The Founders Hustle

Can AI really manage Google Ads better than a human marketer? In this episode of The Founders Hustle, Judy Swafford sits down with David Pourquery, founder of GROAS, an AI-powered platform built to autonomously manage Google Ads campaigns. David shares how GROAS evolved from a simple SaaS tool into a fully autonomous AI agent that can write ads, optimize campaigns, manage budgets, analyze performa...

In this episode of The Founders Hustle, Judy Swafford sits down with Michele Mollard, an EOS leadership coach, to talk about one of the most overlooked skills in leadership: setting clear expectations without becoming a micromanager. Michele shares why “clear is kind,” how unclear expectations can quietly break team culture, and why great leaders don’t manage personalities — they manage process, a...

What do you do when an idea won’t leave you alone? In this episode of The Founders Hustle , Judy Swafford sits down with Jeff Revilla , founder of Poduty Live , a one-of-a-kind live podcast theater just outside of Pittsburgh. Jeff shares the story behind building a business that blends podcasting, livestreaming, theater, digital media, and community into an entirely new kind of creator experience....

What’s one piece of advice Kenny Leonard would give any entrepreneur? Find your opposite. In this episode of The Founders Hustle, Kenny shares how complementary strengths helped him and his business partner build Element 22 into a thriving commercial lending company. But that’s just one of many lessons packed into this conversation. Judy and Kenny dive into the realities of launching a business, i...

Starting a business is hard. Building one while working full-time and raising a family takes another level of determination. In this episode of The Founders Hustle , Judy sits down with Cecily North-Rudow to talk about her entrepreneurial journey, from feeling stuck in her career to launching Traveling North Agency and creating a business around customized, high-touch travel planning. Cecily share...

What do you do when your business is growing, your bills are stacking up, and cash gets tight? In this episode of The Founders Hustle , Judy sits down with Cherise Lloyd , author of The Shortfall Solution and founder of a financial content and consulting agency, to talk about one of the biggest challenges business owners face: cash flow shortfalls. Cherise brings a rare perspective to the conversa...

What does it really take to start a business from scratch — with no prior experience, plenty of uncertainty, and a whole lot of heart? In this episode of The Founders Hustle, Judy sits down with Denny and Ellen of Visiting Angels Southwest Michigan, a father-daughter team who built their business from one employee in a living room into a thriving company with 3 offices and 135 employees. This conv...

What does it really take to leave corporate America and build a business of your own? In this episode of The Founders Hustle, Judy sits down with Mark Stern, founder and CEO of Custom Box Agency, to talk about the mindset shifts, hard lessons, and personal growth that helped him go from corporate high performer to successful entrepreneur. Mark shares how he built his business during COVID, why he...

In this episode of The Founders Hustle, host Judy Swafford sits down with Andrew Ackerman, two-time founder, 70+ angel investor, adjunct entrepreneurship professor, and author of The Entrepreneur’s Odyssey—to break down the startup journey in a way most “how-to” books don’t. Instead of preaching a checklist, Andrew explains why the best startup lessons stick when they’re told as a story. You’ll he...

What starts as “just messing around in the kitchen” doesn’t always stay small. In this episode of The Founder’s Hustle, Judy sits down with Maria Leggett, founder and head sauce maker of Maria’s Sauce Co, to unpack how fun kitchen experiments in Traverse City, Michigan turned into a bold, small-batch hot sauce brand—with cheeky retro vibes, unexpected flavors, and a mission to support local farms....

In this episode of The Founders Hustle, Judy Swafford sits down with Matt Stafford, founder of Build Grow Scale, to unpack the real behind-the-scenes story of how he went from pouring commercial concrete at 19 to building multiple businesses—and eventually helping ecommerce brands fix the hidden issues that quietly kill conversions and profit. Matt shares what it was like buying a business as a te...

Dave Gulas went from pharma sales to co-founding EZDC 3PL—and he did it by leaning into one underrated advantage most founders forget: caring more than the big guys. In this episode, Dave breaks down why there’s never been a better time to be a small business, how he’s won clients away from legacy competitors who got complacent, and what “high-touch customer service” actually looks like when your...

Order Beth's Book: Selection Process  https://tinyurl.com/5e4h522c What happens when you stop trying to do it all alone—and start building the kind of support system that actually makes you stronger? In this episode of The Founders Hustle, Judy Swafford sits down with Beth Fisher for a powerful conversation about confidence, leadership, and the real impact of lifting others up. Beth shares the min...

