

Strictly From Nowhere: A Podcast Experiment by Cause of a Kind
Justin Abrams
Five shows. One mission. Uncover wisdom and share it with all of you.
Strictly From Nowhere is a podcast experiment by Cause of a Kind. We are Justin Abrams and Mike Rispoli. Co-founders. Bootstrappers. Builders. We interview founders, break down what is happening in tech and business, go deep on engineering and AI, and document our own journey of building from nothing every single day.
Stand up. Show up. Build.
Strictly From Nowhere is a podcast experiment by Cause of a Kind. We are Justin Abrams and Mike Rispoli. Co-founders. Bootstrappers. Builders. We interview founders, break down what is happening in tech and business, go deep on engineering and AI, and document our own journey of building from nothing every single day.
Stand up. Show up. Build.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Feb 11, 2026 • 12min
It's Launch Day for Chilis | Episode #029
We met the moment.Today we shipped a new @shopify web store for @chilis . The kind of project that doesn't happen without the entire team pulling in the same direction. The kind of launch that reminds you why you do this work.Mike and I break down what it took to get here. The design challenges. The enterprise realities. The fact that we had to build the site twice because real data always tells a different story than mock data. The AI tools that made it possible to move this fast. And the bigger conversation about where e-commerce development is headed.This episode is about more than one launch. It's about the shift happening in marketing technology. Custom solutions are becoming viable again. The cost of ownership is changing. The flexibility you get from controlling your own code base is starting to outweigh the convenience of plugins and platforms.If you're building e-commerce, working with enterprise clients, or just trying to figure out where development is going in the age of AI, this one matters.TIMESTAMPS00:00 - Celebrating Ship Day: Launching Chili's New Web Store02:18 - Navigating Challenges in E-commerce Development05:14 - The Future of Custom E-commerce Solutions08:09 - The Evolution of Marketing Technology in E-commerce12:07 - Closing Thoughts────────────────────────────────LISTEN ON ALL PLATFORMSSpotifyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/1V4SjmlnG2sntDnck8UrGWApple Podcastshttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/strictly-from-nowhere-a-podcast-experiment-by-cause/id1804380172iHeart Radiohttps://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-strictly-from-nowhere-a-po-315649122/YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWAstEyCK6YsKVTTRsQr37wSUPPORT THE SHOWPatreonhttp://patreon.com/StrictlyFromNowhereCONNECT WITH USLinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/strictly-from-nowhereWebsitehttps://strictlyfromnowhere.com────────────────────────────────FOLLOW JUSTIN ABRAMS | @cuzzinjustinLinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/cuzzinjustin/Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/cuzzinjustin/Xhttps://x.com/cuzzinjustinTikTokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@cuzzinjustinFacebookhttps://www.facebook.com/cuzzinjustin24Websitehttps://www.cuzzinjustin.com────────────────────────────────FOLLOW MIKE RISPOLI | @mike_rispoli_ctoLinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-rispoli-cto/Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/mike_rispoli_cto/Xhttps://x.com/michael_rispoliTikTokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@mike_rispoliWebsitehttps://michaelrispoli.com/────────────────────────────────CAUSE OF A KIND | @causeofakindWebsitehttps://www.causeofakind.comLinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/cause-of-a-kindInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/causeofakind/Xhttps://x.com/causeofakindTikTokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@causeofakindNewsletter Signuphttp://eepurl.com/gcc-yjNewsletter Archivehttps://us16.campaign-archive.com/home/?u=847ea1526d6523a41ef1eb5a5&id=48d53e9627────────────────────────────────OPEN SOURCE PROJECTSCodeDojohttps://github.com/Cause-of-a-Kind/code-dojo-coreOCR Ruby GEMhttps://activestorage-ocr-demo.fly.dev/────────────────────────────────COMMUNITY INITIATIVESLong Island Technologistshttps://www.longislandtechnologists.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/long-island-technologists-networkinghttps://www.instagram.com/longislandtechnologists/────────────────────────────────Fin Forecasting - Never Lose Money On A Project Againhttps://www.finforecasting.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/fin-forecasting────────────────────────────────Brought to you by Cause of a KindA boutique software development and startup studio from Long Island, New YorkStand up. Show up. Build.

