⚡Want to build a business that actually works? My team at Motive11 can help—websites, systems, and strategy for modern entrepreneurs → https://motive11.com

Julian Galluzzo shares how dropping out of school at 13, building agencies, and embracing AI-driven development reshaped his career — and why speed, curiosity, and progress matter more than credentials.

🔗 Connect with Julian Galluzzo:
Website: https://juliangalluzzo.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julian-galluzzo-610379173
X: https://x.com/galluzzo_julian
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@galluzzojulian

🔗 Connect with Mark Szymanski:
Website: https://markszymanski.co
Facebook: https://mjs.link/FB
Instagram: https://mjs.link/IG
LinkedIn: https://mjs.link/LI
X: https://mjs.link/X
YouTube: https://mjs.link/YT

About the show:
Fueled By Progress is a podcast about candid conversations with builders, creators, and curious people—focused on decisions, disciplines, and stories that move us forward.

If you’re new here, welcome. If you’ve been here since episodes recorded in my car—thank you. We’re still just getting warmed up 💪

Host --- Mark Szymanski: https://markszymanski.co/links
Video/Audio Production --- Nathaniel DeHaven: https://elevatedmultimedia.com

Chapters:
0:00 Introducing Julian Galluzzo
4:03 From Freelancing to Running a 40-Person Agency
8:35 Why Speed Beats Perfection
13:48 How One Client Turned Into an Agency
17:23 When Building Turns Into Managing Everything
22:06 Leaving the Agency to Reclaim the Craft
24:54 Getting Fired and Accidentally Stealing an Agency
28:40 Joining Memberstack and Finding the Right Environment
33:21 Webflow vs WordPress From a Builder’s Perspective
41:14 Why WordPress Isn’t Outdated
49:00 The Moment AI Changed Everything
53:10 Building Real Apps With Claude and Gemini
59:02 Training AI to Design Better Than Humans
1:04:28 Why Knowing the Stack Still Matters
1:10:56 Is Vibe Coding Legit or Dangerous
1:18:53 Engineering Thinking vs Knowing Syntax
1:24:24 Do You Actually Want to Be the Boss
1:28:44 Would He Recommend Dropping Out of School
1:35:02 What Julian Is Actually Optimizing For
1:38:21 Where to Follow Julian’s Work

💡If you like how I think about business, technology, and systems on Fueled By Progress, you can find the best way to work with me or learn more at https://markszymanski.co/start

Stephanie Hudson shares her journey from freelance web developer to FocusWP founder, including how surviving a coma taught her the critical importance of business continuity planning that most solopreneurs completely ignore.

🔗 Connect with Stephanie Hudson:
Website: https://focuswp.co
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stephanie.hudson
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/left-brain
X: https://x.com/stepherriffic
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FocusWP

🔗 Connect with Mark Szymanski:
Website: https://markszymanski.co
Facebook: https://mjs.link/FB
Instagram: https://mjs.link/IG
LinkedIn: https://mjs.link/LI
X: https://mjs.link/X
YouTube: https://mjs.link/YT

About the show:
Fueled By Progress is a podcast about candid conversations with builders, creators, and curious people—focused on decisions, disciplines, and stories that move us forward.

If you’re new here, welcome. If you’ve been here since episodes recorded in my car—thank you. We’re still just getting warmed up 💪

Host --- Mark Szymanski: https://markszymanski.co/links
Video/Audio Production --- Nathaniel DeHaven: https://elevatedmultimedia.com

