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TitreDateDurée
Finding the Soul of a Brand: How Stephen Pruitt Brings Human Connection to the World's Biggest Companies02 Apr 202600:29:03

In this episode of The Authority X-Factor Podcast, host Kelly Schuknecht sits down with Stephen Pruitt, Principal at Mountain View Group, whose career took him from sweeping studio floors and doing construction work to pay rent, to co-owning a creative consultancy that has led brand communication strategy for Coca-Cola, GE Healthcare, and UPS over the past 18 years. Stephen's story is one of curiosity, reinvention, and learning to bring genuine human connection into spaces that too often default to corporate speak.

In this episode, you'll discover:

  • Stephen's Authority X-Factor: translating corporate strategy into communication that real people can actually feel
  • His take on AI and where it falls dangerously short in brand and communications work
  • The documentary filmmaking background that shaped how he listens, interviews, and tells stories
  • How he went from freelance producer to co-owner of Mountain View Group and what that transition really felt like
  • A behind-the-scenes look at a major client engagement and the impact it had on employee culture
  • His formula for winning enterprise clients — and why it has almost nothing to do with pitching
  • The one piece of advice he'd give his day-one self

Resources:

Connect with Kelly Schuknecht:

Subscribe to The Authority X-Factor Podcast on your favorite platform and leave a review if this episode added value to you!

The Expertise Flywheel: How Ben Cash Turned a Trombone Degree into a Mission-Driven Digital Agency02 Apr 202600:27:02

In this episode of The Authority X-Factor Podcast, host Kelly Schuknecht sits down with Ben Cash, co-founder and CEO of Reason One, a certified B Corp digital agency to explore how a classically trained musician with half a doctorate in trombone ended up leading one of the most specialized and mission-driven agencies in the healthcare and nonprofit digital space. Ben's story is one of deliberate reinvention, the courage to niche down, and what happens when purpose, passion, and expertise finally align around the same north star.

In this episode, you'll discover:

  • Ben's Authority X-Factor and how he built an "expertise flywheel" inside Reason One. 
  • Why going from "purpose-adjacent" to truly specialized required Ben to lead by example first.
  • The personal experience that lit a fire under Ben's healthcare focus.
  • How Reason One's B Corp certification became more than a feel-good framework, and how it directly informs their mission to increase equity and access to care through digital experiences
  • The T-shaped agency model Ben swears by
  • What changed when Ben stopped running projects and started running the business, and how a 2016 Bureau of Digital event was the wake-up call that made him finally grow up as a CEO
  • The one thing Ben would tell his day-one self
  • How the parallel between music and digital work shaped Ben's entire approach to craft, collaboration, and communication, and why he got into building websites the same way he got into playing trombone

Resources:

Connect with Kelly Schuknecht:

Subscribe to The Authority X-Factor Podcast on your favorite platform and leave a review if this episode added value to you!

How Lance Robbins Turned a Portfolio Career into a Fractional HR Empire02 Apr 202600:30:49

In this episode of The Authority X-Factor Podcast, host Kelly Schuknecht reconnects with Lance Robbins, Partner to Executive leadership, Co-founder of KeelHR, and host of the Fractional podcast, to unpack how a self-described "expert generalist" built a portfolio career spanning reforestation, web development agencies, and biotech HR across six countries before launching two businesses of his own. Lance's story is one of deliberate reinvention and range over specialization, and in this candid conversation he shares why never feeling like a specialist turned out to be his greatest professional asset, and Kelly's too, as Lance was the very first coach she turned to when she launched her own business. In this episode, you'll discover: • Lance's Authority X-Factor • The career arc that took Lance from managing 300-person reforestation crews across the American Southeast to recruiting 100+ senior WordPress engineers to leading HR strategy across a six-country biotech startup • Why fractional HR leaders keep getting handed payroll and I-9s when their real value is strategy and how that gap became the founding insight behind KeelHR • How KeelHR works, who it's built for (10–100 employees), which industries are the best fit, and how it functions as a complement to and not a replacement for a PEO • The origin story of the Fractional podcast • Why Lance's personal brand grew organically rather than strategically, and what that teaches us about authentic authority building • Lance's advice to his day-one self • Kelly shares how Lance's coaching shaped her first year in business and why having someone just a few steps ahead of you on the path is one of the most underrated investments a new entrepreneur can make Resources: • KeelHR Website: https://keelhr.com • Fractional Podcast: https://fractional.fm • Connect with Lance Robbins on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lancerobbins • Book mentioned — Range by David Epstein: https://davidepstein.com/the-range Connect with Kelly Schuknecht: • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellyschuknecht • Buy Unlocking Your Authority X-Factor on Amazon: https://a.co/d/0el8IVIm • Website: https://twomilehighmarketing.com | https://kellyschuknecht.com Subscribe to The Authority X-Factor Podcast on your favorite platform and leave a review if this episode added value to you!

