

From the Ground Up
Inc. Magazine
It takes audacity to start a company, grit to grow it, and community to survive the ordeal. Join Inc. Executive Editor Diana Ransom and Editor-at-Large Christine Lagorio-Chafkin as they host From the Ground Up, a new podcast from Inc. that features frank and unfiltered conversations—with some of the most successful founders in the world—about navigating the role of the founder, the tips and tricks entrepreneurs need to know to be successful, and the secrets that nobody really tells you before you start a business.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 13, 2025 • 6min
EXPERT EXCHANGE: How to Stop Micromanaging and Let Your Team Shine
Scaling requires trust. Successful CEOs empower leaders and step back without losing control.

Aug 11, 2025 • 24min
Beyond Bleeding Edge with Amy Webb
In this episode, we are featuring a panel from this year's Founder’s House at SXSW. Executive editor Diana Ransom spoke with futurist Amy Webb, the founder of Future Today Institute, a consulting firm specializing in strategic
foresight. They discussed Amy’s SXSW presentation on her future trends report as well as the importance of not focusing too much on one task or project to the detriment of others, and preparing for uncertainty.

Aug 7, 2025 • 34min
Growing Without Growing Pains - FROM SQUARE AND INC. CUSTOM STUDIO
Square webinar from 7/21

Aug 6, 2025 • 4min
EXPERT EXCHANGE: Stop Grinding. Start Building Workplace Joy
From employee clubs to passion-driven assignments, here's how to make work engaging with Alderson Loop founder and president Lauren Asghari and Jose Herrera, CEO and cofounder of Horatio.

Aug 4, 2025 • 33min
How to Make Work Fun Again
For today's summer episode, we have another panel from this year's Founders House at SXSW at the Founders House, moderated by Inc. Editor-in-Chief Mike Hofman. He spoke with Shuman Ghosemajumder, co-founder and CEO of the AI cybersecurity startup Reken; Ben Goodwin, co-founder, CEO, and formulator of the prebiotic soda Oplipop; and Melissa Mash, co-founder and CEO of the fashion bag brand Dagne Dover. They discuss how to have fun at work again, plus how to manage building a cohesive company culture in a hybrid work schedule environment

Jul 30, 2025 • 5min
EXPERT EXCHANGE: From $1 Million to Market Leader: The Secret to Outpacing Competitors
To scale, you need to think bigger. Here’s how to design a standout product and stay ahead of change.

Jul 28, 2025 • 31min
The Professional Is Personal with Lili Reinhart
Hello and welcome to our first episode of this year's From the Ground Up summer programming.Today, we have a panel from the most recent South by Southwest, where staff reporter Chloe Aiello sat down with actor, producer, and entrepreneur Lili Reinhart. They discussed how her struggle with acne inspired her to launch a new skincare company called Personal Day.

Jul 23, 2025 • 6min
EXPERT EXCHANGE: The Founder of Panera Bread Has a Great Recipe for Winning Over Investors
Panera Bread co-founder Ron Shaich coached John Yarusi, founder of Johnny's Pork Roll and Coffee Too, on clearing one of entrepreneurship’s greatest hurdles: proof of concept.

Jul 16, 2025 • 5min
EXPERT EXCHANGE: How to Grow a Food Truck Into a Nationwide Brand
Seth Goldman, founder of Honest Tea, coaches Ron Holloway, co-founder of Woofbowl, on expansion and how to market a growing food brand.

Jul 14, 2025 • 1h 6min
The Alchemy of Branding (Flashback)
If you grew up in the ’90s, the “¡Yo quiero Taco Bell!" chihuahua commercial was inescapable. Remember the vital-to-surfers sunscreen Sun Bum? Both of these memorable branding moments were created by serial entrepreneur Tom Rinks.
Inc. executive editor Diana Ransom sat down with Tom for this episode of From the Ground Up to discuss his unusual path to becoming a branding whiz—and what he’s learned about identifying human desire along the way. His early job of selling furniture taught him how to read people, and his first branding deal, with the University of Michigan’s Fab Five, immersed him in the skills needed to identify talent. Diana and Tom discuss the complex art of brand-creation, company-building, and finding the niche audience who will fiercely love your product. They also discuss Tom’s most recent branding venture, the oral-care line Made by Dentists.
Additional research and information:
Visit: Made By Dentists
Visit: Made by Dentists’s profile
Visit: Made by Dentists’s educational page
Visit: Sun Bum
Visit: Sun Bum’s profile
(Original Air Date 12-16-2024)