Finding Founders podcast

33:58

In this episode, we delve into the concept of being "qualified" in the workplace, examining who gets labeled as such, who doesn't, and the underlying reasons. We explore "competency checking"—the practice of scrutinizing individuals' abilities—and how it disproportionately affects underrepresented groups, often going unnoticed or unchallenged. Our discussion aims to redefine qualifications in a fair, equitable, and actionable manner. Our guest, Shari Dunn , is an accomplished journalist, former attorney, news anchor, CEO, university professor, and sought-after speaker. She has been recognized as Executive of the Year and a Woman of Influence, with her work appearing in Fortune Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, Ad Age, and more. Her new book, Qualified: How Competency Checking and Race Collide at Work , unpacks what it truly means to be deserving and capable—and why systemic barriers, not personal deficits, are often the real problem. Her insights challenge the narratives that hold so many of us back and offer practical solutions for building a more equitable future. Together, we can build workplaces and communities that don’t just reflect the world we live in, but the one we want to create. A world where being qualified is about recognizing the talent and potential that’s been overlooked for far too long. It’s not just about getting a seat at the table—it’s about building an entirely new table, one designed with space for all of us. Connect with Our Guest Shari Dunn Website& Book - Qualified: https://thesharidunn.com LI: https://www.linkedin.com/today/author/sharidunn TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thesharidunn Related Podcast Episodes: How To Build Emotionally Mature Leaders with Dr. Christie Smith | 272 Holding It Together: Women As America's Safety Net with Jessica Calarco | 215 How To Defy Expectations with Dr. Sunita Sah | 271 Share the Love: If you found this episode insightful, please share it with a friend, tag us on social media, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform! 🔗 Subscribe & Review: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music…

Finding Founders

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A podcast about vulnerability and entrepreneurship — learn from the life stories of founders 🚀, activists ✊, and even drug lords 💊 Our aim is to inspire you and let's face it... you aren't inspired when you hear about success. Real inspiration comes from hearing someone's lowest moment, and rising with their success. Using music, sfx, and voiceover, we interview the founders of companies, movements, and even drug cartels to reveal vulnerability so you can learn from victory. I’m your host, Samuel Donner, and together with my team we aim to inspire and educate a global community of leaders.

343 episodi

#Business #Founders

Finding Founders

22 subscribers

updated 3 giorni fa

Feed•Paga l'editore

343 episodi

#Business #Founders

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Finding Founders

1
Why 20 Subs is Enough to Quit Your Job And Pursue YouTube- #142: Hunter Williams | Creators 37:58

3 giorni fa37:58

37:58

Hunter Williams witnessed his mother’s diagnosis, prognosis, decline, and passing in the span of only two months and two weeks. And at the end of the summer of 2016, he suddenly found himself stranded in the middle of his life, unable to move forward in any direction. Fast forward to today and Hunter Williams is a full time YouTuber known for his sharp, well edited video essays on the business of being a content creator. From hitting millions of views on his deep-dive analysis of Mr.Beast and Mark Rober to receiving a video response from Cody Ko himself, Hunter might be on the path to creating his very own YouTube empire. Yet before he converted his garage into a home studio and embarked on this creator journey, Hunter was just a young kid with a point and shoot camera. Miles deep into the rural countryside and 20 minutes from the nearest small town, there was a time when he didn’t even know YouTube existed…. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

Finding Founders

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From $30,000 Debt to an 8-Figure AI Publishing Empire – The Yehuda Niv Playbook | #222 Spines 45:12

10 giorni fa45:12

45:12

In this episode, Yehuda Niv , founder of Spines and Niv Publishing , shares his entrepreneurial journey from a struggling musician to a publishing disruptor . Yehuda details how he built Israel’s largest publishing house, scaling it to over 1,200 books a year , and later transitioned into AI-powered publishing with Spines , securing $16M in Series A funding . Key takeaways include: Navigating failure : How Yehuda moved from an unsuccessful music career to engineering and eventually publishing. Scaling a business : Lessons from nearly going bankrupt twice and how he ultimately structured a self-sufficient management team . AI’s role in publishing : How Spines automates book formatting, cover design, metadata optimization, and distribution, allowing authors to bypass traditional publishing constraints. Fundraising strategy : Yehuda’s insights on securing venture capital, including his bold approach to pitching Oren Zeev (early investor in Audible) . Leadership philosophy : The importance of mentors, data-driven decision-making, and empowering employees to create a scalable business. This episode is packed with actionable insights on growth, automation, and resilience , making it a must-listen for aspiring entrepreneurs, authors, and tech founders . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

Finding Founders

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From $1M in Debt to Financial Freedom: Chris Miles’ Money-Making Playbook | #220 - ChrisMiles | MoneyRipples 1:41:25

