Born or Made

Episode 81 of the Born or Made Podcast features Colin Sanburg, the Founder of FinElevate. Where he breaks down how real financial skill gets built inside a business. Colin shares his early days learning the numbers in a family members company, including uncovering a situation where money was being stolen.

That hard lesson pushed him to master cash flow, controls, and decision-making, leading him to buy the business and later sell it. He explains how those experiences shaped his approach to money, growth, and leadership.

Today, Colin's fractional CFO company supports businesses from ranging from about $1 million to $50 million, helping owners gain control of their finances and make clear decisions. 

Andrew Ackerman has lived every side of the startup world. Founder, investor, accelerator director, teacher, and now author, he brings a rare full circle perspective on what it really takes to build and fund successful companies. He has founded two startups, invested in more than seventy early stage ventures, and led accelerators that gave him a front row seat to the moves and mistakes that make or break new founders.

Andrew translates the chaos of entrepreneurship into lessons people can actually use. His new business novel, The Entrepreneur’s Odyssey, blends real world startup experience with the inspiration of a story driven journey. It has been described as The Lean Startup meets The Alchemist, a guide wrapped in narrative that both teaches and inspires.

He brings candor, humor, and practicality to every conversation. Andrew shares why many founders misunderstand investors, why venture capital is not the fast lane people think it is, and why he believes VCs can be hypocrites when giving advice they did not follow themselves. He also dives into the discipline behind writing his book, the patterns he has seen across hundreds of founders, and the simple principles that separate progress from struggle.

Listeners will walk away with real startup truths, investor insights, and clear takeaways they can apply to their own ventures and creative work.

Sally Gimon did not set out to become an expert on wealth protection, but life pushed her into action. When her mother became sick in 2018, Sally was fifty three, working as an insurance agent, and suddenly aware that she needed to create financial security fast. That moment sent her into real estate and into a deep study of how the wealthy legally protect and grow their money.

In July 2020 she bought a bank owned property for twenty thousand dollars that would later go to auction for fifty thousand. The deal opened her eyes to capital gains and the tax burdens that drain investors. Determined to understand how the rich pay so little in taxes, she began studying Business and Beneficial Spendthrift Trusts, a strategy few people know yet many wealthy families quietly use.

Today she teaches these principles through her real estate group and Win Win Women TV, helping people understand how to protect assets, reduce taxes legally, and build real long term security. Sally brings a rare blend of personal experience, insurance knowledge, and financial education that empowers everyday people to take control of their wealth.

Listeners will walk away with a clearer understanding of trusts, tax strategy, financial protection, and the steps needed to create stability even in uncertain times.

Randy Gage is known around the world as The Entrepreneur Whisperer, a Speaker Hall of Famer, bestselling author, and one of the boldest voices on money, mindset, and prosperity. His journey began in a jail cell as a teenager, a moment that forced him to confront who he was and who he wanted to become. Today, Randy has spent more than thirty years helping people rewrite the mental programming that keeps them stuck, broke, or afraid to take risks.

He has written fifteen books translated into more than twenty five languages, including Risky Is the New Safe, Mad Genius, and Radical Rebirth. His work has been featured in Forbes, Fortune, Fox News, and SUCCESS Magazine, and he has shared the stage with some of the most influential business thinkers of our time.

Randy does not speak in theories. He delivers real talk about the beliefs that sabotage success, the money myths that keep people in lack, and the mindset shifts required to thrive in a world filled with disruption and change. He explains why most people are programmed to fail, how to break that code, and how to build a prosperous life rooted in awareness, responsibility, and bold thinking.

Listeners will walk away with a deeper understanding of prosperity, practical tools for reinvention, and the mindset required to rise higher in an economy that rewards creativity and courage.

Wes Towers did not learn business by sitting in classrooms. He learned it by building an agency from the ground up, breaking things, fixing them, and discovering what actually works in the real world. For more than twenty years, he has run Uplift 360, a company dedicated to helping construction and trade businesses turn websites and SEO into steady, qualified work that fills calendars and grows revenue.

Wes has helped hundreds of builders and trades become the obvious choice in their market through clear strategy, simple execution, and a relentless focus on trust and authenticity. His philosophy is the opposite of theory, with proven field-tested tactics that survive tough economies and real competition.

He explains why so many brands still get left behind online, why most websites fail to convert, and how smaller companies can outperform bigger players by prioritising trust, clarity, and human connection. Wes also shares how trades can stand out in an AI-driven world without losing their voice or sounding generic.

