The Ker·fuf·fle Podcast

19 Years Backstage at Wicked: What It Takes When the Show Must Go On

How does someone spend nearly two decades ensuring perfection on one of Broadway's longest-running shows? Teri Pruitt's answer: precision, adaptability, and understanding that backstage excellence makes front-stage magic
possible.

Teri Pruitt is a theatrical professional with over 30 years of experience working on stages across the country since 1992, including an extraordinary 19+ year tenure as Wardrobe Professional for Wicked on Broadway. While the new
Wicked movie captivates audiences worldwide, Teri has lived the real Broadway production—facilitating lightning-fast costume changes, maintaining elaborate costumes and iconic green makeup, and supporting actors through eight shows a week for nearly two decades. Her career has been built on stability, adaptability, and unwavering professionalism.

Host Sean Kling explores what it really takes to work on a production as massive as Wicked, how Teri managed costume crises that audiences never see, and why her backstage skills now help businesses build high-performing
teams. Teri shares the intense choreography of quick changes, what it means to serve as confidante and crisis manager to performers, and how "reading the room" backstage translates to leadership in any field. From costume
repairs and shoe cobbling to being a sounding board for actors, her role was about helping performers shine while maintaining perfection behind the scenes.

Key Topics Explored:
19+ years as Wardrobe Professional for Wicked on Broadway, facilitating quick changes and managing elaborate costumes for Elphaba, Glinda, and the entire cast, maintaining iconic makeup and wardrobe through eight shows per
week, backstage crisis management when things go wrong during live performance, serving as confidante and problem-solver to actors in one of Broadway's most demanding shows, working as a seamless team where stepping in
during emergencies is essential, transitioning from theatrical wardrobe to content creator, copywriter, and corporate speaker, and applying Broadway's "show must go on" principles to building agile business teams.

This conversation explores how theatrical production principles—precision timing, teamwork, crisis management, and supporting others to shine—apply to business, leadership, and professional excellence. Teri's insights are
valuable for Wicked fans curious about the real Broadway production, business leaders building teams, and anyone who understands that supporting others to succeed is its own form of mastery.

About Teri Pruitt:
Teri is a theatrical professional with 30+ years of experience since 1992, including 19+ years as Wardrobe Professional for Wicked on Broadway. She specialized in quick changes, costume maintenance, and supporting actors as
confidante, problem-solver, and team member. She now applies her Broadway experience to content creation, copywriting, and corporate speaking—teaching businesses how to build teams that perform under pressure using
backstage Broadway techniques. Her mission is to help people get their voice into the world, just as she helped actors shine in the spotlight for nearly two decades.

Whether you're fascinated by Broadway, a Wicked fan curious about the show behind the movie, a business leader seeking team-building strategies, or someone transitioning unique experience into new opportunities, this episode
delivers insights from someone who spent nearly two decades ensuring perfection on one of theater's most iconic stages.

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Connect with Teri Pruitt:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/teri-pruitt-a2b341101/
https://www.teripruitt.world/

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How does a U.S. Army veteran go from managing soldiers' pay during Operation Enduring Freedom to co-creating cutting-edge financial tools that democratize wealth-building? Mario Payne's answer: combine military discipline, financial expertise, and the unwavering belief that financial independence is a right, not a privilege.

Mario Payne is a Certified Financial Planner, founder of TOAMS Financial (an SEC-registered advisory firm), and a pioneer in fintech innovation based in Jacksonville, Florida. His journey from Cincinnati to becoming one of the rare African American advisors holding the prestigious CFP® credential (less than 2% nationwide) is a masterclass in service, innovation, and breaking barriers. After serving as a Financial Sergeant in the U.S. Army during Operation Enduring Freedom, Mario began his career at American Income Life and Edward Jones before launching TOAMS Financial in 2013 a firm built on the principle that clarity and strategy should be accessible to everyone, not just the wealthy elite.

Host Sean Kling speaks with Mario about his journey from traditional finance to launching an independent RIA, shaped by his military experience. Mario shares how he overcomes industry barriers as a rare African American firm owner, focusing on closing the wealth gap through education and innovation. He discusses his game-changing initiatives, including LETB (the first African American-owned, AI-backed ETF), the Relax Estate AI platform, the Payneful Profits YouTube channel, and the House Wars real estate revitalization project. Learn why Mario refuses to gatekeep financial information and how AI is leveling the playing field for all investors.

