Some leaders talk about culture like it’s a “nice to have.”

John Griffin will tell you, it’s the make-or-break factor for every organization.

In this episode, I sit down with John Griffin, Vice President of Global Programs at Maxwell Leadership, a man who’s walked through deep personal trials, learned the power of forgiveness, and now helps leaders and companies all over the world build cultures that actually last.

John’s story is raw, faith-filled, and disarmingly real. From a childhood marked by brokenness to finding his identity in Christ, he’s learned firsthand that leadership begins with self-leadership—and that means taking off the masks we wear, dealing with what’s inside, and leading from a place of wholeness.

We talk about:

• Why culture isn’t just an HR buzzword, it’s the heartbeat of your business.
• How to spot when your team is wearing masks (and how to help them take them off).
• The link between personal healing, authentic leadership, and business performance.
• Practical ways to measure your organization’s culture so you know what’s really going on behind the scenes.
• Why focusing on people first almost always drives profit as a byproduct.

If you’re a leader who’s tired of surface-level fixes and ready to dig into the real work that transforms people and organizations, this conversation will challenge, encourage, and maybe even change the way you lead.

Enjoying the show? Subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast players!

• Subscribe on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/keep-the-change/id1622521488
• Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2xcQk7kNGNOnWuZ14aDkWC

Connect with John Griffin

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johngriffintx/

Connect with Bart Nollenberger:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bart-nollenberger-4949405a/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BartNollenbergerCoaching

In this episode, it’s just me with you again and we’re diving deep into one of John Maxwell’s most powerful leadership principles: the Law of Addition. It’s the idea that real leaders add value to others by serving them.

We’ll look at what that means in everyday leadership, whether you’re running a dealership, managing a restaurant, or leading a small business. You’ll hear why “being the boss” doesn’t automatically make you influential, and how small, intentional actions can completely change the way your team responds to you.

I’ll share the three questions every empowered employee should be asking themselves daily, why failing forward might be the most valuable skill you can develop, and the 10 culture touchpoints that can make or break your organization.

This isn’t theory — it’s about practical ways to serve, lead, and build a culture that inspires loyalty, trust, and results.

Enjoying the show? Subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast players!

• Subscribe on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/keep-the-change/id1622521488
• Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2xcQk7kNGNOnWuZ14aDkWC

Connect with Bart Nollenberger:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bart-nollenberger-4949405a/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BartNollenbergerCoaching

In this solo episode of Keep The Change, I’m diving into something I didn’t plan... but was prompted by that good ol’ still small voice. You know the one. The voice that whispers, “Do this,” and you want to say, “Darn it,” because you know it’s going to stretch you. That voice led me back to one of the most powerful resources in my leadership journey: John Maxwell’s 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership.

But we’re not covering all 21—just four that could quietly be shaping (or stalling) your team’s performance right now.

We unpack what your leadership lid actually is, how it affects your store’s results, and why some dealerships with the same inventory and location are selling 3x more than others. Spoiler: it’s not the salespeople.

We also get into:

• Why trust is more valuable than skill (and why your people may not trust you as much as you think)
• The real difference between surviving the month and winning
• How your daily priorities are either growing people—or just keeping the wheels spinning

I’m sharing real stories from dealerships I’ve worked with, the hard lessons I learned in my early leadership days, and the one uncomfortable question every leader should be asking themselves this week.

If you’ve ever looked at two stores with the same inventory and wondered why one’s selling 300 cars while the other is stuck at 100… this is the conversation you need to hear.

Let’s dig into that. This episode might just be the mirror we all need.

Oh—and if you want to go deeper, join me Wednesday, August 6th at 9PM Eastern for the first session of the 3-week Leadership Workshop. We’re not just learning—we’re transforming.

Enjoying the show? Subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast players!

• Subscribe on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/keep-the-change/id1622521488
• Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2xcQk7kNGNOnWuZ14aDkWC

Connect with Bart Nollenberger:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bart-nollenberger-4949405a/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BartNollenbergerCoaching

In this episode of Keep the Change, I get the absolute honor of sitting down with one of the most impactful mentors of my life—Paul Martinelli.

Now, when I say Paul has built empires... I mean it. From a high school dropout sleeping in a karate dojo, to launching eight multi-million dollar businesses and co-founding the John Maxwell Team, Paul’s journey is proof that your past doesn’t get to decide your future.

But this isn’t just a rags-to-riches story. This is about how changing your thinking changes your life.

We talk about:

• How limiting beliefs are programmed in early—and how to break free from them
• What it really takes to build a business from nothing
• The power of betting on yourself (Paul dropped HALF A MILLION to build Maxwell’s certification program—before they even shook hands)
• Why most people say they want change but secretly fear it
• How to make the wrong decision the right one
• And the one question Paul asks before taking any action (trust me, you’ll want to steal this)

You’ll hear wild stories about million-dollar failures, investing in yourself when no one else will, and how Paul is now helping others build financial freedom through his Empowered Living platform.

But more than that—this is a deep, raw look into the mindset behind massive transformation. If you’ve ever felt stuck, limited, or like your dreams are just out of reach... this episode is your invitation to think again.

Enjoying the show? Subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast players!

