Phoenix Prosperity Podcast

On this episode of the Phoenix Prosperity Podcast, host Tim Fergestad sits down with Karen Roch, President and CEO of Credit Union West, to dive into her inspiring journey from part-time teller to top executive—and her mission to serve Arizona communities with heart and purpose.
Karen shares how growing up in a multicultural home shaped her emotional intelligence and leadership style, why she believes credit unions are crucial for financial education, and how Credit Union West is innovating to meet the modern needs of its members. From launching a 6% checking product to empowering underserved small businesses, Karen gives us a behind-the-scenes look at how her organization is building community wealth—not just financial profit.
Plus, hear how Karen balances leadership, service, and a full life at home, and why saying yes (and sometimes learning to say no) has defined her path to success.
What You’ll Learn:
Why emotional intelligence trumps traditional management
How Credit Union West is tackling cybersecurity and financial literacy
The power of collaborative leadership in the credit union world
Real steps to financial wellness everyone should know
 
------------------------------------------------ Interested in being part of this? Please visit our guest invitation page where you can learn more and fill out a brief questionnaire to get started: https://phoenixprosperitypodcast.com/guest It’s going to be enlightening and, most importantly, a lot of fun. I’d love for you to be a part of it!

In this episode of the Phoenix Prosperity Podcast, host Tim Fergestad sits down with entrepreneur and legal tech innovator Scott Hardy. As the founder and CEO of Top Class Actions, Leagueify Law, and Trimaxion, Scott shares how he turned a simple idea—making legal settlements accessible—into a multi-firm enterprise committed to increasing access to justice.
Scott discusses his journey from tech sales to legal entrepreneurship, the evolution of class action marketing, and the challenges of building consumer trust in a space often misunderstood. He also unpacks Arizona’s trailblazing “Alternative Business Structure” that enabled his unique law firm ownership, and how his firm is reshaping client communication and care.
Later, the conversation shifts to the rise of litigation funding and Trimaxion’s mission to offer accredited investors a way to support justice while diversifying their portfolios. Scott is candid about the risks, regulations, and returns—and why picking the right partners matters more than ever.
Whether you're curious about legal innovation, passive investing, or building a business with purpose, Scott’s story offers insight, honesty, and inspiration.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
How Scott’s side hustle became a leading legal consumer platform
What Arizona did to open the legal industry to entrepreneurs
Why litigation funding is rising—and what investors should know
The ethical considerations behind combining tech, law, and finance
How Trimaxion structures investment opportunities for impact and returns
------------------------------------------------ Interested in being part of this? Please visit our guest invitation page where you can learn more and fill out a brief questionnaire to get started: https://phoenixprosperitypodcast.com/guest It’s going to be enlightening and, most importantly, a lot of fun. I’d love for you to be a part of it!

In this insightful episode, Tim Fergestad sits down with multifamily investor-turned-broker Anna Sepic to unpack the Phoenix commercial real estate market, industrial development trends, and creative deal structuring. Anna brings deep experience from her time as a property owner, operator, and now as a broker at SRS Industrial, where she helps clients source, underwrite, and close on strategic real estate opportunities across asset classes.
Anna explains how the Phoenix industrial market has evolved, including the challenges with large warehouse vacancies and the rising demand for smaller flex condos. She also shares lessons from her early days in property management, her transition into brokerage, and why she’s so passionate about thoughtful, community-aligned development. From sewer inspections to seller carries, Anna brings practical advice and a grounded outlook on what makes a real estate deal truly work.
Key Topics Covered:
The industrial boom (and correction) in Phoenix
Tips on buying land and developing smart
Her start in property management and how it shaped her approach
What every investor should know about cost segregation studies
Navigating creative financing options
Why community impact should be part of the real estate equation
------------------------------------------------ Interested in being part of this? Please visit our guest invitation page where you can learn more and fill out a brief questionnaire to get started: https://phoenixprosperitypodcast.com/guest It’s going to be enlightening and, most importantly, a lot of fun. I’d love for you to be a part of it!

