Uncertain Times

Thanks to the current state of affairs, opportunities for entrepreneurs in healthcare are endless. And this week Joe is joined by an entrepreneur who set out to fix not one, but two problems and improve the lives of patients, doctors, and nurses. His name is Gary Warren, and he is the President & CEO, ivWatch. Gary's company has developed a biosensor that continuously monitors a patient's IV, AND he also manufactures medical-grade N95 masks.

The CBD industry has exploded in the past couple of years thanks to its potential health benefits and therapeutic properties. CBD is the second most prevalent active ingredient in cannabis, and you've probably read the stories about how it can be used as a treatment for everything from mild arthritis to anxiety, depression, and even chronic pain. A 2020 SingleCare survey found that one-third of Americans have used CBD. The Market for CBD blew up to $4 billion two years ago, and it's been said that the industry will top $25 billion by 2025. This week Joe learns about the highs (pardon the pun) and the lows of being a CBD entrepreneur with Stacy Cason, the founder of Planetarie an innovative water-extracted hemp company in Colorado.

The pandemic stopped all collegiate and professional leagues from competing for the foreseeable future in March 2020, but one league was able to mobilize and resume their season just two months later: The American Cornhole League. Founded in 2016, the ACL has more than 100,000 players and hosts over 20,000 tournaments a year. So how was the American Cornhole League able to scale up and continue to grow after the pandemic? In this episode, Joe gets those answers straight from the league's commissioner and founder, Stacey Moore.

For years there have been four major professional sports in the US: football, baseball, basketball, and hockey. But what would do if you had an idea to create the next major global sport? That's the challenge that the people behind Teqball are facing today. This week, Joe is joined by Ajay Nwosu, the President of the US National Teqball Federation and the CEO of Teqball USA. Ajay explains how Teqball was invented, the sport's rapid growth internationally, and the importance of Teqball's goal of becoming an Olympic sport.

September 20th kicks off Climate Week with hundreds of digital events from all around the world, and one of those events is The Hollywood Climate Summit, an annual gathering of the entertainment community to discuss the climate crisis. This week, Joe is joined by one of the panelists, Steve Vitolo, a screenwriter and founder of Scriptation. After seeing first-hand the staggering amount of paper that gets consumed on set, Steve dedicated his life to creating a script reading and annotation app for film and TV productions that help them go paperless.

A strange thing happened during the pandemic (obviously), where covid affected many industries for the worse, some actually thrived. Delivery Services like DoorDash experienced exponential growth, the pandemic turned real estate into a seller's market, and the value of trading cards skyrocketed. During the lockdown, people took to the internet and started buying cards in droves. This week, Jason Howarth, the Vice President of Marketing at Panini America, explains what happened at what the future of trading cards looks like on the latest episode of Uncertain Times.

It's hard to keep track of the number of ways the pandemic has affected businesses of any shape or size. There are the obvious ones like lockdowns, restrictions, staffing and supply chain issues. But what about companies that make clothing specifically for white collar workers, who no longer have to go to an office and need to wear a collared shirt? This week Joe chats with Ryan Kent, the president of Mizzen+Main a menswear brand that produces performance workwear, and it claims to make "the best damn dress shirt."

Covid-19's effects on businesses have run the gamut.  Amazon and Walmart together earned an extra $10 billion dollars over 2019's profits, largely because of the pandemic. And at the other end of the spectrum, 23% of small and medium businesses closed during the peak of the pandemic.  Most of the companies that survived and thrived over the past year were forced to change the way they did business.  But what are you supposed to do when you create a startup designed for in person interaction and the entire world is in lockdown?  Joining Joe this week is Ashley Sumner, the CEO & Founder of Quilt.  Ashley talks about how she pivoted her startup designed for in-person interaction in light of the pandemic.

Love found a way during the pandemic. After the initial lockdowns, celebrations of love were held all over the world, albeit in smaller numbers. But what was it like to work in the world of weddings, during a global pandemic? Joining Joe on this episode is celebrity wedding planner Jung Lee, the founder of Fête, one of the world's most respected event planning firms. Jung shares her initial struggles after the shutdowns, how her team was able to secure refunds and reschedule events for their clients, and why she felt she could reinvent the wedding industry.

