School for Startups Radio

September 26, 2024 – Strauss Naturals Wayne Elliott and Check My Ads Claire Atkin

Wayne Elliott – Ship Recycling and Strauss Naturals Advocate
Wayne Elliott has been in the ship recycling business for 40 years. His company can take a 1000-foot-long ship and reduce it to a pile to reusable materials. He has grown into other areas such as battery recycling. He recounts his life-changing experience with SHD, a health supplement he stumbled upon after battling angina and its debilitating symptoms. Struggling with leg cramps, shortness of breath, night sweats, and chest pains, Wayne also grappled with anxiety and a lack of energy, resigning himself to the fate of heart-related issues that plagued his family. However, upon learning about SHD through a friend in Vancouver and being inspired by studies from renowned institutions like Harvard, Wayne decided to give it a try. Astonishingly, within two weeks of taking SHD, he noticed improvements in unexpected ways – his hearing returned, and his respiratory system cleared, leading to a significant boost in energy. Over the course of three months, Wayne transformed into a revitalized version of himself, feeling as energetic as he did decades ago. This transformation propelled him into a new phase of life where he actively engaged with others, becoming a spokesperson for Jim Strauss, the creator of SHD. Wayne’s involvement extended to radio shows and lectures, allowing him to share his incredible journey with thousands of people suffering from various health issues. His enthusiasm and dedication to natural health solutions led him to become a regular guest on radio networks in the USA and Canada, where he continued to spread the word about his positive experiences with SHD and its miraculous effects on individuals dealing with diabetes, heart disease, low energy, and clogged arteries. Wayne’s story highlights the power of painless, safe, and affordable health products, emphasizing the beauty of solutions that genuinely work. His gratitude towards Jim Strauss and the Strauss Heart Drops is profound, as he believes that without this intervention, he might not have been alive today, reinforcing the transformative impact of natural health remedies in the face of life-threatening conditions. Strauss Naturals is sponsoring the show with support for our radio-minute segments. Wayne says very simply that their products saved him. He became an advocate for the company and has been working with them for 29 years.Claire Atkin – Co-founder and CEO of Check My Ads
Claire Atkin, co-founder and CEO of Check My Ads, embodies the spirit of innovation and resilience that your listeners value. Her journey in establishing a nonprofit that not only challenges but actively reforms the digital advertising sphere could offer profound insights and inspiration to your audience of entrepreneurs and business owners who would like to learn about the pros and cons of going into the nonprofit world or establishing one themselves. Check My Ads is committed to pioneering new policies that enhance brand safety and protect digital landscapes from disinformation. By advocating for clearer regulations and empowering advertisers with the knowledge and tools to ensure their ad spend does not fund harmful content, Claire and her team are setting new standards for accountability and transparency in the digital advertising world. We believe a conversation with Claire would greatly enrich your program, offering tangible takeaways on starting a nonprofit, driving change against odds, and the nuances of navigating the complex intersections of technology and business ethics. Check My Ads has been featured in New York Magazine, CNN, Forbes, New York Times, Washington Post, Bloomberg, MSNBC, Mashable, Tech Crunch, and Claire has previously spoken at SXSW, been a guest on The Lincoln Project, and MSNBC’s The 11th Hour just to name a few.

September 25, 2024 – Pocket FM Rohan Nayak and The Five Talents Barry Conchie & Sarah Dalton

