Episodes

  • Nick Ayala, Senior Managing Partner, Blue Harbor Capital

    Nick Ayala, Senior Managing Partner, Blue Harbor Capital
    Jan 29 2026
    Fast growth is supposed to feel like winning—but when headcount doubles and culture quietly corrodes, founders pay for it in churn, resentment, and lost momentum. In this episode, Rick Girard sits down with Nick Ayala (Senior Managing Partner, Blue Harbor Capital) to break down how to scale aggressively without creating “career wounds” inside your company. Nick has lived it: he scaled a business from essentially two people to roughly 70 employees in about a year, and later helped scale an insurance organization to ~7,000 agents and nearly $100M in sales within five years. Nick is known for building high-output teams by putting culture first, moving fast on misalignment, and treating people like partners—not payroll. Why hypergrowth creates “people chaos” (and how to prevent culture drift) How “hiring fast” increases culture misses—and why founders must act quickly on misalignment A simple, repeatable system for human-centered leadership conversations How to eliminate “the ceiling” so great people can see a future with you How autonomy (not hovering) creates teams that “run through walls” Guest Links: LinkedIn: Nick Ayala Company: Aligned Equity Group Company: https://capital-unlocked.com/blueprint-144591 Company: Blue Harbor Capital Host Links: LinkedIn: Rick Girard Company: Intertru, Inc. Job Description Builder Podcast: Hire Power Radio Show & Podcast Book: Healing Career Wounds (Amazon) Powered by Intertru
    Show More Show Less
    28 mins
  • Justin Gray, Managing Partner of In Revenue Capital

    Justin Gray, Managing Partner of In Revenue Capital
    Jan 22 2026
    In this episode of the Higher Power Radio Show, host Rick Gerard discusses the vital aspects of building effective teams with guest Justin Gray, the managing partner of In Revenue Capital. They emphasize the importance of hiring diverse skill sets and the pitfalls of cloning oneself in a team structure. Justin shares his experiences both as an entrepreneur and a venture capitalist, highlighting the importance of proactive hiring and maintaining long-term relationships with potential candidates. They also delve into practical steps for identifying organizational gaps, refining the hiring process to focus on real-world abilities instead of superficial qualities, and the value of CEOs being actively involved in recruitment. The episode concludes with actionable insights for fostering a strong organizational team and maintaining a proactive recruitment strategy. Guest Links: LinkedIn: Justin Gray LinkedIn: In Revenue Capital Company: In Revenue Capital Host Links: LinkedIn: Rick Girard Company: Intertru, Inc. Job Description Builder Podcast: Hire Power Radio Show & Podcast Book: Healing Career Wounds (Amazon) Powered by Intertru
    Show More Show Less
    34 mins
  • How to Define Accountability and Stop Micromanaging with Brian H. Ferguson

    How to Define Accountability and Stop Micromanaging with Brian H. Ferguson
    Jan 20 2026
    In this episode of the Higher Power Radio Show, host Rick Gerard speaks with Brian Ferguson, founder and managing partner of Bergmark, about the challenges and solutions related to fostering accountability within organizations. They discuss the concept of 'My Box Misconception,' the difference between an org chart and an accountability chart, and the importance of having the right person in the right seat. Brian shares insights on distinguishing between micromanagement and trust issues, setting clear definitions for accountability, and recognizing the importance of the 'Die on the Hill' list. Tune in to learn practical tips on building a more accountable and collaborative team. Guest Links: LinkedIn: Brian Ferguson Company: Fergmar Instagram: Fergmar Facebook: Fergmar Host Links: LinkedIn: Rick Girard Company: Intertru, Inc. Job Description Builder Podcast: Hire Power Radio Show & Podcast Book: Healing Career Wounds (Amazon) Powered by Intertru
    Show More Show Less
    25 mins
  • How to Spot Hidden Talent and Hire for Potential with James Swanson

    How to Spot Hidden Talent and Hire for Potential with James Swanson
    Jan 15 2026
    In this episode of the Hire Power Radio Show, host Rick Girard talks with James Swanson, business disruptor, lifelong punk rocker, and author of 'Super Stoked.' James shares his journey of building a multi-million dollar Las Vegas printing empire by ignoring industry labels and focusing on authentic relationships. From overcoming initial challenges to innovative hiring practices and effective team management strategies, James highlights the importance of prioritizing people over resumes and maintaining quality customer service. Learn about the valuable lessons and principles that led to his success and how they can be applied to any business. Guest Links: LinkedIn: James Swanson Host Links: LinkedIn: Rick Girard Company: Intertru, Inc. Job DescriptionBuilder Podcast: Hire Power Radio Show & Podcast Book: Healing Career Wounds (Amazon) Powered by Intertru
    Show More Show Less
    21 mins
  • How to Eliminate AI Bots from Applying to Your Job Posts

