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In the debut episode of Ambition 2.0, host Amanda Goetz sits down with Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni—the visionary co-founders of Phia, the AI-powered shopping assistant backed by Hailey Bieber, Kris Jenner, Sheryl Sandberg, and other major investors. From meeting as college roommates at Stanford and launching Phia as a class project to raising an $8M seed round for their company, Phoebe and Sophia have been through it all together. They get candid about building a tech startup from scratch, navigating friendship as co-founders, and learning how to set boundaries to avoid burnout. They open up about: The real meaning of work-life balance (and does it even exist?) Why personal branding is a superpower for founders The “ground rules” that keep their friendship—and business—thriving Lessons from their fundraising journey and startup leadership The creative philosophy behind their own podcast, The Burnouts Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or just love a good founder origin story, this episode dives deep into ambition, friendship, and what it takes to build something groundbreaking. (00:00) Intro (03:50) The origin story of Phia (05:18) Building the Phia team and shaping company culture (11:50) Raising $8M with high-profile investors (14:15) Friendship “ground rules” for co-founders (23:10) Burnout, boundaries, and balance (28:42) Work-life balance (30:45) Why personal branding matters more than ever (32:00) Rapid-fire questions (38:23) Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs GUEST LINKS Phoebe Gates: https://www.instagram.com/phoebegates/ Sophia Kianni: https://www.instagram.com/sophiakianni/ Phia: https://www.instagram.com/phiaco/ The Burnouts Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/theburnouts/ FOLLOW THE PODCAST IG: https://www.instagram.com/girlboss/ | TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@girlboss Amanda Goetz: https://www.instagram.com/theamandagoetz/ https://girlboss.com/pages/ambition-2-0-podcast SIGN UP Subscribe to the Girlboss Daily newsletter, filled with career inspiration and intel for ambitious women: https://newsletter.girlboss.com/ For all other Girlboss links: https://linkin.bio/girlboss/ DISCLAIMER This episode is sponsored by Semrush. Check out Semrush One, the only solution built for the next era of search. It unites Semrush's leading traditional SEO tools with powerful AI search capabilities, all in one place, so you can make smarter, faster marketing decisions. Search moves fast, and you should have the right solution to stay ahead of the curve. Trusted by 10M+ marketers worldwide, try it today at semrush.com/. #Ambition2Point0 #PhoebeGates #SophiaKianni #PhiaAI #GirlbossPodcast #WomenInBusiness #AIShopping #Startups #FemaleFounders Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
If you're intimidated by sales or unsure how to scale your coaching business beyond the $10k-$30k month mark, this episode is your shortcut.Payton Welch managed a sales floor that brought in over $65M in revenue and personally closed $8M+ in high-ticket deals. In this conversation, we break down what actually works when it comes to booking more calls, closing high-ticket clients, and eventually building an autonomous sales team. What makes high-ticket clients say “yes” without hesitationHow to build a reliable, high-performing sales team from scratchThe top reason beginner coaches struggle to close (and how to fix it fast)Why “convincing” someone on a call usually means you messed up earlierHow to think about volume, velocity, and systemizing your revenue streamWhether you're still closing all your own sales or building a mini-army of closers, Payton brings the kind of clarity only an 8-figure operator can.–Join our Fit Pro Business Secrets Made Simple group over on Facebook for exclusive resources, trainings and help as you're growing your online fitness business. https://www.facebook.com/groups/fitprobusinesssecrets/ Follow Taeler on Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/taelerfit/Learn more about working with Taeler, whether you're just starting your online coaching business or scaling to multi-6/7-figures. https://taelerdehaes.com/ Connect with Payton Welch.https://www.facebook.com/thepaytonwelch/
Our show today is being sponsored by Free Float Analytics, the only platform measuring board power, connections, and performance for FREE.DAMIONAmazon to announce largest layoffs in company history, in AI push. WHO DO YOU BLAME?Former CEO Jeff BezosAICovid (This wave of layoffs results from overhiring during the pandemic)Executive Chair and largest shareholder Jeff BezosF5 Expects Revenue Hit From Cyber Attack. F5, a $20B billion technology company with impressive gross profit margins of 81%, experienced a cybersecurity incident involving unauthorized access to certain company systems by a sophisticated nation-state threat actor. WHO DO YOU BLAME?The Risk committee: Dreyer, Klein, Montoya, Budnik*Chair Marianne Budnik is deemed to have Cybersecurity experience because she serves as a Chief Marketing Officer in the cybersecurity industryPeter Klein was the CFO at Microsoft for less than 4 years, then was the CFO for WME for 6 months and then has only been a director since 2014.Risk committee member Michael Montoya specifically. F5 revealed that the director mysteriously resigned in the same filing it disclosed the cyberattack, despite having served for only 4 years. According to the proxy, had “extensive experience as an information security executive.” Following his resignation from the Board, Mr. Montoya continued his service with the Company and has been appointed as F5's Chief Technology Operations Officer.The entire board, for doing dumb modern day board things: announced that CEO François Locoh-Donou, would assume the additional role of Chair of the Board following the Company's next Annual Meeting of Shareholders 12 days after they announced the cyberattack.Investors. 98% YES average this year: 7 over 99.2%, including Risk Committee Chair Marriane Budnik with 99.6%. Nobody feels like they have to work hard to impress anyoneF5! It's a god damn cybersecurity company!How climate change is fueling Hurricane Melissa's ferocity. WHO DO YOU BLAME?Exxon CEO Darren Woods because he sued his own shareholders last year: Arjuna Capital, LLC and Follow ThisExxon CEO Darren Woods because just yesterday: Exxon sues California over new laws requiring corporate climate disclosuresExxon CEO Darren Woods because gas and oilClimate ChangeOpenAI says U.S. needs more power to stay ahead of China in AI: ‘Electrons are the new oil' WHO DO YOU BLAME?The fear-and-spending geniuses behind the original Cold War: Truman, Stalin, ChurchillPeople who historically ignored Eisenhower and his statements on the U.S. military-industrial complex when he explicitly warned that defense contractors and the military could exert undue influence on government policy. Sound familiar?Anyone who empowered the board to not be empowered when they tried to fire Sam Altman for such reasons as:Conflicts over OpenAI's rapid growth and direction, especially the tension between aggressive AI deployment vs. safety oversight.Power dynamics between Altman, key researchers, and board members — some may have felt he had too much unilateral control.The college that let Sam Altman drop outSammy Altman Citi's Jane Fraser consolidates power with board chair vote — and a $25 million-plus bonus to boot. WHO DO YOU BLAME?The entire Compensation, Performance Management and Culture CommitteeThese two long-tenured Compensation, Performance Management and Culture Committee membersDiana L. Taylor* 10 other directorships: Brookfield Corporation, Accion (Chair), Columbia Business School (Board of Overseers),Friends of Hudson River Park (Chair), Mailman School of Public Health (Board of Overseers), The Economic Club of New York (Member), Council on Foreign Relations (Member), Hot Bread Kitchen (Board Chair), Cold Spring Harbor Lab (Member), and New York City Ballet (Board Chair)Peter B. Henry*8 other directorships: Nike, Inc., Analog Devices, Inc., National Bureau of Economic Research (Board), The Economic Club of New York (Board), Protiviti (Advisory Board), Biospring Partners (Advisory Board), Makena Capital (Advisory Board), and Two Bridges Football Club (Board)The lowest common denominator effect of bank compensation committees:Wells Fargo CEO Charlie Scharf: ~$30M special equity grant tied to becoming Chair as well as CEO (3 months after meeting)Goldman Sachs: CEO David Solomon & COO John Waldron ~$80M each (retention RSUs vesting in ~5 yrs)KeyCorp: CEO Chris Gorman & four other senior execs: ~$8M for Gorman; ~$17M combined for the five NEOsThe passive ownership (re: management-friendly) of BlackRock, State Street, and Vanguard (combined 22%): without their votes at Goldman then Say on Pay was nearly tied, which might have dissuaded the year of one-off bonuses for banking CEOs??The world is about $4.5 trillion short of securing a sustainable food supply for the future, global food and ag business CEO [Sunny Verghese, CEO of food and ag company Olam Group] says. WHO DO YOU BLAME?The world's top 28 richest people (those worth ~$160 B each) together would equal $4.5 trillionThe world's greatest sycophant Tesla chair RobynDenholm: “On the pay package specifically: “It's not about the money for him. If there had been a way of delivering voting rights that didn't necessarily deliver dollars, that would have been an interesting proposition.”Any two of these basically redundant techbro companies' market caps would sufficeNvidia ~$4.2 trillion Microsoft ~$3.8 trillion Apple ~$3.1 trillion Amazon ~$2.4 trillion Alphabet ~$2.2 trillion Meta Platforms ~$1.8 trillion Broadcom ~$1.3 trillion Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company ~$1.2 trillionBill Ackman. Because he's a douche.MATTTarget is eliminating 1,800 roles as new CEO Michael Fiddelke gets set to take over the struggling retailer - WHO DO YOU BLAME?Current CEO Brian Cornell, who's “stepping down” to the role of Executive Chair - which is basically still CEO, just on the board and doesn't have to talk to employees