Best Mark Fedeli Podcasts (2025)

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#210: Umberto Fedeli Round III — Patience & Persistence, Progress & Perfection, Rationality & Uncertainty 1:12:53

7d ago1:12:53

1:12:53

I’m very excited to welcome Umberto Fedeli back for his third conversation. In our first two conversations — episode 135 and episode 171 — we explored Umberto’s remarkable life journey, deep-rooted wisdom, and how he's mastered the craft of building authentic relationships and connecting people across business, politics, and philanthropy. Those epi…

1
#209: Daniel Anstandig (Futuri Media) — AI, Future of Media, Music, and Investing 1:15:34

14d ago1:15:34

1:15:34

Daniel Anstandig is the CEO of Futuri Media, a leading AI-driven platform he founded in Cleveland in 2009 to help companies build and monetize engaged audiences. Today, Futuri’s sales, content, and audience technology serves over 7,000 media brands across 22 countries, powered by a bold and passionate team recognized on the Inc. 5000 list of Americ…

1
#208: Sonia Winner (Cleveland Museum of Natural History) — $150m Centennial Transformation 1:01:14

21d ago1:01:14

1:01:14

Sonia Winner is the CEO of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. In July 2018, she became the 10th director of the Museum in its more than 100-year history, dating back to 1920. Since then, she has spearheaded a $150 million reinvention of the institution—reimagining its campus and exhibits to highlight the interconnectedness of life on Earth. U…

1
A Quick Hello from Fede 3:35

19d ago3:35

3:35

Join host Fede Vargas for a quick hello and heartfelt update as My Most Authentic Life moves forward after surpassing 100 episodes. This check-in reflects on the upcoming transition to video, lessons learned from earlier creative attempts, and the emotional center that continues to guide the podcast’s next phase. More than a format change, this is …

1
#207: DJ Eidson (Limitless Minds) — Peak Performance, Deep Humility, Power of Mindset 54:10

28d ago54:10

54:10

DJ Eidson is the President and Co-founder of Limitless Minds, where he spearheads efforts to make elite mindset coaching accessible to everyone. Through their digital platform and programs, Limitless Minds has empowered hundreds of individuals and teams across organizations like Microsoft, Johnson & Johnson, Chick-fil-A, Bristol Myers Squibb, Goldm…

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#206: Blake Squires (Findaway, Movable, and Stubl) — Serial Entrepreneur 1:07:16

1M ago1:07:16

1:07:16

Blake Squires began his journey in the mid-90s in Los Angeles, capitalizing early on the convergence of technology and media. He soon returned to his hometown of Cleveland to co-found Everstream with Steve McHale (episode 196) and Charlie Lougheed (episode 42, and also my co-founder at Axuall). Blake served as COO until Everstream’s acquisition by …

1
Super Allies: Josh MacKinnon on Identity, Advocacy, and Building Inclusive Communities 29:07

1M ago29:07

29:07

Join host Fede Vargas for an honest and powerful conversation with Josh MacKinnon, founder and CEO of Do Good, a content company dedicated to authenticity and social impact. In this episode of Super Allies, Josh reflects on growing up closeted in a small town, coming out at 19, and how his view of allyship evolved through lived experience, travel, …

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#205: Carl Walz (NASA Astronaut) — 230+ Days In Outer Space 53:06

1M ago53:06

53:06

Carl Walz is an astronaut, a pioneer of space exploration, and a proud Clevelander! As an astronaut, Carl is a veteran of four spaceflights, logging a total of 231 days in outer space and performing three spacewalks during that time. A physicist by training, with degrees from Kent State and John Carroll University, Carl made his way to NASA via the…

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From NFL Stardom to Startup Grit: Mark Clayton on Reinvention, Faith, and Finding Purpose Beyond the Game 28:40

2M ago28:40

28:40

Join host Fede Vargas for a deeply personal and inspiring conversation with Mark Clayton, former NFL wide receiver turned entrepreneur. Mark opens up about the abrupt end to his football career, the slow and emotional process of letting go, and how faith and creativity helped him rebuild a new path. From childhood pivots to business breakthroughs, …

1
#204: Paul Roetzer (SmarterX & Marketing AI Institute) — Accelerating AI Literacy 1:05:27

2M ago1:05:27

1:05:27

Paul Roetzer is the founder and CEO of SmarterX and the Marketing AI Institute—a media, event, and online education company that he started back in 2016 to make AI accessible, approachable, and actionable for marketers and business leaders. Through the institute, he created MAICON—the leading annual Marketing AI conference, which is hosted here in …

