Conversations That Count

Halloween Icon Sandy Johnson on the One Conversation That Can Change Everything

David Shaft — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0400

What if the most powerful communication skill you have is simply showing up for someone when it matters most? Sandy Johnson, the actress who brought Judith Meyers to life in John Carpenter's Halloween, proves exactly that.

Sandy Johnson has been a fixture in horror culture since 1978 and never stopped working. She is currently filming multiple independent projects including Para Dolia, The Executioner, Black Sheep, and the upcoming Halloween Shark, all while juggling conventions, fan appearances, and working with an acting coach to sharpen her craft. In this episode, recorded live at GalaxyCon Nightmare Weekend in Chicago, Sandy sits down with David Shaft to talk about the mentors who shaped her, the advice she would give her younger self, and the two-hour phone call that reminded her why communication is the most human thing we do.

In this conversation, you will learn:

How Sandy finds coaches and mentors through organic connection rather than formal searches, and why that approach builds the deepest professional relationships

Why the willingness to be vulnerable in a conversation is not a weakness but the most powerful communication move you can make

How a single two-hour phone call with a grieving fan reminded Sandy that showing up fully in a conversation is the greatest gift you can give another person

Follow Sandy Johnson: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unicornsandyj/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Sandy-Johnson-Actress-61572085745072/ Website: https://www.unicornsandyj.com

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/bWAR-6hQHnM Website: https://ctcpodcast.media

Conversations That Count is a communication skills podcast hosted by David Shaft. New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday. Follow on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube for conversations that help you communicate with more clarity, confidence, and impact.

Grab the free Communication Playbook: https://conversations-that-count.kit.com/e7fa86a708

What Conversations That Count Is and Why It Was Built for You

David Shaft — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0400

This communication skills podcast exists for one reason: to help you close the gap between what you mean and what people actually hear.

Conversations That Count is hosted by David Shaft, a Presidents Club Banker, director, and Detroit native who has spent years studying what separates the professionals who get overlooked from the ones who command every room they walk into. The answer is always communication. Every Tuesday and Thursday, David sits down with artists, entrepreneurs, executives, and culture makers to examine the one move that changed everything for them.

Whether you are a founder building a brand on Woodward, an executive leading a team through change, or a creative who needs the world to finally pay attention, this show gives you something actionable every single episode.

What you will get from Conversations That Count:

Real conversations with real leaders about how they communicate their value, their vision, and their story

Tactical takeaways at the end of every episode called the Try This Tomorrow challenge, so you can apply what you learn immediately

A front row seat to the communication strategies behind some of the most compelling careers and businesses being built today

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/RjdJ9pyguA0 Website: https://ctcpodcast.media

New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday. Follow on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

Grab the free Communication Playbook: https://conversations-that-count.kit.com/e7fa86a708

Detroit Artist Nappi Devi on Staying Local, Building Community, and Making Music That Matters

David Shaft — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0500

Nappi Devi lives five minutes from the stage and still showed up like he was headlining a national tour. That energy is exactly why Detroit keeps pulling him back in.

Nappi Devi is a Detroit based artist, performer, and creative who just dropped a new single and music video called "Ight Bet!" with an EP on the way. He works with producers, musicians, and videographers all across the city because keeping the local creative ecosystem alive is part of how he builds.

In this special Indie Fest segment of Conversations That Count, David catches up with Nappi Devi right before his live set to talk about how he ended up on the bill, what it means to stay rooted in your city while growing your craft, and why connecting with people in your community is the most underrated career development move an artist or professional can make.

What you'll learn in this episode:

Why networking through genuine relationships, not cold outreach, is how Nappi Devi keeps landing stages and building creative partnerships across Detroit

How he balances new releases with live performance strategy, dropping a single the same day he performs to keep momentum going

The power of staying local and investing in your city's talent instead of chasing opportunities somewhere else, and how that approach keeps opening doors

Connect with Nappi Devi: Instagram: https://instagram.com/nappidevi Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/nappidevi Facebook: https://facebook.com/NAPPIdevi Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/nappi-devi/1475305936 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/61BB3hPh8PHMagEw1pftW4

Stream "Ight Bet!" on all platforms now. EP dropping October 10th.

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/8TRphgQBp34 Visit: https://ctcpodcast.media

New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube. Follow on Spotify so you never miss an episode.

Free Communication Playbook, 10 frameworks and scripts to communicate like a pro: https://conversations-that-count.kit.com/e7fa86a708

From the Alleyway to the Louvre: How Author Jean Belcher Wrote His Way Out

David Shaft — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0500

Jean Belcher grew up in an alleyway in Binghamton, New York with a family of 10 and believed he would be dead by 30. Instead, he wrote a novel that is now in Detroit Public Schools, Detroit libraries, and earning five star reviews on Amazon.

