Founder2Founder with Aaron Spivak

In this episode of Founder2Founder, Aaron Spivak sits down with Richart Ruddie, serial entrepreneur, art collector, and founder of CaptainCompliance.com. Richart has built and exited multiple ventures across marketing, tech, and real estate, including one of the largest ORM agencies in the U.S.

From hustling calling cards as a teen, to selling a business at 24, Richart breaks down how he built a career by spotting overlooked opportunities and outworking everyone in the room. He shares the hard lessons behind scaling, selling, hiring, and why ignoring compliance could cost your company everything.

Chapters:

02:26 – Growing Up in Baltimore & Entrepreneurial Roots
 03:35 – First Job Punching Calling Cards at Age 12
 05:39 – Why “$10M” Isn’t the End Goal
 07:19 – How College Shaped His Hustle
 09:41 – Graduating Debt-Free Through Work Ethic
 11:01 – Grit vs. Moats: Why Outworking Wins
 12:06 – Giving First: A Foundational Principle
 14:16 – Books That Changed His Life
 19:44 – The First Business Exit: Dumpster Rentals at 24
 21:13 – Breaking Into SEO & Internet Arbitrage
 23:32 – How He Scaled a Boring Business Fast
 25:39 – Selling Leads in a Non-Tech Industry
 26:46 – Exit Strategy: When to Sell and Why
 28:06 – Building Profile Defenders From a Craigslist Ad
 29:25 – Scaling to $90K/Month in Under a Year
 31:00 – Private Equity Exit in 2023: How It Went Down
 32:11 – Systems vs. Team: What Buyers Really Look For
 33:49 – Why He Left 7x Revenue Growth on the Table
 37:48 – The Compliance Opportunity Most Founders Miss
 40:07 – From Removal Services to Privacy Software
 41:54 – Understanding Regulatory Risk in Scaling
 44:31 – Real Lawsuits: The Wake-Up Call for Founders
 46:55 – How $500/Month Could Have Saved a $5M Lawsuit
 49:08 – Hiring Strategy: Culture, Grit & Technical Testing
 50:46 – The One Interview Question That Says It All
 53:44 – Building & Exiting in a Hyper-Competitive Market
 55:19 – Advice to His 15-Year-Old Self
 58:08 – Why Going Deep, Not Wide, Builds Real Advantage

Guest Links:
Website: https://captaincompliance.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richartruddie/

If you're a founder doing $1MM+ in annual revenue, apply for the Founders Club today: https://go.foundersclubofficial.com/intro-fc-aaron

Stay Connected!
Aaron Spivak:
IG: @‌Spivak
Linkedin

The Founders Club
IG: @‌TheFoundersClub
Website www.foundersclubofficial.com 

Founder2Founder:
TikTok @‌Founder2FounderPodcast
Youtube @‌Founder2Founder.Podcast

In this episode of Founder2Founder, Aaron Spivak sits down with media entrepreneur, author, and political commentator Armstrong Williams. From growing up on a tobacco farm in South Carolina as one of 10 siblings, to becoming one of the most influential minority-owned media executives in the country, Armstrong shares how discipline, faith, and preparation shaped every stage of his journey. He is the founder of Howard Stirk Holdings, co-owner of The Baltimore Sun, and host of multiple nationally syndicated TV and radio shows.

Armstrong breaks down how early lessons in personal finance, responsibility, and character led him to build long-term wealth and credibility. He reflects on the people and decisions that shaped his career, including his relationship with Senator Strom Thurmond, investing in real estate before 30, and why he refuses to compromise on principle, even when it costs him. His approach to relationships, leadership, and legacy is a blueprint for staying grounded while building big.

