From Underdog to Entrepreneur: Building Dreams with Pat Miller
In this weekly show, host Pat Miller meets successful entrepreneurs who identify as underdogs — people who were overlooked, underestimated, or never the first pick. Together they share practical tips and tools to help listeners win even when the odds seem stacked against them. Each episode focuses on inspiring stories and actionable advice for building a dream from an underdog position.
Episodes
Journalist and Author Reveals How She Built a Brand Writing
Why do so many ambitious women hit the same wall, no matter what industry they're in? In this episode of From Underdog to Entrepreneur, Pat Miller sits down with Stefanie O'Connell, an award-winning journalist and author of the new book The Ambition Penalty: How Corporate Culture Tells Women to Step Up and Then Pushes Them Down. Stefanie's reporting spans industries from Silicon Valley to the mili
The One Mindset Shift That Changes Everything for Entrepreneurs
What if the thing holding your business back isn't a strategy problem but baggage you've been carrying since childhood? In this episode of From Underdog to Entrepreneur, Pat Miller sits down with Curtis McCullom, creator of Legit Mindset, who helps CEOs, founders, and entrepreneurs eliminate the blind spots that have silently held them back, often since childhood. Curtis draws on nearly 40 years o
The Book Is Here: Pat Miller on Writing Underdog to Entrepreneur
This week, From Underdog to Entrepreneur flips the script. Instead of hosting, Pat Miller sits in the guest chair as fellow podcaster and friend Sarah Walton takes over the mic to interview Pat about her brand-new book, Underdog to Empire. It's a rare, personal look behind the scenes of the show and behind the woman who's spent every week asking other entrepreneurs to share their stories. Pat open
TV Host Reveals How She Built Multiple 7-Figure Businesses
What do you do when everything you built gets taken from you in 22 minutes? In this episode of From Underdog to Entrepreneur, Pat Miller sits down with Summer Dey, an award-winning TV host and executive producer, six-time best-selling author, and two-time Comma Club Award recipient who equips leaders to communicate with bold faith and lead from their God-given identity. Summer has built and scaled
The Mob,Vegas and the Law: Glenn Wichinsky's Untold Story
What happens when you discover your father was a footnote in mob history and it's your own name in the index? In this episode of From Underdog to Entrepreneur, Pat Miller sits down with Glenn Wichinsky, a distinguished gaming and business law attorney licensed in Florida and Nevada and author of Things Left Unsaid: My Dad, The Mob, and Growing Up in the Nevada Gaming Industry. His memoir, recently
From Hollywood sets to AI agent. One entrepreneur's underdog journey
What do shoveling coal in Pittsburgh, working on the set of Ocean's Thirteen, and helping companies use AI have in common? They're all chapters in the story of Maury Rogow. In this episode of From Underdog to Entrepreneur, Pat Miller sits down with Maury Rogow, CEO of RIP Media Group and author of Sell Your Superpower in an AI World. Maury has produced over a thousand brand films, teaches more tha
Shark Tank Australia Survivor Builds a Multi 7 Figure Travel Empire
What happens when you sell your house to bet on a travel business idea, survive the world's longest COVID lockdown, and still come out building a multi-seven-figure empire? In this episode of From Underdog to Entrepreneur, Pat Miller sits down with Lisa Pagotto, founder of Crooked Compass, an immersive travel company specializing in off-the-beaten-path destinations and experiences for fragile and
He Works for Someone Else But Thinks Like an Owner | Nicholas Verzicco
Not every great career story starts with owning the company. In this episode of From Underdog to Entrepreneur, Pat Miller switches things up to spotlight the other side of the journey building a name for yourself while working for someone else. Her guest is Nicholas Verzicco, who runs the construction management staffing division for New Jersey at Actalent (formerly Aerotech), placing hundreds of
Cut From the NBA, Built a Million-Dollar Coaching Empire
Cut From the NBA, Built a Million-Dollar Coaching Empire What does it take to turn 60 rejections into a nine-year pro basketball career and then build an entirely new business from scratch? In this episode of From Underdog to Entrepreneur, Pat Miller sits down with Dre Baldwin, founder of Work On Your Game, a TEDx speaker, 43-time author, and former professional basketball player who spent nine ye
Why Diversity Training Fails and What Actually Works.
