Lesley Ray, a classically trained violinist turned visionary designer, who’s blending neuroscience, wellness, and AI to create responsive, emotionally intelligent homes through her company BrainHome. From scent-triggered slumber routines to lighting that aligns with your brainwaves, Lesley is redefining what interior design can do—and who it’s meant to serve. Key Discussion Points: Why traditional design ignores most of our senses—and how that impacts our well-being How AI and neuroscience are r...
Jun 20, 2025•15 min•Ep. 235
LaToya Jordan, a former attorney, and Brianna Shelko, an award-winning musician and entrepreneur, to talk about founding Marble Wines —a brand born out of frustration, fueled by purpose, and designed to reflect the women who drink it. Key Discussion Points: Why the wine industry lacked female representation How they turned past careers in law and music into wine entrepreneurship The unexpected challenges of distribution and brand visibility Why Marble’s red blend is a “transitional wine” for fir...
Jun 20, 2025•11 min•Ep. 234
Scott Alldridge reveals the hidden threats facing modern businesses—and why most founders are wildly unprepared. With two decades leading cybersecurity innovation and a hit book series under his belt, Scott explains how hackers are evolving faster than ever, why even small businesses are prime targets, and the crucial steps leaders should take to protect their companies. Key Discussion Points: Why most companies fail in under 10 years—and how Scott stayed relevant for 20+ How cybersecurity threa...
Jun 18, 2025•16 min•Ep. 233
Fontine Da Luz —a rising force in the real estate world who began closing deals at 17 and now commands an empire fueled by millions of social media views. She’s not just selling homes—she’s turning followers into clients and laughter into leads. Key Discussion Points: How Fontine turned a marketing failure into a viral breakthrough with her comedy character “Ling Ling” Why entertainment beats education in today’s content-driven market The psychology behind analogies, relatability, and storytelli...
Jun 18, 2025•17 min•Ep. 231
Victor Boechat de Carvalho built GlideScale as a university student, challenging the outdated structure of affiliate marketing. In this episode, he breaks down why traditional affiliate models are broken and how his team rebuilt the system to be universal, efficient, and fraud-resistant. Key Discussion Points: Why most affiliate platforms are built on bloated, insecure infrastructure How GlideScale automates instant payouts and slashes fees The tech breakthrough behind universal compatibility Wh...
Jun 16, 2025•12 min•Ep. 230
Chris Newlands turned a shower thought into Spelfie—one of the fastest-growing apps of all time. Now, with Space Aye , he’s building the Google Maps of the future—live, in real-time, from space. In this episode, he shares how he navigated pandemic disruption, secured global patents, and built a platform that could reshape industries from logistics to disaster response. Key Discussion Points: The origin story of Spelfie and how it reached the top 10% of global app downloads in one week How Space ...
Jun 16, 2025•20 min•Ep. 229
Laura Inamedinova , one of the most influential women in Web3. From her accidental entry into Bitcoin during college to leading investments at Gate Ventures, Laura shares unfiltered insights into crypto, venture capital, and what most founders get wrong when pitching investors. Key Discussion Points: How Laura’s curiosity in college led to early Bitcoin investments Why being early in an immature industry gave her an unfair advantage The biggest mistakes crypto founders make when raising capital ...
Jun 13, 2025•22 min•Ep. 228
Brent and Josh lost their jobs during the Great Recession, they didn’t plan to start a business—they just needed to pay the mortgage. What began with goat milk soap made at their dining room table has become Beekman 1802 , a cult-favorite brand with over 60 million bars sold. In this episode, they unpack how desperation, kindness, and slow, intentional growth led to one of the most beloved product-first companies in America. Key Discussion Points: Why losing their jobs became the best thing that...
Jun 09, 2025•17 min•Ep. 227
Nina Ythier, after 20 years working inside broken systems, turned rejection into redirection—founding MindSpeak Inc. , a therapy practice redefining mental health care through real-world, person-first solutions. In this episode, she shares the power of creative healing, why ego-free hustle matters, and how nontraditional care is changing lives. Key Discussion Points: Why “graduating” from toxic workplaces led to building something better Starting with just a few clients—and a side job at Planet ...
Jun 03, 2025•17 min•Ep. 226
Sam Chipkin , after nearly a decade in the high-stress world of New York finance, moved to Bondi Beach and rewired his approach to investing. In this episode, he shares how quiet mornings, long walks, and deep research shaped his investment strategy—and why 5AM Capital is betting on patient capital, enduring businesses, and disciplined risk. Key Discussion Points: Leaving Wall Street: Why chaos isn’t required to create value Building a boutique fund that caps growth at $750M The power of investi...
