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
Ramona Cedeno Built a Firm by Sending One Email to Her Contact List
From Corporate Finance to Fractional CFO: Ramona Cedeno’s Journey Building FiBrick Ramona Cedeno, CPA, CFP®, and founder and CEO of FiBrick, shares her path…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
Jeff Church Took Cold Press Juice from a Kitchen to $350 Million Exit in 8 Years
🎧 From Cold Press Kitchen to $300 Million Exit: Jeff Church’s Entrepreneurial Journey Jeff Church, co-founder of Suja Juice and founder of CPG Founders Group…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
Peter Holton on What Owners Get Wrong About When to Sell Their Business
Peter Holton: From Blue Collar Roots to M&A Advisor in the Facility Services Industry Peter Holton, Managing Director at Caber Hill Advisors, shares how a…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
Patricia Malone on Zombie Projects, Kaizen, and the High-and-Easy Grid
🎧 Lean, Strategy, and the Upward Spiral: Patricia Malone’s Journey Building Strategic Capacity Patricia Malone, managing director of Enhance C-suite, has spent…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
Michael Stier on the Multiple Revenue Walls All Businesses Hit and How to Overcome Them
🎧 From $13 Billion Fintech Exit to Fractional CFO: Michael Stier’s Journey to Focus CFO Michael Stier, area president for the Carolinas at Focus CFO, spent 18…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
Two Careers Nobody Thought Could Connect: Jim Bates on Tennis, M&A, and What Stuck
Jim Bates: From Division I Tennis to Boutique M&A Firm Builder Jim Bates, partner at Jackim Woods & Company and co-founder of Sports Club Advisors, shares how…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
Bridging the Buy-Sell Divide: Emily Stubbs on Defending Value Before Due Diligence
Emily Stubbs: From Corporate Law to Deal Advisor at Visibility CFO Emily Egbert Stubbs, deal advisor and attorney at Visibility CFO and Deal Advisors, shares…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
Tina Dao on Scaling from Fitbit to Walmart and Then Choosing ‘Small’ on Purpose
From the Navy to Walmart to Boutique COO: Tina Dao's Mission for Privately Owned Business Tina Dao, founder and CEO of Liberated Leaders, spent her career…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
Brad Barmore on Why the Customer Isn’t Always First. And Why That’s the Secret to Great Hospitality
🎙️ From $120K and a Pizza Oven to Three Sonoma County Restaurants: Brad Barmore’s Story at Kin Restaurant Group Brad Barmore, co-founder of Kin Restaurant…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
Patrick Rogers on Why Acquiring Businesses Beats Growing Them Every Time
🎙️ From Nuclear Reactors to Acquisition Arbitrage: Patrick Rogers’ Path to Elkridge Advisors Patrick Rogers, managing partner of Elkridge Advisors, ran nuclear…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
What Losing Everything Taught Krystle Holguin About Leading With Emotional Intelligence
Krystle Holguin: From HR Clerk at 15 to People Strategy Director at Colonial Country Club Krystle Holguin, Director of Human Resources at Colonial Country Club…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
Brand Vision and Barefoot Luxury with Sean Dee of OUTRIGGER Hospitality Group
From Levi.com to Barefoot Luxury: Sean Dee's Journey Building the OUTRIGGER Brand Sean Dee, EVP and Chief Commercial Officer at OUTRIGGER Hospitality Group…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
From Incarcerated to Hotel of the Year: Danny Owen's Remarkable Journey at Country Inn and Suites
🎙️ From House Person to Hotel of the Year: Danny Owen's 17-Year Journey at Country Inn and Suites Abingdon Virginia Danny Owen, General Manager of Country Inn…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
Ross Joel on the Exit Readiness Gap That Inspired Him to Build Exit Clarity
Ross Joel is the co-founder and chief sales officer of Exit Clarity, an AI-powered exit readiness platform that gives business owners the structured…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
Chris Hubble Built LuxMed to Fix What Goes Wrong in Aesthetic Industry Deals
Chris Hubble is the founder and M&A advisor behind LuxMed Transition Strategies, a boutique sell-side brokerage helping med spa, dermatology, and plastic…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
The Networking Accountant: How Brandon Thornton Built Thornton Tax on Relationships Over Transactions
