The Midnight Founders Podcast

What if everything we’ve been taught about education is wrong? In this episode of Midnight Founders, we sit down with Dr. Tanner Bowman, founder of Optio, to explore how a decade of experience in public education led him to challenge the traditional school system and build something entirely different. After spending ten years as a high school teacher, Tanner began questioning why education priori...

What does it take to build a business around something as simple—and as powerful—as human connection? In this episode of the Midnight Founders Podcast, we sit down with Jeff Bitton, founder and CEO of Pitch59, to talk about entrepreneurship, sales, networking, and the power of building meaningful relationships in business. Jeff shares his journey from working in the service industry to building Pi...

What happens when life takes you in a completely different direction than you expected? On this episode of the Midnight Founders Podcast, we sit down with Heather Nemelka, founder of Elavare, to explore her remarkable journey from spending 18 years raising her five children to rebuilding her career, earning her MBA, and creating an organization dedicated to helping mothers return to the workforce...

What if the key to building a successful business isn’t just what you know, but who you surround yourself with? On this episode of the Midnight Founders Podcast, we sit down with Jessica Devenish, co-founder and partner of REUNION, a community built around bringing entrepreneurs, business leaders, and changemakers together to grow through meaningful relationships. With nearly three decades of expe...

What does it take to build a business in the ever-evolving world of technology? On this episode of the Midnight Founders Podcast, we sit down with David Martineau of Nimblewire to talk entrepreneurship, software development, and building solutions that help businesses bring their ideas to life. Nimblewire specializes in helping businesses develop and launch custom software applications through sca...

Skyler Baird: Turning a Real-World Problem Into BoostedSafe What happens when you experience a problem firsthand and decide to build the solution yourself? In this episode of the Midnight Founders Podcast, we sit down with entrepreneur Skyler Baird, founder of BoostedSafe, to talk about the journey of taking an idea from a real-world problem to a physical product, a company, and a growing brand. S...

In this episode of the Midnight Founders Podcast, we sit down with Scott Chapman from The REAL Difference Project to hear his story, the mission behind his work, and what it takes to build something that creates a lasting impact. Scott shares lessons from his entrepreneurial journey, the challenges he’s faced along the way, and why purpose matters when building something bigger than yourself.

On this episode of Midnight Founders, we sit down with Shawn Moon, Chairman & CEO of Zerorez and former Executive Vice President of FranklinCovey. Shawn has spent decades working with leaders and organizations around the world, building companies, developing high-performing cultures, and studying what makes great leadership actually work. We talk entrepreneurship, scaling Zerorez, building a w...

In this episode of the Midnight Founders Podcast, we sit down with Kristy Pack, founder of Pack Tax, to talk about building a business, navigating entrepreneurship, and what it really takes to create a company from the ground up. Kristy shares her journey as an entrepreneur, the lessons she’s learned along the way, and her perspective on business, leadership, and financial success. Whether you’re...

In this episode of Midnight Founders, we sit down with Crystalee Beck, founder and CEO of Comma Copywriters and founder of The Mama Ladder. After being laid off while pregnant, Crystalee decided to stop climbing the traditional corporate ladder and build her own—one that allowed her to pursue ambitious business goals without sacrificing her family. Since launching Comma in 2016, Crystalee has grow...

Bradden Blair & Henry O’Connell | Midnight Founders Podcast What does it take to turn breakthrough technology into a real company? In this episode of the Midnight Founders Podcast, we sit down with Bradden Blair, who is involved with Open Technology Ventures, and Henry O’Connell, co-founder and CEO of Canary Speech, for a conversation about entrepreneurship, emerging technology, and building c...

In this episode of the Midnight Founders Podcast, we sit down with Nate Hughes, co-founder and CRO of Zift, to hear the story behind building a company in the fast-moving world of payments and financial technology. Nate shares his journey as an entrepreneur, the lessons he’s learned from years in the payments industry, and what it really takes to build, grow, and lead a company. We dive into the c...

