INspired INsider Podcast

Scott Donnell is the Founder of GravyStack, the world's first gamified banking platform designed to help parents teach their kids and teens financial skills. He is also the Founder of Apex Leadership Co., a fundraising company developing fundraising plans that more effectively mobilize students and community members. His companies have equipped over six million kids nationwide with leadership, fitness, and financial competency skills.  Scott is also the Founder of Hapbee, a biotech company integrating physical fitness and mental wellness. He is a best-selling author of Value Creation Kid and hosts the Smart Money Parenting podcast, where he shares practical financial literacy tools for kids. In this episode… Are you worried about your child’s financial future? Do you want to equip your children with financial skills to help them grow into financially competent adults? You are not alone.  According to Scott Donnell, financial literacy and value creation expert, financial literacy skills prepare kids for their future. Financial literacy for kids and teens is at an all-time low as most schools do not teach money skills. Scott discovered that kids learn through play and healthy struggles. He shares his journey of creating an educational bank account app that plays as a game, teaching kids how to earn, save, spend, share, invest, and manage their money wisely. In this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz sits down with Scott Donnell, Founder of GravyStack, to discuss how kids can achieve financial literacy. Scott talks about financial lessons from wealthy families that helped birth GravyStack, the three types of value creation, GravyStack’s 3Es home economy system, and the healthy struggles your children need to succeed.

Jon Tsourakis is the President and Chief Revenue Officer of Oyova, an application development and marketing agency specializing in integrating marketing and technology to create efficiencies and growth for clients. He also owns the Digital Mastermind Group, a community of digital agency owners and leaders who believe in the power of the mastermind concept to elevate the industry. Jon is a seasoned leader, strategist, and marketing expert whose entrepreneurial record includes having created two companies that averaged 4X ROI for businesses with branding and marketing models. He is extensively skilled in his industry and shines as a marketing strategist and sales developer. In this episode… Agencies and businesses need to stay relevant and competitive in order to thrive in today’s dynamic marketplace. How can you face market challenges and stand out as competition through your agency’s strategies? According to Jon Tsourakis, a seasoned marketing strategist and sales developer, hiring a team of experts specializing in custom software, marketing, development, and IT consulting services gives you a competitive edge. Experience and expertise in marketing and technology enable you to streamline your strategies, setting you apart from the competition. Jon shares his journey of building an application development and marketing agency that helps entrepreneurs enhance their businesses.  In this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast, host Dr. Jeremy Weisz welcomes Jon Tsourakis, President and Chief Revenue Officer of Oyova, to discuss how agencies thrive by integrating marketing and technology. Jon talks about the genesis of Oyova through a merger, the services they offer, growth-hindering mistakes that agencies make, and Oyova’s business and hiring models.

Raphael Paulin-Daigle is the CEO of SplitBase, an ecommerce conversion optimization agency for fashion, luxury, and lifestyle brands. SplitBase combines rigorous customer research with A/B and AI testing to enable long-term growth for DTC luxury brands. SplitBase is at the forefront of conversion optimization, generating revenues of over $1 million for famous brands like Kiehl's and its parent company L'Oréal, and increasing conversions by double digits for many DTC brands like DIFF Eyewear and Dr. Squatch. Before founding SplitBase, Raphael led special projects at Blockstream and was a digital marketing consultant. Raphael also hosts the Minds of Ecommerce Podcast, where he interviews founders and executives of highly successful brands on their top growth strategies. In this episode… Are you looking to increase your website’s conversion rate and revenue growth? What support can help you realize this? Website conversion is an effective way to increase your sales. However, it requires expertise to build a fully optimized website and to figure out what works and what does not for your website. Conversion optimization expert Raphael Paulin-Daigle recommends hiring a conversion optimization agency for your e-commerce business needs. Agencies utilize tools and approaches such as customer research, A/B testing, and fully managed conversion optimization programs that improve different components of your website.  In this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz sits down with Raphael Paulin-Daigle, CEO of SplitBase, to discuss website optimization tips. Raphael talks about conversion optimization challenges that e-commerce brands face, the components of conversion optimization, landing page optimization tips, navigation, cart, collection page, and product page recommendations.

