Today we talk to Chris Paul Rainbows, a storyteller, strategist and queer educator on a mission to make everyone feel like they belong.

Chris talks about growing up queer in a small border town, struggling with OCD and anxiety, building a successful company only to have a breakdown, and tearing it all apart to start over. We touch on PRIDE as a mix of celebration and rebellion, what it means to be an ally and how this is not the oppression olympics - we all have hard stories that make us who we are. And we need to embrace them to find our people.

But the best part is the stories - every one of them full of joy and hope. We’ve got a pumpkin empire, gay cakes, and a tortoise with a prolapsed butthole named Rock Hudson. If you’re ever struggled to find your voice, or need inspiration to chase a bigger life, Chris will make you believe anything is possible. Or maybe you just need some 100% joy in your life today.

Please enjoy, Chris Paul Rainbows.

Every other week, join your host Bob Mathers, keynote speaker for conversations designed to push you out of your comfort zone. Each episode delivers boundless insights and ideas that matter by inspiring you to get off autopilot and keep chasing curiosity.

Takeaways

• Pride has evolved for Chris from partying in their 20s to giving talks, reading books to kids, and spreading queer joy by simply living openly and authentically.
• Growing up queer in a small rural town with no representation on TV felt isolating and led Chris to leave home at 18 to find community.
• Chris’s mental health struggles with OCD reached a breaking point while running a stressful business, but therapy, medication, and support from their husband helped them rebuild their life around what truly made them happy.
• Chris launched The Unicorn Rebellion to do the creative work they love on their own terms—without the stress of a big agency—and created a life with chickens, parrots, bunnies, and a tortoise named Rock Hudson.
• His viral “Pumpkin Empire” taught them the power of storytelling on social media and how curiosity, kindness, and including your community can make even the strangest moments into something beautiful.
• Chris’s story of the world’s gayest cake, or “gayke,” shows how small, joyful acts of visibility can ripple out to inspire and empower others in ways you can’t predict.
• Allyship isn’t something you call yourself; it’s something you earn by consistently showing up, learning, and using your privilege to open doors for others.
• Finding your voice means discovering what you’re passionate about changing in the world—and knowing that everyone’s story, no matter how big or small, has the power to help someone else.

Links and Resources

Chris’s Website

Instagram

Facebook

TikTok

LinkedIn

Connect with Bob Mathers

Website

LinkedIn

Todd McTavish is a songwriter and it’s all he’s ever wanted to do. At 23, he left his small town home in Ontario and moved to LA. And at 53, he just signed his first record deal.

Todd’s an old school, rock and roll troubadour. The stories come fast and hard. He recorded a Christmas song with Billy Bob Thornton, had one of his songs played at the Superbowl and he owned a half bear, half wolf named Jazz who was an excellent judge of character.

But this isn’t about sex, drugs and rock and roll. It’s about having the courage to say yes. The music industry is a parable for life. It’s cruel and unfair, and it gave Todd a thousand really good reasons to quit. So how has he survived when so few others have? When an opportunity came up, no matter how crazy, he said yes.

As someone that tends to overthink things until I talk myself out of them, Todd’s journey inspired me. I could look back at the last 20 years of my life and wonder what could have been if I had said yes more often, but I don’t have time for that. What I refuse to do, is look back 10 years from now and wonder the same thing. What would Todd do? He’d say yes.

Please enjoy Todd McTavish.

Every other week, join your host Bob Mathers, keynote speaker for conversations designed to push you out of your comfort zone. Each episode delivers boundless insights and ideas that matter by inspiring you to get off autopilot and keep chasing curiosity.

Takeaways

• The unstoppable itch: Todd described songwriting as a calling he couldn’t ignore, even when the path was full of obstacles and dead ends.
• Say yes to the unknown: His journey is a testament to showing up and staying open—some of his best opportunities came from simply agreeing to lunch, auditions, or chance encounters.
• The magic of creative chemistry: Meeting guitarist Lee Jackson led to writing hundreds of songs and forming Judge Jackson, proving that the right creative partner can change everything.
• Lessons from the road: Todd shared the ups and downs of band life—how licensing songs can be a windfall or pay next to nothing, and why playing for 40,000 Marines felt like “making it.”
• Writing songs like a conduit: He sees songwriting as channeling melodies and words that already exist in the world, capturing them in the moment instead of forcing them into shape.
• Rolling with life’s twists: Border denials, band breakups, and crazy roommates could’ve ended his dream, but Todd kept moving forward, seeing every setback as part of the adventure.
• The gift of perseverance: Todd’s story is a reminder that it’s never too late to chase what you love—and that staying in the game is sometimes the greatest success.
• Art that lasts: He spoke about the power of songs to act as bookmarks in our lives, instantly transporting us back in time and connecting us to moments we thought we’d forgotten.

