What do you do when an idea won’t leave you alone?

In this episode of The Founders Hustle, Judy Swafford sits down with Jeff Revilla, founder of Poduty Live, a one-of-a-kind live podcast theater just outside of Pittsburgh. Jeff shares the story behind building a business that blends podcasting, livestreaming, theater, digital media, and community into an entirely new kind of creator experience.

This isn’t just a podcast studio. It’s not just a live event space. And it’s not just a theater. Poduty Live was built to give podcasters and creators a place to perform live, connect with an in-person audience, livestream to the world, and walk away with content, community, and even revenue.

Jeff opens up about what it took to bring this idea to life after years of thinking about it, refining it, and wondering whether it could really work. He talks about the creative spark behind the business, the early experiments that shaped the concept, the scrappy way he launched it, and the very real lessons he’s learned about entrepreneurship, promotion, and building something people don’t immediately understand.

In this conversation, you’ll hear:

• how Jeff turned a long-held idea into a real business
• why he believes live podcasting is a major opportunity for creators
• the challenge of promoting a new concept in a local market
• why local networking matters more than online reach
• how meetups helped him build momentum and attract talent
• what it feels like to start over creatively in midlife
• the emotional highs and lows of entrepreneurship
• why creators need to stop overthinking and just begin

Jeff also shares some of the most memorable events hosted at Poduty Live, including immersive live podcast experiences that combine storytelling, audience connection, catering, themed entertainment, and digital distribution. His vision is bigger than one venue — he sees a future where podcasters can tour cities the way comedians and musicians do.

This episode is packed with insight for entrepreneurs, podcasters, content creators, live event producers, digital marketers, and anyone sitting on a business idea they haven’t acted on yet.

If you’ve ever had a creative idea that felt too unusual, too niche, or too early — Jeff’s story will remind you that sometimes the best ideas are the ones nobody else fully sees yet.

Step into the spotlight at Poduty Live LLC!

Are you a podcaster looking to elevate your show? Imagine recording your next episode live, with all the professional flair of a staged event, but NONE of the usual risks!

Then check this out: https://poduty.com

The Founders Hustle:

• Watch & Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheFoundersHustle
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What’s one piece of advice Kenny Leonard would give any entrepreneur?

Find your opposite.

In this episode of The Founders Hustle, Kenny shares how complementary strengths helped him and his business partner build Element 22 into a thriving commercial lending company. But that’s just one of many lessons packed into this conversation.

Judy and Kenny dive into the realities of launching a business, including the financial risks, the early uncertainty, the importance of team trust, and why great leaders must be willing to make hard calls.

This episode is especially valuable for founders, managers, and aspiring entrepreneurs who want honest insight into what sustainable growth actually looks like.

You’ll hear:
1. how Kenny identified a gap in the market
2. why he bet everything on the business
3. what nearly caused them to quit
4. how to know when it’s time to let someone go
5. why relationships still matter more than technology

A thoughtful, practical episode for anyone building a business with intention.

Connect with Kenny on Linedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenny-leonard-mba-4b884a6/

#EntrepreneurMindset #FounderAdvice #LeadershipPodcast #BusinessOwner #TheFoundersHustle #Element22

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If you’d like to toss a one-time “thank you” or grab a GRIT Happens sticker, you can do that by clicking the "Support The Show" link above or visit: https://buymeacoffee.com/thefoundershustle

• Watch & Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheFoundersHustle
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• Get on the podcast: https://tinyurl.com/3fwb7bny

Starting a business is hard. Building one while working full-time and raising a family takes another level of determination.

In this episode of The Founders Hustle, Judy sits down with Cecily North-Rudow to talk about her entrepreneurial journey, from feeling stuck in her career to launching Traveling North Agency and creating a business around customized, high-touch travel planning.

Cecily shares the real behind-the-scenes story: booking her first client, making mistakes, struggling to get traction, stepping away, and eventually coming back with more clarity about marketing, networking, and who she actually wanted to serve.

This episode is a great listen for anyone who wants to start a business but feels like life is already full. Cecily’s story proves that growth does not have to look perfect to be real.

You’ll hear about:

• Building a business alongside a full-time job
• Why word of mouth alone was not enough
• How content and local marketing helped her grow
• The value of community and ongoing education
• Why niche clarity can change everything

Every business has a backstory — and Cecily’s is full of lessons for entrepreneurs learning to build with patience and purpose.

Visit: https://travelingnorthagency.com

Support the show

• Watch & Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheFoundersHustle
• Listen & Join our email community: https://www.thefoundershustle.com
• Connect with the host, Judy Swafford, on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/judyswafford
• Get on the podcast: https://tinyurl.com/3fwb7bny

What do you do when your business is growing, your bills are stacking up, and cash gets tight?

In this episode of The Founders Hustle, Judy sits down with Cherise Lloyd, author of The Shortfall Solution and founder of a financial content and consulting agency, to talk about one of the biggest challenges business owners face: cash flow shortfalls.

Cherise brings a rare perspective to the conversation. With experience at the Federal Reserve during the financial crisis and later managing a $1.5 billion leveraged finance portfolio, she now helps small business owners understand the financial blind spots that can quietly put their businesses at risk.

This episode is packed with practical advice for entrepreneurs who want to build wisely, stay financially prepared, and avoid the mistakes that can turn a temporary gap into a serious crisis.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The biggest mistake business owners make when cash gets tight
• How to recognize the warning signs of a shortfall early
• Why “information avoidance” can hurt your business
• Cherise’s 7-day, 20-day, and 13-week framework for recovery
• What every founder should understand about cash, credit, and business survival

This is a must-watch for entrepreneurs, small business owners, and leaders who want to grow with more confidence and fewer financial surprises.

