INspired INsider Podcast

Bram Bourgeois and Jennifer Lukas-Bourgeois are the Co-founders of Lekkco, a brand of all-natural chocolate spread created from a 50-year-old Belgian recipe. Lekkco's dark chocolate spread is nut-free, gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, and non-GMO. It's also low in sugar and calories, making it a guilt-free treat that everyone can indulge in without worry. Bram and Jennifer found inspiration for Lekkco during their family trips to Belgium and created their company in 2017. Since then, they have built brand awareness, expanded their market reach, and developed a product line available at several large retailers in 42 major cities throughout the United States. In this episode… Have you ever wished you could have chocolate with every meal and not feel the slightest bit of guilt? Well, that day has arrived. You can now enjoy your favorite dark chocolate flavor as a spread. And this healthy indulgence is vegan, low in sugar, and has no nuts, gluten, or dairy. Thanks to Bram Bourgeois and Jennifer Lukas-Bourgeois, who found a way to bring a Belgian tradition to the United States. Since they launched Lekkco back in 2017, when they sold their first order to a family-run deli in Skokie, Illinois, Bram and Jennifer have managed to expand their market reach dramatically. Their products are now available at large retailers in 42 major cities throughout the United States. However, they've made some missteps along the way and are here to share what they've learned. In this episode of Inspired Insider, Dr. Jeremy Weisz is joined by Bram Bourgeois and Jennifer Lukas-Bourgeois, the Co-founders of Lekkco, a Belgian-style chocolate spread brand. Together, they explain what inspired them to create their dark chocolate spread, how they expanded their product line, and what they learned from Red Bull's marketing campaign. Plus, they offer some helpful tips for developing a brand story when you're first starting out.

Owen McGab Enaohwo is the CEO and Co-founder of SweetProcess, a company offering cloud-based software solutions for documenting processes, assigning tasks, and organizing workflows. Owen started SweetProcess back in 2013, and it has grown from there. Now, not only do universities, banks, hospitals, and software companies all use SweetProcess, but first responder government agencies use it in life or death situations to run their operations. Before starting SweetProcess, Owen spent seven years as the CEO of H.Y.V.A., a company providing other businesses with virtual assistants. In addition to his computer science background and his many years of experience in the internet industry, Owen is also skilled in negotiation, business planning, operations management, and business development. In this episode… Processes are the lifeblood of every business, but many companies struggle to document them properly. As a result, when employees leave, it creates a costly bottleneck for businesses. Owen McGab Enaohwo saw that problem and decided to make a software solution called SweetProcess. What journey led to Owen co-founding SweetProcess? How does a SaaS product continue to satisfy the needs of its customers through continued innovation? What can businesses do to increase efficiency with their existing employees and rapidly onboard new hires? In this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz sits down with Owen McGab Enaohwo, CEO and Co-founder of SweetProcess, to discuss how software can dramatically improve the way a business runs. Owen shares the journey that led to his company's creation, why he looks to his customers for inspiration, and how SweetProcess manages to make integration easy and affordable. Stay tuned!

Pete Williams is a marketer, entrepreneur, advisor, and author who has several companies across different industries. Some of his current business ventures include Preneur Group, Simply Headsets, earHero, Infiniti Telecommunications, and SpringCom Telecommunications. At age 21, Pete made a name for himself when he found a business opportunity in selling off pieces of the Melbourne Cricket Ground (Australia's version of Yankee Stadium) after a remodel. Since then, he has continued to receive recognition. Forbes has described him as the "entrepreneur today that every marketer should be modeling," and Inc. called him a "savvy marketing strategist." Pete was a Southern Region Finalist in the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Program and has won numerous awards in business. In addition to his entrepreneurial work, Pete is a Professor of Practice at his alma mater, Deakin University, where he received his Bachelor of Commerce in Marketing Management and Commercial Law. He is the author of several books, and his latest book, Cadence: A Tale of Fast Business Growth, uses a story-based approach to examine Pete's seven levers of business framework. In this episode… Your business can grow fast. And no, it doesn't require some super high-level thinking to do so. You just need to focus 10 percent more energy on seven key areas of your company. Today's guest, Pete Williams, calls this approach the seven levers of business framework, and he uses it to double profits. What do these levers represent, and how can you execute Pete's strategy to scale your business and increase your earnings? Learn more about the levers of fast business growth on this episode of Dr. Jeremy Weisz's Inspired Insider Podcast featuring Pete Williams, a serial entrepreneur and author. They talk about the hard lessons of Pete's entrepreneurial journey, how he came up with the seven levers framework, what each lever represents, and how he implements them within his businesses.

