Best Frank Cava Podcasts (2025)

1
Are We Really The Average Of The Five People We Spend The Most Time With? 58:39

2d ago58:39

58:39

Ian Mathews and Frank Cava reflect on the importance of networks in achieving success, drawing parallels between their personal experiences and the lives of iconic figures like Hulk Hogan and Dion Sanders. They discuss how the people we surround ourselves with can significantly influence our ambitions, behaviors, and ultimately our success. The con…

1
What Really Drives You? Finding The Sweet Spot Between Passion and Paycheck 51:54

9d ago51:54

51:54

In this episode, Frank and Ian explore the intricate balance between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. They share personal anecdotes and discuss the motivations of renowned figures, such as Scotty Scheffler and Tiger Woods. The conversation highlights how intrinsic joy in the process and extrinsic rewards can both drive success, offering insights…

1
Will A.I. Kill The Role Of The Middle Manager? 44:05

23d ago44:05

44:05

Summary Frank and Ian discuss the evolving landscape of employment in the age of AI, focusing on the distinction between generalists and specialists. They explore the impact of AI on job security, the rise of Facebook as a case study in business success, and the importance of technical expertise in navigating the workforce. The conversation emphasi…

1
How To Say No Like A Pro (Without Being Offensive) 51:48

1M ago51:48

51:48

Ian and Frank explore the complexities of saying no in both personal and professional contexts. They share humorous anecdotes, delve into the psychology behind our reluctance to decline requests, and discuss the importance of setting boundaries. The conversation highlights famous examples of individuals who have successfully navigated the art of sa…

1
How To Find And Keep Your Perfect Mentor 1:08:10

1M ago1:08:10

1:08:10

Ian and Frank delve into the significance of mentorship in personal and professional development. They share personal anecdotes about their mentors, discuss the psychology behind mentorship, and explore the dynamics of mentor-mentee relationships. The conversation emphasizes the importance of finding the right mentor, the role of self-interest in m…

1
What Big Businesses Can Learn From Startups: A Lesson From "Banana Ball" 54:41

2M ago54:41

54:41

Frank and Ian explore the themes of rule-breaking and innovation in business, particularly through the lens of technology and customer engagement. They discuss the importance of staying relevant in a rapidly changing world, using the example of the Savannah Bananas, a baseball team that has successfully reinvented the game to attract a new audience…

1
Why Interest Rates Won't Save The Real Estate Market This Time 52:48

2M ago52:48

52:48

In this conversation, Ian Mathews and Frank Cava discuss the current state of the real estate market, focusing on the impact of rising interest rates, builder strategies, and buyer psychology. They explore market trends, the challenges faced by builders, and the importance of adapting to changing conditions. The discussion also touches on governmen…

1
The Motley Crue Mindset: Why You Should Lean Into Your Darkest Moments 43:30

2M ago43:30

43:30

Summary In this conversation, Ian and Frank explore various themes surrounding resilience, trauma, and success, using the song 'Kickstart My Heart' by Motley Crue as a focal point. They discuss the importance of personal stories in business, the role of trauma in shaping successful individuals, and the necessity of reinvention in a constantly chang…

1
Our Final Weekend With Warren Buffett In Omaha 1:34:02

2M ago1:34:02

1:34:02

With the recent news that Warren Buffett is stepping down as CEO, Frank and Ian recount their last trip to see the Oracle of Omaha.

1
5 Career-Killing Mistakes of Shedeur Sanders: How You Can Avoid Overplaying Your Hand 43:34

3M ago43:34

43:34

Ian and Frank explore themes of expectation versus reality, the impact of arrogance in applying for a position, and the importance of humility in both sports and business. The discussion highlights the lessons that can be learned from Sanders' experience during the 2025 NFL Draft process. Chapters 03:28 Shadour Sanders: The Legacy of a Star 06:35 T…

1
How We Landed Shaq For A Celebrity Endorsement 1:00:24

3M ago1:00:24

1:00:24

In this episode, Ian recounts the incredible journey of how his startup, Keep Technologies, secured an endorsement with Shaquille O'Neal. They discuss the preparation leading up to the meeting, the unexpected FaceTime call from Shaq, and the successful product demo that followed. The episode highlights the importance of networking, the excitement o…