Key Topics Explored:
From Financial Sergeant in Operation Enduring Freedom to launching an independent, SEC-registered RIA in 2013, learn about the journey. Discover the faith foundation (TOAMS), the significance of being one of the few African American CFP® professionals, and the creation of LETB (the first African American-owned, AI-backed ETF). Also featured: the Relax Estate AI estate planning platform, the Payneful Profits YouTube channel, appearances in Forbes/Cheddar News, the House Wars real estate initiative, and the mission to make financial independence a right for everyone.

This conversation goes beyond typical financial advice to explore the intersection of military service, entrepreneurial vision, technological innovation, and social impact. Mario's insights apply to anyone looking to build generational wealth, understand how AI is changing investing, break into financial services, or learn why diversity in financial planning matters for closing the wealth gap.

About Mario Payne:
Mario is a U.S. Army veteran, Certified Financial Planner (CFP®), and founder of TOAMS Financial, an independent SEC-registered firm. With over 15 years of experience, he is a fintech innovator, having co-created LETB (the first African American-owned AI-backed ETF) and founded the Relax Estate platform. Mario is dedicated to expanding access to wealth-building tools for underserved communities.

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Connect with Mario Payne: Website: mariopayne.com Company: TOAMS Financial YouTube: Payneful Profits LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/toamsfinancial Location: Jacksonville, Florida

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How does a Marine Corps veteran and corporate tech professional transition into managing over 600 apartment units and $103 million in real estate assets? Rob Nickester's answer: leverage your skills, build the right partnerships, and democratize access to institutional-grade real estate deals.
Rob Nickester is the co-founding partner of Sentinel Equity Group, LLC, a full-time real estate investor, high-performance coach, and published author based in Frisco, Texas. But his path to managing a multimillion-dollar real estate portfolio is a masterclass in strategic career pivoting and building passive income streams. After serving in the Marine Corps and spending 25+ years in corporate technology as an Infrastructure Architect, Rob began investing in residential real estate in 2001. By 2019, he had scaled into commercial real estate across multiple states, ultimately co-founding Sentinel Equity Group to help everyday investors access the same institutional-grade deals typically reserved for the ultra-wealthy.

Host Sean Kling explores what inspired Rob to leave a successful 25-year corporate career for full-time real estate investing, how his military discipline and tech background shaped his investment strategy, and why he's passionate about teaching others to build financial independence through multifamily commercial real estate. In 2022 alone, Sentinel Equity Group acquired $65 million in commercial real estate while selling another $55 million from their portfolio, delivering an average annual return of 32% to their investors.

Rob shares the critical mindset shift from residential to commercial real estate investing, the power of syndication in making large-scale deals accessible to individual investors, and the systems he's built to manage 600+ doors across multiple markets. He reveals what separates successful real estate investors from those who struggle, the due diligence process behind underwriting multifamily deals, and why value-add opportunities remain one of the most reliable wealth-building strategies in any market.

Key Topics Explored:
The transition from 25-year corporate career to full-time real estate investor, how military service instills the discipline required for successful investing, residential vs. commercial real estate: making the leap in 2019, building Sentinel Equity Group and democratizing access to institutional deals, the fundamentals of multifamily syndication and passive income creation, managing 600+ doors and $103M in assets under management, acquiring $65M and selling $55M in a single year (2022), delivering 32% average annual returns to investors, project management, strategic planning, and value-add deal structures, and empowering everyday people to achieve financial independence through real estate.

This conversation goes beyond typical real estate advice to explore the intersection of military discipline, corporate expertise, and entrepreneurial vision. Rob's insights apply to anyone looking to build passive income, transition from W-2 employment to investment income, or understand how to access commercial real estate opportunities previously reserved for institutional investors.

About Rob Nickester:
Rob is the co-founding partner of Sentinel Equity Group, LLC, a Marine Corps veteran, and a former corporate Infrastructure Architect with 25+ years of technology experience. He has been investing in residential real estate since 2001 and commercial real estate since 2019. Rob and his partners own and manage over 600 doors across multiple states with $103 million in assets under management. He is also a high-performance coach, developer, business consultant, speaker, and published author. His mission is to empower people to build passive income and achieve financial independence through strategic real estate investing.

Whether you're a corporate professional looking for an exit strategy, a military veteran transitioning to ci

How does a teenager selling fertilizer in a small Indian village become the CEO of a thriving IT company in the United States? Sree Kaluva's answer: combine relentless work ethic, unwavering integrity, and a vision to solve real business problems through technology.

