Danny Maher was a Marine Lieutenant and is currently the founder of Veteran TV and Irreverent Warriors.  After fighting in the Afghanistan War, Danny decided he was going to live out his dream of starting a production company.  In this episode, we talk about chasing your passion, choosing role models, and beating up your high school bullies! ----- Quick note: THIS IS THE LAST EPISODE!! Thanks to everyone who listened and enjoyed the show. I hope at least one of youse out there learned something about habits, hobbies, and the hardships of starting a business. I know I did! ----- Show Notes: (05:11) - Returning CEO, life in the Marines, and chasing your dreams (20:46) - Starting a non-profit for vet suicide prevention (31:56) - Military story of being stranded by a helicopter on a night raid (54:46) - Beating up his highschool bully and confronting his fears changed him ----- Links: * veterantv.com * irreverantwarriors.com * Youtube and Insta @dannydanceparty * His pseudonym: Donny O’Mally * https://www.amazon.com/Embarrassing-Confessions-Marine-Lieutenant-Operation-ebook/dp/B010MYG7QE ----Let’s chat: reach me at armand@playhardpodcast.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/playhardpodcast/support

Lauren Petrullo lives the kind of life you wanna live. Her dog, Alexander Hamilpup, is a celebrity. She races dragon boats and drinks mysterious Vietnamese herb teas. She even looks like a Disney hero. In this episode, we talk about marketing, e-comm, and Facebook ads, as well as traveling, tea, and how to have unique experiences. This episode is great for people interested in learning marketing, new cultures, and who love living adventurous lives.  ----- Show Notes: (03:40) - Laurens Dog, Alexander Hamilpup, is a LEGEND (18:20) - How to know if your offer/product is ready for the market (33:08) - Recommendations for world travelers (57:02) - The “Dollar-to-Fun” ratio for unique experiences and having a good time ----- Links: * https://mongoosemedia.us/ * https://asianbeautyessentials.com/ * Type “PLAYHARD” at checkout for a limited 20% off discount  * @laurenepetrullo --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/playhardpodcast/support

Ron Douglas has the soul of an adventurer, the heart of a Texan, and enough stories to leave you inspired and left wondering, “How the hell did he do all that.” At 18, Ron broke his back and had to learn how to walk again.  That’s where he discovered grit. Then, he worked as a prison guard on death row, where he discovered irony.  After that, he worked in a junkyard where he discovered his purpose: entrepreneurship. Ron was a business coach on Discover Channel’s “Blue Collar Backers” and has exited an incredible 40 businesses.  Not to mention how he’s traveled the world on a motorcycle.  This episode is great for people with adventurous spirits and entrepreneurial minds.  ----- Show Notes: (02:47) - Napoleon Hill mastermind group, Discovery Channel TV star, and breaking his back at 18 (15:09) - How to gain clarity when setting goals (25:54) - Death row prison guard (1:00:09) - Future journaling ----- Links: * https://www.linkedin.com/in/ron-douglas/ * https://www.mentoringgiants.com/ * https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDgTivLS3k8&t=1819s --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/playhardpodcast/support

At 21, Steven opened up his first rage room. You know, those places where you go in and break shit. Now, at 26, Steven is the owner of the largest rage room company in the US. They’re opening 1-2 franchises a month. In this episode, we talk about personal development, and how health is involved in EVERYTHING you do. This episode is excellent for people who feel like they get treated differently because of their age. Also, for those interested in dopamine regulation, transforming themselves by starting a business, and those who need room for their RAGE. ----- Show Notes: (06:30) - Opening a rage room and fighting the pandemic  (20:30) - Looking to end 2023 with 15-20 franchises (27:53) - Health impacts everything you do  (55:00) - Dopamine regulation and ADHD ----- Links: * https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-shortino-41183818b/ * https://ismashusa.com/ * https://www.reddit.com/r/Entrepreneur/comments/aw1a09/running_a_very_successful_rage_room/ * https://open.spotify.com/episode/708LCwBsClaNFKkOsBikFP?si=dc5788761b204b41 ---- Quotes I Enjoyed “I truthfully don't think that there is a single person on this planet that has worked more hours in this industry.” ---- If you liked the episode, subscribe for more!  Reach me at armand@playhardpodcast.com  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/playhardpodcast/support

