The Transparent Podcast

Send us Fan Mail Credit card processing feels simple until you’re the one paying the bill. Statements show one “rate,” then, when the month closes, the real cost is buried under layers of fees, markups, and fine print that most busy operators do not have time to decode. We talk with Viktor Popovic, co-founder of Avendo, about why that lack of transparency is a real profit leak for e-commerce busin...

Send us Fan Mail Shark Tank might call side hustles “risky,” but for most founders, going all in too early is the bigger risk. Nick Ford sits down with visibility strategist Candice Smith, founder of French Press Communications, to unpack what actually separates a smart test from a costly leap and how to set goalposts that tell you when it’s time to commit. If you want a clearer path to traction,...

Send us Fan Mail Polished logos do not build businesses, paying customers do. We talk with Nate Littlewood, founder and CEO of Future Ready CFO, about the unglamorous decisions that separate thriving founders from stressed-out operators, especially in e-commerce and CPG (consumer packaged goods).  Nate shares how he went from a corporate finance path to entrepreneurship, and why “clarity” in small...

Send us Fan Mail You're never too young to start your own business. At 8 years old, the first customer can feel impossible, and then suddenly it’s the easiest thing in the world. That’s the honest turning point we dig into when we bring on our youngest guest yet: my son, Aiden Ford. Founder of Gronkle Tees, a kid-run tie-dye business selling shirts, bags, zip pouches, scrunchies, and more.  W...

Send us Fan Mail Ever look around your garage and realize half of it gathers dust? We sat down with RoundAbout co‑founder and CEO Mike Haddon to explore a smarter way to live: own what you love, access what you rarely need. RoundAbout is a local “library of things” serving Forsyth County, delivering and picking up everything from pressure washers and lawn tools to pop‑up tents, party tables, and p...

Send us Fan Mail Want the courage to leap into entrepreneurship and a practical way to protect your family’s future? We sit down with Jermaine—an entrepreneur shaped by immigrant grit and cross‑cultural identity—who’s building HeirLight, a modern estate planning app that uses AI to make wills and trusts accessible, private, and easy to start. The conversation moves beyond hustle culture to the dee...

Send us Fan Mail Ready to stop clinging to the pool railing and actually swim? We sit down with serial entrepreneur Ryan Hare, owner of John Franklin Landscapes in North Georgia, to strip away the myths around business ownership and show what it really takes to build something that lasts. From kitchen-table roofing estimates with his grandfather to design-build projects that turn blank yards into...

Send us Fan Mail Ready to stop daydreaming and start building? Kevin Fedor, Founder & Digital Marketing Strategist at Follow Spike, and I dig into the real tradeoffs behind side hustles, full-time leaps, and why validation on nights and weekends rarely scales unless you design for it. With marketing operator and agency leader Kevin Fedor, we unpack how to test offers fast, keep costs low, and...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when a musician trades tour dreams for therapy gyms and decides to rebuild children's therapy care from the ground up? We sit down with Aaron Lewinson, founder of Rise and Growth Therapy, for a transparent look at starting an occupational and speech therapy practice that puts kids and clinicians ahead of quotas. From the first LLC paperwork to assembling ziplines...

Send us Fan Mail Want a candid roadmap for choosing your entrepreneurial path and actually making it work? We sit down with Coach Joe Noonan to explore the real tradeoffs between starting from scratch, buying a business, or stepping into a franchise—and how to pick the lane that fits your goals, budget, and appetite for structure. Joe brings decades of operating experience, a practical coaching to...

Send us Fan Mail Ready to stop dabbling and build something that scales? We sit down with Anuj, Owner of Super Shine Express Car Washes, to unpack how he went from a single family-run wash to five thriving locations with a sixth on the way. The journey isn’t “set it and forget it.” It’s systems, people, and an ownership mindset that turns a small operation into a durable local brand. Check out the...

Send us Fan Mail Every founder remembers the moment the idea stopped being abstract and started feeling urgent. That spark drives this conversation with India Martin, Owner of Atlanta Brain Integration and the first brain integration practitioner in Georgia—a journey born of a personally driven purpose and the search for a gentler, more effective path to healing. Learn more about India's miss...

