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1550: Kobo, Loma, and Building a Thought-Provoking Sci‑Fi World with Richard Allen
When a constitutional lawyer who once argued before the Supreme Court started wondering what humans would be like as pets fed and loved but stripped of language, culture, and community, he turned that question into an unforgettable sci-fi saga. Author Richard A. Allen joins Robert Plank to talk about Kobo and Kobo’s Children, a series where humans are kept as pets by towering reptilian aliens called Grobs, then forced into slavery on a distant mining world. Richard shares Kobo and Ra’s journey from obedient “pets” to leaders of a hidden human community; the mysterious teaching device that reignites lost human language and history; and the big questions behind it all: What really makes us different from our dogs? Would we accept everything without words to question it?
Richard also teases the upcoming third book, where Earth explorers discover these “pet humans” and bring them back to an Earth 40,000 years in the future thanks to near-light-speed travel and Einstein’s time dilation. If you’re tired of recycled space operas and want science fiction that actually asks something new, this conversation and series will scratch that itch, exploring power, identity, and humanity under alien suns.
Quotes:
“Take away our language, our history, and our culture, and what’s left is the question at the heart of Kobo: Are we still human, or just very clever pets?”
“Before you have words, you accept whatever happens to you. Once you learn to ask why, you can’t help wondering whether life could be different.”
“The Grobs may own the planet, the mines, and even our bodies, but the moment we remember our stories and our science, they no longer own who we are.”
Resources:
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 26:49 — 36.8MB) | Embed
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1549: The Three Pillars of False Doctrine and God’s True Biblical Calendar with Don Roth and Sean Walsh
When lifelong churchgoers Sean Walsh and Don Roth dug deep into Scripture, original languages, and biblical chronology, they became convinced that much of mainstream Christianity rests on three major errors. In this episode, they join Robert Plank to unpack their book The Three Pillars of False Doctrine and explain why they believe the traditional Friday death / Sunday resurrection, the popular form of the Trinity doctrine, and the modern idea of church as a building or organization all fail the test of the Bible itself. Drawing on Don’s work creating a day‑by‑day Biblical calendar from Genesis forward and Sean’s “Unlock the Word” ministry, they walk through key passages on the Sabbath, the Godhead, and church, and show how translation choices and tradition have shaped what most believers assume is “just Christianity.”
Rather than asking anyone to join a new denomination, Sean and Don challenge listeners to be Bereans checking every sermon, creed, and holiday against Scripture. They discuss why Christ’s “three days and three nights” matters, how Ezekiel and Acts are commonly misread to support Sunday worship, and why knowing who the God of the Old Testament is changes how you read the entire Bible. If you’ve ever felt that certain doctrines didn’t quite add up, this conversation and the resources at UnlockTheWord.com and BiblicalCalendarProof.com invite you to put your traditions on the table and let the Bible speak for itself.
Quotes:
“If your timeline for Christ doesn’t fit three days and three nights, it’s not the Scripture that needs to move it’s your doctrine.” Don Roth
“Church isn’t a business or a building; Ecclesia is the people God has called out. If you think ‘church’ is a place you go on Sunday, you’ve already missed the context.” Sean Walsh
“When you finally read the Bible without defending your denomination, you discover how many ‘non‑negotiable’ doctrines collapse under the weight of Scripture.” Sean Walsh
Resources:
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 0:34 — 803.3KB) | Embed
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1547: Overcoming Fear Divorce and Change by Trusting God’s Plan with Peggy Watrous Walters
When a four‑and‑a‑half‑year‑old girl terrified of the dark met Jesus as her “secret friend,” it set in motion a lifetime journey that would eventually become a book. Author and business professional Peggy Watrous Walters joins Robert Plank to share the story behind The Unexpected Journey: An Inspiring True Story, a short, powerful memoir about walking through life’s twists, turns, and detours with Jesus by your side. In this conversation, Peggy explains how her faith shaped her entrepreneurial and personal life, why she kept her relationship with Jesus hidden for decades even from her husband and how a devastating divorce finally pushed her to come “out of the closet” as a believer and boldly share her faith. You’ll hear how she sees God’s hand in daily “God stories,” why she believes we’re never truly alone, and how this book is meant to reassure anyone facing fear, uncertainty, or starting over that there is a bigger plan at work.