Jean Belcher, writing under the pen name JL James, is the author of "The Other Side of Color: Prejudice Is Not Always an Outside Affair," a novel exploring prejudice within the same ethnicity through the eyes of a light skinned boy named Frankie navigating two worlds. Jean is also a songwriter, businessman, and lifelong storyteller whose work has been recognized by Governor Whitmer and embraced by academia across Michigan.

In this episode of Conversations That Count, David sits down with Jean to hear the full story behind the book, the music, and the philosophy that drives a man who turned a burning story in his belly into a published body of work while holding down a day job for decades.

What you'll learn in this episode:

The hedgehog concept for career fulfillment: find your skill, love what you do, and make money at it, and why most professionals are missing at least one of those three

How Jean went from shoveling snow and shining shoes to self publishing a novel, and the sales and communication skills that made it possible

Why the most powerful stories come from your own personal "alleyway" and how telling them authentically can open doors you never expected

Get the book: "The Other Side of Color" by JL James on Amazon and Barnes and Noble Watch "Soft Pillows" music video: YouTube, TikTok, and LinkedIn under JL James

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ConversationsThatCount-CTC Visit: https://ctcpodcast.media

New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube. Follow on Spotify so you never miss an episode.

Free Communication Playbook, 10 frameworks and scripts to communicate like a pro: https://conversations-that-count.kit.com/e7fa86a708

Women Don't Cheat and Other Dating Truths: Savanna, Hailey, and Adrianna Get Honest

David Shaft — Wed, 23 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Three women walk onto a music video set and end up having the most honest conversation about dating, money, cheating, and what they actually want from men that most people are too afraid to say out loud.

Savanna is a model and recording artist whose new single "Girls Just Wanna Have Fund$" was the spark for this conversation. Hailey is studying Health and Human Services at the University of Michigan Dearborn. Adrianna owns HTV Ipsy, a custom clothing and esthetics business in downtown Detroit. Together, they hold nothing back.

In this episode of Conversations That Count, David sits down with all three right after filming Savanna's music video to talk about why women are outpacing men in education and careers, what that means for modern relationships, and why the standards conversation is really a communication skills conversation disguised as a dating debate.

What you'll learn in this episode:

Why the way you communicate your value in a relationship mirrors exactly how you communicate your value at work, and how raising your standards in one raises the bar in the other

The real reasons men and women cheat, broken down honestly from three very different female perspectives, and what it reveals about insecurity, scarcity, and emotional intelligence

How to stop settling by writing down the 10 traits you want in a partner and becoming those things yourself first

Connect with the guests: Savanna: https://instagram.com/iamsavannas Hailey: https://instagram.com/haileyalamo Adrianna: https://instagram.com/follow_adrianna Stream "Girls Just Wanna Have Fund$" on all platforms now.

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/TBZaFC7oVh0 Visit: https://ctcpodcast.media

New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube. Follow on Spotify so you never miss an episode.

Free Communication Playbook, 10 frameworks and scripts to communicate like a pro: https://conversations-that-count.kit.com/e7fa86a708

Self Taught Cosplayer to Convention Judge | How Astra Void Communicates Her Value at 24

David Shaft — Wed, 02 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Title: Self Taught Cosplayer to Convention Judge | How Astra Void Communicates Her Value at 24

Description:

What communication skills does it take to turn a self taught hobby into a professional career before age 25? Cosplayer, makeup artist, and GalaxyCon contracted guest Astra Void shares how she did exactly that.

Astra Void started cosplaying at 12 years old with zero formal training. Over the next decade, she taught herself sewing, foam fabrication, wig styling, LED wiring, and professional makeup artistry. Now at 24, she holds a contract with GalaxyCon, guest judges cosplay contests across the country, and co hosts the Heroes of Cosplay Sanctuary podcast. In this episode, recorded live at GalaxyCon Nightmare Weekend in Chicago, Astra sits down with David Shaft to talk about the communication and leadership lessons behind building a creative career on your own terms.

In this conversation, you will learn:

How Astra earned professional credibility in rooms full of people twice her age by letting her work communicate for her

Why setting boundaries around online safety is a critical communication skill for any public facing creator

How self advocacy and knowing when to say no shaped her path from college student to full time creative professional

Follow Astra Void: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/astravoidcosplay/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AstravoidCosplay Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/astravoidcosplay TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@astravoidcosplay X: https://x.com/AstraVoidCos

Heroes of Cosplay Sanctuary Podcast: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0BApX2BjjTG6VtRL0RhhT6 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@heroesofcosplaysanctuary6695

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/TNv3UNct6mQ Website: https://ctcpodcast.media

Grab the free Communication Playbook: https://conversations-that-count.kit.com/e7fa86a708

Engineer Turned Mechanic Teaches Women to Take Control | Patrice Banks on Communication and Confidence

David Shaft — Wed, 25 Jun 2025 03:24:00 -0400

What happens when a woman engineer realizes she still calls a guy every time her car breaks down? Patrice Banks, CEO and Founder of Girls Auto Clinic, turned that frustration into a movement empowering women through automotive education.

