Crunching Your Growth - Growth Class

In this episode of The Growth Class , host Phil Masiello interviews Kyle Ponton , co-founder and CEO of The Cold Life . Kyle shares the personal health experience that introduced him to contrast therapy and ultimately inspired the creation of a premium cold plunge brand built around performance, recovery, and product quality.  He explains how a single breakthrough moment with cold plunging sparked...

In this episode of The Growth Class, host Phil Masiello interviews Matt Warnock, CEO of RidgeCrest Herbals. They explore how his transition from attorney to business leader led him to challenge long-standing medical assumptions and rethink how modern healthcare approaches treatment.  Matt shares insights into the limitations of the traditional “one disease, one drug” model and explains how portfol...

In this episode of The Growth Class, host Phil Masiello interviews Nancy Bogart, Founder and CEO of Jordan Essentials.  Nancy shares the origin story behind launching her business from her kitchen table after years as a stay-at-home mom, where she created her first product—a solid lotion bar—that eventually grew into a thriving direct sales company focused on empowering women and families.  She di...

In this episode of The Growth Class, host Phil Masiello interviews Nick Shaw , Founder and CEO of RP Strength , an evidence-based fitness and nutrition company that has grown from a small coaching operation into a global digital platform serving clients worldwide.  Nick shares the origin story of how simple client referrals between colleagues evolved into a scalable online coaching business, inclu...

In this episode of The Growth Class , host Phil Masiello interviews Vanessa Cancio , co-founder and CEO of VAIN , a technology-driven skincare platform focused on personalized skin health insights.  Vanessa shares the story behind launching VAIN and building a beauty-tech solution designed to help users track their skin, analyze patterns, and make smarter decisions based on real data rather than g...

In this episode of The Growth Class, host Phil Masiello interviews Lanette Fidrych, founder and CEO of Cycle Dog. They explore how she built a U.S.-based manufacturing company in a market that initially dismissed domestic production as too expensive and unsustainable, and how persistence helped transform that perception into a competitive advantage.  The conversation dives into the operational rea...

In this episode of The Growth Class , host Phil Masiello interviews Lindsey McCoy , Co-Founder and CEO of Plaine Products , a sustainable personal care company known for its refillable packaging model.  Lindsey shares how rethinking consumption habits and relocalizing production can dramatically reduce shipping waste and reliance on single-use plastics, highlighting the importance of building syst...

In this episode of The Growth Class , host Phil Masiello interviews Aaron Zagha , Chief Marketing Officer of Newton Baby . They discuss how Newton Baby scaled from an early-stage direct-to-consumer brand into a trusted leader in the baby sleep category by leveraging influencer marketing, disciplined product launches, and data-driven decision-making.  Aaron shares insights into how influencer partn...

In this episode of The Growth Class, host Phil Masiello interviews Melissa Tavss, Founder and CEO of Tipsy Scoop, a pioneering boozy ice cream brand known for its liquor‑infused artisanal frozen treats that blend classic dessert craftsmanship with spirited cocktail influences.  Melissa shares how she built Tipsy Scoop from a niche side project rooted in family ice cream tradition into a growing fr...

In this episode of The Growth Class, host Phil Masiello interviews Brian Leeper, President of Floral Services LLC. They discuss the realities of scaling a product-based business inside competitive retail environments and the leadership mindset required to grow beyond the startup phase.  Brian shares how early failures shaped his approach to delegation, emphasizing that leaders must learn to let go...

In this episode of The Growth Class , host Phil Masiello interviews Emma Crepeau , CEO of Jack Archer . Emma shares the behind-the-scenes reality of transforming a complex portfolio of small Shopify brands into a focused, scalable business, and why eliminating distractions was the first critical step toward growth.  She explains how her team made the difficult decision to deprecate multiple brands...

In this episode of The Growth Class , host Phil Masiello interviews Rick Smith , co-founder and CEO of HyVIDA Brands, Inc. , a beverage technology company pioneering hydrogen-infused drinks and scalable hydrogen delivery systems. Smith shares how his background in engineering and medical technology led to the invention of proprietary hydrogen infusion methods designed to integrate seamlessly into...

