Driven: Unscripted Success

"Where did Johnny get into college?" For many parents, the answer feels like a final exam on their child-rearing.

In this episode of Driven Unscripted Success, Michael Mannino welcomes Margaret Rothe, a Silicon Valley-based expert in educational software and college readiness. Margaret is the force behind Council More, a premier B2B platform that gives college counselors and families the data they need to navigate the admissions "b...

"Whether you say you can or you cannot, you’re right." But what drives that belief?

In this episode of Driven Unscripted Success, host Michael Mannino interviews Jay Schneider, a world-class public speaker, psychologist, and identity coach. Jay shares her incredible journey from leaving home at age 14 in Brazil to help her family survive, to building a massive career, and eventually pivoting her entire life to go "Global."

Jay expl...

What is the secret to getting the best out of your team? According to Matt Linder, COO of First Children's Services, it isn’t about "telling the plant to grow"—it’s about changing the soil.

In this episode of Driven Unscripted Success, host Nareman Hamdan sits down with Matt Linder to explore his unique path from a behavior analyst to a high-level executive. Matt shares how he uses behavioral science to manage large teams, the risk...

70% of the Earth is covered in water, yet most drones die the second they touch it. In this episode of Driven Unscripted Success, Michael Mannino sits down with Alex Rodriguez, the founder of XPC (X-Piece Drones), to talk about the engineering feat of creating a truly waterproof drone.

Alex shares his "all-in" entrepreneurial journey—from building drones underground in 2011 to moving to Shenzhen, China in 2023 to develop the next g...

Public speaking is the #1 fear in the world—even higher than the fear of death! But what if the secret to mastering the stage wasn't "learning lines," but simply having a better conversation?

In this episode of Driven: Unscripted Success, Michael Mannino sits down with Steve Sapato, the "Most Famous Unfamous Speaker in America." At 77 years young, Steve brings the wisdom of 38 full-time jobs (including riverboat gambling!) and deca...

In this episode of Driven Unscripted Success, host Michael Mannino welcomes back Steven Zalunardo, a powerhouse in the Southwest Florida real estate and development scene. Originally from Toronto, Steve explains why he moved his family and business to the Naples area and how he has scaled his operations into four distinct "pillars."

Key Topics Covered:

• The "Container" Strategy: How to structure mul...

In this episode of Driven: Unscripted Success, Michael Mannino interviews Adam Povlitz, CEO of Anago Cleaning Systems. From his humble beginnings cleaning floors at night to leading an international franchise system, Adam shares the "dirty work" required to truly clean up in the business world.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The CEO Clean Up: Why you must unlearn control-freak habits to scale.

In this episode of Driven: Unscripted Success, Nareman Hamdan sits down with Russell Gray—a financial educator, investor, and media entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience.

After losing everything during the 2008 Financial Crisis, Russell rebuilt with a new strategy focused on resilience, real assets, and Main Street opportunities.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why Main Street investing is on the rise
• How to manage ris...

In this episode of Driven: Unscripted Success, Michael Mannino interviews Warren Mainard, Executive Director of Impact Players. Warren shares his 30-year journey of ministry and leadership, discussing how men can overcome isolation and become the "thermostats" of their homes.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The Chiseled Concept: How to view trials as a sculptor’s tool rather than just "bad luck."

In this episode of Driven: Unscripted Success, Nareman Hamdan sits down with Sergio Fernandez, a global trade and customs expert with over 15 years of experience managing compliance, risk, and cross-border operations across more than 30 countries.

Currently working on logistics for the FIFA World Cup 2026, Sergio shares insights into the complexities of global trade—and the mindset required to succeed in high-pressure international...

In this episode of Driven: Unscripted Success, Nareman Hamdan sits down with Mike Stohler, a seasoned real estate investor with over 20 years of experience and a portfolio of more than 1,500 units.

From multifamily to hotels and now international investments, Mike shares how he identifies opportunities across markets—and why he’s currently focused on Europe.

You’ll learn:

• Why he transitioned from multifamily to hospitality •...

In this episode of the Driven: Unscripted Success Podcast, we sit down with Jack Hoss, founder of Real Deal Crew, to explore how AI is transforming real estate operations.

Jack shares how most investors and agents don’t have a lead problem—they have a systems problem—and how AI can help automate follow-ups, improve deal flow, and free up time to focus on closing.

We also dive into the rise of AI agents, the importance of consistenc...

In this episode, we sit down with Shawn Glogowski of Note Advisors, an independent wealth management firm serving business owners and professionals nationwide.

With over 20 years of experience, Shawn shares insights on:

• Independent advisory models
• Behavioral finance 
• Real estate tax advantages
• Retirement planning with purpose
• The concept of Eudemonia — human flourishing

This episode blends technical strategy with life ph...

In this episode, we sit down with Logan Harris from Spotter Global to explore the rapidly evolving world of drone detection and airspace security.

Drones over 250 grams are now required by the FAA to broadcast Remote ID — essentially a “license plate” for drones. But what does that mean for pilots, property owners, and security professionals?

We discuss:

• How Remote ID works • How drone operators can be identified • FAA fines and ...

In this episode of Driven: Unscripted Success, Michael Mannino sits down with Kate Zolock, founder of Dnipro Biz Accounting, LLC, to break down real-world tax strategy for business owners and real estate investors.

Kate explains why bookkeeping is more important than tax preparation and how the right financial foundation creates powerful tax opportunities.

In this episode, we cover:

• LLC vs. S Corp vs. C Corp explained • Why bookk...

Today, we talk with Oscar Hedaya, serial entrepreneur and founder of SafeSpace, the most advanced smart safe on the market. From a family burglary to breakthrough innovation, Oscar shares the story of how necessity became the mother of invention.

In this episode, you’ll learn: • How Oscar came up with the idea for SafeSpace • The importance of first-to-market and product quality • Challenges of merging hardware and software in a st...

In this episode of Driven: The Unscripted Success Podcast, hosts Mike Mannino and Nareman Hamdan sit down with Mike Karp, co-founder of Zoozah, to discuss disrupting the home services industry through technology.

With a background in FinTech and enterprise software, Mike shares how he’s combining licensed home inspections, concierge services, and proprietary tech to build a scalable, SaaS-enabled property management model.

On this episode of Driven: The Unscripted Success Podcast, hosts Mike Manino and Nareman Hamdan sit down with Maribeth Martorana, co-founder and CEO of Sapient Advisors. With over 20 years in tech, financial services, and AI, Maribeth shares her journey, leadership lessons, and insights on building empowered teams and passive income.

Topics Covered:

• Maribeth’s career journey and lessons learned

• Navigating career challenges ...

In this episode, Michael sits down with franchise expert Tom DuFore, a 22-year veteran in the franchising world who has helped over 600 companies expand and advised more than 10,000 business owners.

If you’ve ever wondered:

• Is my business ready to franchise?

• How do I scale without losing control?

• What’s stopping me from growing?

This episode breaks it down.

✔️ The 3 signs your business could ...