Patrice spent years as an engineer at DuPont before discovering that women are the number one customer in the auto industry, spending $200 billion a year on vehicle purchases and repairs, yet almost no company was speaking directly to them. She went back to school, learned to work on cars, and built Girls Auto Clinic: a full service repair center staffed by women mechanics with a nail salon where customers get a free manicure with every service. Her book, Girls Auto Clinic Glove Box Guide, is published by Simon and Schuster and belongs in every glove box in America. In this episode, Patrice sits down with David Shaft to talk about why clear communication builds trust, how explaining things simply is the mark of a true professional, and what it takes to lead in an industry that never expected you.

In this conversation, you will learn:

Why the ability to explain something simply is the most underrated communication skill in any profession and how it applies far beyond the auto shop

How Patrice uses relatable analogies and plain language to educate women who have never been taught about cars, and why that approach builds trust and loyalty

What the Primary Care Technician concept teaches about long term professional relationships, clear expectations, and confident decision making

Follow Patrice Banks and Girls Auto Clinic: Website: https://www.girlsautoclinic.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/girlsautoclinic/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@girlsautoclinic LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patricedbanks/ Book: https://www.amazon.com/Girls-Auto-Clinic-Glove-Guide/dp/1501144111

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/cB787F3O5xo Website: https://ctcpodcast.media

Grab the free Communication Playbook: https://conversations-that-count.kit.com/e7fa86a708

From Political Media to Cosplay: How Ashton Blaise Found Her Authentic Voice

David Shaft — Wed, 28 May 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Ashton Blaise spent her twenties building the perfect career in political media only to realize she was living someone else's version of success. Then she burned it all down and found herself through cosplay.

Ashton Blaise is a cosplayer, pinup artist, streamer, and content creator who left careers in conservative media, liberal media, and crypto marketing before discovering that the things she loved as a kid were the key to her happiest and most authentic life.

In this episode of Conversations That Count, recorded live at Nightmare Weekend in Chicago, David sits down with Ashton to talk about what happens when you stop performing for other people and start communicating who you really are. Whether it is a career pivot, a creative leap, or just the courage to say "this isn't me," this conversation will hit home for anyone who has ever felt stuck playing a role.

What you'll learn in this episode:

Why your twenties are spent establishing yourself but your thirties are about rediscovering what made you happy as a kid, and how that shift changes everything about the way you communicate and lead

How Ashton handled the negativity when she walked away from political media and what she learned about staying authentic when people want to keep you in a box

The simple reflection exercise that can reconnect you with your most genuine self and unlock confidence you forgot you had

Connect with Ashton Blaise: YouTube: https://youtube.com/@ashtonblaise

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/KOMFoHff-y8 Visit: https://ctcpodcast.media

New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube. Follow on Spotify so you never miss an episode.

Free Communication Playbook, 10 frameworks and scripts to communicate like a pro: https://conversations-that-count.kit.com/e7fa86a708

She Quit Fashion One Year After Graduating With Honors to Cosplay Full Time | Ashlynne Day

David Shaft — Wed, 21 May 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Ashlynne Day showed up to her first convention in a Lady Loki costume she made herself. She didn't even know what cosplay was. People kept complimenting her "cosplay" and she had to Google the word when she got home. Fifteen years later, it's her full time career.

Ashlynne Day is a professional cosplayer and content creator who studied fashion, graduated with honors, worked in the industry, and walked away from it all one year after graduation to build a career doing what she actually loved. In this episode of Conversations That Count, she sits down with David Shaft to talk about what it took to keep going when her family thought she was crazy, how she found her community, and why dressing as a character can make you braver than you've ever been as yourself.

Why the transition from "everyone thinks you're crazy" to "everyone wants your autograph" requires you to be your own biggest supporter first, because nobody else will believe in it until you've already proven it works
How finding your community changes everything, and why showing up in costume is the fastest way to make friends with people who share your passions even if you're an introvert
The advice Ashlynne gives to anyone who's been wanting to try cosplay or attend a convention but keeps talking themselves out of it: just go, and don't let people who don't understand it stop you from having fun

Connect with Ashlynne: ashlynnedae.com | Instagram, TikTok, X, and BlueSky: @AshlynneDae

Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/tUaWJmO21tU

New episodes of Conversations That Count every Tuesday and Thursday on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. Follow on Spotify so you never miss an episode.

Full episodes, show notes, and resources at ctcpodcast.media

Free Communication Playbook with 10 frameworks and scripts to communicate like a pro: https://conversations-that-count.kit.com/e7fa86a708

79% of Millionaires Are Self-Made. There's More Than Enough for You Too. | Solo Episode

David Shaft — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 05:00:00 -0400

If you open a Where's Waldo book believing you'll never find him, you won't. But if you believe he's in there and you keep your eyes open while you flip through the pages, he's going to pop up. That's exactly how abundance works in real life.

