In this episode of Burn the Ship, Christian sits down with Lola Ojabowale, founder and CEO of Lunch Pail Labs, for a conversation about entrepreneurship, self-doubt, software, AI, and building a business that actually fits the life you want.

Lola shares how she left her job at the beginning of COVID, navigated the uncertainty of her first years in business, and evolved from an early startup idea into building software products, integrations, and AI-powered systems. She also breaks down why entrepreneurs should stop giving so much weight to their early mistakes, how to filter advice based on the kind of company you actually want to build, and why the more shots you take, the more likely one is eventually going to work.

If you’re in the early stages of building, questioning your next move, experimenting with AI, or simply trying to create a business and life on your own terms, this conversation is for you.

Watch Full Video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dbng45SlQtA

In this episode, Christian Brown sits down with Richard Gotlieb, co-founder and CEO of OnGuardAI, for a conversation about how scammers target seniors and what families can do to protect the people they love.

After his own father was scammed, Richard got a front-row seat to fraud at a Bitcoin ATM company, where he watched older victims read warning signs and pay anyway. He went on to interview 100 seniors who had lost money and learned why sharp, capable people fall for scams: fake caller IDs that look like their bank, and scammers who deliberately trigger fear and urgency until their targets stop thinking clearly. That research led to OnGuardAI, an app that detects scam calls as they happen and alerts a trusted family member, so someone outside the call can step in.

Richard also shares how he tested demand before building a product, and why founders should fall in love with the problem, not the solution.

His message for every family: anyone can be scammed, because scammers are professionals at hijacking our emotions.

Originally recorded for Burn the Ship, the entrepreneurship podcast from The MP Group.
Learn more about OnGuardAI: getonguard.ai

In this episode, Christian Brown sits down with Chris Ashley, co-founder, CRO and COO of TrustPixel, for a conversation about whether AI agents could be the first technology to actually reduce our screen time.

Chris explains what an AI agent really is, how it could spare us hours of research, scheduling emails and price-checking, and why TrustPixel is building a neutral exchange where agents can buy things safely and verifiably on our behalf, starting with corporate travel. He also shares how he keeps his own kids' childhood intentionally analog, and his nine-year path from deciding to build a company in 2015 to finally going all in in 2024, after helping grow Meraki from $8M to $100M in revenue ahead of its acquisition by Cisco.

His advice for founders: count to five before you speak, expect failure, and remember that the only path is forward.

Originally recorded for Burn the Ship, the entrepreneurship podcast from The MP Group.
Learn more about TrustPixel: trustpixel.ai

In this episode, Christian Brown sits down with Nick Schell, founder and president of BTA Sports and a former top-producing advisor at Merrill Lynch, for a conversation about what it takes to walk away from a career you're great at but don't love.

Nick shares how an idea sketched out at a fantasy football draft became a bootstrapped sports analytics company, why he quit on a Monday without warning, how BTA built a 15-engineer team through university partnerships like Carnegie Mellon, and why he believes the best founders run on acceptance rather than confidence.

Originally recorded for Burn the Ship, the entrepreneurship podcast from The MP Group.
Learn more about BTA Sports: btasports.io

What does it really take to become a great leader?

In this episode of Leading Well, Christian Brown sits down with Richard Hicks, CEO of Inspiredu, to talk about servant leadership, humility, mental well-being, and leading with purpose.

Richard shares lessons from nearly two decades of leadership, including why great leaders listen, how to handle setbacks without burning out, and why leadership should be about serving others, not chasing titles or status.

You'll also hear how Richard's upbringing shaped his leadership philosophy and how Inspiredu is helping close the digital divide through technology access and digital skills.

Learn more about Inspiredu:
https://www.iuatl.org

In this episode, Christian Brown sits down with entrepreneur and Kennesaw State University honorary doctorate recipient Dave Walens for a conversation about building a lasting legacy.

Dave shares lessons from his entrepreneurial journey, why age is no criteria for success, and how relationships, resilience, and a commitment to serving others shaped his path. He also discusses his passion for KSU Athletics and why investing in student-athletes creates an impact that reaches far beyond the field.

Whether you’re building a business, entering a new season, or wondering if it’s too late to pursue your purpose, Dave’s story is a powerful reminder: success has no age limit.

Terrence Battle sits at the intersection of media, finance, and venture capital. In this conversation, we talk about building taste, recognizing patterns, raising capital, creating ownership, and why your unique point of view may be your biggest advantage in the age of AI.

This episode is a recording from a fireside chat with Christian Brown and Christopher Lafayette for GatherVerse Men's Summit 2026. Enjoy!