Chance McClain is a creative entrepreneur, Army veteran, and founder of Heritage Films. After careers in sports radio and theater, Chance built a one-of-a-kind business turning family and founder stories into cinematic documentaries. With over 800 films produced, he's carved out a niche where legacy meets entrepreneurship. Through his work, Chase proves that storytelling isn’t just an art; it’s a business built to last.

From writing fight songs for college teams to producing award-winning documentaries, Chance shares how he built a business around his love of story. He opens up about his early failures, moments of bold reinvention, and how he turned unconventional ideas into meaningful, scalable work. His journey is a testament to grit, creativity, and finding success off the beaten path.

Chance also dives into the art of trust—specifically, how to gain it quickly. Whether he's filming a personal legacy piece or interviewing a stranger on camera, he emphasizes the importance of making people feel safe fast so they'll open up with honesty and heart. It’s not about small talk; it’s about real connection. If you’ve ever wanted to turn what makes you unique into a business, this episode is a masterclass in doing just that.

Registered Representative and Financial Advisor of Park Avenue Securities LLC (PAS). Securities products and advisory services offered through PAS, member FINRA, SIPC. Financial Representative of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America® (Guardian), New York, NY. PAS is a wholly owned subsidiary of Guardian. RISE is not an affiliate or subsidiary of PAS or Guardian. This podcast is for informational purposes only. Guest speakers and their firms are not affiliated with or endorsed by PAS, Guardian, or RISE and opinions stated are their own. Guardian, its subsidiaries, agents and employees do not provide tax, legal, or accounting advice. Consult your tax, legal, or accounting professional regarding your individual situation. 8131402.1 Exp. 7/27

What’s Inside:

• How to gain trust quickly and capture meaningful stories
• How to turn offbeat ideas into a thriving creative business
• Why bold moves (and a little discomfort) fuel growth

Mentioned in this episode:
YourHeritageFilm.com
Chance McClain on LinkedIn
Chance McClain on X
Heritage Film Company on Facebook
Heritage Film on Instagram
Heritage Film on YouTube

Paige Wiese is the founder and CEO of Tree Ring Digital, a top Denver-based agency helping businesses nationwide grow through high-performing websites and data-driven marketing. With over 16 years in the industry, Paige developed a proprietary system to protect and manage digital assets—ensuring brands are built to last. A passionate mentor and speaker, she’s on a mission to help business owners scale strategically while protecting what matters most.

In this inspiring conversation, Paige shares her journey from being a self-taught web designer with no formal business training to leading a successful digital agency. She reflects on the challenges she faced, including early unemployment, a diagnosis of epilepsy, and the realities of scaling a business. She also dives into the importance of slowing down to go fast, explaining why strong creative work starts with foundational strategy, not shortcuts.

Paige highlights the need for businesses to protect digital assets like domain names, branding, and online infrastructure, especially in the context of exit planning or unforeseen life events. Her passion lies in empowering clients through education, offering tech solutions that go beyond websites, and building lasting relationships based on trust and support. She hopes her legacy is defined not by financial metrics but by the impact her team has on helping clients grow and thrive.

Registered Representative and Financial Advisor of Park Avenue Securities LLC (PAS). Securities products and advisory services offered through PAS, member FINRA, SIPC. Financial Representative of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America® (Guardian), New York, NY. PAS is a wholly owned subsidiary of Guardian. RISE is not an affiliate or subsidiary of PAS or Guardian. This podcast is for informational purposes only. Guest speakers and their firms are not affiliated with or endorsed by PAS, Guardian, or RISE and opinions stated are their own. Guardian, its subsidiaries, agents and employees do not provide tax, legal, or accounting advice. Consult your tax, legal, or accounting professional regarding your individual situation. 8091119.1 Exp: 6/27


What’s Inside:

• How Paige built her career through trusting her instincts
• Why slowing things down helps you achieve faster results
• The importance of building a strong foundation in creative work

Mentioned in this episode:

Tree Ring Digital Website
Paige Wiese on LinkedIn
Tree Ring Digital on Facebook
Tree Ring Digital on Instagram
Tree Ring Digital on LinkedIn
Tree Ring Digital on YouTube

Matt Tait is the CEO and co-founder of Decimal, a tech-enabled accounting firm revolutionizing financial operations for small and mid-sized businesses. A former attorney turned serial entrepreneur, Matt has led multiple ventures, including a successful startup acquisition.

