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The Uncommon Man Project

The Uncommon Man Project

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Welcome to the Uncommon Man Project Podcast, where we empower men to transform their lives by addressing the real issues behind burnout, relationships, health, and wealth. Through our programs and coaching, we guide you to become the best father, husband, and leader you can be. Discover why traditional approaches fall short and how to adopt strategies that truly work. Join us for deep-dive conversations, practical tools, and actionable insights that will help you build a more fulfilling life ...
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Moving the Needle

Christopher Gergen & Johnathan Holifield

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Highlighting innovators doing needle moving sh!t to create generational wealth and inclusive competitiveness. Communities worldwide are at an inflection point. In the devastating wake of COVID, there are unparalleled opportunities to move the needle on realizing truly inclusive prosperity, fueled by dynamic economic growth. In this moment, communities can make bold, strategic, and equitable investments. Needle moving investments not only generate catalytic and sustained community impact, but ...
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What does authentic leadership look like in today’s divided world? In this intimate conversation, Moving the Needle co-host Christopher Gergen sits down with his father, legendary advisor and commentator David Gergen, to explore the values that shape courageous, service-driven leadership. From growing up in Durham to navigating the halls of power, …
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As the first alumnus to serve as President of Tuskegee University, Dr. Mark Brown brings a powerful blend of personal experience, military leadership, and policy innovation to the future of higher education. In this episode, he reflects on his journey—from growing up with limited means to overseeing a $1.7 trillion student loan portfolio. Dr. Brown…
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You’re building, pushing, achieving but at what cost? In this raw conversation, Nick and Gareth dive into what happens when the grind breaks you open, how heartbreak and burnout can become doorways to deeper purpose, and why true leadership starts at home. Gareth shares his journey from heartbreak to building a thriving business while doing the inn…
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You’re running fast, building, grinding, making things happen. But somewhere deep in your bones, you know there’s more than just the material world. This episode is a journey into that space between the dirt under your fingernails and the cosmos above your head. Ryan isn’t your average guest. He runs a thriving family business, oversees organic vin…
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With roots in West Virginia and Detroit, Robert Jones rose through the ranks of corporate America—then turned his attention to closing the racial wealth gap. In this episode, he shares how a growth mindset, powerful mentors, and unwavering family support helped him transition from earning income to owning capital. Now an angel investor with Realm C…
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As founder of the Black Star Fund, Kwame Anku is investing in the future of Black innovation—one transformative founder at a time. In this episode, he shares how his upbringing as a first-generation Ghanaian American gave him a dual lens on American opportunity and systemic barriers. From answering Prince’s provocative question—“Where are the Black…
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Bruce Katz has spent decades shaping policy at the intersection of cities, innovation, and inclusive growth. In this episode, he unpacks why now is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for communities to reclaim their place in a reindustrializing America. From reshoring and decarbonization to supply chains and federal investments, Katz shares why int…
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Welcome to another episode of The Uncommon Man Project — the space where men stop performing and start remembering who they really are. This isn’t about hacks or hustle. It’s about grit, integrity, and the long road back to wholeness when everything collapses. Because for the high-achieving man, it’s not success that breaks you — it’s the disconnec…
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Felecia Hatcher’s journey—from a self-described “C student” to CEO of Pharrell Williams’ Black Ambition—is a masterclass in resilience and reinvention. In this episode, she shares how her early experiences, entrepreneurial hustle, and commitment to building Black startup ecosystems shaped her mission. From launching Code Fever and Black Tech Week t…
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Tracye McDaniel brings three decades of expertise to this conversation on the future of economic development. As President of TIP Strategies, she explores the power of foresight, data, and place-based investment in creating inclusive growth. From AI and workforce shifts to underutilized community assets and the untapped role of faith-based institut…
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Most men won’t say it out loud—but they feel it. That gnawing gap between external success and internal peace. In this powerful episode, the Uncommon Man team goes deep into the hidden shame many high-achieving men carry. From overworking to win approval to sabotaging intimacy at home, we explore how unconscious wounds shape our identities and keep…
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In this raw and reflective episode, we sit down with Brennan Hopkins—creative, coach, and former husband—as he unpacks the quiet compromises, unspoken resentments, and misplaced identity that slowly eroded his marriage. What began as a pursuit of being the “steady rock” turned into a cautionary tale of self-abandonment masked as maturity. Together,…
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Detroit’s comeback is one of the most remarkable economic stories in America—and Kevin Johnson has been at the heart of it. As President and CEO of the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation, he shares how the city has gone from bankruptcy to boom, with $5 billion in active investment and a renewed focus on equity. From attracting global companies to …
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Dr. Cynthia Johnson brings a unique perspective to economic development, rooted in education and driven by equity. She shares how Pinellas County, Florida, responds to disruption through collaboration, innovation, and people-centered strategy. From launching an $11.2M business incubator to building a unified workforce system, Dr. Johnson outlines h…
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In this episode, Clyde Higgs dives into the $4.5 billion Atlanta BeltLine—a transformative infrastructure project reconnecting 45 neighborhoods while driving job creation, transit access, and affordable housing. Higgs shares how public-private partnerships, inclusive zoning, and land banking are helping ensure long-time residents and legacy busines…
