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PODCAST

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

CEO Podcasts consists of CEO Chat (CC), I AM CEO (IAM) & CBNation.TV (TV) podcast episodes. Value-packed episode including interviews & resources for CEOs, entrepreneurs, startups founders & business owners. The CEO Chat episodes are our long-form episodes w/ interviews and digital marketing resources. The I AM CEO episodes are laser focused (about 16 min.) w/ interviews & a discussion about what it means to be a CEO. Powered by Blue16 Media & CBNation.co. Hosted by Gresham W. Harkless Jr.

business

All Episodes

14:20

IAM2641 - Founder Works with Retail Leaders to...

CEO Podcasts: CEO Chat Podcast + I AM CEO Podcast... ·

2025/11/05

In this episode, we have Carlo Castelan, founder and managing director of the Navio Group, a consulting firm that helps retail leaders transform their businesses.Carlo's work centers on partnering with brick‑and‑mortar retailers—often Fortune 1000 brands—looking to shift toward direct‑to‑consumer models or expand into new services, such as health‑care offerings. Their model emphasizes collaboration: rather than acting as a distant “black box,” They work side‑by‑side with existing teams, lifting

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15:34

IAM2640 - Founder Helps Small Teams and Entrepreneurs...

CEO Podcasts: CEO Chat Podcast + I AM CEO Podcast... ·

2025/11/04

In this throwback episode, we have John Hill, founder of Adaptive Growth, helps small teams and entrepreneurs use technology and processes to make sales repeatable. John helps capture the “instinctual” parts of their sales conversations, document them, and embed them into customized CRM workflows. By doing so, he shortens ramp‑up time, eliminates gaps between reps, and creates data‑driven pipelines that can be refined just like digital‑marketing campaigns. He reinforces these ideas on his “Sales

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6:05

IAM2639 - Unlocking the Mystery of Day 289

CEO Podcasts: CEO Chat Podcast + I AM CEO Podcast... ·

2025/11/03

In this special episode, Gresham uses a vivid analogy involving his newborn son learning to crawl. He describes a recent moment at a restaurant where the baby’s frustration and determination mirrored the challenges he faces as an entrepreneur juggling a newborn, a digital‑marketing business, and the launch of his franchise. He reflects on the inevitable setbacks—crying, yelling, feeling stretched thin—and emphasizes the importance of patience, honesty, and realistic expectations. By acknowledging

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7:13

IAM2638 - The Struggle and Strength in Change

CEO Podcasts: CEO Chat Podcast + I AM CEO Podcast... ·

2025/11/02

In this episode, Gresh shifts to the challenges he’s faced in his existing digital‑marketing and franchise‑brokerage businesses. After years of relying heavily on his own involvement, he realized the models had hit a ceiling and required major pivots.He discusses how his original target market for the brokerage didn’t generate enough traction, prompting him to rethink prospecting strategies—using LinkedIn to focus on people with clear pain points, such as those affected by layoffs, and reshaping

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7:11

IAM2637 - Step into Success: What's Your Day 286?

CEO Podcasts: CEO Chat Podcast + I AM CEO Podcast... ·

2025/11/01

In this episode, Gresham reflects on the past year of planning, the emotional hurdle of acknowledging the time that has passed, and the excitement of welcoming a potential candidate—identified through LinkedIn—who may become his first deal. He emphasizes transparency with prospects, encouraging them to voice disinterest openly to avoid ghosting and to keep the pipeline moving efficiently. The episode highlights several practical insights: the need to target the right audience (shifting from

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5:43

IAM2636 - A Day in the Life of a Franchise Broker

CEO Podcasts: CEO Chat Podcast + I AM CEO Podcast... ·

2025/10/31

In this episode, Gresham opens up about the internal doubts that have slowed his progress over the past two months. He wrestles with the classic “where’s the payoff?” question, balancing paid lead packs against the organic social media tactics that have yielded better results for him. He also questions the “broad‑stroke” philosophy advocated by some brokers, noting that casting a wide net brings unqualified leads and dilutes focus. Finally, Gresham commits to a step‑by‑step approach, experimenting

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16:57

IAM2635 - CEO and Inventor Shares About Joyful...

CEO Podcasts: CEO Chat Podcast + I AM CEO Podcast... ·

2025/10/30

In this episode, we have Kevin Surace, a prolific Silicon‑Valley innovator, inventor of the first cellular‑data phone, early AI virtual assistants, and author of The Joy Success Cycle. Kevin shares hard‑earned lessons about the true nature of the CEO role: setting tone, culture, and direction while spending most of the day handling the “crap” – unhappy customers, product glitches, personnel issues, cash flow, and missed sales targets. His broader advice for entrepreneurs is to focus on solving real

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16:54

IAM2634 - Head of Branding Helps Corporations With...

CEO Podcasts: CEO Chat Podcast + I AM CEO Podcast... ·

2025/10/29

In this throwback episode, we have Grant Polachek, head of branding at Squadhelp.com—a top‑rated naming platform serving over 20,000 clients ranging from early‑stage giants like Nestlé and Pepsi. Grant emphasized that effective branding sits at the intersection of copywriting, creativity, and business strategy, helping companies translate their vision into a compelling brand narrative. He outlines a simple yet powerful naming framework: start by clarifying who you are and what you aim to create

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13:52

IAM2633 - CEO Builds Multi-million Dollar Online...

