Skip to content
Sign in
Artwork for Ten Thousand Miles
BusinessEntrepreneurshipManagement

Ten Thousand Miles

Vic Pepe

The road to success is full of hard work and determination. It is never easy - you just learn to handle hard... Here, I interview people who "make it look easy" but leave it all on the field daily to do so.

Play
Open in
  • 21 episodes
  • weekly
  • Avg 55 min
  • English

Support the show

Goes straight to the publisher. podnod takes nothing.

Episodes 21

NewestOldestLongest
All20Unplayed20In progress0Played0
Counted on this page — what you have heard stays on this device, so it is not something the list can be paged by.
  • Tuesday · 1 hr 9 min

    It’s Tough Out There – Keep Going!

    Vic and JD share personal stories from their own careers, including moments when success suddenly turned into uncertainty. They explore why we attach so much of our identity to our jobs, why losing a role can feel like losing our value, and how to separate a temporary setback from the bigger story of who we are. They also dig into the realities of today’s job market, from AI-driven resume screening and recruiter ghosting to the power of relationships, referrals, and having people willing to make a phone call on your behalf. Most importantly, this is a conversation about confidence. How do you rebuild it? How do you create new evidence that you’re still capable? When should you ask for help? And what does it actually look like to support someone who’s sitting on the bench? If you’ve been laid off, pushed out, passed over, rejected, or you’re simply questioning what comes next, this episode is for you. You lost a job. You didn’t lose your value. CHAPTERS 00:00 — When Your Career Knocks You Down 05:09 — Your Job Is Not Your Identity 11:00 — Surviving Setbacks & Owning Your Story 23:38 — Confidence Is Built, Not Given 29:59 — The Job Search Is Broken 40:11 — Stop Applying. Start Working Your Network. 46:57 — Asking for Help & Actually Helping Others 56:39 — Your Setback Might Be Your Next Beginning Whether you’re actively searching for your next opportunity or helping someone who is, remember this: One bad chapter doesn’t erase the entire story.

  • August 18 · 25 min

    The Buy vs. Build Trap: What I Wish I Knew as a CIO (earlier).

    Everyone faces embarrassing moments when starting out, but these experiences often shape our future trajectory. This discussion focuses on reframing failure and finding the value in those awkward early career lessons. If you feel stuck comparing your beginning to someone else's middle, this perspective on professional growth will help you reset your expectations. We explore why adopting a progress over perfection attitude is essential for long-term success. By looking at how minor setbacks serve as building blocks, you can approach your daily work with more confidence. Whether you are navigating your first job or pivoting to a new industry, embracing these career lessons helps you move forward without the weight of past errors. Subscribe for weekly career advice breakdowns, and let me know in the comments: what is one mistake you made that taught you a valuable lesson? Chapters: 00:00 – Intro: The Embarrassing Story From My First Strategy Meeting 04:47 – Why CIOs Don't Need a Team — They Need an Army 09:32 – The Data Doesn't Lie: IT Project Failure Rates 13:58 – AI Is Becoming a Commodity — Stop Trying to Build It 18:32 – The Real Cost of Building In-House 24:07 – How to Buy Smart: A Framework for CIOs Referenced in this episode: Vic's LinkedIn paper, "What I Wish I Knew as a New CIO." https://www.linkedin.com/posts/vic-pepe_a-30-year-look-back-activity-7490739364658860032-XeFX?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAB0zZUB4hhw7iJ4uEsh5eZZF3GNL-u_kIo

  • August 11 · 1 hr 12 min

    AI Didn't Replace Us, It Multiplied Us! | Jason Tanaka

    Technology leadership requires more than just code. Learn how to balance serious decision-making with genuine joy. Sit down with Jason Tanaka, a fellow technologist and leader, as we break down the realities of managing technical teams. This conversation moves beyond standard management theory to focus on the human side of engineering management, exploring how we maintain authenticity while navigating high-stakes projects. We discuss the specific challenges of career growth in the current landscape. By examining our own experiences—from serious strategy sessions to lighter, joyful exchanges—we highlight how technical mentorship and building strong workplace dynamics can define your trajectory. You will walk away with a clearer understanding of how to lead with both competence and character. Subscribe for weekly technology leadership breakdowns, and let me know your biggest management hurdle in the comments. CHAPTERS 00:00 - Meet Jason Tanaka and the AI-First Conversation 04:04 - The "Cocoon": Reinventing Software Development With AI 13:54 - What Does It Really Mean to Be AI-First? 21:39 - AI Governance, Risk and the Fear of the Unknown 26:36 - Will AI Replace Employees or Make Them More Powerful? 31:20 - Shadow AI and the New Role of IT 48:34 - Experimentation, Failure and Psychological Safety 01:05:07 - Growth Mindset and the First-Year Chef If you're a CEO, CIO, CTO, technology leader, developer, entrepreneur, or business executive trying to understand how AI will reshape organizations, this conversation offers a practical and thought-provoking look at what comes next.