Connect with Todd

Webiste

Judge Jackson (https://open.spotify.com/artist/2WkImSovdJRdvZ8lxn3JtH)

Todd McTavish (https://open.spotify.com/artist/0tjdZLND9lbsHcqWWXSPxo)

Thank you for listening today. Please take a moment to rate and subscribe to our podcast. Here is how you can connect with us at the Growth Mixtape podcast.

Connect with Bob Mathers

Website

LinkedIn

Today we talk to Chris Hood — speaker, strategist, and author of Infallible, a book that challenges a lot of what we’ve been told about AI. And Chris should know - he’s spent his career working with companies on their digital strategies — from advertising in movie theaters to helping count votes for FOX on American Idol.

I’ve been avoiding talking about AI on the pod because honestly, I didn’t know what else there is to say. But Chris offers something new to the conversation I hadn’t heard before. First, he dispels some myths and suggests that where most people think we are with AI is actually 7 years away. And there is a huge gap between what companies are focused on and what consumers really want. And since we are the consumers, we have the power to decide how fast this moves. The truth is most consumers aren’t crazy about any of this, and Chris has great stories of companies that went too far too fast.

We also talk about what this convenience is costing us, how AI is making us lazy, how it borrows from social media to keep us addicted and why we need less Star Trek and more Columbo.

So what will AI never replace? Curiosity and connection. This conversation is a perfect example of that.

Please enjoy, Chris Hood.

Every other week, join your host Bob Mathers, keynote speaker for conversations designed to push you out of your comfort zone. Each episode delivers boundless insights and ideas that matter by inspiring you to get off autopilot and keep chasing curiosity.

Key Takeaways:

• The Danger of Overhyping AI: Many companies are marketing AI like it's magic, but most consumers either don’t care or don’t even realize they’re already using it. The focus should be on solving problems, not shouting about the tools.

• The “You Bias” of Generative AI: AI tools are designed to flatter you — to tell you your ideas are brilliant. It feels good, but over time it can reinforce ego, limit critical thinking, and create a false sense of confidence.

• We’re in the Cut-and-Paste Era: Generative AI makes it easy to sound smart or get things done quickly, but we’re losing nuance, creativity, and original thought in the process.

• AI Can’t Replace Human Connection: Emotional intelligence, empathy, humor — these are deeply human traits that AI can’t replicate. For businesses, this means finding the right balance between automation and authentic connection.

• We’ve Seen This Movie Before: Chris draws parallels between the rise of AI and the early days of social media. Back then, we trusted tech companies to self-regulate. We know how that played out.

• Don’t Trust the Echo Chamber: Platforms like LinkedIn make it seem like AI is everywhere and everything. But when you step outside of the bubble, most people are still trying to figure it out — or not thinking about it at all.

• Be the Columbo, Not the Sci-Fi Dreamer: Instead of fantasizing about the future of AI, we need to ask harder questions and look at the real implications. Curiosity and skepticism are powerful tools.

Links and Resources

Chris on LinkedIn

Website and Books

Connect with Bob Mathers

Website

LinkedIn

In this re-released episode, we talk to Rob Carli, a multi-award-winning musician, producer and composer for film and television. Rob has had a storied career in music from his early days touring the country in an Econoline van to most recently co-founding the Awesome Music Project - a not-for-profit dedicated to delivering practical solutions to mental health through the transformative power of music.

It’s conversations like this one with Rob that are the reason I started this podcast. Rob is a giant in his industry, but he’s someone I would never come across in my work as a revenue coach with growing tech companies. The ideas we explored allow me to see my work and my life in a whole new light.

Rob and I talked about how we can all tap into our creative energy and how our best ideas always come from the most unlikely places. Yes, your first draft is going to suck but the most important thing in finding your voice is not judging your ideas, or allowing them to be judged. Rob shares stories of how chasing your curiosity is the key to re-inventing yourself throughout your career, taking you to places you’d never have planned for yourself.

