How Success Happens

Smokin' Ed Currie has built a career around peppers - growing them, cooking with them, and pushing the limits of heat. His creations have been featured on Hot Ones and are well known among hot sauce fans. But Ed's mission goes beyond spice. As the man behind the world's spiciest peppers, he's just as focused on taking care of his family, his employees, and his customers. In this episode, he shares why his sauces are about more than pain - they're about serving a higher calling. Got a burning question for Food Network stars Robert Irvine or Guy Fieri? Email it to howsuccesshappens@entrepreneur.com and Dan just might read it on the air. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott Tannen wasn't even allowed to buy the sheets for his own bed, his wife Missy handled that. When she couldn't find the perfect set they co-founded Boll & Branch, a luxury bedding company built on comfort, sustainability, and ethical production. In this episode, Scott shares the story behind the brand, the $2 million risk that paid off, and the recurring nightmare that still haunts him - even while sleeping on his favorite sheets. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeneva Rose, author of The Perfect Marriage and The Perfect Divorce, doesn't start writing until she's nailed the elevator pitch. Every part of her creative process is shaped by her background in marketing, an edge that's helped her go from an eBook-only release with a small press to a hardcover launch in big-name stores. In this episode, Jeneva breaks down how she binge-writes her books to make them bingeable, creates viral TikToks, and shares her favorite way to turn off her brain Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What's the secret behind Barbara Corcoran's billion-dollar success? According to her, it all started with getting up from her desk and heading to the beach. Barbara invited host Dan Bova to her All-Star Entrepreneur Retreat in New York City, and sat down to share how she turned a $1,000 loan into The Corcoran Group—and became a beloved Shark. In this candid conversation, Barbara talks about how to realistically find your passion, how she learned to tune out negativity, and which Shark she thinks is the cheapest. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Soon after Katie Hunt got a cold message on LinkedIn asking her if she would be interested in founding a celebrity-backed brand, she found herself bonding with actress Kaley Cuoco (The Big Bang Theory) over their love of rescuing elderly chihuahuas. Together, they founded Oh Norman!, a dog product company guided by the core ethical principle of asking, “What would a dog do?” Katie drew on her experience at Warby Parker, Hinge, and Showfields to excel at building a brand she believes in. In this conversation, you'll learn how imposter syndrome and failure helped Katie find success— and how you can borrow her lessons to level-up your work, too.  Connect with Katie here Learn more about Oh Normal! here Find Dan's work here Find more Entrepreneur Media podcasts here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How good is Dana Perino's advice, really? Just ask the young woman who watched The Five, took Dana's tips to heart, and used them to land a job at Fox News—then signed up to be mentored by her favorite host. In this episode, Dana shares career advice for Dan's son, her take on finding love, and why we should all go easier on our scrolling thumbs. From leading a PR firm to serving as White House Press Secretary, and now co-hosting America's Newsroom and The Five, Dana used to think success meant reaching the top. But over time, her definition changed. In this conversation, you'll hear how she came to see real success as growth and serenity—and how you can find a little more of both in your own life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Andy Richter calls this week's guest “a bona fide weirdo with virtually no interest in satisfying anything other than his own personal obsessions.” The weirdo in question is Mike Sacks, who has written for the likes of Vanity Fair, The New Yorker, Time, The New York Times, McSweeney's and who has built something of an industry writing novelizations of movies that don't exist and memoirs of people who were never born. And then turning those works into audiobooks voiced by the funniest people on Earth, including Jon Hamm, Paul Reubens, Amy Sedaris and many more. In this interview, he talks about how he has found breakout success as a self-published author, how he's become someone the top names in comedy want to work with, and the secrets he learned about getting reviews after years of working at Vanity Fair.  He's got a new book out in April called This Is How We Love. Learn all about the punk rock aesthetic he embraces to bring his ideas to life, one bonkers book at a time. Whether you're looking for advice on making it in the world of comedy writing, or just looking for a laugh, this episode is for you. Find Mike's work here Find Dan's work here Find more Entrepreneur Media podcasts here

Jon Taffer is a guy who is not afraid to get in the weeds, in the grease traps and in the mouse droppings to squeeze the success out of bars and restaurants on the verge of collapse. And he's not afraid to raise his voice while doing it. Jon is the executive producer and star of Paramount Network's “Bar Rescue,” and he sat down with host Dan Bova to share his career journey, his advice to entrepreneurs in all industries, and to give us the mental picture of a truly horrfying bar kitchen that may make you never want to eat anything ever again.

