School for Startups Radio

December 3, 2025 – AI SEO Dave Burnett and 6000 Interviews Adam Torres

Dave Burnett – Author, Columnist, Speaker & CEO at AOK Marketing
To get found in AI, honestly, is to do cool things, talk about the cool things you’ve done, and then do more cool things, enough for the fact that other people start talking about the cool stuff you’re doing.
Dave Burnett is a seasoned author, columnist, speaker, and the founder and CEO of AOK Marketing, a conversion-focused digital marketing agency. His entrepreneurial journey spans more than 25 years, during which he built and scaled successful businesses, including PromotionalProducts.com, another venture that established his reputation for bold, creative online marketing. At AOK Marketing, Dave leads a team that helps clients drive growth through SEO, Google Ads, paid social media ads, and conversion-rate optimization. He writes regularly for the company blog, sharing insights on topics such as content strategy, marketing funnels, and the evolving role of AI, helping founders, consultants, and agencies with practical guidance on sustainable growth. Beyond his agency work, Dave is a sought-after speaker and columnist. He has spoken at industry conferences and trained marketers on leveraging artificial intelligence and digital marketing to stay ahead in a shifting landscape. Dave’s story is also one of resilience and adaptability. Over the years he has weathered major disruptions, from economic downturns to industry shifts, but always managed to evolve, stay curious, and lead with a long-term vision for business.Adam Torres – Founder of MissionMatters.com
If somebody is listening to this and they think that their true value in this business and in this game is just how many downloads they have, they’re completely missing the boat.
Adam Torres is the co-founder and host of Mission Matters Media and the face of the podcast Mission Matters. He began his career in finance and business advisory but gradually felt drawn to entrepreneurship and storytelling. Through Mission Matters, Adam has built a global media platform that includes podcasting, publishing, and content production, aimed at amplifying the voices of entrepreneurs, executives, experts and creators. Although he was initially skeptical about podcasting, Adam launched his first show nearly nine years ago with minimal equipment. Over the years his authenticity, curiosity, and commitment to honest conversation helped him conduct thousands of interviews, covering leaders across industries, and build a respected platform recognized among the top podcasts globally.  Beyond hosting and producing, Adam leverages his background in finance, entrepreneurship and publishing to guide his media agency toward helping others share their stories, build personal brand presence, and create meaningful impact through content.

December 2, 2025 – GOAT of Conservative PR AJ Rice and Built on Purpose Betsy Fore

A.J. Rice – America’s publicist, CEO of Publius PR and Author of the #1 Amazon bestseller The Woking Dead: How Society’s Vogue Virus Destroys Our Culture
If you’re really good at something, from time to time take on a project that makes you feel uncomfortable, because it’s in the space of being uncomfortable where you’re going to experience growth.
A.J. Rice is known as “America’s publicist”, widely regarded as a leading figure in conservative public relations. He is president and CEO of Publius PR, and serves as editor-in-chief of The Publius National Post on Substack. He is also the author of the #1 Amazon bestseller The Woking Dead: How Society’s Vogue Virus Destroys Our Culture.As a brand manager, media influencer, and literary agent, Rice has produced, promoted or represented an extensive roster of high-profile conservative personalities and commentators. He was executive producer for The Laura Ingraham Show and The Monica Crowley Show, and later produced the investigative news show America’s Morning News at The Washington Times before helping launch the The Blaze Radio Network. Beyond public relations and production, Rice contributes as a columnist to more than thirty national media outlets, including major platforms such as The Hill, Newsmax, and RealClearMarkets.Betsy Fore – Founding Partner Velveteen Ventures, Bestselling Author Built on Purpose, 3X Founder,  Entrepreneur 100 Women of Impact and Author of Built on Purpose: Discover Your Deep Inner Why and Manifest the Business of Your Dreams
Find your deep inner why and pick a problem that you’ve experienced firsthand and gives you an unfair advantage, then attract your team and first believers.
Betsy Fore has two decades of experience as a CEO, serial entrepreneur, and investor. She is currently Founding Partner and Managing Director of Velveteen Ventures, investing in solutions for children and the planet for the next seven generations. She was Co-Founder & CEO of Tiny Organics (that she’d built into over $13M in revenue in the first 24 months on direct sales alone also becoming the first Native American to raise a Series A round of funding) and the Founder of WonderWoof, one of the first dog activity monitors and app. Her nonprofit, Natives Rising, is one of the largest communities of Indigenous technologists and founders. Betsy’s accolades include: Forbes 30 under 30, Entrepreneurs’ 100 Women of Impact, Chief’s 50 Top Executive Women in the New Era of Leadership and Cosmopolitan’s New C-Suite 2024 and Blueprint Advisor’s Power100 Asset Manager Honoree in Venture Capital. Betsy’s greatest accomplishments are her children Sebi, Azure & Mila. She builds from her love for family and her ancestors of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa. Her book Built on Purpose was listed on USA Today bestseller list.

