The Angel Next Door

What happens when overlooked innovators are empowered to solve problems for communities often left out of the conversation—and, even more, when those innovators have lived experience of the challenges they’re addressing? In this episode of The Angel Next Door Podcast, Marcia sits down with Brittany and Rich Palmer, a dynamic entrepreneurial couple, to explore how true innovation and impact are ign...

What does it really take to thrive as a first-time fund manager in today’s challenging investment landscape, especially when you’re building a venture fund from scratch while championing diversity and innovation? This episode delves into the real experiences behind the headlines, inviting listeners to consider the often unseen hurdles and triumphs that define entrepreneurial journeys. Our guest, L...

What’s the true cost of getting your startup’s legal foundation wrong—and how can overlooking legal nuances derail even the most promising entrepreneurial dreams? In this episode of The Angel Next Door Podcast, host Marcia Dawood dives into the questions every founder and early-stage investor should be asking about company formation, equity, and governance. Our guest, Meredith Haviland, is a partn...

What does it take to redefine entrepreneurship for both impact and profit, and can owning less of a company mean achieving more? In this episode of The Angel Next Door Podcast, listeners are invited to consider how traditional business structures and investment models can be transformed for greater societal good without sacrificing returns. Blake Jones joins Marcia Dawood as today's guest—a self-d...

How will artificial intelligence transform the most human parts of wealth management? In this episode, we explore where technology meets empathy, and what the future looks like for financial professionals and their clients as AI adoption accelerates across the industry. Our guest, Carrie Nelson, is the founder of Atlas Point and a veteran leader with experience at Ernst & Young, Experian, and Edwa...

How can we build technology that’s not only innovative, but truly safe for its users—especially in a world of rapid AI and crypto development? This episode of The Angel Next Door Podcast explores the critical intersection of safety, user empowerment, and digital progress in today’s tech landscape. Our guest, Karima Williams, is a leader in crypto and AI who has brought communities together, educat...

What if your next breakthrough in entrepreneurship comes not from your product, but from the relationships you build and the way you position yourself as a thought leader? In this episode, Marcia Dawood welcomes Chris Haroun—a former hedge fund manager, early investor in tech giants, and top-rated business educator—to share actionable insights for founders and business owners. With a rich backgrou...

How do the beliefs we inherit about money shape our approach to wealth—and what happens when we finally decide to examine and rewrite those patterns? The Angel Next Door Podcast’s latest solo episode invites listeners to reflect on the roots of their financial behaviors and unpack how history, culture, and family influence their relationship with money. Host Marcia Dawood draws on her new book, "U...

How do the beliefs we inherit about money shape our approach to wealth—and what happens when we finally decide to examine and rewrite those patterns? The Angel Next Door Podcast’s latest solo episode invites listeners to reflect on the roots of their financial behaviors and unpack how history, culture, and family influence their relationship with money. Host Marcia Dawood draws on her new book, "U...

What if the key to entrepreneurial success isn't just about making money, but about building confidence and aligning your finances with your personal values? This episode of The Angel Next Door Podcast dives into how shifting your mindset around money can transform not only your business but your whole approach to wealth and life. Our guest, Shari Rash, founder of GWA Wealth and host of “Everyone’...

What if the real foundation of entrepreneurship is less about making money and more about mastering your mindset around it? In this episode of The Angel Next Door Podcast, host Marcia Dawood explores how our early experiences and psychological beliefs about money shape our financial behaviors—and ultimately, our freedom to create and build. Guest Shang Saavedra, who reached retirement savings goal...

What’s the hidden reality behind entrepreneurship when your company faces a merger or acquisition? Beyond the headlines and the excitement of a potential exit, there’s a deeply human side to these transitions—one filled with change, uncertainty, and the need for strong leadership and cultural awareness. In this episode, Marcia Dawood sits down with Jennifer Fondrevay, a former corporate executive...

What does it really mean to balance purpose and profit as an entrepreneur? In this episode of The Angel Next Door Podcast, host Marcia Dawood sits down with Coco Sellman to uncover how founders can address real community needs while building profitable, lasting companies. Marcia Dawood introduces Coco Sellman, a serial founder and the author of “A Force for Good.” Coco’s journey began with deeply...

