Podcasts about Big Pond

This week on The Chip Mahoney Show, we're not talking about TVs or toasters — we're talking about ETFs. With the U.S. government set to reopen and markets gearing up for a Q4 liquidity wave, a new kind of Black Friday is here — one where capital itself goes on sale. From Bitcoin and Ethereum ETF filings to the quiet rails being built under ISO 20022, we're entering a season where the smartest money doesn't chase discounts — it creates them. Chip Mahoney breaks down why the timing of these ETF filings isn't random, how institutions are positioning for year-end flow, and what it all means for the rest of us trying to front-run the week. He also reveals which narratives are re-emerging inside Signals, and why this might be the strongest December setup in years — if you know where to look. Signals — 7-Day Free TrialGet early market signals, macro indicators, and the projects I'm tracking before they trend. Start your free 7-day trial at https://tokentrust.substack.com

Front Run The Week — Free SignalsGet early signals before they hit headlines. Subscribe free — or upgrade for member rewards — at https://tokentrust.substack.comCitadel's $500M bet on Ripple just confirmed what I've been saying for months — the real money is building rails, not chasing price. In this episode, I break down what that move means, why XRP is still the center of Ripple's playbook, and how a few words from one of the world's great macro traders set the stage for what comes next.Don't miss the next Front Run The Week — it'll connect dots most people don't even see. Signals — 7-Day Free TrialGet early market signals, macro indicators, and the projects I'm tracking before they trend. Start your free 7-day trial at https://tokentrust.substack.com

Front Run The Week — Free SignalsGet early signals before they hit headlines. Subscribe free — or upgrade for member rewards — at https://tokentrust.substack.comEvery 18 months, crypto crowns a new narrative — DeFi, GameFi, AI-Fi, RWA — and then pivots away before anything real is finished. It's what Rosie Sargsian calls “sunk-cost maxxing.” Instead of finishing what they start, Web3 builders chase the next hype cycle like college quarterbacks chasing NIL money and transfer portals. We've built a culture that loves the recruiting process but not the program. The wedding but not the marriage. And while everyone else is switching jerseys, Ripple stayed put — quietly executing a decade-long plan that's now peaking with ISO 20022 going live this month. They didn't pivot. They planned. From Ripple Prime (Hidden Road) to Rail and G Treasury, they've been building the rails others will soon be forced to run on. This episode breaks down the cultural sickness behind constant pivoting — and why the real builders, like Ripple, prove that Vaultseason isn't for tourists. Signals — 7-Day Free TrialGet early market signals, macro indicators, and the projects I'm tracking before they trend. Start your free 7-day trial at https://tokentrust.substack.com

Front Run The Week — Free SignalsGet early signals before they hit headlines. Subscribe free — or upgrade for member rewards — at https://tokentrust.substack.comNow that the NBA gambling scandal has come to light, I'm thinking less about the bets and more about the setup. The rim's still ten feet high — even when players like Victor Wembanyama could use it as a footstool. It's not about cheating; it's about advantage.Same thing in crypto. The giants — the exchanges, the funds, the insiders — are playing above the rim. The rest of us are trying to touch net while pretending it's a fair game.This week on The Chip Mahoney Show, I'm connecting the dots between the NBA's gambling mess, FTX's arena deal, and the way markets keep pretending the floor and ceiling are the same height. Because the truth is simple: the rim never moved — the players just got taller. Signals — 7-Day Free TrialGet early market signals, macro indicators, and the projects I'm tracking before they trend. Start your free 7-day trial at https://tokentrust.substack.com

Front Run The Week — Free SignalsGet early signals before they hit headlines. Subscribe free at tokentrust.substack.com — or tap here: tokentrust.substack.comKadena is gone — another “revolutionary” chain built by ex-JPMorgan engineers that ran out of oxygen before it ran out of promises. And while real builders fade quietly, the spotlight chasers line up to praise Bitcoin like it's their personal achievement.That's what this episode's about. How people born into opportunity — the Nepo Babies of crypto and politics alike — always seem to “believe” in the assets that don't require belief. They show up late, call it conviction, and take credit for timing that was handed to them.So here's my challenge: for once, don't just back the shiny thing. Pick something like Kadena. Go all in. Hold through the dump. Then talk about conviction.Because this cycle isn't testing who can predict the next bull run — it's testing who can stay aligned when the lights go out.

In this episode, Jeff Mains sits down with Casey Woo, a renowned tech operator, investor, and co-founder of the Operators Guild. Casey introduces the concept of the “Scaler”—an elite generalist who thrives in the chaotic, ever-changing environment of early-stage SaaS startups. The conversation dives deep into what makes scalers indispensable, why specialists often struggle in startup settings, and how AI is shifting the landscape for operators and business leaders. Casey offers practical frameworks, shares battle-tested leadership lessons, and explains how founders can build more resilient and focused teams to avoid the burnout common among high-performing scalers and ops leaders.Key Takeaways00:00 "From Loneliness to Operators Guild"03:25 "Misleading Job Titles and Roles"09:47 "AI Reshapes Roles, Specialists Evolve"11:08 "Rise of Special Forces in Business"15:04 "Balancing Focus and Ambition"19:45 "Focus on Core Business Metrics"21:05 Pitfalls of Over-Hiring Too Early27:06 "Quality Checks, Trust, and Community"27:57 "Staying Engaged to Master AI Tools"33:07 "AI Fluency as Essential Skillset"37:11 "Understanding Diverse Business Languages"39:23 Operators Guild & FOG Investing CommunityTweetable Quotes“We are not defined by titles—we are multidisciplinary, and we are elite specialists at being generalists.” — Casey Woo“The earlier you go, the more change there is per day. You need people who can adapt and wear multiple hats.” — Casey Woo“AI isn't replacing the scaler—it's making the generalist even more indispensable.” — Casey Woo“Special Forces in business are the cross-functional scalers—the people who get dropped in and get it done.” — Casey Woo“Valuations aren't free. Be careful what you raise at, because expectations get baked into every round.” — Casey Woo“If you give someone 15 things to do, that's a lot. Do they need to do all 15? Prioritize ruthlessly.” — Casey WooSaaS Leadership LessonsEmbrace Generalism: In the early stage, leadership isn't about titles—learn to thrive by solving whatever needs attention, from product to operations.Ruthless Prioritization: Success comes from choosing the right battles. Cut down initiatives to what truly moves the needle.Build and Rely on Community: Leverage peer networks like Operators Guild for continuous learning, sharing, and staying ahead of rapid changes (especially with AI).Adapt Your Communication: Learn to “Google Translate” your messaging for different internal stakeholders—speak to engineers, marketers, and founders in their language.Invest in Scalable Systems Early: Upgrade infrastructure in anticipation of growth, not after; it's easier and more cost-effective to implement before complexity grows.Balance Aggression and Prudence: Being aggressive can win markets, but unchecked overextension leads to down rounds and organizational pain. Stay grounded in business fundamentals.Guest Resourcescasey.woo@gmail.comhttps://www.operators-guild.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/caseywooEpisode SponsorThe Captain's KeysSmall Fish, Big Pond –

Front Run The Week — Free SignalsGet early signals before they hit headlines. Subscribe free at tokentrust.substack.com — or tap here: tokentrust.substack.comIn this episode, I dissect the implosion of the Digital Asset Treasury (DAT) narrative — the rush by public companies, funds, and pseudo-institutions to stack crypto assets as balance-sheet exposure… without understanding the liquidity, volatility, or narrative risk behind it.I connect this to Tom Lee's previous bullish statements on ETH ($5K → $10K thesis) and how, ironically, the same institutions chasing yield on-chain may now be retreating just as the real cycle begins. The bubble wasn't in the assets — it was in the misunderstanding of what ownership actually means.

