Founder's Story
"Founder's Story" by IBH Media is a podcast that goes beyond the typical business interview. It features in-depth conversations with entrepreneurs, exploring the personal struggles and doubts behind their success. Guests include well-known figures like Gary Vaynerchuk and Rob Dyrdek, as well as lesser-known founders. The show aims to provide a raw, honest look at the entrepreneurial journey.
Episodes
Free Trading Isn't What You Think It Is (Wall Street CEO Explains)
Daniel and Daniel Schlaepfer dive into the evolution of trading from human-driven Wall Street desks to today’s app-based, AI-assisted, off-exchange market structure. Daniel explains how he accidentally entered the trading world through a free subway newspaper ad after law school didn’t go as planned, then later rebuilt a new firm after the original company collapsed under regulatory failures. The
This F1 Driver Got Cut, So He Built an AI Company | Ep. 413 with Jack Doohan Co-founder and CEO of Meuze
Daniel and Jack start inside the mind of a Formula 1 driver, unpacking how perception changes at extreme speed, why Monaco feels faster than wider tracks, and how drivers train their bodies to survive brutal heat and stress. The conversation then shifts into Jack’s entrepreneurial chapter, sparked by the uncertainty of being sidelined from Formula 1 after only six races. Rather than sit still and
He had a 9-Figure Exit (Then Almost Lost It All) | Ep. 412 with Steve Salis CEO of Catalogue.co
Daniel and Steve Salis dive into what it really takes to build restaurants at scale, from creating a brand people love to delivering hospitality every single day. Steve explains how restaurants become cultural beacons inside communities, why &pizza was built to recreate the feeling of a local mom-and-pop pizza shop, and how he turned a simple observation inside a Qdoba into a scalable fast-casual
$5B Real Estate Mogul Reveals The Price of Success | Ep. 411 with Mauricio Umansky Founder and CEO of The Agency
Daniel and Mauricio Umansky trace his journey from growing up in Mexico City, delivering pizzas at 16, and becoming one of the most successful luxury real estate figures in the world. Mauricio reflects on selling the Playboy Mansion, the fascination with luxury real estate, and why success eventually becomes less about money and more about making chess moves that shift an industry. The conversatio
He Made Millions Every Year, Then Went $800K Into Debt: Adam Hagaman on the Trap of Success | Ep. 410 Founder of Content Cash Flow
Daniel and Adam Hagaman dive into the painful early chapters of Adam’s life, including growing up without a father, trying drugs in sixth grade, selling drugs, dropping out of school, and going to jail every year from 18 to 25. Adam explains how a party invitation led him to meet his future wife, the daughter of a pastor, and how that relationship introduced him to faith after years of darkness. T
The Supplement Industry Is Broken and Ritual Is Rebuilding Trust From Scratch | Ep. 409 with Kat Schneider Founder & CEO of Ritual
Daniel and Kat explore the origin story behind Ritual, starting with Kat being four months pregnant and unable to find a prenatal vitamin she trusted. Kat explains how women’s health has been underfunded, understudied, and underestimated, and how that gap became the foundation for a brand built on transparency, science, and trust. The conversation covers venture funding, building while raising thr
Ex Meta Executive Reveals Why Your AI Bill Is About To Explode | Ep. 408 with Cylton Collymore Founder of Sirsi
Daniel and Cylton Collymore dive into one of the biggest questions facing founders right now: what happens when AI becomes essential, but the cost and control of that AI sits in someone else’s cloud. Cylton explains why he believes LLMs are still “book smart, not street smart,” why giving AI agents full access to your computer is like handing your bank account to someone on a second date, and why
He Became CEO With Zero Pharmacy Experience. Here's How | Kris Fishman
One in 8 Americans is now on a GLP-1 medication. That is roughly 35 million people, and it created one of the fastest-growing markets in the country almost overnight. The CEO at the center of this episode captured that wave from a company most people have never heard of, and he did it after walking into the industry with zero experience. Thirteen years later, he runs the whole thing. Kris Fishman
Bootstrap or Raise VC? Here's the Math From a $150M Founder | Ep. 406 with Tal Lev-Ami Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer at Cloudinary
Daniel and Tal trace Tal’s origin story from writing code in elementary school to building Cloudinary with two co founders over decades of friendship. Tal explains why bootstrapping forced discipline and protected culture, how Cloudinary grew product led before “PLG” was a label, and what it means for employees when option value rises without constant dilution from new funding rounds. The conversa
The Career Rule That Took Him From Bagger to 3-Time CIO | Ep. 405 with Harrison Allen Lewis Founding Partner at Jacob Meadow Associates
Daniel and Harrison Allen Lewis break down why the best leadership lessons often come from terrible management, and why clarity beats charisma in modern organizations. Harrison explains his operating model for transformation: define the outcome, anchor a strategy to that outcome, then build a plan that the business can own. They also explore career leverage, mentorship, fear as a signal, and why g
