Shows / The Inspired Stories Podcast
The Inspired Stories Podcast
Anthony Codispoti has started, built, and sold a variety of successful businesses, including a 7-figure wholesale business (successful exit), a 7-figure consumer business (exited to private equity), a SaaS business (successful exit), and fiscally advantaged benefits. As an innovator and pioneer, he has been awarded patents, earned best seller badges, and gained scores of battle scars. In this show, we gain inspiration from the successes achieved and challenges overcome by today's business…
Episodes
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
Josh Ramsey Took a 25 Percent Pay Cut to Start Over at the Bottom and Did It With Four Kids and a Mortgage
Josh Ramsey, CPA and Managing Director at Cherry Bekaert, taught himself Excel in a casino count room in 2000 because nobody else would, got promoted off the…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
Nobody Pulls Themselves Up Alone, Ron Wadley Says of Building Insurance for Texans
🎙️ From Cold Texting to True Texas Church Insurance: Ron Wadley's Path to Insurance for Texans In this episode, Ron Wadley, owner and general solver of…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
Building Transferable Businesses: Greg DeSimone's Client-First Approach to Business Exits
🎙️ Prepared to Sell: Greg DeSimone's Journey From Corporate Finance to Exit Advisory In this episode, Greg DeSimone, founder and president of Catapult Advisory…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
Follow the Data: Mark Denkler's Journey From $2 Billion in Banking to Independent Shoe Retail
🎙️ Keeping Independent Shoe Stores Alive: Mark Denkler's Leadership at the National Shoe Retailers Association In this episode, Mark Denkler, president of the…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
Highland Cattle and Outdoor Grows: Inside Nova Farms' Unconventional Cannabis Model
🎙️ From Store Merchandiser to COO: Lynnette French's Path to Nova Farms In this episode, Lynnette French, Chief Operating Officer of Nova Farms, shares how 18…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
The Restaurant Owner on His Corner Became the First Client of David Tunstall and the Tunstall Organization
🎙️ From Arthur Andersen to Charlotte, David Tunstall Built the Tunstall Organization One Referral at a Time David Tunstall, founder and president of the…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
Yoga Studios to Exits: Kristin Abel and Mitch McGinley of Boutique Fitness Broker
🎙️ From Broker and Client to Business Partners, Mitch McGinley and Kristin Abel Built Boutique Fitness Broker Together Mitch McGinley, founder and CEO of…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
From Mainframe Programmer to Insurtech Founder, Mark Seghers Built Inspire Health Tech to Put Consumers First
🎙️ From Mainframe Programmer to Insurtech Founder, Mark Seghers Built Inspire Health Tech to Put Consumers First Mark Seghers, CEO and co-founder of Inspire…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
Delete Five Hours: Dr. Terri Levine's Subtraction Strategy for Service-Based Businesses
🎙️ Live Well, Earn Well: Dr. Terri Levine's Heartrepreneur Journey From Speech Pathology to Coaching In this episode, Dr. Terri Levine, founder and Chief…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
“Leave It Better Than You Found It”: J.J. Sorrenti's Franchising Leadership Journey
🎙️ From Library Directory Letters to CEO: J.J. Sorrenti Building Best Life Brands In this episode, J.J. Sorrenti, CEO and board member of Best Life Brands…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
Caitlin Clark's Injury Three Days Before a Sold-Out Event Still Couldn't Stop Parker Bushnell From Breaking Rank + Rally’s Record
🎙️ A Store Manager's Bold Email to Corporate Bought Parker Bushnell a Buyer Job Instead of a Reprimand: His Journey to Rank + Rally In this episode, Parker…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
Glenda Hackemack on Building a Culture at Farm and Home Supply Where People Aren't a Number
🎙️ A City Health Clinic That Cost Nothing to Build Saved Quincy a Million Dollars: Glenda Hackemack's Journey to Farm and Home Supply In this episode, Glenda…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
An Engineer at Heart, Sudhama Gopalan Brings a Problem Solver's Mindset to Averisana