  • August 3 · 50 min

    What A CEO Learned After Hitting $100M in Revenue! | David Karandish | Capacity

    David Karandish, founder and CEO of Capacity, returns to Ten Thousand Miles to unpack how his company rocketed from $5M to over $100M in annual recurring revenue in just three and a half years. David breaks down the three (soon to be four) big bets that built Capacity: automating customer support with AI, raising capital outside the traditional VC path, and running a "compound startup" playbook — a strategy borrowed from Rippling's Parker Conrad — to build, partner, and acquire (19 acquisitions in 39 months) their way into an all-in-one customer experience platform. Vic and David dig into how founder-to-founder relationships and a reputation for closing deals fuel Capacity's M&A engine, how agentic coding unexpectedly solved the "impossible" problem of integrating 19 acquired companies, and why differentiated AI models — not one-size-fits-all LLMs — will define the next wave of AI economics. The conversation also covers AI's role in education, why "problem describing, selecting, and solving" should never be collapsed into one step, how Capacity thinks about competition when everyone claims to be an AI company, and what inning we're really in when it comes to enterprise AI adoption. Chapters 00:00 – Welcome Back: David Karandish Returns 01:16 – From $5M to $100M ARR: The Three Big Bets 05:05 – The Compound Startup Playbook (Parker Conrad's Framework) 12:23 – How Capacity Finds, Diligences, and Closes Acquisitions 20:15 – Agentic Coding: The Hidden Unlock for M&A Integration 25:42 – Token Costs, Model Economics, and the Future of Compute 42:20 – AI in Education, Work, and the "Agents Everywhere" Bet 52:33 – Competing on the Oval: Problem-Solving Framework and What's Next Guest: David Karandish, Founder & CEO of Capacity, previously founder of Answers.com

  • July 27 · 1 hr 8 min

    Scaling Through Recessions, AI, and Everything Else That Goes Wrong

    CEO Interview - What does it really take to grow a company from $6 million to more than $100 million in revenue? Leadership... In this episode of Ten Thousand Miles, Vic Pepe sits down with Josh Gould - CEO of The Big Word, investor, and entrepreneur who has spent decades building and scaling businesses through recessions, wars, AI disruption, and private equity ownership. Josh shares the unfiltered realities of entrepreneurship: why failure is the norm, how resilience beats brilliance, and why the companies that survive aren't always the prettiest—they're the ones built like cockroaches. The conversation dives into scaling, private equity, AI, leadership, difficult decisions, and the mindset required to build businesses that can withstand almost anything. Along the way, Josh offers practical lessons on hiring, innovation, and why having fun may be one of the most underrated business strategies of all. Whether you're a founder, executive, investor, or aspiring entrepreneur, this episode is packed with hard-earned wisdom from someone who's lived every lesson he shares. In this episode: - Growing a company from $6M to $100M+ - Why most entrepreneurial decisions fail—and why that's okay - The "cockroach" philosophy for building resilient businesses - Lessons from surviving multiple waves of AI disruption - What it's really like selling to private equity - Build vs. buy: making smarter technology decisions - Hiring leaders who complement your weaknesses - Why entrepreneurship is both freedom and sacrifice - The overlooked importance of having fun while building something meaningful Chapters 00:00 Welcome to Episode 120 & Meet Josh Gould 03:26 The Mission That Has Driven Josh's Entire Career 09:42 Why Failure Is the Real Path to Entrepreneurial Success 19:14 Scaling from $6M to $100M Through Constant Reinvention 29:39 Selling to Private Equity: What Every Founder Should Know 47:00 AI, Automation, and the Future of Business 01:12:31 Lightning Round: Leadership Lessons, Hiring, and Why You Should Never Forget to Have Fun https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuadgould?utm_source=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=member_ios https://youtube.com/@exec_craft?si=pZ-kiXjXXgsFn69r https://www.instagram.com/execcraft?igsh=YzNtbGR5bmg5OHNo https://en-us.thebigword.com/

  • July 20 · 1 hr 15 min

    This Is What Reinvention Really Looks Like! | Lori "ICE" Fetrick

    See how a former Gladiators star handles public criticism. Learn how she pivots from being mocked to turning that attention into profit.In this candid Gladiators interview, we sit down to discuss the reality of life after the show. Many public figures face ridicule online, but this conversation explores a different approach: embracing the attention rather than fighting it. If you have ever wondered how to shift your mindset when people are laughing at you, this discussion offers a practical perspective on taking control of your own narrative.We cover the challenges of public perception and the specific moment of clarity that led to this change in strategy. By dealing with criticism head-on, the guest explains why choosing to monetize the memes was the smartest business decision they could make. This is a must-watch for anyone interested in personal branding and the realities of modern media fame. Subscribe for weekly media and entertainment breakdowns, and tell us in the comments if you would do the same in their position. 00:00 Meet Lori “ICE” Fetrick: The Queen of Reinvention 03:17 From San Bernardino Athlete to Bodybuilder 13:32 Auditioning for American Gladiators 23:40 Fame, Madison Square Garden, and Life Behind the Scenes 26:31 Muscles & Mayhem and What Happened After Gladiators 34:10 The Hustle Years, Failure, Fear, and Reinvention 47:02 Staying Relevant and Unapologetically Yourself at 63 53:13 OnlyFans, Fitness, Longevity, and What Comes Next https://lorifetrick.com/ https://www.instagram.com/lori.ice.fetrick/ https://www.facebook.com/Lori.Fetrick.Ice/ https://x.com/LoriIceFetrick https://www.youtube.com/@UC8JWfhbLQ_2MCMAUBeHqaQA https://onlyfans.com/Lorifetrick

  • July 13 · 1 hr 8 min

    Strength, Discipline, Legacy! | Josh Holyfield

    Josh Holyfield discusses the realities of building a legacy and the discipline required to sustain it. Get a raw look at his personal story and the specific mindset shifts needed for long-term growth. This session explores the journey behind the Josh Holyfield brand, moving past standard interview surface-level questions. We examine the foundational experiences that prepared him for his current trajectory and analyze the practical steps he takes to maintain daily consistency. This is for listeners who want to understand the rigorous work ethic that drives high-level performance. By examining his personal philosophy, you will gain a clearer picture of how to handle professional friction. We break down the specific mental hurdles Josh Holyfield faced and how his approach to obstacles has evolved over time. If you are looking for actionable insights on discipline, this conversation provides a blueprint for applying those lessons to your own path. Chapters 00:00 – Meet Josh Holyfield: Reinvention Through Service 06:00 – From Homelessness to the U.S. Military 13:00 – Iraq, Afghanistan, and Finding Purpose Under Pressure 20:00 – Obedience vs. Discipline: The Lesson That Changed Everything 28:00 – Heartbreak, Identity, and Reinventing Himself 36:00 – Building a $15 Million Business by Serving First 46:00 – The Truth About Health, Hormones, and Lasting Transformation 56:00 – Life Lessons, Legacy, and Becoming the Man You Were Meant to Be

