The Palumbo Podcast: Your journey to a work optional lifestyle

Many business owners spend decades building a successful company, yet very few prepare for the moment when someone wants to buy it. In this episode of The Palumbo Podcast , Philip Palumbo sits down with Alan Scharfstein , Founder and CEO of The DAK Group , to discuss how entrepreneurs can maximize the value of their business long before they decide to sell. Drawing on more than four decades of exp...

Many investors dream of building wealth through real estate, but few want the headaches of managing tenants, repairs, financing, and maintenance. In this episode, Philip Palumbo sits down with David Auerbach , Chief Investment Officer of Hoya Capital, to explain why Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) have become one of the most overlooked income-producing investments available today. David expl...

Markets feel uncertain, but some of the sharpest minds in investing still see opportunity ahead. In this episode of The Phil Palumbo Podcast , Phil sits down with macro strategist Jack Janasiewicz to break down inflation, interest rates, recession fears, AI, commodities, and where the smartest capital is positioning right now. Jack shares why he believes equities can keep climbing, what the Fed ma...

Why do so many businesses hit a ceiling just when things start working—and what separates the ones that break through from the ones that stall? Matthew Pohl shares a framework that turns business complexity into predictable growth. Matthew Pohl, Founder & CEO of The ReWild Group , joins Philip Palumbo to break down what actually causes businesses to stall—and how to move past it using a stage-...

Success in real estate is not just about properties. It is about people, timing, and building systems that scale. In this episode of The Palumbo Podcast, Phil sits down with Anthony Scavo, President and Managing Partner of Basis Industrial, to break down how he helped grow the company from a small operation into a 7 million square foot industrial real estate powerhouse. Anthony shares the lessons...

What if your biggest expense is actually your greatest untapped profit driver? In this episode, Dr. Solange Charas breaks down how companies can finally measure the financial return on their people. From her groundbreaking HCROI framework to real-world case studies, she reveals how small improvements in workforce performance can drive massive gains in profitability. This conversation challenges th...

What if waiting to plan your exit could cost you millions? In this episode of The Phil Palumbo Podcast , Phil sits down with Jason Marx, tax attorney and estate planning expert, to break down the critical strategies business owners must understand before selling their company. From succession planning to advanced tax strategies like QSBS and SLATs, Jason explains how early planning can protect you...

What if the biggest investment opportunity in history isn’t on Earth? Phil Scully, co-founder of Bollarian Space Ventures, breaks down why space is no longer science fiction but a rapidly emerging asset class attracting the world’s smartest capital. From satellites and propulsion systems to nuclear power and dual use technologies, he explains how private companies are building the infrastructure f...

Most business owners leave millions on the table without even realizing it. In this episode, Vincent Mastrovito breaks down why nearly 80% of businesses never sell and what separates the ones that do. With over 30 years of experience in exit planning, he reveals how founders can dramatically increase their company’s value often doubling it within just a few years by focusing on the right fundament...

What if your biggest ambition is also your biggest blind spot? Nineveh Madsen went from TV news anchor to scaling a performance company to tens of millions in revenue but not without hitting burnout, rebuilding her life, and redefining what high performance actually means. In this conversation, she breaks down how Superhuman was built, why most founders sabotage themselves, and what it really take...

What happens when 20 percent of the world’s oil supply is suddenly at risk? In this episode, Philip Palumbo sits down with commodity strategist Matt Bauer to break down the real forces driving oil prices right now, from geopolitical tension in the Strait of Hormuz to the hidden mechanics of global supply chains. They go beyond headlines to explain what is actually moving markets and what investors...

What happens the day after you sell your business? Serial entrepreneur Colin Campbell—who’s built and exited companies worth over $1B—breaks down the real playbook for founders preparing to exit, from maximizing valuation to redefining your identity beyond the business. He shares hard-earned lessons from massive wins, painful losses, and the mindset shift every founder must make to avoid regret. I...

This week, Philip Palumbo sits down with Veneta Dimitrova, Senior US Economist at Ned Davis Research, to break down the forces shaping today’s economic landscape. Veneta shares her outlook on the U.S. economy, including GDP growth expectations, the role of fiscal and private-sector stimulus, and how capital investment and productivity trends are reshaping long-term growth. The conversation dives i...