Chris Heivly is the Co-founder of MapQuest, a pioneering online mapping service that has refashioned how we experience navigation and geographic information systems. He has rich experience in entrepreneurship, including company-building experience, startup expertise, and venture capital investment as an early-stage investor. Chris is a best-selling author of the Build the Fort series — a renowned guide for startup community builders. He is also a prolific blogger on his website — www.heivly.com, a contributing writer for INC.com, and a sought-after public speaker on startups, startup communities, corporate innovation, and entrepreneurial ecosystem development. In this episode… Launching and nurturing a successful entrepreneurial venture takes effort. Whether you are a seasoned entrepreneur or embarking on your entrepreneurial journey for the first time, building a thriving business requires constantly learning new ropes and evolving your processes.  Chris Heivly, a seasoned entrepreneur and renowned “startup whisperer,” emphasizes the importance of creativity in entrepreneurship. Fearless idea-sharing and unshackling from self-doubt are critical drivers of entrepreneurial success. In addition, finding valuable collaborators, nurturing connections, and building a supportive network is also an art that amplifies your chances of growth. In this episode of Inspired Insider Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz sits down with Chris Heivly, the Co-founder of MapQuest, to discuss his entrepreneurial journey and successful startup building. Chris delves into the five key lessons in his book Build the Fort. He emphasizes the importance of sharing ideas without fear, finding collaborators, utilizing existing assets, keeping the scope small, and taking the first action.

Lee Benson is the Founder and CEO of Execute to Win (ETW) and EXECUTE™ MasterMINDs — companies dedicated to helping businesses create value effectively. With over 30 years of experience in business, including experience founding seven companies with exits ranging from a few million dollars well into nine figures, he is a value creation expert. Lee developed the innovative MIND Methodology (Most Important Number and Drivers Methodology) — a business operating methodology designed to strengthen teams by aligning every action with their core objectives — which has seen teams he works with accelerate their growth and impact. He is also a sought-after speaker, best-selling author, and a strong advocate for continuous improvement and innovation.  In this episode… What actionable steps can you take to improve your processes and help your team work better to accelerate your growth as a business? According to Lee Benson, a seasoned expert in value creation, traditional goal-setting does not stand the test of time when it comes to realizing business core objectives. Many traditional goal-setting approaches, such as using OKRs, often get diluted or completely lost within company or organizational teams. As such, it is critical to determine approaches that drive productive behaviors and connect your team to core objectives. Lee’s MIND Methodology (Most Important Number and Drivers Methodology) — an approach rooted in aligning individual action to a company’s desired outcomes, whether profit or impact — provides actionable steps to nurture value creation culture for your business.  In this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast host, Dr. Jeremy Weisz sits down with Lee Benson, Founder and CEO of Execute to Win (ETW) and EXECUTE™ MasterMINDs, to discuss innovative value creation. Lee talks about creating a culture of value creation within families — the idea of the “Value Creation Kid,” the Most Important Number (MIN) in business goal-setting, and approaches that drive team collaboration when executing core objectives.

Marquel Russell is the Founder of Client Attraction University, a marketing consultancy helping businesses attract clients on auto-pilot and scale up while working 50% less. Before establishing Client Attraction University, he had a thriving entertainment company that helped clients with artist management and club promotion, building renowned organizations in the network marketing industry.  Marquel also hosts The School of Client Attraction podcast, where he shares how he has helped clients generate billions of ad impressions, millions of leads, and over $250 million in revenue. In this episode… What does attracting more clients and growing your business consistently and predictably take? Where can you get the support to realize this productively? Client acquisition is a challenging part of business. Entrepreneurs find themselves overworked trying to gain clients to grow their revenues. However, client attraction expert Marquel Russell believes it is possible to experience rapid growth without feeling chained to your business. He shares how he helps create predictable, reliable, and automated client attraction systems for companies, enabling them to scale up, all while cutting their work time in half.  In this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast, host Dr. Jeremy Weisz welcomes Marquel Russell, Founder of Client Attraction University, to discuss how to attract clients on auto-pilot and scale a business. Marquel talks about Client Attraction University's services, its business model, the platforms it uses to help companies get clients, and tips for moving up in the business world.

Nathan Bailey is the Founder and CEO of We Are Ideation, a company renowned for its trailblazing promotional strategies. With a background in pharmaceutical sales, Nathan founded Ideation in 2009 and has grown it into a powerhouse that delivers impactful marketing and branding experiences for businesses through crafting unique promotional products. Having collaborated with industry giants like Intel and Oracle through Ideation, Nathan is an innovator reshaping the landscape of promotional marketing.  In this episode… Innovative customer acquisition and brand promotional strategies impact business growth in powerful ways. They fuel business success by creating memorable and impactful brand experiences for customers, top-talent hires, and industry leaders. How so? According to Nathan Bailey, a visionary in the marketing industry, customized branding material, such as gift packages, enables business success by enhancing your brand’s visibility and forging meaningful connections. In addition, executing your marketing strategies with technological expertise can boost lead generation and conversions, giving you a competitive edge. Nathan shares his journey from salesperson to CEO and offers insights on transforming entrepreneurial paths and elevating a brand.  In this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast with Dr. Jeremy Weisz, he sits down with Nathan Bailey, CEO of We Are Ideation, to discuss the art of evolving a brand and the strategies that work to grow it. They explore Ideation’s transformation from a seedling concept to an industry juggernaut. Nathan highlights pioneering customer acquisition approaches, crafting unique gift experiences, and leveraging technology for market success.

