Founder Talk with Alex Sheridan

Most founders talk about scaling their businesses — but few talk about the hidden cost their body, mind, and family pay along the way. In this episode of Founder Talk , I sit down with Magdalena Wrobel to uncover what it really takes to build a business without breaking yourself in the process. Magdalena shares her journey of stepping away from the corporate grind to design a life and career built...

Most teams move fast, thinking more speed means more sales. But in the rush, they lose the big deals: the ones that actually grow the business. In this episode of Founder Talk , I sit down with Howard Fisher , founder of Hantarra , to talk about why the best sales strategy isn’t about more calls, more pressure, or more speed. Rather it’s about slowing down. Howard shares how founders can rethink g...

The 9–5 workday is disappearing. Faster than most people think. In this episode of Founder Talk , I sit down with Brian Horwath and Arben Koliqi , founders of Blackrock Innovations , to talk about the future of work — and why traditional jobs are on the decline as AI and the gig economy take over. We dig into how technology, COVID, and remote work have completely rewritten what “a job” even means....

In this episode of Founder Talk , Jason Krantz, founder of Strategy Titan and Labor Titan , pulls back the curtain on what’s actually happening in the world of technology, education, and work. Jason’s built companies that live at the intersection of data science, human behavior, and business strategy — and he’s not afraid to call out the hype. You’ll learn: ✅ Why most AI pilots fail before they s...

In this episode of Founder Talk, I sit down with Brian Smith, founder of IA Business Advisors, to talk about the myth of hypergrowth — and why the best founders know when to slow down. Brian’s company just landed on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing companies, and he shares exactly what it took to get there after nearly 30 years in business. We dig into what founders get wrong about scaling, t...

America seems to be more divided than ever before. But why is that? Is it because of leadership? or algorithms? or social media? In this episode of Founder Talk, I sit down with Mike Nellis, founder of Authentic and creator of the viral Substack Endless Urgency, to dig into how technology, money, and incentives are shaping modern politics — and what’s really broken about the system. Mike shares hi...

Most companies think brand is just a logo, tagline, or color palette. The truth? That’s design. Brand is who you are, how you show up, and why people choose you over everyone else. And if you don’t define it, you’ll blend into the noise, competing only on price. In this episode of Founder Talk, I sit down with Jason Vana, brand strategist and founder of SHFT, to unpack what brand really means and...

Most founders think they have a “people problem” or a “process problem.” The truth? It’s almost always both. Without clear systems, people get frustrated. Without empowered people, processes get ignored. And now with AI and automation accelerating, the stakes are higher than ever. In this episode of Founder Talk, Ryan Weiss, founder of EPS Optics, shares how he helps companies streamline workstrea...

Most founders quit creating content too early. They get frustrated when posts flop, blame the algorithm, and let ego get in the way. The truth? Building a personal brand takes patience, self-awareness, and the willingness to look bad before you get good. Today, I sit down with Jared Gibson, co-founder of Outworks, to unpack the reality of building on LinkedIn in 2024. From why video content still...

Most people think of autonomous vehicles as futuristic cars on city streets. But what if the real disruption starts in your backyard; with machines that mow the lawn better than humans can? In this episode of Founder Talk, I sit down with Ilya Sagalovich, founder of Havenshine, a company building autonomous and semi-autonomous commercial mowers. We dive into how off-road autonomy works, why it’s a...

Most founders end up trapped in their own business. They’re the bottleneck, still responsible for sales, still putting out fires, still working in the business instead of on it. In this episode of Founder Talk, I sit down with Keith Seebeck, founder of Eskaygee, to break down how entrepreneurs can create businesses that run without them. Keith shares his journey from EOS integrator to Pinnacle Gui...

What happens when a former Army Ranger decides to take on the future of logistics? Ryan Walsh, founder and CEO of Valqari, shares the raw truth of building a company that designs universal drone delivery infrastructure. From securing patents to fighting through regulations, Ryan reveals the behind-the-scenes lessons of turning a sci-fi vision into a business reality. We dig into what the world wil...

