INspired INsider Podcast

Jake Karls is Co-founder and Chief Rainmaker of Mid-Day Squares, a Montreal-based functional chocolate company known for its bold transparency and viral storytelling. After early ventures in fitness and fashion, he found his niche in brand building and community engagement. Since launching Mid-Day Squares with his sister and brother-in-law, Jake has helped scale the company to produce over 90,000 bars daily and achieve multimillion-dollar revenues. Recognized on Forbes' 30 Under 30 list, he champions authenticity and emotional connection as the keys to modern entrepreneurship. In this episode… Launching a new food product is already a challenge, but doing so in a saturated market like snacks, with refrigerated items that require special handling, makes it even more difficult. Entrepreneurs often encounter skepticism, limited shelf space, and high operational costs, particularly when trying to differentiate themselves with bold branding and unconventional strategies. So, how can you grow a disruptive food brand without compromising product integrity, consumer trust, or scalability? Jake Karls, an expert in community-driven brand building and marketing, outlines how he and his co-founders tackled these challenges through relentless storytelling, unfiltered transparency, and unapologetic self-belief. He emphasizes the importance of building a fan base rather than just a customer base, capturing early momentum by personally delivering samples and gathering feedback. He also shares actionable strategies like leveraging content for trust-building, securing unconventional financing, investing in manufacturing infrastructure, and leaning into therapy to strengthen co-founder dynamics and leadership. In this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz interviews Jake Karls, Co-founder of Mid-Day Squares, about building a disruptive snack brand from scratch. Jake dives into creating brand loyalty through storytelling, taking risks like owning manufacturing, and dealing with crises like a potential recall. He also discusses mental health in entrepreneurship, redefining success, and how dancing with a boombox helped land investors.

Joe Polish is the Founder of Genius Network, an exclusive group of renowned and successful entrepreneurs. He is an established marketer and has helped thousands of businesses, from large corporations to small family-owned companies, generate hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue. Additionally, Joe is the Founder and President of Piranha Marketing and the host of three top-rated business and marketing podcasts, including I Love Marketing. He is also a passionate philanthropist and the Founder of Genius Recovery, which works to change the global conversation around addiction and recovery. In this episode… Many entrepreneurs struggle to stand out in a crowded market, build authentic relationships, and create a lasting impact without burning out. Despite working harder, they often miss out on strategic opportunities that come from real connection and clarity in communication. So, how can business leaders market smarter, not harder, while also growing meaningful networks and purpose-driven success? Marketing expert and entrepreneur Joe Polish shares many insights for solving these issues through relationship-first strategies, direct response marketing, and storytelling. He emphasizes the danger of chasing profits over purpose and encourages listeners to shift their focus toward giving and creating value. He outlines practical tips such as mastering the fundamentals of storytelling, avoiding transactional relationships, and investing in personal development through books, mentors, and masterminds. Joe also shares lessons from his journey, including how addiction recovery and resilience shaped his approach to entrepreneurship. In this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz interviews Joe Polish, Founder of Genius Network, about building relationships that drive business success. Joe explores how giving without expectation builds trust, the role of direct response marketing, and how storytelling can transform your business. He also discusses overcoming adversity, top book recommendations, and the importance of meaningful follow-up.

Brett Allen is the host of The Marketing 32 Show and the Founder of Marketing 32, a dental marketing agency specializing in internal and external marketing strategies to help dental practices grow. Under Brett's leadership, Marketing 32 has successfully supported over 215 dental practices across the US, Canada, and Australia by implementing its unique Practice Impact Formula, which guarantees growth within 30 days or the service is free. Brett's journey into dental marketing started with his expertise in search engine optimization and online marketing, which he honed as a marketing director in Houston before launching his own company. In this episode… Navigating the dental marketing world can be a frustrating experience for practice owners who invest heavily in agencies yet see minimal results. With so many marketers making big promises but failing to deliver, how can dental practices ensure they choose a partner who drives growth and stands behind their work? Brett Allen, an expert in dental marketing and growth strategies, tackles this challenge by sharing the critical importance of niche specialization, performance-based guarantees, and leveraging technology like AI call tracking to ensure accountability. He emphasizes that practices must seek agencies that offer transparent results, avoid long-term contracts, and provide clear metrics for success. Brett also dives into the significance of nurturing patient relationships and internal teams to create lasting growth, offering practical insights into building trust and avoiding common industry pitfalls. In this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz interviews Brett Allen, Co-founder and CEO of Marketing 32, about creating results-driven dental marketing strategies. Brett discusses why offering a strong guarantee sets agencies apart, how his collegiate swimming background influences his business mindset, and what practices can do to better engage existing patients to foster growth.