In this episode of SaaS Fuel, host Jeff Mains sits down with Vitaly Motuz, founder of Reviews On My Website. Vitaly shares his journey from high school side projects to building a successful SaaS business focused on reputation management for local businesses. The conversation dives deep into product simplicity, scaling challenges, client-centric growth, leadership mindset, the impact of reviews (good and bad), and how AI is reshaping the landscape. Whether you're a SaaS founder, leader, or just passionate about tech, this episode is packed with actionable insights!Key Takeaways00:00 "Sparked Idea for Review Tool"04:19 "Simple Reputation Management Software"06:36 "Expanding Tools for Market Growth"11:42 Focusing on Marketing and Growth13:11 Learning to Delegate as Founder17:16 Startup Success in 201722:43 "Leadership, Hiring, and Growth Blueprint"24:53 "Small Remote Team Challenges"28:39 "Simplicity Over Features Wins"32:18 Customer Request Prioritization Strategy37:10 "Prioritize Stability, Avoid Quick Fixes"38:51 "Testing Features for Usability"42:14 AI Transforming Business OperationsTweetable QuotesViral Simplicity in Reputation Management: "And that's kind of like one of the things that all our customers tell us is we're one of the most intuitive and simple reputation platforms out there." — Vitaly Motuz Viral Topic: The Secret to Expanding Market Reach Quote: "it wasn't so much I think there were new platforms that helped us expand but rather expanding the tools that we offer." — Vitaly Motuz Letting Go as a Founder: "So one of the struggles for me was letting go some of the control and be open to finding help, finding somebody to bring on board to help me with some of those stuff." — Vitaly Motuz "It's providing the simple, simplest reputation management software for local businesses and agencies that simply works." — Vitaly Motuz Startup Flexibility: "So at the beginning you gotta be nimble. You gotta kind of like try things and see what works." — Vitaly Motuz SaaS Leadership LessonsPlay Your Own Game: Focus on what makes your company unique instead of chasing competitors' features.Let Go to Grow: Delegate and release control, especially in areas where others can excel, freeing yourself for strategic work.Relentless Customer Focus: Listen to paying customers, and develop the roadmap based on their real needs and experience.Lead By Vision: Define and communicate your organization's purpose and direction so your team feels a part of the mission.Embrace the Learning Process: Experimentation and failure are part of the journey—analyze, learn, and adapt.Prioritize Simplicity Over Complexity: Resist bloated product features that distract from your core value.Guest Resourcesvitaly@reviewsonmywebsite.comhttps://reviewsonmywebsite.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/vitalymotuz/Episode SponsorThe Captain's KeysSmall Fish, Big Pond –

In this episode of SaaS Fuel, host Jeff Mains sits down with Nahed Khairallah, a global startup strategist and HR leader known for transforming seven-figure startups into nine-figure success stories. Nahed shares how he revolutionized HR from an administrative afterthought into the rocket fuel for sustainable, scalable growth. With practical lessons gleaned from scaling teams across four continents, Nahed discusses why 70% of scaling attempts fail due to people issues, the dangers of throwing bodies at problems, and how founders can turn HR into a strategic business enabler. It's a masterclass on people operations for tech founders, with actionable tips whether you're 10 people or 100.Key Takeaways00:00 "Turning Human Capital into Growth"06:33 From Recruiter to HR Advisor11:04 Scaling Operations, Not Expanding Markets14:00 Founder Ego and Company Stagnation15:59 Hiring Strategy: Capacity vs. Capability21:30 Proactive Scalability for Startups23:26 Balanced Optimism vs. Delusion28:17 "HR's Business Understanding Gap"29:55 HR's Role in Business Alignment35:45 Financial Literacy Essential for HR38:56 Building Trust and Credibility40:25 External Advisors vs. Internal Trust44:55 Contractors vs. Full-Time Misclassification48:27 "Optimize Startup Staffing Strategy"51:14 Prioritize and Delegate for Growth54:37 Connect for HR InsightsTweetable Quotes“Throwing people at the problem almost never works. It's subtraction by addition.”— Nahed Khairallah“70% of scaling attempts fail because of people issues, not product issues.”— Jeff Mains“HR should be the rocket fuel for growth, not just a cost center.”— Nahed Khairallah“Success covers up a lot of problems—until the ceiling hits and the issues become visible.”— Jeff Mains“You want to operate lean, but also be ready to grow—build infrastructure that bolts on seamlessly.”— Nahed Khairallah“You need to be a business person first and apply the HR lens to it.”— Nahed KhairallahSaaS Leadership LessonsDon't Throw People at Problems:Rapid hiring without process scale is risky—focus first on optimizing operations.Recognize the Hidden Costs:Headcount costs go beyond salary (benefits, equipment, software)—track the full picture.Let Go to Grow:Founders must delegate and trust new hires, especially those brought in for their specialized experience.HR as Rocket Fuel:Move HR from a backend support role to a business-enabling function aligned with vision and results.Scenario Planning is Essential:Always challenge optimistic forecasts; plan for downturns and scenario-test your people ops.Founder Focus:Founders should regularly document and review their own roles—double down on what they do best and delegate the rest.Guest Resourcesnahed@organizedchaos.fyi https://organizedchaos.fyi https://www.linkedin.com/in/khairallahnahedEpisode SponsorThe Captain's KeysSmall Fish, Big Pond –

When tariffs return, power redistributes. From medieval tolls to modern trade wars, control has always taxed movement — and crypto was built to break that pattern.In this episode, I talk with Aly Madhavji, Managing Partner at Blockchain Founders Fund and one of the Knights on CryptoKnights, the Web3 Shark Tank–style show now streaming on Amazon Prime through Ritestream.io.We discuss:What Aly's looking for in the next wave of Web3 founders and ideasHow vaults could onboard the next billion usersAnd whether there's enough crypto royalty left to defend the space if another villain risesWant to see the full video version of this conversation?It's available exclusively for subscribers at tokentrust.substack.com

Front Run The Week — Free SignalsGet early signals before they hit headlines. Subscribe free at tokentrust.substack.com — or tap here: tokentrust.substack.comA New York hedge fund that claimed to be “diversified and protected” just got caught running one of the biggest TradFi cover-ups in years. Prophecy Asset Management and its CEO, Jeffrey Spotts, allegedly funneled hundreds of millions to a single trader — Brian Kahn — who then lost it all and hid the truth behind fake documents and sham transactions.In this episode, Chip Mahoney breaks down how this echoes the same arrogance that took down Sam Bankman-Fried — and why the future of finance isn't about trusting fund managers, but verifying everything on-chain.Listen to why Prophecy's collapse is another warning for the old system — and how verifiable transparency is becoming the new definition of trust.

In this episode of SaaS Fuel, host Jeff Mains welcomes Harish Chandramowli, CEO of Flare, to unpack the evolution of ERP systems in the age of AI—specifically for fashion brands and SMBs.Harish shares insights from his unique career path, spanning cybersecurity at Johns Hopkins, engineering at Bloomberg and MongoDB, to tackling unstructured data and workflow automation for modern retailers. The conversation dives deep into the intersection of technology, scalable team building, and founder-led sales—along with candid lessons learned while bootstrapping, selling, and leading distributed teams across the globe.Key Takeaways00:00 Tech Innovation and People-First Leadership06:18 "SMB Market Gap: Custom ERP Needed"07:29 Flexible ERP Solutions with MongoDB12:34 AI Streamlines ERP Communication15:55 Increase Sales with Incomplete Products18:40 "Benefits of Technical Founders"23:02 Cultural Sensitivity in Global Teams25:41 Delegation as a Learning Opportunity29:43 "Team Growth and Skill Challenges"32:37 AI-Driven Business Insights36:22 Optimizing Workflow with AI Automation39:58 Future Growth: Strategies & Insights40:49 "SaaS Fuel Podcast Overview"Tweetable QuotesThe Power of Flexible Data: "One of the things that I learned in MongoDB is flexible data has so much power. It's so much easier to help people understand their business without having to pay." — Harish Chandramowli AI Revolutionizing Supply Chain Communication: "AI can learn. Your emails say that, hey, you got an email from your factory saying that things are getting delivered and AI can parse your attachment, fill in those data, you just need to verify and approve it and the workflow is done." — Harish Chandramowli Viral Topic: The Importance of Cultural Understanding in Global Teams: "Understanding each other's culture goes a long way in people feeling close to you." — Harish Chandramowli SaaS Leadership LessonsUnderstand Before You Automate: Deeply map out a customer's workflow before implementing automation. AI is most powerful when embedded where the real pain is.Founders Must Stay Hands-On: Engaged, founder-led sales and customer interactions are critical in the early stages—don't retreat into just building.Hire for Culture & Autonomy: Successful distributed teams thrive on self-motivation, global empathy, and transparent communication.Don't Fear Delegation: Letting your team handle challenges increases their growth and the company's overall resilience.Sales and Engineering Need Real Collaboration: Break down silos by involving engineers in sales calls and non-technical staff in planning meetings.Contextualize AI's Role for Customers: When selling AI-driven solutions, focus on the concrete problem solved, not the flashy technology. Realism and transparency build trust.Guest Resourcess.c.harish@gmail.comharish@flairesoftware.com https://www.flairesoftware.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/scharish/Episode SponsorThe Captain's KeysSmall Fish, Big Pond –

Front Run The Week — Free SignalsGet early signals before they hit headlines. Subscribe free at tokentrust.substack.com — or tap here: tokentrust.substack.comMorgan Stanley just confirmed what financial advisors have been hiding — crypto isn't a fad, it's a new reserve system.Starting October 15, they're opening access to Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana for every client, including retirees and 401(k) holders.It sounds like progress — but while Wall Street markets Solana to the masses, Ark Invest has been quietly unloading it. Through its ARKK fund, Cathie Wood's team sold Brera Holdings — a treasury company linked to Solana — four days in a row.That's not rebalancing — that's rotation.In this episode, Chip breaks down why Morgan Stanley's crypto rollout is more about control than conviction, how institutions use retail as the exit liquidity for their own narratives, and why the next wealth wave will favor those who own what's verifiable before it's valuable.

