We Live to Build

Barry Levine is the founder and CEO of Sperry West, a 30-year-old manufacturer of body temperature warning cameras, covert cameras to assist in recording criminal activity and related systems.  00:00 - Guest Introduction 01:41 - Get to know Barry 05:06 - Selling to the government 06:56 - How he partnered with the government 09:32 - Downside of working with bigger entities 12:08 - Keeping an h...

Corinna Bellizzi is the Founder, Host and Producer and Care More, Be Better, a podcast about social impact and sustainability. She also pioneered the techniques to take a natural product company from $1M to $100M in sales in just a few short years.  00:00 - Guest Introduction 01:43 - Get to know Corinna 03:08 - Using anthropology to generate sales 04:16 - Using programs and systems for c...

Loretta Markevics is the Founder/Chief Strategist at Sēd Communications, which focuses on helping startups quickly achieve hypergrowth through sharp public relations communications methods.  00:00 - Guest Introduction 01:51 - Get to know Loretta 06:02 - Good vs Bad PR methods 08:51 - Who should take charge of your PR strategies 11:42 - When should you develop a PR strategy 14:43 - Get a uniqu...

Brad Cleveland is an author, speaker, & consultant focused on customer strategy/management. He has worked across 45 states & in 60 countries for clients as diverse as AMEX, Apple, USAA, University of California, & the US/Canadan/Australian governments.   Brad is author of "Leading the Customer Experience: How to Chart a Course and Deliver Outstanding Results" and "Contact Cen...

Katerina Sukhenko is the Chief Business Development Officer for Postoplan, an AI-powered web service offering highly efficient social media management and content creation.  00:00 - Guest Introduction 01:49 - Get to know Kate 06:10 - Reaching different generations 08:00 - Gen Z compared to other generations 12:09 - Building a personal brand and trust 15:38 - Using video formats for customer a...

Vladimir Gendelman is the Founder and CEO of Company Folders, which focuses on high quality printing of marketing materials for Fortune 500 companies as well as SMBs.  00:00 - Guest Introduction 02:51 - Get to know Vladimir 04:05 - Having a sick loved while being a company owner 09:05 - Helping other patients with the same problems 14:27 - How Vladimir worked during this time 16:36 - Joining...

The secret to massive growth isn't a crazy new idea. The real advice is to Stop Chasing Shiny Objects. Just Nail The Basics. In this interview, Freddie Laker, whose firm does over $2 million a month helping VC and PE-backed companies grow, reveals his core playbook. Learn why flawless execution of the fundamentals—like good CRM, marketing automation, and clear internal processes—is far more valuab...

Many companies promise you'll get paid for your data in the future. Here's The Real Reason You'll Never Get Paid For Your Data. In this interview, data expert and former investor Brad Schneider explains the fundamental flaw in personal data marketplaces: the bias problem. Learn why any system that pays for data attracts a non-representative audience, making the data itself not valuable to marketer...

Are you thinking of outsourcing your MVP to a dev shop? You need to watch this first. Here's Why Using a Dev Shop is a Red Flag for Investors. According to UpStack founder Yossi Mlynsky, "there's no bigger red flag for an investor" than a startup that has outsourced its core product. In this interview, he explains why you lose control, accumulate technical debt, and can make your company un-invest...

Is Your Startup a Painkiller or a Vitamin? According to Alchemist Accelerator, this is the most important question a B2B founder can ask. In this interview, Autify CEO Ryo Chikazawa shares the #1 lesson he learned in his accelerator: B2B customers don't buy "vitamins" (nice-to-haves), they only buy "painkillers" that solve a burning need. Learn the process they used to pivot from a vitamin to a pa...

This is How We Bootstrapped a Marketplace to $20M/Year. It's a rare feat, especially for a two-sided marketplace, but it can be done. In this interview, GreenPal CEO Bryan Clayton shares his complete playbook. Learn why he bootstrapped the business, how he solved the "chicken and egg" problem by "faking the chicken," and why he focused on just one neighborhood in one city for years before expandin...

Most founders think selling shares is the only way to get liquidity. There's a better way. Don't Sell Your Stock, Borrow Against It: A Founder's Tax-Free Strategy. After getting "smacked on tax" from selling shares post-IPO, serial entrepreneur Stephen Keighery reveals his new strategy: using a margin loan. Learn how you can borrow against your company stock to access cash without creating a taxab...