Ben Dixon is the CEO of Naxum, a referral marketing technology company that provides innovative solutions to businesses worldwide. Under his leadership, Naxum has introduced tools like the UNIFY platform and predictive action engines, revolutionizing how companies approach referral marketing. With a background in sales and a passion for empowering entrepreneurs, Ben has been instrumental in developing platforms that enhance user engagement and drive growth. He is passionate about helping companies use referral marketing to build strong, trust-based relationships, ultimately driving success in their respective industries. In this episode… Growing a business through traditional advertising is more challenging than ever — trust is low, attention spans are shorter, and competition is fierce. The answer may lie not in shouting louder, but in empowering your best customers to become your strongest advocates. So, how can companies create authentic connections, build trust, and turn relationships into revenue without burning out their teams or budgets? Ben Dixon, an expert in referral marketing and sales systems, shares proven strategies to solve these challenges. He explains the evolution of marketing technology from first-generation tracking to cutting-edge predictive platforms that guide sales reps like a top-performing mentor. He emphasizes identifying the right target audience by focusing on individuals motivated by pain who are already taking action to solve their problems. Ben also discusses how layering multiple referral channels, gamifying engagement, and offering seamless mobile experiences can unlock massive business growth. In this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz interviews Ben Dixon, CEO at Naxum, about building and scaling referral marketing systems. Ben shares insights on predictive sales technology, identifying the right audience, and the power of gamification. He also dives into strategies for supporting a global workforce, lessons from client case studies, and how to create lasting trust through referral programs.

Mark Rickmeier is the CEO of TXI Digital, a Chicago-based digital product innovation firm specializing in UX research, design, and software development. With over two decades of experience, he has led the creation of more than 100 digital products for clients ranging from Fortune 100 companies to mission-driven nonprofits. Beyond his role at TXI, Mark is the Founder of initiatives like Walkshop, a leadership development retreat, and the Sticky Note Game, a facilitation technique enhancing team collaboration. He is also an active member of the Forbes Business Council and the Fast Company Executive Board, contributing thought leadership on innovation, company culture, and inclusive design. In this episode… Creating a digital product is more complex than building a mobile app or launching a new platform. Many companies waste time, money, and resources by rushing into solutions without fully understanding the problems they are trying to solve. So, how can organizations shift their mindset to ensure they are innovating in the right direction from the beginning? Mark Rickmeier, an expert in product innovation and intelligent systems, shares how companies can avoid costly missteps by adopting a discovery-first approach. He emphasizes using frameworks like the Double Diamond method to better understand user needs before jumping into development. He advocates for integrating design thinking early in the process, gathering real user insights, and validating assumptions rapidly. Mark also stresses the importance of building a strong data foundation to prepare for future AI and intelligent product opportunities, encouraging businesses to think beyond traditional digital transformation toward smart solutions. In this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz interviews Mark Rickmeier, CEO of TXI Digital, about building intelligent products through discovery and design thinking. Mark discusses the critical importance of solving the problems first, shares lessons from projects spanning industries like rail, healthcare, and food innovation, and explores the future of agentic AI interfaces.