Chapters:
0:00 – Introducing Stephanie Hudson
2:25 – Growing Up in the 'Burgh (High School Colors & Sports Culture)
6:55 – Stephanie's Journey: From Pittsburgh to LA to North Carolina
10:50 – Discovering the WordPress Community
13:34 – The Hidden Ecosystem Behind WordPress
18:55 – How Focus on Your Biz Facebook Group Started
22:24 – Early Web Days: Dial-Up, Dreamweaver & Tables
29:19 – Meeting Tom & Starting Focus WP
36:41 – The Visionary vs. Integrator Problem (Rocket Fuel)
42:08 – Freelancer Struggles & Imposter Syndrome
48:43 – The Niche Discussion: Service vs. Audience
54:58 – Niching Into a Service (Not Just an Industry)
1:04:50 – The Coma Story: Getting "Hit by a Bus" for Real
1:09:22 – What Is a Continuity Plan?
1:14:37 – Password Managers & 2FA: Critical Single Points of Failure
1:23:38 – Pittsburgh Pride: Heinz Ketchup & Ranch Culture
1:29:00 – Mark's Content Strategy & Daily Videos Discussion
1:39:38 – Stephanie's Community Platform Dilemma (Facebook vs. Fluent)
1:49:30 – Body Doubling & ADHD Co-Working Ideas
1:56:57 – The 3D Glasses Website & Accessibility Controversy
2:02:25 – Agency Safety Net: The New Course & Service

⚡Want to build a business that actually works? My team at Motive11 can help—websites, systems, and strategy for modern entrepreneurs → https://motive11.com

A deep, raw conversation with Spencer Forman about the real state of WordPress, the entrepreneurial mindset, the cycles of reinvention, and how to build a life and business that actually makes sense.

🔗 Connect with Spencer Forman:
Website: https://spencerforman.com
Facebook: https://facebook.com/spenceforman
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spencerforman
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/spencerforman
X: https://x.com/spencerforman
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WPLaunchify

🔗 Connect with Mark Szymanski:
Website: https://markszymanski.co
Facebook: https://mjs.link/FB
Instagram: https://mjs.link/IG
LinkedIn: https://mjs.link/LI
X: https://mjs.link/X
YouTube: https://mjs.link/YT

About the show:
Fueled By Progress is a podcast about candid conversations with builders, creators, and curious people—focused on decisions, disciplines, and stories that move us forward.

If you’re new here, welcome. If you’ve been here since episodes recorded in my car—thank you. We’re still just getting warmed up 💪

Host --- Mark Szymanski: https://markszymanski.co/links
Video/Audio Production --- Nathaniel DeHaven: https://elevatedmultimedia.com

Chapters:
0:00 – Introducing Spencer Forman
1:56 – Starting the Conversation
3:34 – Why Mark Started the Podcast
4:12 – Shared Entrepreneurial Energy
5:02 – The Three Stages of Life
5:43 – Reinvention vs Comfort
6:35 – Balancing Money, Ethics, and Happiness
7:16 – Comparison Is Poison
8:13 – Happiness vs Money Over a Lifetime
9:04 – Life Journeys, Setbacks, and Perspective
10:11 – Are We in a Human Reality Game?
10:36 – Finding Tribe and Identity
11:00 – Entrepreneurs as Problem Solvers
12:03 – Jumping Between Industries
12:34 – Entrepreneurs vs Employees
13:35 – Developing the Entrepreneurial Instinct
15:02 – Early Stories of Hustle
16:03 – The Pattern of Reinvention
17:11 – Seeing the Dots in Hindsight
18:57 – Why Mark Is Wired This Way
20:02 – Documenting Life and Introspection
21:03 – Journaling Through Hard Times
22:50 – Stoicism and Preparedness
24:38 – Looking Back at Hard Seasons
26:04 – Why Many Entrepreneurs Start After Crisis
28:05 – The Real Goal: Enough, Not Infinite
29:04 – The Boat Builder Parable
30:02 – Modern Wealth and Power Dynamics
31:22 – Escaping the Billion-Dollar Mindset
32:33 – What Money Actually Changes
33:26 – The Catalyst That Finally Forces Action
35:29 – Financial Illusions and True Needs
37:04 – Building the Nut First
39:49 – When the Rug Gets Pulled Out
41:06 – The Monopoly Analogy
43:03 – Why the Middle Class Got Squeezed
45:06 – Can We Fix It?
47:02 – Should Everyone Be an Entrepreneur?
48:01 – The World Needs All Roles
50:07 – How Boomers Broke the System
52:05 – The Coming Reset
53:46 – You Can’t Predict the Chaos
55:27 – Focus on What You Can Control
56:56 – Stop Worrying About What You Can’t Control
58:23 – Serenity, Stoicism, Reality
1:00:14 – Cause and Effect, Energy, Momentum
1:01:32 – WordPress Today: Problems and Potential
1:02:37 – What People Truly Need from WordPress
1:03:28 – Spencer’s Free-Call Strategy
1:04:47 – Mark’s Identity Problem: What Do You Sell?
1:05:50 – The Need for a Clear Niche
1:07:00 – Mark’s Superpowers: Data, Architecture, Systems
1:08:26 – Listening to the Market
1:10:00 – Mark’s Cycles of Obsession
1:11:09 – No Offers, No Sales Process
1:13:00 – You Can’t Sell Everything to Everyone
1:15:04 – The Value Ladder Reality Check
1:16:11 – Avoiding the Consultant Trap
1:18:02 – Reverse-Engineering the $30K Month Goal
1:20:06 – Messaging, Offers, and CTAs
1:21:40 – Reinventing When the Business Gets Heavy
1:23:10 – You Can’t Scale Doing Everything
1:25:02 – Productizing and Automating the Craft
1:26:21 – Why Mark Hasn’t Been Selling
1:28:01 – The Campfire Story of WordPress
1:29:59 – Understanding WordPress Lore
1:32:00 – The Emotional History of WordPress