  • July 7 · 46 min

    The Career Secret Every Successful Person Knows at 20

    This episode features a candid conversation between the host and Alexa Palermo. If you are a fan of the show or interested in the journey behind this specific podcast, this episode provides direct insight into the themes being explored. Throughout the interview, Alexa Palermo shares her experiences while the host guides the dialogue to ensure a comprehensive overview. Whether you are catching up on previous episodes or just finding the 10000 Miles podcast for the first time, this session highlights key moments that define the current season. This is a must-watch for those who appreciate a focused podcast interview that gets straight to the point. Subscribe for weekly 10000 Miles podcast updates and leave a comment sharing your favorite moment from this interview. Alexa Palermo, Channel Manager at Vonage, joins Ten Thousand Miles to share how she broke into channel sales in her 20s, built confidence through imposter syndrome, and uses AI (ChatGPT, Claude) to boost productivity in tech sales. A must-watch for anyone starting a career in IT channel sales. Chapters: 00:00 – Cold open 00:58 – 117 episodes in: the mission behind Ten Thousand Miles 03:26 – Alexa introduces herself 04:13 – Why the channel builds stronger relationships 05:16 – Alexa's first channel job at Procure IT 09:44 – What really attracted her to channel sales 12:03 – The "unfair advantage" of growing up in the industry 14:13 – Biggest misconceptions about tech sales 17:09 – The dinner in Texas that changed everything 20:20 – Overcoming imposter syndrome 24:54 – Mentors who shaped her career (Chris Fury, Kristy Thomas, Marina Kay) 29:23 – Mistakes, rejection, and learning to wait your turn 37:00 – How AI (ChatGPT, Claude) is changing careers for young professionals 42:00 – Rapid fire: success, leadership & advice for young pros 44:06 – Why the channel needs more women 46:39 – Final takeaway & closing Please Comment, Like, Share, and Subscribe!

  • June 29 · 1 hr 12 min

    Success Isn't Enough! | Dave Guttman

    Learn entrepreneur mentorship strategies from Dave Gutman. Discover practical business advice and founder lessons for your next venture. This episode sits down with Dave Gutman, a seasoned founder, speaker, and startup investor. We discuss his approach to building businesses and the core principles that guide his professional journey. Whether you are scaling a company or just starting out, his insights on entrepreneurship tips provide a clear roadmap for navigating common industry challenges. Throughout our conversation, Dave breaks down the realities of being a founder in today's market. He shares honest perspectives on mentorship and investment that helped shape his career. This discussion is designed for anyone looking to refine their business strategy and understand the mindset required for long-term growth. Chapters: 00:00 – Welcome to Ten Thousand Miles with Dave Guttman 01:20 – Early Life, Wrestling, Entrepreneurship, and Lessons from Failure 07:39 – Learning Business Through Search Funds, Mentors, and Acquisitions 20:29 – Defining Moments, Dyslexia, Brown, Wharton, and Life’s Turning Points 28:17 – The Cancer Misdiagnosis That Changed Everything 39:32 – Fundraising, Building Sellable Companies, and the Anti-MBA Philosophy 59:20 – AI, Lifelong Learning, Success, Leadership, and Final Lessons Subscribe for stories and business breakdowns, and comment below with which specific entrepreneurship topic you want us to cover next. Please Comment, Like, Share, and Subscribe!

