Ben Forman built an incredible business around storytelling, intuition, and timing. From pioneering New Zealand’s first commercial drone business to selling Wrestler after years of soul-searching, Ben has seen both the magic and the messiness of entrepreneurship.

In this episode, we unpack what it really means to build something meaningful, why knowing your “why” can save you millions, and how letting go at the right time can be the most powerful move of all. Whether you're scaling, stalling, or standing at the edge of an exit, Ben’s story is a masterclass in clarity, timing, and staying human in business.

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Download the first 2 chapters of my upcoming book, 2 Commas, for free here https://bit.ly/3WisuYo

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Visit https://www.joshcomrie.com/ to see how I can help you on your business journey.

Kimberlee Sweeney has seen what tears relationships apart, not just in marriages. As New Zealand’s first divorce coach, she also works with business partners, co-founders, and leadership teams to stop breakdowns before they happen.

In this episode, we dive into the psychology of founder dynamics: the unspoken expectations, emotional blind spots, and behavioural patterns that can quietly destroy a great business. From prenups for partnerships to navigating resentment when roles aren’t equal, Kimberlee offers a roadmap for conflict prevention, repair, and clarity, especially when the stakes are high.

Whether you're in a co-founder relationship, planning an exit, or leading a team through friction, this conversation will change the way you think about trust, alignment, and emotional due diligence.

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Download the first 2 chapters of my upcoming book, 2 Commas, for free here https://bit.ly/3WisuYo

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Visit https://www.joshcomrie.com/ to see how I can help you on your business journey.

Kaz Staples didn’t set out to build an iconic food brand—she just wanted to make honest muesli. But over 25 years, she turned Pure Delish into a household name. Along the way, she faced near-collapse during the GFC, fought through burnout, and rebuilt a business on gut instinct and grit.

In this episode, we explore what it really takes to lead through chaos, the emotional cost of carrying a company on your back, and what happens when you finally walk away. Whether you’re building something or wondering how to let go, Kaz’s story is a masterclass in resilience, reinvention, and the power of staying true to your values.

Subscribe to the 2 Commas Journal to receive business insights and real exit lessons straight to your inbox https://bit.ly/47lfcPU

Download the first 2 chapters of my upcoming book, 2 Commas, for free here https://bit.ly/3WisuYo

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Visit https://www.joshcomrie.com/ to see how I can help you on your business journey.

John Bolton (JB) walked away from managing a $60 billion portfolio at the onset of the Global Financial Crisis, betting everything—his house, savings, and future—on a dream. His journey with Squirrel wasn’t just about creating a successful mortgage and lending business; it was about embracing uncertainty, surviving near-bankruptcy, and building resilience through relentless innovation.

In this episode, JB candidly shares why naivety can be an entrepreneur’s greatest asset, the critical importance of timing and capital strategy, and how stepping aside from leadership allowed his company to scale. Whether you're navigating your own startup journey or considering what comes next, JB's insights provide an authentic roadmap to taking bold risks and transforming challenges into lasting success.

Subscribe to the 2 Commas Journal to receive business insights and real exit lessons straight to your inbox https://bit.ly/47lfcPU

Download the first 2 chapters of my upcoming book, 2 Commas, for free here https://bit.ly/3WisuYo

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Visit https://www.joshcomrie.com/ to see how I can help you on your business journey.

Ryan Sanders didn’t exit because the business was broken—he left because he was ready.

After building one of Aotearoa’s most iconic tourism brands, he walked away on his own terms, in the middle of a pandemic.

In this episode, we unpack the emotional terrain of stepping back while the business is still thriving, the quiet toll of staying too long, and the unspoken identity crisis that comes with no longer being “the founder.”

Whether you’re thinking about selling or just asking yourself what comes next, this is the conversation you didn’t know you needed.

Subscribe to the 2 Commas Journal to receive business insights and real exit lessons straight to your inbox https://bit.ly/47lfcPU

Download the first 2 chapters of my upcoming book, 2 Commas, for free here https://bit.ly/3WisuYo

Follow me on LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.linkedin.com/in/joshcomrie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Visit https://www.joshcomrie.com/ to see how I can help you on your business journey.