December 1, 2025 – Use Common Sense Fund Raising Dr. David Cunic and EBO Consulting Emily Berliner

Dr. David Cunic – President of UCS Advisors
Eight out of every 100 people you’re connected to is what we call potential investor resource.
Dr. David M. Cunic is a seasoned entrepreneur, investor-relations specialist, and serial business builder whose career blends medical expertise with bold ventures into capital raising, healthcare, and the cannabis industry. With academic training in physical therapy, healthcare management, and cannabis science, David spent over two decades in the medical field before transitioning to business leadership. Over his career, he has founded and operated more than 14 companies, across both private and public sectors and achieved multiple successful exits. Since founding UCS Advisors, he has repositioned himself as a top-tier advisor for entrepreneurs and investors. Under his guidance, UCS Advisors offers services such as pitch-deck audits, capital raising strategies, networking, and investor relations support. Dr. Cunic is especially known for his work in the cannabis industry: he has launched eight cannabis companies across five U.S. states, advised firms in more than ten countries, and served on numerous medical, business, state, and non-profit boards. As a recognized thought leader, he has been featured on major media outlets, including interviews with large-scale publications, and is often described internally as the “Triple-Headed Dragon” a nod to his broad skill set across medicine, business operations, and capital markets. Through UCS Advisors, Dr. Cunic aims to empower entrepreneurs, startups, and growing companies helping them “unlock their full potential,” raise capital, and scale effectively.Emily Berliner – Founder/Owner of EBO Consulting
Stay humble and stay consistent. Just do not bury your head in the sand.It’s gonna take time. Things do not happen overnight.
Emily Berliner is the founder and driving force behind EBO Consulting Inc., an Alaska-based business development agency she launched in July 2018. With over a decade of administrative and managerial experience across both for-profit and nonprofit sectors, Emily brings a deep well of expertise to her leadership role. Her academic journey began in Bethel, Alaska, and led her abroad to London, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Geography from King’s College London and a Master’s in Corporate Finance & Strategy from Cass Business School. After returning to Alaska in 2010, she honed her skills in a variety of industries before specializing in business consulting. In 2016 she further strengthened her credentials by earning a Nonprofit Management Certification via The Foraker Group and University of Alaska Fairbanks. Under Emily’s leadership, EBO Consulting offers a comprehensive suite of services, from business formation, operations, and startup growth strategy to marketing support, grant services, administrative optimization, and notary services. Her consultancy serves a wide range of clients including startups, nonprofits, government organizations, and tribal entities. Known for her resourcefulness, consistency, and commitment to excellence, Emily has built EBO Consulting into a trusted partner for entrepreneurs and organizations looking to scale sustainably. Beyond her professional endeavors, she values a balanced life, enjoying activities such as barre classes, running, cross-country skiing, boxing, cooking, traveling, and spending time with her miniature Schnauzer, Greta.

November 27, 2025 - Thanksgiving Show

50 Reasons You Should Be ThankfulYou Are an Entrepreneur!  
This Thanksgiving, we’re taking a break from the usual format to celebrate the journey of entrepreneurship. Today’s special episode revisits one of our most-loved shows: a countdown of the Top 50 Reasons to Be Thankful as an Entrepreneur.
From freedom and creativity to impact and legacy, this list is a reminder of why we chose this path in the first place.
Give thanks and enjoy the inspiration.

