Closing Conversations

Paul Hletko is an entrepreneur in the adult consumption space who built FEW Spirits, helped roll up brands including Widow Jane, Bluecoat Gin, Tequila Ocho, Mezcal Vago, and Brenne, and now runs Skull & Petal, a men’s cosmetics and skincare company. In this episode, we talk about: - How family history led Paul into whiskey - Why the invisible work matters most when building a company - The rel...

Erik Reynolds has lived a few different professional lives — video games, music, publicity, business development, partnerships, creative strategy, and entertainment. In this episode, we talk about: - Grief, vulnerability, and why real connection usually starts when the script breaks - Why being authentic is still the best way to sell - The difference between a sales lead and a real relationship -...

This episode was supposed to be a podcast introduction. Before every episode of Closing Conversations, Max usually jumps on a quick intro call with the guest before the actual recording. It’s meant to be simple: get to know each other, talk through the flow, and make sure the real conversation feels natural. But this one with Erik Reynolds was too good not to share. So instead of leaving it on the...

Reagan Rodriguez helps manage a foundation focused on funding projects that create sustainable jobs, stimulate local economies, and support long-term development in underdeveloped parts of the world. But this episode quickly becomes about something much bigger than global projects. In this episode, we talk about: - Why giving someone the benefit of the doubt can still be a form of prejudging - How...

A lot of private equity deals look great on paper. That does not mean they work in real life.  Jaclyn Voor joined me on Closing Conversations to talk about what actually happens after the acquisition dinner, the swag, and the big announcement — when two organizations have to start operating like one, or when a carved-out business has to stand on its own. Jaclyn is an independent consultant and ope...

A lot of companies do something valuable. Far fewer know how to explain it in a way that makes people care. Laura Burkemper joined me on Closing Conversations to talk about what actually makes a brand land — with investors, with customers, and with the people inside the company. Laura is the founder of Scaleblazer, where she helps companies with investment, scale, and sale. In plain English, that...

Max Notis started Closing Conversations with no grand plan — just a belief that the conversations he was having while building his company were too valuable not to share.  One year later, the podcast has grown into a global platform connecting sellers, founders, and leaders through real, unfiltered discussions. In this episode, we talk about: Why Closing Conversations started without a master plan...

Dan Bauer has done a little bit of everything — founder, operator, marketer, mentor, advisor — and somehow makes it all sound simple. In this episode, we talk about: Why cold outreach keeps getting harder  The difference between real connection and fake familiarity Why founders need other founders in their corner How to sell to pain instead of pitching features Why retirement is the wrong goal for...

Itai Karelic has built revenue in some of the toughest environments there are: deep tech, long sales cycles, tiny buyer universes, and deals where every conversation matters. In this episode, we talk about: • Why enterprise sales in telecom and energy is nothing like high-volume SaaS • The difference between hunters, farmers, and technical sales in complex deals • Why experienced sellers still nee...

Elias Moosman is the founder of ThetaDriven, and he’s building something that feels inevitable in hindsight: a sales “CRM” that’s less about data entry—and more like a flight simulator + checklist that coaches you through real conversations. But the bigger story is the tech underneath it: a framework designed to fight drift—the way meaning, context, and outputs warp over time inside complex system...

David Foos is the CEO and President of Massive Dynamics, a global management consulting firm built by entrepreneurs—and run like it. In this episode, we talk about: * Why “time and capital” are the only two resources that matter (and neither is renewable) * The anti-consulting model: 30-day contracts, zero ego, and clients who stay for years * The “dirty half dozen” problems most leadership teams...

Lincoln Murphy has been in the CS world since before most people knew what “customer success” even meant—and he’s blunt about what actually makes companies grow. In this episode, we get into: * Why sales overstuff deals (and what it signals about your post-sale motion) * How to build trust between Sales and CS so customers don’t feel the seams * The handoff play that prevents “surprises, unknowns,...

Brian J. Esposito doesn’t do small talk—and neither do I. We sat down, poured a bourbon, and went straight into the stuff most founders and leaders avoid saying out loud. In this episode, we talk about: * Why “taking the L” is sometimes protection, not failure * How work becomes a socially acceptable addiction * The difference between wanting more and needing more * Integrity when you’re broke, wi...

