When your family owns a company older than the United States—founded in Paris in 1668 as chocolatier to King Louis XIV—you don’t just make candy. You guard a legacy. Dan Abel Jr., CEO and “Chief Chocolate Officer,” carries forward Bissinger’s centuries-old recipes while reinventing chocolate for a new age.

From childhood Valentine’s strawberry rushes to leading 150 employees today, Dan has lived inside the chocolate factory his whole life. But growth wasn’t all sweet. A multimillion-dollar expansion pushed the company into high-volume contract work, only to discover that mass production drained its soul. Dan’s decision to walk away from seven-figure deals restored the company’s heart—and reignited its growth.

Listen now to hear how a great, modern chocolatier leads craft and crisis, culture and commerce, family and future. See more @ MarkSpencerCook.com

Discover the hidden truth of leadership that Dan learned the hard way: scaling without soul is failure, no matter the numbers.

“Culture is the ingredient you can’t fake.”
“Hands-on leadership tastes better than corner-office theory.”
“Losing millions is safer than losing your soul.”
This is chocolate as calling, not candy.

Questions Explored:
• How do you run a company older than America?
• What happens when growth steals a business’s soul?
• How do you scale artisan craft in a mass-production world?
• What does a cocoa crisis teach about leadership and values?

Lessons Learned:
• Never compromise your recipe for profit.
• Ideal clients restore morale and culture.
• Hands-on leadership builds trust faster than strategy decks.
• Data obsession fuels innovation—but only when tied to craft.

Guest Links:
Website: https://bissingers.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-abel-jr-15541765/

Host Links:
Website: https://MarkSpencerCook.com
Consulting: https://WindfallPartners.com
YouTube: Bold Encounters, Mark Spencer Cook
All Socials: @MarkSpencerCook

Chapters:
00:00 From Paris to St. Louis
03:16 A family of modern candy makers
10:43 Why Dad risked everything to start fresh
19:48 Wholesale disruption and bold decisions
24:42 Losing soul in mass production
27:42 Walking away from seven-figure deals
33:49 Surviving the cocoa crisis
40:37 Why beans taste different around the globe
44:31 Chocolate tastings and the craft revival
49:44 The five-o’clock exit: family first
50:46 Advice for the next generation

Keywords: Dan Abel Jr., Bissinger’s, Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Company, King Louis XIV, Paris chocolatier, cocoa crisis, artisan chocolate, family business, resilience, craft vs mass production, legacy leadership

Two “killer” goals beat the tale of the “big break” in your career. In this episode we finish our iconic interview with Daniel Ambrosi, an original AI artist, then we head to Lunds Fine Art Gallery to see his AI work and the stories behind each. Daniel is one of the only living artists with primary sales at both Sotheby’s and Christie’s in the same year…and a purchase by one of their top executives.

Daniel heads to London for even more iconic shows after. Daniel has been implementing it into his artistic process for a decade. He is a pioneering artist who merges centuries of traditional landscape art with his revolutionary skills with computer graphics. In collaboration with folks at Google and NVIDIA, Ambrosi has developed his radiant artistic style using AI-augmented images.

When Daniel takes us up to Lunds Fine Art Gallery in Park City, Utah, he shares the Lunds' art, other artist's work, including use of Led Zeppelin, and others, then work that's completely Daniel's.

Daniel takes every picture and painstakingly adjusts every single detail himself. The AI just helps get him over the finish line. And what a successful finish it is! Daniel has joined the short list of artists with primary sales at the prestigious Sotheby's and Christie's in their lifetimes. With all of that, his career is only just beginning.

Follow Ambrosi as he chronicles what led him to this point, and where he hopes to go in the future...

• How to make career pivots?

• How can we use AI to enhance our creativity?

• Who can we trust in our inner-circle of creatives?

• How long does it take to make it big?

• How to make money as an artist?

