Hello Chaos

Hello Chaos

By Jennifer SuttonSociety & CultureBusinessEntrepreneurshipPersonal JournalsMarketing
Download on the App Store

Hello Chaos episodes

  • Ep. 203 Carl Stecker - The $407 Pharmacy Bill That Wouldn't Let Go

    What founders will take away from this episode:

    1️⃣ The problems that won't let go are the ones worth building for

    Carl couldn't shake the $407 pharmacy bill. It stuck to him like a tick, and that obsession became FreeRx. When something frustrates you so deeply that you can't stop thinking about it, that's not a distraction. That's signal. The best founder problems aren't the ones you choose because they're trendy or fundable. They're the ones that choose you and won't let you walk away. If you're constantly trying to convince yourself to care, you're building the wrong thing.

    2️⃣ Your business partner can collapse overnight and you still have to keep building

    Carl's Ohio pharmacy partner went from "we're gonna make it" to bankrupt in what felt like a weekend. His whole fulfillment operation disappeared while customers were waiting on prescriptions. Instead of shutting down, he started buying into pharmacies across four states to control the experience. Partners fail. Vendors go dark. Systems break. The founders who survive aren't the ones who avoid chaos. They're the ones who build contingency into their operations before they need it and pivot fast when everything falls apart.

    3️⃣ Mission over money isn't just a tagline when you've almost died three times

    Carl said if FreeRx doesn't make a dime but changes the pricing model for healthcare, he's happy. That's easy to say in a podcast. It's harder to mean it when you've been on life support for 11 days and you're still choosing to disrupt the industry that saved you. Founders talk about purpose all the time, but real mission clarity shows up in how you make decisions when growth is slow, partners bail, and the path forward isn't clear. If your why can't survive your worst week, it's not strong enough to build a company on.

    Timestamps

    00:00 Welcome to the chaos of building while broken

    01:20 The $407 moment that started everything
    02:40 Three open heart surgeries and 11 days in a coma
    05:30 Why CVS and Walgreens markup prescriptions up to 3000%
    08:10 Building a formulary when you know nothing about pharmaceuticals
    12:15 The membership model that makes healthcare actually affordable
    18:45 Adding virtual urgent care when people don't have doctors
    24:30 Why the staffing industry became the perfect first market
    31:20 The EpiPen scandal and medication access deserts
    38:15 When your Ohio pharmacy partner goes broke overnight
    43:50 Buying into pharmacies to control the customer experience
    48:25 Marketing that drives you crazy but you keep going anyway
    52:40 The mission over money philosophy that keeps you moving
    56:30 Gary's no filter moment that exposed everything
    59:00 Where to find FreeRx and how the model actually works

    If you're curious how Carl's actually disrupting a 3000% markup with a $50 subscription model or you just want to see if FreeRx covers what you're paying too much for, start here.

    Website: https://freerx.com/

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-stecker-3580118/
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carl.stecker/

    Thank you for tuning in! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to our podcast on your favorite podcast platform and share it with your network. We encourage you to join our community HERE and connect with us on social media for the latest updates and more great content.

    Connect With Us:

    • LinkedIn
    • Instagram
    • YouTube

    58 min
  • Ep. 202 Greg Arnold - You’re Not Lacking Confidence You’re Lacking Reps

    Key Takeaways:

    1️⃣ Confidence Comes After The Reps

    Waiting to feel ready is one of the fastest ways to stay stuck. Greg realized confidence was never the starting point. It came from showing up consistently, taking uncomfortable action, and proving to himself he could handle the next step. If you wait for certainty before you move, momentum dies fast.

    2️⃣ Perfection Quietly Kills Momentum

    Founders lose years trying to perfect things nobody has seen yet. Greg talked about how chasing perfection kept him hesitating instead of building. The people who grow fastest are usually willing to look unpolished long enough to gain experience, feedback, and traction.

    3️⃣ Your Inner Dialogue Impacts Everything

    The way you talk to yourself eventually impacts how you lead, build, and take risks. Greg shared how years of negative self talk affected his confidence and momentum. If your mindset constantly works against you, eventually your business feels it too.