Instead of offering vague inspiration or sugarcoating hard times, Peggy talks candidly about fear, bad decisions, and the impatience we often feel when our prayers don’t get the answers we expect. She explains why faith doesn’t mean an easy life but a guided one how God often sends help through ordinary people (sometimes “angels” in human form), and why He wants a real, everyday relationship with us, not a “fair‑weather friend” arrangement. Peggy also shares her passion for evangelism, teaching children about Jesus through CEF, and supporting campus ministries through Florida Christians in Business, so that young people don’t drift away when life gets busy. Whether you’re a lifelong believer, someone quietly curious about faith, or just in need of hope in a confusing season, you’ll come away with a simple invitation: take Jesus with you, every day, everywhere you go.
Quotes:
“Faith doesn’t erase fear; it walks you straight through it with purpose.”
“Don’t just call on Jesus in a crisis take Him with you into every ordinary moment of your life.”
“If I had mapped out my own life, it never would have matched the journey God had planned and that’s the beauty of it.”
Resources:
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 22:03 — 30.3MB) | Embed
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1548: God Made Me and You Couldn’t Break Me, A Powerful Memoir of Survival with Denise Devroe
When a devoted wife and mother found herself trapped in a cycle of infidelity, violence, and fear shot at in broad daylight, run over by her own car, grieving her father’s sudden death she turned to the only constant she had left: God. Author and survivor Denise Devroe joins Robert Plank to share the story behind her powerful memoir, God Made Me and You Couldn’t Break Me, a raw, faith‑filled account of finding peace and strength after years of abuse and heartbreak. In this conversation, Denise opens up about living with a gambling, cheating husband, enduring physical and emotional trauma, and the moment she realized that praying wasn’t just for crises it had to become her way of life. She explains how daily prayer, morning and night, carried her through divorce, danger, and financial struggle, and how God’s protection over her and her children revealed there really is light after the darkest seasons.
Instead of glossing over the pain or pretending faith makes life easy, Denise speaks honestly about fear, confusion, and the long, messy process of leaving a toxic relationship. She shares how God answered prayers in His timing, not hers, how her children broke the cycle instead of repeating it, and why she believes you should never ignore the early red flags in a relationship. Denise also talks about the emotional challenge of reliving her story through a ghostwriter, the meaning behind her book’s title and tear‑and‑ripple cover, and her desire for readers especially those in abusive or unstable situations to know that God can still write a new chapter for their lives. Whether you’re in the middle of a storm, trying to rebuild after one, or simply needing a reminder that you’re not alone, this memoir and conversation offer a simple message: there is hope, there is healing, and God’s plan is bigger than what tried to break you
Quotes:
“You can break my heart, my body, my plans but you cannot break what God Himself has built inside of me.”
“Don’t wait for the crisis to pray. Stay prayed up in the sunshine so you’re not alone in the storm.”
“There is life after lies, after bruises, after betrayal there is light after the darkness, and God will walk you all the way there.”
Resources:
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:23 — 1.9MB) | Embed
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1546: Financial Freedom for Young Adults with Steve Short & Mark Schlipman
When two college dads realized how little real-world money education their kids were getting, they didn’t complain they wrote a book. Financial advisor Steve Short and business owner Mark Schlipman met at a dad’s weekend and quickly bonded over a shared concern: most young adults are entering life with almost no financial foundation. In this episode, Steve and Mark share the story behind their “passion project” book, designed to give teens, college students, and young professionals a simple, step-by-step path to financial freedom without needing a financial advisor. You’ll hear how Steve’s experience as a fiduciary advisor shaped the book’s transparent, no sales approach, why they devoted two-plus hours every Monday for over two years to get it written, and how they built a framework parents can actually use to teach their kids about money.
Instead of shaming people for buying lattes or insisting on extreme frugality, Steve and Mark lay out a realistic system that balances discipline with enjoyment. They explain how to treat your personal finances like a business, schedule weekly “money meetings” with yourself, and set up savings habits that still leave about 30% of your income for fun. Along the way, Steve shares a personal wake-up call when his car payment was bigger than his mortgage and how that mistake reshaped his views on debt, goals, and delayed gratification. Whether you’re a parent wanting to pass on better money habits, a young adult just starting out, or someone who’s never had financial concepts explained simply, you’ll walk away with practical steps you can start implementing this week.
Quotes:
“Most people think young adults need a financial advisor. Our view? If you understand a few core principles and follow the steps, you can do this yourself.”
“We’re not here to latte, shame you. You can enjoy life and still hit your financial goals if you have a plan and stick to it.”
“Treat your personal finances like a business. Put time on the calendar every week to look at your numbers, your budget, and where the money is leaking.”