A lot of founders don’t fail because they’re not good at what they do… they fail because they try to do everything . In this episode, Paul Wirth (Custom Wirth) shares the biggest early mistake he made: taking on too much work and delaying delegation—plus how SOPs, training, and trusting a team helped him build a stronger, more scalable company. Along the way, we get the real backstory: leaving a h...

Most business owners wait until they’re ready to be done and that’s usually when they realize their business isn’t actually sellable. In this deep divem conversation, Judy sits down with Brad Scoffin (Advanced Business Brokers) to break down what it really takes to prepare for a successful business exit, whether you plan to sell to a buyer, transition to family, or hand it off to employees. We tal...

Growth doesn’t feel good while it’s happening...and that’s the point. In this episode we talk with Michele Mollard, an EOS Implementer, about how to keep moving when growth feels uncomfortable, uncertain, and messy. They unpack the mindset traps that stall founders (from “getting ready to get ready” to imposter syndrome/head trash) and how EOS creates traction through clarity, accountability, and...

In this episode of The Founders Hustle, Judy Swafford sits down with Dan Martin, founder and CEO of KZoom, a full-service digital marketing agency that started in a basement with no camera and has grown into a 15-person creative powerhouse serving brands across the nation. Dan opens up about his unexpected firing at 23, how that moment pushed him to start his own company, and what it really takes...

In this episode of The Founders Hustle, Judy Swafford sits down with Brad Scoffin, co-founder of Advanced Business Brokers — better known as “Bowtie Brad.” Brad helps entrepreneurs buy and sell companies the right way: with heart, foresight, and purpose. From selling Jolly Ranchers in middle school to helping founders retire on their own terms, Brad shares what he’s learned about building wealth t...

In this episode of The Founders Hustle, Judy Swafford sits down with Melanie Spring, brand strategist, international speaker, and creator of Speak With Confidence, to talk about what it really means to embody your true self as a leader, speaker, and entrepreneur. Melanie shares her journey from running a branding agency to becoming a sought-after speaker and “brand muse” for high achievers. She op...

In this episode of The Founders Hustle, Judy Swafford sits down with Anthony Gettig, a professional voiceover artist who has spent over four decades turning his passion for sound into a purpose-driven business. Anthony shares how his journey began in a high school radio station, how a single mentor changed his life’s direction, and what it really takes to stay relevant through the rise of AI and d...

In this episode of The Founders Hustle, Judy Swafford sits down with Dann Sytsma, founder of Crawlspace Comedy Theater and Improv Effects, to explore how he went from analytical chemistry to building a creative business that’s transforming how people connect — on stage and in the workplace. Dann shares his journey from lab experiments to laughter, how one “yes, and…” moment sparked a 20-year passi...

In this episode of The Founders Hustle, host Judy Swafford sits down with Ben Ipema, serial entrepreneur and founder of The Friendly Pickle, Kalamazoo’s newest indoor pickleball club designed for community, comfort, and connection. Ben shares how his entrepreneurial journey began at 13, picking blueberries and painting cottages, and how that same work ethic carried him through 12 different busines...

In this inspiring episode of The Founders Hustle, Judy Swafford sits down with Hilary Olney, founder of Trips Ahoy Travel, who started her business in 1995 with just $777 and a borrowed office — and turned it into a thriving, 30-year success story. Hilary opens up about how she built her travel agency from the ground up, the impact of the internet on her business, and how she survived global chall...

Every business has a backstory and Dr. Carrie Sands’ journey is all about grit, reinvention, and purpose. In this episode of The Founders Hustle, host Judy Swafford sits down with Dr. Carrie Sands, a sports chiropractor who’s built seven successful practices without outside investors, without shortcuts, and without giving up. From opening her first office at 25 with a borrowed paint roller to beco...

The Founders Hustle is a podcast that explores the journey of entrepreneurship — the vision, the grind, and the growth that defines every founder’s story. Hosted by Judy Swafford.  Support the show If you’d like to toss a one-time “thank you” or grab a GRIT Happens sticker, you can do that by clicking the "Support The Show" link above or visit: https://buymeacoffee.com/thefoundershustle Watch &amp...