Anastasia Soare Built a $3 Billion Empire. Started With No English. No Money. | Ep. 404
Daniel and Anastasia Soare start with Romania, identity, and the immigrant experience, then trace her journey from arriving in the US in 1989 to building one of the most globally recognized beauty brands in the world. Anastasia explains how she went from an esthetician job to renting one room and one chair in Beverly Hills, betting on an overlooked idea: eyebrows. She shares why curiosity and mast
Spencer Pratt Wins LA Mayor and Other Shocking Predictions From Famous Psychic | Ep. 403 with Craig Hamilton-Parker
Daniel and Guest Host Nadja interview Craig Hamilton-Parker about how he developed his psychic practice, how he distinguishes intuition from opinion, and why he believes prediction is about probability, not destiny. Craig shares a bold call on the Los Angeles mayor race, then zooms out to discuss broader global tensions and what he sees as an approaching “pressure window” in the coming years. They
Built a $34M Company on One Lesson From Her Dad at 7 | Ep. 401 with Kate Monroe
Kate Monroe went from Marine Corps veteran to 8-figure CEO, actress, mother, and one of the most relentless entrepreneurs you'll ever hear from. But the lesson that shaped her life did not come from business school. It came from her dad when she was 7 years old.
In this episode of Founder's Story, Daniel Robbins sits down with Kate Monroe to talk about how she scaled her company from $750,000 to n
AI Made MVPs Instant. So Why Are Most Startups Still Losing | Ep. 401 with Eric Ries
Daniel and Eric Ries explore the collision of Lean Startup thinking with the AI era, why “anyone with a credit card” can now access world class tools, and why that democratization also creates brutal competition. Eric argues fatalism about AI is dangerous because we still have agency, but only if we build civic infrastructure and accountability. The conversation then pivots into Incorruptible, whe
Doctors Missed His Son's Disease for 20 Years | Ep. 400 with Chuck Knueve
Daniel Robbins interviews Chuck Knueve about watching his son suffer for decades while the healthcare system searched for answers. Chuck breaks down why Cushing’s disease is so difficult to diagnose, what he believes is broken in the process, and how earlier testing could prevent irreversible harm. He also shares why he wrote the book during COVID, how he learned to write at 73 by joining writing
He Built a $130M Company That Changes How You Sound | Ep. 399 with Shawn Zhang CTO and Co-Founder of Sanas
Daniel Robbins interviews Shawn Zhang, CTO and co-founder of Sanas, about the future of education, AI, and communication, and how a single unfair workplace experience turned into a generational company. Shawn explains why the real value of college is people, not lectures, and why the best startups start with real pain, not cool tech. He tells the origin story of Sanas, how they navigated public cr
How Trauma Built KIND to a $5B Exit | Ep. 398 with Daniel Lubetzky Founder of KIND Snacks
Daniel Robbins interviews Daniel Lubetzky on what shaped his obsession with bridging divides and building mission driven brands. Daniel explains how his father’s Holocaust survival created a survival instinct that later became entrepreneurship, and how early failures taught him the reps he needed before KIND. They dive into the psychology of founders, separating self worth from the pursuit of exce
"AI Isn't Under Control": The Founder Solving a $20 Trillion Problem | Ep. 397 with Brandon Card CEO of Terzo AI
Daniel Robbins interviews Brandon Card, the CEO of Terzo AI, about the hidden financial chaos inside enterprise contracts and why AI is the only scalable way to fix it. Brandon explains how Terzo helps companies treat contracts like financial assets, not legal documents, extracting obligations and commitments with 99.9% accuracy through a hybrid model of AI plus trained human review. They also dis
The CEO Who Predicted Bitcoin, AI, and What's Coming Next | Ep. 396 with Sam Tabar CEO of Bit Digital (BTBT) and White Fiber (WYFI)
Daniel Robbins interviews Sam Tabar on building conviction early, reinventing repeatedly, and taking theses into the public markets. Sam explains how witnessing the shift from analog to digital in the 1990s trained his pattern recognition, why Bitcoin threatened existing power structures by being “money from the people,” and why Ethereum’s smart contracts can disintermediate banks and even lawyers
They Already Wrote My Obituary. I'm 87 and Not Done Yet | Ep. 395 with Maury Povich
Daniel Robbins interviews Maury Povich about how a local news journalist became a national TV icon, the real production machine behind Maury, and what it was like competing in the early talk show wars of the 1990s. Maury explains how the show verified stories like a newsroom, how paternity, lie detectors, and out of control teen themes became mainstream, and why the tabloid talk era directly spawn
He Raised $350M to Rent Roofs: The 1 Sales Rule That Built It | Ep. 394 with John Witchel CEO & Co-Founder of King Energy
Daniel Robbins sits down with John Witchel, co founder and CEO of King Energy, to explore the economics behind today’s energy headlines and why solar plus storage is already the most practical answer for most businesses. John shares why the real bottleneck was never technology, it was incentives and deal structure, especially in multi tenant commercial buildings where landlords pass energy costs t
