Strap on your Boots

In this episode of Zero to CEO, I speak with leadership coach and somatic practitioner Naomi Scott about why so many high-performing entrepreneurs burn out — even after achieving success. Naomi explains how burnout isn’t a willpower problem, but a nervous system problem, and why the same drive that helps founders succeed can actually prevent them from sustaining growth. We dive into the biology be...

In this episode of Strap On Your Boots , I answer one of the questions I get asked most often How do you decide what to work on next Looking back on a career that spans startups, AI, filmmaking, music, writing, and entrepreneurship, I share the framework that naturally emerged over the years. I discuss why I rotate between creative and technical projects, how curiosity shapes my decisions, why tim...

In this episode of Zero to CEO, I speak with Founder and CEO Allan Khazak about why most high-ticket teams don’t have a lead problem — they have a broken conversion process. Allan breaks down the exact system he uses to help insurance producers, advisors, and service-based businesses increase show rates, reduce no-shows, qualify faster, and close based on economic outcomes instead of product pitch...

In this episode of Strap On Your Boots, I reflect on how startup culture shaped my view of entrepreneurship and why I recently found myself questioning one of my own assumptions. After learning about entrepreneurs who buy existing businesses instead of building companies from scratch, I began wondering whether we’ve become too attached to a single version of what entrepreneurship is supposed to lo...

In this episode of Zero to CEO, I speak with Technology and Operations Expert Issac Hicks about why most AI projects fail — and how entrepreneurs can be part of the small percentage that actually generate real returns. Issac breaks down the gap between AI marketing hype and operational reality, explains why nearly 95% of AI initiatives never make money, and shows what successful AI implementations...

In this episode of Strap on Your Boots, I talk about how artificial intelligence is fundamentally changing entrepreneurship, productivity, and the future of work. Over the last few years, I’ve watched the barriers to building businesses collapse in real time as AI tools dramatically accelerate research, design, marketing, coding, automation, and content creation. What once required teams of specia...

In this episode of Strap on Your Boots, I talk about something that feels less theoretical by the day: the growing impact of AI on business, creativity, and everyday work. Over the past year, I’ve watched AI tools evolve from interesting experiments into practical systems that entrepreneurs and companies are quietly integrating into their daily operations. From marketing and customer support to co...

In this episode of Zero to CEO, I speak with architect, entrepreneur, and father Peter Sandiford, who shares expert insights on how to bring your dream tropical home to life. We explore how to choose the right architect, why Caribbean modernism is on the rise, and how sustainability and technology are reshaping design in the tropics. Peter breaks down what makes a home not only beautiful, but clim...

In this episode of Zero to CEO, I chat with Mitch McGinley, an Exit Planning Advisor and Business Broker specializing in boutique fitness, health, and wellness businesses. Mitch shares three simple steps to plan your ideal business exit — whether you’re looking to sell in five months or five years. We break down what buyers are really looking for, how to avoid costly mistakes, and why your exit st...

In this episode of Zero to CEO, I talk to $200K/month sales strategist Austin Medlin about why most coaches don’t actually need more leads — they need to fix how they’re closing. Austin shares the framework that’s helped over 500 coaches boost their close rates to 60–90% and scale to $50K–$100K months without relying on more ads or complicated funnels. We break down the real reason calls aren’t co...

In this episode of Strap on Your Boots , I break down the reality behind the AI app-building boom and why so many founders are still struggling to get traction. While tools like Claude, Cursor, and modern cloud platforms have made it faster than ever to build apps, the real challenge hasn’t gone away — it’s shifted. I share my experience building apps over the past 30 years, how development has ev...

In this episode of Zero to CEO, I speak with award-winning healthcare CEO Dr. Julie Wilson about how entrepreneurs can scale a service-based business without burning out their teams or losing their core values. Julie shares how she grew Terra Nova Medical Clinics from a single practice into a 30-location healthcare network, all while maintaining quality, culture, and purpose in one of the hardest...

In this episode of Zero to CEO, I speak with leading CEO advisor Jason Baumgarten about the most common ways CEOs and founders fail — and how entrepreneurs can avoid those traps early. Drawing from years of advising top executives, Jason breaks down leadership blind spots, hiring mistakes, and scaling challenges that quietly derail companies. We discuss how teams can actually make leaders better,...

