Long Shot Leaders with Michael Stein

Bert Terhart is an adventurer, sailor, and lifelong explorer who currently resides on a smaller island off Vancouver Island, Canada, a place with a surprisingly large population of 750,000. Originally from the prairies of Canada near Fargo, North Dakota, Bert grew up in a small, hardworking oil town, shaped by cold landscapes and a strong sense of community. His Dutch heritage, with a family background in the Merchant Marine, ignited his lifelong love of sailing. ⁣ Bert joined the Canadian Army at 17, attending the Canadian military college, the equivalent of West Point. He served in the Canadian Special Service Force, an elite unit trained alongside the U.S. military, and participated in intense Cold War-era training exercises. His military experience led him to reflect on the harsh realities of war, but he ultimately left the Army and pursued a career in oceanography after being disqualified from the Navy due to colorblindness. ⁣ A passion for the ocean, history, and exploration led Bert to retrace the routes of legendary explorers like Captain Cook and William Bligh, sailing over 50,000 nautical miles and navigating some of the most remote and challenging regions in the world, including the Arctic Circle and the Bering Sea. He is also known for his solo paddling expeditions across Canada and adventurous voyages in the Southern Ocean.

Matt Leta is a Polish-born entrepreneur, digital artist, and AI innovator. A gifted but rebellious student, he discovered his passion for coding at age 10 and later explored architecture and music. At 19, he founded Dropper, a mobile-first platform for artists, which grew to 250,000 users before securing seven-figure funding and moving to California. ⁣ Anticipating the remote work revolution, Matt launched multiple ventures, including Table, but faced challenges, including a hostile takeover. After stepping away, he traveled the world, founded Fukui Cool, a successful digital agency, and embraced a nomadic lifestyle. ⁣ In 2023, he pivoted to AI-driven professional services, building FutureWorks, which optimizes business operations through AI. His book, The Leap Guide, became a bestseller, and his upcoming release, 100x (April 2025), focuses on AI-driven scaling and efficiency. Matt continues to drive innovation, challenging traditional consulting models with AI-powered solutions.

Robert Jordan, raised in a small village in Upstate New York, grew up in a hardworking, blue-collar family with strong community ties. After high school, he farmed cattle for nine years before earning a degree from SUNY Albany. Inspired by the 1993 World Trade Center attack, he joined the Navy at age 34, intending to serve briefly before law school but instead committed to a long military career. Jordan served five tours in Afghanistan, rising from Chief Petty Officer to Chief Warrant Officer in elite special operations. Witnessing both the brutality of war and the resilience of the Afghan people, he dedicated himself to humanitarian efforts, assisting widows, orphans, and struggling communities. After retiring in 2019, he founded a nonprofit supporting Afghanistan's poorest and continues advocating for veterans. Now an author, pastor, and philanthropist, Jordan has published books like Faith, Flag, and Family and The Warms of the Gospel series. He also co-authored a teen novella, Mackenzie's Good Fortune Through Misadventure, with his granddaughter. He hosts the Veterans Outlook podcast and leads Task Force Genesis, helping veterans heal through agriculture.

Amanda Pichardo is a beauty entrepreneur and inspiring storyteller who has transformed adversity into success. Overcoming a childhood marked by severe abuse in New York, she was removed from her home at age eight and later emancipated at 18, forcing her to navigate adulthood on her own. ⁣ Determined to build a better future, she worked various jobs before dedicating herself to the beauty industry, creating a thriving business that granted her financial independence. ⁣ Now a mother, Amanda prioritizes faith, personal growth, and inner peace, using her experiences to empower others. She shares her journey of resilience, entrepreneurship, and healing on Instagram.

Jay Conner is a real estate investor, speaker, and author specializing in private money lending. Raised in Eastern North Carolina, he grew up in the mobile home industry, working alongside his father, who was once the largest mobile home retailer in the U.S. After the market collapsed in the early 2000s, Jay pivoted to flipping single-family homes, eventually averaging two to three deals per month with $86,000 in profits per flip. ⁣ For years, Jay relied on traditional bank loans—until the 2008 financial crisis cut off his funding overnight. Determined to find a better way, he discovered private money lending, a strategy that allowed him to raise $250,000 in just 90 days without relying on banks. Since then, he has completed over 500 real estate deals and now teaches investors how to secure funding through private lenders and self-directed IRAs. ⁣ As the author of Where to Get the Money Now, Jay shares his expertise on raising private capital, scaling real estate investments, and building financial freedom. Through his mastermind and coaching programs, he empowers others to succeed in real estate without the limitations of traditional financing.