How Beth Trejo Built a Nationally Recognized Social Media Agency on Relationships02 Apr 202600:31:00

In this episode of The Authority X-Factor Podcast, host Kelly Schuknecht sits down with Beth Trejo, CEO of Chatterkick, keynote speaker, podcaster, and multi-year honoree on the Top 50 CEOs for Women list to explore how she built a nationally recognized, fully remote social media agency by staying relentlessly human in an increasingly digital world. Beth's story is one of accidental entrepreneurship, courageous hiring, and building a company culture that was designed from day one to eliminate the barriers she herself faced, including launching a business while pregnant with a complicated pregnancy and navigating a male-dominated agency space where she was often the only woman in the room. In this episode, you'll discover: • Beth's Authority X-Factor • How three years at a Chamber of Commerce became the unexpected foundation for Chatterkick, and why asking "how can I help?" is the most powerful business development tool available • The truth about hiring your first employee • Why Beth intentionally capped her team at around 20 people and built a fully remote culture that spans the country and beyond • The "go three times deeper" content strategy Beth teaches for building genuine thought leadership on social media • Her philosophy on speaking: "You're either free or extremely expensive", and what that really means for building authority • What Beth would tell her day-one self: slow down, look around, and enjoy the ride Resources: • Chatterkick Website: https://chatterkick.com • Chatterkick Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Chatterkick • Chatterkick Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chatterkick/ • Chatterkick TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@chatterkick • Chatterkick YouTube:  @chatterkick8780  • Chatterkick X: https://x.com/Chatterkick • Get the Unlocking Your Authority X-Factor Book on Amazon: https://a.co/d/0briTsEq • Connect with Beth Trejo on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/bethtrejo • Email Beth: beth@chatterkick.com Connect with Kelly Schuknecht: • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellyschuknecht • Buy the Unlocking Your Authority X-Factor on Amazon: https://a.co/d/0el8IVIm • Website: https://twomilehighmarketing.com | https://kellyschuknecht.com Subscribe to The Authority X-Factor Podcast on your favorite platform and leave a review if this episode added value to you!

From Graphic Designer to Home Service Specialist: Ben Kalkman’s Multi-Million Dollar Agency Blueprint02 Apr 202600:33:05

In this debut episode of The Authority X-Factor Podcast, host Kelly Schuknecht sits down with Ben Kalkman, founder and CEO of Rocket Media, to pull back the curtain on a 20-year journey from bootstrapped graphic designer to one of the most recognized names in home services marketing.

Ben shares the serendipitous, sometimes accidental decisions that shaped his career: the missed architecture lab class that introduced him to graphic design, the handyman work he did in the mornings while building Rocket Media at night, and the ego battle he fought before fully embracing a niche that he once thought was "too unglamorous." Today, Rocket Media serves clients in five core home service trades such as HVAC, plumbing, electrical, solar, and security with an average client retention of 10–12 years.

In this episode, you'll discover: • What Ben considers his Authority X-Factor • Why Ben intentionally capped his agency at 50 employees and why that decision is the real secret behind his retention numbers • How serving recession-resilient, essential-service businesses kept Rocket Media insulated during economic downturns and COVID • The "energetic educator" personal brand Ben has built by giving away knowledge freely rather than hoarding a "secret sauce" • Ben's four-wall personal purpose framework • The emerging venture where Ben is channeling his obsession with AI into a new business helping others apply the technology • The one thing 2026 Ben would tell 2002 Ben

Ben also shares his personal website BensAIBrain.com, where he documents AI experiments across his business and family life including using AI to help design and build a treehouse with his nine children over spring break.

Resources: • Rocket Media Website: rocketmedia.com • Rocket Media LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/rocket-media • Rocket Media Facebook: facebook.com/RocketMedia • Ben's AI Brain: bensaibrain.com • Bureau of Digital: https://thebureau.community/ • DISC Profile assessment framework: https://www.everythingdisc.com/ • Connect with Ben Kalkman on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kalkman • Book a call: https://timewithben.com

Connect with Kelly Schuknecht: • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellyschuknecht • Buy the Unlocking Your Authority X-Factor on Amazon:  • Website: twomilehighmarketing.com | kellyschuknecht.com

Subscribe to The Authority X-Factor Podcast on your favorite platform and leave a review if this episode added value to you!

Welcome to The Authority X-Factor Podcast with Kelly Schuknecht02 Apr 202600:02:30

In this debut episode of The Authority X-Factor Podcast, host Kelly Schuknecht introduces herself, the show, and the idea at the heart of everything, your authority x-factor.