In this episode of Zero to CEO, Capital Futurist Reagan Rodriguez pulls back the curtain on the world of private capital networks and reveals how high-trust dealmakers acquire and scale businesses off the radar. As founder of the 5th Avenue Underground Club , Reagan shares how zero-down acquisitions work, why traditional funding often fails entrepreneurs, and how to tap into the hidden economy of...

 In this episode of Zero to CEO, I speak with Alternative Capital Architect Anthony DeBenedictis, Managing Partner at Avanza Capital Holdings , about how entrepreneurs can access and leverage private credit to fund and scale their businesses. Anthony explains how non-traditional capital sources can outperform traditional loans or equity funding, offering more flexibility, liquidity, and control. W...

In this episode of Future Tech, I speak with former NASA Flight Director and Johnson Space Center Associate Director Milt Heflin about the real engine behind space exploration — the thousands of engineers, contractors, and problem-solvers working behind the scenes. From Apollo recovery missions to the historic Hubble Space Telescope repair, Milt shares what it was like leading teams responsible fo...

In this episode of Zero to CEO, business coach Edward Francis unpacks the deeper skills entrepreneurs need to lead with clarity, adapt under pressure, and grow sustainably. From cultivating authenticity and mindfulness to harnessing neuroplasticity and equanimity, Edward shares how founders can strengthen both mindset and execution. If you want to train your brain like a muscle and turn stress int...

In this episode of Zero to CEO, entrepreneur and author Christopher Volk reveals why the key to wealth isn't just a high salary — it's ownership. Learn how becoming business rich by holding equity in the company you build or work for can dramatically increase your chances of becoming a multimillionaire. Christopher breaks down shareholder return hurdles, the five return components of wealth-buildi...

Dr. Lawrence Kuznetz was on console during Apollo 11, helped build Space Shuttle Columbia, managed human life sciences experiments aboard the International Space Station, and is now developing next generation spacesuit technology for Mars. In this episode of Future Tech, we explore what it was like inside Mission Control during the moon landing, the technical and cultural challenges of building th...

In this powerful episode of Zero to CEO, Rahman Popal, founder of the Law Firm for Tenant Rights , dives deep into the journey of building a social justice-centered legal practice. Learn how Rahman champions tenant rights, serves underserved communities, and maintains profitability while leading with purpose. Discover the challenges of growing a mission-driven firm, strategies for community trust-...

In this episode of Future Tech, I sit down with Blue Origin space explorer Jason Stansell, crew member of Mission NS-37, to break down what spaceflight really teaches you about preparation, risk, teamwork, and perspective. Jason shares what it’s like training for space, flying above Earth, and returning with a completely different view of fear, execution, and community. We talk about why spaceflig...

Rediscover the power of authentic connection in this episode of Zero to CEO with Tim Townsend. With 30+ years in leadership and wealth management , Tim shares how putting people first isn’t just the right thing — it’s a winning business strategy. Learn how to balance tech with human service, build standout client experiences, and lead with empathy in a world full of automation. If you’re tired of...

Unlock real ROI with predictive AI in this episode of Future Tech featuring Pecan AI CEO Zohar Bronfman. While GenAI dominates headlines, Zohar breaks down how predictive models are quietly transforming decision-making and operations across industries. From data democratization to actionable use cases, this episode is a must-listen for leaders ready to use AI to solve real business problems — not...

In this episode of Future Tech, NASA Astronaut Jerry Ross reflects on a lifetime spent inside America’s space program — from engineering classrooms to seven missions aboard the Space Shuttle. Ross shares what it really took to prepare humans for space: relentless training, systems thinking, and the quiet work of thousands of people who never wore flight suits. From EVA tool design and ISS assembly...

Make your startup investor-ready with fractional CFO Armine Alajian in this episode of Zero to CEO. Discover the financial foundations every startup needs to attract funding, pass due diligence, and scale with confidence. Armine shares how clean books, KPI tracking, and smart forecasting can help founders avoid costly mistakes and secure better deals from investors.