In this solo episode of Conversations That Count, David Shaft talks about the one belief most people are missing after they've built their plan, defined their success, and written out their perfect future: believing there's actually enough out there for it to happen to them. He shares the stat that 79% to 88% of millionaires in the US are self-made, the moment he stopped believing money was scarce and opportunities started showing up out of nowhere, and the conversation with his sister where they both realized the friendships flooding their lives only started when they stopped telling themselves nobody cared.

Why telling yourself "there's not enough time, money, or opportunity for me" becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy that closes your eyes to everything that's already right in front of you
How David went from pushing people away and believing good friends didn't exist to having more invitations than he can keep up with, simply by changing the story he told himself
The five minute mirror challenge: spend five minutes this week looking at yourself and reminding yourself that money, love, friendship, and opportunity are abundant and they're all there for you

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ConversationsThatCount-CTC

New episodes of Conversations That Count every Tuesday and Thursday on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. Follow on Spotify so you never miss an episode.

Full episodes, show notes, and resources at ctcpodcast.media

Free Communication Playbook with 10 frameworks and scripts to communicate like a pro: https://conversations-that-count.kit.com/e7fa86a708

How Self Talk Shapes Your Success: The Communication Skill Nobody Teaches You

David Shaft — Wed, 05 Mar 2025 05:00:00 -0500

The most important communication skill you will ever develop has nothing to do with presentations, meetings, or networking. It starts with the words you say to yourself every single day.

In this solo episode of Conversations That Count, David Shaft breaks down why self talk is the foundation of every other communication skill you will ever build. Following up on his previous episode about defining success on your own terms, David explains how the gap between who you are now and who you want to become gets closed by one thing: how you speak to yourself when nobody else is listening.

What you'll learn in this episode:

Why the words you use about yourself shape your confidence, your career development, and every professional relationship you build

How to catch negative self talk patterns and reframe them into language that actually moves you forward (with real examples from David's own career in banking)

A simple homework challenge, find three phrases you say to yourself that hold you back and replace them with something that builds you up

"To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance." Oscar Wilde's words hit different when you realize most professionals would never speak to a colleague the way they speak to themselves.

New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube. Follow on Spotify so you never miss an episode.

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ConversationsThatCount-CTC Visit: https://ctcpodcast.media

Free Communication Playbook, 10 frameworks and scripts to communicate like a pro: https://conversations-that-count.kit.com/e7fa86a708

Stay the Course: Why Consistency Is the Communication Skill That Builds Real Success

David Shaft — Wed, 17 Jul 2024 23:00:00 -0400

Overnight success is not a real thing. The real win is showing up, doing the work, and staying the course when nobody is clapping for you yet.

In this solo episode of Conversations That Count, David Shaft gets honest about a moment that caught him off guard. After a week and a half without talking to his sister, who is modeling in South Korea, he expected to have some huge life update to share. Instead, he realized something most professionals miss: the absence of chaos is not a sign that nothing is happening. It means you are on the right path.

What you'll learn in this episode:

Why staying the course matters more than chasing a new breakthrough every week, and how consistency quietly builds the career development most people overlook

The mindset shift that separates professionals who burn out from those who build lasting success: you are not being paid for the work you do today, you are being paid for the years it took to become that valuable

How to stop letting social media and fear of missing out trick you into thinking your steady progress is not enough

"The world is beautiful outside when there is stability inside." David breaks down what that means for your professional development and your communication with yourself.

New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube. Follow on Spotify so you never miss an episode.

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ConversationsThatCount-CTC Visit: https://ctcpodcast.media

Free Communication Playbook, 10 frameworks and scripts to communicate like a pro: https://conversations-that-count.kit.com/e7fa86a708

You Can't Be Successful If You Don't Know What Success Means to You | Solo Episode

David Shaft — Wed, 26 Jun 2024 05:00:00 -0400

The Oxford dictionary defines success as "the accomplishment of an aim or purpose." It doesn't say what the aim should be. It doesn't say whose purpose. Most people spend their entire lives chasing someone else's version of success and never stop to define their own.

In this solo episode of Conversations That Count, David Shaft talks about why he defines success as freedom and why that definition looks completely different from the person who just wants their bills paid, a job they love, and a family to come home to. He shares the moment he looked at his own journal and realized he wasn't doing everything he promised himself he would, and challenges every listener to build a vision board and describe their perfect day in writing before the week is over.

Why telling yourself you "have to" keep something for nine years is completely different from choosing to, and how that one shift in language reveals whether you're living by default or by design
The Franklin D. Roosevelt quote that reframes success as the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort, not the things you accumulate along the way
The two challenges David gives every listener: build a vision board with images of what you actually want, and write out one perfect future day in your journal in immense detail, step by step, line by line

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ConversationsThatCount-CTC

New episodes of Conversations That Count every Tuesday and Thursday on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. Follow on Spotify so you never miss an episode.

