Why do some founders thrive while others burn out?

In this episode of A Founder’s Life, MIT’s Steve Spear reveals the hidden keys to outlier success — and how founders can stay curious, resilient, and fully human in the process.

💡 What you’ll learn in this conversation:

• Why fast learning & problem-solving beats culture or tech
• How to protect your initial spark of curiosity as a founder
• Lessons from Toyota, MIT, and world-class organizations
• The role of humility and nurturing leadership in long-term success
• How to integrate business, health, and family without trade-offs

👉 Subscribe now for more real founder stories and practical lessons.

⏱️ Timestamps

0:00 – Intro & sponsor (Thankz)

0:31 – Steve Spear’s journey: MIT & C2 Solve

1:34 – What Japan taught the world about business

3:56 – Applying curiosity & humility to family life

6:01 – Health as energy & presence, not performance

7:14 – Cooking, travel & everyday curiosity

8:44 – Pivotal career moment: balance vs. integration

11:15 – Advice to founders: protect your spark of curiosity

13:01 – Closing: Why optimism is contagious

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In this episode of A Founder’s Life, Leo Gestetner sits down with Dr. Jeremy Weisz—co-founder of Rise25 and host of the Inspired Insider podcast—to explore how entrepreneurship, family, and health intersect in a meaningful way.

From leaving behind chiropractic work to building a thriving podcast agency, Jeremy shares his candid story of reinvention, mentorship, and the pursuit of balance. He opens up about the legacy of his grandfather, a Holocaust survivor, and how that responsibility shaped his drive to create impact.

What you’ll take away:

• Why podcasting is one of the most powerful ways to build relationships and authority
• The importance of mentorship to collapse time and accelerate growth
• How to create your “Dream 200” and turn it into business opportunities
• A founder’s perspective on balancing health, family, and business (hint: it’s never perfect)
• Why consistency matters more than talent in business and life

Whether you’re a founder looking for growth strategies, or a leader seeking deeper alignment between work and life, this episode is packed with timeless advice.

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction

00:31 – From chiropractor to entrepreneur

02:35 – Building Rise25 through podcasting

05:20 – Giving first: the power of profiling others

06:49 – Balancing family, health, and work

08:17 – Pushing limits & time management

12:18 – Legacy and lessons from his grandfather

14:05 – The two things every entrepreneur needs: mentorship & consistency

17:16 – Where to find Jeremy Weisz

👉 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more inspiring founder stories.

Learn more about Rise 25:

rise25.com

Connect with Jeremy:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/drweisz/

LinkedIn

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Website

leogestetner.com/leo

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In this episode of A Founder’s Life, host Leo Gestetner sits down with Amelia Forczak—founder of Pithy Wordsmithery and New York Times bestselling ghostwriter—to explore the power of books, balance, and building a business rooted in passion.

From helping CEOs and entrepreneurs bring their ideas to life in published form, to creating a company that offers full publishing support, Amelia has built a career around storytelling and transformation. She shares her journey from journalism and marketing to running her own firm, and what writing 17 books has taught her about clarity, systems, and resilience.

Amelia also opens up about work-life balance as a founder, prioritizing family, and why entrepreneurship gave her the freedom to live on her own terms. Whether you’re a founder, author, or leader searching for impact, this conversation is packed with actionable wisdom.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• How Amelia turned ghostwriting into a thriving business
• Why books remain powerful tools for entrepreneurs and leaders
• The truth about balance vs. “ebb and flow” in founder life
• How systems and processes make scaling possible
• Family, health, and travel as pillars of a meaningful life

⏱️ Timestamps:

00:00 – Intro & thanks to sponsor

00:32 – Meet Amelia Forczak & Pithy Wordsmithery

00:59 – From journalism to ghostwriting bestsellers

02:56 – Why family shaped Amelia’s path

03:50 – Health, CrossFit, and redefining strength

05:39 – Travel, new experiences, and balance

06:55 – What balance really looks like for a founder

08:57 – Pivotal moments in building her business

09:32 – Why systems are key to scaling

11:20 – How AI is changing writing & publishing

14:08 – Where to find Amelia

👉 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe to support more powerful founder stories.

