Growth Mavericks
Growth Mavericks explores the tactical decisions and disciplined habits that help businesses succeed over the long term. Host Adam Callinan, a serial entrepreneur, shares lessons on scaling companies while maintaining mental and physical resilience. Each episode focuses on real-world challenges, actionable insights, and the mindset shifts needed to sustain personal and professional growth. The show is aimed at founders and operators who want to balance ambition with clear priorities.
Episodes
He Was Found in a Box on a Battlefield
What does it take to go from being found as a baby on a battlefield in Iraq to performing in stadiums around the world with one of the biggest bands on the planet?In this episode of the Growth Mavericks Podcast, Adam Callinan sits down with Emmanuel Kelly—singer, entrepreneur, founder of Outlyer Entertainment, and one of the most relentlessly optimistic people you’ll ever meet.Emmanuel’s
Paralyzed at 15: Joshua Waldron on Resilience, Competitive Moats & Building What Others Won't
What if the harder path isn't something to avoid—but actually your greatest competitive advantage?In this episode of the Growth Mavericks Podcast, Adam Callinan sits down with entrepreneur and author Joshua Waldron to explore how deliberately choosing difficult problems can create resilience, competitive moats, and businesses that are exceptionally hard to replicate.At 15 years old, Joshu
20 Years of Solving the Wrong Problem to 170 Locations
What happens when you spend nearly 20 years trying to solve a problem—only to realize you've been solving the wrong one?In this episode of the Growth Mavericks Podcast, Adam Callinan sits down with Tim Vogel, founder and CEO of Scenthound, to unpack the two-decade entrepreneurial journey that eventually created an entirely new category in pet care and grew to 170 locations across the coun
The End of Easy E-Commerce.
Growth Mavericks Podcast — Andrew Youderian, Founder of eCommerceFuelPentane link -> pentane.com/growthWhat does it take to build a business that can run without you—and what will separate the winners from the losers as AI fundamentally changes e-commerce?In this episode of the Growth Mavericks Podcast, Adam Callinan sits down with Andrew Youderian, founder of eCommerceFuel, to discuss
Building a $100M Business Means Eating Glass
Growth Mavericks Podcast — Russell Breuer, Founder of Spot & TangoWhat does it take to go from cooking dog food in a 700-square-foot apartment to building a nine-figure business—and survive the chaos that comes with growing that fast?In this re-release of the Growth Mavericks Podcast, Adam Callinan sits down with Russell Breuer, founder of Spot & Tango, to discuss the realities of
The Plane Crash That Changed Everything
What does it take to build a business that no longer depends on you—and overcome adversity that would stop almost anyone else?In this episode of the Growth Mavericks Podcast, Adam Callinan sits down with Cal Arnold, founder of BTI Log Home Care, to discuss building systems, developing leaders, and transforming an owner-operated company into a true business asset.Cal shares how he purchase
The Community-First Growth Strategy: How Ryan Dunlop Built Love Sweat Fitness
Can you build a successful consumer brand without raising venture capital, quitting your job on day one, or chasing hypergrowth?In this episode of the Growth Mavericks Podcast, Adam Callinan sits down with Ryan Dunlop, co-founder of Love Sweat Fitness, to explore how he and his wife Katie spent years building a loyal fitness community before ever launching products.Ryan shares why keeping
Building Through Chaos: Sabrina Gardner on Entrepreneurship, Cancer & Creating Salt by Sabrina
What happens when one of the most chaotic moments in modern history inspires a business that transforms homes across America?In this episode of the Growth Mavericks Podcast, Adam Callinan sits down with Sabrina Gardner, founder of Salt by Sabrina, to discuss how organizing her own home during the uncertainty of COVID sparked the idea for a custom home organization company that is rapidly
The Long Game of Entrepreneurship: How Mark Windsor Built a Global Brand
Everyone talks about overnight success. Very few founders actually experience it.In this episode of the Growth Mavericks Podcast, Adam Callinan sits down with Full Windsor founder and industrial designer Mark Windsor to discuss what building a successful consumer products company really looks like after more than 15 years.Mark shares how a simple Kickstarter campaign for a folding bicycle
