The Uncertainty E.D.G.E. Podcast reveals what judgment looks like when certainty doesn't exist—and waiting isn't an option.
Hosted by Sam Sivarajan—former investment banker ($40B+ in M&A), three-time wealth firm leader ($80B+ AUM), and behavioral scientist—each episode explores how people navigate decisions when outcomes aren't clear, tradeoffs feel unavoidable, and responsibility can't easily be delegated—the kind of uncertainty leaders face in the real world.
These aren't polished success stories. They're honest explorations of how people make high-stakes decisions when:
The data is incomplete
Stakeholders demand clarity
Delay carries its own cost
And acting feels just as risky as waiting
Through conversations with executives, investors, and experts who've made and lived with consequential decisions, the podcast surfaces:
What couldn't be known at the time
What pressures shaped the decision
What tradeoffs were actually on the table
How judgment was exercised without guarantees
This is decision-making as it actually happens—not as it's modeled in hindsight.
The Uncertainty E.D.G.E. Podcast is for people accountable for decisions that matter: senior leaders, business unit heads, investors, and operators who must act with clarity when certainty is impossible.
No best practices. No leadership slogans. No predictions.
Just the reality of deciding when the stakes are real.
Want practical tools for navigating uncertainty? Subscribe to The Uncertainty E.D.G.E. newsletter at www.theuncertaintyedge.com for frameworks you can use immediately.
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Données mises à jour le 24/09/2026
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Clarity Is the Competitive Edge with Jules Francesca
Épisode 79
mardi 15 septembre 2026 • Durée 48:36
Episode Overview In this episode of The Uncertainty Edge, host Sam Sivarajan sits down with Juliana "Jules" Francesca, founder of The Business of Marketing, a firm that helps growth-stage companies turn marketing from a cost line into a genuine, return-generating investment. Drawing on years inside major international brands, Jules makes the case that great marketing always starts with a clear goal — not a budget, not a tactic, and not what everyone else is doing. Whether your marketing spend never quite pays off or you're a leader making growth decisions with limited time, this conversation cuts through the noise with a framework that actually works.
Key Quote "Your marketing should behave like an investment, not a cost center." — Jules Francesca
Key Takeaways
Strategy must drive every tactic. The costliest mistake owners make is jumping to the "how" — a new website, a campaign, a rebrand — before defining the outcome they actually want.
Marketing should behave like an investment, not a cost: measure it on what it returns in revenue, margin, and value, not on what it spends.
The Four Ps (product, price, place, promotion) are a framework for clarity under pressure. Under stress, owners default to promotion when the real issue is usually product, pricing, or distribution.
Honest diagnosis is the most valuable thing an advisor offers. Telling a client "you don't need me yet" builds the trust that drives loyalty and referrals.
Owner dependency is the biggest ceiling on growth. Documenting expertise into systems and frameworks is what lets a business scale beyond the founder.
Sound Bites
"Marketing's only job is to grow a business."
"If marketing's not driving the business, it's not working."
"Clarity is the most significant competitive advantage for every business — and not just in marketing."
"Expertise can actually live in a process."
"I'd rather have a root canal than speak to another marketer." (a prospect Jules later won over)
Topics Discussed
00:01 — Introduction: why strategy comes before tactics
04:44 — Marketing as an investment, not a cost center
13:13 — The Four Ps: clarity under pressure
23:23 — The courage to say "you don't need marketing yet"
36:33 — Owner dependency and systematizing expertise
Breaking the Hidden Barriers to Business Growth with Dr. Joseph Drolshagen
Épisode 78
mardi 1 septembre 2026 • Durée 50:37
Episode Overview
In this episode of The Uncertainty Edge, host Sam Sivarajan sits down with Dr. Joseph Drolshagen, founder of Rapid Growth Specialist and creator of the SMT (Subconscious Mindset Training) model. Named one of the top coaches in America for five consecutive years, Joseph reveals how 85–95% of our results are driven by subconscious programming we aren’t even aware of — and what to do about it.
From hitting revenue ceilings to navigating market volatility, Joseph shares how financial advisors and business leaders can identify hidden beliefs, build a powerful “dynamic vision,” and achieve results they once thought impossible.
Key Quote
“Our abilities are not determined by outside influences, situations, circumstances, or conditions.” — Dr. Joseph Drolshagen
Key Takeaways
• Subconscious programming — not strategy — drives 85–95% of our results.
• Limiting beliefs formed in childhood silently sabotage adult success.
• The SMT method uses a “dynamic vision” to break through revenue plateaus.
• Uncertainty isn’t the enemy — our perception of it is.
• “If you’re struggling, there’s things going on you’re probably not even aware of.”