1
#203: Geoff Bruder (Sonic Fire Tech) — Fighting Fires with Sound and Acoustic Waves 39:46

2M ago39:46

39:46

Geoff Bruder, co-founder of GhostWorks Engineering and Sonic Fire Tech—a company redefining fire suppression—is fighting fires with acoustic wave technology. Geoff's journey is rooted in his work at NASA Glenn Research Center here in Cleveland, where he focused as a Research Engineer on projects like the Advanced Stirling Radioisotope Generator (AS…

1
Daring to Leap: Dinah Chapman on Reinvention, Entrepreneurship, and Motherhood 28:16

2M ago28:16

28:16

Join host Fede Vargas for an inspiring conversation with Dinah Chapman, a bold entrepreneur and mother who walked away from the corporate grind to build a thriving business and a life on her own terms. From selling everything to travel the world, to launching Little Trouble, Dinah shares her journey of taking big leaps, trusting her instincts, and …

1
#202: Jared Semik (Eternium Aerospace) — Transcontinental Electric Flights 1:00:28

3M ago1:00:28

1:00:28

Jared Semik, founder of Eternium Aerospace, a long-range, zero-emissions aircraft development company, is focused on sustainable transatlantic flight. A multi-service military aviation veteran with three global deployments, Jared began his career in the Marine Corps in 1999. He is an aerospace research and development engineer with over 20 years of…

1
Reclaiming the Hyphen: Fernando Hurtado on Identity, Journalism, and the Power of Latino Storytelling 28:22

3M ago28:22

28:22

Fede explores the meaning of living in the hyphen, the messy and expansive space between cultures, identities, and expectations, with guest Fernando Hurtado. Fernando is the founder of In The Hyphen, a YouTube channel dedicated to telling deeply researched, visually compelling stories about U.S. Latinos. After years as a journalist at NBC Universal…

1
#201: Robert Marks (Projector) — Keepsake and Personal Streaming for Legacy 1:03:27

3M ago1:03:27

1:03:27

Robert Marks founded Fidelity Voice and Data in 1999 with just a $600 investment, which he grew into a business generating over $30 million in revenue, making it one of the largest telecommunications and cloud services competitors throughout the Midwest. The company focused on providing high-speed Internet access to various industries. After sellin…

1
Super Allies: Chris Glover on Social Justice and Taking Action for Change 28:11

3M ago28:11

28:11

Join host Fede Vargas for the launch of Super Allies, a series dedicated to changemakers who take action when it matters most. In this episode, Chris Glover, a dedicated advocate for education, housing, and community safety, shares how his journey as an educator and politician has shaped his fight for social justice. From addressing the root causes…

1
#200: Andy Tran (Arthur Street Ventures) — A Modern Renaissance Man 55:17

3M ago55:17

55:17

Andy Tran has lived more lives than just about anyone I know. He’s a serial entrepreneur who has started multiple businesses across industries, including tech, ammunition manufacturing, defense contracting, and tequila, among many others. Andy is a true modern Renaissance man whose path defies convention and serves as a testament to his deep curios…

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#199: John Knific (Squad) — The EdTech Guru 1:06:13

3M ago1:06:13

1:06:13

John Knific is a serial entrepreneur and investor who has built three venture-backed software companies here in Cleveland. His latest venture, Squad, is a peer discovery platform designed to gamify ratings and rankings for Gen Z, starting on college campuses, delivering valuable preference data to marketers. Before Squad, John co-founded Wisr, a vi…

1
Reinvention & Resilience: Kerry Novick on Skating, Storytelling, and Living Fully After Life’s Challenges 26:15

4M ago26:15

26:15

Join Fede Vargas for an inspiring conversation with Kerry Novick, a woman who has boldly embraced change at every stage of life. From performing as a professional skater to a career in international TV sales and now competing in adult figure skating, Kerry’s journey is a testament to resilience, reinvention, and following what makes you feel alive.…

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#198: Rob van Haaren (Proximal Energy) — Powering The Solar Revolution 1:02:31

4M ago1:02:31

1:02:31

Rob van Haaren is a Dutch-born entrepreneur and CEO of Proximal Energy, a Cleveland-based SaaS company transforming asset management for solar and energy storage projects. Rob has long been interested in renewable energy engineering — he holds a Master’s from Columbia University in Earth and Environmental Engineering and a PhD from Columbia as well…

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#197: Ali Bonar (Oat Haus) — The Granola Butter Company 58:06