Full episodes, show notes, and resources at ctcpodcast.media

Free Communication Playbook with 10 frameworks and scripts to communicate like a pro: https://conversations-that-count.kit.com/e7fa86a708

If You Don't Know Why You're Doing It, Stop Doing It | Solo Episode

David Shaft — Wed, 05 Jun 2024 05:00:00 -0400

The Cambridge dictionary defines purpose as "an intention or aim, a reason for doing something or for allowing something to happen." That last part is the one most people miss. Because even when you're not taking action, things are still happening to you, and if you're not careful, you're just letting life happen without any reason behind it.

In this solo episode of Conversations That Count, David Shaft breaks down what purpose actually means when you strip away the motivational fluff. He talks about what a yoga instructor taught him about setting intentions, why having a clear end goal doesn't help if the path to get there is hazy, and the difference between allowing things to happen within your purpose versus being too weak to say no.

Why setting an intention on everything you do, from your career to your daily routine, forces your actions to align with what you actually want instead of just reacting to whatever lands in front of you
The part of purpose nobody talks about: when you let things happen to you without a reason, you're giving away control of your life one decision at a time
How something as simple as knowing why you're taking on extra work, whether it's a promotion, a relationship, or just respect for your leader, changes whether that work builds you up or burns you out

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ConversationsThatCount-CTC

New episodes of Conversations That Count every Tuesday and Thursday on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. Follow on Spotify so you never miss an episode.

Full episodes, show notes, and resources at ctcpodcast.media

Free Communication Playbook with 10 frameworks and scripts to communicate like a pro: https://conversations-that-count.kit.com/e7fa86a708

We Went to the American Beauty Show and It Changed How We Talk to Strangers | Savanna Smith

David Shaft — Wed, 01 May 2024 22:00:00 -0400

What happens when a banker who covers business and finance walks into one of the biggest beauty conventions in the country? He meets 40 business owners in three days and realizes he's been rushing past conversations his entire career.

In this episode of Conversations That Count, David Shaft is joined by co-host Savanna Smith, a musician and model who worked the American Beauty Show as a model through JC Penney Beauty and Salon while David covered it as press. They compare notes from both sides of the event, talk about why small talk feels so empty, and challenge each other on what it actually takes to stop being comfortable and start having real conversations with strangers.

Why the beauty industry blew both of them away with how many small business owners, creatives, and salon professionals showed up with genuine passion, and what every industry can learn from that energy
The difference between saying "I'm a podcast host" and saying "what I specialize in is getting people's stories out there and making sure their voice is heard," and why that shift changes every first impression you make
Why Savanna says she regrets not walking up to people and just telling them what she was thinking, and how a simple "I like your outfit" or "you look great" can break the cycle of fake small talk that everyone hates

Connect with Savanna: https://www.instagram.com/imsavannas/ | https://linktr.ee/savanna.com

Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/FPlAgvsbqck

New episodes of Conversations That Count every Tuesday and Thursday on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. Follow on Spotify so you never miss an episode.

Full episodes, show notes, and resources at ctcpodcast.media

Free Communication Playbook with 10 frameworks and scripts to communicate like a pro: https://conversations-that-count.kit.com/e7fa86a708

What Riding the Bus Taught Me About Communication, Sales, and Building Character | Solo Episode

David Shaft — Wed, 27 Dec 2023 20:53:00 -0500

The best communication skill David Shaft ever learned didn't come from a book or a seminar. It came from standing at a cold bus stop with his family, figuring out how to smile at a bus driver so six people could ride for the price of one.

In this solo episode, David gets personal. He talks about growing up without a car, what those years taught him about persuasion, teamwork, and reading people, and how those same skills made him a better banker, a better leader, and a better communicator in every room he walks into.

Why the hardest times in your life are building the exact communication skills and character that money can't buy
What working with a Wall Street lawyer making $500K a year taught David about solving real problems instead of just selling
The story of Solomon the Wise and what it reveals about leadership, problem solving, and why no problem should ever be too small for you

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ConversationsThatCount-CTC

New episodes of Conversations That Count every Tuesday and Thursday on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. Follow on Spotify so you never miss an episode.

Full episodes, show notes, and resources at ctcpodcast.media

Free Communication Playbook with 10 frameworks and scripts to communicate like a pro: https://conversations-that-count.kit.com/e7fa86a708

How to Give Yourself a 20% Raise Without Changing Jobs (Just Change Your Zip Code) | Solo Episode

David Shaft — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 19:00:00 -0500

A $50,000 salary in Detroit, Michigan buys you the same quality of life as $44,500 in Chattanooga, Tennessee. That means if you keep your salary and move, you just gave yourself a raise without asking anyone for a dime.

In this solo episode of Conversations That Count, David Shaft breaks down exactly what to research before you pick up and move your family. He walks through cost of living differences, income tax traps, sales tax savings, and why the state you live in might be quietly costing you thousands of dollars every year. Whether you're fully remote, thinking about a career change, or just curious why your paycheck never seems to stretch far enough, this episode gives you a real framework for making a smarter move.