Feb 11, 2026 • 48min
Max K. Hill | Everything is a Sale
SummaryIn this conversation, Mike Rispoli and Max Hill explore the intricacies of business development, networking, and the power of podcasting as a tool for lead generation. They discuss memorable networking strategies, the importance of LinkedIn, and the challenges of job searching in a competitive market. The conversation also delves into personal branding, the significance of in-person experiences, and the art of sales, including managing rejection and building trust. Humorous anecdotes from sales calls add a light-hearted touch to the discussion, while practical advice is shared on how to navigate the complexities of entrepreneurship and marketing.TakeawaysBiz Dev is crucial for agency owners.Networking opens doors to opportunities.Podcasts are powerful for generating leads.Content creation is essential for visibility.Memorable strategies help you stand out.LinkedIn is a long-term play for credibility.Job searching is challenging in a noisy market.Building a personal brand takes time and effort.In-person experiences enhance learning and collaboration.Rejection is part of the sales process, learn to manage it.Chapters00:00Introduction to Biz Dev and Networking07:26The Power of Podcasting for Lead Generation14:35Leveraging LinkedIn for Business Development20:19The Importance of Personal Branding23:13Sales Strategies and Experiences24:26Humorous Sales Calls and Unique Business Ideas26:36Lessons from Early Sales Experiences30:57Navigating Rejection in Sales36:54Understanding Customer Needs and Building Trust41:05The Impact of Social Media on Sales and Marketing───────────────────────────LISTEN ON ALL PLATFORMSSpotifyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/1V4SjmlnG2sntDnck8UrGWApple Podcastshttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/strictly-from-nowhere-a-podcast-experiment-by-cause/id1804380172iHeart Radiohttps://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-strictly-from-nowhere-a-po-315649122/YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWAstEyCK6YsKVTTRsQr37wSUPPORT THE SHOWPatreonhttp://patreon.com/StrictlyFromNowhereCONNECT WITH USLinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/strictly-from-nowhereWebsitehttps://strictlyfromnowhere.com───────────────────────────FOLLOW JUSTIN ABRAMS | @cuzzinjustinLinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/cuzzinjustin/Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/cuzzinjustin/Xhttps://x.com/cuzzinjustinTikTokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@cuzzinjustinFacebookhttps://www.facebook.com/cuzzinjustin24Websitehttps://www.cuzzinjustin.com───────────────────────────FOLLOW MIKE RISPOLI | @mike_rispoli_ctoLinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-rispoli-cto/Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/mike_rispoli_cto/Xhttps://x.com/michael_rispoliTikTokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@mike_rispoliWebsitehttps://michaelrispoli.com/───────────────────────────CAUSE OF A KIND | @causeofakindWebsitehttps://www.causeofakind.comLinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/cause-of-a-kindInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/causeofakind/Xhttps://x.com/causeofakindTikTokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@causeofakindNewsletter Signuphttp://eepurl.com/gcc-yjNewsletter Archivehttps://us16.campaign-archive.com/home/?u=847ea1526d6523a41ef1eb5a5&id=48d53e9627───────────────────────────OPEN SOURCE PROJECTSCodeDojohttps://github.com/Cause-of-a-Kind/code-dojo-coreOCR Ruby GEMhttps://activestorage-ocr-demo.fly.dev/───────────────────────────COMMUNITY INITIATIVESLong Island Technologistshttps://www.longislandtechnologists.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/long-island-technologists-networkinghttps://www.instagram.com/longislandtechnologists/───────────────────────────Fin Forecasting - Never Lose Money On A Project Againhttps://www.finforecasting.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/fin-forecasting───────────────────────────Brought to you by Cause of a KindA boutique software development and startup studio from Long Island, New YorkStand up. Show up. Build.