Sarah Hardwick has raised $140M+ and helped spark one of the most passionate communities in crowdfunding.  In this episode, we get real about: * Why vulnerability and values beat “slick” every time * Cadence over quota—building routines that keep you sane and productive * Saying the unpopular thing (and why “no” is a power move) * Genius zones, Kairos vs. Chronos, and designing your week to win *...

This is a solo, year-in-review episode of Closing Conversations. After a year of conversations with founders, operators, consultants, and sales leaders, certain themes became impossible to ignore. Rather than recap individual guests or moments, this episode pulls together the patterns that showed up again and again—regardless of industry, title, or experience level. In this reflection, Max shares...

John Salzinger builds products that matter and the markets around them. As the founder behind MPOWERD’s category-creating solar lights (5M lives impacted, B Corp score 140) and now Haven Lantern, John blends purpose with ruthless practicality.  In this episode, we get into: * Why “play to learn” beats “play to win” for founders and sellers * Lean, founder-controlled go-to-market (and when capital...

Hope Brick has sat on every side of the table—fashion operator, VP, and now Founder of BRICK Executive Search placing leaders across luxury, fashion, and beauty.  In this episode, we talk about: * The 3 hiring signals that never go out of style: hungry, coachable, personable * Why “work–life balance” as a #1 priority can be a tell—and how to probe it without being a jerk * Boundaries vs. burnout:...

Sales compensation should be simple, fast, and trusted—but too often it’s the opposite. Antoine Fort (Cofounder & CEO, Qobra) joins me to break down what really works in 2025 and what to ditch for good.  We talk about: * Why spreadsheets and clever-but-confusing plans destroy trust * The “two KPI” rule for clarity and motivation * Paying monthly on quarterly/yearly targets (and how pacing actu...

Casie Gillette has spent nearly two decades turning demand gen into pipeline—from agency days and SEO’s rise to leading member & sponsor marketing at The Suite.  In this episode, we get into: * Why the last 5 years changed marketing more than the previous 15 * Getting beyond generic content: publish the specifics buyers can’t Google * True ABM (really contact-based): precision ICPs, lists that...

Adam Brown doesn’t run ads. He doesn’t cold call. He doesn’t outsource sales. And yet, his social agency, Sircle Media, has been growing strong for 13+ years—powered entirely by trust, content, and a daily presence on LinkedIn.  In this episode, we dig into: * How Adam built a no-outreach business through consistency and transparency * Why lazy AI posts actually repel good leads * The difference b...

Brano Vargic has seen every side of HR—from CHRO at major banks to founder of a fast-scaling HR tech platform.  In this episode, we talk about: * Why employer branding starts with the business—not HR * The danger of building a company people “like” (instead of one people want to work for) * How to reverse-engineer job ads that actually attract the right candidates * What e-commerce can teach us ab...

Dave Sifry is the definition of a serial entrepreneur—founder of nine tech companies, from Technorati to Warm Start, and a former exec at Lyft and Reddit. Dave’s built category-defining companies, worked inside some of tech’s biggest names, and now he’s helping others rediscover the power of their own networks—with the help of AI. Whether you’re a founder looking for your first 10 customers or a s...

What happens when you let go of pressure, stop chasing the next thing, and start really living the work you’re doing? Amos Schwartzfarb has led six companies, authored two books, advised hundreds of founders—and somehow still found the time to release a new indie rock single. He’s someone who’s learned (and earned) perspective, and in this episode, we get deep into it. We talk about: * Letting go...

In this episode of Closing Conversations, Max sits down with Yusuf Ongel, founder of XDRhub and self-proclaimed cold calling beast. With over 140,000 dials under his belt, Yusuf shares what most teams get wrong about sales development—and how to fix it. They dig into: * Why most SDRs fail (and what real enablement looks like) * What’s changed in outbound over the past 5 years * Why coaching is the...

Kristen Habacht has done it all—CSM, CRO, COO, and now CEO of Elly.ai . In this episode, we talk about: How product-led growth really works Why most hiring processes are totally broken The art of simple, honest marketing How great sellers don’t all come from Salesforce What it takes to scale a product that actually sells itself Whether you’re a founder trying to build GTM from scratch or a seller...