anymore, so he can eliminate 1800 jobs and then fade away into a multimillion dollar unaccountable board roleFuture CEO Michael Fiddelke, who starts February 1, 2026, but is current COO and was forced to send the memo to employees telling them 8% of the workforce will be cutMonica Lozano, chair of the compensation and human capital management committee of the board, who's also on the BofA and Apple boards and is the most connected board member at a highly connected board - does the chair of the human capital committee have to weigh in on firing?OpenAI - the memo makes zero mention of the fact that part of Target's problem is that it shit on gays and blacks because of a feckless internet toad named Robby Starbuck, but feels very written by AI which would account for phrases like:“Adjusting our structure is one part of the work ahead of us. It will also require new behaviors and sharper priorities that strengthen our retail leadership in style and design and enable faster execution so we can: Lead with merchandising authority; Elevate the guest experience with every interaction; and Accelerate technology to enable our team and delight our guests.”Does anyone know what that word salad actually means? Doesn't it just mean “you're fired because we basically sucked at our jobs”?Hormel recalls 4.9M pounds of chicken possibly 'contaminated with pieces of metal' - WHO DO YOU BLAME?The audit committee, the closest committee responsible for enterprise risk (ie, metal in chicken) - Stephen M. Lacy, William A. Newlands (also lead director), Debbra L. Schoneman, Sally J. Smith (chair), Steven A. White, Michael P. ZechmeisterThe governance committee - James Snee, the now retired CEO who retired somehow in January but the company still hasn't found a permanent replacement 9 months later - so they're being run by Jeff Ettinger, interim CEO? Chair Gary C. Bhojwani, Elsa A. Murano, Ph.D., William A. Newlands (also lead director), Debbra L. Schoneman, Steven A. WhiteThe one black guy on the board - Steve White - who works at Comcast, is somehow qualified to be on Hormel board, and is on BOTH the audit committee AND governance committeeThe conveyor belt that spit pieces of metal as large as 17mm long into “fire braised chicken” sent to hotels and restaurantsCervoMed appoints McKinsey veteran David Quigley to board of directors - WHO DO YOU BLAME? Board is 2 VCs, a longtime biotech CFO, and five MD/PhDs. And among those 8, there are just two woman - the co-founder/wife of the CEO and a VC. And when they did their search, they could only find a longtime professional opinion haver - a consultant from the big three?Nominating committee for lack of imaginationEx or current McKinsey, Bain, and BCG employed directors - the opinion industrial complex - make up a whopping 4% of ALL US DIRECTORSAmong boards with MULTIPLE ex opinion directors: Kohl's is 25% consultantStarbucks is 27% consultantDisney is 30% consultantsWilliams-Sonoma is 38% consultantCBRE is 40% consultant!Nominating committee chair Jane Hollingsworth, for not looking around the room and saying, “hey dudes, can we add, like, maybe, ONE other lady?”Co founders Sylvie Gregoire and John Alam (also CEO) who own 17.3% of voting power - add in Josh Boger, board chair and 12.3% voter, and you basically have the CEO daddy and his buddy Josh with 29.6% of voting controlSylvie and John's bios, which neglect to mention they're married to one anotherWe are all terrified of the future - which headline is worse for your terror? WHO DO YOU BLAME?The world is about $4.5 trillion short of securing a sustainable food supply for the future, global food and ag business CEO saysBill Gates Says Climate Change ‘Will Not Lead to Humanity's Demise' - ostensibly because billionaires in bunkers will, in fact, survive on cans of metal-filled Hormel chili.Sorry, Yoda. Mentors are going out of styleMan Alarmed to Discover His Smart Vacuum Was Broadcasting a Secret Map of His HouseJennifer Garner's baby food company is going public on the NYSE — should investors be putting their eggs in this basket?Woman Repeatedly Warned by Canadian Exchange Not to Transfer Crypto, Gets Scammed AnywayOpenAI completes restructure, solidifying Microsoft as a major shareholder - MSFT owns 27%, the non profit which controlled the company “for the benefit of humanity” now will only control it for 26% of humanity?Tesla risks losing CEO Musk if $1 trillion pay package isn't approved, board chair says - IF MUSK LEAVES, WHO DO YOU BLAME?Robyn Denholm, board chair, whose job it is to manage Musk, but does it like an overwhelmed permissive mother who parents with chocolate and Teletubbies when the kid has a tantrumKimbal Musk - I was told by a bunch of directors and institutional investors at a conference, no joke, that Kimbal was still on the board (ie, not voted out) to control his brother's ketamine intake and crazy episodes. So if he throws a tantrum and leaves, isn't it bro's fault? This is a binary trade - Musk gets extra pay/control, stock goes up and isn't de-meme'd. Musk doesn't, he leaves and the stock is de-meme'd and drops arguably by 66% or more to be more like a car company with some tech. So do we blame investors, no matter what they do? They meme'd the stock in the first place, he couldn't get a trillion extra dollars if they hadn't pumped up the stock - and now they could vote with humanity (no pay) or meme capitalism (pay)!Techbro middle school conservatism - is this Ben Shapiro and Joe Rogan's fault? A Yale economist paper suggests that Musk's politics cost between 1 and 1.26 million Tesla car sales… Would we even be worried if Musk stayed out of politics? Wouldn't the market have just paid him whatever?Pop quiz: which directors stay on the board if Musk leaves in a tantrum?Jeffrey StraubelKimbal MuskRobyn DenholmJames MurdochKathleen Wilson-ThompsonIra EhrenpreisJack HartungJoe Gebbia
For episode 619 of the BlockHash Podcast, host Brandon Zemp is joined by Markus Levin, Co-Founder of XYO. After 7+ years on Ethereum, XYO, the first DePIN project established in 2018 and predating the term, is officially launching XYO Layer One, its own L1 blockchain. Designed for DePIN, RWA, AI and other data-heavy industries, this new dual-token blockchain solves the issues holding back blockchain development today. XYO reported a revenue of $8.8M in 2024, and has attracted 80% of its users from outside the crypto space. The decision to migrate from the Ethereum L2 ecosystem was driven by XYO’s own demand for a high-efficiency blockchain after over 7 years of building data-heavy blockchain products for millions of users around the world. The new XYO Layer One blockchain will process large volumes of real-time data with low latency and provide proprietary data validation capabilities for projects that demand performance. XYO will first migrate its own products to the new XYO Layer One blockchain, and be followed by key partners ⏳ Timestamps: (0:00) Introduction(0:54) Who is Markus Levin?(4:50) What is XYO?(6:52) Biggest issues with Data today?(8:05) XYO Solutions(11:25) First Dual-token Layer-1(13:10) Earning XYO Token(16:02) Future of DePIN(19:02) Education resources(20:43) XYO Partnerships(21:10) AI in Data Protection(23:38) XYO roadmap 2025(24:19) Events & Conferences(25:05) XYO website & socials
You've probably heard me say before that your business only grows as much as you do — and I mean it.Because no matter how many marketing tricks you try, or how well you plan your next launch… none of it matters if you're running on fumes.In today's episode, I'm sharing the six weekly anchors that keep me grounded, creative, and energized enough to run an $8M business — and not one of them has to do with marketing. These are the personal routines and boundaries that have built the foundation for everything I've accomplished in my business and my life.Whether you're building toward your first six figures or scaling beyond seven, these anchors will help you protect your energy, your creativity, and your mental health — the real ingredients of long-term success.In this episode, you'll hear…Why taking care of yourself is one of the most strategic business decisions you can makeWhat my “Sunday Preheat” routine looks like (and how it keeps my week from falling apart)The planning process I use each week to set priorities and avoid overwhelmHow I protect time for movement, rest, and creativity — even when my schedule's packedThe mindset shift that helped me stop seeing self-care as “extra”How you can create your own set of anchors that make your business (and your life) work betterClick here to find the full show notes and transcript for this episode.RESOURCES:Listen to Episode 1: Community Over Competition is BS: Tips to Navigate Your Competition in a Healthier WayRead Sam's Substack The Girlboss Who Died With My ParentsRead Sam's Substack How I Broke Up With InstagramGet Sam's free weekly newsletter, Sam's SidebarClick here to watch the free workshop so you can get legally protected right now!CONNECT:Sam on InstagramSam on FacebookOn Your Terms® on InstagramSam on YouTubeDISCLAIMERMentioned in this episode:Legal WorkshopDo you feel lost thinking about how to legally protect your online business? Head to mylegalworkshop.com to sign-up for immediate access to my free 1-hour legal workshop, 5 Steps to Legally Protect & Grow your Online Business.Legal Workshop
Join my free Creator by Design community (open to the first 20 people or until Halloween):https://www.halleesmith.com/cbd-secret-group-applicationWhen you've got the skills but still feel stuck, it's usually not a strategy problem—it's a self-belief problem. In this episode, I'm sharing the mindset + simple tools that helped me stop chasing external validation and start creating from a steadier place. (Yes, even after 1.8M followers, the inside doesn't magically fix itself—ask me how I know.)What we get into:Why “believe in yourself” isn't helpful… until you make it practicalHow to stop letting metrics, flops, and “no's” derail youFive tools for steady self-belief (without turning joy into homework)The one-line mantra that changed my year—and how to choose yoursIf you're an over-thinker (hi, same), this one's going to feel like a deep breath.
