The Real F Word Sun, 08 Mar 2026 17:05:06 -0400 http://www.realfwordpodcast.com en-us © 2026 The Real F Word Podcast yes 06c4a139-9eba-5a26-8464-ae0f85c7a1da realfword@ampleo.com Joe Grover episodic false Fail. A word we spend our whole lives running away from. The truth is, failure is the most common outcome for entrepreneurs and startups. The problem is that we rarely talk about these painful experiences with complete candor in a way that destigmatizes failure and de-risks the journey for others. The Real F Word podcast will explore invaluable insights from the stories of failed businesses and startup collapses. These are the real stories rarely discussed by entrepreneurs and often hidden by investors.

]]> Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) Entrepreneurship, failure, startup, venture capital, founder Joe Grover realfword@ampleo.com https://storage.buzzsprout.com/r97io99tnu6uzdf5nab6oc68gikg?.jpg The Real F Word http://www.realfwordpodcast.com Joe Grover 10. Lost My Business and Almost Lost Myself | Levi Lindsay 10. Lost My Business and Almost Lost Myself | Levi Lindsay Levi Lindsay, former cofounder of VidArmy and now CMO at Hona, sat down with Joe Grover to share his story of how he started VidArmy. Believing hustle would lead to success, he worked for years without pay but unfortunately battled cofounder disputes and lost himself in the process.

As a recent college graduate, Levi started VidArmy after getting the idea from a friend. The first few years went well as they slowly gained clients and eventually added two more partners—without an official partner agreement—and a CEO. When COVID hit, a government loan provided their first real working capital. Instead of stabilizing the business, it fueled over-expansion and bad hires and forced the partners to work without a paycheck.

Levi found himself on the edge of burnout and suffering panic attacks when one partner demanded a permanent 6% of future revenue. He had built his entire identity around VidArmy, convinced that walking away meant failure. But everything changed when he finally decided to step away as his wife requested, “I just want my husband back.”

From his experiences, Joe and Levi discuss the importance of giving yourself permission to quit in order to find yourself again. They explore the dangers of the sunk-cost fallacy, how some leaders deplete themselves to the point of losing who they are, and the trap of the “I’ll be happy when” mentality.


Links:

Levi Lindsay: LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/levilindsay/)

Joe Grover: LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com/in/joelgrover/)


This episode is sponsored by Amplēo, offering fractional executives in finance, marketing, and HR. Visit ampleo.com to learn more.

Chapters:

[0:00 - 1:44] Intro

[1:44 - 5:26] The Birth of VidArmy and Early Struggles

[5:26 - 10:44] Scaling Up

[10:44 - 28:55] Partnerships, Paychecks, and Panic Attacks

[28:55 - 41:53] The Breaking Point and Letting Go 

[41:53 - 46:05 ] The Aftermath and Personal Recovery

[46:05 - 57:59] I’ll be happy when . . .

[46:05 - 1:00:00] Permission to Quit


#TheRealFWord #PermissionToQuit #Failure #Entrepreneurship


]]> Levi Lindsay, former cofounder of VidArmy and now CMO at Hona, sat down with Joe Grover to share his story of how he started VidArmy. Believing hustle would lead to success, he worked for years without pay but unfortunately battled cofounder disputes and lost himself in the process.

As a recent college graduate, Levi started VidArmy after getting the idea from a friend. The first few years went well as they slowly gained clients and eventually added two more partners—without an official partner agreement—and a CEO. When COVID hit, a government loan provided their first real working capital. Instead of stabilizing the business, it fueled over-expansion and bad hires and forced the partners to work without a paycheck.

Levi found himself on the edge of burnout and suffering panic attacks when one partner demanded a permanent 6% of future revenue. He had built his entire identity around VidArmy, convinced that walking away meant failure. But everything changed when he finally decided to step away as his wife requested, “I just want my husband back.”

From his experiences, Joe and Levi discuss the importance of giving yourself permission to quit in order to find yourself again. They explore the dangers of the sunk-cost fallacy, how some leaders deplete themselves to the point of losing who they are, and the trap of the “I’ll be happy when” mentality.


