Founders Future

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Zach Young, we’re joined by Dash Davis, founder of Dash CM. Dash shares his journey from a decade-long career in sales to earning an MBA in Germany and building a data-driven marketing consultancy focused on B2B growth. Along the way, he reflects on working across logistics, e-commerce, and SaaS, and how those experiences shaped his passion for SEO, analytics, paid media, and omnichannel strategy.

The conversation dives deep into how modern marketing is evolving in the age of AI. Dash explains the concept of being a “T-shaped marketer,” the growing importance of being discoverable across AI-powered search platforms, and why SEO fundamentals still matter more than ever. He also discusses bridging gaps between sales, marketing, and IT teams, prioritizing the right platforms amid limited bandwidth, and why channels like Reddit and YouTube are becoming increasingly influential for long-term visibility and authority.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Zach Young, we’re joined by Andy O’Neill, a systems-minded founder who believes most AI problems are actually documentation problems in disguise. Andy shares his unconventional path from education and nonprofit work into automation and AI, explaining how years spent deep in the weeds of systems thinking shaped his hands-on, human-first approach to building technology.

The conversation dives into Andy’s unique co-building methodology, where clients learn by doing as he helps them transform scattered SOPs, tribal knowledge, and messy workflows into structured systems AI tools can truly understand. Andy also reflects on the rise of AI co-pilots, the danger of chasing shiny tools, the value of focused systems, and why his long-term goal isn’t just building better technology—but equipping founders to confidently run businesses that no longer rely on constant firefighting.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Zach Young, we’re joined by Kapria Lipscomb Franklin, an elite wealth behavior and restoration strategist who bridges accredited financial counseling with social work and financial therapy. Kapria shares her unconventional journey from graduate school and brokerage firms into financial social work, where she first witnessed how emotional vulnerability, identity, and trust deeply impact financial outcomes—regardless of net worth.

The conversation explores how Kapria works across individual, organizational, and corporate levels to help clients separate self-worth from net worth, navigate sudden or complex wealth transitions, and build healthier relationships with money. She also reflects on stepping into greater visibility through podcasting, speaking, and thought leadership, her vision for building a team of financial social workers, and her mission to create spaces—through retreats, education, and advocacy—where wealth is understood as both a financial and human experience.

In this episode of to Founders, Future, with host Olivia Sammons, Leanne Culloden — founder and director of Blue Leopard Coaching — shares her journey from nearly 15 years of leadership in a male-dominated security industry to building a transformational coaching practice rooted in identity, alignment, and therapeutic self-awareness. Leanne discusses how years of observing human behavior in high-pressure environments inspired her therapy-first coaching methodology, which blends somatic and psychosensory techniques with strategic executive guidance. She opens up about the deep inner work clients must do before stepping into authentic leadership, why both ambitious professionals and emerging entrepreneurs are seeking holistic support, and how clarity around values drives fulfillment and long-term success.

Leanne also dives into how she attracts clients organically through LinkedIn, referrals, and face-to-face networking, and why trust is foundational in the deeply personal work she facilitates. She reflects on the rise of male clients entering the holistic space, the challenges coaches face with consistent lead flow, and her plans for the next 6–12 months — including launching her own podcast, expanding corporate workshops, and building predictable lead strategies without compromising being a present, single mother. With a grounded perspective on alignment, integrity, and balance, Leanne offers a refreshingly honest look at what it takes to grow a purpose-led coaching business while staying true to your values.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Zach Young, we’re joined by Erica Lugo, nationally recognized trainer, entrepreneur, and women’s health advocate best known online as EricaFitLove. Erica shares her powerful journey from working in HR and Jenny Craig to losing over 160 pounds, surviving thyroid cancer, and building a fitness platform that inspired millions—before ultimately redefining her mission around sustainable, self-compassionate wellness.