At Decimal, Matt combines modern technology with a people-first approach to simplify accounting for industries like home services, dental practices, and professional services. He also hosts the podcast After the First Million, where he shares insights on leadership and growth.

Matt dives into how he's revolutionizing accounting for small businesses with a tech-enabled, people-first approach. Drawing on a background steeped in entrepreneurship, Matt breaks down how curiosity and resilience have shaped his path, from brick-hauling job sites to founding multiple ventures. He discusses why being outside the accounting industry gave him a critical edge and how viewing finance as an operational issue helps Decimal deliver real value to clients.

Matt also opens up about navigating the “messy middle” of growth, the dangers of scaling too fast, and why understanding your own limits is just as important as understanding those of your business. He shares candid insights on failure, building a values-driven team, and why saying “never” in business is a losing game.

Registered Representative and Financial Advisor of Park Avenue Securities LLC (PAS). Securities products and advisory services offered through PAS, member FINRA, SIPC. Financial Representative of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America® (Guardian), New York, NY. PAS is a wholly owned subsidiary of Guardian. RISE is not an affiliate or subsidiary of PAS or Guardian. This podcast is for informational purposes only. Guest speakers and their firms are not affiliated with or endorsed by PAS, Guardian, or RISE and opinions stated are their own. Guardian, its subsidiaries, agents and employees do not provide tax, legal, or accounting advice. Consult your tax, legal, or accounting professional regarding your individual situation. 8090771.1 Exp: 6/27

What’s Inside:

• How Matt’s disrupting the accounting field through Decimal
• The dangers of scaling a business to quickly
• Why you should never say “never” as an entrepreneur

Mentioned in this episode:
Matt Tait on LinkedIn
Decimal.com

Jake Schonberger is a Harvard-educated design engineer turned entrepreneur who co-founded Swapstack, a leading newsletter advertising platform that facilitated over $2M in ad spend before being acquired by beehiiv in 2023. As Swapstack's CEO, Jake built a platform serving thousands of publishers and hundreds of advertisers, creating a crucial bridge between newsletter creators and brands.

Following the successful acquisition, Jake joined Beehiiv, where he's now building out their Ad Network. Jake represents the modern creator economy entrepreneur—someone who identified a gap in newsletter monetization, built a solution that generated real results, and successfully exited to a strategic acquirer. Today he continues empowering creators to turn their passion into profitable businesses at one of the fastest-growing newsletter platforms.

In this conversation, Jake walks us through his journey from building a successful newsletter ad platform to navigating the emotional and professional shift after its acquisition. He shares what it was like transitioning from founder to team leader, the burnout he faced post-exit, and how he rediscovered balance, purpose, and community.

Jake also unpacks his views on monetization, the evolving newsletter ad space, and how AI is helping brands connect with readers in more authentic ways. From tips on charging what you're worth to lessons in solving real problems (not just building flashy tech), this episode is packed with insights for entrepreneurs navigating growth, burnout, or their next big pivot.

Registered Representative and Financial Advisor of Park Avenue Securities LLC (PAS). Securities products and advisory services offered through PAS, member FINRA, SIPC. Financial Representative of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America® (Guardian), New York, New York. PAS is a wholly owned subsidiary of Guardian. RISE is not an affiliate or subsidiary of PAS or Guardian. This podcast is for informational purposes only. Guest speakers and their firms are not affiliated with or endorsed by PAS, Guardian, or RISE and opinions stated are their own. Guardian, its subsidiaries, agents and employees do not provide tax, legal, or accounting advice. Consult your tax, legal, or accounting professional regarding your individual situation. 8060800.1 Exp. 6/27