November 26, 2025 – Email Outreach Adam Rosen and Bigger Isn’t Better Brad Giles

Adam Rosen – Founder of Email Outreach Company (EOC)
If you can get one positive reply per 1000 emails you send, you’re doing a phenomenal job in the email world.
Adam Rosen is the founder of Email Outreach Company (EOC), a multi-million-dollar agency helping businesses scale through cold email and newsletter growth. His journey with email began during his first tech startup, where strategic outreach helped raise capital, land clients like Amazon, Apple, Goldman Sachs, and Disney, attract over 100,000 users, and ultimately achieve a successful acquisition. He’s also seen email play a key role in closing multi-million-dollar real estate deals. At EOC, Adam and his global remote team have built a proven system that’s powered growth for more than 150 companies, consistently generating high-quality sales meetings and measurable ROI. With expertise in deliverability, copywriting, list quality, and leveraging the latest AI tools, Adam makes the complex world of modern email simple and effective. He’s passionate about showing founders and B2B leaders how to transform cold outreach and newsletters into predictable growth engines. Adam’s belief is simple: every business deserves to leverage email effectively and if it’s not working yet, that can change.Brad Giles – Founder & Coach at Evolution Partners
Entrepreneurship,it just doesn’t do what it says on the tin. And there are so many people who’ve had so much suffering because they can’t avoid the pressure for the endless pursuit of more.
Brad Giles is the founder of Evolution Partners, a strategic planning and coaching firm that helps owner-led mid-market companies build enduring, great businesses. With more than 25 years’ experience as both an entrepreneur and a coach, he has founded multiple fast-growth companies and worked directly with hundreds of CEOs, creating over 1,000 strategic plans to help them scale with purpose. Brad is also the host of The Evolution Partners Podcast, where he speaks with some of the world’s leading thinkers, planners, and doers about what makes mid-market businesses thrive. His work continues to shape how owner-led companies build better businesses and design better lives.

November 25, 2025 – Adventure Dating Lisa Craft and Believer, Bulldog, Coach Steve Smithwick

Lisa Craft – Founder of Adventure Dating
It’s about connecting to like minded individuals through a common activity, and we’re an experience first dating platform.
Lisa Craft is the founder of Adventure Dating, a lifestyle-driven dating platform designed to replace swipe culture with real-world connection through shared outdoor experiences. Raised in Southern California, Lisa grew up surrounded by surfing, nature and movement, and credits her grandparents for shaping her values of wellness, curiosity and self-belief, her grandfather encouraged invention and problem-solving, while her grandmother instilled a lifelong commitment to health and activity. Lisa has been an entrepreneur for more than two decades, launching Southern California CPR in 2002 before turning her attention to the dating space. After seeing widespread burnout from traditional dating apps, she created Adventure Dating to offer something more meaningful: curated, active dates, a concierge-style premium experience and an algorithm focused on lifestyle compatibility rather than endless swiping. Her philosophy of success centers on wellness, integrity, patience and loving the work you do, principles she consistently emphasizes in interviews. Today, Lisa leads Adventure Dating from Los Angeles, helping singles connect through hikes, sailing, wine tastings and other shared adventures, and is recognized as a founder redefining modern dating by blending technology, wellness and genuine human connection.Steve G. Smithwick – CEO of Master Wall and Author of Believer, Bulldog, Coach: An Entrepreneur’s Journey of Purpose, Perseverance, and Loving People
The whole thing is, bottom line is, never give up. And you got to have that kind of tenacious things, like a bulldog. You got to be tenacious. Never give up on the dream that you get.
Steve G. Smithwick is the President and CEO of both Master Wall and Creative Wall Products, Inc. Both companies specialize in the manufacture and/or distribution of engineered exterior wall systems designed to provide aesthetics and environmental control between indoor and outdoor conditions. Smithwick launched Master Wall, Inc. in 1987 and Creative Wall Products, Inc. in 2005 to offer the architectural, engineering, and construction (AEC) industries a high-quality engineered wall product backed by knowledgeable customer service and competitive prices.