Yuval Gonczarowski is the Founder and CEO of Akooda, an AI-powered operations intelligence platform that helps organizations unify and analyze internal data to drive faster, smarter decisions. Under his leadership, Akooda has secured $11 million in seed funding, used by Fortune 500 companies to streamline operations and unlock insights across digital workflows. A graduate of Harvard Business School with a MBA and the Technion from Israel Institute of Technology, Yuval previously served in Israel’s elite Unit 8200 and held technical and leadership roles at Intel, Apple, McKinsey & Company, and Tomorrow.io. He brings a unique blend of engineering expertise and business acumen to the enterprise tech space. In this episode… Information overload and organizational silos pose significant challenges for growing companies. As teams scale, finding the right data, the right person, or simply understanding cross-functional collaboration becomes chaotic and time-consuming. How can leaders eliminate these inefficiencies without adding more complexity to their workflows? Yuval Gonczarowski, an expert in AI-powered enterprise intelligence and operational analytics, shares how companies can solve these challenges by leveraging their digital footprints. He explains the evolution from traditional organizational charts to dynamic knowledge graphs, enabling companies to map collaboration patterns in real-time. He emphasizes actionable insights like implementing topic-based search, integrating systems like Slack and Salesforce for unified visibility, and using anomaly detection to spot inefficiencies. Yuval also offers strategies for improving productivity without disrupting current workflows, such as Slack-based search commands and Chrome extensions that surface hidden insights. In this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz interviews Yuval Gonczarowski, CEO of Akooda, about optimizing enterprise operations through AI-driven insights. Yuval discusses how to eliminate information silos, speed up decision-making, and roll out enterprise tools with minimal disruption. He also shares the story of Akooda’s first customer, explains the ROI of reducing information hunting, and details lessons from serving large-scale enterprise clients.

Fred Meyers is the Founder and President of Queensboro, a custom logo apparel business he started in 1982 while a student at Columbia University. Inspired by the popularity of Lacoste shirts and a desire to offer high-quality polos with personalized logos, he began his venture from his college dorm room. Over the past four decades, Fred has grown Queensboro into a multi-million-dollar enterprise, serving small businesses and major clients like Costco and Pepsi. Today, the company operates out of Wilmington, North Carolina, and Dallas, Texas, continuing its mission to help people share who they are with the world through custom apparel. ​ In this episode… Growing a small business can feel overwhelming, especially when building trust with customers, standing out with a strong brand, and managing complex logistics as you scale. How do you offer irresistible products, build lasting relationships, and maintain operational control without getting buried under inefficiencies? Fred Meyers, an expert in direct marketing and custom product development, shares how entrepreneurs can create a powerful customer experience through trust, transparency, and dynamic offers. He explains the critical importance of offering risk-free guarantees, using relatable marketing strategies, and investing in custom technology to track customer orders in real-time. Fred also highlights how building a strong internal culture focused on principled, proactive, positive, and productive employees drives business success over the long term. In this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz interviews Fred Meyers, Founder and President of Queensboro, about growing a multi-million dollar custom apparel business. Fred discusses building trust with customers, evolving the product line, and scaling operations without losing personal touch. He also shares direct marketing insights, early entrepreneurial challenges, and leadership lessons based on relationships and trust.

Edward Woodford is the CEO and Co-founder of Zero Hash, a leading crypto-as-a-service platform that enables businesses to integrate digital assets into their offerings. Under his leadership, Zero Hash has processed over $45 billion in transactions and secured over $170 million in funding from prominent investors, including Point72 Ventures and Bain Capital Ventures.​ Before founding Zero Hash, Edward co-founded Seed CX, a CFTC-registered derivatives execution venue, and gained experience at various hedge funds and startups. He holds a BA in philosophy, politics, and economics from the University of Warwick and a master's degree in finance from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.​ In this episode… Many businesses struggle to navigate the complexity of integrating digital assets like crypto and stablecoins into their platforms. As regulations shift and technology rapidly evolves, companies face overwhelming barriers when adopting seamless, secure payment infrastructures. So, how can organizations overcome these hurdles to leverage emerging technologies and stay competitive? Edward Woodford, an expert in crypto infrastructure and digital payments, shares valuable insights on breaking down these barriers. He emphasizes the importance of abstracting technical complexities through infrastructure solutions, allowing companies to easily embed crypto and stablecoins without getting bogged down in regulation or fragmentation. He outlines the value of stablecoins for instant, low-cost transactions, highlights the growing importance of crypto rewards, and advises businesses to pivot quickly based on customer needs and market signals, just as his team did during their early pivot from a B2C to a B2B model. In this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz interviews Edward Woodford, Co-founder and CEO of Zero Hash, about building digital asset infrastructure. Edward discusses simplifying crypto adoption, evolving company strategy through customer feedback, and the critical role of stablecoins in future payment systems. He also shares insights on team development, leadership growth, and scaling through major fundraising rounds.

