Entrepreneurship Episodes

Podcast guesting only works when the right ingredients are in place, and leaving out even one can ruin the whole recipe. Julie Riga and Jessica Rhodes, CEO of Interview Connections, explore why so many leaders say guesting did not work for them and what it truly takes to make it pay off. From trust and searchability, to relationships, to the confidence and storytelling that turn a good guest into a great one, this episode is a practical guide for any entrepreneur, coach, or leader who wants visibility with purpose.

What happens when a chef raised in a family of restaurateurs decides to leave the restaurant world without leaving food behind? In this episode of the Stay On Course Podcast, Julie Riga sits down with Simone D'Antonio, co-founder of Mamma Mia, a premium hemp edibles brand that turns classic Italian flavors into treats made for taste first. Simone shares his journey from his father's restaurant in Salerno, Italy, to Michelin-starred kitchens across Europe and then Los Angeles, and what it takes to build a purpose-driven brand from everything you have learned.

What does it take to build a business around bringing people together? Julie Riga sits down with Nelson Brooks, founder and chief cabana boy of Cabana Boy Events, to share his entrepreneur journey. Nelson started the company in Scottsdale in 2020 after one bachelorette weekend sparked an idea. Today his team has hosted about 8,000 parties in ten markets, and his Shark Tank pitch earned a deal with Kendra Scott, who remains an investor. Nelson and Julie also share the ingredients for success for hosting a great celebration, along with lessons in leadership, purpose, and vision.

In this episode of the Stay On Course Podcast, Julie Riga talks with Alex Genadinik, a top one percent online instructor on Udemy with over a million students across entrepreneurship, AI, digital marketing, business productivity, time management, and cryptocurrency. Alex shares the mindset behind building courses that create real transformation, the ingredients for lasting success as a teacher and entrepreneur, and his newest venture using cryptocurrency to help creators raise money without losing a large share to fees.

In this episode of the Stay On Course Podcast, host Julie Riga sits down with Lara Hamilton, VP of IT Services at Help Desk Realty, a division of Tectonic. With over 20 years of experience leading teams that support more than 14,000 users, Lara shares how leading with care, hiring exceptional people, and building systems with a human purpose can create stronger teams and more meaningful impact. This is a conversation about authentic leadership, purpose driven work, and the courage it takes to do it scared.

Julie sits down with video production expert Fabian Martinez to unveil the brand new Stay On Course Podcast studio and break down what it really takes to create content that builds trust, confidence, and lasting business success.

Julie Riga welcomes Malcolm Reid Sr., founder of Pro Global Business Advisors, for a conversation on purpose driven leadership and authentic growth. For over eleven years, Malcolm has helped more than a thousand coaches around the world, championing an integrity first approach and taking a stance against hype driven coaching. Julie and Malcolm explore the ingredients for success for the modern generalist, the discipline needed to break the hopium habit, and the systems that build predictable growth.

In this episode of the Stay On Course Podcast, host Julie Riga speaks with Bobby Lane, a business growth strategist, entrepreneur, and leader in outsource business services. Bobby has spent decades helping organizations of all sizes, from startups to global brands, build the infrastructure, systems, and teams required to grow successfully. As founder of Factotum, a multidisciplinary outsourcing practice scaling across the UK and US, Bobby offers a career of hard earned lessons on leadership, culture, and purpose driven growth. Julie and Bobby discuss the ingredients for scaling a business that thrives: stepping into leadership, believing fully in the vision, building the right infrastructure, integrating AI without losing the human element, and leveraging strategic partnerships to accelerate growth.

Aurora Winter: Become the Authority AI Quotes, Not the Expert It Replaces Guest: Aurora Winter, Bestselling Author, Media Strategist, and Founder of Same Page Publishing Host: Julie Riga About This Episode What does it take to lead in an age where AI can generate content in seconds? Aurora Winter, bestselling author and founder of Same Page Publishing, joins Julie Riga to explore the four human superpowers that no algorithm can replicate and the strategic frameworks that help thought leaders build authentic influence, lasting legacy, and real transformation in the AI era. This episode is a must-listen for any entrepreneur, executive, or creator ready to stop competing with AI and start leading alongside it.

Travis Hahler: Wired for Change, Part 1 | Leading Humans Through AI Transformation Guest: Travis Hahler, Senior Director of Global Strategy and Transformation at Salesforce | Founder of Neurological Nomad | Author of Rethink Resistance Host: Julie Riga Overview In this powerful episode, Julie welcomes Travis Hahler to explore what it truly means to be wired for change. Travis brings nearly two decades of experience in human behavior and neuroscience to unpack why so many organizations are stumbling as they introduce AI to their workforce. This conversation reveals the deeper challenge beneath every transformation initiative: the human brain itself. Whether you are a leader trying to drive adoption or a professional navigating uncertainty, this episode offers clarity, strategy, and a new way of thinking about change in the age of AI.

Theresa Benvenuto: Fathers, Legacy, and Living Your Purpose Guest: Theresa Benvenuto, Doctor of Connections Host: Julie Riga Overview In this heartfelt Father's Day tribute episode, Julie Riga sits down with her dear friend Theresa Benvenuto, the Doctor of Connections, for a deeply personal conversation about fathers, legacy, grief, purpose, and the invisible thread that connects us to the people we love even after they are gone. Whether your father is still here, no longer with you, or someone you carry complicated feelings about, this episode speaks directly to your heart.

Bryan Daly: The Power of Epic Business Networking Overview In this episode of Stay On Course, Julie Riga sits down with Bryan Daly, a financial planner and the creator of Epic Business Connections. Bryan shares how networking transformed his business and his life, turning a career setback into nearly two decades of growth, friendship, and community. Together, they explore what makes Epic Business Connections different from traditional networking groups, the unexpected benefits of authentic connection, and why showing up consistently can open doors people never knew existed. This conversation is about leadership, purpose, and building a legacy through relationships rather than transactions.

