Shows / Founder Unfiltered - What Founders Think But Never Say
Founder Unfiltered - What Founders Think But Never Say
Formerly Six Figure Secrets of Fractional Experts, Founder Unfiltered is the show about the stuff founders don't talk about: the identity crisis when you go from operator to leader, the weird shame of self-promotion, the gap between who you are and who your business needs you to be. Hosted by Bradley Jacobs, founder of Mylance — a LinkedIn thought leadership platform for B2B founders — this show gets into the psychology, the patterns, and the honest conversations that actually move the needle…
Episodes
Founder Unfiltered - What Founders Think But Never SayWhy Achievement Doesn’t Cure Imposter Syndrome with Dr. Kyle Elliott
I used to think imposter syndrome was something you grew out of once you hit a certain number in your bank account. Then I sat down with Dr. Kyle Elliott, the…
- Founder Unfiltered - What Founders Think But Never Say
Your Next Client Is Watching You. They’re Just Not Ready Yet.
I've had people tell me they followed my content for a year or more, never liked or commented once, then suddenly reached out ready to work with me. That used…
Founder Unfiltered - What Founders Think But Never Say11 Million Followers, a Burnout, and What He Learned with Swish Goswami
He built a basketball media brand to 11 million followers, sold a company, and still ended up burnt out at 23. My guest today, Swish Goswami, has lived that…
- Founder Unfiltered - What Founders Think But Never Say
I Stopped Pitching on Calls. Here’s the Framework That Replaced It.
I stopped pitching on my calls, sales calls included, and now I ask questions to find out whether someone has a project they cannot avoid. The framework comes…
Founder Unfiltered - What Founders Think But Never SayStop Chasing the Next Thing: How to Build a Life That Actually Feels Good with Sloane
I used to think building the business, hitting the number, and checking every box on the list would eventually add up to feeling good. My guest today spent…
- Founder Unfiltered - What Founders Think But Never Say
I Thought I Understood Product-Market Fit. I Didn’t.
I thought product-market fit meant people liked what I built. That belief was wrong, and it cost me time. In this solo episode, I walk through what…
Founder Unfiltered - What Founders Think But Never SayFrom $1.65 an Hour to Multimillionaire: The Brain Science Behind the Leap with John Assaraf
I sat down with John Assaraf, someone who has built five multimillion dollar companies, written 18 books including two New York Times bestsellers, and appeared…
- Founder Unfiltered - What Founders Think But Never Say
Why You’re Scared to Grow Your Business (And What to Do About It)
I want to tell you about something I almost didn't admit out loud. I shipped a feature I'm genuinely excited about, one that finds the people commenting on…
Founder Unfiltered - What Founders Think But Never SayThe Mirror Test: What Every Founder Needs to Confront with Chris Deaver
Chris Deaver spent his career shaping culture inside Apple, Disney, and Dell. Then he went out on his own and learned what that culture work actually costs a…
- Founder Unfiltered - What Founders Think But Never Say
Trying to Get Visible While Staying Invisible | The Fear That's Costing You Clients
A few months ago I got on a call with a business owner who almost canceled on me twice. She runs a real consulting business, real clients, real revenue, and…
Founder Unfiltered - What Founders Think But Never Say13 Years to $180M: What Bootstrapping Really Looks Like with Gregory Galant
I sat down with Gregory Galant, co-founder and CEO of Muckrack, the leading PR software platform, and co-founder of the Shorty Awards. Greg bootstrapped his…
- Founder Unfiltered - What Founders Think But Never Say
The Hard Lessons Nobody Tells You When You Leave Corporate
Leaving Uber was one of the strangest experiences of my life. One day I'm running a business line worth billions of dollars, the next I have no manager, no…
Founder Unfiltered - What Founders Think But Never SayAI Can Steal Your Skills. It Can't Steal This with Abhijit Bhaduri
I've talked to a lot of guests on this show, but this conversation with Abhijit Bhaduri gave me a word I haven't stopped thinking about since we recorded it…
- Founder Unfiltered - What Founders Think But Never Say
The Billion-Dollar Uber Business Nobody Talks About
