The Inspired Stories Podcast

How do you navigate career transitions and build a thriving business as a fractional executive? In this episode, Jessica Spino, a fractional CMO and COO, shares her journey of embracing her diverse skill set and carving out a unique role in the business world. After exploring various fields, from communications to education to nonprofit work, Jessica found her calling in operations and marketing....

How do you build a successful recruiting firm with a people-first approach? In this episode, Chris Allaire, founder and CEO of Averity, shares his journey transforming the recruiting industry with a team-based, service-oriented model. After recognizing the need for change in the recruiting field, Chris pioneered a new approach at Averity. He built teams focused on specific tech niches who work tog...

How do you build an innovative and purpose-driven business? In this episode, Bryan Vielhauer, president of Cincinnati print shop Decal Impressions, shares his journey transforming a struggling company into an innovative digital services provider. After acquiring the near-bankrupt business, Brian stabilized operations and saw opportunities in digital printing and ecommerce. He made the transition f...

How do you build a business that’s true to yourself?  In this episode, marketing agency founder Stephen Christopher shares how he built a purpose-driven company serving the home services industry. After his mortgage business failed in 2008, Stephen started over in digital marketing. He explains his philosophy around conscious business and personal development. By focusing on feeling good first, St...

How can leaders build mental toughness to overcome adversity? In this episode, mental performance coach Brian Bergford shares how he helps leaders and athletes overcome adversity and unlock high performance. After a difficult childhood, Brian studied psychology and developed an approach to get to the core "truth" of a situation. He explains how he overcame a lifelong phobia of water to become a na...

How embracing remote work can enhance company culture virtually? In this episode, Mike Whaling, founder of 30 Lines, shares how his digital marketing agency transitioned to being fully remote during the pandemic. After shutting down their office in early 2020, Mike realized they needed to be more intentional about communication and collaboration. To foster connection among employees, 30 Lines hold...

How can perseverance in the face of adversity lead to award-winning sales success? In this episode, Michael Shonk shares his journey to becoming an award-winning medical device sales executive. After establishing himself as a top sales rep by mastering product knowledge and forging deep doctor relationships, Michael was faced with new competitive threats from a global medtech giant. Through tirele...

How can curiosity, introspection, and a desire to help others drive entrepreneurial success? In this episode, Matthew Stafford shares his journey from commercial concrete to e-commerce entrepreneur. After an unexpected business failure left him with major debt, Matthew stumbled into selling t-shirts through print-on-demand and generated over $15 million in sales. He then discovered a talent for st...

From a classroom lesson on viral ads to a globally recognized razor brand, Gareth Everard's entrepreneurial journey demonstrates how persistence and passion can lead to success. Despite early manufacturing setbacks that led Everard to sleep under factory tables, he remained dedicated to making quality razors and delivering for customers. Everard went on to expand Rockwell internationally, develop...

How can pursuing passions, calculated risks, and supportive partners set you on the path to entrepreneurial success? In this episode, we speak with Steve Weaver, co-founder of The Candle Lab, a successful chain of candle making stores. Steve shares his inspiring journey from politics to entrepreneurship, starting The Candle Lab with his wife and growing it through a licensing model. Steve offers i...

How can side hustles, setbacks, and continuous learning set you on the path to success in digital marketing? In this episode, we speak with Ryan Whiteside, an expert in digital marketing and the Director of Digital Marketing at 2 Wheels Marketing. Ryan shares his career journey, starting from building affiliate websites around poker in college to eventually transitioning into a successful career i...