Open Residency
Open Residency
The show for ambitious operators scaling their businesses.
Hosted by Mark Brazil, co-founder of IKONICK, Open Residency is built around a simple idea: learn from the people who’ve already figured out what most entrepreneurs are still trying to solve—so you can become a more well-rounded operator.
Mark sits down with the operators, marketers, creators, and specialists who are world-class at their craft. These conversations go far beyond what they’ve built and why—they break down exactly how they’ve done it. The tactical insights, frameworks, and decision-making processes that help you think c
Hosted by Mark Brazil, co-founder of IKONICK, Open Residency is built around a simple idea: learn from the people who’ve already figured out what most entrepreneurs are still trying to solve—so you can become a more well-rounded operator.
Mark sits down with the operators, marketers, creators, and specialists who are world-class at their craft. These conversations go far beyond what they’ve built and why—they break down exactly how they’ve done it. The tactical insights, frameworks, and decision-making processes that help you think c
Episodes
Mentioned books
216 snips
Mar 19, 2026 • 2h 11min
Matt Gray - How To Build a Profitable Personal Brand (In Just 30 days)
Matt Gray, founder of Founder OS who builds systemized media and ops teams for founders. He breaks down how to design a business that runs without you. He maps out content systems, media teams, and lead magnet flows. He explains batching, hiring, and the operating rhythms that free founders to scale.
83 snips
Mar 5, 2026 • 2h 42min
Taylor Holiday - The 2026 E-Commerce Masterclass That Will Make You Question Everything
Taylor Holiday, data-obsessed e-commerce operator and CEO who builds profit-first growth systems. He unpacks forecasting frameworks, contribution-margin-first decision making, and daily cashflow forecasting. He covers channel strategy from TikTok Shops to CTV, product-led growth and supply-chain tactics, and how AI and a new “profit engineer” role reshape scaling in 2026.
43 snips
Feb 24, 2026 • 1h 44min
Ross Mackay - Premium Isn’t About Price — It’s About Positioning
Ross Mackay, founder and CEO of Cadence, a sports-hydration brand scaling premium positioning fast. He explains why premium is about packaging, placement, and storytelling. Short takes cover rebrands that tripled on-shelf sales, aisle research and price alignment, retail pitch tactics, distribution tradeoffs, formulation choices, and founder-led sales and hiring. Practical playbook moves throughout.
38 snips
Feb 18, 2026 • 1h 34min
Jeff Byers - You’d Never Kill a $6M Product — And That’s the Problem
Jeff Byers, former pro athlete and CEO of Momentous, built a science-first supplement brand trusted by pro teams. He discusses killing a $6M product to protect standards. Multiple short takes cover sourcing and certification, building high-trust partnerships from Huberman to Arnold, reaching all 32 NFL teams, and leadership lessons from sports culture.
288 snips
Jan 29, 2026 • 2h 33min
Kallaway - The Most Valuable 3 Hours For Any Business Owner in 2026 (Content Masterclass)
Kallaway, entrepreneur and content operator who builds system-driven content machines, shares frameworks for hooks, thumbnails, and repeatable short-form building blocks. He explains why YouTube is a packaging game, how to engineer desire loops and content minutes, and the ops and AI tools behind scaling content systems. Quick, tactical breakdowns of retention, editing mistakes, and the seven lego bricks of shorts.
218 snips
Jan 19, 2026 • 2h 37min
Samir Chaudry - How To Actually Dominate YouTube in 2026
In this conversation, Samir Chaudry, co-host of the Colin and Samir show and a media entrepreneur, explores the keys to thriving on YouTube. He discusses the critical importance of captivating thumbnails, audience respect, and how to create engaging, memorable content. Samir emphasizes the need for consistent community building and retention metrics. He also shares insights on navigating sponsorships, leveraging personal experiences, and adapting to industry changes. Plus, get his take on the evolving media landscape and the future of creator partnerships.
756 snips
Dec 30, 2025 • 1h 35min
Dan Koe - How To Get Ahead Of 99% Of People in 2026
Join writer and entrepreneur Dan Koe as he explores future-proof skills essential for success in an AI-driven world. He emphasizes the importance of adaptability through learning to think and earn, rather than just specializing. Koe discusses the significance of taste, narrative, and trust as competitive advantages, and how creators can turn their unique perspectives into thriving personal brands. He also shares insights on avoiding burnout, crafting impactful stories, and the promising potential of cohort-based models to enhance community learning.
245 snips
Dec 17, 2025 • 2h 20min
Mark Manson - When Quitting Is the Smartest Business Move
Mark Manson, bestselling author of The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck and co-founder of the AI startup Purpose, dives into the intricacies of pain and purpose. He shares insights on how suffering is self-created, the importance of momentum over motivation, and what truly makes enduring relationships thrive. Manson critiques common dating mistakes, emphasizes the value of creativity in boredom, and explains how AI can reshape personal growth. His refreshing take on authenticity and compatibility challenges conventional views on love and success.
117 snips
Dec 5, 2025 • 2h 9min
Sean Frank - E-Commerce Masterclass: How to Build, Scale & Win in 2026
Sean Frank, CEO of Ridge, shares insights from his successful consumer accessories brand. He reveals how Ridge manages to spend $100K daily on ads while maintaining operational discipline. The conversation dives into the importance of simplicity in marketing, the power of organic content, and the structure of Ridge's massive content machine. Sean also discusses the common pitfalls that founders face, the significance of internalizing marketing skills, and why disciplined frameworks can help scale without outside capital.
39 snips
Nov 25, 2025 • 1h 55min
George Heaton - The Clothing Brand That Should’ve Died, But Became a Cult
George Heaton, co-founder of Represent and creator of the 247 activewear line, shares his journey of resilience amid a two-year trademark battle that nearly sank his brand. He discusses how maintaining momentum during the lawsuit fueled Represent's growth, revealing the importance of product discipline and community engagement. George emphasizes his personal brand flywheel, the power of authenticity, and the success of strategies like pop-up shops to build loyalty. He also touches on the challenges of footwear design and the financial strategy behind selling a stake in the company.
