Technology grows and spreads like wildfire. Today, you’re at peace knowing that your business operates through the latest tech and trends. But what about tomorrow?

Are you sure you’re using the right tools to grow your business?

If your mind’s filled with more questions than answers after that intro, then it’s your lucky day. Our special guest for The Ripple Effect Podcast will enlighten us about up-to-date digital marketing tools and strategies.

Our guest is none other than Jen Lehner, an Ohio-based Digital Marketing & System Strategist and the founder of Jen Lehner Media, LLC. Her enthusiasm for adapting to emerging digital marketing tools helps businesses stay relevant in their market and reach customers in the most convenient ways.

Some people may not understand why someone can be so passionate about social media and the digital world, so we will talk about why and how Jen got into digital marketing. She also brought up the topic of artificial intelligence (AI) and why it is the next big thing for online marketers. If you’re wondering how AI is transforming digital ad campaigns, how AI is changing the world, and the best AI tools in 2025, you’ve found the right video.

“AI is here to stay.”

Don’t lag! Adapt to rising tech. To get a deeper understanding of AI in a simplified explanation, you can take Jen Lehner’s AI Masterclass here: jenlehner.com/masterclassai

Aside from marketing, we discussed the backstory of The Front Row Podcast for Entrepreneurs and how Jen managed to have Gary Vaynerchuk and James Altucher on her podcast. It’s a light, quirky, and impressive story you shouldn’t miss.

Listen to The Front Row Podcast for Entrepreneurs here: jenlehner.com/podcast

Special thanks to my long-time friend and Rippler Lisa Alongi for introducing me to Jen Lehner. This is definitely a positive Ripple!

If you know someone who does inspiring work and deserves to be on the show, I’m open to introductions. Please email me at info@ripplecentral.com.

I hope you enjoy and learn from this episode as much as I did!

Ripple with Jen Lehner

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/jenlehner/

Website: https://jenlehner.com

Ripple with Steve Harper

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#therippleeffectpodcast #therippleeffect #steveharper #jenlehner #ai #artificialintelligence #digitalmarketing #marketingstrategy #aitools #contentmarketing #chatgpt #marketingautomation #onlinebusiness #socialmediamarketing #techtrends #futureofmarketing #digitalentrepreneur #podcastinterview #smallbusinessmarketing #growthhacking #aiinmarketing #marketingwithai #personalbranding #femaleentrepreneur

Being a podcaster is easy. You just have to talk nonstop and pour your heart out in front of a mic, right? Wrong.

Welcome to a very real and raw solo episode of The Ripple Effect Podcast. I’m Steve Harper, and today, I’m pulling back the curtain on my podcast journey, from awkward first episodes and painful feedback to moments of personal growth. If you’ve ever started something with zero experience and are unsure if anyone would care, you need to hear this.

Listening to someone else’s stories and experiences is a fantastic way to learn. So, in this episode, I will share how I found my voice as a podcast host and what it means to improve through small, consistent efforts. I’ll serve you truths about embracing authenticity, overcoming the fear of being on camera, and learning how to be a great interviewer, even when I thought I had no clue what I was doing.

For content creators, entrepreneurs, aspiring podcasters, or just someone trying to do meaningful work when nobody’s watching, I hope this solo episode inspires you to keep going!

Podcasting, for me, has become more than just a mic and a message. It became about inspiring people by making them realize their real impact on the world. It’s a Ripple Effect that continues to grow, one authentic conversation at a time.

If you’re new here, welcome to the journey. And if you’ve been riding this wave with me for a while, thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Ripple On!!!

Ripple with Steve Harper

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#podcastjourney #therippleeffectpodcast #solopodcast #authenticstorytelling #startsmalldreambig #creatorlife #entrepreneurmindset #selfgrowth #contentcreatortips

From the moment our conversation began, I knew this episode would be something special. Meghan Potter brings the kind of energy that lights a fire in your soul. If you’ve ever felt called to do more, lead with purpose, or rise to your potential but weren’t sure how to take that first step, this is the wake-up call you’ve been waiting for.

Meghan Potter is a leadership development coach and founder of Lead Like a Lady Coaching, where she helps new and aspiring managers build the skills and confidence to lead thriving teams. With over a decade of experience in the tourism industry and a background in middle management, Meghan specializes in teaching foundational leadership skills like giving and receiving feedback, navigating difficult conversations, and supporting employee growth. She’s passionate about making leadership less overwhelming and more human, offering practical, bite-sized tools through her social platforms, digital templates, and eBooks. Her mission? To empower more women to step into leadership and enjoy the work they do.