Front Run The Week — Free SignalsGet early signals before they hit headlines. Subscribe free at tokentrust.substack.com — or tap here: tokentrust.substack.comJPMorgan just called Bitcoin “the debasement trade.” But is that bullish — or is it a setup?In this episode of The Chip Mahoney Show, Chip breaks down how Wall Street, big banks, and institutional investors are turning Bitcoin into a tech product that looks like freedom but functions like control. He explains why Wholecoiners are being minted first — not as rebels, but as customers — and how the real crypto evolution is happening underneath it all in digital dollars, stablecoins, and on-chain yield ecosystems.You'll learn:– Why JPMorgan's “debasement” framing benefits banks, not Bitcoin holders– How the “Wholecoiner” illusion fuels late-cycle retail FOMO– Why the real anti-debasement trade isn't Bitcoin — it's the digital dollar network– How DeFi, Base, and tokenized treasuries are rewriting the rules of moneySubscribe for deep, contrarian insights on Bitcoin, crypto, tech, and the future of money — from one of the few voices connecting all three.

In this episode, we dive deep into the world of crypto as we analyze Fitell Corporation's recent move of investing into Pump.fun tokens. With a hefty $100M credit line and a rebranding as Solana Australia Corporation, we ask: Is this truly a strategic play in the blockchain space or more of a corporate cosplay? Join me as I break down why Fitell's treasury stunt resembles a dumbbell move rather than a disciplined strategy, and we'll contrast it with serious players in the crypto and tech sectors, such as MicroStrategy and VivoPower. Along the way, we'll discuss the implications of late capitalism, the risks of flashy rebrands, and what it means to chase hype on Solana in contrast to building solid foundational strategies within the blockchain ecosystem.

Front Run The Week — Free SignalsGet early signals before they hit headlines. Subscribe free at tokentrust.substack.com — or tap here: tokentrust.substack.comOctober is usually known as “Uptober” in crypto, but 2025 is shaping up to be an ‘Abruptober'—a month full of sudden changes, sharp turns, and unexpected market surprises. In this episode of The Chip Mahoney Show, we delve into the crucial connections between Concordium (CCD), cutting-edge PayFi infrastructure, and the European Central Bank's startling advice on cash management.We'll explore how Abruptober is set to impact Bitcoin, Ethereum, and DeFi tokens, and why Concordium could serve as a leading indicator in the adoption of Web3 and blockchain technology. Also, we'll discuss the ECB's cash hoarding guidance in contrast to innovative on-chain yield strategies, along with what investors should monitor as whales, treasuries, and retail participants navigate these turbulent waters.Whether you consider yourself a crypto investor, fintech builder, or are simply looking to understand the future of tech and tokenized finance, this episode breaks down the signals behind the noise, offering you insights that could shape your investing strategy.

Front Run The Week — Free SignalsGet early signals before they hit headlines. Subscribe free at tokentrust.substack.com — or tap here: tokentrust.substack.comIn this episode of The Chip Mahoney Show, we explore why financial advisors cannot recommend popular cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum, but can quietly invest in tech tokens such as IPST. Join Chip Mahoney as he breaks down the current limitations on crypto discussions within the financial advisory space and reveals the innovative technology that traditional finance (TradFi) is developing behind the scenes. Discover how this burgeoning tech–crypto wave will be introduced even before retail investors can participate. If you're keen on understanding the intersection of crypto and technology, this episode is packed with crucial insights and signals that matter.

Private equity still runs on spreadsheets. Fairmint's CEO Joris Delanoue joins The Chip Mahoney Show to explain his SEC proposal, how Ethereum and blockchain rails can modernize private markets, and why the future of crypto and tech isn't just speculation—it's infrastructure.Fairmint, all your equity on chain.Learn more at https://www.fairmint.com/ Front Run The WeekGet early signals before they hit headlines. Subscribe free at tokentrust.substack.com — and become eligible for OTEC, the token to Own The Economy.New to crypto? I put together the Own The Economy Workbook — a step-by-step field guide for beginners that cuts through the noise and gets you aligned faster. Download here: https://tokentrust.gumroad.com/l/oteworkbookThe Chip Mahoney Show is a Big Pond production. This podcast is for entertainment and educational purposes only.For media inquiries or guest bookings, please contact:DV Collective at dvpodcastshow@gmail.comhttps://www.chipmahoney.com/Music licensed via Spotify Creator tools. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Kevin Chin knows VivoPower can't outpace Tesla in clean energy. So instead, he's making a survival play in late capitalism: moving $100 million into XRP. In this episode, I break down why this matters for tech, blockchain, and crypto — and why retail might actually be better off buying XRP at $3 than chasing the discount at 47 cents. Front Run The WeekGet early signals before they hit headlines. Subscribe free at tokentrust.substack.com — and become eligible for OTEC, the token to Own The Economy.New to crypto? I put together the Own The Economy Workbook — a step-by-step field guide for beginners that cuts through the noise and gets you aligned faster. Download here: https://tokentrust.gumroad.com/l/oteworkbookThe Chip Mahoney Show is a Big Pond production. This podcast is for entertainment and educational purposes only.For media inquiries or guest bookings, please contact:DV Collective at dvpodcastshow@gmail.comhttps://www.chipmahoney.com/Music licensed via Spotify Creator tools.

In this episode, we delve into the volatile world of crypto as headlines fluctuate between altseason and market crashes. However, the real signals lie beneath the surface: stablecoins are on track to reach a staggering $300 billion market cap, while Total Value Locked (TVL) struggles to find stability. This divergence reveals crucial insights about liquidity in the crypto space, indicating that conviction from investors may not be fully deployed yet. I'll break down what this means for vaults, rails, and the developing institutional layer that exists beneath the ongoing retail noise. Additionally, I'll introduce you to OpenServ (SERV), a promising token that could play a significant role in the infrastructure essential for this market cycle. Front Run The WeekGet early signals before they hit headlines. Subscribe free at tokentrust.substack.com — and become eligible for OTEC, the token to Own The Economy.New to crypto? I put together the Own The Economy Workbook — a step-by-step field guide for beginners that cuts through the noise and gets you aligned faster. Download here: https://tokentrust.gumroad.com/l/oteworkbookThe Chip Mahoney Show is a Big Pond production. This podcast is for entertainment and educational purposes only.For media inquiries or guest bookings, please contact:DV Collective at dvpodcastshow@gmail.comhttps://www.chipmahoney.com/Music licensed via Spotify Creator tools.

Bitcoin's holding steady, Ethereum is pressing forward — but the bigger story is how financial advisors have been locked out of crypto for years, just as the rails of DeFi have proven themselves. In this episode, I dig into why that lockdown is cracking, why scams were mostly born in TradFi, and how crypto has survived and evolved. Then we look ahead to September 3rd, when Ondo Finance brings U.S. stocks directly onto Ethereum — a milestone I'm calling “Ethereum's Fed Meeting.” Finally, I close with a full breakdown of Prompt, the AI agent from Wayfinder. We'll compare it to Bankrbot, Coinbase's execution bot of choice, and unpack why Coinbase Ventures is hedging its bets by backing both. Front Run The WeekGet early signals before they hit headlines. Subscribe free at tokentrust.substack.com — and become eligible for OTEC, the token to Own The Economy.New to crypto? I put together the Own The Economy Workbook — a step-by-step field guide for beginners that cuts through the noise and gets you aligned faster. Download here: https://tokentrust.gumroad.com/l/oteworkbookThe Chip Mahoney Show is a Big Pond production. This podcast is for entertainment and educational purposes only.For media inquiries or guest bookings, please contact:DV Collective at dvpodcastshow@gmail.comhttps://www.chipmahoney.com/Music licensed via Spotify Creator tools.