Why Diversity Training Fails and What Actually Works What happens when you've spent 30 years telling CEOs the truth nobody else will? In this episode of From Underdog to Entrepreneur, Pat Miller sits down with Mauricio Velasquez, president of Diversity Training Group (DTG) and author of the newly released book Tackling Toxicity: A Skills-Based Guide to Addressing Toxicity. Mauricio has trained, co
From Wall Street to Dog Walking Empire
From Wall Street to Dog Walking Empire What happens when you walk away from a 22-year career on Wall Street to pursue something completely different? In this episode of From Underdog to Entrepreneur: Building Dreams with Pat Miller, host Pat Miller sits down with Amanda Anderson, founder of Ring and Run Dog Walkers, to explore her remarkable transition from the fast-paced world of New York's Fina
Music Producer to LA Entrepreneur — How He Built Both | With Connor Treacy
What does it take to go from organizing small events at 19 years old to working with Grammy-winning artists, launching one of Hollywood's hottest nightlife venues, and building a successful talent management company? In this episode of From Underdog to Entrepreneur: Building Dreams with Pat Miller, host Pat Miller sits down with Connor Treacy, an entrepreneur, talent manager, and former music prod
The Master Closer Reveals Why You Can't Close | With Kayvon Kay
If you've ever wondered why you can't close a sale, this episode is for you. In this powerful episode of From Underdog to Entrepreneur: Building Dreams, host Pat Miller sits down with Kayvon Kay, internationally recognized keynote speaker, Master Closer, sales strategist, and revenue architect, to break down the psychology behind closing deals and why most entrepreneurs unknowingly sabotage their
Building a $1.5B Real Estate Empire from a Cubicle | Mark Khuri
In this inspiring episode of From Underdog to Entrepreneur: Building Dreams with Pat Miller, Pat sits down with Mark Khuri, CEO and Co-Founder of SMK Capital Management, to uncover the remarkable journey from working in a corporate cubicle to building a $1.5 billion real estate investment portfolio. Mark shares how a simple conversation with a coworker sparked his passion for real estate investing
Skate Where the Puck Is Going | #29 (John Petrocelli)
What if the biggest opportunities are hiding where everyone else isn't looking? In this episode of From Underdog to Entrepreneur, Pat Miller sits down with John Petrocelli, founder and CEO of Bulldog DM, whose work has generated more than 1 billion audience engagements for brands including Apple, Coca-Cola, Samsung, Netflix, and YouTube. John shares his journey from working in telecommunications a
More Than Just Luck | #28 (Greg Wier)
What if the biggest thing standing between you and success is the excuse you've been telling yourself? In this candid conversation, Pat Miller sits down with entrepreneur, author, and security industry veteran Greg Wier to unpack the hard lessons behind building and selling multimillion-dollar companies. From becoming a young father with no money and a failed business to leading a national securit
The Book I Had to Write | #27
What if every setback you've survived was actually preparing you for something bigger? In this special six-month anniversary episode of From Underdog to Entrepreneur, host Pat Miller steps behind the guest chair and into the spotlight to share the story she's never fully told before. Pat introduces her upcoming book, Underdog to Empire: Breaking Barriers and Building Businesses with Strength, Stra
Why Forgiveness Creates Momentum: From Prison to Purpose | #26 (David Fullmer)
Success means nothing if you lose yourself chasing it. In this powerful episode of From Underdog to Entrepreneur, host Pat Miller sits down with David to unpack the mindset shifts, daily rhythms, and painful life lessons that transformed him from a troubled teenager facing prison into a successful entrepreneur, coach, and mentor helping others unlock their purpose. David shares the philosophy behi
She Chose Groceries Over Dreams | #25 (Sarah Walton)
At 16, Sarah Walton had to choose between feeding her family or chasing her dream. That painful moment shaped her beliefs about money, worth, and success for years until she finally rewrote the story. In this powerful conversation, host Pat Miller sits down with entrepreneur and coach Sarah Walton to unpack how childhood scarcity can silently control adult success, and how women can reclaim abunda
From Bankruptcy to Building Back | #24 (Kim Leo)
What happens when you lose everything, trust the wrong people, and still find the strength to rebuild from scratch? In this powerful episode of From Underdog to Entrepreneur, Pat Miller sits down with Chef Kim Leo, founder of Kitchen by Kim Cooks, to unpack her incredible journey from restaurant legacy to bankruptcy, betrayal, Hurricane Sandy, and painful business collapses, all before rising agai
She Built a Dream From Side Hustle | #23 (Alexa Englesbe)