🎙️ From Automotive Paint Chemistry to Life Insurance AI, Sudhama Gopalan Solves Problems at Averisana Sudhama Gopalan, founder and CEO of Averisana, trained as…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
Main Street Wealth's Rob Ismoilov Is Building a Platform Called DealOS to Replace Brokers Like Himself
🎙️ From Trucking Company Owner to Business Broker: Rob Ismoilov's Journey Representing Sellers In this episode, Rob Ismoilov shares a career that began near…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
How a Tragic House Fire Reshaped Jeremy Nichols Life for the Better
🎙️ From a Bizarre Lego Interview to Hospitality Recruiting: Jeremy Nichols's Journey Building Gecko Hospitality In this episode, Jeremy Nichols, franchise…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
The Pain of Discipline vs. the Pain of Regret: Ben Chase’s Journey at Big Sandy Superstore
🎙️ From Six Retail Careers to Sales Director: Ben Chase's Path at Big Sandy In this episode, Ben Chase, sales director at Big Sandy Superstore, shares how he…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
Paying Agents to Educate Instead of Sell Is the Bet Rebecca Yates Built Her Brokerage On
🎙️ A Father-in-Law's Insurance Payment Saved a Life and Changed Rebecca Yates's Entire Career Path In this episode, Rebecca Yates, founder and CEO of ARK…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
From 1 Butcher Shop to 17 Stores: Joe Fasula's Family Legacy at Gerrity's
🎙️ From Butcher Shop to Ten Supermarkets: Joe Fasula's Family Legacy at Gerrity's In this episode, Joe Fasula, co-owner of Gerrity's, The Fresh Grocer, shares…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
Grant Johnson's Closing Ratio Dropped From 87% to 45% During Insurance's Perfect Storm
🎙️ From Family Therapy to Founder: Grant Johnson's Journey Building Värde Insurance In this episode, Grant Johnson, founder and principal of Värde Insurance…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
Ed Mysogland Built Indiana's Largest Brokerage by Treating Deals Like Investment Banking
🎧 2,400 Deals and Counting: Ed Mysogland’s 30-Year Journey Inside Indiana Business Advisors Ed Mysogland, managing partner at Indiana Business Advisors, walked…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
Josh Levine Brought Google Into Microsoft. Now He Helps Founders Grow and Exit Faster
🎙️ From the White House Press Corps to Building an Amazon Growth Agency: Josh Levine's Journey In this episode, Josh Levine shares a career that spans the…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
Integrity at Nimbl Means One Thing to Dave Olsen: Be Your Word
🎙️ Seven Years of Not Knowing Where Payroll Was Coming From: Dave Olsen's Journey Building Nimbl Staffing In this episode, Dave Olsen, co-founder and CEO of…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
Fair Leadership Without Fear: Robby Younes on the Standard He Wants at Crystal Spring Resort
🎙️ Robby Younes on COVID, the Board That Tried to Fire Him, and Taking Crystal Springs Resort From $10M to $26M Robby Younes, President of Crystal Springs…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
Brotherhood, Trust, and a Father's Belief Anchored Rich Balot's Path to Building Victra
🎙️ Started with a Three Thousand Dollar Loan on the Family Car: Rich Balot's Journey Building Victra In this episode, Rich Balot, founder and CEO of Victra…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
Told Not to Pray Too Long Over a Job Offer, Andrew Monk Quit and Started His Own Business Instead
🎙️ Told Not to Pray Too Long Over a Job Offer: Andrew Monk's Journey Building Monk Life and Health Insurance Advising In this episode, Andrew Monk, founder and…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
His Father's Death Without Coverage Set Charles Jorge on a Career-Long Mission in Life Insurance
🎙️ After His Father Died Without Coverage, Charles Jorge Built a Career Protecting Others: The Iron Gate Consulting Group Story In this episode, Charles Jorge…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
Shina Culberson Says 80% of a Company's Financial Value Resides in What Never Shows Up on a Balance Sheet
🎙️ From Biking Australia to Business Valuation: Shina Culberson's Journey Building Quist Valuation In this episode, Shina Culberson, president of Quist…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
John duHadway Learned to Verify the Numbers at Deloitte. A Mentor Taught Him What to Do With Them.