What’s Inside:

• How Jake navigated an acquisition and the professional shift that followed
• How AI helps brands connect with readers in an authentic way
• Tips for navigating career growth and burnout

Mentioned in this episode:

Jake Schonberger on LinkedIn
Beehiiv.com

Jimmy Page is a high-performance coach, health and wellness expert, and the founder of Be Unstoppable Elite Performance and the Unstoppable Freedom Alliance. With over 30 years of experience in leadership and ministry, including time as an executive with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Jimmy has worked with everyone from pro athletes and business leaders to major organizations like the NFL, Microsoft, and the US Naval Academy.

Jimmy’s also a best-selling author of books like One Word and Life Word and a powerful voice on living with purpose, resilience, and freedom. Today, he lives in Fort Collins, Colorado with his wife and four grown kids. Together they founded Believe Big, a cancer foundation inspired by their family’s journey.

Here, Jimmy dives into the importance of building strong organizational cultures rooted in personal conviction and timeless values. Drawing from his background in corporate leadership, ministry, and coaching, Jimmy shares insights on what it means to lead with clarity, cast vision, and take responsibility, especially in a time when moral leadership is often missing. He also explores the power of storytelling, why freedom must be protected and passed down, and how entrepreneurs can align their business with a mission that matters.

Registered Representative and Financial Advisor of Park Avenue Securities LLC (PAS). Securities products and advisory services offered through PAS, member FINRA, SIPC. Financial Representative of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America® (Guardian), New York, NY. PAS is a wholly owned subsidiary of Guardian. RISE is not an affiliate or subsidiary of PAS or Guardian. This podcast is for informational purposes only. Guest speakers and their firms are not affiliated with or endorsed by PAS, Guardian, or RISE and opinions stated are their own. Guardian, its subsidiaries, agents and employees do not provide tax, legal, or accounting advice. Consult your tax, legal, or accounting professional regarding your individual situation. 8041055.1 Exp. 6/27

What’s Inside:

• Why strong leadership starts with unshakable values
• How to lead with clarity and lead with morality
• How entrepreneurs can align their business with a meaningful mission

Mentioned in this episode:

Beunstoppable.live
Beastronggirl.com
Getoneword.com

Branden Maurin is an entrepreneur, innovator, and founder of Modern Sustainable Water, a modern luxury brand redefining everyday essentials through intentional design and sustainability. With a decade of leadership experience spanning military service and executive protection for Silicon Valley elites,

Branden brings a unique blend of strategic insight and purpose-driven innovation to the consumer-packaged goods space. Through Modern Sustainable Water, he’s on a mission to tackle environmental and health challenges with products that are as functional as they are artfully designed.

Drawing on experience from military service and executive protection in Silicon Valley, Branden shares how resilience, deep market research, and a relentless pursuit of impact drive his mission to reduce waste without sacrificing quality. He opens up about the hard realities of startup life (bootstrapping, burnout, and navigating a co-founder pivot) and what it really takes to build something truly disruptive. From embracing the “suck” to finding optimism in the chaos, Branden’s story is a raw, honest look at what it means to build a legacy that leaves the world better than you found it.

Registered Representative and Financial Advisor of Park Avenue Securities LLC (PAS). Securities products and advisory services offered through PAS, member FINRA, SIPC. Financial Representative of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America® (Guardian), New York, New York. PAS is a wholly owned subsidiary of Guardian. RISE is not an affiliate or subsidiary of PAS or Guardian. This podcast is for informational purposes only. Guest speakers and their firms are not affiliated with or endorsed by PAS, Guardian, or RISE and opinions stated are their own. Guardian, its subsidiaries, agents and employees do not provide tax, legal, or accounting advice. Consult your tax, legal, or accounting professional regarding your individual situation. 8006423.1 Expires 6/27

What’s Inside:

• How Branden’s company is disrupting the artisan water space
• Branden’s experience running a startup and lessons learned
• How to find optimism amidst chaos as an entrepreneur

Mentioned in this episode:

Branden Maurin on LinkedIn
Modernsustainablewater.com

Jennifer Tsay is the CEO and co-founder of Shoott, a photography platform offering free photoshoots where clients only pay for the shots they love. Operating in over 60 U.S. cities, Shoott supports 750+ freelance photographers and boasts a 4.9-star rating on Google.