  • June 22 · 1 hr

    My LinkedIn Strategy for Massive Growth! | Denise Panza

    What does it take to close a $2.9 million loan with a doctor you've never met — in a state you're not even licensed in yet — all because of a letterboard and a LinkedIn post? Denise Panza has done it. Repeatedly. Denise is a 30-year mortgage veteran, licensed in 20 states, and one of the most authentic personal brand builders in the financial services industry. In this return appearance on Ten Thousand Miles, Denise and host Vic Pepe pull back the curtain on how she went from Facebook mom to LinkedIn powerhouse — and how her social media presence has fundamentally transformed her loan production, her reach, and the lives of the families she serves. This isn't a fluffy "post more content" conversation. Denise gets real about what actually works, what mortgage professionals are doing wrong on social media, how she handles compliance in a heavily regulated industry, and why she answers her phone at 11 PM — not because she has to, but because she genuinely loves what she does. Whether you're in mortgages, real estate, sales, or just trying to build a personal brand that actually converts — this episode is loaded with practical wisdom and a few laughs along the way. Subscribe to Ten Thousand Miles for new episodes every Monday. Hosted by Vic Pepe | Author of "The RFP Is Dead" and "The Lucky 13" CONNECT WITH DENISE PANZA: • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/denisepanza/ — follow her letterboard game in real time • Apply Online: askmortgagegal.com CONNECT WITH VIC PEPE & TEN THOUSAND MILES: • LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/vicpepe • D&M Enterprise Group: dmenterprise.net ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ CHAPTERS ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 00:00 – Welcome Back: Denise Panza Returns to Ten Thousand Miles 01:18 – Why LinkedIn Changed Everything for Denise's Mortgage Business 03:35 – From Facebook to LinkedIn: How She Found Her Platform 06:25 – The Letterboard Signature and Building an Authentic Brand 09:06 – What Skeptics Said — and Why She Did It Anyway 09:44 – The 99-Year-Old WWII Veteran She Met on a Plane (and What It Taught Her About LinkedIn) 16:00 – Consistency Over Virality: The Long Game of Social Media 25:55 – Why Most Mortgage Pros Are Posting the Wrong Content 32:14 – How a LinkedIn Post Turned a Stranger Into a $2.9M Loan Client 34:40 – Every Loan Type, Every Client: Why Denise Doesn't Pick a Niche 36:23 – No Boundaries, No Problem: Answering Calls at 11 PM 38:43 – Retirement Is Not in Her Vocabulary (and Why She's Right) 47:41 – The Algorithm Nobody Can Predict — Including Vic 51:14 – Rapid Fire: Best Post Ever, Worst Habits on Social, and the Compliance Question 54:29 – The Closing Story That Still Gives Her Chills 57:46 – Celebrate Yourself: Open That Bottle of Camus ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ KEYWORDS & TOPICS COVERED ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ mortgage loan officer LinkedIn strategy | personal branding for mortgage professionals | social media for real estate and lending | how to get mortgage clients on LinkedIn | mortgage sales tips 2025 | authentic content creation | loan officer marketing | jumbo loans | reverse mortgages | first-time home buyers | mortgage compliance and social media | building a brand in a regulated industry | LinkedIn growth strategy | mortgage industry podcast | sales mindset | work-life balance in sales | storytelling in sales | female entrepreneurs in finance | Ten Thousand Miles podcast | Vic Pepe podcast Please Comment, Like, Share, and Subscribe! #shorts #shortsfeed #podcast #leaders #stories #podcast #courage #business #Success #Leadership #Motivation #Inspiration #SelfImprovement #PersonalDevelopment #GoalSetting #Mindset #Entrepreneurship #BusinessSuccess #LifeGoals #PositiveThinking #AchieveYourGoals #SuccessMindset #LeadershipSkills #MotivationalQuotes #SuccessTips #LeadershipDevelopment #InspirationalVideos #SuccessStories #money #life #rockandroll #music #CEO #COO #CFO #CAO #nextjob #goodtimes #success

  • June 15 · 1 hr 8 min

    The Hidden Opportunity Most People Never See | Anna Stallman

    We're back with another episode of Ten Thousand Miles, and today I'm incredibly lucky to sit down with Anna Stallmann, founder of Ascent Strategic Communications. Whether you're a CEO trying to build influence, a founder considering a rebrand, or a professional wondering if you should start a podcast — this episode is for you. CHAPTERS 00:00 Welcome and Introduction to Anna Stallmann 05:00 From the U.S. Senate to the Department of Defense 16:00 Launching Ascent Strategic Communications 19:00 The First 90 Days of Entrepreneurship 26:00 Strategy Over Noise 33:00 Should You Start a Podcast? 40:00 The Rebrand 44:00 People First Leadership 51:00 Personal Brand vs. Company Brand 58:00 Rapid Fire KEY TAKEAWAYS * The most underrated communication move: know your white space — the message only YOU can deliver * Visibility is not influence. Influence is built through trust, discipline, and messengers * "Plans are worthless, but planning is everything." — General Eisenhower * Be famous internally first — with your family, your team, your community * Hard work ethic still builds the best leaders. Fame that is earned lasts * It doesn't matter what you say. It matters what people hear GUEST RESOURCES Ascent Strategic Communications: https://ascentcomms.com/ Book Recommendation: Made to Stick by Chip and Dan Heath #StrategicCommunications #PersonalBranding #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #TenThousandMilesPodcast #PublicRelations #CEOBranding #WhiteSpace #CommunicationsStrategy #PodcastInterview Please Comment, Like, Share, and Subscribe! Guest: Anna Stallmann

  • June 8 · 46 min

    AI First Enterprise: See Everything & Know Everything

    What does it actually look like when a CIO walks into a 20-year-old technology organization and turns it AI-first in under 12 months — without shutting anything down? In Part 3 of the Sage Tech series on Ten Thousand Miles, Vic Pepe sits down with Corey Kirspel, a transformational CIO in the healthcare technology space. This is not theory. This is a boots-on-the-ground account of one of the most compelling enterprise modernization stories in the AI era. Corey walked into a private equity portfolio company three years into a five-year hold — facing a 12-million-line legacy code base, a $2M cost reduction mandate, tribal knowledge locked inside a handful of people, and a board demanding an AI-first strategy. Here is what happened next. What you'll learn: * Why Claude, Copilot, and Cursor weren't enough alone — and what Corey layered on top * How Sage Tech mapped 12 million lines of legacy code in 48 hours — architecture, vulnerabilities, and evergreen documentation included * The one-engineer experiment that turned skeptics into believers — a five-month project done in six weeks * How $1.2M in annual infrastructure savings was unlocked in three months without a ground-up rewrite * The SDLC operating model shift that took a team from 100 lines of code per day to 10,000 * What the first 90 days of AI transformation actually looks like — and how to justify the ROI fast Whether you are a CIO, CTO, PE operating partner, or business leader trying to move from talking about AI to executing it — this episode is required listening. Chapters: 00:00 — Welcome and guest introduction 02:00 — The CIO's real job in the AI era 03:53 — Walking into a PE portco with a 20-year-old code base 05:25 — Why Claude, Cursor, and Copilot weren't enough alone 08:15 — Discovering Sage Tech and the virtual architect model 12:04 — Breaking free from tribal knowledge and key-man dependency 19:34 — The product leader who thought she knew her own system 22:04 — The one-engineer experiment that changed everything 33:49 — From one engineer to eight Scrum teams — the rollout strategy 42:01 — First 90 days and a message for anyone still waiting Connect: * Sage Tech AI: https://www.sage-tech.ai * Subscribe for new episodes every week Keywords: enterprise AI transformation, CIO strategy, legacy code modernization, AI-first enterprise, Sage Tech AI, software modernization, technical debt, private equity portco, healthcare technology, SDLC AI integration, CIO podcast, technology leadership, AI tools for developers, code base analysis, digital transformation ROI

  • June 1 · 39 min

    Is This AI a Real Game Changer?