Saros Consulting, a global leader in IT consulting and strategic project management, has announced global expansion plans, which include the creation of 50 new jobs and a €8M investment. In addition to the new jobs, the investment covers a new HQ in Dublin and the establishment of a global delivery hub in Cape Town, South Africa. Headquartered and founded in Dublin, Saros provides IT consulting services covering areas including digital transformation, cybersecurity and mergers and acquisitions. The company currently has a presence in the UK, Switzerland and the US. Over a two-year period, the next wave of Saros's expansion will see the company strengthen its presence in existing markets, while entering South Africa - supported by Enterprise Ireland - as a new market. The jobs - split across all of Saros's key markets - and investment will accelerate the company's growth in its core sectors of life sciences, financial services and retail, while enabling it to scale its global resourcing business. As part of the investment, Saros has opened a new HQ in Fitzwilliam Place, Dublin, which is designed with collaboration spaces and break-out rooms to support the company's expanding workforce. The Cape Town team will support Saros's growth across Europe and Africa, providing fully remote solutions to businesses across both continents. The new roles will be in the areas of project management, IT consulting and business development, supporting Saros's mission to provide high-quality, scalable resourcing solutions to multinational clients. Ray Armstrong, co-founder and CEO, Saros Consulting, said: "Today's announcement marks a major milestone in our journey to becoming a truly global player. With this investment, we are not only creating new jobs in Ireland and South Africa, but also strengthening our ability to deliver flexible, remote-first services to enterprises across multiple regions. The investment represents our confidence in the future of distributed work and our commitment to building a truly borderless consulting practice." Justin van der Spuy, co-founder and CEO, Saros Consulting, said: "South Africa offers a strong talent pool and a strategic gateway to global markets. The quality of technical talent emerging from South African universities, coupled with the country's mature IT services sector, make it an ideal location for our first African hub." See more stories here. More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too. You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss. Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience. You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.
This week's Espresso covers news from Telepatia AI, zMatch, Agent.Shop and more!Outline of this episode:[00:30] – Plata raises $250M, reaching a $3.1B valuation[00:47] – Telepatia AI raises $9M seed round[00:56] – zMatch raises $1.8M for market expansion[01:05] – Brazilian fintech Bull raises $1.8M pre-seed round[01:13] – Agent.Shop raises $1M to launch in Brazil[01:24] – Nekt raises $230K from Norte Ventures[01:31] – Argentinian fintech ONE raises $1.2M seed round[01:40] – Latamlist Roundup October 1st – 15thResources & people mentioned:Startups: Plata, Telepatia AI, zMatch, Bull, Agent.Shop, Nekt, ONE,VCs: A-Star, Canary, MAYA Capital, Caravela Capital, Norte Ventures, Alaya Capital,
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/AnalyticJoin The Normandy For Additional Bonus Audio And Visual Content For All Things Nme+! Join Here: https://ow.ly/msoH50WCu0K Dive into Rod Wave's raw comeback with “Leavin” in this Analytic Dreamz segment on Notorious Mass Effect. Dropped October 12, 2025, via Alamo Records, the 3-minute single—directed by Jerry Production—layers haunting soul samples, sparse percussion, and icy piano over Rod's emotive croon. Themes of escapism and mental turmoil shine in lines like “How I stay afloat with a hole in my boat?” and “I'm leaving again, but this time don't wait on me,” earning instant social buzz for his storyteller authenticity.After a 10-month mental health hiatus—sparked by January 2025's reflective note: “Gonna travel, see the world, find love, raise kids… This ain't goodbye”—the 27-year-old Florida native launches The Redemption Experience Tour. Self-promoted to dodge promoter pitfalls, it spans December 7, 2025 (Crypto.com Arena, LA) to January 2, 2026 (Miami finale), hitting Barclays Center December 23. Tickets on sale October 17 via Vivid Seats; 100% secure.Looming large: Grizzly Touring's September 2025 $27M lawsuit over canceled Last Lap tour (12/35 shows amid chaos). Rod's countersuit alleges routing failures, no-notice reschedules, and a $1.8M bribe to ex-agent Beau Williams for exclusivity. “Indentured servitude,” per lawyer James Sammataro; reps slam it as a “baseless trap.” Grizzly silent as of October 13.Post-Beautiful Mind (#1 Billboard 200, 2022) and Last Lap (#2, 2024)—plus singles “Call Your Friends,” “HG4,” “Love Overdose”—his August 29 Tampa set (30 tracks, debuts like “Already Won,” “Lonely”) felt like “healing.” Analytic Dreamz unpacks this redemption arc, echoing 2025 disputes like Drake's, and Rod's mantra: “Long as you got music, you're not alone.”Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/analytic-dreamz-notorious-mass-effect/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
I always try and bring the sunshine and some good energy and often I like to bring some good bagels. Today if you use your 'smellavision' link ( only kidding there is none - yet lol ) it smells like fresh bagels! I want you to meet Beth George, former attorney turned bagel whisperer and owner of Bagel-ish in Beacon, NY, and wow… this woman is rising dough and raising entrepreneurs. Beth's origin story is pure heart: in 2006 she started baking to help her son manage health and behavioral issues—researching the gut–brain connection long before it was trendy. That journey led her to develop healthier, more digestible bagels (tip: freeze, then toast—the “resistant starch” effect can lower the glycemic impact, and pairing with protein helps even more). But Beth didn't stop at a great bagel. Through Bagel-ish and her consulting/training work, she now teaches entrepreneurs how to open thriving bagel shops—in the U.S. and 12 countries (from Ethiopia to Sweden to Taiwan!). Clients range from one-store startups to multi-location operators. One early client even made it to Shark Tank and later exited big. Want in on the bagel business? Startup ballpark: ~$450K on the lean end; many projects land $450K–$800K (retrofits can be closer to ~$200K). Revenue targets: to make the math work, plan for roughly $1.0M–$1.8M in annual sales and aim to keep about 25% by managing labor, food, and occupancy with discipline. Pro move: repurpose a former food location to save big on buildout. Why her bagels stand out Focus on healthier wheat formulas (tastier + more gut-friendly) Real-world training on formulas, equipment, SOPs, and projections A founder who blends legal rigor, R&D, and insane passion (her BYOB—Bake Your Own Bagels—shirt says it all: Passion Makes Perfect). If you're heading to the Hudson Valley, pop into Bagel-ish, 226 Main St, Beacon, NY. If you're dreaming of opening your own shop, Beth's training center and consulting might be your best first step. Listen to my full conversation with Beth George on The Debbie Nigro Show and get inspired to turn that bagel dream into a blueprint. Learn more: bagel-ish.com
In this KE Report Company Update, Tara Christie, President & CEO of Banyan Gold (TSX.V:BYN - OTCQB:BYAGF), discusses the newly announced $31.4M strategic financing and provides updates on the expanded 40,000m+ drill program at the AurMac Gold Project in the Yukon. Key Highlights: $31.4M Strategic Financing: Led by a private Peruvian mining group with a proven M&A record. Includes $23M flow-through and $8M hard dollars - no warrants or board rights. Strong Treasury: Cash position to exceed $40M, funding exploration and technical work through 2026 and supporting a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) planned for fall 2026. AurMac Drill Program: Nearly 36,000m drilled (165 holes) of the planned 40,000m; only 26 holes released so far. Focus on expanding higher-grade zones encompassing the 5M+ ounces >1 g/t Au that will anchor mine design. Hyland Project: New resource update coming soon for Banyan's secondary Yukon asset. Modest 2026 drilling planned to test new targets and support potential JV or partnership opportunities. If you have any follow up questions for Tara please email me at Fleck@kereport.com. Click here to visit the Banyan Gold website. ---------------- For more market commentary & interview summaries, subscribe to our Substacks: The KE Report: https://kereport.substack.com/ Shad's resource market commentary: https://excelsiorprosperity.substack.com/ Investment Disclaimer: This content is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice, an offer, or a solicitation to buy or sell any security. Investing in equities and commodities involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. Do your own research and consult a licensed financial advisor before making any investment decisions. Guests and hosts may own shares in companies mentioned.