Amanda Sima on Corporate Piracy, Patents, and the Entrepreneur's Fight to Protect Innovation
What happens when you build a breakthrough product, secure patents, attract investors—and then watch a multi-billion-dollar corporation release a copy before you've had the chance to scale?In this episode of the Growth Mavericks Podcast, Adam Callinan sits down with entrepreneur and inventor Amanda Sima to discuss one of the most difficult realities founders can face: intellectual propert
How Ron Schneidermann Scaled AllTrails from $500K to Millions and Why He Walked Away
What happens when you achieve one of the biggest goals of your career?In this episode of the Growth Mavericks Podcast, Adam Callinan sits down with Ron Schneidermann, former CEO of AllTrails and current CEO of ACELY, to discuss scaling one of the most successful outdoor technology companies in the world.Ron shares how he joined AllTrails when it was a six-person company generating just $5
One Dive Changed Everything: Janne Kouri’s Journey From Paralysis to Building NextStep Fitness
What would you do if your life changed in an instant?In this episode of Growth Mavericks, Adam Callinan sits down with longtime friend, entrepreneur, and philanthropist Janne Kouri to discuss the diving accident that left him paralyzed from the neck down—and how that life-altering moment ultimately led him to build one of the most impactful paralysis recovery organizations in the world.Be
Chrisi Hammer on Scaling Sunshine Buns, Retail Growth, and Surviving Entrepreneurial Chaos
In this episode of Growth Mavericks, Adam Callinan sits down with Chrisi Hammer, co-founder of Sunshine Buns, to discuss the realities of building a high-growth consumer packaged goods brand. What started as a beloved family cinnamon roll recipe evolved into one of the fastest-growing frozen bakery brands in retail.Chrisi shares how Sunshine Buns pivoted from a local bakery concept into a
Bree Van Leeuwen & Daily Shade: The Sunscreen Startup That Questioned Everything
In this episode, Adam Callinan sits down with Bree Van Leeuwen, founder of Daily Shade, to break down how a personal moment turned into a four-year product development journey in one of the most regulated industries in the world.After her daughter had a severe allergic reaction to a “safe” sunscreen, Bree uncovered major gaps in the industry—misleading marketing, hidden ingredients, and a
Brynn MacLennan on Slate Flosser: From Idea to $1M+ and Landing Target!
In this episode, Adam Callinan sits down with Brynn MacLennan, founder of Slate Flosser, to break down how she built a fast-growing oral care brand from scratch. From early product validation with dentists to raising $200K on Kickstarter, Brynn shares how she scaled to $1M in revenue and made the jump from DTC into retail.This is a real look at what it takes to build, test, and grow a phy
From $4K Bet to 650 Retailers: The Surf & Turf Club Growth Story
In this episode, Adam Callinan sits down with Taylor Artman, founder of Surf & Turf Club, to unpack how he scaled a golf lifestyle brand into 650+ retail locations across 42 states and multiple countries—all while generating just ~2% of revenue from e-commerce. Taylor’s journey is anything but conventional. After a career-ending injury, he pivoted from professional golf into entrepren
Bootstrapping, Burnout, and Breakthroughs with Po Campo Founder Maria Boustead
In this episode of Growth Mavericks, Adam Callinan sits down with Maria Boustead, founder of Po Campo, to unpack one of the most honest startup journeys you’ll hear.Maria didn’t raise venture capital. She didn’t scale overnight. And for years, it didn’t look like it was “working.”But she kept going.From building prototypes with stapled fabric and Home Depot parts to landing major retail a
The Wild Story Behind SENIQ: From ACL Injury to REI Breakout
In this episode of Growth Mavericks, Adam Callinan sits down with Tina Thompson, founder of SENIQ, to break down the unconventional journey behind one of the fastest-rising women’s outdoor brands. What started during recovery from an ACL injury turned into a breakout brand now landing in REI and reshaping how women think about outdoor apparel.Tina didn’t follow traditional startup advice.
