Heartbeat For Hire with Lyndsay Dowd

Lacey Newman is a founder, coach, and keynote speaker who has helped thousands of high-performing women build businesses and lives that are truly their own. Over two decades she scaled a real estate team to nearly $1B in volume, was the former host of the Emmy-nominated The American Dream, and grew her income from under $50K to seven figures — all while raising two kids on her own.
 
After failing out of real estate once (she was one of the 85% who do), Lacey came back with a different playbook — one built on boundaries, systems, and self-trust instead of hustle. Today she teaches women to stop over-functioning, untangle their identity from productivity, and reinvent their work from a place of clarity instead of burnout.
 
Connect with Lacey Newman:
website: laceynewman.com
Instagram: @heylaceynewman
 
Episode Summary:
Lacey Newman spent 20+ years in real estate, helped build a team that crossed $1 billion in sales volume, and hosted the Emmy-nominated show The American Dream. She also quit the industry for about two years, felt like a failure as a young mom, and went through a divorce in 2014 with two kids ages three and five.
 
When she came back to real estate, she threw out the rule book. She stopped being available 24/7, took control of her schedule, and was surprised to find that clients respected her more and her business grew. She went from earning under $70K a year to a multi-seven-figure business.
 
Key Takeaways:
Boundaries help your business.
Failure is only failure if you stop.
A pivot is not quitting.
Fire the bad client.
Take care of your body, mind, and spirit first.
 
Episode Chapters:
00:00 Cold open: three things you'll learn
00:47 Welcome and meet Lacey Newman
01:44 Lacey's story: from new agent to quitting during the recession
03:07 Divorce and the comeback to real estate
04:20 From a billion-dollar team to coaching women
05:23 Turning failure around: throwing out the rule book
08:37 Boundaries for clients and why Lacey celebrates firing a client
10:25 Failure, playing big, and pivoting vs. quitting
11:47 Looking fine on the outside, struggling on the inside
15:53 Listener thank-you and Cozy Earth discount
16:58 What inspires Lacey: her kids, a favorite quote, and mom guilt
19:53 Lacey's legacy
20:58 What's next: a new podcast, a book, and going all in on AI
22:33 Where to find Lacey
23:01 Final message for listeners
23:49 Wrap-up and outro

Jenny Cova is a professional skydiver, BASE jumper, adventure athlete, author, speaker, and entrepreneur who has spent much of her life learning what fear can teach us when we stop running from it.
 
With thousands of jumps and more than a decade spent in high pressure environments—from the sky to the mountains—Jenny has learned that courage isn't the absence of fear. It's the relationship we build with it, and who we become when we stop letting fear choose our lives.
 
She is the author of Why Am I Here and the founder of The She Who Rises, a growing movement rooted in the belief that when women rise, humanity rises. Through her writing, speaking, and work, Jenny explores self-leadership, our relationship with fear, and what it means to live with greater courage, presence, purpose, and joy.
 
Swiss-Italian and based in the Swiss Alps, Jenny is most at home somewhere between earth and sky—whether she's skydancing, BASE jumping, climbing mountains, skiing, or asking the
 
Connect With Jenny:
Website: www.jenny-cova.com
LinkedIn: Jenny Cova
Instagram: @jenjen.cova
 
Episode Summary:
Thousands of skydives and BASE jumps taught Jenny Cova something most people never learn: courage isn't about running through fear, it's about understanding it. In this conversation with Lindsay, Jenny shares how a childhood spent staring at clouds led her to wingsuit BASE jumping, why skydiving was the first sport she wasn't naturally good at, and how her perfectionism nearly pushed her out of the sport she loved.
 
Key Takeaways:
Courage isn't the absence of fear.
Fear has a reason.
Mistakes are how you learn.
Swap pressure for love.
Some fear is healthy.
 
Episode Chapters:
00:00 Cold open: put love on yourself instead of pressure
00:25 What you'll learn + welcome to the show
00:58 Meet Jenny Cova
01:52 Jenny's story: Switzerland, adventure sports, and her relationship with fear
02:39 Childhood dreams of the sky and discovering wingsuit BASE jumping
03:59 From first skydive to serious jumper
06:28 Learning to dance in the sky and taking five years off
07:43 Why mistakes matter and how Jenny coaches others through them
08:17 Self-love, self-worth, and patience
09:16 Leadership lessons: it's okay not to know everything
10:35 Courage, fear, and the "adrenaline junkie" myth
11:21 Fear of imperfection and healing the younger self
12:17 BASE jumping, healthy fear, and Jenny's pre-jump routine
13:22 Coping tools, breathwork, and the next generation
14:24 Who Jenny works with and her "midlife awakening"
15:42 Listener thank-you and show perks
16:32 What inspires Jenny
17:44 Jenny's legacy
18:46 Where to find Jenny and her book Why Am I Here?
20:04 Final message: act in spite of fear, then understand it
21:04 Jenny's Sneaks skydive campaign
21:32 Wrap-up and goodbye