In this episode of The Ripple Effect Podcast, we conversed about what it really means to be a woman in leadership today: the challenges, the pressure, and yes, the superpower of staying calm when things get chaotic. We also discussed career growth, leading with empathy, and why you don't need a title to lead.

This conversation is about more than just professional development. It’s about building momentum, creating positive Ripples in your community, and leading from the heart. Meghan proves that empowering women is more than a mission. It’s a movement.

If you’re here for leadership coaching tips, inspiration for your career, or just need a reminder that you can absolutely do hard things with grace, go ahead and hit play. You’re going to fall in love with Meghan’s energy!

Oh, and don’t forget to follow for more powerful content on women in leadership, personal growth, and the Ripple Effect of being unapologetically you.

You can also watch Meghan’s video interview here: https://youtu.be/HTpJWw7W9Aw

Ripple with Meghan Potter

Instagram: @leadlikealady_

Join Meghan’s newsletter list by checking out the link in her IG bio.

Ripple with Steve Harper

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#womeninleadership #leadershipcoaching #leadlikealady #calmisasuperpower #empoweredwomenempower #firsttimemanager #careergrowth #emotionalintelligence

Are you feeling uncertain about your next career move or overwhelmed by the state of the job market in 2025? In this episode of The Ripple Effect Podcast, we engage in a powerful conversation with Lisa Ramirez, Senior Vice President of Operations and Client Success at Indeed. In her role, she focuses on operational efficiency and effectiveness as well as building scalable systems and processes, helping employers meet their hiring goals. She joined Indeed in 2019 as Chief of Staff to the Chief Executive Officer.

Lisa shares her unique journey, offering firsthand insight into how Indeed is helping people get jobs through innovation, adaptability, and deep empathy for job seekers and employers. This conversation explores the evolving job market, from the rise of AI in hiring to the importance of client success and user experience.

Lisa discusses how Indeed’s pay-for-performance model and commitment to customer impact are transforming how employers find talent and job seekers navigate opportunities. We also unpack how to lead with intention, the role of empathy in business, and what organizations can do to engage the younger and older workforce.

Lisa’s perspective offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at how Indeed’s mission and culture create Ripple Effects across industries and generations. So, if you’re ready to rethink what a successful career can look like and how to align your energy with meaningful work, this is the episode for you!

Connect with Lisa Ramirez on LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-henken-ramirez-2b07167/

Ripple with Steve Harper

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#lisaramirez #indeed #futureofwork #careeradvice #jobsearch2025 #clientsuccess #therippleeffectpodcast #steveharper #leadership #workwithpurpose #careerchange #womenintech

What if the best leaders aren’t the ones who always have the answers, but the ones who know how to ask the right questions?

Learn from the incredible Angela Pappas in this unforgettable episode of The Ripple Effect Podcast! This conversation will leave you rethinking everything you know about career growth, team building, and what real leadership looks like today.

Angela’s journey is anything but ordinary. From leading software developers in cold data centers to building high-performing teams at Tesla and Palo Alto Networks, she’s seen firsthand how empathy, emotional intelligence (EQ), and vulnerability aren’t just “soft skills.” They’re the foundation of servant leadership, high-performing teams, and long-term success.

Angela believes trust-based relationships empower people to embrace autonomy, find inspiration, and hold themselves accountable to deliver results. From diversity and inclusion to onboarding, leadership development, and performance management, Angela works to engage employees and leaders in learning, growing, and accelerating individual, team, and organizational performance.

Angela has led technical training, cybersecurity training, and professional development teams at Thomson Reuters, Tesla, and Palo Alto Networks. She’s thrilled about her current role at Lumen Technologies, using her learning and organization development skills to support the company’s transformation to a next-generation tech company, redefining what’s possible beyond telecom.

Angela lives in Minnesota with her husband, daughter, and the dog that rules their home. She enjoys being in nature and speaks gratitude fluently.

Introductions aside, this episode is packed with authentic stories, leadership strategies that actually work, and candid moments that will make you rethink your role as a leader. You’ll hear how Angela helped launch talent initiatives in some of the world’s top tech companies, turned setbacks into leadership superpowers, and why creating positive Ripples in your organization matters more than ever.

Sometimes, all you need to do is admit that you can’t possibly know everything, listen with curiosity, and use what you’ve learned to face challenges with a brave face.

Make sure to listen until the end!

Connect with Angela Pappas: linkedin.com/in/angelapappas-learndevelop

Ripple with Steve Harper

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#therippleeffect #leadership #organizationaldevelopment #talentdevelopment #companyculture #careergrowth #careeradvancement #learningjourney #learningvideos

Get ready for an inspiring conversation with Blair Channing Rae. She is a Navy veteran, social worker, writer, and social media influencer who is seriously lighting up the world one Ripple at a time. Today, we dive into Blair’s incredible journey from serving in the military to becoming a powerful voice for mental health awareness. She shares her experiences living with bipolar disorder, opening up about how vulnerability and honesty have fueled her mission to connect, inspire, and empower others.