Sree Kaluva is the President and CEO of Unique Solutions of Advanced Technologies Inc (USAT), a leading IT managed services provider based in Michigan. But his journey to the top is one of the most inspiring immigrant success stories in the tech industry. From humble beginnings in rural India to building a company that serves hundreds of businesses across America, Sree has proven that the American dream is still alive for those willing to work for it.
Host Sean Kling explores what drove Sree to leave everything behind and pursue entrepreneurship in a foreign country, how he built USAT from the ground up in 2006, and why his commitment to transparency and client empowerment has become the foundation of his company's success. Sree's journey wasn't just about technical expertise—it was about understanding that businesses don't need more technology; they need the right technology implemented the right way.

In 2016, Sree received the Corp! Magazine prestigious Most Valuable Professionals Award, recognizing his contribution to Michigan's economic development and his leadership in growing a successful business. Under his guidance, USAT has become known for liberating clients from ineffective technology solutions, developing innovative strategies that empower data-driven decisions, and building long-term partnerships based on trust and results.
Sree shares the cultural transitions he navigated moving from India to America, the entrepreneurial mindset that helped him identify gaps in the IT services market, and the business philosophy that prioritizes quality and client satisfaction over quick profits. He reveals what it takes to compete against larger IT firms, how he built a reputation for reliability in a competitive market, and why personal service and customized solutions have become USAT's competitive advantage.

Key Topics Explored:
The journey from rural India to American entrepreneurship, overcoming cultural and business barriers in a new country, founding and scaling an IT managed services company from scratch, building a business on transparency and integrity, competing against larger firms with personalized service, the 2016 Most Valuable Professionals Award and community impact, developing custom software solutions that solve real business problems, Agile project management and IT strategy in a rapidly evolving landscape, creating long-term client relationships and partnerships, and lessons in resilience, adaptation, and the immigrant entrepreneur experience.

This conversation goes beyond typical business advice to explore the intersection of cultural adaptation, entrepreneurial vision, and technical excellence. Sree's insights apply to anyone looking to start a business in a competitive market, navigate major life transitions while building a company, or understand what it takes to succeed as an immigrant entrepreneur in America.

About Sree Kaluva:
Sree is the President and CEO of Unique Solutions of Advanced Technologies Inc (USAT), which he founded in 2006. A 2016 recipient of the Corp! Magazine Most Valuable Professionals Award, he has built a reputation for delivering innovative IT solutions, custom software development, and managed services that empower businesses to thrive. His journey from rural India to leading a successful Michigan-based technology company exemplifies determination, strategic thinking, and unwavering commitment to client success.

Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, an immigrant pursuing the American dream, a business owner seeking IT solutions, or someone inspired by stories of resilience and transformation, this episode d

What happens when a Penn State grad with entrepreneurial DNA lands an internship and generates $100,000 in ticket sales? 

He gets promoted four times until he becomes a partner and owner of not one, but two companies.Sean Boyle is a Partner at Momentum Digital and Momentum 360, but his journey to ownership is anything but typical. In less than three years, Sean went from sales intern to sales manager to sales director to company owner, proving that rapid advancement is possible when you consistently deliver results and understand a business inside and out.

In this episode of The Kerfuffle Podcast, host Sean Kling sits down with Sean Boyle to explore his meteoric rise from intern to owner. Sean shares how he generated over $100,000 in ticket sales for the Blockchain World Conference in Atlantic City during his internship, the promotions that followed, and what it takes to go from employee to equity partner in record time.

But Sean's entrepreneurial journey started long before Momentum. Growing up in Lafayette Hill, PA, he ran lemonade stands and traded basketball cards, learning the fundamentals of business from his father, Bill, who owned "
The Boyler Room" bar and restaurant. When complications arose, Sean and his brother Ryan took ownership of the family business, adding real-world business ownership experience to his resume before even finishing college.

Sean also reveals why he started "The Sean Boyle Podcast" in 2015 (before joining Momentum), how his marketing degree and "unofficial minor in Spanish"" from Penn State prepared him for the digital world, and what 
he's learned about sales, networking, and community building that every entrepreneur needs to know.

What You'll Learn:

How to generate massive value as an intern and get noticed, the rapid promotion path from intern to partner in under 3 years, what it takes to sell $100,000+ in tickets for a major conference, the mindset shift from employee to owner, lessons learned from taking over a family bar and restaurant, and why networking and community building are essential entrepreneurial skills.

Key Topics Covered:
The art of proving your value quickly in any organization, transitioning from sales roles to business ownership, balancing multiple business ventures (Momentum Digital + Momentum 360 + family bar), learning 
entrepreneurship from family business experience, building a personal brand through podcasting (since 2015), and the sales strategies that drive real results in the digital marketing world.

About Sean Boyle:
Sean is a Partner at Momentum Digital and Momentum 360, having worked his way up from sales intern to owner in under three years. A Penn State graduate with a marketing degree, he's been an 
entrepreneur since childhood from lemonade stands to taking over his family's bar with his brother. He started his own podcast in 2015 and specializes in sales, entrepreneurship, networking, community building, 
and creative marketing strategies.