A large part of the focus of this podcast has been the effects of COVID on businesses around the world, but this week, we're shifting and talking about its effect on our mental health.  Joe welcomes actress and activist Brittany Snow and creative entrepreneur and activist (Noise 784, Happy Noise) Jaspre Guest. Brittany and Jaspre talk about why they co-founded September Letters, a mental health awareness organization that seeks to create conversation about mental illness and connect people through conversation about experiences.

Joe welcomes John Fieldly, the CEO of Celsius, to the podcast this week. If you work long hours, study all night or work out regularly, you've probably sampled an energy drink, but have you ever wondered how a small beverage startup could cut through the noise and colossal competition in that space to succeed. John talks about the company's red-hot growth and what it's like playing the role of David in a world of energy drink Goliaths.

During the pandemic, we learned more than we ever wanted to know about COVID Testing, but there's one company based out of Irvine California that is changing the game in the world of medical diagnostic testing. This week Joe is joined by Tej Patel, the President, and co-founder of Fluxergy. Tej talks about the current state of medical diagnostic testing, the inspiration for starting the company, and what the future of Fluxergy looks like.

It's been a transformative 15 months for the fitness industry. The pandemic forced brick and mortar gyms to close and launched the movement to virtual and at-home workouts. This week, Joe chats with Austin Cohen, the founder of Founder, President, and CEO of FlexIt, a fitness app that enables users to seamlessly access fitness facilities and live 1-on-1 virtual personal training with certified trainers. Austin talks about his formative years at Columbia, the lessons he's learned as a startup entrepreneur, and how's helping connect fitness enthusiasts with thousands of health clubs across the U.S.

Trying to scale a business can be a difficult task, especially during a pandemic. Many companies found that embracing e-commerce over the past year was a force multiplier for their business. Joining Joe this week is Hugh Gaither, the Founder & CEO of Feetures, a leading performance sock brand, that has been family-owned and operated in North Carolina since 2002. Hugh discusses the birth of Feetures and how e-commerce was a big driver for the company in 2020.

Subscription based apps are ubiquitous and big business. A couple of years ago, App Annie reported that in-app subscriptions accounted for $32 billion consumer spend in App Stores. This week, Joe is joined by two members of the senior leadership team at EverWash, a company that is disrupting the carwash business and offering users unlimited monthly carwash plans at their neighborhood carwash. Scott Caplan, the President and Co-Founder, and Scott Pashley, the Chief Revenue Officer, discuss how they used their knowledge in the fitness industry to build EverWash, how their service helped carwash owners during the pandemic and what the future of the EverWash looks like.

We hear a lot these days about companies and their core values, but have you ever thought about your own values? Do those core values match the values of the job you currently have? This week on the podcast is Robert Glazer, the creator of the online course Discovering and Developing Core Values. The hour-long, on-demand course guides learners through an exercise that helps them identify and articulate core values. Robert shares what inspired him to create his viral newsletter and new online course, why is it important to be in touch with your values and why core values are so crucial.

Fear is described as an unpleasant emotion caused by being aware of danger.  These days many of us are consumed by fear, but how can we replace that fear with purpose?  This week Joe is joined by Michal Oshman, the Head of Company Culture, Diversity and Inclusion at TikTok Europe, and the author of the new book, What Would You Do If You Weren’t Afraid?​  Michal tells Joe how she discovered Jewish wisdom and shares her very personal journey that inspired her to write the book.

Gambling has come along way since 1989’s baseball betting scandal that forced Hall of Famer Pete Rose to be permanently banned from the sport. Fast forward 30 years later and advertisements for DraftKings and FanDuel can be found on stadiums and television and radio broadcasts for every professional sport. But what’s the next big thing for gambling besides football, basketball, mixed martial arts and the rest? It could be E-Sports. Joining Joe this week is Steven Salz, the Co-Founder and CEO of Rivalry which has been called the ‘Robinhood of esports’. Steven discusses the current state of sports gambling across the globe, why gambling on E-Sports has exploded over the last few years, and what’s next for Rivalry.

Saving money for retirement can be hard, especially if you are behind or cannot save much. For some people retirement is the last thing on their mind. Just contributing 1% of your salary to retirement savings to start and slowly increasing that contribution can make a big difference over time. But what happens when you do have a retirement plan? What do you do? Nothing? Think again.This week Joe talks to Ed Slott. Ed has taught millions of Americans and financial pros how to get the most out of their retirement savings…he is a nationally recognized IRA distribution expert and the author of The New Retirement Savings Time Bomb.