Feb 10, 2026 • 28min
What is a Fractional CTO? | Episode 028
What is a fractional CTO and when does your startup actually need one?Mike and I break down the role of fractional CTOs, when to bring one in, and how to tell if you're hiring the right person. Most founders either wait too long or hire the wrong person entirely. This episode cuts through the noise.We talk about the signals that tell you it's time for technology leadership. The milestones that matter. How to evaluate candidates who claim they can be your fractional CTO. And most importantly, what separates a real fractional CTO from a senior engineer who wants a fancier title.If you're a founder without a technical co-founder or you're scaling past the point where you can wing it on technology decisions, this conversation will save you time and money.TIMESTAMPS00:00 - Introduction to Fractional CTOs02:32 - Defining the Role of a Fractional CTO05:20 - When to Consider a Fractional CTO08:02 - Signals Indicating the Need for a Fractional CTO10:54 - Milestones for Engaging a Fractional CTO13:34 - Evaluating the Right Fractional CTO16:25 - The Visionary Role of a Fractional CTO19:12 - What a Fractional CTO is Not22:13 - Conclusion and Final Thoughts────────────────────────────────LISTEN ON ALL PLATFORMSSpotifyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/1V4SjmlnG2sntDnck8UrGWApple Podcastshttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/strictly-from-nowhere-a-podcast-experiment-by-cause/id1804380172iHeart Radiohttps://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-strictly-from-nowhere-a-po-315649122/YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWAstEyCK6YsKVTTRsQr37wSUPPORT THE SHOWPatreonhttp://patreon.com/StrictlyFromNowhereCONNECT WITH USLinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/strictly-from-nowhereWebsitehttps://strictlyfromnowhere.com────────────────────────────────FOLLOW JUSTIN ABRAMS | @cuzzinjustinLinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/cuzzinjustin/Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/cuzzinjustin/Xhttps://x.com/cuzzinjustinTikTokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@cuzzinjustinFacebookhttps://www.facebook.com/cuzzinjustin24Websitehttps://www.cuzzinjustin.com────────────────────────────────FOLLOW MIKE RISPOLI | @mike_rispoli_ctoLinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-rispoli-cto/Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/mike_rispoli_cto/Xhttps://x.com/michael_rispoliTikTokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@mike_rispoliWebsitehttps://michaelrispoli.com/────────────────────────────────CAUSE OF A KIND | @causeofakindWebsitehttps://www.causeofakind.comLinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/cause-of-a-kindInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/causeofakind/Xhttps://x.com/causeofakindTikTokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@causeofakindNewsletter Signuphttp://eepurl.com/gcc-yjNewsletter Archivehttps://us16.campaign-archive.com/home/?u=847ea1526d6523a41ef1eb5a5&id=48d53e9627────────────────────────────────OPEN SOURCE PROJECTSCodeDojohttps://github.com/Cause-of-a-Kind/code-dojo-coreOCR Ruby GEMhttps://activestorage-ocr-demo.fly.dev/────────────────────────────────COMMUNITY INITIATIVESLong Island Technologistshttps://www.longislandtechnologists.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/long-island-technologists-networkinghttps://www.instagram.com/longislandtechnologists/────────────────────────────────Fin Forecasting - Never Lose Money On A Project Againhttps://www.finforecasting.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/fin-forecasting────────────────────────────────Brought to you by Cause of a KindA boutique software development and startup studio from Long Island, New YorkStand up. Show up. Build.