🎙️ From Kinesiology Degree to Strategic Tax Powerhouse: Brandon Thornton’s Journey at Thornton Tax and Financial Services Brandon Thornton, owner and president…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
Megan Roberts on What Happens When You Stop Being Yourself at Work and What It Takes to Come Back
🎙️ From Playwriting to COO: Megan Roberts’ Unlikely Path to HD Growth Partners Megan Roberts, COO of HD Growth Partners, graduated with a degree in…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
Stephan Harman on Why FUSIAN Is Still a One-of-One Concept 16 Years In
🎙️ From Sunday Sushi Parties to 7 Locations: Stephan Harman’s Bootstrap Build at FUSIAN Stephan Harman, co-founder of FUSIAN, left the mountains of Aspen with…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
Transforming HR from Enforcement to Partnership: Steve Browne's Leadership at LaRosa's Pizzeria
🎙️ From College Failure to Chief People Officer: Steve Browne's Journey Building People-First Culture at LaRosa's Pizzeria In this inspiring episode, Steve…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
The Go-Giver in Action: How Rich Waigand’s SFW Partners Was Built on Service Before Sales
🎙️ From Staff Accountant to Managing Partner: Rich Waigand’s 30-Year Bet on Relationships at SFW Partners Rich Waigand, managing partner of SFW Partners in St…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
From Big Corporate to Back of House: Amy Spandau’s Case for Building Small Businesses Right
🎙️ From Startup Rebuild to Boutique CFO: Amy Spandau’s Path to Ablaze Financial Amy Spandau, founder of Ablaze Financial, has spent 25 years solving problems…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
Healey Mendicino on the Acquisition That Changed Everything for Port of Subs
From Franchisee to CEO: Healey Mendicino on Betting on Port of Subs, Losing It All, and Coming Back Stronger Healey Mendicino, president and CEO of Port of…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
Changing the Way You Think: Brian Wygle’s 40-Year Philosophy for Turning Companies Around
🎙️ Buying Broken Businesses and Fixing Broken Thinking: Brian Wygle’s 40-Year Career as a Corporate Fixer Brian Wygle, owner of Help for My Company, has spent…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
Andrea Belfanti on Identity, Career Loss, and Why Being the Host Is Still Being the Boss
From Event Planner to Global CEO: Andrea Belfanti on Bad Bosses, Getting Laid Off, and Leading With Kindness Across Six Continents Andrea Belfanti, CEO of the…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
CloudBeds Took 12 Years to Reach Purpose — Founders Say That Was the Point, with Adam Harris
🎙️ From a Brazilian Napkin to 150 Countries: Adam Harris and the CloudBeds Platform Adam Harris, co-founder and CEO of CloudBeds, built one of the world's…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
Business Valuation and Exit Planning with Greg Waller, the Blue Collar Scholar
From Painting Bridges to PhD: Greg Waller's Journey as the Blue Collar Scholar of Business Valuation Greg Waller, Managing Partner of Cornerstone Valuation and…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
Maigread Eichten on the One Thing 29 Out of 30 Job Applicants Get Completely Wrong
🎙️ From Pepsi VP to Career Coach: Maigread Eichten’s Mission to Get College Grads Jobs in the Hardest Market in Decades Maigread Eichten, founder of Career…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
Frank Fusaro: What a Brooklyn Kid, the Marine Corps, and 50 Years in Staffing Teaches You About Life
From Brooklyn to Five Decades of Impact: Frank Fusaro on Staffing, Scholarships, and Service Frank Fusaro, co-founder and president of The Forum Group, shares…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
Three Failed Partnerships and a Surrender Moment: How Rick Thomas Built First Generation Advisors
🎙️ Exit Planning Theater and the Truth Below the Waterline: Rick Thomas on What Most M&A Advisors Won’t Tell Founders Rick Thomas, founder of First Generation…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
How Keo Hornbostel Turned an Accreditation Crisis Into a Stronger Safari West
🎙️ From Five-Star Hotels to an African Savanna in Wine Country: Keo Hornbostel’s Second Act at Safari West Keo Hornbostel, executive director of Safari West…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
Rigo Espinoza on 45-Year Family Legacy, Baja-Asian Fusion, and Adapting to Customer Demand