The public relations industry has taken a big hit due to pandemic induced budgets cuts. According to a survey of PR and marketing professionals, almost two-thirds of clients reduced communications budgets as a result of the pandemic, 90% of PR agencies said clients had postponed campaigns, and one in five agencies laid off staff and instigated furloughs. Now one year after COVID-19 locked down the planet, what is the current state of the PR and marketing industry? Joining Joe this week is Amanda Whitcroft, the Founder of Panda PR & Marketing who talks about how she successfully pivoted her agency's focus from the hospitality industry to the health and tech sectors during the pandemic.

The last year has been tough, that’s an understatement, we’ve all needed some assistance along the way, especially the folks on Main Street USA. So what is big business doing to help small business through the pandemic? Joining Joe this week is Mark Tina, the Executive Director of Verizon Business Group East. Mark talks about how Verizon is actively assisting small businesses during the pandemic, how Verizon's senior leadership inspired their team over the past year, and how 5G will change the game in telecommunications.

If you want a driver’s license you need to take a test. If you want to pursue higher education, you need to take the SATs or ACTs. And if you want to know "Which Friends Character Are You?,"  you have to take a quiz on BuzzFeed. And now there's a test for CEOs. Joining Joe this week is Adam Bryant, the creator of the popular New York Times Corner Office series, the managing director of executive mentoring firm, Merryck & Co., AND the co-author of THE CEO TEST: Master the Challenges that Make or Break All Leaders.

We all became armchair experts in healthcare for over the past year, terms like contact tracing, social distancing, COVID variants have all entered our everyday lexicon. One of the first to enter the global conversation was the acronym for Personal protective equipment, PPE. We're well aware of the mask and glove shortages that sprung up in the early days of the pandemic, but what’s happening in that space exactly one year later? This week Joe is joined by Sean Evans the CEO of Gloves.com. Sean talks about how his team acquired the Gloves.Com domain name, why he got involved in PPE and why Nitrile gloves have become the Cadillac of rubber gloves.

A year ago, we started this podcast dedicated to business owners surviving during the pandemic and we’ve spoken to entrepreneurs in all sorts of industries including the tech, social and hospitality space. But we’ve never spoken to a cannabis entrepreneur, until now.Recreational marijuana is now legal in dozens of states and according to Politico about one in three Americans now live where all adults have access to it. That's nearly 100 million people. Plus, next year states like New York, Florida, and Ohio could pass legalization efforts.Joining Joe this week is Charlotte Hanna, the founder of Community Growth Partners and the founder of Rebelle, a cannabis brand and store located in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. Charlotte talks about her love of marijuana, the challenges of being a cannabis entrepreneur and what the future of her industry looks like.

Are you on LinkedIn? If you’re listening to this podcast or any business podcast, the answer is probably yes. But. Are you an entrepreneur and getting the most out of being on LinkedIn? This week Joe is joined by Shay Rowbottom, the CEO of Shay Rowbottom Marketing. Shay is a digital marketing guru that specializes in creating social media video content that can bring more eyeballs to your business. Joe and Shay discuss the booming growth of LinkedIn, why creating authentic content can help grow your business, and how video sells itself.

Are you on LinkedIn? If you’re listening to this podcast or any business podcast, the answer is probably yes. But. Are you an entrepreneur and getting the most out of being on LinkedIn? This week Joe is joined by Shay Rowbottom, the CEO of Shay Rowbottom. Shay is a digital marketing guru that specializes in creating social media video content that can bring more eyeballs to your business. Joe and Shay discuss the booming growth of LinkedIn, why creating authentic content can help grow your business, and how video sells itself.

The fitness industry has changed immensely over the past 20 years thanks to technological innovations that have turned 'fitness' into a $100 billion global industry. But what will the industry look like after the pandemic? This week, Joe is joined by Mohammed Iqbal, the CEO of SweatWorks, a company that has grown from a single app to a global digital agency. Mohammed discusses how COVID-19 transformed the fitness industry, how technology enhances the working out experience, and what gyms will look like after the pandemic.