Feb 9, 2026 • 32min
The Hidden Complexities of Vibe Coding | Episode #027
In this conversation, Justin Abrams shares his experience of building a personal product using V0, detailing the challenges he faced, particularly around authentication and data management. The discussion covers the importance of clear prompt engineering, the complexities of user authentication, and the necessity of testing for data security. As Justin navigates through the development process, he reflects on the lessons learned and the value of recreational development, emphasizing that anyone can embark on a similar journey to create their own tools.https://macropal.cuzzinjustin.com/TakeawaysJustin successfully shipped his first personal product using V zero.Planning is crucial for non-technical individuals when building products.Authentication posed significant challenges during the development process.Prompt engineering is essential for effective communication with AI tools.Simple storage can be subjective; clarity in requirements is key.Testing and data security are critical for user privacy.Deployment can reveal unexpected issues that need to be addressed.Recreational development can be a valuable learning experience.The future of personal development tools is promising and accessible.Building personal tools can lead to new career opportunities. Chapters00:00 The Journey of Building a Personal Product02:42 Challenges in Non-Technical Product Development05:29 Navigating Authentication and Data Management08:18 The Importance of Prompt Engineering11:15 Understanding Security and Data Privacy14:07 Testing and Quality Assurance in Development17:11 Finalizing the Product and Lessons Learned───────────────────────────LISTEN ON ALL PLATFORMSSpotifyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/1V4SjmlnG2sntDnck8UrGWApple Podcastshttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/strictly-from-nowhere-a-podcast-experiment-by-cause/id1804380172iHeart Radiohttps://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-strictly-from-nowhere-a-po-315649122/YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWAstEyCK6YsKVTTRsQr37wSUPPORT THE SHOWPatreonhttp://patreon.com/StrictlyFromNowhereCONNECT WITH USLinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/strictly-from-nowhereWebsitehttps://strictlyfromnowhere.com───────────────────────────FOLLOW JUSTIN ABRAMS | @cuzzinjustinLinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/cuzzinjustin/Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/cuzzinjustin/Xhttps://x.com/cuzzinjustinTikTokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@cuzzinjustinFacebookhttps://www.facebook.com/cuzzinjustin24Websitehttps://www.cuzzinjustin.com───────────────────────────FOLLOW MIKE RISPOLI | @mike_rispoli_ctoLinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-rispoli-cto/Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/mike_rispoli_cto/Xhttps://x.com/michael_rispoliTikTokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@mike_rispoliWebsitehttps://michaelrispoli.com/───────────────────────────CAUSE OF A KIND | @causeofakindWebsitehttps://www.causeofakind.comLinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/cause-of-a-kindInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/causeofakind/Xhttps://x.com/causeofakindTikTokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@causeofakindNewsletter Signuphttp://eepurl.com/gcc-yjNewsletter Archivehttps://us16.campaign-archive.com/home/?u=847ea1526d6523a41ef1eb5a5&id=48d53e9627───────────────────────────OPEN SOURCE PROJECTSCodeDojohttps://github.com/Cause-of-a-Kind/code-dojo-coreOCR Ruby GEMhttps://activestorage-ocr-demo.fly.dev/───────────────────────────COMMUNITY INITIATIVESLong Island Technologistshttps://www.longislandtechnologists.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/long-island-technologists-networkinghttps://www.instagram.com/longislandtechnologists/───────────────────────────Fin Forecasting - Never Lose Money On A Project Againhttps://www.finforecasting.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/fin-forecasting───────────────────────────Brought to you by Cause of a KindA boutique software development and startup studio from Long Island, New YorkStand up. Show up. Build.

Feb 6, 2026 • 24min
AM I 1 OF 5000? | Episode #026
Are there really only 5,000 elite software engineers in the world doing the vast majority of the work?Mike brought a viral post to The Stand Up that sparked a debate about what makes someone truly elite in their field. We break down Price's Law, salary justification, and whether technical mastery is even the right metric.The conversation took an unexpected turn when we started talking about the best interview either of us ever experienced. An engineer who wanted 300k walked into the room and immediately asked about revenue and team size. Before we could even pitch the role, he did the math and told us we couldn't afford him. His framework? Every 100k in salary should produce a million dollars in value.That conversation changed everything about how we think about hiring, compensation, and what it means to be world class at your craft.We also get into the Silicon Valley Carver problem. How many people are perceived as elite because they interview well or jack other people's project success stories? Where do the truly best engineers actually work? Big tech? Agencies? Or are they building their own thing?This episode is for anyone trying to figure out what mastery actually requires in the real world. Not the LinkedIn version. The business reality version.TIMESTAMPS00:00 - The 5,000 Elite Engineers Post03:10 - Does Being Elite Mean High Salary?07:42 - The Interview That Changed Everything12:20 - Elite Engineers: Where Do They Work?16:30 - The Carver Problem: Charlatans in Tech20:00 - Thinking in Dollars and Cents22:47 - Are You One of the Top 5,000?Listen on All Platforms:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1V4SjmlnG2sntDnck8UrGWApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/strictly-from-nowhere-a-podcast-experiment-by-cause/id1804380172iHeart Radio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-strictly-from-nowhere-a-po-315649122/Support the Show:Patreon: http://patreon.com/StrictlyFromNowhereConnect With Us:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/strictly-from-nowhereWebsite: https://www.causeofakind.com/strictly-from-nowhereBrought to you by Cause of a Kind, a boutique software development and digital creative agency from Long Island, New York.Let's build something. Together.

