Actually, I Can.

When Kristi Candela started building BeeCene, she thought she already knew the first step. Find a technical co-founder. It wasn't just advice she heard once. It was embedded in startup culture. Investors asked about it. Accelerator applications reinforced it. Other founders repeated it. Everywhere she turned, the message was the same: if you weren't technical, you needed someone who was...

When Leslie Venetz decided to leave a successful corporate sales career and start her own business, she expected people to have opinions. She didn't expect so many of those opinions to sound exactly the same. If you're going to start a company, they told her, it needs to scale. You need employees. You need growth. You need a bigger vision. Otherwise, what's the point? The advice cam...

Stella Garber has been told her whole life that she is too direct. Too bossy. Too aggressive. She heard it as a kid. She heard it as a young manager. She’s heard it her entire career. And she’s spent years wondering whether she’d be getting that feedback at all if she were a man. Her answer: absolutely not. Stella is a repeat founder and the co-founder and CEO of Hoop, an AI customer support agent...

Joy Hoover invented a lipstick with a panic button in the base and a drink-testing strip in the cap. She built a national nonprofit from nothing over 12 years that landed in the top 10% in the country. She won Top Tech of the Year in 2024. And when she decided to run for Congress - going up against a 14-year incumbent in a district that hasn’t flipped since 1972 - the people around her told her it...

Scott Leese’s first sales manager pulled him into his office, looked him dead in the eye, and told him to stop caring so much about his people. Stop going to lunch with them. Stop being their friend. Draw a harder line. Then he said something that has lived rent-free in Scott’s head for over 20 years: “Scotty’s little sales club is never gonna work.” Scott didn’t listen. He built his teams the way...

During COVID, Brooke Sellas posted something honest on Instagram - two words: “I am so tired.” She wasn’t complaining. She was being human. The mentor she’d hired to help her build her personal brand told her it was a mistake. Leaders only show the good parts, they said. Brooke almost believed it. Brooke is the founder and CEO of B Squared Media, a social media agency she bootstrapped - with no fu...

Katie Robbert has been told to stay quiet, stay in her lane, and let someone else be the face of the company. She heard it from a mentor she respected. She heard it from investors. She heard it so many times she almost believed it. She didn’t.  Katie is the CEO of Trust Insights, an AI education and analytics firm she co-founded eight years ago. And she holds that title deliberately, because someo...

Ted Harrison has heard the advice a hundred times: negotiate everything, ask for the friends and family discount, don’t spend what you don’t have to. He heard it from other agency founders. From coaches. From people who have genuinely built successful businesses. He thought about it, and then he emailed a vendor to ask them to charge him more. That’s not a bit. That’s just how Ted builds. The foun...

Nomiki Petrolla gets told to think smaller. A venture contact - someone who didn’t know her well enough - looked at her vision for Theanna and decided the problem she’s solving is probably just a “lifestyle business.” Nomiki, who has been obsessively building for 15 years, collecting data points and ignoring the noise, heard the feedback and thought: no thanks. Then she moved on. What you'll...

Alina Vandenberghe gets asked constantly: "Why don't you seek an exit?" In CEO communities, at events, from advisors, the assumption is always that a $3 billion exit is the ultimate goal every founder should pursue. She's been building Chili Piper for a decade. She's not selling. What you'll learn: Why the standard exit advice completely misses the point for values-dr...

Actually, I Can is a show for founders who are tired of being told how they’re supposed to bring their vision to life. Every episode focuses on guidance the guest received that turned out to be terrible advice for them as a founder. Host Lindsay Tjepkema talks with founders about these moments, how they responded to them, and what happened because of it. These are not origin stories or victory lap...

What does it look like to build something that companies aren't ready for? Justin Clifford is the CEO of Bereave, a company helping organizations navigate death, bereavement, and grief support in the workplace. Justin opens up about what it’s like to lead a “death tech” company, the resistance he’s faced, and how he’s building a platform that changes the way we're supported through loss....

