**Episode Summary:** Erin Vogel, semi-retired sports car racing driver and founder of AE Victory Racing, shares her journey from growing up in a family of racing pioneers to becoming a team owner on a mission to create opportunities for women in motorsports. She discusses overcoming imposter syndrome, navigating a male-dominated sport, the messy transition from driver to team owner, and the leadership lessons learned along the way — including the importance of delegation, building culture, and embracing failure as fuel for growth.

Where to Find Erin ---

**Connect with Erin:**

- Instagram: @ErinVogelRacing and @AEVictoryRacing

- TikTok: @AEVictoryRacing

- Website: www.aevictoryracing.com

What does it really look like to put people first while building and scaling a business?

In this episode of Anything But Typical, Gary and Ben sit down with David Wurtzbacher, Founder and CEO of Ascend, to talk about leadership, entrepreneurship, culture, and building organizations where people have the opportunity to flourish.

David shares lessons from his journey through JPMorgan, Lightwave Dental, and ultimately founding Ascend — including why character matters in M&A, how Ascend is working to preserve the independence of entrepreneurial CPA firms, and why long-term thinking often requires making decisions that can't immediately be measured on a spreadsheet.

The conversation also explores the importance of stepping out of the day-to-day to work on the business, developing a coachable mindset, investing in future leaders, and intentionally designing a life that goes beyond professional success.

• What it means to lead people toward an inspiring vision

• Why Ascend takes a People First approach to growth

• Preserving independence and culture during acquisitions

• Choosing the right people — not simply the right deal

• Why leaders have to make time to work on the business

• The role of executive coaching and lifelong learning

• Creating opportunities for the next generation of leaders

• David's perspective on faith, purpose, and living an abundant life

David Wurtzbacher is the Founder and CEO of Ascend, a platform built to help entrepreneurial CPA firms grow and transform while preserving their independence, culture, people, and approach to serving clients.

Ascend: ascendtogether.com Ascend on LinkedIn: Search “Ascend” on LinkedIn Connect with David: Find David Wurtzbacher on LinkedIn

Anything But Typical shares the real stories behind entrepreneurship — not just the wins, but the challenges, decisions, lessons, and experiences that shape the journey.

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe and share it with someone who could benefit from the conversation.

Allen Cates’ entrepreneurial journey has taken him across countries, industries, and some incredibly difficult business lessons. Growing up in Canada, Australia, England, and the United States taught him how to adapt quickly, appreciate different perspectives, and become comfortable entering unfamiliar environments.

In this episode of Anything But Typical, Allen shares how his career in banking prepared him to purchase and operate a small business—and why he eventually knew it was time to move on. He also opens up about investing with a trusted business leader who was later discovered to be forging financial records. That experience forced Allen to confront failure, forgive himself, strengthen his approach to due diligence, and rebuild his confidence.

Allen also explains the mission behind Kilo Reserve and how the company gives investors access to physical industrial metals. The conversation explores copper’s role in electrical infrastructure, electric vehicles, AI data centers, and the power grid, along with the differences between owning physical metal and investing through mining stocks, ETFs, or futures.

• How an international childhood shaped Allen’s adaptability and leadership

• Why every piece of feedback deserves consideration

• The value of learning “on someone else’s dime”

• What Allen learned from buying and selling a small business

• Why entrepreneurs must become comfortable with failure

• Recovering emotionally after betrayal by a trusted business partner

• The importance of understanding the asset behind an investment

• How Kilo Reserve makes physical industrial metals more accessible

• Why following the process matters more than one final result

Failure does not have to become your identity. Allen’s story demonstrates the importance of acknowledging what happened, learning from it, forgiving yourself, and carrying those lessons into the next opportunity.

• Kilo Reserve: Official website

• Allen Cates on LinkedIn

• Kilo Reserve on LinkedIn

• BizBuySell: Explore businesses available for purchase

Subscribe to Anything But Typical for more honest conversations with entrepreneurs about the successes, failures, pivots, and lessons that shaped their journeys.

Brief Summary

Kari Warberg Block joins Gary Frey and Ben McDonald to share her anything-but-typical journey from growing up in an entrepreneurial family to founding EarthKind, a nationally recognized plant-based pest-prevention company.

