Founder2Founder with Aaron Spivak

Founder2Founder Podcast
undefined
Oct 29, 2025 • 1h 1min

Loaning $1M to His Campaign, Then Putting It All in Bitcoin with Michael Carbonara

In this episode of Founder2Founder, Aaron Spivak sits down with entrepreneur and now congressional candidate Michael Carbonara, committed to serving the people of Florida’s 25th District. Known for building fintech and blockchain companies that processed over $20 billion a year, Michael made headlines when he left it all behind, loaned his campaign a million dollars, and put it entirely into Bitcoin.Michael shares how growing up in a single-parent household shaped his hunger for success, what it took to become a pioneer in crypto banking, and why he believes the American dream is fading unless people like him step up. From building global infrastructure in blockchain to running for office against a 20-year incumbent, this episode covers business, politics, family, and legacy in a way few founders ever do.Chapters: 01:46 – Where His Entrepreneurial Spirit Started 03:19 – Dropping Out Before It Was Cool 04:47 – The Turning Point From School to Self-Education 06:14 – How Rich Dad, Poor Dad Changed His Worldview 08:16 – Starting a Payment Gateway While Holding a Day Job 09:43 – Why Working With Older Partners Changed Everything 11:13 – Becoming a Blockchain Pioneer Before the Hype 13:05 – Why He Still Believes 50% of the World Will Use Blockchain 14:38 – Web3 Is Coming Whether You Understand It or Not 16:31 – The Reality of Building in an Unproven Industry 17:42 – Pivoting Without Quitting: His Approach to "Failure" 18:41 – The Mentors Who Shaped His Entrepreneurial Mindset 20:14 – Why We All Thrive in Different Systems 22:28 – Childhood Lessons That Still Shape His Drive 24:19 – Why He Decided to Run for Office 26:09 – How a Documentary Sparked His Political Awakening 28:28 – Going Up Against a 20-Year Incumbent 30:35 – Restoring Safety, Slashing Waste, and Defunding 32:17 – What He’d Ask Under Oath 34:05 – Family, Risk, and Running With No Fear 35:16 – Why He Invested Campaign Funds Into Bitcoin 37:06 – Making Bitcoin Accessible for Real Wealth Creation 38:35 – Solving the Security and Simplicity Gap in Crypto 40:56 – Taking a Pay Cut to Serve the Country 42:44 – What Happens Without Police and Structure 44:25 – School Choice, Indoctrination, and Fixing Education 47:03 – His Vision for the Next 24 Months 48:30 – Why He Had to Become a Reluctant Social Media Influencer 50:04 – How 7 Million Views Landed Him in the White House 52:57 – How the Dream Is Still Possible, but Not Guaranteed 54:33 – Advice to His 12-Year-Old Self 56:56 – How His Wife Became His Most Trusted Advisor59:25 – Why He Believes the Time to Act Is NowGuest Links:Website: https://michaelcarbonara.comIG: https://www.instagram.com/mcarbonaraflX (Twitter): https://x.com/MCarbonaraFL LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelcarbonara/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578435752040Stay Connected!Aaron Spivak:Instagram @‌SpivakLinkedinThe Founders ClubInstagram @‌TheFoundersClubWebsite www.foundersclubofficial.com Founder2Founder:TikTok @‌Founder2FounderPodcastYoutube @‌Founder2Founder.Podcast
undefined
Oct 22, 2025 • 35min