Rohan Nayak – Co-Founder at Pocket FM
Rohan Nayak
Rohan Nayak is Co-Founder at Pocket FM. Founded in 2018, Pocket FM was built with a vision to redefine the entertainment space by pioneering the audio-series category. We pride ourselves in embedding the storytelling elements with a layer of content personalisation in the longer format that resulted in the emergence of “binge listening” as a consumption habit. Today, we have emerged as the preferred digital audio destination for a refined storytelling experience with the audio-series format, riding on our diverse and engaging content. With our unique storytelling approach, we have breathed new life into audio storytelling, reviving it as a mainstream entertainment format and unearthing unique and unheard stories across the world for our listeners. Today, we are building the most extensive repository of audio content on our platform. With over 100 million listeners community, spending an average of over 110 minutes every day, the platform has witnessed over 45 billion minutes of streaming in 2022. Pocket FM is a Series D-stage company that has raised US$196.5 million in multiple rounds and is backed by some marquee investors like Lightspeed, Stepstone, Times Internet, Tanglin Venture Partners, Goodwater Capital, Naver and others.
Baray Conchie and Sarah Dalton – Authors of The Five Talents That Really Matter: How Great Leaders Drive Extraordinary Performance
Baray Conchie and Sarah Dalton
Barry Conchie is the founder and president of Conchie Associates. He is an expert in psycho-metric talent assessments, leadership research and development, team building and succession planning. Barry consults with company boards, chief executive officers and leadership teams across the globe. He researches leadership effectiveness and decision-making heuristics from his home outside Boulder, Colorado. Sarah Dalton is a partner at Conchie Associates. She provides leaders and teams with the tools to evaluate their effectiveness and develop their leadership strengths. Sarah completed her master’s degree in industrial and organizational psychology from Colorado State University. She is based in Denver, Colorado. They are the authors of The Five Talents That Really Matter: How Great Leaders Drive Extraordinary Performance, Strengths-Based Leadership book demystifies the aura and complexity surrounding high performing leaders through original research and interviews with high-performing global leaders.

September 23, 2024 - Owl Vans John Willenborg and Bigfoot Capital Brian Parks

John Willenborg – Founder of Owl Vans – American Made Accessories for Adventure Vans
Owl Vans is one of the leading adventure van accessory companies, that recently has made a significant milestone in its journey of innovation and growth. CEO John Willenborg is a seasoned entrepreneur and former contestant on NBC’s “The Apprentice,” the company has become synonymous with quality craftsmanship and pioneering design, reshaping the landscape of adventure van customization. The adventure van industry has witnessed unprecedented growth, driven by the allure of van life, particularly amplified through social media platforms under the hashtag #vanlife. Notably, the adventure industry company has played a pivotal role in shaping this trend, emerging as the number one adventure van accessories company globally. The company has also set its sights on achieving $100 million in revenue within five years. As Owl Vans continues its expansion trajectory, John remains steadfast in his commitment to driving innovation and excellence in the adventure van industry. With plans to establish additional locations across the United States, Canada, and Europe within the next 12 months, the adventure industry company is set to solidify its position as the undisputed leader in adventure van accessories worldwide.Brian Parks – Co-Founder and CEO of Bigfoot Capital – Bank for Software Growth
Brian Parks is Co-Founder and CEO of Bigfoot Capital. They started Bigfoot in 2017 to push back against what we viewed to be an overly pervasive and often reckless format for building and capitalizing software businesses, that of growth at all costs and the associated hyperfunding to pursue it. Brian brings decades of expertise in both financial services and SaaS. Prior to Bigfoot Capital, he has honed his skills in various positions across companies, most notably as the co-founder of Brandfolder. Founded on the principles of stability, support, and partnership, Brian and Bigfoot Capital strive to be a lifeline for SaaS companies, improving their operational health to empower and drive growth. As a founder himself, Brian taps into his own experiences of growth, struggle, and resiliency to guide founders on a path of autonomy in how their companies achieve success.

September 20, 2024 – $1.7 Billion in Sales Joe Ingram and Sell Like a Spy Jeremy Hurewitz

