Problem Solvers

We’re taught that good leaders decide fast. But that belief may be holding you back. Harvard instructor and author of Manage Yourself to Lead Others , Margaret Andrews, explains why effective decisions often take longer and how rushing creates more work later. Together, she and Jason explore the mystic around leadership and decisions. Plus, one easy way to know if your meetings are effective. Lear...

Jersey Mike’s just hit No. 1 on Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500,  as it enters a new era of ownership and leadership. New CEO Charlie Morrison explains how the brand plans to grow without breaking what already works. Plus, he reveals whether Danny DeVito is really going to lose his job to Eli Manning. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brand historian Jason Liebig explains how nostalgia works as a strategic tool, not just a retro look. He breaks down why familiar emotions build trust faster and how brands use nostalgia without copying the past. Plus, practical ways founders can apply it through design, storytelling, and customer experience. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Listener Melissa calls the Help Line today because she's experiencing some analysis paralysis (haven't we all). Jason gives her a formula to help her determine which parts of her work she should change; plus, he shares how to failure-proof her pivot by making it into an experiment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Yes, you can start a million-dollar business in a weekend. Noah Kagan, founder of AppSumo and author of the book "Million Dollar Weekend", shares how the foundations of a great business come together quickly, and why it's worth moving fast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Building brand awareness doesn’t have to cost big bucks. It can be as simple as leveraging your relationships in the community. The founders of Cold Blooded and Bizarre share how they built a beloved local brand by showing up everywhere their community already gathers, and turning simple touchpoints into constant reminders. Plus a two headed snake! This episode is brought to you by CLA. With you o...

You’ve seen Robert Herjavec make deals on Shark Tank , but do you actually know how he thinks? In this candid conversation, Robert breaks down the real questions investors should ask, and the common mistakes founders keep making. He also warns about the wrong lesson some people take from Shark Tank . And yes, if he still thinks about passing on Scrub Daddy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit...

When Lew Frankfort joined Coach in 1979, he knew nothing about fashion but he understood people. That skill became the foundation of his leadership and the reason he transformed Coach from a small, overlooked accessories brand into a global powerhouse. In this episode, Lew shares the interview strategy he’s refined over decades and written up in his new book Bag Man . He breaks down the questions...

Feeling stuck? Uninspired? Unsure how to find the right answer to the problem you're trying to solve? Scott Anthony can get you unstuck. He teaches strategy at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmout, and is the author of the book  Epic Disruptions . He walks us through simple, science-backed strategies to reboot your creativity, the psychology behind peak performance, and why the worst way to sol...

What makes an idea truly worthy of your time? Nir Zicherman, co-founder of Anchor and former Head of Audiobooks at Spotify, thought he’d left the startup world behind. But he kept wondering if he could help people learn in a better way. And oboe.com was born. In this conversation, Nir and Jason explore how to know when you’ve found something that’s more than a project. It’s your next calling. Lear...

When Jared Foster of Times Ticking bought a small watch shop, he realized one question was killing sales. So he replaced it with a simple, repeatable strategy that made customers feel welcome and ready to buy. That shift helped Times Ticking land on Entrepreneur’s list of America’s Favorite Mom & Pop Shops and turn quick repairs into big sales. This episode is brought to you by CLA. With you o...

 Executive coach Muriel Wilkins joins the show to unpack one of the biggest growth blockers in business. The leader who needs to be involved in everything. Drawing from her new book Leadership Unblocked , she breaks down how that urge forms, why it destroys trust and agency inside organizations, and how to recalibrate your time toward the work that actually drives results. Learn more about your ad...

NBA stars don’t open up easily, but Taylor Rooks makes it look effortless. The lead host of Amazon’s NBA on Prime joins the show to share how she earns trust fast, even from the most guarded people in the room. It’s not just about asking questions. Whether you’re interviewing the team or leading it, trust is the foundation of every successful relationship. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit m...

Michael Bosstick, founder and CEO of Dear Media, breaks down the mechanics of audience growth and what smart creators do after they’ve built one. He shares his proven blueprint for turning attention into impact. This conversation will change how you think about the audience as an asset, not just a metric. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Most people think taking a month off work is impossible, but what if it’s actually a smart career move? Jillian Johnsrud, author of Retire Often , argues that planning a “mini-retirement” isn’t just good for your sanity. It forces you (and your company) to build better systems, and delegate more effectively. In this episode, Jason digs into her framework for making extended time off possible in an...

John Levy, behavioral scientist and author of Team Intelligence , is here to blow up what you thought you knew about leading teams. He reveals why most leadership advice is outdated, how the entire industry is built on a con man’s research from the 1900s, and what actually drives people to follow great leaders. He also shares one scientifically proven tip to build a smarter team. Learn more about...

Entrepreneurs face two kinds of problems: One has clear answers, the other does not. But is it possible to take unclear paths... and make them clearer? Alibaba.com  president Kuo Zhang joins the show to talk about Accio, the company’s new AI tool that helps entrepreneurs create products, and the larger business lesson it represents. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Most businesses that resist change die. But Jake Shivery refused to give up analog photography and turned his Portland shop,  Blue Moon Camera and Machine , into a thriving 26-person business.  But to keep his mission alive, Jake had to embrace changes he never wanted, from digitizing film to building a social media presence. In this episode, he shares how to balance stubborn focus with strategic...

Branding expert Laura Ries joins Jason to talk about her new book, The Strategic Enemy , and the power of positioning. Together, they break down how companies can define what they stand against, win customers, and become the go-to name in their category. This is a packed conversation about how to create campaigns that resonate and understand the strategy behind the marketing that shapes our world....

What do you do when your company is running out of money, your industry has collapsed, and even you think your idea is dumb? That’s the situation Siqi Chen, now founder and CEO of the finance platform Runway , faced in 2016 when he became CEO of Sandbox, a VR startup. Yet through a bold move, Chen managed to get the right people to believe, securing funding for a product that was a stupid good tim...

Search is changing. Instead of typing a few words into Google, clients are now asking AI tools for hyper-specific recommendations. So how do you make sure they still find you? In this episode, Max DesMarais of  Vital Designs  shares how to position your business so large language models present you as the solution to your client's problem. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adcho...

Marcus Lemonis built his reputation as the guy who could fix anything. It’s even in the name of his TV show  The Fixer  on FOX his new show following the success of  The Profit  on CNBC. But now, as he enters a new phase of leadership, he’s rethinking what it really means to lead. Lemonis has evolved. He’s leading from behind, pushing people harder than they’d push themselves, and even playing the...

 Michael Jacobson joined his uncle’s flower shop to help close it down.  Instead, he uncovered industry-wide problems like outdated tech, inefficient supply chains, and reliance on costly middlemen. By solving them one by one, he grew the  French Florist  into a thriving franchise that’s redefining the floral business. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The myth of the genius jerk founder has shaped startup culture for decades, but it’s wrong. Dr. Richard Hagberg and Tien Tzuo, co-authors of  Founders Keepers , have the data to prove it. In this episode, they unpack the real traits that define high-performing founders, why bad behavior gets glorified, and how emotional intelligence and adaptability, not arrogance, drive lasting success. Learn mor...

Julia Hartz is the co-founder and CEO of Eventbrite, the platform built to help anyone host and sell tickets to an event. But after years in the business, Julia and her team realized something surprising. Their biggest growth opportunity wasn’t with the people creating events, it was with the people searching for them. On this episode, Julia shares how Eventbrite rethought its product, reimagined...