Learn more about Pithy Words Mithery:

pithywordsithery.com

Connect with Amelia:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ameliaforczak/

LinkedIn

linkedin.com/in/leogestetner

Website

leogestetner.com/leo

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In this inspiring episode of A Founder’s Life, Leo Gestetner sits down with Ben Steuart—entrepreneur, founder, and man of faith—to unpack his extraordinary journey from a life of addiction and jail time to building a thriving contract packaging and supplement manufacturing business.

Ben’s story is one of redemption, resilience, and relentless faith. After turning his life around at 21, he built a business with little capital, scaled through COVID, and now leads a 50-person team with a culture rooted in purpose and service.

💡 What You’ll Learn:

• How Ben turned his struggles into fuel for entrepreneurship
• Lessons on scaling a business without debt
• Building company culture that transforms lives and communities
• The role of faith and mentorship in leadership
• How to balance family, faith, and entrepreneurship
• Why purpose matters more than profit in the long run

👉 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more founder stories.

⏱️ Timestamps:

00:00 – Intro & Ben’s early entrepreneurial spark

02:15 – Struggles with addiction and rebellious years

04:30 – Hitting rock bottom & transformation through faith

07:00 – Starting over: managing father’s business & new direction

09:10 – Launching the contract packaging business in 2019

11:20 – Scaling without debt & lessons learned

13:30 – Navigating challenges during COVID

15:00 – Building culture and leading with purpose

16:30 – Future vision: transforming communities through business

18:00 – Closing thoughts & advice for founders

Learn more about Filling Services:

https://www.fillingservices.com/about

Connect with Ben:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-steuart/

LinkedIn

linkedin.com/in/leogestetner

Website

leogestetner.com/leo

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In this powerful episode of A Founder’s Life, host Leo Gestetner sits down with Megan Reamer, founder of Jackson’s Chips, to explore the deeply personal story behind building a nationally recognized snack brand.

What started as a desperate search for healthy, nourishing food for her son Jackson turned into a thriving business that now offers sweet potato chips, veggie straws, and more—all cooked in avocado oil. Megan shares how her background in journalism, consulting, and motherhood shaped her path as a founder, and why her company is rooted in both health and love.

But Megan’s story is more than just entrepreneurship. She opens up about family, the painful loss of her son, and how presence, balance, and intentional living have become her guiding values as a business leader and mother of four.

💡 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• How a personal need became a national snack brand
• The real lessons from being on Shark Tank
• Why balance between family and business is harder than it looks
• How loss reshapes priorities in business and life
• Practical advice for entrepreneurs on staying aligned

👉 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe to support the show.

🧠 Join the newsletter for more founder reflections: [Newsletter Link]

⏱ Timestamps

0:00 – Welcome & intro

0:34 – Megan’s career journey before entrepreneurship

1:08 – The origin story of Jackson’s Chips

3:38 – Experience on Shark Tank

4:23 – Family, parenting, and resilience

7:55 – Redefining health through nutrition and lifestyle

10:58 – What Megan does for fun & giving back locally

12:22 – Defining balance as a founder

13:14 – Megan’s advice to aspiring entrepreneurs

14:08 – Where to connect with Megan

Learn more about Jackson's Food Company:

https://snackjacksons.com/

Connect with Megan:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/megan-reamer-229159bb/

LinkedIn

linkedin.com/in/leogestetner

Website

leogestetner.com/leo

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In this episode of A Founder’s Life, Leo Gestetner sits down with Stuart Harvey Lee, founder of Prime Studio, a product and brand design consultancy based in New York City. From his beginnings as a trainee engineer in Sheffield to building one of the leading design agencies in the U.S., Stuart’s 27-year entrepreneurial journey is a masterclass in longevity, balance, and creativity.

Stuart opens up about what it takes to build meaningful client relationships, launch iconic brands like Harry’s Razors, and balance work with family and health. His story proves that success isn’t just about dollars—it’s about alignment, lifestyle, and designing a business that supports your life, not the other way around.