Inside The Founders Club: Vision, Vulnerability, and What’s Next

In this episode of Founder2Founder, Aaron Spivak sits down once again with Chris Meade to talk about the evolution of Founders Club and where it's headed next. With nearly 700 members and over 120 events planned for the coming year, they share how they’re scaling intentionally while keeping the community tight and valuable.They break down lessons from the Puerto Rico offsite, the LA chapter relaunch, and why success today means supporting founders beyond business, into relationships, parenting and personal growth. It’s a real look at what it takes to build something that lasts.Chapters:01:24 – Kicking off our LA Chapter02:22 – Puerto Rico offsite and club planning03:19 – Improving Member Quality and Filters04:38 – Redefining Success Beyond Business05:56 – How Money Doesn’t Solve the Hard Stuff06:48 – The Missing Support For Personal Relationships07:56 – A New Lens On What Makes A Founder Successful08:58 – Member Anthony’s Shift From Brand Growth To Marriage10:03 – Learning From Founders Ahead Of You11:19 – What Really Got Discussed At Female Founder Day12:15 – What Motivates Founders After Kids12:57 – Why Peer Networks Matter More Than Ever13:27 – 2026 Events And Picking The Right Venues14:53 – Founders Club Is Not An Events Company15:56 – Forums As The Foundation Of Deeper Value16:48 – Members As Speakers, Not Hired Talent17:28 – Booking Dream Speakers For The Community18:28 – Keeping It Fun Or Shutting It Down19:33 – Why This Is A 30-Year Vision21:00 – A Goal To Be Part Of Global GDP21:34 – The Club As The First Call When You Need Help23:11 – Removing The Wrong Energy24:40 – Events That Spark Action25:25 – When The Club Drives Real Business26:46 – Unlocking Perks And Member-Only Access27:57 – Why Founders Need Better Tools And Support28:50 – What FD Chat And The App Will Offer30:18 – Creating Better Matches Through Data30:52 – How Many Real Connections You Can Have31:24 – Focus On 5 People A Year32:46 – One Billionaire’s Honesty Changed The RoomGuest Links: Instagram:@chrismeadeKintsugi: The AI-powered tax compliance platform trusted by over 3,000 companies worldwideStay Connected!Aaron Spivak:Instagram @‌SpivakLinkedinThe Founders ClubInstagram @‌TheFoundersClubWebsite www.foundersclubofficial.com Founder2Founder:TikTok @‌Founder2FounderPodcastYoutube @‌Founder2Founder.Podcast
undefined
Oct 15, 2025 • 58min

Breaking Into Steel: Kinga Strogoff on Owning Her Place in a Man’s World

Kinga Strogoff is the President & CEO of Second Street Iron & Metal, Chairman & Creative Director of Balmoral Defender, and a Board Member at Basalt International. She runs a third-generation scrap metal business, reshapes luxury automotive design, and drives innovation in sustainable materials, all while raising her son as a single mother.In this episode, Kinga shares how she moved to the U.S. from Poland as an au pair, eventually took over her husband’s steel business, and led it through collapse and revival. She talks openly about loss, building resilience, and why she believes obsession, not balance, is key to building anything meaningful. Her story spans legacy, grief, and the discipline it takes to keep moving forward.Chapters: 02:23 – From Polish Village to the American Dream 04:32 – The Power of Dreaming Beyond Logic 06:00 – When Manifestation Goes Wrong 07:44 – Leaving Home Against All Odds 08:40 – Becoming an Au Pair to Escape Limitations 09:47 – The Family That Waited a Year for Her 10:26 – Feeling Called to America at Age 6 12:28 – Entering the Workforce and Loving Money 13:24 – Childhood Hustle: Scrap Metal and Sneakers 15:31 – Her Grandfather’s Influence and Deep Bond 17:04 – The Story Behind the Name “Kinga” 19:51 – Building Kinga Steel from the Ground Up 21:42 – Visualizing Life as a Painting 22:37 – No Plan B: Betting on Herself 23:13 – Meeting Her Husband and Building a Life 25:53 – Taking Over the Business During Crisis 27:25 – 24 Months of Full Obsession 28:38 – Earning Respect in a Male-Dominated Industry 32:39 – Advice to Women in Male-Dominated Fields 34:34 – When She Knew the Business Would Thrive 35:59 – Leading Through Legacy and Empowering Her Team 36:56 – The Loss of Her Husband and the Aftermath 39:12 – Rebuilding While Raising Her Son Alone 41:44 – Jump Rope Therapy: Turning Pain Into Purpose 42:51 – Fitness, Discipline, and Mental Strength 46:06 – Obsession Over Balance: Her Success Philosophy 47:51 – What’s Next? Learning to Sit in the Unknown 49:12 – What She’d Tell Her 6-Year-Old Self 52:32 – Creating Heaven on Earth, Every Day 54:40 – The Role of Social Media and Building Brand Authentically 56:03 – Protecting Her Son and Living in Silence 56:45 – Sharing Her Story to Help Others HealGuest LinksInstagram: @kingasteel @ssimrecycleKintsugi: The AI-powered tax compliance platform trusted by over 3,000 companies worldwideStay Connected!Aaron Spivak:Instagram @‌SpivakLinkedinThe Founders ClubInstagram @‌TheFoundersClubWebsite www.foundersclubofficial.com Founder2Founder:TikTok @‌Founder2FounderPodcastYoutube @‌Founder2Founder.Podcast
undefined
Oct 1, 2025 • 1h 7min