Links:

Levi Lindsay: LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/levilindsay/)

Joe Grover: LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com/in/joelgrover/)


This episode is sponsored by Amplēo, offering fractional executives in finance, marketing, and HR. Visit ampleo.com to learn more.

Chapters:

[0:00 - 1:44] Intro

[1:44 - 5:26] The Birth of VidArmy and Early Struggles

[5:26 - 10:44] Scaling Up

[10:44 - 28:55] Partnerships, Paychecks, and Panic Attacks

[28:55 - 41:53] The Breaking Point and Letting Go 

[41:53 - 46:05 ] The Aftermath and Personal Recovery

[46:05 - 57:59] I’ll be happy when . . .

[46:05 - 1:00:00] Permission to Quit


#TheRealFWord #PermissionToQuit #Failure #Entrepreneurship


]]> Joe Grover Buzzsprout-16584102 Tue, 25 Feb 2025 07:00:00 -0700 3757 full false Levi Lindsay Joe Grover 9. Failure Isn’t the Real F Word, Fear Is | Kortney Osborne 9. Failure Isn’t the Real F Word, Fear Is | Kortney Osborne In this episode, Kortney, a partner at Amplēo and former marketing executive at Qualtrics and Weave, flips the script on failure, believing that the real F word isn’t failure—it’s fear.

From bombing on stage as a stand-up comedian to marketing ahead of product at Qualtrics, Kortney shares how embracing failure helped her iterate, learn, and ultimately drive success. At Qualtrics, she played a key role in pushing the company’s vision beyond what the product could do at the time, forcing innovation to catch up. She also helped launch X4, bringing in Barack Obama and Oprah Winfrey as keynote speakers.

At Weave, she went through four CEOs in 12 months and witnessed firsthand how ego, fear-based decision-making, and reactive layoffs can damage a company’s culture in ways that some businesses never recover from. She reflects on moments in which she let fear and ego dictate her own responses and shares how therapy and self-awareness helped her shift toward leading with belief and intention.

Throughout the conversation, Joe and Kortney dive deep into leadership, ego, and the cost of short-sighted decisions, whether in startups or personal growth. Kortney also shares her “First Fridays” practice—a commitment to actually enjoying the life she’s working so hard to build—as a way to combat fear and burnout.

Links:

Kortney Osborne: LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com/in/kortneyosborne/)

Joe Grover: LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com/in/joelgrover/)

This episode is sponsored by Amplēo, offering fractional executives in finance, marketing, and HR. Visit ampleo.com to learn more.

Chapters:

[0:00 - 0:49] The Real F Word Isn’t Failure—It’s Fear

[0:49 - 2:40] Lessons from Stand-Up Comedy

[2:40 - 18:59] Marketing at Qualtrics & Launching X4

[18:59 - 35:28] Fear-Based Decisions & Ego

[35:28] - 39:51] Patterns of Failure in Business Growth

[39:52 - 54:55] Redefining Success: First Fridays & Living with Intention


#RealFWord #FearVsFailure #EntrepreneurMindset #OvercomingFear



]]> In this episode, Kortney, a partner at Amplēo and former marketing executive at Qualtrics and Weave, flips the script on failure, believing that the real F word isn’t failure—it’s fear.

From bombing on stage as a stand-up comedian to marketing ahead of product at Qualtrics, Kortney shares how embracing failure helped her iterate, learn, and ultimately drive success. At Qualtrics, she played a key role in pushing the company’s vision beyond what the product could do at the time, forcing innovation to catch up. She also helped launch X4, bringing in Barack Obama and Oprah Winfrey as keynote speakers.

At Weave, she went through four CEOs in 12 months and witnessed firsthand how ego, fear-based decision-making, and reactive layoffs can damage a company’s culture in ways that some businesses never recover from. She reflects on moments in which she let fear and ego dictate her own responses and shares how therapy and self-awareness helped her shift toward leading with belief and intention.