Nicole Martin is the Founder of HR Boost, LLC., a shared services consulting firm based in Chicago's north suburbs. She is a best-selling author who's been featured in Forbes and Fast Company magazine. She's become the 'go-to' source for companies looking for a full turnkey HR department at a fraction of the cost it would take them to do it on their own. Nicole's redefined what 'outsourced HR' means. In recognition of her professional excellence and community involvement, Nicole has been honored by multiple organizations. She was named a "2016 Enterprising Women of the Year Champion" by Enterprising Women Magazine and was afforded the "Influential Women in Business Award 2014" by The Daily Herald Business Ledger. In this episode… We're in the midst of a talent emergency, and if you aren't aware of the problem, you're already behind the curve. Outsourcing your HR might sound scary, but it can bring your business up to speed, help energize your workplace culture, and solve real problems for your company now and down the road. If you think HR is just about hiring, you might be surprised at how much more it actually entails. Learn more about demystifying HR on this Inspired Insider Podcast episode with Dr. Jeremy Weisz and his guest, Nicole Martin of HRBoost. They talk about the evolving needs of HR, how outsourcing HR can help your business, and the process involved in hiring an in-house HR manager. Plus, Nicole offers some tips for inspiring teamwork in your company culture through unconventional incentives.

Dave Will is CEO and Co-founder of PropFuel, a software platform that helps associations with valuable content, products, and services to offer but are struggling to connect the solutions with the right individuals at scale. They make it easy for associations to capture, analyze, and take action on member feedback to drive revenue and deeper member engagement. Dave is also the host of the EO 360° Podcast, a podcast by the Entrepreneurs' Organization that explores entrepreneurship. Dave started, scaled, and sold Peach New Media, a learning platform software company. Peach New Media was launched in 2001 and sold in 2015. The company at the time was at 40 employees when he received an offer from a private equity group. In this episode… Have you ever wondered what the end of your entrepreneurial journey will look like? Do you imagine it'd be a massive amount of money in the bank, a beach house, and with virtually nothing left to worry about? As an entrepreneur, it's already a given that you will have an end game. Whether that endgame is to sell your company, start a new venture, or to never work again in your life, how things will turn out will always come a little different from what you're expecting. Dave Will, the Co-founder and CEO of PropFuel, has had a taste of what the endgame of an entrepreneur is like. He shares that while it can be gratifying, it also brings with it a lot of lessons, realizations, and new perspectives. But more importantly, the endgame of one enterprise could be the building block for an even better exit on your next business venture. tells the story of when he sold his first company, Peach New Media, and the transition struggle, what he wishes he did differently in his new venture, and more. Share in Dave Will's entrepreneurial journey on this Inspired Insider podcast episode with Dr. Jeremy Weisz. Tune in as Dave talks about selling his company, Peach New Media and the transition struggles and challenges that came with it, and how he came up with new ideas and eventually started his current company, PropFuel. He also discusses some of his core values, why he is so passionate with what he is currently doing with PropFuel, the importance of enjoying the entrepreneurial journey, and he also shares how his ten-year-old son is building his own business.

Dr. Jeremy Weisz is the Co-founder of Rise25 Media, a company that helps B2B business owners connect with their ideal prospects, referral partners, and strategic partners through a done-for-you podcast service. Dr. Weisz has been involved in podcasting for 11 years and was a senior producer for early business podcasts. He helped put all of their systems in place and helped them add volume, feature, and edify various business leaders. Dr. Weisz has also been running his podcast, Inspired Insider, since 2011. He has featured top entrepreneurs, founders, and CEOs of companies such as P90X, Atari, Einstein Bagels, Mattel, the Orlando Magic, and many more through video interviews on Inspired Insider. He also continues to run his chiropractic and massage facility in downtown Chicago and is the founder of a nutritional supplement business. In this episode… Despite all the challenges, 2020 was an insightful year. Dr. Jeremy Weisz was able to have incredible conversations with amazing guests during the past year where they touched on a plethora of topics from thought leadership and strategic partnerships, challenges and triumphs, to remarkable stories and incredible innovations. In this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz looks back on some of the most compelling and unforgettable conversations he had in 2020. Chatting with his friend and Rise25 co-founder, John Corcoran, Dr. Weisz talks about some of the fantastic guests he's had on the podcast, the various and exclusive series he ran, the privileges and benefits of having a podcast, and more. Stay tuned.

Holly Lyman is the Founder of Wild Tonic, a brand of Good Omen Bottling. She is an encaustic artist from Alaska who has mastered the ancient art of Jun kombucha, among other ferments, and grows many of the ingredients on her ranch in Sedona, Arizona. Wild Tonic is available in a variety of flavors which include Blueberry Basil, Mango Ginger, Blackberry Mint, and many more. Their products are available all over the country in Whole Foods, Wegmans, and many more retail locations. In this episode… When encaustic painter, Holly Lyman, discovered Sandor Katz's book, The Art of Fermentation: An In-Depth Exploration of Essential Concepts and Processes from Around the World, the entrepreneur in her knew she was on to something amazing. She took an interest in fermentation, allowed the 'mad scientist' in her to come alive, and she embarked on the journey of creating a genuinely delicious Jun kombucha through her brand, Wild Tonic. And since its founding in 2015, Wild Tonic has taken the kombucha market by storm, becoming a much-loved drink by the Los Angeles Dodgers, singer-songwriter Jewel, and by many people in the US. But like every successful journey, there are bending roads. And Holly's entrepreneurial journey isn't any different. On this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast with Dr. Jeremy Weisz, Holly Lyman of Wild Tonic shares how she started her company and how much they have grown since then. She also talks about the health benefits of Jun kombucha, how she came up with her packaging design and flavors, her decision to create an alcoholic version of her drink, and their expansion to Canada and Europe. Stay tuned to catch all the details.

