A Founder's Life

This episode of A Founder’s Life is brought to you by Thankz — helping founders scale with reliable remote talent. Get $1,000 off your first month by emailing [email protected] with the subject line Founder’s Life.

🌐 Follow A Founder’s Life
• YouTube:   @AFoundersLife 
• LinkedIn
• Instagram: @afounderslife
• Spotify
• Apple Podcast

👤 Connect with Today’s Guest – Zachary Collins

• Website: ludus.com
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacharycollins/
• X (Twitter): [@ZacharyCollins]

Zachary is the Co-Founder and CEO of Ludus, a fast-growing software company serving over 4,500 performing arts organizations across the United States. What began as a freshman-year idea to simplify ticketing for schools has evolved into a powerful operating platform for theaters, community centers, and performing arts venues nationwide.

In this episode of A Founder’s Life, Zachary opens up about building through the pandemic, setting boundaries with family, and why success starts with small, consistent habits. He also shares his philosophy on balance, creativity, and the simple power of getting started.

🔥 What you’ll learn in this conversation:

• How Ludus grew from a college project to 4,500+ clients
• The unexpected size of the performing arts SMB market
• How to set boundaries between business and family
• Why small, consistent health habits drive long-term success
• How travel and curiosity can “slow down time”
• Why entrepreneurs must stop over-validating ideas and start building

⏱️ Timestamps

0:00 – Intro & sponsor (Thankz)

0:37 – Meet Zachary Collins: Co-Founder & CEO of Ludus

1:16 – How a high school theater director sparked a business idea

3:10 – Turning a class project into a real company

4:30 – Navigating the pandemic and rebuilding the team

5:45 – Growing to 4,500+ clients across the U.S.

6:50 – Family as motivation — and learning to set boundaries

8:00 – Health: consistency, training, and mental balance

9:20 – Finding joy in travel, books, and new experiences

11:40 – How to “slow down time” through novelty and learning

13:05 – Lessons from early coding and entrepreneurship

14:35 – Advice to founders: dream big, but start now

15:20 – Where to find Zachary (LinkedIn + Twitter/X)

👉 Don’t miss an episode — subscribe & join our community of founders redefining success.

LinkedIn

linkedin.com/in/leogestetner

Website

leogestetner.com/leo

Subscribe Now!

youtube.com/@afounderslife?sub_confirmation=1

This episode of A Founder’s Life is brought to you by Thankz, helping founders scale with reliable remote talent. Get $1,000 off your first month by emailing [email protected] with the subject line Founder’s Life.

🌐 Follow A Founder’s Life
• YouTube:   @AFoundersLife 
• LinkedIn
• Instagram: @afounderslife
• Spotify
• Apple Podcast

👤 Connect with Today’s Guest – Bill Carmody

• Website: billcarmody.com
• Askbill Website: https://askbill.us/ 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/billcarmody/

What does success look like after you’ve built and sold three multimillion-dollar companies?

For Bill Carmody, it’s about living abundantly, not just financially, but physically, mentally, and emotionally.

In this powerful conversation, Bill shares his journey from humble beginnings and scarcity-driven hustle to achieving financial freedom and traveling the world for a year with his daughter. Along the way, he reveals how focusing on daily habits — meditation, exercise, diet, and sleep — can create an extraordinary life far beyond the business metrics.

What you’ll learn in this conversation:

• How Bill built and exited three multimillion-dollar companies
• The mindset shift from scarcity to abundance
• Why daily habits create lasting success
• The connection between sleep, health, and leadership
• How to be fully present in business and family life
• The most important question every founder should ask: “What is enough?”

👉 Subscribe now for more founder stories, raw lessons, and inspiration.

⏱️ Timestamps

0:00 – Intro & sponsor (Thankz)

1:16 – Meet Bill Carmody: entrepreneur, author, and Ironman athlete

2:10 – From humble beginnings to digital marketing pioneer

3:15 – Building three multimillion-dollar companies

4:58 – What financial freedom really means

6:12 – Traveling the world with his daughter on a gap year

8:02 – The importance of family and being fully present

10:15 – Overcoming burnout and suicidal thoughts through transformation

12:00 – Dropping 95 pounds and completing two Ironman races

13:40 – The power of sleep, meditation, and mental fitness

16:20 – Scarcity vs abundance: finding “enough”

18:00 – What daily habits compound into an extraordinary life

20:45 – Martial arts, flow, and lifelong learning

23:50 – Advice for founders: micro-adjustments create major change

25:30 – Where to find Bill (billcarmody.com + askbill.us)

LinkedIn

linkedin.com/in/leogestetner

Website

leogestetner.com/leo

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youtube.com/@afounderslife?sub_confirmation=1

This episode of A Founder’s Life is brought to you by Thankz — helping founders scale with reliable remote talent. Get $1,000 off your first month by emailing [email protected] with the subject line Founder’s Life.