Rob Simmelkjaer is the CEO of the New York Road Runners, the organization that gathers 55,000 sadists every year to run the iconic New York City Marathon, among many other events. We (barely) caught up with Rob as he was getting ready to hop a flight to Japan to run the Tokyo Marathon to find out how he finds time to train, how newbies can get started, and what you need to do to let your feet forgive you after making them pound the pavement for 26.2 miles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Actor Anthony Michael Hall has been in some of the most iconic movies and shows ever, and the man just keeps on iconic-ing year after year. You know him from “Sixteen Candles,” “Weird Science,” “Saturday Night Live,” “Edward Scissorhands,” “The Dead Zone” and jumping ahead to right now, a starring role in the new season of “Reacher.” Listen to the funny and philosophical man as he discusses how he developed a thick skin, learned to adapt to an ever-changing industry and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Douglas Keene is the award-winning chef and co-owner of the Michelin-starred restaurant Cyrus in California. He's got a new memoir out, “Culinary Leverage: A Journey Through The Heat,” and on this episode, we to talk about the life stories that define his cooking career journey, his crazy notion that people who work in restaurants need to have livable wages, and find out just what the heck a Michelin star is anyway. (You're going to love his answer to that question.) Dig in! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gabrielle Judge coined the term “Lazy Girl Jobs” on social media, and is challenging the way people approach work and how they think about success. The message seems to be resonating, at the time of this recording, she has over 300K followers on Instagram and 220K on TikTok. Listen in as the self-anointed “Anti-Work Girlboss” shares strategies to make gains in your career and personal happiness. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I spoke with Leigh Whannell, the director and co-writer of the new movie “Wolf Man.” The movie stars ​​Christopher Abbott ("Poor Things") and Julia Garner ("Ozark" and "Inventing Anna.") I won't give anything away, but I'll just say that they take a trip to a house in the middle of the woods and not-great things happen. Film/slasher fans know Leigh as the co-creator of "Saw" and fun party guy Jigsaw, and was the writer of the recent "Invisible Man" remake starring Elizabeth Moss. He's done a bunch of other stuff, and to use a polite term, they're all pretty effed up. This film was produced by Blumhouse Productions, the wildly successful indie production house that is the force behind “The Purge,” “Insidious,” “Paranormal Activity,” and tons of more flicks designed to scare that crap out of us. I spoke with Leigh a few days ago to find out how he's gotten so damn good at monetizing terror and also to ask him point blank, what the hell is wrong with you? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From winning NBA Championship rings to bringing new businesses to life, there's no goal that's too big for The Big Aristotle. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The absolute GOAT NFL sideline reporter popped in and shared insights about her thriving apparel business WEAR by Erin Andrews, explained what it's like to experience the Taylor Swift effect firsthand, shared her tips for beating nerves in stressful situations, and gave us her Super Bowl prediction! (Sort of.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hilarious actor Chris Diamantopoulos has appeared in so many fantastic shows and movies, these show notes could be a book. You know him from “Red Notice,” “Silicon Valley,” “The Boys in the Boat” and now he can be seen in the brand-new comedy heist show “The Sticky” on Amazon. If you want a pep talk from Mickey Mouse, you've come to the right podcast episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our host Dan Bova has been lucky enough to interview Ken Burns several times over the past few years. Burns, as you know, is quite the filmmaker, whose documentaries like “The Civil War,” “Baseball,” and “The Vietnam War” have earned him five Emmys and two Oscar nominations. He just premiered his latest work, the four-hour film “Leonardo da Vinci” — which he co-directed with his daughter, Sarah Burns and her husband, David McMahon — about the extraordinary life and work of the artist. So we thought this would be a good time to dig into an interview Dan did with Ken while he was promoting the Vietnam War documentary. Ken had so many incredible things to say about his process, the art of storytelling, and the state of entrepreneurship in America that we didn't have room for in the Entrepreneur magazine interview, so we went back to the tape and pulled out some incredible highlights from the cutting room floor for you to check out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The election might be over, but chances are the tension we've all been feeling is not. That;'s why we invited Sarah Knight, best-selling author of the profanely perfect self-help guides “The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a F*ck” and “Calm the F*ck Down,” to come on the show to share much-needed advice for silencing the crazy talk in our heads and to help us catch our collective breath. For more great advice, check out her site, sarahknight.com, listen to her No F*ucks Given podcast and check out her TEDx Talk on “The Magic of Not Giving a F*ck,” which has amassed more than 10 million views. Theme music by Richard Bova Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This being Halloween season, we thought it was the perfect time to speak with the business brains behind one of the most successful and goriest franchises of all time, “The Walking Dead.” David Alpert is the co-founder and CEO of Skybound, the home of “The Walking Dead” and many other titles including “Invincible.” He built the company with legendary comic book creator Robert Kirkman, who began TWD comic series 21 years ago. That's right, the Walking Dead is finally old enough to drink. And with stats like these, it deserves a celebratory glass of the good stuff: Most watched show on basic cable ever in the U.S. Over 330 episodes across 7 live-action TV series Most watched serialized show on Netflix with 1.3 billion viewing hours $1 billion in revenue from gaming alone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bonnie Mauldin has been hustling since she was a kid. At eight years old, she was knocking on doors offering to shovel driveways. After graduation, she entered the medical field, but quickly discovered it was not for her. Now, Bonnie owns two successful businesses, The Mauldin Group and Mauldin Production Company. Having learned a lot along the way, Bonnie shares her tips on changing careers, side hustles, and running multiple businesses. Listen to the Side Hustle to Small Business podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or visit: entm.ag/hiscox Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