🎙️ From the 2008 Mortgage Collapse to Founder-Led Finance: John duHadway's Journey Building Strategic CFO Solutions In this episode, John duHadway, founder and…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
Melissa Servatdjoo Joined a Small Ink and Toner Company in 1998 and Never Left. Here’s Why
Melissa Servatdjoo, VP of Strategic Partnerships at Coast to Coast Computer Products, walked in as a cold caller in 1998 when the company still used paper…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
How Nathaniel Jones Measures Store Traffic From YouTube Ads
🎤 From Century Farm to Connected TV: Nathaniel Jones at Farm and Home Supply Nathaniel Jones, Director of Marketing at Farm and Home Supply, grew up working a…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
Moving to Texas Without Telling His Wife Was One of the Biggest Gambles of Josh Barber's Career
🎙️ From Chef Whites to IT to Recruiting: Josh Barber's Journey Building Patrice and Associates In this episode, Josh Barber, franchise owner of Patrice and…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
Nostalgia, Candy, and Culture Turned a Side Hustle Into Rocket Fizz, with Ryan Morgan and Bob Campbell
🎙️ From a Pizza Shop Soda Fridge to a 105-Store Franchise: Rocket Fizz's Journey with Ryan Morgan and Bob Campbell In this episode, Ryan Morgan, co-founder of…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
How Scott Hardy, Founder of Venture7 Advisors, Learned to Sell Businesses by Selling His Own Businesses Multiple Times.
Scott Hardy, partner and M&A advisor at Venture Seven Advisors, built New England Overshoes from a half pair of prototypes and a borrowed purchase order in…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
Not Anybody Can Be a Great Leader but a Great Leader Can Come From Anywhere – Stevan Popovich, Cycle Gear
🎙️ From Art School Darkroom to President of a 165-Store Retail Chain: Stevan Popovich's Journey at Cycle Gear In this episode, Stevan Popovich, President and…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
An Extra $1.25 Million Was Hiding in a Client’s Deal — Samir Mokashi Found It
🎙️ From Bombay to Business Millionaires Club: Samir Mokashi's Journey Building and Selling Code Unlimited In this episode, Samir Mokashi, founder of Business…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
Tayyab Rizvi Built a Marketplace to Give Restaurant Managers Their American Dream
🎙️ From Cheerios to Chicken Over Rice: Tayyab Rizvi's Journey Building ScaleMates In this episode, Tayyab Rizvi, CEO and founder of ScaleMates, shares how a…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
Without Charging a Fee, Dave Parker Helped Founders Raise $400 Million
🎙️ From Five Startups to One Playbook: Dave Parker's Journey Building Trajectory In this episode, Dave Parker, founder and chair of Trajectory, shares lessons…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
Connie Russell on What It Takes to Lead a Property That Dates Back to 1889 and Still Feels Like It Belongs to the Community
Connie Russell, General Manager of Samoset Resort in Rockport, Maine, started in hospitality doing landscaping at his father’s motel, cooked under a Swiss chef…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
Allie Goodrich Brought Backwards Design From the Classroom to a Car Wash
🎙️ From Seventh Grade Math Teacher to Director of Leadership Development: Allie Goodrich's Journey at Benny's Car Wash In this episode, Allie Goodrich…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
Brittany Park on Why Team Member Services Is a Purpose and Human Resources Is Just a Function
Brittany Park, Director of Team Member Services at Brittain Resorts and Hotels, started as a barista at a Starbucks licensed store inside a Myrtle Beach resort…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
The Brown Hotel's John Demling on Why “What Got Me Here Won't Get Me There”
🎙️ From Teenage Dishwasher to Running a 100-Year-Old Louisville Landmark: John Demling's Journey at the Brown Hotel In this episode, John Demling, General…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
On the Other Side of the Table Now: Doug Thomas’s New Role in Hotel Deals
🎙️ From Hotel Sales to Conference Direct: Doug Thomas's Journey on Both Sides of the Negotiating Table In this episode, Doug Thomas, Global Account Executive…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
John Sedej on the Question You Should Send Every Client Today and Why It Has Nothing to Do With Selling
John Sedej, founder and chief solutions officer of New Path Business Advisors, earned four promotions in his first seven months at Enterprise Rent-A-Car…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
From CFO to General Manager: Larry Bowser's Pivot at the Renaissance Shoals
🎙️ From CFO to General Manager: Larry Bowser's Twenty-Year Journey Building the Renaissance Shoals In this episode, Larry Bowser, General Manager of the…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