November 24, 2025 – Litigation Finance James L. Koutoulas, Fiction Author Bill Combs and Resilient Parenting Dr. Kate Lund

James Koutoulas – CEO of Typhon Capital Management
I think I’m a pretty nice guy, but for whatever reason I attract some bad actors. All these experiences are why I’m so passionate about litigation finance… you don’t get pro bono lawyers come along very much, let alone ones who could beat the biggest, baddest banks in the world.
James L. Koutoulas, Esq. is the CEO of Typhon Capital Management which he founded in 2008. Typhon is a deconstructed multi-strategy trading firm, where managers can focus only on trading under an umbrella of unified operations, compliance, and risk management. Clients can access these modular exposures a la carte or via custom portfolios in Cayman or U.S. funds, or managed accounts. James is also the CEO of JurisTrade, the first secondary marketplace for litigation assets, built as a joint venture with hus multi-strategy hedge fund Typhon Capital and several major family offices. Institutional investors and family offices can use JurisTrade to directly invest in mass torts, personal injury, IP, and single case litigations. They can also get access via our Cerus Litigation Fund which barbells a diversified LitFin portfolio with activist appraisal rights and distressed strategies. Mr. Koutoulas helped force the full return of $6.7B in customer assets in the MF Global bankruptcy as lead customer counsel. His co-PM Andy Barroway ran the second largest US class action firm, settled Tyco for $3.4B, and invented appraisal rights arbitrage and managed $1.2B in it at Merion Capital. Mr. Koutoulas has appeared on CNBC, Bloomberg, and CNN, as well as being featured in major national print publications such as the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Fortune, Forbes, and Reuters. Mr. Koutoulas testified on improving customer protections before the United States House of Representatives’ Agriculture Committee. Mr. Koutoulas earned a J.D. from The Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, which gave him its 2016 Emerging Leader Award. He is a member of the Illinois Bar, holds a Series 3, and is registered with U.K. FCA as a CF1 and CF30. He serves as a consulting expert to the Northwestern Investor Protection Clinic and is a member of its Advisory Board. Mr. Koutoulas has a degree in Finance from the University of Florida, where he was a National Merit Scholar, AP National Scholar, and Angelo Langadas Classics Scholar. He was named one of the “Top Crypto Rockstars on Wall Street” by Business Insider, and serves on the Board of Directors of the Goodman Institute for Public Policy.Bill Combs – Author of The Quantum Gate
The biggest challenge to being an author is you can have the best book on the planet. It’s just getting the right people to see it.
Bill Combs is an international, award-winning author whose work explores the intersection of adventure, spirituality, and quantum mystery. He is best known for The Quantum Gate, a metaphysical thriller that blends ancient knowledge, cutting-edge science, and fast-paced storytelling to challenge readers’ sense of what is possible. Based in the mountains of Western North Carolina, Bill draws inspiration from a lifelong fascination with quantum theory, secret societies, and humanity’s search for deeper meaning. His writing expands far beyond fiction, through works like The God Particle Within, he delves into the idea of “Quanticism,” a framework that connects science, consciousness, and the spiritual forces that shape human experience. Whether crafting page-turning adventure or exploring the philosophical nature of reality, Bill Combs invites readers to step beyond the surface of the world and into the realms of wonder, self-discovery, and possibility.Dr. Kate Lund – Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Athletic Performance Coach & Author of  Step Away: The Keys to Resilient Parenting
The perfection that’s put out there is just simply not real, and we have to be really careful in terms of how we’re allowing that to make us feel.
Dr. Kate Lund is a licensed clinical psychologist, TEDx speaker, and internationally recognized resilience expert dedicated to empowering parents, athletes, and leaders to thrive under pressure and reach their full potential. With over 15 years of experience in medical psychology, having trained at Harvard-affiliated institutions including Shriners Hospital for Children, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Beth Israel Deaconess, she brings depth, credibility and compassion to her work. Growing up with hydrocephalus and facing frequent hospitalizations, Kate learned firsthand the power of resilience and made it the foundation of her life and professional mission. Through a strengths-based approach, she helps individuals, teams and families shift focus from what holds them back to the resources and mindset that propel them forward. Her best-selling book Bounce: Help Your Child Build Resilience and Thrive in School, Sports, and Life offers parents a practical roadmap to guide children through challenge, uncertainty and growth. In her latest work, Step Away: A Modern Guide for Overwhelmed Parents to Reclaim Calm, Strength, and Connection (2025), she extends her guidance to parents themselves, showing how stepping back from the swirl of overwhelm can awaken deeper resilience in family life. Whether delivering keynote addresses, hosting her podcast The Optimized Mind, or working one-on-one, Kate’s message is clear: resilience isn’t a mystery, it’s a practice grounded in real life. She invites us all to discover the extraordinary within the ordinary and to lean into the possibility on the other side of challenge.