🎙️ From Seven-Year-Old Watching Grandfather's Fish Taco Bicycle to Opening Fusion Restaurant During COVID: Rigo Espinoza's 45-Year Family Legacy Rigo Espinoza…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
The Perfect Storm: Why Now Is the Time to Sell Your Business (and How to Do It Right)
🎙️ From 16-Year Side Hustle to Full-Time Business Broker: Kristi May’s All-In Moment Kristi May, owner of J&E Business Group in Pennsylvania, spent 16 years…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
Kristopher Hart on Why Most Business Owners Are Working Harder Than Anyone and Still Not Getting Paid for It
🎙️ From Aviation Operations to Small Business Diagnostician: Kristopher Hart's Journey at Cogent Analytics Kristopher Hart, senior business analyst at Cogent…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
Doug Karle's LHR Hospitality Journey: From Army Leadership to Managing 20 Properties
🎙️ From Night Auditor to Hotel COO: Doug Karle's 30-Property Journey with LHR Hospitality Doug Karle, COO and partner at LHR Hospitality Management, spent two…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
Why Brian Swilling Says Empathy Is a Wealth Advisor's Most Powerful Asset and What He Did About It
🎙️ From Hedge Fund Derivatives in New York to Behavioral Finance in Charlotte: Brian Swilling's Journey at Navipath Brian Swilling, co-founder and partner at…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
From Radio Sales to M&A: Jeremy Furtick’s Unlikely Path to Co-Founding NorthStar M&A
🎙️ From Radio Sales to Record-Setting M&A Advisor: Jeremy Furtick’s Path to NorthStar Jeremy Furtick, founding partner of NorthStar Mergers and Acquisitions…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
Building Restaurant PhD: April King's Framework for Multi-Unit Success and Growth
🎙️ From Failure to Framework: April King's Journey Building Restaurant PhD Consulting In this compelling episode, April King, founder of Restaurant PhD, shares…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
The Teacher Who Couldn’t Close: How Marc Macdonald Found His Calling in Outsourced Accounting
🎙️ From the Classroom to Client Services: Marc Macdonald’s Pivot Into Supporting Strategies Reno Tahoe Marc Macdonald, Director of Client Services at…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
Gibsons Restaurant Group's Steve Lombardo on Hospitality as a Craft, Not a Slogan
Steve Lombardo on Hospitality as a Craft, the Gibson's Gospel, and What It Really Takes to Run Chicago's Most Iconic Restaurant Group Steve Lombardo, CEO and…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
How Cameron Fakouri Gets Tax Professionals to Job Offers in Three Days Without the Runaround
🎙️ From Tax Manager to Recruiter: Cameron Fakouri's Niche Career Firm for Accountants Cameron Fakouri, CPA and founder of RezzyCheck, left a tax manager role…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
Chris Hall on Turning a Kid's Weekend Clinic into 150 Events a Year Nationwide
From Volunteer at 12 to CEO: Chris Hall's Lifelong Mission with Remote Area Medical Chris Hall, CEO of Remote Area Medical (RAM), has been showing up for this…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
How Tax Expert Mark Misselbeck Saved a Client Millions by Asking One Follow-Up Question
From the IRS to Eight-Figure Savings: Mark Misselbeck's 50 Years Finding What Nobody Else Catches Mark Misselbeck, Core Tax Director at Cherry Bekaert…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
Higor Valle on Building Wine Programs for Miami's Top Restaurants and Why the Beverage Industry Is at a Crossroads
🎙️ From 7-Eleven Cashier to Corporate Wine Director: Higor Valle's Journey From Brazil to Mr. Hospitality Miami Higor Valle, corporate wine director at Mr…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
Profit Margins, Exit Planning, and Hard Lessons with Brent Bardales of Rev Your Business
From $500K in Past Due Debt to Three Exits: Brent Bardales on Building, Losing, and Rebuilding Brent Bardales, founder of Rev Your Business, shares his journey…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
How Craig Window Is Turning the Office Into a Place People Actually Want to Be
Craig Window on Earning the Commute, Workplace Hospitality, and What 18 Years at One Company Actually Teaches You About Growth Craig Window, Country President…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
Capital Tactics' Dino Lucarelli on Why the Win-Win Is Not Weakness, It's the Only Strategy That Lasts