Peter Fife, founder of Residia, joins the Midnight Founders Podcast to talk about building technology that solves the everyday headaches of owning and managing rental properties. In this episode, Peter shares the journey behind Residia and how the company is using AI to simplify things like property inspections, maintenance coordination, rent collection, and the day-to-day responsibilities that co...

On this episode of Midnight Founders, we sit down with Eric Dahl, founder of Athlete5, a platform built to help elite athletes navigate one of the biggest transitions of their lives: what comes after sports. Eric shares how his experience across business, leadership, marketing, and athletics led him to create Athlete5 and why so many athletes struggle with identity, purpose, and direction when the...

In this episode of Midnight Founders, we sit down with Brady Jensen, Founder and CEO of Summit Construction. Brady shares his journey from getting started in construction to building a company that has completed more than 200 home projects across Utah County. We talk about entrepreneurship, navigating the ups and downs of the construction industry, building a reputation around integrity and transp...

Jennifer Yeo has built more than a real estate company—she's built a brand rooted in leadership, resilience, and raising the standard. As the founder and CEO of Presidio Real Estate, she has grown one of Utah's largest brokerages while navigating market crashes, entrepreneurship, and even the spotlight of reality television. In this episode of Midnight Founders, Jennifer shares the story behind bu...

What happens when decades of experience in the emergency room shape the future of preventative wellness? This week on Midnight Founders, we sit down with Dr. David K. Anderson, Chief Medical Officer at SALT. Hydration & Wellness. After more than 30 years as an emergency physician, Dr. Anderson has seen healthcare at its most critical—and now he's helping shift the conversation from treating il...

In this episode of Midnight Founders, we sit down with Jason Christensen, co-founder of Blue Unicorn, to explore what it really takes to build a product people can't stop talking about. Jason shares his journey from building and exiting a successful business to launching Blue Unicorn alongside Dr. Luke Tolley and creating a protein bar that challenges everything consumers expect from healthy food....

What happens when personal pain becomes the driving force behind a company that's changing lives? In this episode of Midnight Founders, we sit down with Thomas Wilkinson, founder and CEO of Cove, a company pioneering non-invasive technology designed to help people improve focus, reduce stress, and support mental wellness. Thomas shares the deeply personal experiences that shaped his mission—from l...

What separates companies that survive from those that become category leaders? In this episode of Midnight Founders, we sit down with Stephen Smith and Thomas Wilkinson, the leaders behind Ollin Ventures, a Utah-based venture capital firm investing in the next generation of AI-native startups. As founders, operators, and investors, Steve and Thomas bring a unique perspective on what it takes to bu...

In this episode of Midnight Founders, we sit down with Devon Millington, CEO of QVR and a leader dedicated to transforming how disability care is delivered. With a background in behavior analysis and years of experience building organizations that serve vulnerable populations, Devon shares what it takes to scale mission-driven companies while staying focused on people. We dive into the challenges...

In this episode, we sit down with Chris Shurian, an entrepreneur whose journey has been defined by resilience, reinvention, and relentless determination. As an 8-time founder, 4-time business exit entrepreneur, mentor, advisor, and leadership coach, Chris has spent nearly four decades building companies across construction, real estate, hospitality, manufacturing, retail, and more. Chris shares th...

Albert Foster from Express Evaluations joins the Midnight Founders Podcast to share how he built a business around trust, relationships, and helping people navigate one of the biggest financial decisions of their lives. In this episode, Albert talks about the world of appraisals and evaluations, what most people misunderstand about the real estate industry, and the lessons he’s learned while growi...

Tyler Jennings joins the Midnight Founders Podcast to talk about building Utah into one of the strongest startup and business ecosystems in the country. As part of the Utah Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity, Tyler is helping connect founders, investors, and innovators while creating opportunities for the next generation of builders across the state.  In this episode, we dive into entrepren...

In this episode of the Midnight Founders Podcast, we sit down with Doug Edwards from NRV Utah to talk about leadership, entrepreneurship, and what it really means to build businesses that strengthen communities. With decades of experience helping companies grow and transform, Doug shares lessons on scaling organizations, navigating change, and creating long-term impact through purpose-driven leade...