November 21, 2025 – 1800 units Gino Barbaro and CX in AI World Stacy Sherman

Gino Barbaro – 1,800 Multifamily Units Owner
That’s the beauty of real estate. It’s not this, get rich quick. It’s get rich slow. But if you commit to buying a good deal, being able to operate it, having some patience and being able to actually operate the property, run the property, and give yourself some time, you can get extremely wealthy with real
Gino Barbaro is a multifamily real-estate investor, educator, and author who built his success from humble beginnings in the restaurant business. After managing his family’s Italian restaurant for more than two decades, the loss of his father in 2007 pushed him to rethink his financial future and pursue a path that would create freedom and generational wealth. In 2009 he partnered with Jake Stenziano, forming the now-well-known Jake & Gino brand, and after 18 months of deal hunting they closed their first multifamily property in 2011. Over the following years, Gino scaled his portfolio to more than 1,800 units and over $350 million in assets by applying his simple but powerful framework—Buy Right, Manage Right, and Finance Right. Known for his people-focused approach to property management and his emphasis on systems, values, and long-term stewardship, Gino has become a respected voice in multifamily education. He is also the author of Happy Money · Happy Family · Happy Legacy, where he teaches families how to heal their money story and build lasting prosperity. Through his newest venture, Barbaro360, he now helps individuals and families align wealth, purpose, and legacy while continuing to grow his real-estate footprint. Gino lives in St. Augustine, Florida, with his wife Julia and their six children.Stacy Sherman – Keynote Speaker, Author & Advisor on Doing Customer eXperience Right™ In The AI Era
AI is a fabulous way to enable humans to save them time and be able to develop deeper relationships with customers, with each other, with their colleagues.
Stacy Sherman brings more than two decades of experience in customer experience, service leadership and employee-engagement to her role as founder of Doing CX Right®. After leading multiple corporate teams and earning an MBA in marketing, she turned her focus to helping organizations intentionally design and deliver exceptional experiences across every touchpoint. Her proven framework emphasises that retaining loyal customers, generating referrals and building a distinguished brand reputation are not accidental, they happen when every team (HR, IT, Marketing, Sales, Legal) shares accountability for how a brand is experienced. Recognised globally as a Top 30 CX Guru and an ICMI Top 25 CX Leader, Stacy brings practical, high-impact strategies through her bestselling books, LinkedIn Learning courses, immersive workshops and her award-winning podcast. Her mission is clear: bridge the gap between what leaders believe and what people actually experience, especially as businesses navigate the rapid acceleration of technology and AI. When she isn’t championing better business experiences, Stacy enjoys long walks with her husband of 30 years, playing pickleball, and celebrating the small wins that build great cultures.

November 20, 2025 – 5 Million Downloads Tony D’Urso and Life Settlements Ben Mohr