In Part 2 of The Dwayne Kerrigan Podcast with John Karpov, founder and CEO of Action Home Services, Dwayne and John go even deeper into the mindset and systems behind Action Home Services(AHS), a leading landscaping and exterior construction company serving Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area. From almost losing his residency to scaling an $8M business while facing deportation, John shares how he built structure, leadership, and culture around his immigrant grit. He opens up about redefining fulfillment, transitioning from survival mode to leadership, and how relentless personal growth became the cornerstone of his company's 50% year-over-year growth.John reveals his leadership playbook — from reading 2 books a month to building over 1,000 SOPs and investing $1.5M in professional development for his team — and how staying humble, hungry, and human is what keeps him grounded through every phase of growth.If Part 1 was about survival, this episode is about scaling — with purpose, structure, and soul.Listen to Part 1 HEREWatch Part 1 HERETimestamps[00:00:00] — Dwayne opens with: “You can only run a business so long by running the fastest.”[00:01:00] — John's incredible story of his wife's visa approval and their shared “never give up” destiny.[00:05:00] — The immigration battle: how they nearly lost everything waiting for permanent residency.[00:07:30] — The miracle timing that let them stay in Canada and the lessons learned living on the edge.[00:10:00] — Reinvesting every dollar into the business while facing uncertainty.[00:13:00] — Scaling to $10M+ before age 25 — and not feeling like it's an accomplishment.[00:17:00] — Dwayne and John explore scarcity versus hunger — and how the immigrant mindset fuels drive.[00:19:00] — John on never feeling “done” and why fulfillment comes from helping others succeed.[00:22:30] — The breakthrough realization: happiness is in the journey, not the destination.[00:26:00] — Daily fulfillment rituals: reading, training, and prioritizing sleep.[00:29:00] — Building structure and delegation into the company's DNA — leadership by design.[00:31:00] — Creating organizational charts, head of departments, and scaling through people.[00:35:30] — Learning to lead through education: 100+ conferences and a book club culture.[00:38:00] — Investing $1.5M in personal and professional development and $40K in books.[00:41:00] — Company reading list and rewards program: from “Unreasonable Hospitality” to “Good to Great.”[00:45:00] — John's transparent leadership: open-book finances, KPI education, and growth accountability.[00:49:00] — Over 1,000 SOPs: how structure scales culture.[00:53:00] — Turning every mistake into a process and every error into a lesson.[00:56:00] — The ROI of structure: new managers finally saying, “I love that it's organized.”[00:58:00] — Why immigrants often make exceptional employees — grit meets gratitude.[01:00:30] — Dwayne's reflection on the power of sacrifice and the immigrant spirit.[01:02:00] — John's final advice: “If you need my help with your business, I'll be there for you.”Key...
If I told you that I can sign clients in 60 minutes a day… would you believe me? In this week's episode, I'm pulling back the curtain on my Predictable Clients Method — the exact system I use (and help my clients use) to sign clients consistently every single month. No ads. No funnels. No 12-hour workdays. Just a simple, repeatable process that puts you in control of your results — every single week. I'm breaking down: The daily actions that keep my pipeline full The biggest mistakes coaches make when trying to “do it all” Why most people focus on the wrong metrics (and what to look at instead) How I've made $1.8M from my community working just 60 minutes a day If you've been telling yourself you need to “do more” to sign clients, this episode will flip that story on its head. Connect with me outside the podcast! Continue the conversation in the Market Like a Boss Facebook group. What if you could turn your content into $10K months? This is exactly what the Demand Week is about. It's designed to help you attract the right clients through your messaging. Join us now! Listen + Subscribe on ITUNES or STITCHER I'd greatly appreciate a podcast rating and review so that this podcast can reach more women! Search for the podcast in your podcast app (Market Like a Boss) Scroll down and click 5 stars Tap “Write a Review” & enter a brief review Press send
Learn how immigrant founder Jonathan Lamer raised $8M, built 5 startups, and scaled across borders without any tech background. Jonathan Lamer's story proves that you don't need a Silicon Valley background to build something big. From Quebec to Miami, he's raised over $8 million, built five companies, and helped founders worldwide launch in the U.S. In this episode of Beyond The Claim, host Vince Perri uncovers Jonathan's real founder playbook on how to build fast, validate faster, and scale globally without burning out or giving up control.
The Science of Flipping | Become a real estate investor | Real Estate Investing like Robert Kiyosaki
In this episode, I sit down with 24-year-old powerhouse Cameron Burke, and let me tell you — this guy is the real deal. With over $85M in retail sales, $8M+ in personal real estate holdings, and a team of 8 agents under his belt, Cameron has built a real estate empire using creative finance strategies — and he's just getting started. He opens up about his rough upbringing, how he started flipping cars and fridges in high school, and how his drive and hustle turned into a thriving business in Oklahoma City. We talk about everything from lease options, non-QM loans, and scaling with systems, to building a replicable model for agents and investors alike. Cameron drops wisdom on intrinsic motivation, mentorship, leadership, and even his philosophy on dopamine, discipline, and avoiding burnout. It's one of the most honest, raw, and inspiring episodes we've ever done. About Cameron: Cameron Burke is a 24-year-old real estate entrepreneur, investor, and founder of Creative Homes Group based in Oklahoma City. By age 24, he had closed over $85 million in retail real estate sales, built a personal portfolio exceeding $8 million in holdings, and led a team of 8+ agents specializing in creative finance, lease options, and non-QM deals. Known for his hands-on leadership, strategic marketing, and meteoric rise from humble beginnings, Cameron is quickly becoming a national voice in innovative real estate investing. He also runs a fast-growing YouTube channel sharing insights for agents, investors, and aspiring entrepreneurs. Connect with Cameron Burke YouTube: @CameronBurkeInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/c.burkeFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/CameronBurkeCreative Homes Group: https://www.creativehomesgroup.com About Justin: After investing in real estate for over 18 years and almost 3000 deals done, Justin has created a business that generates 7 figures in active income through wholesaling and fix and flipping as well as accumulating millions of dollars of rental properties including 5 apartment buildings, 50+ single family homes, and 1 storage facility Justins longevity in real estate is due to his ability to look around the corners, adapt to changing markets, perfecting Raising private capital, and focusing on lead generation which allows him to not just wholesale and fix & flip, but also accumulate wealth through long term holds. His success in real estate led him to start The Entrepreneur DNA podcast and The Science Of Flipping podcast and education company, and REI LIVE where he's actively doing deals with members. He has coached and mentored thousands of aspiring and active investors over the last decade. Connect with Justin: Instagram: @thejustincolby YouTube: Justin Colby TikTok: @justincolbytsof • • LinkedIn: Justin Colby Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
LightSpeed VT: https://www.lightspeedvt.com/ Dropping Bombs Podcast: https://www.droppingbombs.com/ Ever wonder how the elites turn market chaos into millions overnight? In this straight-shooting Dropping Bombs episode, Joel Kraut—former Wall Street options trader turned real-estate operator—pulls back the curtain on going from Black Monday's $10M day to pioneering a BRRR-style playbook that everyday investors can actually run. He strips away guru fluff and explains why most people never tap real-estate goldmines, how to build cash-flowing single-family portfolios, and why you must leverage the cycle instead of fearing it. This is Wall Street chaos turned Main Street wealth—delivered by someone who lived both. Here's the blueprint most gurus skip: automate $500/mo into an S&P 500 index (compounding toward ~$1.8M in 30 years), then accelerate with covered calls. If you've got $50K–$250K sitting idle, this convo shows exactly how to put it to work—and why mentorship collapses your timeline from a decade to 18 months. From personal rock bottoms to mentoring thousands, Joel's message is simple: commitment over interest, mindset over money, and now is the time to buy—before the big players scoop it all.
In This Episode Dr. Antoine Khadige, Senior Partner at Strategy+ GCC, and Mohamed AlSabea, Chief of Staff and Chief Strategy Officer at barq, join host Brett King for a special episode, live from The Money Pot studio at Money20/20 Middle East in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Together, they share insights on the Gulf's fintech transformation and on Riyadh's growing reputation as the gateway to one of the world's fastest-moving financial markets, where global players and regional decision-makers come together to build what's next. It's an interesting discussion as the trio unpack Saudi Arabia's dynamic fintech ecosystem and share the success story that is barq. Barq is the fastest growing private wallet / digital bank in the world with 8M users in just 1 year. They share insights on barq's success, some of its secret sauce and plans for the future. Regulation, digital infrastructure, youthful demographics and public trust have made the GCC a fertile ground for next-generation finance. From embedded finance and AI-driven personalization to the region's broader Vision 2030 transformation, this conversation captures the determination and optimism fueling Saudi Arabia's emergence as a global fintech powerhouse. Is the Gulf the “new Europe” for fintech innovation? With determination and bold leadership driving transformation, the region's financial future is only beginning.