    Timestamps:

    00:00 Why Most People Wait Too Long To Start

    02:03 The Moment Greg Realized Confidence Wasn’t The Answer
    05:15 The Hidden Cost Of Low Self Esteem In Entrepreneurship
    06:52 Why Confidence Always Comes After Action
    10:12 Momentum Beats Perfection Every Time
    13:22 What Arm Wrestling Taught Him About Business
    20:00 The Discipline Most Founders Avoid
    23:12 How To Stop Letting Negative Thoughts Control You
    27:19 Why Your Circle Shapes Your Momentum
    30:14 Entrepreneurship Feels More Like A Roller Coaster Than A Plan
    33:06 The Dangerous Trap Of Comparing Yourself To Other Founders
    35:32 The Small Wins Most Entrepreneurs Ignore
    36:31 The Real Difference Between Confidence And Commitment
    40:51 Chaos Isn’t Failure It’s Proof You’re Growing

    If Greg’s perspective on confidence, momentum, and taking the leap resonated with you, connect with him and follow his journey below.

    Website: https://www.gregarnoldspeaks.com/

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregarnoldvo/
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/garnoldvo
    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@garnoldvo9229/videos

    Thank you for tuning in! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to our podcast on your favorite podcast platform and share it with your network. We encourage you to join our community HERE and connect with us on social media for the latest updates and more great content.

    Connect With Us:

    • LinkedIn
    • Instagram
    • YouTube

    40 min
  • Ep. 201 Rob Ekno - He Followed the Calling Before the Business Existed

    Key Takeaways:

    1️⃣ Clarity Usually Comes After the First Step

    Rob didn’t have a five year roadmap when he started building the film festival. He had conviction and a willingness to move before everything made sense. A lot of founders stay stuck because they think certainty comes first. It usually doesn’t. Momentum creates clarity far more often than overthinking does.

    2️⃣ You Don’t Need Funding to Start Building

    Before there were sponsors, investors, or infrastructure, Rob focused on creating value and proving there was real interest. He built relationships, platforms, and opportunities first. Too many founders wait for resources before taking action. The reality is that belief, consistency, and execution are often what attract the right support in the first place.

    3️⃣ Your Business Can’t Outgrow Your Discipline

    The routines that keep you grounded matter more than most founders want to admit. For Rob, prayer, meditation, sobriety, and reflection became the foundation for everything else he built. If your mind is constantly reactive, distracted, or chaotic, eventually your business will reflect it. The way you lead yourself always shows up in the way you lead everything else.

    Timestamps:

    00:00 Why Some Businesses Start With a Calling

    01:32 From High School Radio to National Broadcasting
    02:43 Losing Everything to Alcoholism
    04:10 Starting Over With 11 Months of Sobriety
    06:14 The Reality of Building a Career in Hollywood
    08:38 Why Alaska Changed the Direction of His Life
    10:18 Becoming an Award Winning Author by Accident
    13:28 The Stranger Who Told Him to Start a Film Festival
    17:15 Building Momentum With No Money or Connections
    20:24 The Founder Lesson Most Creatives Miss
    25:20 Creating Platforms That Give People Hope
    31:47 How He Built a Global Audience Without Funding
    35:04 The Vision Bigger Than the Film Festival
    41:32 When Founders Stop Waiting for Perfect Timing
    46:18 The Daily Discipline That Keeps Him Focused
    49:26 The Pause That Can Change Your Entire Life
    55:26 Small Habits That Create Massive Transformation
    59:18 Why the First Step Matters More Than the Full Plan
    01:01:04 Building Something Bigger Than Yourself

    If you’ve been waiting for the perfect plan before making your next move, connect with Rob below and see what can happen when you build from conviction instead.

    Website: https://robekno.com/

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robekno/
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robekno/

    Website: https://knoxvillechristianfilms.com/

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/knoxville-international-christian-film-festival/

    Thank you for tuning in! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to our podcast on your favorite podcast platform and share it with your network. We encourage you to join our community HERE and connect with us on social media for the latest updates and more great content.