⚡Want to build a business that actually works? My team at Motive11 can help—websites, systems, and strategy for modern entrepreneurs → https://motive11.com

Agency founder Chris LaFay joins me to talk about growing a web business from small-town freelancing to seven figures, the power of sharing experience instead of advice, and what it really takes to scale sustainably without losing yourself.

🔗 Connect with Chris LaFay:
Website: https://www.classiccity.net
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrislafay
X: https://x.com/chrisjlafay

🔗 Connect with Mark Szymanski:
Website: https://markszymanski.co
Facebook: https://mjs.link/FB
Instagram: https://mjs.link/IG
LinkedIn: https://mjs.link/LI
X: https://mjs.link/X
YouTube: https://mjs.link/YT

About the show:
Fueled By Progress is a podcast about candid conversations with builders, creators, and curious people—focused on decisions, disciplines, and stories that move us forward.

If you’re new here, welcome. If you’ve been here since episodes recorded in my car—thank you. We’re still just getting warmed up 💪

Host --- Mark Szymanski: https://markszymanski.co/links
Video/Audio Production --- Nathaniel DeHaven: https://elevatedmultimedia.com

Chapters:
0:00 Intro and why I film first conversations
1:12 Meet the guest Chris LaFay and Classic City Consulting
3:11 How we got connected through Andy Milligan
4:30 Accountability partner dynamic and daily check-ins
6:40 Experience vs advice and why stories land better
8:46 Lessons from Entrepreneurs’ Organization on sharing experiences
10:46 My learn try share motto and staying authentic
12:10 What I’m excited about now daily shorts streak hits 100
13:20 Documenting life systems and personal website roots
15:03 Chris’s background slow and steady agency growth
16:25 Content ramp up and finally starting a podcast
18:58 Framing the studio and committing to a setup
20:06 Content to drive Classic City sales the game plan
21:17 Collaborations and mini series with agency partners
22:52 The dual CTA idea and jabs before the right hook
24:05 My path agency vs creator split and tradeoffs
25:27 Chris’s origin suburbs of Atlanta and early freelancing
27:12 Pricing mindset shift charging more with confidence
29:21 Scaling to 1.3M and hard lessons on expenses
30:53 Selling to CMOs vs founders and changing rooms
33:04 College path MIS degree and real world skills
35:39 First WordPress class and stepping up to teach
37:49 From Dreamweaver to WordPress becoming the core stack
41:26 Shopify side work and where it fits
42:53 What Chris does today founder CEO head of sales
44:38 Relationship driven sales and creating a repeatable engine
48:04 Why ads waited the need for a foot in the door offer
50:14 ICP clarity B2B SaaS with complex content models
52:18 Component libraries CPTs and empowering marketing teams
54:50 How they entered B2B SaaS referrals and Slack groups
56:40 Personal sites as scratch pads and short posts
59:28 Substack vs WordPress and owning the home base
1:02:44 Personal brand ideas fractional consulting with founders
1:05:20 Building new lines of business inside existing engines
1:06:56 Community and mentorship possibilities
1:07:24 Wrap up and where to find Chris LinkedIn and Classic City

⚡Want to build a business that actually works? My team at Motive11 can help—websites, systems, and strategy for modern entrepreneurs → https://motive11.com

In this episode, 24-year-old agency founder Andy Milligan reveals why he ditched WordPress, built 30+ sites on Webflow + Framer, and publicly tracks every dollar of revenue.