Kari discusses the near-death experience that changed the direction of her life, the challenges of creating a new product category, and why she temporarily removed her products from major retailers to protect customer trust. She also shares how she learned to release control, build a diverse leadership team, and transition out of the CEO role without selling her company.

• EarthKind
• Kari Warberg Block
• Plant-based pest prevention
• Regenerative and organic agriculture
• Environmental Protection Agency

• Learn more about EarthKind: earthkind.com
• Connect with Kari Warberg Block: kariwarbergblock.com
• Subscribe to Anything But Typical for more real stories from entrepreneurs.
• Like, share, and send this episode to a business owner or founder.

Alex Harris — explorer, mountaineer, speaker, entrepreneur, endurance athlete, and creator of The Munga, a 700-mile nonstop bike race across South Africa.

In this episode of Anything But Typical, Gary Frey and Ben sit down with Alex Harris, a South African explorer whose life has been shaped by curiosity, risk, faith, and the pursuit of what most people would call impossible. Alex shares how a childhood dream of becoming a Jedi and astronaut eventually led him into mountaineering, Everest expeditions, entrepreneurship, ultra-endurance racing, and the creation of The Munga.

From surviving the deadly 1996 Everest season to hearing God speak in a tent at 22,000 feet, Alex’s story is about more than adventure. It is about learning when to push forward, when to turn around, how failure forms us, and why the greatest exploration may be discovering how God uniquely made you.

Book Alex Harris as a speaker: Alex Harris – Texas Speakers Bureau

Learn more about The Munga: The Munga MTB

Follow The Munga on social media: Instagram – @mungamtb Facebook – The Munga YouTube – The Munga MTB Race

When venture capital takes over your family business, you can do everything right — and still lose. Randy Golenberg lived it. He spent 14 years in his family's caulk manufacturing business before private equity involvement triggered its collapse into bankruptcy.

That bankruptcy became the catalyst for his next chapter: building Spark Your Brand from scratch, running it for 25 years, and ultimately selling it to AdCom Group.

In this episode, Randy shares the unfiltered story — from sweeping floors in his dad's factory to negotiating a multi-million dollar exit. No hype. Real lessons on resilience, knowing when to sell, and why "you don't control outcomes, you only control actions."

Randy Golenberg Randy Golenberg is an entrepreneur, brand strategist, and business leader based in Cleveland, Ohio. After rebuilding from the collapse of his family business, Randy founded and grew Spark Your Brand over 25 years. Today, he is part of the AdCom Group, where he focuses on business development, integrated brand strategy, and helping clients create meaningful return on their investment.

LinkedIn: Randy Golenberg Instagram: @JewInThePew Company: AdCom Group

In this episode of Anything But Typical, Gary Frey and Ben McDonald sit down with Ben Kinney, publisher of Business North Carolina, SouthPark Magazine, and North Carolina Tribune.

Ben shares how growing up as the son of a journalist, moving from city to city, and constantly being the new kid shaped his ability to communicate, adapt, and connect with people. What started as a life of transition eventually became a career built around storytelling, leadership, media, and relationships.

The conversation explores Ben’s unexpected path from studying history and planning to become a teacher, to working in advertising sales, to stepping into leadership at Business North Carolina during a difficult season for the company. Ben also talks about the evolution of media, leading through uncertainty, surviving the Great Recession and COVID, and why authentic storytelling still matters in a world increasingly shaped by digital noise and AI.

This episode is a thoughtful conversation about resilience, connection, leadership, and the power of having a real voice in business.

• Gary, Ben McDonald, and Ben Kinney discuss:
• Ben’s childhood moving through Burlington, Winston-Salem, New York City, South Florida, and Charlotte
• How being the “new kid” helped Ben learn communication, adaptability, and connection
• Why Ben originally planned to become a high school history teacher
• How he fell into classified advertising and business media
• What it was like stepping into leadership at Business North Carolina after tragedy
• The challenges of working in a family business
• How media has changed across print, digital, newsletters, podcasts, video, and social platforms
• Why great content still matters, even as distribution continues to evolve
• How Business North Carolina adapted through the Great Recession and COVID
• Ben’s leadership philosophy and the importance of hiring the right people
• Why authenticity, voice, and storytelling still matter in the age of AI
• The value of strong editing, concise writing, and human connection