In this episode of The Growth Class, host Phil Masiello interviews Brandon Salomon , Chief Operating Officer of Providence Diamond , Rhode Island’s premier luxury jewelry and watch retailer known for its curated fine jewelry collections and longstanding partnership as an Official Rolex Jeweler.  They explore how evolving consumer behavior—from the impact of smartphones and wearable tech to rising...

In this episode of The Growth Class , host Phil Masiello interviews Edward Terry , CEO and Founder of The Shutter House . They explore how identifying an underserved niche in exterior window treatments led to the development of a scalable franchise model built on specialized services, operational systems, and strong market demand.  Edward shares how focusing on exterior shutters—an often overlooke...

In this episode of The Growth Class, host Phil Masiello interviews Kun Yang , co-founder and CEO of Pricklee . They explore the early days of launching a new beverage brand in 2021 and the unexpected momentum that followed when the team received an invitation to apply to Shark Tank just days after their initial launch.  Kun shares the behind-the-scenes reality of navigating one of the most influen...

In this episode of The Growth Class , host Phil Masiello interviews Geovanni Leiva , founder of Leyva’s Coffee . Geovanni shares the origin of his mission-driven coffee business and how his deep roots as a fourth-generation coffee farmer shaped his commitment to building a transparent, vertically integrated supply chain that supports farming communities.  Geovanni also discusses the long-term visi...

In this episode of The Growth Class , host Phil Masiello interviews Kashaun Cooper , leadership strategist and founder of Five Stages of Yes . They discuss how leaders can maintain clarity and decisiveness when pressure rises and why leadership breakdowns rarely happen from lack of information, but from hesitation and unclear decision-making under stress.  Kashaun shares insights from his Five Sta...

In this episode of The Growth Class , host Phil Masiello interviews Lany Sullivan , operations specialist and founder of Lany Sullivan where she and her team help businesses streamline processes, build efficient systems, and unlock growth through better operations and delegation.  They explore how operational gaps silently drain both revenue and time, why most money “leaks” are rooted in broken sy...

In this episode of The Growth Class, host Phil Masiello interviews Steve Walsh , founder of Bison Equity Group , a private equity firm dedicated to helping founders and investors scale high‑potential companies with strategic capital and disciplined execution.  Steve shares his insights on why rapid growth often breaks customer connection and how staying rooted in your audience is essential to sust...

In this episode of The Growth Class, host Phil Masiello interviews Phoebe Tan , co‑founder and CEO of Taelor , a Silicon Valley‑based menswear rental and styling subscription service that combines AI‑driven outfit recommendations with personalized stylist support to help busy professionals simplify their wardrobes and express their best selves. Phoebe discusses how Taelor uses data and artificial...

In this episode of The Growth Class, host Phil Masiello interviews Jacob Johnson , CEO and founder of Calyan Wax Co. , a mission‑driven home fragrance company that crafts clean, soy‑based candles and donates a portion of revenue to combat human trafficking in the United States.  Jacob shares how Calyan evolved from a garage startup into a growing business with a purpose beyond profit, highlighting...

In this episode of The Growth Class , host Phil Masiello interviews Michael Monaghan , Partner and Portfolio Manager at Founder ETFs LLC , about the creation and strategy behind the Founders 100 ETF (ticker: FFF) and how founder‑led companies can offer unique long‑term investment opportunities.  Michael explains how FFF trades on major U.S. exchanges and is designed to be accessible to a broad ran...

In this episode of The Growth Class, host Phil Masiello interviews Susana Chen , co-founder of Never Have I Ever , an artist-licensed press-on nail brand redefining beauty as wearable art. The conversation explores Susana’s journey from working on global product launches to building a brand from the ground up through hands-on testing, customer feedback, and disciplined proof-of-concept validation....

In this episode of The Growth Class, host Phil Masiello interviews Marc McConnaughey , CEO of BioBond . They discuss the realities of building sustainable materials that can truly compete with petroleum-based products, and why performance, safety, and cost discipline must come before marketing claims.  Marc shares how BioBond is engineering plant-based adhesives and coatings designed to meet stric...

n his role as a mentor and coach to entrepreneurs, serial-entrepreneur Jeremy B. Shapiro helps small business owners make the transition from “solopreneur” to “business owner” – an important distinction that many entrepreneurs can easily miss when working “in” their business instead of “on” their business.   For over two decades, through structured mastermind groups, one-on-one coaching, and consu...