With 80% of new businesses seemingly destined to fail, the odds are stacked against most entrepreneurs. But today’s guest is on a mission to shift that equation. From overcoming financial hardship and a lawsuit that nearly bankrupted him to reshaping his leadership style and creating a winning team culture, today’s conversation is all about what it takes to build and scale a thriving business.

Mike Konrad is the founder and CEO of Aqueous Technologies, a public speaker, podcast host, and author of The Reluctant Entrepreneur. Mike shares his 40-year journey in the electronics manufacturing industry, from leaving his corporate job in the early 90s to create an innovative business through dedication and a core belief that reliability matters.

In this conversation, you’ll hear how Mike navigated the operational challenges of entrepreneurship and underwent a profound transformation as a leader. He shares how building a sustainable company required evolving from naivety to knowledge, from arrogance to savvy, and from poor risk assessment to awareness.

One of his biggest breakthroughs came when he recognized the need to set aside his ego—the very trait that helped launch the business—to empower others, hire smarter, and scale with intention.

In this podcast interview, you’ll learn:

• Why the traits that help start a business often sabotage its long-term growth.

• The costly lawsuit that nearly ended Mike's company—and how his ego and tenacity helped survive it.

• How naivety and bad risk assessment fueled his early success.

• Why company culture and team fit are critical for new hires in a growing company.

• How counterintuitive ideas from a mentor helped shift his mindset and achieve greater success.

Find All Interview Resources Here - www.bayntree.com/114

Download your copy of The Entrepreneur's Financial Planning Checklist!

Big-box pet stores may offer convenience, but they often fall short when it comes to personalized service, expert nutrition advice, and a deeper overall commitment to pet wellness.

Today’s guest recognized this gap in the industry and set out to build a franchise model that delivered on all fronts—without sacrificing community values or sustainability. His goal: to empower local pet store owners with the tools and support to thrive in a competitive market where natural food and nutrition are expected from pet owners.

Michael Seitz is the CEO and Chairman of EarthWise Pet, one of only four national pet retail franchisors in the United States. Since joining his family’s business in 2005, Michael has grown the brand from a handful of stores into a nationwide operation with over 200 retail locations and a rapidly growing mobile grooming platform. His unconventional journey has shaped a unique, people-first approach to scaling a multi billion dollar franchising business in the pet industry.

In this episode, Michael shares how EarthWise Pet has differentiated itself through holistic nutrition, pet services, and sustainable sourcing. He shares his expertise on what it truly takes to scale a successful franchise, why mobile grooming services are now a multi-million-dollar growth engine.

In this podcast interview, you’ll learn:

• Why Michael left dental school to rejoin the family business.
• How EarthWise scaled from 3 stores to over 200 locations.
• The evolution from natural pet food to sustainable sourcing.
• How grooming services have become a huge growth driver, especially for new franchises.
• How EarthWise Pet uses AI to improve marketing and efficiency.

Find All Interview Resources Here - www.bayntree.com/113

Download your copy of The Entrepreneur's Financial Planning Checklist!

After years of service in the U.S. Navy, and a successful career in the corporate world, Michael Roviello found himself battling crippling neck and back pain. This led to a less-than-successful surgery and self-medicating with alcohol and prescription pain meds.

When faced with the prospect of having another surgery, he embarked on a healing journey that didn't come with more prescriptions or procedures, but through nature, ancient healing traditions, and deep introspection.

Today, Michael is the co-founder of Optimyze, a wellness studio in Phoenix, Arizona. Optimyze has become a community that empowers others to take personal responsibility for their physical, mental, and emotional health through natural healing methods.

In our conversation, Michael shares how his search for answers led him to meet Wim Hof and leave his corporate job to explore plant medicine, the science, and the benefits of cold plunges, breathwork, and energy practices. This experience ultimately reshaped his view of wellness and how the human body is equipped to deal with stress and health issues naturally and holistically.