About David Zitoun:David Zitoun is the Co-founder and CEO of Submagic, the AI-powered video editing platform that helps content creators generate viral shorts in seconds. Starting from his own frustration editing YouTube content, David bootstrapped Submagic to over $8M in revenue with an ultra-lean team of just 10 people—no sales team, fully self-serve, and 100% remote. Known for his obsessive focus on pricing experimentation, distribution-first strategy, and profitability over growth-at-all-costs, David represents a new breed of bootstrapped SaaS founder winning in the AI era.About Submagic:Submagic is an AI-powered video editing platform built for content creators who need to produce viral short-form content quickly. Born from a founder's personal pain point, Submagic's radical approach combines cutting-edge AI with an entirely self-serve business model. The company has achieved remarkable capital efficiency, reaching $8M in revenue with just 10 team members while maintaining profitability and sustainable growth.Show Notes:00:00 Inside Submagic's pricing page04:04 From frustrated creator to founder09:59 Building a lean, distributed team15:01 Managing hyper-growth with minimal headcount17:34 Building team culture through retreats19:59 The hidden challenges of managing remote teams21:09 Effective communication in remote work: Loom, World Time Buddy, and Sup Bot24:01 Metrics and success measurement32:14 Hiring the right people for growth33:27 Choosing profitability and sustainability over venture-backed hyper-growth
Starting a business is one thing. Scaling it from $1–2 million to $8 million in just a few years? Another level entirely.In this episode, Scott welcomes John Frias, President of Dominguez Contractors, to talk about the journey of growth in the construction industry. From cash flow struggles to selecting the right GCs, John shares how he and his team navigated challenges, built trust through transparency, and found the right financial partner to support their expansion.You'll hear: - How Dominguez Contractors grew from a $2M subcontractor to an $8M operation - Why choosing the right GC partners can make or break your business - The cash flow hurdles that nearly every contractor faces - How transparency builds trust with both GCs and financial partners - The mindset shifts needed to move from surviving to scaling - Why flexibility is the secret weapon when growth brings chaosWhether you're just starting out or looking to scale, John's story is proof that transparency, trust, and the right financial tools can change everything.
We're told stress (looking at you cortisol) is the enemy in midlife—but that's too simple. In the right dose (and with real recovery), stress is good medicine that builds resilience and makes us stronger, in sport, at work, and in life. In this episode, we dive into the “stress that helps” with Dr. Sharon Horesh Bergquist—physician, researcher, and author of The Stress Paradox. We break down hormesis (the just-enough stress plus recovery cycle), how the right doses of stress in the form of training, plant phytochemicals, hot/cold exposure, and smart time-restricted eating activates cellular defense pathways that ultimately rebuild us to be stronger right down to our DNA. We also dive into how to stack stressors without tipping into overload, which is key for active midlife women, so we can live longer, healthier, and happier lives.Sharon Bergquist, MD, is a board-certified physician, researcher, and pioneer in lifestyle medicine. She has led $61M in clinical trials on lifestyle interventions and early biomarkers of chronic disease. Her book, The Stress Paradox: Why You Need Stress to Live Longer, Healthier, and Happier (HarperCollins, Mar 2025), unpacks how daily habits activate the body's regenerative systems. An Emory University faculty physician since 2000, she earned a B.S. in molecular biophysics and biochemistry from Yale, an M.D. from Harvard, and trained in internal medicine at Brigham & Women's. Her TED-Ed lesson has 8M+ views, and she's been featured by Good Morning America, CNN, ABC News, The Wall Street Journal, and NPR. You can learn more about her and her work and sign up for her newsletter at drsharonbergquist.comResources:The Stress Paradox book: drsharonbergquist.com/the-stress-paradoxSign up for our FREE Feisty 40+ newsletter: https://feistymedia.ac-page.com/feisty-40-sign-up-pageLearn More and Register for our Feisty 40+ Strong Retreat: https://www.womensperformance.com/strongretreat Learn More and Register for our 2026 Tucson Bike Camp: https://www.girlsgonegravel.com/camp Follow Us on Instagram:Feisty Menopause: @feistymenopause Hit Play Not Pause Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/807943973376099 Support our Partners:Phosis: Use the code FEISTY15 for 15% off at https://www.phosis.com/ Midi Health: You Deserve to Feel Great. Book your virtual visit today at https://www.joinmidi.com/Previnex: Get 15% off your first order with code HITPLAY at https://www.previnex.com/ Nutrisense: Go to nutrisense.io/hitplay and use code: HITPLAY to get 30% offWahoo KICKR RUN: Use the code FEISTY to get a free Headwind Smart Fan (value $300) with the purchase of a Wahoo KICKR RUN at https://shorturl.at/maTzL This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Spotify Ad Analytics - https://www.spotify.com/us/legal/ad-analytics-privacy-policy/Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacyPodscribe - https://podscribe.com/privacy
Tibo discusses how he sold his startups for $8M, emphasizing his approach of shipping one product per week, avoiding VC funding, and focusing on validation. He reflects on his journey with Tweet Hunter and Taplio, and shares his current challenge of growing five apps to $100K in monthly revenue. He stresses that distribution is more important than building in today's competitive market.Where to Find Tibohttps://www.linkedin.com/in/tibo-the-maker/https://x.com/tibo_maker?lang=enNeed Help Building Your Empire? Click Below
This week's Espresso covers news from CredAluga, Takenos, Grupalia MetaBIX Biotech and more!Outline of this episode:[00:30] – Lastro raises $16M Series A led by Prosus Ventures[00:40] – CredAluga raises $11M in Series A round led by Provence Partners[00:49] – Zippi secures $15.9M to expand credit access for Brazilian small businesses[00:59] – WorkAI secures $1M investment from M2 Digital[01:07] – Takenos raises $5M seed round co-led by Variant and Lattice[01:18] – Grupalia raises $4.8M seed round[01:30] – MetaBIX Biotech raises over $1MResources & people mentioned:Startups: Lastro, CredAluga, Zippi, WorkAI, Takenos, Grupalia, MetaBIX BiotechVCs: Prosus Ventures, Provence Partners, Itaú, Verde Asset, M2 Digital, Variant, Lattice,
In this episode, a $5.1M portfolio of seven KidStrong gyms in Texas is analyzed for its valuation, investor fit, and whether a multi-location kids fitness business is a scalable opportunity or operational headache.Business Listing – https://www.bizbuysell.com/business-opportunity/turnkey-multi-unit-kidstrong-franchise-opportunity-in-texas/2381018/Welcome to Acquisitions Anonymous – the #1 podcast for small business M&A. Every week, we break down businesses for sale and talk about buying, operating, and growing them.
Praveen Ghanta, founder of Fraction and former CEO of HiddenLevers, shares how he turned his experience scaling a bootstrapped SaaS company into a fast-growing fractional talent marketplace. After HiddenLevers reached $8M in ARR and sold for over $100M, he realized that senior fractional engineers were the secret to delivering efficiently without expensive full-time hires. Fraction now serves over 100 SaaS clients with a vetted pool of 500 senior U.S.-based engineers and CTOs. Typical engagements run 10–30 hours a week, helping founders tackle scaling challenges in vertical SaaS, AI engineering, DevOps, and legacy system conversions. The company has reached $10M ARR in just three years while keeping half its own team fractional. Praveen explains how clients use Fraction to save costs, speed development, and even prepare for M&A due diligence with fractional CTOs. He also highlights how AI has boosted senior developer productivity by 4x, why U.S.-only context matters, and how fractional-to-full-time hiring often becomes a win-win path. This interview is perfect for SaaS founders at $1M–10M ARR, hitting scaling issues, vertical SaaS leaders needing senior engineers without VC funding, and founders considering AI-powered product features and engineering talent. Key Takeaways Fractional Individual Contributors: Not just execs—senior engineers deliver hands-on code, marketing, and DevOps part-time. AI Productivity Boost: Senior developers using AI tools are delivering 2–4x more than peers without them. Cost Advantage: Starting at $5K/month, founders access senior dev talent without $200K+ full-time salaries. Best ICP Fit: Vertical SaaS companies at $1–10M ARR facing scaling issues or legacy migrations. Developer Productivity: Fraction leveraged its experience with over 100 clients to build DevHawk.ai, a tool that manages fractional talent and delivers results even more efficiently. This Interview Is Perfect For SaaS founders stuck at scaling challenges without a budget for big teams Bootstrappers and practical founders looking for senior engineering firepower Founders facing legacy code, scaling issues, or AI feature rollouts Non-technical founders struggling to manage offshore or junior dev teams Quote from Praveen Ghanta, founder of Fraction “There are a lot of very experienced engineers who get into a senior developer role, but if they're not going to become the manager of the team, there's not a really good and obvious career path for them. “They start to get bored because they know their job inside and out and it's relatively easy for them to keep delivering. “So working on a startup on the side is actually a way for both for them to sort of enrich their career and see new things and have that creative satisfaction, but at the same time, not take the risk. There are plenty of folks that want to be full-time at the startup, but there's risk in being at a startup.” Links Praveen Ghanta on LinkedIn Fraction on LinkedIn Fraction website (fraction.work) DevHawk website Podcast Sponsor – Fraction This podcast is sponsored by Fraction. Fraction gives you access to senior US-based engineers and CTOs — without full-time costs or hiring risks. Get 10 to 30 hours per week from vetted and experienced US-based talent. Find your next fractional senior engineer or CTO at fraction.work. You can start with a one-week, risk-free trial to test it out. The Practical Founders Podcast Tune into the Practical Founders Podcast for weekly in-depth interviews with founders who have built valuable software companies without big funding. Subscribe to the Practical Founders Podcast using your favorite podcast app or view on our YouTube channel. Get the weekly Practical Founders newsletter and podcast updates at practicalfounders.com. Practical Founders CEO Peer Groups Be part of a committed and confidential group of practical founders creating valuable software companies without big VC funding. A Practical Founders Peer Group is a committed and confidential group of founders/CEOs who want to help you succeed on your terms. Each Practical Founders Peer Group is personally curated and moderated by Greg Head.