Blair’s story is a beautiful example of how authentic connections can happen across social media platforms like Instagram, X (Twitter), Threads, and beyond. From her first posts that caught my eye to the incredible spark of friendship that grew across the miles, Blair has shown what The Ripple Effect really means. It is through creating positivity, building real community, and showing up with light even on the hardest days. She has been a lifestyle influencer since 2023, and her content focuses on mental health, identity, pop culture, and relationships. She is also currently working on a book of essays entitled Being Social: The Psychology of Social Media.

If you’ve ever wondered how a mental health advocate and a social media influencer could roll all that into one unstoppable force, Blair Channing Rae is your answer. Trust me, you don’t want to miss this conversation about resilience, friendship, purpose, and the power of a single Ripple to change lives.

Listen until the end and Ripple On!!!

Ripple with Blair Channing Rae: @iwritergirl

Ripple with Steve Harper

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#therippleeffectpodcast #steveharper #blairchanningrae #mentalhealthawareness #veteranvoices #positivevibes #bipolardisorderawareness #bipolardisorder #navy

Ready to level up your brand and tap into the future of marketing?

Natalie Micale is a dynamic founder who goes all in—whether leading her company, mentoring entrepreneurs, or redefining what it means to build a personal brand in the digital age.

A proud Latina entrepreneur, Natalie started her career as a TV anchor and reporter in the Midwest, where she honed her ability to craft compelling narratives that captivate audiences. Her transition from television to the agency world was a strategic one. While serving as Head of Business Development at Evol Empire Creative, she gained a deep understanding of the ROI companies demand from their branding and marketing efforts.

That experience laid the foundation for Oh Hello Agency, a creative powerhouse she built from the ground up. What started as a brand innovation lab quickly became a full-scale creative firm, crafting high-impact brand strategies for clients across industries. Known for her bold, cutthroat approach to brand growth and her unwavering commitment to authenticity, Natalie has helped countless businesses and entrepreneurs elevate their influence through a multimedia-first approach.

In 2025, Oh Hello Agency was acquired by The Big Smoke Media Group, an Australian agency, solidifying Natalie’s reputation as a visionary in the branding and media landscape.

Natalie discussed what’s next for creative agencies, the rise of human-centric branding, and how AI tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Gemini transform content creation and marketing strategy. Whether you’re working in a creative agency or just AI-curious, listen up! She also shares real talk on imposter syndrome, entrepreneurial mindset, and how content creation (3–4 posts a week) builds trust and visibility.

If you’re all about future-forward branding, this is a must-watch for crushing the marketing trends of 2025 and beyond. Hit play and get inspired!

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Follow Natalie on Instagram: @nataliemicale

Connect with Natalie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nataliemicale/

Visit Oh Hello's website: https://oh-hello.co

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Ripple with me!

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#therippleeffect #steveharper #nataliemicale #ohhelloagency #brandingstrategy #aiinmarketing #natalieMicale #contentcreationtips #personaldevelopment #marketingtrends2025 #digitalbranding #womeninentrepreneurship #chatgptforbusiness #femaleleaders #futureofbranding

What happens after winning a Super Bowl and two national championships?

Former Nebraska football star Tony Veland shares his journey from the field to the boardroom as the Director of Development for the University of Nebraska Foundation. For Tony, it doesn’t matter whether he’s in the sports arena or the boundless field of life. He is strongly committed to encouraging, imparting knowledge, and helping in any way he can.

For today’s episode of The Ripple Effect Podcast, Tony opens up about transitioning from a football athlete to a community leader. He also discusses why STEM education and engineering careers are crucial for the future, how companies must adapt to workforce development, and the value of mentorship and teamwork.

Tony’s passion for giving back is stronger than ever as he continues to mentor young athletes and professionals to achieve their dreams. He also serves on numerous nonprofit boards, building positive lasting change for those in the community. Bringing the discipline and lessons of sports to life, Tony is 100% an inspiring force and a role model for all!

This interview will surely leave an indelible mark on whoever gets to hear Tony’s message and legacy.

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💧Ripple with Tony Veland

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/tony-veland-6303b5

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tv_thirty_two/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tony.veland.9/

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💧 Ripple with me!

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💧 To inquire about my availability for conference keynotes, corporate training, or performance coaching, please contact info@ripplecentral.com.

#therippleeffect #steveharper #tonyveland #sports #football #life #superbowl #engineering #lifechanging #inspiringstories