The Above Board Podcast

In this episode of The Above Board Podcast, John talks with Shellee Howard, college planning expert, founder of College Ready, and author of How to Send Your Student to College Without Losing Your Mind or Your Money. Shellee shares how families can navigate the college process with confidence by finding the right school, minimizing debt, and making smart decisions from start to finish. Whether your student is a freshman or a senior, this conversation will help you plan with purpose and peace of mind.

• Learn more at www.collegereadyplan.com
• Get Shellee’s book: How To Send Your Student To College Without Losing Your Mind or Your Money

 

• 00:18 Meet Shelly Howard: College Planning Expert
• 01:17 Shelly's Personal Journey into College Planning
• 02:56 Building a Strategy for College Planning
• 06:48 The Importance of Passion and Purpose
• 12:01 Challenges Faced by High School Counselors
• 16:49 Empowering Students to Make Big Decisions
• 23:04 Starting College Planning Early
• 27:39 Financial Planning for College
• 28:54 The Importance of GPA and Test Scores
• 29:59 Creating a Unique Test Strategy
• 31:03 Maximizing Scholarships Through PSAT
• 31:45 Community Service and Passion with Purpose
• 33:39 The Role of Athletics and Extracurriculars
• 39:54 Understanding Different Buckets of Money
• 41:13 Negotiating College Scholarships
• 42:53 The Student Aid Index and FAFSA Insights
• 48:01 Wrapping Up and Additional Resources

In this episode of The Above Board Podcast, John talks with Brian Ahearn, Chief Influence Officer at Influence People and one of the few globally certified trainers of Dr. Robert Cialdini’s principles of persuasion.

Brian shares ideas from his new book, Influence from Above: Where Faith and Influence Meet, exploring how persuasion, ethics, and love come together in leadership and life. They discuss how to lead with integrity, build trust through authenticity, and use influence in ways that create real connection and impact. A great listen for anyone who wants to lead with purpose and influence with heart.

📚 Learn more about Brian Ahearn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianfahearn/
🌐 Visit his website: https://influencepeople.biz
📘 Order Influenced from Above: Where Faith and Influence Meet (don’t miss the special announcement on how you can get a free copy of Brian’s book!): https://a.co/d/bqsfWfS

 

• 00:17 Brian Ahearn's Background and Expertise
• 01:06 Recap of Previous Episodes
• 01:24 Understanding Persuasion and Pre-suasion
• 04:35 Principles of Influence: Liking and Reciprocity
• 05:28 Inspiration Behind 'Influenced from Above'
• 10:24 Transitioning into Retirement
• 24:17 Principle of Unity and Its Importance
• 29:32 Ethics in Influence

In this episode of The Above Board Podcast, John Kennedy sits down with Eliana Goldstein, a certified career coach who helps ambitious professionals build careers they love without burning out. Eliana shares her own journey from corporate ad tech to coaching, what she’s learned about finding purpose at work, and why true fulfillment comes from alignment, not a job title. They also talk about burnout, confidence, and how to know when it’s time to make a change. A great listen if you’re rethinking your career or want to feel more energized and connected to what you do every day.

Find more helpful success coaching resources from Eliana and her team here: https://www.elianagoldsteincoaching.com/

• 00:51 Eliana's Career Journey
• 04:27 Making the Leap to Coaching
• 06:59 Mindset and Confidence Building
• 08:26 Investing in Yourself
• 11:24 Finding Career Fulfillment
• 16:36 Navigating Career Seasons
• 20:58 Understanding Millennial and Gen Z Workforce Dynamics
• 24:00 The Shift to Hybrid Work Environments
• 29:29 Addressing Burnout and Job Fulfillment
• 35:30 Building a Coaching Business and Team
• 38:04 Career Development Programs and Final Thoughts

We often talk about compound interest when it comes to money, but character works the same way. The small choices you make every day, how you lead, how you treat people, how you show up, build on each other over time. In this episode, John Kennedy, CFP®, shares how integrity, consistency, and humility play a bigger role in success than most people realize. It’s an honest look at how character compounds in business, leadership, and everyday life.

• 00:26 The Power of Compounding Beyond Finance
• 01:18 Character and Consistency: Building Trust
• 01:58 Personal Accountability and Candor
• 04:44 The Invisible Returns of Character
• 06:27 Reflecting on Character Development

In this week’s episode, John Kennedy shares why “getting in over your head” might be exactly what you need to grow in your career, your finances, or your personal life. He breaks down a powerful idea inspired by Carl Richards: real progress happens just beyond the edge of your comfort zone. Whether it’s taking on a new challenge, saying yes before you feel ready, or finally stepping into something that scares you a little. This episode will remind you that safe equals stagnant, and growth happens at the edge.