In this episode, I sit down with Frank Ziede, CEO of Common Ground Consulting, who’s trained global brands like Tesla, BMW, and Rolls-Royce on how to deliver world-class customer experiences. From his start in retail at 19 to becoming a trusted consultant for some of the world’s most prestigious companies, Frank reveals why the real differentiator isn’t the product, but rather it’s the people behi...

In this episode I sit down with Henry Kaskov, founder of Kaskov Valuations, for a raw, behind-the-scenes conversation about what it really takes to evaluate, grow, and eventually sell a business. Henry has become the go-to guy when companies need to understand what their business is worth, when it’s the right time to sell, and how to position themselves for maximum valuation. Unlike theory-heavy s...

In this episode of Founder Talk, Gary Benedik shares the journey of launching Arch Advisory Group in the middle of a pandemic, growing it into a seven-figure business, and selling it to Avenica in only three years—without ever planning an exit. Now serving as Avenica's Chief Revenue Officer, Gary opens up about the timing, relationships, and cultural fit that made the acquisition possible, and why...

In this powerful and vulnerable episode of Founder Talk, we sit down with Chris Maliszewski, a leader turned first-time entrepreneur, who was on-site during the Highland Park mass shooting in 2022. That moment and everything that came after, shattered his world, forced him to confront severe PTSD, and eventually led him down the path to building something new: a mission-driven business with healin...

In this powerful return episode, Clay Stelzer joins us again to go even deeper into the leadership patterns that shape team performance, culture, and personal growth. Clay has helped hundreds of founders, CEOs, and executive teams navigate the real work of leadership—not just hitting KPIs, but creating conscious, high-trust teams where honest communication and clear agreements are the norm, not th...

In this episode of Founder Talk, we sit down with Rob Rech, founder of Humans First and a seasoned entrepreneur who has built 10 businesses and successfully exited 7 of them. Rob’s track record speaks for itself—but what’s even more fascinating is how he did it: by mastering flow state, applying rigorous self-experimentation, and optimizing time and team performance. Here’s what you’ll learn from...

In this raw and wide-ranging second round of Founder Talk , Duane Draughon returns to unpack what it's really like to grow, downsize, re-evaluate, and redefine success—on your own terms. We go deep into the mindset shifts Duane has been going through as he reassesses everything from money and ego to purpose and priorities. This episode is as real as it gets. Here’s what you’ll take away from this...

In this deep and vulnerable episode of Founder Talk, Isabelle shares the personal story behind her “Loud Whisper” philosophy and how the journey from external success to internal alignment changed everything. She reveals the real reason many successful entrepreneurs still feel unfulfilled—and how unresolved trauma, suppressed identity, and societal conditioning keep leaders from truly living in th...

In this episode of Founder Talk, we sit down with Blake Harris—an asset protection attorney, founder of the nation's largest exclusively offshore asset protection law firm, and a creator with over 250,000 followers across social platforms. We go deep into the powerful intersection of content, credibility, and business growth. Blake breaks down how building a personal brand transformed his firm, wh...

In this episode of Founder Talk, we sit down with Christina Brady, CEO and Co-Founder of Luster, an AI-powered platform that's fundamentally transforming how sales teams are trained, coached, and developed. Drawing from 18+ years of experience as a top revenue leader, trainer, and exec coach, Christina shares the origin story behind Luster and the painful gap it solves: most companies can't actual...

In this episode of Founder Talk, we sit down with Rick, founder of Impact Promotions, who’s spent the last six years running a thriving direct mail business for car dealerships—all while living full-time in an RV and traveling the country with his dog, Wyatt. Rick’s story isn’t just about business success—it’s about redefining freedom, building deep relationships the old-school way, and using mode...

In this episode of Founder Talk, we sit down with Jim, founder of Revenue Task Force, to unpack the hidden tax incentives, energy rebates, and government-backed funding opportunities that most business owners never hear about—yet could save them tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars. Here’s what you’ll learn from Jim: ✅ How the FICA Wellness Program can save your company $600–$800 per employee...

In this episode of Founder Talk, we sit down with Bob Moran and Karen, the CEO and President duo behind First Logistics. Together, they’ve grown their logistics business 20x in under a decade—without losing a single customer due to performance. But the real story lies in how they did it. Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode: ✅ Why Bob semi-retired to focus on acquisitions, delivery expansion,...