• “We’re so worried about disappointment, we live on minuscule scraps of what we truly desire.”
• “The only thing really within our control is ourself.”
• “Serving is my highest place and brings about my greatest fulfillment.”
Topics Discussed
• 00:01 — Introduction to Dr. Joseph Drolshagen and the SMT Model
Resources MentionedStay Connected with The Uncertainty Edge
Empathy First: Mastering Life Conversations for Deeper Client Trust with Dr. Amy D'Aprix
Épisode 77
mardi 18 août 2026 • Durée 55:38
Episode Overview
In this episode of The Uncertainty Edge, host Sam Sivarajan sits down with Dr. Amy D'Aprix — expert on life transitions, aging, caregiving, and family dynamics, and founder of the Trusted Advisor of Choice program. With a doctorate in social work and over 30 years of experience training thousands of financial advisors across North America, Amy has made it her mission to help advisors bridge the gap between financial planning and the human side of their clients' lives.
They explore the empathy gap between advisors and clients, engaging women clients, and why advisors must shift from retirement planning to longevity planning.
Key Quote "Empathy first, solution second." — Dr. Amy D'Aprix
Key Takeaways
You don't need to be a therapist — you need to be a connected human being who listens at a deeper level.
The LIRA framework gives advisors a simple structure to move between life and financial conversations.
There's a significant empathy gap between what advisors think they communicate and what clients actually feel.
Retirement is not a single event — shift to longevity planning to ensure life and money go the distance.
Sound Bites
"Empathy first, solution second."
"I see you, I hear you, and I understand you — that's all empathy is."
"The thing AI can never do is say: I'm going to be here with you."
"Both your life and your money need to go the distance."
"Keep learning, growing, and adapting — or you're no longer relevant."
Topics Discussed
00:54 — Amy's Journey: From Social Work to Financial Services
04:20 — You're Not a Therapist — You're a Connected Human Being
Slow Down to Speed Up: Why High Performance Is Overrated with Matt Granados
Épisode 76
mardi 4 août 2026 • Durée 01:02:26
Episode Overview
In this episode of The Uncertainty Edge, host Sam Sivarajan sits down with Matt Granados, CEO of Life Pulse Inc. and productivity coach to Fortune 500 leaders, financial advisors, and professional athletes. Matt challenges the cult of high performance — arguing that most people operate at only 40–60% of their true capacity, not because they lack ability, but because they’re chasing the wrong target. His framework: truth leads to tension, and tension leads to transformation. The result is what he calls optimal performance — high output at a sustainable pace — and it changes everything about how you lead, plan, and live.
Key Quote
“No one has ever accidentally become fulfilled. Fulfillment takes intentionality.” — Matt Granados
Key Takeaways
• High performance is overrated. It’s high output at an unsustainable pace compared to others. Optimal performance — high output at a sustainable pace compared to your own ability — is the real goal.
• Stop solving symptoms. Address root causes and people, like bones properly set, will heal themselves.
• Operate at 80% capacity — not 100%. That buffer is what lets you surge when needed and recover without burning out.
• Identity, calling, and assignment are not the same thing. Tie your identity to your role and you’re one job loss away from a crisis. Know who you are first.
• Plan weekly, act daily. Days are too short, months too long — the week is the right unit of execution.
Sound Bites
• “You can’t manage time. You can only choose what you do with the time you have.”
• “Nice avoids conflict. Kindness loves someone enough to keep them in order.”
• “Excuses end with the problem. Reasons come with a solution.”
• “When you experience fulfillment in its truest form, nothing else will match it.”
Topics DiscussedResources MentionedStay Connected with The Uncertainty E.D.G.E.
Starting Line to Finish Line: Building Financial Resilience with Jeff Panik
Épisode 75
mardi 21 juillet 2026 • Durée 47:46
Episode Overview
In this episode of The Uncertainty Edge, host Sam Sivarajan sits down with Jeff Panik, founder of Balance Wealth Partners and a financial advisor with nearly 26 years of experience. A first-generation college graduate who enlisted in the U.S. Army to pay off student loans, Jeff has built his career around filling the financial education gap that leaves so many young adults — and pre-retirees — to figure it out alone. From the dangers of buy now pay later to the hidden complexity of retirement planning, this episode is packed with practical, jargon-free guidance for advisors and clients alike.
Key Quote
“Perfect is the enemy of great — especially when it comes to taking action with your finances.” — Jeff Panik
Key Takeaways
• Financial literacy is still a crisis — lobbying from credit and lending industries actively works against educating young consumers, leaving them vulnerable before the race even starts.