In this episode, Tim Fergestad sits down with Jeff Nicholson, Vice President at J.S. Held, a global consulting firm specializing in commercial construction and insurance consulting. Jeff shares how he found his way into the consulting industry after a layoff in 2010, and how J.S. Held has grown into a 3,000-person organization operating across diverse disciplines like building consulting, forensic engineering, and environmental health.
Jeff breaks down how insurance claims, appraisals, and property loss assessments really work—from copper theft and fires to complex water damage and catastrophe response. He discusses the appraisal process, the role of adjusters, and how consultants like himself become the go-to experts for insurers and legal teams.
The episode also touches on Jeff’s career progression, his certifications (including drone piloting!), and his thoughts on preparing for retirement. You’ll learn why delivering the unvarnished truth is a core value at J.S. Held and how Jeff’s on-the-ground experience gives him a unique edge in the field.
What You’ll Learn:
What commercial construction consulting involves
How insurance carriers rely on third-party consultants
Real-world examples of claims—from fires to copper theft
Why drone technology is becoming part of the job
How Jeff prepares for retirement and financial stability
 
------------------------------------------------ Interested in being part of this? Please visit our guest invitation page where you can learn more and fill out a brief questionnaire to get started: https://phoenixprosperitypodcast.com/guest It’s going to be enlightening and, most importantly, a lot of fun. I’d love for you to be a part of it!

In this energizing conversation, Tim Fergestad sits down with Kathleen Carlson, founder and CEO of Straight Up Executive Consulting, to explore what it truly means to live a successful executive life without losing yourself along the way.
Kathleen opens up about her 30+ year journey in leadership at a Fortune 50 company and the intense pressure that led her to reinvent her life and career. She now helps high-performing leaders who look successful on the outside but feel exhausted or misaligned on the inside. Together, Tim and Kathleen unpack the difference between mindset and mental fitness, why “success isn’t supposed to hurt,” and the transformative power of creating a life—not just a living.
You’ll hear about the real challenges faced by leaders today, how unresolved stress impacts decision-making, and why clarity is the critical first step toward meaningful success. Kathleen also shares practical tools for emotional self-regulation, including her nighttime forgiveness ritual and how mental fitness training builds resilience.
Whether you’re an executive on the edge, a leader seeking more meaning, or someone striving to align your outer success with inner peace, this episode is a must-listen.
 
------------------------------------------------ Interested in being part of this? Please visit our guest invitation page where you can learn more and fill out a brief questionnaire to get started: https://phoenixprosperitypodcast.com/guest It’s going to be enlightening and, most importantly, a lot of fun. I’d love for you to be a part of it!

In this episode of the Phoenix Prosperity Podcast, host Tim Fergestad sits down with Doug Campbell, President of Colling Media, a Phoenix-based digital advertising agency with over 16 years of experience. Doug shares the journey of Colling Media’s evolution from traditional media buying to cutting-edge, data-driven digital advertising—and what it really means to prove ROI in today’s fragmented marketing landscape.
Doug opens up about how Colling Media tracks real-world results, from using phone numbers on TV spots in the early days to now leveraging programmatic advertising and advanced attribution models. He dives into the shift toward targeting individual behaviors over broad demographics, and how this benefits both brands and consumers.
Listeners will learn about:
Why brand awareness still matters—even when you’re laser-focused on performance marketing
The dangers of cutting mid- and upper-funnel advertising
Creative ways to track offline conversions, like measuring store visits after billboard ads
Why boosting every social post a little bit may be better than guessing what will go viral
How AI is making Colling Media more efficient—without replacing human creativity
Whether you’re a marketing pro or a small business owner trying to navigate social, this episode is packed with gold. Doug’s practical tips and transparent takes on the future of advertising make this a must-listen.
 
------------------------------------------------- Interested in being part of this? Please visit our guest invitation page where you can learn more and fill out a brief questionnaire to get started: https://phoenixprosperitypodcast.com/guest It’s going to be enlightening and, most importantly, a lot of fun. I’d love for you to be a part of it!

In this episode of the Phoenix Prosperity Podcast, host Tim Fergestad sits down with Tom Costello, President of Vivid Systems, for an insightful ride through the world of software, motorcycles, and the intersection of technology and passion.
Tom shares how his career evolved from enterprise-level software systems for state agencies to developing a powerful new motorcycle app—Motorcycle.app—that aims to become the go-to platform for riders everywhere. From real-time ride tracking and group communication to DIY maintenance guides powered by AI, Tom explains how his years of experience are coming together to serve a passionate and underserved community.
We also get a peek behind the scenes at how his engineering mindset has influenced not just his career path, but how he solves problems—whether it’s auditing massive codebases with bots or architecting scalable software systems that could apply to everything from surfboards to refrigerators.
What You’ll Hear:
How Tom transitioned from government software systems to mobile app development
The story behind Motorcycle.app and its future as a platform
Why security and scalability are essential in every digital product
Insights into AI-powered DIY tech and building software that solves real-world problems
Tom’s advice to fellow entrepreneurs about networking and scaling a business
 
------------------------------------------------- Interested in being part of this? Please visit our guest invitation page where you can learn more and fill out a brief questionnaire to get started: https://phoenixprosperitypodcast.com/guest It’s going to be enlightening and, most importantly, a lot of fun. I’d love for you to be a part of it!