David Anderson is a seasoned entrepreneur and leadership strategist with a dynamic career spanning public relations, behavioral marketing, and executive coaching. Growing up in New Jersey, he developed an early passion for business while working at a country club surrounded by successful entrepreneurs. ⁣ After earning his degree from Arizona State University, David worked in Washington, D.C., serving under Presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush before transitioning into public relations. ⁣ David is the author of Leader's Not a Title and a sought-after executive coach. Through his work, he emphasizes adaptability, strategic growth, and customer engagement, helping businesses navigate evolving markets.

Keith Kong is a world-class mentalist who blends psychology, influence, and showmanship to create mind-bending experiences. Initially aspiring to be a hostage negotiator, he became fascinated with magic at age 10 and later discovered mentalism through his studies in psychology and criminal profiling. ⁣ After years of performing in Orlando's entertainment scene—sometimes even underage—he turned his passion into a full-time career. His journey includes a triumphant return to Penn & Teller: Fool Us, where he successfully fooled the legendary duo. ⁣ Today, Kong captivates audiences at corporate and private events worldwide, using mentalism to explore the mysteries of human behavior. He's currently expanding into keynote speaking and writing a book on situational psychology.

Emily Schneider is a creatively curious branding and presentation designer who helps businesses communicate with clarity and impact. Growing up in the Midwest, she was always fascinated by how things work and how people connect—an interest that led her to study visual communications at the University of Kansas. ⁣ After starting her career in marketing and agency work, Emily discovered her passion for PowerPoint design, recognizing its power in storytelling and branding. Now, with nearly a decade of freelance experience, she specializes in helping C-suite executives and business leaders craft compelling presentations that engage audiences. ⁣ Beyond design, Emily shares her expertise through masterclasses and free resources, empowering professionals to improve their communication skills.

Lior Weinstein is an entrepreneur and fractional CTO/CRO based in Atlanta, Georgia. Born and raised in Israel in an entrepreneurial family, Lior developed an early passion for business and finance, launching his first company at 14 and trading stocks as a child. After serving in the Israeli special forces and intelligence, he transitioned into affiliate marketing and technology, founding one of Israel's first mobile app development companies. This venture led to the creation of successful apps like Baby First Mobile and the founding of Epoxy, a mobile marketing automation company that sold in 2014. ⁣ Lior's entrepreneurial journey also includes buying and selling businesses, focusing on optimizing operations to drive growth. He now helps companies scale by identifying growth opportunities and streamlining processes as a fractional CTOx or Chief Revenue Officer for companies with revenues between $20 million to $100 million. Additionally, he mentors CTOx through his venture CTOx and supports anti-human trafficking initiatives. ⁣ A father and passionate about education, Lior homeschools his three children while traveling globally, spending seven to eight months per year on the road. Lior is also deeply connected to his roots in Israel, using his platform to foster understanding amidst the region's complex political landscape.

Dave Behar is a visionary entrepreneur with a passion for branding, technology, and business development. Growing up in Southern California, he was inspired by his father's entrepreneurial spirit, leading him to create and sell successful ventures like Team Greek, a fraternity/sorority merchandising brand, and IDIG, a beach volleyball lifestyle company. During the tech boom, Behar moved to San Francisco, where he played a key role in Pac-10 (now Pac-12) branding and worked on early-stage Silicon Valley ventures, including Hotmail. His expertise in brand development and licensing has helped shape multiple industries. ⁣ Currently, Behar leads ION, a hyper-local, hyper-targeted content distribution network that empowers creators by integrating production, distribution, and monetization across multiple platforms, including Apple TV and Roku. He also spearheads IONTELLIGENCE, a sports-focused platform supporting a "network of champions." ⁣ With a focus on innovation, scalability, and the evolving digital landscape, Behar continues to build brands, mentor entrepreneurs, and explore the intersection of AI, media, and business growth—all while embracing a flexible, travel-friendly work lifestyle.