CEO Podcasts: CEO Chat Podcast + I AM CEO Podcast Powered by Blue16 Media & CBNation.co

Michelle Pellizzon is a former professional dancer turned tech entrepreneur and the visionary founder of Holisticism, a wellness tech company dedicated to making holistic and alternative health care more accessible, inclusive, and empowering.    Drawing from her diverse experience in the arts, technology, and holistic health, Michelle launched Holisticism as a modest passion project, one that rapi...

In this special episode, Gresham Harkless showed appreciation for his development so far, even if results haven’t matched his initial goals, recognizing that unpredictable market conditions and widespread hesitation have added complexity to the path.   A recent coaching session prompted him to recalibrate his target client profile and shift focus toward building referral relationships, particularl...

In this special episode, Gresham Harkless reflects on the importance of maintaining momentum and acting with speed in business.   Gresham shares insights from a recent call with a potential client tied to a traditional franchise brand, which highlighted major gaps in digital marketing and innovation, areas where many franchisors still fall short.   This experience emphasizes a clear gap in the mar...

In this special episode, Gresham Harkless is thoughtfully considering how to join a networking group like BNI in a way that aligns with both his business goals and personal responsibilities. He’s confident that joining is the right move; it’s not a question of if, but how.   He’s aware of the standard 90-minute weekly meetings and the risk of overcommitting, and plans to stay engaged without getti...

Gresham Harkless reflects on the challenges of a long and uncertain sales process, particularly in selling a business opportunity that lacks the clear, proven system of a traditional franchise.   He acknowledges the difficulty in balancing patience with the need for continuous improvement and occasional pivots, while also recognizing the value of sticking to what works.   Despite not having closed...

Bruce Clay is widely known as the “Father of SEO” and a pioneer in the digital marketing space since 1996.    He went on to build Bruce Clay Inc., a leading company that helps businesses get found online through SEO, paid ads, content, and social media.    Bruce is the author of the popular book Search Engine Optimization All-in-One for Dummies and has trained thousands of people through his websi...

David Cancel is a seasoned entrepreneur, author, and technology leader best known as the founder and Executive Chairman of Drift, the leading platform for conversational marketing and sales.    With a career spanning five successful startups, including Performable, Compete, and Ghostery, David has built a reputation for creating high-growth products and scaling world-class teams.    David shares h...

Alice Turpin-Johnson is a relationship coach and educator who helps individuals and couples create emotionally fulfilling, stable relationships without losing their sense of self.    Alice shares her journey from being a high school teacher to launching her coaching practice, driven by her passion for emotional literacy, resilience, and empowering others to take creative control of their relations...

In this special episode, Gresham Harkless reflects on reaching the 200-day milestone in building his franchise brokerage business, sharing both the challenges and growth he experienced along the way.   Gresham highlights the overwhelming influx of emails, ranging from newsletters to campaign-related messages, that have made managing communications increasingly difficult.   He's running campaigns a...

In this special episode, Gresham Harkless is in a defining phase of his journey, weighing whether ongoing adjustments can fix deeper issues or if it’s time to let go and start anew with a clean slate.   Despite attempts to streamline and restructure, there’s still a disconnect between the business’s operations, culture, and direction, further strained by the challenge of juggling too many roles an...

Gresham Harkless reflects on the critical role of persistence and resilience in business, particularly within entrepreneurship, consulting, and franchising.    He emphasizes that success isn’t solely about talent, money, or intelligence; it’s often about the willingness to keep going despite setbacks.   Inspired by concepts from Angela Duckworth’s Grit, Gresham shares a real-life example involving...

In this special episode, Gresham Harkless is in a transitional phase of his franchise broker journey, approaching day 197 with a mindset shift toward embracing the unpredictability and learning that comes with building a business.   Gresham explores the value of high-ticket sales through deeper, trust-based conversations rather than chasing volume.    Reflecting on his results so far, he highlight...

