Founder In Progress

Episode 90 of Founder In Progress features EOS Implementer Chris Jones, sharing what it really takes to scale a business without burning out—or becoming the bottleneck. Chris opens up about losing 70% of his business overnight, how mentorship helped him prepare a “Plan B” before crisis hit, and why implementing EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) became the turning point that allowed him to reb...

Roger Walco is MIT-trained, design-schooled, and shaped by nearly 30 years in the video game industry. He breaks down what actually makes great experiences feel magical. We talk about why taste beats tools, why the first moment of interaction matters more than features, and how strong team chemistry creates outcomes no amount of brute-force hiring can replace. From Bethesda and Fallout to a behind...

Most “healthy” snacks promise a lot and deliver very little. In this episode, Peter shares the 30+ year journey behind Shār Snacks and how a lifetime of experiences growing up outdoors, obsessing over ingredients, and learning by doing shaped the brand. We unpack why trail mix is broken, how most food companies compromise on quality, and why you can actually taste the difference when ingredients a...

When an autoimmune diagnosis forced impossible choices, Leanne and Jesse didn’t just change their diet they changed their lives. What began as a deeply personal health journey turned into Whims Delight, a low-sugar, plant-based chocolate company redefining what indulgence can look like without sacrificing taste. In this conversation, we unpack the real story behind building a modern CPG brand from...

Eric Dorris has been self-employed for over 30 years, beginning with a Handyman Connection franchise he built alongside his wife Jill before gradually pivoting into video production and long-form storytelling. A drummer at heart and an artist by nature, Eric reflects on how creativity shaped his entrepreneurial instincts, why artists are often drawn to self-employment, and what it truly takes to b...

Dustin is the founder of Troov, a meetup app built to reduce screen time by helping people connect through real-world activities — hikes, co-working sessions, slow jogs, soccer games, and more. In this conversation, he breaks down how COVID sparked the idea, why being an engineer can actually hurt your MVP, and the brutal challenge of earning user attention when 100% of it is already monopolized b...

From corporate strategy to canned cocktails, this episode dives into Jacob’s journey from American Airlines and Princess Cruises to founding Bold Move Beverages and creating Cold Brews—his vision for “America’s boozy coffee.” He shares how growing up around entrepreneurial parents, falling in love with coffee after college, and craving a drink that could “energize and socialize” pushed him to leav...

In this episode, we sit down with Tara, founder and CEO of Splice Software, to explore her 19-year mission of proving that data, when handled responsibly, can be used for good. Tara breaks down what trust-led personalization actually looks like, why preference design matters, and how secure, localized AI can strengthen—not replace—human connection. She shares the early influence of growing up arou...

Meet Samantha, founder of Fresh Ideas Club and strategy-first marketer who cares more about building fandom than pumping out campaigns. In this episode, we sit down at her Calgary ceramics studio to talk about the overlap between craft and brand building, why happy mistakes matter, and how a 13-year ceramics practice shaped the way she sees story, patience, and permanence in marketing. Sam shares...

From a small kitchen in Syria to grocery aisles across Texas, Farrah and Yassin’s story is one of resilience and purpose. What began with a few handwritten recipes in a black notebook became Afia Foods — a frozen-food brand built on authenticity, family, and culture. Starting at local farmers’ markets, they sold out week after week before building their own manufacturing line to protect quality an...

From throwing underground events in Normandy to running a cross-continental creative agency — this is Eva Wolf’s journey of instinct, risk, and reinvention. Eva didn’t plan to be an entrepreneur. A neighbour asked her to host a party; within a year she was running 20 events and working with the city. Then COVID hit and her entire business model collapsed overnight. Instead of stopping, she rebuilt...

From college intern to agency owner, Kristin shares her remarkable journey leading ECPR Texas, one of Austin’s most respected PR and digital firms. What started as an internship turned into a decades-long career defined by mentorship, risk-taking, and learning how to lead with empathy. In this honest and inspiring conversation, Kristin opens up about the realities of business ownership — from buyi...

Entrepreneur and data veteran Ed Vincent (Founder & CEO, Festival Pass) joins us to unpack a 20-year journey that bridges finance, technology, and live experiences. From investment banking and e-commerce to building analytics platforms for TV and film—and later helping scale MoviePass—Ed’s path reveals how data and storytelling can reshape industries. We dive into unit economics, how credit-ba...

After growing up in his father’s small pharmacy in Calgary, Arif knew entrepreneurship was in his DNA — he just didn’t know what form it would take. Years later, that foundation of hard work and service would fuel the creation of Qopia Financial, one of Alberta’s fastest-growing advisory firms. In this conversation, Arif shares how early lessons in customer care shaped his leadership philosophy, w...

After decades leading Fortune 500 tech companies, Joel thought retirement would be fulfilling—until he realized he hated it. Searching for purpose led him to co-found Human, a company tackling cardiovascular health, the world’s #1 health issue. In this conversation, Joel shares why building with purpose feels different than chasing profit, the lessons he brought from scaling Dell, and how Human ea...

Casey is a father, musician, and biotech founder who turned heartbreak into hope. After years as a touring artist—and the ups and downs that came with it—his world shifted when his daughter Rose was diagnosed with a rare genetic disease. Faced with the words, “There’s nothing we can do,” Casey refused to accept the status quo. Drawing on grit from his music career and the hard lessons of loss, sob...

A born-and-raised Austin founder, Mason is a chemical-engineer-turned-eco-entrepreneur who’s built (and rebuilt) companies around healthier food and a healthier planet. He shares the early wins and hard knocks—from a failed pizza venture in Spain to nearly bankrupting, then turning around and exiting his local-food startup—before launching CC’s Veggie Co. and now Small Potatoes, an acquisition-and...

Founder In Progress is a raw, real-time look into the journeys of founders who are building while still figuring it out. Each episode shares unpolished stories, honest conversations, and practical lessons from people in the trenches of entrepreneurship. It’s not about polished exits or perfect success stories — it’s about progress over perfection. FIP captures the highs, lows, pivots, and moments...