How Keida Dervishi Built Soulmate Customs Into A 7-Figure Brand at 19 With No Ads, and 40 Posts a Day

In this episode of Founder2Founder, Aaron Spivak sits down with Keida Dervishi, the 23-year-old founder of Soulmate Customs, a custom embroidery brand that hit $1 million in revenue in under 11 months without spending a dollar on ads. What started as a hoodie gift for her mom’s birthday quickly turned into a viral business powered by emotional storytelling and relentless content creation.Keida shares how growing up in an immigrant household shaped her drive, how she transitioned from child star in Albania to business builder, and what it’s like leading a fast-scaling brand at such a young age. From hiring mistakes, to burnout, staying grounded, to posting 40+ times a day, this conversation is a real look at what it takes to scale with zero shortcuts.Chapters:02:08 – Growing Up in an Entrepreneurial Household03:47 – From Child Star to Burnout on Stage05:43 – Accidentally Entering Entrepreneurship07:00 – The Hoodie Gift That Started Soulmate Custom09:58 – Viral Launch and Selling Out Within Days11:32 – No Strategy, Just Action: Early Days of Posting12:37 – Moving Out of Her Bedroom to Scale Fulfillment13:02 – First TikTok Lives and Learning to Sell14:22 – Hiring Challenges and Missteps15:45 – The Family Business Breakdown: Who Does What16:37 – Discovering Her Why: The Fear That Fuels Her18:01 – A Breakthrough Moment at Founders Club19:04 – The Realities of Building While Your Parents Age21:10 – Navigating Burnout, Routines, and Sleep Struggles23:10 – Posting 40+ Times a Day: Pressure and Purpose25:12 – Why Consistency Is Her Superpower27:21 – Leading a Team as the Youngest in the Room30:44 – Building Confidence and Letting Go of Limiting Beliefs34:11 – Embracing Embarrassment to Achieve Greatness35:27 – What Keeps Her Going: Live Calls with Customers38:47 – Giving Credit Where It’s Due and Admiring the Work41:38 – What’s Next for Soulmate Customs44:45 – Learning to Let Go as the Business Grows49:28 – Curating Her Circle and Protecting Her Environment54:25 – Working With Her Brother and Navigating Family Tension57:22 – What She’d Tell Her 9-Year-Old SelfGuest Links: Website: https://soulmatecustoms.com/Instagram: @SoulmateCustoms@Keida02Kintsugi: The AI-powered tax compliance platform trusted by over 3,000 companies worldwideStay Connected!Aaron Spivak:Instagram @‌SpivakLinkedinThe Founders ClubInstagram @‌TheFoundersClubWebsite www.foundersclubofficial.com Founder2Founder:TikTok @‌Founder2FounderPodcastYoutube @‌Founder2Founder.Podcast
undefined
Sep 24, 2025 • 59min

From Nightlife to Nine Figures: Heath Wolfson on Trendspotting and Building with Purpose