This is part two of my conversation with Kassidy Warren, and if you haven't listened to part one about launching Raleigh, the Lyft wars, and Uber Eats in…
Founder Unfiltered - What Founders Think But Never SayStop Selling Your Product. Start Selling How You Think with Simon Bowen
This episode changed how I see my own business. Most founders think their product is the thing they sell. It isn't. Your thinking is the real product. I sat…
- Founder Unfiltered - What Founders Think But Never Say
90% Market Share in 6 Months: The Wild Ride of Running Uber at 24
I was recently a guest on Cassidy Warren's podcast, For Your Own Good, and the conversation went so long and covered so much that I wanted to bring it here…
Founder Unfiltered - What Founders Think But Never SayI Watched $47 Billion Disappear at WeWork. Here's the Leadership Lesson That Actually Changed Me with Robin Daniels
My guest this week, Robin Daniels has held executive roles at Salesforce, LinkedIn, Box, Matterport, and WeWork, and he's now Chief Business Officer at Zensai…
- Founder Unfiltered - What Founders Think But Never Say
AI and the Founder Opportunity (Pt 4 of 4): What AI Can't Copy
This is part four of my four-part series on AI and the founder opportunity, and it's the one that answers the question I get asked the most: once AI makes it…
Founder Unfiltered - What Founders Think But Never SayDr. Ruth Gotian Studied Nobel Winners, Astronauts & Olympians — Here’s What She Found
I sat down with Dr. Ruth Gotian, a success researcher and executive coach who has spent her career studying the world's highest performers, Nobel laureates…
- Founder Unfiltered - What Founders Think But Never Say
AI and the Founder Opportunity (Pt 3 of 4): Finding Your Product-Market Fit
This is part three of my four-part series on how AI is reshaping the workforce, and it's the one I promised would be tactical. If you've listened to parts one…
Founder Unfiltered - What Founders Think But Never Say"Nobody Cares About You" | Mark Samuel on Failure, Pivots & Founder Health
I sat down with Mark Samuel for an episode that pushed back on a lot of startup gospel. Mark's a serial CPG entrepreneur. He built Iwon Organics into thousands…
- Founder Unfiltered - What Founders Think But Never Say
AI and the Founder Opportunity (Pt 2 of 4): Why Founders Stay Small
In this episode — part two of my four-part series, AI and the Founder Opportunity — I get into the real stuff that keeps founders stuck. Not the tactics, not…
Founder Unfiltered - What Founders Think But Never SayAre You Playing to Win, or Playing Not to Lose in Your Business? with Dr. Angela Kerek
Most founders I talk to already know what they need to do — they just aren't doing it. In this episode, I find out why. Dr. Angela Kerek is a former…
- Founder Unfiltered - What Founders Think But Never Say
AI and the Founder Opportunity (Pt 1 of 4): The Macro, the Opportunity, and the Fear
The AI revolution isn't coming — it's already here. Bradley Jacobs breaks down what the wave of tech layoffs actually signals and why he sees it as a massive…
Founder Unfiltered - What Founders Think But Never SayTake the Blame, Give the Credit: The Leadership Mindset That Scales with Asim Khaliq
Most founders start their companies with a clear vision — and then accidentally become the biggest obstacle to that vision. Asim Khaliq has built seven…
- Founder Unfiltered - What Founders Think But Never Say
The Original Idea for Mylance Was a Fool’s Errand
What if the biggest threat to your consulting business isn't competition — it's you trying to solve too many problems at once? Bradley Jacobs, founder and CEO…
Founder Unfiltered - What Founders Think But Never SayHow AI is Reshaping the Founder Journey (From the Inside Out) with Manuj Aggarwal
Most founders are using AI wrong — and it's quietly burning them out. I sat down with Manuj Aggarwal, founder and Chief Innovation Officer at TetraNoodle…
- Founder Unfiltered - What Founders Think But Never Say
The Post That Got 22 Inbound Leads (And What It Taught Me About Trust)
Most people think the problem with their LinkedIn content is time — but the real issue is fear. In this solo episode, Bradley Jacobs breaks down why generic…
Founder Unfiltered - What Founders Think But Never SayThe Advantages of Self-Doubt with Jamie Sylvian
Bradley Jacobs sits down with Jamie Sylvian — a 30-year international communications consultant, author of the Executive Nomad Operating System, and founder of…