1
Why do people do the opposite when given advice? The psychology of reactance 59:06

3M ago59:06

59:06

Ian Mathews and Frank Cava explore the psychological concept of reactance, the human need for autonomy, and why giving advice as a manager often backfires. The conversation also touches on marketing failures, such as the Tide Pods incident, and the balance between being a maverick and adhering to societal norms. They discuss the Socratic method as …

1
The Ben Franklin Effect: How to win anyone over (even your biggest enemies) 47:17

3M ago47:17

47:17

Show Notes: "Nut-cutting time" is when extreme, drastic, or decisive action is required; a period, usually near the end of an endeavor, when pressure to succeed is most intense; crunch time. Summary In this conversation, Frank Cava and Ian Mathews explore the dynamics of asking for favors and the psychological principles behind it, particularly the…

1
How far will real estate prices fall in this recession? 48:41

4M ago48:41

48:41

In this conversation, Ian Mathews and Frank Cava discuss the current state of the real estate and stock markets, exploring themes of investment strategies, market dynamics, and external economic factors. They reflect on personal experiences and insights gained from years in the industry, emphasizing the importance of understanding market trends and…

1
Trump's Tariff Play: Genius Move or Reckless Mistake? 49:03

4M ago49:03

49:03

Summary Ian and Frank analyze recent market reactions to tariff announcements, the historical context of tariffs in America, and the strategic use of tariffs in economic policy, particularly under the Trump administration. They discuss the strategic motivations behind Trump's policies, particularly in relation to China and economic adjustments. The…

1
What is a Mastermind and why should you join one? 34:51

4M ago34:51

34:51

Summary In this conversation, Ian Mathews and Frank Cava discuss the concept of masterminds, focusing on Frank's journey in creating his own mastermind group. They explore the importance of high-level conversations, the criteria for membership, and the strategies for marketing and customer acquisition. Frank shares insights on building a community …

1
Is this the end of working from home? Jamie Dimon's rant explained 44:24

5M ago44:24

44:24

Summary In this episode of Let Me Speak to a Manager, Ian Mathews and Frank Cava discuss the importance of in-person work, the shift back to office culture, and the role of mentorship in the workplace. They explore the end of entitlement in work culture and the impact of AI on future job security. The conversation is filled with humor, rants, and i…

1
Why do we get bored so easily at work? (and what to do about it) 46:56

1y ago46:56

46:56

Summary The conversation covers various topics, including deep-fried cheese sticks, preventing boredom, Granddad's birthday, the dog track, staying motivated, and the process of writing. The conversation explores the importance of setting goals and chasing after them to find fulfillment and avoid boredom. It emphasizes the need for a North Star goa…

1
How to change your manager's mind 51:10

1y ago51:10

51:10

Summary In this conversation, Ian and Frank discuss the topic of changing your manager's mind. They share their personal experiences and insights on navigating the dynamics between managers and employees. They explore why managers often fall in love with their ideas and the challenges of convincing them otherwise. They also discuss the importance o…

1
How Did Burnout Become Normal? (And How To Push Back) 51:13

1y ago51:13

51:13

Are you burned out? You're not alone. Burnout feels inevitable in this age. But you don't have to roll over and give up. Frank and Ian outline several steps to help you get your mojo back.

1
How to Stop Procrastinating by Using the “Seinfeld Strategy” 45:10

1+ y ago45:10

45:10

Takeaways Consistency and daily practice are key to achieving success in any endeavor. The Seinfeld method, or creating a streak of positive habits, can help build momentum and lead to long-term results. Writing every day can help establish credibility and build a following. Distinguishing between fads and trends is important in setting sustainable…

1
How to raise $2.5M in private capital 46:50

1+ y ago46:50

46:50

In this conversation, Ian and Frank discuss their experiences raising capital for their businesses and investing in different markets. They explore factors influencing a small business owner's decision to seek capital, such as market conditions and personal financial goals. They also delve into the advantages of investing in Richmond, Virginia, inc…