Kelly spent years as what she calls "the person behind the person," working in the shadows to build other people's empires, sharpen their messages, and help them become the go-to experts in their fields. It wasn't until she realized that invisibility is a role you can outgrow that everything changed for her career, her business, and now this podcast.

 

This episode is an invitation. If you're a CEO, consultant, or expert who knows you have deep value to offer and you're ready to be the go-to name in your industry, Kelly lays out exactly what this show is, who it's for, and what you can expect every week. 

 

In this episode, you'll discover:

  • How Kelly defines the Authority X-Factor
  • Why being a "replaceable service provider" is not a permanent identity 
  • Who this podcast is built for
  • What to expect each week
  • Why human connection is your greatest competitive advantage in a noisy world
  • Kelly also shares the recent release of her book, Unlocking Your Authority X-Factor, and what it meant to finally hold it in her hands after years of living and learning the concepts inside it

Resources:

Connect with Kelly Schuknecht:

Subscribe to The Authority X-Factor Podcast on your favorite platform and leave a review if this episode added value to you!

From Hedge Fund to Mindful Money: How Joel Salomon Broke a Board and Found His Purpose07 May 202600:30:26
In this episode of The Authority X-Factor Podcast, Kelly Schuknecht sits down with Joel Salomon, a finance and mindful money expert who walked away from managing a $700 million portfolio to help others achieve true financial freedom. Joel shares his transition from the intense world of hedge funds to becoming a prosperity coach who believes that the numbers in your bank account are deeply tied to the abundance in your mindset. Joel reveals how his unique Authority X-Factor combines rigorous financial strategy with deep mindset work, a pairing rarely found in the world of traditional investing. By bridging the gap between spiritual entrepreneurs and the technical world of finance, Joel provides a roadmap for anyone looking to increase their net worth without losing their soul.

 

In this episode, you’ll discover:
  • Joel’s Authority X-Factor and the specific moment he realized he was meant for a different mission
  • The literal "board-breaking" experience that convinced Joel to return his investors' money and shut down his hedge fund
  • Why traditional financial advice often fails to account for the "belief score" of an investment
  • The specific technique Joel uses to help clients move from low-vibration fear to a state of empowerment
  • How a simple shift in how often you check your bank account can drastically change your relationship with money
  • Joel also explains why he co-authored a book specifically designed to help couples eliminate money-related conflict and prevent divorce

 

Resources:  

 

Connect with Kelly Schuknecht: • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellyschuknecht • Buy Unlocking Your Authority X-Factor on Amazon: https://a.co/d/0el8IVIm • Website: https://twomilehighmarketing.com | https://kellyschuknecht.com

 

Subscribe to The Authority X-Factor Podcast on your favorite platform and leave a review if this episode added value to you!
The Figure-It-Outer: How Andi Graham Built 20 Years of Agency Authority on Purpose-Driven Work07 May 202600:26:57
In this episode of The Authority X-Factor Podcast, host Kelly Schuknecht sits down with Andi Graham, the Founder, CEO, and Managing Partner of Big Sea. With over 25 years of experience in digital strategy and marketing, Andi has evolved from a self-taught freelancer to the leader of a high-impact agency that helps purpose-driven brands and nonprofits move people to action.

 

Andi’s journey is a masterclass in the long game of personal branding and professional evolution. From navigating the shift to remote work during a global pandemic to narrowing her agency’s focus toward organizations making a real-world impact, she shares how she balanced being a high-level CEO with the grit required to figure it all out from scratch.

 

In this episode, you’ll discover:
  • The "Figure-It-Outer" mindset and how Andi’s resourcefulness became her core Authority X-Factor.
  • The specific catalyst that pushed Andi to move her life to North Carolina and her agency to a fully remote model.
  • How a $30,000 grant program became the single most effective lead generator for her business.
  • The reality of "the riches in the niches" and why it took nearly two years to see the full results of their pivot.
  • The two pieces of advice Andi would give her 2005 self about pricing and decision-making speed.
  • Andi also reflects on her experience as a survivor of Hurricane Helene and how she balances her role as a leader with being a devoted mom and Green Bay Packers fan.