Jun 02, 2025•22 min•Ep. 225
Kass and Mike Lazerow peel back the curtain on life—and love—as co-founders of multiple breakout ventures. From the early days of building Golf.com to scaling Buddy Media into a $700 million+ Salesforce acquisition, they share the grit, the joy and the “shoveling shit” mentality behind every pivot and payoff. Key Discussion Points: Why “Shoveling Shit”?: The visceral truth of entrepreneurship—every success is paid for in messy, daily hard work. Business + Marriage = Love Story: How dating, co-fo...
Jun 02, 2025•25 min•Ep. 224
Jorge Martinez and Andre Vinay, co-founders of Black Development Group , join Founder’s Story to reveal how they’ve reimagined hospitality by turning apartments into branded hotel-style residences. With a growing partnership with Wyndham, they’re building global investment-friendly resorts in places like Tulum, Los Cabos, and Punta Cana—offering individuals a new way to own a piece of paradise. Key Discussion Points From Hot Dogs to Hotels: How Andre began as a teen entrepreneur The Condo-Hotel ...
May 21, 2025•20 min•Ep. 223
Sally So, founder and CEO of Genomii.ai , joins Founder’s Story to share how her lifelong battle with eczema sparked a breakthrough: your health isn’t just in your genes—it’s in your data. Sally reveals how she’s building a digital twin for every human, one that can track your biological age in real-time and coach you back to youth. Key Discussion Points From Suffering to Science : How chronic illness led Sally to build Genomii The Digital Twin Era : What it means to have an AI version of yourse...
May 20, 2025•26 min•Ep. 222
Alex Monahan, Stanford engineer turned sports betting entrepreneur, joins Founder's Story to reveal how he bootstrapped OddsJam —dubbed the Bloomberg Terminal for Sports Betting—to a $160 million exit. From obsessing over data to outworking every competitor, Alex shares the gritty journey from side hustle to acquisition, the power of YouTube for growth, and why he’s still not done building. If you’ve ever wondered what it really takes to win in a high-stakes, high-growth niche—this is the playbo...
May 16, 2025•34 min•Ep. 221
Dr. Arjen de Jong, an aerospace engineer and founder of AirTulip , joins Founder’s Story to share how clean-room tech, fluid mechanics, and a little smoke visualization led to a Shark Tank pitch—and a consumer sleep product unlike anything else on the market. From clean air in dentist offices to hydrogen water-style traction for your bedroom, Arjen walks us through how laminar airflow can drastically improve health, reduce allergies, and even reinvent how we think about air. Key Discussion Point...
May 12, 2025•27 min•Ep. 220
Yash (the "Water Genie") and Smile (an Ironman athlete) co-founded Dr. Water to solve what they call the world’s most overlooked health crisis: dehydration. With backgrounds in sustainability and performance science, the duo reveals how hydrogen water can transform energy, recovery, and aging—while also cutting plastic waste. They share the journey from building DTC wellness brands to going viral on TikTok and pitching billionaires via cold emails. Key Discussion Points The Spark of a Problem : ...
May 12, 2025•25 min•Ep. 219
Sanjay Chadha, co-founder of SAV Associates , brings over 25 years of global experience in corporate finance, cybersecurity, and risk management. From navigating boardrooms in Vietnam and Madagascar to safeguarding data in North America, Sanjay has advised more than 1,000 clients on building resilient, profitable companies. In this episode, he reveals the costly mistakes most founders make—plus how to prevent a deepfake disaster from taking down your business. Key Discussion Points Why He Left C...
May 09, 2025•23 min•Ep. 218
Kit Gray, President and Co-Founder of PodcastOne (NASDAQ: PODC), reveals how he parlayed childhood radio fandom into a thriving public podcast network. From early iPod hacks with Adam Carolla to structuring live reads, community-first ad packages, and an IPO, Kit shares the timing, tactics, and tenacity behind PodcastOne’s $51M revenue and its 200-show roster. Key Discussion Points Radio Roots & Howard Stern : How listening to sports talk and Stern’s brand-building ignited Kit’s love for aud...
May 09, 2025•28 min•Ep. 217
Alessandro Figliano, Founder & CEO of Jet 365, shares how he turned a love for flying into a luxury aviation brand trusted by F1 and high-net-worth clients. From flying school to building a white-glove charter service, Alessandro breaks down how Jet 365 blends safety, personalization, and tech into an experience the new generation of elite travelers demands, while maintaining the service standards legacy brands lost. Key Discussion Points Pilot to Founder: How Alessandro funded a flying scho...
May 09, 2025•17 min•Ep. 216
David Royce , a serial entrepreneur (Aptive Environmental) recounts his journey from a broke college door-to-door rookie to scaling a pest-control startup into a $500 million national leader—and why he’s now taking a well-earned sabbatical. Key Discussion Points The Rookie Summer : How a disastrous first week of door-to-door sales prompted David’s self-education marathon in sales books. Systems Over Spark : Building replicable training, manuals, and processes that delivered 2× results and launch...