Joe Ingram – Automotive Sales Training Specialist
Joe Ingram is a renowned sales expert and consultant with over 30 years of experience with over 1.7 billion in sales. He is known as the Sales Genius; he has revolutionized sales techniques and strategies, delivering exceptional results for clients in many industries. Joe’s unique talent lies in simplifying complex ideas and strategies, making them easily understandable for professionals at all experience levels. His engaging “edutainment” approach blends humor and real-life scenarios to enhance comprehension and engagement.Jeremy Hurewitz – Founder of Sell Like a Spy and Author of Sell Like A Spy: The Art of Persuasion from the World of Espionage
Jeremy Hurewitz spent the first decade of his career overseas building the media association Project Syndicate while based out of Prague and Shanghai. He spearheaded a business development strategy that saw the association grow from a few dozen member newspapers in mostly Eastern Europe, to a truly global association of over 300 newspapers in over 100 countries. Jeremy grew the staff, established a publishing and analytics practice, and helped grow the editorial offerings from two series to several dozen. During Jeremy’s time abroad he also worked as a freelance journalist writing on a variety of topics for dozens of publications around the world. Jeremy continues to write regularly with recent articles appearing in Bloomberg, USA Today, and The Hill. Upon returning to the U.S. after his time overseas, Jeremy settled in New York City and worked for several well-known global consulting firms in the world of corporate security. These companies are staffed by former intelligence officers and Jeremy worked closely with these former spies. He came to notice how good these individuals were at connecting with clients, how quickly they were able to establish rapport and put people at ease and get them to open up. In addition to former spies, his colleagues included former members of the FBI and the law enforcement community, the Secret Service, the military, the State Department, and other government agencies. Jeremy learned unique and impactful skills from all these former government employees, and he began utilizing the methods he picked up. He quickly noticed the tangible difference it made in his salesmanship and his ability to connect with clients. By practicing the same methods that government officials use to develop relationships and overcome a range of challenges, Jeremy was able to achieve some of the biggest and most meaningful sales of his career. Jeremy has synthesized these lessons from government service into the Sell Like a Spy program and works with clients to share these strategies to help them improve their ability to connect with targets, develop creative approaches to close deals, and overcome challenges.

September 19, 2024 – Strauss Naturals Wayne Elliott and Better Conversations Chuck Wisner

Wayne Elliott – Ship Recycling and Strauss Naturals Advocate
Wayne Elliott has been in the ship recycling business for 40 years. His company can take a 1000-foot-long ship and reduce it to a pile to reusable materials. He has grown into other areas such as battery recycling. He recounts his life-changing experience with SHD, a health supplement he stumbled upon after battling angina and its debilitating symptoms. Struggling with leg cramps, shortness of breath, night sweats, and chest pains, Wayne also grappled with anxiety and a lack of energy, resigning himself to the fate of heart-related issues that plagued his family. However, upon learning about SHD through a friend in Vancouver and being inspired by studies from renowned institutions like Harvard, Wayne decided to give it a try. Astonishingly, within two weeks of taking SHD, he noticed improvements in unexpected ways – his hearing returned, and his respiratory system cleared, leading to a significant boost in energy. Over the course of three months, Wayne transformed into a revitalized version of himself, feeling as energetic as he did decades ago. This transformation propelled him into a new phase of life where he actively engaged with others, becoming a spokesperson for Jim Strauss, the creator of SHD. Wayne’s involvement extended to radio shows and lectures, allowing him to share his incredible journey with thousands of people suffering from various health issues. His enthusiasm and dedication to natural health solutions led him to become a regular guest on radio networks in the USA and Canada, where he continued to spread the word about his positive experiences with SHD and its miraculous effects on individuals dealing with diabetes, heart disease, low energy, and clogged arteries. Wayne’s story highlights the power of painless, safe, and affordable health products, emphasizing the beauty of solutions that genuinely work. His gratitude towards Jim Strauss and the Strauss Heart Drops is profound, as he believes that without this intervention, he might not have been alive today, reinforcing the transformative impact of natural health remedies in the face of life-threatening conditions. Strauss Naturals is sponsoring the show with support for our radio-minute segments. Wayne says very simply that their products saved him. He became an advocate for the company and has been working with them for 29 years.Chuck Wisner – Leadership Advisor, Speaker, Coach and Author of The Art of Conscious Conversations
Chuck Wisner is the author of The Art of Conscious Conversations, Transforming How We Talk, Listen, and Interact. He is a coach and speaker focusing on the lost art of conversations. His theories of the why, how, and what of conversations deeply dive into their DNA and introduce new tools and practices that transform how we can think about and be in them more successfully. He has spent thirty years as a trusted advisor to leaders, their teams, and their families in high-profile companies, including Google, Rivian, Apple, Tesla, DTE Energy, Harvard Business School, Ford, and Chrysler. Before starting Wisner Consulting, Chuck was a senior affiliated mediator with the Harvard Mediation Program, certified in the Mastering the Art of Professional Coaching, and a coach affiliated with MIT’s Center for Organizational Learning. Prior to Chuck’s career as a leadership advisor, his first career was in music as a percussionist and his second career was as an architect in Boston for twenty years.