AJ Wildland co-founded one of the coolest tech companies to come out of NZ and helped revolutionise DJing globally. From bootstrapping Serato with a groundbreaking algorithm to navigating a $100M exit and stepping into the political arena, AJ’s journey is as bold as his beliefs.

In this episode, we explore how a bass guitarist’s personal pain point became a global solution, why selling Serato wasn’t just about the payday, and what happens when a tech founder decides to fix the country instead of another product. Whether you're a founder, creative, or voter this conversation is equal parts insight, inspiration, and provocation.

Subscribe to the 2 Commas Journal to receive business insights and real exit lessons straight to your inbox https://bit.ly/47lfcPU

Download the first 2 chapters of my upcoming book, 2 Commas, for free here https://bit.ly/3WisuYo

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Visit https://www.joshcomrie.com/ to see how I can help you on your business journey.

Laetitia Peterson sold her investment company, Liontamer, to a global banking giant - only to watch her buyer teeter on bankruptcy just months later. From navigating a sale at the peak of the market to reclaiming her business during the Global Financial Crisis, Laetitia has faced entrepreneurial highs, daunting lows, and every challenge in between.

In this candid conversation, we explore the unexpected twists in exits, the resilience required to pivot amidst chaos, and why the best strategies aren’t always about predicting the future, but being prepared for uncertainty. If you're building towards an exit, or simply wondering what comes next, this episode offers real-world wisdom on managing the unpredictable journey of selling your business.

Subscribe to the 2 Commas Journal to receive business insights and real exit lessons straight to your inbox https://bit.ly/47lfcPU

Download the first 2 chapters of my upcoming book, 2 Commas, for free here https://bit.ly/3WisuYo

Follow me on LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.linkedin.com/in/joshcomrie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Visit https://www.joshcomrie.com/ to see how I can help you on your business journey.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Keith Davison persevered through five failed startups before achieving a remarkable $120 million exit (in under 3 years from first revenue!). From hustling without a salary for over two years to strategically navigating market timing, Keith’s story reveals the gritty truths behind entrepreneurial success.

In this candid episode, we explore what it truly takes to scale a startup, the risks and realities of exiting at the right moment, and how relentless resilience can transform failures into life-changing outcomes. Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur or contemplating your next business move, Keith’s insights offer a practical and inspiring blueprint for navigating the highs, lows, and unexpected turns of entrepreneurship.

Subscribe to the 2 Commas Journal to receive business insights and real exit lessons straight to your inbox https://bit.ly/47lfcPU

Download the first 2 chapters of my upcoming book, 2 Commas, for free here https://bit.ly/3WisuYo

Follow me on LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.linkedin.com/in/joshcomrie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Visit https://www.joshcomrie.com/ to see how I can help you on your business journey.

Jessie Stanley built a thriving pie empire from scratch—only to realise that success wasn’t what she imagined. In this candid conversation, Jessie shares her journey from obsessively hand-making pies to the complexities of scaling, the emotional rollercoaster of selling her beloved brand, and finding identity beyond the exit.

From navigating burnout and balancing motherhood to reinventing herself in the world of sustainable food innovation, Jessie’s story explores the personal side of entrepreneurship—showing that sometimes, exits aren't endings, but rather new beginnings.

Subscribe to the 2 Commas Journal to receive business insights and real exit lessons straight to your inbox https://bit.ly/47lfcPU

Download the first 2 chapters of my upcoming book, 2 Commas, for free here https://bit.ly/3WisuYo

Follow me on LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.linkedin.com/in/joshcomrie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Visit https://www.joshcomrie.com/ to see how I can help you on your business journey.

Gary Gordon didn’t sell his company—he made the impossible call to shut it down. After two decades in property development and over $1B in completed projects, Gary walked away at the peak.

In this episode, we unpack the real reasons why, the lessons behind the numbers, and what it means to choose integrity over inertia. If you’ve ever questioned the cost of scale—or what it truly means to exit—this one will stay with you.

Subscribe to the 2 Commas Journal to receive business insights and real exit lessons straight to your inbox https://bit.ly/47lfcPU

Download the first 2 chapters of my upcoming book, 2 Commas, for free here https://bit.ly/3WisuYo

Follow me on LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.linkedin.com/in/joshcomrie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Visit https://www.joshcomrie.com/ to see how I can help you on your business journey.