CEO Podcasts: CEO Chat Podcast + I AM CEO Podcast Powered by Blue16 Media & CBNation.co

In this episode, we have Maria Rapetskaya founder of Undefined Creative, which now boasts a nine‑year track record and a small, fully remote team of four dedicated staff.

Undefined Creative specializes in motion‑graphics and end‑to‑end creative production. The firm handles everything from initial scripting and branding to sound mixing, shoot organization, and final delivery.

Over time, the agency has secured high‑profile clients l...

In this episode, Gresham reflects on the steep learning curve of his one‑year franchise‑broker program, now 276 days in, noting that the experience has been far tougher than expected. He describes how competing priorities, imposter syndrome, and a lack of closed deals have forced him to reassess his focus. 

Using a vivid gym metaphor (pushing a weighted sled), Gresham illustrates the temptation to “look up” and over‑analyze versus ...

In this episode, Gresham delves into the mindset behind his venture, using the mantra “finish the fight”—a phrase he recalled from a training‑camp T‑shirt—to illustrate the relentless mental battle entrepreneurs face.

He describes how doubts, funding challenges, and personal hardships (including the loss of his beloved dog) can sap motivation, yet stress the importance of staying locked‑in, persisting through monotony, and using em...

In this episode, Gresh emphasizes the importance of staying true to one’s unique vision while continuously “building”.

He explores the frustration of low leaderboard rankings, the feeling of being “mid‑tier” among roughly a hundred brokers, and the broader challenge of navigating early‑stage struggles. 

Despite the setbacks, he frames these hurdles as learning opportunities, stressing the need to adjust strategies, sharpen mental ...

In this episode, Gresh believes that sharing the highs and lows of starting any business can help aspiring founders see the real‑world path, not just polished success stories.

He also shares a daily gratitude journal practice he’s kept for four years, citing a Maya Angelou quote—“you may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated”—and reflecting on Michael Jordan’s pivot from basketball to baseball as an illustration of h...

In this episode, we have Mickie Kennedy, founder of eReleases, who turned a creative‑writing degree and a grueling wait‑staff job into a 25‑year PR career that helps small businesses get national media coverage without the huge budgets of big brands.

He learned early that raw data alone doesn’t attract journalists; stories need a hook and context. By building a Rolodex of ~10,000 journalists and partnering with PR Newswire for hi...

In this episode, we have Adam Goodcoff, a fourth‑year medical student who transformed his early struggles with imposter syndrome into a thriving online brand called The Med Life.

Focusing on a blend of study tips, travel hacks, and lifestyle content that showcases how medical professionals can enjoy life beyond the hospital or classroom.

Adam’s growth strategy hinged on two core ideas: relentless work ethic (“hustle, grind, stay h...

In this episode, we have Erica N. Reed, a psychotherapist, corporate trainer, and adjunct professor, uses her clinical expertise to help leaders and employees “lead from within.”

After leaving a toxic agency job and launching a private practice fifteen years ago, she eventually reframed herself as a CEO and began pairing individual wellness work with organizational training.

Her mission is to improve employee satisfaction and menta...

In this special episode, Gresham shares about the power of a consistent morning routine, which he dubs his “star time.” He recounts how walking his late dog created a disciplined start to his day, fostering focus and productivity.

By pairing this ritual with mental conditioning—such as listening to Myron Golden on turning stress into opportunity—he frames everyday struggles as blessings that strengthen character and drive future s...

In this episode, Gresham reflects on his own experience of being laid off, admitting that if he’d known about franchising sooner—and had the capital—he might have taken a different route.

This personal revelation has led him to pivot toward a B2C focus aimed at helping people who have been laid off find new opportunities.

Gresh candidly discusses the challenges of juggling multiple responsibilities—running a new franchise brokerage...

Gresham Harkless shares his personal story: a string of layoffs in his early 20s left him frustrated, embarrassed, and feeling undervalued after years of broken promises and unstable jobs.

Those setbacks rekindled an entrepreneurial itch he’d had since childhood—selling chips on the playground and taking sales gigs in college.

After twelve years of running a six‑figure digital‑marketing firm and interviewing over 1,600 CEOs, he rea...

In this special episode, Gresham then shifts to a personal story that led to his current drive: being laid off after years of “purpose‑filled” work running sports camps for young children in Northern Virginia.

Despite his dedication—early arrivals, late stays, driving across the region, and filling in whenever needed—he felt discarded, which forced him to confront the deeper frustration of never being given a real chance to build h...

Ram Krishnan, a seasoned technology executive with a background in systems engineering from UVA, GE leadership, and several SaaS ventures, joined Valant (valant.io) in 2020 to steer the company through its next growth phase. 

His team built a “system of record” that serves as the base operating platform for medical practices—handling everything from patient intake, appointment scheduling, and payment collection to clinical document...

In this episode, we have Jason Resnick, the founder of rezzz.com, who has been running a solo web‑development firm since 2010 while also coaching, mentoring, and selling digital products to help “feasters” – developers and designers who want to build recurring revenue and enjoy a life of time‑freedom.

Jason explains that his primary motivation is to be present for his family, and after the birth of his first child he realized his d...

In this episode, we have Dr. Michelle Deering, the founder and CEO of Curative Connections, a consulting firm dedicated to strengthening mother‑daughter relationships.

Curative Connections offers a blend of motivational speaking, workshops, group sessions, and one‑on‑one consultations—particularly for athletic families—aimed at helping mothers and daughters find clarity, calm, and intentional connection.

Michelle’s “secret sauce” l...

In this special episode, Gresham Harkless Jr. frames the show as a resource for anyone building a business, emphasizing the value of sharing real‑time experiences and encouraging listeners to subscribe for more content.

He then recounts his personal experience with layoffs, beginning with his first layoff in his early twenties, describes the fear, disappointment, and feeling of being misled that came with a reduction in force, noti...

Gresh delves into his personal philosophy, rejecting “impossible” as an excuse used by those who fear stepping outside their comfort zones.

He reframes “possible” not as a fact but as a dare, a temporary state that can be expanded through mindset work. By challenging his own assumptions, questioning self‑imposed “facts,” and confronting setbacks with curiosity rather than defeat, he illustrates how shifting perspective can dissolv...

In this episode, Gresh pivots to a quick primer on franchising, demystifying the model for anyone unfamiliar with it. He describes the franchisor (the “Zor”) who owns the brand and system, and the franchisee (the “Z”) who purchases the rights to run a local operation.

By leveraging an established playbook, brand recognition, training, and ongoing support, a franchisee can bypass the guesswork of starting a business from scratch. Gr...

In this special episode, Gresham Harkless Jr. shares about industry challenges, pointing out that decision‑making, confidence, and finances are tougher now than when he started training. Many newcomers feel uncertain about protecting their investment.

The message is to turn setbacks into “opportunities to improve,” stay “gung‑ho,” and focus on landing the first deal, then keep moving forward.

Gresham recognizes that the franchise l...