Best Curtis Zimmerman Podcasts (2025)

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#69: Big Announcement: The Final Chapter of Keynotes to Collectibles 16:30

4y ago16:30

16:30

This may be my last podcast...about sports collectibles! As many of you know, at the beginning of this year, my family and I jumped off the cliff and purchased Ray's Sports Collection which included a storefront at Traders World and a warehouse full of collectibles. From the beginning, I knew this was a short-term focus until the speaking industry …

1
#68: Why Generosity is the Best Business Strategy - Keynotes to Collectibles 10:33

4y ago10:33

10:33

When we jumped off the cliff and purchased Ray's Sports Collection, I didn't want to take the leap without knowing that we'd have enough margin to be generous. Yes, it's a business—but surprising and delighting customers by giving away the unexpected is our core value. So in this episode, I'm sharing some amazing stories of what generosity has led …

1
#67: When Is it Time to Say Goodbye to Your Collection? - Keynotes to Collectibles 9:43

4y ago9:43

9:43

For many years, Ray's Sports Collection was just that—Ray's! Ray is a real guy who sold his incredible inventory of sports cards and collectibles to me, and in this episode, I honor him and his decision to sell his collection to me. If you're a collector yourself, you've probably had this passing thought: What happens to my collection when I'm gone…

1
#66: Keeping the Family in Family Business - Keynotes to Collectibles 18:35

4y ago18:35

18:35

Family has been the most meaningful part of the Ray's Sports Collection journey. All five Zimmermans have been an integral part of the process, but today, I want to share with you how my sons Noah and Oliver have gotten involved. We're sharing how Noah made the decision to take a semester off of college, how Oliver became my business partner at age…

1
#65: What Living the Dream Means to Me Now - Keynotes to Collectibles 8:02

4y ago8:02

8:02

We've had the same family van for over fifteen years. And yes, it's a little less shiny than it was 200,000 miles ago. (It got so bad at one point that our youngest son Oliver made us drop him off down the street from his friends' house.) But now, I've never been more grateful for that van—and it really exemplifies what I mean when I say I'm living…

1
#64: The Power of a Supportive Partner - Keynotes to Collectibles 10:57

4y ago10:57

10:57

Big decisions and life transitions were never meant to be made alone. I'm joined by my amazing business partner and wife, Elle Zimmerman to talk about how we made the pivot into the world of sports cards and collectibles as a team.By Curtis Zimmerman

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#63: How I Made My Hobby an Entrepreneurial Venture - Keynotes to Collectibles 16:15

4y ago16:15

16:15

In March of 2020, all of my keynote speaking jobs were canceled or indefinitely postponed. That meant that instead of traveling the country, I was in my basement. During that time, I had more time for one of my favorite hobbies: Sports Collectibles. I spent my weekends at garage sales and flea markets, creating displays for my favorite cards—and th…

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#62: Getting Uncomfortable to Become Who You Want to Be - with Noe Rizo 55:31

4y ago55:31

55:31

There is one thing that stands in between the person we are now and the person who we want to be: DISCOMFORT. Today’s episode is all about how to get comfortable with being uncomfortable, find your “why” and achieve your dreams. My guest, Noe Rizo first saw my speech his freshman year of college at Western Michigan University. It made him realize h…

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#61: Finding Your Passion, Making a Pivot and Delighting Your Audience - with Zak Morgan 53:12

4y ago53:12

53:12

How do you find your passion, keep evolving, make a pivot in a pandemic—and delight your audience along the way? My next guest has been called a combination of Mr. Rogers and Shel Silverstein, and he’s going to share how he’s done all of the above. Meet Zak Morgan, a Grammy-nominated childrens’ musician—but forget everything you know about children…

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#60: Beating Pandemic Fatigue with Gratitude and Resilience - with Alex Kajitani 51:39

4+ y ago51:39

51:39

Teachers, parents, principals and administrators—this episode is especially for you. But it’s also the wake up from Pandemic Fatigue that we ALL need. My guest on this episode is teacher-of-the-year turned education guru, Alex Kajitani. He’s sharing invaluable lessons on how to build powerful relationships with students during remote learning, how …