Lessons Learned:

• Take everything one step at a time

• We must balance discipline, patience, & gratitude

• Use tradition to influence the future

• Trust the experts

Behold and support Ambrosi's artist genius:

https://www.danielambrosi.com/Selected-Works

https://aiartists.org/daniel-ambrosi

https://x.com/danoramas

See more at: MarkSpencerCook.com/Podcast/

Links for Mark S. Cook: MarkSpencerCook.com | WindfallPartners.com

LinkedIn for Mark S. Cook: LinkedIn.com/in/MarkSpencerCook

Other Social Media: @MarkSpencerCook

Chapters:

0:0:00 Intro.

0:01:34 Genesis of a Career

0:06:28 Progressions in Work

0:10:21 Expert Recognition

0:13:46 Big Step. Big Leaps.

0:19:14 The Perfect Reference

0:24:35 Home to New York City

0:27:50 Switch Things Up: Lunds Gallery

0:35:32 Origin Story 2

0:42:30 Scrolling, Brilliant Masterpiece

0:45:41 A Perfect Example of AI Work

Keywords:

AI art, Dreamscapes, Sotheby’s, Christie’s, Google/NVIDIA collaboration, Lunds Fine Art, gallery.

While we're just discovering the impact of AI in our everyday lives, Daniel Ambrosi has been implementing it into his artistic process for a decade. He is a pioneering artist who merges centuries of traditional landscape art with his revolutionary skills with computer graphics. In collaboration with folks at Google and NVIDIA, Ambrosi has developed his radiant artistic style using AI-augmented images.

But don't let the AI fool you. This work is completely Daniel's. He takes every picture and painstakingly adjusts every single detail himself. The AI just helps get him over the finish line. And what a successful finish it is! Daniel has joined the short list of artists with primary sales at the prestigious Sotheby's and Christie's in their lifetimes. With all of that, his career is only just beginning.

Follow Ambrosi as he chronicles what led him to this point, and where he hopes to go in the future...

• How to make career pivots?

• How can we use AI to enhance our creativity?

• Who can we trust in our inner-circle of creatives?

• How long does it take to make it big?

• How to make money as an artist?

Lessons Learned:

• Take everything one step at a time

• We must balance discipline, patience, & gratitude

• Use tradition to influence the future

• Trust the experts

Behold and support Ambrosi's artist genius:

https://www.danielambrosi.com/Selected-Works

https://aiartists.org/daniel-ambrosi

https://x.com/danoramas

See more at: MarkSpencerCook.com/Podcast/

Links for Mark S. Cook: MarkSpencerCook.com | WindfallPartners.com

LinkedIn for Mark S. Cook: LinkedIn.com/in/@MarkSpencerCook

Other Social Media: @MarkSpencerCook

Chapters:

0:0:00 Introduction

0:01:20 Arts

0:5:20 Sotheby's

0:16:04 London

0:35:50 Gratitude

0:43:40 New York

0:50:17 Computer History

1:00:51 Lessons

1:04:00 Making money

Keywords:

Daniel Ambrosi, Dreamscapes, AI art, generative art, Google DeepDream, NVIDIA, Sotheby’s, Christie’s, contemporary art, Central Park Nightfall, Lunds Fine Art, gallery.

After a call back for Wicked on Broadway and after years of success in international acting, this Australian built a business in New York City helping others climb the performance ladder. Have you ever stood up in front of hundreds of people to perform your heart out? Eloïse Ghislaine can make that a reality. She seems to shout, "If I can make it here, you can make it anywhere!" She's taken her skills to classrooms, stages, and venues. Eloïse mentors youth and adults alike to help them reach their peak performance...and find their confidence in life! In just weeks, not years, she can bring a shy novice to a part in a musical or their own performance! You have to listen to this blueprint for success--that means money, but far more meaning for others!

Questions Explored in this Discussion:

• Why did you pursue your dreams instead of money?

• When did you take a leap of faith?

• Is mentoring better than doing?