In this podcast interview, you’ll learn:

• Michael’s journey from the U.S. Navy to become an entrepreneur.
• How plant medicine and ceremonial practices transformed Michael’s life.
• The benefits of cold therapy and exercise as a way of stressing our body to improve wellness.
• The link between technology and common health issues and autoimmune diseases.
• The importance of setting boundaries with staff and customers as an entrepreneur.

More resources and info > https://www.bayntree.com/112

Are you feeling stuck in your personal or professional life, unable to break free from limiting beliefs that hold you back? Many high achievers struggle to find balance and fulfillment, often feeling overwhelmed by stress and self-doubt. In this episode, we dive into proven strategies for transforming your mindset and taking control of your future.

Michael Kohan, a certified life coach, speaker, and host of the Your Wellness Yogi podcast, has spent years helping individuals shift their perspectives and cultivate meaningful success. With a background in yoga, mindfulness, and personal development, Michael specializes in guiding entrepreneurs and professionals toward greater clarity and purpose. His work has empowered countless individuals to implement daily habits that drive lasting change.

In this conversation, we explore how self-awareness plays a critical role in personal growth, the science behind habit formation, and practical techniques to overcome self-imposed limitations. You’ll also learn how to develop resilience, enhance productivity, and align your daily actions with your long-term goals. If you're ready to take the next step toward unlocking your full potential, this episode is for you.

In this podcast interview, you’ll learn:

• How self-awareness plays a crucial role in achieving success and fulfillment.
• The impact of daily habits on mindset and long-term growth.
• Practical steps to shift limiting beliefs and create empowering routines.
• Why personal development is the key to thriving in both life and business.
• Strategies for maintaining motivation and focus in the face of challenges.
  

Interview Resources:

• Elevate Life Project
• Michael Kohan on LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram
• BetterHelp
• Thumbtack
• Bark

Many professionals and entrepreneurs struggle with burnout, imposter syndrome, and the challenge of aligning their daily actions with their true passions. Without a clear vision and strategy, it’s easy to lose momentum and feel disconnected from what truly matters. But today’s guest has a proven track record of helping entrepreneurs and business leaders clarify their purpose and build lives that inspire them.

Carly Pepin is the Founder and Senior Advisor at West Coast Growth Advisors, a human behavior specialist, coach, and speaker who has spent years helping individuals and business leaders break through mental barriers and unlock their full potential. With a background in behavioral psychology and mindset coaching, Carly has worked with high-level executives, entrepreneurs, and organizations to refine their leadership, streamline their operations, and amplify their impact.

In our conversation, Carly shares actionable insights on overcoming self-doubt, applying core values to your decision-making, and avoiding the comparison trap that holds so many back. Whether you’re looking to take your career to the next level or simply want to feel more fulfilled in your daily life, this episode provides a roadmap to get there.

In this podcast interview, you’ll learn:

• How your personal struggles and voids shape your life’s purpose.
• The importance of recognizing daily patterns to uncover what truly drives you.
• Why comparison leads to imposter syndrome—and how to overcome it.
• How to balance ambition with authenticity in business and life.
• The role of mission, vision, and values in creating long-term success.
• How to cultivate a mindset that fuels growth instead of burnout.

Interview Resources

• West Coast Growth Advisors
• Carly Pepin
• Carly Pepin on LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube
• Sony Electronics
• Elon Musk
• Brené Brown

In a rapidly evolving business landscape, customer experience is no longer just a department—it’s a company-wide mindset. How can leaders create a customer-first culture that drives loyalty, improves engagement, and fuels long-term success?

Today’s guest, Blake Morgan, is a globally recognized customer experience futurist, keynote speaker, and best-selling author. She has worked with some of the world’s top brands, helping them redefine the customer journey in an era shaped by technology, AI, and changing consumer behaviors.

In our conversation, Blake shared insights from her latest book, The Eight Laws of Customer-Focused Leadership, and explained why customer experience is not just about service—it’s about mindset, culture, and operational efficiency. We also discussed the impact of AI on customer relationships and practical strategies that businesses of any size can implement to stay ahead.

