
Next Level Pros
Welcome to Next Level Pros, where we explore the journeys of some of the most successful and inspiring entrepreneurs from around the world. I'm your host, Chris Lee.
Throughout my career, I've founded multiple nine-figure companies and learned a thing or two about what it takes to succeed in the world of business. Now, I want to share those lessons with you by bringing on guests who have their own incredible stories to tell. I'm on a mission to find the most unique and entertaining individuals that have done it the right way.
Latest episodes

Jan 13, 2024 • 33min
#66: The Art of Storytelling with Richard Newman
In this episode of The Founder, we're chatting with Richard Newman, a pro in communication and storytelling. He's going to dive into what makes a story really stick in the business world, how to structure your content, and the power of body language. You'll learn how to create stories that not only connect but also make a memorable impact. So, tune in for some top-notch advice on mastering the art of storytelling!Highlights:“Success comes from being willing to say yes, put yourself out there, and learn from every situation. ”“So that's the power of story is that it takes hold in our minds in such a special way that we can retell it and recreate what it felt like.”“You have to figure out how to turn a complex or technical message into a story format that anybody around the world can engage with.”Timestamps:00:00 Introduction and Background05:43 The Importance of Storytelling08:04 The Key Attributes of a Story13:26 Storytelling in Personal Pitching26:40 Richard's Journey32:10 Where to Find Richard

Jan 9, 2024 • 46min
#65: Addict to Entrepreneur: Turning Addiction into #1 Rehab Center in the World: Richard Taite
In this heartwarming episode of The Founder podcast, we're chatting with the inspiring Richard Taite, the mind behind Cliffside Malibu. He opens up about his emotional journey, including the highs and lows of selling his beloved business.
Richard shares his personal struggles with addiction and how it led to the creation of Carrara Treatment Wellness and Spa. His approach to addiction treatment, blending top-notch care with a focus on co-occurring disorders, is truly insightful.
Get ready for an episode filled with genuine reflections and Richard's unique perspective on recovery and wellness!
Highlights:
"Just because you have money doesn't make the problems go away."
"We're teaching self-care and self-love because... I've never met a person who wanted to kill themselves with drugs and alcohol who loved themselves."
"You have to understand that there's nothing to get, there's only to give."
Timestamps:
01:22 Selling the Business and the Aftermath
06:27 Richard's Battle with Addiction
09:54 Childhood Trauma and the Root of Addiction
13:19 First Encounter with Drugs and Escaping Trauma
16:00 Homelessness and the Cycle of Addiction
21:31 Overcoming Guilt and Building a Strong Culture
29:34 Preventing Addiction and Fixing the Family Unit
34:48 Building a Strong Culture and Accountability
41:25 Carrera Treatment Wellness and Spa
48:19 Overcoming Depression and Finding Purpose
Live Links:
🚀 Join my community - Founder Acceleration
https://www.founderacceleration.com
🤯 Apply for our next Mastermind
https://www.thefoundermastermind.com
⛳️ Golf with Chris
https://www.golfwithchris.com
🎤 Watch my latest Podcast
Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-founder-podcast/id1687030281
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1e0cL2vI1JAtQrojSOA7D2?si=dc252f8540ee4b05
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@thefounderspodcast

Jan 5, 2024 • 7min
#64: 6 Must-Hires to Scale Your Business
In this episode of The Founder Podcast, we're talking all about the six must-have hires if you're thinking of exiting your business.
No matter what your industry, these roles are absolute game-changers. Chris is going to walk you through each of these key positions, explaining why they're so crucial and how they can help take your business to the next level!
Highlights:
"The executive assistant is absolutely imperative for you to be able to scale and be able to go and sell your business."
"Marketing provides opportunities. Sales actually closes the deal down."
"You have to have clean books in order to scale your business and ultimately be able to sell."
Timestamps:
00:41 Hire #1: Executive Assistant
01:33 Hire #2: Marketer
02:31 Hire #3: Salesperson
03:01 Hire #4: Fulfillment
03:29 Hire #5: Management
04:29 Hire #6: Finance
05:24 Focus on Strategy and Vision
Live Links:
🚀 Join my community - Founder Acceleration
https://www.founderacceleration.com
🤯 Apply for our next Mastermind
https://www.thefoundermastermind.com
⛳️ Golf with Chris
https://www.golfwithchris.com
🎤 Watch my latest Podcast
Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-founder-podcast/id1687030281
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1e0cL2vI1JAtQrojSOA7D2?si=dc252f8540ee4b05
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@thefounderspodcast

Jan 2, 2024 • 60min
#63: Employee #30 at Facebook to Founder of AppSumo: Noah Kagan's Journey
Noah Kagan, Founder and CEO of AppSumo, shares his journey from being an employee at Facebook to starting a nine-figure business. He discusses his early career and starting AppSumo to capitalize on opportunities in the Facebook platform and iPhone app markets. Kagan shares his philosophy on work, including his belief that everyone should aim to become an entrepreneur. He also talks about overcoming the two biggest fears holding most people back - starting and asking. Listeners will gain valuable insights on entrepreneurship and building a successful business.