She Trained Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci and This Is What Actually Works | Ep. 393 with Monique Eastwood Founder of Eastwood Fit App
Daniel opens with a question he has carried since childhood, how real are celebrity transformations and what is actually happening behind the scenes. Monique Eastwood answers from the inside, explaining that transformation is built through consistent training, athletic foundation, and learning how your body moves in space, not a single hack. The conversation spans film readiness, aging and strengt
From Rock Bottom to 2 Exits and a New Brand Built on Discipline | Ep. 392 with Michael Chernow Founder of Kreatures of Habit
Daniel opens by recalling meeting Michael Chernow at Expo West and being struck by his willingness to go back to the grind, personally handing out bars and connecting with people one by one. Michael explains that human connection is his superpower and that word of mouth starts when the founder is the first person to hand you the product and tell the story. From there, the conversation turns into M
The Dark Side of Building a Healthcare System That Works | Ep. 391 with Harry DiFrancesco Founder & CEO of Carda Health
Daniel opens with a personal reflection on how health crises destroy families financially and emotionally, then Harry DiFrancesco explains why he built Carda Health after watching his father struggle to access prescribed rehab after a major heart event. Harry breaks down the structural issue: the system pays for interventions after people get sick, but underinvests in the lifestyle and behavior ch
The Elon Musk Playbook, Space Mining, and the Next Wave Nobody Sees Yet | Ep. 390 with Eric Jorgenson CEO of Scribe Media
Eric Jorgenson, CEO of Scribe, explains why he chose Elon Musk as a subject, arguing Elon is singular in taking max risk on civilization scale problems and repeatedly pulling off what looks impossible. He breaks down his approach to writing as curation, building a “mosaic” from hundreds of sources so the reader feels like Elon is directly mentoring them. Daniel and Eric also discuss polarization,
Why Most Celebrity Brands Fail and How I Built High Level Science Instead | Ep. 389 with Ashley Parker Angel Co-founder of High Level Science
Ashley Parker Angel Co-founder of High Level Science opens up about the highs of becoming famous overnight and the hidden downside no one trains you for. He describes how entertainment can wrap your identity around external validation, how contracts and industry politics can leave artists far less wealthy than the public assumes, and why he reached a point where he wanted real control over his lif
David Grutman: From Bartender to Miami’s Nightlife King | Ep. 338
Daniel talks with David Grutman about the real mechanics of influence: not clout chasing, but doing the work to make people feel taken care of at a level they never expected. David explains how he made Miami “stick” for celebrities and founders by curating unforgettable trips, why hospitality is a game of obsessive details, and how social media turned nightlife into an instant feedback loop that m
Mark Manson: The Subtle Art of Building a 20 Million Copy Empire | Ep. 337
Daniel and Mark Manson go behind the scenes of modern internet fame, content creation, and the psychological cost of being online. Mark shares how he went from blogging in the early backlink era to viral Facebook articles, to traditional media deals, and then back to building a full scale media company. Along the way, they talk about why social platforms can be both magical and toxic, how to stop
She Built the Well-Being Strategy for the CIA. Here Is What Every Company Is Missing | Ep. 336 with Dr. Jennifer Posa
Daniel Robbins sits down with Dr. Jennifer Posa to unpack the real drivers of peak performance, burnout, and culture in elite organizations. Dr. Posa explains that wellbeing is a holistic system that includes emotional regulation, social connection, financial health, psychological safety, and the policies and processes that shape daily work. She shares why the best leaders empower others with conf
What Are You Running From? David Begnaud on Truth, Trauma, and the Oprah Interview | Ep 335 with David Begnaud Founder & CEO of Do Good Crew
Daniel Robbins interviews David Begnaud about the person who believed in him, the pain he carried growing up, and the moment he finally felt safe enough to be fully seen. David tells the story of his English teacher Josette Surratt, who redirected his life into speech and debate and gave him a nonjudgmental space to be vulnerable. He explains why disaster reporting eventually felt empty, how Puert
Why Payments Were Broken and How One Founder Fixed It | Ep. 334 with Thomas Aronica Founder and CEO of Biller Genie
Daniel Robbins interviews Thomas Aronica, the Founder and CEO of Biller Genie, on what it takes to build a fintech product inside an old industry and survive the cashflow chaos that almost breaks founders. Thomas explains how his early payments career began before smartphones, how he kept seeing the same pain point across industries, and how Biller Genie evolved from “free software to drive paymen
He Tried Hundreds of Jobs So You Don’t Waste 10 Years in the Wrong One | Ep. 333 with Gabriel DeSanti Content Creator & Founder of Staj