Dovetail Workwear Founder Sara DeLuca on Building a Durable Brand
What happens when a product doesn’t exist… but clearly should?In this episode of Growth Mavericks, Adam Callinan sits down with Sara DeLuca, co-founder of Dovetail Workwear—a brand built to solve a problem most companies ignored: real workwear for women.What started as a simple idea—making better pants for landscapers—turned into a fast-growing brand with deep product complexity, massive
Adam Craft on Building Elevated Craft, Kickstarter Strategy, and Product Design
What happens when a product designer who’s built 100+ products a year decides to bet on himself?You get Elevated Craft—a brand born from engineering precision, relentless iteration, and a wildly successful Kickstarter that broke $2M in pre-sales before manufacturing even scaled.In this episode of Growth Mavericks, Adam Callinan sits down with Adam Craft to unpack a startup story that flip
Nine Startups, Limited Funding, One Global Brand: The Bellroy Story w/ Andy Fallshaw
In this episode of Growth Mavericks, Adam Callinan sits down with Andy Fallshaw, co-founder of Bellroy, to break down what it actually takes to build a global omnichannel brand without shortcuts, hacks, or losing your sanity.This isn’t a growth-hacking story. It’s a durability story.From launching multiple startups (and killing most of them), to building a globally recognized brand from a
Monkey Feet, Joe Rogan, and the Real Cost of Explosive Growth with Paul Jackson
🐒 The Joe Rogan Effect, Monkey Feet, and the Reality of Explosive GrowthWhat happens when Joe Rogan talks about your product on his podcast?For Paul Jackson, co-founder of Animal House Fitness and creator of Monkey Feet, it meant $15 million in revenue in the first 18 months. The product itself is deceptively simple: a device that straps to your foot and allows you to attach dumbbells so
La Gringa Loca vs The Old Supply Chain: How Liza Rozer Disrupted Flower Distribution
🌹 La Gringa Loca & 20,000 RosesWhat happens when a nine-year-old Avon saleswoman grows up, joins the Peace Corps in Ecuador, and disrupts one of the most complex supply chains on the planet?You get Liza Rozer, founder and CEO of 50Flowers.com; one of the first direct-to-consumer flower companies on the internet (launched in 2000, long before Shopify and modern e-commerce tools).In th
From Studio Apartment to $100M+: Spot & Tango’s DTC Breakout with Founder Russell Breuer
In this episode of Growth Mavericks, Adam Callinan sits down with Russell Breuer, Co-Founder and CEO of Spot & Tango, to break down what it really takes to build and scale a nine-figure direct-to-consumer brand.Russell shares the unfiltered story of Spot & Tango’s journey—from cooking dog food in a 700-square-foot NYC apartment to navigating hypergrowth during COVID and making the
AI, eCommerce Growth, and Building 7–8 Figure Brands with Andrew Youderian of eCommerce Fuel
In this episode, Adam sits down with Andrew Youderian, founder of eCommerce Fuel, the private community for 7–8 figure eCommerce founders. Andrew has been a key voice in DTC for more than a decade, building and selling multiple online brands before creating one of the most respected communities in the industry. This conversation dives deep into AI’s impact on eCommerce, how to build a dur
From Chanel in China to Evowarrior: Marie Berry on Community Led Growth and Bone Health
In this episode of Growth Mavericks, host Adam Callinan talks with Marie Berry, a marketer turned founder who went from Adidas and Chanel to scaling a joint venture in China from three to 180 people in a year, exiting a software company, and now building Evowarrior, a women first rucking brand. After a DEXA scan revealed early bone loss, Marie dove into bone health, osteopenia, and weight
How Big Waves, Volcanoes, and Grit Built Dr. Rob Yonover’s See Rescue Streamer
In this conversation, Dr. Rob Yonover explains how surfing heavy North Shore days and studying volcanoes shaped his approach to invention, risk, and business. He details the origin of the See Rescue Streamer, how a simple, visible signal solved a life-or-death problem, and why persistence, lean ops, and direct outreach beat spray-and-pray tactics.What you’ll learnThe bootstrap formula: ke
Turning Pain into Purpose: 6-Time Cancer Survivor Liz Benditt and The Balm Box
In this powerful episode of Growth Mavericks, host Adam Callinan sits down with Liz Benditt, founder and CEO of The Balm Box, to share one of the most inspiring entrepreneurial journeys ever featured on the show. Liz has faced — and beaten — six different cancer diagnoses, transforming her pain into purpose by creating The Balm Box, a company that redefines what it means to give meaningfu
Rockets to Remedies: Mark L. Fox’s Journey Through Aerospace, Innovation, and Health Tech