Chapters
02:42 – Growing Up on a Farm & Learning Discipline from His Parents
05:56 – Meeting Senator Strom Thurmond: A Life-Altering Moment
06:32 – Interning in DC & Discovering His Calling
08:43 – Naivety, Risk & Being Ready When Opportunity Arrives
11:42 – The Story of His Father Buying Their Family Farm
14:56 – Early Lessons on Judging Character as Individuals, Not Groups
17:29 – How His Upbringing Influenced the Naming of His Company
19:12 – Getting Cut Off Financially & Learning He Was an Entrepreneur
21:46 – His Father's Rule: Always Squirrel Away 20%
23:09 – The $200 Check That Turned Into $42K: His First Business Win
26:31 – Convincing Richard Pryor to Speak for Black History Month
28:16 – Meeting His First Business Mentor Through This Event
29:36 – Investing $25K That Turned Into $7M by Age 27
30:35 – The Power of Long-Term Wealth & Strategic Investing
34:53 – The Importance of Giving Back & Empowering Others
36:25 – Why Most Young Entrepreneurs Don’t Understand Morality
39:05 – Managing Hundreds of Relationships with Intention
44:13 – Creating & Scaling Howard Stirk Holdings
49:56 – Buying His First Network TV Stations
51:12 – The Power of Local Media and Deciding Elections
54:03 – Why He’ll Never Be Compromised by Advertisers
57:20 – Why Revenge Is a Dangerous Game in Business & Politics
59:33 – On Mistakes, Regret, and Taking Full Responsibility
1:03:39 – Why He Personally Signs Every Check in His Business
1:05:45 – The Power of Hard Conversations and Emotional Maturity
1:10:35 – Intuition, Spiritual Currency & Reading Energy
1:15:56 – Why Soul > Strategy for Long-Term Success
1:23:28 – The One Thing Young Founders Need to Start Doing
1:35:26 – Advice to His 17-Year-Old Self

Guest Links:
Website: armstrongwilliams.com
Instagram: @realarmstrongwilliams
X: @arightside 

If you're a founder doing $1MM+ in annual revenue, apply for the Founders Club today: https://go.foundersclubofficial.com/intro-fc-aaron

Stay Connected!
Aaron Spivak:
IG: @‌Spivak
Linkedin

The Founders Club
IG: @‌TheFoundersClub
Website www.foundersclubofficial.com 

Founder2Founder:
TikTok @‌Founder2FounderPodcast
Youtube @‌Founder2Founder.Podcast

In this episode of Founder2Founder, Aaron Spivak sits down with Brandon Pourmorady, founder of Adhesive Media, a powerhouse influencer marketing agency that’s brokered over $20M in YouTube sponsorships to date. Based in Miami and representing over 200 creators monthly, Brandon is at the forefront of the creator economy, matching performance-driven YouTube channels with leading consumer brands. But his journey didn’t start in luxury, it began with bar mitzvah money, garage storage startups, and cold emails sent from a college dorm.

Brandon opens up about the formative failures that built his grit, how selling loans at 19 gave him confidence to sell anything, and why taking an underpaid internship taught him more than college ever could. This is a masterclass in resilience, reinvention, and showing up every day even when the outcome isn’t guaranteed.

Chapters:
 01:17 – Brandon’s Early Drive and Childhood Goals
 02:16 – Discovering “Think and Grow Rich” at 15
 04:42 – Visualizing Success Before School Every Day
 05:47 – Brandon’s First Business Attempt: Amazon FBA
 07:31 – Launching Airbnb for Storage and Failing Fast
 08:42 – Building a Party App in College That Didn’t Scale
 09:20 – Why College Slowed Him Down
 12:49 – Advice for Teens: Don’t Trade Learning for “Cool”
 14:00 – Taking a Sales Internship at 19
 17:22 – Cold Email That Got Him the Job
 18:20 – Running 40% of a Pipeline at 19
 19:36 – Losing Momentum After Failing at Mask Sales
 21:45 – Cold Emailing a Founder and Working for Free
 22:50 – Selling Sponsorships for Magic Mind’s Podcast
 23:37 – First Six-Figure Deal With Miller Lite
 25:00 – Quitting His Job to Go All-In on Adhesive
 26:51 – How to Learn While Getting Paid
 28:16 – The Real Timeline to $1M in Deals
 30:31 – The Power of Apprenticeship Over Courses
 31:30 – Why His Age Was an Advantage
 32:24 – Using Honest Cold Emails to Land Clients
 36:51 – Training Like an Athlete to Compete in Music
 38:52 – Being Driven by Integrity Over Approval
 40:10 – The Version of Himself He’s Avoiding
 43:55 – Rejecting Who He Was at 18
 45:50 – Why Reaching Your Potential Matters
 47:26 – What He Wants to Be Remembered For
 50:02 – Finding Deep Community at Founders Club
 52:30 – The ROI of Showing Up
 54:35 – Accountability and Environment Fueling Growth
 56:02 – Advice to His 16-Year-Old Self
 1:00:15 – What Founders Miss Most After the Exit

Guest Links:
https://www.adhesivemedia.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandonpourmorady
https://www.instagram.com/brandonpomo

The Founders Club: The premier community for founders pursuing excellence in the mind, body, and business.