 

Resources:

 

Connect with Kelly Schuknecht:

 

Subscribe to The Authority X-Factor Podcast on your favorite platform and leave a review if this episode added value to you!
The Operations Editor: How Leah Leaves Fixes the Silent Killer Inside Marketing Agencies07 May 202600:29:46
In this episode of The Authority X-Factor Podcast, host Kelly Schuknecht sits down with Leah Leaves, founder of Alderaan Enterprise, to explore what happens when a journalist-turned-operations-specialist spends a decade inside marketing and advertising agencies and realizes that creative chaos, not bad strategy, is the thing quietly killing most of them. Leah started her career in technical journalism, went remote at the very beginning of her professional life, and evolved through content marketing into a fractional operations role that eventually became its own company. Since founding Alderaan in 2012, she has embedded seasoned directors of operations, project managers, and fractional COOs directly into agencies that are ready to stop drowning in their own growth.

 

Leah's story is one of organic evolution, honest self-assessment, and learning to articulate what she had been doing by instinct for years. Her Authority X-Factor is the ability to see an organization from 30,000 feet and from boots on the ground at the same time, and to build the infrastructure that connects those two views into something that actually moves.

 

In this episode, you'll discover:
  • Leah's Authority X-Factor:
  • Why operations is the silent killer inside most marketing agencies, and why so many founders never see it coming until they are already in the weeds
  • How Alderaan evolved from a solo independent contractor practice into a full fractional team
  • The difference between a task rabbit hire and a true operations partner, and how Leah helps founders understand which one they actually need
  • Why Leah compares great operations to great theater
  • The Alderaan approach and how it systematically addresses an agency's vision, existing systems, and execution layer in a way that respects each agency's unique culture
  • Leah also shares her honest advice to her day-one self

 

Resources: Connect with Kelly Schuknecht:

 

Subscribe to The Authority X-Factor Podcast on your favorite platform and leave a review if this episode added value to you!
The Intrapreneur's Edge: How John Scott Built a Law Firm CFO Practice from the Inside Out07 May 202600:25:13
In this episode of The Authority X-Factor Podcast, host Kelly Schuknecht sits down with John Scott, Tax Partner at Anders and leader of the firm's virtual CFO division for the legal industry, to explore what it looks like to build a personal brand and a thought leadership platform entirely within an organization you have called home for nearly 35 years. John didn't leave his firm to start something new. He built something new inside a firm that already trusted him, leveraging decades of law firm relationships to create a specialized VCFO practice that is becoming a defining part of Anders' legacy. John's story is one Kelly tells on stages: an expert who was already doing the work, who simply needed the world to see him the way his clients already did. This episode is the full, unfiltered version of that story, including the beekeeping, the chickens his wife swore she would never feed, and why John believes the best personal brands are built by people who simply refuse to leave their personality at the door. In this episode, you'll discover:
  • John's Authority X-Factor
  • Why John chose to build within Anders rather than go out on his own, and the team-first philosophy that made the VCFO practice possible in the first place
  • The 12-step thought leadership plan Kelly built for John
  • John's advice to his day-one self
  • John's reflections on wanting to be relevant in the fall and winter of his career, and why building something that would thrive beyond him mattered more than coasting toward retirement

Resources:

 

Connect with Kelly Schuknecht:

 

Subscribe to The Authority X-Factor Podcast on your favorite platform and leave a review if this episode added value to you!
From Fortune 500 to Financial Freedom: How Ramona Cedeno Built a Capital Readiness Empire07 May 202600:23:29
In this episode of The Authority X-Factor Podcast, host Kelly Schuknecht sits down with Ramona Cedeno, Founder and CEO of FiBrick, capital readiness expert, keynote speaker, and author of Simple Choices, Big Rewards in Money, to explore how a young woman from the Dominican Republic who fell in love with accounting at 19 built a 20-year career spanning Bloomberg, Time Inc., and a thriving fractional CFO and tax advisory practice she leads today. Ramona's journey is one of passion-led reinvention, deliberate visibility, and an unwavering belief that financial freedom is not just for the wealthy few. What makes Ramona a true authority is not just her technical depth as both a CPA and Certified Financial Planner, it is the way she has used speaking, writing, and advocacy to bring financial literacy out of the boardroom and into the lives of everyday business owners and students alike. From working with the New York City Department of Education to advocating for statewide financial literacy requirements, Ramona is a living example of what happens when expertise, passion, and purpose collide.

 

In this episode, you'll discover:
  • Ramona's Authority X-Factor
  • Why she combined her CPA background with a Certified Financial Planner certification, and how that combination creates a uniquely powerful lens for her clients
  • The five core speaking topics Ramona built her platform around
  • How she went from dreading public speaking to actively seeking paid stages
  • What led her to launch FiBrick 10 years ago after stints at Bloomberg, Time Inc., and a tech startup
  • The story behind Simple Choices, Big Rewards in Money
Resources:

 

Connect with Kelly Schuknecht:

 

Subscribe to The Authority X-Factor Podcast on your favorite platform and leave a review if this episode added value to you!
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