4M ago58:06

58:06

Ali Bonar — CEO & Co-Founder of Oat Haus, a food company bringing fun and play to eating. Their flagship product, Granola Butter, is the world's first oat-based spread and while Oat Haus was born out of Ali's decade-long battle with an eating disorder, and it's now her mission to help others feel less alone. Since its beginnings in 2018, Oat Haus h…

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From Survivor Champion to Underdog Advocate: Erika Casupanan on Resilience, Authenticity, and Inspiring Change 29:59

4M ago29:59

29:59

What happens after you achieve your childhood dream? In this episode, host Fede Vargas welcomes Erika Casupanan, best known as the first Canadian winner of Survivor, for an open and heartfelt conversation about resilience, vulnerability, and inspiring underdogs. Erika shares what it was like to win one of reality TV’s most demanding competitions, t…

1
#196: Stephen McHale (Graici & Unify Labs) — Serial Entrepreneurship & the Pursuit of Inclusive Prosperity 51:46

4M ago51:46

51:46

Stephen McHale — a long-time Cleveland serial entrepreneur with a 40-year career founding, investing in, and building companies. Most notably, Steve served as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Explorys, which he formed in 2009 in partnership with The Cleveland Clinic. He co-founded and funded Explorys with Charlie Lougheed, one o…

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[Bonus] Rust Belt Rundown featuring Jeffrey Stern of The O.H.I.O. Fund 49:06

4M ago49:06

49:06

Welcome to a special bonus episode of the Lay of The Land podcast. Today, we're doing something a bit different as I take on the role of guest on other podcasts to discuss recent developments in my journey and offer a glimpse of what lies ahead. As some of you may know, I've recently embarked on a new professional path by joining the founding team …

1
Building a Life of Purpose: Insights with Jordan Grumet on Meaning, Happiness, and Fulfillment 29:10

4M ago29:10

29:10

Join host Fede Vargas for an insightful conversation with Jordan Grumet, author, podcaster, and purpose coach.Together, they explore the transformative power of reframing purpose as a series of small, intentional actions that bring joy and meaning to life. Jordan shares personal stories of resilience, lessons from his upcoming book The Purpose Code…

1
2025 New Year Motivation: Say YES to Growth, Opportunity, and Courage! 1:10

5M ago1:10

1:10

Kick off 2025 with Fede Vargas and a powerful message from My Most Authentic Life. This New Year, embrace growth, take bold opportunities, and say yes to what scares you. One brave yes can open doors, redefine your path, and spark unstoppable momentum. Let’s make this the year of courage and purpose. Tune in for more inspiration and full episodes n…

1
#194: Hanna Kassis (Babylon Asset Management) — Business Financing, Private Credit, and Growth Capital 51:08

5M ago51:08

51:08

Throughout his career, Hanna Kassis has overseen $1.5 billion in capital deployment. Hanna began his entrepreneurial journey in Youngstown, where he managed Tim Ryan's congressional campaign from 2008 to 2011. This early taste of independence would prove formative for his future ventures. Though he initially pursued law school in Chicago with inten…

1
Reinvention After Life’s Challenges: Janelle Hutchison on Creativity, Resilience, and Saying Yes to Growth 29:54

5M ago29:54

29:54

Join host Fede Vargas for a transformative conversation with Janelle Hutchison, an artist and storyteller with over five decades in the arts. Janelle shares her journey of reinvention and resilience, reflecting on how creativity has guided her through life’s transitions. From embracing bold new opportunities to rediscovering her passion for the sta…

1
[In Honor Of] Bob Sopko 58:55

5M ago58:55

58:55

It is with a heavy heart that I honor Bob Sopko’s memory by revisiting Lay of The Land's 12th episode. While no conversation could ever fully capture the breadth or depth of his legacy, I hope this episode relays an essence of his spirit, his unwavering commitment to supporting others, and his vision for Cleveland’s entrepreneurial future. Bob will…

1
From Mental Health Struggles to Authenticity: How Greg Wasserman Found Healing and Growth 28:20

6M ago28:20

28:20

Join host Fede Vargas for a heartfelt and transformative conversation with Greg Wasserman, a mental health advocate and storyteller. Greg shares his inspiring journey of overcoming profound mental health struggles, discovering authenticity, and building a life grounded in healing and growth. In this episode, you’ll hear how Greg turned a breakdown …

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#193: Ryan Schreiber (Streamline) — The One-Stop Streaming Guide 56:19

