Phoenix Prosperity Podcast

What does it take to replace the human heart and help someone live long enough for a transplant?
In this episode, Tim Fergestad talks with Dr. Francisco Arabia, a physician executive with the Advanced Heart Program of Banner University Medical Group and Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery at the University of Arizona College of Medicine. Dr. Arabia shares his path from mechanical engineering into heart surgery and explains how that background led him into the world of artificial hearts.
They discuss how artificial hearts work, who may need one, and why these devices are often used as a bridge to transplant. Dr. Arabia explains that many patients with severe heart failure may not have enough time to wait for a donor heart, so an artificial heart can help keep them alive, recover their strength, and return home while waiting for transplant.
The conversation also looks at how the technology has changed over time. Dr. Arabia compares older air-driven devices with newer systems that use electromagnetic power and titanium parts. He explains why quieter, smaller, and more advanced devices are moving the field forward and why the long-term goal is a fully implantable artificial heart with no external driveline.
 
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In this powerful episode, Tim Fergestad sits down with Marcy Maslov, founder of Empowerment Unlimited Coaching and creator of the E-Factor Ethics Game. With more than 20 years in Fortune 500 finance and international leadership roles, Marcy shares how a traumatic ethical incident early in her career changed the direction of her life and work.
Marcy began her career in corporate accounting, serving as a global finance leader. But after uncovering serious misconduct inside an organization and becoming a whistleblower, she experienced firsthand how dangerous and costly unethical behavior can be. That moment became the turning point that led her to focus on ethics, leadership, and financial clarity.
Today, Marcy helps business owners and professional organizations build clear ethical standards and stronger financial foundations. She teaches leaders how to define what ethics means inside their company, how to communicate those values clearly, and how to protect their business from fraud, theft, and costly mistakes.
Through her E-Factor board game, Marcy creates a safe space for teams to practice handling real-world ethical dilemmas. From accepting gifts from vendors to misusing company resources, the game helps people think critically, communicate clearly, and make better decisions before problems arise in real life.
 
 
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What makes a great dentist? Is it skill? Experience? Technology? Or is it something more personal?
In this episode of the Phoenix Prosperity Podcast, Tim Fergestad sits down with Dr. Sheyda Zahiri, founder of All Smiles Dentistry and a West Valley native who has built her practice around patient education, comfort, and trust.
Dr. Zahiri shares how dentistry is about much more than teeth. While many people see dental visits as routine cleanings and fillings, she explains how dentists are often the first line of defense in spotting larger health issues. From checking blood pressure to screening for oral cancer, dentists may see patients more often than primary care doctors. That frequent connection creates an important opportunity to monitor overall health and educate patients about what’s really going on in their bodies.
She also opens up about the realities of building a practice. After launching her business in 2007, she was immediately hit with the recession. What followed was years of working six days a week, juggling another job to pay bills, and learning how to run a business through trial and error. Dental school taught her clinical skills. The recession taught her resilience.
 
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What does it take to run one of the country’s longest-standing residential mental health facilities?
In this episode of the Phoenix Prosperity Podcast, Tim Fergestad sits down with Adam Perkins, Chief Operating Officer of Sierra Tucson. With nearly two decades of experience in behavioral health and correctional healthcare, Adam shares how strong leadership, adaptable systems, and human-centered care work together to change lives.
Adam began his career as a Behavioral Health Associate at the Oregon State Hospital. A pivotal early experience showed him that even small system failures can deeply impact patients. That moment sparked a lifelong commitment to improving processes, supporting frontline staff, and building environments rooted in respect and dignity.
Now leading operations at Sierra Tucson, a residential treatment center licensed for 184 patients, Adam oversees a facility that serves people from across the country. Most patients stay between 20 and 30 days, receiving intensive support during some of the hardest seasons of their lives. Adam explains how the organization stays nimble in a changing healthcare landscape, especially as insurance reimbursement models evolve.
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What does it take to go from professional quarterback to business founder and community leader?
In this episode of the Phoenix Prosperity Podcast, Tim Fergestad sits down with former NFL and CFL quarterback Chris Streveler to talk about life beyond football, building businesses, and leading with purpose.
Chris shares his journey from winning a championship with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to playing in the NFL with teams like the Arizona Cardinals. He opens up about the highs and lows of professional sports, including being cut multiple times, recovering from back-to-back ACL injuries, and navigating the uncertainty that comes with an NFL career.
Now rooted in Arizona with his fiancée and young daughter, Chris is focused on building lasting impact off the field. He is a founding partner of Going Steady, a new intentional, values-based dating app launching in the Valley. The app is designed for people seeking serious, committed relationships. With strong security measures, ID verification, and community events, Going Steady aims to solve real problems in modern dating and help people align on core values early.
 