Bruce E. Cardenas journey spans from the United States Marine Corps (disabled veteran) to the LAPD, where he was awarded the highest award, the Police Medal for bravery. He still serves as a level one reserve for the LA County Sheriff's Department serving the citizens of the county. Bruce then embarked on his entrepreneurial path by founding a high-level personal protection business. Protecting some of the biggest names in entertainment & business over the past 30 years. All while serving as a police officer. A serendipitous meeting with the founders of Quest Nutrition led Bruce to become an intrapreneur within the startup, ultimately rising to Chief Communications Officer. He played an instrumental role in the billion-dollar sale of Quest Nutrition.
 
Bruce's journey now continues with Legendary Foods, where he leverages his expertise and passion. Legendary is on track to be another billion dollar brand! And at Legendary, we spend millions of dollars a year, looking for answers in cancer, heart, disease, neuropathy, and other metabolic diseases, We started our own Bio Shift research foundation, 501(c)(3), nonprofit as we continue this battle
 
Connect with Bruce Cardenas
Website: brucecardenas.com (his book is available here)
Social media: Bruce E. Cardenas
Episode Summary:
Bruce Cardenas grew up in a small New Jersey town of about 1,000 people, was held back in school, and dreamed of joining the local five-man police department. That path led him through the Marine Corps, the LAPD, and a 30-year career as a personal bodyguard for some of the biggest names in entertainment.
 
Key Takeaways:
Bring value with no strings attached.
Relationships and professionalism build a business.
Think like an intrapreneur.
Be obsessed with customers, not competitors.
Keep it simple and consistent.
 
Episode Chapters:
00:00 Cold Open: Three Things You'll Learn Today
00:45 Welcome and Introducing Bruce Cardenas
01:54 Growing Up in High Bridge, NJ, and Joining the Marine Corps
05:01 From Camp Pendleton to the LAPD
06:08 Starting a Bodyguard Business While Working as a Cop
09:26 Meeting the Founders of Quest Nutrition
12:22 Becoming an Intrapreneur and Chief Communications Officer
13:44 The Billion-Dollar Cash Sale and Being Obsessed with Customers
14:45 What Is Legendary Foods?
16:10 Costly Mistakes at Quest and Why Consistency Wins
17:15 Leadership Lessons from Founder Ron Pena
18:16 The 85% Blockage That Changed Everything
19:41 $20 Million into Cancer and Heart Disease Research
21:32 Ron's Vision and Showing Up with Value
22:58 What Inspires Bruce: Money as a Facilitator
24:09 Legacy and Why He Wrote His Book
24:56 What's Next for Bruce and Legendary
26:05 Where to Find Bruce
26:19 Final Advice: Start Today
27:53 Closing Thoughts

Roger Duthie brings over 19 years of experience in senior management at one of the world's most recognizable brands, Emirates Airline. During his tenure, he successfully negotiated and managed high-profile contracts with some of the biggest sporting teams and organizations globally, overseeing a budget exceeding $300 million. His extensive international network spans across brands, teams, leagues, and athletes, making his connections in the world of sports unparalleled.
 
With a deep passion for sports and a vast business acumen, Roger's expertise spans football, golf, tennis, and baseball. His close ties to the DP World Tour (formerly the PGA European Tour), The Ryder Cup, the PGA Tour, the Asian Tour, and numerous high-profile players have strengthened his reputation as a leader in sports sponsorship.
 
Connect with Roger Duthie:
Website: bearfishsportsmarketing.com
Dubai Little League: dubailittleleague.com
LinkedIn: Roger Duthie
 
Episode Summary:
Lyndsay Dowd sits down with Roger Duthie, who spent 19 years building Emirates Airline's global sponsorship program — negotiating deals with Real Madrid, Arsenal, PSG, the NFL, F1, and FIFA on a $300 million budget — before launching his own sports marketing firm, Barefish Marketing. Roger shares how he broke into elite global sponsorships as an outsider representing Dubai, why never burning a bridge became the backbone of his career, and how "old school in values, modern in tools" shapes his leadership style today. The conversation also dives into his 20+ years volunteering with Dubai Little League, where he's helped grow baseball from a small expat pastime into a thriving multinational youth program that's sent players to college scholarships and national teams. Roger closes with a candid take on AI in the workplace — encouraging young professionals to build real, human relationships instead of leaning on ChatGPT for everything.
 
