Episodes
July 26, 2025
1189: Quit Pepsi. Spent $20K on an app. Then COVID hit. Here's how to PERSIST and build a successful company w/ Chris Randall
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 ...
July 25, 2025
1188: This AI model outperforms ChatGPT (and others) in Financial Planning(!!) and is bridging the wealth gap w/ John Kanalakis
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...
July 24, 2025
1187: This entrepreneur built a business around getting ETHICAL reviews the consistent way w/ Adam Melenkivitz
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...
July 23, 2025
1186: Leveraging PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT lessons to ease cognitive loads for developers (and enabling more SaaS opportunities!) w/ Claire Knutson
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...
July 22, 2025
1185: SPEED of execution, results, and profitability through PARTNERSHIPS, AI, and strategy w/ Jason Vazquez
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...
July 21, 2025
1184: From HGTV to using AI to revolutionize interior design AND great business systems w/ Rebecca Zajac
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....
July 20, 2025
1183: How the Digital Dentist became THE go-to person in his industry w/ Dr. Lorne Lavine
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...
July 19, 2025
1182: THIS HIDDEN METRIC is the one that will ensure your business doesn't fail! Here are the customer success foundations w/ Beth Thornton
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...
July 18, 2025
1181: How to build CONVICTION for your ideas (AND make them better with AI!) w/ Chad Vavra
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 ...
July 17, 2025
1180: The tech CEO who operates at SCALE and whose company launched an AI receptionist w/ Artie Chang
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...
July 16, 2025
1179: THIS is how to provide VALUE at every step of the way to attract and RETAIN the best clients w/ Joshua Kiernan
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...
July 15, 2025
1178: The MARKETING FIXER that's in and out with RESULTS in 6 months w/ Caleb Madsen
Caleb Madsen isn’t your typical marketer—he’s a marketing “fixer” with a track record of transforming chaos into clarity for both billion-dollar brands and emerging startups. From his unconventional start in a warehouse to leading performance marketing at a global corporation, Caleb now runs Mad House Consulting, where he steps into businesses for 6–12 months to fix what's broken and set the foundation for scalable growth. In this episode, you’ll get a masterclass in real-world marketing strateg...
July 14, 2025
1177: Growing to a 100+ person company... and STILL maintaining freedom and balance w/ Dave Olsen
In this episode, Dave Olsen, Founder and CEO of Nimbl, shares his journey from being a fractional CFO to building a fully remote accounting and business services firm that serves $1M to $10M businesses. Dave dives deep into how Nimbl is redefining back-office services with a tech-forward, people-first approach. He talks about the challenges of scaling, the importance of systems, and why freedom for his team and clients is at the heart of Nimbl's mission. If you've ever thought about scaling a se...
July 13, 2025
1176: This former GoPro CMO reveals EVERYTHING about growing a lifestyle brand and products that transcend traditional marketing w/ Paul Crandell
In this episode, Paul Crandell, former CMO of GoPro, shares his incredible journey from selling artwork out of the back of his car to scaling some of the world’s most iconic brands. Now, as the founder and CEO of Lumi, a lifestyle tech company revolutionizing smart projectors, Paul dives deep into how brand culture, storytelling, and community building can drive monumental growth. He reveals how he helped grow Red Bull from $5 million to $2 billion in revenue and GoPro from $60 million to $1 bil...
July 12, 2025
1175: The secrets to ENGAGING and RETAINING Gen Z talent w/ Injil Muhammad
In this episode, we dive deep into the world of Gen Z talent engagement with Injil Muhammad, co-founder and CEO of Buddle. Injil shares his inspiring journey from Goldman Sachs to leading a platform that empowers young professionals with the skills, mentorship, and community they need to thrive in the workplace. Discover how Buddle is redefining talent retention and engagement for the next generation of leaders, and why understanding Gen Z's unique perspectives is crucial for business success. ...
July 11, 2025
1174: Changing how we brush our teeth!? Using entrepreneurship and an innovative product to improve health w/ Dr. Kenny Brown
In this episode, Dr. Kenny Brown—oral and maxillofacial surgeon turned entrepreneur—shares how he's redefining oral care through Feno, a groundbreaking health tech company. From hospital rooms to TikTok feeds, his smart brush is making waves by turning a daily habit into a health-boosting ritual. But this conversation isn’t just about dental tech—it’s about building a movement, solving real problems, and scaling a mission. Dr. Brown reveals what it takes to blend clinical rigor with consumer ...