Why someone in California is paying 13.3% income tax when they could move to Florida, keep the beaches and nightlife, and pay zero, and what that math looks like on your actual paycheck
The free cost of living calculator from the American Academy of Physician Associates that lets you compare housing, groceries, utilities, healthcare, and transportation between any two cities
How combining a lower cost of living with no state income tax and lower sales tax can save you over 20% of your current income without earning a single dollar more

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ConversationsThatCount-CTC

New episodes of Conversations That Count every Tuesday and Thursday on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. Follow on Spotify so you never miss an episode.

Full episodes, show notes, and resources at ctcpodcast.media

Free Communication Playbook with 10 frameworks and scripts to communicate like a pro: https://conversations-that-count.kit.com/e7fa86a708

KEYWORDS:

communication skills, communication podcast, leadership podcast, professional development, career development, workplace communication, cost of living, income tax, personal finance, remote work, real estate, Detroit podcast, podcast for working professionals, moving, financial planning, sales tax

Your Mentor Can't Help You If You Do These 5 Things Wrong | Solo Episode

David Shaft — Wed, 15 Nov 2023 19:00:00 -0500

It doesn't matter if Mark Cuban is your mentor. If you're a bad mentee, nothing changes. Most people focus on finding the perfect mentor and forget that mentorship is a two way street with responsibilities on both sides.

In this solo episode of Conversations That Count, David Shaft breaks down what it actually takes to be a great mentee. He shares the time a mentor told him point blank that he was disorganized and bad at holding his team accountable, what he did about it, and why that blunt feedback became a turning point in his leadership. This one is for anyone who has a mentor and isn't getting results, or anyone looking for one and wants to show up ready.

Why being open to feedback is the first requirement of any mentee, and what happens to your growth when you get defensive every time someone tells you something you don't want to hear
The seven Ps framework David's mentor gave him (proper preparation prevents piss poor performance) and how building a weekly plan and sending it to his mentor without being asked changed the way he runs his team
Why your mentor can't give you direction if you don't know what goal you're shooting for, and how figuring out what you actually want is a perfectly valid first goal

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ConversationsThatCount-CTC

New episodes of Conversations That Count every Tuesday and Thursday on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. Follow on Spotify so you never miss an episode.

Full episodes, show notes, and resources at ctcpodcast.media

Free Communication Playbook with 10 frameworks and scripts to communicate like a pro: https://conversations-that-count.kit.com/e7fa86a708

Why the President of a 25-Year Education Company Signs His Emails "Just Vinny" | Vinny Farris

David Shaft — Wed, 11 Oct 2023 21:00:00 -0400

Vinny Farris has run Link Systems International for 25 years, serving colleges and K-12 programs across the country. His COO will correct you on the spot if you call them a vendor. They're partners. And that one word changes everything about how they do business.

Vinny Farris is the President of Link Systems International, an online tech-enabled services company focused on student achievement and persistence in higher education and K-12. In this episode of Conversations That Count, he sits down with David Shaft to talk about why AI will never replace a good tutor, what 25 years of building real partnerships (not contracts) taught him about communication, and the leadership mistake most people don't unlearn until it's too late.

The difference between working in your business and working on your business, why the first makes you president and the second makes you CEO, and how that shift let Vinny take a month in Italy without a single crisis
Why a tutoring session that starts with "I shouldn't even be in this math class" requires empathy and human connection that no chatbot can replicate, and what that means for every industry trying to replace people with technology
The story of a boss who read Vinny a brutal complaint letter, watched him sweat through it, then laughed and said "this is exactly what I hired you to do," and how that moment shaped how he leads today

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ConversationsThatCount-CTC

New episodes of Conversations That Count every Tuesday and Thursday on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. Follow on Spotify so you never miss an episode.

Full episodes, show notes, and resources at ctcpodcast.media

Free Communication Playbook with 10 frameworks and scripts to communicate like a pro: https://conversations-that-count.kit.com/e7fa86a708

A 20-Year-Old Songwriter on Fear, Selling Yourself, and Knowing When to Be Quiet | Savanna Smith

David Shaft — Mon, 14 Aug 2023 21:00:00 -0400

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TITLE:

A 20-Year-Old Songwriter on Fear, Selling Yourself, and Knowing When to Be Quiet | Savanna Smith

DESCRIPTION:

Savanna Smith had a dream she was on a horse in a Western movie, running from her fear. When she woke up, she heard a guitar loop and turned that feeling into her new single "With Me," dropping August 18th on every platform.

Savanna Smith is a 20-year-old songwriter and model who writes, produces, and performs her own music. In this episode of Conversations That Count, she sits down with David Shaft to talk about what it actually looks like to balance two creative careers, why she tells people she's a songwriter before she says model, and how a conversation with her grandma changed the way she thinks about ambition.