Send us Fan Mail Ready to stop waiting for perfect and start building something real? We sit down with entrepreneur and OWNED founder Jena Kranz to get honest about what it actually takes to move from idea to income—why urgency matters and where a “burn the boats” mindset helps.  Jenna shares the habits that separate winners from everyone else - actions you can measure, daily goals you can see, an...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when a physical therapist decides to challenge the corporate healthcare model and build something truly patient-centered? Dr. James Connelly shares his remarkable journey from stroke survivor to founder of Results Rehab, where he's creating what he calls "the Chick-fil-A of physical therapy." Visit resultsrehab.org to learn more about Dr. Connolly'...

Send us Fan Mail Bob Tankesley brings over a decade of M&A advisory experience to this fascinating conversation about what truly separates successful entrepreneurs from those who fail. Having guided countless business owners through the complex process of selling their companies, Bob shares wisdom that's applicable whether you're planning an exit or simply want to build a more valuab...

Send us Fan Mail Bennett Maxwell's entrepreneurial journey reads like a playbook for hustle and strategic growth. From selling candy bars door-to-door as a child in Utah to building a cookie franchise empire, his path showcases how combining sales expertise with smart systems can create extraordinary results. The real magic happened when Maxwell purchased Dirty Dough, which was then a single...

Send us Fan Mail Johnny Palumbo's entrepreneurial story starts at just 16 years old, when he won $20,000 from a high school business incubator competition. That early success planted a seed that would eventually bloom into Simplified Tech, his rapidly-growing AI consultancy now serving businesses across the US and Europe. After studying computer engineering and computer science at the Univers...

Send us Fan Mail The healthcare system is broken, but nurse practitioners might be the solution we've been waiting for. Dr. Lynn Rapsilber, co-founder and CEO of the National Nurse Practitioner Entrepreneur Network (NNPEN), joins us to explore how nurse practitioners build sustainable, patient-centered practices that could transform healthcare delivery. Ready to transform healthcare from the...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Shweta Patel joins The Transparent Podcast to share her insights on the medical field, the pros and cons of being a medical doctor, and her journey into entrepreneurship with Gaya Wellness. Join our conversation about starting a company, the medical field and what it takes to succeed in business!

Send us Fan Mail Dive into the world of entrepreneurship with Jordan Agolli, the founder of Force Media, a full-service marketing agency specializing in various industries. In this insightful episode, Jordan shares his personal journey from a teenage entrepreneur to the leader of a thriving business, bringing invaluable lessons on resilience, teamwork, and the importance of transparency in client...

Send us Fan Mail Join us for an engaging episode filled with inspiration and practical insights as we chat with Christina Lazare, the dynamic CEO of Build and Change LLC. Christina takes us through her compelling journey from a 20-year career in social work to becoming a successful entrepreneur dedicated to empowering small businesses and non-profits. With a mission to connect entrepreneurs to vit...

Send us Fan Mail What if you could transform your career using AI tools? Join me, Nick Ford, as I chat with Rider Harris, the visionary behind GoBananas AI, who transitioned from a sales role in fintech to launching a groundbreaking AI-focused business. Together, we reveal how generative AI tools like ChatGPT inspired Ryder to create workshops that span various sectors, including real estate, mark...

Send us Fan Mail Honesty and transparency are the cornerstones of effective recruiting, but how often do we really see these principles in action? Meet Steve Switzer from Legacy Recruiting, who joins me for a heartfelt conversation about transforming the recruiting industry with sincerity and a focus on meaningful relationships. We dive into Steve's journey, the ethos behind "Legacy Recr...

Send us Fan Mail Art Williams, a high school football coach turned insurance mogul, joins us to unveil the secret to his billion-dollar success story. At the 1987 National Religious Broadcaster Convention, Art captivated audiences with his compelling tale of toppling industry giants like Prudential and New York Life. His journey underscores the power of mental toughness and the importance of carvi...

Send us Fan Mail What if the key to entrepreneurial success is embracing transparency and genuine connections? Join us as we explore this idea with my former baseball teammate, Jacob, who has transitioned from the baseball field at Harding University to founding a recruiting firm in Little Rock.  Jacob shares how an enlightening conversation with a manager at TEKsystems set him on this entrepreneu...