In this powerful episode, host Tim Fergestad sits down with Candice Raine, CEO of the Arizona Trauma Institute and a trailblazer in trauma education. Candice shares how the Institute is changing the way individuals and organizations understand and respond to trauma by focusing on education, not just treatment.
Candice dives into the neuroscience of trauma, explaining how resilience isn't about the event but the body’s response to stress. She introduces their “Neuro Affective Coherence” model, combining brain science, wellness-based frameworks, and somatic practices to support healing.
From training corrections staff and inmates to coaching high-performing executives on real self-care (not just the gym and lettuce), Candice emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and embodied resilience. She also opens up about the growing pains of running a mission-driven organization, expanding globally, and finding aligned marketing support.
If you're interested in trauma-informed practices, resilience-building, or just want practical tools to reduce daily stress, this episode is a must-listen.
Key Topics:
What trauma really is (it’s not just about the event)
How to bring your body back to baseline
The truth about self-care for high achievers
How organizations and even jails are becoming trauma-informed
The challenges of leading a purpose-driven, global training institute
Learn more about Candice and the Arizona Trauma Institute at aztrauma.org
 
 
------------------------------------------------- Interested in being part of this? Please visit our guest invitation page where you can learn more and fill out a brief questionnaire to get started: https://phoenixprosperitypodcast.com/guest It’s going to be enlightening and, most importantly, a lot of fun. I’d love for you to be a part of it!

In this inspiring episode of the Phoenix Prosperity Podcast, host Tim Fergestad sits down with Andy Price, CEO of the Grand Canyon Council, to explore the powerful and lasting impact of Scouting across Arizona. Andy shares his journey from banking to Boy Scouts, how a two-year plan turned into a 27-year career, and why the mission of Scouting still lights him up today.
You’ll hear about the cultural and community roots of Scouting, how it's adapting to reach more families and become more inclusive, and the real data behind the benefits of youth participation. Andy breaks down how Scouting helps shape stronger, more resilient young people, and how the values taught through the program continue to change lives—both for kids and adults.
Whether you’re a parent, a former Scout, or someone curious about Scouting in the modern age, this episode is a heartfelt reminder of what it means to build community, grow leadership, and make a lasting impact.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
Andy’s path to leading one of Arizona’s largest youth organizations
How Scouting is evolving to welcome more kids and families
Surprising research on how Scouting boosts long-term success
 
 
------------------------------------------------- Interested in being part of this? Please visit our guest invitation page where you can learn more and fill out a brief questionnaire to get started: https://phoenixprosperitypodcast.com/guest It’s going to be enlightening and, most importantly, a lot of fun. I’d love for you to be a part of it!

In this episode of the Phoenix Prosperity Podcast, Tim sits down with John Norbut, the founder of Reliable Risk Management. With nearly two decades of experience in the insurance and bonding world—especially in construction—John shares the inside story of how he grew a boutique agency in Phoenix into a trusted partner for contractors and businesses across Arizona.
John opens up about his unique career path, starting from laboring on job sites to becoming a key problem-solver and advocate for business owners navigating complex risk. He breaks down what "bonded and insured" really means, why relationships matter in insurance, and how his old-school approach has helped him achieve 13 years of double-digit growth.
From explaining how construction bonds work to the impact of private equity in his industry, John offers valuable insights for entrepreneurs, business owners, and anyone looking to build sustainable success with integrity.
Topics Covered:
Why the name “Reliable Risk Management” is more than just a label
What sets his agency apart in a competitive, consolidating industry
How to prevent costly mistakes with insurance and contracts
The real meaning of "bonded and insured"
Why trusting relationships matter in the world of insurance
John's personal philosophy on growth, legacy, and staying independent
 
------------------------------------------------- Interested in being part of this? Please visit our guest invitation page where you can learn more and fill out a brief questionnaire to get started: https://phoenixprosperitypodcast.com/guest It’s going to be enlightening and, most importantly, a lot of fun. I’d love for you to be a part of it!