 

• 00:29 The Power of Getting in Over Your Head
• 01:00 Carl Richards' Insightful Analogy
• 02:08 Personal Experiences and Growth
• 02:59 Facing Financial Challenges
• 04:50 Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone
• 05:36 CandorPath's Mission and Vision
• 06:27 Final Thoughts and Challenge

In this episode, John chats with his longtime friend Kimberly Stevens—national champion swimmer, bestselling author, speaker, and breast cancer survivor. Kim has faced heartbreaking loss, her daughter’s life-threatening diagnosis, and her own battle with cancer. Instead of letting those moments define her, she turned them into a mission to bring hope to others through her movement Extend the Rose. We talk about resilience, grit, gratitude, and why hope is something we all need to share. Kim’s story is raw, inspiring, and a reminder to never give up.

- Learn more or get involved: https://extendtherose.org

- Be one of the first 10 listeners to text us at 407-904-8414 and get a free copy of Kim’s book! Want your own right away? Grab ALTAR’d here: https://www.amazon.com/ALTARd-Finding-through-GRATITUDE-NEVER/dp/B0BQ9LLP7H

• 02:16 Kimberly's Early Life and Swimming Career
• 03:52 Facing Personal Tragedies and Losses
• 07:55 The Birth of Extend the Rose Movement
• 17:06 Finding Gratitude in the Midst of Struggle
• 18:29 The Rose Acronym: A Path Through Grief
• 23:50 Celebrating Milestones Amidst Challenges
• 29:03 The Power of Extending to Others
• 30:25 Hospital Events and Future Plans
• 32:01 The Roar Gallery Initiative
• 35:35 Faith, Grief, and Rediscovery

We hear a lot of the same questions when it comes to money—because navigating your finances isn’t always straightforward. In this episode, we’re answering some of the most common things people ask us, from budgeting basics to feeling stuck or overwhelmed. Whether you’re just starting out or reevaluating your financial habits, this conversation is a reminder that you’re not alone—and there are simple, practical steps you can take to move forward.

• 00:39 Viewer Questions: Financial Strategies
• 01:36 Question 1: Saving and Retirement Planning
• 05:39 Question 2: Paying Off Mortgage vs. Investing
• 09:38 Question 3: Raising Financially Responsible Kids
• 19:38 Question 4: Roth vs. Traditional IRA
• 29:39 Wrapping Up and Final Thoughts

In this episode, John shares how one book—Unreasonable Hospitality—reshaped how he and the team think about service. From handwritten notes to surprise welcome boxes and even personally delivered cookies, it’s all about making people feel seen. He dives into why a little extra effort in human connection still matters, even in a world racing toward automation. You’ll also hear how companies like Disney create “magic moments” to outweigh the “tragic” ones—and how you can apply the same mindset to your own work and life.

• 00:15 The Book Study: Unreasonable Hospitality
• 00:37 Personal Experience with Poor Service
• 02:32 The Future of the Service Industry
• 03:13 Balancing Technology and Personal Touch
• 04:14 The Value of Strategic Planning
• 05:41 Creating Memorable Client Experiences
• 06:38 Examples of Exceptional Hospitality
• 08:00 Empowering Employees to Create Magic Moments
• 11:43 The Importance of Human Interaction

Why does losing feel so much worse than winning feels good? In this episode, John and Matt revisit one of their most honest conversations—from a time when markets were down and emotions were running high. They break down the concept of loss aversion and how it quietly shapes our decisions, often without us realizing it.

• 00:32 Revisiting Loss Aversion
• 02:26 Behavioral Insights and Market Reactions
• 06:12 Practical Strategies for Managing Loss Aversion
• 11:55 Personal Experiences and Professional Advice
• 19:29 The Importance of Professional Guidance
• 32:27 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Your portfolio might be balanced on paper—but what about your emotions? In this episode of The Above Board Podcast, John Kennedy, CFP®, explores how fear, bias, and past experiences can quietly steer your financial decisions. From holding too much cash to sticking with a stock out of loyalty, emotional allocation can derail even the best strategies. John shares practical ways to check in with yourself and stay grounded—because real balance isn’t just in your investments, it’s in how you think about them.

• 00:34 Understanding Emotional Allocation
• 01:37 Real-Life Examples of Emotional Allocation
• 05:23 Behavioral Finance Concepts
• 06:42 Strategies to Balance Emotional Allocation
• 10:42 Final Thoughts