If you’ve known Brandon Paulseen for any length of time, then you’re aware of his infectious energy, enthusiasm for other people’s successes, and signature tagline: “Make it a great one,” by which he means it doesn’t matter what you’re doing, you should put your best into it, because you never know what may come of it.  Perhaps nothing, maybe everything.

The Podcast

Paulseen is the founder and host of the ICT Podcast, which focuses on talking with people who do difficult things at the highest level to learn how they power through adversity and build businesses. He started it in 2017, and has now recorded more than 100 episodes, with a new episode airing each week. Paulseen began recording in the Groover Labs podcast studio last year.

The “ICT” in ICT Podcast does not, despite what you may think, stand for Wichita’s airport code “ICT.” It is an acronym for “I can talk” because Paulseen wants his guests to feel comfortable talking when they come on the show. 

Simple Doesn’t Mean Easy

But podcasting is not Paulseen’s chosen career; he works for a family business which will celebrate 50 years of service in the community next year. And as a member of a family business, he says it took time to see how he fits in as an entrepreneur.

“I used to think my dad was the only entrepreneur,” Paulseen explains. “But during these podcast interviews with Wichita’s entrepreneurial community, I started to hear their stories, and I realized they face the same challenges I face.”

“There are these common habits among entrepreneurs,” he continues. “They’re simple things, but simple doesn’t mean easy. You have to do them well, and no one will do them for you. When you hear others talk about them, you realize, ‘I have these problems too,’ and you make the connection. I’ve learned to see myself as an entrepreneur because I share these experiences with the people I interview.”

Sharing is something Paulseen understands. Through ICT Podcast, he created a space where he hands over his time and attention to others so they can tell their stories. This kind of deliberate patience wasn’t always the case. 

“I was terrible when I started,” Paulseen confesses. “In those early episodes I wasn’t myself. I listen back and I think, ‘I didn’t do that very well.’ But I have to listen to them. I take notes before and after each episode so I can get better.”

Finding the Connections

Several years ago, Paulseen was part of a local entrepreneurial task force designed to find ways to connect with Wichita’s entrepreneurial and startup community. Different ideas were debated from collecting data to establishing a type of directory for Wichitans who were starting companies to connect with each other.

The idea of helping people connect became the seed that grew into ICT Podcast: a Wichita show that shares Wichita stories about Wichita entrepreneurs.

“I learned that entrepreneurs are too busy grinding to tell their stories, and maybe they’re not storytellers to begin with,” he explains. “I want them to know this isn’t an agenda-driven podcast; it’s unpolished. And I love that. It helps people be natural. We’re just a few people in a room with a mic talking about hard work.”

The Power of Storytelling

There have been several studies commissioned to evaluate Wichita’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and economic future, from the Chung Report to the Governor’s Framework for Growth to, most recently, Tom Chapman’s Accelerate Wichita Report.

Tom Chapman, who is regarded as one of the top entrepreneurial ecosystem leaders in the world, says developing systems-thinking is difficult work, and it requires a knowledgeable community that grasps the complexities of an entrepreneurial economic system, which is essential for growth and success. The more these systems are understood by the community, the more successful they become. 

This is where storytelling fits in.

“A storytelling culture provides opportunities to highlight the vision of entrepreneurship by focusing on the stories of founders and companies as they navigate this process,” the Chapman Report says. “Beyond that, it provides an organic and consistent way for local entrepreneurs to hear reinforcing, positive feedback.”

Paulseen may not have realized it, but he came into an understanding of Chapman’s recommendation long before it was delivered to the community. And of course he did. It was through listening to the stories of other entrepreneurs on the podcast--doing the very thing Chapman recommends--that he came to view himself as an entrepreneur like his guests.

Listen without the Intent to Reply

Each podcast has its own rhythm. And that means preparation. Paulseen does voluminous amounts of research in advance of each episode. As his guests dive deeper and deeper into their stories, the research pays off. He’s able to find a thread here or there to pull which unravels the nascent, obscure part of an entrepreneur’s origin story. Still, research alone isn’t enough. 

“You have to listen empathetically,” Paulseen says. “And you have to be aware. Research. Be present. Listen empathetically--you have to listen without the intent to reply. That’s hard to do. It’s a discipline, just like anything else.”

Potential Guests

Paulseen wants potential guests to know they can feel comfortable on his show. If they’re unsure whether to record an episode, be open to a conversation about why before dismissing the idea altogether. 

When asked why he joined Groover Labs, Paulseen said, “I love the collisions of people from so many different backgrounds, and I love their willingness to communicate about anything. Plus, it’s just a cool place, a cool building, and it has an awesome vibe.”

We thank Brandon for his time talking about the podcast with us, and we’re going to go out there and make it a great one.

Find the ICT Podcast on Apple Podcasts here.