Today’s guest is an incredibly smart & talented founder — who did this interview 2 weeks after having a baby! Andrea Ippolito is the founder of SimpliFed, a telehealth company offering support for baby feeding. This company comes from real problems Andrea has faced while being a mom to (now) 3 little kiddos. She previously started a company in 2012, it got acquired in 2016, and she has a Master of Engineering from both Cornell and MIT. We talk about how to sort through research (and avoid targeted/predatory marketing), starting multiple companies, and her career in the healthcare space. There’s so much to learn in this one! Give it a listen.  ----- Show Notes: (04:03) - SimpliFed, founded on lived experience (11:30) - Predatory marketing, validating research, and working through the noise  (25:45) - Andrea’s relationship with her health, having worked in healthcare for a while (34:45) - Hobbies around networking ----- Links: * simplifed.com * Insta/Twitter: @simplifedbaby * https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreakippolito/ ---- If you liked the episode, subscribe for more!  Let’s chat: reach me at armand@playhardpodcast.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/playhardpodcast/support

At age 7, Ryan Love was given a cane to walk with.  At age 16, he was 300 lbs. 2 different autoimmune conditions impacted his health and life. Writing is what got him through it.  At 28, Ryan is a healthy dude with a great copywriting business called Love Language Media. In this episode, we talk about Ryan's relationship with his health, writing (and how it vastly improves your thinking), our relationship with faith and religion, and following your talents. This was a super fun episode, give it a listen! ----- Show Notes: (05:35) - Don’t follow your passion, follow your talent (16:00) - Formula for copywriting  (29:20) - Spirituality as a part of health (36:36) - Living with 2 autoimmune diseases  ----- Links: * https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanalove/ * www.lovelanguagemedia.com * How to Become a Copywriter on Accident  https://www.lovelanguagemedia.com/blog/how-to-become-a-copywriter-on-accident ---- Quotes I Enjoyed “The people that end up in the Jedi master zone, they just don’t stop. Even if they fail a thousand times, it only takes one to succeed.” “If you’ve never failed, you’ve never tried anything new.” “Writing is Thinking. It’s the physical manifestation of thought.” ---- If you liked the episode, subscribe for more!  Let’s chat: reach me at armand@playhardpodcast.com  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/playhardpodcast/support

Chad spent 20 years as a rockstar and his whole life as an entrepreneur. We talk about the similarities between being in a band and running a business. Oh, did you know I'm in a band? I totally don't mention it in every episode ;) As a kid, he did countless odd jobs around the house for money. Until, one day, his parents ran out of money to give him! That’s when he decided to get money from others. No shit, one of his jobs was selling candy from a van. We go deep into the minimalist mindset and his decision to sell most of his possessions and live on the road with his wife for 4 years. This is a fun one, give it a listen! ----- Show Notes: (03:45) - Running a band vs running a company (16:20) - What is your “enough” (24:00) - Realizing you want to sell everything and live minimally (35:25) - Testing your ideas  ----- Links: * FB: Chad Passa, Chad Passa - Real Estate Investing * IG: Chad_Passa, @bookkeepersofamerica, @Lisa.marie.hart * https://fireyourbossfridays.buzzsprout.com/ ---- If you liked the episode, subscribe for more! Let’s chat: reach me at armand@playhardpodcast.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/playhardpodcast/support