Netflix says “Netflix and Chill.” Ben & Jerry's says “Netflix and Chill'd.” But what's really left? Endless scrolling through movies you've already seen, just repackaged with new thumbnails. And when you do land on something, it's often a comedian dropping a thousand “likes” and f-bombs trying to win the crowd. In this episode, I riff on culture's lazy loops—how companies sell us novelty by recycling the old—and what that says about attention, creativity, and value today. Front Run The WeekGet early signals before they hit headlines. Subscribe free at tokentrust.substack.com — and become eligible for OTEC, the token to Own The Economy.New to crypto? I put together the Own The Economy Workbook — a step-by-step field guide for beginners that cuts through the noise and gets you aligned faster. Download here: https://tokentrust.gumroad.com/l/oteworkbookThe Chip Mahoney Show is a Big Pond production. This podcast is for entertainment and educational purposes only.For media inquiries or guest bookings, please contact:DV Collective at dvpodcastshow@gmail.comhttps://www.chipmahoney.com/Music licensed via Spotify Creator tools.

Wholecoiners aren't the ones stacking now — they're the ones who will try to. The theory is that a generation raised on the American Dream of owning a home will soon replace it with the dream of owning one Bitcoin. But when they finally step up, they'll face sticker shock. At six figures and climbing, the wholecoin dream won't deliver what they expect. In this episode, I explain why wholecoiners will only get half of what's coming, and why the other half lives in overlooked infrastructure plays like Band — the rails that AI agents and crypto markets will run on in Vaultseason. Front Run The WeekGet early signals before they hit headlines. Subscribe free at tokentrust.substack.com — and become eligible for OTEC, the token to Own The Economy.New to crypto? I put together the Own The Economy Workbook — a step-by-step field guide for beginners that cuts through the noise and gets you aligned faster. Download here: https://tokentrust.gumroad.com/l/oteworkbookThe Chip Mahoney Show is a Big Pond production. This podcast is for entertainment and educational purposes only.For media inquiries or guest bookings, please contact:DV Collective at dvpodcastshow@gmail.comhttps://www.chipmahoney.com/Music licensed via Spotify Creator tools.

September is being staged like a play — with a rate cut carrot dangled in front of retail, Coinbase hyping a so-called Banana Zone, and a wave of new investors set up to believe in Altseason as if every token were a hero. But this isn't the Rebel Alliance. Some coins are bounty hunters. Some are traps. And the Banana Zone can just as easily turn into a Banana DeadZone if you're not careful.In this episode, I break down how to spot the setups, why the carrot narrative matters, and what it means for you before the next move. And at the end, I'll spotlight Lagrange LA — an Ethereum verification layer with Intel and Mantle ties that fits my thesis: verifiable before valuable. Front Run The WeekGet early signals before they hit headlines. Subscribe free at tokentrust.substack.com — and become eligible for OTEC, the token to Own The Economy.New to crypto? I put together the Own The Economy Workbook — a step-by-step field guide for beginners that cuts through the noise and gets you aligned faster. Download here: https://tokentrust.gumroad.com/l/oteworkbookThe Chip Mahoney Show is a Big Pond production. This podcast is for entertainment and educational purposes only.For media inquiries or guest bookings, please contact:DV Collective at dvpodcastshow@gmail.comhttps://www.chipmahoney.com/Music licensed via Spotify Creator tools.

10 years of Maed in India and this week we’re rewinding to 2017: a year of big firsts, bittersweet moments, and a whole lot of goosebumps. It was the year Maed in India went LIVE (!!) with Blackstratblues, celebrated our 100th episode with legends Indian Ocean in their Delhi studio, and even had Apache Indian drop by to sing acapella while on tour in India. We had tracks that gave us Goa vibes, deep dives, bandmates roasting each other, stripped down punk rock, and a whole lot of unreleased gems. But the year wasn’t all highs. We tragically lost the profoundly talented keys player Karan Joseph aka Madfingers, who had featured on an episode with drummer Lindsay D’Mello aka DCF. His loss was felt deeply in the indie scene. This Best Of is a time capsule of where indie music was at in 2017: raw, experimental, emotional, and unforgettable. PS: You absolutely can NOT miss the intro by Lakshman, our sound engineer, who talks about a hilarious case of Chinese whispers that made him board the wrong bus after school way back when he was 10. Press play, reminisce, and relive with us. Song List: Apache Indian - I Pray (05:27 - 06:41) Ranjit Arapurakal - Nothing is Real (08:24 - 11:22) Bone Broke - You Run (13:06 - 16:51) Aditi Ramesh - Small Fish In a Big Pond (17:45 - 20:54) Indian Ocean - Maa Rewa (22:19 - 24:40) Chayan & Smiti - Mindfire (26:29 - 31:03) The Yellow Diary - Marz (32:09 - 35:49) Uday Benegal - Fireflies (36:51 - 41:17) Dossers Urge - Erase (44:18 - 48:31) Blackstratblues - Renaissance Mission (Live) (49:31 - 54:39) Tejas - Falling Out (57:01 - 01:02:45) DCF vs Madfingers - Untitled Jam (01:04:01 - 01:13:37) Come be our friend: Instagram @maedinindia Twitter @maedinindia CREDITS: Host: Mae Instagram: @maemariyam Twitter: @maebemaebe Producer: Shaun Fanthome and Meghna Gulati Sound Edited & Mastered by: Kartik Kulkarni Artwork: Alika Gupta

In late capitalism, not all kings built their kingdoms — some just aligned with the right rails at the right time. Michael Saylor and Tom Lee are celebrated today, but the real architects were Satoshi Nakamoto and Vitalik Buterin. In this episode, I break down the aligner's playbook and why early positioning beats invention in today's economy. We'll explore how SEI Network's bold shift from Cosmos to Ethereum's OP Stack — and its selection by the state of Wyoming for a stablecoin pilot — makes $SEI a textbook case of early alignment with power. We'll finish with how OTEC, my Own The Economy Coin on Base, uses the same principles to give everyday investors a way to align before the next wave hits. Subscribe to Front Run The Week for more plays like this and get the Signals sheet before they trend. Front Run The WeekGet early signals before they hit headlines. Subscribe free at tokentrust.substack.com — and become eligible for OTEC, the token to Own The Economy.New to crypto? I put together the Own The Economy Workbook — a step-by-step field guide for beginners that cuts through the noise and gets you aligned faster. Download here: https://tokentrust.gumroad.com/l/oteworkbookThe Chip Mahoney Show is a Big Pond production. This podcast is for entertainment and educational purposes only.For media inquiries or guest bookings, please contact:DV Collective at dvpodcastshow@gmail.comhttps://www.chipmahoney.com/Music licensed via Spotify Creator tools.

Should AERO breakout at $2, it wouldn't be just retail hype — it's a signal tied directly to why Coinbase needs Aerodrome to scale Base's liquidity. And right next to it on my Signals sheet? Venice AI (VVV), an AI infrastructure play built for the rails AERO is powering. In this episode, I break down why these two moves are connected, why they're aligned plays in different sectors, and why they're both on my Signals list right now. Front Run The WeekGet early signals before they hit headlines. Subscribe free at tokentrust.substack.com — and become eligible for OTEC, the token to Own The Economy.New to crypto? I put together the Own The Economy Workbook — a step-by-step field guide for beginners that cuts through the noise and gets you aligned faster. Download here: https://tokentrust.gumroad.com/l/oteworkbookThe Chip Mahoney Show is a Big Pond production. This podcast is for entertainment and educational purposes only.For media inquiries or guest bookings, please contact:DV Collective at dvpodcastshow@gmail.comhttps://www.chipmahoney.com/Music licensed via Spotify Creator tools.

In this episode of The Chip Mahoney Show, we dive into the world of crypto and the astonishing $20 million investment that went unnoticed while the community was distracted by memes. As Chip explores the implications of Inveniam's bet on a compliant-first blockchain, he highlights the significance of this move in the broader context of crypto technology and financial fraud. Discover why 'verifiable before valuable' is becoming the new standard, how whales are strategically front-running infrastructure, and the remarkable story of one obscure protocol recently achieving a 10x volume spike, gaining traction with a listing on Coinbase. Join us for an incisive look at the signals that matter in today's tech landscape and why serious tokenization is back on the table. If you know, you know. If you don't — you're about to. Front Run The WeekGet early signals before they hit headlines. Subscribe free at tokentrust.substack.com — and become eligible for OTEC, the token to Own The Economy.The Chip Mahoney Show is a Big Pond production. This podcast is for entertainment and educational purposes only.For media inquiries or guest bookings, please contact:DV Collective at dvpodcastshow@gmail.comhttps://www.chipmahoney.com/Music licensed via Spotify Creator tools.

