What’s Stopping You from Outgrowing Yourself?
Change Ambitiously. Outgrow Yourself.
At Chief Change Officer, we harness change as a superpower—fueled by globa...
#206 Athena Brownson vs. Lyme Disease: A Story of Grit and Comebacks — Part One
Athena Brownson was at the top of her real estate game when life handed her a challenge she never saw coming—Lyme disease. What followed was an eight-year rollercoaster of chronic pain, exhausting treatments, and redefining everything she thought she knew about success. In this episode, she takes us through the raw, unfiltered truth of navigating an illness that most people don’t understand. And in Part Two? We’ll see how she turned this battle into a comeback story.Key Highlights of Our Interview:The Hidden Threat of Lyme Disease“I had no idea what Lyme disease was before I was diagnosed with it. It’s the fastest growing epidemic in the United States, and it can turn life upside down.”From Athlete to Survivor“My life has made a complete 180 from being a professional athlete to just trying to get through each day. It’s a nightmare I wouldn’t wish on anyone.”When Life Becomes a Series of Challenges“It’s hard not to get stuck in the mud when you’re dealing with something so challenging and constant… chronic pain, chronic fatigue, enough to make anyone want to stay in bed and not do anything.”Creating a Toolkit for Every Day“How do we pivot our mentality? How do we create our toolkit of things to get us through each day, even when we don’t want to? Sometimes it’s as simple as blasting favorite music or making a great cup of coffee.”Becoming Your Own Biggest Advocate“With Lyme, I’ve learned that you have to be your own biggest advocate. It’s about mental resilience, surrounding yourself with the right people, and finding those anchors to push forward.”______________________Connect with us:Host: Vince Chan | Guest: Athena Brownson______________________--**Chief Change Officer**--Change Ambitiously. Outgrow Yourself.Open a World of Deep Human Intelligence for Growth Progressives, Visionary Underdogs,Transformation Gurus & Bold Hearts.6 Million+ All-Time Downloads.Reaching 80+ Countries Daily.Global Top 3% Podcast.Top 10 US Business.Top 1 US Careers.>>>100,000+ subscribers are outgrowing. Act Today.
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#205 Collin Plume: From Kid Collector to Gold Guru – Part Two
Back in my LA finance days, I managed billion-dollar bond funds with Jeffrey Gundlach, aka the “Bond King.” But today, we’re switching gears from complex portfolios to something a little shinier—gold.Collin Plume isn’t here to sell you coins—he’s here to talk about what really matters: how to build financial security, make retirement stress-free, and raise kids who actually understand money. If you’ve ever wondered whether gold is more than just a doomsday hedge, Collin has some golden insights for you.Part 2 of our two-part series on money, metals, and making smart financial moves.Key Highlights of Our Interview:Gold, Real Estate, and Learning New Tricks: Why Diversifying is the New Smart“Be willing to learn about a new investment or a new strategy every year, whether you decide to do it or not. But I think being willing to learn about it is important. It will help you and it’ll keep you sharp.”Beware of Finfluencer Hype: Not Everything That Shines Is Gold“Too often, people take influencers at face value, believing that the most engaging video equals the best advice. In reality, it’s important to fact-check and do your own research because many influencers are just paid promoters, not experts.”Do Your Research: Don’t Let Algorithms Make Your Financial Decisions“Algorithms don’t care if the advice is good; they only care if the content is appealing. So when it comes to financial decisions, it’s on you to dig deeper, check multiple sources, and make sure the influencers you follow are legit.”The Real Cost of Reckless Spending: Teaching Financial Discipline to the Next Generation“As a family, we prioritize experiences like travel and education over material goods. I’ve shown my children the gold and silver I’ve set aside for them and explained how these assets will be worth something significant in the future. Whether they want to start a business or pay for college, these investments will be there for them."“I make sure my kids know that money isn’t something to be taken lightly. Whether it’s explaining mortgages to my 8-year-old or discussing the importance of not being wasteful with their toys, they need to understand that everything has a cost. I often use examples like Disneyland—where you can easily spend thousands in just a few days."______________________Connect with us:Host: Vince Chan | Guest: Collin Plume______________________--**Chief Change Officer**--Change Ambitiously. Outgrow Yourself.Open a World of Deep Human Intelligence for Growth Progressives, Visionary Underdogs,Transformation Gurus & Bold Hearts.6 Million+ All-Time Downloads.Reaching 80+ Countries Daily.Global Top 3% Podcast.Top 10 US Business.Top 1 US Careers.>>>100,000+ subscribers are outgrowing. Act Today.
