Hello Chaos

• Ep. 181 Geoff Thatcher

  Key Takeaways:1️⃣ A setback can push you forwardGetting fired pushed Geoff into building something better. When your environment stops valuing you, that is often your cue to bet on yourself and make the leap you have been avoiding.2️⃣ Keep your equity and buy supportFeeling overwhelmed does not mean you need a partner. Founders stay stronger when they hire help instead of giving away ownership they will never get back.3️⃣ Speed beats perfection every timeSmall teams win by moving fast. Quick decisions and rapid cycles create momentum that big companies cannot match and that perfectionism will always kill.Timestamps00:14 – Meet Geoff Thatcher and Creative Principles01:00 – Getting fired and the moment everything changed04:13 – Glass ceilings and leaving agency life06:20 – Severance, value and learning hard lessons09:29 – Why people leave managers not companies14:13 – Fired as a gift and embracing the chaos17:22 – Support systems and building a business with family20:18 – Why minority partnerships rarely protect founders22:36 – Serving the work instead of ego or shareholders33:14 – The four questions every brand must answer37:27 – Creative speed and how agencies get stuck42:04 – Building IP and the next chapter for Creative Principles58:39 – Where to find GeoffReady to connect with Geoff? Find the links below.Website: https://www.creativeprincipals.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/geoffthatcher/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/geoffthatcher/ Thank you for tuning in! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to our podcast on your favorite podcast platform and share it with your network. We encourage you to join our community HERE and connect with us on social media for the latest updates and more great content.Connect With Us:LinkedIn Instagram YouTube

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• Ep. 180 Kris Rice

  Key Takeaways:1️⃣ Your Gut Is a Strategy ToolKris built ChillPod by trusting intuition even when the cold plunge market felt crowded and manufacturing costs were heavy. Founders move faster when they follow the signal pointing toward real opportunity.2️⃣ Inexperience Can Be Your SuperpowerWith zero experience in product manufacturing, Kris brought a fresh lens to the cold plunge industry. Sometimes the founder who knows the least sees the strongest path forward.3️⃣ Boundaries Build Better BusinessesGrowing ChillPod pushed Kris to set firmer boundaries with partners and vendors. Clear limits protect a founder’s energy through manufacturing challenges and funding uncertainty, and they help the business grow.Timestamps00:00 – Welcome and meet Kris Rice00:47 – The spark behind ChillPod03:39 – Her daughter’s mental health journey and personal awakening05:17 – First cold plunge and the breakthrough moment05:21 – Bright Starter Sprint Ad06:38 – Turning a horse trough into a product idea09:16 – Early design failures and finding the right partners12:49 – The leap into manufacturing overseas21:14 – Trusting intuition and surviving the messy middle38:10 – Big lessons learned and what comes next for ChillPodCurious to keep up with Kris or check out ChillPod? Tap the links below.Website: https://thechillpod.co/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kris-rice-chillpod/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thechillpod.co Thank you for tuning in! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to our podcast on your favorite podcast platform and share it with your network. We encourage you to join our community HERE and connect with us on social media for the latest updates and more great content.Connect With Us:LinkedIn Instagram YouTube

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• Ep. 179 Kelly Dowd

  Key Takeaways:1️⃣ Empathy is your secret weaponKelly Dowd proves that strategic empathy for entrepreneurs is a real game-changer. When you pay attention to energy shifts, body signals, and how people behave, you lead with clarity instead of chaos. This kind of empathetic leadership for founders builds trust that runs deep, strengthens client relationships, and gives you an edge no competitor can fake.2️⃣ Your neurodivergent brain might be your biggest assetAs a neurodivergent founder, Kelly stopped apologizing for how his brain works. The ADHD, dyslexia, and gut instinct that moves faster than logic shaped his entire approach to fashion branding and interior design. When founders lean into their wiring instead of fighting it, they unlock creativity, clarity, and momentum that changes everything.3️⃣ Growth doesn't always look like progressKelly's analogy hits: entrepreneurship is like tending a tree. You water it, prune it, and wait. Entrepreneurial burnout and recovery isn't about hustling harder when you're empty. It's about nurturing the work even when the fruit is invisible. Founders who protect their energy and trust the process build something that lasts. That's how you sustain founder mental health and energy for the long haul.Timestamps00:00 Welcome to the Chaos01:21 Kelly's Entrepreneurial Journey06:09 The Impact of Kindness10:05 The Reality of Entrepreneurship13:30 Listening to Your Body15:27 The Power of Design18:42 Education and Empathy24:05 Leading with Empathy29:44 The Art of Asking Questions36:48 Embracing Neurodiversity43:52 The Journey of an Entrepreneur48:34 Advice for EntrepreneursReady to dive deeper into Kelly's world? Hit the links below to explore his work and stay connected.Website: https://kellydowd.ai/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thekellydowd/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekellydowd Thank you for tuning in! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to our podcast on your favorite podcast platform and share it with your network. We encourage you to join our community HERE and connect with us on social media for the latest updates and more great content.Connect With Us:LinkedIn Instagram YouTube