- Founder Unfiltered - What Founders Think But Never Say
The Mistake I Made at Uber That Taught Me Everything About Sales
Most founders and fractional executives struggle with sales — not because they lack skills, but because they're leading with the wrong message. Bradley Jacobs…
Founder Unfiltered - What Founders Think But Never SayShe Drove Her Company Into the Red — Then Sold It Five Years Later with Mindy Gibbins-Klein
After three corporate layoffs, Mindy Gibbins-Klein decided she was done playing by someone else's rules. She went out on her own — no business plan, just…
- Founder Unfiltered - What Founders Think But Never Say
The Most Selfish Thing You Can Do Is Keep Your Expertise to Yourself
Sharing your expertise on LinkedIn might feel uncomfortable — even disingenuous. But what if that discomfort is just fear wearing a disguise? Bradley Jacobs…
Founder Unfiltered - What Founders Think But Never SayPeople Don’t Buy Your Product. They Buy You. With Jake Stahl
What if the biggest thing holding you back in sales isn't your pitch — it's your presence? I sat down with Jake Stahl, communication strategist, CEO of…
- Founder Unfiltered - What Founders Think But Never Say
Honestly? I Thought This Would Be Easy
Six years into building Mylance, I'm sharing the messy, unfiltered emotional journey of what it actually takes to go from corporate high-performer to founder —…
Founder Unfiltered - What Founders Think But Never SayWhy Confidence Matters More Than Strategy with Julee Gracey
Most founders have the skills — but not the confidence to sell them. Business coach and author Julee Gracey joins Bradley Jacobs to break down why confidence…
- Founder Unfiltered - What Founders Think But Never Say
"Ship the Damn Thing" with Bradley Jacobs
What does it actually take to build something that lasts — and what's quietly holding you back? This week Bradley Jacobs sits down with Ty Hammond on the True…
- Founder Unfiltered - What Founders Think But Never Say
The Real Reason Your Marketing Is Not Working with Sara Nay
Sara Nay didn't walk into Duct Tape Marketing as CEO — she started as an intern. Sixteen years later, she leads the company and has co-authored Unchained…
- Founder Unfiltered - What Founders Think But Never Say
This Podcast Has a New Direction. Here’s Why.
I'm making a major shift in this podcast's direction, and I want to bring you along for the journey. After six years of supporting fractional executives and…
- Founder Unfiltered - What Founders Think But Never Say
The Uncomfortable Truth About Building a Sustainable Fractional Business with Scott Abbott
Most entrepreneurs fail because they separate systems from soul, treating purpose and profit as opposing forces instead of complementary partners. Scott…
- Founder Unfiltered - What Founders Think But Never Say
The Lie We Tell Ourselves About Business Goals and Happiness
I'm marking the 100th episode by sharing a candid reflection on the emotional ups and downs of building Mylance over six years. I recently told my business…
- Founder Unfiltered - What Founders Think But Never Say
Your Nervous System Is Running Your Business (Whether You Admit It or Not) with Jenni Gritters
Building a sustainable solopreneur business requires more than just expertise – it demands intentional business development and strategic time management…
- Founder Unfiltered - What Founders Think But Never Say
Confidence, Self-Doubt, and the Messy Reality of Being a Founder
Every founder faces the same paradox: you need to project confidence to attract clients, while internally battling imposter syndrome and self-doubt. Bradley…
- Founder Unfiltered - What Founders Think But Never Say
The Trust Fall: Ellie Holbert Let Go of Her Biggest Client—and Earned 3× Her Corporate Salary
In this powerful follow-up conversation, Ellie Holbert returns to share her remarkable first year as an independent consultant. Just 10 months after launching…
- Founder Unfiltered - What Founders Think But Never Say
2025 in Review: 3 Things That Built Mylance — and 3 I’m Leaving Behind
Closing out 2025 with complete transparency about what worked, what failed, and what I'm taking into the new year. As the founder of Mylance, I'm sharing the…
- Founder Unfiltered - What Founders Think But Never Say
Why Your Business Doesn’t Need Another Strategy (It Needs These 10 Gifts)