Why priority management matters more than time management, and how Savanna decides which opportunities to take when everything feels urgent
The two sides every creative has to live with: the conqueror version that gets on stages and the quiet version that sits in the studio for 14 hours, and why you need both to build anything real
What Savanna means when she says confidence culture has become a cult, and why admitting you feel stuck is the first step to actually getting unstuck

Connect with Savanna: https://www.instagram.com/imsavannas/ | https://linktr.ee/savanna.com Listen to "With Me" and "Mamacita" by Savanna on Spotify, Apple Music, and everywhere music is found.

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ConversationsThatCount-CTC

New episodes of Conversations That Count every Tuesday and Thursday on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. Follow on Spotify so you never miss an episode.

Full episodes, show notes, and resources at ctcpodcast.media

Free Communication Playbook with 10 frameworks and scripts to communicate like a pro: https://conversations-that-count.kit.com/e7fa86a708

Speed to Lead: Why Your Clients Won't Wait (And What Happens When You're Slow) | Solo Episode

David Shaft — Sun, 06 Aug 2023 21:00:00 -0400

52% of realtors wait four to eight hours to call a fresh lead. By then, someone else already helped them. A new client is like an ice cream cone on a hot summer day in Texas. If you don't grab it now, it melts.

In this solo episode of Conversations That Count, David Shaft breaks down speed to lead, why it matters in every industry, and shares the time he lost a client he'd helped before simply because he wasn't fast enough on a Friday evening. He connects Blockbuster's failure to pivot, TikTok's rise, and the real lesson from the tortoise and the hare that most people get wrong.

Why Blockbuster didn't die because of bad products but because they couldn't move fast enough when the market changed, and what that means for anyone serving clients today
The real story David tells about losing a client to a coworker at the same company because he said "hang tight" instead of "I'm on it right now"
Why slow and steady does not win the race, and the combination of speed plus consistency is what makes clients call you first every single time

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ConversationsThatCount-CTC

New episodes of Conversations That Count every Tuesday and Thursday on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. Follow on Spotify so you never miss an episode.

Full episodes, show notes, and resources at ctcpodcast.media

Free Communication Playbook with 10 frameworks and scripts to communicate like a pro: https://conversations-that-count.kit.com/e7fa86a708

It's Not Your Fault. But What Happens Next Is. | Solo Episode

David Shaft — Thu, 13 Jul 2023 21:00:00 -0400

You didn't choose where you started. You didn't choose the poverty, the injury, the illness, or the family situation you were born into. None of that is your fault. But what you do with the rest of your life? That part is entirely on you.

In this solo episode of Conversations That Count, David Shaft shares lessons from John Eldredge's Wild at Heart, a knee injury that derailed his athletic career in middle school, and the moment someone told him to stop making excuses and join the debate team. He connects it all back to one idea: the day you stop being a prisoner to your past is the day your future actually becomes yours.

Why holding onto blame keeps you stuck in the worst moment of your life, and how forgiveness (including forgiving yourself) is the only way to move forward
The Bill Gates quote David expands on: "If you are born poor, it's not your mistake. But if you die poor, it is." And why that applies to happiness, relationships, and fulfillment, not just money
How David went from blaming a knee injury for two lost years to becoming captain of the debate team once he accepted that what happened next was his responsibility

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ConversationsThatCount-CTC

New episodes of Conversations That Count every Tuesday and Thursday on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. Follow on Spotify so you never miss an episode.

Full episodes, show notes, and resources at ctcpodcast.media

Free Communication Playbook with 10 frameworks and scripts to communicate like a pro: https://conversations-that-count.kit.com/e7fa86a708

The Most Interesting Person in the Room Never Talks the Most | Solo Episode

David Shaft — Wed, 12 Jul 2023 20:00:00 -0400

You want people to find you interesting? Stop talking. The most interesting person in any room is the one who's actually listening, and most professionals don't know the difference between being quiet and truly hearing someone.

In this solo episode of Conversations That Count, David Shaft breaks down why silence is the most underrated communication skill in business and relationships. He walks through the Socrates three question test for anything you're about to say, what a barber taught him in college about saying less, and why the professionals who listen first are the ones who solve the most problems and build the most trust.

The three questions Socrates used before he'd hear anyone out, and how to use them to filter everything you say at work and in life
Why most conversations go nowhere because both people are just waiting for their turn to talk instead of actually listening
How active listening turned David from a salesperson into a problem solver, and why that shift is the fastest path to building credibility in any industry

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ConversationsThatCount-CTC

New episodes of Conversations That Count every Tuesday and Thursday on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. Follow on Spotify so you never miss an episode.

Full episodes, show notes, and resources at ctcpodcast.media

Free Communication Playbook with 10 frameworks and scripts to communicate like a pro: https://conversations-that-count.kit.com/e7fa86a708

Go Out There and Fail. Your Conversations Will Thank You. | Solo Episode

David Shaft — Fri, 07 Jul 2023 21:00:00 -0400

The best baseball hitters in history miss the ball seven out of ten times. That record gets you into the Hall of Fame. So why are most professionals terrified of failing even once?