What drives someone to make their very first investment in a company that becomes a unicorn, and how can others follow suit? In this episode, host Marcia Dawood sits down with Jaclyn Johnson—serial entrepreneur, angel investor, and founder of Cherub—to unpack her journey from building and selling companies to becoming a prolific dealmaker and innovator in the fundraising space. Jaclyn Johnson shar...

What does it mean to truly disrupt an industry—and can one entrepreneur’s vision connect beauty, empowerment, and even space exploration? In this episode of The Angel Next Door Podcast, host Marcia Dawood welcomes Shalini Vadhera, a pioneering founder who transformed her passion for global beauty into impact-driven brands and products that have made history by traveling to outer space. Shalini Vad...

What does it really take to turn your vision into reality as an entrepreneur—and how do our early experiences shape the leaders we become? In this episode of The Angel Next Door Podcast, Marcia Dawood sits down with the dynamic Syama Bunten, whose journey from a driven, creative child writing letters to the White House to a powerhouse in the world of retail and brand consulting is nothing short of...

What does it mean to truly build a business—and a life—on your own terms, rather than just following society’s rules? In this episode of The Angel Next Door Podcast, host Marcia Dawood sits down with Katie Sampayo, a life re-designer and business mentor for women entrepreneurs, to explore the journey from corporate conformity to empowered entrepreneurship. Katie Sampayo shares how she moved from a...

What does it take for an entrepreneur to recognize—and embrace—a groundbreaking technological innovation, especially when skepticism is the initial reaction? In this episode of The Angel Next Door Podcast, host Marcia Dawood explores this very question with special guest Anthony Scaramucci, diving deep into the evolution of trust, disruption, and adoption in the world of digital assets. Anthony Sc...

What’s the secret to building financial resilience as an entrepreneur—and how do you make sure you’re never caught off guard by life’s curveballs? In this episode of The Angel Next Door Podcast, host Marcia Dawood sits down with financial strategist Leah Williams to tackle these questions head-on, exploring how proactive financial planning and tax strategies can empower you to take control of your...

What does it take to turn personal adversity into a transformative entrepreneurial vision? On this episode of The Angel Next Door Podcast, Marcia Dawood sits down with Kristin Thomas, founder of the Marble Collective, to explore the intersection of personal legacy, financial empowerment, and the urgency of creating spaces for women leaders to shine. This conversation sparks essential questions abo...

In this special episode, Marcia reflects on the biggest themes, turning points, and lessons from the back half of 2025. This season, the Angel Next Door community explored what it truly means to build wealth—from rewriting personal money stories, to making intentional, values-driven investments. You'll hear how the podcast has expanded to cover not just angel investing, but also other wealth-build...

In this special episode, we revisit the most compelling themes and insights from the first half of the year on the Angel Next Door podcast. From innovative approaches to investing and the growing influence of donor-advised funds, to authentic conversations about money mindset and the realities of entrepreneurial resilience, this wrap-up highlights the ideas and lessons that set the tone for 2025....

What makes a founder’s story truly unforgettable—and why does it matter when pitching to investors? This episode of The Angel Next Door Podcast explores how the art of storytelling can be the determining factor in whether entrepreneurs win support for their ventures. Our guest, Jessica Mastors, is a storytelling coach who leverages neuroscience and practical experience to help founders craft meani...

What happens when entrepreneurial success results in a web of investments, assets, and stories that grew too complex for any one person to manage? This episode of The Angel Next Door Podcast dives into the often-overlooked challenges of building and preserving a family legacy while maintaining clarity and order for generations to come. Our guest, Josh Kanter, brings firsthand experience from growi...

What does it really take to break through the myths of entrepreneurship and build a financially independent life—especially as a woman? In this eye-opening episode of The Angel Next Door Podcast, host Marcia Dawood invites listeners to rethink traditional notions of wealth, investing, and risk-taking by exploring the power of money mindset, resilience, and strategic investing. Our guest, Bernadett...