Connect with Cherise: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cherise-lloyd-w-2ls/

Support the show

• Watch & Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheFoundersHustle
• Connect with the host, Judy Swafford, on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/judyswafford
• Get on the podcast: https://tinyurl.com/3fwb7bny

Can AI really manage Google Ads better than a human marketer?

In this episode of The Founders Hustle, Judy Swafford sits down with David Pourquery, founder of GROAS, an AI-powered platform built to autonomously manage Google Ads campaigns.

David shares how GROAS evolved from a simple SaaS tool into a fully autonomous AI agent that can write ads, optimize campaigns, manage budgets, analyze performance, and drive conversions around the clock. He also opens up about his founder journey — from working long hours in private equity while building e-commerce stores at night, to bootstrapping an AI startup in one of the fastest-changing spaces in marketing.

This conversation dives into the future of Google Ads, how AI is changing digital advertising, why marketing agencies may need to adapt, and what it really takes to build a profitable AI company without outside funding.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

1. How David went from private equity to AI founder
2. Why Google Ads became the problem he wanted to solve
3. How GROAS started as a lightweight SaaS tool
4. What it takes to build fully autonomous AI agents
5. Why customer feedback shaped the future of the product
6. How AI may change marketing agencies and paid advertising
7. Why bootstrapping gave David more freedom as a founder
8. His advice on trusting your gut, choosing customers, and building smarter

Whether you’re a founder, marketer, business owner, or simply curious about the future of AI in advertising, this episode gives a behind-the-scenes look at how one entrepreneur is rethinking Google Ads from the ground up.

Visit GROAS: https://groas.ai/
Connect with David Pourquery on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ttttransformer
Connect with your host, Judy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/judyswafford/

#GoogleAds #AIMarketing #DigitalAdvertising #ArtificialIntelligence #MarketingAutomation #FounderStory #Entrepreneurship #TheFoundersHustle #GROAS #Podcast

In this episode of The Founders Hustle, Judy Swafford sits down with Michele Mollard, an EOS leadership coach, to talk about one of the most overlooked skills in leadership: setting clear expectations without becoming a micromanager.

Michele shares why “clear is kind,” how unclear expectations can quietly break team culture, and why great leaders don’t manage personalities — they manage process, accountability, and alignment.

Using real-world business examples and even a few soccer-field analogies, Judy and Michele unpack what it really means to put the right people in the right seats, create guardrails your team actually wants, and build a culture where accountability feels supportive instead of controlling.

Whether you’re a business owner, manager, team lead, or emerging leader, this conversation will help you rethink how you communicate expectations, give feedback, and lead people with more clarity and confidence.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. Why clear expectations prevent micromanagement
2. How to create accountability without damaging trust
3. What “right people, right seats” really means
4. Why scorecards and KPIs can empower teams when used well
5. How unclear roles create confusion, frustration, and turnover
6. Why hard conversations are easier when you’ve built trust first
7. How good leaders create space for people to grow

Because at the end of the day, strong teams don’t need more control — they need clarity.

Connect with Michele: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelemollard/
Connect with your host, Judy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/judyswafford/
Watch more episodes of The Founders Hustle: @foundershustle

#Leadership #TeamCulture #ClearExpectations #EOS #Micromanagement #BusinessLeadership #FoundersHustle #Podcast #Entrepreneurship #ManagementTips

In this episode of The Founders Hustle, host Judy Swafford sits down with Ben Ipema, serial entrepreneur and founder of The Friendly Pickle, Kalamazoo’s newest indoor pickleball club designed for community, comfort, and connection.

Ben shares how his entrepreneurial journey began at 13, picking blueberries and painting cottages, and how that same work ethic carried him through 12 different businesses — from IT consulting to paddle manufacturing — before creating the business that blended all his passions: The Friendly Pickle.

He opens up about the real lessons of entrepreneurship — missing payroll by $2, learning from failure, and why the greatest joy of business isn’t profit, but people. Whether you’re building your first startup or planning your next chapter, Ben’s story proves that it’s never too late to create something you love.

Support the show

If you’d like to toss a one-time “thank you” or grab a GRIT Happens sticker, you can do that by clicking the "Support The Show" link above or visit: https://buymeacoffee.com/thefoundershustle

• Watch & Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheFoundersHustle
• Listen & Join our email community: https://www.thefoundershustle.com
• Connect with the host, Judy Swafford, on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/judyswafford
• Get on the podcast: https://tinyurl.com/3fwb7bny

In this episode of The Founders Hustle, Judy Swafford sits down with Dan Martin, founder and CEO of KZoom, a full-service digital marketing agency that started in a basement with no camera and has grown into a 15-person creative powerhouse serving brands across the nation.

Dan opens up about his unexpected firing at 23, how that moment pushed him to start his own company, and what it really takes to survive — and thrive — in business for over 20 years. From burning DVDs in 2003 to managing SEO-driven campaigns in 2025, Dan shares the highs, lows, and lessons of entrepreneurship, creativity, and grit.

You’ll learn how KZoom transitioned from video production to full-service marketing, how to stay financially disciplined through uncertainty, and why long-term vision always beats short-term hype. If you’ve ever felt stuck, scared, or ready to quit — this episode will remind you why the long game wins.

Connect with Dan: https://kzoom.com

Support the show

If you’d like to toss a one-time “thank you” or grab a GRIT Happens sticker, you can do that by clicking the "Support The Show" link above or visit: https://buymeacoffee.com/thefoundershustle

• Watch & Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheFoundersHustle
• Listen & Join our email community: https://www.thefoundershustle.com
• Connect with the host, Judy Swafford, on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/judyswafford
• Get on the podcast: https://tinyurl.com/3fwb7bny