1
#59: The Mindset You Need for Making a Career Pivot - with Grady Lenski 41:19

4+ y ago41:19

41:19

You’re in the in-between. You’ve decided to leave your current job, or maybe you’ve been laid off, and it’s time to write the next chapter. My next guest, Grady Lenski is a giant of the optical industry who recently reinvented himself and went from a corporate role to a consulting/entrepreneurial one. His mindset and perspectives on being in the in…

1
#58: When It Becomes Bigger Than You: Creating A Life of Impact - with Virginia Walden Ford 52:48

4+ y ago52:48

52:48

The quality of a child’s education can determine the quality of their life—and we live in a country of vast educational inequality. Virginia Walden Ford, my guest today, was a mother in D.C. who feared that she would lose her son to the streets unless he had better educational opportunity. Her journey to give him the schooling he needed led to a li…

1
#57: Navigating Rapid Change the McDonald’s Way - with Stacy Vorhees 49:58

5y ago49:58

49:58

Can you see opportunity and purpose within the changes that are taking place? My next guest is an inspirational example of turning crisis into connection and pain points into purpose. Her name is Stacy Vorhees, and she’s the owner/operator of four McDonald’s restaurants. Whatever you thought about McDonald’s going into this podcast, Stacy is going …

1
#56: Back to School 2020: The Power of School Choice in a Pandemic and Beyond - with Dr. Barbara Duncan and Liz Dreckman 46:42

5y ago46:42

46:42

How do we support teachers, protect students and provide quality education as the pandemic and back-to-school season collide? Today’s guests are going to help answer those questions. I’m interviewing Liz Dreckman and Dr. Barbara Duncan of School Choice Arizona, an organization that helps families find the best educational options for their kids and…

1
#55: Overcoming Your Fear of Failure 17:20

5y ago17:20

17:20

The number one thing that holds people back from their goals is the fear of failure—either the fear that their past failure defines them or that their future failure will. On today’s episode, I’m sharing everything I know about leaving behind old-scripts, putting down what you shouldn’t be carrying and living in the present so that you can step int…

1
#54: Marketing That Surprises and Delights Millions - with Brad Pappas 39:15

5y ago39:15

39:15

How do you surprise and delight customers in a world where in-person experiences are off the table? What does employee engagement even mean when Zoom calls are the new norm? I know that if you’re a marketer or leader, you’re asking these questions. That’s why I’m thrilled to be interviewing Brad Pappas, an experiential marketing guru who I like to …

1
#53: The Blame Game: How to Stop Playing It and Reclaim Your Life 19:54

5y ago19:54

19:54

It keeps you stuck. It makes the big changes thrown your way harder to survive, and it drains your productivity. It’s what is halting progress in today’s world, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. If you’ve been feeling frustrated by other people, powerless, or overwhelmed by change—this episode is for you. I’m walking you through the …

1
#52: My Three Teenagers' Perspective on Quarantine, Online Learning and COVID-19 26:45

5y ago26:45

26:45

Well, this is a first! On today’s episode, I’m interviewing my three teenagers: Noah, who’s in college and Mirabelle and Oliver who are in high school. You'll get to hear their take on online learning, what it was like to be quarantined as a family for three months, and how they’re processing the pandemic. I learned some new things by sitting down …

1
#51: So You Lost Your Job: The New Mindset You Need to Embrace 12:55

5y ago12:55

12:55

Has a sudden change taken away everything you knew? You’re not alone: I’ve had many conversations with people over the last few months who have been forced into major change during COVID, and I want to share what I tell them with you. Whether you’ve gotten laid off, been diagnosed with an illness or are grappling with a loss, this episode will help…

1
#50: How to Be The Best Boss Ever - with Don Frericks 33:35

5y ago33:35

33:35

So you want to be the best boss ever—but where do you start? My guest Don Frericks is a leadership expert and author of the book “Best Boss Ever” who has spent his career interviewing and coaching top corporate leaders, and he’s graciously sharing some amazing takeaways that will help you understand the difference between leadership and influence, …