PPP isn't some hot new token — it's the acronym behind billions in fraud. And in this episode, we're looking at two very different but equally staggering cases that prove the grift didn't end with lockdowns.First up: Sidhartha “Sammy” Mukherjee and his wife Sunita, Bollywood performers turned alleged scammers, accused of using fake real estate contracts and forged PPP documents to defraud over 100 victims in their own North Texas Indian-American community. According to the lead investigator, “In my 23 years, this is the most prolific fraudster I've seen.”Then we head to Marietta, Georgia, where Carl Delano Torjagbo was just convicted for stealing nearly $13 million through pandemic relief and IRS refund scams — using the money to buy mansions, Lamborghinis, a yacht, and even plastic surgery.From Plano to plastic surgery, PPP fraud has taken many forms — but all of them rely on one thing: a good story. And these scammers knew exactly how to sell it.   Front Run The WeekGet early signals before they hit headlines. Subscribe free at tokentrust.substack.com — and become eligible for OTEC, the token to Own The Economy.The Chip Mahoney Show is a Big Pond production. This podcast is for entertainment and educational purposes only.For media inquiries or guest bookings, please contact:DV Collective at dvpodcastshow@gmail.comhttps://www.chipmahoney.com/Music licensed via Spotify Creator tools.

As TradFi simulations spike TVL and stablecoins inch toward $270B, we're entering the final act before the crypto curtain rises. In this episode, I unpack what August signals for your crypto future: narratives accelerating, agents taking hold, and tokens that have flown under the radar… until now. Don't miss the frameworks and forecasts that could define Q4 gains and beyond. What's coming could be a real tsunami, a warning for crypto investors to take hold. Front Run The WeekGet early signals before they hit headlines. Subscribe free at tokentrust.substack.com — and become eligible for OTEC, the token to Own The Economy.The Chip Mahoney Show is a Big Pond production. This podcast is for entertainment and educational purposes only.For media inquiries or guest bookings, please contact:DV Collective at dvpodcastshow@gmail.comhttps://www.chipmahoney.com/Music licensed via Spotify Creator tools.

In this episode, we delve into the intersection of macroeconomics and technology as the next FOMC meeting approaches. The crypto market is buzzing with excitement as Ethereum teases a breakout to $4,000. Chip Mahoney explores how the macro backdrop could trigger a surprise risk-on rally in the crypto landscape, with ETH positioned as a potential frontrunner. We also discuss a surprising pivot from BitMine Immersion Technologies (BMNR), now transitioning into an Ethereum treasury, showcasing the evolving nature of blockchain technology. Join us as we dissect central banks, crypto liquidity, ETF flows, and Base traction, illustrating why the future of crypto is programmable, composable, and powered by ETH! Front Run The Week: Want to catch the next big crypto move before it hits the headlines? Get my free newsletter at tokentrust.substack.com for exclusive early insights.The Chip Mahoney Show is a Big Pond production. This podcast is for entertainment and educational purposes only.For media inquiries or guest bookings, please contact:DV Collective at dvpodcastshow@gmail.comhttps://www.chipmahoney.com/Music licensed via Spotify Creator tools.

BlackRock's Ethereum ETF (ETHA) just smashed through $10 billion AUM. Ondo is building the liquidity rails for tokenized Treasuries. And Bitmine—yes, a Bitcoin miner—is quietly stacking Ethereum for its new treasury strategy. Together, they form BRO—BlackRock + Ondo—a meme with meaning. Because what they're really doing is reshaping the crypto future from the inside out. In this episode, I break down how Ethereum is becoming the financial OS for the next wave of institutional capital, tokenized yield, and programmable money. This isn't just another cycle—it's the moment tech and finance converge on-chain. If you want to front-run where capital is going, don't watch what the headlines say—watch what the BROs are building. Front Run The Week: Want to catch the next big crypto move before it hits the headlines? Get my free newsletter at tokentrust.substack.com for exclusive early insights.The Chip Mahoney Show is a Big Pond production. This podcast is for entertainment and educational purposes only.For media inquiries or guest bookings, please contact:DV Collective at dvpodcastshow@gmail.comhttps://www.chipmahoney.com/Music licensed via Spotify Creator tools.

In this episode, we dive deep into the world of crypto fraud and technology. Shane Donovan Moore, a former rugby player, orchestrated a scam convincing over 40 investors to pour money into nonexistent mining rigs, offering unrealistic daily returns. This highlights the dark side of the crypto boom, showcasing how trust can be exploited in the shadows. On the other hand, we explore Coinbase's recent launch of the Base app, revealing a vision for your crypto future that may not be as bright as it seems. Beneath the polished user interface lies critical information that begs scrutiny—are these new technologies delivering real value, or just flashy illusions? Join me as I unpack these contrasting narratives: one filled with deception and fraud, and the other with potentially misleading promises of innovation in blockchain technology. The real crypto future is shaped by projects that actually deliver, not just those that shine the brightest. Stick around as we dissect these powerful stories and uncover what Coinbase calls the future—and why you might want to think critically about it. Front Run The Week: Want to catch the next big crypto move before it hits the headlines? Get my free newsletter at tokentrust.substack.com for exclusive early insights.The Chip Mahoney Show is a Big Pond production. This podcast is for entertainment and educational purposes only.For media inquiries or guest bookings, please contact:DV Collective at dvpodcastshow@gmail.comhttps://www.chipmahoney.com/Music licensed via Spotify Creator tools.

In this episode, we delve into recent developments in crypto as Peter Thiel takes a stake in BitMine Immersion Technologies, a publicly traded Ethereum treasury company, now chaired by Tom Lee. Simultaneously, Cumberland has quietly moved $151 million worth of ETH into Coinbase Institutional, highlighting a shift in the ecosystem. Circle's recent public trading at 100x EBITDA further emphasizes this trend.Join Chip Mahoney as he breaks down these coordinated signals indicating that the world of blockchain and crypto is entering a new phase. While retail investors appear to be fixated on charts, institutions are effectively crossing the gap and reshaping the landscape. Chip connects the dots so you can front-run the next rotation, ensuring you aren't left chasing trends. Front Run The Week: Want to catch the next big crypto move before it hits the headlines? Get my free newsletter at tokentrust.substack.com for exclusive early insights.The Chip Mahoney Show is a Big Pond production. This podcast is for entertainment and educational purposes only.For media inquiries or guest bookings, please contact:DV Collective at dvpodcastshow@gmail.comhttps://www.chipmahoney.com/Music licensed via Spotify Creator tools.

In this episode of The Chip Mahoney Show, we dive into the latest developments in crypto and blockchain as Bitcoin reaches new all-time highs and Ethereum crosses the $3,000 mark. But the true game changer is a groundbreaking Web3-native AI agent called Mamo, which has just launched on BingX—potentially heading to Coinbase next. Join Chip Mahoney as he explores why these headlines in the crypto world don't tell the complete story. We'll analyze Bitcoin's trajectory towards $120K and examine Ethereum's potential to outpace BTC, along with the emerging assets like Mamo as well as other tokens to redefine finance and the massive IP economy. Don't get left behind in the noise—front-run the real signals and take charge of your financial future. Front Run The Week: Want to catch the next big crypto move before it hits the headlines? Get my free newsletter at tokentrust.substack.com for exclusive early insights.The Chip Mahoney Show is a Big Pond production. This podcast is for entertainment and educational purposes only.For media inquiries or guest bookings, please contact:DV Collective at dvpodcastshow@gmail.comMusic licensed via Spotify Creator tools.

Get your Magic Mind here: https://magicmind.com/CHIPM20You get 20% off a one-time purchase and up to 48% off subscriptions with my code: CHIPM20In this episode, we dive into the rising threats of digital fraud and how emerging technology like deepfakes is reshaping our digital identity landscape. Joining me is Aaron Painter, CEO of Nametag, as we discuss innovative ways to verify real identities in an age where fakes become increasingly convincing. Tune in to understand how to protect yourself and your business from the evolving landscape of fraud. This is essential listening for anyone looking to stay ahead in the digital era.Learn more about Nametag at Getnametag.com Front Run The Week: Want to catch the next big crypto move before it hits the headlines? Get my free newsletter at tokentrust.substack.com for exclusive early insights.The Chip Mahoney Show is a Big Pond production. This podcast is for entertainment and educational purposes only.For media inquiries or guest bookings, please contact:DV Collective at dvpodcastshow@gmail.comMusic licensed via Spotify Creator tools.

