Becoming Self Made

Lauren Makler, co-founder and CEO of Cofertility, joins Mike Michalowicz to share how a life-altering medical diagnosis became the catalyst for building a more human, accessible fertility system with Cofertility. Lauren explains how falling in love with the problem, not just the solution, led her to reimagine egg freezing and donation in a way that removes financial barriers for individuals and couples while preserving dignity and choice.  Along the way, Lauren opens up about trusting gut instinct as accumulated wisdom, navigating leadership through deeply emotional work, and building a mission-driven company that balances empathy, optimism, and scale.

Yoseph West, CEO and Co-founder of Relay, joins host Mike Michalowicz to share his journey of transformation, moving from an entrepreneur with a chip on his shoulder to a leader focused on learning, growth, and maximum impact. The conversation explores the lessons learned while scaling Relay, emphasizing the critical insight that the ability for the business to grow is a function of how much you grow. Mike and Yoseph get into the power of constantly questioning everything, a mindset Yoseph attributes to his early upbringing that encouraged independent thinking. The episode also details what great partnerships truly require, underscoring the importance of a long-term orientation and human empathy to ensure both sides win.  Finally, Yoseph discusses the continuous personal reinvention necessary for leading a fast-scaling company, sharing how his coaching, including unconventional methods, helps him find the leverage needed for exponential growth.

Amy Porterfield, an online marketing expert and author, shares her inspiring journey from note-taker for Tony Robbins to building a thriving digital courses empire. She recounts her struggles with $40,000 in debt, the lessons learned from a silent partner, and the pivotal moment of trusting herself to scale her business from $5 million to $16 million. Amy advocates for women entrepreneurs to avoid undervaluing themselves and emphasizes the importance of action over endless learning. She also discusses the journey of transitioning from operator to leader and finding balance in personal relationships.

Every successful entrepreneur has a messy, unpredictable origin story, and Becoming Self Made brings those stories to life. Hosted by bestselling author and entrepreneur Mike Michalowicz (Profit First), this podcast reveals how real business owners built thriving companies from small beginnings. Hear the unfiltered stories of resilience, rejection, and reinvention that shaped their success, and discover why being “self made” is never a solo journey. If you’re a small business owner, entrepreneur, or startup founder, you’ll find lessons, mindset shifts, and inspiration to help you grow your business—and yourself. A podcast from Relay, built to empower business owners everywhere.

Donald Miller didn’t set out to build a multi-million-dollar, world-class business, he just wanted to write a book. In this episode of Becoming Self Made, host Mike Michalowicz sits down with the renowned author and entrepreneur to discuss his journey from childhood and academic struggles to achieving success as the bestselling author of Blue Like Jazz and Building a StoryBrand. Donald eventually found his greatest success by founding StoryBrand, a marketing consultancy and training company that helps businesses clarify their message using the power of storytelling so customers listen, engage, and take action. Discover how Donald Miller navigated life’s highs and lows, embraced failure as a learning opportunity, and leveraged his unique talents to build a thriving business.

Jesse and Emily Cole, Co-Founders of The Savannah Bananas, have built one of the most inspiring success stories in sports and business.  In this episode of Becoming Self Made, host Mike Michalowicz sits down with Jesse and Emily to uncover how they turned a struggling baseball team into a global entertainment phenomenon, one built not on profit, but on fans. From embracing rejection as their greatest teacher to creating a company culture rooted in joy, creativity, and community, the Coles share the powerful lessons that fueled their journey to one of the most successful teams in baseball, regardless of the league.  You’ll hear how the Savannah Bananas broke every rule in traditional baseball, the impact of applying Mike’s Book Profit First during their lowest moment, and the personal sacrifices behind Jesse and Emily balancing business, purpose, and family.

Brian Scudamore, the founder of 1-800-GOT-JUNK?, has had a long and winding  entrepreneurial road. From starting with $700 and an old pickup truck, to building a $700 million junk removal empire, to starring on Canada’s “Dragon Den”, there aren’t many challenges he hasn’t faced. In this episode, host Mike Michalowicz, bestselling author of ‘Profit First’ and ’The Money Habit,’ talks with Brian about the origins of his company, his personal growth through the ups and downs of running a business, and his philosophy of making meaning, not just money, through impactful leadership and fostering a positive company culture.