Best Connor Tomkies Podcasts (2025)

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American-Made Watchmaker takes on Billion-Dollar Goliath with RT Custer & Vortic Watches 41:42

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6M ago41:42

41:42

https://www.pvig.com/madeit https://byldd.com/ RT Custer turned a passion for nostalgia into two thriving American watch brands: Vortic Watch Co., which transforms antique pocket watches into wristwatches, and the ambitious Colorado Watch Co., aiming to bring American watchmaking back at scale. In this episode, RT shares how he went from a $40K Kic…

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How “Boring” Businesses Make Big Money with Nick Huber (& Alex Lieberman) 47:37

6M ago47:37

47:37

Entrepreneur and investor Nick Huber joins Connor Tomkies and Alex Lieberman to break down how he built a $100M+ empire starting with sweaty, unsexy businesses like student storage. They discuss his new book The Sweaty Startup, the trap of chasing big ideas too early, and why momentum, urgency, and simplicity often beat innovation. From self-storag…

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Scaling Startups to Zebras, Unicorns & Decacorns with Barry Stamos 43:55

7M ago43:55

43:55

https://www.pvig.com/madeit https://byldd.com/ We sit down with Barry Stamos, a post-exit founder and investor focused on bold, world-changing companies. Barry shares his journey from corporate consultant to tech founder, detailing his early struggles, successful exits, and how he now supports other entrepreneurs through Supernova, a collective of …

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He Built 52 Hotels and Advised AirBnb with Chip Conley 50:24

7M ago50:24

50:24

https://www.pvig.com/madeit https://byldd.com/ In this episode Connor sits down with hospitality legend and Modern Elder Academy founder, Chip Conley. From building Joie de Vivre into one of the largest boutique hotel brands in the U.S., to mentoring the Airbnb founders through their explosive growth, Chip shares the behind-the-scenes stories that …

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From Dot-Com to Giant Exits with Author and Entrepreneur Lewis Schiff 38:35

7M ago38:35

38:35

https://www.pvig.com/madeit https://byldd.com/ In this episode guest Lewis Schiff—a seasoned entrepreneur, author, and former dot-com founder—shares his journey from early entrepreneurial days to successful exits and strategic angel investing. Lewis dives into his experiences in the dot-com era, explains how technology is transforming traditional i…

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Failing Fast, Winning Big, and Giant Fire Blankets with Mike Lloyd 48:11

8M ago48:11

48:11

https://www.pvig.com/madeit https://byldd.com/ We sit down with Mike Lloyd, a seasoned entrepreneur who built and exited Corvus, a cyber insurance company, for nine figures. Mike shares his journey from Virginia Military Institute to MIT and Harvard, diving into the lessons learned from his first failed startup and how he pivoted to massive success…

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From College Dorm to Wall Street IPO with Purpose Built's Miles Lasater 31:49

8M ago31:49

31:49

https://www.pvig.com/madeit https://byldd.com/ Episode Description: Connor sits down with Miles Lasater, founder of Purpose Built and co-founder of multiple successful companies, including HireOne, which went public in 2010. Miles shares insights on scaling a business from college startup to IPO, hiring a CEO as a young founder, and the challenges …

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The Warren Buffett of Lifestyle Investing with Justin Donald 35:56

9M ago35:56

35:56

In this episode of Made It with Connor Tomkies, Justin Donald, the "Warren Buffett of Lifestyle Investing," shares insights into his journey as a post-exit entrepreneur, investor, and community builder. He discusses his early business exits, the power of strategic investing, and the philosophy behind The Lifestyle Investor. Connor and Justin dive i…

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Owning a Soccer Team, Building Community, and Mission Companies with Intello's Barak Kaufman 38:15

1y ago38:15

38:15

In this episode of Made It with Connor Tomkies, Connor sits down with Barak Kaufman, founder of Post Exit Founders, to discuss life after exiting a company and the next steps for founders. They explore the three types of post-exit founders, dive into Barak's investment in a soccer team rivaling Ryan Reynolds' Wrexham, and talk about the challenges …

1
Career Risk, Baseball, and Pooling with Pando's Charlie Olson 31:04

1y ago31:04

31:04

In this episode of Made It with Connor Tomkies, we dive into a groundbreaking concept with Charlie Olson, CEO of Pando. Charlie explains how his company helps individuals in high-risk careers like professional athletes and entrepreneurs pool their incomes, creating a supportive and incentivized community that shares both successes and setbacks. Lea…

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Bringing the Fun Back to Start-Ups with DesignMyNight's Nick Telson-Sillett 36:36

1y ago36:36

36:36

In this episode of "Made It with Connor Tomkies," Nick Telson-Sillett shares his journey from founding "Design My Night" to exiting for over £35 million. Nick talks about the challenges of scaling a company in a competitive market, the importance of financial freedom, and how to navigate earn-outs. He also discusses his ventures in angel investing …