Throughout the conversation, Joe and Kortney dive deep into leadership, ego, and the cost of short-sighted decisions, whether in startups or personal growth. Kortney also shares her “First Fridays” practice—a commitment to actually enjoying the life she’s working so hard to build—as a way to combat fear and burnout.

Links:

Kortney Osborne: LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com/in/kortneyosborne/)

Joe Grover: LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com/in/joelgrover/)

This episode is sponsored by Amplēo, offering fractional executives in finance, marketing, and HR. Visit ampleo.com to learn more.

Chapters:

[0:00 - 0:49] The Real F Word Isn’t Failure—It’s Fear

[0:49 - 2:40] Lessons from Stand-Up Comedy

[2:40 - 18:59] Marketing at Qualtrics & Launching X4

[18:59 - 35:28] Fear-Based Decisions & Ego

[35:28] - 39:51] Patterns of Failure in Business Growth

[39:52 - 54:55] Redefining Success: First Fridays & Living with Intention


#RealFWord #FearVsFailure #EntrepreneurMindset #OvercomingFear



]]> Joe Grover Buzzsprout-16499080 Tue, 04 Feb 2025 07:00:00 -0700 3406 1 9 full false Kortney Osborne Joe Grover 8. What Defines You? From Startup Struggle to Venture Capitalist Success | Kristy Muir 8. What Defines You? From Startup Struggle to Venture Capitalist Success | Kristy Muir In this episode of The Real F Word, venture capitalist Kristy Muir shares her deeply personal and inspiring journey of resilience, failure, and growth. Kristy opens up about the defining moments of her life—from navigating single motherhood on welfare and struggling to provide for her daughters to exiting her first startup. She reflects on the tough lessons learned through her entrepreneurial journey, her transition into tech leadership, and her current role as a venture investor.

Kristy’s story is one of grit, vulnerability, and triumph. She discusses recognizing failure patterns, the importance of listening to customers, and the power of storytelling in business. Most memorably, she shares how a $30 pink tinsel Christmas tree became a lasting symbol of hope and light during the hardest times. Tune in for an honest, insightful conversation about overcoming adversity, embracing the hard, and building a life of purpose and impact.

About Kristy
Kristy is a seasoned senior executive and investor at Pelion Venture Partners. With a proven track record in customer experience, M&A, strategy and operations, she has successfully overseen multimillion-dollar business acquisitions and cross-functional teams of 70+ across five countries.

This episode was recorded on December 6th, 2024.

-Links-
For (Kristy Muir):
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristylmuir/

For (Joe Grover):
https://www.linkedin.com/in/joelgrover/

#RealFWord #Venture Capitalist #Failure #Hardearnedwisdom #Startup #Founder #Entrepreneur.

]]> In this episode of The Real F Word, venture capitalist Kristy Muir shares her deeply personal and inspiring journey of resilience, failure, and growth. Kristy opens up about the defining moments of her life—from navigating single motherhood on welfare and struggling to provide for her daughters to exiting her first startup. She reflects on the tough lessons learned through her entrepreneurial journey, her transition into tech leadership, and her current role as a venture investor.

Kristy’s story is one of grit, vulnerability, and triumph. She discusses recognizing failure patterns, the importance of listening to customers, and the power of storytelling in business. Most memorably, she shares how a $30 pink tinsel Christmas tree became a lasting symbol of hope and light during the hardest times. Tune in for an honest, insightful conversation about overcoming adversity, embracing the hard, and building a life of purpose and impact.

About Kristy
Kristy is a seasoned senior executive and investor at Pelion Venture Partners. With a proven track record in customer experience, M&A, strategy and operations, she has successfully overseen multimillion-dollar business acquisitions and cross-functional teams of 70+ across five countries.

This episode was recorded on December 6th, 2024.

-Links-
For (Kristy Muir):
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristylmuir/

For (Joe Grover):
https://www.linkedin.com/in/joelgrover/

#RealFWord #Venture Capitalist #Failure #Hardearnedwisdom #Startup #Founder #Entrepreneur.