Finally, Rob talks about what we’ve lost as technology has displaced rituals like cooking together and listening to live music. And what would Rob have done differently with the music in Oppenheimer?

Please enjoy, Rob Carli.

Every other week, join your host Bob Mathers, keynote speaker for conversations designed to push you out of your comfort zone. Each episode delivers boundless insights and ideas that matter by inspiring you to get off autopilot and keep chasing curiosity.

Takeaways

• The Myth of Arrival: Rob challenges the idea that we ever "make it." Success isn’t a destination — it’s a constant journey shaped by change, curiosity, and reinvention.
• The Creative Process: Great ideas often arrive when we stop trying so hard. For Rob, creativity comes from loosening control — going for walks, grocery shopping, or just letting the mind wander.
• Judgment Kills Creativity: One of the biggest barriers to creativity is self-censorship. Rob encourages letting go of perfectionism and allowing ideas to flow — even the weird or messy ones.
• Music as Ritual: Rob reflects on how modern convenience has replaced rituals like cooking or making music — and why bringing those rituals back could improve our sense of connection and purpose.
• Parenting and Purpose: When his son decided to pursue music, Rob didn’t try to talk him out of it. His biggest hope? That his son finds fulfillment — whatever path he chooses.
• The Awesome Music Project: What started as a neighbor’s idea became a national charity focused on the link between music and mental health. Rob shares the story behind it and why he believes music has the power to heal.
• Balance Over Hustle: Rob hopes that in 2024, we’ll all move toward more balance — not just in work, but in how we connect with each other and ourselves.
• Stay Curious: Whether it’s attending a random concert or following a creative hunch, Rob believes discovery is one of the most important — and joyful — parts of being alive.

For more information about Rob or to connect with him, check out these links:

Rob Carli’s Website

The Awesome Music Project

Instagram: Awesome Music Project

X

Connect with Bob Mathers

Website

LinkedIn

Today we talk to Karl Allen-Muncey - a tech innovator, motorcycle enthusiast and now a real-life Instagram influencer.

When I originally talked to Karl about being on the podcast, I wasn’t sure what we’d talk about. He’s a motorcycle guy who talks about throttle therapy and the mental health benefits of riding. I’ve never been on a motorcycle. I was always scared, I was never that cool.

But it turns out this conversation isn’t really about motorcycles at all. Karl was a big success in every way - fancy job working with huge companies, big house - he had it all. Then during the pandemic, all that fell apart. His marriage, his job - and with it, everything he thought he knew about himself.

So he started over. He did what so many of us long to do at some point in our lives. He took all his unique superpowers he’s amassed over his career, and point them in a new direction, something he really cares about. If you think this sounds like a fairy tale, it’s not. Karl is very honest about how painful this has been. He talks about his life being in pieces, and having to decide which parts to pick up and which ones to leave behind.

Now he’s an Instagram influencer - a middle-aged motorcycle dude in black leather, gray beard, baring his soul and being vulnerable about his mental health. And yeah, his audience is exploding.

So sure, if you like riding, you're going to love this. But maybe you're like me and you've never been on a bike. Maybe you think reinventing yourself is something only other people do.

This conversation will change that.

Please enjoy Karl Allen-Muncey.

Every other week, join your host Bob Mathers, keynote speaker for conversations designed to push you out of your comfort zone. Each episode delivers boundless insights and ideas that matter by inspiring you to get off autopilot and keep chasing curiosity.

Key Takeaways:

• From Breakdown to Breakthrough: Karl shares how the pandemic stripped away his career, marriage, and identity, forcing him into a profound personal transformation—and eventually leading him to a more intentional life.

• Motorcycles as Mental Health Tools: Riding became Karl’s way to quiet his mind and reconnect with himself. What started as escape turned into healing, clarity, and a whole new community.

• The Power of Admitting Defeat: One of Karl’s biggest lessons was learning to admit when something is truly over—and how doing so created space to rebuild on his own terms.

• Therapy, Ego, and Growth: Karl reflects on how therapy helped him confront the version of himself he had been hiding behind, and why losing the ego was the beginning of real self-awareness.

• The Unexpected Gift of Instagram: What began as an anonymous place to share moody moto-camping photos became a growing platform for connection, vulnerability, and ultimately, business.