    Connect With Us:

    • LinkedIn
    • Instagram
    • YouTube

    1 hr
  • Ep. 200 Mitchell Levy - What Got You Here is Quietly Killing Your Next Level

    Key Takeaways:

    1️⃣ What got you here will keep you stuck

    Mitchell watched successful businesses collapse not because they failed, but because the environment changed. The real mistake is holding on too long to what used to work. If you keep optimizing an outdated model, growth will feel harder and slower every time. The longer you wait to let go, the more momentum you lose.

    2️⃣ You do not have a strategy problem you have a clarity problem

    Most founders are not lacking effort. They are lacking clarity on who they serve and what actually matters. Mitchell found that nearly everyone thinks they have clarity, but very few actually do. Without it, every tactic becomes guesswork and every decision slows you down. Clarity is what turns activity into real progress.

    3️⃣ Sell what they want then deliver what they need

    One of Mitchell’s biggest shifts came from realizing he was focused on what people needed instead of what they were actually asking for. Founders do this all the time and it kills traction. If your message does not match what your audience wants, they will not engage, no matter how valuable it is. Growth starts when you meet people where they are, then guide them to where they need to go.

    Timestamps:

    00:00 Why what worked before is now holding you back

    01:45 From success to zero overnight and what it teaches you
    05:00 The moment you realize your identity is the problem
    09:00 Why most founders chase the wrong thing
    12:30 The clarity gap that keeps 98 percent stuck
    16:00 The hidden reason your strategy is not working anymore
    20:00 Sell what they want not what they need
    24:30 Why most marketing advice actually hurts your growth
    29:00 The difference between founders who grow and those who stall
    33:00 Why your team reflects your lack of clarity
    38:00 Experience vs AI and why judgment still wins
    42:00 The shift from success to real impact
    46:00 What founders get wrong about growth and scaling
    50:00 How to find what actually brings you momentum
    55:00 The routines that keep you grounded in chaos
    59:00 The one mindset shift that changes everything

    If you are still holding on to what used to work, Mitchell is the person who will help you see what needs to change next.

    Website: https://mitchelllevy.com/

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitchelllevy/
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mitchell.levy
    X: https://x.com/happyabout
    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/CredibilityNation

    Thank you for tuning in! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to our podcast on your favorite podcast platform and share it with your network. We encourage you to join our community HERE and connect with us on social media for the latest updates and more great content.

    Connect With Us:

    • LinkedIn
    • Instagram
    • YouTube

    1 hr 1 min
  • Ep. 199 Alicia Hughes & Jenny Ladd - The Biggest Mistake Founders Make About Customers

    Key Takeaways:

    1️⃣ People don’t buy your product, they buy the feeling
    Warm Hugs took off because of what people felt, not what was inside the box. That is the part most businesses miss early. If the emotional connection is not clear, growth gets harder no matter how good the product is. If it is clear, people will pay more, share more, and come back.

    2️⃣ Starting messy beats waiting for clarity every time

    They did not have systems, pricing figured out, or a long-term plan. They just started. That decision created momentum and real feedback fast. Waiting for perfect conditions usually delays the only thing that actually moves a business forward. Action.

    3️⃣ Growth forces you to choose what actually matters

    Saying yes to everything worked at the beginning, but it does not scale. At some point, you have to decide where to focus or you lose time, energy, and consistency. The challenge is growing without losing the personal touch that made people care in the first place.

    Timestamps:

    00:00 Why most founders misunderstand what they are really selling

    01:04 The simple idea that turned into something bigger than expected
    03:35 When demand shows up in ways you did not plan for
    05:42 The moment you realize this is more than just a side project
    06:37 The hidden challenges no one prepares you for early on
    10:11 The mistake founders make with pricing and their own time
    13:13 What scaling forces you to confront sooner than expected
    16:05 The small operational issues that can slow everything down
    20:36 If you could change anything what would you fix first
    23:07 The real opportunity most founders overlook when they grow
    28:34 Why being underestimated can actually work in your favor
    31:16 How to protect your energy while building something new
    35:50 The one system that keeps everything from falling apart
    37:49 What success actually looks like one year from now
    43:50 The simplest advice most founders ignore
    46:40 How to follow the journey and stay connected

    If you want to see how Alicia and Jenny are building something people genuinely care about, connect with them using the links below.