If you're a founder doing $1MM+ in annual revenue, apply for the Founders Club today: https://go.foundersclubofficial.com/intro-fc-aaron

Stay Connected!
Aaron Spivak:
IG: @‌Spivak
Linkedin

The Founders Club
IG: @‌TheFoundersClub
Website www.foundersclubofficial.com 

Founder2Founder:
TikTok @‌Founder2FounderPodcast
Youtube @‌Founder2Founder.Podcast

In this episode of Founder2Founder, Aaron Spivak sits down with Oleg Lee, a serial entrepreneur, Guinness World Record holder, father of three, and founder of All About Vibe, a custom pillow company that scaled from a garage operation to generating over $60 million in revenue. Known for turning people’s favorite moments into pillows, Oleg has created products for celebrities like Snoop Dogg, Gary Vee, and Paris Hilton, and partnered with brands like Netflix and Paramount.

Oleg breaks down the raw, behind-the-scenes reality of building a physical product business from scratch, how a Groupon deal triggered massive demand, working with family, and why he eventually stepped back from daily operations. He shares his goal of a $100 million exit, how he handles adversity and why focusing on health, values, and energy has been his ultimate growth strategy. This conversation is a must-listen for any founder scaling a team or navigating the chaos of entrepreneurship.

Chapters:
 01:17 – The Dog Pillow That Sparked the Business
 02:22 – From Israel to the U.S.: Oleg’s Early Work Ethic
 04:05 – The First Custom Pillow: A Tribute to His Dog
 05:13 – Building the Business in His Dad’s Garage
 07:41 – The Groupon Deal That Created Instant Chaos
 08:51 – Fulfilling 20,000 Orders With Family Support
 09:59 – From Pre-Made to Fully Custom Designs
 11:59 – Transitioning From Wholesale to DTC
 12:49 – Working With His Dad: The Challenges and Lessons
 14:07 – How Bringing His Wife Into the Business Saved Their Marriage
 16:26 – Navigating Family Boundaries in Business
 17:13 – Oleg’s Vision for a $100M Exit
 19:02 – What He Would Do Differently: No Manufacturing
 20:01 – The Problem With Business Advice From Non-Operators
 21:30 – Pillows at VCon and Understanding Brand Psychology
 23:36 – Creating a Safe and Empowering Culture for Employees
 25:15 – Hiring a CEO and Fully Stepping Back
 26:28 – Why He Hates Numbers but Still Leads
 27:20 – Growing Up in Survival Mode in Beersheba
 29:04 – Fixing Machines Himself and Leading by Example
 30:22 – What It Took to Build a Self-Sustaining Business
 31:37 – The Cost of Listening to the Wrong People
 33:13 – Setting a Clear Target for the Exit
 36:07 – Aaron’s Story of Selling Hush and Knowing When to Sell
 40:34 – Why Oleg Doesn’t Share Product Ideas, He Just Builds
 41:31 – Managing Remote Leadership and Scaling From Boca
 43:37 – Projected Revenue and the Roadmap to $50M
 44:15 – When Summer Outsold Christmas and Production Broke
 46:31 – Advice to His 30-Year-Old Self: Prioritize Physical and Mental Health
 49:56 – Why Health, Wealth, and Family Are Tattooed Into His Values
 51:00 – Surrounding Yourself With the Right Energy

Guest Links:
Website: www.allaboutvibe.com
Instagram: @thatpillowguy

If you're a founder doing $1MM+ in annual revenue, apply for the Founders Club today: https://go.foundersclubofficial.com/intro-fc-aaron

Stay Connected!
Aaron Spivak:
IG: @‌Spivak
Linkedin

The Founders Club
IG: @‌TheFoundersClub
Website www.foundersclubofficial.com 

Founder2Founder:
TikTok @‌Founder2FounderPodcast
Youtube @‌Founder2Founder.Podcast

In this episode of Founder2Founder, Aaron Spivak sits down with Kyle Matthews, the Founder and CEO of Matthews™, one of the fastest-growing and now largest privately held commercial real estate brokerages in the U.S. Since launching the firm in 2015, Kyle has scaled the company to nearly 30 offices and over 1,000 employees, closing more than $66 billion in transaction volume. Before his rise in business, Kyle played college football at USC under Pete Carroll, learning firsthand what it meant to be part of a high-performance team, lessons that deeply shaped his leadership style and company culture.

