A TWiT Talk with Stan "The Radio Man" Hustad

On this post-Thanksgiving "Black Friday," veteran broadcaster and performance economist Stan Hustad explores why so many people still "leave money on the table."
With sharp insights and light humor, this 15-minute TWiT Talk explains the real origin of the phrase and how it applies to modern business, media, and the performance economy.

Key Ideas:
• The poker-table origin of "leaving money on the table"
• How entrepreneurs underprice, under-offer, and underperform
• The importance of full performance in the modern economy
• Why follow-up is the difference between success and missed opportunity
• Thanksgiving reflections on living fully alive

Things to Remember:
• Money is the measurement, not the meaning.
• Performance beats presence.
• People can't say yes if you never ask.

Things to Share:
• The true origin of the expression.
• Insights about the performance economy.
• The reminder to serve fully and offer boldly.

Things to Take Note Of and Act On:
• Charge appropriately.
• Always offer a next step.
• Invite, follow up, and perform with purpose.

Final Encouragement:
Step into 2026 fully alive—creating more value, more fun, and more abundance.

Living on the Edge — Lessons from a Heart and a Life

A Transplant Zone Reflection with Gary Register

In this moving short feature from The Transplant Zone, host Stan Hustad sits down once again with Gary Register — a man living day by day in the tension between hope and uncertainty as he awaits a heart transplant. Today's conversation was framed by the news of the passing of former Vice President Richard "Dick" Cheney, who died at 84 after a long and complex journey with heart disease — a journey that, for many years, mirrored the one Gary now walks.

A Shared Story of Fragile Courage

Cheney's life was one of contrasts — power and vulnerability, public service and private struggle. Long before his decades in Washington, he was struck by a premature heart attack that changed the course of his life. For years he lived with assistive devices, artificial pumps, and eventually a heart transplant that extended his time, allowing him to see grandchildren grow and to continue the work he valued.

For Gary, and for many in The Transplant Zone, Cheney's story is a reminder that life on the edge is still life — full of meaning, gratitude, and growth. Each day brings a mix of fear and faith, but also the awareness that every heartbeat — natural or borrowed — is a gift.

What We Can Remember and Share

This short program does not dwell on politics or legacy debates. Instead, it honors what we can all take away from a life sustained by courage and technology:

• Resilience matters. Whether in public life or private waiting, endurance often defines true strength.

• Gratitude transforms fear. Those who live on borrowed time understand that every sunrise carries grace.

• Legacy isn't perfection — it's perseverance. The will to keep going, even when the heart falters, becomes its own quiet inspiration.

Living in the Transplant Zone

Gary Register continues to share his reflections from what he calls "the waiting room of grace." His stories bring insight and encouragement to others who face heart failure, chronic illness, or major life transitions. In The Transplant Zone, he reminds us that being "on the edge" is not the end — it's often the place where life becomes most real, most human, and most sacred.

Things to Remember, Reflect On, and Share

• Every heart — natural, artificial, or transplanted — beats with a purpose beyond survival.

• Gratitude and generosity make life richer, even when days are uncertain.

• Hope is not naïve; it's the art of living fully with whatever heart you have today.

Call to Action

To experience this short video and future reflections from Gary Register, visit The Transplant Zone — a place for stories of hope, healing, and the courage to keep living from the heart. Share this episode with someone facing their own waiting season — and remind them that they're not alone.

And he and you must decide what to do next because we are all at turning points.

In this latest episode of Inconvenient Ideas with Stan "the Radio Man" Hustad, listeners are invited to step into the Curiosity Zone—that place where everything you thought you knew might be wrong. With his signature mix of humor, insight, and challenge, Stan declares a new national observance: Turning Point Day. Why? Because almost everything—from world politics to personal purpose—is shifting, and every one of us is standing at a crossroads.

From the geopolitical to the personal, Hustad walks through the evidence that we are living in turning-point times. He notes that Donald Trump—whether you love him or hate him—continues to move forward, shaping the game through dealmaking and strategy. On the global stage, Russia faces economic collapse under pressure, China wrestles with instability and internal unrest, and the Democrats and Republicans alike are forced into uncomfortable recalculations. The world, it seems, is turning.