    Join us as we sit down with Bruce Henderson, CTO of Sage-Tech.ai, to get an in-depth look at their platform and the #technology driving it. This conversation provides valuable insights into the technical operations and #leadership involved in their enterprise #aistrategy. Stay updated with the latest AI news and gain a deeper understanding of how AI is explained in practical applications. Bruce built his career maintaining, upgrading, and retiring the massive legacy systems that sit at the heart of the global economy. In this conversation, he pulls back the curtain on how Sage Tech actually works — from the queryable context graph and cognitive model to the AI inference layer, ephemeral environments, and why vector RAG failed them before they built something better. This is one of the most technically honest conversations about enterprise AI you will hear anywhere. No hype. No sales pitch. Just a veteran engineer telling you exactly what works, what does not, and what every CTO needs to understand before 2030. Learn more about Sage Tech: https://sage-tech.ai Miss Part 1? Watch the business track with Deepak Sharma here: [link] CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction — Why Bruce Built Sage Tech 04:01 From Code to Knowledge — The Pivot That Changed Everything 08:07 The Queryable Context Graph Explained 10:15 Why Vector RAG Failed and What Replaced It 14:03 How the Graph Gets Built From a Real Code Base 17:14 Outputs, Documentation, and Self-Service Intelligence 24:04 Scaling From 500K to 15 Million Lines of Code 28:44 Ephemeral Environments and the Future of AI Coding LIGHTNING ROUND 38:33 Most Overrated Thing in Enterprise AI 39:16 The Underrated Risk Nobody Is Talking About (De-skilling) 40:09 Bruce's Favorite Tool Most People Have Never Heard Of 41:12 What He Would Do Differently Building Sage From Scratch 42:42 The One Thing Most CTOs Still Do Not Believe About AI in 2026 Subscribe so you never miss an episode. Please Like, Comment, Share, and Subscribe We sit down with Bruce Henderson, CTO of Sage-Tech.ai, for an in-depth discussion on their platform and its core technology . This episode offers key insights into technical operations and the enterprise ai strategy driving their work. Discover how their innovation is shaping the future of AI.

  • May 25 · 33 min

    The Insane Enterprise AI Nobody Is Talking About!

    In this insightful podcast discussion, we dive deep into artificial intelligence technologies, exploring how ai works and its significant impact. Vic and Depak offer a comprehensive AI explanation for beginners, highlighting the future of AI. This episode provides valuable perspectives on the evolving landscape of technology. What happens when enterprises try to modernize decades of legacy code — and fail? In Part 1 of this conversation, Vic Pepe sits down with Deepak Sharma, a veteran transformation advisor who has guided some of the world's largest financial institutions and insurance organizations through their most complex technology challenges. Together they explore why legacy modernization almost always goes over budget, over schedule, and under-delivers — and how a new AI-powered tool called Sage Tech (sage-tech.ai) is changing the equation entirely. Deepak walks through how Sage ingests entire code bases in hours (not years), builds a living data model of how systems actually work, and gives business leaders, engineers, and compliance teams a visual map of technical debt, security risks, and organizational dependencies — across every application in the enterprise. Whether you're a CIO navigating a legacy estate, a CTO trying to separate commodity code from differentiated IP, or a transformation leader tired of projects that never finish — this episode will reshape how you think about what's possible. Learn more about Sage Tech: https://sage-tech.ai CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction — Why Legacy Modernization Fails 03:02 Meet Deepak Sharma — Transformation at Scale 04:17 What Is Sage Tech and How Was It Discovered 07:30 How Sage Ingests and Maps a Code Base 09:28 Hours vs. Years — The Speed Advantage of AI 11:13 Connecting All Your Systems — The Enterprise View 15:04 The New Engineer — System Thinkers Over Coders 17:14 CFOs, COOs, and the Business Case for Modernization Ten Thousand Miles is hosted by Vic Pepe — Managing Partner of D&M Enterprise Group, co-author of The RFP Is Dead, and a veteran technology executive with stops at Bear Stearns, Lehman Brothers, and JPMorgan Chase. Every episode goes deep with founders, executives, operators, and innovators who are building, leading, and transforming at the highest levels. Subscribe so you never miss an episode. #LegacyModernization #AITransformation #EnterpriseTechnology #TechLeadership #SoftwareModernization #CIO #CTO #DigitalTransformation #ArtificialIntelligence #TechnicalDebt #LargeLanguageModels #AIStrategy #EnterpriseAI #TenThousandMiles #VicPepe #DeepakSharma #SageTech #FinancialServices #CloudMigration #ApplicationModernization Please Comment, Like, Share, and Subscribe!

