Stacks & Strategies: Business Growth Through the Pages

About Stacks & Strategies: Business Growth Through the Pages

Stop guessing what to read and start applying what works. As a small- or medium-sized business owner, your time is your most valuable asset, making it difficult to know exactly what to read and when. Welcome to Stacks & Strategies, the podcast where we go through stacks of business books to pull out the high-quality strategies you can actually apply to your life and business. Our mission is to help local businesses improve by accelerating their learning. We cut through the uncertainty of the "business book" world, highlighting the best content so you can decide whether to dive into a book yourself, apply the strategies we share immediately, or move on to a topic that better fits your current needs. Why Listen? Curated Learning: We filter the "stacks" to find the most impactful content for your growth. Actionable Strategies: We don't just review books; we pull out the "how-to" for business owners. Time Savings: Reduce the effort of vetting books and get straight to the insights that improve your business and your life. Meet Your Hosts This podcast is hosted by three experienced business owners who bring different perspectives—but a shared passion for growth, learning, and practical application. John Davis is a Business Coach with ActionCOACH, specializing in helping business owners gain clarity on their destination and identify the specific skills, systems, and learning required to reach their goals. His approach focuses on strategy, accountability, and turning ideas into executable plans. Wendy Pace is the Owner of Pace Setting Media, where she helps businesses strengthen their brand, improve visibility, and connect more effectively with their audiences. With a strong background in marketing and messaging, Wendy brings real-world insight into how business principles translate into client engagement and measurable results. Jess Villegas is the Founder of Acuity Business Consulting, working closely with business owners to improve operations, financial clarity, and long-term sustainability. Jess provides a grounded, analytical perspective, helping businesses make informed decisions that support scalable and profitable growth. Whether you want to grow your team, increase your profits, or find more clarity in your operations, Stacks & Strategies provides the roadmap through the best business literature available.

Publisher

Stacks & Strategies

Category

business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

14 Jan 2026

Latest episode

13 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

13 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   13 Oct 2026

   Episode 13: Why Disruption Doesn’t Happen Overnight: Rita McGrath’s Seeing Around Corners

   In this episode, we’re reviewing Seeing Around Corners: How to Spot Inflection Points in Business Before They Happen by Columbia Business School professor and innovation expert Rita McGrath. The book challenges the idea that major market shifts happen overnight; McGrath argues that most “sudden” disruptions are the final stage of changes that have been building for years. McGrath explains how to identify strategic inflection points—major shifts in technology, customer behavior, regulation, o...

2. 

   13 Oct 2026

   Episode 12: Less Friction, More Progress: What The Friction Project Teaches Leaders About Making the Right Things Easier

   In this episode, we’re reviewing The Friction Project: How Smart Leaders Make the Right Things Easier and the Wrong Things Harder by Robert I. Sutton and Huggy Rao. Drawing on seven years of research, the book explores why so many organizations make simple work unnecessarily complicated—and what leaders can do about it. Sutton and Rao introduce the idea of becoming a “friction fixer”: someone who treats other people’s time as valuable, identifies the processes and habits that slow teams down...

3. 

   4 Aug 2026

   Episode 10 - Speak Up, Stay Calm, Get Results: Crucial Conversations Explained

   In this episode, we dive into Crucial Conversations by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan, and Al Switzler—a powerful guide to handling high-stakes conversations with confidence and clarity. Whether you're navigating tough workplace discussions, managing team dynamics, or improving communication in your personal life, this book offers practical tools to stay calm, speak honestly, and achieve better outcomes. We break down the core concepts, including how to recognize when a conversa...

4. 

   4 Aug 2026

   Episode 11 - Beyond Strategy: The Mindset That Drives Success

   In this episode, we explore Inner Excellence by Jim Murphy—a performance-driven guide that goes beyond business tactics and dives into the mindset required to succeed at the highest level. Designed for high achievers, this book challenges entrepreneurs to master their inner world so they can perform consistently under pressure. We unpack key ideas like mental discipline, emotional control, and purpose-driven focus—along with how these principles apply directly to leadership, decision-making, ...

5. 