What if the path you’re on isn’t the one you’re meant to stay on? Fabian Rodriguez opens up about the power of letting go of outdated definitions of success, the invisible toll of constantly trying to “prove” yourself, and the freedom that comes from finally asking: What do I want? From golden handcuffs to questioning the definition of "dream life," this episode is a reminder that you ha...

What if the version of your life that feels “off course” is actually the one that leads you exactly where you’re meant to go? Coach, creative, and former attorney Kelly Ramsdell (the powerhouse behind another business called Actually I Can ) unpacks how to stop "shoulding" all over yourself, why no path is ever wasted, and how self-love and nervous system regulation are non-negotiables f...

What do the military, marketing, and murder mysteries have in common? According to Ian Faison, everything. Founder and CEO of Caspian Studios, Ian reminds us that creativity belongs in ever boardroom. His unwavering belief that B2B content doesn't have to be boring has redefined what is possible in business storytelling, even while swimming in a sea of skepticism.   Whether you’re a marketer,...

What if the next chapter, the next business, or the next pivot could start at 40? Social media strategist and coach Dorien Morin sits down to remind us that it's never too late to start over and build something new. From the power of naiveté to what it really means to be visible, she shares that the best coaches are the ones who become the person they once needed. If you've ever doubted...

What if the secret to sustained success isn't more hustle but better energy? Adam Barney, energy coach and author of Make Your Own Glass Half Full, shares his own journey of being laid off twice during his career, the loss of his mother, volunteering post-Hurricane Katrina, and talking with thousands of founders.  This conversation uncovers the value of protecting your most important resource...

What if building a meaningful career wasn’t about choosing one path but weaving together many? From Google to Alaska to co-founding a startup, Melissa Moody shares what it takes to walk away from the expected and build something on your own terms through the messy, rewarding journey of entrepreneurship, life pivots, and human-first marketing. This episode is a masterclass in embracing change, hono...

What if entrepreneurship wasn’t about having all the answers, but having the courage to move forward anyway? Matt Heinz explores what it really means to build something meaningful from navigating imposter syndrome to redefining success beyond revenue. Matt shares personal stories and hard-won wisdom about starting a business, building lasting relationships, and embracing the unknown. If you'r...

What if the life you actually want isn’t something to earn someday but something you can start living right now? Mindset coach Erica Ballard dives into embracing the messy and magical journey of being a high-achieving human who also craves meaning and presence.  From corporate boardrooms to sound bowls, Erica’s path has been anything but linear. She explains how ambition and spirituality aren&apos...

What happens when you launch a company during a global crisis, while raising a newborn, and everyone around you thinks you're making a mistake? Palash Soni shares his bold leap from India’s startup scene to Harvard Business School and eventually into the high-stakes world of building a venture-backed company in the U.S. Palash digs into the importance of discerning advice (especially when eve...

How do you stay bold when the market (and investors) aren’t really ready for your vision? Oana Manolache unpacks  what it takes to build an innovative brand in a skeptical market and the complexities of fundraising as a female founder. She shares her lessons in resilience and the realities of building in a fast-moving environment.  For anyone daring to build something bold, something that doesn’t...

Have you ever felt like your big ideas and long game thinking was a curse? That something was wrong with you? Jasen Coldiron digs into the critical relationship between visionaries and integrators and why personal connection and support are essential to long-term success. Jasen shares his own journey through career transitions, imposter syndrome, and the fear of failure and reminds us why surround...

What if you stopped living by other people's expectations and chose yourself instead? Lisa Mitchell dives into navigating life transitions, the struggles of feeling hopeless, and the courage found in desperation. If you're in the midst of change, feel stuck, or hesitant to put yourself first, this conversation will remind you that it's not only possible to redefine success for yours...

What does it take to carve a new path for a business while remaining true to yourself? Paige McPheely, founder of Base, digs into building a company with your best friend, embracing support systems, and why there's never a perfect time to make big moves whether it be personal or professional. If you’re an entrepreneur looking to build the life and business you truly want, this conversation is...