Headsmack: Conversations with Misfits

Kevin Murphy, an internationally recognized artist, transitioned from a construction job to painting iconic album covers, like the Rolling Stones'. He discusses how grit outweighs talent and shares insights on building a scalable art business. With a commitment to mentoring, Kevin critiques traditional art education and emphasizes mastering foundational skills. His journey from financial struggles to success offers inspiration for artists and dreamers alike, reminding them to embrace their potential and burn their plan B.

In a world where everyone’s shouting, silence equals irrelevance. Bill Harper knows this better than anyone. With over 36 years in the brand and marketing trenches — and more than $2.5B in client revenue to prove it — Bill has cracked the code for challenger brands to dominate markets already flooded with competition.In this episode, Bill shares the power of positioning, why no one buys the best product, and how to win by saying what no one else dares to. From Geico’s edutainment to Liquid Death’s anti-boring playbook, this is a masterclass in market disruption.His takeaway? Stop talking about yourself. Solve a specific problem. Say it with conviction. Then use AI to scale the message — not to create it.If you’re ready to stop playing safe and start making waves, this is your blueprint.---Guest Bio:Bill Harper is a veteran brand strategist and founder of BrandBossHQ, where he helps small and midsize businesses crush larger competitors through his Challenger Brand Domination Plan. Over his 36-year career and five agencies, Bill has helped more than 500 brands generate over $2.5 billion in new revenue by combining strategic storytelling, marketing insight, and AI-powered tools. A former art director turned educator and keynote speaker, he’s on a mission to level the playing field for SMBs by showing them how to think differently, say something bold, and become unforgettable.Link: http://www.brandbosshq.com/Send us a textPaul Povolni, the founder of Voppa Creative, has been a creative leader for over 30 years, with clients around the world. He’s led teams in creating award-winning branding and design as well as equipping his clients to lead with Clarity, Creativity and Culture.Headsmack Website

From Homeless to Nine Figures: What Damion Lupo Learned the Hard WayDamion Lupo isn’t your average entrepreneur. With over 70 companies under his belt and multiple 9-figure ventures, he’s built wealth, lost it all, and built again—stronger.In this episode, Damion dives deep into what makes or breaks a business. He shares how chasing money nearly destroyed him, why trust is the fastest path to scale, and how embracing failure is the secret to reinvention. His framework? Solve real problems, hire the best, focus obsessively, and never stop learning.Whether you’re in your first year of business or bouncing back from burnout, Damion’s story proves that reinvention isn’t just possible—it’s powerful.Guest Bio:Damion Lupo is a lifelong entrepreneur who has founded over 70 businesses across multiple industries, from real estate and finance to construction and retirement planning. A bestselling author of 12 books, he is the creator of the EQRP®—an innovative self-directed retirement solution—and the co-founder of FrameTec, a tech-driven company revolutionizing home construction. After losing a $25M portfolio and experiencing homelessness, Damion rebuilt his life with a mission-driven mindset, helping others break free from financial slavery and build lasting freedom.Link: turnkeyretirement.comSend us a textPaul Povolni, the founder of Voppa Creative, has been a creative leader for over 30 years, with clients around the world. He’s led teams in creating award-winning branding and design as well as equipping his clients to lead with Clarity, Creativity and Culture.Headsmack Website

Entrepreneurs struggle to scale because they rely on tactics, funnels, and closers instead of systems and human connection. Many feel like sales just “isn’t them.”Imagine having a sales machine that works whether you’re online or not. Imagine building a team that sells with heart. Imagine finally getting back your time—and your confidence.This episode delivers the blueprint. Jim Padilla unpacks how to stop selling and start solving—and how doing so can change your business and legacy. Stick around—this one will shift your sales paradigm.---Guest Bio:Jim Padilla is a renowned sales strategist and founder of Gain the Edge, known for generating over $500 million in client revenue through high-performance sales teams and systems. His expertise in influence stems from a rough early life—foster care, street life, and jail—where reading people became a survival skill. Jim transformed that skill into a calling, helping mission-driven entrepreneurs scale ethically and sustainably. He’s also on a bigger mission: building “opportunity cities” to empower ex-cons and aged-out foster youth with purpose, training, and employment.Link: https://gtenow.com/salescallaudit-diySend us a textPaul Povolni, the founder of Voppa Creative, has been a creative leader for over 30 years, with clients around the world. He’s led teams in creating award-winning branding and design as well as equipping his clients to lead with Clarity, Creativity and Culture.Headsmack Website