Key Takeaways:
- Never burn a bridge.
- Sponsorship money is spent to make money.
- Face-to-face still wins.
- Big deals open doors for bigger deals.
- Behind the glamour is grinding.
- Passion projects can leave a real legacy.
- Use AI as a tool, not a replacement.
 
Episode Chapters:
00:00 — Cold open: "Don't go to ChatGPT to write your email"
00:56 — Intro to Heartbeat for Hire and today's guest
01:23 — Meet Roger Duthie
01:39 — Roger's path: Bahamas to Dubai, 28 years in the UAE
02:56 — Landing at Emirates Airline and building the sponsorship department
03:56 — Leaving a 19-year career at Emirates to start his own company
04:12 — Leadership philosophy: never burn a bridge
05:49 — Has relationship-building changed for the next generation?
06:56 — Breaking into FIFA, Real Madrid, Arsenal, and PSG
08:39 — Managing a $300 million sponsorship budget and staying accountable
13:08 — The biggest misconception about sponsorship work
14:09 — Leadership lessons: ROI, ROO, and building real business value
14:35 — Barefish Marketing: what Roger does today
14:49 — Explaining baseball's value to non-American markets
17:52 — What inspires Roger to keep going
19:36 — Roger's hoped-for legacy: his kids, and Dubai Little League
20:43 — Where to find Roger and Barefish Marketing
21:12 — What's next for Roger
21:38 — Closing thoughts: AI, human relationships, and advice for young people
24:47 — Wrap-up

Andy Riise is a Mental Performance & Leadership Coach, retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel, keynote speaker, podcast host, and best-selling co-author. A West Point graduate and former Army football player, he spent over 20 years leading Soldiers in high-stakes combat environments. His post-military career in athletics spans MLB, NFL, and collegiate athletics, including the Colorado Rockies, Cincinnati Reds, and, most recently, the Chicago Bears. He's also worked in business, healthcare, higher education, and emergency services. Today, Andy's mission is to equip athletes, leaders, and teams with battle-tested systems to perform under pressure and lead with clarity. He and his wife, Katie, have been married for over 23 years and are raising four active teenagers and young adults in Houston, TX.
Connect with Andy:
Website: www.andyriise.com
Linkedin: @andyriise
 
Episode Summary:
Andy Riise spent over 20 years as a West Point graduate and retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel leading soldiers in combat. That experience — plus five years working alongside Green Berets and Special Forces units — became the foundation for a second career as a mental performance coach, working with the Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Reds, and Colorado Rockies. In this episode, Andy joins Lyndsay Dowd to unpack the "4C Model" of mental toughness (confidence, control, commitment, and challenge), explain the difference between mental toughness and mental fitness, and share how the same training systems that help soldiers and elite athletes perform under pressure can help everyday leaders, teams, and families. He also opens up about the personal side of his mission — inspired by his wife, a special education teacher, and his own kids — and previews his upcoming book, Step Into The Arena.
 
Key Takeaways:
Mental toughness can be trained like a physical skill — it's not something you either have or don't.
Andy's "4C Model" breaks mental toughness into confidence, control, commitment, and challenge.
Confidence starts with self-talk: you're the author, publisher, and consumer of your own story.
Control is about emotional regulation — naming your emotions so they work for you, not against you.
People move along a bridge from survival, to resilience, to thriving — and everyone shifts along it daily.
 
Episode Chapters:
00:00 – Cold open & episode preview
01:25 – Meet Andy Riise: West Point grad, combat veteran, mental performance coach
02:00 – Andy's origin story: growing up in Oakdale, CA, and his path through West Point
03:52 – From the battlefield to the Army's resilience program
05:46 – Five years working with Green Berets and Special Forces
06:27 – The leap into pro sports: NFL, then the Colorado Rockies
07:51 – Mental fitness vs. mental toughness: the survival-resilience-thriving bridge
09:38 – Breaking down the 4C Model: confidence, control, commitment, challenge
11:19 – Why "soft skills" should be called "power skills"
12:04 – Coaching corporate leaders to train like athletes
14:59 – Andy's own podcast, Skull Sessions
16:43 – Sponsor break
18:47 – Defining legacy and the "ripple effect" of mastery
20:22 – What's next: his upcoming book, Step Into The Arena
21:12 – Andy's message to listeners: reach out, he's accessible
22:37 – Closing thoughts and sign-off