    How to Eliminate AI Bots from Applying to Your Job Posts
    Jan 13 2026
    AI has turned the hiring funnel into a keyword carnival: unqualified applicants can “win” resume filters in seconds, while the high performers you actually want don’t bother applying. Rick Girard opens with a true story about a CRO who hired a bartender into a sales role—without a resume—because the job post spoke directly to her, and her outreach proved she was real (and driven). Four months later, she’s outperforming the team. This episode is a practical reset: stop treating job descriptions like compliance docs and start treating them like marketing—designed to attract one ideal candidate and repel bots. What You’ll LearnThe real problems behind “too many applicants” AI has broken resume screening—keyword-optimized resumes are easy to generate and hard to trust. Your best candidates aren’t applying because most job posts read like contracts, not opportunities. More candidates ≠ better candidates—volume creates noise, not quality. Auto-apply is the enemy—it lowers the bar and floods your inbox. Links: LinkedIn: Rick Girard Company: Intertru, Inc. Podcast: Hire Power Radio Show & Podcast Book: Healing Career Wounds (Amazon) Powered by Intertru
    Show More Show Less
    20 mins
  • How to Terminate and NOT Get Sued with Andrea Paris

    How to Terminate and NOT Get Sued with Andrea Paris
    Jan 8 2026
    Two months before the holidays, Nadia—Integrator at a 120-person EOS-run logistics company—finally terminated a manager who was crushing morale and missing targets. The manager’s response (“I’ve spoken to an attorney about retaliation.”) exposed what leadership missed: a recent workers’ comp claim, intermittent leave, and overtime complaints—plus almost no documentation. The outcome was predictable: months of distraction, legal spend, and leadership bandwidth evaporating when execution mattered most. In this episode, California employment attorney Andrea Paris breaks down why terminations are one of the highest-exposure moments in the employment lifecycle—and how to build a clean, defensible process that protects your business without losing your humanity. What you’ll learn Why terminations are uniquely risky: emotion, money, identity, and the “narrative vacuum” created when evidence is thin The ≈90-day “recent activity” risk zone and the types of protected activity that can make timing look retaliatory The “no-surprise termination” principle—and the coaching cadence that makes it real The 90-day lookback audit checklist you should run before any termination decision Day-of termination do’s and don’ts that reduce escalation risk Rick’s Nuggets (practical takeaways) Get your policies in order Document everything Treat people similarly and with respect Links & mentions Guest Links: LinkedIn: Andrea Paris Company: Andrea Paris Law Host Links: LinkedIn: Rick Girard Company: Intertru, Inc. Job Description Builder Podcast: Hire Power Radio Show & Podcast Book: Healing Career Wounds (Amazon) Powered by Intertru
    Show More Show Less
    30 mins
  • Turning Compliance Chaos into Logistical Precision with Bill Drummer

    Turning Compliance Chaos into Logistical Precision with Bill Drummer
    Sep 9 2025
    In this episode of the Higher Power Radio Show, host Rick Girard dives into the complexities and challenges of logistics operations with Bill Drummer, CEO of GPA Logistics. Discover how Sarah's initial success with Walmart turned into a compliance nightmare and how leveraging technology, especially AI, and strong leadership can transform chaos into accuracy. Bill shares the importance of having the right people, simplifying workflows, and fostering a culture of growth and appreciation. Learn about practical strategies and technological solutions that have helped GPA Logistics excel and retain talent while navigating the intricate demands of major retailers. Guest Links: LinkedIn: Bill Drummer LinkedIn: GPA Logistics Group Company: GPA Logistics Group Company: GPA Global Host Links: LinkedIn: Rick Girard Company: Intertru, Inc. Podcast: Hire Power Radio Show & Podcast Book: Healing Career Wounds (Amazon) Powered by Intertru
    Show More Show Less
    22 mins
  • Why You Keep Hiring the Wrong Salespeople and How to Fix It

    Why You Keep Hiring the Wrong Salespeople and How to Fix It
    Sep 2 2025
    You’ve been here before—hiring a “rockstar” salesperson who dazzles in the interview but fails to deliver. Flat revenue, missed targets, and excuse after excuse. Sound familiar? This week on the Hire Power Radio Show, Rick Girard digs into the root of this all-too-common issue with sales leadership expert Gary Braun. Together, they break down why small businesses consistently hire the wrong type of salesperson—and what to do about it. Gary brings deep expertise from his time growing a company from $1M to $400M in revenue, and now helping 400+ companies build high-performing sales teams through Pivotal Advisors. Key Takeaways Sales roles aren’t one-size-fits-all: Define your specific sales needs—hunter vs. farmer, service vs. product, inside vs. outside, and more. Most interviews fail at the basics: Without a structured interview process tailored to sales, poor hires are inevitable. Positioning is everything: Ensure candidates are positioned properly for your company, not just anyone’s. Stop relying on interviews alone: Incorporate assessments, real-world activities, and informal settings like dinners to evaluate the whole person. Build a multi-touch hiring process: Involve multiple perspectives, clear expectations, and defined next steps. Actionable Advice for Your Business Define the role with precision. Don’t settle for vague traits—outline the exact skills needed for your ICP (Ideal Customer Profile). Design a repeatable interview process. Go beyond gut feelings and surface-level charm. Leverage data-driven tools. Use assessments and scenario-based activities to test real-world selling skills. Focus on alignment. Ask: is this candidate the right fit for the sales environment I’ve built? Guest Links: LinkedIn: Gary Braun Company: Pivotal Advisors YouTube: Pivotal Advisors Facebook: Pivotal Advisors Host Links: LinkedIn: Rick Girard Company: Intertru, Inc. Podcast: Hire Power Radio Show & Podcast Book: Healing Career Wounds (Amazon) Powered by Intertru
    Show More Show Less
    29 mins