💡 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• The leap from steelworks to world-class design
• How Prime Studio helped launch brands like Harry’s Razors
• The importance of balance in creative entrepreneurship
• Why small by design can mean big impact
• How cycling, cooking, and yoga fuel Stuart’s creativity
• Practical advice for aspiring founders

👉 If you’re an entrepreneur, creative, or leader navigating your own path, this episode offers grounded wisdom you won’t want to miss.

🧠 Don’t forget to subscribe for more real founder stories.

🎧 Full episode available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

⏱️ Timestamps:

00:00 – Intro & Sponsor

00:33 – Stuart’s early career: steelworks to design

02:02 – Founding Prime Studio & client mix

03:29 – Family and balance in life

05:25 – Health, food, and morning rituals

08:30 – Cycling passion & challenges

10:00 – Gardening, travel, and fun outside of work

12:06 – Work-life balance at Prime Studio

13:12 – Pivotal moments: Japan & beyond

15:13 – Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs

16:55 – Where to find Stuart

Learn more about Prime Studio:

https://www.primestudio.com/

Connect with Stuart:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/stuartharveylee/

https://www.instagram.com/stuart_harvey_lee/?hl=en

LinkedIn

linkedin.com/in/leogestetner

Website

leogestetner.com/leo

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In this episode of A Founder’s Life, Leo Gestetner sits down with Chaz Wolfe—serial entrepreneur, real estate investor, and founder of Gathering the Kings. From growing up with a single mom to building seven franchise locations by the age of 29, Chaz’s journey is a masterclass in grit, mindset, and never giving up.

Today, Chaz runs multiple businesses, including real estate and construction, while dedicating most of his time to Gathering the Kings, a thriving community for entrepreneurs and their families. In this conversation, Chaz opens up about family, health, mindset, and the power of playing “the next level” in every area of life.

💡 What you’ll learn in this episode:
•Why mindset is the foundation of entrepreneurship
•How to build consistency in health, business, and family
•Lessons from scaling businesses at a young age
•The importance of identity shifts in growth
•Why community matters for entrepreneurs

👉 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more real founder stories.

⏱️ Timestamps
0:00 – Welcome & Introduction
0:35 – Chaz’s background and early grit
1:00 – From sales to first business at 24
2:00 – Scaling to seven franchise locations
2:50 – Building Gathering the Kings community
3:30 – Redefining family & value
4:00 – Chaz’s health journey and identity shift
8:15 – The power of small steps over time
10:45 – Healthy body, healthy mind for entrepreneurs
12:30 – Balancing obsession, family, and business
13:35 – A pivotal moment: meeting his father at 24
14:25 – Advice for entrepreneurs: mindset is everything
15:20 – Recommended books for founders
15:24 – Where to find Chaz & final thoughts

LinkedIn

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Website

leogestetner.com/leo

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In this inspiring episode of A Founder’s Life, host Leo Gestetner sits down with Lauren Kaplan, founder of GrowthOps Advisory, to explore the truth behind one of her core beliefs: all business problems are people problems.

Lauren shares her journey from operations leader to founder, revealing how a surprising health diagnosis and years in startups shaped her approach to leadership, resilience, and performance through people. She opens up about the challenges of managing teams, the importance of detaching emotions to make better decisions, and how personal health struggles can reshape your business philosophy.

Whether you’re leading a fast-growing startup, managing a small team, or navigating your own health challenges, Lauren’s story offers powerful lessons on building sustainable businesses and lives.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why “all business problems are people problems”
• How to lead with clarity and empathy
• Lessons from a stage-zero breast cancer journey
• Balancing business growth with personal well-being
• Strategies for motivating and supporting your team

⏱ Timestamps:

0:00 – Welcome & Introduction

0:35 – Lauren’s founder journey

3:09 – Why all business problems are people problems

5:02 – The meaning of family

6:41 – Health journey & lessons learned

15:12 – Fun, creativity, and joy

18:59 – Defining balance

19:58 – Pivotal career moments

22:45 – Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs

24:07 – Where to find Lauren

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Learn more about Growth Ops Advisory:

https://growthopsadvisory.com/

Connect with Lauren:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenakaplan/

LinkedIn

linkedin.com/in/leogestetner

Website

leogestetner.com/leo

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