September 18, 2024 – Lobos 1707 Diego Osorio and MindTravel Live Events Murray Hidary

Diego Osorio – Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Lobos 1707 – Building a Tequila Brand
Diego Osorio is the Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Lobos 1707, a tequila brand launched in 2020. Growing up in Madrid and London, Diego spent his formative years developing a love for theatre, taking on roles in high school plays before enrolling in business school. After a brief career in finance, he pivoted his course, returning to the entertainment industry to follow his passion for the creative arts. Osorio utilized his creative drive to launch his acting career in Spain, securing roles in theater projects such as Juegos Para Marido y Mujer, among many others. He was awarded the Best New Coming Actor Award at the Madrid Fashion Film Festival for his performance in Escape from Mondays. In 2012, Osorio moved to New York City and attended the prestigious New York Film Academy and Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute. Working under the tutelage of acting coach Bob Krakower, he expanded his craft and was cast in television and film projects such as HotSpot: A Guide to Finding Love, Bronx SIU, Drug Mule, and Roshambo, to name a few. During this time, he discovered the story of his namesake great-great grandfather’s legacy as a Spanish Viceroy King, who transported Pedro Ximénez Sherry barrels from Spain to Mexico beginning in 1707. Once the sherry depleted, they filled the empty barrels with an agave spirit (now known as tequila), allowing the tequila to barrel age during their journey home. Diego made it his mission to replicate the traditional agave-based recipe enjoyed by his forefathers for centuries. In order to do this and commemorate the history of his aristocratic family, he brought together his family’s sherry winemaker and a Jalisco-based Master Distiller to create a recipe that marries both cultures, representing the heritage of old and new world flavors simultaneously. He drew from his design and filmmaking background to create a visually compelling brand that encompasses the Lobos 1707 story. With Lobos 1707, Diego has created a brand that encourages unity, legacy, and authenticity, and represents the endangered subspecies of humans who are intentional, audacious, and balance the art of being unapologetically genuine while still caring for the greater good of the pack. Diego currently resides in Miami. In addition to serving as the creative visionary for Lobos 1707 Tequila, he is also an emerging documentarian who has produced and directed several film projects focused on environmental and immigration issues, including Black Lives Matter, Canners and Local Legends, amongst others. Diego is an avid polo player, co-founder of the non-profit ONE MILE ONE SMILE, travel addict, adventure-seeker, sports enthusiast, music aficionado and designer.Murray Hidary – Founder of MindTravel
Murray Hidary’s MindTravel is an immersive experience where music and mindfulness meet. Through music, the language of emotion, creator and composer Murray seeks to open the heart to healing and transformation with his evocative, live-piano compositions. Recently, the music of MindTravel has also served to bring awareness and a call to action on issues like social justice and climate change. Hidary has brought MindTravel to iconic theaters and spectacular outdoor venues in over 100 cities the world over. From the deserts of the Middle East to the first-ever piano concert on the continent of Antarctica, Hidary seeks to bridge gaps in understanding through the universal language of music. Murray Hidary is also an entrepreneur and tech pioneer and in the early days of the Internet co-founded and built companies including EarthWeb, Dice Inc, Vista Research and eBillity. Today, he is focused on the human experience and, through MindTravel, helps people better connect with themselves and one another.

