Proof Talks is a series of conversations designed to unpack real expertise.
Hosted by Ashley Smith, each episode features an experienced professional, business owner, or subject matter expert sharing stories, case studies, lessons learned, and practical insights from years in the trenches.
These aren't polished keynotes or scripted interviews. They're candid deep dives into the messy challenges, difficult decisions, hard-earned lessons, and hidden opportunities that shape real-world success.
Whether you're looking to learn from accomplished professionals, explore different industries, or better understand how experienced people think through complex problems, Proof Talks offers a rare glimpse into proven judgment, perspective, and expertise.
New episodes feature leaders, operators, entrepreneurs, and experts from a wide range of sectors.
Real expertise, unpacked.
From Commercial Insurance to Dystopian Fiction: How T.A. Thompson Finally Published His First Novel
Send us Fan Mail What happens after you finally finish a manuscript — but have no idea how to publish it? In this episode of Proof Talks, host Ashley Smith sits down with T.A. Thompson, a commercial insurance professional and first-time published author, to unpack the winding path that brought his dystopian thriller, The Mark, into the world. T.A. had dreamed of writing since he was nine, but raising a family and building a career came first. When he eventually completed an earlier manuscript...
6 Aug 2026
When a Well-Liked Leader Is the Bottleneck: Dale Turnbull on How to Know What a Team Needs Next
Send us Fan Mail A leader can be trusted, supportive, and genuinely well-liked — and still become the bottleneck holding a team back. In this episode of Proof Talks, host Ashley Smith sits down with leadership coach and executive trainer Dale Turnbull to explore what happens when a leader’s natural strengths no longer match what a growing team needs. Dale shares the story of an experienced senior leader who had built strong relationships and made himself highly available to — and responsible ...
24 Jul 2026
From Expert to Entrepreneur: Jeanne Omlor on Coachability and Building a High-Ticket Client Roster
Send us Fan Mail Expertise can make someone excellent at their work. It doesn’t necessarily teach them how to build a business around it. In this episode of Proof Talks, host Ashley Smith sits down with business strategist, online business coach, and certified executive coach Jeanne Omlor to explore why talented coaches, consultants, fractional executives, and other service professionals can struggle to turn what they know into consistent clients. Jeanne shares how she took her own coaching b...
16 Jul 2026
From Founder-Dependence to a Business That Scales: Murray Smith on Leadership & Letting Go
Send us Fan Mail Many businesses don't stop growing because they run out of opportunity. They stop growing because everything still depends on the founder. In this episode of Proof Talks, host Ashley Smith sits down with EOS Implementer and business advisor Murray Smith to explore what it really takes to build a business that can grow beyond its owner. Drawing from his work helping leadership teams improve execution, accountability, and communication, Murray shares the story of a creative age...
6 Jul 2026
From "We Think We Need AI" to Intentional Adoption: Brian Beck on AI Leadership
Send us Fan Mail Everyone is talking about AI. Far fewer organizations stop to ask what business problems they're actually trying to solve. In this episode of Proof Talks, host Ashley Smith sits down with Senior Cybersecurity and AI Consultant Brian Beck to explore why successful AI adoption isn't primarily about implementing new technology — it's about aligning strategy, people, and business priorities. Drawing from his work advising executive teams on AI, cybersecurity, and digital transfor...
30 Jun 2026
From Superficial Alignment to Better Decisions: Cristian Gonzalez on Productive Disagreement
Send us Fan Mail Most leadership failures don't begin with bad decisions. They begin with good people staying quiet. In this episode of Proof Talks, host Ashley Smith sits down with capital project leader and author Cristian Gonzalez to explore why silence is so often mistaken for alignment — and how organizations can create cultures where people speak up before small problems become expensive mistakes. Drawing from more than two decades leading complex industrial projects across North Americ...
9 Jun 2026
Welcome to Proof Talks
Send us Fan Mail Welcome to Proof Talks. Some of the smartest people you'll ever meet aren't the loudest. They're the professionals, operators, business owners, and subject matter experts who've spent years — sometimes decades — building expertise, solving problems, and navigating complex decisions. Proof Talks is a series of conversations designed to unpack that expertise through stories, case studies, lessons learned, and practical takeaways from people who've been there. No hype. No predic...
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Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
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Spotify
5.0 / 5
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