• Connection is often built through life experience. Ben’s ability to connect with people came from years of adapting to new environments, new schools, and new communities.
• Leadership sometimes begins with simply stepping in to help. Ben did not enter publishing with a perfect master plan. He stepped in when the family business needed him and learned through pressure.
• Content is still king, but distribution has changed. Strong journalism and storytelling still matter, but today’s media companies have to think across print, email, social media, podcasts, video, and digital platforms.
• Survival requires thoughtful reaction. Ben explains that small businesses have to move quickly, but leaders still need to respond with care, perspective, and intention.
• Authenticity creates trust. Ben’s personal writing in The Daily Digest connected with readers because it felt genuine, human, and different from typical business commentary.
• AI cannot replace real storytelling. AI may help generate information, but it cannot replace voice, judgment, perspective, editing, and authentic human connection.

“He knows a lot of folks. He’s got a great sense of humor. And he really can connect people.”

“I always like to talk about myself growing up as my parents and I grew up together.”

“I was always the new kid at every school.”

“It was trial by fire. It was trial by volcanic fire.”

“You gotta kinda react to things in a thoughtful way.”

“But it can’t replace storytelling, and that’s what we’re all doing, is telling stories.”

“The key is be entertaining, be engaging, and have a voice.”

“Good editing is so hard to find.”

LinkedIn: Ben Kinney Business North Carolina: businessnc.com SouthPark Magazine: southparkmagazine.com North Carolina Tribune: nctribune.com Email: bkinney@businessnc.com X/Twitter: @BenKinneyBNC

Discover the story of Mark McLean’s impressive journey from early influences to leading a multi-billion-dollar company. Learn how culture, relationships, humility, and strategic growth propel organizations through transitions and challenges.

Main topics:

Building a career in insurance and financial services, rooted in mentorship and family lessons

Navigating growth: from founding to billion-dollar company, merger, and acquisitions

The importance of company culture, relationships, and core values in long-term success

Personal resilience through life's challenges including health, family, and entrepreneurial pivots

Timestamps:

00:00 - Defining what takes Mark McLean out in public

00:29 - Interests beyond work: sports, golf, and family

01:54 - The role of sports and family fun in shaping his values

02:40 - Favorite golf locations and social activities

03:10 - Humble introduction and the significance of titles

04:13 - Career overview: from Senior Managing Principal to Senior VP

06:46 - The importance of faith, family, and friendships in reputation

07:49 - The influence of Jeff Warner and mentorship connections

08:42 - Early motivations: lessons from family and mentors

09:30 - Growing up in Florence, South Carolina, and early career influences

11:12 - College journey, changing majors, and love for insurance

12:42 - Industry insights: relationship building, trust, and reputation

15:36 - Industry trends, industry change, and mentorship in risk management

17:45 - Industry challenges, trust, and business growth

20:04 - Licensing, early sales experiences, and building business foundations

22:02 - The role of creativity and relationship management in success

23:11 - Industry evolution and personal insights into trend anticipation

24:46 - Handling life’s challenges, family, and career pivots

25:36 - The importance of good culture and team alignment

27:24 - Transition from employment to entrepreneurship: the leap into owning and growing businesses

32:51 - Building Turnkey Benefits, sale, and subsequent ventures

36:16 - Growth from 25 to 170 employees, industry innovation

40:54 - Navigating partnership changes, relationships, and success

44:11 - Transition into digital organizations, culture, and values

50:46 - Building a unified message, controlling quality and trust

54:45 - Personal experiences: family, loss, and professional resilience

56:55 - Adapting to industry and market changes post-Obamacare

58:26 - Balancing growth, personal life, and company focus

62:22 - About joining One Digital, the corporate culture, and long-term vision

66:00 - The role of private equity, strategic capital, and maintaining independence

70:01 - The secret sauce: company culture as a competitive advantage

73:51 - Leadership values: integrity, humility, and people first

77:08 - The importance of intentional culture, talented leadership, and long-term vision

78:45 - Family, blended families, and parenting insights about nurturing strong values

79:03 - Final thoughts — being discerning, strategic, and building legacy

Resources:

Connect with Mark McLean

OneDigital