Feb 6, 2026 • 23min
Upskill or Perish | Episode #025
AI is changing how we write code, but not every engineer is keeping up. In this episode, Justin and Mike talk about the evolving landscape of engineering training and how businesses can create new revenue opportunities by helping developers adapt to AI tools.They get into the real challenges engineers face when adopting these tools, the balance between pushing out quantity versus maintaining quality, and why hands-on training makes all the difference. The conversation covers how curiosity drives effective use of technology, the importance of identifying talent willing to evolve, and how training programs need to move as fast as the tech landscape itself.Topics Covered:Creating new revenue paths through AI trainingHow AI is transforming development workWhy engineers struggle with AI adoptionBalancing quality and quantity in engineering outputThe power of hands-on, real world trainingIdentifying and nurturing tech talentModern training methods for fast moving techThe role of curiosity in leveraging new toolsTimestamps:00:00 Exploring New Revenue Opportunities02:56 The Role of AI in Development Training06:50 Balancing Quality and Quantity in Engineering07:40 Evolving Training Methods for Modern Engineers10:21 Identifying and Nurturing Talent in Tech14:39 The Future of Engineering TrainingWatch the full episode: • Upskill or Perish | Episode #025 Listen on All Platforms:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1V4Sjml...Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...iHeart Radio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-st...Support the Show:Patreon: / strictlyfromnowhere Connect With Us:LinkedIn: / strictly-from-nowhere Website: https://www.causeofakind.com/strictly...Brought to you by Cause of a Kind, a boutique software development and digital creative agency from Long Island, New York.Let's build something. Together.

Feb 4, 2026 • 13min
Our Business Card Is A $2 Bill | Episode #024
How do you stand out in a crowd? In this episode, Justin and Mike dive into the challenge of making real connections in a world full of noise. They talk about why traditional business cards fall flat and explore creative ways to leave a lasting impression, including using $2 bills as a networking tool that people actually remember.The conversation gets into the power of giving value before asking for anything in return, how to increase your surface area for luck, and why memorable interactions beat generic card exchanges every time. They also touch on QR codes, personal branding, and the real work that goes into building relationships instead of just collecting contacts.Topics Covered:Standing out in crowded networking spacesWhy business cards need a personal touchUsing $2 bills to create memorable connectionsThe value exchange principle in networkingIncreasing your surface area for luckQR codes and modern networking toolsBuilding real relationships vs collecting cardsTimestamps:00:00 Standing Out in a Noisy World05:38 Creating Memorable ConnectionsWatch the full episode: https://youtu.be/SW_Rccn_0xwListen on All Platforms:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1V4SjmlnG2sntDnck8UrGWApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/strictly-from-nowhere-a-podcast-experiment-by-cause/id1804380172iHeart Radio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-strictly-from-nowhere-a-po-315649122/Support the Show:Patreon: http://patreon.com/StrictlyFromNowhereConnect With Us:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/strictly-from-nowhereWebsite: https://www.causeofakind.com/strictly-from-nowhereBrought to you by Cause of a Kind, a boutique software development and digital creative agency from Long Island, New York.Let's build something. Together.