In this episode of Founder2Founder, Aaron Spivak sits down with Heath Wolfson, serial entrepreneur and founder of FrontCare, a creator-powered telehealth platform. With a 20-year track record of building businesses across safety, media, and health, Heath shares how he’s repeatedly turned market inefficiencies into high-growth ventures.He opens up about navigating failure, executing without outside capital, and spotting cultural trends before they explode. From launching Tattoo Nation in shopping malls to scaling one of Facebook’s biggest publishing engines, Heath now turns his focus to reshaping healthcare access through affiliate-driven telehealth.Chapters: 02:49 – Early Life, College, and First Entrepreneurial Sparks 03:57 – A Practical Approach to Entrepreneurship 04:58 – The First Business: Event Marketing in NYC 06:35 – Lessons from a Short-Lived Nightlife Venture 07:51 – A Quick Detour at Morgan Stanley 08:52 – Bringing Tattoo Parlors to Shopping Malls 10:35 – Navigating Regulations in Traditional Retail 12:45 – The 2008 Crash and a Failed Expansion 13:56 – Forgetting a $100M Success: Glow-in-the-Dark Safety 15:56 – Getting a Law Passed and Building a Manufacturing Deal 17:19 – How a Nightlife Job Led to a Fortune 19:22 – Partnership, Production, and Exit to a National Brand 21:49 – Real-Time Pattern Recognition and Risk 22:32 – Understanding Market Timing and Survival 24:11 – Acquiring Inked Magazine and Going Omnichannel 25:36 – The Birth of Facebook E-Commerce 27:00 – Owning and Monetizing Massive Facebook Pages 28:38 – Cambridge Analytica Fallout and Platform Risk 30:51 – Why Timing is Everything in Business 32:22 – The Dangers of Scaling Too Fast 33:42 – Zooming Out: Lessons Over Two Decades 34:46 – Transitioning from Media to Health 35:38 – Accidentally Overdosing on Ozempic 37:48 – Experiencing the Power of GLP-1s Firsthand 39:21 – Bootstrapping a Brick-and-Mortar Weight Loss Clinic 40:51 – Selling Telehealth Models to Founders and Creators 43:11 – Breaking Down the Legal Fight Between Compounders and Big Pharma 44:36 – Making Health an Empowered Conversation for Creators 45:52 – Building a Trust-Based Health Affiliate Ecosystem 47:31 – Quality Control and Compliance in Telehealth 48:45 – Inside the FrontCare “Clinic as a Service” Model 49:46 – Helping Gyms, Salons & Clinics Monetize Wellness 50:38 – Legacy Thinking and the Next Chapter 52:26 – Advice to His 17-Year-Old Self: Buy Real Estate 53:56 – Why Money is a Tool, Not a Destination 55:07 – Empowering Through Access and OwnershipGuest Links: LinkedIn: Heath WolfsonStay Connected!Aaron Spivak:Instagram @‌SpivakLinkedinThe Founders ClubInstagram @‌TheFoundersClubWebsite www.foundersclubofficial.com Founder2Founder:TikTok @‌Founder2FounderPodcastYoutube @‌Founder2Founder.Podcast
undefined
Sep 17, 2025 • 1h 9min

Uncomfortable Either Way: Why Growth Requires Choosing the Hard Path with Brett Eaton

In this episode of Founder2Founder, Aaron Spivak sits down with Brett Eaton, keynote speaker, high performance coach, and author of Uncomfortable Either Way. After a life-changing back injury and the loss of his father at 16, Brett discovered a powerful truth: life is going to be uncomfortable no matter what, so choose the version that leads to growth.He shares the frameworks behind his success, including the game-changing “Sunday Setup,” how to spot self-sabotage in real time, and why founders must upgrade their relationship with discomfort and money. This conversation is packed with raw honesty and practical takeaways for anyone serious about building a life that lasts.Chapters:02:14 – Brett’s Origin Story: Injury, Loss, and a New Lens03:46 – Sports, Hustle, and Learning to Love the Grind05:10 – When Patience Becomes an Excuse06:34 – Living in 90-Day Sprints08:01 – Gamifying Progress to Stay Consistent09:38 – Who Actually Needs a Coach?11:06 – Bad Coaching Investments & What to Watch For12:56 – Transitioning Out of Fitness-Only Coaching14:27 – Starting with Strengths, Not Weaknesses15:36 – Taking a Life Inventory17:00 – Learning While You’re Winning19:08 – The Full Sunday Setup Breakdown21:50 – Identifying Weekly Landmines24:59 – If It’s Not on the Calendar, It’s Not Real27:06 – Why Founders Must Prioritize Energy29:27 – The “F*ck It” Button: Spotting Self-Sabotage33:43 – The Comfort Trap34:40 – The Cost of Coasting: Blockbuster Syndrome37:48 – Embracing the Good Old Days While You’re In Them39:32 – Being Young vs. Being Present40:45 – “I’m in My Prime”: A New Morning Mantra41:49 – What Comfort Really Signals45:14 – Why Brett Finally Wrote the Book47:27 – Money Mindset & Unlearning Limiting Beliefs50:38 – Facing the Numbers & Taking Control54:25 – Surrounding Yourself with People Who Talk About Money1:01:31 – One Honest Question That Changed the Game1:05:12 – Advice to His 16-Year-Old SelfGuest Links:Website: www.bretteaton.comInstagram: @bretteaton_YouTube: @bretteaton_Kintsugi: The AI-powered tax compliance platform trusted by over 3,000 companies worldwideStay Connected!Aaron Spivak:Instagram @‌SpivakLinkedinThe Founders ClubInstagram @‌TheFoundersClubWebsite www.foundersclubofficial.com Founder2Founder:TikTok @‌Founder2FounderPodcastYoutube @‌Founder2Founder.Podcast
undefined
Sep 10, 2025 • 60min