In this episode of Growth Mavericks, host Adam Callinan, founder of Pentane — the Command Center for eCommerce profitability — sits down with Mark L. Fox, an aerospace engineer turned entrepreneur and health-tech innovator.Mark shares his journey from Cocoa Beach, working on the Space Shuttle program, to pioneering energy therapy and heart rate variability (HRV) technology for healing PTS
From Shark Tank to $60M: Adam Callinan on Scaling Lean and Building Pentane
In this special episode of Growth Mavericks, host Adam Callinan flips the mic on himself — re-airing his guest interview from EcommerceFuel with Andrew Youderian. Together, they unpack a decade of lessons in building, selling, and reinventing how founders think about business, risk, and profitability.Adam shares how fatherhood reshaped his approach to risk and time, why working 70-hour we
Lean, Profitable, and Free: How Alexandra Cristin Scaled Smart and Sold Big
In this episode of the Growth Mavericks Podcast, host Adam Callinan sits down with Alexandra Cristin, founder of Glam Seamless, to unpack an extraordinary journey — from growing up in poverty to building and selling an 8-figure eCommerce brand. Alexandra shares how she turned $1,500 and two shades of hair extensions into one of the most recognized online brands in the beauty space — witho
From Crisis to $20M DTC: Dario Markovic’s E-Commerce Turnaround at Eric Javits
When COVID shut down retail, Eric Javits; a 35+ year luxury hat brand faced an existential crisis. With 98% of revenue tied to wholesale partners like Nordstrom, the business was on the verge of collapse. Enter Dario Markovic, who quickly launched a Shopify store, pivoted the company into e-commerce, and within weeks generated millions in online sales. Fast forward five years, and EricJa
Why Companies Fail: Lessons in Grit from NoBaked’s Jimmy Feeman
In this episode, Adam Callinan and Jimmy Feman dive into the realities of entrepreneurship, grind culture, and the challenge of finding true balance in life. They share candid stories about personal projects, the ups and downs of working with a spouse, and how cultural perspectives shape the way we approach work and success. The discussion explores freedom versus wealth, the shifting land
The Yin & Yang of Brand Growth: SmearCase Founders Joe Rotondo & Drew DiSpirito
In this conversation, Joe and Drew, the founders of SmearCase aka FroCo, share their journey of creating a high-protein frozen dessert alternative to ice cream. They discuss the challenges of launching a product in the retail space, the importance of networking, and the balance between speed and perfection in entrepreneurship. The founders emphasize the significance of authenticity in mar
Owning the Hard Things with Mary Spio, founder of Ceek
In this conversation, Mary Spio shares her remarkable journey from Ghana to becoming a deep space engineer and the founder of Ceek, a platform that integrates VR, AI, and digital twins for various applications, including education and healthcare. She discusses her innovative work in digital cinema, the evolution of Ceek, and the importance of resilience in entrepreneurship. Mary emphasize
The Art of Time: Turning Passion Into Business with Christian Bruhn
In this conversation, Christian Bruhn shares his journey from a keg truck driver to a special operations soldier and then to an entrepreneur in the luxury watch industry. He discusses the challenges of transitioning from military life to civilian work, the motivation behind starting his own watch company, The Art of Time, and how his military experiences shaped his approach to entrepreneu
Profitability Over Hype: How OSHUN Is Doing It Differently with founder Joe Welstead
In this conversation, Joe Welstead, founder of DrinkOSHUN, shares his journey from professional swimmer to successful entrepreneur in the supplement and electrolyte industry. He reflects on the challenges he faced early in life, the lessons learned from building his previous venture, Motion Nutrition, and how he applied those insights to create a unique, health-focused approach to electro
Boundaries & Breakthroughs: Leadership Lessons with Luna Magic’s CEO Shaira Frias
In this conversation, Adam Callinan and Shaira Frias discuss their experiences on Shark Tank, the journey of building Luna Magic, and the challenges of entrepreneurship. They delve into the importance of mindset, self-care, and managing SKU counts in the beauty industry, while sharing valuable insights on navigating growth and maintaining a healthy work-life balance.Chapters00:00 Shark Ta
Embrace the Suck: Purpose, Resilience & Leading Through Crisis w/ Groundswell CEO Jake Wood
In this conversation, Adam Callinan sits down with Jake Wood—Marine Corps scout sniper, founding chairman of Team Rubicon, and now Founder & CEO of Groundswell—to trace his path from the battlefield to building a global disaster‑response nonprofit and, most recently, a software venture. They unpack lessons in leadership, resilience, and the power of storytelling to drive impact, and e
