Best Howtostartabusiness Podcasts (2025)

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1284: From GED to Harvard: How this Founder is Using AI to Disrupt College Admissions w/ Jane Alexander 33:37

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1d ago33:37

33:37

In this episode, Brian sits down with Jane Alexander, the founder and CEO of Emma Advisor, an AI-powered platform transforming the chaotic college admissions process. Jane shares how her own unconventional journey—from homeschool in rural Idaho to graduate work at Harvard—inspired her to build a tool that makes college guidance accessible to all fa…

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Episode 405: Do You Have a Message to Share? Start Speaking Today with Jess Ekstrom 1:00

2d ago1:00

1:00

As women, especially Moms, we have life experiences that have formed us. Our struggles and triumphs become a message to share to inspire others. In a world where we continuously seek ways to make a difference, the power of sharing our experiences and insights has never been more crucial. Whether you're driven by a sense of purpose or a desire to im…

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You’re the Woman Who Wins: Confidence and Identity Shifts for Female Entrepreneurs with Diane Rolston(Dw336) 21:34

2d ago21:34

21:34

Have you ever looked back on things you've done in the past and thought, "Who was I then? How was I so confident yet maybe so naive or so new at what I was doing?" There is a subtle shift Diane is exploring: How you don't get what you want, ou get what you believe you are. Listen to this episode where Diane talks about confidence and identity shift…

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1283: Why Waiting 15 Years Was His Best Move... and How He Built a 40K+ LinkedIn Audience w/ Troy Fine 34:08

2d ago34:08

34:08

In this powerful episode, Troy Fine, co-founder of Fine Assurance, shares his incredible journey from a 15-year career in cybersecurity to launching his own firm. Motivated by a desire to honor his entrepreneurial father and live a life without regret, Troy unpacks the patient, calculated approach he took to build a business that serves his life, n…

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297: Bestie Chats - Life Updates & Ask Us Anything w/ Jess + Karsen 1:07:08

2d ago1:07:08

1:07:08

We’re back with another bestie episode - Karsen is here with me again (by popular demand 💁‍♀️)! This time, we’re catching up on all things life, motherhood, and friendship, plus answering your real-life questions and having honest conversations about things so many of us are walking through in this season. Tune in for a chill chat between two besti…

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How a Shark Tank Deal Led to a Multi-Million Dollar Exit to Hickory Farms — with Tracey Wheeler Noonan, Co-Founder of Wicked Good Cupcakes 1:01:06

3d ago1:01:06

1:01:06

In this inspiring episode of Raw and Real Entrepreneurship®, Susan Sly sits down with Tracey Wheeler Noonan, co-founder of Wicked Good Cupcakes, to uncover how a Shark Tank appearance led to a multi-million dollar exit to Hickory Farms. Tracey shares the behind-the-scenes story of landing a deal with Kevin O’Leary, navigating public scrutiny, build…

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1282: The Lost Art of the Business Plan... How to Tell a Story That Gets Your Business Funded w/ Claire Pickens 32:41

3d ago32:41

32:41

Tired of thinking of your business plan as just another piece of bureaucratic paperwork? In this episode, 30-year business veteran and planning expert Claire Pickens flips the script, revealing how your business plan is actually a living, breathing document that holds the key to your success and funding. She breaks down why the passion, story, and …

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257 ✧ What to Do NOW to End the Year Strong! 14:06

3d ago14:06

14:06

With only 10 weeks left in the year, it's time to refocus, realign, and finish strong. Tune in to learn exactly what to do now to boost sales and set yourself up for a record-breaking new year! ✧ Join The Wanderlover Coaching Group ✧ Download Your FREE 0 to $100K Game Plan ✧ Follow The Wanderlover Podcast on Instagram ✧ Join the Wanderlover Busines…

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1281: The 7-Pillar Framework That Runs My 5 Businesses (And Yours Too) 23:51

4d ago23:51

23:51

Ever wonder if your business could survive, let alone thrive, if you took two weeks completely offline? In this game-changing Solo Sunday episode, Brian pulls back the curtain on the single biggest difference between a business that owns you and a business that gives you freedom: systems. He shares a personal story of being totally disconnected fro…

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1280: Unlock SCALE & Growth by Fixing Your Financial Foundation w/ Aubrey Merritt 32:42

5d ago32:42

32:42

Aubrey Merritt, a serial entrepreneur and financial expert, joins the show to demystify the numbers side of your business. She breaks down why waiting for tax season to look at your finances is a recipe for disaster and reveals how to use your financial data as a strategic tool for explosive growth. This episode is a masterclass in making your fina…

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1279: The "Nvidia-like" Business Model That Built a Top 30 Most Fundable Company w/ Benjamin Shapiro 32:26