• How hard do actors have to work?

• Do I have what it takes to make it big?

Lessons Learned:

• Take a leap of faith

• Stay curious

• Everybody needs to rest

• Work your butt off to get ahead

• Find mentors

• Stay motivated

Learn from Eloïse's team to unleash your talent into the world:

https://broadwayrise.com/

https://www.eloiseghislaine.com/

See more at: MarkSpencerCook.com/Podcast/

Links for Mark S. Cook: MarkSpencerCook.com | WindfallPartners.com

LinkedIn for Mark S. Cook: LinkedIn.com/in/@MarkSpencerCook

Other Social Media: @MarkSpencerCook

0:00 Introduction

2:00 Immigration

3:50 Mentorship

8:18 Stuborness

10:11 Acting Gigs

11:50 Triple threat

16:00 Scraping by in NY

18:10 COVID

25:00 Choaching

41:15 The joy of teaching

43:50 Lessons

Keywords:

Actor, teacher, singer, dancer, triple-threat, drama, school, Australia, COVID, drop-shipping, talent, Broadway, New York City, Immigration

Jonathan Goodman, CEO, founder of Halyard Consulting and leading expert in AI, software, voice & chatbot automation. Scared of AI? Jonathan will put your worries to rest and ad new ones.  His team works to implement AI as an ethical tool to boost productivity and save you money. Whereas the biggest tech companies in the world are firing their programmers with the rise of AI, Jonathan is hiring them back to keep Halyard Consulting at the cutting edge of tech in the modern age.

Join Jonathan in his quest to align your future with technological progress...

"Know who you're working with."

"Get an accountant you can trust."

"Always get a second opinion."

See more at: MarkSpencerCook.com/Podcast/

Links for Mark S. Cook: MarkSpencerCook.com | WindfallPartners.com

LinkedIn for Mark S. Cook: LinkedIn.com/in/@MarkSpencerCook

Other Social Media: @MarkSpencerCook

Questions Explored:

-How to overcome neurodivergence?

-How to enter the work place with AI?

-Will AI take away jobs?

-Should I be scared of AI?

-How much time will AI save me?

Lessons Learned:

-Be on the cutting edge.

-R&R&R: Rest, relaxation, and recovery.

-Learn to say no.

-A.I. is a tool, not an industry.

-Immediate pay is not always the best pay.

-Give your employees a boss they can trust.

-The opposite of drudgery is creativity.

Consult with Jonathan's team to boost your productivity:

https://halyard.consulting/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanedwardgoodman/

0:00 Introduction

1:47 Childhood

7:22 Entering corporate America, suburban propane

13:30 Starting from the bottom

18:40 COVID

23:00 Learning tech

27:00 Tech demo

30:10 fear of AI

34:20 A.G.I.

41:45 Security concerns

43:43 What's next?

49:40 Learn to say NO

53:20 Advice

Are you looking to make a change in your life, but don't know how to do it? Look no further than Jeffrey Wetherhold! Jeff is a "change manager," which means that he knows how to help teams develop evidence-based tactics to change their course successfully. 88% of organizational change efforts fail to produce lasting results. But with Jeffrey's help, you can join the ranks of the top 12!Take note of Jeffrey's wise words about the nature of change..."Think of change as ambivalence.""Become comfortable with reflection.""Balance your conversations."See more at: MarkSpencerCook.com/Podcast/Links for Mark S. Cook: MarkSpencerCook.com | WindfallPartners.comLinkedIn for Mark S. Cook: LinkedIn.com/in/@MarkSpencerCookOther Social Media: @MarkSpencerCookQuestions Explored in this Discussion:• How to rehabilitate after a stroke?• How to change minds?• How to become a better listener?• How to become a solopreneur?• How to successfully change?• How to prevent burnout?Lessons Learned:• Find your niche• The importance of trial and error• Ask fewer questions• Relinquish control in your conversations• Nobody changes to feel worse about themselves• Understand what you can control• The importance of baby stepsRecruit Jeffrey to help build your business's path to change:https://www.jeffwetherhold.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/wetherhold/0:00 Introduction4:04 Childhood8:40 Joining the workforce11:30 Surviving a stroke19:45 Rehabilitating your life22:45 Starting a business33:16 Change management37:55 Burnout41:45 Conversations46:48 Changing minds54:15 Motivational interviewing, 1:02:11 Advice