Millions of U.S. consumers looked to stretch their dollars and avoid taking on new credit-card debt during the coronavirus pandemic. In 2020, they flocked to “buy now, pay later” offers from fin-tech companies. But how do they work? One of those companies, Klarna, just made a big splash at the Super Bowl. Joining Joe this week is David Sykes, the Head of Klarna in the U.S. David explains Klarna's business model, why BNPL companies have exploded in the past year, and the difference between consumers in Europe and the U.S.

Did you know that major companies like Microsoft, Warby Parker, and Uber were started during a recession? But none of those companies did it during a pandemic induced recession. Joining Joe this week are a husband-and-wife team that did just that, Sara and Ben Jensen, the founders of skincare startup, Hugh & Grace. Sara and Ben discuss the inspiration for the company, the importance of hormone safe products and what it was like to launch a company in the middle of a pandemic.

We all know the origin stories of legendary franchises like McDonalds and Wendy’s, but how do you start a franchise in the age of COVID-19? This week, Joe is joined by Dan Rowe, the founder of Fransmart, a company that has developed over 5,000 franchises worldwide. Dan talks about what inspired him to launch mega-franchises like Five Guys Burgers & Fries and Halal Guys, the booming success of fast casual concepts and why now is the time to get into the franchise game.

What is life like in the restaurant and hospitality industry 9 months into the pandemic? In an update of episode 5 of the podcast, Joe is joined once again by Sam Mustafa, the founder of the Charleston Hospitality Group. Sam talks about the early darks days of the pandemic, how his restaurants adapted to the new normal, and what it means to celebrate the 16th anniversary of his flagship restaurant, Toast! All Day.

The trend of remote work accelerated in 2020 thanks to the pandemic, but what does the future of remote work look like in 2021 and beyond? This week, Joe speaks with Silvina Moschini, the President and Founder of TransparentBusiness and CEO and Founder of SheWorks! Silvina explains how her two companies help businesses and how she crushed the glass ceilings as the first Latina led pink unicorn in the remote working industry.

What do you do when you create a company that connects fans at concerts and includes a 50-college tour to test the idea? And then a pandemic happens. You pivot. Joining Joe this week is Sarah Figueroa, the Founder & CEO of Geojam, the first rewards-based music platform bringing artists and fans together.

Since the beginning of March, the pandemic has resulted in $481 billion in losses for the U.S. travel economy. Now that a COVID-19 vaccine is on the horizon, how long will it take for the travel industry to recover? Joining Joe this week is travel and branding expert,Rob DelliBovi, the Founder of RDB Hospitality. Rob talks about how the travel industry crashed in 2020 after a blockbuster 2019, and when he thinks the hospitality industry will rebound in 2021.

We define entrepreneurs as people who find a problem and solve a problem, but this week Joe is joined by a "philanthropic entrepreneur." Genevieve Piturro wanted to solve a problem for the benefit of humanity, not stockholders. She is the founder of the national nonprofit Pajama Program, which donates pajamas and books to children in need. Genevieve is also the author of new book, “Purpose, Passion, and Pajamas: How to Transform Your Life, Embrace the Human Connection, and Lead with Meaning".

This episode could be titled "Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Hand Sanitizer, But Were Afraid to Ask". This week, Joe is joined by Alastair Dorward, the CEO of clean wellness company, OLIKA. Joe & Alastair talk about how hand sanitizer became as sought after as the latest X-Box and how OLIKA is changing the hand sanitizer game.

Two businesses that are really feeling the effects of the lockdowns and pandemic induced restrictions are restaurants and gyms.The former can try to make a few bucks with outdoor dining and take-out menus. But what about the latter? What do when you own a gym? This week Joe is joined by Dylan Schenk, the owner of an LA Based boutique gym called LIFT Society.

Snacking became everyone's favorite pastime during the lockdown, but how did snack companies handle their operations during the pandemic? This week Joe connects with Bill Deacon, the Chief Executive Officer of Eastern Standard Provisions - a Boston-based snack food company that specializes in stuff like artisanal soft pretzels.

Abraham Lincoln said that “The best way to predict the future is to create it," but are the future leaders able to create their future? Are they prepared with the skills that employers are looking for? Joining Joe this week is David Dvorkin, the Executive Director and the founder of Hire Cause, an online experiential learning platform that is helping to realize a vision of the world where companies, non-profits, and schools work together around projects that help communities thrive.

