In this week's episode of Raw and Relentless, host Bo DePaoli welcomes his friend Kate Hastings, a seasoned jiu-jitsu practitioner and entrepreneur. They discuss Kate's transformative journey through personal struggles, her move from Miami to St. Petersburg, and the launch of her business, Phoenix Fit, which emphasizes mental and emotional well-being. The conversation touches on the life-changing impact of jiu-jitsu, the importance of self-defense, and the profound healing effects of ayahuasca in addressing trauma. Tune in for an inspiring exploration of resilience, faith, and personal growth!

Connect with Kate- follow her on IG: www.instagram.com/coachkate1/

In this podcast episode, Michel Langlois shares insights from his extensive career in Silicon Valley, covering companies like Cisco, Juniper, and Calix. He discusses the transformation and scaling of businesses, as well as the economic and societal impacts of broadband and digital innovation. Michel also explains his motivation behind writing his book 'Beyond the Code,' which aims to inspire others by sharing his journey from a chicken farm in Quebec to leading major tech companies. He addresses the challenges engineers face when transitioningto leadership roles and underscores the importance of compassion and trust in managing teams.

If you're in tech, in business, or just trying to level up your leadership—this one’s for you.

📖 Michel’s book: Beyond the Code
📱 Connect on LinkedIn: Michel Langlois

In this episode of Raw and Relentless, Bo sits down with Anthony Calvanese—former mechanical/professional engineer turned Italian citizen, entrepreneur, and cultural bridge. After quitting his job, selling his house, and moving across the world, Anthony shares how he reclaimed his heritage, built two thriving businesses in Italy, and learned to thrive in a slower, more intentional lifestyle.

They dive into the journey of gaining dual citizenship, navigating new laws affecting Italian ancestry claims, the nuances of language learning and dating abroad, and the hidden realities of building a new life in a foreign country. Whether you’re chasing a passport or just curious what it’s really like to live La Dolce Vita—this episode pulls back the curtain.

Disclaimer: Anthony Calvanese is not an attorney and does not provide legal advice. The information shared in this podcast—including discussions about Italian visas, citizenship by descent, and other related topics—is intended for general informational purposes only. For personalized legal advice, especially regarding immigration law or court cases, please consult a qualified attorney or legal professional.

Socials:

@anthony_in_italy

and 

@becomeitaliani

In this powerful episode of Raw and Relentless, we sit down with Carl Dumesle, a remarkable immigrant from Haiti who shares his incredible journey of resilience and determination. After experiencing the devastating earthquake in 2010, Carl and his brothers were forced to leave their home and navigate life in the Dominican Republic before ultimately moving to San Diego. He reflects on the challenges he faced as a teenager, including raising his younger siblings and mediating his parents' relationship.

 Carl's story is not just about survival; it's about thriving against the odds. He discusses his entrepreneurial spirit, which led him to start a successful real estate asset management company and a tech startup for student housing. You’ll be inspired by his insights on emotional intelligence, the importance of community, and the lessons learned from adversity. Join us as we explore what it truly means to overcome obstacles and build a life of purpose.

The Custom Code Advantage:Why Ben Johnson Says ERP Isn’t Always the Answer

When off-the-shelf software can’t keep upwith your business—do you keep duct-taping it together, or build your own? In this episode of Raw and Relentless, Bo sits down with Ben Johnson, founder and CEO of Particle41, a firm that builds high-performance custom software, data systems, and AI-powered tools for fast-growing companies. From virtual reality safety simulations to resume-sorting AI and full-stack ERP alternatives, Ben shares the real-world process of taking an idea from concept to code—withoutgetting buried in tech debt or over-engineering.

If you’ve ever thought “we need an appfor that,” this is the episode that breaks down how to do it—and why the smartest companies aren’t waiting for perfect software to appear.

🧠 Learn more: particle41.com
 📲 Connect: Ben Johnson on LinkedIn | Schedule a call via website

What if the safest bet in real estate… wasn’t the property itself—but the mortgage behind it?

In this episode of Raw and Relentless, Bo sits down with Nic DeAngelo, founder of Saint Investment Group, to unpackhow his fixed-income fund is delivering double-digit IRRs through discounted, non-performing mortgage notes—while helping homeowners stay in their homes Plus, they dive into U.S. manufacturing, tariffs, immigration, the middle class, and why real economic growth means giving Americans tools—not handouts.

📊 Learn more: saintinvestment.com/resources

📲 Connect: @saintinvestmentgroup | LinkedIn: Nic DeAngelo

Fast-growing startups often hit an invisible wall—and more often than not, the root cause is people. In this episode of Raw and Relentless, Bo sits down with Nahed Khairallah, founder of Organized Chaos, to talk about how scaling companies from seven to nine figures requires more than product-market fit and financing—it demands building the right team, culture, and infrastructure.

Nahed also shares wild consulting stories—from uncovering massive payroll fraud in a 40,000-person telecom to helping founders step away and actually enjoy their businesses.

📚Learn more atorganizedchaos.fyi
 🎙️ Listen to his podcast: Organized Chaos
 📲 Connect with Nahed onLinkedIn or email: [email protected]

What do you get when you mix six-time CEO experience, a love for high-performance teams, and a seat at the McLaren Racing table? You get Brendan Keegan. In this powerhouse episode of Raw and Relentless, Bo sits down with Brendan to unpackhis journey from coding in New Hampshire to running billion-dollar companies—and what it really takes to transform underperforming teams into market leaders. Brendan shares how he scaled a tech company with backing fromCisco and Dell, navigated a brutal dot-com bust, and built a fleet services business from $500M to $2.5B in revenue.

Check out his book: Dare to Disrupt

More from Brendan: brendanpkeegan.com

IG: @bpkfearless

LinkedIn: BrendanP. Keegan

In this episode of Raw and Relentless, Bo sits down with Alex Levin, CEO and co-founder of Regal.ai, a platform building AI agents that are transforming how enterprise brands communicate with customers. Alex dives deep into thecurrent capabilities (and limitations) of AI agents—what they’re really good at (think tier-one support, appointment scheduling, and lead qualification), and what still requires a human touch. He breaks down how Regal integrates with CRMs like HubSpot and Salesforce, why voice is quickly becoming the most cost-effective communication channel, and how AI agents are already outperforming humans in speed, accuracy, and personalization. If you’re a business owner looking to automate and elevate your customer experience—or just want a front-row seat to where AI is heading—this episode isa must-listen.

🔗 Learn more: regal.ai
 📧 Contact: [email protected]
Try their AI dog demo at regal.ai/dog

How do you go from a Marine standing at attention outside the Oval Office to running a multi-million dollar parking business? Jonathan Velarde did just that. In this episode, he shares his journey from presidential security at Camp David and the White House to becoming an entrepreneur in the valet andparking lot industry, scaling his business to over $3 million in revenue across two states.g out, this conversation is a must-listen for anyone serious about building wealth through real estate.

Connect with Jonathan Velarde:

📲 Instagram: @parkingmogul

📲 Business: @valetparkingpros