• Parenting with Presence: Karl talks candidly about how his growth journey has made him a better father—and why being “Dad” is the most important title he’ll ever hold.

• Innovation, Burnout, and Reinvention: Karl’s background building innovation labs gives insight into how great ideas get stuck—and what it takes to actually create change inside large organizations.

• Finding Authentic Connection: Whether through motorcycles, social media, or programs like Vienna Waits, Karl has found that the best relationships are built on honesty, not image.

Links and Resources

Karl on Instagram

Karl on LinkedIn

Vienna-Waits

Connect with Bob Mathers

Website

LinkedIn

The Tragically Hip documentary, “No Dress Rehearsal” recently took home all 7 of the Canadian Screen Awards it was nominated for. We wanted to celebrate this incredible achievement by re-releasing our conversation from October with one of the film’s producers, Jake Gold.

Today I talk to Jake Gold, legendary manager of the Canadian rock band, The Tragically Hip. Jake talks about the new film, No Dress Rehearsal, and the 4-year process of bringing The Hip’s raw, emotional story to life.

We go deep into Hip lore with stories that have never been heard before about some of The Hip's iconic songs, their appearance on SNL, touring with the Stones, and the final goodbye tour before Gord Downie's death in 2017.

Now I can’t sit here and pretend that this is just another podcast episode. The Hip has been my favorite band since they released their first album as I was turning 19. It’s no exaggeration to say they provided the soundtrack to my life. I hope you have an artist in your life that means that much to you, because then you can understand what it means to me to sit down with Jake and hear these stories.

But here’s the thing. The film and this conversation, it’s not really about a rock band. It’s about truth, friendship, family, tragedy and reconciliation. It’s also about the power of music and stories to bring us together.

Please enjoy, Jake Gold.

Key Takeaways:

1. No Dress Rehearsal offers a raw, emotional journey into the life of The Tragically Hip, and takes us behind the scenes of these 5 very private people.
2. Authenticity in music is what made The Hip so relatable, and it’s something people crave more than ever.
3. Music can take us back to another time and place, but hearing these new stories can give these old songs new life and meaning.
4. Managing The Hip was all about taking risks and they did things that nobody had done in the industry.
5. Festivals like Another Roadside Attraction are more than just shows—they're about building community and celebrating together.
6. The band’s final tour unified a nation as it rolled across the country and gave fans an opportunity to say goodbye to Gord Downie.
7. Every Canadian remembers where they were for The Hip’s final concert in Kingston. It brought the country together in a way that no politician ever will.

Every other week, join your host Bob Mathers, keynote speaker for conversations designed to push you out of your comfort zone. Each episode delivers boundless insights and ideas that matter by inspiring you to get off autopilot and keep chasing curiosity.

Resources:

• Watch No Dress Rehearsal on Amazon Prime.
• The Tragically Hip's discography on Spotify.
• Follow Jake Gold on LinkedIn.
• Follow Jake Gold on Instagram
• Follow The Tragically Hip on Instagram

Connect with Bob Mathers

Website

LinkedIn

Today we talk to Greg Boyd — a father of three, a widower, a husband, and now an entrepreneur on a mission to help others live more intentional lives.

Greg shares the deeply personal story of losing his wife, Alison, to brain cancer in 2020. And yes, it’s a heartbreaking story. And yet, this isn’t a sad conversation - we laughed more than we cried. Greg talks about the storybook life he had before all this happened, and how he’s used his trauma to be a better dad, husband, friend - shit, just a better person. And he’s channelling his experience to start a new company with his wife, Whitney, to help people get off autopilot and live the life they’ve always wanted.

This is a conversation you will never forget. Whether you’ve had bad things happen to you, or maybe you haven’t yet - one thing is certain. They’re coming. And that’s not a dire view of the world. It’s life, and nobody gets through it unscathed. When the unexpected happens, you’re going to wake up. You’re going to realize how short life is. You’re going to want to make some changes to live the life you've always wanted. So the question is, why wait?

Or better yet, as Greg says, “What the fuck are you waiting for?”

Please enjoy, Greg Boyd.