How to Scale SaaS with AI-Powered Digital Labor | Aaron Godby - SaaS FuelWhat if AI could replace repetitive work and give your team superpowers?Aaron Godby, founder of Green Irony, shows how smart companies are scaling with AI-driven “digital labor” that never forgets, works 24/7, and delivers consistent results.In this episode, we break down:How to find low-value tasks in your SaaS and automate them with AIWhy ChatGPT isn't a toy—it's your next top performerWhat makes Agent Force a game-changer for SaaS opsHow to rethink hiring, team structure, and leadership in the AI ageWhy most AI tools fail to drive real results—and how to fix itIf you're serious about scaling your SaaS without hiring a huge team, this is essential listening.Key Takeaways00:00 - What tasks waste your team's time?03:06 - The key to making AI and humans work together04:15 - Lessons from Carson Aslam & Scott Cate (past guests)05:20 - Meet Aaron Godby, founder of Green Irony06:33 - What is Agent Force?08:07 - How to ensure consistent AI performance09:25 - Real-world productivity boosts using AI11:23 - Why AI agents outperform new hires13:06 - The power of context windows in AI14:21 - How Aaron spotted the AI opportunity early16:14 - The toughest challenges in building an AI consulting business19:12 - Example use case: automating RFP responses21:03 - The business model behind Green Irony24:33 - Key lessons from building Green Irony26:09 - Should you diversify or specialize in tech ecosystems?28:07 - How to stay nimble with APIs30:05 - Bootstrapping vs VC funding in AI SaaS31:32 - Cutting through the AI hype to find what works34:34 - Leading AI teams with clarity and purpose37:02 - What the future of digital labor means for SaaS38:34 - The key question SaaS founders should ask their ops teamsTweetable Quotes"If AI isn't saving you time or making you money, you're using it wrong." — Aaron Godby"Digital labor doesn't call in sick, doesn't forget, and scales instantly." — Aaron Godby"The biggest gains come when humans and AI collaborate, not compete." — Aaron Godby"Stop chasing the next AI tool. Start solving real problems with the tools you already have." — Aaron Godby"Bootstrapping makes you focus on outcomes, not hype." — Aaron GodbySaaS Leadership LessonsDon't automate for automation's sakeFocus AI on the tasks that save time, increase revenue, or improve customer experience.AI agents are like new hires—but betterThey learn fast, never forget, and work 24/7 without burnout.Context is the secret weaponThe bigger the context window, the smarter and more useful your AI gets.Most SaaS teams treat AI like a plugin, not a pillarThe winners build AI into the core of their operations and org design.The future team is hybridHuman creativity + AI execution = exponential scale.Guest ResourcesEmail - aaron@greenirony.comWebsite - https://greenirony.com/LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/aarongodby/Episode SponsorSmall Fish, Big Pond –

Podcast Miniseries: Cultivating a Culture – Growing a Healthy Neurosurgical Workplace Episode 1: Being Yourself in a Big Pond Guest: Anand Veeravagu Hosts: Brian Gantwerker and Chris Newman In this first episode of a 4-part miniseries, we sit down with Dr. Anand Veeravagu of Stanford for a wide-ranging conversation on building, sustaining, and evolving institutional culture. Dr. Veeravagu shares insights on navigating the dynamics of a storied institution—discussing how to honor tradition while driving innovation, foster a strong reputation, and cultivate meaningful, productive relationships along the way.

Selling into banks isn't like selling anywhere else. Risk-averse buyers. Long sales cycles. Endless stakeholder approvals.In this SaaS Fuel episode, Jeff Mains sits down with Stacy Bishop, founder of Selling FinTech, to unpack how SaaS and fintech founders can navigate the complexities of selling to highly regulated industries like banking and financial services.You'll learn how to overcome pricing objections, how to make your buyer the hero (not the guinea pig), and how to build trust in an environment where nobody wants to take risks.If you've ever heard “Not right now” from a bank, this episode will change how you sell forever.Key Takeaways00:00 - Don't prejudge customers based on size01:16 - What's harder than building fintech? Selling it to banks02:12 - Why selling to banks is a whole different game03:15 - Recap: Rahul Pangam & Patricia Fripp04:03 - Meet Stacy Bishop of Selling FinTech05:37 - Why Stacy helps founders sell to banks06:50 - What founders underestimate about banking sales08:17 - Fast fintech vs. slow banks09:18 - Building trust in regulated industries11:27 - How to de-risk the deal13:00 - Pricing integrity: lead with value, not discounts16:28 - The problem with “list price”18:13 - Discounts kill trust—here's why21:16 - Collaborative negotiation: both sides win23:55 - Making the buyer the hero of the deal28:01 - The real risk: personal, not just business29:01 - Repeatable fintech sales framework34:03 - How to map buying committees and champions38:00 - Selling in a slow-moving market—what works41:21 - One tip for founders pitching banks this quarter46:05 - Tactical changes to improve close rates now48:30 - What's the future of fintech sales?Tweetable Quotes“Stop second-guessing what customers can afford. Lead with your value.” — Stacy Bishop“If you're offering a 60% discount… your value is probably fake.” — Jeff Mains“Discounting doesn't build trust. It destroys it.” — Stacy Bishop“Make your buyer the hero, not the guinea pig.” — Stacy Bishop“Selling to banks is about trust, not speed.” — Jeff Mains“A collaborative deal is the only deal that lasts.” — Stacy BishopSaaS Leadership LessonsNever assume who can or can't afford you.Lead with value and pricing confidence—don't self-disqualify prospects.Discounting damages trust.Huge price drops signal you don't even believe in your own value.The buyer isn't just a buyer—they're the hero of the deal.Make them look good to their team, board, and leadership.De-risking isn't optional—it's the strategy.Address risk upfront to keep the deal moving forward.Selling into banks is relationship-first, not feature-first.Understand the people, not just the product requirements.Slow cycles require fast clarity.Clear messaging, champion enablement, and proactive objection handling speed things up in a slow-moving market.Guest ResourcesEmail - stbishop0220@gmail.comWebsite - http://www.stacybishop.com/LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/stacybishopEpisode SponsorSmall Fish, Big Pond –

In this episode, Chip Mahoney exposes The Food Illusion—a modern scam where brands like Domino's shrink portions, inflate prices, and manipulate perception using small-handed actors and clever framing. But it's not just about pizza. It's a deeper commentary on how value is being stripped from everything we consume, from food to finance. If protein is the new gold, then what's left on your plate is just packaging. This isn't shrinkflation—it's systemic dilution. Front Run The Week: Want to catch the next big crypto move before it hits the headlines? Get my free newsletter at tokentrust.substack.com for exclusive early insights.The Chip Mahoney Show is a Big Pond production. This podcast is for entertainment and educational purposes only.For media inquiries or guest bookings, please contact:DV Collective at dvpodcastshow@gmail.comMusic licensed via Spotify Creator tools.

Can you pitch your SaaS idea in a way that actually sticks?In this power-packed episode of SaaS Fuel, legendary speech coach Patricia Fripp joins Jeff Mains to unlock the secrets of persuasive communication. Whether you're pitching investors, leading a team, or closing deals—this episode shows you how to make your message memorable, repeatable, and powerful.You'll learn how to use storytelling to inspire action, why most founders make fatal presentation mistakes, and how to structure your message for maximum impact.Perfect for SaaS founders, tech execs, and anyone who wants to lead with influence.Key Takeaways00:00 - The #1 persuasive storytelling technique01:08 - Welcome to SaaS Fuel02:13 - Why slides + scripts fail03:42 - How to craft presentations that resonate04:42 - Guest intro: Patricia Fripp05:06 - Why less is more in communication07:37 - Founders must pass down the company story10:08 - Biggest mistake founders make when speaking12:18 - Scripts vs. frameworks: what actually works15:12 - How to build credibility fast18:21 - Making storytelling practical for SaaS22:52 - Pulling stories out of leaders27:14 - Crafting stories from lived experience30:00 - The perfect opening: how to hook your audience35:32 - The one story everyone remembers40:46 - Founders: how to use narrative instead of numbers45:39 - Metrics wrapped in meaning49:11 - Making your story land in a pitch53:23 - How to contact Patricia54:10 - Bonus: Gandalf's magic storytelling deckTweetable Quotes“If you're selling your service, your idea, or yourself—use the words of happy customers.” — Patricia Fripp“Don't start with data. Start with a story that hits the heart, not just the head.” — Jeff Mains“It's not about writing a speech. It's about structuring one people remember and repeat.” — Patricia Fripp“The most powerful leadership skill in tech? Speaking with clarity, credibility, and connection.” — Jeff Mains“Your message should be repeatable without needing slides.” — Patricia Fripp“Tech leaders often drown in metrics—storytelling is the life raft that gets you remembered.” — Jeff MainsSaaS Leadership LessonsStories persuade better than stats.Logic informs, but emotion moves people. Wrap metrics in meaning.Less is more in tech communication.Short sentences and pauses give your audience space to process.Every founder needs a signature story.It's not optional—your story is your brand glue.Strong openings set the tone.Grab attention with something memorable in the first 30 seconds.Frameworks beat word-for-word scripts.You can stay authentic while staying structured.The best stories are relatable.A moment with your kid may hit harder than a $10M deal.Guest ResourcesEmail - pfripp@ix.netcom.comWebsite - http://www.fripp.com/FB - http://facebook.com/patricia.fripp.3LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/executivespeechcoach/Episode SponsorSmall Fish, Big Pond –

In this episode, we explore the dark side of crypto fraud through the lens of a $50 million Ponzi scheme that operated for three decades. Discover how the system prioritized lawyers over victims, illustrating a troubling trend in bankruptcy courts and asset liquidation. Comparing this scheme with recent crypto collapses, such as FTX, we unveil the similarities in how early liquidation of digital assets translates into massive losses for investors. Join Chip Mahoney as he connects traditional fraud with modern blockchain failings, revealing how the landscape of fraud evolves yet remains strikingly similar. Learn the invaluable lessons from these cases to protect your investments in the ever-changing world of crypto and technology. Front Run The Week: Want to catch the next big crypto move before it hits the headlines? Get my free newsletter at tokentrust.substack.com for exclusive early insights.The Chip Mahoney Show is a Big Pond production. This podcast is for entertainment and educational purposes only.For media inquiries or guest bookings, please contact:DV Collective at dvpodcastshow@gmail.comMusic licensed via Spotify Creator tools.