Jonathan Peress is the President and CEO of ProMedia, a full-service, tech-enabled marketing agency specializing in cost-per-acquisition, direct-response, and alternative media.Under his leadership, ProMedia's annual revenue has grown by more than 120% each year, earning the agency the 10th Fastest Growing Small Business in America award from Entrepreneur Magazine and recognition in the Inc 5000 list of fastest-growing businesses for three consecutive years.  Before ProMedia, Jonathan was a member of Viacom’s industry, leading the DRTV sales team and working closely on Comedy Central, Spike TV, LOGO, and Vh1. In 2020, he was named one of South Florida’s Top 40 under 40 by the South Florida Business Journal. In this episode… Having a well-built online presence has become critical for business success. How can you effectively employ direct-response marketing as a growth strategy? According to Jonathan Peress, a leader in tech-enabled marketing and alternative media, creating an effective direct-response campaign is challenging but highly rewarding. With the right campaign, you can grab your audience’s attention and drive results, but this requires expertise and experience. Therefore, Jonathan recommends hiring a direct-response agency to help craft messages that resonate with your target audience and compel them to take action. A direct-response agency can also offer advice on suitable media channels — online ads, TV spots, or direct mail — and  manage your campaigns, from creative development to media buying to campaign optimization.  On this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz sits down with Jonathan Peress, President and CEO of ProMedia, to discuss how to thrive using direct-response marketing. Jonathan explains ProMedia's services, the critical elements of a good ad, the call-to-action mistakes people make, and how to advertise effectively on multiple channels.

Phil Alves is the Founder and CEO of DevSquad, a boutique consulting firm specializing in strategizing, designing, and developing SaaS products. A SaaS aficionado, Phil has led the build of 100-plus software products for bootstrapper founders, VC-funded fast-growing startups, and big enterprises such as ADP, Box, and the US ski team. In addition, he is the Founder of DevStats, a developer analytics tool that helps product and engineer leaders optimize data and improve how they measure performance metrics to build healthier teams. Phil also hosts The SaaS Origin Stories Podcast, where he sits with founders to explore their SaaS journeys and share insights on navigating the world of SaaS. In this episode… Are you aiming to thrive in the SaaS world as an entrepreneur? How can you create a SaaS product that meets your expectations and exceeds the expectations of your users?  Many SaaS entrepreneurs have intelligent ideas for creating new products, revamping existing ones, and writing custom software to transform their businesses. Still, they often need more skills to implement them successfully. Furthermore, with many competitors in the market, it is challenging to stand out and gain traction with your target audience. Phil Alves recommends partnering with a consulting firm to help you strategize, design, and develop SaaS products. With consulting advice, you can take your SaaS company to the next level and achieve your desired success.  In this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast, host Dr. Jeremy Weisz welcomes Phil Alves, Founder and CEO of DevSquad, to discuss how to build a successful SaaS company. Phil talks about his companies, how to balance innovation and growth in SaaS startups, and the mistakes people make while building a SaaS company.

Ashton Shanks is the Founder and CEO of Hemon Media Group, a boutique direct-response agency specializing in testing and feedback looping to scale medium and large accounts with precision and maximum ad efficiency. Ashton is the Founder of HemonX, which teaches marketers how to manage ad spending, and also the Founder of Hemon Staffing, which connects skilled marketers with businesses that need their help.  Ashton has been honored as a speaker at AdWorld, Affiliate World, and GeekOut, where he has shared his unique approaches to digital marketing with other founders and marketers. He previously served as the CEO of Traffic and Funnels, which helps high-level consultants, coaches, and experts develop lead-generation machines to scale their businesses to seven figures a year. In this episode… Are you looking to take your marketing to the next level? Direct-response marketing may be what you're looking for.  This type of marketing is all about eliciting a specific response from your audience and can be highly effective if done correctly. Direct-response marketing can help you reach prospective customers wherever they spend their time, increasing your chances of success. However, without the right expertise, executing direct-response marketing can be challenging. Ashton Shanks, a seasoned marketing professional, recommends hiring an agency to help you. He shares his journey running a direct-response marketing agency that helps businesses drive results and achieve their goals. In this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast, host Dr. Jeremy Weisz welcomes Ashton Shanks, Founder and CEO of Hemon Media Group, to discuss how to run a direct-response marketing agency. Ashton talks about the Hemon Media Group and what it offers, hiring mistakes entrepreneurs make, best hiring practices, tips for using paid media and YouTube ads, marketing strategies, and understanding customer psychology.