6d ago32:26

32:26

From a tenured engineering professor at University of Maryland to the CEO of a revolutionary deep tech company, Benjamin Shapiro’s journey is a masterclass in calculated risk and strategic innovation. In this episode, Ben pulls back the curtain on Lumenuity, his company that's creating next-generation optics to power everything from our smartphones…

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1278: The 10% Rule: How to Fuel Your Business Growth with Advertising w/ Tyler Martin 30:55

7d ago30:55

30:55

Ever wonder what separates an ad that gets ignored from one that builds a loyal customer base? It’s not about flashy templates or massive budgets—it’s about psychology and storytelling. In this episode, we dive deep with Tyler Martin, an agency founder who turned a senior-year internship rejection into a thriving advertising business. He breaks dow…

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1277: The Empathy Edge... How to Lead Through Change Without Resistance w/ Rebecca Dhrimaj & Adine Stone 35:36

8d ago35:36

35:36

In this powerful episode, we're joined by Rebecca Dhrimaj and Adine Stone, the dynamic duo behind The Empathy Collective. They share their incredible journey from being laid off from their corporate roles (where Adine was Rebecca's manager!) to co-founding a change management consultancy built on empathy. They reveal why traditional "change managem…

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Episode 404: The Church Hurt Recovery Journey with Mary DeMuth 34:45

9d ago34:45

34:45

Healing from church hurt is a journey worth embarking on. In the realm of spiritual communities, few topics are as sensitive or impactful as church hurt. This phenomenon affects individuals across various denominations and can profoundly influence one's faith journey. Understanding and healing from church hurt is essential for maintaining and rebui…

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Are you in Momentum or Maintenance Season? with Diane Rolston (DW335) 25:59

9d ago25:59

25:59

Did you know that in business and life, not every season is meant to be a sprint? Sometimes, maintaining is the smartest move you can possibly make. But so many high achievers equate slowing down with falling behind. So ask yourself: What if holding steady was actually part of your growth strategy? Listen to this episode, where you'll discover whet…

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1276: He Left a Cushy Wall Street Job to Fix Our Broken Education System w/ Nitin Gour 32:38

9d ago32:38

32:38

After nearly two decades in the corporate world of tech and finance, Nitin Gour felt a calling for something more meaningful. He realized that traditional education was failing to prepare youth for the real world, leaving a massive gap between academic knowledge and the essential life skills needed to thrive. In this episode, Nitin shares his incre…

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296: 4 Things I’m Doing to Make Life Easier for the Rest of 2025 21:46

9d ago21:46

21:46

Fall is here, and while the "ber" months are full of fun, they can also bring a lot of chaos if we’re not careful. In this episode, I’m sharing 4 simple rhythms I’ve put in place to help me slow down and soak up the season instead of scrambling through it 🍂 If you’re craving more margin for festive memory-making and less mental clutter during the f…

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From Watching The Price Is Right to a $1 Billion Valuation: Shawn D. Nelson, Founder and CEO of Lovesac 1:00:24

10d ago1:00:24

1:00:24

Could watching a game show inspire the creation of a billion-dollar company? In this episode of Raw and Real Entrepreneurship®, host Susan Sly sits down with Shawn Nelson, founder and CEO of Lovesac, who shares how a lightbulb moment during The Price Is Right led to 27 years of building a public company—through bootstrapping, winning $1 million fro…

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1275: This AI Replaces Your Follow-Up (And Works 24/7) w/ Fitzgerald Light II 33:35

10d ago33:35

33:35

Tired of leads slipping through the cracks because you’re too busy to follow up? This episode is your solution. We sit down with Fitz Light, a former investment banker and venture capitalist turned AI founder, who became obsessed with solving the universal entrepreneurial problem of dropping the ball. He breaks down how his company, FlightSuite AI,…

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256 ✧ Feeling a Shift? This Is Your Sign to Do Things Differently 14:48

10d ago14:48

14:48

Are you going through a big life or business change and feeling off or unaligned? Danielle shares practical and grounded advice to help you navigate seasons of change, realign your business strategy, and step into your next level with clarity and confidence. You'll learn how to recognize when you've outgrown your old systems and how to intentionall…

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1274: What happens when it's NOT YOU, but it's them!? (Here's why your marketing might not be working...) 19:25

11d ago19:25

19:25

Do you ever feel like you're pouring money and effort into marketing, only to hear crickets? Do you immediately blame your offer, your copy, or your strategy? In this Solo Sunday episode, Brian shares a crucial perspective shift that could change everything: sometimes, it's not you... it's them. Using a hilarious but powerful example of a completel…

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1273: The #1 Reason Traditional Industries are Ripe for AI Disruption w/ Zachary Farkas 32:39

12d ago32:39

32:39

Army veteran and nation-leading mortgage lender Zachary Farkas saw firsthand the chaos of real estate transactions and decided to do something about it. In this episode, he shares the journey behind founding Relos, an AI-powered platform that automates and simplifies the home-buying process for agents and clients. Zach breaks down how he leveraged …