1
Why is it so hard to start again after taking a break? 38:21

1+ y ago38:21

38:21

Frank and Ian discuss the challenges of restarting after taking a break in this conversation. They share personal experiences and insights on overcoming inertia and embracing discomfort when starting something new. They emphasize the importance of commitment, setting goals, finding leverage, and seeking support to hold oneself accountable. They als…

1
76: The Rocky Horror Cava Show 1:36:46

2y ago1:36:46

1:36:46

What new wine law nonsense has Scott & Jamie mad as hell today? What is YOUR favorite musical number from this absurd, queer, joyful cult-classic and why is it Meatloaf’s only song, “Hot Patootie”? Are you a die hard, callbacks-at-the-shadowcast type of fan, or do you need a big, red V on your forehead? Take a moment to safely open some Spanish bub…

1
75: Harry Potter and the Negroni of Azkaban (or Gin Drinks and J.K. Stinks) 1:50:14

2y ago1:50:14

1:50:14

Just how fast did Scott down his cocktail, and does Jamie have any room to criticize considering he brought two? Why does the presence of a multilingual person make our hosts feel inadequate? Who’s YOUR preferred Dumbledore? (RIP Richard Harris and Michael Gambon). What is it about the “book is always better” crowd that is so damned annoying? Avoid…

1
74: The New Batch of FLX Riesling (Gremlins 2 & Konstantin Frank) 2:00:18

2y ago2:00:18

2:00:18

Part FIVE of our Comfort Food Movies Miniseries! Which gremlin is your favorite: Spider Gremlin, Bat Gremline, Electric Gremlin, Veggie Gremlin, Googly-eyed Gremlin, Brainy Gremlin, or Greta the Lady Gremlin? (Yes, those are all actually in the movie.) Do our hosts have a better understanding of their longtime friend now that they’ve seen one of hi…

1
73: Young, Dumb, and Full of Comfort Food (or POINT BREAK and Cider) 2:09:04

2y ago2:09:04

2:09:04

Part FOUR of our Comfort Food Movies Miniseries! Which of Point Break’s heroes would’ve been a TikTok anti-vaxxer and which would’ve voted for T****? What character inspires our guest whenever she needs to knock a man down a peg? And would anyone from this movie drink either of the fancy ciders Jamie paired? Grab your board, your gun, a rubber Reag…

1
72: Kung Pow: Enter the Whiskey 1:57:53

2y ago1:57:53

1:57:53

Part Three of our Comfort Food Movies Miniseries! (NOW WITH GUESTS!) How does a largely forgotten and unapologetically stupid send-up of Hong Kong martial arts movies hold up to our 2023 sensibilities? What memories are conjured by drinking this well-branded, cocktail focused Japanese whiskey from spirits giant Beam-Suntory? And is “Onion Wine” act…

1
71: Jurassic Park & Moët (or, "LVMH was so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they never stopped to think if they should") 2:07:41

2y ago2:07:41

2:07:41

Part Two of our Comfort Food Movies Miniseries! What is the origin story of Jamie’s life-long love affair with Jurassic Park? Does Scott have any affinity for the ubiquitous champagne featured prominently in the movie, or is this just spite backfiring? And where does Jamie get off blaming Steven Spielberg for him failing out of college? Fire up the…

1
70: Mission: Impossible -- Pet Nat-ening, Part 1 (of 1) 1:43:51

2y ago1:43:51

1:43:51

What happens to your brain when you watch seven Missions Impossible in a week? How do Scott and Jamie rate the latest entry in the long-running Tom Cruise spy-action-thriller franchise? Which is your favorite Ethan Hunt super power? And why did Jamie choose this one-off episode about the best current action franchise for a weird, hybrid, Pet-nat pa…

1
69: “This is the Chardonnay Speaking” (or ZODIAC as Comfort Food) 2:04:17

2y ago2:04:17

2:04:17

Part One of our Comfort Food Movies Miniseries! ZODIAC is a 2007 film from director David Fincher, writer James Vanderbilt, and stars Jake Gyllenhall, Mark Ruffalo, and Robert Downey Jr. among many, many others. It is strangely unstreamable in the U.S. right now, unless you have Paramount+ or Showtime via Roku, or Paramount+ via AppleTV. You can re…