]]> Joe Grover Buzzsprout-16262633 Tue, 07 Jan 2025 05:00:00 -0700 3661 1 8 full false 7. Sentenced to Life in a Maximum-Security Prison | Damon West 7. Sentenced to Life in a Maximum-Security Prison | Damon West Joe Grover sits down with Damon West—3-time Wall Street Journal best-selling author and one of America’s most sought-after speakers—to explore the devastating impact of failure and the power of redemption. Damon shares his journey from having it all to losing everything after receiving a life sentence in a Texas maximum-security prison (talk about FAILURE.) They unpack the hard-hitting lessons Damon learned during his seven years behind bars and how the transformative "Coffee Bean" mindset helped him rebuild his life. With profound insights on overcoming failure, Damon inspires everyday entrepreneurs to turn their lowest moments into fuel for success.

Links:
Damon West: Instagram | LinkedIn | Website
Joe Grover: LinkedIn

#RealFWord #OvercomingFailure #CoffeeBeanMindset #EntrepreneurInspiration

Speaker Bio:
Damon West, M.S. Criminal Justice, is an internationally known keynote speaker, 3 times Wall Street Journal bestselling author, and former crime boss in Dallas, who was sentenced to Life in prison for Organized Crime. USA Today calls him the “modern-day Shawshank Redemption and the most in-demand speaker in America.” 

At 20 years old, he was a Division 1 starting quarterback at the University of North Texas, when he suffered a career-ending injury and turned to hardcore drugs to cope with disappointments of life.

After graduation, he worked in the United States Congress and trained to be a
stockbroker for United Bank of Switzerland (UBS).One day at UBS, he was introduced to methamphetamines; he became instantly hooked—and the lives of so many innocent people would forever be changed by the choices he made in order to feed his insatiable meth habit. After a fateful discussion during his incarceration with a seasoned convict, Damon had a spiritual awakening. He learned that, like a coffee bean changing with the application of heat and pressure, he was capable of changing the environment around him. Armed with a program of recovery, a renewed faith, and a miraculous second chance at life, Damon emerged from over seven years of prison a changed man. On parole in Texas until 2073, his story is one of hope, redemption, grit and the resilience of the Human spirit.



]]> Joe Grover sits down with Damon West—3-time Wall Street Journal best-selling author and one of America’s most sought-after speakers—to explore the devastating impact of failure and the power of redemption. Damon shares his journey from having it all to losing everything after receiving a life sentence in a Texas maximum-security prison (talk about FAILURE.) They unpack the hard-hitting lessons Damon learned during his seven years behind bars and how the transformative "Coffee Bean" mindset helped him rebuild his life. With profound insights on overcoming failure, Damon inspires everyday entrepreneurs to turn their lowest moments into fuel for success.

Links:
Damon West: Instagram | LinkedIn | Website
Joe Grover: LinkedIn

#RealFWord #OvercomingFailure #CoffeeBeanMindset #EntrepreneurInspiration

Speaker Bio:
Damon West, M.S. Criminal Justice, is an internationally known keynote speaker, 3 times Wall Street Journal bestselling author, and former crime boss in Dallas, who was sentenced to Life in prison for Organized Crime. USA Today calls him the “modern-day Shawshank Redemption and the most in-demand speaker in America.” 

At 20 years old, he was a Division 1 starting quarterback at the University of North Texas, when he suffered a career-ending injury and turned to hardcore drugs to cope with disappointments of life.

After graduation, he worked in the United States Congress and trained to be a
stockbroker for United Bank of Switzerland (UBS).One day at UBS, he was introduced to methamphetamines; he became instantly hooked—and the lives of so many innocent people would forever be changed by the choices he made in order to feed his insatiable meth habit. After a fateful discussion during his incarceration with a seasoned convict, Damon had a spiritual awakening. He learned that, like a coffee bean changing with the application of heat and pressure, he was capable of changing the environment around him. Armed with a program of recovery, a renewed faith, and a miraculous second chance at life, Damon emerged from over seven years of prison a changed man. On parole in Texas until 2073, his story is one of hope, redemption, grit and the resilience of the Human spirit.



