Founders Future

In this episode of Founders, Future, with host Jae Encarnacion, we dive deep into the transformative journey of Michele Schalin, founder of Mindful Metamorphosis, as she bridges neuroscience, mindfulness, and trauma healing to revolutionize mental fitness. A former fitness coach turned mindfulness pioneer, Michele shares her personal awakening—from a back surgery that forced her to slow down, to her immersion in meditation, breathwork, and plant medicine in Spain during lockdown. Her mission? To help individuals and corporations rewire their brains, break free from self-limiting beliefs, and build resilience in an overstimulated world—all backed by science.

Michele unpacks her multifaceted approach, from one-on-one coaching and corporate wellness programs to holotropic breathwork and women’s retreats. She reveals how chronic stress suppresses the immune system, why smartphones are rewiring our brains for distraction, and the dangers of over-reliance on pharmaceuticals. For founders, her advice is golden: Delegate early, prioritize balance, and pivot fearlessly. Whether you’re battling burnout or seeking inner peace, Michele’s blend of compassion and cutting-edge science offers a roadmap to reclaiming your mind—and your life.

In this episode of Founders, Future, with host Ammar Elm, Jason Bradwell, founder of B2B Better, reveals how his podcast marketing agency helps B2B service firms stand out in crowded markets by transforming their people and perspectives into compelling media assets. From his unexpected pivot from theater to Silicon Valley marketing leadership, Jason shares why he bet on podcasting as the ultimate "town square" for niche industries—and how his agency goes beyond production to drive real revenue through integrated, sprint-based campaigns. He breaks down his "Minimum Viable Podcast" approach for skeptical clients and why 95% of podcasters ask the wrong questions from day one.*

Jason gets candid about scaling an agency while staying hands-on with sales and delivery, including hard lessons on hiring ("Never cheap out on talent") and lead gen ("Cold outreach works when you lead with value"). For founders wrestling with growth, his balancing act between ambition and gratitude offers a masterclass in sustainable scaling—plus why he’s doubling down on organic channels before testing paid ads. The conversation is a goldmine for any service business looking to turn thought leadership into pipeline.

In this episode of Founders, Future, with host Ammar Elm, we sit down with John Lyons, founder of JLock Consulting, to explore how his 25+ years of scaling cybersecurity and software companies led him to pioneer fractional CRO and sales consultancy for early-stage tech firms. John reveals how the post-COVID investor shift—from "growth at all costs" to profitability-first mandates—created a surge in demand for his services, helping startups right-size their go-to-market strategies without the overhead of full-time executives. From surgical outbound playbooks to fixing broken sales engines, John shares his battle-tested framework for turning technical founders into revenue-generating machines, while navigating the new realities of venture capital in 2024.

John also dives into the challenges of scaling a consultancy tied to personal expertise, his vision for expanding into high-demand alliance partnerships, and why the MSP (Managed Service Provider) space is becoming investors' new obsession. For fellow fractional leaders, he offers a crucial reminder: Always be prospecting—even while delivering client work—because your greatest value often means working yourself out of a job. Whether dissecting pipeline gaps or rebuilding teams after layoffs, John’s insights reveal how to thrive in the era of "do more with less."

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Ammar Elm, we sit down with Brian E. Thomas, CIO for the City of Lawrence, Kansas, and host of The Digital Executive podcast, to explore the intersection of AI, leadership, and the future of work. Brian shares his journey from Marine Corps veteran to tech influencer, detailing how he built a podcast with over 1,100 episodes by interviewing Silicon Valley CEOs, AI pioneers like Dr. David Hanson (creator of Sophia the robot), and unicorn founders. He also dives into his mission to modernize government services through AI, including conversational agents and chatbots designed to revolutionize civic engagement.

Brian offers candid insights on the breakneck pace of AI innovation, emphasizing the need for ethical guardrails while encouraging professionals to adapt or risk obsolescence. From leveraging tools like ChatGPT and Sora to predicting which jobs will vanish (or transform), he provides a pragmatic yet optimistic roadmap for thriving in the AI era. Whether discussing his podcasting grind or the city’s AI-powered call center upgrades, Brian’s message is clear: Stay curious, stay human, and embrace disruption—or get left behind.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Ammar Elm, we sit down with Vanessa Wegbrait, Founder and Leadership Coach at Wegshine, to explore her powerful journey from corporate leadership to entrepreneurship. After facing unexpected job loss and a breast cancer diagnosis, Vanessa transformed adversity into opportunity by becoming a certified coach, specializing in empowering sales and marketing leaders across Latin America. She shares how her personal struggles shaped her mission to help professionals—especially women—build resilience, authentic leadership, and work-life balance through one-on-one and group coaching.