From 0 to 2,000+ Person Events: Lucy Nelles on Community, Profit, and Scale

In this episode of Founder2Founder Aaron Spivak sits down with Lucy Nelles, leading community-building expert and co-founder of Coffee & Chill Miami, the wildly popular bi-weekly sober wellness party that now draws over 1,000 guests per event. With over 100 sold-out events and collaborations with top global brands, Lucy has cracked the code on making in-person gatherings profitable, scalable, and deeply impactful.She shares how she went from feeling isolated in a new city to building a movement, and now teaches others to do the same through her program, Community Mastery. Listen in for insights on team structure, brand partnerships, pricing strategy, and how to build meaningful connections without alcohol.Chapters: 02:14 – Introducing Lucy: From Isolation to Community03:46 – The Move to Miami & Early Challenges04:34 – The First Event That Sparked It All05:10 – Ice Baths, Stock Tanks & the Rise of a Trend06:59 – How Coffee & Chill Was Born08:03 – Losing $10K on One Event (and What She Learned)09:30 – The #1 Mistake Event Hosts Make11:00 – The First Coffee & Chill: JBL Speakers & 250 Guests12:38 – Gradually Raising Ticket Prices & Building Trust13:57 – Driving Repeat Attendance Every Two Weeks16:24 – Special Collaborations: Art Basel, F1, NFL17:18 – How Lucy and Her Co-Founder Divide and Conquer19:39 – Keeping a Healthy Co-Founder Relationship21:06 – Investing in Learning for Herself and Her Team24:28 – Launching Community Mastery to Serve Others26:09 – Balancing Two Businesses Without Burnout27:37 – Time-Blocking, Non-Negotiables, and Systems30:26 – Expanding Coffee & Chill Into New Cities31:45 – How to Stand Out in a “Saturated” Market33:31 – Rethinking Nightlife: No Booze, All Wellness38:54 – Why Lucy Quit Drinking and What Changed43:07 – Overcoming Imposter Syndrome Through Results45:45 – The Bigger Mission: Building In-Person CultureGuest Links: Website: https://coffeeandchill.com/Instagram: @luceilanelles & @coffeeandchillmiamiKintsugi: The AI-powered tax compliance platform trusted by over 3,000 companies worldwideStay Connected!Aaron Spivak:Instagram @‌SpivakLinkedinThe Founders ClubInstagram @‌TheFoundersClubWebsite www.foundersclubofficial.com Founder2Founder:TikTok @‌Founder2FounderPodcastYoutube @‌Founder2Founder.Podcast
undefined
Sep 3, 2025 • 1h 11min