Feb 3, 2026 • 19min
The Death of eCommerce | Episode #023
The Death of eCommerceE-commerce is dying, and we're all pretending everything is fine.In this episode, Justin and Mike dig into why the entire online shopping experience has become a joyless, transactional wasteland. We're not talking about sales numbers or market cap. We're talking about the actual experience of finding and buying things, which has gotten objectively worse even as the technology has gotten better.Here's what nobody wants to say out loud: shopping used to be an activity. You'd go to a store, talk to someone who actually knew about the products, browse around, discover things you didn't know you needed. Now? You type words into a search bar, scroll through pages of algorithmic nonsense, read fake reviews, and hope you picked the right one. That's not shopping. That's just... buying.Amazon killed the browse. They optimized for speed and convenience but forgot that people actually enjoyed the process of shopping. And now we're stuck in this weird limbo where the old retail model is dead but the new one sucks.But here's where it gets interesting. The future might not be what you think. We get into agentic shopping, where AI agents could bring back that consultative experience we lost. Influencers are already filling the expert void that retail used to provide. The whole landscape is shifting toward something that might actually be better, or it might just be a different kind of terrible.We trace e-commerce from the Sears catalog to today's algorithmic hellscape. We talk about why expertise disappeared from retail. We explore whether AI shopping assistants and influencer recommendations can actually fix what's broken, or if they're just new problems wearing a solution costume.The death of expertise. The rise of influence. The promise of agents. It's all happening right now, and most people haven't even noticed.Full episode: https://youtu.be/FMME2BD9UhEStrictly From Nowhere Podcast explores technology, culture, and the future through conversations that actually matter. New episodes weekly.Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWAstEyCK6YsKVTTRsQr37w

Jan 30, 2026 • 23min
Increase Your Surface Area For Luck | Episode #022
Increase Your Surface Area for Luck | The Stand Up with Mike and JustinMike and Justin are recording every single business day in 2025. This episode is about how you actually create opportunities in business. Not by hoping. Not by waiting. By showing up.We break down what we call "increasing your surface area for luck" and why networking, community building, and leads are the actual work that drives growth. There are no shortcuts. There are no hacks. There is showing up consistently and living a life of service.If you're a bootstrap founder, agency owner, or entrepreneur trying to figure out how to create more opportunities, this one's for you.What We Cover:Why recording every business day matters for accountability and growthThe concept of surface area for luck and how to increase yoursReal talk about networking events and community buildingWhy leads are the lifeblood of any businessThe mindset required to actually go hard and stay consistentHow living a life of service creates business opportunitiesWhy there are no shortcuts to real successTimestamps:00:00 Introduction to the Journey02:29 Increasing Your Surface Area for Luck07:27 Networking and Community Building12:06 The Importance of Leads in Business17:53 Living a Life of ServiceThis is The Stand Up. Real conversations about real business challenges. No fluff. No corporate speak. Just two founders building in public.Forward to Extraordinary.

Jan 29, 2026 • 37min
Carole Hussey, Co-Founder @HHS Connect | Unwavering Commitment to Cause
SummaryIn this episode of Strictly From Nowhere, host Justin Abrams engages with entrepreneur Carole Hussey, exploring her journey from a challenging upbringing to becoming the founder of HHS Connect. The conversation delves into her early influences, career transitions, and the importance of networking and community in entrepreneurship. Carole shares her insights on navigating fear, embracing failure, and finding balance in life while pursuing her passion for helping others. The episode concludes with Carole's wisdom on taking leaps of faith and the personal growth that comes from stepping outside of one's comfort zone.TakeawaysCarole's journey reflects the importance of resilience and adaptability in entrepreneurship.Networking and building relationships are crucial for success in business.Fear can inhibit personal growth, but taking risks can lead to new opportunities.Embracing failure as a learning experience is essential for growth.Finding a rhythm in life is more important than achieving perfect balance.Prioritizing health and personal relationships is vital for long-term success.Carole emphasizes the value of community in the health and human services sector.Continuous learning and curiosity drive personal and professional development.It's important to pivot and adjust strategies based on market needs.Staying focused on the core mission while being flexible in execution is key to success.Chapters00:00 Introduction to the Journey01:42 Humanizing the Entrepreneur03:28 Early Influences and Entrepreneurial Spirit07:31 Career Path and Transition to Entrepreneurship11:14 Building HHS Connect15:36 Navigating Fear and Taking Risks20:17 Understanding Failure and Resilience27:51 Finding Balance and Rhythm in Life33:24 Final Thoughts and Wisdom for Entrepreneurs


