Born or Made

Rob Stein is a national speaker, coach, entrepreneur, published author, and championship bodybuilder who has built and scaled multiple businesses across a variety of industries, including the creation of the #1 online training platform in the United States for real estate sales. Through this work, he has spoken to over 50,000 people and coached more than 12,000 entrepreneurs nationwide, experience...

Raised on a working farm and shaped by his service in the Marines, Jay has built a life defined by grit, resilience, and an unwavering belief that where there's a will, there's a way. Throughout his journey as an entrepreneur and business leader, he has faced life's highest highs and toughest setbacks, drawing strength from faith, purpose, and the choices we make every day. Now in his mid-70s and...

Guy is a seasoned theater presence who studied at Shaw University in Raleigh, NC, has been featured on Broadway in Oprah Winfrey’s The Color Purple. For years he has brought his unique flavor to an impressive variety of roles in New York City and Connecticut, commanding the stage in productions of Charles H. Fullers A Soldiers Play, August Wilson's Seven Guitars, and Tennessee Williams A Streetcar...

Robb Costomiris is a capital markets and fundraising executive with more than 20 years of experience across Wall Street, private equity, real estate, and investment advisory firms. As President of MIOYM Equities, he leads capital formation efforts for real estate projects nationwide, helping investors and operators navigate complex deals from sourcing to exit. Having managed teams of more than 150...

Raul Villacis is an entrepreneur, investor, author, and speaker. He’s the CEO of Next Level Experience an Entrepreneurs Mastermind Coaching and Mindset Program. Over the years, Raul worked with some of the biggest names in personal development coaching, marketing, and real estate. Raul Villacis has started a global wave of male re-empowerment. As an entrepreneur and a man who believes in the power...

Christian Palmer is a fitness and nutrition coach with more than 15 years of experience helping men regain confidence, improve their health, and build stronger lifestyles through nutrition and fitness. As the founder of Relentless Fitness And Nutrition, he specializes in helping men overcome challenges like low testosterone, diabetes, high blood pressure, IBS, and other health concerns while build...

Pat Damiano, known by many as “the kettlebell guy,” helps people build real strength through simple, effective workouts that fit into everyday life. Through his coaching and online content, Pat focuses on helping busy individuals train smarter with minimal equipment, no gym requirements, and routines built around longevity, functionality, and consistency. His approach makes fitness more approachab...

Christopher Gabriel is the founder of Life Science Performance, where he helps individuals improve performance, resilience, and longevity through measurable, systems-based health strategies. With more than 20 years of experience, his work combines advanced diagnostics, nervous system regulation, metabolism, and behavior to create practical protocols that drive long-term results. Christopher has al...

Evan Wyler is a husband, father of three, proud Stamford resident, and the founder of Smooth Move & Delivery. Built on the belief that moving should be simple, efficient, and stress-free, Evan has grown the company into a trusted name by offering a full range of services under one roof. Through leadership, consistency, and a strong focus on customer experience, he has helped families and busin...

On this episode of the Born or Made Podcast, we feature Jithu Sajeevan, a 23-year-old entrepreneur who turned challenge into momentum after moving from India to the United States at a young age. Once struggling with English as a freshman, Jithu went on to become president of four high school clubs, earn more than 40 scholarships, and attend the University of Connecticut on a full ride. He is now t...

Emanuel Ochoa is a real estate professional focused on multifamily and commercial properties across the NYC metropolitan area. His approach centers on disciplined underwriting, strategic positioning, and long-term decision-making. He works closely with clients on acquisitions and dispositions while building his own portfolio with a focus on structure and sustainability. Starting his career in sale...

An architect, builder, and entrepreneur, Lance Cayko joins the Born or Made Podcast to talk about his journey into entrepreneurship. Lance is the owner and co-founder of F9, an award-winning architecture firm that crafts sustainable, modern designs for both residential and commercial clients. In this episode, Lance shares the importance of having a mentor,  AI in the world of architecture, and how...