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The Hidden Levers of a 9-Figure Exit with Praveen Ghanta 33:04

1y ago33:04

33:04

In this episode of Made It with Connor Tomkies, entrepreneur Praveen Ghanta shares the unconventional story behind his bootstrapped exit, including a nine-figure success with Hidden Levers. Praveen dives into his philosophy on bootstrapping versus raising capital, the power of fractional work, and what he’s focusing on now with his new ventures. Tu…

1
Scaling Billion Dollar Dreams and Redefining Success with Gil Eyal 26:38

1y ago26:38

26:38

In this episode of Made It with Connor Tomkies, Gil Eyal returns to discuss the unpredictable nature of success in the world of social media and business investment. They dive deep into the challenges of investing in consumer products, the importance of identifying businesses with billion-dollar potential, and the pitfalls of the dating app industr…

1
Matchmaking for Dogs: The Story of All Paws, Snap Interactive and more with Darrell Lerner 27:55

1y ago27:55

27:55

Join Connor Tomkies in this exciting episode of the Made It Podcast as he chats with Darrell Lerner, the man behind All Paws and Snap Interactive. Discover how Darrell transitioned from revolutionizing online dating to creating a successful platform connecting dogs with their forever homes. Listen as Darrell shares the unconventional journey of fou…

1
Hot Takes and Padel Breaks: Benji Markoff’s Return 45:53

1y ago45:53

45:53

Join us for a captivating conversation with Benji Markoff, a returning guest who initially appeared in Episode 3. In this episode, Benji opens up about his latest venture, Padel United Sports Club. He discusses the intricacies of launching a high-end social wellness club focused on the fast-growing sport of Padel. Discover how Benji is building a v…

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The Metrics Maestro: Alex White on Rocking the Music & Tax Industries 58:00

1+ y ago58:00

58:00

In this episode we sit down with Alexander White, the co-founder of Next Big Sound. Alexander shares his journey from launching a music data business during his senior year at Northwestern to its acquisition by Pandora for a remarkable 10x revenue multiple. Discover how Alexander's passion for data led him to his next venture, focusing on uncoverin…

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Breaking the Rules: Vadim Rogovskiy's Global Tech Journey and Rebel Capital Dreams 39:40

1+ y ago39:40

39:40

In this episode of "Made It with Connor Tomkies," Connor sits down with Vadim Rogovskiy, a successful entrepreneur who sold his first company in 2014 and has since been involved in various ventures, including the innovative AR company 3DLOOK. Vadim shares his journey from early entrepreneurial efforts in Ukraine, dealing with the challenges of in-g…

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Making Unsexy... Sexy with Atlas Authority Founder Boris Berenberg 37:06

1+ y ago37:06

37:06

Boris shares his journey from working at Atlassian to founding his own company Atlas Authority, navigating the challenges of being a solo founder, and eventually exiting the business. Dive into their discussion about unsexy business ideas, the importance of shared context in startups, and Boris's candid insights on his entrepreneurial experiences. …

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Solving for Joy, The Power of Hustle, and More with Hustle Fund's Eric Bahn 47:25

1+ y ago47:25

47:25

Eric Bahn, co-founder of Hustle Fund, discusses his journey as an entrepreneur and investor. He shares insights on building genuine communities, identifying true "hustlers", and redefining wealth and success. Eric opens up about his family's story, working with his wife and sister, and the importance of vulnerability in leadership. He also discusse…

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The Return of a Legend: Andrew Warner on Podcasts, Communities, and Post-Exit 42:04

1+ y ago42:04

42:04

Andrew Warner, founder of Mixergy, returns to the pod to share his insights on the post-exit journey of entrepreneurs. The two discuss the importance of finding meaning and purpose after selling a business, the value of shadowing successful entrepreneurs, and the potential of building a community for post-exit founders. With a focus on personal gro…

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Bouncy Balls, Building Companies, and Big Exits... Dan Reich's Entrepreneurial Journey 44:14

1+ y ago44:14

44:14

In this episode, serial entrepreneur Dan Reich shares his remarkable journey of building and exiting multiple companies across various industries. From his early ventures in high school to co-founding Spinback, which was acquired by Buddy Media and later Salesforce, Dan's experiences highlight valuable lessons in entrepreneurship, partnerships, and…

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Find Your Purpose, and Co-Founder Cuddling with Noah Abelson-Gertler 38:18

1+ y ago38:18

38:18

In this candid interview, Noah Abelson, founder of ShareRoot, shares his entrepreneurial journey from starting up in a garage to taking his company public. He discusses the challenges of pivoting, fundraising, and navigating co-founder relationships, as well as the emotional toll of life after a successful exit. Noah also shares his passion for mak…