What starts as a side hustle can turn into a life you never imagined. In this episode of From Underdog to Entrepreneur, Pat Miller sits down with Alexa Englesbe, founder of Alexa Lynn Photography, to unpack how she went from chasing a career in magazines to building a thriving photography business from the ground up. Through trial, networking, and relentless self-teaching, Alexa turned curiosity i
Burnout Nearly Killed Him at 30 | #22 (Boomer Anderson)
He looked perfectly healthy—until one test revealed a life-threatening truth at just 30 years old. In this episode, host Pat Miller sits down with Boomer Anderson, CEO of Smarter Not Harder Inc., who shares how a high-powered career in investment banking led to severe burnout, hidden heart disease, and a complete life pivot. What started as a personal health scare turned into a mission to help ent
Built on Grit, Not Passion | #21 (Courtney Spies)
What if everything you've been told about "following your passion" is wrong? In this episode, Pat Miller sits down with Courtney Spies, Sales Director at Clark Dietrich, whose career started in the Yellow Pages and evolved into leading a major force in a male-dominated industry. Her journey wasn't driven by passion—it was built through grit, discipline, and the relentless pursuit of mastery. From
From Weddings to 25 Rental Properties | #20 (Cameron Philgreen)
What if the life you want is just one pivot away? Cameron Philgreen went from shooting hundreds of weddings to building a real estate portfolio of 25+ properties, without using his own money. In this episode, he shares how a single book sparked his journey, how he leveraged the BRRRR method to create passive income, and how he's now scaling a thriving coffee business while protecting what matters
From Introvert to Immigration Powerhouse | #19 (Alka Bahal)
She built a career helping others find opportunity while overcoming her own fears along the way. Alka Bahal, partner and chair of Corporate Immigration Services, shares how she went from a shy, introverted law student avoiding the courtroom to a respected leader with nearly 30 years of experience. Along the way, she reveals what it really takes to succeed in law, navigate complex systems, and buil
Who You Are Isn't Who You Think | #18 (Jane Bond)
What if the life you built isn't actually yours? In this episode, Pat Miller sits down with Jane Bond, a high-level strategist who helps successful people confront the truth beneath their achievements. From growing up in the hood to navigating multiple careers across industries, Jane shares how she had to unravel decades of identity to finally discover who she really is. This conversation dives de
She Built Freedom the Hard Way | #17 (Sarah Saffari)
She chased success and found burnout, then rebuilt everything on her own terms. Sarah Saffari shares her unconventional path from aspiring doctor to entrepreneur, revealing how a chance encounter while traveling sparked her vision for freedom. From opening a gym that made money but drained her life, to pivoting into marketing and building a global influencer agency, her journey is filled with risk
From Homelessness to Historic Success | #16 (Paul Lamar Hunter)
What if the odds stacked against you were actually the beginning of your greatest story? In this powerful episode of From Underdog to Entrepreneur, host Pat Miller sits down with author, speaker, and entrepreneur Paul Lamar Hunter, the 19th of 21 children who rose from poverty and homelessness to become the first in his family to graduate from college. Paul shares how rejection, hardship, and bein
What If Success Isn't About Speed, But About Staying Power? | #15 (Michael Grinberg)
On this episode of From Underdog to Entrepreneur, host Pat Miller sits down with Michael Grinberg, CEO and Founder of The RevOps Shop, to unpack a journey that starts in a tiny Brooklyn apartment and scales into the world of AI, tech, and high-growth entrepreneurship. From selling on eBay at 13 to working at HubSpot and launching his own AI-enabled services firm, Michael shares the sacrifices, ris
She Bet on the Trades | #14 (Heather Creech)
A random conversation in a crowded Nashville bar sparked a career shift that would change everything. On this episode of From Underdog to Entrepreneur, host Pat Miller sits down with Heather Creech, Marketing and Business Development Manager at Echo Power Electric, to talk about how a former educator found her calling in the blue collar world. From mentoring students to championing workforce devel
Built From the Bronx: Real Estate, Resilience & Legacy | #13 (Steven Padernacht)
What if the greatest business school you ever attended was your father's dinner table? Steven Padernacht grew up in the Bronx watching his father build a vertically integrated real estate business from the ground up, and those dinner-table deal talks became the foundation of Steven's own two-decade career in real estate. After losing his father at just 27, Steven took the five life lessons his dad
Where Creativity Meets Construction | #12 (Rachel Niederhofer)
What if the path you never planned becomes the one that transforms your life and business? In this conversation, luxury designer and strategic renovation advisor Rachel Niederhofer shares how she went from corporate finance to building a thriving design, construction-management, and real-estate brand. She opens up about the unexpected turns that shaped her entrepreneurial journey, the power of vis