​Omri Hurwitz is the Founder and CEO of Omri Hurwitz Media, a leading PR agency specializing in tech startups and high-profile entrepreneurs. As a tech marketer and media strategist, he has built a global reputation by blending traditional media with social platforms to amplify client narratives and drive brand growth. Beyond PR, Omri owns equity in multiple media outlets, including Hurwitz TV — a digital publication that fuses business, lifestyle, and entertainment content. His innovative approach and emphasis on authenticity have positioned him as a rising influencer in the modern media landscape.​ In this episode… Breaking through the noise to get media coverage or PR traction can feel overwhelming, especially for startups and entrepreneurs fighting for attention in competitive markets. Many founders struggle with traditional PR tactics that no longer resonate with reporters or audiences, often leading to wasted time and missed opportunities. So, how can companies modernize their approach to media and PR to stand out and succeed? Omri Hurwitz, a media entrepreneur and investor, shares how he tackled these challenges by reinventing traditional PR with a data-driven, tech-first approach. He emphasizes the importance of aligning with reporters’ incentives — like focusing on amplification and article virality — rather than pitching from a self-centered brand perspective. He also reveals why acquiring media assets and leveraging AI for predictive insights gives his clients a competitive edge. Additionally, Omri explains how emotional intelligence, clear writing practices, and charisma are critical skills for anyone looking to boost their media presence and leadership impact. In this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz interviews Omri Hurwitz, Founder of Omri Hurwitz Media, about building a modern media empire through data, acquisitions, and innovative PR strategies. Omri also discusses key PR pitching mistakes, using AI to predict article success, and how personal habits like daily writing have shaped his entrepreneurial journey.

​Keith Burns is the CEO and Co-chairman of Lullwater & Co., a private investment firm dedicated to building enduring companies through long-term partnerships. He also serves as Co-executive Chairman of Apex Physics Partners, the largest medical physics services provider in the US, and previously led Seneca Creek Partners, a search fund that completed 15 acquisitions and achieved a successful investor exit in 2019. A former attorney and Goldman Sachs executive, Keith holds a BBA from Emory University and a JD and MS in real estate development from Columbia University. He is an adjunct assistant professor of entrepreneurship at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and actively mentors emerging entrepreneurs through teaching and board service. In this episode… Scaling a business feels like navigating chaos — especially when taking over a company in its awkward adolescent phase, where systems are fragile, leadership is thin, and growth potential remains untapped. Many entrepreneurs struggle with transitioning ownership, aligning staff, and building toward a sustainable future without losing what made the business special. So, how do you effectively professionalize and grow a service business while honoring its core culture? Keith Burns, an experienced investor and operator, shares his strategic approach to acquiring and scaling service-based businesses. Drawing from his background in law, finance, and healthcare services, he outlines the importance of starting with a rock-solid foundation — listening to employees through HR assessments and building trust. He emphasizes the power of recurring revenue models, the risks of integration debt, and how to avoid common pitfalls like promising no change during acquisitions. Keith also dives into red flags to watch for, such as poor seller alignment or low cash flow conversion, and offers frameworks for assessing business viability and long-term potential. In this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz interviews Keith Burns, Co-chairman and CEO of Lullwater & Co., about strategic business acquisitions and scaling through thoughtful integration. Keith discusses how he grew the largest medical physics company in the US, shares lessons from teaching entrepreneurship at the University of Chicago, and talks about identifying business red flags, embracing culture, and choosing the right problems to solve.