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Phoenix is more than sunshine and golf. It’s one of the fastest-growing destinations for meetings, conventions, and major events in the country. In this episode of the Phoenix Prosperity Podcast, Tim Fergestad sits down with Katie Provot, Business Development Leader at Visit Phoenix, to talk about how the Valley continues to grow, connect, and compete on a national and global stage.
Katie shares how Visit Phoenix serves as the Greater Phoenix Convention and Visitors Bureau, promoting the entire Valley as a top destination for meetings and events. With over 950 members, Visit Phoenix connects hotels, restaurants, attractions, and service providers to planners looking to host everything from small gatherings to citywide conventions with thousands of attendees.
You’ll hear how Visit Phoenix supports its partners through visibility, research, networking, and direct connections to event planners. Their website attracts more than 11 million annual views, and members gain access to market research, convention calendars, quarterly networking mixers, and referral opportunities that help businesses grow.
Katie also gives insight into the scale of events coming to Phoenix, from large citywide conventions to global mega-events like the Super Bowl and NCAA Final Four. She explains how the sales, services, and marketing teams work together to bring events to the Valley and support them every step of the way.
 
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What if your retirement money could invest in real estate, private lending, or even small businesses instead of just stocks and bonds?
In this episode of the Phoenix Prosperity Podcast, Tim Fergestad sits down with Kaaren Hall, Founder and CEO of UDirect IRA Services and author of Self-Directed IRA Investing: A BiggerPockets Guide. With over $1.2 billion in assets under custody, Kaaren has helped thousands of investors take more control of their retirement funds.
Kaaren shares how she transitioned from a 17-year career in radio into real estate and eventually launched UDirect in 2009. What started as a career pivot during the mortgage meltdown became a mission to help investors unlock the full power of self-directed IRAs.
They break down what a self-directed IRA really is and why it gives investors more freedom. While traditional 401(k)s and IRAs limit you to a menu of stocks and mutual funds, a self-directed IRA opens the door to alternative assets like real estate, private equity, notes, and even certain business investments.
Kaaren explains the importance of understanding “prohibited transactions” and why having a knowledgeable custodian matters. A simple mistake can cause your entire IRA to lose its tax-protected status. That’s why UDirect carefully reviews transactions to help investors avoid costly errors.
 
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In this episode, Tim Fergestad sits down with Tom Gauthier, founder and CEO of AgTechLogic. Tom is a chemical engineer, entrepreneur, and multi-generation farm descendant who is on a mission to help farmers reduce chemical use, lower costs, and build a more resilient food system.
Tom shares how a simple conversation at a Boy Scout meeting sparked the idea for AgTechLogic. After years in engineering and consulting, he saw a major problem in agriculture: farmers were struggling with rising input costs, high labor expenses, water challenges, and the risk of unproven new technologies. Many precision agriculture tools promised big results, but few could clearly prove their return on investment.
 
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What does it really mean to grow a business the right way? In this episode of the Phoenix Prosperity Podcast, Tim Fergestad sits down with CFO and finance leader Nicole Hollenbeck to talk about building healthy companies that create real impact.
With more than 25 years of experience, Nicole shares her journey from dreaming of becoming a “money doctor” at just eight years old to serving as a CFO for organizations like the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture and now the Vernadero Group, an Arizona-based environmental consulting firm serving federal agencies.
Nicole explains why many businesses struggle with one key issue: pricing. Too often, entrepreneurs chase revenue instead of profit. But as she explains, revenue without profit is not sustainable. Healthy finances allow businesses to grow, create jobs, and support families and communities.
 
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In this powerful episode, Tim Fergestad sits down with Erica Brinker to explore leadership, resilience, and what it truly means to grow through life’s hardest moments.
Erica’s career path is anything but ordinary. She began in global fashion, working with iconic brands like Tiffany & Co., Ralph Lauren, and Liz Claiborne. She later pivoted into healthcare, aerospace, renewable energy, and corporate leadership, eventually serving as Chief Marketing Officer and Chief Commercial Officer in large public companies. Along the way, she helped modernize marketing in highly technical industries, built global go-to-market strategies, led ESG and government relations initiatives, and scaled teams for growth.
Erica shares how stepping into engineering-driven organizations as a non-engineer forced her to build credibility, adapt quickly, and focus on translating complex products into clear customer value. She explains why many companies struggle with segmentation and messaging, and how understanding customer pain points is often the key to unlocking growth.
 
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