Resources:
- Mark Schlipman on LinkedIn
- Steve Short on LinkedIn
- The Simple Road Toward Financial Freedom: A Guide to Helping Young Adults Build Wealth
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 25:16 — 34.7MB) | Embed
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1545: Financial Freedom with Finance Expert Justin Buonomo
Growing up in a “make 100K, spend 110” household, Justin Buonomo watched money chaos tear his family apart two bankruptcies, cars repossessed, even losing the family dog when they lost their home. At 18, he received an $80,000 settlement from a childhood car accident… and promptly repeated the same patterns he’d seen modeled. That painful experience plus later work on the business side of Johns Hopkins Medicine set him on a decade-long quest to understand money through a different lens: biblical wisdom, proven financial strategy, and intentional stewardship. Today, Justin is the CEO and founder of Journey to Financial Freedom, where he and his team help faith-based individuals break generational cycles, heal money trauma, and step into a life that honors both God and their goals.
In this episode, Justin shares why budgeting is not punishment but the primary tool God can use to increase your freedom, options, and peace of mind when it’s taught the right way. He explains why most financial programs fail long-term: they try to “fix” behaviors without ever addressing the beliefs and subconscious programming formed between ages 7–10. You’ll hear how childhood experiences around scarcity, bankruptcy, or “rich people are bad” scripts keep showing up in your adult bank account, why “money is the root of all evil” is one of the most misquoted verses in the Bible, and how to align your finances with God’s heart instead of fear or greed. Justin also unpacks his Good Steward Program, the crucial role of accountability and community, and how mentorship can give you “wisdom without the wounds” in both personal finance and entrepreneurship.
Quotes:
“Finances that work take work. There’s no quick solution but when you’re taught by the right person with the right intentions, it doesn’t have to feel confusing or restrictive.”
“Your external wealth is just a reflection of your internal wealth. If you only manage behaviors and never heal the beliefs, the old habits always find their way back.”
“Money isn’t the problem. Greed and idolatry are. God calls us not to ignore money, but to steward it.”
Resources:
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 27:54 — 38.3MB) | Embed
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1544: Amateur Moms Happily Ever After Motherhood Empty Nest Life and Grandkids with Renee Thomas Hawkley
Raising eight kids across six states and two countries gave Renee Thomas Hawkley a front-row seat to the beautiful chaos of family life. Now a grandmother and widow at 79, she’s still learning new lessons in love, loss, and letting her adult children “mother” her back. Author of “Once Upon an Amateur Mom” and the forthcoming “Amateur Moms Happily Ever After,” Renee shares honest, humorous stories that reassure overwhelmed moms that joy is still hiding in the mess. From heart‑shaped Valentine’s pizzas and allergy‑friendly family dinners to long‑distance group texts and quick check‑ins, Renee shows how simple acts of inclusion and thoughtfulness keep families close even when they’re spread across multiple states and seasons of life.
In this conversation, Renee and Robert explore the emotional shifts of aging and empty nesting, the reality that every child needs different rules, and the hard truth that you can’t fix everything but you can always offer love and kindness. Renee reflects on widowhood and the enduring influence of her late husband Dan, and closes by reading her moving piece “A Mother’s Creed,” a poetic reminder that motherhood links humanity’s past to its future. Whether you’re a mom in the trenches, an empty nester, or an adult child wondering how to better honor your own mother, you’ll come away with simple, practical reminders to invite, include, and reach out while there’s still time.
Quotes:
“You can’t fix everything for your children but you can always offer your love, your kindness, and the joy of having them close.”
“Every child is raised in the same home, but no two children are the same and sometimes love means giving them different rules.”
“At 79, I’ve learned that letting my children ‘mother’ me is not weakness; it’s the beautiful proof that family love has come full circle.”
Resources:
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 30:44 — 42.2MB) | Embed
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1543: The Journey First Framework for Account-Based B2B Growth with Brent Keltner
From Stanford and the RAND Corporation to leading revenue teams in the commercial world, Brent Keltner, PhD, has spent his career decoding how complex B2B deals are actually closed. As founder and president of Winalytics, Brent helps mid-market and enterprise teams move beyond product pitching to true account-based growth. He’s the author of “The Revenue Acceleration Playbook” and the forthcoming “Journey First Marketing,” a book that challenges one of B2B’s biggest bad habits: obsessing over individual personas when companies actually buy in committees. In this episode, Brent reveals why traditional contact-focused marketing leaves so much revenue on the table and how to flip your entire go-to-market motion around a simple idea: accounts buy, personas don’t. You’ll hear how to design websites that speak to every member of the buying committee, why customer stories should be your #1 content asset (not #5), and how to connect product value, business value, and corporate value so that users, budget owners, and risk-averse stakeholders all see themselves in your message.
