Cut The Tie | Own Your Success

Send us Fan Mail Cut The Tie Podcast with Thomas Helfrich Episode 282 Marisa Vallbona never intended to start a PR firm—but a surprise layoff while on maternity leave changed everything. In this inspiring episode of Cut The Tie, host Thomas Helfrich speaks with the founder and president of CIM Inc PR about how getting fired became the best thing that ever happened to her. Marisa shares the lessons...

Send us Fan Mail Cut The Tie Podcast with Thomas Helfrich Episode 281 AJ Nash didn’t set out to be an entrepreneur, but after two decades in U.S. intelligence and years in cybersecurity, his career took a sharp pivot. When private equity reshaped the company he worked for, AJ faced a choice: keep waiting for the “right” role, or start building something of his own. He chose the latter, and Unspoke...

Send us Fan Mail Cut The Tie Podcast with Thomas Helfrich Episode 280 After spending 31 years in the California prison system, Danny Darling walked out with more than just his freedom—he carried a new purpose. In this powerful episode of Cut The Tie , Thomas Helfrich speaks with the founder, prison consultant, and life coach about how he broke free from rage, institutional trauma, and the cycle of...

Send us Fan Mail Cut The Tie Podcast with Thomas Helfrich Episode 279 Christine Sugrue spent 25 years in education as a Brooklyn middle school teacher—but a simple scooter ride changed everything. In this episode of Cut The Tie , host Thomas Helfrich sits down with Christine to talk about the leap from classroom to founder, the mindset shift from “just a teacher” to entrepreneur, and why you don’t...

Send us Fan Mail Cut The Tie Podcast with Thomas Helfrich Episode 278 When burnout hit, Melissa Brandt didn’t just change jobs—she changed her entire life. In this laugh-out-loud yet deeply honest episode of Cut The Tie , Thomas Helfrich sits down with Melissa, a former corporate sales rep turned clean stand-up comedian, to talk about walking away from "what you're supposed to do" i...

Send us Fan Mail Cut The Tie Podcast with Thomas Helfrich Episode 277 When Allison Norris had her paycheck pulled without warning and was tossed aside by a startup she helped build, she hit a wall—hard. Depression, doubt, and disillusionment followed. But in the rubble of burnout and betrayal, she made a decision: I’m going to build something of my own. In this episode of Cut The Tie , Thomas Helf...

Send us Fan Mail Cut The Tie Podcast Episode 276 What if the system isn’t broken—it’s working exactly as intended? In this thought-provoking episode of Cut The Tie, Thomas Helfrich sits down with Aleksandar Svetski, entrepreneur, philosopher, and vocal advocate for sovereign thinking. Aleks challenges the mainstream narrative around money, identity, and power—and urges us to cut ties with mass psy...

Send us Fan Mail Cut The Tie Podcast with Thomas Helfrich Episode 275 What if your six-year-old launched a business, and you backed her all the way to Walmart? In this unforgettable episode of Cut the Tie , Thomas Helfrich sits down with T Shane Johnson, a world-record athlete, Marine Corps veteran, motivational speaker, and co-founder of Big Guns Coffee, to explore how cutting ties with imposter...

Send us Fan Mail Cut The Tie Podcast Episode 274 What happens when a former police officer turns mental health advocate and entrepreneur? In this episode of Cut The Tie , host Thomas Helfrich speaks with Joe Smarro—CEO and Owner of Solution Point+—about the urgent need for emotional intelligence, leadership reform, and how the power of presence can change everything. Joe shares his transformation...

Send us Fan Mail Cut The Tie Podcast Episode 273 What happens after you’ve won the game—money, exits, prestige—and still feel like something’s missing? In this episode of Cut The Tie , Thomas Helfrich sits down with Gregory Shepard, a 12-time founder and serial entrepreneur, to talk about redefining success, embracing neurodiversity, and cutting ties with the systems that keep us playing small. Gr...

Send us Fan Mail Cut The Tie Podcast Episode 272 What if your personal story—full of family, faith, neurodivergence, and creativity—was your greatest business advantage? In this episode of Cut the Tie , Thomas Helfrich sits down with Averi Drummer (aka Siena Averi Feruzi), a womanist author, coach, and special education advocate who is building a life and business on her own terms. From Spelman Co...

Send us Fan Mail Cut The Tie Podcast Episode 271 What happens when you cut ties with perfection, corporate conformity, and even fear itself? In this episode of Cut the Tie , Thomas Helfrich sits down with Brigitte Cutshall, founder of Gemini Media, two-time cancer survivor, creative entrepreneur, and all-around badass. From a career in publishing to beating aggressive cancer twice, Brigitte’s stor...