Matt Bressler is a Principal at TDF Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm with offices in Washington DC and Silicon Valley. They focus on startups that serve enterprise markets within infrastructure, software, and services. They invest from a $150M permanent pool of capital which gives them a long-term horizon to work with startups with big ideas. They also believe in technology's power to improve lives and support development initiatives through the TDF Foundation which operates in parallel to their venture activity. Before TDF Ventures, Matt worked with GE Ventures supporting investments and strategy in intelligent environments. He also served as the Director of Investments for the Wharton Social Venture Fund and as an Associate for FOUNDER.org. Matt graduated with a BA in Mechanical Engineering from Yale University and he later earned his MBA with honors from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. In this episode… Early-stage investing is a high-risk, high-reward venture. And early-stage venture capital firms typically invest in companies that are promising and are capable of delivering innovative products that have the potential of disrupting an industry. Venture firms are meticulous in picking a company that has a great team with a valuable idea that has a product-market fit. But at what point do early-stage investors decide to veer from that path and take things to the next level? The next level for venture firms means that they have come up with an idea and what they need to do is to find leaders who can get behind it and turn the idea into a product. Matt Bressler and his team at TDF Ventures not only invest in innovative companies, they're also ready to push the envelope further and find people who are capable of taking things up a notch. Did that, and their Principal was on hand to share what they learned. Even more, he talks about the innovative companies they invested in and why, their big misses, and so much more. On this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz sits down with TDF Ventures' Principal, Matt Bressler, to talk about early-stage investing and how investors can take it to the next level. They'll be discussing what makes the early-stage startup investment an exciting space for investors, what TDF Ventures looks for in a company before deciding to invest, early signs of a business that'll succeed, some stand out companies they've invested in, and more. Stay tuned.

John Corcoran is a recovering attorney, an author, and was a former White House writer and speechwriter to the Governor of California. Throughout his career, John has worked in Hollywood, the heart of Silicon Valley, and ran his own boutique law firm in the San Francisco Bay Area catering to small business owners and entrepreneurs. John is the host of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast since 2012 where he has interviewed hundreds of CEOs, founders, authors, and entrepreneurs, from Peter Diamandis and Adam Grant to Gary Vaynerchuk and Marie Forleo. John is also the co-founder of Rise25 Media, a company that connects B2B businesses with their ideal clients, referral partners, and strategic partners, and generate ROI through their done-for-you podcast service. In this episode… When you think about thought leadership, what comes to mind? Do you picture yourself going on a retreat to your cabin to write tons of articles or a book, and then return to publish and promote it? Well, that could be true if you work in academia. Even then, that's the hard and inefficient way to do it. Fortunately, there's a simpler way to build thought leadership in any field. Think: podcasts. It's one of the surefire ways to build thought leadership, network for new relationships, earn the respect of industry thought leaders as a peer, and promote and grow your brand. Are you interested to find out how to leverage a podcast for thought leadership? Then tune in to this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast as Dr. Jeremy Weisz chats with his Rise25 co-founder, John Corcoran about how podcasts can be a vehicle to create thought leadership. They'll be discussing how a podcast becomes a wheel that churns out thought leadership content, the different ways to use a podcast, and the easy way to use a podcast to become a thought leader, and more.

Peter Shallard is the Founder and CEO of Commit Action, a company that uses real science to help business owners achieve their goals faster, easier, and more often. He spent the last decade doing one-to-one therapy and consulting with some of the world's highest achievers in his other business where he is better known as "The Shrink for Entrepreneurs." For years, he was dissatisfied with pseudoscience and the lies in the entrepreneur's growth world. From pseudoscientific life coaching, hype-driven "secrets" based info-marketing, to false/artificial epiphany and snake-oil personal development, Peter saw how the personal development movement was failing business owners. This led to the founding of Commit Action as a way to help business owners predictably bridge the gap between personal development and business growth through evidence-based methodology. In this episode… It's not uncommon for business owners and entrepreneurs to feel dissatisfied with their performance. Oftentimes, they feel that they fall short of their internal bar and this leaves them feeling frustrated. This then results in a struggle, a struggle that prevents them to become the execution powerhouse that they actually hope to be. Contrary to what most people think, it's not necessarily inner emotional blockages that lead this to happen. According to the "Shrink for Entrepreneurs", Peter Shallard, entrepreneurs fail to satisfy their own standards because they are operating in a vacuum of isolation without a lifeline of accountability and community. So how can they reverse this so that they can optimize their strengths and become the incredible execution powerhouse that they are capable of being? On this episode of the INspired INsider podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz talks with Commit Action Founder and CEO, Peter Shallard, about the colossal problem that entrepreneurs are facing and how he can help them solve it. They'll be discussing why many entrepreneurs are underachieving, the importance of accountability, the value of having a healthy balance between delayed gratification and fun, and how to address the common excuses that people make that hinders productivity. Stay tuned.