  • May 19 · 27 min

    The Business Mistake Nobody Wants to Admit

    In this insightful clip, the speaker discusses his book "The RFP is Dead" and explains what truly led to the demise of the traditional request for proposal process. He sheds light on the new landscape of business proposal and procurement, emphasizing what has replaced the old methods. This discussion offers a valuable perspective for anyone interested in business education and the evolution of contract management. Procurement is broken. The Request for Proposal — a process that dates back to the 1800s — is costing buyers and sellers millions of dollars in wasted time, bloated documents, and theater. In this episode, Vic Pepe breaks down exactly why the RFP died, what's replacing it, and what you should do right now, whether you're buying or selling enterprise technology.If you work in procurement, sales, or enterprise technology leadership, this one will hit close to home. Get the book: The RFP Is Dead — available on Amazon for under $7 D&M Enterprise Group: www.dmenterprise.net Contact Vic: vic@dmenterprise.netIn This Episode: • Why the RFP became a compliance exercise and a cover-your-ass tool • The 4 forces that killed the RFP • How AI is now writing — and scoring — RFPs on both sides of the table • Why "if you didn't shape it, you've already lost" is the new rule • What trusted advisors do that RFPs never could • The history of the RFP (yes, it started in the 1800s) • What buyers and sellers should actually be doing right now Chapters: 00:00 Introduction — Vic's book and why he's passionate about this 01:45 Procurement Is Broken — the 4 reasons the RFP died0 3:30 The RFP as a CYA exercise — real stories from the C-suite 04:45 What replaced the RFP — trusted advisors, POCs, peer networks 06:30 The "already won" model — why cold RFPs are a waste of time 08:00 AI vs. AI — how automation is killing the RFP even faster 10:15 The new currency: authority, trust, and relationships 12:00 D&M's authority gap event and the AI leadership divide 13:00 If you're selling — stop chasing RFPs you didn't shape 15:00 Be the advisor, not the vendor 15:45 If you're buying — the RFP protects procurement, not the business 17:00 History of the RFP — from 1800s newspapers to today 19:30 Public sector, the veil of equality, and backdoor channeling 21:00 Failure, fear, and corporate paralysis 22:30 Internal sabotage — what happens when people don't want change 24:00 The 3 things you actually need to know before selecting technology 26:30 What trusted advisors expose that RFPs never can 27:30 Closing — get the book, get a trusted advisor, go execute Please Comment, Like, Share, and Subscribe!

  • May 12 · 35 min

    The Addiction Nobody Warns You About | Climbing Edition

    Ever felt that rush? I remember that first time, the pure dopamine hit of climbing, a powerful form of motivation that felt like a true addiction. This experience wasn't about drugs, but about the sheer happiness found in pushing limits. It's a great life lesson in self improvement. Everyone wants to climb the ladder. But do you know why you're climbing and what it's going to cost you? In this raw, honest solo episode, Vic breaks down one of the most important questions in leadership, business, and life: What is the ladder of success, and is it worth the climb? Drawing on a career that spans the music business (Alice Cooper), Lehman Brothers, Bear Stearns, JP Morgan Chase, five CIO roles, and executive advisory work, Vic shares the neuroscience behind status-seeking, the psychology of ambition, and the very real sacrifices high achievers make on the way to the top. This isn't motivational fluff. This is the truth about what success actually demands. In this episode: * Why your brain is hardwired to chase status (dopamine, serotonin, and survival hierarchies) * The difference between ambition as identity vs. ambition as expression * How to know if you're climbing the wrong wall * The trades every high achiever makes: relationships, health, faith, and presence * Why climbing fast and climbing right are two very different things * The identity collapse that happens when the badge is gone * How to raise yourself by raising others * Why are the most successful leaders the ones who bring people with them Key Concepts Discussed: Victor Frankl on purpose | Maslow's hierarchy of needs | Jordan Peterson on competence hierarchies | Leon Festinger's social comparison theory | Eudaimonic well-being (Aristotle) | The EKG climb: why success is never a straight line Chapters: 00:00 The First Hit of the Ladder 03:45 Why Your Brain Is Wired for Status 07:20 The Ladder as Meaning Making Structure 10:10 The Trap Baked Into the Structure 13:30 The Boardroom Moment That Changed Everything 18:00 The Climb Is Not a Straight Line 22:15 Your Reputation Leads Before You Do 26:40 The Trades You Make on the Way Up 33:10 Identity Collapse at the Top 37:00 How to Climb and Stay Whole 40:20 Self Examination: Was It Worth It? Tags / Keywords: success mindset leadership lessons climbing the corporate ladder executive leadership career advice ambition and success work life balance CIO career what does success cost purpose driven leadership Vic Pepe Ten Thousand Miles podcast leadership podcast business podcast career growth dopamine and success status hierarchy Jordan Peterson hierarchy Maslow hierarchy of needs Victor Frankl purpose #LeadershipPodcast #SuccessMindset #CareerGrowth #TenThousandMiles #ExecutiveLeadership #Ambition #CIOLeadership #BusinessPodcast #VicPepe #climbingtheladder

  • May 4 · 54 min

    Behind The Scenes With Eric Gales!