Abbe F. Large is a Managing Director at Lenox Advisors, where she focuses on financial planning, estate strategy, and asset management. With over 30 years of experience, she helps individuals and families make clear, confident financial decisions. Her perspective was shaped by caring for her father during his battle with pancreatic cancer, which deepened her belief in planning that protects what m...

Derrick Pledger is a US Army Veteran, digital strategist, author, and technology executive who believes we are looking at failure through the wrong lens. He says failure is an asset, and the ones who have failed the most are also the most successful. In this episode, Derrick shares his story of how one day he woke up and decided to join the army and how that changed the trajectory of his life in a...

Renel Domond is an entrepreneur, financial literacy educator, and tech-driven business builder based in Stamford, CT. As co-owner of Juice Kings, he has spent over four years growing a wellness-focused brand while leading operations, marketing, and team development. Through his initiative Financially Lit, he teaches young professionals, men, and formerly incarcerated individuals how to take contro...

Dave Pennington is a business architect and executive coach. As the founder of Penn Coaching and Consulting, Dave helps business owners scale, profit, and/or sell their companies for maximum profit. In this episode, Dave takes us through his journey first as a pastor, then a business executive, and finally to becoming a founder and coach.

In this episode, Kate Stone, founder of Kate Stone Prep, joins the Born or Made Podcast to challenge how students approach college. She shares why high achievement often lacks direction and how her model builds real clarity through impact, expertise, and relationships. This episode shifts the focus from getting in to building a path that lasts beyond college.

In this episode, Steve Ramona—business mentor, podcast host, and human SEO—talks about what it means to serve other people in business and in life. Steve believes in creating meaningful connections and partnerships by serving others. He shares with us his insights on how putting people first is important in business, relationships, and life.

In this special episode of the Born or Made Podcast, roles get reversed as Brandon Gaydorus (Founder of Warm Heart Life) interviews the Larry to share some stories and life lessons as we celebrate EPISODE 100!!

Known as “The World’s Strongest Accountant,” Delaney has built a dual legacy—breaking records on the platform while guiding entrepreneurs to scale smarter, structure deals, and save millions in taxes. A TEDx speaker and international presenter, Delaney has advised on multimillion-dollar acquisitions, crafted creative financing strategies, and helped business owners position themselves for long-ter...

Angelo Zanetti's is the founder and co-owner of South Africa's leading web and software development agency, Elemental, where they help develop tech solutions for websites, e-commerce stores, and web applications. In this episode, Angelo talks about how he got his start in the tech industry, how AI is affecting the work they do at Elemental, and going through the lessons and challenges of founding...

Omar Fortt is the founder of the Runner’s Collective, a fast-growing run club he launched in 2024 to bring people together through movement and connection. Based in Stamford, he has built a strong reputation as a community leader who creates spaces where people feel welcomed, challenged, and supported. A former college football player at University of Connecticut, Omar carries the discipline and t...

Founder and CEO of The COO Solution Derek Fredrickson helps business owners implement the right systems within their company operations so that the business runs like well-oiled machine. He uses the Entrepreneurial Operating System, a comprehensive business framework designed to help leadership teams gain clarity, build traction, and establish accountability structures that work. In this episode,...

Gavin is an Athlete-Entrepreneur who enjoys the occasional cigar. With over 500,000 followers across social media, his job is to be the best at what I do so others know they can do so too. He spends the majority of his time training for Powerlifting championships, filming and editing content for brand sponsors and his online training business, and spending time with family. Performing in front of...

Entrepreneur, public speaker, and cybersecurity expert, Brett Gallant, joins the Born or Made Podcast this week to speak on his beginnings selling ice cream as a 12-year-old to running a major cybersecurity provider. He talks about overcoming the challenges of reinventing yourself to become the person you're meant to be. From losing over 150 pounds to starting his own IT company, Brett teaches us...