Kyle opens up about the long, uncertain road of early entrepreneurship, including the 17 months he went without earning a single dollar in commission. He shares how the pain of regret from his football days shaped a new personal standard of work ethic and intensity in business. Kyle gets honest about what it really takes to succeed as a founder, the role of a supportive partner, why he front-loaded his life for freedom later, and how he's intentionally designed both business and family life to thrive. This conversation is packed with insights on scaling, sacrifice, and staying grounded.

Chapters:
03:51 – From Football Benchwarmer to Business Beast
05:24 – Lessons From Team Sports That Shaped Leadership
06:45 – The Regret That Still Fuels Kyle Today
08:32 – Building a Career With No Plan B
10:02 – How Waking Up at 4:45 Became a Competitive Advantage
12:41 – 14-Hour Workdays for 10 Years Straight
14:21 – 17 Months Without a Paycheck and Why He Didn't Quit
18:33 – When Hard Work Didn’t Translate to Results, Yet
20:15 – How Early Struggles Made His Boss's Job Harder
21:10 – The Real Impact of Marrying Young
24:48 – The Secret to Aligned Relationships While Scaling
27:01 – Would He Be as Successful Without His Wife?
31:41 – Designing His Life to Be Fully Present for His Kids
33:17 – How NFL Players Actually Spend Their Time
34:45 – His Dad's Role Model Blueprint for Fatherhood
36:59 – Coaching His Son’s Football Team While Running a Company
38:30 – Why Your 20s Shouldn’t Be Spent “Enjoying Life”
40:00 – The Myth of Work-Life Balance
42:02 – How Matthews™ Scaled From 15 People to 1,000+
45:23 – Why Kyle Left a Public Company to Start His Own
46:45 – The Business Model That Made Matthews™ Explode
52:47 – Scaling as a CEO: From Founder to Strategic Leader
54:36 – The Intuition Trap: When Founders Need to Let Go
59:08 – What Kyle Would Tell His 33-Year-Old Self
1:03:29 – Buying Matthews.com From a Basement-Dwelling Domain Squatter
1:06:13 – Why You Must Choose Your Hard in Life

Links:
https://www.matthews.com
IG: @kylematthewsceo
LinkedIn: Kyle Matthews
YouTube: Kyle Matthews
Podcast: The Matthews Mentality Podcast

If you're a founder doing $1MM+ in annual revenue, apply for the Founders Club today: https://go.foundersclubofficial.com/intro-fc-aaron

Stay Connected!
Aaron Spivak:
IG: @‌Spivak
Linkedin

The Founders Club
IG: @‌TheFoundersClub
Website www.foundersclubofficial.com 

Founder2Founder:
TikTok @‌Founder2FounderPodcast
Youtube @‌Founder2Founder.Podcast

In this episode of Founder2Founder, Aaron Spivak sits down with Natia Ramishvili, entrepreneur, empowerment coach, and founder of NR Active. Born in the country of Georgia, Natia immigrated to the U.S. as a teenager and built a thriving 17-year career in finance, ultimately overseeing more than 1,000 employees. But after experiencing deep personal loss, a divorce, and a powerful shift in purpose, she left her executive role, moved to Miami, and launched a brand rooted in authenticity and empowerment.

Natia shares how the pain of losing her parents shaped her drive, what it really took to walk away from stability, and how she’s now helping women reconnect with their strength through fashion, mindset, and community. She opens up about creating NR Active, building a fearless brand from scratch, and why confidence is something you create, not something you wait to find. From single motherhood to brand building, Natia’s story is a testament to resilience, intentional living, and owning your worth.

