
Outside Insights
Outside Insights with Chris Burkhard is a podcast for people who want more — more clarity, more purpose, more impact.
Hosted by entrepreneur and lifelong learner Chris Burkhard, the show explores how bold leaders, builders, and thinkers close the gap between the life they have and the life they want. Through honest conversations and powerful stories, we unpack the lessons that shape real lives and careers.
If you're looking for ideas that challenge you, motivate you, and help you grow — you’re in the right place.
🎙️ New episodes drop every other week.
🌐 Listen at myplacers.com/outside-insights
📩 Follow for fresh insights that meet you where you are — and push you further.
Episodes
71 episodes
Peter Samuelson on Finding Happy, Paying It Forward, and Why Empathy Still Wins - Episode 60
This week’s episode of Outside Insights is a special one.I had the opportunity to sit down with Peter Samuelson, film...
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1:11:50

Jonathan Stanley on Building Culture, Leading with Heart, and the MEAN Framework
Are You a Farmer or a Fisherman? A New Take on Purpose at WorkWhat if the secret to long-term success wasn’t the hustle, but the harvest?This week on Outside ...
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50:31

Bob Burg on The Go-Giver Mindset & Timeless Success Principles
What Happens When You Stop Chasing and Start Serving?In Episode 58 of Outside Insights, I sit down with one of the most influential voices in business and leadership—
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37:25

Dr. Wes Bowman on the United States of Amygdala & the Power of Perspective
This week on Outside Insights, I sit down with Dr. Wes Bowman — a man whose path was anything but linear. Labeled in grade school. Flunked out of college — three times. Buil...
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47:52

From the Lab to Leadership: Andrew Cottone on Building Chemistry, Culture, and Clean Energy
“For an entrepreneur to be successful, you need the strength of family and support from home. The family strength is not just the immediate family; it’s a higher power, a higher calling. For us to be successful, I had to have that ...
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53:53

From IT to BBQ: Jake Ruddy’s Recipe for Business Success
Have you ever wondered what IT services and barbecue have in common? There’s more overlap than you might expect! In this episode of Outside Insights, I talked with
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50:21

Navigating Change with Raymond Lee
In this episode of Outside Insights, I sit down with Raymond Lee, founder of Career...
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52:08

Breaking Barriers and Building Bridges: A Conversation with Delaware State Treasurer Colleen Davis
What does it take to lead with purpose and create meaningful impact in your community? Is it resilience, creativity, or perhaps the ability to connect with others in unexpected ways?In the latest episode of
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56:33

From Burnout to Breakthrough: A Podcast Everyone Needs to Hear
What does it take to build a life or career you’re proud of? Is it grit, a strong network, or maybe just a willingness to admit you don’t have all the answers? In the latest episode of Outside Insights, I sat down with
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53:30

The Power of Giving Back: Lessons in Servant Leadership with Mike Smith
What if the key to success isn’t about what you achieve, but how much you give back? In this week’s episode of Outside Insights, I sat down with Mike Smith, a public servant whose inspiring journey proves that leadership is rooted in se...
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47:04

Are You Contributing or Coasting in Your Career?
Check out the full blog here!In life, there are assets and liabilities. An asset is a resource that brings value to others and a liability, on the other ...
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5:36

Adapting with Purpose: Leadership Lessons from Sheila Bravo - Episode 50
On the latest episode of Outside Insights, I had the pleasure of speaking with Sheila Bravo, president and CEO of DANA (Delaware Al...
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49:49

Building Better Days: The Impact of Simple Intentions
Our daily choices craft your life’s story — what will today’s chapter be?I have a long list of goals, life ambitions, projects, and tasks I want to accomplish. I bet you do too. No matter the goals someone has already achieved, ...
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8:36

Building Change That Lasts: Lessons from Miriam Dicks – Episode 49
I believe the best ideas come from listening to people who see things differently. If everyone at the table thinks the same way, you’re not innovating—you’re just reinforcing the status quo. The spirit of this idea was a prominent topic in the ...
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56:11

23 Lessons from 23 Years in Business
I officially started my business 23 years ago — the morning of September 11, 2001.Of course, history and our lives changed forever that day. It was certainly a challenging start for the business, but challenges have been a constant compa...
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8:30

From the Classroom to the Capitol: Matt Meyer's Leadership Journey - Episode 48
Imagine transforming recycled tires into a thriving footwear business, then pivoting to reduce homelessness and run for governor. Sounds impossible, right? Not for
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27:10

Closing Your Gaps With See, Think, Act
Let’s face it: life is a series of decisions. From something as simple as what we eat for breakfast to major career moves, we make thousands of choices each day (between 33,000–35,000!). Some are automatic, handled by our subconscious to keep u...
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5:13

Leadership Lessons From Ted Lasso: A Sit-down with Marnie Stockman and Nick Coniglio
In the latest episode of Outside Insights, I had the pleasure of interviewing the dynamic duo, Marnie Stockman and N...
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57:21

Closing Your Gaps: The Power of Reading
If you’ve been part of the Outside Insights community for a while, you’re familiar with the concept of closing your gaps. For those of you that are new — welcome! Our goal here is to take steps every day to live a more intentional and authentic...
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6:46

Scaling Social Impact: A Candid Chat with Scott Beale
In the world of social entrepreneurship, few stories are as compelling and full of teachable moments as Scott Beale’s story. Recently, we had the pleasure of hosting Scott on our Outside Ins...
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51:12

Lessons Learned from a Lifetime of Closing Personal and Professional Gaps
I’ve started several businesses, bootstrapped them, and grown them to mid-market size. I coach entrepreneurs and leaders to help them achieve the life and business they desire. My day job is with Placers, where we’ve been placing thousands of p...
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7:46

Listen To Your Body - It’s Smarter Than You Think - Dr. Tricia Thompson - Episode 45
As most of you know, a key tenet of the Outside Insights way is breaking away from the grind to take care of one's physical and mental wellbeing. I was very honored to have the opportunity to talk with Dr...
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1:00:57

The Art of Quitting: Hang In or Hang It Up?
Here’s the thing — quitting shouldn’t be a bad word. But why does it often feel like it is?At Placers, we champion values like results-driven performance and r...
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6:22