    Join us as we dive into the creative process of a musician who believes every performance is unique. He shares his approach to live music, emphasizing following intuition rather than a rigid song list. Discover how this artist crafts his music live, making each night a fresh experience. Guitar legend ⁨@EricGalesBand⁩ - Gales joins Vic on Ten Thousand Miles for a conversation 35+ years in the making. From picking up his first #guitar at four in a music-filled #memphis household, to signing his first record deal at 16, to his recent Oscars performance and induction into the Blues Hall of Fame — Eric shares the highs, the heartbreaks, and the inspiration that have fueled nearly five decades in music. Eric opens up about the emotional making of "Stand Up" from Crown, the gut-punch of having an early record rejected by his label, the brothers who guarded him through the industry, and the gift he believes was given to him from above. https://youtu.be/DJHLkLOFEVA?si=CcKyarH3VfZzdvCM He also gets candid about gear — Magneto, Kiesel, PRS, Dunlop, Seymour Duncan, and his Mark Bass Raw Dog signature amp — and shares hard-won wisdom about letting life be life and using music as the most powerful outlet there is. Learn more about Eric: ericgales.com Chapters * 0:00 Intro * 1:18 The Gift * 3:19 Interview Begins * 5:47 Picking Up the Guitar at Four * 18:06 The First Big Disappointment * 24:15 Crown, "Stand Up," and a Vocal for the Ages * 33:00 Life Be Life: Controlling What You Can * 51:36 Advice to His 16-Year-Old Self Keywords: Eric Gales, Eric Gales interview, Eric Gales guitar, Crown album, Stand Up Eric Gales, Blues Hall of Fame, blues guitar, rock guitar, Memphis blues, guitar legends, Ten Thousand Miles podcast, Vic Pepe, Rick Beato, Joe Bonamassa, Magneto guitars, Kiesel guitars, PRS guitars, Raw Dog amp, guitar players podcast, music industry stories. Hashtags: #EricGales #TenThousandMiles #BluesGuitar #GuitarLegends #CrownAlbum #BluesHallOfFame #RockGuitar #GuitarPodcast #MemphisBlues #StandUp #GuitarPlayers #MusicPodcast #VicPepe #GuitarInterview #BluesRock Please Comment, Like, Share, and Subscribe! #shorts #shortsfeed #podcast #leaders #stories #podcast #courage #business #Success #Leadership #Motivation #Inspiration #SelfImprovement #PersonalDevelopment #GoalSetting #Mindset #Entrepreneurship #BusinessSuccess #LifeGoals #PositiveThinking #AchieveYourGoals #SuccessMindset #LeadershipSkills #MotivationalQuotes #SuccessTips #LeadershipDevelopment #InspirationalVideos #SuccessStories #money #life #rockandroll #music #CEO #COO #CFO #CAO #nextjob #goodtimes #success

  • April 27 · 1 hr 12 min

    The Symbolic Reasoning Breakthrough Nobody's Talking About - Dain Ehring

    In this insightful podcast, we explore the cutting-edge world of artificial intelligence with an expert in symbolic reasoning. Learn about the future of AI as we discuss various aspects of machine learning, neural networks, and the logic behind advanced systems. This conversation touches on innovation in AI, offering a glimpse into how these technologies are shaping our world. Vic Pepe sits down with #entrepreneur and innovator Dain Ehring for a powerful conversation about the future of #artificialintelligence financial services, compliance, risk, and the massive shift from the Information Age to the Intelligence Age. Dain shares his work with QGI, Quantum General Intelligence, a deterministic AI platform built for highly regulated industries like financial services, lending, compliance, underwriting, and risk management. Unlike traditional large language models, deterministic AI is designed to provide traceability, auditability, consistency, and defensible decision-making.Vic and Dain dive deep into: AI in financial servicesDeterministic AI vs generative AI Compliance risk and regulatory pressure AI hallucinations and why they matter The future of underwriting and lending How AI will impact jobs and productivity Autonomous agents and personal AI assistants The rise of user sovereignty Why AI will expose the bell curve How entrepreneurs and small businesses can use AI today 00:00 Show Teaser 00:54 Introduction to Dain Ehring & AI Background 03:24 The Problem with AI in Financial Services (Probabilistic vs Deterministic) 07:14 Real-World AI Efficiency Gains and Limitations 11:39 AI Risk, Lawsuits, and Compliance Challenges 17:04 What is Deterministic AI and Why It Matters 22:24 Use Cases: Compliance, Underwriting, and Risk Management 29:39 The Future of AI, Autonomous Agents, and Human Impact Subscribe to Ten Thousand Miles for more conversations with leaders, founders, innovators, and people shaping the future. Please Comment, Like, Share, and Subscribe!