17 giorni fa1:41:25

1:41:25

In this episode, we sit down with Chris Miles , CEO of Money Ripples , who shares his journey from financial advisor to financially free entrepreneur – twice. Chris opens up about how he built a successful career, lost it all in the 2008 financial crisis, and came back stronger by developing cashflow-based wealth strategies that break the traditional financial planning mold. Key discussion points include: The biggest myths in financial planning and why the 4% retirement rule is broken How he freed up $50,000 in taxes for a chiropractor and the cashflow formula he now teaches clients The worst money mistake he made – and how cutting off his income streams led to over $1M in debt His favorite passive income strategies (real estate syndications, infinite banking, and more) Why networking and value creation are the ultimate drivers of wealth Chris breaks down real, actionable steps for achieving financial freedom, scaling your wealth, and building a lifestyle where work is optional . If you want to rethink how money actually works and take control of your financial future, this episode is packed with golden nuggets of wisdom. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

Finding Founders

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From Obscurity to Viral Horror: The YouTube Growth Strategies Behind Gemini Home Entertainment | #221: Remy Abode | Gemini Home Entertainment 33:14

24 giorni fa33:14

33:14

In this episode, we dive deep into the mind of Remy Abode , the creator of Gemini Home Entertainment , a critically acclaimed YouTube horror anthology series with over 348,000 subscribers and 14.4 million views . We explore Remy's early inspirations , including his childhood fascination with horror soundtracks, his early experiments in filmmaking with his siblings, and the pivotal moment when he discovered Local 58 , the series that defined the analog horror genre. We break down: How Remy leveraged nostalgia and lo-fi aesthetics to create a unique horror experience. The rise of analog horror on YouTube and how creators like Alex Kister (Mandela Catalog) fueled the genre’s explosion. The psychological power of mystery and ambiguity in storytelling—and how keeping the audience guessing keeps them engaged for years. The business and creative strategy behind growing a niche YouTube channel and building long-term audience loyalty. The transition from making short horror videos to crafting an expansive, interconnected narrative . The future of analog horror and AI-generated video , and how these tools might reshape storytelling. This episode is packed with actionable insights for creators looking to build a devoted audience and craft stories that stand the test of time. Whether you’re an aspiring filmmaker, a YouTuber looking for non-traditional growth strategies , or just a horror fan, you won’t want to miss this conversation with Remy Abode . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

Finding Founders

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Reluctant Disrupter: How an Entrepeneur Went From Torrents to TextNow | #231 Derek Ting | Text Now 1:54:11

4 weeks fa1:54:11

1:54:11

Derek Ting began his entrepreneurial journey in high school, founding two companies: TorrentReactor, a torrent-sharing platform, and WoolNet, a web hosting service. He later earned a degree in Computer Engineering from the University of Waterloo. In 2008, Derek launched TextNow to provide free texting, inspired by his own struggles to afford phone bills as a student. Despite early challenges Derek steadily grew TextNow into the first mobile provider offering free phone service with unlimited talk and text. Today, TextNow employs 200 people and generates $130 million in revenue, serving about 7 million users. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

Finding Founders

1
Browness, World Travel , and the Artistic Experience- #176: Linda Vallejo | Creators 58:02

5 weeks fa58:02

58:02

Linda has experienced a lot. She’s traveled the world as an army brat, played piano and sung in Led Zeppelin's tour bus, explored drugs as an “X rated hippie”, and worked to understand her Latin American, Chicano, and Indigenous roots through her art. Through these various paintings, sculpture, and ceramic work Linda embraces her brownness and the world has taken notice. Her work has been shown globally in major galleries and museums, as well as Chicano and Latino spaces. Today, her artwork focuses on encouraging discussion surrounding how class, culture, and the color of our skin intersect, notably in her, “Make ‘Em All Mexican” pieces. But let’s look at where this all started and dive into Linda’s roots. Let's look back to where her family's story began, with her grandparents meeting while working on the railroads. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

Finding Founders

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How Chickpeas Met Shanghai's Eat Well Movement | #162 Jimmy Edgerton & Julie Meyer | Creators 32:05

6 weeks fa32:05

32:05

You just heard from Jimmy Edgerton about a crucial time in his entrepreneurship career, a moment when it seemed like his new startup was going down in roasted chickpea flames. Luckily, these hard times didn’t last forever, since today I’m presenting a special episode, a podcast swap with seasoned entrepreneurs and business consultants Jimmy Edgerton and Julie Meyer from AugMentors. Before they taught us to navigate the nuances of networking, Jimmy and Julie learned these lessons firsthand through running their own successful businesses. Julie found her start in writing her book Eat Well Shanghai and now works as the co-ceo of nutrition company Eat Well Global. Meanwhile, Jimmy worked in real estate until a fateful beer garden meeting launched his business career running Watusee Foods. But before we get ahead of ourselves, let’s hop in a time machine to the start of Julie’s story and see how these lives intersected. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

Finding Founders

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Partnering with Cesar Millan & Mr. Beast: How Spot Insured 500,000 Pets | Trey Ferro #230 | Spot Pet 51:48

7 weeks fa51:48

51:48

Trey Ferro, CEO of Spot Pet Insurance, turned a lifelong love for animals into a mission to revolutionize pet care. From mimicking animal sounds as a toddler to raising millions in funding for Spot, Trey’s journey blends personal passion with innovative leadership. Using AI and celebrity partnerships with names like Cesar Millan and MrBeast, he’s made Spot one of North America’s fastest-growing pet insurance companies. Tune in to hear how Trey is transforming pet care through technology and heart. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