Daniel Robbins sits down with Gabriel DeSanti to explore what happens when content creation becomes a real career engine and a real impact engine. Gabriel explains how he finds jobs through simple DMs, why the series highlights unsung workers more than it highlights him, and how international episodes changed his perspective on poverty, environmental damage, and craft. He also shares the business
She Built a Luxury Brand With No Money, No Investors, and Instagram | Ep. 332 with Geeorgie Crossley Founder of GeeGee Collection
Daniel Robbins sits down with Georgie Crossley to unpack what it really takes to build a fashion brand in an oversaturated world. Georgie shares how GeeGee Collection started in 2020 with zero budget, how Instagram became her storefront, and how her mission evolved from “beautiful fabric” to “confidence and identity.” They also discuss why she prefers in store retail for premium products, how she
The Real Reason You Can’t Focus and What to Do About It | Ep. 331 with Nir Eyal NYT Best Selling Author
Daniel Robbins interviews Nir Eyal about how beliefs filter reality and why changing a single limiting belief can be the highest leverage move a founder can make. Nir explains why positive thinking and manifesting can backfire, how mental contrasting prepares you for the pain of the process, and why pain is data while suffering is optional. The episode also explores the dangers of over labeling, t
He Left Goldman. Then He Built a $40 Million Real Estate Platform | Ep. 330 with Alex Blackwood Co-founder of mogul
Daniel Robbins interviews Alex Blackwood about the future of real estate investing, why trust and access are the real moats, and how mogul(https://www.mogul.club/) is building a more democratized path to generational wealth. Alex breaks down how mogul sources and underwrites single family rentals, how the platform uses blockchain quietly in the background, and why the biggest opportunity is giving
The B2B Creator Economy Is Wide Open and Nobody Knows Pricing Yet | Ep 329 with David Walsh Founder & CEO of Limelight
Daniel Robbins interviews David Walsh about how Limelight connects B2B brands with trusted creators across LinkedIn, newsletters, podcasts, and YouTube to drive revenue through authentic content. David explains why personality led marketing is becoming the future of B2B, how creator partnerships can outperform paid ads when measured correctly, and why both brands and creators need more transparenc
The Hidden Compliance Wall That Blocks Small Businesses From Big Contracts | Ep. 328 with Kandace Swaisland Founder of KAKSCORP
Daniel Robbins interviews Kandace Swaisland, founder of KAKSCORP, about what “scaling” should actually mean, why many founders scale into collapse, and how compliance, licensing, and operational design determine whether a business can move into bigger work. Kandace explains her framework for credible growth, then breaks down why digital transformation fails when leaders install tools before they u
Why Great Hires Fail and How to Fix Talent Market Fit | Ep. 327 with Deepali Vyas of Founder & CEO, Vyas Media & 'The Elite Recruiter'
Daniel Robbins interviews Deepali Vyas about the real reasons people get put on performance improvement plans, how founders can diagnose misalignment before it becomes a firing decision, and how CEO and C-suite profiles must evolve as companies scale. Deepali shares behind-the-scenes insight into executive hiring dynamics, including the power networks that shape boards and why women founders can f
Neuro-Optometrist: Your Eyes Are Sabotaging Your Performance and You Have No Idea | Dr. Bryce AppelbaumYour Eyes Are Sabotaging Your Performance and You Have No Idea | Ep. 326 with Dr. Bryce Apbaum
Daniel Robbins interviews Dr. Bryce Appelbaum about why training the eye brain connection can be one of the biggest performance upgrades available and why vision decline with age does not have to be inevitable. They discuss functional vision problems that often go undetected, how screen habits are creating widespread strain and fatigue, and what people can do right now to improve clarity, stamina,
They Found a Problem Nobody Had Solved, Built It, and Scaled to 4.5M Users in Two Years | Ep. 325 with Martin Jensen and John Ramos CEO and CTO of Prop Firm Match
Daniel Robbins interviews Martin and John about Prop Firm Match, a platform that compares prop firms across categories like forex, futures, crypto, and stocks. The episode covers why most traders use prop firms to access larger capital pools, the dangers of unreliable firms, and how Prop Firm Match vets providers and uses verified trader reviews to create transparency in a fast-growing part of the
What It Really Feels Like to Sell Your Company to IKEA | Ep. 324 with Leah Solivan Founder of TaskRabbit
Leah Solivan, the Managing Director of Precedent.vc, explains that acquisitions are emotional and overwhelming, and that “you can’t sell a company, it has to be bought,” even though TaskRabbit still ran a banker led process. She recounts how IKEA was a natural fit from day one because TaskRabbit’s top job was always IKEA assembly, leading to a London partnership that increased order value and cust
Burnout Is a Nervous System Problem Not a Productivity Problem | Ep. 323 with Mandy Morris Executive Psychology Coach and Co-founder of SoFree
Daniel Robbins interviews Mandy Morris about emotional intelligence, boundaries, burnout, and the neuroscience of regulation for founders and leaders. Mandy breaks down why executives often avoid EQ because they think it means talking about feelings, when it actually means managing emotional data so you can lead with clarity and steadiness.