Key Takeaways:

• From Autopilot to Awareness: Before Alison’s diagnosis, Greg was living the “perfect life” on paper — successful job, beautiful family, dream house — but he felt oddly disconnected from it all, a subtle warning sign that something deeper was missing.
• Post-Traumatic Growth: Greg introduces the concept of post-traumatic growth — how trauma, while devastating, can also be the catalyst for deeper connection, strength, and clarity about what really matters.
• Kids as Anchors Through Grief: Greg shares how his children, then just 5, 2, and 1, helped guide him through the darkest moments. Their resilience and curiosity about loss shaped the family’s healing in profound ways.
• Love After Loss: We talk about Greg’s relationship with Whitney — how it began, how they built trust with the kids, and what it takes to blend a new chapter of life without erasing the old one.
• Living With Grief, Not Around It: Rather than “moving on,” Greg talks about carrying grief with you — honoring it, making space for it, and allowing it to shape how you live moving forward.
• Resilience Is a Skill, Not a Trait: Greg believes resilience isn’t something you have or don’t — it’s something you build. And it starts by doing hard things and choosing discomfort over autopilot.
• Vienna Waits: Greg and Whitney founded Vienna Waits to help people live more intentionally before the trauma hits — offering tools, community, and support for taking meaningful action toward a more aligned life.
• The Million-Person Mission: Their goal is to help one million people ask themselves a powerful question: “Am I really living the life I want?” And if not, “What the f*ck am I waiting for?”

Every other week, join your host Bob Mathers, keynote speaker for conversations designed to push you out of your comfort zone. Each episode delivers boundless insights and ideas that matter by inspiring you to get off autopilot and keep chasing curiosity.

Links and Resources

Greg on LinkedIn

Vienna Waits Instagram

Vienna Waits Website

UNBLOCK Yourself podcast

Waypoint Retreat

Connect with Bob Mathers

Website

LinkedIn

Today we talk to PrettyLynne, and in case you hadn’t guessed - that’s not her real name. You see Lynne writes and records erotic fiction and for reasons we’ll get into, she’s asked that we keep her identity secret.

Lynne describes herself as a Gen Xer in her second act who stumbled into the world of erotic fiction during a period of personal transition. What she found was freedom, a creative outlet that has helped her reconnect with herself - and as it turns out, a growing audience of women and men also hungry for connection.

When I was introduced to Lynne through a mutual friend, I was excited to explore this idea that we all have sides of ourselves that we keep hidden for fear of what people will think. And yes, the opportunity to talk about this through the lens of soft porn, is one I could not pass up. But this conversation was so much more than that. I don't know what I was expecting - Letters to Penthouse from my youth (if you don’t know what this is, look it up but please - use Incognito mode). Much like Lynne’s writing, this conversation was beautiful, vulnerable and nuanced. Lynne opens up about how her writing has helped her better understand herself, be more confident and find a creative voice she had lost.

If you’ve ever felt stuck, like you have more to offer the world and you just need a place to start - this conversation is for you. As Lynne says - no feeling is final. Keep creating. Let yourself be surprised by what emerges.

Please enjoy, Pretty Lynne.

Links & Resources

PrettyLynne on Literotica: https://www.literotica.com/authors/Prettylynne

PrettyLynne on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/Prettylynne23/

Connect with Bob Mathers

Website

LinkedIn

Key Takeaways:

• Lynne began writing and recording erotic fiction during a challenging period in her life and found it to be both healing and creatively fulfilling.
• Erotic fiction isn’t just about sex—Lynne’s work explores intimacy, grief, desire, and human connection in beautifully written short stories.
• The genre is often misunderstood or dismissed, but it offers a powerful, judgment-free space for people to explore their own emotional and sexual landscapes.
• Writing in this format has helped Lynne reconnect with her creative voice and build trust in her own judgment—something many of us struggle with.
• Despite writing in the first person, Lynne is creating fiction, not memoir—and the distinction is important, especially when it comes to parasocial relationships.
• She resists turning her passion into a business, intentionally keeping it something that brings joy and personal meaning, rather than pressure.
• Lynne’s process is intuitive and nonlinear—she writes on her phone, captures ideas when they strike, and lets the stories come to her without overthinking.
• One of the most powerful lessons she’s learned: no feeling is final. Keep going. Keep creating. Let yourself be surprised by what emerges.

Every other week, join your host Bob Mathers, keynote speaker for conversations designed to push you out of your comfort zone. Each episode delivers boundless insights and ideas that matter by inspiring you to get off autopilot and keep chasing curiosity.