Chapters
​​02:17 – Losing Both Parents and Finding New Purpose
04:22 – Dreaming Bigger at Macy’s and Building a Career in Finance
05:48 – The Role of Authenticity in Rebuilding a Life
06:36 – Defining Fearlessness Through Action
07:40 – The Catalyst: Losing Her Mother to Cancer
09:55 – Leaving Marriage and Career to Start Fresh
10:55 – Embracing the Unknown and Trusting Intuition
12:09 – From People Pleasing to Self-Prioritization
13:33 – Funding NR Active with Her Life Savings
14:32 – “Burn the Boats” and Commit All In
16:25 – Building a Brand With Vision and Discipline
18:57 – Why Chemical-Free Activewear Matters
20:42 – The Message Behind the Apparel: Wear Your Strength
22:45 – The Birth of Born For More Coaching
25:49 – The Reality of Doing It All as a Single Mom
27:44 – Staying Grounded With Routine and Self-Work
28:21 – Book Recommendations That Changed Her Thinking
29:45 – A Lesson From Her Parents: You Can Do Anything
31:18 – Overcoming Doubt With Relentless Action
33:13 – Being Called “Crazy” for Choosing Reinvention
36:32 – The Truth About Rejection and Redirection
38:53 – The Power of a Supportive Partner|
39:58 – The Long-Term Vision for NR Active
42:19 – Money Buys Freedom, Not Fulfillment
47:05 – Advice for Single Mothers Building a Business
49:18 – What She’d Tell Her 5-Year-Old Self

Guest Links:
Website: www.nractivewear.com
Instagram: @nractivefounder
https://wikigenius.org/wiki/Natia_Ramishvili

The Founders Club: The premier community for founders pursuing excellence in the mind, body, and business.

If you're a founder doing $1MM+ in annual revenue, apply for the Founders Club today: https://go.foundersclubofficial.com/intro-fc-aaron

Stay Connected!
Aaron Spivak:
IG: @‌Spivak
Linkedin

The Founders Club
IG: @‌TheFoundersClub
Website www.foundersclubofficial.com 

Founder2Founder:
TikTok @‌Founder2FounderPodcast
Youtube @‌Founder2Founder.Podcast

In this episode of Founder2Founder, Aaron Spivak sits down with Hector Maradiaga, founder and CEO of Infinity Delta. Hector has spent over a decade optimizing human performance for NFL athletes, Fortune 500 executives, and high-performing founders through data, science, and AI. Now, he's on a mission to make vitality the world’s most valuable asset.

Hector shares how his journey started by helping his immigrant father build a business from scratch, why he walked away from taking it over, and how that decision led to years of internal conflict. He opens up about the real cost of trying to prove people wrong, losing millions, and ultimately finding clarity through faith and a renewed sense of purpose. For founders pushing to scale while trying to stay grounded, this conversation gets into what actually sustains long-term performance.

Chapters
00:02 – Intro to Hector and Infinity Delta
02:08 – Born in Honduras, Raised in Hustle
04:03 – Running Excel Estimates at Age 8
05:39 – Launching a Candy Business in Grade School
06:50 – Building a Team and Learning Profit Split
08:17 – Keeping Business Quiet at Home
10:16 – The Candy Empire Collapses
12:34 – Working With His Dad Every Weekend
14:03 – Struggling With Financial Discipline Early On
15:50 – Spending Tomorrow’s Money
17:24 – Business Was Sport, Until It Wasn’t
18:52 – Stepping Away From the Family Business
19:52 – The Unspoken Guilt of Changing Paths
22:31 – The Day He Dropped Out
24:49 – Going From Comfortable to Survival
26:38 – Feeding His Younger Brother During the Crash
28:26 – Hearing “I’m Proud of You” For the First Time
30:02 – Rebuilding Connection With His Father
33:26 – Planning the Costa Rica Surprise
35:23 – Shifting From Proving People Wrong to Living With Purpose
38:37 – Focused Scaling and Clear Vision
40:08 – Killing Ego to Build Longevity
42:33 – The Final Boss: Inner Conflict
44:58 – You Can’t Fix Home With Money
46:56 – Choosing the Vehicle to Your Vision
48:34 – Entrepreneurs Are Modern Day Athletes
51:28 – Why Founders Don’t Prioritize Their Health
53:18 – Know Thyself: Performance Starts With Data
56:11 – It's About Better Years, Not Longer Life
58:34 – What Founders Miss by Waiting to Focus on Health
1:01:47 – Health as an Asset, Not an Expense
1:02:59 – The Last Decade to Invest in Your Future
1:03:31 – Your Life Is Worth More Than a Billion
1:04:00 – What He’d Tell His Younger Self

Guest Links:
Website: Infinitydelta.io
sportssciencelabs.com
Instagram: @coach_hm

The Founders Club: The premier community for founders pursuing excellence in the mind, body, and business.