🌐 Follow A Founder’s Life
 • YouTube:   @AFoundersLife  
 • LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/a-founder-s-life-podcast/
 • Instagram: @afounderslife
  • Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/70mfiPVuefpTnQHskflEqc?si=d8f658731c9248ba
 • Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-founders-life/id1780849489

👤 Connect with Today’s Guest – Jim Donnelly
•Website: humanauthealth.com
•LinkedIn: [Jim’s LinkedIn Profile]

Jim Donnelly has spent the last 25 years building, scaling, and selling companies across travel, fitness, and wellness — but his newest venture, Humanaut Health, might be his most meaningful yet.

In this episode of A Founder’s Life, Jim shares how his father’s lessons on failure, his own near-death accident, and a career in scaling global businesses shaped his outlook on resilience, purpose, and family. With over $17 million raised and 100 locations planned, Humanaut Health is redefining health optimization for a new generation — and Jim’s story reminds us that optimism and perspective might be the greatest entrepreneurial tools of all.

🔥 What you’ll learn in this conversation:
•How Jim turned his father’s bankruptcies into entrepreneurial drive
•The journey from travel tech to Restore Hyper Wellness and Humanaut Health
•What he learned from being hit by a drunk driver — and coming back stronger
•Why he believes optimism is the key to resilience
•How to balance ambition, family, and purpose
•His top advice: “A lack of options provides clarity.”

👉 Subscribe now for more founder stories, raw lessons, and inspiration.

⏱️ Timestamps
0:00 – Intro & sponsor (Thankz)
0:37 – Meet Jim Donnelly: founder, CEO, father, and serial entrepreneur
1:22 – Growing up in an entrepreneurial family with lessons on failure
3:15 – From Coca-Cola to Citibank to his first startup exit
5:12 – Building Restore Hyper Wellness and the journey to Humanaut Health
7:00 – Losing his father, surviving a car crash, and finding his “why”
8:10 – How optimism drives resilience and leadership
9:30 – Family: being present, values, and fatherhood
11:05 – Redefining balance across family, faith, and work
13:16 – Why company culture starts with personal priorities
16:30 – What health means: function, vitality, and longevity
18:40 – Fun: family adventures, mountain biking, travel, and fishing
20:45 – Pivotal moments and what the universe teaches you
23:40 – Advice to founders: let scarcity drive clarity
25:43 – Where to find Jim (humanauthealth.com + LinkedIn)

👉 Don’t miss an episode — subscribe & join our community of founders redefining success.

LinkedIn

linkedin.com/in/leogestetner

Website

leogestetner.com/leo

Subscribe Now!

youtube.com/@afounderslife?sub_confirmation=1

This episode of A Founder’s Life is brought to you by Thankz — helping founders scale with reliable remote talent. Get $1,000 off your first month by emailing [email protected] with the subject line Founder’s Life.

🌐 Follow A Founder’s Life
 • YouTube:   @AFoundersLife  
 • LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/a-founder-s-life-podcast/
 • Instagram: @afounderslife
  • Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/70mfiPVuefpTnQHskflEqc?si=d8f658731c9248ba
 • Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-founders-life/id1780849489

👤 Connect with Today’s Guest – Melanie Herschorn
 • Website: https://yourbigimpactbook.com/
 • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melanie-herschorn/
 • Instagram: @bigimpactbooks
• Book: Lasting Legal Impact - https://a.co/d/iaR1kCl
• Book: Make a Big Impact with your Book - https://a.co/d/bawqiG1

How do you turn failure, burnout, and a bad hire into a brand-new purpose? Melanie Herschorn’s story is one of resilience, reinvention, and rediscovering her voice.

