Episodes

In this episode, Kris McAlavey—founder of Merch Dept—pulls back the curtain on how merchandise can transform your brand visibility, deepen loyalty, and unlock new revenue streams. Kris isn’t just printing t-shirts—he’s building platforms for storytelling, collaboration, and impact across industries from tech to music to nonprofits.You’ll hear how he went from printing for the Lakers to fulfilling orders for Grammy Award winners and Fortune 500s, all while staying lean, private, and purpose-d...

Tra Pippin is an entrepreneur, attorney, and turnaround specialist who has saved more than 50 companies across 20 industries. In this episode, he breaks down exactly how he assesses whether a business is fixable—and what makes one worth saving. From his early days hustling for candy money at age five to leading companies with over $100M in revenue, Tra brings a lifetime of real business wisdom.This episode is packed with timeless fundamentals, powerful turnaround insights, and a philosophy a...

Taylor Lewis-Costa made a bold leap from litigation consulting to launching her own interior design firm, TLC Home—and she’s proving that high-end design doesn’t require high-end budgets. In this episode, she shares how she built a business rooted in transparency, affordability, and integrity, while transforming her lifelong passion into a growing brand. You’ll learn how Taylor turned a modern-day apprenticeship into a full-blown business, and how she empowers clients to achieve their “champagne...

In this episode, we dive into the mind of Yogesh Nagarkar, the brilliant founder behind UNpkl—a next-gen network device that gives everyday users complete control over their WiFi in real time. With over two decades of experience in software and hardware development, Yogesh is bringing cybersecurity, AI, and simplicity together in one powerful, easy-to-use device.This episode is a must-listen for any entrepreneur building a hardware or AI-integrated product, as well as those navigating the of...

Ann Edwards, founder of TherAnnu Restorative Spa and a seasoned physical therapist, shares her journey from solo practitioner to visionary wellness entrepreneur. In this episode, she unpacks how she turned a one-room office into a rapidly growing wellness brand, now entering the franchising space. Her story is filled with valuable lessons on business model evolution, customer obsession, and balancing hands-on healing with high-impact leadership. If you’ve ever dreamed of building a scalable, ser...

What if you could build an AI powerful enough to beat the stock market—and retire because of it? That’s exactly what Rick Cockerham did. In this episode, Rick shares how he built ANNIE, his custom-built AI stock trader that marries genetic algorithms with neural networks to consistently outperform the market. From early experiments in the ‘90s to achieving real-world investment success, Rick’s story is a masterclass in patience, innovation, and bringing tech to everyday people.This episode g...

In this episode, Congxing Cai, founder of Synco AI and former engineering leader at Snap and Google, breaks down how real-time AI is transforming job interviews—and what this means for the future of work. From prepping behavioral answers to offering support during interviews, Synco is an AI assistant unlike any other. Congxing shares his entrepreneurial journey, his product development strategy, and how he's thinking far beyond tech to deeply serve everyday people navigating high-stakes moments....

Tyler Hinsley, Napa Valley native and founder of Hinsley Consulting, is on a mission to revolutionize the wine industry—not through grapes, but through unforgettable guest experiences. In this episode, Tyler shares how he's helping boutique wineries bridge the gap between digital storytelling and in-person hospitality to build brands that last generations. His story is filled with creative insight, strategic execution, and deeply human moments that will inspire any entrepreneur looking to elevat...

Mike Ali, founder of OnPath Marketing, shares how he’s revolutionizing the cold outreach game with AI-powered voice agents and personalized email systems. Starting with zero capital and a background in finance, Mike bootstrapped his business into a cutting-edge AI automation agency that helps companies scale their marketing without adding headcount.This episode is a masterclass in how to use AI to drive real-world results, build systems that sell, and focus on strategic growth. If you're an ...

Candy Hipple, founder of Limenelle, joins the show to unpack the deep inner work that drives sustainable success—not just in business, but in life. With decades of executive leadership experience and a passion for helping women become "change-ready," Candy reveals how mindset, reflection, and radical self-inquiry are essential to entrepreneurial growth. This episode is a powerful exploration of personal transformation, the messy middle of entrepreneurship, and how to evolve with intention. Wheth...

In this episode, Reece Calhoun shares how his background as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst led him to build a business that was so effective, it attracted acquisition interest just weeks after launching. Reece opens up about his love for behavioral therapy, his mission to empower clinicians, and the behind-the-scenes story of how he built Review Gather Consult (RGC). From imperfect beginnings to principled decision-making, his story is a masterclass in intention, action, and purpose.This...

Kelsey Hart, founder and CEO of Creative Honey Badger, joins the show to share how she turned her creative passion into a thriving design and digital strategy agency. In this episode, Kelsey breaks down the difference between just building “pretty” brands and building powerful, strategic ones. Her journey from graphic design student to multi-faceted creative entrepreneur offers priceless insights into branding, web development, and launching a business with intention.Listeners will walk away...

