The Authority Company

This week, Joe welcomes former Florida State star quarterback Christian Ponder, whose standout football career has led him to empower athletes in business. After being a first-round draft pick and wrapping up a run in the NFL, Christian co-founded The Post, aiming to provide a private community for athletes leveraging skills beyond sports. Having faced assumptions himself, Ponder aims to combat the “dumb jock” stereotype and enable athletes to translate teamwork, leadership, and other intangibles into entrepreneurship. Armed with finance degrees on top of athletic prowess, he brings unique acumen to guide members of The Post. Christian discusses challenging perceptions, establishing the athlete community, and transitioning from the arena to the boardroom. Tune in to hear Christian's insights on blending championship football and business vision.

Innovators like Steve Jobs have a talent for seeing room for improvement in existing products. While computers, tablets, and phones already existed, Jobs took Apple to new heights by enhancing these devices. Similarly, Steven Borrelli tapped into this mindset when he set out to transform the basic t-shirt by founding the apparel company Cuts. In just seven years, Cuts has evolved from a t-shirt startup into a leading apparel brand under Borrelli’s leadership, selling over $250 million worth of products without any outside capital. So, what unique perspective empowered Borrelli to disrupt a ubiquitous clothing item like the t-shirt? How did he rapidly scale Cuts into an apparel powerhouse reminiscent of Steve Jobs’ Apple? Tune in to hear Joe Pardavila explore Steven Borrelli’s journey to becoming the “Steve Jobs of T-Shirts” and his relentless drive to transform mundane mainstays into exceptional staples.About Steven Borrelli: Steven is a prominent figure in the fashion industry. He was born and raised in Wenatchee, Washington. Borrelli's vision, creativity, and relentless pursuit led to the founding of Cuts. The inception of Cuts traces back to Borrelli’s early career working at an advertising agency. His boss dismissed him from a meeting for wearing an athletic T-shirt that wasn’t “professional enough." It was then that he recognized a gap in the market: apparel that offers the comfort of workout clothes and the polished style of professional attire. He envisioned crafting the perfect T-shirt—a blend of exceptional quality and comfort to boost the wearer's confidence from the office to a night out. In just seven years, under Steven's leadership, Cuts has transformed from a T-shirt startup to a powerhouse full-line apparel brand, selling over $250M+ worth of products and becoming the Fastest Growing Athleisure Business in America. The company has achieved this phenomenal growth with $0 capital raised.

This week on the Forbes Books Podcast, Joe is joined by Brittany Dolin and Nicole Dayan, co-founders of The Pocketbook Agency. Drawing on decades of experience as executives and assistants, Brittany and Nicole share insights on reimagining the hiring process. They explain that their unique approach at The Pocketbook Agency is focused on building meaningful connections between employers and candidates. Tune in as Brittany and Nicole provide tips for transformational recruiting that benefit both job seekers and companies. They share stories and lessons learned from working with top leaders and organizations. Don't miss this lively conversation about bringing creativity into hiring and the secrets behind The Pocketbook Agency's success. Brittany and Nicole reveal their innovative ideas for fostering loyalty and matching candidates with the right culture.About Brittany Dolin: Brittany is the co-founder of The Pocketbook Agency. Inspired by her own career as a personal and executive assistant for high-profile families, Brittany was determined to create a search firm that fosters long-term relationships to help both clients and candidates feel more productive, successful, and fulfilled in the hiring process. Brittany’s years of experience in assistant roles allowed her to see what was missing from the traditional placement process. This critical understanding is what she turns to every day, working with Fortune 1000 companies & leaders, high-profile early-stage businesses, ultra-high-net-worth families, and everyone in between. Brittany's specialty lies within the high-net-worth family office industry, where she has advised and worked with some of the most prominent family offices across The United States. Brittany has been quoted in leading publications such as The Financial Times and Forbes as an expert in the recruiting sector.About Nicole Dayan: Nicole is the co-founder of Pocketbook Agency whose creative and distinguished career spans over 20 years, from coast to coast. A native Virginian, her innate love of people and family-oriented approach to her trade has allowed her to organically transition her fundamental values into a renowned business model built on commitment and loyalty. She is devoted to fostering strong and lasting relationships, which are the foundation for a successful business. This philosophy allows her to recruit and place extraordinary talent with a diverse list of esteemed clients in the Los Angeles area and nationwide. Her wealth of experience stems from every corner of the entertainment industry, from film and TV to radio and music production. Holding degrees in both Business and Theatre Arts, she has cultivated an acute sensibility immersing herself in the culture of both clients and candidates. Her one-of-a-kind perspective and open-minded approach have successfully led her through numerous executive-level positions at a range of established companies throughout the industry.About Pocketbook Agency: Pocketbook Agency, founded in 2014 by Brittany Dolin and Nicole Dayan, is a modern recruiting firm built for the needs of today and anticipates the demands of tomorrow. Headquartered in Los Angeles, the women-owned and operated elite agency specializes in bespoke administrative and support roles for both corporate and domestic environments. Applying years of industry experience and relationship-building to curate the very best support talent pool available in today’s market, Pocketbook serves accomplished founders, a-list celebrities, fortune 500 leaders and ultra high-net-worth clients across Entertainment & Music, Early-Stage Companies, Technology Businesses, Real Estate, Finance, Venture Capital & Private Equity, Crypto & FinTech, Beauty & Fashion, Food & Beverage, Hospitality & Luxury, Media and more. For more information, please visit https://www.pocketbookagency.com/

