Big Questions with Cal Fussman

The lead singer of O.A.R. clues Cal in to the business philosophies that have kept Of A Revolution thriving for nearly a quarter of a century. Any stereotype of dreamy artists is swiftly put to rest as Marc explains the constant vigilance all the band members throw into their work to keep the seats filled and their loyal fans coming back year after year after year. These lessons are applicable not only to Cal’s new business helping companies tell their stories. But they apply to anybody on the job . . . and even to parenthood.

Cal gets tips on getting all those dings, notifications and technological distractions out of his life from a man who has spent much of his career making people yearn for more technology. Many takeaways in this conversation with the author of the upcoming book, Indistractable, are about controlling your attention and leading a clearer and more focused life. It’s just the advice Cal needs now that he’s a CEO. Everyone who listens will come away a winner.

Cal poses the question after hearing the wondrous story of Dr. Sabrina Kay – who came to the U.S. from South Korea while in college without speaking English, started out as a janitor and began an entrepreneurial journey that took her to the cover of Fortune Magazine.  By the time she’d reached her 30s, Sabrina had amassed enough wealth so that neither she – nor any of her family members – ever needed to work again. But that was only the beginning. Sabrina went on to get a master’s degree at USC and a doctorate at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business. Now, after buying Fremont College, she’s reinventing the entire education system. This episode is packed with takeaways that will make you think about what you would do if never needed to work again.

Cal looks back on the most amazing thing he’s ever seen in his life, August 7, 1974, when a French street performer named Philippe Petit secretly rigged a wire between the twin towers of the World Trade Center and walked on it 1,300 feet above the ground. There are many lessons to be learned from Philippe’s feat, which took place 45 years ago, and Cal has mined for them through at least a dozen viewings of the documentary Man on Wire and the feature film called The Walk. The British mogul Richard Branson also calls Man on Wire one of his favorite films, and Cal wraps up his thoughts with a short conversation he had with Branson about what we can all take away from August 7, 1974.

That’s right, Matt Pohlson. Cal sits with the founder of Omaze, a company that has helped raise $130 million for roughly 350 charities through donations made by people looking for a chance to win once in a lifetime experiences with the people they dream of meeting. Drink wine with Jennifer Lawrence. Get in a tank with Arnold Schwarzenegger and go crush things. Go on a double date with George and Amal Clooney. These events can lead to extraordinary stories. When Matt tells them they get better and better . . . and then Matt describes what it was like when he flatlined for four minutes, and came back from the edge of death, and how it changed his life. By the end, you’ll see why this is one of Cal’s favorite episodes.

Not long ago, the New Orleans Pelicans won the National Basketball Association’s draft lottery and selected one of the most unique young talents in the league’s history: Zion Williamson. As we see in this week’s episode, the executive in charge of putting together that team, David Griffin, has created a life out of being around the right people. How else would an intern in a media relations department rise to running an NBA team? Griff’s backstory makes us all wonder about the people we meet and choose to be around (and not to be around), and how those choices make us everything we become. This conversation will make you think about the choices you make in your own life and how they impact your own future. And that’s just for starters . . . 

Jeff Civillico has a superpower that makes people pay attention within three seconds. That’s why he’s got a show on The Strip at Paris Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas and has been named Entertainer of the Year by Vegas Inc. Cal learned precisely how important Jeff’s superpower is last week when Tim Staples laid out the secrets to going viral on the Internet. Jeff is a juggler, but more than that, he uses his ability to immediately connect with people as a sought-after speaker and host. Jeff has plans to influence millions of children, and this conversation makes us all wonder about how we can make the largest impact with our own talents and skills. You may see yourself differently after listening.

On any given day, the odds of making it to the front page of YouTube are one in 2 million. Tim, and his company, Shareability, have done this 35 times. When the student is ready, the master appears. So Cal sets off on his journey into social media with Tim as his guide alongside the launch of Tim’s book: Break Through The Noise, The 9 Rules to Capture Global Attention. Tim has created viral videos with soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo and mesmerized millions with a video of dogs using hands to eat around a table at a family dinner. This podcast is a tipping point for Cal as he looks to bring Old School storytelling, which now delights crowds at speeches and during workshops, to social media. The conversation is filled with takeaways for anyone or any company trying to gain a larger and strong presence on the Internet. Because at the heart of this episode is the question: What makes messages shareable?

Cal catches up with his old pal, and author of the Barbecue Bible. Roughly 20 years ago, Cal sought out Steven to learn how to grill and smoke in order to write a story for Esquire Magazine. With one day of training and a lot of subsequent practice, Cal went on to compete in the Jack Daniel’s World Barbecue Championship in Lynchburg, Tennessee, where judge (and author) Clive Cussler declared that Cal’s roasted apples with cinnamon were “better than sex.” Steven has sold more than 5 million books on the topic of barbecue, including his latest, The Brisket Chronicles. The question of how Steven got into barbecue provides a great way to reflect on how a single choice can lead you in an unexpected direction and create a whole new life for yourself. This conversation also touches upon the power of food in the art of connection. And if it doesn’t inspire you to grill up a great meal, it will definitely make you want to eat one!

Cal is on the lookout for an Aha! Moment when he sits with the high-performance psychologist – Dr. Michael Gervais. That’s because whenever Cal talks with Michael, a life-changing moment seems to materialize. A couple of years ago, Cal was invited on Michael’s Finding Mastery podcast to discuss how he interviewed the icons who’d shaped the last half century of world history for Esquire Magazine. During that conversation, Cal and Michael discussed the differences between interviewing as a journalist and interviewing as a therapist. Cal was able to take what he learned from the therapist’s approach and apply it in his new business assisting companies in the telling of their own authentic stories. This episode of Big Questions swerves in an unexpected direction: How to get the most out of life when you feel stuck in one place. Michael shows Cal that it’s exactly the place where you can reach for the best in yourself.