If you're a founder doing $1MM+ in annual revenue, apply for the Founders Club today: https://go.foundersclubofficial.com/intro-fc-aaron

Stay Connected!
Aaron Spivak:
IG: @‌Spivak
Linkedin

The Founders Club
IG: @‌TheFoundersClub
Website www.foundersclubofficial.com 

Founder2Founder:
TikTok @‌Founder2FounderPodcast
Youtube @‌Founder2Founder.Podcast

In this episode of Founder2Founder, Aaron Spivak sits down with entrepreneur and now congressional candidate Michael Carbonara, committed to serving the people of Florida’s 25th District. Known for building fintech and blockchain companies that processed over $20 billion a year, Michael made headlines when he left it all behind, loaned his campaign a million dollars, and put it entirely into Bitcoin.

Michael shares how growing up in a single-parent household shaped his hunger for success, what it took to become a pioneer in crypto banking, and why he believes the American dream is fading unless people like him step up. From building global infrastructure in blockchain to running for office against a 20-year incumbent, this episode covers business, politics, family, and legacy in a way few founders ever do.

Chapters:
 01:46 – Where His Entrepreneurial Spirit Started
 03:19 – Dropping Out Before It Was Cool
 04:47 – The Turning Point From School to Self-Education
 06:14 – How Rich Dad, Poor Dad Changed His Worldview
08:16 – Starting a Payment Gateway While Holding a Day Job
09:43 – Why Working With Older Partners Changed Everything
11:13 – Becoming a Blockchain Pioneer Before the Hype
13:05 – Why He Still Believes 50% of the World Will Use Blockchain
14:38 – Web3 Is Coming Whether You Understand It or Not
16:31 – The Reality of Building in an Unproven Industry
17:42 – Pivoting Without Quitting: His Approach to "Failure"
18:41 – The Mentors Who Shaped His Entrepreneurial Mindset
20:14 – Why We All Thrive in Different Systems
22:28 – Childhood Lessons That Still Shape His Drive
24:19 – Why He Decided to Run for Office
26:09 – How a Documentary Sparked His Political Awakening
28:28 – Going Up Against a 20-Year Incumbent
30:35 – Restoring Safety, Slashing Waste, and Defunding
32:17 – What He’d Ask Under Oath
34:05 – Family, Risk, and Running With No Fear
35:16 – Why He Invested Campaign Funds Into Bitcoin
37:06 – Making Bitcoin Accessible for Real Wealth Creation
38:35 – Solving the Security and Simplicity Gap in Crypto
40:56 – Taking a Pay Cut to Serve the Country
42:44 – What Happens Without Police and Structure
44:25 – School Choice, Indoctrination, and Fixing Education
47:03 – His Vision for the Next 24 Months
48:30 – Why He Had to Become a Reluctant Social Media Influencer
50:04 – How 7 Million Views Landed Him in the White House
52:57 – How the Dream Is Still Possible, but Not Guaranteed
54:33 – Advice to His 12-Year-Old Self
56:56 – How His Wife Became His Most Trusted Advisor
59:25 – Why He Believes the Time to Act Is Now

Guest Links:
Website: https://michaelcarbonara.com
IG: https://www.instagram.com/mcarbonarafl
X (Twitter): https://x.com/MCarbonaraFL
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelcarbonara/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578435752040

If you're a founder doing $1MM+ in annual revenue, apply for the Founders Club today: https://go.foundersclubofficial.com/intro-fc-aaron

Stay Connected!
Aaron Spivak:
IG: @‌Spivak
Linkedin

The Founders Club
IG: @‌TheFoundersClub
Website www.foundersclubofficial.com 

Founder2Founder:
TikTok @‌Founder2FounderPodcast
Youtube @‌Founder2Founder.Podcast

In this episode of Founder2Founder, Aaron Spivak sits down once again with Chris Meade to talk about the evolution of Founders Club and where it's headed next. With nearly 700 members and over 120 events planned for the coming year, they share how they’re scaling intentionally while keeping the community tight and valuable.

They break down lessons from the Puerto Rico offsite, the LA chapter relaunch, and why success today means supporting founders beyond business, into relationships, parenting and personal growth. It’s a real look at what it takes to build something that lasts.