Melanie is the Founder of Big Impact Books, a boutique publishing and marketing firm that helps professionals, attorneys, and entrepreneurs transform their expertise into bestselling books. From her early career in Hollywood PR to building her own clothing brand and later launching a publishing house, Melanie’s journey is proof that our most painful moments can lead to our most powerful work.

In this episode of A Founder’s Life, she shares her journey from being belittled in business to empowering others to share their voices — and how family, health, and creativity keep her grounded.

🔥 What you’ll learn in this conversation:
•How Melanie transitioned from PR and journalism to entrepreneurship
•The story behind founding Big Impact Books
•Why every expert should write and own their story
•The importance of protecting your confidence as a founder
•Finding balance through boundaries and presence
•What singing, family, and spirituality taught her about life

👉 Subscribe now for more founder stories, raw lessons, and inspiration.

⏱️ Timestamps
0:00 – Intro & sponsor (Thankz)
1:21 – Meet Melanie Herschorn: publisher, author, and founder of Big Impact Books
2:19 – From celebrity PR to journalism to entrepreneurship
3:55 – Building a clothing brand and overcoming a toxic work experience
5:15 – The birth of Big Impact Books: turning expertise into stories
6:10 – Family life: lessons from motherhood and her grandmother’s legacy
7:28 – Defining health as balance between mind and body
8:18 – Fun: singing lessons, self-expression, and joy through creativity
9:51 – Setting work-life parameters to protect balance and presence
10:50 – Spiritual growth and discovering the “inner entrepreneur”
12:47 – Advice to aspiring founders: trust your gut and share your story
13:38 – Where to find Melanie (bigimpactbooks.com, LinkedIn, Instagram)

👉 Don’t miss an episode — subscribe & join our community of founders redefining success.

LinkedIn

linkedin.com/in/leogestetner

Website

leogestetner.com/leo

Subscribe Now!

youtube.com/@afounderslife?sub_confirmation=1

This episode of A Founder’s Life is brought to you by Thankz — helping founders scale with reliable remote talent. Get $1,000 off your first month by emailing [email protected] with the subject line Founder’s Life.

🌐 Follow A Founder’s Life
 • YouTube:   @AFoundersLife  
 • LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/a-founder-s-life-podcast/
 • Instagram: @afounderslife
  • Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/70mfiPVuefpTnQHskflEqc?si=d8f658731c9248ba
 • Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-founders-life/id1780849489

👤 Connect with Today’s Guest – Natalie Nathanson
 • Website: magnetudeconsulting.com
 • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalienathanson/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/magnetude-consulting/
 • Podcast - Shift and Thrive: https://shiftandthrivepodcast.com/

What does balance really look like when you’re a founder, parent, and leader in a fast-changing world? For Natalie Nathanson, it’s not about perfection — it’s about intention.

Natalie is the Founder & CEO of Magnetude Consulting, a B2B marketing firm helping startups and SMBs scale strategically. She’s also the host of the “Shift and Thrive” podcast, where she interviews leaders on transformation, innovation, and personal growth.

In this episode of A Founder’s Life, Natalie shares how she built her business after a decade in corporate marketing, her approach to leadership and family, and the mindset that helps her stay grounded through chaos.

🔥 What you’ll learn in this conversation:
 • How Natalie transitioned from Forrester Research to founding Magnetude Consulting
 • The challenges and rewards of building a marketing firm from scratch
 • How she defines balance as a founder, parent, and athlete
 • Why running, gardening, and creative hobbies fuel her leadership
 • The lessons she’s learned from her children and team
 • Her advice for new entrepreneurs: “You only get to be new once.”

👉 Subscribe now for more founder stories, raw lessons, and inspiration.

⏱️ Timestamps
0:00 – Intro & sponsor (Thankz)
0:37 – Meet Natalie Nathanson: from Forrester to founder of Magnetude Consulting
1:44 – Starting her firm and redefining what marketing looks like for startups
3:20 – How B2B marketing has evolved in the age of AI
4:25 – Family life: raising two kids and learning from parenthood
5:50 – Health: sleep, nutrition, running, and gardening as restoration
7:40 – Fun: resin art, biking, and growing vegetables
8:46 – Balance: intentional time for what matters most
10:03 – Pivotal moment: navigating family illness during the pandemic
11:19 – Advice to entrepreneurs: “You only get to be new once.”
12:39 – Where to find Natalie (LinkedIn, Magnetude, Shift and Thrive)

👉 Don’t miss an episode — subscribe & join our community of founders redefining success.