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37:10
#204 Collin Plume: From Kid Collector to Gold Guru – Part One
Back in my LA finance days, I managed billion-dollar bond funds with Jeffrey Gundlach, aka the “Bond King.” But today, we’re switching gears from complex portfolios to something a little shinier—gold.Collin Plume isn’t here to sell you coins—he’s here to talk about what really matters: how to build financial security, make retirement stress-free, and raise kids who actually understand money. If you’ve ever wondered whether gold is more than just a doomsday hedge, Collin has some golden insights for you.Part 1 of our two-part series on money, metals, and making smart financial moves.Key Highlights of Our Interview:From Childhood Coin Collector to Precious Metals Expert: How Silver Sparked a Lifelong Passion“I received silver coins as a child, and even though they were worth just 25 cents on the surface, I learned they were actually worth much more. That stuck with me and led me to see gold and silver as overlooked assets.”Noble Gold: The Three Careers That Made It Happen“Insurance taught me customer service. Real estate taught me employee loyalty. And precious metals? That taught me marketing. Together, those experiences became the foundation for Noble Gold.”It’s All About the People: Why Noble Gold Invests in Human, Not Just AI“I realized early on that it’s not about what you’re selling—it’s about the people. Everything we do at Noble Gold is focused on creating the best possible human experience. While other companies are going all-in on AI, we’ve hired actual people to build relationships.”Gold Bars Under the Mattress: Why Some Investors Want to Feel Their Wealth“As funny as it sounds, some people might still stash their gold under the bed. It’s all about having control—physical, tangible control over your investments.”Gold to the Rescue: Beating Inflation and Outpacing Bank Returns“In a time of soaring inflation, 4% returns in the bank aren’t enough. Gold, up 27%, is proving to be a more reliable way to keep up with the rising cost of living.”______________________Connect with us:Host: Vince Chan | Guest: Collin Plume______________________--**Chief Change Officer**--Change Ambitiously. Outgrow Yourself.Open a World of Deep Human Intelligence for Growth Progressives, Visionary Underdogs,Transformation Gurus & Bold Hearts.6 Million+ All-Time Downloads.Reaching 80+ Countries Daily.Global Top 3% Podcast.Top 10 US Business.Top 1 US Careers.>>>100,000+ subscribers are outgrowing. Act Today.
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32:59
#203 Ryota Tanozaki: From Pouring Drinks to Pouring Innovation into Japan’s Hotels
Ryota Tanozaki started his career selling shochu at Suntory. Now? He’s running the show as President & CEO of Tabist (formerly OYO Japan), leading a tech revolution for 90,000+ Japanese hotels. Along the way, he’s worn many hats—strategy consultant, product manager, GM, and even Head of Instagram Japan. We first crossed paths at Chicago Booth’s Executive MBA program (2013–2015), and I’m excited to share his journey from spirits to startups in this episode.Key Highlights of Our Interview:Navigating the Storm“Three months into my role at Tavist, COVID hit. I had to lead a restructuring—redefining the organization, renegotiating contracts, and crafting a new mission, vision, and strategy. Perseverance became not just a word but a lifeline.”Adapting to Change“COVID brought challenges I couldn’t foresee, yet it became a proving ground. Four years later, I’m still here, knowing that persistence shapes both leaders and the organizations they guide.”When Purpose Pays Better Than Paychecks“Our team can’t match the salaries of big tech giants, but what we offer is purpose. By sharing our mission—empowering small and medium-sized hotels in rural Japan through technology—we create a connection that resonates deeply with our people.”Walking the Talk: When Leaders Roll Up Their Sleeves“A leader who pitches directly to clients? Now that’s commitment. By personally visiting rural cities and convincing potential partners, I showed my team that execution starts at the top. If I can do it, they’re inspired to follow suit—and it makes the mission real for everyone involved.”_________________________Connect with us:Host: Vince Chan | Guest: Ryota Tanozaki______________________--**Chief Change Officer**--Change Ambitiously. Outgrow Yourself.Open a World of Deep Human Intelligence for Growth Progressives, Visionary Underdogs,Transformation Gurus & Bold Hearts.6 Million+ All-Time Downloads.Reaching 80+ Countries Daily.Global Top 3% Podcast.Top 10 US Business.Top 1 US Careers.>>>100,000+ subscribers are outgrowing. Act Today.
