The Midnight Founders Podcast

The Midnight Founders Podcast is focused on telling the behind-the-scenes stories for what makes a successful entrepreneur.

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Episodes

5 days ago

The difference between a thriving business and a failing one often comes down to fixing small problems before they snowball. Mike Hawker, Managing Partner at CoDev, knows this firsthand. From scaling companies to running dozens of ultramarathons, he’s learned that success—whether in business or endurance sports—comes down to preparation, resilience, and pacing yourself. In this episode, he shares:
The ‘hot spot’ rule: Minor inefficiencies in your business are like blisters in a race—ignore them, and they’ll take you out later. How to spot and fix small issues before they become major failures.
The right mentor can change everything. Mike shares how a simple ask turned into a years-long mentorship that shaped his career.
Remote work isn’t always the answer. Why companies should rethink their approach to global teams and how to support employees beyond just a paycheck.
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Joe Grover - Ampleō

Wednesday Jan 29, 2025

Wednesday Jan 29, 2025

How do you know if your startup is worth fighting for—or if you're just throwing money into a sinking ship? Joe Grover, Managing Partner at Ampleō, Fractional CMO, and Venture Investor, has seen both sides—leading high-growth ventures and watching businesses collapse under their own weight. In this episode, he pulls back the curtain on the toughest lessons founders learn the hard way.
Grit vs. knowing when to quit: Why “never quit” can be bad advice, and how to tell if your business model is actually broken.
Marketing that actually works: Joe shares hard-won lessons on building brand trust, cutting through the noise, and why 10-20% of your marketing budget should always be reserved for experimentation.
The hyper-optimism trap: Why founders overestimate demand, underestimate costs, and how bad assumptions kill startups.
 
 
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The Midnight Founders Podcast is powered by RevRoad and CB Vault. 

Mary Crafts - Culinary Crafts

Wednesday Jan 22, 2025

Wednesday Jan 22, 2025


What does it take to transform a red wagon of baked goods into Utah’s largest catering company? Mary Crafts proves that success has no age limit, and fear is just another mountain to climb. In this episode, Mary shares:
How she turned her passion for food and service into the award-winning business, Culinary Crafts.
The mindset shifts that helped her overcome fear and imposter syndrome.
The unexpected opportunities that shaped her entrepreneurial journey—and how saying “yes” changed everything.
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The Midnight Founders Podcast is powered by RevRoad and CB Vault. 

Wednesday Jan 15, 2025

Carrie Hill, Chief Architect of CHill Consulting Agency, takes us on her journey to entrepreneurship—from discovering her innate talent for storytelling to building a boutique PR firm. As a publicist, brand manager, and content creator, Carrie shares how she uses her expertise to elevate her clients' brands through authentic and impactful narratives.
Tune in for a conversation around:
How PR stands apart from marketing and sales by creating genuine human connections through the “why” behind the “what.”
The power of earned media versus paid media, and how authentic storytelling builds trust and long-term engagement.
The story behind Empowered, an eight-week program Carrie co-founded to help single mothers transition from welfare to sustainable careers.
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The Midnight Founders Podcast is powered by RevRoad and CB Vault. 
 

Wednesday Jan 08, 2025

Disrupting an industry isn’t just about groundbreaking tech—it’s about understanding the people and systems that drive it. In this episode, we talk with Ubair Javaid and Sebastian Schepis, the visionaries behind Nomyx, who are redefining how traditional finance embraces distributed ledger technology. Tune in as we explore:
How Nomyx bridges the gap between tradition and innovation with seamless compliance solutions
Why tokenizing real-world assets is revolutionizing liquidity and financial operations
What it takes to drive adoption in cautious industries—and how persistence pays off
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The Midnight Founders Podcast is powered by RevRoad and CB Vault. 
 

Glen Mella - OliverIQ

Wednesday Dec 18, 2024

Wednesday Dec 18, 2024

Entrepreneurship often involves solving problems no one else dares to tackle. In this episode, Glen Mella, Chief Revenue Officer of OliverIQ and former COO of the smart home pioneer Control4, shares how he’s creating the next evolution of smart living. From scaling startups to IPOs, Glen reflects on his experiences building businesses that transform everyday lives. Tune in for a conversation around:
Why the smart home is AI's most critical interface—and how Glen's team is making "one app to rule them all";
Why founders are always in fundraising mode, whether they realize it or not;
The key elements that make or break a founding team, including complementary skills, trust, and honest forecasting.
—The Midnight Founders Podcast is powered by RevRoad and CB Vault. 