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1272: The #1 Reason Your Strategic Plan Is Failing (And How to Fix It) w/ Rebecca Shah 32:07

13d ago32:07

32:07

Entrepreneurs are idea factories, but even the best ideas are worthless without execution. This episode tackles the massive gap between having a vision and making it a reality. Rebecca Shah, an expert in implementation and strategy, joins the show to break down why so many businesses get stuck in the "idea phase." She reveals the critical, often-ov…

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1271: How This Dual PhD is Connecting the Music Industry with AI and Gamification w/ Alan Hegron 31:33

14d ago31:33

31:33

In this episode, we sit down with Alan Hegron, a dual PhD scientist who traded the research lab for the startup world to solve a major problem in the music industry. Alan shares the incredible story behind Rhythmeet, his new platform designed to connect musicians, venues, and teachers. He breaks down how he’s applying a rigorous, scientific approac…

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1270: Reid Hoffman Says Your Job is Extinct by 2034... Here’s Your Escape Plan w/ Jess Lane 31:33

15d ago31:33

31:33

Feeling stuck, burned out, or trapped by the "golden handcuffs" of a corporate job? This episode is your permission slip to design a new future. Guest Jess Lane, founder of The Full Cup Co., shares her powerful story of being laid off from a unicorn tech company and turning that crisis into a catalyst for purpose-driven entrepreneurship. Jess break…

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Episode 403: Strategies for Moms to Improve Relationships with Adult Children 39:08

16d ago39:08

39:08

Even adult children need their parents. But when things get rocky, how can you improve relationships with adult children? In the evolving world of parenthood, maintaining a strong bond with adult children presents unique challenges. As children transition into adulthood, the dynamics shift, often leading to confusion for parents. However, with unde…

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The Mental Health Struggle of High-Achieving Women with Diane Rolston (DW334) 20:48

16d ago20:48

20:48

Do you believe that even the strongest women need support? Well, since October 10th was World Mental Health Day, today's episode is about something or someone often overlooked: the mental health of high-achieving women who seem to have it all together. Our host, Diane Rolston, opens up about the quiet struggle that many capable women carry and why …

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1269: Why Being Your Own Stakeholder is a Superpower w/ Mike Conway 32:50

16d ago32:50

32:50

After nearly two decades in the high-stakes tech and finance industries, Mike Conway traded his corporate career for the entrepreneurial grind. He’s now the founder and CEO of Arcodo, a SaaS platform designed to help indie game developers plan, manage, and launch their games. In this episode, Mike shares the raw and real journey of bootstrapping a …

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295: Hustle Sanely 101 - Your Peacefully Productive Lifestyle Starter Pack 37:28

16d ago37:28

37:28

Class is in session, and the course you're taking is: Hustle Sanely 101. Whether you’re brand new to the community or just need a cozy refresher on how to build a peacefully productive life, this episode is for you. We’re breaking down what Hustle Sanely is, who it’s for, how The Hustle Sanely Planning System™ works, PLUS the free + paid tools avai…

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How This Founder Got Her Product in 700 Targets and Counting with Aimee LeMaire, Founder of Zeya 50:10

17d ago50:10

50:10

What does it take to launch a female-founded brand in 700 Target stores—with no prior CPG experience? In this raw and real conversation, Susan Sly sits down with Amiee LeMaire, founder of ZEYA, the first true innovation in home fragrance since Febreze. Discover how this former Hollywood producer transformed a deeply personal passion for non-toxic, …

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1268: Growth Isn't Guesswork: The Blueprint for Predictable Revenue w/ Jen Manswell 34:26

17d ago34:26

34:26

In this powerhouse episode, revenue growth architect Jen Manswell dismantles the myth that business growth is a game of chance. With the powerful mantra "growth isn't guesswork," Jen shares her framework for building predictable, scalable, and repeatable revenue systems. She reveals why connecting marketing, sales, and finance is non-negotiable for…

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255 ✧ How to Become a Travel Influencer in 2026 14:45

17d ago14:45

14:45

Learn exactly how to become a travel influencer in 2026 and start getting paid to travel! In this episode, Danielle shares the proven pandemic-proof steps from The Travel Influencer Handbook from laying your foundation and building your online presence to pitching brands and scaling to six figures. Tune in for insider strategies and tools to start …

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1267: Is it all plugged in? This is the truth about successful vs. unsuccessful entrepreneurs, podcasters, authors, etc... 20:54

18d ago20:54

20:54

Ever wonder why some entrepreneurs can launch a podcast, website, or social media channel and see immediate traction, while others do the same things for months or even years with nothing to show for it? In this Solo Sunday episode, Brian Lofrumento dives deep into one of the most common—and costly—misunderstandings in business: the difference betw…