How Tom Szaky Turned a Dorm Room Worm Box Into a Global Recycling Business Across 20 Countries
Tom Szaky, founder and CEO of TerraCycle, was born in Hungary under the USSR, escaped as a political refugee with his parents at age four, found his first…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
Tony Cotrupe on Why a Rear View Mirror Is a Great Thing to Have in a Car and a Terrible Way to Value a Business
Tony Cotrupe, founder and managing director of Meliora Advisors, started his career at Arthur Young in 1989 working alongside a deal-oriented mentor who taught…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
Learning the Business From the Ground Up: Jarred Mason’s Journey to COO
🎙️ From a Wrong Turn to COO: Jarred Mason's Journey Building Standard Market In this episode, Jarred Mason, Chief Operating Officer of Standard Market, shares…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
When America Gets a Cold, Black America Gets the Flu: Ashli Johnson on Hospitality, Equity, and What the Pandemic Revealed
Ashli Johnson, founder and CEO of Hospitality Hued, grew up as a military brat who loved every move, studied at a school that launched its hospitality program…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
Tim Carley on Leading With a Limp: Why Vulnerability in a Boardroom Disarms Everyone in the Room
Tim Carley, managing partner of Chapman Insurance Group’s North Palm Beach office, spent twenty-two years with Young Life — earning the right to be heard with…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
Alan Melton Was Homeless at 14 and Built an $8.5 Million Transportation Company Before He Turned 40
🎙️ From Homeless at 14 to Inc. 500: Alan Melton's Journey Through Business, Coaching, and the Seven Stages to Freedom Alan Melton, founder and CEO of Small…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
Brian Carlisle on Why Most Commercial Problems Are Not Market Problems and Not Product Problems Either
Brian Carlisle, managing partner of Carlisle Strategic Partners, was 18 years old when his throttle stuck on a jump at Buds Creek Motocross Park in Maryland…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
Ron Klabunde on the Four Numbers Every Real Estate Investor Must Know to Make Wise Decisions
Ron Klabunde, founder of Smart REI, spent 18 years as a pastor, got fired at the height of a national speaking career he describes as the moment humility…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
Matt Lee on Why Accountability Without Grace Is Just a Countdown to Someone Walking Out the Door
Matt Lee, HR Business Partner at Shamin Hotels, started washing dishes at $4.50 an hour in a Georgia steakhouse at 15, earned a culinary degree, spent 26 years…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
Megan Johnson Started Her Career Doing Layoffs, Now She Runs a Culture Built on Generosity
Megan Johnson, Director of People and Culture at Simple Modern, entered HR by conducting layoffs she never saw coming on fresh-out-of-college money, almost…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
Skip Harless Spent His First Year at Grand Geneva Wondering Why He Ever Said Yes
Skip Harless, Managing Director of Grand Geneva Resort and Spa, graduated with a fine arts degree from Texas Tech, took a personality test, and walked into…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
Johnny Berguson Trained a Trick Horse, Borrowed $500, and Built a Company That Serves 250,000 Churches
Johnny Berguson, founder and president of Kingdom Inc., started with a $500 borrowed investment, a trick horse he trained without a bridle, and a cassette tape…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
The Dough Rests 72 Hours: Daniel Karen Cohen on Why Mr. O1 Pizza Is Built Differently
Daniel Karen Cohen, CEO of AKA Restaurant Holding LLC, got his start when McDonald’s came to Venezuela in 1985 and recruited from universities because…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
Kory Cutler is Doubling Down on Old-school Family Values to Scale Axis Hospitality in a Modern World
Kory Cutler, CEO of Axis Hospitality Construction, grew up in suburban Chicago after his parents divorced when he was five, cold-DM’d his way into a sales job…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
The Grit Behind Wing Snob: Brian Shunia on Detroit, Dropouts, and Building Something Real
🎧 From High School Dropout to 70+ Franchise Locations: Brian Shunia’s Wing Snob Story Brian Shunia, co-founder and CEO of Wing Snob, built one of QSR’s…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
Team Is Everything: Elle Piper on Volleyball, Buffet Lines, and Building Culture at Forty-Three Locations
Elle Piper, Senior Director of Operations at 7 Leaves Cafe, came up through buffet-style multi-unit operations at Soup Plantation, watched the brand serve…