Knoodle Founders Hour

In this episode of the Knoodle Founders Hour, host Rosaria Cain sits down with Dennis Webb, a home building maverick who spent decades in high-end retail before bringing a customer-first mindset to Fulton Homes. After rising to store president during a 23-year career at Silver Woods and spending five years with Eaglesons in Los Angeles, Dennis was recruited by Ira and Doug Fulton to modernize thei...

In this episode of the Knoodle Founders Hour, host Rosaria Cain sits down with Dr. Gabrielle Ficchi, the co-founder of the nonprofit Care 4 the Caregivers, to discuss her mission to support and empower families raising children with disabilities. Growing up with a disability, Dr. Ficchi noticed a stark contrast: while she received abundant resources and therapy, her parents were left in the waitin...

In this episode of the Knoodle Founders Hour, host Rosaria Cain sits down with Lea Benson, the founder of CeCe's Hope Center. After recognizing a critical gap in services for young women aging out of the foster care system, Lea co-founded the organization in 2017 to provide a lifeline for highly vulnerable women and survivors of human trafficking and sexual trauma. Today, CeCe’s Hope Center op...

In this episode of the Knoodle Founders Hour, host Rosaria Cain sits down with Megan Greenwood, founder of Greenwood Brewing, to discuss her journey from a corporate design engineer to the sole owner of a thriving, women-powered brewery. After receiving a home brew kit as a birthday gift in 2014, Megan spent years perfecting her craft while working full-time designing utility-scale solar projects....

Turning Food Waste into a Fermented Empire (with Niccolo Fraschetti of Alive Ferments) In this episode of the Knoodle Founders Hour, host Rosaria Cain sits down with Niccolo Fraschetti, the founder of Alive Ferments, to discuss his journey of bringing accessible, flavorful fermented foods to the masses. After dropping out of high school at 15 with just the equivalent of $5 in his pocket, Niccolo t...

In this episode of the Knoodle Founders Hour, host Rosaria Cain sits down with Skip Ast III of Shasta Pools to explore the history, challenges, and innovations of one of Arizona's oldest family-run businesses. Founded in the late 1960s by Skip's great uncle Bob and grandfather Skip Sr., Shasta Pools capitalized on the booming Phoenix housing market by bringing water to the desert. Growing...

In this special 27th-anniversary episode of the Knoodle Founders Hour, host Rosaria Cain reunites with her original co-founder, Caleb Miller, to reminisce about the early days of the agency and unpack his wild ride as a serial entrepreneur. Back in 1999, Caleb and Rosaria teamed up to launch Knoodle (then known as Image Quest) with zero prior agency experience, relying on their hustle and Fulton H...

What happens when a rescued dog becomes a veteran’s battle buddy? In this powerful episode of The Founders Hour , Rosaria Cain sits down with Mik Milem of Soldier’s Best Friend, an Arizona nonprofit changing lives by pairing U.S. military veterans living with PTSD or traumatic brain injury with trained service dogs—many of them rescued from local shelters. Mik shares how the program works, why the...

Why Ad Agencies Hate Going After New Business (And How to Fix It) In this episode of the Knoodle Founder's Hour, host Rosaria Cain sits down with Mark Sneider, founder of RSW, to unpack the often-dreaded task of agency new business development. After a decade in corporate marketing and a stint running domestic operations for a global marketing research firm, Mark recognized a universal truth:...

We sit down with advertising veteran Jos Anshell, founder of Marketing Forensics and the strategic mind behind the iconic former agency, Moses Anshell. In this episode, host Rosaria Cain peels back the curtain on a career that spans from the disciplined halls of Unilever to the high-stakes world of airline marketing. Jos shares his philosophy on why branding is about the "benefit to the consu...

In this episode of The Knoodle Founder's Hour, host Rosaria Cain sits down with Dr. Howard Farran, the visionary founder of Dentaltown. Howard shares his remarkable entrepreneurial journey, from launching a pioneering online community for dentists back in 1999 to his current investments in artificial intelligence. Operating at the crossroads of dentistry, technology, and media, Howard explains...

Joy Seitz is redefining what leadership and ethical business mean in the renewable energy sector. In this episode, host Rosaria Cain sits down with Joy Seitz, Matriarch of American Solar and Roofing, to explore her powerful advocacy for women's rights, corporate diversity, and clean energy. This conversation goes far beyond just installing solar panels. Joy explains the deep interconnectedness...

