Turning Point: Founder Journeys from Grit to Glory
Turning Point dives into the moments that define the entrepreneurial journey. Each episode features candid conversations with founders who share the real stories behind building their businesses—from early struggles and setbacks to breakthroughs and success. Hosted by Blaine Bertsch, the show uncovers the raw, behind-the-scenes experiences that rarely make the headlines. Guests reflect on the hard lessons, tough decisions, and pivotal moments that shaped their paths as entrepreneurs. Whether you're a seasoned founder or just starting out, Turning Point offers honest insight, shared struggles, and inspiration from those who’ve lived it—so you can navigate your own journey with perspective and grit. Turning Point is Produced by Dryrun: Forecasting Software for the Office of the CFO Learn more at https://dryrun.com
Episodes
In this episode of Turning Point, Blaine Bertsch talks with James Oliver, founder and CEO of Atlas Bars, about how he turned a college project into a thriving nutrition brand. James shares his journey from selling Cutco knives and mowing lawns to bootstrapping a seven-figure company built on clean ingredients, high protein, and zero sugar. He opens up about limiting risk, learning by doing, and why success comes from relentless exe...
In this episode of Turning Point - Founder Stories, Blaine Bertsch sits down with Stephen Sakach, founder of AI CMO and Zero Company, to explore how empathy-driven marketing and purpose-led storytelling are reshaping the way brands connect with audiences. From his early entrepreneurial roots to building an AI-powered platform that helps businesses create meaningful, emotionally resonant campaigns, Stephen shares a fascinating journ...
In this episode of Turning Point, Blaine Bertsch sits down with Mark Newman, founder of HireVue and current CEO of Nomi Health, to explore his entrepreneurial journey from creating one of the first video interviewing platforms to tackling the massive challenges of U.S. healthcare. Mark shares candid stories of building HireVue from a college project into a global company, navigating the highs and lows of venture capital, and learni...
In this episode of Turning Point, Blaine Bertsch sits down with Scott Porter, CEO of San Diablo Artisan Churros, to dive into the inspiring highs and lows of his entrepreneurial journey. From co-founding Surf Air, the innovative all-you-can-fly membership airline, to creating unforgettable churro experiences, Scott shares how risk-taking, innovation, and customer obsession have shaped his career.
The conversation explores the emotio...
Join Blaine Bertsch in this insightful episode of Turning Point with Sabir Semerkant, a leading eCommerce strategist and growth expert, as they dive deep into the future of online retail. Sabir shares proven methods for scaling eCommerce businesses, leveraging AI-powered automation, and optimizing customer journeys to maximize conversions and long-term loyalty. They explore how data-driven decision-making, personalized marketing, a...
In this episode of Turning Point, Blaine Bertsch is joined by entrepreneur Kirstin Carey to unpack her dynamic journey across marketing, public speaking, the restaurant industry, and the wellness space. From launching successful gluten-free restaurants to building a transformative wellness program designed to reverse autoimmune conditions, Kirstin shares how passion, purpose, and persistence fueled her growth as a women-owned busin...
In this episode of Turning Point, Blaine Bertsch sits down with serial entrepreneur Eli Portnoy to explore the untold realities of startup life. From launching his first venture in college to scaling companies like Sense360 and now BackEngine, Eli shares the highs, lows, and critical lessons every founder needs to hear. He reveals how timing, traction, and customer insights shape business success—and why resilience, focus, and ment...
In this episode of Turning Point, Blaine Bertsch sits down with Adam Nathan, CEO of Blaze, to uncover the mindset, strategies, and lessons that shaped his entrepreneurial path. Drawing from his experiences at Apple and in government administration, Adam shares how structured startup strategies, risk management, and an entrepreneurial mindset helped him navigate the challenges of building companies from the ground up.
The conversatio...
In this episode of Turning Point, Blaine Bertsch sits down with Ken MacKenzie, founder and CEO of Fresh Victor, to explore his entrepreneurial journey from co-founding Republic Tequila to transforming the cocktail mixer market. Ken shares how persistence, vision, and passion fueled his mission to elevate cocktail culture with premium, fresh-ingredient mixers designed for both consumers and professionals.