• Ask three questions before any purchase: Do I really need this? What will it truly cost me? How long will I be paying for it?
• Procrastination is the enemy. Taking imperfect action — even saving $25 a month — compounds into financial resilience over time.
• Retirement planning is a two-year process, not a weekend project. The financial puzzle is unique to every individual; stop copying what your neighbour is doing.
Sound Bites
• “If someone says something is perfect, you probably want to run from it.”
• “Financial fog causes people to freeze — and freezing is often the worst decision of all.”
• “Run your own race. You don’t have their training, their fitness, or their starting line.”
• “You can have all the money in the world, but if you don’t have your health and your mind, the money doesn’t matter much.”
Topics DiscussedResources MentionedStay Connected with The Uncertainty E.D.G.E.
Radical Thinking: Why "Fail Fast" Is Failing You with Radhika Dutt
Épisode 74
mardi 7 juillet 2026 • Durée 56:47
Episode Overview
In this episode of The Uncertainty Edge, host Sam Sivarajan sits down with Radhika Dutt, author of Radical Product Thinking. Radhika challenges Silicon Valley’s most sacred mantras — fail fast, iterate quickly, just start — and offers a sharper, more systematic alternative for leaders building in complex, uncertain environments. From vision debt to puzzle solving, this conversation will change how you think about strategy, execution, and what it really means to lead with clarity.
Key Quote
“You’re voting with your labor for the world you want to create.” — Radhika Dutt
Key Takeaways
• “Fail fast” works for VCs betting on 10 startups — not for founders who have 2–3 pivots before running out of money or momentum.
• Vision debt vs. investing in vision: every decision is a trade-off. Make it explicit — or it gets made for you.
• Goals and targets incentivize teams to prove success, not surface truth. Puzzle solving invites honest reflection.
• Stay in the problem space longer. Observe first, hypothesize second — don’t jump to solutions before you understand the puzzle.
• Coachability — genuine curiosity plus willingness to adapt — is the trait that separates leaders who scale from those who stall.
Sound Bites
• “Treat every pivot like a silver bullet.”
• “Leaders are always the last to know.”
• “You’re voting with your labor for the world you want to create.”
• “You learn not through experience — you learn by reflecting on experience.”
Resources MentionedStay Connected with The Uncertainty E.D.G.E.
Skin in the Game: Beyond 60/40 with Alan Strauss
Épisode 73
mardi 23 juin 2026 • Durée 45:48
Episode Overview
In this episode of The Uncertainty Edge, host Sam Sivarajan sits down with Alan Strauss, Managing Partner at Crystal Capital Partners. With three decades navigating institutional-grade alternatives — from the dot-com crash to the GFC and today’s volatile markets — Alan unpacks why alternatives are no longer truly “alternative,” how to allocate across hedge funds, private credit, and private equity, and what separates elite managers from the rest. Practical, candid, and advisor-focused.
Key Quote
“Alternatives are not that alternative — they should probably be called mainstream at this point.” — Alan Strauss
Key Takeaways
• Alternatives should be evergreen — not a timing play. Treating them opportunistically is the most costly mistake advisors make.
• Think in three levers: capital preservation (hedge funds), income (private credit), and growth (private equity) — matched to each client’s life stage.
• Not all managers are created equal. Prioritize those with genuine skin in the game over product-centric asset gatherers.
• Diversification is non-negotiable. One manager in one strategy is not a strategy — build multi-manager, multi-discipline exposure.
• Advisors who can’t offer intelligent alternatives risk losing clients. The right platform partner handles due diligence, execution, and reporting so you don’t have to.
Sound Bites
• “Alternatives are not that alternative — they should probably be called mainstream at this point.”
• “The tortoise always wins.”
• “Not all managers are created equal.”
• “If an advisor cannot satisfy their client’s objectives, the client is going to go elsewhere.”
Topics Discussed
00:01 — Introduction: Alan Strauss & Building Crystal Capital Partners
Resources MentionedStay Connected with The Uncertainty E.D.G.E.
Don't Retire, Graduate: Mastering Succession Planning with Eric Brotman
Épisode 72
mardi 9 juin 2026 • Durée 58:33
Episode Overview
In this episode of The Uncertainty E.D.G.E., host Sam Sivarajan sits down with Eric Brotman, CFP, founder and outgoing CEO of BFG Financial Advisors, for a candid conversation on succession planning, internal equity, and what it means to “graduate” from your career rather than retire.
After more than 30 years building a thriving wealth management practice, Eric is executing a carefully planned internal succession—stepping into a chairman and growth role while his team takes over. He shares lessons from three acquisitions, the shift from entrepreneur to sage, and why advisors without a succession plan risk failing their clients, staff, and themselves.