September 16, 2024 – Rev AI Transcription Jason Chicola and Software Engineer Entrepreneur Andrew Duncan

Jason Chicola – Founder and CEO of Rev
Jason Chicola is the founder and CEO of Rev, the leading AI speech-to-text service providing transcripts, captions and subtitles with 99%+ accuracy. With the goal to ensure that every voice is understood, Rev is the only speech-to-text provider that facilitates collaboration between humans and AI to achieve the highest accuracy, reduced bias and increased accessibility. Prior to starting Rev, Jason was the 3rd employee at oDesk (now Upwork). Jason was also an investment professional with H.I.G. Capital and an associate with Globespan Capital Partners. Earlier in his career, he was a business analyst at McKinsey & Co. Jason was really smart.  He got on the inside of the VC world, waited for a great play, join it, and then leveraged those skill and connections to start a VC funded company of his own. Rev has raised $4.5m from Globespan Capital.Andrew Duncan – Founder of Duncan Labs
Andrew Duncan is the founder of Duncan Labs, a boutique software engineering firm. Andrew is a highly driven technology executive with a combination of strategic insight, business expertise, financial skills, and deep technology experience, with a record of success in the leadership of application development, vendor management and consulting initiatives for major companies and high-growth startups. Duncan Labs focuses on providing custom software delivery and strategic technical advisory services for small to mid-sized companies and startups looking to launch or enhance products and services or increase the efficiency of their technical teams.

September 13, 2024 – Famous Brands Liquor Derek Sisson and Latin American Cloud & Growth Hacker Gerardo Sandoval

Derek Sisson – Founder and CEO of Famous Brands – Home of Merica Bourbon – Building a Liquor Business
Derek Sisson is a Native Texan, former Force Recon Marine, motivational speaker and entrepreneur. He is the Founder and CEO of Famous Brands, a renowned creator of exceptional high-quality spirits and beverages embody American values of freedom, unity, and independence. In 2008, Derek began his career in the wine and spirits industry as a wine importer. With his marked success, he created a distribution company which led to the founding of Texas Top Shelf, a trusted partner for alcohol beverage product manufacturing, where he served as CEO. Based on key learnings in that position, Derek created Famous Brands in 2017, kicking off the company by developing the ever-popular Merica Bourbon. Through Derek’s business acumen, Merica Bourbon is now available in 45 states and carried by most leading chains. This year, Derek has expanded the Famous Brands legacy through the launch of Merica Beer, crafted from high-quality ingredients and known for its crisp, refreshing taste, available to beer enthusiasts at a cost-friendly price point. Built on his experience within the special operations community as a member of 2nd Force Reconnaissance Company, USMC, and his life as an entrepreneur, Derek has proven he has the leadership skills and drive to catapult Famous Brands to heightened levels of success.Gerardo Sandoval – Founder of Facilcloud – Latin American Cloud
Gerardo Sandoval is a serial entrepreneur, Cloud Architect, and Data Scientist who has founded several successful startups with clients in over 20 countries. His entrepreneurial journey began at a young age when he created an inventory control system for his home warehouse before he was 14. Although he initially aspired to be a doctor, his passion for technology led him to study science and computing without having a computer at home. At age 16, he founded his first venture, Creative Computer Labs, where he taught computer science classes. Later, he established a hosting company with 35,000 clients and is recognized as one of the main Hispanic influencers in Growth Hacking. He founded Facilcloud, the first elastic cloud in Latin America, and currently helps companies grow using Growth Hacking, a methodology that combines critical thinking, data science, digital marketing, agile iterations, and custom software. He has built startups from zero and written books about Growth Hacking. As a veteran data scientist, he advises on growth and data science issues in SaaS companies, Marketing, online education (e-learning), Insurance, Clean Energy, and Home Improvement.

September 12, 2024 – Microplastics Entrepreneur Dr. Stephen Mayfield and Strauss Naturals Wayne Elliott