Atiba De Souza is your secret weapon when your team is underperforming. As a CEO strategist and team productivity expert, Atiba transforms struggling organizations into high-performing machines using AI-powered systems and proven leadership frameworks. In this electrifying episode, Atiba breaks down the difference between AI tools, agents, and employees—and why every business leader needs to rethink their org chart NOW. From his 1996 basement-built search engine to today’s AI employee revolution, Atiba’s journey is packed with eye-opening insights, practical steps, and a few headsmack moments that just might change the way you lead.GUEST BIO: Atiba De Souza is a CEO strategist, team productivity expert, and AI innovation pioneer. With a background in software engineering dating back to the 1990s—when he built and sold a search engine from his mom’s basement—Atiba has spent decades optimizing performance in both government and private sectors. Today, he helps businesses build AI-powered systems that enhance productivity, improve decision-making, and bridge the gap between human leadership and digital execution. He’s also the author of The Delegation Trap, and a dynamic voice on the intersection of leadership and technology.Link: clientattractionpros.comSend us a textPaul Povolni, the founder of Voppa Creative, has been a creative leader for over 30 years, with clients around the world. He’s led teams in creating award-winning branding and design as well as equipping his clients to lead with Clarity, Creativity and Culture.Headsmack Website

“They told me to go home and die. Instead, I built a business and beat cancer—twice.”Globally recognized YouTube strategist and high-performance coach Owen Hemsath joins The Headsmack Podcast to share how stage 4 cancer, twice diagnosed, didn’t stop his mission—it reshaped it. From building 6- and 7-figure YouTube channels to abandoning chemotherapy for a holistic path, Owen reveals the real ROI of purpose, presence, and priorities. If you’re navigating hustle, health, or the hunger for impact, this episode is a game-changer.Key Takeaways:Business growth doesn’t require burnoutYouTube channels need siloed content strategyHolistic healing starts with radical food and lifestyle shiftsAI can scale your marketing, but it can’t replace humanityFaith is a competitive advantage—if you let it beGuest Bio:Owen Hemsath, better known as Owen Video, is a globally renowned YouTube Growth Strategist and High-Performance Coach. With a client roster spanning top influencers and brands, Owen has pioneered media strategies that transform online presence into high-converting thought leadership. A two-time cancer survivor, Owen’s approach blends tactical brilliance with profound personal growth. His holistic health advocacy and unfiltered authenticity make him a transformative voice in both media and mindset.Send us a textPaul Povolni, the founder of Voppa Creative, has been a creative leader for over 30 years, with clients around the world. He’s led teams in creating award-winning branding and design as well as equipping his clients to lead with Clarity, Creativity and Culture.Headsmack Website

Henry Kaminski Jr. is a force in hospitality branding, with 16+ years in the creative industry and a story that reads like a movie script. After losing $300K overnight when Hurricane Sandy wiped out his top clients, Henry reinvented himself—landing Russell Brunson as a branding client, helping launch ClickFunnels, and becoming a thought leader in personal branding. As former CMO for celebrity chef Fabio Viviani’s hospitality group, he doubled locations nationwide and implemented cutting-edge marketing tools in a traditionally outdated industry.Now with his new venture, Brand to Table, Henry is fusing digital innovation with high-touch hospitality. In this episode, he shares the real stories behind the rise, the falls, and the reinventions. From SMS marketing that drove $1.3M in restaurant revenue to GPT-powered menu generators and brand strategy breakthroughs—this is a masterclass in modern branding.Guest Bio: Henry Kaminski Jr. is a branding expert with over 16 years in the creative industry, specializing in restaurant and hospitality marketing. Known for launching the Brand Doctor and helping personal brands thrive, Henry has worked with major names like Russell Brunson and served as Chief Marketing Officer for a national hospitality group, doubling their locations in under three years. Today, he runs Brand to Table, a firm blending deep hospitality insight with cutting-edge tech like AI, SMS, and GPT-powered marketing to transform how restaurants scale and connect with customers.Link: https://www.brandtotable.comSend us a textPaul Povolni, the founder of Voppa Creative, has been a creative leader for over 30 years, with clients around the world. He’s led teams in creating award-winning branding and design as well as equipping his clients to lead with Clarity, Creativity and Culture.Headsmack Website