]]> Joe Grover Buzzsprout-15939325 Tue, 26 Nov 2024 07:00:00 -0700 3746 1 7 full false 6. 92 Pitches, 18 Months, and a Shutdown | Jake Bengtzen 6. 92 Pitches, 18 Months, and a Shutdown | Jake Bengtzen What happens when an ambitious startup faces the harsh reality of an insurmountable problem? In this episode, Joe Grover engages in a candid conversation with Jake Bengtzen, the founder of Zipper, as they explore the painful journey of his healthcare fintech startup. After 92 pitches, seven investors, and 18 months of relentless effort—during which Jake paid himself only three times—he ultimately hit rock bottom. After he launched Zipper Health with the goal of lowering healthcare costs for individuals and families, he faced challenges that proved overwhelming.

Jake shares the moment he realized that the multitrillion-dollar healthcare issue was too vast to tackle and that it was time to shut down Zipper. Reflecting on his experience, he states, “There are a lot of people who choose unhappiness over uncertainty,” emphasizing the importance of what one chooses to do after experiencing failure.

This episode dives deep into the emotional and psychological aspects of shutting down a dream. Jake discusses how failure shaped his perspective on entrepreneurship and resilience, offering insights into the difficult decision to pivot after such an investment of time and energy. Join them as they unpack the lessons learned from failure and what lies ahead for Jake as he contemplates his next steps in making a meaningful impact in the world.

Links:

Jake Bengtzen: LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jake-bengtzen-0a8ab365/)
Joe Grover: LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/joelgrover/)

This episode is sponsored by Amplēo. Amplēo offers fractional executives in finance, marketing, and HR to companies of all sizes. Visit ampleo.com to learn more.

]]> What happens when an ambitious startup faces the harsh reality of an insurmountable problem? In this episode, Joe Grover engages in a candid conversation with Jake Bengtzen, the founder of Zipper, as they explore the painful journey of his healthcare fintech startup. After 92 pitches, seven investors, and 18 months of relentless effort—during which Jake paid himself only three times—he ultimately hit rock bottom. After he launched Zipper Health with the goal of lowering healthcare costs for individuals and families, he faced challenges that proved overwhelming.

Jake shares the moment he realized that the multitrillion-dollar healthcare issue was too vast to tackle and that it was time to shut down Zipper. Reflecting on his experience, he states, “There are a lot of people who choose unhappiness over uncertainty,” emphasizing the importance of what one chooses to do after experiencing failure.

This episode dives deep into the emotional and psychological aspects of shutting down a dream. Jake discusses how failure shaped his perspective on entrepreneurship and resilience, offering insights into the difficult decision to pivot after such an investment of time and energy. Join them as they unpack the lessons learned from failure and what lies ahead for Jake as he contemplates his next steps in making a meaningful impact in the world.

Links:

Jake Bengtzen: LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jake-bengtzen-0a8ab365/)
Joe Grover: LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/joelgrover/)

This episode is sponsored by Amplēo. Amplēo offers fractional executives in finance, marketing, and HR to companies of all sizes. Visit ampleo.com to learn more.

]]> Joe Grover Buzzsprout-16137623 Tue, 19 Nov 2024 18:00:00 -0700 3568 1 6 full false 5. Leather-Bound Lessons: Rustico's Demise | Isaac Childs 5. Leather-Bound Lessons: Rustico's Demise | Isaac Childs Joe Grover sits down with Isaac Childs to dissect the painful collapse of Rustico Leather, a once-promising leather goods company that ultimately couldn’t survive the brutal entrepreneurial landscape. Isaac candidly reveals the harsh realities behind Rustico’s failure, including the emotional toll of parting ways with loyal employees and critical product development missteps that ultimately doomed the business.

Join Isaac and Joe as they explore how personal coping mechanisms like journaling couldn’t prevent business failure and highlight the stark contrast between entrepreneurial passion and market realities. Isaac details the strategic errors in e-commerce and product positioning that contributed to Rustico’s downfall. He also shares his insights on resilience in the face of complete professional destruction, discussing how meditation, breathwork, and personal reflection became vital survival tools during this tumultuous time.