Building Wealth Without Entitlement | #11 (Blake Johnson)
What if the money you leave your kids actually ruins them? In this episode of From Underdog to Entrepreneur, Pat Miller sits down with nationally recognized estate planning attorney Blake Johnson to unpack why traditional inheritance often creates entitlement—and how intentional legacy planning builds stronger families instead. Blake shares his journey from working alongside his father to buying h
Always Be Curious, Not Closing | #10 (Ron Marvo)
What if the fight that almost broke you became the discipline that built your success? In this episode of From Underdog to Entrepreneur, host Pat Miller sits down with business development coach, former Golden Gloves champion, and podcast host Ron Marvo to unpack a journey shaped by resilience, grit, and relentless curiosity. From a life-altering childhood crisis to championship boxing and ultimat
Close Customers for Life | #9 (Josh Cadillac)
What if success wasn't about closing deals—but about eliminating the option to quit? In this episode, real estate coach, investor, and author Josh Cadillac joins host Pat Miller to break down what it really means to build a business that lasts. From being raised in entrepreneurship at age nine, to losing everything in the 2008 crash, Josh shares how underdogs win—by outworking, outlasting, and out
Turning Adversity Into Power | #8 (Rosemary Cescolini)
What if the setback you're facing right now is actually your greatest opportunity? In this episode, host Pat Miller sits down with entrepreneur, manufacturer, and mentor Rosemary Cescolini to unpack a powerful journey that began in teaching and evolved into building a multi-generation construction and manufacturing legacy. From learning the shop floor in a male-dominated industry to growing over 2
Lawyers Who Think Like CEOs | #7 (Damian Conforti)
What happens when a lawyer stops thinking like a prosecutor—and starts thinking like a business owner? In this episode, Pat Miller sits down with Damian Conforti, a former prosecutor turned trusted corporate counsel, to unpack what it really means to practice the business of law. Damian shares how relearning law through an entrepreneurial lens transformed the way he advises CEOs, founders, and lea
From Rock Bottom to Relentless | #6 (Dan Sachkowsky)
A heart attack, a bankruptcy, and a lifetime of grit pushed Dan Sachkowsky to rebuild himself—and redefine what success really means. In this powerful conversation, Dan ("Big D") opens up about humble beginnings, multimillion-dollar wins, losing everything, and the wake-up call that turned pain into purpose. He and host Pat Miller dive deep into what it really takes to grow a business, lead with i
From Battlefield to Boardroom | #5 (Chris Graffagnino)
What happens when life forces you to reinvent yourself? In this episode, Pat sits down with Chris Graffagnino — Army Veteran, Purple Heart Recipient, and Founder of Graff Global — to talk about how an unexpected injury and an unshakable instinct led him from law enforcement to building an international risk management enterprise. Chris opens up about betting on himself, navigating unknowns, losing
Turning Underdog Energy Into Impact | #4 (Ron Nussbaum)
Most people run from the hard road — Ron Nussbaum runs toward it. In this episode, Pat sits down with Marine veteran, software founder, and Construction Champions podcast host Ron Nussbaum to talk about what it really means to start from nothing and build a life you're proud of. Ron shares how the underdog mindset shaped his journey from working his way up in construction, to walking away from the
From Tragedy to Triumph in the Barber World | #3 (Lena Piccininni)
When life gave her no choice but to rise, Lena Piccininni built a career—and a legacy—out of pure grit. In this episode, Lena shares how losing her father at 17 forced her into survival mode, eventually leading her into the male-dominated world of barbering where she had to earn every ounce of respect. From teaching nationwide with Pacinos, to building a loyal client base from scratch, to launchin
From Garage Dream to Coastal Movement | #2 (Tomas Gesumaria)
What if your side hustle on a school bus became a coastal lifestyle brand? In this episode, Pat Miller sits down with Tomas Gesumaria, founder of East Waves Surf Co., to unpack how a high school passion for social media grew into a thriving East Coast surf community and apparel line. From screen-printing in his mom's garage to partnering with surf shops and breweries across the coast, Tomas shar
The Underdog Advantage: Turning Setbacks Into Strength | #1
What if being overlooked was actually your greatest advantage? In this solo episode, host Pat Miller shares her powerful journey from loss and survival to resilience and success. Starting with just $100 and a relentless will to provide for her family, Pat reveals how being an underdog has shaped her path as an entrepreneur—and why your disadvantages can become the very foundation of your success.
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