Double Take with Mike & Max is a podcast by Alorica Co-CEOs Max Schwendner and Mike Clifton, offering fresh perspectives on the future of customer experience (CX), business innovation, and leadership. Each episode dives into timely topics shaping the industry, sharing actionable insights, expert analysis, and personal stories to help brands stand out and succeed in an ever-changing world.
Built for What’s Next: Alorica + Crescendo | Part 1
After nearly three decades in CX, Alorica's Founder and Executive Chairman Andy Lee believes that companies have spent too much time and resources layering new tools onto an already fragmented tech stack.
Now, as Crescendo’s newly appointed CEO, he joins Double Take with Mike & Max to explain why agentic is the future, what it could mean for CX employees and their customers, and how the Alorica + Crescendo partnership will change the customer experience for good.
1 Jul 2026
Tech Check: You Ready?
Being digital-first doesn’t mean becoming less human. It means giving people better tools, helping clients solve more complex problems and moving faster in an industry that isn’t slowing down.
In the latest episode of Double Take with Mike & Max, Alorica Co-CEOs talk about the tech investments that matter, why they’re already making an impact and how people remain at the center of making it all work.
15 Apr 2026
Strong Leaders Have High EQ
Mike & Max explore how emotional intelligence shows up in real team dynamics—and why it matters more than ever when navigating performance, communication, and change today.
4 Mar 2026
Goals, Purpose & Defining Success for Yourself
You hit the goal. You earned the promotion. But purpose? That’s something only you can define.
In this episode, Mike and Max talk candidly about ambition, growth and the pressure people feel to “find their why.” They share lessons from their own journeys and what working alongside global teams has taught them about balance, leadership and fulfillment.
Because purpose is personal. And it’s yours to discover.
13 Jan 2026
The CEO Soundtrack to Growth
To wrap up Season One of Double Take, we’re revisiting the conversations that stayed with us most—the moments that shaped how we think about leadership, growth, and showing up at work and in life.
In this episode, each clip is paired with a song that captures the feeling behind it...like chapter titles that help frame the ideas you’ll hear.
Check out our full Spotify playlists links below, offering a deeper look at the music that inspired us all season long.
The CEO Soundtrack (Max's Version): https://bit.ly/4qkmICV (https://bit.ly/4qkmICV)
The CEO Soundtrack (Mike's Version): https://bit.ly/49iP9v4 (https://bit.ly/49iP9v4)
2 Dec 2025
How Employee-Led Giving Transforms Culture (w/ MLBA Founder Joyce Lee)
Alorica transformed corporate giving by creating MLBA—an employee-led nonprofit where teams decide how to support their communities. Joyce Lee joins Co-CEOs Mike Clifton and Max Schwendner to share how grassroots leadership, local decision-making, and employee empowerment strengthened culture and impact across the globe.
Join learn more about MLBA visit livesbetter.org (https://livesbetter.org/ways-to-help/)
7 Oct 2025
Growth Mode: Thriving Without Burning Out
Growth takes effort, but it shouldn't be all-consuming. In this episode, Mike and Max reveal how prioritization and a balanced approach to challenges are essential to avoid the burnout that often accompanies overachieving on the path to success.
23 Jun 2025
The CEO Failure Bounce-back (Because We've Been There)
Even CEOs fail. In this episode, Mike and Max share how setbacks shaped their success, and why failure isn’t the end of the story, it’s part of the process.
16 May 2025
Trust, Feedback & Showing Up—What Strong Relationships Are Built On
What does it take to build strong relationships—at work and beyond? In this episode, Mike & Max open up about the role of trust, empathy, humor, and consistency in leadership. From navigating tough decisions to staying grounded and authentic, hear how they keep showing up for the people who matter most.
15 Apr 2025
What You Need to Stay Ahead of Uncertainty—And How We Deliver
Through shifting markets, rising tariffs, and economic uncertainty, one thing is clear—standing still isn’t an option. In this episode, Mike & Max share how Alorica is helping clients stay ahead with smart, proactive strategies. From rethinking operating models to strengthening trust and driving innovation across geos, hear how our teams are delivering real value when it matters most—and why the time to act is now.
12 Feb 2025
Mentors in Motion: Non-Traditional Leadership Paths & Approaches
Alorica Co-CEOs Max Schwendner and Mike Clifton explore the rising importance of mentorship, particularly in meeting Gen Z's unique expectations, inspired by Fast Company’s article, “The Most Diverse Generation in the Workplace Agrees on This One Career Builder.” Max and Mike share personal career stories and offer actionable advice on finding mentorship and cultivating it within organizations to foster growth and connection. Tune in for valuable insights on empowering both your career and your team through mentorship.
17 Dec 2024
Back to the Future: The Power of Voice CX in the AI Chatter
Inspired by a Business Insider article, To speak to a representative, press $$, Alorica Co-CEOs Max Schwendner and Mike Clifton discuss why voice customer experience (CX) is becoming a premium service. They explore the value of human interactions in an AI-driven world, how to achieve the right balance, predictions for the future of CX, and actionable insights on leveraging voice CX to build stronger customer relationships and gain a competitive edge.
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
474,781
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
2.3 / 5
3 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
5 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 29 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
11
Social presence
0
YouTube
86
Engagement
30
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