1
#49: Heart-Led Leadership in a Socially-Distanced World - with Tommy Spaulding 30:52

5y ago30:52

30:52

How do great leaders become great? New York Times bestselling author Tommy Spaulding believes it’s through the way we love, serve and elevate others. I couldn’t agree more, and I am so thrilled to have him on the show today for a very special episode where he’s sharing the story of the National Leadership Academy, the annual conference he puts on f…

1
#48: Returning to Work More Authentically and Inclusively after COVID-19 - with Julie Kratz 32:49

5y ago32:49

32:49

Ironically, diversity and inclusion initiatives in the workplace have divided us. There are those of us who see their importance in profoundly personal ways and there are others of us who think they’re unnecessary or condemning. Regardless of where your thinking falls, this episode will speak to you in empowering, insightful ways that will help you…

1
#47: Maximizing Your Personal Brand Online during COVID-19 - with Ian Moyse 38:48

5y ago38:48

38:48

Creating an authentic personal brand online and building relationships over social media have never been more important. On today’s episode, I’m thrilled to be interviewing Ian Moyse, the Director of Sales at Natterbox who is a leading expert on online personal branding. He’s walking us through the personal brand pitfalls to avoid, quick tips for p…

1
#46: Branding Your Company for the Future - with John Galvin 30:39

5y ago30:39

30:39

Will your brand still be relevant in the unknown future? On today’s episode, I’m interviewing John Galvin, a branding and customer experience guru who has decades of experience with top brands. No company is immune to becoming irrelevant, so John is sharing the most common branding mistakes he’s seen and how to reverse them by creating an authentic…

1
#45: From Managing Change to Leading Evolution - with YouTube Celebrity Judson Laipply 41:39

5y ago41:39

41:39

On today’s episode, I have the honor of interviewing arguably the first-ever YouTube Celebrity, Judson Laipply. You’ll get to hear which video made him famous along with his expertise on something we’re all dealing with: Change. How we can create it. How we can thrive in it when we didn’t choose it. How the best brands handle it. He’s also talking …

1
#44: Meeting Your Customers Where They Are - with Cincinnati Opera CEO Chris Milligan 45:20

5y ago45:20

45:20

What if you could stop trying to bring customers to your product and instead started bringing your product to customers? That’s exactly what Chris Milligan, CEO of the Cincinnati Opera did. I’m having him back on the show today to share the amazing story of how he put opera on wheels and made it relevant to everyone from inner-city students to Whol…

1
#43: The Power of Great Friendships - with Chris Milligan 36:48

5y ago36:48

36:48

In the same way that crazy-makers will pull you down, being friends with healthy, whole people will take your life to the next level. In this episode, you’ll hear a conversation between me and a great friend of mine, Chris Milligan. Chris is the CEO of the Cincinnati Opera, as well as being one of the smartest people I know. Listen in to hear the c…

1
#42: Reaching Young People with a Message of Hope - with Ben Malson of Telehope 41:34

5y ago41:34

41:34

Anxiety and depression is a growing crisis for young people, and today’s guest is bringing hope through a powerful medium: music. Ben Malson is a founding member of the up-and-coming band Telehope, and I’m talking to him about navigating big changes, shifts in the music industry, ignoring the naysayers, using social media to grow your fanbase, and …

1
#41: Five Star Status: Hospitality Secrets from the Best in the Business 28:47

5+ y ago28:47

28:47

Know that you need to improve your customers’ experience with your brand, but want to do it in authentic, simple ways? In this episode, I’m sharing the common denominator of 5-star hospitality brands that go above and beyond to delight their guests, along with common mistakes that brands make when they’re trying to be customer-centric. If you’re in…

1
#40: Recently Promoted? How to Set Goals for Your Team 14:41

5+ y ago14:41

14:41

If you recently got a promotion and are now in charge of a team (or a bigger team) of people, your whole mindset for how and why you work has to evolve. In this episode, I’m sharing my best, quick tips from having worked with leaders at top corporations. You’ll get to hear what they’ve done differently to bring about organizational transformation, …