Dec 29, 2023 • 1h 23min
#62: Building 9-Figs in a Garage: In Depth Dive into Solgen’s Rocket Ship
Levi Ringo discusses the early days of building Solgen from the ground up, including challenges faced while bootstrapping a solar installation business. Listeners learn about the founders' vision and grit that kept Solgen powered through adversity. Valuable lessons in problem-solving, pivoting, and building a startup culture are explored. With humor and honesty, Chris and Levi take listeners on the wild ride of the early days that established Solgen as an industry leader in solar energy.

Dec 26, 2023 • 1h 1min
#61: From Bankruptcy to 9 Figure Exits: My Time On The Bridging The Gap Podcast
Chris, an entrepreneur who went from bankruptcy to 9 figure exits, shares his story of perseverance and success. He discusses the lessons he learned around living for external validation, his insights on skills like sales, marketing, team building and culture, and what it takes to scale a business to nine-figure exits. The podcast also touches on the importance of pricing, reinforcing core values in an organization, the significance of business partners and teams, and the value of finding great mentors and embracing your own journey.

Dec 22, 2023 • 52min
#60: Amin Shaykho: Founder Of Kadama, Forbes 30 Under 30, Over 1 Million Users
Welcome to another episode of the Founder Podcast with your host, Chris Lee. Today, get ready to be inspired by Amin Shaykho, a trailblazing entrepreneur and software engineer.
Amin is the mastermind behind Kadama, an educational platform that soared to immense popularity with millions of users and a staggering social media following. His achievements have landed him a coveted spot on Forbes 30 Under 30 list, and he's also a TED speaker. With tech expertise honed at Apple, where he contributed to projects like iMessage, Amin raised a remarkable $1.7 million seed round for Kadama.
In this episode, Chris welcomes Amin Shaykho to the show. Amin, at just 25 years old, is a bit different from other founders featured on the podcast. His tech platform, Kadama, connects students and tutors to get homework help. Chris dives into Amin's journey, discussing his background, experiences at Apple, and the evolution of Kadama through three distinct phases.
Amin shares the challenges of the initial phase, where Kadama aimed to be an affordable platform connecting users with various services. The startup faced a chicken-and-egg problem, leading them to pivot and focus solely on tutoring. Just as they were gaining traction in the in-person tutoring space, the pandemic hit, prompting a second pivot. Kadama adapted to the virtual environment and quickly became the most downloaded Gen Z tutoring app in 2020.
With millions of users, Kadama is not only an educational platform but also a social media powerhouse, boasting the second-highest follower count in the education category, just behind Duolingo. Amin emphasizes the flexibility of Kadama for both students and tutors, allowing them to connect whenever needed and setting their own rates.
Chris delves into Amin's background, including his time at Apple and the significant impact he made with the development of a feature in iMessage. Amin's entrepreneurial spirit shines as he reflects on the differences between corporate life and the thrill of being a startup founder.
Tune in to discover Amin's remarkable journey from a young entrepreneur with a vision to the founder of a groundbreaking education platform with global impact. Don't miss this episode filled with insights, lessons, and the entrepreneurial roller coaster experienced by Amin on the Founder Podcast..
Highlights:
"He is a very young founder, and he's got a really cool technology platform that he is building with Kadama. And 25 years old. Yeah. Man. So my listeners know, when I was 25 years old, like I was in the middle of my first startup, and about a year away from bankruptcy has, you know, it's always a physical roller coaster, to be honest, that's what I call it."
"I'm always intrigued by young entrepreneurs. Because, you know, really, the rule in entrepreneurship is, is a lot of time a lot of effort over a long period of time usually leads to results.
His achievements have landed him a coveted spot on Forbes 30 Under 30 list, and he's also a TED speaker. Amin raised a remarkable $1.7 million seed round for Kadama, which achieved a number to peak ranking in the app stores' education category, amassing over 2.5 million followers and 1 billion views on platforms like TikTok and Instagram."
Timestamps:
00:00: Introduction
04:15: Apple Experience
13:31: Tutoring Platform
17:10: Bootstrapping A Tech Company
25:38: Leadership
28:43: Future Plans Language Learning
33:50: What is Education?
40:44: Content For The Masses
46:35: Finding Solutions Vs. Who Has The Solutions
Live Links:
🚀 Join my community - Founder Acceleration
https://www.founderacceleration.com
🤯 Apply for our next Mastermind
https://www.thefoundermastermind.com
⛳️ Golf with Chris
https://www.golfwithchris.com
🎤 Watch my latest Podcast
Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-founder-podcast/id1687030281
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1e0cL2vI1JAtQrojSOA7D2?si=dc252f8540ee4b05
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@thefounderspodcast

Dec 19, 2023 • 59min
#59: Daryl Kelly: Co-Founder Of Solgen Power, Serial Entrepreuer
Daryl Kelly, co-founder of Solgen Power, reminisces about growing up in a big family, the values instilled in him, and memorable experiences with Chris over 19 years. They discuss their first business venture, a coupon book fundraiser, and the challenges they faced. From competitions in wheelbarrows to daring dares with hot sauces, join them for a fun look back at their entrepreneurial journey!