Ever wonder how someone bought an $8M/year company with only $5,000? Gary Shelton did just that, and in this interview, he reveals his exact model. Gary is "The Coaching King," having acquired, scaled, and sold 12 different businesses over the last 50 years, each hitting 8-figures per year. He explains why mindset is the #1 reason most entrepreneurs never hit $1M a year in revenue and shares the lessons he learned from his mentor who built the first black-owned billion-dollar company. If you want to learn how to acquire businesses with little of your own money, build systems that allow them to run without you, and develop the perseverance to succeed, this conversation is for you. Check out the company: https://goshelton.comBook a 1-on-1 advisory session with me to apply these principles to your business: https://calendly.com/wltb/advisory
In this episode, a $5.1M portfolio of seven KidStrong gyms in Texas is analyzed for its valuation, investor fit, and whether a multi-location kids fitness business is a scalable opportunity or operational headache.Business Listing – https://www.bizbuysell.com/business-opportunity/turnkey-multi-unit-kidstrong-franchise-opportunity-in-texas/2381018/Welcome to Acquisitions Anonymous – the #1 podcast for small business M&A. Every week, we break down businesses for sale and talk about buying, operating, and growing them.
LightSpeed VT: https://www.lightspeedvt.com/ Dropping Bombs Podcast: https://www.droppingbombs.com/ What if losing $400K to a crooked partner, battling PTSD, and raising a special-needs son still wasn't enough to stop you from building an $8M empire? In this raw, unfiltered episode of Dropping Bombs, I sit down with Vincent “Vinnie” Biancamano—first-gen Italian, ex-firefighter, and founder of Hot Shot Hardscape & Pools—on how he went from his dad's basement and maxed-out cards to becoming one of the fastest-growing custom pool builders in Scottsdale and nationwide. This isn't HGTV—it's the brutal truth about backyard resorts. Vinnie exposes why most pool contractors cut corners, why the cheapest bid usually becomes the most expensive mistake, and how six-inch-on-center steel cages, soil engineering, and waterproofing separate luxury builds from disasters. His message is simple: if you want bargain basics, call someone else—but if you want a backyard resort that looks like Vegas and lasts like concrete, Hot Shot will fly anywhere to build it. For entrepreneurs, builders, and parents fighting uphill battles, this is your wake-up call to bet on discipline, lead with character, and let results do the talking.
This Episode Is Sposored By: Welcome to the most explosive season of Thinking Big yet! After 6 seasons of mindset mastery, Sean is finally pulling back the curtain on the $25,000 framework he's been teaching exclusively to his high-ticket coaching clients and mastermind members. In this season premiere, Sean reveals why he's been holding back his most powerful business strategy - and why he's decided to give it all away for free in Season 7. What You'll Learn
Julianna Christensen is a West Point graduate, Army veteran, and content creator with 2.8M+ followers. After serving, she channeled her discipline and creativity into founding ROAME, a mission-driven self-care brand designed to bring more intention into daily life. Drawing on her journey from deployment in Afghanistan to building a thriving digital community, Julianna blends authenticity, resilience, and practicality to help others create everyday rituals that actually stick. Her story is one of service, strength, and turning life's challenges into opportunities for meaningful impact.https://www.roameclean.com/https://juliannaclaire.com/
I am so thrilled to share this very special LIVE episode with you. I had the absolute joy of sitting down in London with Marisa Poster, co-founder of PerfectTed and Jake Karls, founder of Mid-Day Squares, for an unforgettable conversation about scaling challenger brands, radical transparency, and building community. And yes, I got to TASTE a Mid-Day Square and it's INCREDIBLE. In fact, I actually ate 3 in a row.If you haven't come across Mid-Day Squares yet, they're the Canadian-born brand redefining healthy afternoon snacking with functional chocolate AND now scaling rapidly across the US. Co-founder Jake Karls last joined me on Brand Growth Heroes in 2023 (scroll back to hear the original episode), and since then, the business has experienced significant growth, expanding from $8M to tens of millions in revenue, with its sights firmly set on reaching $100M.Because it was PerfectTed who first introduced me to Jake, it felt only right to have Marisa Poster join in the conversation as co-host! And thanks to Lucky Saint who SO kindly offering us their fab upstairs event room, we gathered 50 friends, founders, and partners for a night of storytelling, snacking, and straight-talking about what it really takes to scale a challenger brand. In this episode, we dive into:How Mid-Day Squares grew from the kitchen table to producing 150,000 bars a day.Why therapy, radical transparency, and “building a business out loud” became part of their DNA.The importance of building fans not just customers.How PerfectTed is making matcha accessible and creating a whole new category.The realities of expanding into the US market (and what's different from Canada, the UK, and beyond).Why team communication and trust are make-or-break for founders.How Storytelling fuels challenger brands.What happens when new competitors enter a category and how to stay focused.The role of product excellence in sustaining growth.The highs, lows, trolls, and resilience it takes to keep going.This is part one of our Mid-Day Squares live series. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did hosting it!Next week we'll be sharing the Q&A session, which ran for a whole extra hour and was packed with brilliant audience questions. And as you'll hear at the end of this episode, Shani Higgs, Head of Sales at PerfectTed (and their fourth team member after the founders), will be stepping in to co-host with me for part two. You're going to learn A LOT so stay tuned!Make sure you're subscribed so you don't miss it. And if you're not already, go check out Midday Squares and PerfectTed on Instagram and LinkedIn; their storytelling is world-class.A tiny favour: If this episode inspires YOU to think about new ways to drive business growth, please could you click FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE on your favourite podcast app and leave a review, and maybe share with someone you know will enjoy it?This small gesture from you means the world to us, and allows us to share these nuggets of insight and value with you more often.Useful linksMidday Squares LinkedInPerfect Ted LinkedInMidday Squares FacebookMidday Squares InstagramPerfect Ted InstagramPerfect Ted TikTokMidday SquaresPerfect TedLucky Saint on LinkedInLucky Saint============================================================Thanks to Brand Growth Heroes' podcast sponsor - Joelson, the commercial law firm=============================================================If you're a founder, you already know how much of your energy goes into building the perfect product, creating standout branding and connecting with your consumers.But don't forget that scaling a CPG business also comes with a maze of legal complexities that can make or break your business journey. From contracts, term sheets and regulatory compliance to protecting your brand's intellectual property as you expand, it's essential to get it right.And that starts with the right legal partner.So we're thrilled to introduce Joelson, a leading commercial law firm that specialises in guiding the founders of scaling CPG brands, as Brand Growth Heroes' sponsor.With long-term relationships with clients like Little Moons, Trip, Eat Natural, Bear Graze, and Pulsin, Joelson is also famous for advising the innocent founders in their landmark sale to Coca-Cola! As a female team, we are especially impressed by Joelson's commitment to championing female founders in CPG.Not many law firms are also BCorps, nor do they specialise in helping founders navigate the legal challenges of scaling without stifling the creativity and momentum that got you here in the first place. So thanks, Joelson—we're delighted to have you on board.If you'd like to get in touch to find out more, why don't you drop them a line at hello@joelsonlaw.com!============================================== Join our Brand Growth Heroes community to stay updated with captivating stories and learnings from your beloved brands on their path to success!Follow us on our Brand Growth Heroes socials: LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.Thanks to our Sound Engineer, Gyp Buggane, Ballagroove.com and podcast producer/content creator, Kathryn Watts, Social KEWS.
Jarrett Young, Head of School at City Academy, joins The STL Bucket List Show to share how a small independent school in North St. Louis is transforming opportunities for kids and families through access, love, and education.We cover:Jarrett's journey: North STL → St. Louis Public Schools → MICDS (DSEG) → Bowdoin → Harvard → back home to lead City AcademyWhy 100% of students receive financial aid, with families paying ~$3,900 toward a $28,000 educationThe City Academy model: no buses, daily meals, extended day, and parents as true partnersAlumni success stories: a WashU tenure-track professor, an NYU student in urban planning, and rising leaders at MICDSGrowth plans: expanding early childhood while staying “small & special”The $2.8M+ raised annually to keep the doors open and accessible
This week on Transit Unplugged:We head to Singapore, where public transit covers every inch of the island—and carries an astonishing 7.5 million riders daily.Host Paul Comfort sits down with Winston Toh, Managing Director of Tower Transit Singapore, one of four operators under the Land Transport Authority (LTA). With 800 buses across 60 routes, Tower Transit is at the center of a system designed with precision—and powered by centralized planning.Winston shares:Why bus ridership (3.8M daily) surpasses rail (3.4M) in Singapore How LTA ensures full national coverage and low fares (as little as $0.69 for seniors) Why “every inch of the land is covered” with integrated bus and rail systems The role of AI-enabled safety tools, including fatigue detection and driver incentive programs How Tower Transit fosters a people-first culture, with 80% staff engagement and Singapore Best Employer status The company's goal to become “the Singapore Airlines of the bus industry” Whether you're an operator, planner, or policymaker, this episode offers a blueprint for equitable, efficient, and tech-forward mobility.Creator, Host & Producer — Paul Comfort Executive Producer — Julie Gates Producer — Chris O'KeeffeEdited and Mixed by — Chris O'Keeffe + Patrick EmileAssociate Producer — Cyndi Raskin Special thanks to:Brand Design — Tina Olagundoye Social Media — Tatyana Mechkarova Got a question or comment? Email us at info@transitunplugged.com DisclaimerThe views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Modaxo Inc., its affiliates or subsidiaries, or any entities they represent. This production belongs to Modaxo and may contain information subject to trademark, copyright, or other intellectual-property rights and restrictions. This production provides general information and should not be relied on as legal advice or opinion. Modaxo specifically disclaims all warranties, express or implied, and will not be liable for any losses, claims, or damages arising from the use of this presentation, from any material contained in it, or from any action or decision taken in response to it.