Key Discussion Points:Mandy explains that the emotional c
How to Keep Key Leaders Without Raising Salaries (And Why It Can Profit the Company) | Ep. 322 with Bob Nienaber Founder and CEO of BenefitRFP
Daniel Robbins interviews Bob Nienaber, the Founder and CEO of BenefitRFP, about how founders should think about retirement planning, executive compensation, and retention strategies as a company scales. Bob explains the mechanics and intent behind executive benefit platforms, why qualified plans are restrictive for highly compensated employees, and how governance ready incentive structures can al
The $1M Shark Tank Surge and the Product Test That Changed Everything | Ep. 321 with Wombi Rose Co-Founder and CEO of Lovepop
Daniel Robbins interviews Wombi Rose about building Lovepop, the company that revolutionized greeting cards with Slicegami, a fusion of kirigami and ship design software. The conversation covers Lovepop’s mission to create one billion magical moments, how customer driven testing validated demand early, what Shark Tank really feels like from inside the doors, and how Lovepop is adapting its product
Stephen Fishbach: The Truth About Reality TV (It’s Real, But Not What You Think) | Ep. 320 with Stephen Fishbach Best Selling Author of Escape!
Daniel Robbins interviews Stephen Fishbach about the psychology of reality TV, the real lived intensity of Survivor, and the behind the scenes craft of producers who turn real life into a compelling story arc. Stephen also shares how he strategically leveraged his reality TV identity into writing, using that world as the bridge to a literary career through his novel Escape!
Key Discussion Points:S
The Future of Space and Startups: Where Smart Investors Are Betting Next | Ep 319 with Jake Chapman Managing Director of Marque Ventures
Daniel Robbins interviews Jake Chapman about how Marque Ventures invests in early stage companies advancing U.S. national security and Western values. Jake shares how his work moved from private investing into rethinking venture activity inside the Department of War and back out again into building a private firm designed to fund the future of defense, dual use, and strategic technologies.
Key Dis
He Helps Executives Go From Good to Great and His First Move Is Radical | Ep. 318 with Steven Lovett Founder/CEO of Principled Consulting Services
Daniel Robbins interviews Steven Lovett about what separates good executives from great ones and why many leaders get stuck optimizing a business model they should be redesigning. Steven shares how his work with C-suite teams and boards focuses on helping leaders shift from reactive, short term thinking into strategic intelligence that prepares organizations for market change, innovation, and long
He Got Thrown Out of School, Went to Clown School, and Ended Up at Harvard Medical School | Ep 317 with John Glaser
Daniel Robbins interviews John Glaser about the unconventional experiences that shaped his worldview long before his career in digital health leadership. From Jesuit schooling and getting expelled to hitchhiking across continents and later teaching at Harvard, John shares how curiosity, nonconformity, and human understanding became central to both his life and leadership.
Key Discussion Points:Joh
The French Industrialist Betting on Robotics to Cure Disease (And the Ethical Line He Won’t Cross) | Ep. 316 with Hervé de Malliard President of Maison MGA
Daniel Robbins interviews Hervé de Malliard about the manufacturing mindset he learned while building industrial projects in China from 1994 to 1999 and how that shaped his approach to building complex engineered systems in healthcare. Hervé shares why Maison MGA focuses on integrating robotics and instrumentation into cleanroom environments to support life science workflows, and why TechBio will
He Lost $50M and Didn’t Quit: The Mindset That Rebuilt Everything | Ep. 315 with Rod Khleif Founder of Lifetime Cashflow Academy
Daniel Robbins interviews Rod Khleif about the crash that wiped out $50M of his net worth, the mindset tools that helped him rebuild, and the business mechanics behind commercial real estate syndications. Rod breaks down how he teaches students to take massive action, focus on cash flow, and design their lives with clear goals that push them through fear.