The conversation dives into ...
In this episode of Turning Point, Blaine Bertsch sits down with Borja Cuan, Co-Founder of Four15 Digital, to explore his entrepreneurial journey from selling golf balls as a child to building a thriving digital marketing agency. Borja shares founder insights on mentorship, networking, and the growth strategies that helped him scale his company while staying true to his values as a leader.
The conversation dives into the importance o...
In this episode of Turning Point, Blaine Bertsch sits down with Robert Grazioli, Managing Partner of Bread, a Brooklyn-based digital agency, to explore the realities of entrepreneurship and the challenges founders face when moving from service-based businesses into product development. Robert shares his candid experiences with overcoming imposter syndrome, leveraging customer feedback, and making the critical mindset shifts require...
In this episode of Turning Point, Blaine Bertsch sits down with Eric Hui, founder of Terracea, to explore his journey from corporate life to launching a premium cold-weather outdoor apparel brand. Eric shares how he identified market gaps in the outdoor industry, navigated the challenges of product development, and leveraged platforms like Kickstarter to secure funding and build early momentum.
The conversation highlights the realit...
In this episode of Turning Point, Blaine Bertsch sits down with Shena White of Your Pocket CFO to explore her inspiring entrepreneurial journey—from reluctantly starting a business to becoming a trusted advisor in financial management. Shena shares the pivotal moments that shaped her success, highlighting how mastering the difference between cash flow and profitability, creating effective pricing strategies, and leveraging forecast...
In this episode of Turning Point, Blaine Bertsch sits down with Tom Schwab, founder of Interview Valet, to explore the realities of entrepreneurship and the evolving role of podcasting in business growth. Tom shares his journey of building a company rooted in resilience, adaptability, and the support of community, highlighting how real-world practice often delivers more valuable lessons than theory.
The conversation dives into how p...
In this conversation, Blaine interviews John Gillham, founder of Originality AI, discussing his journey into entrepreneurship, the evolution of content marketing, and the impact of AI on content creation.
John shares insights on building a remote workforce, the importance of customer focus, and strategies for small businesses to navigate the challenges posed by AI-generated content. The discussion highlights the need for ...
Join host Blaine Bertsch as he sits down with Mandi Gunzberger, a powerhouse entrepreneur with a track record of launching successful ventures like Babyology and Nourish Travel. Mandi dives into her entrepreneurial journey, sharing the early sparks that ignited her passion for business and the valuable lessons learned along the way.
They talk about the highs and lows of hiring, team building, and finding creative ways to ...
In this episode of Turning Point, Blaine Bertsch interviews John and Mark Cronin, the father-son duo behind John’s Crazy Socks. In 2016, Mark found himself unemployed at 58, while his son John, who has Down syndrome, was facing the "21-Year-Old Cliff," where school support ends and options are limited. After exploring different ideas, John proposed starting a sock business, inspired by his love for colorful, fun socks. To...
Bradley Hamner, Founder and CEO of Blueprint OS, shares his journey as an entrepreneur and the challenges he faced in scaling his business. He discusses the importance of sales skills, hard work, and the need for systems and processes to achieve growth and work-life balance.
The turning point for him was realizing the value of structure and organization in his business. He started by organizing existing documents and creating unifo...
In this episode of "Turning Point," Blaine Bertsch, CEO of Dryrun, interviews Ilya Kroogman, founder of The Digital Panda, about his entrepreneurial journey and business growth. They discuss the challenges of hiring and the transition to remote work, emphasizing the importance of hiring for culture fit. The conversation dives into the impact of the pandemic on agencies, highlighting the benefits and challenges of a distri...
Join us on "Turning Point" as Mike Begg, co-founder and CEO of AMZ Advisors, shares his entrepreneurial journey and the evolution of his business. Mike discusses his early experiences, from working at a marina to selling on Amazon and launching his own brand. He explains the changes in the Amazon marketplace and the importance of building a professional brand with content marketing. Mike also talks about transitioning fro...
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