Listeners will walk away with practical moves they can apply immediately. How to get found online. How to create content that builds authority. How to fix costly website mistakes fast. How to make sure buyers choose you first. This episode is built for anyone who wants real results, straight answers, and marketing that works when the boots are muddy and the phones need to ring.

Dr Danny Brassell is known worldwide as Americas Leading Reading Ambassador and one of the most entertaining and effective communication experts in the industry. A former inner city teacher turned global speaker, Danny has delivered more than three thousand five hundred keynotes and has written twenty one books that help leaders understand the true power of reading, storytelling and motivation.

Called the Jim Carrey with a PhD for his energy and humor, Danny has mastered the art of taking personal experience and turning it into business influence. He is the co founder of WellCrafted Story, where he teaches entrepreneurs how to transform their stories into presentations that attract clients, build trust and convert at the highest level.

Danny shares how reading shapes leadership, how stories create emotional connection, and why communication is the single most valuable skill for any entrepreneur who wants to grow with purpose. His mission is simple. Help leaders craft messages that inspire action, drive growth and create lasting impact.

Listeners will walk away with practical tools for storytelling, communication, presentation skills and business development, along with a deeper understanding of how reading and connection can elevate every part of life and leadership.

Roy Coughlan is known around the world as The PodFather, a serial entrepreneur who has founded twenty companies across five countries and built a powerful reputation in the podcasting space. With six successful podcasts that all rank in the top five percent and four in the top zero point five percent worldwide, Roy understands exactly how to create shows that inspire, educate, and build loyal audiences.

With more than one thousand seven hundred podcast episodes behind him, Roy has mastered the art of communication, consistency, and long term brand building. He also co founded braingym fitness, a platform dedicated to improving cognitive performance, along with VA World, a company that connects business owners with elite virtual assistants to help them scale with ease.

Roy’s story highlights global entrepreneurship, mental discipline, and the importance of voice and message in business. His path proves that when you commit to excellence every single day, you can build a legacy that reaches far beyond borders.

Listeners will walk away with real lessons on discipline, clarity, and communication, along with the mindset and tools needed to build a powerful brand and scale their business with purpose and confidence.

Sheldon joins us from the outskirts of Albany, Oregon—a historic logging and rail town—and shares how his early life shaped his values, resilience, and sense of purpose. Through simple beginnings and pivotal experiences, he reflects on the lessons that guided his growth and the mindset that carried him forward. A grounded, honest look at how our origins influence who we become.

"You're one Breath Away From God's Healing" - His Breath

Ali Levine—Holy Spirit Breath Coach, Christian author, and Kingdom entrepreneur—to explore how her surrender to God turned a life of Hollywood chaos into a calling for Christ. Once a celebrated celebrity stylist featured on Bravo, USA Today, and countless red carpets, Ali reached the height of worldly success—only to find herself battling depression, anxiety, and spiritual emptiness.

It was in a moment of complete surrender that Ali heard the voice of God—and everything changed. Now, she leads a growing faith-based movement through her From Chaos to Christ summit and community, helping women and mothers restore their minds, bodies, and spirits through biblical breathwork, scripture, and declarations rooted in peace.

Ali opens up about her deliverance from New Age practices, her bold stand for faith in the media and wellness industries, and her passion for helping others trade striving for surrender.

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Bestselling and award-winning author Scott Wells doesn’t just write thrillers—he peels back the layers of reality itself.

In this hauntingly introspective episode of Born or Made, Larry Dix sits down with acclaimed thriller and horror author Scott Wells, whose emotionally gripping, suspense-driven stories blur the line between truth and illusion. From his breakout hit Marked by the Ouija to his upcoming adaptation of Phantom Ranch, Scott’s work explores deception, courage, and the hidden forces that shape human behavior.

A three-time award-winning writer, Scott reveals how his fascination with fear, authenticity, and perspective fuels his storytelling. Beyond the page, he connects these same themes to real life—through his outdoor YouTube channel Explore Life Outside, where he champions mental clarity, resilience, and nature’s ability to both heal and haunt.

Together, Larry and Scott uncover the truth behind what drives creativity, how fear can lead to transformation, and why the most terrifying stories are often the ones rooted in reality.

This episode reminds us that courage isn’t the absence of fear—it’s the willingness to face it and write your own ending.