This episode provides a raw, unfiltered exploration of entrepreneurial struggle, shattered dreams, and the thin line between passion and viability. Check it out.

Links:

Isaac Childs: Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/mindfulnessmatrix/) | Website (https://www.themindfulnessmatrix.com/)
Joe Grover: LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/joelgrover/)

This episode is sponsored by Amplēo. Amplēo offers fractional executives in finance, marketing, and HR to companies of all sizes. Visit ampleo.com to learn more.


]]> Joe Grover sits down with Isaac Childs to dissect the painful collapse of Rustico Leather, a once-promising leather goods company that ultimately couldn’t survive the brutal entrepreneurial landscape. Isaac candidly reveals the harsh realities behind Rustico’s failure, including the emotional toll of parting ways with loyal employees and critical product development missteps that ultimately doomed the business.

Join Isaac and Joe as they explore how personal coping mechanisms like journaling couldn’t prevent business failure and highlight the stark contrast between entrepreneurial passion and market realities. Isaac details the strategic errors in e-commerce and product positioning that contributed to Rustico’s downfall. He also shares his insights on resilience in the face of complete professional destruction, discussing how meditation, breathwork, and personal reflection became vital survival tools during this tumultuous time.

This episode provides a raw, unfiltered exploration of entrepreneurial struggle, shattered dreams, and the thin line between passion and viability. Check it out.

Links:

Isaac Childs: Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/mindfulnessmatrix/) | Website (https://www.themindfulnessmatrix.com/)
Joe Grover: LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/joelgrover/)

This episode is sponsored by Amplēo. Amplēo offers fractional executives in finance, marketing, and HR to companies of all sizes. Visit ampleo.com to learn more.


]]> Joe Grover Buzzsprout-15892367 Tue, 15 Oct 2024 07:00:00 -0600 3413 1 5 full false 4. The Real Cost of Dreams | Lindsey Ivie 4. The Real Cost of Dreams | Lindsey Ivie In this raw and unfiltered episode, Joe Grover explores the hidden struggles behind Lindsey Ivie’s seemingly successful entrepreneurial journey. Far from a highlight reel, this conversation peels back the layers of entrepreneurial challenges, revealing the true cost of building a career while balancing motherhood and professional ambitions.

Lindsey is a serial entrepreneur, mother of four, and partnership specialist, and her journey has been far from straightforward. Listen to this episode to hear her discussion of failures in establishing sustainable business partnerships, moments of personal sacrifice, and the emotional toll of constantly pivoting and reinventing her professional strategy.

This episode isn’t about celebrating victories but understanding the resilience required to survive in the entrepreneurial landscape. Lindsey shares unvarnished insights into how failure becomes the unexpected teacher in business and life.

A brutally honest exploration of entrepreneurship, motherhood, and the thin line between perseverance and surrender.

Links:

Lindsey Ivie: LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindseyivie/)
Joe Grover: LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/joelgrover/)

This episode is sponsored by Amplēo. Amplēo offers fractional executives in finance, marketing, and HR to companies of all sizes. Visit ampleo.com to learn more.

]]> In this raw and unfiltered episode, Joe Grover explores the hidden struggles behind Lindsey Ivie’s seemingly successful entrepreneurial journey. Far from a highlight reel, this conversation peels back the layers of entrepreneurial challenges, revealing the true cost of building a career while balancing motherhood and professional ambitions.

Lindsey is a serial entrepreneur, mother of four, and partnership specialist, and her journey has been far from straightforward. Listen to this episode to hear her discussion of failures in establishing sustainable business partnerships, moments of personal sacrifice, and the emotional toll of constantly pivoting and reinventing her professional strategy.

This episode isn’t about celebrating victories but understanding the resilience required to survive in the entrepreneurial landscape. Lindsey shares unvarnished insights into how failure becomes the unexpected teacher in business and life.

A brutally honest exploration of entrepreneurship, motherhood, and the thin line between perseverance and surrender.