He's a Grammy-winning musician, an Academy Award-winning filmmaker, a DJ, a teacher, author of multiple books, a podcaster, host of the web series “Quest for Craft” and oh yeah, the co-frontman for a little band you may have seen on “The Tonight Show” called The Roots. In this conversation, the very busy Questlove talks about being crazy productive without going crazy, re-capturing your creative juices and the surprising song that is guaranteed to get a party going. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joe De Sena (CEO of Spartan Race), Ben Askren (Co-Founder of AWA) and clinical psychologist David Sacks discuss their new book, “Extreme Balance: Paradoxical Principles That Make You a Champion.” In the world of elite sports, the authors say that victory is often attributed to physical and athletic prowess, but argue that the real key to unlocking our full potential lies in our mindset. During this conversation, the performance and motivation experts dive into all kinds of unexplored territories of the mind, challenging you to reconsider your entire approach to success. Get ready to get pumped up to take on the world! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

David Cross is a self-described "professional talker," but let's go ahead and expand on that bio just a bit. Cross is one of the funniest human beings on this planet we call Earth, touting a resume that is absolutely littered with iconic comedy creations — Mr. Show, Arrested Development and his latest special, Worst Daddy in the World, to name a few. He's very funny — and very busy. He currently hosts the podcast Senses Working Overtime with David Cross and put together a show, David Cross and His Super Pals, which will feature the likes of Bob Odenkirk, Sarah Silverman and Fred Armisen New York City's SummerStage in Central Park on August 8. Also on August 8, he'll star in the fourth and final season of The Umbrella Academy, and after that? He's hitting the road with his new comedy tour, David Cross: The End of the Beginning of the End.

Four-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Stefon Diggs is not only one of the most talented players in the NFL, he's also one of the most stylish. The Houston Texans star launched his own fashion line LIEMhomme, which has been celebrated in the pages of Vogue and other high-fashion magazines, and sat down to discuss its launch, his vision and the brand's future.

Jacob Hadjigeorgis, owner of Jacob's Pickles in the Upper West Side, shares his journey from growing up in a family of restaurateurs to becoming a successful entrepreneur. Guided by his father, his mentor, Jacob honed the qualities that set him apart: a deep passion for hospitality, a strong work ethic, and a creative vision. In this episode, he discusses how these traits, along with his innovative use of pickles to elevate comfort food, helped turn Jacob's Pickles into a beloved culinary destination and a staple in the Upper West Side community

Vishal Dhawan, Chief Product and Technology Officer at Curb Mobility, a ride hailing marketplace that connects you to professional drivers in cities nation wide. In this episode Vishal shares his journey of building, leading, and inspiring teams to launch scalable products that delight users. With a knack for solving complex problems and opening new markets, Vishal has grown products from early stages to over $200 million in revenue. He excels in translating vision into execution, balancing design with algorithmic impact, and fostering a culture of leadership and action. Join us as Vishal discusses his strategic approach to innovation, product growth, and team building in the competitive ride-hailing marketplace.