Key Discussion Points:Rod explains how Ton
They’re Building the “Safety Layer” for Space and It Could Change the Future of Humanity | Ep 314 with Minh Nguyen & John Avera Co-Founders of xOrbita
Daniel Robbins interviews Minh Nguyen and John Avera of xOrbita about why space is becoming a major commercial frontier and why orbital debris is one of the biggest hidden risks in orbit. The episode explores how xOrbita is building affordable debris detection and smarter collision avoidance systems to help protect satellites and extend mission life.
Key Discussion Points:Minh explains why cheaper
The Costly Mistake Leaders Are Making Right Now | Ep 313 with KeyAnna Schmiedl Chief Human Experience Officer of Workhuman
Daniel Robbins interviews KeyAnna Schmiedl of Workhuman about the growing fear of AI in the workplace and why leaders must stop treating AI as a workforce replacement strategy. KeyAnna shares a practical, human-centered roadmap for adoption, arguing that people are the true differentiator in a world where companies may all have access to similar AI tools.
Key Discussion Points:KeyAnna explains tha
What Jay-Z, Will Smith, and the Olympics Taught Him About Winning in Business | Ep 312 with Samyr Laine Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Freedom Trail Capital
Samyr Laine joins Founder’s Story to share his unconventional path from Olympic athlete to operator inside some of culture’s most influential companies before launching Freedom Trail Capital. He reflects on what it was like working directly with Jay-Z and Will Smith, the discipline and communication patterns that define elite performers, and how those experiences shaped his investment philosophy a
The $2.8B Brand Builder Explains Why Your Marketing Is Failing | Ep 311 with Bill Harper Co-Founder of BrandBossHQ
In this episode, Daniel sits down with Bill Harper, Co-founder of BrandBossHQ, to explore why storytelling sits at the center of brand growth and differentiation. Bill shares how his work through BrandBossHQ has helped hundreds of companies clarify positioning, create emotional relevance, and transform attention into measurable revenue. The conversation unpacks practical frameworks founders can ap
$0 to $100M Without Funding: The 22-Year Game No One Talks About | Ep 310 with Karan Yaramada Founder of Jade Global and Kanverse.ai
In this episode, Karan Yaramada—Founder and CEO of Jade Global—offers a candid, CEO-level perspective on one of the most critical decisions leaders face when scaling their businesses: whether to pursue organic growth or acquisition-driven growth. Drawing from his experience building Jade Global into a global technology and services firm, Karan breaks down the strategic trade-offs between growing f
The Dating App Rewriting the Rules of Love | Ep 309 with Sergio Giles Founder of Date Draft
Sergio Giles joins Founder’s Story to discuss why so many people are frustrated with traditional dating apps and how Date Draft introduces a new sports-inspired model to online dating. Drawing from his NFL fandom, Sergio reframes dating as “drafting,” “scouting,” and even “trading,” creating a more interactive, gamified experience that moves beyond endless swiping and repetitive chats.
Key Discuss
From Wall Street to Homelessness: How He Rebuilt Everything & Deployed $250M | Ep 308 with Frank Scarso Founder of Avanza Capital Holdings
Frank Scarso shares the deeply personal story behind his fall from Wall Street, his battle with addiction, and the three years he was estranged from his wife and children. He reveals how a single moment of clarity sparked his recovery, leading him to build Avanza Capital, an alternative lending platform that has deployed over $250 million to small businesses across 48 states. The episode explores
The Attorney CEO: How I’m Saving A 54-Year-Old Legacy Brand | Ep. 307 with Mina Haque CEO of Tony Roma
Mina Haque shares her unconventional path from running her own law firm to leading one of the most iconic restaurant brands in the world. The conversation explores how entrepreneurial problem-solving prepared her to transform a legacy company, how nostalgia and modernization can coexist, and why resilience matters more than virality in today’s economy.
Key Discussion Points
Mina explains how being
The Dark Side of Selling Your Company No One Warns You About | Ep 306 with Sunaina Sinha Haldea
Sunaina Sinha Haldea joins Founder’s Story to challenge the dominant startup narrative that the ultimate goal of entrepreneurship is a clean, lucrative exit. Drawing from multiple acquisitions, board experience, and decades advising founders and investors, she explains why businesses must be built to last—not just to sell—and why exits often bring unexpected grief, identity shifts, and psychologic
The Sense That Controls Your Emotions—And Why Tech Is Finally Hacking It | Ep 305 with Siddhartha Kunti Founder of Studio SK
Daniel interviews Siddhartha Kunti on Founder’s Story to explore whether scent can become a digital medium, like sound or video. Siddhartha shares the moment that sparked his shift from AI surgical planning into olfactory innovation, why smell is uniquely tied to emotion and memory, and what it could unlock in healthcare, education, wellness, and immersive consumer experiences.