Joy Cheriel Brown is an award-winning screenwriter, playwright, author, speaker, and professor of screenwriting at Howard University.    She went on to teach high school from 2008 to 2011, during which she committed to making “three shorts and a feature.”    In 2012, she officially launched her production company, Third Person Omniscient Productions, a name that reflects her writer-first philosoph...

Tiffany Hoeckelman is the founder and CEO of Lone Orange, a virtual brand consulting firm dedicated to helping solopreneurs build powerful, authentic brands through strategy, systems, and storytelling.   Tiffany’s passion for supporting solopreneurs shines through in her belief that branding is about identity, not just imagery. She teaches that it begins with self-awareness, clear communication, a...

Josh Cary is a speaker, podcast host, and business coach who helps entrepreneurs shed the masks they wear and step fully into their authentic selves.    As the founder of The Hidden Entrepreneur Podcast, Josh draws from his powerful journey, having spent over 40 years hiding behind fear and seeking approval, to teach others how to overcome self-doubt, embrace vulnerability, and lead with purpose. ...

Gresham Harkless shares a powerful and personal update centered around his 38th birthday, using the day as a moment of introspection and realignment.   He recalls being on a podcast at 11:38 AM, the exact time he was born, which he felt was perfectly on brand and symbolic of his purpose-driven journey.    A standout moment from his birthday was the hydro float therapy session, where the calm, weig...

Gresham Harkless shares that his routine has been disrupted by a new late-night work schedule and the demands of parenting, which have cut into his mornings and limited his time and energy.   Despite the challenges, he's encouraged by progress with a standout candidate who is actively engaging and requesting introductions to more franchise concepts.    Gresham recognizes the importance of follow-u...

Gresham Harkless reflects on reaching day 195 of his franchise broker journey, expressing disbelief at how quickly time has passed and how much he’s learned.    Despite his 11 years of experience in digital marketing, he admits that breaking into the franchise space has required a different mindset.   Initially, Gresham focuses on generating a high volume of leads, as advised early on, and he now...

In this special episode, Gresham Harkless shares a deeply introspective reflection on a recent transformative experience he had during a float therapy session, which unexpectedly brought him a strong sense of spiritual and emotional release.    He talks about a powerful feeling of release, both mentally and physically, as if he had been carrying an invisible weight for years and was finally able t...

Jody Glidden is a seasoned tech entrepreneur and current CEO of Postilize, an AI-powered platform focused on helping professionals deepen and scale meaningful business relationships.   Jody shares his journey as a lifelong technologist and serial entrepreneur, having built five startups over the past 30 years, including Introhive, a global AI company valued at nearly $500 million.   He explains ho...

Steffany Boldrini is a seasoned entrepreneur, investor, and podcast host with a passion for building wealth through commercial real estate.    Originally from Brazil, Steffany discusses how her exposure to startups and angel investing led her to discover the superior risk-adjusted returns of commercial real estate, especially with guidance from a seasoned mentor.   She founded Monte Carlo Real Est...

Rasheedah Thomas is the principal and co-founder of RC Communications, a Washington, D.C. based strategic communications firm specializing in media coaching, branding, crisis communication, and public affairs.   Rasheedah brings over a decade of experience helping organizations, from local governments and nonprofits to international leaders, refine their messaging and navigate complex public narra...

In this special episode, Gresham Harkless reflects on the unexpected difficulty of gaining traction and closing his first sale. Despite consistent effort and staying committed, he admits that the process has been tougher and slower than anticipated.   He shares his experience with a promising candidate who has likely ghosted him, an example of the hesitation he’s noticing more frequently in today’...

Gresham Harkless reflects on reaching day 193 of his franchise broker journey, expressing a mix of disbelief at how far he's come and a sense that he's still at the beginning.   He shares the challenges of juggling multiple responsibilities, especially the operational struggles with his main venture, Blue Star, where getting the team to perform without his constant involvement has been difficult....

In this special episode, Gresham Harkless shares an update on his progress, challenges, and realizations. After connecting with classmates, he realizes that while they’re each on unique paths, they share similar uncertainties.   Gresham expresses a growing sense that he needs to shift directions, choosing what feels true to him rather than following the traditional or expected route.   Gresham als...