CEO Podcasts: CEO Chat Podcast + I AM CEO Podcast... ·

2025/10/28

In this throwback episode, we have Marcus Taylor, founder and CEO of Venture Harbor, a young entrepreneur who launched his digital‑innovation studio at 25 without any external funding. Starting with a love for coding and music at age 10, he merged those passions into building websites for bands and experimenting with online marketing. Venture Harbor does not offer consulting services; instead, it maintains a portfolio of nine highly automated online ventures that are 99 % hands‑free, allowing the

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7:17

IAM2632 - Day 281: Franchise Broker Journey

CEO Podcasts: CEO Chat Podcast + I AM CEO Podcast... ·

2025/10/27

In this episode, Gresham walks listeners through his current stage: day 281 of his franchise‑broker path, experimenting with low‑cost investments to test scalability, and applying the “Who Not How” principle. He draws parallels between franchise brokering and affiliate marketing, noting that both rely on cultivating long‑term relationships that culminate in sizable purchases. Looking ahead, Harkless plans to bolster his outreach through newsletters, community‑building initiatives, and possibly

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7:16

IAM2631 - DIY Marketing: A Broker's Bold Move

CEO Podcasts: CEO Chat Podcast + I AM CEO Podcast... ·

2025/10/26

In this special episode, Gresham dives into the practical challenges he’s facing, particularly around lead generation. After receiving a modest lead pack from his franchising organization, he realized that buying leads alone isn’t delivering the results he wants. He’s now weighing two options: partnering with a low‑cost program that offers SEO‑optimized content and running minimal‑budget Facebook ads, or taking a DIY approach to create and execute the strategy himself using the resources and team he

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7:13

IAM2630 - The Unseen Journey: Day 85 as a Broker

CEO Podcasts: CEO Chat Podcast + I AM CEO Podcast... ·

2025/10/25

Blue Star Franchise: bluestarfranchise.comBrowse the Franchise Inventory: bluestarfranchise.com/franchise Is franchising right for you? Check this out to see: bluestarfranchise.com/assessment Franchise CEO (A CBNation Site - coming soon) - franchiseceo.co Check out our CEO Hack Buzz Newsletter–our premium newsletter with hacks and nuggets to level up your organization. Sign up HERE. I AM CEO Handbook Volume 3 is HERE and it's FREE. Get your copy here: cbnation.co/iamceo3. Get the 100+ things

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6:26

IAM2629 - Unveiling the Broker Success Formula!

CEO Podcasts: CEO Chat Podcast + I AM CEO Podcast... ·

2025/10/24

In this episode, Gresh shares the evolution of his franchise‑building process, noting that it took roughly a year to clarify his target market and strategy. Initially, he aimed at individuals who had been laid off, but he soon realized the more lucrative audience comprises employed professionals who are silently considering additional revenue streams. He explains the financing paradox: without a steady job, securing SBA loans is tough, yet a layoff eliminates the income needed to fund a new

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16:57

IAM2628 - CEO Helps Businesses Modernize...

CEO Podcasts: CEO Chat Podcast + I AM CEO Podcast... ·

2025/10/23

In this episode, we have Dave Glaser, a two‑decade pedigree in enterprise payments—from early work at CyberSource, through senior roles at WorldPay and MasterCard. Dave modernizes the decades‑old banking network and makes bank‑account payments feel as seamless as credit‑card transactions online. His focus is narrowly honed on account‑to‑account flows, supporting both “pay‑ins” (receivables) and “pay‑outs” (payables) through a digital wallet that sits between the two, enabling businesses to move

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16:54

IAM2627 - Web Pioneer Behind a Global Women’s Health...

CEO Podcasts: CEO Chat Podcast + I AM CEO Podcast... ·

2025/10/22

In this episode, we have Aliza Sherman, a pioneering web entrepreneur and author, a global women‑focused health brand that clears up the confusion surrounding cannabis and CBD. After discovering that much of the industry’s information was wrong, she turned a digital‑marketing prospect into a mission to educate women. Ellementa runs live events, webinars, and film screenings in over 60 North‑American cities while also serving as a “bridge” that connects reputable cannabis brands with these informed

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16:32

IAM2626 - Founder Leads Media Agency with Motion...

CEO Podcasts: CEO Chat Podcast + I AM CEO Podcast... ·

2025/10/21

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 like A&E Networks, NHL, NBC Universal, and the United Nations,

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7:18

IAM2625 - 90 Days Left: The Journey Continues

CEO Podcasts: CEO Chat Podcast + I AM CEO Podcast... ·

2025/10/20

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 staying “head‑down” and grinding. He underscores that business

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7:04

IAM2624 - Completing the Journey: Day 263 Insights

CEO Podcasts: CEO Chat Podcast + I AM CEO Podcast... ·

2025/10/19

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 emotional drivers as long‑term fuel rather than short‑term fixes. This

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6:06

IAM2623 - Overcoming Public Struggles: The Final Sprint

CEO Podcasts: CEO Chat Podcast + I AM CEO Podcast... ·

2025/10/18

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 resilience, and keep pushing forward toward the goal of becoming a

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4:48

IAM2622 - Reframe Your Broker Journey Today

CEO Podcasts: CEO Chat Podcast + I AM CEO Podcast... ·

2025/10/17

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 having to relearn fundamentals and stay resilient when new ventures

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1,605 results

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