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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

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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16:59

IAM2621 - Founder and PR Expert Helps Small Business...

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

2025/10/16

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 high‑volume, discounted distribution, he provides an affordable

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16:58

IAM2620 - Medical Student Develops Content to...

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

2025/10/15

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 humble”) and personal connection with his audience. Looking ahead, he

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16:34

IAM2619 - Psychotherapist Teaches Organizations to...

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

2025/10/14

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 mental health, arguing that when people feel valued and emotionally safe,

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5:11

IAM2618 - Unleash the Power of Starting Your Workout...

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

2025/10/13

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 success. He emphasizes that simply showing up, whether for a workout

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5:27

IAM2617 - Recalibrating Daily Fatigue: A New Perspective

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

2025/10/12

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, caring for a baby, and managing fatigue—while emphasizing that

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7:35

IAM2616 - What They Threw Away: I Built with Story...

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

2025/10/11

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 realized the key to resilience is finding the right franchise, not just

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7:21

IAM2615 - What They Threw Away, I Built with Story

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

2025/10/10

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 his own business. That painful turning point ignited a long‑standing

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16:58

IAM2614 - CEO Transforms Health Tech by Building a...

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

2025/10/09

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 documentation, claim submission, and follow‑up care—essentially automating

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1,617 results

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