From a $900 Bank Account to a $50M Brand: Chris Meade on Building CROSSNET

In this episode of Founder2Founder, Aaron Spivak sits down with Chris Mead, co-founder of CROSSNET and Founders Club, for his most open and personal conversation to date. From a small Connecticut town, to building one of the fastest-growing backyard sports brands in America, Chris unpacks the highs, lows, and lessons of scaling a startup from scratch.They dive into the origins of CROSSNET, the $1M mistake during an acquisition, the toll of leadership decisions, and how those experiences shaped the vision for Founders Club. If you’re navigating the founder journey, this episode is packed with the kind of honest insights you won’t get anywhere else.Chapters: 02:49 – Growing Up in Small-Town Connecticut 04:40 – From Film School, to HBO, to Burnout 06:30 – Learning Amazon Dropshipping in College 08:26 – Fired, Broke, and Starting Over at Uber 12:49 – Inventing CROSSNET in a Backyard 15:06 – Quitting Jobs and Moving to Miami 17:49 – Going All-In with Marketing 19:21 – $87K to $9.8M: CROSSNET’s Hockey Stick Growth 21:30 – The Year Everything Went Wrong 25:19 – The Mistake of Not Cutting Fast Enough 28:10 – Trusting the Wrong CFO and Losing Sight 30:01 – The Acquisition That Fell Apart 33:50 – Picking the Wrong Buyer for the Wrong Reasons 35:10 – The Second Exit: Why Vivier Was the Right Fit 38:15 – What He’d Tell His Younger Self 42:04 – Why He Wouldn’t Change a Thing 42:46 – Building Founders Club from Scratch 46:41 – What Makes the Community Work 49:29 – There’s No Real Community for Founders… Until Now 51:07 – What a Great Member Looks Like 54:10 – Building a Life Beyond the Business 57:15 – Relationships Compound Like Capital 58:19 – Founders Forum and the Future of Events 1:00:51 – The Long-Term Vision for Founders Club 1:06:49 – Why This Will Never Be a Suit-and-Tie ClubGuest Links: Instagram: @crossnetgame & @chrismeadeWebsite: https://vivereltd.com/pages/crossnetKintsugi: The AI-powered tax compliance platform trusted by over 3,000 companies worldwideStay Connected!Aaron Spivak:Instagram @‌SpivakLinkedinThe Founders ClubInstagram @‌TheFoundersClubWebsite www.foundersclubofficial.com Founder2Founder:TikTok @‌Founder2FounderPodcastYoutube @‌Founder2Founder.Podcast
undefined
Aug 27, 2025 • 58min

The 3 Traits Every High-Growth Brand Shares, According to Shopify’s President Harley Finkelstein

In this special episode of Founder2Founder, Aaron Spivak sits down with Harley Finkelstein, President of Shopify, for a no-fluff, behind-the-scenes conversation recorded live with over 100 Founders Club members. Harley unpacks the deep connection between personal identity and building lasting companies, while discussing how founders can grow smarter and why success demands unshakable character and long-term thinking.This isn’t a surface-level chat, Harley dives into the psychological drivers behind great founders, how AI is changing hiring and operations, and why you should fire yourself before it’s too late. He shares tactical insights on platform strategy, what Shopify looks for in celebrity-led brands, and how to build a company that’s authentic, resilient, and scalable. From DJing at 13, to leading one of the most iconic tech companies globally, Harley’s founder journey is packed with clarity and conviction that every entrepreneur can learn from.Chapters: 01:28 – Balancing Personal Brand vs. Business Brand 06:49 – Why Founders Must Go Direct (and Skip Legacy Media) 07:27 – 3 Traits of the Most Successful Brands 12:45 – How AI is Replacing Full-Time Roles at Shopify 14:20 – Growing Firebelly Tea with Fewer People and More Energy 15:47 – Hire Founders, Not Résumés 17:44 – Why Shopify is Run by Founders (and How That Works) 19:06 – Harley’s Grandfather & Building with Character 23:49 – Work-Life Integration & Founders in Relationships 28:11 – Daily Habits, Self-Awareness & Why Harley Meditates 31:29 – The Only Meetings Harley Never Misses 34:38 – When Shopify Builds In-House vs. Letting Apps Thrive 40:35 – What Business Are You Really In? Harley Coaches a Founder Live 46:12 – How to Stop Losing DTC Sales to Amazon 50:01 – Why It Doesn’t Matter Where the Sale Happens 50:44 – Shopify’s Celebrity Strategy (It’s Not About Fame) 55:50 – Harley’s Final Ask: Help a Founder IPOGuest Links:Instagram: @Harley & @ShopifyWebsite: https://www.shopify.comStay Connected!Aaron Spivak:Instagram @‌SpivakLinkedinThe Founders ClubInstagram @‌TheFoundersClubWebsite www.foundersclubofficial.com Founder2Founder:TikTok @‌Founder2FounderPodcastYoutube @‌Founder2Founder.Podcast
undefined
Aug 20, 2025 • 1h 20min