Tony D’Urso – Talk Show Host of The Tony DUrso Show
Everybody can make it, but it just takes so long. But if you havea mentor or a coach or a consultant, it can speed you up.
Tony D’Urso is the host of The Tony D’Urso Show, one of the top entrepreneurial talk shows in America with more than 50 million downloads and listeners across radio, podcast platforms, Roku, and streaming TV. Known for interviewing high-achieving entrepreneurs, CEOs, changemakers and thought leaders, Tony has built a global following by spotlighting the stories, strategies and lessons of people who have been through the school of hard knocks and reached the top of their fields. Born in Sicily and raised in Chicago, Tony learned hard work early. After years in corporate sales and marketing, he launched his own show and quickly became a respected voice in entrepreneurship and business inspiration. In addition to broadcasting, Tony is a multiple-time bestselling author and a recording artist, producing original motivational music that reflects his passion for personal development and positive messaging. Tony is also the co-founder of the Southgate Foundation, a charitable organization serving orphans, widows, underserved families and the elderly. Through the Foundation’s Breakfast With Our Neighbors program and other initiatives, he has helped deliver more than 126,000 meals across Southern California. Today Tony lives among the redwoods of Northern California, continues to produce one of the most downloaded entrepreneur shows in the world and remains committed to helping people achieve success through vision, purpose and action.Ben Mohr – Founder at Ben Mohr LLC & Life Advisor Solution and Retirement Planning Expert
If she passes in a year, you get the 500,000… if she was to pass away exactly when those doctors think she will, then essentially your APR on that is about 25%.
Ben Mohr is a trusted leader in retirement and income planning, with a strong focus on alternative investments and life settlements. As founder and CEO of Ben Mohr LLC, he leads one of the top firms specializing in life settlement solutions, offering expert guidance for navigating complex financial decisions. Ben works closely with clients to uncover hidden value in their financial portfolios – often helping them turn unwanted or unneeded life insurance policies into powerful retirement assets. · Investing Like the UltraWealthy – Even in a Bad Market · “Betting on Death” – The Truth About Life Settlements · The Dirty Secrets Your Stockbroker & Annuity Salesman Don’t Want You to Know · Ditch the Cookie-Cutter Retirement Plan · The Hidden Investment Strategy of the Wealthy With No Stock Market Risk an exceptional guest · What do wealthy investors do differently when the market is down, and can regular people use those same ideas for retirement? · What is alternative investing, and why should someone nearing retirement consider it? You mention life settlements, what are they, and how are the wealthy using them to make money without the stock market? · Are these alternative strategies actually safer than traditional investments like stocks or annuities? · What are some things most financial advisors don’t tell people about retirement investing? · If someone feels stuck in a basic retirement plan, what’s one smart move they can make to improve their results? Driven by his passion for empowering professionals in the field, Ben launched Life Advisor Solution – a cutting edge platform providing mentorship, marketing tools, and business development strategies for agents. This initiative empowers advisors to achieve unparalleled success in their careers. Ben also plays a key role as part of the RMO Insurance & Retirement team, where he continues to help clients secure financial stability through personalized strategies and in-depth knowledge of life settlements. Ben’s goal is to help individuals approaching retirement make confident, well-informed financial decisions without the confusion or pressure. His clear, practical guidance and proven results have made him a trusted resource for those seeking security and peace of mind in retirement.

November 19, 2025 – Persuasion Architect Bryan Eisenberg and Not a Sketchbook Lauren Horn

Bryan Eisenberg – Persuasion Architect | 25+ Years Helping Brands with the Stories They Sell (Google, Disney, GE, Chase, HP) | Keynote Speaker, Customer Experience and Transformation. NY Times Bestselling Author
AI is only going to accelerate the inevitable, and it cannot fix a broken story.
Bryan Eisenberg is the co-author of the Wall Street Journal & New York Times bestselling books “Call to Action”, “Waiting For Your Cat to Bark?”, “Always Be Testing” and “Buyer Legends: The Executive Storytellers Guide”. He has been the keynote speaker for Shop.org, the Direct Marketing Association, Microsoft, the Canadian Marketing Association and hundreds of other events across the globe. He is also the co-founder and Chairman Emeritus of the Web Analytics Association. Bryan serves as an advisory board member of several venture capital backed startup companies (Bazaarvoice, Monetate, UserTesting.com, BoostMedia, Sightly, & Runa) and is a recognized authority in improving online customer experiences and conversion rates. He was recognized as one of the top 10 User Experience Gurus, a winner of the Marketing Edge’s Rising Stars Awards and a member of the inaugural iMedia Top 25 Marketers. He was quoted by Advertising Age, CNN, Forrester Research, Jupiter Research, Miami Herald, Publish, Internet Advertising Report (IAR), Chicago Business Tribune, Inc Magazine, and Entrepreneur.Lauren Horn – Creator of This is Not a Sketchbook
I googled my way through starting this business, and yeah, I’ve done it all myself.
Lauren Horn is an art teacher based out of Fort Worth, Texas. Lauren is passionate about making art accessible to everyone. After her public high school art students went viral on Tiktok in 2021, she turned her curriculum into a workbook style sketchbook, complete with pre-printed QR codes that lead to video lessons which teach you how to do each page. Her students incredible before and afters showcase that drawing is a skill, not a talent, and if you want to learn, you can! Lauren has 3 boys (ages 8, 5, and 2) with her husband, Dillon. In her free time, she enjoys making her own art, visiting her family in Colorado, and haunting all the coffee shops in her historic neighborhood.