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Morning Brew, Creator Economy, and Plungers with Alex Lieberman 46:01

1+ y ago46:01

46:01

Alex Lieberman, co-founder of Morning Brew and host of the Founders Journal podcast, takes us on a whirlwind journey through his post-exit adventures. From getting a full-body MRI to launching a quirky backyard game, Alex candidly shares the highs and lows of life after a successful startup. He delves into Morning Brew's evolving content strategy, …

1
Protect Yourself During M&A with Thunder's Jason Kirby 48:08

1+ y ago48:08

48:08

Jason Kirby shares hard-earned wisdom with Connor, from exiting his company to Walmart, after a failed acquisition by Samsung. Jason explains key lessons for founders in the acquisition process, like getting your own legal counsel and maintaining multiple options. He also details his new venture Thunder, an investment bank aiming to provide founder…

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Revamping the Health Industry, Redox's Luke Bonney 40:05

1+ y ago40:05

40:05

In this episode, we sit down with Luke Bonney, co-founder of Redox, a healthcare tech company that raised $95 million. Join us as Luke shares his journey from med school dropout to successful entrepreneur, discussing the challenges of building a startup, the importance of strong co-founder relationships, and the future of healthcare technology. Tun…

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Lil Wayne, Leo DiCaprio, and Influencer Marketing with Gil Eyal 47:45

1+ y ago47:45

47:45

From celebrity crashes to influencer insights, lessons from a marketing pioneer. Join Connor Tomkies as he sits down with Gil Eyal, a serial entrepreneur who's seen it all in the world of influencer marketing. Discover the ups and downs of Gil's journey, from working with A-listers like Lil Wayne and Leonardo DiCaprio to navigating the ever-changin…

1
From Nightclubs to Buying Santa Monica Pier: Shane Neman & EZ Texting 29:57

1+ y ago29:57

29:57

Entrepreneur Shane Neman shares his incredible journey from founding Junebug, a nightclub software and events company, to building EZ Texting, a pioneering mass texting platform. Discover how Shane spotted opportunities, pivoted when necessary, and bootstrapped his way to success. He also shares insights into his current ventures, including an inve…

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The Best Businesses are Not Sexy with Adam Spector of Levy 45:51

1+ y ago45:51

45:51

Serial entrepreneur Adam Spector shares his journey of building and exiting multiple startups, including his current venture, Levy, which revolutionizes back-office support. In this engaging episode, Adam discusses the lessons he's learned from navigating the entrepreneurial rollercoaster, the importance of solving real problems, and his outlook on…

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Beyond the Backpack: Classtag's Vlada Lotkina on Disrupting EdTech 38:15

1+ y ago38:15

38:15

Join along as I sit down with the incredibly inspiring Vlada Lotkina, the brain behind ClassTag, for a journey filled with dreams, determination, and the drive to make a difference in the world of education. From her early days in Ukraine to creating waves in the U.S. tech scene, Vlada's story isn't just about building a successful platform; it's a…

1
Sweat Equity to Sauna Sessions: Disrupting Insurance and Beyond with Benji Markoff 55:40

1+ y ago55:40

55:40

We dive into the journey of Benji Markoff, a visionary entrepreneur who transformed the insurance industry with his startup, Founder Shield. Benji shares his rollercoaster experience from the early days of grueling work and personal challenges to achieving a monumental exit. Listeners will gain insights into the importance of resilience, innovation…

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From Basement to Buyout: Aaron White's Remarkable Dual Exit 40:08

1+ y ago40:08

40:08

LISTENER NOTE: My Second Million asa title was always intended as a cheeky joke around the fantastic pod "My First Million" but now on April Fools we've decided to pivot as so many founder do, to the "Made It with Connor Tomkies" podcast. We can't wait for the guests we have coming up and we're excited to share more episodes. Stay tuned for more ep…

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From Swag to Riches: How Jeremy Parker Disrupted the Promo Industry and Beyond 42:55

1+ y ago42:55

42:55

Connor dives deep with Jeremy Parker, the innovative mind behind Swag.com. They explore Jeremy's dynamic journey from aspiring filmmaker to successful entrepreneur. Jeremy shares the highs and lows of his entrepreneurial path, revealing how he navigated through failures and pivots to build and sell swag.com, transforming the promotional products in…

1
The Evolution of Influence: Mixergy's Andrew Warner on Earning His 2nd Million and Future Trends 33:09

1+ y ago33:09

33:09

In this episode host Connor Tomkies sits down with the seasoned entrepreneur, podcaster, and founder of Mixergy, Andrew Warner, to explore the intricacies of entrepreneurship in the digital age. They delve into the critical role of becoming a micro-influencer as an entrepreneur, share personal journeys of business successes and lessons learned from…