6M ago56:19

56:19

Ryan Schreiber is a long-time Clevelander and major advocate for the city, as well as the founder and CEO of Streamline, an innovative mobile platform tackling one of the streaming industry's most pressing challenges—helping users navigate the increasingly fragmented world of content and entertainment, from sports to shows and movies, across over 2…

1
Authenticity and Resilience: How Amalia Moreno-Damgaard Builds Community Through Food and Heritage 28:38

6M ago28:38

28:38

Join host Fede Vargas for an inspiring conversation with Amalia Moreno-Damgaard, an award-winning author, speaker, and cultural ambassador. Amalia shares her journey of resilience and authenticity, using food as a universal language to honor her heritage and bridge cultures. In this episode, you’ll discover how Amalia transformed challenges into op…

1
#192: Jim Weisman (Ingine) — Revolutionizing Knowledge Generation for a Healthier Tomorrow 53:21

6M ago53:21

53:21

Jim Weisman, CEO of Ingine, exploring deep into the intersection of artificial intelligence and healthcare In our world where healthcare costs are soaring and drug development timelines stretch into decades, Ingine is revolutionizing how we can analyze complex medical and healthcare data to produce better knowledge to create better medicine. By lev…

1
#191: Lance Hill (Within3) — Raising >$100 Million to Breakdown Healthcare Communication Barriers 1:01:31

7M ago1:01:31

1:01:31

Lance Hill, CEO of Within3, has led one of Cleveland's most well-capitalized startups, raising over $100 million to transform how the healthcare and life sciences industries communicate. What began in 2007 as a secure peer-to-peer platform for physicians quickly evolved into something much more ambitious—a solution to break down communication barri…

1
Manifesting Joy, Embracing Change: Susi Cabello on Día de Muertos, Authentic Living, and Finding Purpose in Everyday Moments 29:36

7M ago29:36

29:36

In this inspiring episode of My Most Authentic Life, Fede Vargas welcomes Susi Cabello, a passionate advocate for authentic living and cultural celebration. Susi shares her reflections on Día de Muertos, Mexico’s beautiful tradition of honoring ancestors and celebrating life, which fills her with gratitude and joy. From this foundation, Susi takes …

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[Bonus] Marketing Moves — Investing in Ohio's Future: Ft. Jeffrey Stern 41:20

7M ago41:20

41:20

Welcome to a special bonus episode of the Lay of The Land podcast. Today, we're doing something a bit different as I take on the role of guest on other podcasts to discuss recent developments in my journey and offer a glimpse of what lies ahead. As some of you may know, I've recently embarked on a new professional path by joining the founding team …

1
#189: Chas D. Withers (Dix & Eaton) — Running Towards the Fire 59:29

7M ago59:29

59:29

Chas Withers, chairman and CEO of Dix & Eaton, the storied Cleveland integrated communications firm, known for its specialization in marketing communications, Crisis management, and investor relations, which has partnered with its clients to drive impact and results in their public relations since 1952. While Chas has led the firm as CEO since 2015…

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Amplifying Black Queer Voices: How Anna DeShawn is Transforming Media and Activism 27:55

7M ago27:55

27:55

Welcome back to My Most Authentic Life! In today’s episode, we dive into the transformative power of storytelling, media, and activism with Anna DeShawn, a passionate advocate for amplifying Black queer voices. Anna is the founder of The Cube, a platform dedicated to uplifting the stories of underrepresented communities, especially within the Black…

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#188: Joe Pulizzi (Tilt Publishing & Content Entrepreneur Expo) — Content Marketing, Community, and Cleveland 51:50

7M ago51:50

51:50

Joe Pulizzi is a serial entrepreneur and deeply passionate about all things content marketing and entrepreneurship — he is the bestselling author of seven books including Content Inc., selling over 500,000 copies worldwide with his work featured New York Times, Insider, Entrepreneur, and other notable publications he hosts multiple podcasts and wri…

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#187: Aaron Hoffman & John Zinno (DeliverThat) — The Future of Catering Delivery 1:10:21

7M ago1:10:21

1:10:21

Aaron Hoffman and John Zinno — co-founders of DeliverThat, based in Canton Ohio. Friends for life, the two of them started this business out of Ohio University in 2016 off the bat of a viral tweet and have since proceeded to revolutionize catering delivery with over $300 million dollars of catering delivery under their belt, a network of over 25,00…

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Unmasking Authenticity: How Shaina Wexler Embraced Vulnerability and Found Joy 25:00

8M ago25:00

25:00

In this episode of My Most Authentic Life, Fede Vargas welcomes Shaina Wexler, the multi-talented singer-songwriter, host of the Daily Magic podcast, and creator of Reignite Inspiration. Shaina reveals her transformative journey of leaning into fear, vulnerability, and discomfort to cultivate growth and authenticity. She discusses how learning Fren…