1
#39: 7 Mistakes You’re Making That are Sabotaging Your Goals 32:13

5+ y ago32:13

32:13

If you’re struggling to follow through on your goals, you might be making some of these common mistakes. In the previous episode, I talked about the 5 steps to setting attainable goals, and in this episode, we’re talking about the 7 mistakes so many make when working toward goals. I’ll teach you why being realistic is holding you back, how to integ…

1
#38: 5 Steps to Setting Goals That You'll Actually Achieve 20:39

5+ y ago20:39

20:39

As a new year—and a new DECADE—begins, I know many of us are setting goals and trying to get our lives on track (or back on track.) And for most of us, those goals fall by the wayside all too quickly. Sound familiar? I've been setting goals for over 30 years, and I've learned a number of things that keep me going even when I drop the ball. On today…

1
#37: Can I Speak to the Manger? Pt. 2: What Your Customers are Trying to Tell You 18:22

5+ y ago18:22

18:22

Attention, managers and leaders: Your customers are trying to talk to you. Are you listening? Customer feedback is the most powerful insight you’ll get on your business, and how you respond to it will determine the trajectory of your brand perception. It’s more powerful than any marketing effort you ever do! Tune into this episode to hear how to us…

1
#36: Can I Speak to the Manager? Pt. 1: Your Power as a Customer 21:02

5+ y ago21:02

21:02

Customer service affects us all. But have you ever thought about how YOUR attitude affects the thousands of people behind the counter who interact with you over your lifetime? On today’s episode, we’re talking about the relationship between employee and customer, how my work with McDonald’s forever changed how I saw my role as customer, and a simpl…

1
#35: My Faith Journey 14:52

5+ y ago14:52

14:52

We’ve all heard that it’s best to avoid discussing politics and religion, but on this episode, I'm breaking the rules, talking about religion, and sharing my faith journey. My faith is the reason I believe so deeply in having an “attitude of gratitude,” and it’s part of the reason why I believe I’m “living the dream.” While I never talk about my fa…

1
#34: Your Personal VIP Day to Live Out Your Full Potential 31:13

5+ y ago31:13

31:13

Let me guess: You want your life to be better in a year than it is now. You want to be growing in your career. You want to achieve the goals that you’ve had on your list forever. You want your relationships to be healthier. And you want to really feel like you’re living the dream. You’re in luck, because on this episode of The Next 24 Hours, I’ll b…

1
#33: Are You Willing to Transform? Alyson Lundell on Being an Effective Leader and Dynamic Team Member 38:47

5+ y ago38:47

38:47

If you want to be a leader who manages a team that is both incredibly productive and remarkably close-knit—or if you want to join a team like that—tune in. I’m interviewing Alyson Lundell, the Senior Director of PR at Universal Orlando Resorts, and she’s sharing her exclusive insights on leading with humility and transforming the way coworkers inte…

1
#32: LAPL 10 - Finding the Reason You’re on the Planet 14:38

5+ y ago14:38

14:38

Do you want your life to make an impact? We are here, at the final installment of my Life at Performance Level series, and that’s exactly what I’m talking about on this episode. You’ll learn about two men named Tommy who showed me what it means to be a true giver, why it’s not selfish to take time for yourself, the reason mistakes are crucial for y…

1
#31: LAPL 9 - It's Opening Night on Your Brand New Life 15:01

5+ y ago15:01

15:01

Feel like life as you knew it has given way to a dark, empty stage of unknowns? Whether the transition you’re undergoing was carefully planned or completely unforeseen, you have a choice: You can step into the spotlight with an unwavering commitment to making your life’s show better—or you can fade into the backdrop and give up. Want to learn how t…

1
#30: LAPL 8 - How to Project Your Unique Voice and Do Your Own Stunts 13:03

5+ y ago13:03

13:03

Your life is not a dress rehearsal. The things that you say and do are happening in real-time on the stage of your life. Are you saying and doing the things that you actually want to? On today’s episode of my Life at Performance Level series, I’m talking all about projecting your voice and doing your own stunts. We’re zeroing in on risk-taking, mov…