LinkedIn

linkedin.com/in/leogestetner

Website

leogestetner.com/leo

Subscribe Now!

youtube.com/@afounderslife?sub_confirmation=1

This episode of A Founder’s Life is brought to you by Thankz — helping founders scale with reliable remote talent. Get $1,000 off your first month by emailing [email protected] with the subject line Founder’s Life.

🌐 Follow A Founder’s Life
 • YouTube:   @AFoundersLife  
 • LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/a-founder-s-life-podcast/
 • Instagram: @afounderslife
  • Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/70mfiPVuefpTnQHskflEqc?si=d8f658731c9248ba
 • Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-founders-life/id1780849489

👤 Connect with Today’s Guest – Jeanne Achille
•Website: devonpr.com
•Website: https://www.jeanneachille.com/
•LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeanneachille/
•Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/devongroup/

What happens when corporate ceilings stop your growth—but frustration becomes your fuel? For Jeanne Achille, it led to founding The Devon Group, a technology PR and marketing firm that’s been helping global brands launch, scale, and evolve for over 30 years.

In this episode of A Founder’s Life, Jeanne shares her journey from corporate executive to founder, how she built a people-first company culture, and why balance and awareness are key to sustained success. She also opens up about family, mobility, health, and the lifelong process of checking in with yourself.

🔥 What you’ll learn in this conversation:

• How frustration led Jeanne to entrepreneurship
• What it takes to build a company that lasts decades
• Why awareness and reflection matter for leaders
• The importance of mobility, health, and self-care for longevity
• How to balance work, family, and self-awareness
• Why no one succeeds alone — and how to build the right support system

👉 Subscribe now for more founder stories, raw lessons, and inspiration.

⏱️ Timestamps

0:00 – Intro & sponsor (Thankz)

1:16 – Meet Jeanne Achille: founder & CEO of The Devon Group

2:11 – From recruiter to PR founder: frustration that fueled a 30-year business

3:16 – How Devon Group helps clients with launches, rebrands & IPO milestones

4:36 – Defining family: three daughters, extended relatives, and “fur babies”

7:05 – Health & mobility: yoga, farm-to-table nutrition, and lessons from her nurse mother

9:14 – Fun: Broadway, avant-garde theater, and global travel for jazz and art

10:05 – Defining balance: awareness, reflection, and daily self-check-ins

13:05 – Pivotal moment: starting a business on a Wednesday—and getting 3 clients by Thursday

14:11 – Advice for entrepreneurs: don’t do it all yourself; hire key partners early

16:06 – Where to find Jeanne (devonpr.com, LinkedIn, and socials)

👉 Don’t miss an episode — subscribe & join our community of founders redefining success.

LinkedIn

linkedin.com/in/leogestetner

Website

leogestetner.com/leo

Subscribe Now!

youtube.com/@afounderslife?sub_confirmation=1

This episode of A Founder’s Life is brought to you by Thankz — helping founders scale with reliable remote talent. Get $1,000 off your first month by emailing [email protected] with the subject line Founder’s Life.

🌐 Follow A Founder’s Life
 • YouTube:   @AFoundersLife  
 • LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/a-founder-s-life-podcast/
 • Instagram: @afounderslife
  • Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/70mfiPVuefpTnQHskflEqc?si=d8f658731c9248ba
 • Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-founders-life/id1780849489

👤 Connect with Today’s Guest – CJ Stasik
 

• Website: shehandlesit.com
• 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cjstasik_shi/
• 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cjstasik
• 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cjstasik/

What happens when success on paper feels like failure in real life? For CJ Stasik, it took burnout, breakdown, and courage to rebuild her life with purpose and alignment.

CJ is the founder of She Handles It, an empowerment coaching brand that helps women break free from burnout, people-pleasing, and overwhelm — and reconnect with the version of themselves they truly want to be.

In this episode of A Founder’s Life, she shares her raw story of leaving a 13-year corporate career, overcoming guilt and exhaustion, and redefining success through mindset, self-awareness, and intention.

🔥 What you’ll learn in this conversation:
•How burnout led CJ to build She Handles It
•Why mindset is the root cause behind most burnout
•How to separate real vs. perceived obstacles
•The truth about “balance” — and why integration works better
•How family, nature, and daily rituals restored her peace
•Why self-care isn’t selfish — it’s essential for leadership and life

👉 Subscribe now for more founder stories, raw lessons, and inspiration.