  • April 20 · 1 hr 6 min

    Athletic Luxury Comes Alive! - Andrew Redvanly

    Please Comment, Like, Share, and Subscribe! From Bootstrapped to Brand: How Andrew Redvanly Built a Luxury Athletic Wear Empire from Scratch | Ten Thousand Miles Podcast What does it take to build a premium athletic apparel brand with zero fashion industry experience, no investors, and a launch line that only came in white because you ran out of fabric budget? Everything. Andrew Redvanly, founder of Redvanly, sits down with Vic Pepe on the Ten Thousand Miles Podcast to share the unfiltered story of how he turned a passion for sports and an obsession with quality into one of the most talked-about luxury athletic wear brands in golf and performance fashion today. Andrew breaks down how he invented the elastic waistband trousers out of pure survival instinct, not genius, and how that accidental innovation became the cornerstone of a brand now worn by Rick Shiels and generating serious international momentum. From three white polos launched on Shopify in 2013 to 75 employees and a global footprint, this is a masterclass in entrepreneurship, product development, and what it actually takes to compete against giants like Peter Millar and Lululemon without a single outside investor. In this episode, you will learn: * Why Andrew launched with no business plan, and why that was the right move * How Redvanly's signature elastic waistband was born out of an inventory problem, not a brainstorm * The real impact of the ambassador deals with Rick Shields and PGA player Johnny Vegas * Why the first 4 years of online sales were basically zero, and what finally changed * How to scale hiring decisions without killing your business * What athletic luxury actually means and how Redvanly executes it at every price point * What is coming next, including the Desmond trousers and a potential blazer line If you are a golf enthusiast, a men's fashion buyer, an entrepreneur building a consumer brand, or someone who refuses to sacrifice either performance or style, this conversation is for you. CHAPTERS 00:27 Welcome and Introduction 01:15 What Makes Redvanly Different 02:28 Andrew's Background and the Origin Story 04:49 The Risk of Starting Young and Going All In 07:04 How Andrew Learned to Make Clothes with Zero Experience 08:54 The White Line Launch and Early Inventory Realities 09:54 Going to Market on Shopify and Selling Wholesale to Country Clubs 12:27 Progress Over Perfection and the Entrepreneur's Seizure 15:18 Why Online Sales Were Flat for Years and What Changed 16:40 Expanding into Sweaters, Merino Wool, and Cashmere 19:20 The Performance Meets Luxury Philosophy 21:25 The Waistband Origin Story and the Inventory Problem That Changed Everything 26:11 Why Starting First Is What Gets You to the Breakthrough 27:10 Filling Knowledge Gaps and Learning from Everyone 29:19 Hiring, Delegating, and Building a Team You Trust 31:34 Knowing When to Pull the Lever and Invest in People 36:11 Business Discipline, KPIs, and the Monthly Business Review 38:14 Business Acumen from Day One vs. What Andrew Had to Learn 41:22 The Evolution of Golf Fashion and the Tiger Effect 43:53 Competing Against the Big Brands and Staying Consistent on Quality 48:31 Defining Athletic Luxury from the Inside Out 50:34 What a Redvanly Blazer Would Mean and What Is Coming Next 53:30 International Growth, Japan, South Korea, and Staying Focused 57:19 Brand Ambassadors as Growth Engines vs. Distribution Tools 01:01:42 Closing Thoughts, Vision for the Next Two Years, and Where to Find Redvanly Redvanly website: https://redvanly.com Topics covered: luxury athletic wear, performance apparel, golf fashion, men's athletic clothing, entrepreneurship, bootstrapped brand building, apparel startup, golf clothing brands, athletic luxury, Redvanly review, Redvanly pants waistband, Rick Shields ambassador, PGA fashion, men's golf outfits, golf lifestyle brand Subscribe for new episodes every week. Drop a comment below and tell us your favorite performance apparel brand and whether you have ever tried Redvanly. #Redvanly #LuxuryAthleticWear #GolfFashion #MensGolfStyle #Entrepreneurship #PerformanceApparel #TenThousandMilesPodcast #VicPepe #AndrewRedvanly #GolfLifestyle #AthleticLuxury #BootstrappedBusiness #GolfClothing #MensActivewear #StartupStory

  • April 13 · 53 min

    Why You Can't Pass Up an Active Roster Opportunity - NFL O-lIne - Evan Brown

    From Undrafted to the NFL: Evan Brown's Road to the Houston Texans | Ten Thousand Miles Podcast What does it really take to make it to the NFL when everyone tells you you're too small? Houston Texans offensive lineman Evan Brown sits down with Vic Pepe to tell the unfiltered story of his journey — from go-kart racing as a kid to winning a state championship at Southlake Carroll, playing college football at SMU, going undrafted, and clawing his way through six NFL franchises to earn a starting role. In this episode: * Growing up in Southlake, TX and playing alongside future NFL players Kenny Hill and L.J. Collins * What it's REALLY like to play in one of the most elite high school football programs in America * The truth about balancing 60+ hours of football with a full college course load at SMU * Going undrafted — and why that wasn't the end of the story * Career stops with the NY Giants, Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Seattle Seahawks, Arizona Cardinals, and now the Houston Texans * The mindset that keeps elite athletes mentally locked in, play after play * What separates guys who make it from those who don't — and it's not always talent * The rarely-discussed reality of being an NFL offensive lineman: zero rotation, 100% of snaps, and your opportunity comes only when someone gets hurt * Center vs. Guard: the mental and physical differences broken down * How Jeet Kune Do and martial arts principles show up in the NFL trenches (feat. a Randy White story you won't hear anywhere else) * Goal-setting, resilience, and Evan's simple but powerful philosophy: "Don't let one turn to two" Whether you're an aspiring football player, a sports fan, or someone who just loves a great underdog story, this episode is for you. Chapters: * 0:00 - Intro * 0:34 - Meet Evan Brown | Houston Texans Offensive Lineman * 1:46 - From Go-Karts to Football: Evan's Unexpected Origin Story * 3:38 - High School Football at Southlake Carroll & the State Championship Run * 6:32 - Choosing SMU: Being Told He Was "Too Small" * 11:42 - The Reality of College Athletics: 60+ Hour Weeks & Time Management * 19:33 - Going Undrafted: Draft Day & the UDFA Process * 22:55 - Signing with the NY Giants & His First NFL Snaps * 26:03 - Fighting for a Roster Spot: Soaking In Every Rep * 34:10 - NFL Career Journey: Browns, Lions, Seahawks, Cardinals & Now the Texans * 38:25 - The NFL Mindset: Goal-Setting Through Setbacks & Roster Cuts * 41:37 - Center vs. Guard: Breaking Down the Most Overlooked Position in Football * 46:56 - Emotional Control & Playing Even-Keel Under Pressure * 51:48 - Advice for Aspiring Football Players: What Actually Gets You There Ten Thousand Miles is the podcast that goes deep on the journeys of athletes, entrepreneurs, and leaders — mile by mile. Subscribe so you never miss an episode. Like this video if Evan's story fired you up. Drop a comment — who should Vic talk to next? #NFL #HoustonTexans #EvanBrown #OffensiveLine #NFLStories #UndraftedToNFL #FootballPodcast #TenThousandMiles #SMUFootball #SouthlakeCarroll #NFLMindset #SportsMotivation #TexansFootball #CollegeFootball #NFLJourney #FootballLife #SportsLeadership #NFLPlayer #GoalSetting #GritAndDetermination That's your full production-ready description. Want me to save this as a file you can keep as a template for future episodes? Please Comment, Like, Share, and Subscribe!

Showing 1–20 of 21 episodes