    Website: https://warm-hugs.com/

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-warm-hugs/
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.warm.hugs

    Thank you for tuning in! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to our podcast on your favorite podcast platform and share it with your network. We encourage you to join our community HERE and connect with us on social media for the latest updates and more great content.

    Connect With Us:

    • LinkedIn
    • Instagram
    • YouTube

    48 min
  • Ep. 198 Vida Stanic - You Got Traction But It's Still Wrong

    Key Takeaways:

    1️⃣ Traction does not mean you are right

    Vida got customers fast and still walked away. That is the part most founders ignore. Just because people are buying does not mean the foundation is strong. If you keep building on the wrong thing, you are not scaling. You are just going faster in the wrong direction.

    2️⃣ The real skill is knowing when to pivot

    Most founders hold on too long because it is working enough. Vida made the call early because she knew it would break later. That decision is what separates momentum from wasted time. If you avoid the pivot, you end up rebuilding everything when it is more expensive and harder to fix.

    3️⃣ You cannot grow if you refuse to let go

    The hardest shift was not building the product. It was giving things up. Delegating, trusting others, and accepting that no one will do it exactly your way. If you hold on to everything, you become the bottleneck. And your business will only grow as fast as you are willing to step back.

    Timestamps:

    00:00 Why moving fast can still lead you in the wrong direction

    01:45 The frustration that sparked a new kind of marketing platform
    04:20 When early success hides a bigger problem
    07:10 Why you cannot guarantee results in AI and what that means
    10:15 The real insight that led to the pivot
    13:00 How founders actually find the right idea
    16:05 London vs New York vs San Francisco where startups really grow
    20:30 Why the media landscape is changing and what founders need to know
    23:15 The bottleneck every founder hits when they start scaling
    26:00 Letting go is harder than building
    29:10 The mindset shift that reduces stress and drives progress
    32:20 What founders get wrong about being a CEO
    35:10 The trait that actually moves your business forward
    38:00 Speed decisions that change everything
    41:30 Why consistency matters more than talent
    44:30 The advice every founder needs to hear right now
    47:00 What success actually looks like when it works

    If you want to get your brand in front of the right audiences without guessing, check out Vida’s work and connect with her below.

    Website: https://www.joinastute.com/

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vidastanic/
    Substack: https://substack.com/@vidastanic

    Thank you for tuning in! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to our podcast on your favorite podcast platform and share it with your network. We encourage you to join our community HERE and connect with us on social media for the latest updates and more great content.

    Connect With Us:

    • LinkedIn
    • Instagram
    • YouTube

    45 min
  • Ep. 197 Brian Thompson - Growth Isn’t the Problem It’s Letting Go

    Key Takeaways:

    1️⃣ You’re the bottleneck whether you see it or not

    Brian didn’t realize growth was stalling because of strategy or demand. It was because everything still ran through him. The moment you become the approval layer for everything, your business hits a ceiling. If you ignore this, you don’t just slow growth, you cap it completely.

    2️⃣ Delegation doesn’t work without trust and structure

    Hiring help isn’t the solution if you’re still controlling every outcome. Brian learned that letting go only works when you trust the person and clearly define what success looks like. If you skip that, you’ll end up redoing work, building frustration, and pulling yourself back into the weeds. Real delegation isn’t handing things off. It’s building a system that works without you.

    3️⃣ Growth forces you to face yourself first

    Brian didn’t just build a business. He had to unlearn control, people pleasing, and the need for certainty. Scaling a business will expose your habits faster than anything else. If you avoid that internal work, your business will reflect it in every broken process, bad hire, and stalled decision.

