Driven: Unscripted Success

What does it take to stay mentally strong while building a business from the ground up? In this episode, we sit down with serial entrepreneur Steve Spiro, one of the original minds behind Audible, to dive into the unfiltered reality of startup life—from sleepless nights and risky decisions to building a billion-dollar exit. Steve shares the wild origin story of Audible, including how the idea came from a kitchen table conversation, how they convinced publishers to believe in digital audio, and how they ultimately sold the company to Amazon. But it wasn’t all smooth sailing—he walks us through the brutal cash crunch moments, the dance with venture capitalists, and the emotional toll of building something from nothing.   -------------------------------------------------------- Be a Guest: Are you a successful Naples-area business owner, entrepreneur, or professional with insights to share? Apply to be a guest at Driven: Unscripted Success and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you.

Michael Berdan brings an inspiring story of grit, innovation, and adaptability. From his beginnings in Toronto to working with elite aerospace companies like Bombardier, Pratt & Whitney, Bell Helicopter, and even NASA, Michael shares how he navigated a career full of complex engineering challenges. He reveals what it’s like to work on billion-dollar aircraft for Saudi royalty and secret government projects, as well as how he started his own aerospace business in the wake of 9/11. But that’s not all—Michael shares how his daughter inspired him to enter the renewable energy space, creating BE-Wind, a company focused on small wind turbines for homes, farms, and off-grid systems.     -------------------------------------------------------- Be a Guest: Are you a successful Naples-area business owner, entrepreneur, or professional with insights to share? Apply to be a guest at Driven: Unscripted Success and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you.

What happens when a simple hobby turns into a booming business? Guillermo Wenzel joins us to share how he went from flying drones for fun during COVID lockdowns to launching Drone Sky Visuals, a thriving drone services company serving Miami and beyond. You’ll hear how Guillermo navigated the early days of entrepreneurship without a business background, how Google Ads helped scale his brand, and why flying drones has taken him from job sites to the soccer field with Manchester City. From aerial architecture and road mapping to creating stock footage and filming for global productions, Guillermo’s journey is a blueprint for turning passion into profit—without a roadmap. This episode is for anyone thinking of starting something on the side, wondering how to take the leap, or just curious how drones can power an entire career.     -------------------------------------------------------- Be a Guest: Are you a successful Naples-area business owner, entrepreneur, or professional with insights to share? Apply to be a guest at Driven: Unscripted Success and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you.

In this episode, we sit down with Anthony Tran, a security systems sales engineer who’s built a career at the intersection of tech, service, and grit. Anthony brings over a decade of experience working with major government agencies like the DOD and Homeland Security. Starting as a cable puller and rising through the ranks, he shares how deep knowledge and attention to detail in access control can mean the difference between vulnerability and safety. Anthony opens up about leadership lessons learned from Boy Scouts, why communication makes or breaks both teams and security plans, and how he took a major risk that led to a contract win—without even walking the job site first. Oh, and there’s paintball, too. A lot of it. Coaching a rising youth team in South Carolina, Anthony reveals what this chaotic sport taught him about strategy, team growth, and building trust.   -------------------------------------------------------- Be a Guest: Are you a successful Naples-area business owner, entrepreneur, or professional with insights to share? Apply to be a guest at Driven: Unscripted Success and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you.

In this flavorful episode of Driven: Unscripted Success, Mike Mannino sits down with renowned chef and restaurateur Bruno Fonseca, the visionary behind Foreigner Restaurant and Bruno’s Oysters in Central Florida. Bruno shares the inspiring journey from growing up in Rio de Janeiro to becoming a leader in the fine dining world, known for an immersive, no-menu dining experience where chefs serve you directly at the counter. Discover how Bruno built his dream from pop-ups and plant shops, weathered the storm of COVID-19, and created something truly rare — a place where the love of food, people, and team come together nightly. He opens up about what really sets his restaurant apart, the importance of intentional service, and how building a strong team is at the heart of everything he does. Whether you're in hospitality, business, or simply love a good underdog story, this episode will leave you inspired.   -------------------------------------------------------- Be a Guest: Are you a successful Naples-area business owner, entrepreneur, or professional with insights to share? Apply to be a guest at Driven: Unscripted Success and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you.