   30 Jun 2026

   Episode 9 - Why Your Greatest Strength Could Become Your Greatest Trap

   What if everything you've worked for — the career wins, the recognition, the expertise — is quietly setting you up for a fall? In this episode, we dive deep into Strength to Strength by Harvard professor and social scientist Arthur C. Brooks, a book that challenges everything we think we know about success, ambition, and fulfillment in the second half of life.

6. 

   12 May 2026

   Episode 8 - The Hot Dog That Changed Fine Dining: Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara

   What if the difference between a good business and an unforgettable one comes down to one thing: how you make people feel? In this episode of Stacks and Strategies, we dive into Unreasonable Hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect by Will Guidara, the former co-owner of Eleven Madison Park, the restaurant he helped transform into the #1 restaurant in the world. Guidara's bestselling book reveals how obsessive attention to the guest experience—what he calls "un...

7. 

   7 May 2026

   Episode 7 - Annie Duke's Thinking in Bets: Why Good Decisions Don't Always Lead to Good Outcomes

   What if the secret to better decision-making isn't being right more often, but knowing how uncertain you really are? In this episode of Stacks and Strategies, we break down Thinking in Bets: Making Smarter Decisions When You Don't Have All the Facts by former World Series of Poker champion Annie Duke. Duke's bestselling book challenges the way we evaluate success and failure, introducing the concept of "resulting"—the trap of judging decisions based solely on outcomes rather than the quality ...

8. 

   18 Mar 2026

   Episode 6 - Good to Great by Jim Collins

   Episode 6 of Stacks and Strategies takes on a true heavyweight in the world of business thinking—Good to Great by Jim Collins. This isn’t just a book about success; it’s a deep, research-driven breakdown of what separates companies that merely survive from those that consistently outperform over time. In this episode, we dig into the core concepts that have made Good to Great a staple for leaders and entrepreneurs alike—Level 5 Leadership, the Hedgehog Concept, the Flywheel Effect, and the di...

9. 

   18 Mar 2026

   Episode 5 - Mind Gym by Gary Mack

   In this episode, we dive into Mind Gym by Gary Mack—a classic in the world of mental performance that’s just as relevant for entrepreneurs and business leaders as it is for elite athletes. Mack’s core premise is simple but powerful: your mindset is the ultimate competitive advantage. Talent and skill can only take you so far—how you think, how you handle pressure, and how you respond to setbacks are what truly separate top performers from everyone else. We break down the key lessons from the ...

10. 

    2 Mar 2026

    Episode 3 - Leadership and Self Deception - Book by Arbinger Institute

    In Episode 3 of Stacks & Strategies, we continue breaking down the systems, decisions, and strategic thinking that separate sustainable growth from stalled momentum. This podcast is built for entrepreneurs, business owners, executives, and growth-focused professionals who want practical insight into scaling a business, improving operational efficiency, strengthening leadership, and building long-term wealth. Each episode focuses on real-world strategy—no fluff, no theory without applicati...

11. 

    16 Feb 2026

    Episode 4 - The Traveler's Gift by Andy Andrews

    In Episode 4 of Stacks & Strategies, we break down The Traveler’s Gift by Andy Andrews and examine the seven decisions that shape success in business, leadership, and life. This episode explores the core principles behind personal responsibility, decision-making, persistence, and mindset—and why these fundamentals matter for entrepreneurs, executives, and growth-focused professionals. We discuss how accountability drives performance, how clarity impacts strategy, and how disciplined think...

12. 

    14 Jan 2026

    Episode 2 - Master Your Focus — Cutting Through Distraction in Business and Life

    In this episode, we review Master Your Focus by Thibaut Meurisse, a book that feels especially relevant in a world full of constant notifications, competing priorities, and mental overload. As three business owners, focus isn’t just a productivity tool—it’s a competitive advantage. We break down Meurisse’s core ideas around attention control, mental clarity, and intentional work, and discuss how these principles show up in our daily businesses, leadership decisions, and client interactions. W...

13. 

    14 Jan 2026

    Episode 1 - Richest Man in Babylon

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Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.