Join Kason Morris, a genius in designing your life's work to fit your needs. Born in the Bronx, Kason defied statistics and built his own corporate ladder to climb up for twenty years. Today, he helps individuals leverage their own talent to build a better work life for themselves.For Kason, there is no work/life balance; it's about your work's life.Take notes on some of Kason's incredible lessons:"What is good enough for now?""Find out how your organization makes money."Questions Explored:• How to find success in lower-income communities?• How to get over familial expectations?• How to design your life's work?• How to balance work and family?• What to do when you're starting out?Lessons Learned:• Finding confidence in COVID• Designing your own path forward• Do what's not expected• Use reliable tools around you• Set the bar low• Make friends with executivesLinks:https://lifeworkdesign.co/https://kasonmorris.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/kason-morris/https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DJFWGBMW?See more at: MarkSpencerCook.com/Podcast/Links for Mark S. Cook: MarkSpencerCook.com | WindfallPartners.comLinkedIn for Mark S. Cook: LinkedIn.com/in/@MarkSpencerCookOther Social Media: @MarkSpencerCook0:00 Introduction3:03 Lower-income childhood11:35 Designing your life's work19:48 Large companies23:40 Building Networks28:03 Confidence in COVID38:40 Tools41:18 Family46:12 Advice54:16 where to findKeywords:Work/life balance, fatherhood, family, tools, seasonality, low-income, career

Join Dr. Heather Skeens, author of Unshackled (brilliant title and at https://a.co/d/0xRnW7a), who just hit the bestseller list. She took on massive debt like most medical students risk, after an incredible journey, she's crafted her own success as a caregiver, author, and private practitioner who sees more than fifty patients every day! In healthcare, and itching to craft your own success with your own extended team? Unlike most doctors, Heather doesn't just write up prescriptions for her clients. She digs down past their symptoms to diagnose the root problem. Hear how she went against the medical world to blaze her own trail as the ultimate caregiver.Learn how Heather created a thriving practice with these principles..."Remember the 80:20 rule""Create a strong network""Seek mentors"Keep up with Dr. Heather Skeens' private practice:https://bellasee.com/Read her groundbreaking book about medical science:https://a.co/d/0xRnW7a orhttps://www.amazon.com/Unshackled-Medicine-Failing-Doctors-Patients/dp/1953183972See more at: MarkSpencerCook.com/Podcast/Links for Mark S. Cook: MarkSpencerCook.com | WindfallPartners.comLinkedIn for Mark S. Cook: LinkedIn.com/in/@MarkSpencerCookOther Social Media: @MarkSpencerCookQuestions Explored in this Discussion:• Why should doctors start private practices?• How to keep customers?• How to build a trusting team?• How to create a network of people?• How to become a doctor?Lessons Learned:• Take a leap of faith• Trust instincts, not institutions• Take care of the internal to strengthen the external• Never lose touch with contacts• Foster positive energy• Combat the root of a problem, not its symptoms• Learn business0:00 Introduction2:30 Origins6:45 Caregiving14:35 Starting in Medicine20:00 Med School29:50 Private Practice35:15 Getting Patients42:45 A Trusting Team44:35 Skill vs Relations48:14 Remember the 80:20 Rule51:55 Create a network58:58 Mentorship59:22 Find Heather1:02:20 Patient InsuranceKeywords:Caregivers, doctors, eye care, private practice, hospital, medicine, prescription, networks, mentorship, mental health, med school