What do Starbucks, Viagra, and Netflix have in common?  And no, the answer is not “a late night.”  All 3 used their brand and storytelling abilities to create a category that didn’t exist before. Pretty neat! Today’s guest is an expert in storytelling, branding, and guessing my favorite books. We talk about AI as a tool for self-exploration, using stories to communicate your strategy, and how to approach life with a sense of play.  Check it out! ----- Show Notes: (09:35) - How you express your brand story is the difference between breakthrough and mediocre results (30:30) - ChatGPT lies… a lot (prompt engineering and hallucinating AI) (49:40) - Creative/Artistic thinking vs Scientific thinking – how do you know when to use what (52:15) - Approach life with a state of play ----- Links: * https://www.petesena.com * https://twitter.com/petesena * https://www.linkedin.com/in/petersena/ * Pete’s Pod - Forward Obsessed: https://open.spotify.com/show/2TrkOZ7xL7WSlzc2mrwXuC?si=aa5e7790aca64e05&nd=1 * Had to do it to ‘em — check out my brother’s song “pensando en ti”: https://open.spotify.com/track/7KKkueqCLOYJMt09lLQx3s?si=bd76ed4ea5354bc5 ---- Quotes I Enjoyed “When a company is too big to fail, and they’ve got that dominant market share, innovation is so much more complex because the risk of failure is that much higher.” “As a creative professional and a creative entrepreneur, sometimes I’m a little bit of an idea masochist – i like to go through pain and that pain I think is what brings about the journey.”  “Speak your truth. Do it. Do it with empathy, do it with your core values, but do it.” ---- If you liked the episode, subscribe for more!  Let’s chat: reach me at armand@playhardpodcast.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/playhardpodcast/support

Successful entrepreneurs carry with them an intense, often delusional, level of self-belief. It’s essential to the recipe. In any case, there will come the point where that self-belief is put to the test. Be it through a bold claim, a big moment, or whatever.  There is a time when what you say now must be backed up with your actions.  Alex Rossman talks about such a moment when landing his first huge client: the San Diego Chargers. Since then he’s landed customers like Nike, Bose, Airbnb, and more. We talk about how to land massive clients, how to find your target audience, and more! ----- Show Notes: (02:22) - Persistence and finding reasons to persevere (19:36) - How to create customer profiles, customer segmentation, and top 3 channels to do social media ads  (29:11) - What you can do to pull customers like Nike, Airbnb, and Orange Theory  (49:46) - Writing music and owning a lil piggy  ----- Links: * rossmanmedia.com * @rossylive ---- Quotes I Enjoyed “If you’re not growing, you’re dying” “Say what you’re gonna do, do it, and provide great results.” “The best thing you can do is travel, experience new things, try new foods, meet new people” ---- If you liked the episode, subscribe for more!  Let’s chat: reach me at armand@playhardpodcast.com  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/playhardpodcast/support

Title. This message will self-destruct.... eventually. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/playhardpodcast/support

What a world we live in.  Adults are finding out they have ADHD through TikTok! During the pandemic, Mark Cann was diagnosed with ADHD. He decided to get checked due to a video hitting too close to home.  After the diagnosis, Mark create Hyypa, a company dedicated to offering resources and education for adults with ADHD. We talk about how ADHD presents itself in adults, how Mark got a government grant to start the company, ways to improve focus, getting a dietitian and neuroscientist on board, and much more! ----- Show Notes: (11:30) - Time Blindness, Impulse Spending, and other adult ADHD symptoms (21:25) - Regulate your ADHD and boost productivity with exercise, caffeine, and supplements (28:25) - Routines to improve focus (39:30) - Exploring Portsmith’s craft beer scene, basketball community, and board game cafes ----- Links: * https://www.linkedin.com/in/markcann/ * https://www.hyypa.com/ * Mark’s podcast interviewing an ADHD nutritionist: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZARSouLNt0⁠ ---- If you liked the episode, subscribe for more!  Let’s chat: reach me at ⁠armand@playhardpodcast.com⁠ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/playhardpodcast/support