Jamie Rowe, lead vocalist of Nashville-based hard rock band Kalamity Kills, joins Paul to talk about breaking molds, surviving dark nights, and launching one of the most important rock songs of the year—“Starry Skies (988).” A former frontman of Guardian, Rowe shares his powerful journey from Christian rock stardom to forming a band that blends modern energy with authentic heart. This episode dives into the struggles behind the scenes, the raw moments of suicidal ideation that inspired their Billboard Top 40 hit, and how music can save more than just a soul—it can save a life.---Guest Bio: Jamie Rowe is a veteran rock vocalist with a global legacy and a freshly ignited mission. Best known as the former frontman of Christian hard rock band Guardian—with 13 #1 radio hits and performances in over 35 countries—Rowe now leads Kalamity Kills, a modern hard rock band redefining impact and authenticity. Co-founded with producer/guitarist Jamey Perrenot (Taylor Swift, LeAnn Rimes), the band has charted with emotionally charged singles like “The Chemistry of Meant to Be” and the suicide prevention anthem “Starry Skies (988),” featuring Aaron Gillespie of Underøath. Rowe’s voice, both musically and personally, continues to be one of raw power, gritty hope, and deep purpose.LINK: https://www.kalamitykills.com/Send us a textPaul Povolni, the founder of Voppa Creative, has been a creative leader for over 30 years, with clients around the world. He’s led teams in creating award-winning branding and design as well as equipping his clients to lead with Clarity, Creativity and Culture.Headsmack Website

James Barnard knows logos—and how to turn design into a powerful business.As an award-winning logo and visual identity designer, James went from burnout to booked out by mastering not just the craft, but the business of design. With over a million followers and a global client base, James is one of the most trusted voices in branding today. In this episode, we dive into the biggest mistake that nearly ended his business, the viral video that changed his life, and how he uses smart strategy (like the “brand noun” process) to create logos that actually work. Whether you’re a designer or a business owner, this one’s packed with insights you can use immediately.Guest Bio:James Barnard is an award-winning logo and visual identity designer, educator, and international speaker. Originally from the UK and now based in Australia, James is the founder of Barnard Co., a design studio focused exclusively on brand identity. With over 1 million social media followers, James is a leading voice in the design community, known for his teaching style, practical insights, and humorous yet insightful content that resonates with both designers and business owners. His work has been published in LogoLounge and featured in Adobe’s global programming. He also offers courses in Illustrator, Photoshop, and brand development, helping the next generation of designers level up their skills and businesses.Link: https://barnard.co/Send us a textPaul Povolni, the founder of Voppa Creative, has been a creative leader for over 30 years, with clients around the world. He’s led teams in creating award-winning branding and design as well as equipping his clients to lead with Clarity, Creativity and Culture.Headsmack Website

Brian Dixon is a bestselling author, publisher, and online business strategist helping everyday messengers write their book and grow their business.In this episode of the Head Smack Podcast, Brian shares his unexpected path from aspiring rockstar to middle school teacher, to charter school founder, and ultimately to co-founder of Hope Writers. He walks us through the 5 essential steps to building—not just writing—a transformational book, revealing how your hardest moments can become your most powerful message. Learn how to avoid the biggest mistakes first-time authors make, what publishers won’t do for you, and why skill stacking could be the missing link in your business success story.Link: HopewritersGuest Bio:Brian Dixon is a bestselling author, publisher, and online business strategist passionate about helping aspiring writers turn their experiences into impactful books. A former charter school founder and teacher, Brian co-founded Hope Writers—a thriving community of over 1,900 members—and has worked with well-known figures like Michael Hyatt and top mom bloggers to launch life-changing books. He combines a heart for teaching with tactical strategy to empower everyday messengers to write, publish, and promote with purpose.Send us a textPaul Povolni, the founder of Voppa Creative, has been a creative leader for over 30 years, with clients around the world. He’s led teams in creating award-winning branding and design as well as equipping his clients to lead with Clarity, Creativity and Culture.Headsmack Website