Whether you’re planning your exit, developing future leaders, or guiding clients through transitions, this episode delivers practical, actionable insights.
Key Quote
“Don’t retire. Graduate to the next level.” — Eric Brotman
Key Takeaways
🔹 Start early — Waiting limits your options and increases risk for clients and staff 🔹 Sell equity internally — Builds alignment, accountability, and a stronger culture 🔹 Adopt a “graduation” mindset — Your next chapter is growth, not retreat 🔹 Build a real business — Without systems and succession, there’s nothing to sell 🔹 Shift to wisdom — Your experience becomes your greatest value
Sound Bites
• “Don’t retire. Graduate to the next level.” • “Equity is never given. It’s always sold or bought.” • “A lifestyle practice is not a business.” • “Retirement shouldn’t be the absence of work—it should be the absence of needing to work.” • “I went from trying to be indispensable to making myself replaceable.”
The Calculated Jump — From Corporate Security to Entrepreneurship with Herman Chan
Épisode 71
mardi 26 mai 2026 • Durée 38:16
Episode Overview
In this episode of The Uncertainty Edge, host Sam Sivarajan sits down with Herman Chan, co-founder and president of Crimson Financial, an independent wealth management firm built for medical professionals and real estate investors. After 18 years in corporate financial services leadership, Herman made a calculated leap into entrepreneurship — navigating regulatory complexity, client acquisition, and the risk of building a planning-first business in a crowded market.
Herman shares the personal and professional turning points that led to his decision, the frameworks he used to evaluate the risk, how he's measuring early traction, and the strategic partnerships he's building to scale. Whether you're an advisor eyeing independence or a leader weighing a major pivot, this episode delivers sharp, practical insights on moving forward with clarity.
Key Quote
"There is no perfect time. But with the right preparation, you can make any time the right time." — Herman Chan
Key Takeaways
Big leaps require long runways — Herman spent 12+ months preparing before resigning.
A planning-first model is a competitive differentiator in a product-saturated market.
Controlling the controllables — focus on activity and process, not just outcomes.
Strategic partnerships amplify reach — advising is a team sport, not a solo act.
Understanding clients' emotional relationship with money is the foundation of lasting trust.
Sound Bites
"Advising is a team sport."
"Most Canadians think they have a financial plan — they actually have disconnected products."
"I want to be their financial family doctor — that close and trusted guide."
"Activity is something I learned a long time ago. Focus on that and the results follow."
"I'm just getting started — and it's a big blue ocean."
Topics Discussed
No Job Is Safe: Crisis, Accountability & Leadership with George Pillari
Épisode 70
mardi 12 mai 2026 • Durée 57:20
Episode Overview
In this episode of The Uncertainty Edge, host Sam Sivarajan sits down with George Pillari — healthcare executive, crisis management specialist, and author of The Seven Deadly Stupidities — for a candid conversation on leading through crisis.
George has spent decades navigating high-stakes turnarounds, managing billion-dollar stakeholder negotiations, and dissecting business failures through his blog, The Voice Behind the Cautionary. He shares hard-won lessons on transparency, the patterns behind high-profile failures, managing with incomplete information, and why job security is a myth every professional must confront.
Key Quote
“There is no job security. Zero.” — George Pillari
Key Takeaways
Transparency is the #1 crisis tool — open communication with all stakeholders defuses tension faster than anything else.
Lenders are partners, not adversaries. Treating them as allies changes the entire dynamic of a turnaround.
Great crisis leaders listen more than they speak. They prompt questions, hear from everyone, and resist the urge to dictate.
Job security is a myth. Spend an hour a week exploring the market — not to find a new job, but to stay sharp and aware.
Second-order thinking is essential. Before acting, ask: what’s the worst that can happen, and can I live with it?
Sound Bites
“There is no job security. Zero.”
“You have to stay current.”
“AI is going to change things.”
“Incomplete information equals risk.”
“You’ve got to make friends with the ‘bad guys’ — because there shouldn’t be any bad guys.”
Topics Discussed
00:00 — Introduction to Crisis Management and Leadership
01:33 — George Pillari’s Journey: From Healthcare Economics to Crisis Management
07:59 — The Importance of Transparency in High-Stakes Negotiations
Resources MentionedStay Connected with The Uncertainty Edge
• 01:49 — The Pivotal Moment: Discovering Subconscious Programming
• 07:30 — How Hidden Beliefs Sabotage Business Leaders
• 12:11 — The SMT Method: Dynamic Vision and Reprogramming
• 25:07 — Leading Through Uncertainty: Alignment vs. Strategy
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