🔗 Connect with Andy Milligan:
Website: https://www.mmgdesign.net
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mindulmilligan
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindfulmilligan
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmgdesign
X: https://x.com/mmg__design
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mmgdesign

🔗 Connect with Mark Szymanski:
Website: https://markszymanski.co
Facebook: https://mjs.link/FB
Instagram: https://mjs.link/IG
LinkedIn: https://mjs.link/LI
X: https://mjs.link/X
YouTube: https://mjs.link/YT

About the show:
Fueled By Progress is a podcast about candid conversations with builders, creators, and curious people—focused on decisions, disciplines, and stories that move us forward.

If you’re new here, welcome. If you’ve been here since episodes recorded in my car—thank you. We’re still just getting warmed up 💪

Host --- Mark Szymanski: https://markszymanski.co/links
Video/Audio Production --- Nathaniel DeHaven: https://elevatedmultimedia.com
Sponsor --- NitroPack: Get 10% off with code "MJS" at https://mjs.link/NitroPack

Chapters:
0:00 - Intro
0:43 - Meet Andy Milligan: 24-Year-Old Making $10K+/mo (Golf Pro → Web Agency)
6:35 - From Scratch Golfer to Eating Disorder Recovery (Raw Story)
15:51 - How Personal Training & Golf Lessons Became His First Business
21:47 - Instagram Reels → $40/hr Golf Lessons (Early Hustle Exposed)
26:21 - NitroPack Ad: Make Your Site Blazing Fast (Use Code MJS for 10% Off)
27:20 - Why Daily YouTube Shorts = Therapy + Lead Gen Gold
31:26 - Identity Lags Reality: “I Still Wake Up Like the Kid Who Got Laid Off”
35:56 - Discipline = Where Your Calendar Is (Not Motivation)
44:55 - Painful Feedback = Probably True (Family vs. Internet Trolls)
50:00 - Whole Foods Diet: Meat, Eggs, Fruit, 5lbs of Potatoes (Mark’s Catalyst)
1:12:38 - Discipline Is NOT Blanket — It’s Pillar-Based
1:26:54 - Balancing Deep Relationships vs. Shallow Founder Network
1:34:39 - WordPress vs. Webflow/Framer: The REAL Builder War (No BS)
1:40:02 - “You Have to Code PHP to Customize WordPress” — Andy’s Old Myth
1:47:30 - Why Gen Z Designers Flock to Framer & AI Tools (And Fail)
1:53:31 - “Clients Don’t Care About the Tool — They Care About Leads”
1:58:24 - Don’t Switch Platforms If You’re Making Money (Mark’s Warning)
2:01:41 - Final Verdict: Tool Debates Are for Technicians, Not Founders
2:02:00 - Where to Find Andy (Agency, Podcast, LinkedIn)

Fueled By Progress is back. New studio, fresh clarity, same mission: candid conversations that document the journey and help us all move forward.

In this solo relaunch, I share why “MJS Podcast” never fully resonated, the story behind the FBP name (and why I’m proud to bring it back), how my year reshaped my direction, and what’s coming next—guests, deeper conversations, and consistent momentum.

What’s inside:

• Why I sunset the MJS Podcast and revived FBP
• The naming story and brand decisions
• A quick history of FBP (car recordings → guest era)
• Reworking the RSS feed + channel setup
• The roadmap for upcoming episodes and guests

Subscribe & follow:

• Fueled By Progress on your favorite podcast app: https://fueledbyprogress.com/
• YouTube (Fueled By Progress): https://youtube.com/@FueledByProgress/
• My main channel: https://youtube.com/@markjszymanski/
• Second channel (BTS / real-time updates): https://youtube.com/@MarkSzymanski2/

About the show:
Fueled By Progress is a podcast about candid conversations with builders, creators, and curious people—focused on decisions, disciplines, and stories that move us forward.