David Aferiat: Stop the Bottleneck and How a 3D Decision Engine Transforms Leadership Teams Overview What if the biggest thing holding your business back is not the market, not your team, and not your strategy, but you? In this episode of the Stay On Course Podcast, host Julie Riga sits down with seasoned growth coach and entrepreneur David Aferiat to unpack one of the most overlooked leadership killers in business: decision bottlenecks. David draws on over 25 years of experience, including scaling a fintech company to the Inc. 5000 list six years in a row, to share a practical, repeatable framework that frees founders, empowers leadership teams, and builds companies designed to thrive with or without the owner in the room.

David Aferiat: Stop the Bottleneck and How a 3D Decision Engine Transforms Leadership Teams Overview What if the biggest thing holding your business back is not the market, not your team, and not your strategy, but you? In this episode of the Stay On Course Podcast, host Julie Riga sits down with seasoned growth coach and entrepreneur David Aferiat to unpack one of the most overlooked leadership killers in business: decision bottlenecks. David draws on over 25 years of experience, including sc...

The Operations Advantage: Business Success Beyond Sales Guest: Tonya Odio, Author and Founder of Executive Foundations Host: Julie Riga Overview What separates a passionate idea from a thriving, sustainable business? Operations. In this milestone episode recorded live in the studio for the very first time, Julie Riga sits down with Tonya Odio, author of The Operations Advantage: Business Success Beyond Sales, to unpack the systems, structures, and mindset shifts every entrepreneur needs to bu...

The Operations Advantage: Why Clarity, Systems and Profit Are the True Ingredients for Business Success Guest: Tonya Odio, Operational Strategist and Founder of Executive Foundations Host: Julie Riga What if the secret to scaling your business had nothing to do with selling more, and everything to do with how you run things behind the scenes? In this episode, Julie Riga sits down with Tonya Odio, founder of Executive Foundations and author of The Operations Advantage. Together, they uncover wh...

From Zero to Trader: The Beginner's Blueprint for Financial Freedom Guest: Mitch Abel, Founder of Investment Current Host: Julie Riga What if losing $150,000 was the beginning of your greatest financial breakthrough? Mitch Abel retired in 2015 and lost $150,000 in his first six months of trading. His partner Diana looked at him and said two words: "Keep going." Six months later, he made it all back. Today, over 250 students have come through his program at Investment Current. This episode wal...

Stop Letting Your Business Own You: The Role Alignment Secret Behind an $18M Exit Guest: Brandon Lee, Business Alignment Coach and Founder of Build By Design Host: Julie Riga Podcast: Stay On Course Podcast 📌 Visit the Episode Stack — All the links, resources, and key information from this episode in one easy place. Overview What if the real reason your business is not growing is not your strategy or your sales pitch? What if it is you, operating in the wrong role? In this episode of the Sta...

📌 Visit the Episode Stack: stacklist.app/julieriga | All the links, resources, and key information from this episode in one easy place. Go Tell Your Story: How Powerful Storytelling Transforms the Way You Connect, Communicate, and Grow Your Business Guest: Ken Fay, Emmy Award-Winning Storyteller, Director and Creative Strategist Host: Julie Riga What if the most powerful business tool you have is not a product, a pitch, or a platform? It is your story. In this episode, Emmy Award-winning stor...

The LEARN Framework: Building a Lasting Culture Through Intentional Leadership Guest: Jim Carbaugh, Educator, Leadership Coach and Author Host: Julie Riga Overview Jim Carbaugh spent 35 years in classrooms and school leadership before turning five letters his grandfather taught him into a framework now adopted by schools and businesses nationwide. His LEARN Framework covers Listen, Ethics, Attitude, Respect, and Know. In this episode, Jim and Julie explore what it takes to build a lasting cul...

Three Keys to Identity, Success in Business and Life Guest: Joanna Harabedian, Faith-Based Relationship Strategist, Amazon #1 Bestselling Author and Miss America 2019-2021 Host: Julie Riga Overview What if the greatest challenge you face as a leader is not a business problem but an identity problem? In this episode of the Stay On Course Podcast, Julie Riga sits down with Joanna Harabedian, Miss America 2019-2021 and Amazon #1 bestselling author of From Solo to Soulmate. Together they unpack ...

Lead Where It Matters Most: Homegrown Leadership Starts at Home Guest: Joe LaRussa, Mayor, Entrepreneur and Founder of Homegrown Leadership Host: Julie Riga Overview What if the leadership skills driving your professional success could also transform your home life? In this episode, host Julie Riga sits down with Joe LaRussa, small city mayor, entrepreneur, and founder of Homegrown Leadership, to explore one of the most overlooked arenas of personal development: leading at home. After 25 yea...

From Losses to Legacy: The Day Trading System That Builds Generational Wealth Guest: Mitch Abel, Founder of Investment Current Host: Julie Riga Overview What happens when retirement arrives and the numbers do not add up? For Mitch Abel, it became the catalyst for a remarkable transformation. After 40 years in sales, Mitch retired in 2015 with a $400,000 portfolio and quickly lost $150,000 in his first six months of day trading. Instead of walking away, he went deeper, rewatching every course,...

Selling from the Soul: Confidence, Grit and Purpose-Driven Success Host: Julie Riga | Guest: Monique Iacobacci What does it truly take to show up every day with confidence, resilience, and authentic purpose, even when doors are being slammed in your face? In this heartfelt episode, Julie Riga sits down with her longtime friend and powerhouse sales leader Monique Iacobacci to explore the mindset and soul-driven conviction behind over a decade of transformational selling. From polar-vortex cold ...