Links:

Lindsey Ivie: LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindseyivie/)
Joe Grover: LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/joelgrover/)

This episode is sponsored by Amplēo. Amplēo offers fractional executives in finance, marketing, and HR to companies of all sizes. Visit ampleo.com to learn more.

]]> Joe Grover Buzzsprout-15843374 Tue, 01 Oct 2024 07:00:00 -0600 2698 1 4 full false 3. From Fired to Fired Up | Steve Arntz 3. From Fired to Fired Up | Steve Arntz In this eye-opening episode, Steve Arntz, a renowned entrepreneur and intrapreneur, discusses his journey through the business world—from getting fired from his first job to making monumental decisions that shaped his career path. He opens up about the mental and emotional toll of these experiences, including the unseen sacrifices that come with entrepreneurial endeavors.

Join Joe Grover and Steve Arntz as they take us through Steve’s key career moments, finding the right path after failure, and the real lessons that come from facing challenges head-on.

Discover the true meaning of success, the secret to resilience in tough times, the importance of storytelling in leadership, and the necessity of a strong support system. If you want to understand the essence of success and the role of persistence in entrepreneurship, this episode is for you.

Links:

Steve Arntz: LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevearntz/)
Joe Grover: LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/joelgrover/)

This episode is sponsored by Amplēo. Amplēo offers fractional executives in finance, marketing, and HR to companies of all sizes. Visit ampleo.com to learn more.

]]> In this eye-opening episode, Steve Arntz, a renowned entrepreneur and intrapreneur, discusses his journey through the business world—from getting fired from his first job to making monumental decisions that shaped his career path. He opens up about the mental and emotional toll of these experiences, including the unseen sacrifices that come with entrepreneurial endeavors.

Join Joe Grover and Steve Arntz as they take us through Steve’s key career moments, finding the right path after failure, and the real lessons that come from facing challenges head-on.

Discover the true meaning of success, the secret to resilience in tough times, the importance of storytelling in leadership, and the necessity of a strong support system. If you want to understand the essence of success and the role of persistence in entrepreneurship, this episode is for you.

Links:

Steve Arntz: LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevearntz/)
Joe Grover: LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/joelgrover/)

This episode is sponsored by Amplēo. Amplēo offers fractional executives in finance, marketing, and HR to companies of all sizes. Visit ampleo.com to learn more.

]]> Joe Grover Buzzsprout-15804876 Tue, 24 Sep 2024 09:00:00 -0600 2722 1 3 full false 2. When Solutions to Remote Work Fail | Josh Little 2. When Solutions to Remote Work Fail | Josh Little Joe Grover and Josh Little sit down together to discuss the rise and fall of Volley, an asynchronous video messaging app created by Little to overcome remote work challenges during the pandemic. Vulnerable and authentic, this episode dives into the challenges we all experience when working remotely, as well as the emotional rollercoaster of a startup failure.

Despite initial excitement and rapid prototyping that attracted users and investors, Volley ultimately failed to gain widespread adoption. In this episode, Josh candidly discusses the significant obstacles Volley faced, including psychological barriers to video messaging in professional settings, low user adoption in high-risk environments, difficulties in refining features to meet needs, and the inability to overcome the contrast between workplace and personal communication styles.

Josh also shares the emotional toll of his failure, including the impact on his health, relationships, and investor expectations. Join us as we listen to Josh reflect on his failure and the lessons he’s learned since.

Links:

Josh Little: LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/littlejosh/)
Joe Grover: LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/joelgrover/)

This episode is sponsored by Amplēo. Amplēo offers fractional executives in finance, marketing, and HR to companies of all sizes. Visit ampleo.com to learn more.

]]> Joe Grover and Josh Little sit down together to discuss the rise and fall of Volley, an asynchronous video messaging app created by Little to overcome remote work challenges during the pandemic. Vulnerable and authentic, this episode dives into the challenges we all experience when working remotely, as well as the emotional rollercoaster of a startup failure.