Vanessa dives into the challenges of launching a coaching business, from pricing strategies tailored to Latin American markets to the realities of scaling while balancing client sessions and sales efforts. She reflects on the importance of niching down, leveraging her corporate experience to connect with clients, and staying present amid rapid industry changes. Whether discussing the human element of coaching or the future of AI in entrepreneurship, Vanessa’s story is a testament to reinvention and purpose-driven leadership.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Jae Encarnacion, we dive into the inspiring journey of Dr. Rob Bell, founder and CEO of DRB & Associates, a mental performance coaching firm revolutionizing resilience and peak performance for athletes and executives. Dr. Bell shares his pivotal "hinge moment"—a near-fatal accident that redirected his path from baseball to sports psychology—and how it shaped his mission to help others perform their best under pressure. From his early academic struggles to building a thriving coaching practice, he reveals the power of commitment, one-on-one coaching, and why "being all in" is the only way to succeed.

Dr. Bell breaks down his unique approach to mental toughness, emphasizing long-term growth over quick fixes, and discusses how he balances premium coaching with scalable strategies like podcasts, books, and AI tools. He also shares insights on overcoming setbacks, the importance of resilience, and his upcoming ultra-marathon challenge—a testament to his philosophy that "it’s not about the setback, it’s about the comeback." Whether you're an athlete, leader, or entrepreneur, Dr. Bell’s lessons on perseverance and mindset are game-changers.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Mishal Saeed, we sit down with Deb Porter, founder of HOLD - Hearing Out Life Drama, LLC, to explore her revolutionary approach to communication through professional listening services. Deb shares her deeply personal journey—from caregiving for her chronically ill husband (and surviving the 70% divorce rate among caregivers) to launching a platform that fills the gap between casual venting and therapy. Her B2C and B2B models offer structured, judgment-free listening sessions (15-45 min) and corporate training programs, all rooted in her theology-backed expertise in active listening.

Deb reveals her audacious vision: scaling HOLD into a $50M business to fund caregiver support centers nationwide. She discusses the challenges of balancing accessibility (affordable pricing) with growth, her unconventional marketing experiments (like TikTok shops for "listening gift certificates"), and why funeral homes are her ideal B2B niche. With raw honesty, Deb reflects on overcoming "efforting" in entrepreneurship, leaning into faith and Abraham Hicks' teachings, and her ultimate metric for success: the palpable relief clients feel after being truly heard.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Mishal Saeed, we sit down with Justin Brock, President & CEO of Bobby Brock Insurance and Marine Corps veteran, who transformed his family’s insurance agency into a national Medicare brokerage. Justin shares how he modernized the traditionally analog Medicare industry by leveraging digital marketing, content, and technology—helping over 100,000 beneficiaries and 20,000 agents. He dives into his unique "value ladder" approach, where agents engage with workshops and training before formal partnerships, fostering trust and scalability in a resistant market.

Justin also discusses the power of organic audience growth through platforms like YouTube and Facebook, emphasizing long-term brand building over hard selling. He reveals how his agency stays ahead with AI-driven software innovations and why solving real problems for agents—not just selling to them—fuels sustainable growth. Whether you're in insurance or another industry, Justin’s insights on balancing rapid innovation with authentic client relationships are invaluable.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Jae Encarnacion, we dive into the journey of Frank Hopkins, founder and CEO of Hopkins Leadership. Frank shares how his unique approach to executive coaching—combining emotional intelligence, leadership assessments, and data-driven strategies—helps community bank executives build high-performing cultures. From his founding story to the evolution of his proprietary assessment tools, Frank reveals how he connects leadership behaviors to key financial KPIs, empowering banks to achieve measurable success.

Frank also discusses his vision for scaling Hopkins Leadership through AI-driven insights and predictive analytics, ensuring smaller banks gain the same foresight as larger institutions. He offers invaluable advice for entrepreneurs, emphasizing adaptability, persistence, and the importance of turning "soft skills" into quantifiable results. Whether you're in leadership development or scaling a mission-driven business, Frank’s insights provide a roadmap for sustainable growth.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Jae Encarnacion, we sit down with Joshua Gilbert, co-founder of Zenwave Talent, a revolutionary talent acquisition firm blending tech innovation with human-centered recruiting. Joshua shares how Zenwave was born from a mission to disrupt the traditional agency model—transforming into a tech-first solution that helps scaling startups and underserved communities connect with meaningful opportunities. From their groundbreaking Zenect Gov platform (designed to bridge the digital divide for job seekers) to their upcoming subscription-based model, Joshua reveals how Zenwave is redefining recruitment with flexible, equitable solutions.

Joshua opens up about the challenges of rebranding from "just another staffing agency" to a tech-driven partner, emphasizing the power of clear messaging and team alignment. He also shares hard-won lessons from his decades in recruiting, including why understanding your team's strengths is like "a body working in harmony." Whether you're building a startup, leading a scaling team, or passionate about equitable hiring, Joshua's insights on resilience, innovation, and purpose-driven growth are invaluable.