Send us Fan Mail Cut The Tie Podcast Episode 270 What happens when a high-powered attorney walks away from a 20-year career to launch a beauty brand built around healing? In this vulnerable and inspiring episode of Cut the Tie , host Thomas Helfrich sits down with Ling Ling Nie, founder of Tender Cosmetics, a company reshaping how we think about beauty, with products that feel as good as they look...

Send us Fan Mail Cut The Tie Podcast with Thomas Helfrich Episode 269  Melissa Aarskaug built a successful career in cybersecurity and leadership, but for years she played it safe—showing only the “W-2 version” of herself. In this episode of Cut The Tie , host Thomas Helfrich sits down with the Executive Connect podcast founder to talk about letting go of fear, showing up authentically, and learni...

Send us Fan Mail Cut The Tie Podcast with Thomas Helfrich Episode 268  Jayla Siciliano walked away from the entrepreneurial dream everyone chases—funding, Shark Tank success, high-growth business—only to realize she had built a life that didn’t align with what actually mattered to her. In this raw and relatable episode of Cut The Tie , host Thomas Helfrich sits down with Jayla to explore the emoti...

Send us Fan Mail Cut The Tie Podcast with Thomas Helfrich Episode 267 Scott Morris knows what it’s like to win on paper—and still feel completely lost. In this powerful episode of Cut the Tie , Thomas Helfrich sits down with the exited founder, investor, and startup advisor to talk about cutting ties with identity, ego, and the illusion that achievement equals fulfillment. Scott opens up about wha...

Send us Fan Mail Cut The Tie Podcast with Thomas Helfrich Episode 266 Corrina Zennig is not your typical analyst—and she doesn’t want to be. In this episode of Cut the Tie , Thomas Helfrich sits down with the founder of The Lazy Analyst to talk about cutting ties with the pressure to overperform, overwork, and constantly prove your worth. Corrina shares how she went from a burned-out scientist to...

Send us Fan Mail Cut The Tie Podcast with Thomas Helfrich Episode 262 In this introspective and powerful episode of Cut the Tie, Thomas sits down with David Steele—entrepreneur, investor, restaurateur, and founder of One Wealth Advisors—to unpack a career built on service, reinvention, and emotional intelligence. From growing up poor to managing over $1.1 billion in client assets, David shares the...

Send us Fan Mail Cut The Tie Podcast with Thomas Helfrich Episode 264 Alexander Veach, founder of VCI, joins Thomas to talk about what it takes to break free from perfectionism and analysis paralysis to build something transformative. In this episode, Alex shares how his AI-powered platform is redefining due diligence for private equity and venture capital—especially in life sciences—by converting...

Send us Fan Mail Cut The Tie Podcast with Thomas Helfrich Episode 263 At just nine years old, Ishara is already making waves as a podcast host, reader, speaker, and future astronaut-neurosurgeon-author. In this heartwarming and inspiring episode, Thomas sits down with the youngest guest ever on Cut The Tie to explore how books—and big imagination—can unlock confidence, creativity, and purpose. Wit...

Send us Fan Mail Cut The Tie Podcast Mike "C-Rock" Ciorrocco shares how he broke free from a high-paying but unfulfilling career in the mortgage industry and created a media empire by embracing intention, faith, and the power of podcasting. In this energizing episode, Mike dives into how cutting the tie to chase mode led to a life of creation, clarity, and impact . From his viral energy...

Send us Fan Mail Cut The Tie Podcast with Thomas Helfrich Episode 261 In this high-energy episode of Cut the Tie, Thomas sits down with Chris Wolstenholme , an Aussie entrepreneur based in Atlanta who went from managing restaurants to founding the world’s first vodka protein water brand: Mate!. Chris shares the real story behind launching a beverage startup without outside funding, the gross momen...

Send us Fan Mail Cut The Tie Podcast with Thomas Helfrich  Alan Versteeg , founder of Growth Matters International, shares how agency, conviction, and sales leadership transformed his life and business. In this empowering episode, Alan opens up about going from rock bottom to global contracts, how mindset outpaces skillset, and why professional selling is non-negotiable for any entrepreneur. About...

Send us Fan Mail Cut The Tie Podcast with Thomas Helfrich JC Misko, founder of Misko Mountain Flavor Company, shares how recovery, faith, and brisket tacos came together to form a life-changing mission. In this heartfelt episode, JC opens up about overcoming addiction, building a food business from nothing, and using his story to help others do the same.  About JC Misko: JC is the founder of Misko...

Send us Fan Mail Cut The Tie Podcast with Thomas Helfrich Juno Lux, founder of The Haus  of H, joins Thomas for a vibrant, honest conversation about spirituality, entrepreneurship, and the power of self-ownership. From working in social work and hospitality to founding a nonprofit for queer spiritual healing, Juno shares the experiences that led them to cut the tie with outdated systems and build...