We guarantee you've never heard a story quite like Dr. Robbie Golstein's before this interview. He's an infectious disease doctor at Mass General Hospital and saw a significant problem working in the field: many patients struggle to get the care they need. Determined to help patients overcome these barriers, Robbie ran for congress in Massachusetts' 8th district last year without any connections to the political world. He shares his life-changing experience on the latest episode of The Big W.

AJ Wnukowski is the Co-Founder of Lumberlend and mastermind behind the baseball bat mug – which is exactly how it sounds. A baseball bat barrel cut in half, hollowed out, and turned into a personalized mug with a name or favorite picture engraved. The idea sprouted from a dinnertime conversation, and through several prototypes and strategic partnerships, it became a massive hit for Father’s Day and groomsmen gifts. AJ tells the ultimate story of grit, passion, and turning big ideas into reality.

Rick Scherer – a friend, leader in his industry, and the Co-Founder of OnTo Mortgage, joins Matt and Zack on The Big W podcast this week. Rick began his career as a loan officer working for various companies, gaining several different perspectives on their processes. He saw a problem in the industry, took what he learned, and created OnTo Mortgage with his Co-Founder, Rich Clayton.

For our first G&N client spotlight on The Big W, we’re excited to introduce Jamas LaFreniere. Jamas and his wife Margot discovered that their daughter, Sophie, was diagnosed with an extremely rare metabolic disease: Glycogen Storage Disease Type 1b (GSD 1b). Since there is currently no cure for GSD, Jamas and Margot created Sophie’s Hope Foundation – raising money to fund the world’s top GSD 1b researchers’ quest to find a cure. Their story is a fascinating one. And what’s most impressive – the positivity they keep during tough times.

Learn more about Sophie’s Hope Foundation and GSD Type 1b at their website: https://sophieshopefoundation.org/

Donate here: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=J2MH3APX5F7J6&source=url

We’re excited to introduce real estate mogul and coach Ricky Carruth. He has over 500,000 followers across his social media channels for a reason. His story of being completely broke, sitting on an oil rig, wondering what to do with his life, only years ago, is a story to admire. Listen now and learn just how far strong relationships can take you in your career.

Manny Lubin saw a gap in the marketplace. An opportunity to create a beverage that balances nostalgia and functionality – and founded Slate Milk. It’s a lactose-free, high protein, low sugar, and healthier version of your favorite drink as a kid—chocolate milk. Manny discusses how Slate grew through Kickstarter and shares his experience as a guest on Shark Tank alongside his Co-Founder, Josh. His story shows the trials and tribulations of starting a new company, and you won’t want to miss it!

This week, we chat with Mike Tassone, the Co-Founder of OwnUp. 3 out of 4 of us do not shop for a mortgage, and OwnUp solves that problem by helping homebuyers find the best possible mortgage for their needs. Learn how Mike and his business partners Patrick and Brent took a cumbersome, confusing process and built a company that removes inefficiencies and creates transparency for homebuyers.

Seth Rosen is the Co-Founder of CustomMade, the world's largest online custom jeweler. It's a simple business strategy to make people happy, with a complex process behind the scenes. Seth shares his journey of buying the CustomMade.com website, selling it, and repurchasing it with a different idea in mind. His story will get you hooked, and his lessons learned make this episode a must-listen for any business leader.

We asked Pete Dupuis, Co-Founder of Cressey Sports Performance, to share some fun facts about himself. Here’s what he said: (1) “I started my business 14 years ago primarily to avoid finding work in ‘the real world,’” and (2) “I earn my living catering to world-class baseball players despite the fact that neither my business partner nor I played the sport beyond little league.”

This week, Pete shares some of the pivotal moments that changed everything for him. You’ll hear about the moment he decided to join business partner Eric Cressey in opening a gym, how they became “the baseball gym,” and more.

Meet Enrico Palmerino, the Founder and CEO of Botkeeper. With the combination of accountants, machine learning and AI, Botkeeper’s platform revolutionizes the way bookkeeping gets done in the 21st century. Enrico shares his inspiration for creating Botkeeper and how he turns ideas into reality. He gets real about the struggles of entrepreneurship. Despite his massive success, his humility and vulnerability make him super relatable. Whether you’re a leader or entrepreneur, Enrico’s story will inspire you to create impact for generations to come.