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32:54
#202 Wayne Turmel: Hybrid Work: Strategy or Just a Game of Office Chicken?
Wayne Turmel, co-author of The Long-Distance Leader, has spent years studying what makes remote and hybrid leadership work—and what makes it a complete disaster. In this episode, he breaks down why hybrid work often feels like a three-day compromise nobody really loves, how proximity bias warps leadership decisions, and why being intentional beats simply showing up. Whether you’re managing a team across time zones or just trying to figure out how to give feedback without a forced video call, Wayne’s insights will help you lead smarter (and avoid unnecessary meetings).Key Highlights of Our Interview:Lessons from History’s Leaders“Genghis Khan ruled half the world without a Webex meeting. Julius Caesar? Brilliant in the field, but the office politics got him. Leading from afar isn’t new—it’s just evolved.”The Proximity Bias Trap“In hybrid setups, those in the office often get more attention and opportunities—intentionally or not. Awareness is key to ensure fairness across the team.”Bridging the Trust Gap“Leadership tasks haven’t changed, but relationships, trust, and proactive communication now require a conscious effort to avoid gaps and micromanagement.”The Synchronous-Asynchronous Dance“Effective hybrid work balances synchronous collaboration with asynchronous deep work. It’s not about clocking in at the same time but about delivering results with flexibility.”Intentionality Over Chaos“Hybrid solutions require intentionality. Schedule in-office days for meetings and collaboration. Leave remote days for focused work. Let people own their time to produce quality results.”_________________________Connect with us:Host: Vince Chan | Guest: Wayne Turmel______________________--**Chief Change Officer**--Change Ambitiously. Outgrow Yourself.Open a World of Deep Human Intelligence for Growth Progressives, Visionary Underdogs,Transformation Gurus & Bold Hearts.6 Million+ All-Time Downloads.Reaching 80+ Countries Daily.Global Top 3% Podcast.Top 10 US Business.Top 1 US Careers.>>>100,000+ subscribers are outgrowing. Act Today.
What’s Stopping You from Outgrowing Yourself?
Change Ambitiously. Outgrow Yourself.
At Chief Change Officer, we harness change as a superpower—fueled by global role models who candidly share their insights, hindsights, and foresights—what we call deep human intelligence.
This isn’t digitized knowledge or AI-generated advice. It’s real, time-tested, experience-driven wisdom—the kind that blends logic and love, art and science.
For me, this show marks career transition #18. Over 17 transitions, I’ve been guided by countless role models, emerging stronger, better, and happier at every critical juncture. Now, I’m here to pass that superpower on to you, bringing together global role models as your guides for personal and professional transformation.
If you’re a growth progressive, a black horse, a visionary underdog, a transformation guru, or a bold-hearted changemaker—this podcast is for you. Because you are the Chief Change Officer.
Our mission?
To help you become wiser in action, clearer in thought, and more ambitious—so you can outgrow yourself and achieve outcomes beyond imagination and calculation.
A better you awaits.
110,000+ followers are already outgrowing.
Subscribe now @chiefchangeofficer on LinkedIn, Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.