Tyerra is on a mission to inspire and empower women to become catalysts for success.  She’s a really balanced, centered individual who consciously sets the time for rest, recharging, and self-care. All important things that are easy to ignore!  In this episode, we talk about filling your cup after being stressed, removing negative habits, and learning to say no. Be sure to listen to this episode and subscribe if you like it! ----- Show Notes: (11:40) – Getting 1% better every day (21:02) – Learning to set boundaries with others and say “no” (27:50) - Using spirituality as a way to recharge ---- Links: * Book: Set Boundaries, Find Peace by Nedra Glover Tawwab * Instagram: @girls_on_another_level * twitter: @wearegoalinc * Podcast: Girls On Another Level ---- If you liked the episode, subscribe for more!  Let’s chat: reach me at armand@playhardpodcast.com  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/playhardpodcast/support

Are you dreaming of white sandy beaches and Caribbean getaways? You will be soon. This next guest runs a company that helps you escape the task of not being yourself and gives you a ticket to freedom through self-expression at Trinidad and Tobago’s Carnival. This holiday sounds sick. It’s like Mardi Gra but x1000. We talk about being yourself, life in Trinidad, running a business that’s seasonal, and more! Give it a listen! ----- Links: * cometotheislands.co * Insta: @cometotheislands * linkedin.com/company/come-to-the-islands/ * Song mentioned - https://youtu.be/_pPO17NZYPo --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/playhardpodcast/support

No Grind, No Glory. Those are the words Bhavik “Baav” Dhanak lives by.  He started a print shop at age 16, and now runs an online and brick-and-mortar custom imprint store!  Baav started watching YouTube videos for screenprinting, then quickly realized he was better off posting content himself. Now, he’s one of the top screen printing YouTubers out! Check out this episode if you’re interested in time management skills, YouTube, and digital marketing by content creating, and hustling hard at an early age.  ----- Show Notes: (06:30) - Time management skills (11:16) - Learning from a YouTube community, then being a part of it (17:37) - People overthink posting content ----- Links: * aestheticimprints.com * Insta: @baavproductions, @aestheticimprints * https://www.youtube.com/@baavproductions ---- If you liked the episode, subscribe for more!  Let’s chat: reach me at armand@playhardpodcast.com  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/playhardpodcast/support

At 6 years old, a young Chris Joyce sold seeds door to door, which he got from a Spiderman comic book. Fast forward to today, he’s founded 24 companies across: Health High tech Manufacturing Consumer goods His products have sold in 11,000 stores globally and his tech product users are in 148 countries! We discuss how to start a company from scratch, patterns he’s noticed from failed startup founders, the importance of culture and performance-based equity, and more. If you want to hear a formula for starting and running a company, check out this episode! ----- Show Notes: (09:00) - Building a mission-focused team (11:00) - A shortcut to sizing up founders  (29:30) - Common patterns that lead to failures in startups (32:45) - How would you start a company from scratch, right now? ----- Links: * gusher.co * https://www.linkedin.com/in/dealrules/ ---- If you liked the episode, subscribe for more!  Let’s chat: reach me at armand@playhardpodcast.com  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/playhardpodcast/support

Pouya Haidari trained thousands of entrepreneurs and sales professionals, helping them generate $100M+ in sales.  He has 11 years of experience spanning 7 different industries, and it really shined on this episode. We talk about how he’s built and hired for high-performing sales teams, investing in himself annually, and defining success for his life. We get into a fun conversation about longevity and our shared quest for immortality.  Fountain of youth, here we come. We also talk about his immigrant mentality and how it’s led him to hustle harder than anyone around him. This episode is dope!! Give it a listen! ----- Show Notes: (004:25) - Immigrant mentality, never be satisfied, and pressure is a privilege  (24:15) - How to build a high-performing sales team (what to look for when hiring)  (32:30) - What it takes to be a great closer and communicator  (35:30) - My life hot take: I WANT TO LIVE FOREVER ----- Links: * https://www.pouyahaidari.com/ * @pouyahaidari Insta, LinkedIn, and YouTube ---- If you liked the episode, subscribe for more! Let’s chat: reach me at armand@playhardpodcast.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/playhardpodcast/support

