Built for This

In this powerful episode of Built for This, Carly Pepin sits down with Don “The Dragon” Wilson, one of the most accomplished kickboxers in history and a prolific action film star whose career spans more than four decades. Don shares how the same principles that made him an eleven-time world champion also allowed him to build a successful second career in Hollywood. From setting clear goals and ign...

In this thoughtful and nostalgic episode of Built for This, Carly Pepin sits down with Claudio Ulrich, a veteran film licensing and distribution expert with more than 30 years in the industry and the founder of Focus Media. Claudio pulls back the curtain on the world of film distribution, revealing the immense amount of unseen work required to bring a movie from original film reels to a finished h...

In this inspiring episode of Built for This, Carly Pepin sits down with Carlos Lauchu, a nationally recognized STEM education leader with more than 25 years of experience reshaping how students learn science and technology. Carlos shares how a moment of deep frustration early in his teaching career became the catalyst for creating Science Academy STEM Magnet, now one of the top-ranked schools in t...

In this refreshing and thought-provoking episode of Built for This, Carly Pepin sits down with Erik Braund, founder and CEO of Katmai, a virtual office platform built around one bold idea: work should feel human again. Drawing on a background in music, film production, and creative leadership, Erik explains why real collaboration does not come from back-to-back calendar invites. After watching rem...

In this powerful episode of Built for This, Carly Pepin sits down with Jarrod Adreon, a behind-the-scenes operator who has helped build and scale companies generating over $100 million annually, all without chasing visibility, titles, or personal branding. Jarrod shares a raw and deeply personal journey that includes homelessness, failed businesses, broken partnerships, crushing debt, and survivin...

In this episode of Built for This, Carly sits down with Charles Read, founder of GetPayroll, decorated Marine veteran, CPA, and author of The Payroll Book: A Guide for Small Businesses and Startups. With over 50 years of financial leadership experience, Charles shares the hard-earned wisdom that every entrepreneur needs to hear — from understanding cashflow and building loyal teams to keeping your...

In this inspiring episode of Built for This, Carly sits down with Joseph Merhi, the Syrian-born filmmaker and entrepreneur who co-founded PM Entertainment alongside her father, Rick Pepin. Starting with $400, a high school diploma, and a dream that began at age twelve, Joseph went on to help build one of the most prolific independent studios in Hollywood — producing more than 100 films and TV proj...

In this episode of Built for This, Carly Pepin sits down with Roggen Frick, founder of Bear Ironworks, a Colorado-based manufacturing company redefining what it means to be “by contractors, for contractors.” Roggen opens up about how his journey from seven-day workweeks to sustainable success began with one hard truth — burnout doesn’t build legacies. By transforming Bear Ironworks from a custom f...

In this episode of Built for This, Carly Pepin sits down with Wes Towers, founder of Uplift 360, a Melbourne-based digital agency helping construction and trade businesses grow online. Three years ago, Wes received a confronting business valuation — one that made it clear AI could soon make his agency obsolete. Instead of giving up, he used that wake-up call to completely reinvent his company. By...

In this deeply grounded episode of Built for This, Carly Pepin sits down with Niv Davidovich, seasoned litigator and founder of Davidovich Law Firm in Los Angeles. What began as a simple need — to support a growing family in one of America’s most expensive cities — became a calling that transformed Niv’s life. With no clients, no roadmap, and nothing but a folding table for a desk, he built a thri...

In this episode of Built for This, Carly Pepin sits down with her cousin — and world-renowned aerial coordinator and stunt pilot — Kevin “K2” LaRosa, whose credits include Top Gun: Maverick, Iron Man, Transformers, Devotion, and more than 100 major motion pictures.   Kevin shares what it means to live a life where passion and profession are one and the same. From flying planes before he could driv...

In this episode of Built for This, Carly Pepin sits down with Nichole Daher, founder and CEO of Success on the Spectrum, the first autism therapy franchise in the United States — now with over 70 clinics across 18 states.   Nichole’s journey began as a mother on a mission, searching for the right care for her stepdaughter with autism. When the support she needed didn’t exist, she created it — and...

In this episode, Carly Pepin sits down with Mike Konrad, founder and CEO of Aqueous Technologies, to explore the unexpected lessons that come with entrepreneurship.   Once a self-described “reluctant entrepreneur,” Mike took a massive leap to create a product his former employer didn’t believe in. What began as an ego-fueled mission soon evolved into a profound journey of humility, leadership, and...

Built For This is the podcast for founders, CEOs, and vision-driven leaders who know their business is more than just a bottom line—it’s part of who they are. Hosted by transformational strategist Carly Pepin, each episode dives deep into candid conversations with entrepreneurs and business owners who are building companies with heart, grit, and a mission that matters. We unpack the real stories—t...