Key Discussion Poin
She Found His Notebook After He Died—What Was Inside Changed Everything | Ep 304 with Jo Ann Brechtel
Jo Ann Brechtel joins Founder’s Story to share the story behind A Messenger of the Light, a book born from profound loss and an unexpected discovery. She explains how, after her son Warren’s sudden death, she found a notebook filled with his artwork, dated and signed pieces, and personal spiritual writings that expressed his belief in “the light within us.” Jo Ann describes turning grief into purp
Why Selling Your Business Feels Like Grief | Ep 303 with Sunaina Sinha Haldea
In this episode of Founder’s Story, Sunaina Sinha Haldea breaks down what founders need to think about years before an exit is even possible. From building businesses that can survive cycles and disruption to navigating the emotional grief that comes after selling, this conversation explores exits as both a financial and deeply human transition.
Key Discussion Points:Sunaina explains why engineeri
The Truth About Founder Wealth | Ep 302 with Julian Metcalfe Founder of Pret a Manger and itsu
This Founder’s Story episode features Julian Metcalfe, the founder behind Pret A Manger and itsu, sharing hard earned lessons from decades in food and retail entrepreneurship. He explains why founders should focus less on prestige and more on solving real customer problems, building trust, and obsessing over product quality and detail.
Key Discussion Points:
Julian pushes back on romantic founder
Why Applying for Jobs Is a Waste of Time (And What Actually Works Instead) | Ep 301 with Julia Arpag Founder of Aligned Recruitment
Julia Arpag, the founder of Aligned Recruitment, joins Founder’s Story to explain how hiring actually works behind the scenes in today’s AI-driven job market. She shares why most resumes disappear into a black hole, how recruiters and founders really find talent, and why networking, LinkedIn optimization, and human connection still outperform every automated system.
Key Discussion Points
Julia arg
Why Most Companies Die After Hitting $1M Revenue | Ep 300 with Yarin Gaon Founder of Fractional Partners
Yarin Gaon joins Founder’s Story to explain why the leap from $1M to $10M is where most companies stall or die. He unpacks the “adolescence stage” of business, where founders must decide what they are actually scaling, and why the hustle logic that got you to traction stops working once you have a team, multiple revenue streams, and limited capital.
Key Discussion Points:Yarin explains that founde
The Testosterone Myth That’s Costing Men Years of Their Lives | Ep 299 with Shalin Shah CEO of Marius Pharmaceuticals
Shalin Shah joins Founder’s Story to explain why declining testosterone levels represent a global health crisis and how outdated myths, regulations, and delivery methods have held back effective treatment. He shares the science behind testosterone as a core metabolic hormone, the FDA approval of KYZATREX, and why oral therapy marks a paradigm shift in how men (and women) can age healthier, longer
The Hiring Disaster: Why 50% of Your Employees Will Quit (And How to Fix It) | Ep. 298 with Manouj Gupta Founder of ACHNET
In this episode of Founder’s Story, Daniel Robbins sits down with Manoj Gupta to unpack why modern hiring fails so often and how AI agents are reshaping how companies evaluate talent. Manoj explains how ACHNET’s AI agent, iJupiter, unifies resumes, interviews, and assessments into a single system that helps leaders make clearer, faster, and less biased hiring decisions.
Key Discussion Points
Manoj
Why We Have All Become "Sick, Stupid & Angry." | Ep 297 with Dr. Robert Lustig
In this Founder’s Story episode, Dr. Robert Lustig connects the dots between physical illness, mental health disorders, and societal unrest, arguing they all stem from a single neurological breakdown. He introduces the concept of the “hostage brain,” explaining how chronic stress, dopamine overload, and environmental changes have disabled the brain’s natural brakes, leaving the amygdala in a const
She Made $3M in One Week With 7 Words | Ep 296 with Aurora Winter Founder of Same Page Publishing
In this recorded episode of Founder’s Story, Aurora Winter joins Daniel Robbins to deliver a masterclass on storytelling, neuroscience, and why the right words at the right time can change the trajectory of a business, a book, or an entire career.
Key Discussion Points
Aurora shares the moment she realized storytelling wasn’t a “nice-to-have” but a revenue-defining skill—when seven carefully chose
He Turns Body Heat Into Energy | Ep 295 with Seth Casden Founder of Hologenix
Seth Casden joins Founder’s Story to explain how Hologenix is delivering health and wellness through everyday textiles, why infrared science took years to gain acceptance, and how building a meaningful company requires patience, humility, and a long-term mindset.
Key Discussion Points
Seth explains how CELLiant technology captures the body’s natural heat and converts it into infrared energy that r
From Music Video Dancer to Recovery CEO: The Dark Side of Early Fame | Ep 294 with Amanda Marino Founder of Next Level Recovery Associates
Amanda Marino shares her journey from child runway model and hip hop music video dancer to addiction, recovery, and ultimately founding Next Level Recovery Associates, a global concierge recovery service helping individuals and families navigate addiction, mental health, and trauma with privacy and care.