This Christmas, forget the tactics and tools. Your fractional business needs 10 foundational gifts from you—and they're all within your control. In this…
- Founder Unfiltered - What Founders Think But Never Say
From $5K to $413K Clients: Capture The Value You Provide with Ann Carden
In this episode, we dive deep into the strategies fractional executives need to break through revenue plateaus and build truly scalable businesses. Ann Carden…
- Founder Unfiltered - What Founders Think But Never Say
Stop Donating $15K to the IRS: Smart Solo Tax Moves with Ran Harpaz of Lettuce
Maximize your take-home pay as a fractional executive with proven financial structures. Ran Harpaz, founder and CEO of Lettuce, reveals how LLCs and S Corps…
- Founder Unfiltered - What Founders Think But Never Say
The 9 Stages Your Clients Go Through Before Saying Yes
Understanding how your ideal clients actually buy is the difference between hoping deals fall in your lap and building a predictable client acquisition system…
- Founder Unfiltered - What Founders Think But Never Say
From $7 an Hour to the Inc. 5000: How Natalia Zacharin Built a $3M Firm in 5 Year
Natalia Zacharin went from making $7/hour to building a $3M accounting firm in just five years. Here's exactly how she did it. In this episode, Natalia shares…
- Founder Unfiltered - What Founders Think But Never Say
The Two Marketing Channels I Built My Entire Business On
Bradley Jacobs reveals the simplified marketing strategy that powers Mylance's growth in under one hour per week. After years of trial and error with various…
- Founder Unfiltered - What Founders Think But Never Say
Everything in my life I create, promote or allow with Greg Stephens
Fear of difficult conversations costs fractional executives money, peace of mind, and accountability with clients. Greg Stephens, certified professional…
- Founder Unfiltered - What Founders Think But Never Say
Your Founder Story Is The Best Sales Asset (You’re Just Not Telling It Yet)
Starting a business has never been easier—which means standing out has never been harder. Bradley Jacobs explains why your founder story is the most…
- Founder Unfiltered - What Founders Think But Never Say
Modern Rules from a Sales Veteran with Glenn Poulos
Glenn Poulos, veteran sales leader and author of "Never Sit in the Lobby," joins Bradley Jacobs to share battle-tested sales strategies for fractional…
- Founder Unfiltered - What Founders Think But Never Say
Automations That Save 20 Hours / Month and Give You Your Life Back As a Solo Business Owner
Running a fractional business means juggling countless tasks that drain your time and energy. In this episode, we walk through 20 practical automations that…
- Founder Unfiltered - What Founders Think But Never Say
Stay Compliant and Take Home The Maximum Revenue: Taxes, Benefits, and Flexibility with Besolo, with Mark Jackson
Mark Jackson, co-founder and CEO of Besolo, joins Bradley Jacobs to discuss the operational challenges facing fractional executives and independent…
- Founder Unfiltered - What Founders Think But Never Say
Why Pushing the Needle Is the Only Way to Win as a Fractional
This week, I'm breaking down why playing small in your fractional business is the fastest path to burnout and underearning. I contrast two consultant profiles…
- Founder Unfiltered - What Founders Think But Never Say
The Real Block Isn’t Failure — It’s Fear of Success with Ash Seddeek
Bradley Jacobs welcomes Ash Seddeek, founder of Mivante and fractional Organizational Change Management Advisor, who has worked with executives at Cisco, Uber…
- Founder Unfiltered - What Founders Think But Never Say
No Time for Business Development Because of Client Work? Listen Up
Many fractional executives struggle with the same challenge: "I don't have time for business development." In this solo episode, Bradley Jacobs tackles this…
- Founder Unfiltered - What Founders Think But Never Say
The Future of AI and Fractional Work: The Rise of the Portfolio Career with Jon Younger
Bradley Jacobs sits down with Jon Younger, a renowned expert on the future of work, freelancing, and independent consulting. Jon brings decades of experience…
- Founder Unfiltered - What Founders Think But Never Say
How My LinkedIn Post Got 750k Views—And How You Can Replicate It
Bradley Jacobs breaks down his most viral LinkedIn post that garnered 750,000 views and generated 22 sales calls. Using his insider experience at Uber's…