Shideler Bennett - Initiator.co

Wednesday Dec 11, 2024

Wednesday Dec 11, 2024

The path of entrepreneurship is rarely straightforward. In this episode, Shideler Bennett, Co-founder of Initiator and a franchisee of Crumbl, pulls back the curtain on his journey from zero to nine franchise locations in just 18 months. Shideler dives into building a business while navigating massive debt, personal sacrifices, and unexpected market opportunities. Tune in for a conversation around:
The psychological challenges of early-stage entrepreneurship, including working without pay and putting family financial stability on the line while maintaining hope and vision;
Strategic approaches to franchise expansion, including how to mitigate risks and capitalize on emerging market opportunities;
The power of partnership, creative financing, and maintaining relationships through business challenges.
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The Midnight Founders Podcast is powered by RevRoad and CB Vault. 
 

Wednesday Dec 04, 2024

Balancing a family, building a career, and leading a city as dynamic as Provo is no small feat—but Mayor Michelle Kaufusi makes it look effortless. In this episode, we sit down with Mayor Kaufusi and Keith Morey, Provo’s Economic Development Director, to uncover the vision, leadership, and entrepreneurial mindset driving Provo to national recognition. Tune in to explore:
How Provo’s innovative projects and startup-friendly ecosystem are transforming it into an entrepreneurial powerhouse
Leadership lessons from Mayor Kaufusi; how her upbringing shaped a culture of empathy, empowerment, and forward-thinking innovation as Provo’s first woman mayor
The four pillars of Mayor Kaufusi’s administration and her commitment to building a welcoming, safe, economically vibrant, and future-ready city
—The Midnight Founders Podcast is powered by RevRoad and CB Vault. 

Shawn Finnegan - Tax Hive

Wednesday Nov 27, 2024

Wednesday Nov 27, 2024

This week, we’re joined by Shawn Finnegan, co-founder of Tax Hive and partner with Kevin O’Leary from Shark Tank, to explore how his journey from startup struggles to building a thriving business shaped his approach to entrepreneurship. Tune in to learn:
Tax-saving strategies every entrepreneur should know, like the "Augusta Rule" and leveraging family payrolls
How Shawn overcame losing $1.5 million, missed payroll, and rebuilt his business through partnerships and relationships
The importance of aligning the right investors with your mission—and how to know when to take the leap or continue bootstrapping
Check out Tax Hive's FREE business blueprint here.
—The Midnight Founders Podcast is powered by RevRoad and CB Vault. 

Brian Brown - Partner Philosophy

Wednesday Nov 20, 2024

Wednesday Nov 20, 2024

Building a successful business isn't just about products or profit—it's about people. In this episode, Brian Brown, Founder of Partner Philosophy, shares his unique approach to business development, blending creativity, community, and a touch of fun to foster authentic relationships that drive revenue. In this episode, we explore:
Why automated sales funnels and follow-ups aren’t meeting quotas—and how face-to-face connections close the deals that matter most.
The story behind “Burning Questions,” a networking event featuring hot wings and spicy conversations that break down barriers and build lasting relationships.
How cold plunging turned into a flourishing business franchise, creating an unexpected space for networking and human connection.
—The Midnight Founders Podcast is powered by RevRoad and CB Vault. 

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The Midnight Founders Podcast

The Midnight Founders Podcast is focused on telling the behind-the-scenes stories for what makes a successful entrepreneur. Just like Donavan Mitchell spends countless hours practicing step back jumpers to become a master at his craft. You are in the trenches spending countless hours to become a master at your business. We are inspired by this, we believe that is what it takes to be a midnight founder, and we want to share your story.

Our podcast is casual, every conversation is different, so we like to take the conversation wherever it leads. As such, we don’t really follow a script, but we really want to know who you are as a founder, and what makes you tick? We also want to know what keeps you up at night, what are the problems you are currently trying to solve? As entrepreneurs we know that there are challenging times where you don’t have anyone to fall back on to meet the deadline or finish the task, all the weight is on your shoulders.  One question we ask every guest that we want you to think about is:  What is the gnarliest experience you have had as an entrepreneur? Stories about you and your business are engaging and pull the listeners in.

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