Is The Future of E-Commerce is Inside Video Games? With the gaming industry now worth over $180 billion, brands are finding new ways to reach a massive and engaged audience. In this interview, Shlomi Ben Atar, VP of Marketing for Sayollo, unveils "G-Commerce" (Gaming Commerce). Learn how his company is building in-game shops where players can use achievements to buy real-world products, turning a...

Most people think having kids is a disadvantage for a founder. This interview explains How Having Kids Forces You to Be a Better Founder. Serial entrepreneur and father of two, Julien Salinas, shares his biggest insight: kids force you to stop working. Those mandatory breaks are when your brain does its best work, leading to better ideas and strategies. Learn how the constraints of parenting can m...

Here's How to Become an Entrepreneur (When You Feel Stuck in Your Job). For our guest, Alex Armitage, being told he was "unhirable" was the best thing that ever happened to him. That rejection became the "gateway drug" to entrepreneurship, leading him to a life of freedom he never could have found in a corporate job. If you've ever felt trapped and are looking for a way out, this story is for you....

What does it really take to go on A Founder's Journey from Pitch Deck to $80 Million? It's a long road with different challenges at every stage. In this interview, Benn Stancil, CEO of Mode Analytics, breaks down his entire fundraising story. Learn why his Series A was the hardest round to raise , how a well-organized "Data Room" can impress VCs and streamline the process , and how taking venture...

2021 has been a pretty rough year so far, but I’m finally able to start focusing on what’s coming next because I’ve worked through what has already happened. 00:00 – Intro  01:11 – A Deep Recap  04:03 – Changing Habits  05:04 – Results  08:20 – Book #1  09:33 – Book #2  ✅ Subscribe if you liked this interview: https://youtube.com/@seanweisbrot 🤝 Become a podcast spo...

Most startups fail for one reason: they build a great solution to the wrong problem. The secret to product management is to Fall in Love With The Problem, Not Your Solution. In this interview, serial founder and product expert Matt Barnett explains his process for building products that win. Learn why you must go wide on all possible solutions before building anything, how to find the 80% solution...

Have you ever wondered Why I Joined the 5 AM Club (And How to Start Your Own)? For CEO Anthony Mongeluzo, it was a game-changer that made him more productive, happier, and gave him more mental clarity. In this interview, Anthony shares his simple method for waking up earlier without failing: just set your alarm 15 minutes earlier each week. Learn what to do with your newfound time, why your calend...

Do you believe Your Financials Are a Crystal Ball (If You Know How to Read Them)? For many founders, finance is intimidating, but it's the key to predicting your company's future. In this interview, CPA and former forensic accountant Angela Rice explains how to use your historical financial data to make better decisions and gain a massive competitive advantage. Learn the difference between a bookk...

Do you know The #1 Mistake Every Technical Founder Makes? It's not a lack of engineering skill; it's building features in a vacuum without market feedback, leading to a product nobody uses. In this interview, serial technical founder Dave Shanley breaks down the hardest lessons he's learned from multiple exits. Learn why you need to fall in love with the problem, not your solution , how to decide...

Do you know How Angel Investors Think (And How to Get Them to "Yes")? It's not about having a perfect business; it's about helping them mitigate risk. In this interview, angel investor Mysty Rusk explains the "culture of yes" that drives investment decisions. Learn why your pitch deck isn't a sales pitch for your product , why investors will never sign your NDA upfront , and why the "90 pitches in...

What is The Secret to Working With Your Spouse (And Staying Married)? For many, it's the ultimate dream and the ultimate challenge. In this interview, Nellie Akalp, who has successfully built two companies with her husband over 24 years, reveals the key: establishing "linear roles." Learn the strategy their couples therapist gave them for dividing responsibilities, why setting strict boundaries is...

What is Growth Hacking? It's about finding what works and doubling down. Here's How to Get Your First 10 Customers by being "functionally lazy." In this interview, growth hacking expert Chris Out shares his #1 strategy: reverse-engineer the journey of your most recent customers. Learn how to find your most profitable channels and build a marketing machine based on what people already pay for. Chec...

How to Find a Great Mentor (By Thinking Like One). To attract a high-quality mentor, you first need to understand what they're looking for: a mentee who is hungry, teachable, and will actually implement the advice they're given. In this special episode, fellow founder and mentor Eropa Stein and I discuss both sides of the mentorship relationship. Learn the life-changing lessons from our first ment...