May 09, 2025•27 min•Ep. 215
Matt Raad (CEO & Co‑Founder of eBusiness Institute ) shares how he and his wife, Liz Raad, went from farming and zoology students to buying, scaling, and exiting online businesses. Learn why “page‑five” passion sites can be goldmines, how AI accelerates growth, and the blueprint for low‑risk, high‑cash‑flow digital entrepreneurship. Key Discussion Points From Kangaroos to Cashflow: How Matt & Liz leveraged rural roots and early manufacturing M&A mistakes to discover online’s superior...
May 07, 2025•31 min•Ep. 214
Alfonso Gurreri , A Harvard-educated lawyer turned hands-on entrepreneur, founded RICI Contracting in 2022 and has since grown it into a full-service powerhouse. Today, RICI delivers construction, asphalt paving, snow & property maintenance, waste management, and facility services across Ontario. Alfonso shares how he parlayed legal training into strategic vision, weathered early food-truck misfires, and now innovates a once-old-school industry with sustainability, operational excellence, an...
May 05, 2025•22 min•Ep. 213
After engineering stints and an immigrant-family push toward a PhD, Brian Le accidentally fell into entrepreneurship, first by noticing Bird scooters on campus, then by solving students’ last-minute snack and supply crises with app-powered micro-convenience. A Y Combinator alum, Brian tells how COVID tested Need’s model, why blind ambition is a superpower in your twenties, and how he sees college (and AI) shaping the next generation of founders. Key Discussion Points Engineering Roots → Accident...
May 05, 2025•26 min•Ep. 214
Colin Walsh CEO & Co‑Founder of YayDay; CEO of P&G Specialty Beauty and Dr. Roshini Raj board‑certified gastroenterologist, Gut Renovation author, co‑founder of Tula & YayDay share how beauty meets biotech in a gut‑first wellness brand. They reveal why fiber + magnesium is only the start, and how gut health underpins sleep, mood, immunity—and even skin health. Key Discussion Points Roots in Beauty & Medicine: How Roshini’s probiotic skincare journey at Tula and Colin’s 20‑year be...
May 02, 2025•29 min•Ep. 211
Korosh Farazad traded a UK law career for two decades of pioneering structured finance in hospitality real estate. Today, his Farazad Advisory specializes in value-add hotel acquisitions—85–200 rooms, no global brands, 3–5-year hold—in gateway cities across North America and Western Europe. From SLS Dubai to a sudden Swiss relocation, Korosh reveals the deal architecture, market pivots, and hard-won lessons behind his boutique empire. Key Discussion Points: The Spark: How a people-person’s obses...
May 02, 2025•17 min•Ep. 210
Kuty Shalev shares how a college accounting grad became a pioneer of fully remote software consulting—25 years before “work from home” was a thing. He explains why speed, adaptability, and “soft skills” (EQ as deliberate practice) trump raw IQ in today’s agile, AI-driven world. Key Discussion Points: A Serendipitous Start From PwC-sponsored coding at Columbia to founding a lean software firm with Pricewaterhouse as Year-One client. Early adoption of Skype‐powered remote teams to solve developer ...
May 02, 2025•27 min•Ep. 209
April (“Waepril”) shares how battling teenage acne sparked her obsession with ingredient-led skincare and launched her Instagram career. From zero views in quarantine to brand partnerships and a new website, she reveals the mindset, strategies, and resilience needed to turn personal struggle into a thriving beauty business. Key Discussion Points: Origins of Her Passion: Teenage acne eroded April’s confidence, driving her to decode product labels and hunt active ingredients that truly work. Empha...
Apr 28, 2025•23 min•Ep. 207
Sheelam Chadha discusses her bold journey from two decades in corporate real estate to launching her own firm, Dry Capital , symbolically founded on International Women’s Day 2025. Driven by the desire to break the glass ceiling and leverage her extensive experience in the volatile European real estate market, Sheelam shares insights into navigating uncertainty, the importance of trust, and the power of strategic networking. Key Discussion Points: From Corporate to Founder: The motivation behind...
Apr 24, 2025•16 min•Ep. 207
Aaron Marcum spent over two decades in the home care industry before founding Breakaway365 , a coaching program designed to help agency owners scale their businesses while reclaiming the time, energy, and freedom they’ve lost. In this episode, Aaron shares what inspired him to launch Breakaway365, how positive psychology transformed his approach to leadership, and what he's learned from coaching hundreds of overwhelmed home care entrepreneurs. Drawing on data from his previous venture, Home Care...
Apr 24, 2025•28 min•Ep. 206
Yaroslav Lazor and Sergiy Korolov take us on their fascinating journey from passionate software engineers to innovative entrepreneurs at Railsware . They share how their love for building software evolved from personal passion into a thriving business, influencing multiple industries and countless lives. Railsware’s approach of treating every internal process as a product is central to their ability to innovate, scale, and continuously improve. Key Discussion Points: Origins & Inspiration: H...
Apr 24, 2025•32 min•Ep. 205