This week, Philip Palumbo sits down with Cheryl Strauss Einhorn, founder and CEO of Decisive and one of today’s leading voices in decision science. Cheryl shares how her AREA Method helps individuals and organizations make clearer, more confident decisions by identifying cognitive bias, blind spots, and competing perspectives. From career and business decisions to investing, AI, and uncertainty, t...

This week, Phil sits down with Devin Marks, the TED Talk Whisperer and the force behind Connect to Compel, to explore how leaders can transform ideas into messages that truly resonate. Devin breaks down his TED-style messaging framework and explains how personal storytelling can elevate business communication, pitches, and keynotes. Connect with Devin:LinkedIn: DEVIN D. MARKS Website: ⁠ connecttoc...

This week, Phil sits down with Maddy Niebauer, founder and co-CEO of VChief, to explore a new approach to executive leadership. Maddy shares how fractional executives — COOs, chiefs of staff, and more — can empower leaders to focus on what matters most, without burning out. They also discuss leveraging AI for operations, building effective teams, and strategies to grow a business while maintaining...

This week, Phil sits down with Mark Salisbury, co-founder and CEO of TuitionFit, to tackle one of the biggest challenges families face today: understanding the true cost of college. With over 25 years in higher education, Mark shares how TuitionFit’s innovative platform brings transparency to college pricing, empowering families to make informed decisions and plan strategically. They also explore...

In this week’s episode, Phil sits down with Lisa Hornby, Head of U.S. Fixed Income at Schroders, to break down what’s really happening in today’s bond markets. Together, they unpack the Fed’s rate path, the renewed case for fixed income, and surprising opportunities emerging in the municipal bond market. They also explore how rising deficits, fiscal policy, and even advances in AI could reshape th...

This week, Phil sits down with Mark Dhooge, President and CEO of Kids in Distress and Family Central, two powerhouse nonprofits with a combined $40 million budget serving South Florida’s most vulnerable children and families. From his early days in law enforcement to leading organizations that provide foster care, maternal health, and early childhood education, Mark’s career is built on one core b...

In this week's episode, Phil sits down with Andrew Aw, a seasoned finance and strategy executive who is now co-founder and CFO of a venture-backed fintech startup transforming the M&A landscape with artificial intelligence. Andrew shares how his team built a product that turns 60 hours of financial analysis into just minutes, what it takes to leap from corporate life to entrepreneurship, a...

This week, Phil sits down with Dr. David Pearlstone, a surgical oncologist turned entrepreneur who is now leading DicomDirector, a company revolutionizing medical imaging. With over 25 years of clinical experience and an MBA from Yale, Dr. Pearlstone brings a rare mix of medical expertise and business acumen to the table. In this episode, Phil and David dive into the lessons every founder can lear...

This week, Phil sits down with Brian Esposito, ranked among the world’s top CEOs three years running and the driving force behind Esposito Intellectual Enterprises. Brian’s journey spans over 25 industries, more than 110 entities, and 200+ joint ventures worldwide. In this episode, Phil and Brian dive deep into the art of building authentic relationships, the hard lessons learned from deals gone w...

This week, Phil is joined by Rob Ott, founder of a global pharmaceutical services company that he successfully led and scaled for 22 years, before executing a major exit. Now, as an executive coach, Rob helps other founders scale with clarity, purpose, and long-game thinking. In this episode, Phil and Rob talk about what it means to truly build a best-in-class business, the importance of company v...

In this episode of The Palumbo Podcast , Phil is joined by serial entrepreneur and value growth advisor Kevin Donnelly to explore what it really takes to build, scale, and exit a company the right way. Kevin shares his hard-won wisdom and breaks down the key drivers of company value, the critical mistakes to avoid before an exit, and how to shift from founder-operator to strategic leader. Phil and...

This week, Phil sits down with legendary investor and SkyBridge Capital founder Anthony Scaramucci for a no-nonsense, in-depth conversation about Bitcoin, decentralization, and the future of money. Scaramucci breaks down complex concepts—like decentralization, digital scarcity, and the network effect—into simple language anyone can understand. Together, they explore the real reasons Bitcoin is gai...