    Timestamps

    00:00 Welcome to the chaos of building something real

    00:45 From tax attorney to founder why starting was not the hard part
    02:30 The biggest mistake thinking it would be easy
    03:45 Learning to build in the chaos instead of controlling it
    05:00 The internal work founders avoid and why it matters
    07:00 Identity confidence and letting go of people pleasing
    10:00 When growth breaks your business and exposes the truth
    12:00 The hard realization you are the common denominator
    14:00 Why founders hide behind the brand and why that backfires
    16:00 The power of curiosity empathy and real connection
    18:45 The bottleneck moment when everything pointed back to me
    20:00 Why delegation fails and how trust actually works
    22:00 The system that changed everything and created clarity
    24:30 You cannot make good decisions without good data
    26:00 The ugly truths founders avoid and how to face them
    27:30 Fear visibility and what happens when it all goes public
    30:00 What I would change if I could start over
    32:00 Why founders struggle to give themselves grace
    34:30 The myth of success and what actually matters
    36:00 Why chaos is not the problem it is the path
    41:00 Scaling with people learning to let go without losing control
    44:00 The advice every founder needs to hear about the journey
    45:30 The next chapter learning to stay present as you grow

    If you’re realizing you might be the thing slowing your business down, Brian’s work will help you see what to change and how to actually let go.

    Website: https://btfinancial.com/

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianthompsonfinancial/
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/btfinancial/?hl=en

    Thank you for tuning in! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to our podcast on your favorite podcast platform and share it with your network. We encourage you to join our community HERE and connect with us on social media for the latest updates and more great content.

    Connect With Us:

    • LinkedIn
    • Instagram
    • YouTube

    45 min
  • Ep. 196 Chris Hallberg - Why Most Founders Struggle to Scale Their Business

    Key Takeaways:

    1️⃣ Right people fix more than strategy ever will

    Most businesses are not stuck because of bad ideas. They are stuck because the wrong people are sitting in the wrong seats. Chris built his entire approach around this, and it is simple. Upgrade the people, and everything else gets easier. Hold on to the wrong ones, and no strategy will save you.

    2️⃣ Accountability is built, not demanded

    You cannot force accountability into a team that never agreed to anything. Real accountability comes from clarity, commitment, and ownership. Set clear expectations, get real buy in, and then hold the line. If people do not want that level of ownership, they are not your people.

    3️⃣ Simplicity scales, complexity kills momentum

    Founders love adding tools, layers, and processes. But complexity slows everything down. The companies that win strip things down to what actually matters and execute consistently. Focus on clarity, not more systems, and you will move faster than teams twice your size.

    Timestamps

    00:00 Welcome to Hello Chaos

    00:30 Meet Chris Hallberg and his journey
    03:00 From military to entrepreneurship
    06:15 Discovering EOS and fixing broken businesses
    10:30 Building multiple businesses with focus and structure
    14:30 Why most teams lack accountability
    18:30 The hidden cost of bad hires
    22:00 How great companies build high performance teams
    26:00 The biggest myth founders believe
    31:30 Why no one cares like the founder
    35:00 Root problems vs surface level issues
    40:00 Letting go and learning to delegate
    44:30 Visionary vs operator and why you need both
    49:30 How one bad hire can destroy a team
    53:30 Building a culture that scales
    58:30 Controlled chaos and learning through failure
    1:02:00 Overcoming fear and negative thinking
    1:06:00 The power of strong middle management
    1:10:30 Why veterans make elite team members
    1:14:30 Leadership mistakes founders keep making
    1:17:30 Final thoughts on building better businesses

    If you’re ready to stop guessing and start fixing what’s underneath your growth, connect with Chris below.

    Website: https://goexpand.com/

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-hallberg-01516315/

    Thank you for tuning in! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to our podcast on your favorite podcast platform and share it with your network. We encourage you to join our community HERE and connect with us on social media for the latest updates and more great content.

    Connect With Us:

    • LinkedIn
    • Instagram
    • YouTube

    1 hr 21 min
  • Ep. 195 Justin Banner - The Founder Bottleneck No One Talks About

    Key Takeaways:

    1️⃣ Build systems or stay stuck in the business

    If everything runs through you, you do not have a business yet. Strong founder systems and business process automation turn your daily tasks into repeatable operations your team can run without you.