July 10, 2025
1173: The PSYCHOLOGICAL advantage we can gain as high performers w/ JT Winston
From a Division 1 rower who endured four knee surgeries to the founder of a cutting-edge tech company, JT Winston’s journey is a masterclass in resilience and innovation. In this episode, JT shares how his personal struggles with the disconnect between physical recovery and mental readiness inspired him to create Aypex, an app that unifies mind and body for peak performance. This episode is packed with value for entrepreneurs, as JT breaks down how to apply an elite athlete's mindset to your bus...
July 9, 2025
1172: Unlocking the POTENTIAL in every conflict w/ Katie Kolon
In this episode of the Wantrepreneur to Entrepreneur Podcast, host Brian Lofrumento sits down with Katie Kolon, a certified mediator and conflict resolution expert, to discuss how entrepreneurs can navigate conflict in business and life. Katie shares her unique perspective on turning conflict into opportunity and how understanding the human element can foster healthier workplace dynamics. As a former employment law attorney and founder of Mutual Ground Strategies, Katie's approach blends legal i...
July 8, 2025
1171: CONSENSUS-BASED AI models that can tackle cybersecurity, phishing, and more w/ David Beltran
In this episode, we dive deep into the world of cybersecurity and AI with David Beltran, a 30-year tech veteran and the founder of CypherShield. David shares how his insatiable curiosity led him from dismantling toys as a kid to becoming a cybersecurity architect at IBM, and now, a founder tackling one of the internet's biggest threats: phishing. His journey is both technically brilliant and wildly creative—melding science fiction, digital art, and entrepreneurship into a bold mission for safer ...
July 7, 2025
1170: The entrepreneur disrupting education with MICROSCHOOLS (and how to challenge traditional institutions) w/ Dr. Melissa Feiger
In this episode, we dive deep into the world of education transformation with Dr. Melissa Feiger, founder of Wander Through Wonder, a groundbreaking micro school that’s redefining how students learn. Melissa shares her journey from public school teacher to entrepreneur, highlighting the challenges and triumphs of building a learning environment that prioritizes curiosity, global citizenship, and hands-on experience. Discover how her micro school model empowers students to drive their own learnin...
July 6, 2025
1169: It's time to FOLLOW THROUGH on your plans and growth goals w/ Christie Harrison
Christie Harrison’s entrepreneurial story is all about moving from vision to execution—and helping others do the same. From teen mom to CEO and founder of Core Performance 38:16, Christie built a business consulting firm rooted in strategy, accountability, and faith-driven leadership. In this episode, she shares her powerful journey through corporate leadership, entrepreneurship, and personal growth. You’ll learn how Christie helps individuals and organizations turn chaos into clarity through...
July 5, 2025
1168: Building out CUSTOM SOFTWARE solutions & managing client relationships with a global team w/ James McNamara
In this episode, we dive deep into the mind of James McNamara, founder of 8 Penny Labs, who brings a refreshingly practical approach to digital transformation. James shares how he helps mid-sized businesses modernize their systems, improve efficiency, and unlock growth—without the overwhelm. His expertise blends strategic clarity, tech insight, and business pragmatism, making this a must-listen for entrepreneurs navigating tech choices. Whether you're wrestling with outdated tools, thinking a...
July 4, 2025
1167: Saying NO to a six-figure job to go from NURSE to MARKETING AGENCY OWNER w/ Christiana Adesanmi
After nearly two decades in healthcare and a standout career as a surgical team leader, Christiana Adesanmi made a bold move—she walked away from a six-figure offer to build her own digital marketing agency. In this inspiring episode, Christiana shares how her background in nursing uniquely prepared her for entrepreneurship, the mindset shift that fueled her pivot, and how she now helps small businesses grow through strategic SEO, ads, and reputation management. If you’ve ever felt called to ...
July 3, 2025
1166: TRANSFORMING elder care and solving loneliness for people we care about w/ Daniel Hungerford
EPISODE STACK: https://stackl.ist/3TnWhxl What happens when deep leadership experience, a marketing mindset, and cutting-edge AI collide? You get EverFriends.ai—a tech platform with heart. In this episode, Dan Hungerford shares how he built a revolutionary AI-powered companion app designed to support older adults experiencing loneliness or cognitive decline. But this isn't just a tech story—it's a mission-driven journey rooted in family, legacy, and solving real human problems. Dan opens u...