In this episode, the hosts analyze a $9.5M revenue RV technician school with $2.8M profit, high regulatory barriers, and a tricky $6M real estate kicker.Business Listing – https://quietlight.com/listings/12510300/Welcome to Acquisitions Anonymous – the #1 podcast for small business M&A. Every week, we break down businesses for sale and talk about buying, operating, and growing them.
Pirates baseball ended poorly and quietly, but Penguins hockey is just getting started! The Pens are bringing back a beloved player, goalie Marc-Andre Fleury, for a one-night-only, send-off party at Saturday's game. There's an idea to build a private helipad in the city, City Council agreed to spend $1.8 million on a plan for the proposed public safety training center in Lincoln-Lemington, and Kamala Harris is spilling the tea on why she didn't pick PA Gov. Josh Shapiro to be her running mate last year. Plus, Pittsburgh's iffy finances got dealt another blow over the jock tax this week, and parents of local trans kids have filed a complaint with the state against UPMC over their policy to end gender-affirming care for their children. Won't you be our Neighbor? Sign up ASAP to get a limited edition tote bag + a chance to win free tickets to Say Cheese! at Mazzotta Winery and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. Notes and references from today's show: Pittsburgh City Council approves first step toward public-safety campus on VA hospital site [WESA] Pittsburgh to spend $1.8M on master plan for controversial public safety training center [TribLive] PODCAST: Why Pittsburgh's Divided Over Possible 'Cop City' [City Cast Pittsburgh] PODCAST: The Fight To Get a Gun Range Out of Highland Park [City Cast Pittsburgh] Trans patients file discrimination complaint against UPMC over termination of gender-affirming care [WESA] Trans Patients File Groundbreaking Legal Complaint Against UPMC For Capitulation To Trump [Erin In The Morning] Parents to UPMC: Tell us whether you're giving our trans kids' records to the feds [PublicSource] Anti-Trans National Legal Risk Assessment Map: August Edition [Erin In The Morning] Kamala Harris opens up about Joe Biden's weird Philly phone call, Josh Shapiro's VP interview, and more [Philadelphia Inquirer] 5 takeaways from Kamala Harris' new book about her sprint for the presidency [NPR] State Supreme Court calls foul on Pittsburgh's 'jock tax,' adding to city's financial headaches [WESA] PODCAST: Is Pittsburgh Going Broke? [City Cast Pittsburgh] Penguins release more tickets for Marc-Andre Fleury exhibition game [WPXI] Bucs Limp to the Finish in Another Lost Season [Pittsburgh Magazine] No place to land: Pittsburgh's lack of private helipads sparks new initiative [Pittsburgh Business Times] Learn more about the sponsors of this September 26th episode: Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Heinz History Center Planned Parenthood of Western PA City Cast Neighbors - Now through Oct. 3 when you sign up you get this awesome tote that says Neighbors Make Pittsburgh Babbel - Get up to 55% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Want more Pittsburgh news? Sign up for our daily morning Hey Pittsburgh newsletter. We're also on Instagram @CityCastPgh! Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here.
Fraud rules the day and what we are discovering is that fraud will rule the future. What possible reason could Tim Walz have for running for a third term? We think we have the answer. Johnny Heidt with guitar news. Heard On The Show:Brothers now charged federally in kidnapping, $8M armed crypto-robbery schemeWoman is first charged in Minnesota autism fraud scheme, also tied to Feeding Our FutureHegseth abruptly summons top military commanders to a meeting in Virginia next weekSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/AnalyticJoin The Normandy For Additional Bonus Audio And Visual Content For All Things Nme+! Join Here: https://ow.ly/msoH50WCu0K Analytic Dreamz unpacks Nicki Minaj's cryptic “3.27.26” tease in this Notorious Mass Effect segment, hinting at her 6th album dropping March 27, 2026. Posted on X, it sparked 100K+ likes, 1M+ views, and trending hashtags. Following Pink Friday 2's #1 Billboard debut (228K units) and $99.8M tour, Analytic Dreamz explores the Barbz's hype, skeptical takes on Cardi B rivalry timing, and Nicki's 2025 moves, including features with Lil Wayne and Juice WRLD. Get the full breakdown of her next era and what it means for rap's queen.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/analytic-dreamz-notorious-mass-effect/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Joe's Premium Subscription: www.standardgrain.comGrain Markets and Other Stuff Links-Apple PodcastsSpotifyTikTokYouTubeFutures and options trading involves risk of loss and is not suitable for everyone.0:00 Trump/Xi Call1:59 Tariff Revenue for Farmer Bailout3:41 H-1B Visa Plan6:42 2026 Acres8:20 China Soy Imports9:59 The Funds10:47 Flash Sale11:11 Cattle on Feed
What does it really take to build a personal brand that not only makes you money, but gives you the freedom to live boldly and love deeply?In this episode, Laura Patricia Martin (@itslaurapatriciamartin) sits down with Samantha Smith (@_samanthadaily)—7-Figure Personal Brand Consultant, creator of Million Dollar Messaging™️, and host of the Makeshift Happen Podcast (1.8M+ downloads)—to talk about what it means to chase big dreams while also building a fulfilling life.Sam shares her raw story of moving to Spain, starting her business from scratch, and the challenges and triumphs that shaped her journey to seven figures. Together, Laura and Sam unpack:- How to navigate the tension between ambition and intimacy- Why courage is the secret ingredient to building both brands and relationships- The role of supportive partnerships when pursuing your boldest goals- What it really looks like to align your business with your purposeThis is a conversation about choosing courage over comfort, finding safety in your ambition, and building a brand that lets you live fully on every level.
Step into Episode 179 of On the Delo as David DeLorenzo sits down with chef-restaurateur Doug Robson—Mexico City–born, Arizona-made—for a straight-shooting conversation about immigration, grit, and building neighborhood restaurants that people actually return to three and four times a week. From a 1983 move to San Antonio to Scottsdale Culinary Institute (1996), the Phoenician and Roaring Fork, through the LGO crucible and beyond, Doug lays out the mindset shifts that turned ego into collaboration and fine-dining polish into community comfort.You'll hear the real story: $7.35/hour kitchen days, 9/11's night-of impact on reservations, opening Gallo Blanco in 2009 on just $65K, closing “Gallo 1.0,” launching Otro Café in 2013, then expanding his canvas with Tesota—all while learning to delegate, welcome failure as tuition, and reset in Greer with long hikes that spark new recipes.Chapter Guide (Timestamps): (0:14 – 1:12) Cold Open & Episode 179 intro; Lake Powell guitars and banter. (1:13 – 3:04) Origin story: Mexico City → San Antonio (1983); psychology major; industry since 16; SCI (1996). (3:05 – 6:52) Early career: The Phoenician (Robert McGrath), Roaring Fork, Michael's at the Citadel; ESL grind. (6:53 – 9:38) Meeting his wife; support system; $7.35/hour realities and expectations. (9:39 – 12:06) Owning the dream; 9/11's same-day reservation crash. (12:07 – 15:22) LGO years: 5 a.m.–11 p.m. shifts, ego check, neighborhood focus, “I wanted to do tacos.” (20:08 – 23:30) Audience > opinions; “feed the masses” philosophy; the no-parking $8M goal. (23:31 – 26:06) B-locations with vision; Gallo Blanco (2009) for $65K; kept and grew the team. (26:07 – 31:27) Letting go to lead; embracing $20K–$100K mistakes; Rich Melman's portfolio math. (31:28 – 41:27) Health reset, Greer cabin hikes, sourcing from Phoenix, Santa Fe road trips → menu R&D. (41:28 – 44:17) Restaurant guide: Otro (flour tortillas, huevos/barbacoa, pancakes), Gallo (nixtamal corn tortillas, ceviches, embuelto), Tesota (global veg plates, wood-oven eggplant, Sonoran pasta). (45:58 – 50:38) Rapid-fire: chili as a secret weapon; add sour cream + extra egg to pancakes. (50:39 – 54:56) Bigfoot vs. bears; Motley Crüe; why early angst powers classic records; close & subscribe.