Fair Deals, Transparent Books, and 23 Years Without a Cold Call: Dino Lucarelli of Capital Tactics Dino Lucarelli, CPA and founder of Capital Tactics, shares…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
Daniel Gonzalez on Growing ‘Accounting to Scale’ Through Relationship Driven Sales & Long-Term Trust
From Roofing Sales to Accounting Business Development: Daniel Gonzalez's Relationship-First Growth Story Daniel Gonzalez, Director of Business Development at…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
Michael Dorf on Building City Winery Into a 15-Location Music and Wine Experience Across America
🎙️ From the Knitting Factory to City Winery: Michael Dorf's 40-Year Journey Scaling Intimacy in Live Music Michael Dorf, Founder and CEO of City Winery, shares…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
Kevin Carlson on Five Investor Exits, a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy, and What He Learned from Both
From P&G to Bankruptcy to Five Exits: Kevin Carlson's Journey with Top to Bottom Business Solutions Kevin Carlson, Director of Strategic Business Development…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
Valuing the Unvaluable: Michael Moscarelli on Level Three Assets, SPACs, and Digital Tokens
🎙️ From Aspiring Radio Reporter to VP of Valuation: Michael Moscarelli's Career Pivot to Finance at Houlihan Capital Michael Moscarelli, Vice President of…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
From Valet to COO: Brooks Ellis on Servant Leadership and Growing Evolution Parking
From Valet to COO: Brooks Ellis on Trust, Training, and Building Evolution Parking Brooks Ellis, COO of Evolution Parking and Guest Services, shares his…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
How Richard Phillips Closes More Deals by Targeting Fewer Buyers and Moving Faster Than Anyone Else
🎙️ From IMF Quant to Boutique Deal Maker: Richard Phillips's Journey Building Crossroads Capital Richard Phillips, Senior Partner and Co-Founder of Crossroads…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
Lil Roberts on Growing Up Poor to Building Xendoo, a World Class Company. Lessons Learned.
Glass Eater: Lil Roberts on Grit, Growth, and Reshaping Accounting at Xendoo Lil Roberts, founder and CEO of Xendoo, shares her journey from a childhood marked…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
Second Generation Wendy's Franchisee Ryan O'Malley on Breakfast Domination, DoorDash Strategy, and Smart Growth
🎙️ From Grill Operator to Franchise Owner: Ryan O'Malley's Journey Building Wendy's of Bowling Green Into a 150-Restaurant Operation Ryan O'Malley, Franchise…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
Randy Wyner on Third-Generation Recipes, Owner-Operator Franchising, and Taking Chronic Tacos Beyond Southern California
🎙️ From 800 Square Feet in Newport Beach to a National Franchise: Randy Wyner's Chronic Tacos Story Randy Wyner, founder and president of Chronic Tacos, shares…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
Why Doing One Thing Well Beats 10X Thinking for Business Growth with Kenny Harper
🎙️ From Music Dreams to Business Coach: Kenny Harper's Journey Building Growth Amplifiers Kenny Harper, co-founder and lead growth coach at Growth Amplifiers…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
Dave Domzalski on Building Barmetrix Across South Florida, Michigan and Writing Best Selling Hospitality Books
🎙️ From Engineering to Bar Inventory Expert: Dave Domzalski's Journey Building Barmetrix and Writing the Hospitality Playbook Dave Domzalski, franchise owner…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
From Fine Dining to Pickleball: Mike Gibbons's Journey Building Main Street Ventures and Toledo Pickle Company
🎙️ From Fine Dining Empire to Pickleball Pioneer: Mike Gibbons's Journey Building Toledo Pickle Company Mike Gibbons, co-founder of Toledo Pickle Company and…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
From Accidental Sales Tax Accountant to Cannabis CPA and Casino Game Inventor: Daryl Jendras's Unlikely Journey
🎙️ From Accidental Sales Tax Accountant to Cannabis CPA and Casino Game Inventor: Daryl Jendras's Unlikely Journey Daryl Jendras, founder of Salt Cap and…
- The Inspired Stories Podcast
Mark Reichle on Craft Lodging, Quality Standards, and What Makes a Boutique Stays Unforgettable
From Ford Motor Company to Innkeeper to CEO: Mark Reichle's Journey with Select Registry Mark Reichle, CEO of Select Registry, shares his journey from…