    2️⃣ Simplicity scales better than complexity

    Most tools fail because they are too complicated to use. The advantage is simple business systems for founders that actually get adopted, not overloaded platforms no one sticks with.

    3️⃣ Sell first, then build what matters

    Founders waste time building before validating demand. Lead with sales, gather real feedback, and let it shape your product or business operations strategy before you scale.

    Timestamps

    00:00 Welcome to the messy middle

    00:56 The problem that sparked Noggn
    02:46 Turning chaos into simple systems
    05:58 The unexpected market expansion
    09:51 Product vs service business reality
    13:26 The hidden bottleneck in onboarding
    16:39 Why founders struggle to delegate
    18:43 Manage the business not the tasks
    21:18 Building faster and finding the right market
    23:02 How founders stay energized and sharp
    25:11 The power of documented playbooks
    30:14 Leadership growth and people focus
    35:03 Sell before you build
    36:06 The founder roller coaster
    38:46 What success looks like for Noggn
    41:29 Just do it and go all in

    If you are ready to simplify your operations and start building systems that actually scale, connect with Justin and explore Noggn to see how it can work inside your business.

    Website: https://noggn.com/

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinbanner/

    Thank you for tuning in! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to our podcast on your favorite podcast platform and share it with your network. We encourage you to join our community HERE and connect with us on social media for the latest updates and more great content.

    Connect With Us:

    • LinkedIn
    • Instagram
    • YouTube

    43 min
  • Ep. 194 Rebecca Rosselli - The Truth About Building a Modern Agency

    Key Takeaways:

    1️⃣ Systems protect you, not contracts

    Most founders think a contract will protect their business. It won’t. Rebecca learned that adaptability in your process matters more than what’s written on paper. Build payment structures and delivery systems that protect your cash flow so you’re not chasing problems after they happen.

    2️⃣ Sell the future, not the service

    Founders get stuck selling deliverables when they should be selling outcomes. A website isn’t the goal. Growth is. When you shift from pitching services to painting a clear future state, your entire sales process becomes stronger and more aligned with real business growth.

    3️⃣ Adapt fast or get left behind

    The biggest risk in business isn’t failure. It’s staying the same for too long. Rebecca’s journey proves that founders who win are the ones who pivot early and often. Momentum comes from movement, not perfection. The faster you adapt, the faster you grow.

    Timestamps

    00:00 The Reality of Building in the Messy Middle

    00:42 Meet Rebecca Rosselli and Pivot or Die
    01:10 Why She Left Animation and Burned Out
    02:20 The Moment She Realized She Had to Pivot
    03:30 Getting First Clients and Learning Sales Fast
    05:00 Early Lessons From Getting Burned by Clients
    07:30 Why Contracts Don’t Actually Protect You
    09:00 Building Systems That Protect Your Business
    10:30 Moving to Austin and Starting Over
    12:30 The Mindset Shift That Changed Everything
    16:00 Stop Selling Services Start Selling Outcomes
    20:00 Why Authenticity Wins in Business
    24:00 The Problem With Traditional Agencies
    29:00 Rethinking the Agency Model Today
    34:00 When Founders Become the Bottleneck
    37:00 The Shift to Lean and Flexible Teams
    41:00 How to Structure a Scalable Business
    47:30 The Best Advice for Founders Right Now
    48:30 Stay Messy Why Perfection Kills Momentum
    49:30 Where to Connect With Rebecca

    Want to connect with Rebecca or see what she’s building? Check out the links below.

    Website: https://pivotordie.design/

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccarosselli/
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rebsrosselli/
    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@humpdays

    Thank you for tuning in! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to our podcast on your favorite podcast platform and share it with your network. We encourage you to join our community HERE and connect with us on social media for the latest updates and more great content.

    Connect With Us:

    • LinkedIn
    • Instagram
    • YouTube

    59 min

About Hello Chaos

From the publisher's feed

Every day, entrepreneurs all over the world roll out of bed and say: Hello, Chaos. And more often than not, we’re having that conversation in our own heads. It’s time to crack the dialogue wide open.