Get inspired by an incredible rags to riches entrepreneurial story! On this episode of the Forbes Books Podcast, Joe sits down with April Budney, founder and president of Old Whaling Company. When April started handcrafting bath products in her tiny kitchen in 2012, she had nothing more than a dream of turning her passion into a business. Flash forward a decade, and Old Whaling Co. has blossomed into a thriving multi-million dollar company with a nationwide presence. In an uplifting interview, April shares how her creativity, grit, and unwavering commitment to quality paved the way for massive growth. From humble homemade beginnings to running a beloved brand, her journey proves that entrepreneurial dreams can become extraordinary realities. Tune in to hear April's inspirational story, how she pioneered gentle bath and body products long before clean beauty was mainstream, and her advice for aspiring founders ready to take the leap. You'll walk away motivated and believing that with dedication, anything is possible!About April Budney: April is the founder and president of Old Whaling Company and has turned her childhood dream of entrepreneurship into a remarkable success story. With a passion for crafting exceptional bath and body products, she established Old Whaling Company in 2012 with the goal of providing gentle and simple alternatives to drugstore products.April's entrepreneurial journey started from humble beginnings in a tiny kitchen. Her unwavering determination, grit, and creativity paved the way for Old Whaling Company's extraordinary growth. Her story is a testament to the power of dedication and a dream pursued relentlessly.Old Whaling Company, headquartered in Charleston, South Carolina, has blossomed from its modest origins into a thriving multi seven-figure enterprise. Today, you can visit any of their three charming retail locations in downtown Charleston. Old Whaling Co also serves 1,200 wholesale accounts nationwide, and operates a thriving e-commerce business, all run from its Charleston headquarters.April's passionate commitment for crafting bath and body products is at the heart of Old Whaling Company's success. She is driven by a commitment to quality and authenticity, which has made her brand stand apart in an extremely competitive industry.April Budney's remarkable journey as a businesswoman has garnered her products numerous accolades and distinctions, having been featured in numerous publications such as O, The Oprah Magazine, Southern Living, Country Living, and Magnolia Journal. Old Whaling Company's growth under her leadership is a testament to her exceptional skills and dedication.Outside of her thriving business, April is a devoted wife and mother of five children, including four teenagers. She, along with her husband and children, resides in Charleston, specifically on Johns Island, South Carolina.

In this episode of the Forbes Books podcast, Joe talks to Todd Rogers, a professor of public policy at Harvard University and a co-author of the new book WRITING FOR BUSY READERS: Communicate More Effectively in the Real World. Todd shares his insights on the science and psychology of how (busy) people read and respond to written messages, and how we can use six research-backed principles to write more clearly, concisely, and compellingly. He also gives examples of how these principles have made a difference in various domains such as healthcare, marketing, management, government, criminal justice, and among family and friends. Whether you are a recent graduate, an entrepreneur, or a professional who uses email and Slack, this episode will help you communicate more effectively with any recipient, any reader. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from one of the best in the field of effective communication. Tune in to the Forbes Books podcast and listen to How to Write for Busy Readers with Todd Rogers.