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• Ep. 178 Elena Ciccotelli

  Key Takeaways:1️⃣ Control Your ControllablesElena grew her EV podcast and niche EV media brand by focusing on what she could shape each day. You cannot control electric vehicle industry timelines or how fast a partnership lands, but you can control your content strategy for founders, your consistency, and the effort you put behind every idea. Staying focused on your controllables is how you turn a side project into real EV industry thought leadership.2️⃣ Your Brand Wins When You Act HumanMost B2B marketing in automotive feels like a technical manual no one asked for. Elena stood out by using humor in B2B marketing, storytelling, and real personality to create electric vehicle thought leadership people actually want to consume. When you drop the corporate voice and show up as a human, you build trust faster and outpace every competitor still clinging to mid content.3️⃣ Ask for Help Before You Burn OutBeing a solo founder in a fast moving space like the EV industry can get isolating. Elena learned that asking mentors and peers for feedback, advice, and support is not weakness but a key part of building authority in the EV industry and staying consistent with content creation. Founders who reach out early make smarter decisions and avoid the burnout cycle that kills great ideas.Timestamps00:00 Welcome to the Chaos04:35 The Journey of Starting a Podcast07:52 Control Your Controllables12:56 Challenges of Electric Vehicle Infrastructure16:18 Marketing Electric Vehicles20:29 Self-Discovery in Entrepreneurship24:47 The Rewards of Changing the Automotive Narrative30:05 Adapting to Industry Changes33:09 Winning with Ideas and Execution34:36 The Role of AI in Creativity36:31 Challenges of Content Creation39:08 The Performative Side of Entrepreneurship42:05 Aha Moments and Learning Experiences46:34 Navigating Client Expectations50:02 The Evolution of Podcasting52:43 Defining the Entrepreneurial Journey53:39 Looking Ahead: Entertainment and ConnectionTo stay connected with Elena and everything she is building in the EV spaceWebsite: https://evs4everyone.com/elena/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-evs-for-everyone-podcast/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elenaciccotelli/ Thank you for tuning in! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to our podcast on your favorite podcast platform and share it with your network. We encourage you to join our community HERE and connect with us on social media for the latest updates and more great content.Connect With Us:LinkedIn Instagram YouTube

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• Ep. 177 Andrew Oliver

  Key Takeaways:1️⃣ Capacity Is a Mindset, Not a LimitAndrew and his team thought they were maxed out until they pushed harder and realized they could handle twenty times the business. Most founders underestimate what they can sustain because they stop testing their ceiling. When you think you have hit your limit, try adding one more gear. Growth often hides behind the line you drew for yourself.2️⃣ Decide, Do Not DwellAnalysis paralysis kills momentum faster than bad decisions. Andrew learned that progress comes from movement, not perfection. You will never have all the data or perfect timing, and that is okay. Make the call, learn in motion, and trust yourself to course correct faster than you can overthink.3️⃣ Build What You Would Wake Up Excited To DoAfter years of grinding, Andrew’s filter for new projects is simple. If it is not enjoyable, it is not worth the eighteen month sprint. Founders often forget that joy fuels endurance. The more your business reflects what excites you, the longer you will have the energy to keep building it.Timestamps00:14 Welcome and guest intro01:19 From touring to original content03:07 Why Greenville for creative founders05:41 Original content vs commercial work07:22 Reality documentary explained08:32 Funding and risk as a founder16:22 The 20x services sprint18:32 Lessons from a failed SaaS bet20:23 Gifts and self-discovery23:04 Working with family and defined roles25:08 Biggest wins and films on Prime29:47 How distribution deals happen31:40 Industry strikes and impact32:29 One word for the journey – Persistent33:35 Looking ahead to the next chapter34:18 Mindset and the Zoom-Out trick36:21 Cheerleaders and support systems38:09 Decision-making without fear40:03 What Andrew is watching now41:42 Where to find Andrew OliverReady to dive deeper into Andrew’s world? Start here.Website: https://www.forthrightrecords.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewphilipoliver/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flippinoliver/ Thank you for tuning in! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to our podcast on your favorite podcast platform and share it with your network. We encourage you to join our community HERE and connect with us on social media for the latest updates and more great content.Connect With Us:LinkedIn Instagram YouTube

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