But Stan's message doesn't stay in the headlines. It turns inward. He reminds us that it isn't just world leaders who face crossroads—it's everyone. Sports, business, relationships, and even our spiritual lives are all shifting. The rules that used to work no longer do. Every one of us is being called to make new decisions about who we are and where we're going.

Stan offers a timeless principle: 'If you don't know what to do—stop and bow.' In that pause, he says, we rediscover who we want to be. Then, we can discern what we need to do. Every turning point requires humility, reflection, and connection. Find mentors. Seek wise friends. Rebuild your network of 'turning point partners.' Because no one navigates transformation alone.

He also draws from his decades of business coaching, encouraging listeners to prepare for change by developing a priority project plan—something that anchors them in purpose when the marketplace, economy, or life itself shifts suddenly. As he observes, 'Nothing is secure anymore—except your ability to grow, reflect, and make wise turns.'

The episode closes on a deeply human note as Stan references his friend in The Transplant Zone—a man waiting for a life-saving heart transplant. It's a reminder that for some, turning points are not metaphorical but literal matters of life and death. Yet even there, hope and faith shine through.

Things to Remember and Share

Everyone is at a turning point. The world, your business, your relationships—everything is in motion.

Movement is power. As Stan notes, like him or not, Donald Trump keeps moving—and that's a key to survival.

If you don't know what to do—stop and bow. Reflection and humility reveal direction.

Find turning point partners. Coaches, mentors, and wise friends help us see our path more clearly.

Purpose creates stability. In uncertain times, anchoring yourself to a meaningful project or cause can provide clarity and courage.

A Call to Action

As the year turns, take stock of your own life's turning points. What must change? What must begin again? Where must you move forward with courage and faith?

Stan invites listeners to reach out for guidance, coaching, or simply a conversation about your next steps. Contact him at Stan@WithRadio.net and become part of a growing community committed to curiosity, growth, and purpose-driven living.

May your Turning Point Tuesday lead you to a year of clarity, creativity, and courage. And as Stan signs off—'Best and blessings to you. May it go well.'

The Tuesday Truth: Reflections from the Radio Man

On a brisk Tuesday morning, broadcaster and performance coach Stan Hustad—known to listeners as The Radio Man—takes his audience on another insightful journey through modern leadership and media reality. His latest episode of Inconvenient Ideas begins, as always, not with politics, but with a principle: "Donald Trump is still the king." Not, Stan clarifies, the king of America—but the king of the ratings. And that's no small difference in today's performance economy, where visibility equals influence and airtime equals authority.

He dominates the story," Hustad observes. "Every time someone attacks him, they help him win the media game." The result? A world where the loudest voice often becomes the leading one—and where even those who protest can unintentionally raise the crown on the very head they oppose. "It's a kingdom of attention," Hustad notes, "and Trump still rules the realm."

The Nap Syndrome: Non-Achievement Performance

But Stan's real message isn't about Trump—it's about us. He points to the weekend's "No Kings Rally," a national protest that produced plenty of shouting but, as he calls it, "a NAP—a Non-Achievement Performance."

"Maybe it made them feel good," he quips. "But nothing happened. Nothing changed." That, Hustad suggests, is the danger in our modern culture of reaction: the illusion of activity without accomplishment. We substitute outrage for outcomes and noise for progress.

The cure? Two words: So what? One of Hustad's mentors taught him that powerful question. Before you act, post, protest, or pontificate—ask, "So what? What will change? What will be better?" Leaders, he says, aren't just expressive—they're effective. They measure results, not reactions.

From Power Plays to Purposeful Presence

From there, Hustad draws a deeper leadership insight. Power, he explains, comes from motion. Donald Trump understands this well—keep money moving, keep people engaged, keep stories alive, and power follows.

But there's another kind of power that Hustad lifts up: the power of self-expression and self-listening. In the "Do It Right" era—the performance economy he coaches others to master—success belongs to those who know how to communicate with clarity, confidence, and authenticity.