This week, Joe speaks with Dr. Hassan Tetteh, an innovator at the forefront of applying artificial intelligence to transform healthcare. As a renowned cardiac surgeon, Dr. Tetteh has seen firsthand how AI and machine learning are fundamentally changing medical practice. In addition to his pioneering clinical work, Dr. Tetteh is a widely published author and sought-after speaker on using AI ethically and responsibly in medicine. On the show, he shares his unique perspective as an AI insider on how these technologies can enable precision diagnostics, automate mundane tasks, and augment human expertise across healthcare. Dr. Tetteh discusses his vision for the thrilling potential of AI, while ensuring it is thoughtfully implemented to benefit patients and build a healthier future. Tune in for fascinating insights on the coming healthcare AI revolution from one of its leading voices, Dr. Hassan Tetteh.

How can business and policy work together to empower communities? Peter Scher, Vice Chairman of JPMorgan Chase, joins the Forbes Books podcast to discuss his unique career journey spanning both worlds. Learn how Peter helped reshape JPMorgan's approach to corporate responsibility in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis. Peter shares his guiding philosophy that business growth relies on community health. He explains how this win-win mindset is fueling JPMorgan's community development initiatives from Detroit to Paris. Tune in for an uplifting conversation about how business can drive systemic change. Peter’s relentless optimism and collaborative leadership offer inspiration for making a difference in any field.About Peter Scher: Peter has an impressive story of leadership, beginning his career at JPMorgan Chase (JPMC) over 15 years ago after an accomplished career as a partner at a prestigious law firm and decades in public service. Today he’s the Vice Chairman, working closely with our CEO, overseeing several corporate and business functions of the company, including the firm’s business impact in communities around the world.During his time at JPMC, Peter has led the evolution of the firm’s approach to corporate responsibility—one that now brings in all the resources of the bank to help solve the most pressing societal challenges in communities while driving business growth. He was the architect of a $200 million investment in Detroit’s economic recovery following its bankruptcy. And the investment model created in Detroit is one the firm applies across the globe now, including in France.

This week on the Forbes Books podcast, Joe is joined by inspirational guest Ashley Connell, CEO and Founder of Prowess Project. Ashley is an intrepid entrepreneur and advocate for women, with her thought leadership pieces appearing in Forbes, Austin Business Journal and at SXSW. For the first 15 years of her career, she was an award-winning tech marketer in Austin and London. Driven to have both a thriving career and time for family, Ashley started Prowess Project, an integrated platform for job training, community and work opportunities to help caregiving women return to the workforce as Online Business Managers. The proprietary matching technology pairs jobseekers and employers based on professional compatibility. So far, 70% of trained women get hired within 3 months through Prowess Project. When she can find spare moments outside growing her company, Ashley enjoys walks with her baby girl and bulldog, yoga, and spaghetti and meatballs. Tune in for an inspiring discussion about entrepreneurship, women in business, and achieving work-life fulfillment.

This week on the Forbes Books podcast, Joe is joined by John Fieldly, CEO of Celsius. With over 20 years of experience in finance and operations, John has been instrumental in Celsius' growth and success since joining the company in 2012. First serving as CFO, John helped drive strong business results and shareholder value. He was named CEO in 2018, and under his leadership Celsius has reached new heights, becoming a billion-dollar brand. Strategic partnerships, like the recent deal with PepsiCo, have expanded Celsius' distribution and introduced the brand to new audiences. As CEO, John has leveraged his background in finance and proven operational expertise to maximize resources, drive revenue, efficiency, and shareholder value. John's strategic leadership and commitment to results have been invaluable to Celsius. Tune in as Joe and John discuss John's journey to CEO of Celsius, the strategies behind the company's tremendous growth, and his vision for the future. It's a conversation you won't want to miss.

Discover the transformative power of plastic surgery and find inner beauty with renowned plastic surgeon Dr. Dennis Schimpf. Dr. Schimpf shares his incredible journey to becoming an acclaimed plastic surgeon and founder of the esteemed Sweetgrass Plastic Surgery. He reveals how he helps patients restore confidence and transform their lives through thousands of reconstructive and cosmetic procedures each year. We dive into the wisdom from his bestselling book Finding Beauty: Become a Better You Through Plastic Surgery, including how to use plastic surgery wisely to reveal your unique inner beauty. Dr. Schimpf also shares profound lessons on self-acceptance, living authentically, and seeing beauty in everyone. Join us for an eye-opening and inspiring conversation about the intersection of outer appearance and inner beauty with the talented Dr. Dennis Schimpf. Discover how to unleash the power within and live your best life.