Dr. Stephen Mayfield – CEO of Algenesis Materials and Former Distinguished Professor of Molecular Biology at UCSD – CEO of Blue View Footwear
Dr. Stephen Mayfield is the founder and CEO of Algenesis Materials, a company on a mission to reduce plastic pollution on the planet.  Steve was previously a Distinguished Professor of Biology and the Director of the California Center for Algae Biotechnology, at the University of California, San Diego. His research career focuses on the molecular genetics of green algae, and on the production of bio-products using algae as a production platform, especially bio-polymers.  Steve received BS degrees in Biochemistry and Plant Biology from Cal Poly State University in San Luis Obispo, and a PhD in Molecular Genetics from UC Berkeley.  Following a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Geneva Switzerland he returned to California as an assistant professor at the Scripps Research Institute where he remained for 22 years becoming the Dean of Biology before joining UC San Diego in 2009.  In addition to running his research group and university research centers, Steve also founded Rincon Pharmaceutical in 2005, Sapphire Energy in 2007, Triton Health and Nutrition in 2013, and Algenesis Materials in 2016.Wayne Elliott – Ship Recycling and Strauss Naturals Advocate
Wayne Elliott has been in the ship recycling business for 40 years. His company can take a 1000-foot-long ship and reduce it to a pile to reusable materials. He has grown into other areas such as battery recycling. He recounts his life-changing experience with SHD, a health supplement he stumbled upon after battling angina and its debilitating symptoms. Struggling with leg cramps, shortness of breath, night sweats, and chest pains, Wayne also grappled with anxiety and a lack of energy, resigning himself to the fate of heart-related issues that plagued his family. However, upon learning about SHD through a friend in Vancouver and being inspired by studies from renowned institutions like Harvard, Wayne decided to give it a try. Astonishingly, within two weeks of taking SHD, he noticed improvements in unexpected ways – his hearing returned, and his respiratory system cleared, leading to a significant boost in energy. Over the course of three months, Wayne transformed into a revitalized version of himself, feeling as energetic as he did decades ago. This transformation propelled him into a new phase of life where he actively engaged with others, becoming a spokesperson for Jim Strauss, the creator of SHD. Wayne’s involvement extended to radio shows and lectures, allowing him to share his incredible journey with thousands of people suffering from various health issues. His enthusiasm and dedication to natural health solutions led him to become a regular guest on radio networks in the USA and Canada, where he continued to spread the word about his positive experiences with SHD and its miraculous effects on individuals dealing with diabetes, heart disease, low energy, and clogged arteries. Wayne’s story highlights the power of painless, safe, and affordable health products, emphasizing the beauty of solutions that genuinely work. His gratitude towards Jim Strauss and the Strauss Heart Drops is profound, as he believes that without this intervention, he might not have been alive today, reinforcing the transformative impact of natural health remedies in the face of life-threatening conditions. Strauss Naturals is sponsoring the show with support for our radio-minute segments. Wayne says very simply that their products saved him. He became an advocate for the company and has been working with them for 29 years.

September 11, 2024 – Shoppable Video Eitan Koter and MAGIC Marketing System Suzanne Sarsfield Scarano

Eitan Koter – Co-founder and Co-CEO of Vimmi – Making Video Shoppable
Eitan Koter is the Co-founder and Co-CEO of Vimmi, a shoppable video SaaS company enhancing e-commerce. He also hosts the “eCom Pulse” podcast. With two decades of experience in startups and public companies, including a NASDAQ IPO, he brings a unique blend of strategic insight and practical expertise. By integrating multi-channel live shopping and shoppable video into any e-commerce platform, brands can connect with their customers wherever they shop. Founder and CEO with over two decades experience in media & entertainment, eCommerce and telecom industries in startups and public companies, including NASDAQ IPO. Expertise includes B2B SaaS and hardware companies, go-to-market strategies, global marketing & sales, product market fit, strategy development, and general management.Suzanne Sarsfield Scarano – Founder and CEO of Forethought Marketing
Suzanne Sarsfield Scarano’s journey is a testament to visionary entrepreneurship and innovative business practices. She founded Forethought Marketing in 2009 with a bold mission to redefine traditional marketing. Her approach has not only set new industry standards but also demonstrated how authenticity and strategic alignment can drive success. Suzanne’s Forethought MAGIC (Marketing Alignment Goal Implementing Collaboration) sessions have transformed how businesses align their C-Suite teams, fostering cohesive and effective leadership. Suzanne’s engaging storytelling and practical advice will captivate your listeners and provide them with tangible strategies to implement in their own businesses. Her passion for creating value and connection makes her an ideal guest for your podcast.