Brent also breaks down a practical roadmap for teams stuck in contact scoring and lead chaos. He explains how to use tools like ChatGPT on top of your CRM to spot real buying committees (not just random clickers or competitors snooping), how to build three aligned content streams for your core buyer types, and how to reuse a single customer story across your entire funnel, website, social, sales decks, and beyond. Whether you’re a CMO, CRO, founder, or product marketer, you’ll come away with a clearer picture of what true account-based enablement looks like in the real world and how a few smart changes can unlock faster, more predictable growth.
Quotes:
"Accounts buy. Personas don’t, and every part of your marketing should reflect that reality.”
“If your customers aren’t saying it consistently, it isn’t true, no matter how often your CEO repeats it.”
“Customer stories are the only asset that turn ‘me selling to you’ into ‘we solving a problem together.’”
Resources:
- Winalytics LLC
- Brent Keltner on LinkedIn
- The Revenue Acceleration Playbook: Creating an Authentic Buyer Journey Across Sales, Marketing, and Customer Success on Amazon
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 27:45 — 38.1MB) | Embed
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1542: Profit Acceleration & Predictable Profit for Service-Based Entrepreneurs with Cardinal Business Advisor with Jane Parmel
Service-based entrepreneurs often launch a business to do what they love, only to find themselves overwhelmed by tasks, burned out, and tied to operations they never planned for. In this episode, profit acceleration strategist Jane Parmel joins Robert Plank to explain why the real job of a business owner isn’t “doing the work” but leading the business. Drawing from her journey from teacher to children’s party center owner to coach, Jane unpacks how over-involvement, emotional attachment, and fear of delegation quietly destroy profit, stall growth, and keep owners stuck in the business instead of working on it.
Jane explains why mindset is the first system you must fix, from the belief that “no one can do it as well as me” to the dangerous comfort of “we’ve always done it this way.” You’ll hear how to step into the role of observer instead of constant doer, empower employees to take ownership, and design operations that support clarity, confidence, and cash flow. If you’re overwhelmed, short on time, and tired of your business depending on your every move, this conversation will show you how to embrace change, build structure, and finally create a business that serves your life, not the other way around.
Quotes:
“The moment you stop doing everything yourself and start leading your business, you stop surviving and start growing.”
“If you’re the most expensive person in the company, you can’t afford to be doing the cheapest tasks.”
“Your business will only grow to the level you’re willing to delegate, document, and let other people win with you.”
Resources:
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 23:13 — 31.9MB) | Embed
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1541: LinkedIn Sales Outreach & Lead Generation Using Skoop AI Video Messages with Troy Hipolito
Tired of random, low-quality LinkedIn calls or no calls at all? In this episode, Troy Hipolito (a.k.a. the “Not So Boring LinkedIn Guy” and former Swiss-Filipino gamification designer) breaks down how he helps B2B and service-based businesses turn LinkedIn into a consistent pipeline of vetted, high-value meetings. After agency work with Fortune 500 brands dried up, Troy reinvented his business using LinkedIn, combining “slow dating” relationship-building with tight systems and clear daily workflows. The result: a predictable process that leverages videos, content, events, and smart follow-up instead of spammy cold pitches and random hustle.
Troy reveals the exact framework behind Skoop, his Chrome extension and dashboard, which boosts first-message-to-booked-meeting conversions from ~3% to 21%, a 6x improvement, using short, raw, hyper-personalized videos embedded directly in LinkedIn DMs. You’ll learn how to fix a “jacked up” profile that repels your ideal clients, why you only really make money on LinkedIn in two places (content and DMs), how to structure free/low-ticket/high-ticket offers that feed each other, and how to use VAs, SOPs, and repeatable systems so you only spend 30 minutes a day recording videos while your backend runs like a machine. If you want more (and better) meetings without turning LinkedIn into a full-time job, this conversation gives you the blueprint.
Quotes:
“There’s no single silver bullet. The core is providing value, but you have to distribute that value across multiple channels.”
“LinkedIn is not a Facebook marketplace. It’s a networking domain. It’s about building real relationships, not just ‘buy my stuff.’”
“We took that first LinkedIn message from about a 3% conversion to 21%, not to a reply, but to a vetted booked meeting.”
“People don’t read; they scan. Anything more than three lines is too much. That’s why the message has to be context, content, context.”
“Slow down and ‘slow date’ your clients. The sooner you realize you’re not a fit, the sooner you can move on with clarity.”
Resources:
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 36:09 — 33.1MB) | Embed
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