⏱️ Timestamps
0:00 – Intro & sponsor (Thankz)
0:37 – Meet CJ Stasik: founder of She Handles It
1:30 – From corporate burnout to starting her own brand
3:55 – The breaking point: grocery bags, tears, and a wake-up call
5:14 – Family life: marriage, children, and finding her soulmate
6:05 – What health means: body, mind, and soul in harmony
7:45 – How nature became her emotional reset button
9:02 – Fun: hiking, kayaking, and raising farm animals (the “four Gs”)
10:44 – Redefining balance as integration, not perfection
12:30 – Parenting, presence, and redefining what matters
15:08 – The pivotal moment: leaving a 13-year career to pursue coaching
18:38 – CJ’s advice: self-care isn’t selfish — it’s how you show up better
19:49 – Where to find CJ (shehandlesit.com + socials)

👉 Don’t miss an episode — subscribe & join our community of founders redefining success.

LinkedIn

linkedin.com/in/leogestetner

Website

leogestetner.com/leo

Subscribe Now!

youtube.com/@afounderslife?sub_confirmation=1

This episode of A Founder’s Life is brought to you by Thankz — helping founders scale with reliable remote talent. Get $1,000 off your first month by emailing [email protected] with the subject line Founder’s Life.

🌐 Follow A Founder’s Life
 • YouTube:   @AFoundersLife  
 • LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/a-founder-s-life-podcast/
 • Instagram: @afounderslife
  • Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/70mfiPVuefpTnQHskflEqc?si=d8f658731c9248ba
 • Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-founders-life/id1780849489

👤 Connect with Today’s Guest – Haley Hunter
•Website: partyland.co
•LinkedIn: [Haley’s LinkedIn]
•Instagram: [@partyland]

How do you build a successful creative agency while raising two kids and finding joy in the chaos? For Haley Hunter, it all started with saying “yes” to opportunities — even when she didn’t feel ready.

As the Co-Founder of Partyland, Haley leads an award-winning creative agency specializing in comedy, culture, and big ideas. In this episode of A Founder’s Life, she shares her unconventional path from intern to founder, the lessons she’s learned in leadership and balance, and why loving what you do is the ultimate entrepreneurial advantage.

🔥 What you’ll learn in this conversation:
•How Haley built Partyland from the ground up
•Why passion and purpose matter more than the perfect plan
•The value of hiring people smarter than you
•How to build a culture that thrives on creativity and comedy
•Balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship with presence and gratitude
•Why trying new things fuels both creativity and well-being

👉 Subscribe now for more founder stories, raw lessons, and inspiration.

⏱️ Timestamps
0:00 – Intro & sponsor (Thankz)
0:37 – Meet Haley Hunter: from Colorado to co-founding Partyland
1:44 – Early career: internships, leaving and returning to advertising
4:00 – Building experience across industries before launching her own agency
5:30 – Why she loves working with smarter people and learning through chaos
6:00 – Family life: raising two kids in Colorado while running an LA-based agency
7:09 – Health: balance through fun, movement, and gratitude
9:12 – Work-life balance: being the mom at volleyball practice with her laptop
11:31 – Pivotal moments: moving states, getting married, founding her company
13:03 – Her advice to entrepreneurs: love what you do and know your purpose
14:13 – Where to find Haley and Partyland

👉 Don’t miss an episode — subscribe & join our community of founders redefining success.

LinkedIn

linkedin.com/in/leogestetner

Website

leogestetner.com/leo

Subscribe Now!

youtube.com/@afounderslife?sub_confirmation=1

This episode of A Founder’s Life is brought to you by Thankz — helping founders scale with reliable remote talent. Get $1,000 off your first month by emailing [email protected] with the subject line Founder’s Life.

🌐 Follow A Founder’s Life
 • YouTube:   @AFoundersLife  
 • LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/a-founder-s-life-podcast/
 • Instagram: @afounderslife
  • Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/70mfiPVuefpTnQHskflEqc?si=d8f658731c9248ba
 • Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-founders-life/id1780849489

👤 Connect with Today’s Guest – Ted Jenkin

• Website: https://www.tedjenkin.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theceoadvisor/
• Free Business Valuation: www.esladvisors.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therealtedjenkin
• Company's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/exitstageleftadvisors/

Ted Jenkin has built and sold three companies — including a $3 billion wealth management firm — and today helps founder-led and family-owned businesses maximize their value while minimizing stress.

