What if everything you know about tech stacks is actually slowing you down?

In this eye-opening episode, we sit down with Drake Wolf, the self-made tech founder who went from aging out of foster care to building a fully automated AI empire. Discover why 73% of companies are losing 20+ hours weekly to disconnected systems, the counterintuitive approach to software selection that's saving founders thousands, and how agentic ecosystems are revolutionizing business automation. Drake reveals his battle-tested framework for building cohesive tech stacks without breaking the bank, plus the one question every founder should ask before buying another tool.

Keywords: software integration, AI automation, tech stack optimization, Drake Wolf, agentic ecosystems, business automation, startup technology

What if the biggest reason your leads aren't converting has nothing to do with lead quality?

When Typeform's David Okuniev watched his marketing team generate 500 qualified leads that sales couldn't close, he discovered the real culprit: artificial barriers between departments. This episode cuts through the marketing mystique to reveal what marketing actually is, where it belongs in your organization, and why 73% of leads die in the handoff between marketing and sales.

Stephanie and Anthony dive deep into the fundamental question every founder faces—what exactly is marketing responsible for? From brand building versus lead generation to the psychology of customer relationships, they explore why most founders get this wrong and how a unified revenue approach can transform your business. Discover the critical difference between awareness and relationships, why your CEO should probably be your chief product officer, and the one question that separates mature marketers from the amateurs.

Keywords: marketing strategy, sales and marketing alignment, revenue operations, lead conversion, CRO vs CMO, startup marketing, customer relationships

What if admitting you don't have all the answers actually makes you a stronger leader?

Harvard Business Review found that 73% of employees trust leaders more when they admit uncertainty during a crisis. Join us as we sit down with 15-time bestselling author and founder Holly Porter, who turned two near-death experiences into powerful leadership lessons. After surviving a 70-day hospital stay during COVID, Holly discovered that authentic vulnerability builds stronger teams than fake confidence ever could.

Discover the critical difference between motivating vulnerability and fear-inducing oversharing, learn why giving yourself 72 hours to process before reacting can save your company, and find out how to structure your business to avoid preventable crises altogether. This isn't about being weak—it's about being real enough to rally your team when everything's falling apart.

Keywords: crisis management, leadership vulnerability, authentic leadership, business crisis, founder mental health, team management, Holly Porter, resilience

What if your entire sales approach is sabotaging your growth?

In this eye-opening episode, we sit down with Dan Goodstein, the business therapist who's spent two decades fixing broken sales models for everyone from scrappy startups to Fortune 500 giants. Discover why companies like Monday.com saw their stock tank 30% despite beating revenue numbers, how the traditional sales funnel is actually more like a leaky sieve, and why your CRM might be doing more harm than good. Dan reveals the counterintuitive truth about modern B2B selling: it's not about processes, it's about becoming a guide in your customer's journey. Plus, get the inside scoop on AI tools that are revolutionizing prospecting without losing the human touch.

Keywords: sales funnel, B2B sales, Dan Goodstein, sales process, CRM limitations, customer journey, AI sales tools, modern selling

In this episode, we explore a contrarian truth: luck isn't random—it's manufactured through micro habits and reversible decisions. Discover why the most successful founders treat decision-making as a numbers game, how to create serendipity through strategic networking, and the dark side of early success that can trap entrepreneurs in outdated patterns. We dive deep into the science of weak ties, the power of being publicly vocal about your goals, and why manifestation isn't mystical—it's methodical. Learn how to design systems that increase your chances of "getting lucky" and avoid the trap of mistaking timing for skill.

Keywords: entrepreneurial luck, reversible decisions, founder success, serendipity, business networking, startup strategy, decision making, manifestation

Think competitive intelligence means stalking your rivals on social media? Think again.

Most founders miss 80% of the competitive intelligence sitting right in front of them in public sources. While you're guessing at pricing strategies and marketing tactics, your competitors are leaving breadcrumbs everywhere—in job postings, customer reviews, and SEO footprints. Steven Schneider, co-founder and CEO of Trio SEO, reveals how smart founders turn this overlooked data into actionable insights that actually move the needle. Discover why AI research beats manual detective work, when competitive analysis becomes counterproductive noise, and the surprising places where your best intel is hiding. This isn't about copying competitors—it's about understanding what works so you can do it better.

Keywords: competitive intelligence, data analysis, SEO strategy, business intelligence, Steven Schneider, startup strategy, competitor research, AI tools, market research, business growth

Are you avoiding sales conversations because they feel icky and manipulative? You're not alone—78% of founders dodge sales due to psychological barriers, but this resistance is costing them millions in revenue.

In this episode, Anthony Franco, Chris Franks, and Stephanie Hays tear down the myths around selling and reveal why founder-led sales isn't about persuasion—it's about value discovery. Discover how to reframe sales as teaching, why your founder story is your most powerful sales tool, and the exact process that transforms sales-phobic founders into revenue-confident leaders.

Learn the immutable sales process every founder needs, when to hire your first sales team member, and why the skills that make you a great salesperson are the same ones that make you a great CEO. This isn't about becoming a slick closer—it's about authentic conversations that create real value.

Keywords: founder-led sales, sales training, entrepreneurship, revenue growth, sales process, founder story, business development, startup sales

What if 73% of founders fail to raise capital not because their ideas are bad, but because they completely misunderstand how investor psychology works?

In this game-changing episode, we sit down with Ben Wiener, venture capitalist and managing partner of Jump Speed Ventures, who reveals the shocking truth about what really happens inside an investor's mind during your pitch. Discover why leading with facts actually kills your chances, how to neutralize investor objections before they even surface, and the revolutionary HEART framework that's helping founders trigger the psychological responses that make investors say yes. Ben breaks down the red flag approach that explains why most pitches fail within the first three slides, and shares the counterintuitive strategies that separate funded startups from the graveyard of great ideas that never got backing.

This isn't another generic pitching guide—it's a deep dive into the psychology of persuasion that could transform your fundraising success.

Keywords: investor psychology, startup pitching, HEART framework, Ben Wiener, venture capital, fundraising strategy, pitch deck

Why do most founders treat purpose like expensive window dressing instead of a profit engine?

In this eye-opening episode, we sit down with Dan Grech, founder of BizHack Academy, who's helped businesses generate over $50 million by transforming their purpose-driven narratives into bankable assets. Discover why Deloitte found that purpose-driven companies see 30% higher innovation levels and 40% better workforce retention—and how a Miami shoe store owner's childhood trauma became his secret weapon for 35 years of business success.

Learn the "root hack" that accelerates every growth strategy, why authentic messaging beats polished copy every time, and how to turn your business story into a decision-making compass that eliminates bottlenecks. This isn't feel-good fluff—it's hard data on why your story might be your most valuable business asset.

Keywords: purpose-driven marketing, business storytelling, Dan Grech, brand narrative, authentic marketing, founder story, customer retention, sales conversion

What if your biggest launch obstacle is your own mind?

Here's a shocking reality: 73% of successful founders launched before feeling ready. While most entrepreneurs obsess over perfect timing, the real winners understand something different—they fall in love with problems, not solutions. In this dynamic episode, our three hosts dive deep into the psychology of market timing, revealing why Uber succeeded when others failed, how Airbnb survived by selling cereal boxes, and why defining your market matters more than perfecting your product. Discover the art of building "opportunity radar," learn when technology convergence creates breakthrough moments, and find out how to survive long enough for your market to catch up. This isn't about luck—it's about recognizing the wave before everyone else sees it coming.

Keywords: market timing, startup launch, founder psychology, market readiness, business timing, opportunity recognition, startup survival, market validation