This isn’t breaking news, but small businesses have struggled mightily due to the pandemic and the resulting economic downturn, but there are companies that are helping small businesses not only survive but thrive. This week Joe is joined by Rahul Aggarwal, the co-founder of Designhill, an award winning crowdsourcing marketplace that connects a community of graphic designers from across the globe with clients looking for graphic designs.

Across the world, millions of people are working to create a better place by looking to design a post-pandemic new normal. A new book titled ‘Changing The World We Create’, offers a bit of this, and has been called a “how-to reference guide for change agents, leaders and activists everywhere.” The book is a synthesis of a 10-year research project led by Tomas Björkman. On this episode, Tomas explains how we can collectively change the narrative of what it is to be a human and to set a new course for humanity - beyond climate crises, polarized societies, and failed leadership.

Our frontline workers can now find a side hustle that fits their very particular set of skills: Ear piercing company Rowan employs registered nurses - with pediatric or hospital backgrounds - to perform at-home piercings for infants, kids and adults. Rowan founder, Louisa Schneider, tells Joe what inspired her to create the company and how it's able to survive during the pandemic.

The theme of today's episode is Data. Joe talks to serial entrepreneur, Peter Yared. Peter has founded six enterprise software companies and now he's the CEO of InCountry, a data residency-as-a-service platform. Peter and Joe talk about handling data laws in different countries, breaking up big tech, and guessing what's the next big thing in tech.

Joining Joe this week is Shannon McLinden, the founder of FarmHouse Fresh. Shannon was sick of her ad agency job and decided to create a skincare line that would go onto to be found in over 4,000 spas, resorts, and boutiques around the globe. Shannon tells Joe how FarmHouse Fresh was able to step up and create a new product line that helps frontline workers during the pandemic.

Joining Joe this week is Scott Cullather, the co-author of "Challenge Everything: The Battle Cry That Blew Sh*t Up and INVNTd Live Brand Storytelling" and the co-founder of the live events agency, INVNT. Joe and Scott talk about live brand storytelling, how major companies are marketing during the pandemic, and what the future of live events looks like.

The Uncertain Times podcast was inspired by the pandemic, but now it's inspired by so much more.  Joining Joe this week is Heath Butler, a venture capitalist with more than 20 years of experience transforming businesses and helping professionals maximize their potential. Now Heath has co-founded two organizations that are extremely well positioned to make a massive impact among black entrepreneurs and within urban communities.

We can’t forget about our furry friends during the pandemic, and on this episode Joe talks to the Founder and CEO of CUDDLY, John Hussey who also happens to be a referee in the NFL. CUDDLY is a purpose-driven company that helps animal rescue organizations create their own fundraisers, organize wish lists, and gain support for initiatives that save animals in the most critical of conditions.

Small Businesses have taken it on the chin during the pandemic. A survey of small businesses by Florida State University researchers have found that 15 percent of those studied have closed their doors permanently as a result of the COVID-19 shutdown.How are entrepreneurs and business owners supposed get through this? Fortunately there are a few company that are helping. Joining Joe this week is Victor Ho, the co-founder & CEO of Fivestars, a software startup that help communities and businesses thrive and strengthen relationships with their customers.

This has been a time for healing as millions have suffered due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, but there is amazing group of musicians that are helping with bedside concerts that care comforting patients.This week, Joe is joined by Molly Carr and Andrew Janss the cofounders of Project: Music Heals Us, a non-profit organization that brings live music performances to those in need.

As a result of the Covid-19 crisis, three best friends have come together to form a socially conscious mask company. This week, Joe sits down with Ben Ricciardi, a social media strategist and a social media star with over 1 million followers on Instagram. Ben tells Joe how his brother and their best friend joined forces to create Subzeromasks.com, where for each mask purchased, one will be donated to thousands of charities in need.

Have you seen a good movie lately? Probably not. COVID-19 has forced movie theaters across the globe to shutdown and studios to delay the releases of their big budget films. This week Joe talks to Emily Best the founder and CEO of Seed&Spark, a company that helps filmmakers crowdfund and raise money to produce films. Joe & Emily talk about the current state of the film industry and how Seed&Spark is helping creators during the pandemic.