From $2,500 in Debt, to the World's Finest Tea Brand: Steve Schwartz on Building Art of Tea

In this episode of Founder2Founder, Aaron Spivak sits down with Steve Schwartz, Master Tea Blender, best-selling author, and founder of Art of Tea—an award-winning tea brand based in Los Angeles. After dropping out of college to care for his mother, Steve discovered Ayurvedic medicine and began a journey that would take him across the globe sourcing and blending the world’s finest teas.Starting with $2,500 in credit card debt, Steve built a vertically integrated company that now supplies iconic restaurants and hotels. He shares how he turned tragedy into purpose, created the U.S.’s first tea sommelier role, and built a legacy-focused business with intention and heart.Chapters:02:32 – Losing His Mother and the Awakening of Purpose04:11 – Discovering Ayurveda and the Art of Botanical Blending06:23 – The Truth About Supermarket Tea07:12 – The Power of Ritual: Why Tea Is Not Just a Beverage08:52 – Choosing Steady Growth Over the Hockey Stick11:03 – Building with a Multi-Generational Vision12:35 – American Flips vs. Eastern Longevity Thinking14:40 – Why Art of Tea Avoids Supermarkets16:03 – Creating the First Tea Sommelier Position in the U.S.17:22 – Expanding Art of Tea to the East Coast19:13 – Controlling Quality Through Vertical Integration21:16 – Coaching vs. Babysitting: Leadership Lessons22:12 – The Daily Work of Unlearning Scarcity25:37 – Childhood Scarcity and the Roots of Limiting Beliefs28:08 – From Rabbi Aspirations to Global Tea Advocate30:00 – Smiling as Strategy33:14 – The Power of Giving Before You Receive36:44 – Parenting, Abundance, and Entrepreneurial Mindsets39:58 – Why Entrepreneurship Is the Best Way to Live43:30 – Creating Safe Spaces for Founders to Be Real45:29 – Betting on Himself With a Baby on the Way47:09 – Filling an Org Chart by Removing Himself50:11 – DJ Fails and the Power of Vulnerability53:01 – The Real Reason People Join Founder’s Club54:06 – Building Grit in the Next Generation55:46 – One Day a Week Off: Shabbat as a Business Advantage57:12 – What His Late Mother Would Say Now59:14 – A Message to His 20-Year-Old Self1:00:33 – The Power of Trust Over Fear1:03:19 – What He Wants to Be Remembered For1:05:53 – Getting Out of Your Own Way1:07:20 – What’s Actually Going On With Matcha1:11:39 – Matcha Sourcing Crisis and the Japan Trip That Changed It1:13:55 – The Matcha Trend Explained1:18:06 – Closing Reflections on Legacy and LeadershipGuest Links: Website: https://www.artoftea.com/Instagram: @artofteala  @steveschwarxLinkedIn: Art Of Tea   Steve SchwartzFERMÀT: The AI native commerce platform that optimizes shopping experiences, leading to best-in-class shopper engagement and conversion. FermatCommerce.com Stay Connected!Aaron Spivak:Instagram @‌SpivakLinkedinThe Founders ClubInstagram @‌TheFoundersClubWebsite www.foundersclubofficial.com Founder2Founder:TikTok @‌Founder2FounderPodcastYoutube @‌Founder2Founder.Podcast

The AI-powered Podcast Player

Save insights by tapping your headphones, chat with episodes, discover the best highlights - and more!
App store bannerPlay store banner
Get the app