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/AnalyticJoin The Normandy For Additional Bonus Audio And Visual Content For All Things Nme+! Join Here: https://ow.ly/msoH50WCu0KAnalytic Dreamz investigates the chilling September 8, 2025, discovery of 15-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez's severely decomposed remains in a bag inside the front trunk of a Tesla registered to rising singer d4vd (David Anthony Burke, 20). Missing since April 5, 2024, from Lake Elsinore, Riverside County, the 5'1" teen with wavy black hair was last seen heading to a movie with her brother. Identified September 11 by Los Angeles County Medical Examiner, she wore a tube top, black leggings, yellow bracelet, and stud earrings—plus a "Shhh…" tattoo on her right index finger, matching d4vd's own ink, sparking intense speculation.LAPD's Robbery-Homicide Division leads the ongoing homicide probe, cause of death deferred pending toxicology. The abandoned Tesla, towed from Hollywood Hills after 72+ hours on a public street (not reported stolen), belongs to d4vd among his fleet, reportedly used by multiple people. No suspects or arrests yet; d4vd, Houston-born TikTok sensation with 3.8M followers, 2M+ on Instagram, and "Romantic Homicide" surpassing 1B Spotify streams, was touring abroad on his Withered World Tour—cooperating fully with police, per reps. Seattle's September 10 show canceled; San Francisco's September 19 at The Warfield proceeds, with LA September 20 and overseas October 1 legs intact. Post-Coachella 2025 debut album buzz, backlash hits: Crocs and Hollister dropped campaign ties amid fan grief and online theories.Analytic Dreamz unpacks the tragedy's ties to d4vd's fame, family devastation—Celeste's mother flagged the tattoo match to TMZ—and LAPD calls for no speculation as forensics continue. Tune in for raw analysis on this missing teen nightmare engulfing hip-hop's next big name.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/analytic-dreamz-notorious-mass-effect/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Fed cuts rates by ¼ point. Jimmy Kimmel suspended indefinitely. Major NYC strip club group bribed state auditor with lap dances, avoided $8M in taxes. Judge orders Columbia activist Mahmoud Khalil to be deported to Algeria or Syria. Splenda acquired by Slimfast. Is Diego Morales running Micah Beckwith's social media? The first Muslim Mayor of Dearborn Michigan telling an American citizen he isn’t welcome in an AMERICAN city. Massive old book collection. Left cries about Kimmel today, but remember when they were cheering Tucker's termination? Four Republicans joined Democrats to protect Ilhan Omar. Jerome Powell lowers rates by 1/4 point. Olive Garden owner Darden Restaurants disappoints on earnings but hikes sales outlook. Huh? Threats by the FCC regarding objectionable content should make conservatives pauseSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Fed cuts rates by ¼ point. Jimmy Kimmel suspended indefinitely. Major NYC strip club group bribed state auditor with lap dances, avoided $8M in taxes. Judge orders Columbia activist Mahmoud Khalil to be deported to Algeria or SyriaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode, Robert, co-founder of Wordware, shares the story of turning a sauna brainstorm into one of the largest seed rounds in YC history. He walks us through the early pivots, the highs and lows of YC interviews, and how a viral Twitter Roast fueled their momentum. This is a raw look at conviction, timing, and how founders can compound small wins into historic outcomes. FOUNDER PROFILE: Robert Chandler https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertjhchandler/
Today's Headlines: The FBI is in Utah chasing down leads in the Charlie Kirk assassination, releasing video of the suspected gunman's escape and offering $100K for tips. Meanwhile, Trump plans to award Kirk the Medal of Freedom, VP JD Vance escorted his casket, and MAGA lawmakers are pushing for a Capitol statue. Security scares piled on, too—Capitol Police cleared a bomb threat at DNC HQ and multiple HBCUs went into lockdown after threats, all later deemed not credible. Bloomberg dropped 18,000 Epstein emails showing his tight post-conviction ties with Ghislaine Maxwell, plus a spreadsheet of $1.8M in gifts and payments. Across the pond, Britain's ambassador to the U.S. got fired after Epstein's “birthday book” and emails revealed his buddy-buddy relationship with the disgraced financier. On the economy, grocery inflation hit the highest since 2022—coffee up 20%, beef up 16%, even bananas pricier—thanks in part to tariffs. And abroad, Brazil's ex-president Jair Bolsonaro was convicted of plotting a coup, including assassinations of Lula da Silva and others, and sentenced to 27 years. Unsurprisingly, he's crying “witch hunt” as his supporters riot. Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode: NYT: No Arrests in Charlie Kirk's Killing as FBI Seeks Help From Public Independent: MAGA Rep. Anna Paulina Luna calls for Charlie Kirk statue in the Capitol after his assassination Axios: State Department warns immigrants not to mock Kirk's death NBC: DNC headquarters searched for bomb due to threat later deemed ‘not credible ABC News: 'Chilling reminder': Multiple historically Black universities under lockdown after receiving threats Bloomberg: Epstein's Inbox: A Trove of Emails Reveals Ghislaine Maxwell's Secrets BBC: Being US ambassador 'privilege of my life', Mandelson says, after being sacked over Epstein emails Axios: Grocery inflation highest since 2022 as Trump tariffs pile up CNN: Brazil's former President Jair Bolsonaro convicted of plotting coup, sentenced to over 27 years in prison Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
August was a record-breaking month for the sports card hobby, and the guys are here to break it all down. Mike and Jesse are joined by Kristina from Card Ladder to dive into the $416.8M spent online on sports card in August, up from $314M in July, and which athletes fueled the surge. They also cover: Topps Collector Appreciation Day, why collectors are frustrated with card prices, and Card Ladder's August market report and top auction house results. They also play some Trivia with Kristina on the biggest public athlete card sales in August. Plus, thoughts on eBay comps, Fanatics Fest potentially adding another day and answer your mailbag questions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this episode, the hosts dissect a $12M IV therapy franchise deal in oil-rich Midland, Texas—and uncover a mix of sketchy math, questionable branding, and a saturated niche market.Welcome to Acquisitions Anonymous – the #1 podcast for small business M&A. Every week, we break down businesses for sale and talk about buying, operating, and growing them.
On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes is joined by sales strategist and full-arch consultant Stacy Farley, who shares her inspiring journey from corporate sales to becoming a key driver behind one of the most successful single-location implant centers in the U.S. Stacy breaks down the often-overlooked steps of the full-arch patient journey, from lead generation and call center strategies to clinical handoffs and closing high-dollar cases with empathy and purpose. She explains how her sales approach, rooted in personal motivation and genuine care, helped scale her father's practice from $2.2M to $8M in under eight years. Packed with actionable insights on improving case acceptance, handling inbound and outbound leads, and training team members to present with confidence, this episode is a masterclass in dental sales psychology. Be sure to check out the full episode from the Dentalpreneur Podcast! EPISODE RESOURCES https://fullarchsalesexperts.com https://www.truedentalsuccess.com Dental Success Network Subscribe to The Dentalpreneur Podcast
Have you ever dreamed about taking a three-week vacation without your business falling apart?Or maybe just getting a full weekend without checking Slack, Asana, or inboxes that feel like they multiply overnight?Friend, if that feels impossible... I want you to know: it's not. You just need better systems.In this solo episode, I'm taking you behind the scenes of what actually allows businesses to scale beyond 7-figures: not magic, not hustle... but systems that work without you.I've worked with business owners making $5M, $8M, and beyond—and you'd be shocked at how many of them are still stuck working in the weeds. And guess what? Most of them have one big thing in common: no solid systems.Here's the truth: you have to earn the right to climb out of the work. And you earn it by building systems that empower your team to succeed without you micromanaging every detail.In this episode, I answer real Instagram questions from fellow entrepreneurs (like Alex and Rachel) who are overwhelmed, overworked, and asking: “How do I get OUT of the day-to-day and INTO scaling?”Together we break down:The myth that systems are something you “do later”Why creating SOPs isn't optional if you want to scaleHow we use tools like Notion and Asana to make our systems airtightMy personal 4-step delegation framework I learned from Teresa LoweAnd YES—I even walk you through an actual SOP from my teamThis isn't just a pep talk. It's a practical guide for how to stop being the bottleneck and start building a business that grows without burning you out.You were never meant to build a business that feels like a burden.Let's change that—one system at a time.Click play to hear all of this and:[00:01] Why being overwhelmed is usually a systems problem (not a hustle problem) [00:52] The cost of not having systems: low profit, constant stress, and no scalability [02:44] Why there's never a perfect time to start building systems [03:37] The hard truth: you must earn the right to delegate [05:24] The 4-Let Delegation Framework that changed everything [06:26] Behind the scenes: Our project management SOP process [07:25] How we use Notion + Asana to build repeatable workflows [08:40] Final encouragement: systems aren't sexy, but they will set you freeListen to Related Episodes:How to Create Team Systems and Operations That Simplify Scaling and GrowthHow to Reclaim Your Time and Boost Business Productivity with Nick Sonnenberg