1
68: Scorpio Blinding (or Sauvy Bobby & Kenneth Anger) 1:19:52

2y ago1:19:52

1:19:52

The Epic Conclusion of our Court of Master Sommeliers Curriculum miniseries! After weeks of talking about blind tasting, can Jamie successfully identify this classic NZ Sauvy Bobby sight unseen? Given the outsized impact of Kenneth Anger on American cinema and the culture at large, why did Scott delay one of his films until the very end of this min…

1
67: It’s All Fake! (Nanook of the North vs Chianti Classico) 1:38:33

2y ago1:38:33

1:38:33

Part 6 of our Court of Master Sommeliers Curriculum miniseries Can Scott successfully defend the first ever feature documentary while simultaneously pointing out all the ways that it’s total bunk? Will Jamie make a compelling argument that maybe all the Chianti minutiae he’s memorized is actually not that useful to know? Have our intrepid hosts sol…

1
How to shortcut a turnaround like Coach Deion Sanders 41:50

2y ago41:50

41:50

Coach "Prime" is disrupting the landscape of college football recruiting. Assuming a roster that won only one game in 2022, Deion Sanders is wasting no time upgrading the roster but at what cost? In this episode, we talk about the pros and cons of building a team versus buying one (along with the short and long-term repercussions).…

1
Inside our epic boys trip to Omaha to see Warren Buffett at the 2023 Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting 1:34:02

2y ago1:34:02

1:34:02

Screw Vegas; real men take boys trips to Omaha! Thinking of going to see Warren and Charlie next year at the biggest investor event of the year? Frank and Ian give you an inside look at what you can expect from travel, accommodations, restaurants, tickets, finding a seat, and of course, where to find a decent casino.…

1
Should participation trophies be banned? 52:00

2y ago52:00

52:00

North Carolina has introduced a bill to eliminate participation trophies. We debate the merits of continuous versus intermittent feedback and how demonizing encouragement for beginners might not be the best answer. When is it appropriate to cheer participation, and when is it hurtful? We look at the parallels of youth sports with managing a corpora…

1
66: Le Jetée du Jean Louis Chave (Or Sci-Fi Cinema and Syrah) 1:30:09

2y ago1:30:09

1:30:09

Part 5 of our Court of Master Sommeliers Curriculum miniseries Has Jamie successfully demonstrated the value of the deductive tasting method? And, more importantly, has he convinced Scott that the French appellation system isn’t so bad? Is La Jetée a fatalistic bummer or a beautiful romance? And why was Scott worried his co-host wouldn’t like this …

1
Are You Too “Busy” To Be Productive? 1:03:11

2y ago1:03:11

1:03:11

Too many people major in minor things. Anyone who responds with “busy” every time you ask them how they’re doing is likely not a productive asset to their company. Why are people busy? It’s typically an inability to prioritize, a refusal to delegate, and an unwillingness to tackle the hardest tasks. So they fill their day moving paper around and re…

1
65: Meshes of Jerome Chezeaux (or Maya Deren vs Pinot Noir) 1:23:57

2+ y ago1:23:57

1:23:57

Part 4 of our Court of Master Sommeliers Curriculum miniseries Does Scott actually like this wine? (It's complicated.) Will Jamie reconcile his love for drinking Burgundy with his myriad issues with it conceptually? (It's also complicated.) What do the boys think of Maya Deren's dreamy, surreal, contemplative, silent film as compared to Bunuel & Da…

1
Our advice to the marketing team at Bud Light 40:25

2+ y ago40:25

40:25

Bud Light became the subject of future business school case studies when it alienated a significant portion of its core customer base. By some estimates, the mistake could cost the king of beers up to $5,000,000,000. With one decision, Bud Light handed millions of cases of beer over to Miller Lite and Coors Lite. In this episode, we offer free advi…

