Client: Sacred Heart University (Jack Welch College of Business & Technology)
Host: Charles Firlotte
Services Provided: On-Location Recording, Audio/Video Editing, Social Media Creation, Campaign Management
🎙️ The Objective
Sacred Heart University’s Jack Welch College of Business & Technology sought to launch “Heart to Heart”—a premier podcast focused on leadership and business in the modern age. Hosted by Charles Firlotte, the show needed to reflect the university’s prestigious reputation and deeply supportive culture.
Sacred Heart University is renowned for a leadership philosophy built on empowerment, hands-on learning, and community. Championed by President Dr. John Petillo, the university fosters an environment where students are encouraged to take risks, view mistakes as learning opportunities, and pursue high-level, real-world work. The “Heart to Heart” podcast needed to be an extension of this ethos: delivering personalized, mentor-level insights to listeners while showcasing incredible stories of ambition, resilience, and modern leadership.
🚀 The Solution: How Gale Force Wins Delivered
To get this ambitious project off the ground, Gale Force Wins stepped in to handle the end-to-end production and digital launch of the podcast’s inaugural season.
Our Scope of Work Included:
- On-Location Production: We traveled to the Sacred Heart podcast studio in Connecticut to professionally record the first 8 episodes, ensuring broadcast-quality audio and video.
- Post-Production & Editing: Our team meticulously edited all 8 episodes, crafting a polished final product that kept audiences engaged.
- Digital Branding & Social Media Setup: We built the podcast’s digital footprint from scratch, creating optimized social media pages across Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
- Distribution & Campaign Management: We managed the strategic dissemination of the podcast across all social channels over a targeted 4-month campaign, building an audience and driving engagement.
🎧 Season 1 produced by #GaleForceWins
We produced 8 dynamic episodes featuring a diverse lineup of CEOs, authors, scholars, and entrepreneurs. Here is a look at the foundational episodes we brought to life:
EP 1: Jeff Flaks, CEO of Hartford Healthcare
Host Chuck Firlotte explores Flaks’s incredible journey from a pharmacy delivery boy to the leader of a massive healthcare system with 540 locations. The conversation highlights Hartford Healthcare’s community-based care, 24/7 virtual innovations, the importance of supporting healthcare workers against burnout, and Flaks’s philosophy of being “the best at getting better.”
EP 2: Pride, Delusion, & The Fall of GE
A deep dive with former Wall Street Journal reporters Ted Mann and Tom Gryta, authors of Lights Out: Pride, Delusion, and The Fall of General Electric. This episode dissects the transition from Jack Welch to Jeff Immelt, corporate governance, the dangers of exceptionalism, and crucial lessons for seasoned leaders.
EP 3: Ryan Hawk, Host of The Learning Leader Show
Ryan Hawk—author, consultant, and speaker—shares how his athletic background translated into sales and leadership success. He discusses his transition to hosting a podcast with over 650 episodes, emphasizing “culture over command,” intentional development, and the importance of self-awareness for young professionals.
EP 4: Charles Slack on Hetty Green
Author Charles Slack discusses his book on Hetty Green, the “first female tycoon of Wall Street.” Known as a brilliant and courageous investor whose philosophy mirrored Warren Buffett’s, Green’s story provides historical context to modern finance. Slack also shares personal insights into his writing journey.
EP 5: Dr. George Gercken, Consultant Psychologist
Dr. Gercken shares his unique path from surviving cancer to becoming a sought-after corporate psychologist. He challenges modern leaders to embrace the “gray” areas, view management as a service to the team, and use AI as a learning tool. His advice centers on staying relevant through lifelong learning and adapting to change.
EP 6: Victoria & Gabriella Nasto
A story of the American Dream. Sisters and university graduates Victoria and Gabriella discuss modernizing their family’s 85-year-old New Jersey ice cream business. They detail their successful marketing strategies on TikTok, the importance of staying true to their roots, and offer advice to students preparing to launch their careers.
EP 7: Dr. Michael Higgins on Pope Francis
Canadian scholar and Vatican expert Dr. Michael Higgins discusses his book Francis, the Jesuit Disruptor. The episode focuses on Pope Francis’s unique brand of “servant leadership,” his efforts to humanize the papacy, and the importance of human solidarity, altruism, and serving others as core leadership traits.
EP 8: Zachary Braca, Licensed Realtor
A recent Sacred Heart University graduate, Zachary Braca shares his fast-tracked success in the competitive Connecticut real estate market. Having co-founded the SHU Real Estate Club, Zachary offers invaluable advice to young professionals: get comfortable being uncomfortable, master the pivot after hearing “no,” and lead by inspiring others.
Project Sponsors: The Heart to Heart podcast was proudly sponsored by Aquarion Water Company (Bridgeport, CT) and Ganim Financial Management (Shelton, CT).
If you are interested in starting a podcast reach out to us:
