The Changeup

Denise Weale & Olivia Weale, Co-Founders of Dam Good English Muffins

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 18:00:00 -0400

This week's guests are the mother and daughter founders of Dam Good English Muffins, Denise and Olivia Weale. Dam Good English Muffins is a woman-owned, family-operated business in Peekskill, New York, making a variety of square-shaped sourdough English muffins.
We talk about the unconventional way their business started, how they grew from making gifts for friends to producing at scale, and the importance of being a mission-driven company that supports the community.

John Anthony Gargiulo, Founder of Hudson Valley Brewery

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0400

This week's guest is the founder of Hudson Valley Brewery, John Anthony Gargiulo.

Hudson Valley Brewery is located in Beacon, New York, focusing on sour farmhouse ales and creating amazing beers with New York ingredients.

We talk with John Anthony about his career change from being a grip in Hollywood to building a brewery, how he sees the entire business as an art project, and he found the building of his dreams after many, many years.

Chris Kirby, Founder of Ithaca Hummus

Mon, 02 Jun 2025 14:00:00 -0400

This week's guest is the founder and CEO of Ithaca Hummus, Chris Kirby.Ithaca Hummus makes amazing hummus with minimal ingredients and maximum taste.

We talk about his journey from selling at farm stands in upstate New York to being in over 9,000 doors (with the final boss coming in October), the diversification of flavors, the importance of steady growth versus exponential growth, and a little lesson on Beanie Baby sales.

Colin McGrath, Founder of McGrath Cheese Company

Tue, 27 May 2025 12:00:00 -0400

This week's guest is the founder, owner, and cheese maker at McGrath Cheese Company, Colin McGrath. McGrath Cheese Company is an artisan producer based in New York's Hudson Valley.

They make some of the most incredible cheese, sourced from local dairies. We discussed Colin's remarkable path into the cheese business from the CIA (that's the Culinary Institute of America) to apprenticing, to making his own. He brings his unbridled passion for the product into every batch.

Ali & Jeremy Rhodes, Founders of Moonrise Bagels

Mon, 19 May 2025 12:00:00 -0400

This week's guests are the founders of Moonrise Bagels, Jeremy and Ali Rhodes. Moonrise Bagels are award-winning stuffed bagels that are ridiculously good and are taking over upstate New York.

We talk about how a party invention and Jeremy's obsession with finding the perfect way to stuff a bagel turned into a full-scale business with three locations, how Ali is able to leverage her sharp PR skills to grow awareness and engagement with the business, and how setting up their business in their hometown (and mine), Woodstock, New York, has led them to grow their roots.

Anu Menon, Founder & Chief of Product at Driftaway Coffee

Mon, 12 May 2025 12:00:00 -0400

This week's guest is the founder of Driftaway Coffee, Anu Menon. Driftaway Coffee is an immigrant-owned, women-led company that prioritizes women and minority producers, and making accessible coffee for all consumers.

We discussed her leap from the marketing world to brewing coffee, how her brand helps people find their next favorite blend in a unique way and how the business went from a passion project to a full-scale operation.

Rachel Simons, CEO & Co-Founder of Seed + Mill

Mon, 21 Apr 2025 12:00:00 -0400

This week's guest is the CEO and co-founder of Seed + Mill, Rachel Simons. Seed + Mill is a women-owned artisan food brand focusing on food products derived from sesame seed, like tahini and halva.
We talk about Rachel's evolution from corporate lawyer to food entrepreneur, the nuances of running an online business that also has a physical location in Chelsea Market, and her upcoming book launch, and why it means so much to her.

Seed+Mill

Sesame: Global Recipes and Stories of an Ancient Seed

Rosie and Mike DeVito, Founders of Overlook Bakery

Mon, 14 Apr 2025 14:00:00 -0400

This week's guests are the co-founders of Overlook Bakery, Rosie and Mike DeVito. Overlook Bakery is my local bakery here in Woodstock, which makes some of the best cookies, cakes, and desserts in the world.

We talk about starting their business during COVID by making cakes in their home, leaving the corporate confines of the accounting world to build out a physical location, and how their direct, honest messaging led to one of my favorite billboards of all time.

Overlook Bakery

Ori Zohar, Co-Founder of Burlap and Barrel

Mon, 07 Apr 2025 16:00:00 -0400

This week's guest is the co-founder of Burlap & Barrel, Ori Zohar. Burlap & Barrel is an American spice importer that sources sustainable single-origin spices directly from farmers and foragers.
We talk about the origins of the idea with his business partner, growing a business with omni-channel components, and the richness and diversity of the spice world.

Burlap & Barrel

Rowena Scherer, Founder and CEO of Eat2Explore

Mon, 24 Mar 2025 13:00:00 -0400

This week's guest is the founder and CEO of Eat2Explore, Rowena Scherer.

Eat2Explore makes it easy for kids and families to explore world cuisines and cultures with their award-winning experience-in-a-box cooking kits. We talk about how she went from private equity to the French Culinary Institute, the spark for the idea, and the importance of inspiring kids to appreciate and explore all cultures of the world through delicious cuisine.

Eat2Explore

Taylor Cocalis Suarez, Co-Founder of Suarez Family Brewing

Mon, 17 Mar 2025 12:00:00 -0400

This week's guest is dual threat, Taylor Cocalis Suarez. Tay co-founded Good Food Jobs, a website and newsletter with over 80,000 subscribers helping satisfy the hunger for meaningful work in the food industry. She's also co-founder of one of my all-time favorite breweries, Suarez Family Brewery, which is based near Hudson, New York. We talked to Tay about running both businesses, the aversion for scale at scales sake, and how meaningful work is the backbone of what she does.

Jordan Egbert and Justin Lottridge, Ommegang Brewery

Mon, 10 Mar 2025 13:00:00 -0400

We are back for season six of The Changeup. What started as a project while I was bored at home during the throes of COVID is now over 100 episodes with smart founders sharing their journey along the way.

This season, we're continuing down the path of food and beverage with a focus on New York owned and operated companies. There's something about tangible items in the digital age that gets me excited and I hope the same is true for you. We kick off with one of the OG craft purveyors, Ommegang.

We sat down with their head brewer, Justin Lottridge, and brand manager, Jordan Egbert. We talked about the early mission of Ommegang, growth in the industry that gave way to consolidation, and how being acquired by Duvel Moortgat has given them a new spark in the industry.

Tommy Kelly, Co-Founder of Sound Beverage

Mon, 16 Dec 2024 23:00:00 -0500

This week's guest is the co-founder of Sound, Tommy Kelly. Sound was born from its co-founder's desire for a better-tasting, more exciting unsweetened beverage. We talk about the company's founding happening while Tommy was an engineer looking for a drink to keep him going during long days and partnering with his then co-worker and now co-partner, Salim.
Tommy embraces the ebbs and flows of the hard-to-navigate CPG business. He speaks honestly about the hurdles and brings incredible insight to the field. We also talk about his role in growing Brooklyn pizza empire Roberta's and the up-and-coming Ever Hop hop water.

Sound
Ever Hop
Roberta's

Alexander and Mary Rose Zaranski, Co-Founders of Saucy Confections

Mon, 02 Dec 2024 23:00:00 -0500

This week's guests are the co-founders of Saucy Confections, Alexander and Mary Rose Zaranski.
Saucy Confections makes an alcoholic gummy called Winosaurs, which is, you might've guessed, filled with wine. We talk about how they took a fun idea for their wedding party favors and turned it into a business that keeps growing. We learn how they built their own machinery before buying and what's next on the rise in the gummy game.

Saucy Confections

Dominic Minogue, Founder of Dirty Water Hard Seltzer

Mon, 18 Nov 2024 22:00:00 -0500

This week's guest is the founder of Dirty Water, Dominic Minogue. Dirty Water is a hard seltzer brand born in New York City, aiming to be the accessible, easy-drinking dive bar hard seltzer. We talked to Dominic about the David versus Goliath battle in the hard beverage industry, the door-to-door grind of getting his product into bars and bodegas, and how his background and design and fashion helps influence Dirty Water's look and feel.

Dirty Water Hard Seltzer

Nathaniel Harrington, Founder of Nat's Nuts

Mon, 11 Nov 2024 12:00:00 -0500

This week's guest is Nathaniel Harrington, the founder of Nat's Nuts. Nat's Nuts is a gourmet roasted nut company in upstate New York that ships across the United States and is in over 2000 stores.
We talk about how he turned a school fundraising project to Guatemala into a full blown business, how he's built the business from his apartment to a large scale operation, and how faith plays a major role in every aspect of his life.

Tom Vaughan, Founder of Westmeadow Farm and Dairy

Mon, 04 Nov 2024 23:00:00 -0500

This week we welcome Tom Vaughan and Nakiska Vaughan of Westmeadow Farm and Dairy. Westmeadow Farm and Dairy is a family-owned and operated farm and creamery making fresh milk, cheese, and ice cream.
We talk about Tom's original path to farming, moving from Ireland to Connecticut and then eventually landing in upstate New York. We also learned how Nakiska's plan to swim with dolphins was thwarted by COVID, but that ultimately led to her running the farm and being an integral part of the family business.

Bjorn Quenemoen, Co-Founder of Bjorn Qorn

Mon, 28 Oct 2024 13:00:00 -0400

This week's guest is the co-founder of Bjorn Qorn, Bjorn Quenemoen.
Bjorn Qorn is a non-GMO popcorn with all-natural gluten-free and vegan ingredients. They use nutritional yeast instead of butter and cheese, and it's probably the best popcorn I've ever had from a bag.
We talk about how a college party concept with a friend turned into a thriving business, the science behind popping using mirrored reflectors to collect the sun's rays, and how a popcorn business got into the roller skating business.

Bjorn Qorn

RJ Marvin, Founder of Barrel + Brine

Mon, 21 Oct 2024 15:00:00 -0400

This week's guest is the co-founder of Barrel + Brine, RJ Marvin.
Barrel + Brine is a food and beverage company located in Buffalo, New York, specializing in pickled foods, kimchi, and kombucha. We talk about leaving the restaurant business to get into the pickling business and returning to the restaurant business to help complement the store.
RJ shares his thoughts on packaging design, packaging his own food, and how he intends to grow the business thoughtfully. And the Bills- of course we talked about the Buffalo Bills.

Barrel + Brine

Kenny Luna & Scott Hattis, Co-Founders of Loisa

Mon, 14 Oct 2024 14:00:00 -0400

In this week's episode, I'm talking with the co-founders of Loisa, Scott Hattis, and Kenny Luna. Loisa is a Latin-owned food company focusing on bringing organic versions of the most famous Latin seasoning to the market. They started with Sazon and Adobo and are growing exponentially, with their most recent partnership with Whole Foods opening doors across the country.
We talk about starting in their kitchen, learning the family recipes, the importance of breaking out of the artificial ingredients for Latin family health, and how they are continuing to expand.

https://loisa.com/

Bryan and Dahlia Graham, Founders of Fruition Chocolate

Mon, 07 Oct 2024 12:00:00 -0400

This week we welcome Brian and Dahlia Graham, the co-founders of Fruition Chocolate Works. Fruition is an ethically sourced chocolate company using traditional and modern techniques to make their award-winning chocolate in Catskills.
This episode is a bit of a departure as we met in real life to do the interview. You might hear the sounds of the shop and a change in our voice as we move around, but it led to an intimate and lively conversation and I'm excited to do more of them.

https://www.fruitionchocolateworks.com/

Caroline and Paul Barrett, Founders of Our Daily Eats

Mon, 16 Sep 2024 12:00:00 -0400

This week's guests are the founders of Our Daily Eats, Caroline and Paul Barrett. Our Daily Eats is an Albany based nuts and granola company founded by a husband and wife team who left their corporate gigs to follow their passion, creating exceptional food that they would be proud of and their kids would actually eat.
We talk about the journey from cooking it in their kitchen, printing the labels and selling it individually at local farm stands to being in stores across the country. They shared their other project, Capital Cooks kitchen and co-op where they have community-based cooking classes and bring in world-renowned chefs.

Our Daily Eats
Capital Cooks

Kat Kavner, Co-Founder of Heyday Canning Co.

Mon, 09 Sep 2024 14:00:00 -0400

This week's guest is the founder of Heyday Canning, Kat Kavner
Heyday Canning Co. is a canned food company making fun products like harissa lemon chickpeas, kimchi sesame beans, and enchilada beans that are accessible and delicious.
We talk about how the company was started at the height of COVID while in Australia, the importance of bringing the fun back into what is arguably a boring food vertical, the shops that embraced Heyday first, and how they expanded to 2000 stores.

Heyday Canning

Erica & Brian Weiss, Founders of Weiss Ferments

Mon, 26 Aug 2024 12:00:00 -0400

This week's guests are the Founders of Weiss Ferments, Erica and Brian Weiss. Weiss Ferments is a family-owned farm, brewery and sourdough bread bakery in Schoharie County, New York. We talk about their past lives working as sommeliers and bartenders at Michelin-rated restaurants, the decision to leave New York City and build their farm, and how they both found their passions in brewing and baking respectively.

Weiss Ferments

Denise Woodard, Founder & CEO at Partake Foods

Mon, 19 Aug 2024 12:00:00 -0400

This week's guest is the founder and CEO of Partake Foods, Denise Woodard. Partake is a Black-owned, women-led company that offers delicious allergy-free cookies, baking mixes, pancake and waffle mixes that are certified gluten-free, non-GMO, vegan, and free of the top nine allergens.
We talk about the very personal story of her daughter's allergies that led to her founding the company and how she scaled her kitchen to over 9,000 stores nationwide.

https://partakefoods.com/

Michael Schwarz, CEO & Founder of Treeline Vegan Cheese

Mon, 12 Aug 2024 12:00:00 -0400

This week's guest is the CEO and founder of Treeline Cheesemakers, Michael Schwarz. Treeline Cheesemakers is a dairy-free vegan cheese made in upstate New York. We talk about his decision to become vegan in 2011 and how that compelled him to leave his job as a lawyer and build Treeline.

Often business leaders speak in platitudes, but this is not one of those interviews. Michael brought conviction, clarity of our moral obligations, and a convincing rationale for why we all should be vegan. We talk about the science behind cashew cheese, how he landed his first clients, and how we all can do our part to stop animal cruelty.

Julie and Austin Landes, Founders of Outsiders Kitchen

Mon, 05 Aug 2024 19:00:00 -0400

This week's guests are the founders of Outsiders Kitchen, Julie and Austin Landes. Outsiders Kitchen is a gourmet pretzel bite that needs to be tried to be understood. Trust me, it's that good.

We talk about their journey from Pennsylvania to upstate New York, starting a cafe business that turned into a pretzel business sold in over 1000 stores, and how even with that growth, each bag is still packaged by hand.

Jessica Kwong, Founder and CEO at Jack & Friends

Mon, 29 Jul 2024 09:00:00 -0400

This week's guest is the founder of Jack and Friends, Jessica Kwong. Jack and Friends is on a mission to make snack foods you can feel good about eating, regardless of your lifestyle or diet. Made with jackfruit and pea protein, Jack and Friends jerky is not only vegan and top nine allergen-free, but a good source of protein and fiber with no added sugar.
We talk about the science behind snack foods, how she developed the idea for Jack and Friends, and how she has scaled the business in a really tough vegan and vegetarian competitive market.

Garrett Miller, Co-Founder & CEO of Finger Lakes Cider House

Mon, 22 Jul 2024 21:00:00 -0400

This week's guest is the co-founder and CEO of Finger Lakes Cider House, Garrett Miller.
Finger Lakes Cider House is a diversified organic farm that specializes in making some of the best hard cider from New York apples. We talk about the origins of the company initially being a farm with friends to now being one of the top cider houses in New York, how he grew the business and what he wants to give back to the land, and the community with this project.

Matt Bachmann, CEO & Co-Founder of Wandering Bear Coffee

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 08:00:00 -0400

This week's guest is the co-founder and CEO of Wandering Bear Coffee, Matt Bachman. Wandering Bear makes big strong coffee with a smooth side delivered on tap to offices and homes nationwide.
We talk about how he and his co-founder started the concept while in grad school, how they scaled it from their apartment kitchens to a nationwide business and how they compete in the super competitive coffee business.

Danny Taing, Founder & CEO at Bokksu

Mon, 08 Jul 2024 15:00:00 -0400

This episode's guest is the CEO and founder of Bokksu, Danny Taing. Bokksu delivers authentic Japanese food and lifestyle products to customers around the world.
I was so impressed with his story that I bought a box for my daughter, and it's awesome. We talk about the inspiration behind Bokksu, how he evolves the company in a competitive subscription box market, and how his decision to come out has influenced his leadership style.

Michael Cioffi, Owner of Phoenicia Diner

Mon, 11 Mar 2024 13:00:00 -0400

This week's guest is the founder of Phoenicia Diner, Mike Cioffi.

If you have ever been to the Catskills or ever had a friend go to the Catskills, you have surely heard of Phoenicia Diner. It's a time warp to classic diners and yesteryear. It almost feels like you pulled up in a wood-paneled station wagon. And the food is really good. Actually, it's fantastic.

We talk about his choice to change careers, how it became a social media phenomenon, some mistakes along the way, and why it has such a lasting power in a frantic fickle world.

,

Matt Gallira, President & CEO of Big Mozz

Tue, 27 Feb 2024 11:00:00 -0500

This week's guest is Matt Gallira, the Founder and CEO of Big Mozz. Big Mozz is just that... Big mozzarella sticks, and they are delicious.

We talk about his journey from creating the recipe, to entering the Brooklyn Shmorgasboard, to scaling the business to be in over 1000 grocery stores across the country. If you can find them at a store near you I highly recommend snagging a few to chew while listening to his story.

LeAnn Darland, Co-Founder of TALEA Beer Co

Mon, 05 Feb 2024 12:00:00 -0500

This week's guest is the Co-founder of TALEA Beer Co., LeAnn Darland.
Leann and her co-founder Tara Hankinson have built an amazing brewery with 2 locations in Brooklyn and 2 in Manhattan. I am lucky enough to have one two blocks from my office so I visit it pretty frequently.
We talk about her journey from the Navy, to Google, to startup land, to finally going all in on building her own company. We discuss how they are bucking the trend of the Bearded Beer Bro, which I'm one of, and created spaces for people of diverse backgrounds to enjoy great beer. Not only is their beer amazing, they have some of the best designed spaces in the game. This was recorded at their brewery in Williamsburg while the team was brewing, so you will hear the lively reality of a brewery in the background.

TALEA Beer Co.

Andrew Rowles & Kyle Bergen of Wayward Lane Brewing Company

Tue, 30 Jan 2024 23:00:00 -0500

This week's guests are two of the founders of Wayward Lane Brewing, Andrew Rowles and Kyle Bergen.

Wayward Lane is an amazing farm, brewery, and taproom located in a restored 1800's hophouse in the town of Schoharie, New York. They were crowned 2023 New York Brewery of the Year and since opening my shop they have become one of my favorite breweries as they make some amazing IPAs, crisp lagers, and dense porters- They're just crushing it!

The interview was done at their brewery so you'll hear some hustle and bustle in the background. We discussed how they came together and decided upstate New York would be home, how they grew from selling out of the taproom to distributing across the state, and what excites them most about the beer industry in 2024.

https://www.waywardlanebrewing.com/

Chris Genteel- Founder and Principal at Glidelane

Tue, 23 Jan 2024 10:00:00 -0500

This week we talk to the founder of Glidelane, Chris Genteel.
Glidelane is an advisory firm with a mission around economic equality to marginalized communities. By supporting founders of color, they are rooting bias out of products, services, and go-to-market stories.
We talk about how his career at Google evolved as he grew into leadership roles, his transition from the corporate world to startup life, how growing up as the black child raised by a single white mom formed his view on sexism, racism, inequality and how leaders of color can navigate the DEI roller coaster of today.

https://www.glidelane.com/blog

Bharanidharan Rajakumar, CEO of Transfr

Wed, 17 Jan 2024 13:00:00 -0500

This week we talk with Bharani Rajakumar, the CEO and Founder of Transfr.

Transfr aims to provide every person an opportunity to acquire the skills needed for employment. Through their VR coaching platform, prospective employees get hands-on training at real technical jobs.

We talk about how growing up working class shaped his vision for what entrepreneurship could be, how he scaled his company, and how VR and AI will play a pivotal role in the future of the workforce.

Erzsi Sousa- Founder of More Lake

Tue, 19 Dec 2023 13:00:00 -0500

This week's guest is the founder of More Lake, Erzsi Sousa.

More Lake is a brand consultancy focused on working with climate companies. We talk about her decision to leave the marketing tech world of Google, Microsoft and Stripe to focus on companies making an impact on our climate emergency.

She shares how her family ended up moving from San Francisco to Portugal, finding the right fit with prospective clients, and how a love of the outdoors led to the company's founding.

Interested in learning more about climate change? Check out these resources:

If you want to start with the basics: The Science of Climate Change Explained from the New York Times
If you like learning on Youtube: Climate Science Translated and Climate Town, and The Big Misconception About Clean Energy from Huge if True
If you’re the New Yorker long reads type: Annals of a Warming Planet
If you like great journalism with personality: Heated
If you want a great primer in book form: How to Avoid a Climate Disaster (Bill Gates)

Peter Corbett- Founder, CEO & Coach at Still Rush

Sun, 10 Dec 2023 18:00:00 -0500

This week's guest is Peter Corbett, the Founder, CEO and Coach at Still Rush, a mindful leadership coaching practice.

We talk about his decision to sell his agency and retire from advertising, his volunteer work as a spiritual caregiver, life, love, loss, and death, and the motivations that moved him to his new life.

Jared Cozart- Co-Founder & CEO of Unlock

Mon, 04 Dec 2023 12:00:00 -0500

This week's guest is the Co-founder and CEO of Unlock, Jared Cozart.

Jared and I met as fellow agents for the Management Leaders of Tomorrow program and became fast friends as I gravitated toward his high empathy for others, strong leadership, and his ability to just be real.

We talk about his path to entrepreneurship the struggles and hurdles along the way, how adversity on the baseball field helped sharpen his focus, and how he found the true balance between friendship and work with his co-founders.

Angel Gates, Co-Founder of HUDSY

Tue, 21 Nov 2023 19:00:00 -0500

This week's guest is the Co-Founder of HUDSY TV, Angel Gates.

HUDSY TV is an award-winning streaming television platform rooted in the community of Upstate New York. Their goal is to highlight and elevate the incredibly diverse voices and spirit of the Hudson Valley through the power of film and storytelling.

We talk about their decision to move from a co-op to a nonprofit, his decision to leave the Bronx and move to the woods upstate, and how producing original work for communities has helped strengthen his bonds to it.

Angelina Darrisaw, Founder & CEO of C-Suite Coach

Mon, 13 Nov 2023 13:00:00 -0500

This week we talked to the founder and CEO of C-Suite Coach, Angelina Darrisaw.

We discuss how she has scaled her business to include 40-plus coaches and works with partners like Google, Major League Baseball, and Wayfair.

We learn the adjustments needed to go from being a solo coach to being CEO of a thriving business, how our early experiences in the corporate world share her vision for C-Suite coaches, and why everyone should have a board of directors for their career.

www.csuitecoach.com

Jesse Samberg, Co-Founder of Third Act

Mon, 06 Nov 2023 12:00:00 -0500

This week we talk to the co-founder of Third Act, Jesse Samberg.

We learn how Jesse initially started this business with one of his best friends, the difficult decision to go out on his own, and how mentoring small business owners propelled him to create Third Act.

Daniel Isenberg- Author of Do Remember!!: The Golden Era of NYC Hip-Hop Mixtapes

Tue, 31 Oct 2023 19:00:00 -0400

This week's guest is the co-author of Do Remember!!: The Golden Era of NYC Hip-Hop Mixtapes, Dan Isenberg.

Dan and I grew up together in White Plains, New York, where he was obsessed with hip-hop and hip-hop culture. This book comes from his passion for the music, the people, and the culture around mixtapes, and is a must-read for any hip-hop fan.

We talk about his journey from rapper to teacher, to creative agency director, to writer, and all of the fun in between.

Chrissy Traore, Owner & Chef at See and Be Kitchen

Mon, 23 Oct 2023 22:00:00 -0400

This week's guest is the co-owner of See and Be Kitchen, Chrissy Traore.

Chrissy is a Chef with food-based business experience and her husband and partner Ben is an amazing Baker, having worked at some of the most prestigious places in New York City, including Bien Cuit, The Dutch, Saraghina, MaPeche, and Corton.

We talk about their decision to leave the city behind and build a farm bakery in the Catskills, the joys and hurdles of running your own business and we try to figure out which one of the breads is her favorite.

See and Be Kitchen

Rob Mains, Co-Owner/Secretary/Treasurer/Writer at Baseball Prospectus

Mon, 16 Oct 2023 14:00:00 -0400

Welcome to Season 4 of the Changeup. Our first guest is the Co-Owner and Treasurer/Secretary/Writer at Baseball Prospectus, Rob Mains.

While we did not predict the devastating early exits of the Braves and Dodgers, we did talk about the changing landscape of what next-generation teams like the Diamondbacks, Orioles, and Rangers are doing to lead the way moving forward.

If you like baseball, you will love this episode as we go deep on the numbers and history of sabermetrics, advanced statistics, and why the Mets and Yankees blundered so hard this season.

Andrew Goldberg, EVP & CMO of the New York Mets

Mon, 15 May 2023 17:00:00 -0400

This week's guest is the EVP and CMO of the New York Mets, Andy Goldberg. He is a seasoned marketing executive with prior leadership roles at American Express and GE before embarking on this new challenge.
We talk about the major differences in marketing baseball teams versus a global corporation, how building a Super Bowl spot in less than three weeks came to fruition and the growing success baseball is having with the new rule changes. Also, listen to me try my hardest not to freak out about wins and losses- I need to have Andy's calm demeanor!
This episode will also be our season finale. It's hard to believe that what started out as a way to pass time during the height of Covid has turned into three seasons with over 75 episodes. Thanks for listening and we will be back in August with the new season!

Sarah Romero & Patricia Alvarado, Founders of Latinx Healthy Minds

Mon, 01 May 2023 14:00:00 -0400

This week we welcome the founders of Latinx Healthy Minds, Sarah Romero and Patty Alvarado.
Latinx Healthy Minds is on a mission to eliminate the stigma associated with mental health and provide professionals with the tools they need to live healthy, productive lives at work and in the community.
We talk about why mental health is such a difficult topic in the Latinx culture, how leaders can help forge a path for a more open conversation around mental health, and the amazing story of how Sarah and Patty linked up to bring this company to life.

Marialidia Marcotulli, Founder of Withitgirl

Mon, 24 Apr 2023 14:00:00 -0400

This week's guest is the founder of With it Girl, Marialidia Marcotulli.

With it Girl is a multifaceted, multi-generational platform with a goal to amplify the voices, work, visions and ideas of women in skate, surf and active lifestyles. The With it Girl community engages in conversations that further the narrative around action sports, prioritizing community, diversity and creativity.

We talk about the important decision to relaunch With it Girl nearly 20 years after shutting it down originally, the differences and similarities between generations of young adults and how she approaches every new opportunity with curiosity.

Katrina Craigwell, Co-Host of "Am I on Mute?"

Mon, 10 Apr 2023 20:00:00 -0400

This week we talk with the Co-Host of "Am I on Mute?", Katrina Craigwell.

Katrina is a marketing digital transformation leader who has had leadership roles at Meta, JP Morgan Chase, and General Electric where she spearheaded marketing programs at the intersection of storytelling and technology. Katrina has been named to Business Insider's "Most Creative Women in Advertising", Digiday's "Changemakers" and Adweek's "Most Influential Women in Media and Marketing"

We talk about leading teams in the hybrid world, whether the promise of technology maps to its use for marketers and how experimentation is key to innovation.

Gary Mittman, CEO of KERV Interactive

Mon, 20 Mar 2023 16:00:00 -0400

This week's guest is the founder and CEO of KERV Interactive, Gary Mittman.

KERV is a patented interactive video platform that drives deeper user engagement, boosts creative performance, and increases time spent with brands.

We talk about the genesis of the patent that led to the company, his very insightful thoughts on artificial intelligence and machine learning, breaking into the infomercial business, and what the future holds for interactive advertising.

Jim Donnelly, Co-Founder of Restore Hyper Wellness

Wed, 15 Mar 2023 17:00:00 -0400

This week's guest is the Co-Founder and CEO of Restore Hyper Wellness, Jim Donnelly.

Restore Hyper Wellness is a system of total balance, energy and proactive healing. It is their belief that the holistic approach to wellness is what is missing from conventional health care.

We talk about the path that led to creating Restore Hyper Wellness, his five-year theory on building new companies and shifting careers, his approach to leadership, and how alligators were key competitors in one of his early businesses.

Zachary Mack, Owner of Alphabet City Beer Co.

Mon, 06 Mar 2023 16:00:00 -0500

This week's guest is the owner of Alphabet City Beer, Zachary Mack.

ABC Beer Company is a beer bar and store located in the lower east side of Manhattan.

We talk about how he built the business in 2012, the evolution of the beer industry over the last decade, and how he will help anyone, and I mean ANYONE, find the right beer.

Jacques Jean, Founder & CEO at TechFides

Mon, 27 Feb 2023 14:00:00 -0500

This week's guest is the founder and CEO of TechFides, Jacques Jean.

TechFides is an IT company that helps other businesses with enterprise digitization, IT performance management, and IT merger acquisitions and divestitures.

We talk about how the genesis of his company came from his son at the dinner table, how building a company with friends and family adds another layer of strength, and the importance of community in giving back locally as the business grows.

Nick Gallo, CEO & Founder of Loop

Tue, 21 Feb 2023 12:00:00 -0500

This week's guest is the founder and CEO of Loop, Nick Gallo.

Loop is a new creative studio that just launched, working with companies across brand marketing, social media, video production, live interactive videos, and stunts.

We talked about how he broke into media with The Onion newspaper, how he was an integral part of the pop culture phenomena that was HQ Trivia, and what virality looked and felt like on Vine- remember Vine?

Lisa Rosser, CEO & Founder of The Value of a Veteran

Sun, 12 Feb 2023 22:00:00 -0500

This week's guest is the founder and CEO of The Value of a Veteran, Lisa Rosser.

The Value of a Veteran is a women, veteran, and minority-owned small business that provides Human Resources consulting and training for organizations that are seeking to improve support, recruitment, and retention of military veterans.

We talk about the insight that led to the company's formation, how she helps companies hire and retain veterans, and where companies go wrong with hiring diverse staff.

Zack Slingsby, Founder of Human Factor Media

Mon, 06 Feb 2023 12:00:00 -0500

This week's guest is the founder of Human Factor Media, Zack Slingsby.

Human Factor Media is a video production and creative shop that makes videos people want to watch. They work with brands and clients to create original work that doesn't get skipped or scrolled by.

We talk about his journey from writer to founder, the creative process, balancing family and work, and so much more.

Jeremy Fain, CEO & Co-Founder of Cognitiv

Mon, 30 Jan 2023 12:00:00 -0500

This week's guest is CEO and Co-Founder of Cognitiv, Jeremy Fain.

The media and marketing world has recently become obsessed with artificial intelligence and deep learning, marking it as the future of the business as a whole.

Cognitiv has been applying these practices for years to help predict consumer behavior and drive marketing performance for their clients. We talked to Jeremy about the genesis of Cognitiv, the importance of ethics and AI, and how emerging technologies will revolutionize advertising.

Therese Gedda, Founder & CEO of Reimaginez

Mon, 16 Jan 2023 17:00:00 -0500

This week's guest is the CEO and founder of Reimaginez, Therese Gedda.

Reimaginez specializes in designing, redesigning, and scaling culture successfully. They help founders, CEO's and leaders keep, attract and lead high achievers while living as high achievers themselves.

We talked about how growing up in Sweden building her own company was always going to be her path forward, her connection to weightlifting and sports led her to focus on high performance in the workplace and reimagine company culture.

Alana Kalin, Co-Founder & CEO of De Kabeza

Mon, 09 Jan 2023 12:00:00 -0500

This week's guest is the CEO and Founder of De Kabeza, Alana Kalin.

De Kabeza is a tech platform with gamified communications and live interactive trivia and games, based in Mexico City.

We talk about her decision to move herself and the company from New York to Mexico to refocus on a Mexican audience, the evolution of gamification, the differences in startup culture and finally how for some of us, wishing to be an Oscar Mayer Weiner is where the dream ends. She shares what it takes to actually drive the Weinermobile.

Natasha Kehimkar, CEO & Founder of Malida Advisors

Tue, 20 Dec 2022 13:00:00 -0500

This week's guest is the CEO and Founder of Malida Advisors, Natasha Kehimkar.

Malida Advisors is a strategic advisory firm, focusing on areas of diversity, equity, inclusion, organizational change, and scaling your HR function.

We talk about her career journey in the Pharma world, to tech start-ups, to building her own thing. She also shares how during the pandemic she recorded her family's life story, interviewing her mom and dad daily for posterity.

Steven Khuong, CEO & Co-Founder of Curacubby

Mon, 12 Dec 2022 13:00:00 -0500

This week's guest is co-founder and CEO of Curacubby, Steven Khuong.

Curacubby is a next-generation, fin-tech, SAS platform that helps education, recreation, and family service programs save time and money by optimizing finance and business workflow functions.

We discussed how a very personal family hurdle led to the creation of Curacubby, how his family moved from Hong Kong to Grand Rapids, Michigan, and his incredible stories about being a Bay Area hip-hop DJ and producer in the 1990s.

Nick Cutsumpas, Founder of Farmer Nick

Mon, 05 Dec 2022 12:00:00 -0500

This week's guest is the founder of Farmer Nick, Nick Cutsumpas.

I met Nick when he was a sales executive at Thrive Global, where we hit it off due to his empathy and creativity and his love of baseball didn't hurt either.

Nick bet on himself and has grown a small empire focused on urban farming. His Farmer Nick Instagram account has over 169,000 followers, his plant coaching business is booming in both LA and New York and his new book "Plant Coach: The Beginners Guide to Caring for Plants and the Planet" is out now.

Jill Griffin, Strategist & Executive Coach at Jill Griffin Consulting

Mon, 28 Nov 2022 14:00:00 -0500

This week's guest is Career Strategist, Executive Coach, and Consigliere, Jill Griffin.

Before going out on her own, Jill was a senior executive at massive media agencies like Publicis, overseeing Fortune 500 branding, strategy, and media partnerships.

We talk about how what was initially going to be a few months of consulting turned into a 6+ year career, her ongoing mission to help workforces build inclusive teams and embrace those with disabilities, and how she built her podcast "The Career Refresh".

Carmen Diaz, Founder of Press 2 for Espanol

Mon, 21 Nov 2022 17:00:00 -0500

This week's guest is the Founder of Press 2 for Espanol, Carmen Diaz.

We talk about her journey from teaching in schools in Texas to teaching Spanish online. We discuss how she took her love of language and passion for helping others and turned it into a business, and her plans for growth to help her home country of Guatemala.

Dan Misener, Co-Founder of Bumper

Mon, 14 Nov 2022 14:00:00 -0500

This week's guest is Co-Founder of Bumper, Dan Misener.

Bumper is a podcast growth agency that helps organizations reach their business goals through the power of audio.

Dan is one of the sharpest minds in audio. We talk about the Faustian bargain some audio companies took to garner scale, what it means to focus on engagement versus download numbers, where he thinks the industry is headed, and how critical podcast strategy will be to it.

Laura Garnett, Executive Performance Strategist at Garnett Consulting

Mon, 07 Nov 2022 12:00:00 -0500

This week's guest is the author and executive performance strategist, Laura Garnett.

At Laura's firm, Garnett Consulting, Laura and her team work with highly driven, industry-leading executives and teams to achieve the impact and fulfillment they desire.

We talk about her decision to leave one of the biggest companies in the world, executive burnout, and our psychology at work, as well as some key insights from her book "Find Your Zone of Genius".

Steve Schlafman, Founder and Coach at Schlaf & Co

Mon, 24 Oct 2022 17:00:00 -0400

This week's guest is the founder of Schlaf & Co, Steve Schlafman.

Steve was a venture capitalist who made the decision a few years back to leave the industry to focus on building his boutique leadership company that focuses on helping early-stage founders and VCs.

He is also an avid reader and writer and something we explore during our conversation together is how he made it an intentional part of his life. We talk about leadership, forging your own path, and most importantly, creating a space to be present for your family while running a company.

Catherine Tabor, Founder & CEO at Sparkfly

Mon, 17 Oct 2022 17:00:00 -0400

This week's guest is the Founder and CEO of Sparkfly, Catherine Tabor.

Sparkfly is a retail technology solutions company that helps innovative retailers and merchants like Chipotle, Texas Roadhouse, and Great Clips leverage technology to create a meaningful connection to their customers

We talk about how she was able to win her first big client and turn that into her business, how vital consumer privacy is in the age of digital, and her awesome business perspective of if you can't get in the door, climb through a window.

Laura Mayer, Creator of Shameless Acquisition Target

Tue, 11 Oct 2022 16:00:00 -0400

This week's guest is the creator of Shameless Acquisition Target, Laura Mayer.

Laura and I worked together at the Slate group, where she was a producer at Panoply, also known as Megaphone, prior to its sale to Spotify. She has had a front-row seat to the podcast acquisition boom and helped launch dozens of award-winning shows. It has not punched her ticket to podcast millions, like some lucky people we know have.

That's where Shameless Acquisition Target comes in. It's a smart, funny and incisive examination of the internal machinations of the podcast industry, and it's one of my favorite shows of the year. We talk about its creation and its culmination with her sharing if the company was sold or not.

Dr. Ruth Gotian, Author, The Success Factor

Mon, 03 Oct 2022 12:00:00 -0400

This week's guest is the Chief Learning Officer at Weill Cornell Medicine, Dr. Ruth Gotian.

Dr. Gotian is also the author of The Success Factor – Developing the Mindset and Skillset for Peak Performance, where she researched CEOs, Nobel laureates, and Olympic and NBA champions to find out how we can all optimize our success.

Last year, she was among the 30 people worldwide to be named to the Thinkers50 Radar list, dubbed the Oscars of management thinking. Get ready to get motivated as we discuss peak performance, becoming aware of and managing your strengths, and how we all can apply these lessons to our daily life.

Mack McKelvey, Founder & CEO at SalientMG

Tue, 27 Sep 2022 13:00:00 -0400

This week's episode is with the Founder and CEO of SalientMG, Mack McKelvey.

SalientMG is a strategic marketing firm, focused on accelerating market position for growth stage tech companies.

We talk about leveraging digital tools to better share your skill set, why being a Chief of Staff is the ultimate pipeline to becoming a CEO, and the discrepancy she sees in how founders are able to raise money.

Vinit Bharara, CEO & Co-Founder of Mojo

Mon, 19 Sep 2022 12:00:00 -0400

Season 3 Premiere!

So excited to welcome the CEO and Co-Founder of Mojo, Vinit Bharara.

Mojo is a sports stock market, where fans can literally invest in their favorite players' careers. Along with Vinit, there are some pretty big names as co-founders, Bart Stein, Mark Lore, and a baseball player turned businessman, you might have heard of Alex Rodriguez.
Vinit has founded and sold multiple companies prior to this. Quidsi to Amazon, Some Spider Studios to Bustle Digital Group, and CAFE Media to Vox Media, so it's safe to say he knows a thing or two about building companies.

We absolutely nerd out about sports in general, and we talk about the vision for Mojo.

Mojo is now live in New Jersey, check it out!

Bonus Episode: A Focus on Race and Diversity

Mon, 29 Aug 2022 14:00:00 -0400

We took the month off of interviewing and while on break, we put together two special episodes with some of our incredible past guests to highlight some themes that were recurring.

This week we focus on diversity and race.

These entrepreneurs have firsthand experience with the disparities within the corporate and business world and offer insight into their own stories and possible solutions.

Bonus Episode: A Focus on Women Entrepreneurs

Mon, 15 Aug 2022 12:00:00 -0400

During our short break from interviewing, we decided to reflect back on some of our great past guests.

This week we’re highlighting some of our female entrepreneurs from seasons 1 and 2 to reflect back on their experiences in the male-dominated business world.

Noah Zandan, CEO & Co-Founder of Quantified

Sun, 07 Aug 2022 19:00:00 -0400

This week we welcome the CEO and Co-Founder of Quantified, Noah Zandan.

Quantified is the leading firm in combining behavioral science, AI, and experiential learning technology to help people enhance their impact, improve their interactions and establish a greater human connection.

We talk about how a former Wall Street guy got into behavioral science, what it’s like to prepare for and give a Ted Talk and we learn some of the small ways we all can be better communicators.

Andy Wiedlin, Host of Backstage with the Brand

Mon, 01 Aug 2022 00:00:00 -0400

This week we welcome my friend and my mentor, Andy Wiedlin.

Andy is the founder of the VERY creatively titled Andy Wiedlin Consulting, an advisor to many startups and publishers, and the host of the marketing podcast, Backstage with the Brand.

We talk about what it takes to be a great sales leader, the differences in the advertising world now versus when he started and I try to get him to be the commissioner of Major League Baseball for a day.

Rob Smith, CEO and Founder of Phluid

Wed, 27 Jul 2022 12:00:00 -0400

Phluid launched initially as a physical and online store that makes gender-free, non-binary apparel and accessories. It has grown into a movement committed to challenging the dated practices that inhibit freedom and self-expression.

We talk about building a community by being a listener and always learning, creating a place where people can freely express themselves and how he bucked the “don’t quit your job after your first burning man” advice and created Phluid.

Gary Goldberg, CEO & Founder of SquadLocker

Mon, 18 Jul 2022 17:00:00 -0400

This week we welcome the CEO and Founder of SquadLocker, Gary Goldberg.

SquadLocker is innovating the athletic apparel market by making it easier for coaches and league administrators to manage purchasing for sports teams.

We talked about the thousands of hours he had in the textile business, how he applied that to build his own company and the real-time moment when he saw how his customers were actually using the platform.

Winnie Sabbat, Managing Partner of Sabacica Capital

Mon, 11 Jul 2022 08:00:00 -0400

This week we welcome Winnie Sabbat, Managing Partner of Sabacica Capital.

Sabacica Capital is a women-led venture fund that focuses on exceptional women and people of color-led startups.

We talked about how they are changing the game with funding, their unique approach to partnering with startups, and her passion for global travel.

Julia Alexander, Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer of ExecOnline

Mon, 27 Jun 2022 15:00:00 -0400

This week's guest is Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer of ExecOnline, Julia Alexander.

ExecOnline is a premier provider of online leadership development experiences that are democratizing access to high-quality leadership training and creating a diverse pipeline of future-ready leaders.

We talk about the value of finding mentors outside your field of work, building a mission-driven company, and the importance of providing leadership opportunities for diverse leaders.

Cat Agostinho, Co-Founder at Imagen Insights

Tue, 21 Jun 2022 18:00:00 -0400

This week's guest is Co-Founder at Imagen Insights, Cat Agostinho. Imagen Insights is a company that helps agencies and brands get direct crowd-sourced ideas and insights from the Gen Z community.

We talk about the differences between this upcoming generation and the ones before, the spark that got the company going, and how to be prepared to hire people who think wildly different than you.

Brandon Harris, Founder & CEO at Playmaker

Fri, 17 Jun 2022 16:00:00 -0400

This week’s guest is Founder and CEO of Playmaker, Brandon Harris

Playmaker is a next-generation sports media and athlete management brand.

We talk about the early lessons learned building his own media company, his refreshing take on the power of sports gambling, and why we both agree that having a chip on your shoulder leads to success.

Liza Brody, Founder at HYPE Dance Community

Tue, 14 Jun 2022 08:00:00 -0400

This week’s guest is the founder and CEO of Hype Dance Community, Liza Brody.

Hype Dance Community is a virtual and outdoor dance lesson company for all kids of all abilities.

We talk about her decision to leave the advertising events world to start her own business during the pandemic, why movement is so important for everyone, and why the focus of her company is on having fun, not technique.

Michelle Penczak, CEO of Squared Away

Fri, 10 Jun 2022 07:00:00 -0400

This week’s guest is CoFounder and CEO of Squared Away, Michelle Penczak.

Squared Away is a team of trusted assistants who span across the nation. They help businesses and people scale by offering virtual assistance to get busy executives organized. They also have a really compelling hook: they are all military spouses.

We talk about the origination of the concept, her journey from executive assistant to CEO and how she scales the team.

Lindsay Patterson, Co-Founder & CEO of Tumble Media

Mon, 06 Jun 2022 14:00:00 -0400

This week’s guest is Co-Founder and CEO of Tumble Media, Lindsay Patterson.

Tumble Media is an educational children’s audio company that has been a pioneer in the kids’ podcast space since 2015. Their mission is to inspire curiosity and discovery through accessible storytelling.

We talk about how Lindsay’s part-time project turned into a full-time business, the educational benefits for children in listening to podcasts, and how becoming a science journalist and interviewing kids about science was the catalyst for Tumble Media.

Brian Verne, CEO at Wave Sports and Entertainment

Fri, 03 Jun 2022 08:00:00 -0400

This week’s guest is Founder and CEO of Wave Sports and Entertainment, Brian Verne.

We talk about the expansion and evolution of WSE and their move into sports personality driven content, how Brian’s leadership style allows others to thrive and how he has grown the team from a handful of people in a San Francisco loft to a global sports + media phenomena.

Todd Matteson, Co-Founder of Mondo Brewing Company

Tue, 31 May 2022 11:00:00 -0400

This week’s guest is CoFounder of Mondo Brewing Company, Todd Matteson. Mondo Brewing Company is one of the most celebrated craft breweries in London.

We talk about his decision to leave advertising sales and pursue a life in brewing, the cultural differences in the craft scene between the UK and the United States and what style of beer every brewer tastes to judge a new brewery.

One additional note: Todd recorded this session at Mondo’s London brewery so the audio is slightly different than other episodes.

Mario X Carrasco, Co-Founder and Principal at ThinkNow

Fri, 27 May 2022 11:00:00 -0400

This week’s guest is Co-Founder of Think Now, Mario X Carrasco.

ThinkNow is the research company for the America we live in today - a multicultural, nuanced landscape. Through their diverse research panel set, ThinkNow helps brands better understand and communicate with their audiences.

We talk about growing up aware of the two cultures in his life - Mexican and American, being a mentor to the next generation and hiring with intentionality.

Michele Heyward, Founder of PositiveHire

Tue, 24 May 2022 09:00:00 -0400

This week we sit down with the Founder of PositiveHire, Michele Heyward.

PositiveHire is a tech company which helps to recruit and retain experienced Latina, Black and indigenous women STEM professionals into management positions. Our software assists these women in finding the best fit employer for them to advance their careers. This in turn helps employers retain diverse STEM talent longer.

We talk about her career as a Civil Engineer, growing up in a family where her curiosity was encouraged and why it's more important for people to be a co-conspirator than an ally.

***Thank you to BetterHelp for sponsoring this episode. Take charge of your mental health and get 10% off of your first month of therapy at: https://BetterHelp.com/changeup

Marty Keiser, Founder & CEO of IV BioHoldings

Fri, 20 May 2022 16:00:00 -0400

This week’s guest is founder and CEO of IV Bioholdings, Marty Keiser.

IV Bioholdings is on a quest to radically improve the detection, diagnosis and treatment of disease. Listen as I try to keep up with Marty as he shares their bold innovations that are radically improving patients ability to detect diseases like cancer earlier and potentially save lives.

Cristian Palma, Founder of Off the Cuff

Mon, 16 May 2022 08:00:00 -0400

This week’s guest is the host of Off the Cuff, Christian Palma.

We go deep into manifesting your dreams, reflecting on what matters most when making really tough career choices, giving people their flowers and how his grandmother was the inspiration for him to start his own podcast, Off The Cuff.

Emily Heck, Owner of Evergreen Strategic Communications

Mon, 09 May 2022 14:00:00 -0400

This week’s guest is the founder of Evergreen Strategic Communications, Emily Heck.

Evergreen is a marketing agency specializing in nonprofit, education and small business services. We talk about her decision to leave the corporate side of academia and non profits to strike out on her own, what it means to be an accidental entrepreneur and the healthy startup community she has been able to cultivate

**This week's episode is brought to you by Athletic Greens.
Athletic Greens is going to give you a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. All you have to do is visit athleticgreens.com/changeup. Again, that is
athleticgreens.com/changeup to take ownership over your health and pick up the ultimate daily nutritional insurance!**

Michelle O'Grady Caballero, Founder & CEO at Team Friday Inc

Mon, 02 May 2022 09:00:00 -0400

This week’s guest is Founder and CEO of Team Friday, Michelle O’Grady Caballero.

Team Friday works at the intersection of communications, culture and community helping brands deploy new strategies to reach diverse audiences.

We talk about her decision to leave the corporate marketing world to venture out on her own, how she uses her company’s insights to change brand behavior and a real talk on what it means to be Latina.

**This week's episode is brought to you by Athletic Greens.
Athletic Greens is going to give you a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. All you have to do is visit athleticgreens.com/changeup. Again, that is
athleticgreens.com/changeup to take ownership over your health and pick up the ultimate daily nutritional insurance!**

Jackie Hernandez & Jack Rico, New Majority Ready

Mon, 25 Apr 2022 06:00:00 -0400

This week’s guests are Jackie Hernandez, Co-founder of New Majority Ready and Jack Rico, Managing Partner of New Majority Storytelling.

New Majority Ready helps businesses and brands connect with the increasingly multicultural world. We have a frank discussion about the continued lack of diversity in executive leadership, media and entertainment. And we talk about what companies can do to be more intentional on the hiring front to become a more inclusive place to work.

Brittany Chavez, Founder & CEO of Shop Latinx

Mon, 18 Apr 2022 16:00:00 -0400

The purchasing power of the Latinx community has grown substantially in the past 30 years, from $213 billion in 1990 to over $1.9 trillion in 2020. Yet, venture capital funding for businesses started by Latinx founders still sits below 2% year over year.

Brittany Chavez is here to change that. She built Shop Latinx to create a shopping experience around all the passionate, talented Latinx creatives and makers in the world. Her vision is to amplify the work of Latinx and BIPOC business owners by curating a marketplace that speaks directly to our community. We talk about how she turned a brilliant Instagram handle into a business, raising the first $1MM from VCs of color and her personal growth as a founder.

Ansley Fender, Founder & CEO of Atlas Solutions

Mon, 11 Apr 2022 06:00:00 -0400

This week on The Changeup, we sit down with the CEO and Founder of Atlas Solutions, Ansley Fender. Atlas Solutions is a software as a service (SaaS) company that streamlines grant management.

We talk about the limitations of a typical 9 to 5 job, how the "American Dream" concept is perfect for those that are more entrepreneurial-minded, and she shares her thoughts on failure and entrepreneurial success. Ansley also discusses some of the difficulties of being a woman in a majority male world, when all you want to do is blend in, be equal and have a seat at the table.

Michael Collazo, Partner and CEO, Open Seat Direct

Mon, 04 Apr 2022 09:00:00 -0400

This week we sat down with Partner and CEO of Open Seat Direct, Michael Collazo.

Open Seat Direct empowers anyone to organize events easily, get paid instantly and connect with customers directly. We talk about Michael's growing up in the live event space, from Minor League baseball to the NHL, and how that helped him formulate the idea for Open Seat Direct.

We learn about his growing up in Philly and having your dad be a local celebrity, how music and politics has influenced his life and we nerd out on baseball. I mean really nerd out on baseball and why our Puerto Rican shortstops are the most electrifying athletes in the game right now.

C.J. Toledano, Founder of Follow Through Studio

Fri, 01 Apr 2022 08:00:00 -0400

C.J. Toledano is the Founder of Follow Through Studio, a creative sports studio is at the intersection of sports and comedy. We worked together at Bleacher Report, where he was pivotal in building and scaling the Social Moments team that fueled B/R's social growth and then was the creative director for House of Highlights.

We talk about why pop culture, comedy and fashion are so integral to sports fandom experience these days, how he broke into comedy and how excited he is to be a father super soon.

We recorded this about a month ago when the Lakers were medium trash and kinda washed. Sadly, C.J's team has fallen even further since our conversation.

Brian Morrissey, Founder of The Rebooting

Mon, 28 Mar 2022 08:00:00 -0400

Brian Morrissey has been fascinated with how sustainable media businesses scale for quite some time. Amidst the pandemic, he left Digiday Media, moved to Miami and started to build a newsletter and podcast called The Rebooting to examine what makes a modern media company hum.

As a big fan of Brian's works, especially his interviews, it was extremely fun to have him on the other side of the microphone answering questions about building his own business.

We talk about the rise of niche (or is it neeeesh), how long it takes for him to realize someone is full of shit and serving a growing audience as a solo practitioner.

Ana Milicevic, Principal and Co-founder of Sparrow Digital Holdings

Fri, 25 Mar 2022 08:00:00 -0400

This week’s guest is principal and cofounder of Sparrow Digital Holdings, Ana Milicevic.

Sparrow advisors is a digital advisory firm that works with companies across ad tech, mar tech, e-commerce and media to generate and grow revenue.
We talk about the disconnect ad tech has with it’s intended value, our own perception of advertising, working with CMOs to get digital ready and building a business with a sibling. She is one of the sharpest in the game and a trusted voice of what’s happening in marketing.

Nandini Jammi + Claire Atkin, Co-Founders of Check My Ads

Tue, 22 Mar 2022 09:00:00 -0400

Digital advertising was built on a false promise: the ability to track everything would lead to the right ad being served to the right customer at the right time. In reality, what it created was a massive multi-billion dollar arbitrage ecosystem where disinformation and bad actors pull money from advertisers who are unaware they are even running on these bad sites.

Nandini Jammi and Claire Atkin created Check My Ads to shine a light on the dark, dirty world of ad tech and to help brands build a cleaner advertising mix. Their brave work is met with vicious attacks by ad tech founders who were making bank on the status quo. We talk about all this and more on this week's episode.

Walt Brock, Co-Founder of CrossOvr Collective

Fri, 18 Mar 2022 10:00:00 -0400

The business of sports is bigger and more integral to the game than ever before. And for athletes that means they have the chance to share their personal journey and personality outside of the field, on their own terms.

Walt Brock started his company, CrossOvr Collective, to help with just that. Working with athletes from all sports, his production team has built a stable of great, made for digital shows. We talk about his own journey from climbing the corporate ladder of college athletic departments to the ah-ha moment where he realized his passion was in video production.

Nick Demos, President & Founder of Nick Demos Media

Mon, 14 Mar 2022 08:00:00 -0400

Nick Demos is a Tony and Olivier Award winning producer, filmmaker, business coach, as well as a yoga and meditation instructor AND he hosts his own podcast. We talk about growing up in Montana, his decision to leave dance and theater when from all outward appearances he was at the top of his game and how important the beginner's mindset is to his life journey.

Benjamin Aziz, Founder of Marcy Avenue

Fri, 11 Mar 2022 16:00:00 -0500

This week we talk with the founder and partner of agency Marcy Avenue, Benjamin Aziz.

Marcy Avenue is a creative collective of designers and strategists united by a common goal: to bring people together through art and culture. We talk about how his career has traveled from law to sports to politics back to sports and now helping some of the most innovative brands rethink art and culture. We learn about his decision to leave law, how he got his first break in the sports industry and what it's like building a professional soccer club from scratch.

Marco Marandiz, Founder, Drop Party

Mon, 07 Mar 2022 09:00:00 -0500

What does fandom look like now? For Drop Party, it's the emotional relationship between brands and fans. Founder Marco Marandiz has been obsessed with how we obsess and build his company to further deepen that bond. With partners like Will Smith, Patrick Mahomes and the Mars 2020 initiative, Drop Party is creating culture with some of the coolest experiences.

We talk about how hurdles at a prior startup strengthened his resolve (and his relationships with investors), how he wants to bring back a bit of serendipity into the shopping experience and how crucial those first few hires are to building the right team.

**This week's episode is brought to you by Athletic Greens.
Athletic Greens is going to give you a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. All you have to do is visit athleticgreens.com/changeup. Again, that is
athleticgreens.com/changeup to take ownership over your health and pick up the ultimate daily nutritional insurance!**

Steve Pratt, Co-Founder of Pacific Content

Fri, 04 Mar 2022 07:00:00 -0500

The world of audio continues to grow and Steve Pratt has been at the forefront of the emerging medium. In 2014 he left a job at the Canadian Broadcast Company with a few colleagues to build Pacific Content, one of the first branded content audio studios.

We talk about the energy and excitement of hitting on an idea you love, finding the absolute best first client ever (they sold their first deal in their first meeting!) and how they get clients to agree to creative bravery and commitment.

Shira Atkins, Co-founder + CMO, Wonder Media Network

Mon, 28 Feb 2022 17:00:00 -0500

This week we are interviewing some of my favorite podcast companies and we start with Shira Atkins, Co-founder and CMO of Wonder Media Network.
Wonder Media Network is an audio-first media company focused on women at the intersection of politics, business and culture. They have created hit shows like Womanica, The Brown Girls Guide to Politics and The Growth League. Shira and I talk about what it takes to build your own audio company, her love for the business side of things and their unique approach to developing programs with underrepresented voices.

**This week's episode is brought to you by Athletic Greens.
Athletic Greens is going to give you a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. All you have to do is visit athleticgreens.com/changeup. Again, that is
athleticgreens.com/changeup to take ownership over your health and pick up the ultimate daily nutritional insurance!**

Kevin Jones, Founder and CEO, Blue Wire Podcasts

Fri, 25 Feb 2022 10:00:00 -0500

What do you do when the industry you love seemingly has no job opportunities for you? If you are Kevin Jones, Founder and CEO of Blue Wire Podcasts, you create your own opportunity and shake up the industry. We have an open conversation about how losing his father was a driving force to build Blue Wire, how they are changing the sports audio game and how to find the right advisors/investors to complement your strengths.

Haley Rosen, CEO & Founder of Just Women's Sports

Mon, 21 Feb 2022 21:00:00 -0500

In the season premiere, we talk with CEO and Founder of Just Women's sports. 4% of sports media coverage is provided to women's sports. 4%. That paltry number is something Haley is dead set on changing by building her own media empire. We talk about her professional soccer career, why more need to invest in women and the early Instagram success that nearly derailed the company.

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Coming Soon: Season 2

Thu, 17 Feb 2022 19:00:00 -0500

New episodes every Monday starting Feb 21!

The Changeup is back for another season, featuring deep dive interviews with founders, innovators and those who made the brave leap from the corporate world to starting their own thing.

Soledad O'Brien, CEO of Soledad O'Brien Productions and Broadcast Journalist

Wed, 15 Dec 2021 11:00:00 -0500

In the season finale of Season 1, we have the pleasure of talking to the legendary broadcast journalist Soledad O'Brien about her decision to leave the cable news world and create her own company, Soledad O'Brien Productions. We also discuss her new HBO docuseries "Black and Missing", the phenomenal work done by her organization PowHERful Foundation, and the growing difficulties of caring for your elder parents.

Tara McGowan, CEO and Founder of Good Information, Inc

Tue, 07 Dec 2021 14:00:00 -0500

In this episode we talk with all around force of nature Tara McGowan, the CEO and Founder of Good Information, Inc, which owns Courier Newsroom. She shares her mission to help battle disinformation in media and increase civic engagement through trusted local journalism in critical local markets. We also talk about the gutting news coming from the Supreme Court in the Roe vs. Wade hearings and how important it is for us to vote in every election, not just the Presidential ones.

Michael Miraflor, Founder of Third City Advisory

Tue, 30 Nov 2021 20:00:00 -0500

In this episode, we sit down with the founder of Third City Advisory, Michael Miraflor. We talk about how his curiosity keeps him energized in an ever evolving advertising world, how the agency world is still not diverse enough and he helps me wrap my head around Web3, NFTs and DAOs.

Melanie Deziel, Founder of Story Fuel

Tue, 23 Nov 2021 13:00:00 -0500

Melanie, the Founder of Story Fuel, is a keynote speaker, author, award-winning branded content creator, and lifelong storyteller. In this episode, she talks about how she figured out what she was worth as a speaker, why marketing is essentially just building a relationship, and how she ended up living in Raleigh of all places.

Akeelah Kuraishi, Co-Founder of Little Global Citizens

Wed, 17 Nov 2021 19:00:00 -0500

In this episode, we sit down and chat with Akeelah Kuraishi, the Co-Founder of the subscription box service, Little Global Citizens. Akeelah discusses how her later in life "gap year" ended up being one of her most profound experiences that ultimately led to her creating her own company. She shares her thoughts on the commonalities of people across the world, how exposure to others fosters compassion and understanding, and most importantly, how we can teach these things to the next generation.

Little Global Citizens

Shareen Pathak, Co-Founder of Toolkits

Mon, 08 Nov 2021 06:00:00 -0500

In this episode, we sit down with Co-Founder of Toolkits, Shareen Pathak and discuss her transition from being a journalist and editor to a business owner, how to build up a good BS radar when interviewing people and how having a friend as a business partner makes even boring tasks seem fun.

Chris Ruder, CEO & Founder of Spikeball

Mon, 01 Nov 2021 14:00:00 -0400

In this episode, we talk with the CEO and Founder of Spikeball, Chris Ruder. He talks about what Spikeball is and why no one is good at it to start with, what it takes to get on and win on Shark Tank, the foreignness of getting to make all your own decisions as a CEO, and the difference between a calculated risk and just being stupid.

Check out Spikeball

S. Mitra Kalita, Co-founder of URL Media

Tue, 26 Oct 2021 08:00:00 -0400

Today we sit down with S. Mitra Kalita and she shares her thoughts on how the pandemic shaped lives, the importance of diversifying media content, and the subtle but important differences between local and community media

Jeri Millard, CEO & Founder of In The Pink

Tue, 19 Oct 2021 06:00:00 -0400

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and on this episode of The Changeup, we have the honor of sitting down and talking with Jeri Millard, CEO & Founder of In The Pink.

Jeri is a two-type cancer survivor who is using her experiences to better help other cancer patients with their durable medical needs. Her non-profit boutique offers wigs, breast protheses, post-mastectomy bras, swimwear, scarves, hats, skin-care products and most crucially, counseling, for those battling cancer. In The Pink currently has a community of over 12,000 people in the Jacksonville, Florida area, with a goal of reaching many more in the years to come.

Eliana Murillo, CEO of Eliment & Co.

Thu, 14 Oct 2021 16:00:00 -0400

In this episode of The Changeup, we talk to the co-founder of an organic Tequila company, the founder and CEO of the startup Eliment & Co., a consultancy that focuses on how business can design culturally-relevant products and campaigns, the founder of Latinas Who Brunch and a Le Cordon Bleu trained Chef. The wild part? This is all one guest- the incredible (and energetic) Eliana Murillo.

Emily Zawisza, Cast Member & Sales Director of Four Day Weekend

Tue, 12 Oct 2021 12:00:00 -0400

In this episode, Emily explains how business and comedy intersect in her improv group- Four Day Weekend. She discusses how improv is not a talent but rather a skill that needs to be practiced, and how imperfect moments are really just opportunities in life and on stage.

Keith Stoeckeler, Managing Partner at HEARTLENT

Fri, 08 Oct 2021 10:00:00 -0400

Keith Stoeckeler joins The Changeup to share his thoughts on needing to "make it" before turning 40, the importance of Twitter when you're unemployed, and why starting something new isn't always a financial thing if you really believe in it. We also talk about the Mets. The underachieving, super frustrating, but we still love them, Mets.

Ray Ricky Rivera, Founder of Norwalk Brew House

Mon, 04 Oct 2021 10:00:00 -0400

In this episode, Ray discusses his path led him from the music industry to brewing beer, how he was able to create an inclusive homebrew club in Southern California and why turning 40 is way better than anyone thought.

Jenna Porcelli, ISR Director

Mon, 27 Sep 2021 14:00:00 -0400

In this episode, we talk with Jenna Porcelli, the director of Infant Swimming Resource, Lower Bucks PA. She shares some of the shocking statistics about childhood drowning, why floaties are dangerous, and what steps parents can take to protect young kids around water. She also discusses the intensive training that is involved in becoming an ISR instructor and what makes ISR such a uniquely safe and effective swim program.

Beny Ashburn + Teo Hunter, Founders of Crowns & Hops

Tue, 21 Sep 2021 10:00:00 -0400

The craft beer industry has historically been mostly white. Beny Ashburn and Teo Hunter have made it their mission to disrupt it by creating amazing locally crafted beers and cultivating a diverse community. We sit down with the founders to learn about the initial spark that turned into the brewery, how they left the marketing world to focus full time and the unique fundraising strategy that encourages the community to invest.

Claire Mazur, Founder at Of A Kind

Mon, 13 Sep 2021 06:00:00 -0400

Today we sit down with Claire Mazur, the Co-Founder of Of a Kind and author of Work Wife. In this episode, she shares the importance of female relationships, how a relationship should work when building a business and how running is the best anti-anxiety medicine out there.

Carlos Aguilar, Founder of Mestizo Coffee

Thu, 02 Sep 2021 19:00:00 -0400

Mestizo Coffee is on a mission to bring dope, high-quality Mexican American coffee to the masses. Started by Carlos Aguilar as a side project he blends top shelf craftsmanship with sharp brand creative. We talk what it was like to bootstrap a DTC brand during a pandemic, how he finds time to pursue all his creative passions and how a great cup of coffee cleanse your mind, body and soul.

Alexys Feaster, Founder + CEO of The Kinship Advisors

Mon, 23 Aug 2021 14:00:00 -0400

We sit down with founder and CEO of The Kinship Advisors, Alexys Feaster. Alexys shares with us what it was like to build a new business during the pandemic, her plans for global expansion and how the NBA bubble was a focal point for social justice.

James Edward Murray- CEO and Co-Founder of Therify

Wed, 18 Aug 2021 10:00:00 -0400

This episode's guest is the CEO and Co-Founder of Therify. James Edward Murray talks about the transformative experience that therapy can have when you find the right therapist, how it isn't always easy to find a culturally aware therapist, and what Therify is doing to fix the problem.

Lindsay Kaplan, Co-Founder of Chief

Wed, 11 Aug 2021 19:00:00 -0400

Today we get to hear from the Co-Founder of Chief, Lindsay Kaplan. In this episode, she walks us through the importance of finding people who balance you, how a focus on poetry for a creative writing degree is the best idea, and why you should never bring a kazoo to a parade.

Rajiv Satyal, Comedian

Thu, 05 Aug 2021 16:00:00 -0400

On this episode of The Changeup, we get a chance to hear from "The Funny Indian", comedian Rajiv Satyal. He shares his thoughts on the surprising benefits of an engineering degree, what made him leave his corporate job and life during the pandemic.

Adena Jones, CEO and Co-Founder of Another Lane

Tue, 27 Jul 2021 12:00:00 -0400

This episode's guest is CEO and Co-Founder of Another Lane, Adena Jones. Another Lane is an exclusive marketing place for premium sneakers. We talk about what it means to be a sneaker enthusiast, how they started the business and the changing landscape of sneaker culture.

Bo Han, CEO of Buzzer

Fri, 02 Jul 2021 14:00:00 -0400

The Changeup sits down with leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs to learn about their big career switch - from high-rising employee at a large company to starting their own thing.

This episode, we talk with Bo Han, founder and CEO of Buzzer.