Despite initial excitement and rapid prototyping that attracted users and investors, Volley ultimately failed to gain widespread adoption. In this episode, Josh candidly discusses the significant obstacles Volley faced, including psychological barriers to video messaging in professional settings, low user adoption in high-risk environments, difficulties in refining features to meet needs, and the inability to overcome the contrast between workplace and personal communication styles.

Josh also shares the emotional toll of his failure, including the impact on his health, relationships, and investor expectations. Join us as we listen to Josh reflect on his failure and the lessons he’s learned since.

Links:

Josh Little: LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/littlejosh/)
Joe Grover: LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/joelgrover/)

This episode is sponsored by Amplēo. Amplēo offers fractional executives in finance, marketing, and HR to companies of all sizes. Visit ampleo.com to learn more.

]]> Joe Grover Buzzsprout-15722452 Tue, 10 Sep 2024 05:00:00 -0600 2194 1 2 full false 1. The Unraveling of a Promising Startup | Bubba Page 1. The Unraveling of a Promising Startup | Bubba Page A raw exploration of entrepreneurial failure, this story chronicles Bubba Page’s ambitious attempt to build a referral automation platform that ultimately crumbled. After starting with early promises—like winning a startup weekend competition and securing $1.25 million in funding—Bubba quickly encountered insurmountable challenges.

Join Bubba as he discusses the realities of entrepreneurial life, including the emotional toll of startup failure, his battles with depression and anxiety, and his recovery. Through candid reflections on faith, physical fitness, and self-reflection, Bubba reveals the pillars of his resilience and shares the indispensable lessons he’s learned from failure.

No matter who you are in the business world, this episode serves as a powerful reminder that growth can stem from our greatest failures and challenges.

Links:

Bubba Page: Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/bubbapage/) | LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/bubbapage/)
Joe Grover: LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/joelgrover/)

This episode is sponsored by Amplēo. Amplēo offers fractional executives in finance, marketing, and HR to companies of all sizes. Visit ampleo.com to learn more.

]]> A raw exploration of entrepreneurial failure, this story chronicles Bubba Page’s ambitious attempt to build a referral automation platform that ultimately crumbled. After starting with early promises—like winning a startup weekend competition and securing $1.25 million in funding—Bubba quickly encountered insurmountable challenges.

Join Bubba as he discusses the realities of entrepreneurial life, including the emotional toll of startup failure, his battles with depression and anxiety, and his recovery. Through candid reflections on faith, physical fitness, and self-reflection, Bubba reveals the pillars of his resilience and shares the indispensable lessons he’s learned from failure.

No matter who you are in the business world, this episode serves as a powerful reminder that growth can stem from our greatest failures and challenges.

Links:

Bubba Page: Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/bubbapage/) | LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/bubbapage/)
Joe Grover: LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/joelgrover/)

This episode is sponsored by Amplēo. Amplēo offers fractional executives in finance, marketing, and HR to companies of all sizes. Visit ampleo.com to learn more.

]]> Joe Grover Buzzsprout-15647297 Tue, 27 Aug 2024 05:00:00 -0600 3512 1 2 full false The Real F Word, Lessons From Entrepreneurial Failure | TRAILER The Real F Word, Lessons From Entrepreneurial Failure | TRAILER Fail. A word we spend our whole lives running away from. The truth is that failure is the most common outcome for entrepreneurs and startups, but we rarely talk about these painful experiences with perfect candor and openness. The Real F Word podcast will explore invaluable learning and insight from the stories of failed businesses and collapses. These are the real stories rarely discussed by entrepreneurs and often hidden by investors.

]]> Fail. A word we spend our whole lives running away from. The truth is that failure is the most common outcome for entrepreneurs and startups, but we rarely talk about these painful experiences with perfect candor and openness. The Real F Word podcast will explore invaluable learning and insight from the stories of failed businesses and collapses. These are the real stories rarely discussed by entrepreneurs and often hidden by investors.

]]> Joe Grover Buzzsprout-15591043 Wed, 21 Aug 2024 16:00:00 -0600 810 1 1 trailer false