In this podcast interview, you’ll learn:

• How customer experience has evolved over the last 20 years—and where it’s headed.
• Why CX is a company-wide philosophy, not just a department.
• The biggest mistakes businesses make in understanding their customers.
• How AI can enhance, not replace, human connection in customer service.
• The power of storytelling, content creation, and brand building in today’s digital world.
• Practical steps small businesses can take to improve CX and stand out in competitive markets.

Interview Resources

• Blake Morgan.com
• Blake Morgan on LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | X/Twitter
• The 8 Laws of Customer-Focused Leadership: New Rules for Building A Business Around Today’s Customer by Blake Morgan
• Leveraging AI in Contact Centers: Overcoming Volume and Improving Customer Experience (Blake Morgan’s LinkedIn Course on AI and Change Management)
• Zappos
• Tony Hsieh
• Drew Brees
• Lynsi Snyder
• Joe Rogan
• Toastmasters
• Bo Eason
• Jacob Morgan

What does it take to scale a business from the ground up, navigate male-dominated industries, and build a company culture that thrives? As you’ll hear from today’s guest, leaders provide inspiration and remove obstacles to empower their teams.

Kristin Steele is a serial entrepreneur and co-founder of Doozy Solutions and Crafted ERP, which are revolutionizing tech solutions for the beverage alcohol industry. With a background in ERP consulting and a keen eye for inefficiencies, she saw an opportunity to modernize an industry still reliant on outdated systems. She took the leap from corporate stability to entrepreneurship, building two companies that transformed operations for craft breweries, wineries, and distilleries across the country.

In this episode, Kristin shares how she and her co-founders bootstrapped their companies, the lessons learned while scaling, and why fostering a strong leadership mindset is key to sustainable success.

In this podcast interview, you’ll learn:

• The unexpected path that led Kristin into entrepreneurship.
• How to identify inefficiencies in an industry and turn them into business opportunities.
• The power of scrappy, guerrilla-style marketing for early-stage startups.
• How great leaders inspire their team and remove obstacles.
• Trends shaping the beverage alcohol industry, from shifting consumer habits to the rise of tequila brands.
  
  

Interview Resources

• Crafted ERP
• Crafted Erp on LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram
• Doozy Solutions
• Doozy Solutions on LinkedIn | X/Twitter
• Kristin Steele on LinkedIn
• Great American Beer Festival
• Salesforce CRM
• Founder Mode

What if the thing you thought was holding you back was your biggest strength? We’ve learned that over 62% of successful entrepreneurs have some form of ADHD. Struggling with distraction, impulsivity, and the constant pull of new ideas is something many people deal with on a daily basis, but what if they were the keys to your success?

That’s why I’m thrilled to be speaking with John Torrens. John is an entrepreneur, professor, and author of Lightning in a Bottle: How Entrepreneurs Can Harness Their ADHD to Win—to explore how neurodiversity can be a superpower in business.

With over 25 years of entrepreneurial experience and a deep passion for teaching, John shares his journey of building successful businesses, coaching the next generation of leaders, and optimizing performance while managing ADHD.

In our conversation, you’ll learn how to harness ADHD and hyperfocus as a superpower and build a team that balances your strengths. We’ll also dig into the latest science-backed strategies for improving energy, decision-making, and overall leadership. If you’re a high-achiever looking to level up, you’ll love this episode.

In this podcast interview, you’ll learn:

• The link between ADHD and entrepreneurial success.
• Why impulsivity can be both a strength and a weakness and how to harness it.
• The key to balancing visionary thinking with structured execution.
• How proper nutrition, sleep, and exercise leads to making better decisions.
• Strategies to manage distractions and avoid burnout.
• How leveraging the right technology can improve focus and efficiency.

Interview Resources

• John Torrens
• John Torrens on LinkedIn | Instagram
• Syracuse University
• Lightning in a Bottle: How Entrepreneurs Can Harness Their ADHD to Win by John M. Torrens, PhD
• Syracuse University Project Advance
• Dan Martell
• Buy Back Your Time
• EO
• Peter Attia
• Andrew Huberman
• David Sinclair