Chapters:

01:24 – Kicking off our LA Chapter
02:22 – Puerto Rico offsite and club planning
03:19 – Improving Member Quality and Filters
04:38 – Redefining Success Beyond Business
05:56 – How Money Doesn’t Solve the Hard Stuff
06:48 – The Missing Support For Personal Relationships
07:56 – A New Lens On What Makes A Founder Successful
08:58 – Member Anthony’s Shift From Brand Growth To Marriage
10:03 – Learning From Founders Ahead Of You
11:19 – What Really Got Discussed At Female Founder Day
12:15 – What Motivates Founders After Kids
12:57 – Why Peer Networks Matter More Than Ever
13:27 – 2026 Events And Picking The Right Venues
14:53 – Founders Club Is Not An Events Company
15:56 – Forums As The Foundation Of Deeper Value
16:48 – Members As Speakers, Not Hired Talent
17:28 – Booking Dream Speakers For The Community
18:28 – Keeping It Fun Or Shutting It Down
19:33 – Why This Is A 30-Year Vision
21:00 – A Goal To Be Part Of Global GDP
21:34 – The Club As The First Call When You Need Help
23:11 – Removing The Wrong Energy
24:40 – Events That Spark Action
25:25 – When The Club Drives Real Business
26:46 – Unlocking Perks And Member-Only Access
27:57 – Why Founders Need Better Tools And Support
28:50 – What FD Chat And The App Will Offer
30:18 – Creating Better Matches Through Data
30:52 – How Many Real Connections You Can Have
31:24 – Focus On 5 People A Year
32:46 – One Billionaire’s Honesty Changed The Room

Guest Links:
Instagram:@chrismeade

Kintsugi: The AI-powered tax compliance platform trusted by over 3,000 companies worldwide

If you're a founder doing $1MM+ in annual revenue, apply for the Founders Club today: https://go.foundersclubofficial.com/intro-fc-aaron

Stay Connected!
Aaron Spivak:
IG: @‌Spivak
Linkedin

The Founders Club
IG: @‌TheFoundersClub
Website www.foundersclubofficial.com 

Founder2Founder:
TikTok @‌Founder2FounderPodcast
Youtube @‌Founder2Founder.Podcast

Kinga Strogoff is the President & CEO of Second Street Iron & Metal, Chairman & Creative Director of Balmoral Defender, and a Board Member at Basalt International. She runs a third-generation scrap metal business, reshapes luxury automotive design, and drives innovation in sustainable materials, all while raising her son as a single mother.

In this episode, Kinga shares how she moved to the U.S. from Poland as an au pair, eventually took over her husband’s steel business, and led it through collapse and revival. She talks openly about loss, building resilience, and why she believes obsession, not balance, is key to building anything meaningful. Her story spans legacy, grief, and the discipline it takes to keep moving forward.

Chapters:
 02:23 – From Polish Village to the American Dream
 04:32 – The Power of Dreaming Beyond Logic
 06:00 – When Manifestation Goes Wrong
 07:44 – Leaving Home Against All Odds
 08:40 – Becoming an Au Pair to Escape Limitations
 09:47 – The Family That Waited a Year for Her
 10:26 – Feeling Called to America at Age 6
 12:28 – Entering the Workforce and Loving Money
 13:24 – Childhood Hustle: Scrap Metal and Sneakers
 15:31 – Her Grandfather’s Influence and Deep Bond
 17:04 – The Story Behind the Name “Kinga”
 19:51 – Building Kinga Steel from the Ground Up
 21:42 – Visualizing Life as a Painting
 22:37 – No Plan B: Betting on Herself
 23:13 – Meeting Her Husband and Building a Life
 25:53 – Taking Over the Business During Crisis
 27:25 – 24 Months of Full Obsession
 28:38 – Earning Respect in a Male-Dominated Industry
 32:39 – Advice to Women in Male-Dominated Fields
 34:34 – When She Knew the Business Would Thrive
 35:59 – Leading Through Legacy and Empowering Her Team
 36:56 – The Loss of Her Husband and the Aftermath
 39:12 – Rebuilding While Raising Her Son Alone
 41:44 – Jump Rope Therapy: Turning Pain Into Purpose
 42:51 – Fitness, Discipline, and Mental Strength
 46:06 – Obsession Over Balance: Her Success Philosophy
 47:51 – What’s Next? Learning to Sit in the Unknown
 49:12 – What She’d Tell Her 6-Year-Old Self
 52:32 – Creating Heaven on Earth, Every Day
 54:40 – The Role of Social Media and Building Brand Authentically
 56:03 – Protecting Her Son and Living in Silence
 56:45 – Sharing Her Story to Help Others Heal

Guest Links
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