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Recorded live at the IEDC Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C., this special kickoff episode features Nathan Ohle, President & CEO of IEDC. Nathan joins co-host Johnathan Holifield to reflect on the Summit’s theme—“Meeting the Moment”—and what it means for the future of economic development. From building inclusive, resilient economies to equippin…
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In this powerful episode of The Uncommon Man Podcast, we dive deep into one of the most overlooked, yet vital elements of modern masculinity: the path of initiation. Joined by Michael Cooper, Harry Orr, and Nick Vonpitt, we explore how the lack of true rites of passage has left many men operating from boy psychology in adult bodies—and how reclaimi…
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In this episode of the Uncommon Man Project Podcast, hosts Josh, Nick, and Harry dive into why high-achieving men often thrive in business yet feel stuck in their personal lives. They discuss how the very discipline and systems that drive professional success often fail to translate into health, relationships, and overall life satisfaction. Through…
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In this episode of the Uncommon Man Podcast, Harry and Nick dive deep into what they call Sustainable Success —a powerful perspective for achieving high-level success without sacrificing your health, relationships, and personal values. They share personal anecdotes about reaching “summits” that weren’t truly theirs and how living in constant pursui…
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In this episode, the Uncommon Team kick off 2025 by exposing the pitfalls of the “always-hustle” mindset, revealing why many top performers—despite outward triumphs—feel empty or disconnected. They discuss the power of focusing on value creation over clocking hours, point out how more free time can provoke internal angst if you lack personal clarit…
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Today we're sharing an episode of a podcast that shares our mission to move the needle - Inside Impact with Alisa Herr. Christopher Gergen's first entrepreneurial venture—a coffee shop bar in Santiago, Chile—was impactful, but more impactful was the man who walked in and introduced himself as a "cultural entrepreneur." In this episode, hear how tha…
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Welcome to the final episode of 2024 on The Uncommon Man Project Podcast, where we empower men to redefine their lives. In this reflective episode, hosts Harry Orr and Nick Vonpitt delve into personal growth, resilience, and balancing family, career, and personal well-being. The duo shares their wins, challenges, and strategies to enter 2025 with c…
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Today we explore how a transformed food system can pave the way for generational wealth creation, equity, and a sustainable future for communities. 4P Foods is working to revolutionize the food industry by connecting smallholder farmers with local consumers, and CEO Tom McDougall joins us to talk about the need to improve food ecosystems, consideri…
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SoLo Funds is the outgrowth of co-founder and chairman Rodney Williams’ lived experience of a mother who regularly needed access to short-term cash to stay current with bills and to maintain household cohesion. Such loans were very limited and costly in his neighborhood. Rodney wanted to develop a community-based lending marketplace for small dolla…
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Today's guest is Darrin Redus, CEO of the Cincinnati Minority Business Accelerator within the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber of Commerce. The Accelerator has recently launched a $100 million transformational equity capital fund to fuel the creation of larger scale minority owned businesses, and Darrin is here to give us all of the details of what …
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In this episode of The Uncommon Man Project, we’re tackling a silent yet pervasive struggle—what happens when a man becomes his own worst enemy. It starts with ambition but spirals into burnout, disconnection, and an endless chase for validation. Many men unknowingly tie their self-worth to their work, suppress their emotions, and wear a mask of st…
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As we talk about the racial wealth gap it’s critical to highlight the importance of owning appreciating assets. At the end of 2020, 44% of Black Americans owned their homes, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, compared with almost 75% of White Americans. That difference materially undermines both family wealth creation and prospects for inclusive …
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When you’re running a small business, you’ll take all the resources you can get, especially access to capital. But many founders have no idea where to begin to look for funding and wouldn’t even think to look at the federal government. To promote inclusive opportunity and prosperity, America’s Seed Fund - the small business innovation research prog…
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In Episode 22 of the Uncommon Man Project Podcast, hosts Harry Orr and Nick Vonpitt tackle one of the most paralyzing challenges faced by high-performing men: indecision. They explore how decision-making fatigue and overthinking lead to burnout and stagnation, while offering a structured system—The Decision Matrix—to overcome these barriers. Drawin…
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Median Black wealth is 12 times less than median White wealth, and it is estimated that median Black wealth by 2053 will be zero. While there are myriad historic and current reasons for such outcomes, what we know for sure is that entrepreneurship is a potent enabler of wealth creation and driver of inclusive prosperity. Today’s guest on Moving The…
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In this episode, the team tackles “The Hidden Stresses of High-Performing Men.” From the subtle signs of chronic stress that creep into relationships and health to the mental traps that hinder progress, Joshua, Harry, and Nick provide a hard-hitting look at what’s really holding high achievers back. With stories from their coaching experience, they…
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Christopher Gergen and Johnathan Holifield come from completely different backgrounds. One was born into power and privilege in a political family in DC. One grew up in the industrial, blue-collar Detroit area where hard work was the norm. Through their careers and personal growth, they've ended up with the same goals - to raise awareness and promo…