1
#29: LAPL 7 - The Key to Expanding Your Skillset and Finding a Mentor 16:43

6y ago16:43

16:43

Feeling the nudge to expand and grow but don’t know where to start? I believe that the two best things you can do to jumpstart your life or level-up your career are to actively hone your skills and to seek out (and act upon!) the wisdom of a mentor—or, as I call them in my book—an acting coach. In this episode, I’m giving you a breakdown of how to …

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#28: LAPL 6 - Practical Ways to Cast Your Show Wisely 19:08

6y ago19:08

19:08

If you don’t have good people in your life, you are not going to be happy. You see, if your life is a show and you are the star of that show, your story will be largely affected by the cast of people surrounding you. Wondering how cut the crazy-makers out of your life? In this episode, I’m so excited to share the criteria you should have for the 6-…

1
#27: LAPL 5 - Change Your Life by Changing Your Set, Costume and Lighting 10:34

6y ago10:34

10:34

It’s a little-known and often-neglected part of ramping up your performance in life—and it’s the space you’re in. Today’s episode is tangible and immediately-applicable tips to get the junk out of your life (metaphorically and literally) and to keep only the things that give you energy. I’ll walk you step-by-step through the process of simplifying …

1
#26: LAPL 4 - Why Talent is a Myth 9:34

6y ago9:34

9:34

Talent is a total myth, and passion supersedes natural ability every single time. The people who are passionate about their goals and aspirations are the people who ultimately achieve high levels of success—not the ones with the most aptitude. On today’s episode, I’m talking about passion, the most crucial element of a life lived at performance lev…

1
#25: LAPL 3 - How to Write a New Script for Your Life 14:31

6y ago14:31

14:31

If you want your life to change, you have to start with the script you’re writing for yourself. Your life is a show; you are the star; and you get to determine everything that happens on your stage. On this episode, I’m outlining how to flip the negative scripts in your head that hold you back, how determining your role can set you up for new level…

1
#24: LAPL 2 - Live the Dream for Real 9:37

6y ago9:37

9:37

Do you want to wake up on an average Tuesday and feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude in addition to living out your passions and goals? In this episode, I’m excited to give you the secret sauce for LIVING THE DREAM. I’m sharing why I started saying I was “living the dream” in the first place, how to find the balance between gratitude and ambiti…

1
#23: LAPL 1 - Introducing Life at Performance Level 5:01

6y ago5:01

5:01

Welcome to Season 2 of The Next 24 Hours! After my keynote, people always come up to me and ask how they can share my message with the people they love. This series is my answer, and I’m so excited to share it with you. I’m taking the concepts from my keynote speech, Life at Performance Level and breaking each topic down in an episode. Whether you’…

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#22: Leadership Looks Like Radical Intention, Unchecked Curiosity and a Whole Lot of Fun - with Matt Fischer 32:57

6y ago32:57

32:57

“If we’re not having fun, we’re doing it wrong,” he said as we passed by the wall of bobbleheads. The minute I met Matt Fischer, I knew I had to have him on the podcast. He’s the CEO of Curiosity Advertising, an agency in Cincinnati with a culture that isn’t just ping pong and beer kegs (but they have those)—it’s a fundamentally employee-focused, c…

1
#21: Practical Ways to Make Your Company’s Culture More Fun and Productive - with Joy Van Patten 29:56

6y ago29:56

29:56

Does your workplace ever feel divided between teams or dead in the enthusiasm department? On today’s episode, I’m bringing on company culture transformer Joy Van Patten of Divisions Maintenance Group to talk about her magic strategy that dissolved silos and reignited people’s passion for their work. It involves the song “We Will Rock You,” a weekly…

1
#20: How to Turn Your Brand Into a Trend 25:07

6y ago25:07

25:07

Advertising doesn’t work anymore—not in the traditional sense. Today, if you want to expand the influence of your brand, you have to stop pushing content and start pulling it. I’m sharing what that means on this episode along with strategies to make your job more fun AND more effective. This is exclusive content from the day I spent with the PR Tea…

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Curtis Zimmerman Podcasts

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