As a D3 basketball player, Brandon knew his problem from very early on: Sportswear is boring.  Anyone can come along and slap a logo on a dry-fit tee and make their own brand. To truly separate himself from the pack, he knew he had to differentiate. Big time. So he made his clothes asymmetrical. In this episode, we talk about how he journals every day of his founder journey, hearing feedback on the different uses of his product, and an old war veteran who set up the sweetest fishing spot of all time! Check it out.  ----- Show Notes: (13:50) - Journaling the journey since Day1  (27:10) - Aggressive patience (32:00) - Listen to the market: finding alternate uses for your product (51:42) - The ultimate fishing setup (hidden Canadian lakes) ----- Links: * https://lvlssportswear.com/ * @lvlssportswear * @brogers111 ---- If you liked the episode, subscribe for more!  Let’s chat: reach me at armand@playhardpodcast.com  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/playhardpodcast/support

Zach Starin is passionate about empowering people to pursue their passions.  He's a founder of Collectibles Showcase, a vertical SaaS company serving rare collectibles dealers. Think coins, baseball cards, etc. Collectors are wildly passionate about what they’re collecting. Zach’s set out to make that process as efficient and effortless as possible. In this episode, we talk about finding your mission statement, how to create and manage a product, and removing negative habits for a healthier life.  Enjoy! ----- Show Notes: (10:30) - How do you find a personal Mission Statement (15:10) - Rules for prioritization (20:20) - Process for creating a product (33:40) - Framework for your calendar to organize days  ----- Links: * https://www.collectiblesshowcase.com/ * zach@collectiblesshowcase.com * https://www.linkedin.com/in/zach-starin-33176773/ * @StarinZach * https://www.skillshare.com/en/classes/Productivity-Habits-That-Stick-Using-Time-Theming/1216959000 ---- If you liked the episode, subscribe for more!  Let’s chat: reach me at armand@playhardpodcast.com  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/playhardpodcast/support

At 20, Michael was the #1 club promoter in LA for his age bracket.  He leveraged his network, club-promoting company, and stand-up comedy skills to star in the 1988 short film The Dirk Diggler Story (which later became Boogie Nights). After that, Michael knew he wanted to make films, but didn’t have the means. So, he made the means. He started a company to fund his movies, and that company has done over $100M in sales. Michael is the definition of resourceful. Leveraging what he has, and what he can do, to reach his own goals. In this episode, he talks about making time for his company while still pursuing acting, directing, writing, and stand-up comedy. We talk a lot about his life, how to hire well, and the value of being over-prepared for everything (especially when you have the ADHD). Enjoy this episode! I know I did. ----- Show Notes: (10:10) - Started a company just to fund his movies (12:50) - This acronym helps you delegate and make more time for yourself (19:00) - Tips for hiring well (26:50) - Prepare, Prepare, Prepare: the importance of overpreparing (and how to do it) ----- Links: * https://abadak.com/ * https://longshotleaders.com/ * https://www.linkedin.com/in/abadak/ * https://www.amazon.com/Outsource-Smart-Without-Letting-Business/dp/0071799796 ---- If you liked the episode, subscribe for more!  Let’s chat: reach me at armand@playhardpodcast.com  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/playhardpodcast/support

James is the founder and CEO of Cue, Radio.co, Podcast.co, and Matchmaker.FM. We talk about how to manage multiple teams under one roof, how to keep the lines of communication open through remote work, and how to stay focused with so many different brands. He’s a super down-to-earth, hard-working, knowledgeable guy. True founder through and through. My favorite part is towards the end when we talk about brushing off the rust from covid when going to networking events. Give it a listen! ----- Show Notes: (05:45) - Staying competitive in a crowded space (podcasting) (11:25) - Staying focused while growing your team and launching multiple brands (23:20) - How to have successful communication among big teams while remote (29:30) - Boundaries as an entrepreneur (with yourself and others ----- Links: * https://jamesm.com/ * https://radio.co/ * https://www.podcast.co/ * https://www.matchmaker.fm/home ---- If you liked the episode, subscribe for more!  Let’s chat: reach me at armand@playhardpodcast.com  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/playhardpodcast/support