Key Discussion Points
Amanda Marino reflects on the contrast between early fame in the enterta
The Manager Behind Brooke Monk: 'We Spent 2 Years Building Her Product—Here's Why'| Ep. 293 with Devain Doolaramani Founder of Friends In Reality
Devain Doolaramani shares how Friends In Reality evolved into a next-generation digital talent management company, representing elite creators like Brooke Monk while helping creators transition from brand deals to long-term, scalable businesses. Drawing from years inside the creator economy, he explains why digital creators have replaced traditional celebrities in the eyes of younger audiences and
The Stanford Professor Who Uses Hypnosis Over Medication: '15% Less Stress In 10 Minutes' | Ep 292 with Dr. David Spiegel
In this episode of Founder’s Story, Daniel sits down with Stanford’s Dr. David Spiegel to unpack hypnosis with a level of clarity most people have never heard. Dr. Spiegel explains why hypnosis is not a loss of control, but an increase in control, and walks through the three core components that make it work. They explore how hypnosis differs from meditation, how it can help with stress and insomn
Why Every Major Bank Still Uses 1965 Technology: The Trading 'Rails' Revolution That Changes Everything | Ep 291 with Peter Ashton CEO of Veyra Holdings
In this Founder's Story conversation, Peter Ashton breaks down the science, strategy, and soul behind Veyra—a trading platform designed to close the wealth gap by giving everyday people the same predictive tools that have been exclusive to Wall Street's elite for decades. Through personal stories of transition, loss, discovery, and a bold vision for 2026, Peter reveals why the future of trading is
When the Siren Stops: What Really Happens After the Call Ends (And Why No One Talks About It) | Ep 290 with John P. Yirku
In this Founder’s Story conversation, John Yirku shares the realities of first responder life—the trauma that accumulates silently, the memories that haunt long after the sirens fade, and the emotional cost families often bear without ever being asked. Through personal stories, including the moment he realized he wasn’t okay, John explains why communication is the lifeline to healing and how his f
The Entrepreneur Proving You Don't Have To Choose Between Profit & Purpose | Ep 289 with Stuart White Founder of We Are Our World
Stuart White traces We Are Our World’s origin to a powerful scene on a Hawaiian beach that reframed how he thinks about access, dignity, and everyday generosity. He explains how WAOW’s model works (discounted products + automatic donations), why trust matters (Forbes Top 100 rotation each December), and how transparent cashback and referrals can turn giving into a repeatable habit.
Key Discussion
Legenday Artist Eric Bellinger: From Making Voicemails to Working With The Biggest Music Artists in the World and The Price of Fame | Ep 288 with Eric Bellinger
In this Founder’s Story episode, Eric Bellinger dives deep into the early roots of his career, from recording voicemail songs for friends to becoming one of the most respected artists and songwriters in R&B. He shares stories from the studio, life on tour, how TikTok and AI are reshaping music, and why staying humble keeps him grounded while performing worldwide.
Key Discussion Points:
Eric opens
The Outsourcing Trap: Why Most Founders Do It Wrong (Until It Nearly Breaks Them) || Ep 287 with Nicolas Bivero CEO & Co-Founder of Penbrothers
Nicolas Bivero, CEO & Co-Founder of Penbrothers, breaks down the biggest misconceptions founders have about outsourcing and reveals why global teams only succeed when built with intention, clarity, and cultural intelligence. With 20+ years scaling ventures across Asia — including nearly a decade building companies for a 170-year-old Japanese multinational — Nicolas shares the hidden realities of b
If the Public Knew This About AI, They'd Panic: Roman Yampolskiy | Ep 286 with Dr. Roman Yampolskiy
In this episode, Daniel and Kate sit down with Dr. Roman Yampolskiy, one of the world’s leading researchers on AI safety, superintelligence, and the existential risks no one in Silicon Valley wants to talk about. His work has been featured by BBC, MSNBC, New Scientist, and dozens of global outlets — and his message is simple: we are racing toward something we don’t understand.
Roman explains why t
Stop Suffering in Silence, The Science of Lasting Longer and Better Sex | Ep 285 with Jeff Abraham Founder of Promescent
Jeff explains how Promescent grew from a single PE treatment pioneered by Dr Ronald Gilbert into a full spectrum sexual wellness brand trusted by physicians and consumers. We unpack the medical data behind PE, the credibility strategy that won over leading urologists, and the retail playbook that carried Promescent from Target to national footprint.
Key Discussion Points:Jeff recounts meeting Dr G
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