"We're in the Transformation Zone now," he says. "It's not enough to do it—you have to do it right." Whether you're leading a company, a church, or a creative venture, the microphone is now your crown. The question is, what kind of king—or servant—will you be?

Things to Think About, Share, and Remember

• Self-Expression + Self-Listening = Real Leadership. Speak your truth—but make sure it makes sense when you hear it back.

• Ask "So What?" Before You Act. It's the simplest way to filter what truly matters.

• Avoid the NAP Trap. Don't spend your energy on Non-Achievement Performances.

• Remember Who (or What) Is King in Your Life. Is it ego, money, media—or something higher?

• Power Follows Movement. Keep good things—ideas, generosity, creativity—moving. That's how you lead with influence.

A Call to Reflection and Action

Stan closes his broadcast with a question worth repeating: "Who or what do you want to be king in your life?" For some, it's wealth or recognition. For others, it's principle or faith. Hustad reminds listeners that those who follow the Christian tradition often speak of King Jesus—a different kind of kingdom built not on domination but on service and good works.

His final challenge is simple: Don't waste your days taking NAPs. Build something. Lead something. Do it right.

And if you're ready to start—whether in business, broadcasting, or personal transformation—Stan Hustad can help you find your voice and make your mark. Reach him directly at Stan@WiTRadio.net or visit WiTRadio.net. Because in the new world of performance, your story is your stage—and it's time to rule it well.

In this thought-provoking edition of Inconvenient Ideas, Stan Hustad offers a 15-minute story-time reflection on power, personality, and perception — all wrapped around a provocative headline: "Donald Trump is smiling now because he's the King of POP." But

in Stan's hands, POP doesn't mean "Prince of Peace." It means Power, Opportunity, and Personality — the currency of modern influence.

An Idea Worth Wrestling With

Broadcasting from the What It Takes Radio studio — standing tall, gesturing, and speaking with his whole body as he always does — Stan begins by reminding listeners that ideas matter. They lead to insight, insight leads to influence, and influence creates impact (and maybe even income). But to have impact, you must be willing to hold inconvenient ideas — the kind that comfort some people and discomfort others.

From there, Hustad turns to a "reality check of the moment." As peace talks flicker across the headlines and the political stage grows restless, Donald Trump stands — figuratively and literally — smiling. Not because he's universally loved, but because he's managed to turn personality into power and persistence into political longevity. Whether admired or despised, Hustad argues, Trump embodies the ultimate performance principle: he knows who he is, what he wants, and how to keep the spotlight.

Politics, Power, and the Personality Principle

Stan takes listeners behind the headline with a mix of humor and humility. He points to the irony of Trump's alliances — foes who become friends again (like Elon Musk), rivals turned partners (like Marco Rubio). He paints a picture of a man who doesn't need to please everyone — only to keep momentum, to stay in motion, to act decisively while others argue.

As Hustad notes, this isn't a political statement but a "statement of reality." Leadership, like broadcasting, is performance — and the ones who understand their audience, even when the crowd boos, often end up writing the script.

Facing the Truth and Finding the Lesson

Hustad closes with a story about one of his mentors, who told him, "Always have the courage to face the truth." That line becomes the heartbeat of the program. Whether it's Trump's triumph, your own business struggle, or life's daily disappointments, success begins by seeing things as they are — not as we wish them to be.

The program ends as it began: with an invitation. Stan challenges listeners to pick up the microphone — literally or figuratively — and "story him back." True communication, he insists, is not argument but relationship. "If I can turn a foe into a friend," he smiles, "I might just be a prince of peace."

Things to Remember, Share, and Do

**Remember:**
- Every great idea is inconvenient for someone.
- Power often follows personality — and the courage to stand when others sit.
- Facing the truth is the first step toward influence.

**Share:**
- This episode with anyone tired of shouting matches and hungry for genuine conversation.
- The insight that real communication creates connection, not division.

**Do:**
- Take 15 minutes to listen to the full Inconvenient Ideas program.
- Reflect on your own "POP" — your Power, Opportunity, and Personality.
- Record your own story, your own truth, and share it. Because ideas, shared wisely, can still change the world.

Produced by The What It Takes Radio Company • Inconvenient Ideas Series