Finding Founders

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Building the Machine: How this Man's Journey Leads Amazing Tech | #229 Jeremy Toeman | Augie Studios 1:54:13

8 weeks fa1:54:13

1:54:13

Tech has always been a part of Jeremy Toeman’s life. Loving math at a young age allowed Jeremy to want to continue his career path in the tech industry. Jeremy learned basic C++ programming during elementary school. Today he owns Augie Studio, a programmed AI system able to make videos for marketing as well as social media purposes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

Finding Founders

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How to Create a Best-Selling YA Series with No Money- #137: Kimberly Derting | Creators 42:14

9 weeks fa42:14

42:14

Despite having two hit book series under her belt, it was at this moment that Kimberly caught a glimpse of the publishing industry’s true nature. The world of literature had a short term memory and she was only as good as her most recent book’s sales. No matter how proud she was of her stories or how many book tours she’d finished, it felt like maybe she would never get the chance to reach the same heights. Luckily, this burnout didn’t last forever and Kimberly Derting is here with us today as an established author in both Young Adult fiction and children’s books. She mixes the genres of horror, mystery, and romance to create the captivating narratives of the award winning Body Finder series as well as the Pledge and the Taking trilogies. But before she spun these unique worlds from scratch, Kimberly was an imaginative kid who spent her days reading at the library and checking out the new releases at the neighborhood bookmobile. Words provided an escape from the darkness of her surroundings, banishing her home life and rough and tumble neighborhood with the flip of a page. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

Finding Founders

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How Inventing a Drinking Game Almost Bankrupted This Creator- #148 Ali Spagnola | Creators 20:54

11 weeks fa20:54

20:54

You just heard Ali describing one of her breaking points, where a battle for a copyright claim over one of her creations caused her to file a lawsuit. Now, Ali Spagnola, musician, comedian, and artist, has proved herself to be a creator you can’t look away from. With her eccentric dedication to living “outrageous”, Ali has won over 1.4 million tiktok followers and more than 400k subscribers on YouTube with her bubbly enthusiasm and boundless creativity. From turning her car into a chia pet to fighting for the world’s right to party, Ali’s career has been anything but mundane. Yet before music parodies and unusual crafts became her way of life, Ali had already fallen in love with the piano, plunking out melodies on her family’s baby grand… Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

Finding Founders

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Haunted Houses, Writing Horror, and Winning Stoker Awards | #228 Lisa Morton | Author 45:50

12 weeks fa45:50

45:50

Writer, Halloween expert, paranormal historial, and bookseller, Lisa Norton’s entire life is defined by the genre she has devoted her career to. Beginning as a young child in Pasadena consuming a large amount of horror content, she now loves to set her prose in her hometown, creating stories of suspense and supernatural happenings. Lisa is a six-time winner of the Bram Stoker Award for both her fiction and nonfiction work relating to horror and Halloween as well as the former president of the Horror Writers Association. But let’s begin where her love for the spooky holiday began, when she was just a child spending hours building her own costumes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

Finding Founders

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Horseback riding, SNL greenrooms, Brain Hemorrhages, and Aligning Capitalism with Ethics | #227 Alex Mufson | Entrepeneur 1:30:49

13 weeks fa1:30:49

1:30:49

Alex Mufson has always been an entrepreneur, from her first imaginary business she began at the age of three years old to a very real horse training company that she ran nearly a decade. But after experiencing deep frustration with the medical system, she felt led to build a values based business to help support others battling similar situations. Without any investors, Alex built the company from zero figures to seven in three years and now is now obsessed with helping others do the same, putting money into the hands of people, and their businesses, who will heal the world with it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

Finding Founders

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Writing Through Natural Disasters and a Space for Nomads- #182: David Abraham | Destination Outpost 59:47

14 weeks fa59:47

59:47

Somehow David has repeatedly found himself at the center of disaster. His most life changing trip through Asia was during the Asian financial crisis, his first big writing opportunity was during the 2008 financial crisis (which resulted in him losing his day job), this earthquake in Japan cemented that position as a writer, and now post covid the world needs the kind of community David is building more than ever. I actually think that’s something the best entrepreneurs have in common. Finding opportunity in disaster. And in David’s case I think he’s able to see opportunity because his breadth of experience is so wide. David was a resource strategist on Wall Street, oversaw natural resource programs at the white House, and even ran a water-focused NGO in Africa. His writing appears in the LA Times, the New York Times, and he’s published a book under Yale University Press called The Elements of Power. While writing this book in internet cafes around the world, David experienced firsthand how working remotely requires flexibility and breathable spaces–which is why he created OutPost, designed to be a safe place for digital nomads to break away from the conventional office. But before he was writing and traveling the world, a life of adventure in his hometown of Trumbull Connecticut had a pretty low bar. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

Finding Founders

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How to Survive Med School and Make it as a YouTuber- #190: Zach Highley | Creators 49:04

15 weeks fa49:04