If you’re new here, welcome. If you’ve been here since the car recordings—thank you. We’re just getting started.

💡If you like how I think about business, technology, and systems on Fueled By Progress, you can find the best way to work with me or learn more at https://markszymanski.co/start

Join me for a conversation with Nick Saraev, AI automation expert, agency owner, and content creator who scaled his service business to $72K/month.

In this episode, we explore the intersection of technology, business mindset, and content creation strategy. Nick shares his journey into AI automation, revealing why focusing ruthlessly on revenue-generating activities is the key to success.

We discuss the power of transparency in marketing, the value of personal branding, and practical advice on building systems that deliver demonstrable ROI for clients.

Whether you're looking to transition from technical skills to entrepreneurship, scale your service business, or leverage AI automation for growth, this conversation offers actionable insights from someone who's built successful businesses in both the technical and educational spaces. Plus, Nick shares his time management philosophy that allows him to create massive amounts of content while still maintaining a thriving agency and personal life.

GUEST: Nick Saraev
- Website: https://nicksaraev.com/
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@nicksaraev
- Maker School: https://www.skool.com/makerschool/
- Make Money With Make.com: https://www.skool.com/makemoneywithmake/

Chapters:
0:00 - Introduction to Nick Saraev
8:35 - Conversation with Nick starts
9:04 - Nick's perspective on why transparency and authenticity will be crucial in an AI-saturated future
11:05 - Comparing our journeys from web development to exploring automation opportunities
14:11 - Nick's path from struggling with WordPress to discovering front-end and AI technologies
17:56 - The limitations of web design and why ROI-focused services are more valuable
20:18 - The generational differences between WordPress and AI/automation communities
25:12 - Why you need existing profitable processes before applying automation and AI
29:04 - How to identify automation opportunities that deliver 100x results for businesses
33:09 - Navigating criticism when sharing revenue figures and dealing with "trust fund kid" accusations
38:13 - Nick's advice on when to start teaching: "learn, achieve, then share" to build credibility
42:17 - Time management secrets: effectiveness over efficiency and the $500/hour mindset
45:00 - Being ruthless about focusing only on tasks that generate significant ROI
51:00 - Why growth solves most business problems better than optimization or hiring
56:20 - The technician vs. entrepreneur spectrum and moving beyond technical skills
59:08 - Three recurring revenue models for automation businesses explained in detail
1:01:15 - Nick's inspiring story about confidence in success and where to find his content

Join me for an enlightening conversation with Matt Medeiros, the "Podfather of WordPress" and creator of The WP Minute, as we dive deep into the world of content creation, personal branding, and playing the long game in the digital space.

In this episode, Matt shares his 15+ years of experience as a digital professional and reveals why he consciously chose to build without chasing fame or algorithms. We explore:

- The true value of personal branding vs. building sellable assets
- Why Matt avoids the content hamster wheel of viral marketing
- The importance of creating for the love of the game, not just metrics
- How podcasting serves as the ultimate "dynamic resume"
- The transition from WordPress to AI and what's next
- Strategic insights on when to name products after yourself (and when not to)
- The "blue collar digital worker" mindset
- How authentic content creation leads to unexpected opportunities
- Building sustainable content businesses without burnout

Matt discusses his journey from running a WordPress agency to becoming a key voice in the podcasting space, his experiences with various ventures (from The Matt Report to The WP Minute to South Coast FM), and why staying "in the mix" has been his most valuable content strategy.

Whether you're a content creator, entrepreneur, or someone interested in building a lasting digital presence, this conversation offers invaluable insights on creating meaningful content that stands the test of time.

GUEST: Matt Medeiros
- Website: https://craftedbymatt.com
- WP Minute: https://thewpminute.com
- Gravity Forms: https://gravity.com