1
64: Surrealist Sauvy Bobby, or Grgich Hills and Un Chien Andalou 1:28:28

2+ y ago1:28:28

1:28:28

Part 3 of our Court of Master Sommeliers Curriculum miniseries Can Jamie adequately describe the flavor of a gooseberry to his co-host? What about this iconic piece of Surrealist cinema does Scott find so nihilistic, and why does that attitude appeal to Jamie so much? Since neither host likes the thing they picked, did they accidentally make a good…

1
How Do You Know When It Is Time To Fire Someone? 54:07

2+ y ago54:07

54:07

Most new managers try to "fix" every poor performer. This is part ego and part naivety that everyone can be "fixed." But these employees suck up your time as a manager and keep you from spending time with your best performers. And when these managers are finally forced to fire their first employee, they rarely look back and think it was too fast. S…

1
The Ostrich Effect: Do You Suffer From FOFO? 45:47

2+ y ago45:47

45:47

The Ostrich Effect explains the peculiar phenomenon where people stick their heads in the sand during lousy times, ignoring troubling information easily accessible to them. Put differently, FOFO (fear of finding out) can be more dangerous than FOMO (fear of missing out).

1
63: You Need a MONTAGE! Domaine Huet and Battleship Potemkin 1:36:38

2+ y ago1:36:38

1:36:38

Part 2 of our Court of Master Sommeliers Curriculum miniseries Despite knowing about all the different kinds of Soviet montage, does Scott actually know what he has a degree in? Does the Hudson house white bear any similarity to this benchmark Chenin Blanc from Vouvray? Why is Comrade Jamie so susceptible to Soviet propaganda? Are we finding thread…

1
The GROVER Method: How To Connect With Anyone In 5 Minutes 49:29

2+ y ago49:29

49:29

Whether you are new to an office, leading a new team, or working in sales, connecting with people is critical. And most people are doing it all wrong. In this episode, we bust out a cheat code to help you build a relationship with anyone in five minutes or less.

1
Welcome to the next banking crisis (same as the old one?) 1:05:43

2+ y ago1:05:43

1:05:43

The dominos are falling, and it's starting to feel a lot like 2008 again. With SVB, Signature, and Credit Suisse making news for the wrong reasons, Frank and Ian look to lessons from the past and talk about how the latest banking crisis is informing their investment decisions. *Disclosure: Frank and Ian are knuckleheads, not financial advisors. The…

1
62: Le Riesling dans la Lune, or The Boys are Back in School 1:27:26

2+ y ago1:27:26

1:27:26

Part One of Jamie’s Court of Master Sommeliers Curriculum Miniseries! Why are we dedicating an entire miniseries to the CMS curriculum wines if our resident Wine Guy’s got so much beef with their selection? Can Scott do the CMS blind tasting rubric with this bottle under the 4 minute 10 second time limit? Will Jamie’s love of whimsy overcome his di…

1
Debating the greatest party anthems of all-time (March Madness edition) 1:34:28

2+ y ago1:34:28

1:34:28

We built a bracket of 64 all-time party anthems and decided on a winner. The Criteria: It could be any genre (rock, country, hip-hop, R&B, pop) It could be any kind of party (rager, backyard bbq, wedding, tailgate) **Please note that our list is light on pop music from the past 15 years and highly biased. ***This episode has nothing to do with busi…

1
How to overcome 16 of the most common sales objections (March Madness edition!) 1:20:36

2+ y ago1:20:36

1:20:36

We brought in Indiana's #1 realtor, Jeff Paxson, to help us with the best responses to the most common sales objections. In a March Madness-style bracket, we pit objections against each other, moving on to those that we consider the most difficult to handle. We debate the best responses to "Your fees are too high," "Can you call me back next month,…

1
Is your career stagnating because you fear failure? 39:57

2+ y ago39:57

39:57

Behind every inspirational story at the Super Bowl was a long list of personal failures, setbacks, and losses. The top names in the biggest game rose to prominence by building off each failure. In this episode, we look at how failure can be used as a fuel rather than a black mark on your career. "I either win, or I learn. But I never lose." ~Jalen …

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Frank Cava Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide