Driven: Unscripted Success

What does it take to build a business that thrives through challenges while staying rooted in the community? In this episode of Driven: Unscripted Success, hosts Mike Mannino Sr. and Nareman Hamdan sit down with restaurateur Jay Johnson, owner of Bubba’s Roadhouse in Cape Coral, Florida.

Jay shares how he grew his restaurant and catering business, what it’s like to pull off once-in-a-lifetime events on remote islands, and how being...

Miguel’s story starts with his move from Colombia to the U.S. and a first job that led him into real estate. He explains how being “consumer-centric” and “doing ordinary things in an extraordinary way” fueled his growth from loan officer to leading mortgage divisions and founding a brokerage with international ops in Mexico and Costa Rica. He breaks down his leadership framework—Awareness → Strategy → Action—and why he hires for co...

What does it take to turn a mission-driven idea into a market-ready product—without overwhelming your audience or your business? In this episode, we sit down with Kate Roski, an environmental entrepreneur and green tech advisor, who breaks down how simplifying strategy and messaging is the secret to startup success.

Kate shares her eclectic journey from Wall Street to Kraft Foods to launching her own tech company, and ultimately di...

In this episode of the Driven: Unscripted Success Podcast with Mike Mannino Sr. and Nareman Hamdan, Dr. Steven Hochwald—Chief of Surgical Oncology and Director within the Mount Sinai cancer program—pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to move cancer care ahead. He shares why he chose to focus on complex GI cancers (stomach, esophagus, pancreas, liver), the power of pairing surgery with research, and how picking the right ...

In this high-energy conversation, Dr. Paulie Gavoni—Wall Street Journal and USA Today best-selling author, international speaker, and founder of Heart and Science International—breaks down how behavior drives every result we care about. He traces his path from social work to ABA, from Golden Gloves champion to striking coach, and from turning around failing schools to transforming organizational cultures.

Paulie shares how adversit...

From jumping out of airplanes to leading financial strategies, Jason Watkins has lived a life built on discipline, adaptability, and vision. In this episode of Driven: Unscripted Success, Jason shares his journey from serving in the U.S. Army — including a career that began with payroll duties and ended with assignments at the White House — to building his own financial services company.

Jason opens up about the lessons he learned ...

Lisa joins Mike and Nareman from Ocala, Florida to talk about her new role as President of Dental Sleep Solutions and the mission behind it: helping dentists implement proven systems—software, medical billing, and education—to treat obstructive sleep apnea with custom oral appliances. She explains how these devices work, why more payers expect patients to try dental solutions before certain surgeries, and what “whole-practice” supp...

This episode dives deep with Shel Hart, a powerhouse entrepreneur, fractional CEO, and the founder of Florida Venture Catalyst. From surviving a tough upbringing in upstate New York to becoming a sought-after growth expert and C-suite whisperer, Shel shares the gritty truth behind his rise — and what it really takes to scale and exit companies with purpose.

Whether you're a founder at an inflection point, a team leader trying to bu...

Nareman sits down with Trent to unpack how a championship pedigree in Major League Baseball shaped his playbook for building “leading, winning teams.” He opens up about imposter syndrome, why self-discipline beats talent, and how alignment—not agreement—drives execution. Trent also shares his daily routine, growth coaching at Bloom, investing in “unsexy” small businesses, and why curiosity and hyper-learning keep teams sharp.

Alison walks us through her pivot during COVID—from process-heavy consulting at ALS Group to founding Unconvention, where she practices “uncoaching” and “unconsulting.” She explains why high-achieving leaders need space to be human, how her “Un-Word Effect” helps clients see themselves in new, powerful ways, and why strong partnerships require clear expectations on both sides. We dig into risk-taking, evolving leadership from “just...

In this episode, Sandra shares how she took the leap from working for others to building a business of her own—and how she’s expanding it across Florida and beyond. She opens up about leadership, personal growth, entrepreneurship, time management, and how grit and discipline—not just motivation—are the true fuel for long-term success.

Sandra discusses the power of community events for education, how data drives decision-making at V...

Terry Zelen, President & Creative Director of Zelen Communications, joins Mike and Nareman to talk about building custom, highly animated websites, running a lean team across time zones, and using AI to boost research, content, SEO, and reporting. He walks through career pivots (from marine biology to marketing), lessons from the 2008 downturn, and why “someone who knows AI will take your job—not AI itself.” Terry also previews...

In this episode of the Driven: Unscripted Success Podcast, Mike Mannino Sr. and Nareman Hamdan sit down with Catherine Jadot, a marine biologist who turned her passion for the ocean into a mission to find real-world climate solutions. Catherine shares her journey from Belgium to the Caribbean and Florida, moving from academia into consulting, where she works with governments, private investors, and communities to restore reefs, pro...

Kadie leads a large nonprofit serving children in foster care across Miami-Dade. She explains what it means to “stand in the gaps”—from everyday needs like haircuts, braces, and zoo trips to deeper advocacy that shortens time in care and supports reunification or adoption. Kadie walks us through trauma-informed practices, building positive childhood experiences, and creating core memories that spark hope. We talk about mission trip...

From Bonita Springs, FL, Steven walks through building a nine-figure cybersecurity company, then expanding into skip tracing and background checks. His core playbook: pay for performance, protect data differently, and make “win-win” the rule with employees, customers, and vendors. He explains why classic encryption is under pressure from advancing compute, how his team “changed the game” with a random, non-repeatable approach, and ...

In this conversation, Jennifer Ohlman, Strategic Growth Manager at Compass in Southwest Florida, walks us through her path from big-firm consulting to startups, property management, and ultimately agent growth and brokerage partnerships. She covers what Compass offers agents (supportive tech, local culture, and community impact), how she evaluates fit, and what she’s seeing across Naples and beyond—from spec-home lifestyle design t...

In this candid conversation, Lisa shares how each book takes about a year from idea to draft, why she’s a strict plotter, and how a daily word-count keeps her momentum. She contrasts TV forensics with real work—mostly fingerprints and reports—and traces her path from Cleveland’s coroner’s office to Cape Coral PD. Lisa also unpacks the publishing roller coaster: the early CSI boom, the “pub-pocalypse,” the rise of ebooks, and why ma...

In this inspiring conversation, Dr. Farah Laurent (RN, educator, entrepreneur) walks us through her journey from bedside nursing to leadership and business owner. After getting laid off—twice—she doubled down on personal branding, service-driven leadership, and consistent content creation. Farah now coaches new graduate nurses to break into competitive specialties with confidence, run standout interviews, and build careers they act...

In this heartfelt and inspiring episode of Driven: Unscripted Success, Mike Mannino Sr. and Nareman Hamdan sit down with Kari-Anne Spiller, founder and CEO of Surrender House, a sober living community that’s rewriting the rules of addiction recovery. Kari-Anne shares her deeply personal journey from addiction to action — starting the first female sober living house in Cape Coral, Florida, using her income tax return and unwavering ...