What does it truly mean to thrive—not just survive—as a leader or entrepreneur? Sarah Draper brings decades of high-pressure leadership experience from the Army and FBI into the entrepreneurial world, where she now empowers high-performing leaders to build resilience proactively. In this episode, Sarah dives into how to master energy, avoid burnout, and lead with clarity—sharing strategies that challenge the hustle-at-all-costs mindset. Whether you're building a business or leading a team, this ...

Chris Randall left a promising corporate career at Pepsi to follow a bigger calling—and built an innovative app-based cleaning company called Sweep. In this episode, he shares how a single idea during a long commute sparked a mission to create a frictionless, tech-powered cleaning solution for busy people. Chris dives into the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, from investing $20k into app development right before COVID hit, to cleaning homes himself while knocking on doors to survive.This ...

In this episode, we dive into the intersection of AI, fintech, and financial literacy with John Kanalakis, founder and Head of AI at Tendi. With experience at Netflix and Roku, John now leads Tendi—a revolutionary platform that uses a proprietary AI model to act as a personal financial advisor. His mission? To bridge the financial literacy gap and reduce wealth disparities. This episode is a must-listen for entrepreneurs building tech, mission-driven, or AI-first products, and for anyone curious...

In this episode, Adam Melenkivitz, founder of Test Squared, reveals how he’s building trust in the chaotic world of Amazon reviews by helping brands generate honest, verified product reviews—without breaking the rules. Adam’s journey from scaling a physical product brand to launching an ethical review platform is packed with hard-won insights about brand credibility, sales velocity, and sustainable growth. Entrepreneurs will walk away with powerful strategies to ethically hack consumer trust, dr...

In this episode, Claire Knutson, founder of Bold Minds and creator of Traverzer, shares how they're transforming the way software engineers work by simplifying complex processes and reducing cognitive load. With over 20 years in software development, Claire’s entrepreneurial journey is driven by a desire to build tools that bring joy, speed, and clarity to development teams. You’ll hear how Claire made the leap into full-time entrepreneurship, the philosophy behind their work, and how simplic...

In this episode, Brian sits down with Jason Vazquez—an ex-Deloitte M&A strategist turned serial entrepreneur and startup ecosystem builder. Jason’s ability to go from ideation to profitability in record time isn’t just impressive—it’s a masterclass in execution. He shares how he launched a luxury men’s skincare brand, co-founded a full-service marketing agency, and is now scaling Founders Feed, a game-changing community platform for startups and investors in New York City. This episode is jam-pa...

Rebecca Zajac is a powerhouse in the world of interior design with a rich background spanning TV production on HGTV and A&E, high-end home renovations, and now—tech entrepreneurship. In this episode, Rebecca shares how she’s using 3D scanning and AI to make beautifully designed renovations accessible to homeowners without big design budgets. Her approach blends creativity with operational brilliance and offers a blueprint for how entrepreneurs can stay ahead of the curve in disrupted industries....

What happens when a former periodontist brings his lifelong passion for technology into one of the most overlooked corners of the healthcare industry? In this episode, you'll meet Dr. Lorne Lavine—also known as The Digital Dentist—who turned a niche IT consulting idea into a multi-decade business serving over 350 dental offices nationwide.This conversation is a masterclass in niching down, providing peace of mind as a service, and building long-term credibility in a highly specialized indust...

In this episode, Beth Thornton, founder of Thornton Advisory Solutions, shares her journey of building a career around customer success and how it became the cornerstone of her entrepreneurial venture. With over 18 years of experience, Beth has worked with startups, health systems, and wellness companies, turning customer engagement into lasting success stories. She explains why customer success is the backbone of long-term business growth, and how even early-stage startups can implement strateg...

Ever feel like you have a million-dollar idea but don't know the next step? Chad Vavra, a designer and developer with over 20 years of experience working with giants like Pixar, Google, and Meta, joins us to solve that exact problem. He breaks down how he’s democratizing the high-level strategies that used to cost companies hundreds of thousands of dollars and making them accessible to everyone. Chad introduces his platform, Chat Agency AI, a virtual consultant designed to help entrepreneurs ...

In this episode, Brian sits down with Artie Chang, President & CEO of PanTerra Networks, a pioneer in unified cloud communications and AI-powered customer engagement. Artie shares how his decades of experience in tech—from Bell Labs to building RAID systems—led to the development of Streams.AI and Luna, their conversational AI receptionist transforming how businesses communicate.This episode is a masterclass in scaling tech, listening to customers, and thinking like a true CEO. Whether you'r...

In this episode, Brian Lofrumento sits down with Joshua Kiernan, co-founder and CEO of Mosh JD, to explore how he's revolutionizing HR tech by simplifying the way companies manage job descriptions. Josh shares his journey from being laid off in 2020 to launching a game-changing software that addresses outdated job descriptions, a problem many organizations face but rarely address. From leveraging AI thoughtfully to maintaining simplicity in tech, Josh's approach is practical, strategic, and root...