In this episode of SaaS Fuel, Jeff Mains sits down with Andrew Seidman, former poker player and now co-founder of Digital Reach Agency. Andrew shares hard-earned lessons on B2B branding, go-to-market strategy, and how SaaS founders can scale smarter.We cover the balance between product-led growth and ABM, the dangers of relying only on bottom-of-funnel tactics, and why your brand must make people feel—not just function.Whether you're stuck in lead generation purgatory or wondering why your messaging isn't landing, this episode is your guide to aligning brand, demand, and revenue.Key Takeaways00:00 - Do you even know your audience?01:08 - Welcome to SaaS Fuel02:06 - Why brand is more than a logo03:41 - Guest intro: Andrew Seidman05:00 - From poker tables to pipeline growth10:10 - Most common GTM mistakes for $3–$20M SaaS13:25 - Why bottom-of-funnel dries up15:33 - Make your customer the hero18:55 - Balancing PLG and ABM23:08 - Before you run ads, ask this27:20 - The Captain's Keys: Leadership book plug28:21 - Brand vs. product messaging35:27 - The logo test: can your brand be swapped?36:41 - Liquid Death vs. generic bottles40:16 - How much content is enough?43:46 - Where to invest in the next 90 days47:41 - Fixing GTM without hiring a CRO50:59 - Where to find AndrewTweetable Quotes“Are you trying to run ABM at Joe's Crab Shack or PLG at IBM? That's a fatal mismatch.” — Andrew Seidman“Brand is emotional leverage. It's not your logo—it's how people feel after encountering you.” — Andrew Seidman“Your best growth engine might be your current customers. Don't overlook advocacy.” — Jeff Mains“If your brand materials work with a competitor's logo, you've got a commodity, not a brand.” — Jeff Mains“Stop chasing leads if you're not ready to nurture them. Otherwise, you're lighting lemonade on fire.” — Andrew Seidman“Great growth strategy isn't just PLG or ABM—it's how you blend them and fuel with content.” — Andrew SeidmanSaaS Leadership LessonsDefine your audience before running anything.Without clarity, your GTM efforts are just expensive guesswork.Brand is emotional leverage.It's not just your logo—it's how people feel after encountering your company.Bottom-funnel-only = short-term growth.You must build pipeline long before buyers are “ready.”PLG + ABM > Either Alone.Hybrid models give you better reach and retention when done right.Customer advocacy is a growth engine.Your best marketing may already be using your product—elevate their stories.If your brand can be swapped with a competitor's, you don't have a brand.Own your identity. Generic is invisible.Guest ResourcesEmail - andrew@digitalreachagency.comWebsite -http://digitalreachagency.com/ Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-seidman/Episode SponsorSmall Fish, Big Pond – https://smallfishbigpond.com/ Use the promo code ‘SaaSFuel'Champion Leadership Group –

In this episode of SaaS Fuel, Jeff Mains sits down with Natalia Zacharin, founder of Zacharin & Co Consulting, to talk about financial clarity, fractional CFO strategies, and turning financial chaos into sustainable growth.They unpack why most SaaS companies operate blind when it comes to money, the dangers of growing too fast, and how founders can stop guessing and start scaling—with confidence.Natalia also shares how one founder survived a major revenue drop without debt, and the psychology behind smart financial decisions that separate profitable businesses from struggling ones.Key Takeaways00:00 – The payroll-to-revenue sweet spot for SaaS (30% rule)01:06 – Welcome to SaaS Fuel with Jeff Mains02:00 – Why financial clarity is a superpower03:48 – Meet guest: Natalia Zachary, founder of Zachary & Co05:37 – From accounting to strategic CFO: Natalia's journey06:38 – Why founders must own their numbers08:22 – What a fractional CFO actually does10:54 – Why growth can lead to running out of cash12:05 – Hiring mistakes and scaling with intention18:10 – Forecasting tips for SaaS founders21:57 – Most important SaaS metrics to watch24:45 – The difference between profit and cash in the bank27:12 – Avoiding the CAC-to-cash gap30:33 – Why profit matters again (finally)35:07 – Turning a low-margin SaaS into a sellable asset39:11 – Tools to simplify financial tracking41:23 – How masterminds improve founder financial IQ43:15 – The future of AI in finance46:42 – Mindset shift: clarity > avoidanceTweetable Quotes“Fast growth can kill your business if you don't manage cash.” — Natalia Zacharin“Financials aren't just numbers—they're the story of your business.” — Jeff Mains“You don't need a huge finance team. You need a smart one.” — Natalia Zacharin“If you don't know your runway, you're already flying blind.” — Jeff Mains“A mind once stretched by new numbers never returns to old assumptions.” — Natalia Zacharin“Revenue is vanity. Profit is sanity. Cash is reality.” — Jeff MainsSaaS Leadership LessonsKeep Payroll at 30% of Revenue – It gives breathing room for taxes, reinvestment, and founder salary.Fractional CFOs Are Game-Changers – They offer high-level insights without the full-time cost.You Can Grow Yourself to Death – Fast growth without cash control leads to disaster.Forecasting Beats Guessing – A basic forecast can prevent gut-based, costly decisions.Profit ≠ Cash – Just because you're profitable on paper doesn't mean you have money in the bank.SaaS Valuation Starts with Financial Clarity – A sellable business has healthy margins, clean books, and intentional growth.Guest ResourcesEmail - natalia@zacharinconsulting.comWebsite - http://www.zacharinconsulting.comFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/natalia.alekseyevna/Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/growyourbottomlineEpisode SponsorSmall Fish, Big Pond –

What if you could double your conversions just by asking smarter questions?This week on SaaS Fuel, Jeff Mains sits down with Chris Dayley, founder of Smart CRO and neuro-marketing expert, to dig deep into how psychology-based testing drives better conversions. Chris shares why most A/B tests fail, the real reason copycat tactics don't work, and how you can optimize for outcomes—not just aesthetics.You'll learn how to run smarter experiments, structure content for maximum impact, and why removing content can outperform adding more. Whether you're early-stage or scaling fast, this episode is packed with practical insights that will help you convert more, guess less, and scale smarter.Key Takeaways00:00 – Early-stage testing: Why slow tests are still valuable02:03 – Why CRO is NOT about copy-paste tactics02:32 – Aim for 10%+ test impact, not 1% tweaks03:03 – AI in CRO: Use it, but don't rely on it04:10 – Meet Chris Dayley: Neuro-marketer & CRO expert05:01 – What is neuro-marketing?08:43 – The #1 CRO mistake: Building from assumptions10:52 – Gut vs data: Why founders miss the mark14:03 – Copycat optimization is a losing game17:00 – B2B vs B2C behavioral differences21:14 – Testing with low traffic? Here's what to do24:45 – Content hierarchy and CRO: What to keep, what to kill30:55 – What makes a good test? Hint: not button colors36:03 – CRO templates, myths, and shortcuts to avoid44:45 – AI personalization, chatbots, and evolving expectations51:07 – Why 1% gains don't mean much for small companies53:04 – Remove friction. Make conversion easier.Tweetable Quotes“If you only test fast, you're testing wrong. Great data takes time.” — Chris Dayley“The best CRO isn't about flashy buttons. It's about how people think.” — Chris Dayley“You're not Amazon. Stop copying their CRO strategy.” — Jeff Mains“Conversion starts with one question: What do they really want right now?” — Chris Dayley“A pretty site doesn't pay the bills. One that converts does.” — Jeff Mains“Your gut is not a marketing strategy. Data is.” — Chris DayleySaaS Leadership LessonsDon't rush testing—data over speed. Even if your traffic is low, long-running A/B tests are better than guesswork.Copying competitors is a trap. Their site may be under test, built on assumptions, or not even working for them.Design doesn't convert—psychology does. CRO should be rooted in how people think, not how sites look.Small businesses shouldn't chase 1% lifts. Focus on big wins (10%+) that actually move the needle.Remove content to boost performance. Simpler, faster sites often outperform flashy designs.Content hierarchy matters. Prioritize what users care about most—and test your assumptions ruthlessly.Guest ResourcesEmail - chris@smart-cro.comWebsite - http://www.smart-cro.com/LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisdayley/Episode SponsorSmall Fish, Big Pond –