Fueling Resilience: A conversation w/ Glow Body founder + CEO Amita Massey
In this conversation, Amita Massey, founder of Glowbody, shares her inspiring journey from battling a severe eating disorder to creating a wellness brand focused on empowering women. She discusses the importance of mental health, the challenges of entrepreneurship, and her innovative approach to product development. Amita emphasizes the significance of self-care routines and maintaining a
Skater Tees to Millions: A conversation with Kevin Wohlman, Founder of Southern Scholar
In this conversation, Adam Callinan interviews Kevin Wohlman, the founder of Southern Scholar, a premium sock brand. They discuss Kevin's entrepreneurial journey, starting from his childhood experiences of selling candy and t-shirts to his transition from a Big Four accounting firm to launching his own business. The conversation delves into the challenges of growing an e-commerce brand, t
From a Box on a Battlefield to a Stage with Coldplay: A Conversation w/ Emmanauel Kelly
In this conversation, Adam Callinan interviews Emmanuel Kelly, a singer, motivational speaker, and entrepreneur who first rose to fame on The X Factor Australia, where his powerful voice and inspiring life story captured global attention. Born in Iraq and adopted by humanitarian Moira Kelly at the age of 7, Emmanuel overcame extraordinary odds, including being born without limbs due to ch
From Special Operations to a Startup: A Conversation with Loren Bell, Veteran of 20 Years in Special Operations
SummaryIn this conversation, Loren Bell shares his remarkable journey from 20 years in US Special Operations to the world of a startup. He discusses the challenges and lessons learned during his military career, including the rigorous training and mental resilience required in high-stress environments. Loren reflects on the transition to startup life, the risks involved, and the importanc
Travel, Risk, and Resilience: Unpacking PAKT with eComm founder Malcolm Fontier
SummaryIn this conversation, Malcolm Fontier shares his journey from product design to entrepreneurship, detailing the challenges and successes of launching PAKT, a travel gear brand. He discusses the importance of community engagement through crowdfunding, the resilience required to navigate business challenges, and the lessons learned from managing risk in both aviation and entrepreneur
The Marketing Playbook for Startups with Andrew Miller, Founder of GrowthExpertz, Author, and Podcaster
In this conversation, Adam Callinan and Andrew Startups delve into the intricacies of marketing and growth strategies for startups. Andrew shares his journey from founding a startup in college to establishing GrowthExpertz.com, a company dedicated to helping businesses optimize their marketing efforts. They discuss the common pitfalls startups face, particularly the tendency to jump into
From Hugs to Cocktails - A Conversation with Milan Martin, Founder and CEO at Free Spirits
SummaryIn this episode of the Growth Mavericks podcast, Adam Callinan interviews Milan Martin, founder and CEO of Free Spirits, a company that offers non-alcoholic alternatives to traditional alcoholic beverages. Milan shares his journey of creating Free Spirits, the challenges of building a brand in a competitive market, and the importance of embracing discomfort in entrepreneurship. The
Plane Crash to Paradise: A Conversation w/ Cal Arnold, Entrepreneur, Plane Crash Survivor, and Backcountry Gangster
In this episode of Growth Mavericks, Cal Arnold shares his journey from growing up in a remote area of Minnesota to building a successful business in log home restoration. He discusses the importance of overcoming adversity and the lessons learned from his experiences, including a life-changing plane crash that led to the amputation of his left leg. Cal emphasizes the importance and value
From Lamborghinis to Space: A Conversation with Kevin Conway, Pro GT4 Race Car Driver & Phoozy Co-founder
In this episode, we dive into the life and career of Kevin Conway, a professional GT4 race car driver who is also the entrepreneur behind Phoozy, a tech-driven consumer product designed to protect electronic devices from extreme temperatures that is now used in space missions and inside F35 fighter jets. The discussion spans topics from the inception and challenges of Phoozy, navigating t
Welcome to Growth Mavericks, Disrupting Default with Adam Callinan
Welcome to Growth Mavericks -- I’m your host, Adam Callinan. I’m a serial entrepreneur, angel investor, avid outdoorsman, and a family man with crystal-clear priorities. Here’s the thing, entrepreneurship isn’t just about strategy - it’s about stamina. It takes bold moves to start and scale a business, and even more discipline to sustain it - professional and personal. This podcast is abo