In this solo episode of Conversations That Count, David Shaft makes the case that failure is the single fastest way to become a better communicator, a more interesting person, and someone people actually want to talk to. He shares the story of a colleague who followed life's playbook perfectly, lost everything, and came back as the most interesting person in the room. Plus what golfing for the first time taught David about connecting with people he never would have met otherwise.

Why the person who's never failed has nothing interesting to say, and how trying new things gives you stories, empathy, and relatability that no amount of playing it safe ever will
The Denzel Washington speech that changed how David thinks about regret, and why the scariest thing isn't failing but living with dreams you never chased
How failure in one area of life builds communication skills in every other area, from reading people to solving problems to knowing when to laugh at yourself

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ConversationsThatCount-CTC

New episodes of Conversations That Count every Tuesday and Thursday on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. Follow on Spotify so you never miss an episode.

Full episodes, show notes, and resources at ctcpodcast.media

Free Communication Playbook with 10 frameworks and scripts to communicate like a pro: https://conversations-that-count.kit.com/e7fa86a708

Why I Started This Podcast (A Car Accident Changed Everything) | David Shaft, Episode 1

David Shaft — Wed, 31 May 2023 20:00:00 -0400

A bad car accident took David Shaft off his feet for months. No conversations, no team, no daily interactions. That silence made one thing clear: most people have already stopped communicating, and they didn't need a crash to get there.

In this solo episode, David shares the real story behind Conversations That Count. Why a director of banking who leads 40 people and built his career on communication decided to start a podcast, and what he wants every listener to walk away with.

How months of isolation after a serious accident revealed a communication problem most professionals don't realize they have
Why David believes nothing meaningful has ever started without one person communicating with another, and what that means for your career, your relationships, and your daily life
The mission behind every episode: learn from professionals across sales, healthcare, politics, and every industry about what it actually takes to communicate at a higher level

Connect with David: instagram.com/davidshaftofficial | linkedin.com/in/davidshaft

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ConversationsThatCount-CTC

New episodes of Conversations That Count every Tuesday and Thursday on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. Follow on Spotify so you never miss an episode.

Full episodes, show notes, and resources at ctcpodcast.media

Everyone's Pretty. Here's How a 20-Year-Old Supermodel Actually Stands Out | Savanna Smith

David Shaft — Wed, 05 Apr 2023 20:37:00 -0400

When every model in the room is beautiful, the one who communicates wins the room. Savanna Smith figured that out at 20 years old.

Savanna Smith is a professional model who went from wanting to be famous her whole life to booking clients in under eight months, not by being the prettiest person on set, but by being the one who actually talks to people.

Why introducing yourself to every person in the room, even the assistant, even the secretary, automatically sets the tone and breaks the ice before you say a single word about business
The 90/10 rule Savanna uses in every conversation: 90% listening, 10% talking, especially when the other person knows something you don't
What a vocal coach told her at 16 that changed how she communicates in every interaction: be intentional about why you're saying what you're saying

Connect with Savanna: https://www.instagram.com/imsavannas/ | https://linktr.ee/savanna.com

Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ConversationsThatCount-CTC

New episodes of Conversations That Count every Tuesday and Thursday on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. Follow on Spotify so you never miss an episode.

Full episodes, show notes, and resources at ctcpodcast.media

Free Communication Playbook with 10 frameworks and scripts to communicate like a pro: https://conversations-that-count.kit.com/e7fa86a708

Stop Setting New Year's Resolutions. Start Running Your Life Like a Business. | Solo Episode

David Shaft — Wed, 18 Jan 2023 20:00:00 -0500

97% of Americans don't have real goals. They have wishes. And most New Year's resolutions are dead by Q2 because there was never a plan behind them in the first place.

In this solo episode of Conversations That Count, David Shaft explains why he stopped believing in resolutions and started treating his year like a business with four fiscal quarters. He walks through exactly how he's structuring his own growth plan for the year, starting with enrolling in a Dale Carnegie course for Q1 and hiring a business leadership coach for Q2 and beyond. If you've ever set a goal in January and forgotten it by March, this episode gives you a framework to actually finish what you start.

Why most resolutions fail: they're goals without a plan, and a goal without a plan is just a dream that slowly turns into a lie you keep telling yourself
How thinking in quarters instead of years gives you built in checkpoints so you catch yourself slipping in Q2 instead of waking up disappointed in Q4
The real reason David invested in Dale Carnegie and a leadership coach this year, and why the accountability structure matters more than the content itself

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ConversationsThatCount-CTC

New episodes of Conversations That Count every Tuesday and Thursday on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. Follow on Spotify so you never miss an episode.

Full episodes, show notes, and resources at ctcpodcast.media

Free Communication Playbook with 10 frameworks and scripts to communicate like a pro: https://conversations-that-count.kit.com/e7fa86a708