With a background in finance, project management, and the arts—including acting credits in The Other Two, The Blacklist, and national ad campaigns—Jennifer blends creativity with strategy to lead Shoott’s growth. A Forbes #Next1000 honoree, she lives in the NYC area with her husband, four rescue dogs, and a rescue cat.

In this conversation, Jennifer shares how she's disrupting the photography industry and making professional photography more accessible. A former investment banker turned actor and entrepreneur, Jennifer opens up about the importance of understanding your personal and team capacity to avoid burnout and stay focused on what truly moves the business forward.

She also speaks powerfully about advocating for yourself, embracing pivots, and trusting your instincts, especially when stepping into the unknown. This episode is a candid look at building a purpose-driven brand through resilience, self-awareness, and bold, creative leadership.

Registered Representative and Financial Advisor of Park Avenue Securities LLC (PAS). Securities products and advisory services offered through PAS, member FINRA, SIPC. Financial Representative of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America® (Guardian), New York, NY. PAS is a wholly owned subsidiary of Guardian. RISE is not an affiliate or subsidiary of PAS or Guardian. This podcast is for informational purposes only. Guest speakers and their firms are not affiliated with or endorsed by PAS, Guardian, or RISE and opinions stated are their own. Guardian, its subsidiaries, agents and employees do not provide tax, legal, or accounting advice. Consult your tax, legal, or accounting professional regarding your individual situation. 7959266.1 Exp. 5/27

What’s Inside:

• How Shoott makes photography more accessible and supports freelance photographers
• The importance of understanding your personal and team capacity
• How to advocate for yourself and trust your instincts

Mentioned in this episode:

Shoott.com
Jennifer Tsay on LinkedIn

David Hirschfeld is a veteran tech entrepreneur and the founder of Tekyz, a software development firm that helps startups build smarter, faster, and leaner. He’s also the creator of the Launch 1st framework, which helps founders validate their ideas and launch products before writing a single line of code.

With over 30 years of experience in tech, AI, and automation, David knows what it takes to turn big ideas into real, scalable businesses. David also hosts the podcast Scaling Smarter, where he interviews business leaders and innovators about using technology and automation to overcome challenges and grow their businesses.

Here, David shares how startups can validate and pre-sell ideas using high-fidelity prototypes before writing any code, saving time and money. Drawing from 30+ years of experience, including both a successful exit and a failed venture, David explains why focusing on customer pain points and early revenue is critical. He discusses the power of AI, the importance of exceptional development teams, and his excitement about Techies' new referral partner platform. The episode is packed with insights on building smarter, scaling faster, and staying adaptable in a rapidly evolving tech landscape.

One of his core philosophies? Channel your inner five-year-old: approach problems with curiosity, creativity, and a willingness to explore without fear, especially in an era of constant innovation.

Shane Bauman is a Registered Representative and Financial Advisor of Park Avenue Securities LLC (PAS). Securities products and advisory services offered through PAS, member FINRA, SIPC. Financial Representative of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America® (Guardian), New York, NY. PAS is a wholly owned subsidiary of Guardian. RISE is not an affiliate or subsidiary of PAS or Guardian. This podcast is for informational purposes only. Guest speakers and their firms are not affiliated with or endorsed by PAS, Guardian, or RISE and opinions stated are their own. Guardian, its subsidiaries, agents and employees do not provide tax, legal, or accounting advice. Consult your tax, legal, or accounting professional regarding your individual situation. 7924017.1 Exp. 5/27


What’s Inside:

• David’s startup strategy for using prototypes to save time and money
• Business tips for staying adaptable in an ever-evolving tech landscape
• The power of channeling your inner child

Mentioned in this episode:

David Hirschfeld on LinkedIn
Launch1st.tekyz.com
Tekyz.com

Cristin Browne is a former Army Aviation officer and tech executive with leadership experience at Ibotta, Homebot, and Twilio, where she specialized in building revenue and operations teams during periods of rapid growth. Today, she’s the founder of Brave Peak Capital, where she’s focused on acquiring and running a mission-driven, tech-enabled services business in the lower middle market.