What does it take to build a new tech category before the market is ready?In this episode of SaaS Fuel, host Jeff Mains dives deep with Danny Tomsett, founder and CEO of UneeQ, the global leader in emotionally intelligent AI-powered digital humans. From early breakthroughs to hard pivots, Danny shares how his team navigated the rollercoaster of creating frontier tech, scaling sustainably, and keeping vision and culture alive through it all.You'll hear the behind-the-scenes story of Nadia, a digital human project with IBM and the Australian Government, the challenge of market timing, and the power of narrowing focus for growth. If you're building ahead of the curve, this is your playbook.Key Takeaways00:00 – The evolution of UneeQ's business model02:01 – Building a new tech category with AI-powered digital humans06:27 – From digital games to emotionally intelligent avatars10:39 – How digital humans transform customer experience12:54 – Realism vs. relatability in AI avatars16:07 – Building trust with humanized tech16:31 – The hardest part of creating a new category21:49 – Biggest lessons learned on the journey23:46 – Keeping teams aligned through rapid innovation27:04 – SaaS founders: Scale faster with Champion Leadership28:14 – AI's real impact on jobs and customer service31:31 – Emotional intelligence and sales simulations34:28 – Outcome-based training with digital humans35:22 – Growing pains and moments that almost broke the company40:44 – Bootstrapping vs. raising capital in frontier tech45:32 – Advice for building ahead of the market48:00 – Product-market timing and finding the real problem53:40 – What's next in AI-human interaction?Tweetable Quotes“We weren't just ahead of the curve—we were ahead of the market. That hurts.” — Danny Tomsett“Emotionally intelligent digital humans aren't the future. They're already here—and they work.” — Danny Tomsett“If the market doesn't get it yet, your job isn't just to build—it's to educate.” — Jeff Mains“Culture is your most scalable codebase.” — Danny Tomsett“The problem you're solving might not be the one they care about yet.” — Danny Tomsett“Digital humans flip training from time-based to outcome-based. That's real impact.” — Jeff MainsSaaS Leadership LessonsBuild for what's real, not just what's cool. Danny shares how hype distracted from traction and how focus created results.You can't time the market perfectly—but you can pivot. The original platform model gave way to niche training simulations with real adoption.Culture and systems scale better than code. When the team nearly burned out, Danny rebuilt the business on clarity and operational alignment.Emotion matters in tech. Especially in sales training and customer experience—digital humans that feel human drive engagement.Don't fall in love with the wrong problem. Sam Altman's advice: go deeper to find the root need your product must solve.Being early is painful—but survivable. Category creation requires stamina, education, and constant storytelling to shape the market.Guest ResourcesEmail - dannyt@uneeq.comWebsite - http://www.uneeq.com/Episode SponsorSmall Fish, Big Pond –

Why do deals stall even when your pipeline looks strong?In this episode of SaaS Fuel, Jeff Mains sits down with Mike Lander—former procurement director, dealmaker of over $500M in contracts, and now a sought-after negotiation strategist. Together, they unpack why focusing on buyer risk is the secret to closing more SaaS deals with less friction.You'll learn:How to build trust by focusing on the buyer's world—not your pitch.Why most sales fail due to qualification, not presentation.How to work fewer opportunities but close more deals.When to walk away from RFPs—and why that's a win.Key Takeaways00:00 – Why focusing on you kills trust with buyers 00:27 – Welcome to SaaS Fuel with Jeff Mains 01:15 – Your pipeline isn't broken—your qualification might be 02:00 – The new sales equation: trust, credibility, risk reduction 03:27 – Guest intro: Mike Lander and $500M in deal experience 06:13 – Where discounting goes wrong 10:56 – Why buyers choose safe over best 14:03 – Risk perception and the value equation 16:18 – Myths salespeople believe about procurement 18:04 – “Procurement is where deals go to die” – and why that's false 30:23 – Mike's framework for working fewer, better deals 35:32 – The hidden dangers of RFPs 46:00 – Can AI replace salespeople? Where humans still matter 51:13 – Will AI negotiate against AI? 52:06 – Where to learn more about Mike 53:01 – What's coming next on SaaS Fuel Tweetable Quotes“The more you focus on your deal, the less the buyer trusts you.” – Mike Lander“Want to close more? Qualify better. The pipeline's not broken—your filters are.” – Jeff Mains“Risk trumps ROI in the buyer's mind. Reduce risk, increase value.” – Mike Lander“Buyers don't want persuasion. They want sleep.” – Jeff Mains“Procurement isn't the end of a deal—it's the beginning of alignment.” – Mike Lander“If AI handles the process, humans better handle the purpose.” – Jeff MainsSaaS Leadership LessonsTrust isn't built on your product—it's built on understanding the buyer's risk.Qualification problems—not sales problems—are why most deals stall.The best sellers help buyers sleep at night, not just buy faster.Procurement isn't the enemy—it's your hidden advantage if you understand their framework.Saying “no” to bad-fit RFPs leads to higher win rates.Even with AI in sales, human insight into motivation and value remains irreplaceable.Guest ResourcesEmail - mike@piscari.comWebsite - https://piscari.com/LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikelander/Episode SponsorSmall Fish, Big Pond – https://smallfishbigpond.com/ Use the promo code ‘SaaSFuel'Champion Leadership Group – https://championleadership.com/SaaS Fuel ResourcesWebsite -

In this episode of SaaS Fuel, host Jeff Mains sits down with Adam Coughlin — Co-Founder, CMO, and Managing Partner at York IE — to explore how SaaS founders can craft powerful messaging, align teams, and build scalable go-to-market strategies that don't rely on buzzwords or bloated org charts.From the power of customer funding and finding your minimum viable audience to avoiding messaging mistakes that kill momentum, Adam shares a blueprint for creating story-driven marketing that actually works. Whether you're an early-stage founder or scaling to Series B and beyond, this episode will change the way you think about go-to-market.Key Takeaways00:00 - Intro: Customer-funded growth and audience-first strategy01:11 - Why company culture is your hidden growth lever02:20 - Messaging isn't enough — storytelling that resonates04:10 - Meet Adam Kaplan from York IE08:44 - Why founders default to jargon (and how to fix it)13:02 - Building a message that drives GTM, sales, and fundraising16:20 - Defining your Minimum Viable Audience20:08 - Bootstrapping and customer funding as strategic growth22:11 - The most common go-to-market mistake24:35 - What to do before you build a sales team28:03 - Adam's book pick: Small Fish Big Pond29:01 - Content that supports both SEO and sales34:04 - The power of message consistency across platforms37:41 - Leveraging founder brand without vanity43:02 - Staying grounded as a founder in chaotic markets45:03 - Why marketing is not just a departmentTweetable Quotes“A confused mind doesn't buy. Messaging must be simple, clear, and consistent.” – Adam Coughlin“Your story isn't just for marketing — it's how you align your team and scale your vision.” – Adam Coughlin“Customer-funded growth gives you optionality later — without giving up control early.” – Jeff Mains“Founders need to stop mimicking competitors and start telling their own story.” – Adam Coughlin“If your LinkedIn, blog, and sales team all sound different — you've already lost.” – Jeff Mains“Marketing isn't a department. It's a strategic engine that drives every other function.” – Adam CoughlinSaaS Leadership LessonsStart with your audience, not your product.A clear understanding of your minimum viable audience is more powerful than shouting into the void.Messaging is a team sport.If every team member tells a different story, you confuse the market — and confused minds don't buy.Ditch the jargon.Founders often invent new language, but if prospects don't understand it, you lose them.Customer funding beats investor pressure.Bootstrap when you can — early traction through real customers unlocks smarter long-term growth.Story drives go-to-market alignment.A consistent story across sales, marketing, and fundraising is your secret weapon in crowded markets.Your founder brand matters — if used right.Done well, it builds trust and community. Done poorly, it becomes a vanity distraction.Guest ResourcesEmail - adam@york.ieWebsite - http://york.ie/Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamcoughlin/Episode SponsorSmall Fish, Big Pond –

Forget "Grow at All Costs" — Here's How to Build a SaaS Company That Lasts | Richard Walker, CEO of Quik!