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Tracy Palandjian is moving the needle. She's the CEO of Social Finance, a national impact finance and advisory nonprofit that has mobilized $350 million in new investments designed to help 45,000 people realize improved outcomes in education, economic mobility, health, and housing. Any attempts to close economic inequity gaps must begin with a focu…
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In this episode of The Uncommon Man Project Podcast, host Josh speaks with Paul Holland, a seasoned crypto investor, marketer, and entrepreneur with a wealth of life experience. Paul shares his journey of financial highs and lows, offering listeners insights into building true financial sovereignty through crypto and the mindset shifts required to …
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This episode of Moving the Needle features Harold Martin, the esteemed, immediate past Chancellor of North Carolina A&T State University. As America's largest-ever historically Black university and one of North Carolina's top three public research universities, NC A&T contributes in diverse and growing ways to the U.S. and North Carolina economies.…
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In this powerful episode of The Uncommon Man Project, we sit down with Roscoe Patterson, a master of efficiency and process design, to uncover how business owners can reclaim their time and energy. Roscoe shares his journey from tech enthusiast to efficiency expert, guiding entrepreneurs in reducing overwhelming tasks and reclaiming their purpose i…
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President Biden appointed today's guest, Alejandra Castillo, to head the Economic Development Administration. In this role, she leads the federal economic development agenda by promoting innovation and competitiveness, preparing American regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. For Assistant Secretary Castillo, having grown up in Ne…
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Welcome to The Uncommon Man Project, where we challenge modern men to rise above mediocrity and break free from the distractions that dilute their potential. Dive deep into the conversations that matter – mental resilience, emotional intelligence, leadership, and creating impact in every facet of life. Our episodes explore the evolving roles of men…
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Historically there are so many communities that have done a poor job of economic development and inclusive competitiveness, but we're talking about the communities that are getting it right. Plus, what specifically is in the International Economic Development Council's Equitable Economic Playbook? Nathan Ohle is the President and CEO of the Interna…
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Welcome to Moving the Needle, a podcast that explores how innovators and problem solvers are doing transformative work in cities and rural communities to create new pathways for generational wealth creation. Our goal is to lift up solutions that are giving us hope and light the way for policymakers, community leaders, philanthropists, private inves…
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In this episode of The Uncommon Man Project Podcast, hosts Harry Orr and Nick Vonpitt dig deep into the uncomfortable space of mediocrity—the place where life isn’t terrible, but it’s not as good as it could be. They share their personal stories of facing financial rock bottom, personal disappointments, and the lies men tell themselves to stay in t…
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Welcome to "The Uncommon Man Project," where we guide men to crush burnout, overcome challenges, and become the greatest versions of themselves. In this special episode, the team dives deep into the real issues men face, sharing raw stories, quirky listener questions, and hard-earned lessons over the last 6 months. Join us as we break down barriers…
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Welcome to The Uncommon Man Project podcast, where we empower men to break free from burnout, reclaim their drive, and eliminate stress. In each episode, we dive deep into the challenges modern men face—from managing overwhelming responsibilities to controlling the anger that often follows. Join hosts Joshua Hamilton, Nick Vonpitt, and Harry Orr as…
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In this episode of the Uncommon Man Project Podcast, hosts Joshua Hamilton, Nick Vonpitt, and Harry Orr delve into the pervasive issue of burnout and how it affects high-performing men. Discover why traditional methods fail to address the root causes of burnout and learn practical, effective strategies to overcome it. What You'll Learn: Identifying…
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Welcome to The Uncommon Man Project podcast! Today’s episode dives deep into a topic that resonates with high achievers and professionals alike: Imposter Syndrome. Join Nick Vonpitt, Harry Orr, and Ryan Nicholas as they candidly share their personal battles with self-doubt and the journey towards authenticity. In this episode, you will discover: Un…
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Welcome to another transformative episode of The Uncommon Man Project. Today, hosts Harry Orr and Nicholas tackle a profound yet practical topic: how your internal perception shapes your external reality. This episode is for you if you've ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, or like the universe is working against you. Harry starts by sharing his own stru…
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Welcome back, Legends, to another episode of the Uncommon Man Project! In today's podcast, we're diving into a topic that isn't covered in schools, business courses, or books—the power of choosing the right life partner. This essential decision can transform your life in the most positive way or lead you down a challenging path. Our discussion toda…
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Welcome to another episode of The Uncommon Man Project. Today, we're tackling an issue many men face but few talk about openly: the struggle with low testosterone and its impact on daily life. If you've been finding it hard to get out of bed, struggling with stress, anxiety, and low motivation, or noticing a drop in your sex drive and overall vital…
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Welcome back to The Uncommon Man Project podcast! Today, we're tackling a universal challenge that many of us face: embracing change and finding time for self-care amidst our busy lives. This episode dives into overcoming resistance, breaking through analysis paralysis, and defeating procrastination. We will explore various perspectives and practic…
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Welcome to another episode of the Uncommon Man podcast, where we dive into the practical tweaks and transformations you can make for enhanced health, vitality, and longevity. Today's episode is especially exciting as we delve into simple, everyday adjustments that yield high returns on your wellbeing—a real game changer. We're joined by arguably th…
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