Dec 12, 2023 • 59min
#58: The Digital Real Estate World: Ian Prukner
This episode of the Founder Podcast features host Chris Lee interviewing serial entrepreneur Ian Prukner. Ian shares his background growing up in Michigan and his journey starting in network marketing after facing financial difficulties.
He discusses scaling his business to 48 locations and selling it for millions. Ian provides insights on principles of success like winning fully across faith, family, fitness, finance and future self. He describes tough times like losing business overnight and how he overcame challenges through discipline and commitment.
Ian offers a masterclass on recruiting through identifying pain points and making people feel special. Listeners will learn lessons on building a business through principles, mentoring others and more.
Highlights:
"My philosophy is ran by this faith, family, fitness, finance, future self, these are the five things, Chris that like, in my opinion, if we get them wrong, that is irreparable, irreparable damage."
"You can be disciplined, or somebody can discipline you, but there is no escaping the discipline, just like there's no escaping the pain, you can pick your pain, pick it now or pick it later. But you're gonna have to pick it."
"Recruit people away from where they are not to what you're doing. So another word for that is expose the nightmare and sell the dream."
Timestamps:
00:00: Introduction
04:28: Quick Vs Long Term Success
09:20: Investing In Personal Growth
19:04: Short Vs Long Term Consequences
28:21: Leadership
31:23: Unethical Practices
40:44: Real Estate During Covid
50:19: Recruiting
Live Links:
🚀 Join my community - Founder Acceleration
https://www.founderacceleration.com
🤯 Apply for our next Mastermind
https://www.thefoundermastermind.com
⛳️ Golf with Chris
https://www.golfwithchris.com
🎤 Watch my latest Podcast
Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-founder-podcast/id1687030281
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1e0cL2vI1JAtQrojSOA7D2?si=dc252f8540ee4b05
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@thefounderspodcast

Dec 4, 2023 • 42min
#57: Scaling Without Spending
Join host Chris Lee on another exciting episode of The Founder Podcast, where he sits down with the renowned Dr. Chau Ong, a real estate guru with a unique approach to achieving financial freedom. Dr. Chau, formerly a pharmacist turned entrepreneur, has made a mark in the world of real estate by teaching thousands of individuals how to scale to a multiple six-figure income without massive upfront investments.
In this episode, Dr. Chau shares his journey from immigrant beginnings, sleeping on a single mattress in a challenging neighborhood, to becoming a successful entrepreneur. With an MBA and a background in pharmacy, Dr. Chau decided to break free from the corporate grind and dive into the world of entrepreneurship. He reveals how he built an impressive Airbnb portfolio, garnering attention from industry giants like Tony Robbins and Grant Cardone.
Chris, a seasoned real estate investor himself, explores the practicalities of Dr. Chau's methods and challenges him on the accessibility of such strategies for individuals with limited resources. Dr. Chau shares insights on mindset transformation and resourcefulness, emphasizing that anyone can overcome financial constraints with the right mindset and connections.
Listeners get a glimpse into Dr. Chau's Financial Freedom Formula, where he breaks down the steps to achieving financial freedom through his unique approach. The conversation takes a turn towards mindset and personal development, with Dr. Chau revealing his commitment to continuous learning from industry elites like Tony Robbins and Richard Branson.
Tune in to this episode of The Founder Podcast for an inspiring conversation that goes beyond real estate strategies, offering valuable insights into mindset, resourcefulness, and the pursuit of financial freedom. Learn how Dr. Chau's unconventional approach can empower everyday individuals to break free from the rat race and live life on their terms.
Highlights:
"It's not about me. It's about you. It's about leaving a legacy and helping people achieve their legacy."
"Cash flow is king, cash flow is freedom."
"The question to ask in business is not what kind of business do and the question to ask is, who is the ideal clients I want to serve?"
Timestamps:
00:00: Introduction Dr. Chau BnB
01:34: Financial Freedom
07:35: Real Estate Investing
12:33: Overcoming Financial Obstacles
17:43: Personal Development
22:54: Investing in Yourself
27:39: Spirituality & Growth
Live Links:
Live Links:
🚀 Join my community - Founder Acceleration
https://www.founderacceleration.com
🤯 Apply for our next Mastermind
https://www.thefoundermastermind.com
⛳️ Golf with Chris
https://www.golfwithchris.com
🎤 Watch my latest Podcast
Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-founder-podcast/id1687030281
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1e0cL2vI1JAtQrojSOA7D2?si=dc252f8540ee4b05
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@thefounderspodcast
Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts
Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.