The conversation explores Erica’s evolution from traditional fitness into functional women’s health, hormones, and longevity, driven by her own early experience with perimenopause and unanswered health struggles. She breaks down how her business operates today through a fully customized, biology-driven approach that blends functional coaching with Western medicine, why “normal” lab results don’t always mean optimal health, and what it really takes to scale a mission-driven brand while letting go of ego, embracing change, and staying aligned with long-term personal and professional goals.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Zach Young, we’re joined by Jeremy Schwartz, a 25-year marketing veteran and co-founder of Truth Collective. Jeremy traces his journey from art-driven beginnings at Syracuse University to leading creative and strategic work for iconic global brands like Kodak, Fidelity, Reebok, and Anheuser-Busch, before ultimately launching his own agency alongside longtime partners in 2013.

Jeremy shares how Truth Collective has evolved in an era of in-housing, economic shifts, and AI disruption—embracing new tools not to replace creativity, but to accelerate it. The conversation explores Truth Collective’s collaborative “collective” model, their AI-powered workshop approach that brings clients into the creative process earlier, and why human connection, co-creation, and adaptability are now essential for agencies looking to thrive in 2026 and beyond.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Milan Kohut, we’re joined by Phoebe Parke, founder of Parke Social. Phoebe shares her journey from aspiring journalist and early social media intern at CNN to leading social teams for brands like Grazia and Gordon Ramsay Restaurants. After years of building revenue for major brands behind the scenes, she made the leap into entrepreneurship, transforming her expertise into a profitable personal brand and coaching business.

Phoebe dives into how she now helps wellness professionals build visibility, authority, and income through an intensive 8-week one-to-one coaching program. The conversation explores her high-volume content strategy, the power of personalized lead magnets, and why authenticity and consistency still outperform automation in personal branding. She also shares her approach to scalability, focus, and goal-setting, offering practical insight for creators and coaches looking to grow intentionally without losing their personal touch.

In this episode of Founders Future, host Olivia Sammons sits down with Salomon Teyiri, founder of Levitated Fitness—a performance-driven fitness brand built around discipline, mindset, and long-term personal growth.

Salomon shares his journey from growing up as an African immigrant in the U.S. to becoming a trainer with over a decade of experience helping people rebuild their bodies, confidence, and identity. After a major athletic injury derailed his path early in life, fitness became more than physical recovery—it became the foundation for mental resilience, purpose, and direction.

Through Levitated Fitness, Salomon works with individuals at every stage of life, focusing on holistic performance that extends beyond the gym. His approach blends strength training, nutrition, recovery, stress management, and mindset—helping clients build sustainable habits that support longevity, family life, and personal fulfillment.

In the conversation, Salomon explains why he prioritizes quality over volume, preferring deep, meaningful client relationships over rapid scale. He discusses the power of organic growth through referrals, the importance of energy alignment between coach and client, and why fitness should be personalized—not forced.

Looking ahead, Salomon shares his vision for expanding Levitated Fitness through a stronger digital presence, online coaching, strategic partnerships, and a lifestyle-focused clothing line designed to reinforce confidence and identity. At its core, Levitated Fitness is about becoming the kind of person who follows through—physically, mentally, and in life.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Zach Young, we’re joined by Marnie Dachis Marmet, an integrative health practitioner, holistic health coach, author, and founder of Chili Bean Promotions and Zenful Life Coaching. Marnie shares her unconventional entrepreneurial journey—from early corporate roles and marketing work to launching multiple businesses rooted in wellness, creativity, and personal fulfillment.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Olivia Sammons, we’re joined by Andrew Kolasko, founder of Andrew Kolasko Life Center Ltd. Andrew shares his journey from a decades-long career in advertising and marketing to building a purpose-driven practice focused on healthspan, vitality, and functional longevity for men over 50. As a former natural bodybuilding competitor with over 45 years of training experience, he explains how his background in psychology, branding, and human behavior shaped a deeply personalized approach to health and performance.

The conversation explores why midlife is often a turning point for men, as priorities shift from achievement and accumulation toward health, connection, and quality of life. Andrew discusses the importance of uncovering a clear “why,” integrating fitness into real-world lifestyles, and designing sustainable routines that support strength, cognition, and energy as men age. He also shares how rucking became a cornerstone of his philosophy—blending movement, nature, and community—and how trust-based content on YouTube has allowed him to grow both his coaching practice and Rucket organically through authenticity and long-form connection.