationship-based selling outperforms transactional tactics every timeThe “Bible” system Drew used to build lifelong customer relationshipsWhy referrals should be earned, not forcedThe breakdown inside dealerships—and how to fix culture from the top downThe future of the automotive experience and why concierge is inevitableDrew also introduces his company, Pearl Auto Advocates, built on a simple truth:the traditional car-buying process is broken—and customers are ready for something better. At its core, this episode is about something bigger than cars.It’s about people.It’s about slowing down, asking better questions, and building relationships that last decades—not transactions that last minutes.If you’re in sales, leadership, or building a team—this one will hit home.
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Season 91, Episode 1082: Guest: Aleck Arena: The Arena Securities Quarterly Update
Apr 1300:41:09Tap to summarize"Out of every 100 men, 10 of them should not be there. 80 are nothing but targets. Nine of them are real fighters and we are lucky to have them for they make the battle. Ah, but one, one is a warrior and he will bring the others back."Back again like we never left, we have the founder of Arena Securities and co-host of our ongoing Value Investor Series, Aleck Arena, and if you are in to investing, conversations about investing, and the market as a whole then you have come to the right place. Aleck is here to give our listeners some new updates and feedback on what has been going on with Arena Securities and some of the investment opportunities Aleck has seen and taken over the past few months. Additionally, Aleck and Jay are getting into some of the specifics regarding time management and the amount of research and opportunity watching you should be doing before you get into any new investment and the strong gut and strong will and emotional stability and intelligence it takes to play this game the right way. We hope you enjoy this episode of The Culture Matters Podcast.Disclaimer: The information contained in this episode is not personal financial product advice and has been prepared without taking into account the objectives, financial situation, or needs of any particular person. Culture Matters does not hold an Australian Financial Services License and is not authorised to provide general or personal financial product advice. Before making any investment decision, you should consult a licensed financial adviser. Past performance is not indicative of future performance.
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Season 91, Episode 1081: Guest: Bill Mervin: Beyond Home Ownership
Apr 1000:52:49Tap to summarize"When you are finished changing, you are finished." - Benjamin FranklinEverybody's favorite mortgage expert, leader of the Bill Mervin Mortgage Team, and frequent guest here on The Culture Matters Podcast Bill Mervin is back on the program again and we're looking forward to another fantastic round of conversation with the man himself. On today's episode, Bill and Jay are diving deep on a myriad of subjects, as they always do, and we aren't wasting any time getting into it. During this discussion, Bill and Jay are getting into the current trend of substantial mergers between lending servicing platforms and real estate, Bill's opinions on some of the best practices that business owners and leaders could be employing to succeed in tumultuous times, the different levels and plains of existence that "home" exists on, and even some thoughts on the current state of the United States and how it is affecting the housing market. This is truly a heady conversation and there are few people around we'd rather have such a talk with than Bill Mervin.
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Season 90, Episode 1080: Guest: Fobby Naghmi: Calm 30
Apr 800:36:17Tap to summarize"Anyone who wants to learn the human psyche will learn next to nothing from experimental psychology He would be better advised to abandon exact science, put away his scholar's gown, bid farewell to his study, and wander with human heart throughout the world. There, in the horrors of prisons, lunatic asylums, in drab suburban hubs, brothels, and gambling halls; in the salons of the elegant, the stock exchanges, socialist meetings, churches, revivalist gatherings, and extactict sects; through love and through hate, through the experience of passion in every form in his own body, he would reap richer stores of knowledge than textbooks a foot thick could give him, and he will know how to doctor the sick with a real knowledge of the human soul." - Carl Gustav JungMusician, mortgage professional, host of the "Laugh, Lend, and Eat" podcast, and author of Falling Forward: Mishaps on the Road to Happiness and his a new book called Calm 30 Fobby Naghmi is back on the show today to discuss that new book and, if you've ever hear Fobby on the show before, you know it won't just stop there. During this discussion, Fobby and Jay discuss Fobby's motivation behind writing Calm 30 and what he hopes the readers will get out of it, learning to enjoy the space between the notes (or the funk between the beats), the inevitable conclusion that comes from people watching that we all want to feel connected or like we're part of a/the tribe, the power of meditation to allow you to shut out distraction and allow your mind to focus, and why music is the all-time greatest equalizer. Fobby is a truly unique soul and we are always grateful for his positive vibes and sparkling conversation. Keep an eye out for Calm 30 and we hope you enjoy this episode of The Culture Matters Podcast.