• Subscribe on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/keep-the-change/id1622521488
• Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2xcQk7kNGNOnWuZ14aDkWC

Connect with Paul Martinelli

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulmartinelli
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/martinelli_paul/?hl=en

Connect with Bart Nollenberger:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bart-nollenberger-4949405a/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BartNollenbergerCoaching

In this episode of Keep The Change, I sit down with someone who’s not just a mentor, not just a friend—but the man who shaped my entire view on leadership, business, and what it truly means to love people through your work: Euse Mita.

Euse isn’t just leading companies—he’s creating movements. With five businesses, five kids, and seventeen grandkids, he’s still running circles around most of us—and doing it all with heart. This episode dives deep into what real leadership looks like, the mission behind meaningful culture, and why most businesses fall flat when they forget the “why.”

Here’s a glimpse of what we talk about:

• The difference between “head-based” leadership and leading from the heart (and why most mission statements miss the mark)
• How dishwashers, valets, and CEOs can all embody the same love-centered culture
• The 3 questions every leader should ask if they really mean business
• Why culture—not capital—is your greatest asset (and how to build one that lasts)
• Why "work" should feel more like a vocation, and why that mindset shift changes everything
• The power of “each one teach one” and why love is the strongest business principle of all

We also talk about faith, family, failure, and legacy in a way that’s raw, real, and inspiring. Euse opens up about lessons from building Half A Car, his vision for hospitality as ministry, and why you don’t need more strategy—you need more soul.

Enjoying the show? Subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast players!

• Subscribe on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/keep-the-change/id1622521488
• Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2xcQk7kNGNOnWuZ14aDkWC

Connect with Bart Nollenberger:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bart-nollenberger-4949405a/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BartNollenbergerCoaching

In this episode, my guest is Adam Holbrook from Maxwell Leadership—an entrepreneur who built and sold two companies, and someone who knows firsthand what it means to lead others after learning how to lead himself.

We talk about the side of leadership that doesn’t show up on spreadsheets—like what to do when you’re working 90 hours a week, miserable, and pretending everything's fine. Adam shares how emotional intelligence helped him go from burnout and self-destruction to peace and purpose. He opens up about how delaying your emotions, releasing blame, and letting go of the need for an apology can shift not just your leadership, but your entire life.

We also dive into:

• What separates great salespeople from real leaders
• The personal habits that affect your professional culture
• How to grow your emotional intelligence (and why it matters more than IQ)
• How small mindset shifts can help you handle conflict and lead with clarity

This episode is full of honest stories, practical takeaways, and tools you can apply whether you lead a dealership, a team, or your own household. If you're tired of the noise and just want real talk about what it takes to be better—for your people and for yourself—this is one to listen to from start to finish.

Enjoying the show? Subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast players!

• Subscribe on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/keep-the-change/id1622521488
• Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2xcQk7kNGNOnWuZ14aDkWC

Connect with Adam Holbrook

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-holbrook-40618019/

Connect with Bart Nollenberger:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bart-nollenberger-4949405a/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BartNollenbergerCoaching

In this episode, my guest is Matt Lewis from Lewis Automotive, and we’re picking up where we left off. This is Part Two of our conversation, where we dive deeper into how Matt’s leadership philosophy drives real results, but we also open up about the hurdles, the growing pains, and the mindset shifts that come with scaling a family business.

Matt doesn’t sugarcoat it—he talks about what worked, what didn’t, and why letting go of control might just be the next level for your business.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Why focusing on your employees first is the key to a great customer experience.
• The leadership mistakes that hold businesses back from scaling.
• How to create a work environment people don’t want to leave—even when they get a job offer down the road.
• The mindset shift leaders need to move from “doing” to truly empowering.
• Why managing your emotions is one of the most underrated leadership skills.
• And what endurance sports can teach us about mental toughness, problem-solving, and leading when things don’t go as planned.

We also get personal about faith, purpose, and the real reason Matt does what he does. It’s one of those conversations that hits both the head and the heart.

This is part two of our chat, if you missed part one, make sure you go back and catch it.

Enjoying the show? Subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast players!

1. Subscribe on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/keep-the-change/id1622521488
2. Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2xcQk7kNGNOnWuZ14aDkWC

Connect with Bart Nollenberger:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bart-nollenberger-4949405a/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BartNollenbergerCoaching

Have you ever wondered what it really takes to build a family business that thrives for four generations? Not just survives—thrives.

In this episode, I sit down with my friend Matt Lewis from Lewis Automotive, and let me tell you… this isn’t your typical leadership chat. We sit down for part one of a conversation that’s real, practical, and packed with lessons about leadership, family business, and building something that actually lasts.

Matt shares what it’s like leading alongside his brothers in a family business that started in 1946 with just six cars and a dream. We dive into:

• The real key to sustaining family businesses across generations
• How to build leadership teams that actually buy in
• Why most people think they’re delegating—but they’re actually abandoning
• The power of asking better questions (and what most leaders miss)

And there’s this wild story about how Matt landed his first internship by refusing to stop calling. (Seriously, you’ll want to hear that.)

We also talk about faith in the workplace, leadership blind spots, and how true success comes when you focus on helping others hit their goals first.

If you’re leading a team, growing a business, or trying to build something that lasts—this episode is packed with gold you don’t want to miss.

Enjoying the show? Subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast players!

1. Subscribe on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/keep-the-change/id1622521488
2. Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2xcQk7kNGNOnWuZ14aDkWC

Connect with Bart Nollenberger:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bart-nollenberger-4949405a/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BartNollenbergerCoaching