Kevin Hart, the multi-talented comedian, actor, and entrepreneur, joins us in this episode to discuss his latest venture: Gran Coramino Tequila. Known for his relentless work ethic and unparalleled success in the entertainment industry, Kevin brings the same level of dedication and passion to his tequila brand. Realizing that his culture and community had not been properly introduced to Cristalino, a unique type of tequila, and its accessible price point, Kevin saw a perfect opportunity for a business venture. Join us as Kevin shares the story behind Gran Coramino, emphasizing the importance of hard work and the unique qualities that set his tequila apart

Jill W. Fox is the Founder of Fox Social Media. Jill initially learned social media to keep an eye on her then-teenagers. In 2010, Jill founded the company after working with her children's sports teams to run their social media pages and falling in love with the process. Now, Jill runs a six-figure company planning and managing social media for her clients. Her advice? Make sure you love what you do. Listen to the Side Hustle to Small Business podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or visit: entm.ag/hiscox

Stephen Lease, CEO and Co-Founder of Goodr, shares his journey from early challenges to leading a thriving company known for its stylish and affordable sunglasses. Passionate about running, Stephen saw a problem that needed fixing: affordable, quality glasses for runners. Embracing failure as a stepping stone, he turned setbacks into opportunities, driving Goodr to success. Join us as Stephen discusses the importance of resilience, innovation, and learning from failures in building a successful brand and business.

Need funding to launch or grow your business? Meet two founders who successfully took an often-overlooked approach to fundraising: grants. Jessica Martin Eckerly, CEO and co-founder of Forward BIOLABS, and Alex Tyink, co-founder of Fork Farms, each received transformative awards from WEDC, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation. And on this special episode, we find out what it took to win these incredible grants, and how that money has bolstered their businesses and impacted their communities. Today's bonus episode of How Success Happens is sponsored by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation. Whether you're starting a business or have a groundbreaking idea, WEDC is here to support your success. Learn more at WEDC.org.

Kwamane Liddell, Founder of Thrive Link, 2024 American Nurses Association Innovation Award Winner, shares his journey from trauma nurse to accomplished business leader and healthcare lawyer. Witnessing the impact of barriers to social determinants of health, he created ThriveLink, which empowers families to enroll in health insurance, food stamps, and discount medication programs via phone. Join us as Kwamane shares his journey of dedicating his life to addressing healthcare disparities and ensuring equitable access for all. This episode is presented by Slack. Learn more at slack.com

Bobbi Lloyd, CEO of Magnolia Bakery, shares her journey from culinary school graduate and former chef for Calvin Klein to leading an iconic brand renowned for its amazing cupcakes and out-of-this-world banana pudding, a favorite of host Robert Tuchman. After working under former guest Danny Meyer, she saw what it took to run a successful restaurant and used her newfound insights to help create her own. Bobbi prides herself on kindness, hospitality, and humanity, showcasing the resilience and heart behind her entrepreneurial spirit. Thanks to our sponsor Hertz Business Rewards for helping small businesses save big. Join for free at Hertz.com/businessrewards.

Amy Errett, the visionary behind Madison Reed, shares her journey of building a successful omnichannel beauty brand specializing in the hair color space. Despite reaching the top of the Venture Capitalist industry, Amy felt a burning desire to create her own venture. Recognizing a gap in the hair color market riddled with harmful ingredients, she seized the opportunity to offer safe, high-quality alternatives for everybody to enjoy. Join us as Amy discusses the resilience and passion it takes to become a successful entrepreneur. Thanks to our sponsor Hertz Business Rewards for helping small businesses save big. Join for free at Hertz.com/businessrewards.

One in four employees are now using AI at work – a significant jump from the adoptions rates seen in 2023. So how are businesses leveraging AI in the workplace? We sit down with Christina Janzer, SVP of Research and Analytics at Slack, to discuss how businesses are embracing AI to increase productivity, make data-drive decisions, drive innovation and how Slack AI is enabling people to work smarter and faster. This bonus episode is brought to you by Slack. Learn more about Slack AI, visit Slack.com.