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Season 90, Episode 1079: Thirty Days of Thought with Paul Lucido: "Writer's Block"
Apr 600:25:23Tap to summarize"You can't think yourself out of writing block. You have to write yourself out of a thinking block."Our guest today the Chief Marketing Officer of Paramount Residential Mortgage Group and a frequent contributor on the show, Paul Lucido, and we've got him back for yet another conversation surrounding our very own Jay Doran's work, Thirty Days of Thought. The discussion for this episode is based around the excerpt from the book called "Writer's Block". It can be one of the most frustrating things in the world and has the ability to derail even the most well-thought out and brilliant ideas. So, how do you cope with it? How do you fend it off? How do you remove the block if it has already become an obstacle in your intellectual path? That is exactly what Paul and Jay are discussing on today's episode. Can it be as simple as walking away from the problem for a spell or concentrating your efforts elsewhere? What other block-breaking things might help take care of the problem? Paul and Jay are tackling that and more on this episode of The Culture Matters Podcast.
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Season 90, Episode 1078: Guest: Jeff Winick: Take the Necessary Steps
Apr 300:45:27Tap to summarize"If you want to make a lot of money, solve big problems." - Elon MuskOur guest today is an early supporter Culture Matters and Senior Loan Officer with NJ Lenders Corp., Jeff Winick, and we're very excited to have him back for his sophomore appearance on the show. There is a lot to cover in this episode, so buckle up and get ready to ride! Jeff and Jay are unpacking the power of focus and how concentrating on one or two things instead of a whole bunch of things at once is going to maximize your chances to be successful at those one or two things, caring about the client first and making sure that their experience is positive and that they get what they want and feel like they matter instead of just being another number, how something as simple as a to-do list can help make sure you're not missing opportunities, and why acknowledging that you need to make improvements in certain areas is the first step to making those improvements happen. Thank you to Jeff Winick for his time and expertise and we hope you enjoy this episode of The Culture Matters Podcast.
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Season 90, Episode 1077: Guest: Demetri Stakias: Tales of Giving Part 3
Apr 100:40:11Tap to summarize"When Zarathustra was 30 years old, he left his home and lake of his home, and went into the mountains. Here, he had the enjoyment of his spirit and his solitude and he did not weary of it for 10 years. But at least, his heart turned and one morning he rose with the dawn, stepped before the sun, and spoke to it thus: Great star! What would your happiness be if you had not those for whom you shine? You have come up here to my cave for 10 years. You would have grown weary of your light and of this journey without me, my eagle, and my serpent. But we waited for you every morning, took from you your super fluidity and blessed you for it. Behold! I am weary of my wisdom like a bee that has gathered too much honey. I need hands outstretched to take it. I should like to give it away and distribute it until the wise among men have again become happy in their folly and the poor happy in their wealth."On today's episode of The Culture Matters Podcast, we are joined by our co-host of the Tales of Giving series who is also the host of "The Relief Podcast", author of How to Get Your Life Back, and founder of Real Estate Relief, Demetri Stakias. If you have been keeping up with this series, then you know that these episodes can serve a host of different purposes and cover a host of different subjects and today's journey is no different. During today's discussion, Demetri and Jay are discussing the difficulty of standing out in a world full of unique people, knowing that it is OK to look inward at some of the scariest parts of yourself and uncovering them and dealing with them, and the trickiness of letting people go from your life even if they are loved ones or family. Conversations with Demetri are always guaranteed to get deep and today's is no different on this episode of The Culture Matters Podcast.
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Season 90, Episode 1076: Guest: Scott Schang: The AI Renaissance
Mar 3001:27:46Tap to summarizeWhat if everything you’ve been told about AI is wrong?In this thought-provoking episode, Jay sits down with Scott Schang to explore a perspective far deeper than tools, automation, or productivity. This is a conversation about a paradigm shift—a true renaissance.Drawing inspiration from Nikola Tesla’s vision of a connected world, Scott reframes AI not as a replacement for human intelligence, but as a mirror for it. A collaborator. A challenger. A force that rewards self-awareness over surface-level thinking.Together, they unpack:Why the internet created a “modern dark age” of noise and external validationHow AI shifts power back to the individual thinkerThe danger of asking the wrong questions—and how to fix itWhy most businesses are solving symptoms instead of root problemsHow leaders can use AI to amplify humanity, not replace itThe future of community, connection, and decision-making in an AI-driven worldThis episode isn’t about learning how to use AI.It’s about learning how to think again.If you’re a leader, entrepreneur, or builder navigating what’s next—this conversation will challenge your assumptions and expand your lens.Share this with someone who’s skeptical… and someone who’s ready.
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