Fearless Founders

In this episode of Fearless Founders, Ellen, founder of Red Sage, joins us to share how she went from a self-taught graphic designer to building, growing, and selling a 20-year marketing agency. After dropping out of architecture school and working her way through five jobs in two years, Ellen taught herself design and marketing, turned down the chance to buy the agency she worked at, and started Red Sage on her own terms.

We talk about why every business needs a real business plan, how she made it through the Great Recession and Covid, what she learned from a hire that went wrong, and how she built a strong remote culture with employees across ten states. Ellen also shares her big news: she sold Red Sage on October 1st and is kicking off her next chapter with a 100-mile hike around Mont Blanc.

Plus, CEO students from across the country ask about managing different opinions on a team, whether you need a college degree, how AI fits into marketing, and the value of a great mentor. Ellen leaves them with advice every young entrepreneur should hear: simplify, lean on your network, get out of your comfort zone, and take notes.

At 19, Kristen Hadeed posted a Craigslist ad to clean one house so she could buy a pair of jeans. That single job grew into Student Maid, a company known around the world for how it developed its people, which she led for 14 years before becoming a full-time speaker and author.

In this episode of Fearless Founders, Kristen shares the moments that shaped her as a leader: competing for her first big contract with no business cards and a bathroom-stall pep talk, losing 45 of her 60 employees in a single day, and finding the courage to leave the company she built. She talks about why fear means you care, her 24-hour guideline for hard conversations, and the daily routine that keeps her from burning out.

Her advice to CEO students: fail as much as you can, because failing means you're trying.

Kristen is the author of Permission to Screw Up and her new book, Human Leadership: The Courage to Face Ourselves and Each Other.

What does building something after the CEO actually look like?

In this episode of Fearless Founders, Ashton sits down with three CEO alumni, Lilly Miller, Leo Krueger, and Levi Zbinden, for an honest conversation about life, business, and growth after the program.

Each of them is on a completely different path.

Lilly launched her luxury wedding photography business while still in high school and now travels the country capturing elevated, cinematic love stories.

Leo is preparing to step into a full-time role with Archer Daniels Midland while continuing to pursue his passion for global business and entrepreneurship in the food and snacking industry.

Levi is the owner of Flatland Foam Solutions, building a hands-on service business focused on craftsmanship, efficiency, and serving his local community.

Together, they share what it really looks like to take the next step, navigating uncertainty, building confidence, and staying committed to growth even when the path isn’t clear.

This episode is a reminder that there is no single timeline or definition of success, just the decision to keep moving forward.

What happens when two small-town brothers take a single product idea and turn it into an $80 million brand in just five years?

In this episode of Fearless Founders, Ashton Shultz sits down with Brock and Mitch Mammoser, the brothers behind Frost Buddy, one of the fastest-growing drinkware and lifestyle brands in the country.

Raised in Newton, Illinois, Brock and Mitch grew up with a competitive spirit shaped by sports, discipline, and small-town values. In 2020, during one of the most uncertain economic moments in recent history, they decided to take a risk and launch Frost Buddy. What started as a single product quickly evolved into a vertically integrated company with a 150,000-square-foot warehouse, national retail partnerships, and a powerful e-commerce presence.

Brock, the company’s CEO, leads brand vision, marketing strategy, and product innovation, while Mitch, as COO, focuses on operations, systems, and scaling the business.

In this conversation, they share the real story behind building Frost Buddy, the risks they took, the mindset required to grow quickly, and the lessons they’ve learned while scaling a business from zero to $80 million.

For young entrepreneurs and builders alike, this episode is a powerful reminder that big ideas can come from anywhere.

In this episode, Ashton sits down with Manda Goldberg, Founder & Chief Strategist of Cella Gold Media, a social media agency based in South Florida serving real estate and service-based brands. After being laid off, Manda chose to build instead of job-hunting, a decision that would lead her to scale beyond 60+ brands and consult with agencies looking to sharpen their strategy and scale smarter.

We talk about the shift from freelancing to agency building, the systems that make social media feel effortless for clients, and why founders consistently underestimate social while overestimating trends. Manda shares how to get your first five clients from zero, what she’d do differently, and where she believes social media for brands is heading next. Her mission is simple but profound: giving entrepreneurs back their most valuable asset — time.

In this episode of Fearless Founders, I sit down with Elena DiStefano, the founder and inventor of the Cozy Clip®—a groundbreaking redesign of the classic claw clip created to eliminate pain and prioritize everyday comfort. After years of loving the look of claw clips but experiencing constant discomfort—especially while driving—Elena realized the solution she needed didn't exist. So, she built it herself.

Starting with a 3D printer prototype in her college dorm, Elena transformed a simple problem into a purpose-driven product that is now making an impact on women's everyday lives. Her story is one of creativity and believing in an idea before anyone else could see it.

This is a conversation for every builder, dreamer, and doer who is ready to turn inspiration into action. You're going to love this one.

In this special episode, the mic flips — and host, Ashton Shultz takes over! 🎙️

Hear the story behind Ashton Jo Marketing, from a high school CEO student with a dream to a full-time entrepreneur leading brands and mentoring the next generation. Ashton shares real, actionable marketing insights, lessons learned from the journey, and how the CEO Program continues to shape her both personally and professionally.

Whether you’re a student, creative, or entrepreneur, this conversation is your reminder that starting small can still lead to something extraordinary.

In this inspiring first episode, we sit down with Blaine Fuhs, CEO Alumni, author, speaker, and creator, to explore what true success really looks like. Drawing from his influential book, Your Platform Is Not Your Purpose, Blaine challenges the belief that influence equals identity. Instead, he reminds us that titles, followers, or recognition don’t measure real purpose—it’s discovered in how we serve, lead, and love in everyday life.

Through his work as a writer, speaker, and storyteller, Blaine has helped countless individuals and organizations refine their message, amplify their impact, and discover clarity in their purpose. His wisdom will encourage you to stop living for applause and start living for meaning.

Whether you’re an entrepreneur, leader, or dreamer, this episode will inspire you to rethink your definition of success and live with deeper intention.

Today’s episode features Jason Thomas, Director of Design and Product Development at RiverSmith USA. Jason is more than a designer—he’s an innovator, a creative force, and a true adventurer. With nearly two decades of experience, Jason has shaped some of the country's most cutting-edge outdoor products and climbing environments. He firmly believes that design should be both beautiful and functional—and that the outdoors has the power to connect and inspire us.

In this conversation, we explore how Jason blends creativity with purpose, the role leadership plays in pushing boundaries, and what it really means to build a legacy of impact in the outdoor industry.

This episode is something special—a panel featuring three incredible CEO alumni who’ve taken their senior-year startup ideas and turned them into thriving businesses.

You’ll hear from:

• Ben Flath, founder of Excursions Automotive in Indiana,
  
  
  
• Ashley Leman, founder of Revive Coffee & Roasting Company in Illinois,
  
  
  
• And Alex Eckhardt, owner of Q-Town Kicks sneaker store in Quincy, IL.
  
  
  

Each of them shares what it was like starting a business in high school, what they’ve learned through real-world experience, and how faith, discipline, and community have shaped their journey. You don’t want to miss this powerhouse panel of young leaders.