Connect with Sean Boyle:

Website: needmomentum.com/about-us/sean-boyle
Instagram: @theseanboyle
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/the-sean-boyle
Facebook: @followSeanBoyle

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What inspires an author to write about Nazi war criminals hiding in modern America? How does a background in corporate forensics inform thriller writing? Karen Millie-James answers these questions and more in this 
fascinating conversation about craft, persistence, and the publishing journey.

Karen is a celebrated UK-based thriller author known for her Cydney Granger series—books that masterfully combine WWII history, corporate forensics, and modern political intrigue. Readers describe her work 
as "gripping," "exceptionally well written," and impossible to put down. Her protagonist, Cydney Granger, investigates dark secrets that span generations, from escaped Nazis to family mysteries buried for decades.

Host Sean Kling dives deep with Karen about her journey from corporate forensics professional to published author. She shares the reality of spending years searching for the right publishing partner before finally 
signing with Vinci Books, the extensive research required to authentically portray historical atrocities, and how she creates plots that keep readers up all night turning pages.

Karen reveals the inspiration behind her most compelling storylines—including investigations into Holocaust survivors being manipulated by the descendants of Nazi war criminals—and why combining historical crimes 
with contemporary business and political intrigue creates such powerful narratives. She also discusses the challenges of writing sensitive historical content with accuracy and respect while maintaining the pace of a thriller.

Key Topics Explored:
The transition from corporate career to full-time thriller author, how forensics expertise informs authentic crime storytelling, researching sensitive historical topics like the Holocaust and Nazi Germany, the years-long journey to 
find the right publishing partner, creating a series protagonist readers connect with deeply, balancing historical accuracy with page-turning fiction, and the inner workings of the publishing industry from an author's perspective.

This conversation goes beyond typical author interviews to explore the craft of thriller writing, the importance of thorough research, and the persistence required to succeed in the competitive publishing world. Karen's insights apply to 
any creative professional building a body of work while navigating industry gatekeepers.

About Karen Millie-James:
Karen is a UK-based thriller author whose Cydney Granger series includes "The Shadows Behind Her Smile" and "Where In The Dark," with the highly anticipated "A Thousand Silent Cries" releasing soon through her new publisher, Vinci Books. 
Drawing on her corporate forensics background, she crafts thrillers that combine historical depth with contemporary suspense. She's also launching a podcast interviewing authors and publishing professionals.
Whether you're an aspiring author, a thriller fan curious about the creative process, or someone fascinated by how historical crimes echo into modern times, this episode delivers compelling insights into the art and business of storytelling.

Join our community: Subscribe to our free newsletter for weekly Kerfuffle updates: https://podcast.seankling.com/thekerfufflepodcast

Connect with Karen:
Website: karenmilliejames.com
Facebook: @karenmilliejames
Instagram: @kmilliejames
Books: Amazon

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What happens when a 14-year-old entrepreneur grows up and revolutionizes an entire industry? Dennis Meador's story is proof that sometimes the best business ideas come from simply listening to what clients repeatedly ask for.
Dennis has been an entrepreneur for most of his life, but his real breakthrough came in his early 20s when he discovered his passion for helping other businesses grow. This led to over 20 years working exclusively with attorneys, 
helping them build and scale their practices while advising them on strategic growth.

In 2023, after hearing "Do you guys do podcasts?" from countless legal professionals, Dennis had his lightbulb moment. By early 2024, he had fully launched The Legal Podcast Network - a specialized platform designed to help
attorneys establish authority and attract their ideal clients through strategic podcasting.

Host Sean Kling dives deep with Dennis about the entrepreneurial mindset that started at age 14, the unique challenges facing attorneys in today's competitive landscape, and why generic legal content keeps smaller practices
trapped in price competition. Dennis reveals how podcasting gives attorneys a powerful way to demonstrate expertise and connect with potential clients who fit their ideal profile.

Key Topics Explored:
The mindset and skills Dennis developed as a teenage entrepreneur, what two decades of working with attorneys taught him about the legal industry, why smaller law practices struggle to establish authority and differentiate
themselves, how Dennis identified the podcast opportunity by listening to client needs, the strategic process of launching a niche podcast network, and practical strategies attorneys can use to break free from commodity positioning.

This conversation goes beyond typical business advice to explore how identifying underserved market needs can lead to revolutionary business opportunities. Dennis shares specific insights about the legal industry that apply to
any professional service business looking to establish authority and attract premium clients.