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#186: Andrew Rising (Encore Venture Labs) — Bridging Cleveland's Industrial Heritage To Its Industrial Future 59:17

8M ago59:17

59:17

Andrew Rising, CEO of Encore Venture Labs. As someone who believes deeply in the opportunity for Cleveland’s future, I find Andrew’s journey to be an inspiring and optimisitc one… …Deeply rooted in the heart of Cleveland’s west side where he grew up before embarking on a decade-long adventure in the Bay Area—a place where innovation and venture cap…

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#185: Franco Kraiselburd (Asclepii Inc.) — Building the Next Generation of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Cell Therapeutics to Improve Human Health 1:17:25

8M ago1:17:25

1:17:25

Franco Kraiselburd — Co-Founder and CEO of Asclepii — building the next generation of tissue engineering therapeutics for wound healing. I’ve recently heard a life’s work described as a lifelong quest to build something for others that expresses who you are. It feels to me that Franco is not just building a company, but has found his life’s work an…

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Unlock the Healing Power of Food: How Dr. Sabrina Falquier Transformed Her Life and Health Through the Senses 28:42

8M ago28:42

28:42

Join Fede Vargas for an inspiring conversation with Dr. Sabrina Falquier, a visionary physician who left behind the conventional medical practice to pioneer the field of culinary medicine. In this episode, Dr. Falquier recounts her journey of self-discovery, sparked by a tear-filled conference in Napa, and how she turned her passion for food and he…

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#184: John Vickers (Blue Abyss) — Building the World’s Foremost Extreme Environment R&D Facilities for Space and Deep Sea Exploration 1:08:30

8M ago1:08:30

1:08:30

John Vickers, Founder & CEO of Blue Abyss. John is building one of the most ambitious and inspiring projects I’ve encountered while exploring what people are building in Cleveland! After spending eight years in the British Army, John completed his service at the rank of Corporal in 1991 and transitioned to a civilian career where he worked in manag…

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#183: Laura Bennett & Alex Krooglik (Embrace Pet Insurance) — The Story of A Cleveland Unicorn 1:08:17

8M ago1:08:17

1:08:17

Laura Bennett and Alex Krooglik, co-founders of Embrace Pet Insurance, which was sold in 2023 for $1.5 billion to JAB Holding Company. The duo founded Embrace Pet Insurance after graduating from Penn’s Wharton School of Business in 2003 and moving to Cleveland, where they built and grew this e-commerce, specialist insurance company selling pet insu…

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Depression Almost Broke Him: How Alex Wisch Fought Back and Won! 32:36

8M ago32:36

32:36

In this powerful episode of My Most Authentic Life, we explore the inspiring story of Alex Wisch, a peak performance and executive coach, angel investor, serial entrepreneur, mental health advocate, and elite athlete who faced immense personal challenges. Alex opens up about his decade-long battle with severe depression that left him penniless, une…

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#182: Dan Nitowsky (Tiger21) — Wealth Preservation, Legacy, and Ultra-High-Net-Worth Peer Support 45:23

9M ago45:23

45:23

Dan Nitowsky, Chair of TIGER 21 Cleveland. Dan, like me is a native New Yorker who has made Cleveland his home & has spent 30 years here in Cleveland as a highly accomplished executive with a proven history of success in distribution and manufacturing, with leadership roles in the Electrical Distribution industry — where expanded Mars Electric from…

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#181: Fred DiSanto (Ancora) — Connecting Dots, Activist Investing, Mentorship, and Deal Making 1:15:36

9M ago1:15:36

1:15:36

Fred DiSanto, Chairman and CEO of Ancora — the Cleveland-based investment firm with nearly $10B in assets under management and over 100 employees — which he’s led since 2006! Before Ancora, Fred had an expansive investing career, most recently overseeing investment management, private banking, and Trust and Banking Services at Fifth Third Bank. Fif…

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The SUMMER That CHANGED Everything: Rediscovering Passion and Purpose ft. Justin Peters 4:49

9M ago4:49

4:49

The SUMMER That CHANGED Everything: Rediscovering Passion and Purpose ft. Justin Peters Episode Description: Welcome to the final episode of our Authentic Summer series, where we explore the pivotal summer that transformed the lives of our guests. In this episode, we’re joined by Justin Peters, co-founder of Simple Pod Studios and host of The Strug…

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Mark Fedeli Podcasts

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