In this episode of A Founder’s Life, Ted opens up about entrepreneurship, family, fasting, and how discipline drives freedom. He shares his journey from financial advisor to serial entrepreneur and CEO, now helping companies sell smarter through Exit Stage Left Advisors.

🔥 What you’ll learn in this conversation:

• How Ted built and sold three companies, including a $3B wealth management firm
• Why family and business can thrive together
• The value of structure and presence in long-term success
• How fasting and functional fitness fuel his performance
• What true work-life balance looks like (and why it’s a “juggle”)
• His biggest life lesson: turning tragedy into resilience

👉 Subscribe now for more founder stories, raw lessons, and inspiration.

⏱️ Timestamps

0:00 – Intro & sponsor (Thankz)

1:30 – Meet Ted Jenkin: serial entrepreneur & CEO of Exit Stage Left Advisors

1:50 – Building and selling three companies, including a $3B wealth management firm

2:49 – Helping founder-led businesses maximize value and minimize stress

3:55 – Family life: 31 years married, three kids working across his companies

6:17 – Finding presence through family, routines, and intentional structure

7:40 – Health transformation: fasting, red light therapy, and holistic wellness

9:57 – ProLon fasting routine and quarterly reset strategy

12:39 – What fun and reading look like for Ted (nonfiction, travel, pickleball)

13:28 – Redefining balance: being present vs. splitting time

15:01 – Pivotal moment: father’s suicide & learning to “figure it out”

16:16 – Advice to founders: drown out the doubters and do the work

17:15 – Where to find Ted (tedjenkin.com + LinkedIn)

👉 Don’t miss an episode — subscribe & join our community of founders redefining success.

LinkedIn

linkedin.com/in/leogestetner

Website

leogestetner.com/leo

Subscribe Now!

youtube.com/@afounderslife?sub_confirmation=1

This episode of A Founder’s Life is brought to you by Thankz — helping founders scale with reliable remote talent. Get $1,000 off your first month by emailing [email protected] with the subject line Founder’s Life.

🌐 Follow A Founder’s Life
 • YouTube:   @AFoundersLife  
 • LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/a-founder-s-life-podcast/
 • Instagram: @afounderslife
  • Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/70mfiPVuefpTnQHskflEqc?si=d8f658731c9248ba
 • Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-founders-life/id1780849489

👤 Connect with Today’s Guest – Joan Garry

• Website: joangarry.com
• Podcast: https://joangarry.com/nonprofits-are-messy-podcast/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joangarry/

From MTV to the fight for marriage equality, Joan Garry has spent her life building communities and organizations that make the world more fair, just, and beautiful.

In this episode of A Founder’s Life, Joan shares her journey from the early days of MTV to leading GLAAD, founding the Nonprofit Leadership Lab, and coaching thousands of nonprofit leaders around the world. She opens up about family, health, longevity, and what it means to live with clarity, conviction, and joy.

🔥 What you’ll learn in this conversation:

• How Joan transitioned from entertainment to advocacy and leadership
• Why clarity of vision is the foundation of any lasting organization
• The parallels between startups and nonprofits
• How she redefined family and became the first legal same-sex adoptive parent in New Jersey
• The importance of longevity, structure, and keeping your mind active
• Why diverse teams and honest voices make founders stronger

👉 Subscribe now for more founder stories, raw lessons, and inspiration.

⏱️ Timestamps

0:00 – Intro & sponsor (Thankz)

1:08 – Meet Joan Garry: from MTV to nonprofit leadership

2:12 – How entrepreneurship and activism intertwine

3:52 – Defining family and the journey to parenthood

5:37 – Health, longevity, and finding balance through structure

9:03 – Piano, pickleball, and finding joy outside of work

10:20 – Pivotal moments: meeting her wife, advocacy, and legal adoption milestone

12:47 – Advice to entrepreneurs: clarity of vision + diverse voices

14:17 – Where to find Joan (joangarry.com + podcast + blog)

👉 Don’t miss an episode — subscribe & join our community of founders redefining success.

LinkedIn

linkedin.com/in/leogestetner

Website

leogestetner.com/leo

Subscribe Now!

youtube.com/@afounderslife?sub_confirmation=1