Kristi Kay May is redefining what dog training really means. In this episode of Knoodle Founders Hour , host Rosaria Cain sits down with Kristi Kay May , founder of Legend Acres , to explore a powerful approach to dog and horse behavior built on positive reinforcement, force-free methods, and fear-free training . This conversation goes far beyond sit, stay, and obedience. Kristi explains why many...

Why do so many smart, capable people struggle with sales—and what’s actually holding them back? In this episode of Knoodle Founders Hour , host Rosaria Cain sits down with Connie Kadansky , a globally recognized sales expert and coach specializing in call reluctance and prospecting psychology —the hidden barriers that stop even experienced professionals from picking up the phone and growing their...

What if a bakery wasn’t just about desserts—but about creating unforgettable experiences? In this episode of Knoodle Founders Hour , host Rosaria Cain sits down with Danielle O’Day , founder of Sweet Dee’s Bakeshop , to explore how creativity, storytelling, and relentless execution turned a passion for baking into a thriving, multi-dimensional brand. Danielle isn’t just a pastry chef—she’s a creat...

What would you do if your child was given two weeks to live? In this deeply moving episode of Knoodle Founders Hour , host Rosaria Cain sits down with Anthony Conti, founder of The Purple Society—a grassroots nonprofit born from a father’s fight to save his daughter’s life. After his 12-year-old daughter Nitalia was diagnosed with a rare brain tumor, Anthony entered a world most parents never imag...

Moving your life across borders is hard. Moving your pets? Even harder. In this episode of Knoodle Founders Hour , Marisa Hoskins—founder of Paws Abroad —breaks down the hidden chaos behind international pet travel and how she’s building the first true infrastructure layer for a fragmented, outdated industry. After spending thousands of dollars and navigating confusing, inconsistent regulations ju...

What does it really take to lead change inside a business? In this episode of The Knoodle Founder’s Hour , host Rosaria Cain sits down with Joe Pusz , founder of PMO Squad , to uncover the hidden power of project management —and why it’s becoming one of the most critical business disciplines in the modern economy. Joe explains why every major business transformation—from launching new products to...

How many people are quietly stuck, unfulfilled, or running on empty at work—even if they look successful on paper? In this episode of The Knoodle Founders Hour , host Rosaria Cain sits down with Derick Brownell , co-founder of TTR Executive Coaching , to unpack what’s really behind underperformance and burnout—and how leaders can turn it around with a coaching framework that’s both structured and...

From Immigrant to Commercial Real Estate Powerhouse | Ronit Urman on Leadership, Negotiation & Building a Global Investment Firm What does it take to build a 30+ year commercial real estate company from scratch — in a brand new country? In this episode of Knoodle Founder’s Hour , Rosaria Cain sits down with Ronit Urman, co-founder of Urman Enterprises, to talk about entrepreneurship, commercia...

What can unscripted comedy teach us about business, leadership, and life? In this episode, Rosaria Cain sits down with Dorian Lenz, founder of Neighborhood Comedy Theatre, to explore how improv comedy transforms not just the stage—but boardrooms, relationships, and entire organizations. With more than 25 years of experience in improvisational theatre, Dorian shares how the core principles of impro...

What is the current state of U.S. immigration—and how does it affect real people navigating the system today? In this episode, immigration attorney Hillary Walsh, founder of New Frontier Immigration, joins Rosaria Cain for an in-depth conversation about the realities of U.S. immigration law, the challenges facing families and businesses, and why the system is often far more complex than it appears...

What really drives success in today’s housing market? It’s not guesses. It’s data. In this episode of The Founders Hour , host Rosaria Cain sits down with Jim Belfiore , founder of Belfiore Analytics , to unpack how high-quality, on-the-ground data is reshaping decision-making in the home building industry . Jim shares why he returned to the market with a new analytics firm, how Belfiore Analytics...

What does it take to preserve history, build community, and keep Western culture alive in a modern city like Scottsdale? In this episode of Knoodle Founder’s Hour , host Rosaria Cain sits down with Dave Alford , founder of the Scottsdale Rodeo Museum and a lifelong steward of Arizona’s rodeo heritage. Dave shares the untold story behind the Scottsdale Rodeo—now in its 70+ year legacy—and how a sma...

Can the homebuilding industry fix its affordability and labor crisis by going back to the roots? In this episode of The Founder’s Hour , Pat Crowley—founder of One Hope and longtime leader in the homebuilding and interior finishes world—shares a powerful, deeply personal story and a bold vision for the future of housing. From growing up in a working-class neighborhood in West Phoenix to leading in...