In this episode, Mike Mannino Sr. chats with JP Varvarigos, a third-generation florist and the owner of Wellington Florist in South Florida. JP shares his deep-rooted family history in the floral industry, starting from post-WWII New York to his own expansion in Palm Beach County today. He opens up about his transition from the restaurant world to running a high-growth flower shop, the evolution of consumer flower buying habits, and how local florists can still thrive despite the rise of big box stores and drop shippers. From learning business skills in culinary school to managing creative floral designs and employee dynamics, JP discusses how he's grown the shop over 1,000%—and the unique challenges that come with scaling a team. He also explains the power of networking, ongoing learning, and the vision behind his new boutique satellite shop model.   -------------------------------------------------------- Be a Guest: Are you a successful Naples-area business owner, entrepreneur, or professional with insights to share? Apply to be a guest at Driven: Unscripted Success and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you.

In this powerful episode, Mike Mannino speaks with Tony DeMaio—former football coach and advocate with Helping Heroes USA—about one of today’s most pressing and painful topics: suicide prevention among veterans, first responders, and beyond. Tony opens up about the emotional weight of isolation, PTSD, depression, and the struggles that so many quietly face. He shares his journey from sports coaching to suicide prevention, and how Helping Heroes USA uses outreach, activities, and connection to help people find hope again.   -------------------------------------------------------- Be a Guest: Are you a successful Naples-area business owner, entrepreneur, or professional with insights to share? Apply to be a guest at Driven: Unscripted Success and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you.

In this deeply moving episode of Driven: Unscripted Success, host Mike Mannino sits down with former pro football player and current investment advisor, Kristoffer Doura. But this isn't just another comeback story — it’s a literal return from the other side. After collapsing during NFL training camp and being pronounced clinically dead, Kristoffer experienced what few ever have: a direct encounter with God. From a near-death experience to a mission-driven life, Kristoffer opens up about his awakening — the moment that redirected his life from the pursuit of sports fame to becoming a voice of purpose, mentorship, and impact.   -------------------------------------------------------- Be a Guest: Are you a successful Naples-area business owner, entrepreneur, or professional with insights to share? Apply to be a guest at Driven: Unscripted Success and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you.

In this episode of Driven: Unscripted Success, hosts Mike Mannino Sr. and Nareman Hamdan sit down with powerhouse entrepreneur Kate Iseman, the founder of Cicada Technologies. Broadcasting from Columbia, South Carolina, Kate shares her fearless leap from a successful sales career into launching her own tech firm—and how that leap, backed by grit and a single big client, changed everything. Kate unpacks the daily disciplines that keep her sharp, from blocking out prospecting time to planning her week every Friday. She dives into what sets Cicada Tech apart in a hyper-competitive IT landscape: relentless follow-through, deep customer care, and doing the little things no one else wants to do.   -------------------------------------------------------- Be a Guest: Are you a successful Naples-area business owner, entrepreneur, or professional with insights to share? Apply to be a guest at Driven: Unscripted Success and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you.

From carpet-kicking as a kid to building cities inside convention halls, Rich Curran’s story is one of hustle, humility, and heart. In this inspiring conversation with host Mike Mannino, Rich shares his journey from humble beginnings and military service in the Marine Corps to becoming the leader of Expo Inc.—a company that designs and builds stunning trade show environments around the globe. You’ll hear how Rich took over his father’s business, navigated the devastating challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, and emerged with an expanded vision that now includes international operations, commercial redesign, and custom exhibit solutions.   ---------------------------------------------------------- Be a Guest: Are you a successful Naples-area business owner, entrepreneur, or professional with insights to share? Apply to be a guest at Driven: Unscripted Success and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you.