A proud graduate of West Point and Harvard Business School, Cristin brings a disciplined, people-first approach and a deep belief in the power of aligned teams to drive lasting impact. Outside of work, she channels her commitment to service through board leadership at a veteran nonprofit—and her commitment to wellness through skiing, cycling, and cultivating a thriving vegetable garden.

In this conversation, Cristin shares her thoughts on why small business is the answer to our economy and how her experience in the military shaped her perspectives as an entrepreneur. Cristin walks us through her journey to birth Brave Peak Capital and what’s in store for this next chapter in life. She also shares influences from her upbringing, how she achieves balance and harmony as an entrepreneur, a look inside her nonprofit work with veterans, and much more.

Shane Bauman is a Registered Representative and Financial Advisor of Park Avenue Securities LLC (PAS). Securities products and advisory services offered through PAS, member FINRA, SIPC. Financial Representative of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America® (Guardian), New York, NY. PAS is a wholly owned subsidiary of Guardian. RISE is not an affiliate or subsidiary of PAS or Guardian. This podcast is for informational purposes only. Guest speakers and their firms are not affiliated with or endorsed by PAS, Guardian, or RISE and opinions stated are their own. Guardian, its subsidiaries, agents and employees do not provide tax, legal, or accounting advice. Consult your tax, legal, or accounting professional regarding your individual situation. 7908784.1 Exp. 4/27

What’s Inside:

• How the military shaped Cristin’s perspectives as an entrepreneur
• Cristin’s work with Huts for Vets
• Advice for new and existing entrepreneurs

Mentioned in this episode:
Cristin Browne on LinkedIn

Bravepeakcapital.com

Jonathan Mast is a visionary entrepreneur, digital marketing expert, and certified AI Persona specialist. As the founder of White Beard Strategies, he helps businesses enhance their digital workforce by creating custom AI personas that reflect their brand’s voice, values, and goals. With a deep background in marketing and a passion for emerging tech, Jonathan blends creativity and strategy to deliver AI solutions that drive engagement and streamline operations. When he's not innovating in the AI space, he's behind a camera or on a motorcycle, bringing the same energy and curiosity to his personal pursuits.

Here, Jonathan shares his career story, from spending 15 years in the digital marketing world to starting up White Beard Strategies and a newfound passion for AI. Jonathan credits the exponential growth in his online community to adding value and giving back. He shares why it’s important to build a business to have a life and how entrepreneurs can free up their time to do more of what they love. Jonathan also dives into how AI can help you level up your business, how his background shaped who he is today, and how he maintains a positive mindset.

Shane Bauman is a Registered Representative and Financial Advisor of Park Avenue Securities LLC (PAS). Securities products and advisory services offered through PAS, member FINRA, SIPC. Financial Representative of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America® (Guardian), New York, NY. PAS is a wholly owned subsidiary of Guardian. RISE is not an affiliate or subsidiary of PAS or Guardian. This podcast is for informational purposes only. Guest speakers and their firms are not affiliated with or endorsed by PAS, Guardian, or RISE and opinions stated are their own. Guardian, its subsidiaries, agents and employees do not provide tax, legal, or accounting advice. Consult your tax, legal, or accounting professional regarding your individual situation. 7883185.1 Exp. 4/27

What’s Inside:

• Stories from Jonathan’s entrepreneurial journey
• How you can use AI to level up your business and life
• How Jonathan maintains a positive mindset
  
  

Mentioned in this episode:

Whitebeardstrategies.com

Jonathan Mast on LinkedIn