About Dennis Meador:

Dennis is a serial entrepreneur who started his first company at 14. After spending over 20 years helping attorneys grow their practices, he founded The Legal Podcast Network in 2024. His mission is helping legal professionals
establish authority and attract ideal clients through strategic content creation and positioning.
Whether you're an attorney looking to build authority, an entrepreneur seeking to identify market opportunities, or a business owner wanting to understand how to serve professional service providers, this episode delivers actionable
insights from someone who's spent decades in the trenches helping businesses grow.

Join over to receive my most Kerfuffle news directly in your inbox every single week with my free newsletter. Subscribe here:  https://podcast.seankling.com/thekerfufflepodcast

What does it take to build and sell not one, not two, but four successful companies? Phil Masiello knows exactly what it takes - and he's sharing all his secrets in this game-changing episode of The Kerfuffle Podcast.

Phil isn't your typical business coach. He's a battle-tested entrepreneur who's built successful e-commerce brands like 800razors.com and Raw Essentials Skin Care from the ground up, scaled them to millions in revenue, and successfully exited four times. Along the way, he's written three best-selling books and launched CrunchGrowth Revenue Acceleration Agency, where he helps other entrepreneurs achieve the same explosive growth.Host Sean Kling dives deep with Phil about the real challenges of scaling consumer brands in today's competitive marketplace. This conversation goes beyond surface-level business advice to explore the mindset, strategies, and systems that separate successful entrepreneurs from those who struggle to get traction.

Phil reveals his proven framework for digital marketing success, the storytelling techniques that turn browsers into buyers, and the critical mistakes that kill most e-commerce businesses before they ever get off the ground. He also shares the behind-the-scenes story of how he identified exit opportunities and navigated the complex process of selling his companies.

Key Topics Covered:

The real reasons why most e-commerce startups fail within their first year, Phil's step-by-step approach to building consumer brands that scale, digital marketing strategies that actually drive revenue (not just traffic), how to identify and capitalize on exit opportunities, the mindset shifts required to go from employee to successful entrepreneur, and practical advice for anyone looking to build their own e-commerce empire.

About Phil Masiello:

Phil is a 4x exit entrepreneur, 3x best-selling author, and host of "Crunching Growth" on e360tv. He's the founder of CrunchGrowth Revenue Acceleration Agency and has over two decades of experience building successful consumer brands. Learn more at philmasiello.com.

This episode is essential listening for aspiring entrepreneurs, current business owners looking to scale, and anyone curious about what it really takes to build and sell successful companies in today's digital economy.

Join us for a powerful conversation with former entrepreneur and addiction survivor, George Haymaker. After years of coping with childhood trauma, anxiety, and low self-esteem through substance abuse, George hit rock bottom at the age of 50. In a life-or-death moment, he entered rehab and began an incredible journey of recovery and self-discovery. He shares how he learned that addiction is a physiological process involving the brain's reward system, and how his personal journey became a testament to the power of a new understanding. This episode offers a unique blend of a gripping personal story and scientific insight into how our past doesn't have to define our future.

George delves into the fascinating world of neuroplasticity, explaining how he learned to rewire his own brain and overcome his past struggles. This is the science that proves the brain can change every single day.

Now a certified Neuroscience Coach, he shares how this same science can help anyone achieve remarkable changes—from breaking addictions and regulating emotions to changing habits and reaching goals they once thought were impossible. His new career is dedicated to bringing this transformative information to others, helping them make important changes in their own lives. Don't miss this inspiring story of transformation and the amazing potential we all hold to change our lives for the better.

In this episode of the Kerfuffle Podcast, we sit down with David Fradin, a product leadership veteran with a career spanning over five decades. From his early days at Hewlett-Packard to working alongside Apple’s visionary team at the same management level as Steve Jobs, David has seen firsthand what it takes to build products that stand the test of time.

Today, David leads a professional development company that has trained thousands of managers worldwide in product management, product marketing, and innovation. His work is rooted in decades of experience across multiple industries, and he continues to help organizations and individuals sharpen their ability to design, launch, and manage products that truly succeed.

Drawing insights from his involvement with 75 products, 11 startups, and his bestselling books—Building Insanely Great Products, Organizing and Managing Insanely Great Products, Successful Product Design and Management Toolkit, and Letters from My Hymie—David dives deep into the principles behind building products that resonate with customers. He shares stories from inside some of the world’s most innovative companies, hard-won lessons from decades of leadership, and a framework for turning ideas into impactful realities. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a corporate leader, or a creative builder, this conversation is packed with practical wisdom on how to navigate challenges, avoid common mistakes, and ultimately create something truly great.