Carly Zakin and Danielle Wesberg, entrepreneurs behind The Skimm, discuss creating a successful Media company. Danielle and Carly fresh out of college identified a significant gap in the media landscape, there was a lack of media outlets specifically tailored to Women. Despite Women making upwards of 90% of household financial decisions, there was a lack of content that catered to their perspectives and priorities. Join us as Carly and Danielle take us through the creation of their revolutionary company, The Skimm. This episode is presented by Slack. Learn more at slack.com

Fran Maier is the entrepreneurial powerhouse behind BabyQuip, as seen on SharkTank, and is also the co-founder of Match.com. In this episode, Fran delves into the pivotal moments shaping her journey, including her decision to join Match.com in its early stages and the launch of BabyQuip, a platform connecting traveling families with baby gear rental services. Fran highlights the transformative power of innovation in entrepreneurship, inspiring others to push boundaries and redefine industries.

Lois Robbins is an actor and the founder of Watskin, a clothing brand that uses UPF 50+ fabrics for their designs. Known for her daytime television roles on All My Children and One Life to Live, Lois decided to create Watskin out of necessity when she learned of a cancerous cell on her face. Watskin now sells over 10 different types of sun-protective products and donates 5 percent of every purchase to the Melanoma Research Alliance.

Brian and Scott Rudolph are the co-founders of Banza, a food brand that creates chickpea-based alternatives of your favorite comfort foods. Founded in 2014 by brothers Brian and Scott, Banza entered the scene with their high protein plant-based pasta products and have now expanded into pizza, rice, and waffles. Banza is now available domestically in more than 25,000 retail locations including Target, Whole Foods, and Costco.

Bobby Bitton is the CEO and Co-Founder of O Positiv, a women's health business that focuses on addressing health needs that have been historically overlooked. Co-founded in 2018 with Bobby's sister Brianna, O Positiv created FLO, a science-backed all-natural, and hormone-free PMS vitamin. O Positiv now has more than 1.3 million customers and was most recently launched in Target this December. Bobby was also named on the 2024 Forbes 30 Under 30 list for Food and Drink.

Wade Foster is the Co-Founder and CEO of Zapier, an automation platform that connects over 6,000 different apps to streamline workflows. Founded in 2012, Zapier currently supports over 2.2 million businesses automate their workflows, from startups to Fortune 100 companies. Only raising $1.3 million funding in 2012, Zapier has grown exponentially under Wade's leadership and was valued at $5 billion in 2021.

Joanne Wilson is an early-stage angel investor, entrepreneur, and philanthropist with over 150 companies in her investment portfolio such as Food52 and Eater. Her latest venture, Gotham, is a female-founded cannabis concept space that curates and shares one-of-a-kind products, art, and experiences that reflect New York's rich history and influence. She currently sits on the board of The Highline and The Public Housing Community Fund in NYC.

Mike Cessario is the CEO and Co-Founder of Liquid Death, a forward thinking healthy beverage start-up with the branding and flare of an energy drink. Pulling from his marketing and creative directing experiences, Mike turned his passion for health into a $700 million business. In just a short amount of time, he's built the fastest growing water brand in the country, collaborating with celebrities such as Tony Hawk, Travis Barker, and Steve O.

Aerin Lauder is the Founder & Creative Director of AERIN, a global luxury lifestyle brand. Granddaughter of Estée Lauder, the founder of her eponymous cosmetics brand, Aerin has been key to supporting the growth and success of the family-owned luxury giant and currently serves as the Style and Image Director for her family brand. Aerin has emerged as a distinct voice in the world of beauty, fashion, and home décor with her AERIN brand, following in the entrepreneurial footsteps of her grandmother.

Gary Hirshberg is the CEO of the Hirshberg Entrepreneurship Institutes and Co-Founder of Stonyfield Farm, the world's leading organic yogurt producer. Gary was previously on the Boards of many organic and natural brands including Annie's, Honest Tea, and Sweetgreen and currently continues to serve on several corporate plant based boards. He is the author of Stirring It Up: How to Make Money and Save the World, and was awarded a 2012 Lifetime Achievement Award by the US EPA.