What if the smartest business move you ever make… is not to scale?
In this episode of How To Ride A Roller Coaster, host David Ezell sits down with Matt Creighton, Founding Principal of Publitics, a communications and political strategy firm that helps leaders, organizations, and public figures navigate high-stakes challenges, shape public opinion, and build trust in an age of polarization.
Matt shares his unconventional path—from a laid-off history teacher to launching his own political consulting firm during the 2008 recession—and how choosing to stay small became his biggest competitive advantage.
Together, David and Matt unpack the tension between growth and purpose, what it really means to be nimble in business, and how founders can build lasting success without losing their freedom or values.
They dig into:
The real story behind founding Publitics and breaking into political consulting
Why staying small and agile beats scaling for scale’s sake
How taking investor money can change your mission overnight
The “SWAT team” approach to problem-solving in high-pressure industries
How to craft messages that resonate across fragmented media platforms
Why attention is the new currency—and how to earn it authentically
What entrepreneurs can learn from political campaigns about narrative, focus, and resilience
This episode is a masterclass in intentional growth, narrative strategy, and the power of staying true to your mission—even when everyone else is telling you to go bigger, faster, and louder.
If you’ve ever wondered whether more is really better, this conversation will give you the clarity to redefine success on your own terms.
Show links:
Matthew on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mkrayton/
Publitics: https://www.publitics.com/
M2Aspire: https://www.m2aspire.com/
Substack: https://m2aspire.substack.com/
What if the key to higher performance wasn’t working harder — but understanding your brain?
In this episode of How To Ride A Roller Coaster, host David Ezell talks with Dr. Eugene Choi, a neuroscience-based executive coach and former LA County health system leader who managed operations for six major hospitals and over 250 clinics. After witnessing burnout and pressure derail even the most talented teams, Eugene set out to uncover why — and discovered how our brains can be retrained to operate in peak performance mode.
Together, David and Eugene explore:
🧠 The neuroscience behind leadership burnout (and how to fix it)
⚡ How to trigger “flow state” on demand — even under pressure
👥 How high-performing teams can unlock clarity, creativity, and engagement
🔄 Practical brain-based tools entrepreneurs can use to perform better without burning out
If you’ve ever hit a wall in your business, this conversation will help you understand what’s happening under the hood — and how to rewire it.
Website → https://eugenekchoi.com/LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/eugenekchoi/
Connect with David:
Website → https://realdavidezell.com
Listen to past episodes, discover upcoming guests, and get resources for founders and creators navigating the highs and lows of entrepreneurship.
Leading Under Pressure with Fighter Pilot Precision — Christian “Boo” Boucousis, CEO of Afterburner
In this episode of How To Ride A Roller Coaster, David Ezell is joined by Christian “Boo” Boucousis, CEO of Afterburner and author of the Amazon best-seller The Afterburner Advantage. Boo and his team have spent 30 years bringing the mindset and precision of fighter pilots into business — helping over 3,500 organizations and 2 million leaders execute with clarity, speed, and confidence under pressure.
From the cockpit to the boardroom, Boo shares how leaders can turn overwhelm into focused execution, build alignment in high-speed environments, and create consistent performance without burnout through his Flawless Leadership framework.
In this conversation, you’ll learn:
• How to apply the fighter pilot model — Plan, Brief, Execute, Debrief — to your business and life
• Why high-performing leaders rely on iteration over instinct
• The difference between motivation and mission clarity
• How to lead with intention and adaptability in fast-changing environments
Whether you’re leading a team, growing a company, or simply trying to perform better under pressure, Boo’s frameworks will give you the tools to thrive in complexity and move with purpose.
Learn more about Boo:
In this episode, David Ezell sits down with Jake Isham, filmmaker-turned-brand strategist and creative director behind Creative MIND Studios, who’s helped founders and entrepreneurs turn their stories into empires.
With over 1 billion views across the content he’s created for names like Grant Cardone, Callaway, 5.11 Tactical, and Travis Mathew, Jake has mastered the art of blending storytelling with strategy. He shares how to build authority online, what most people get wrong about content, and how to create digital shows that make you unforgettable.
Whether you’re an entrepreneur building your personal brand or a leader trying to connect through storytelling, this conversation will reshape how you think about content, trust, and visibility in 2025.
We talk about:
How to turn your story into authority
What it takes to stand out online in 2025
Behind the scenes of creating content for billion-view brands
Why every founder should think like a filmmaker
Follow Jake on LinkedIn
Follow Creative MIND
👉 Go to www.realdavidezell.com → for speaking, podcast links, Clutch City.
In this episode of How To Ride A Roller Coaster, David Ezell sits down with Doug C. Smith of ceosalesstrategies.com, a globally recognized Sales Revenue and Profit Growth Expert. Doug has helped companies like Intuit, CBS, and Procter & Gamble generate nearly a billion dollars in revenue through his proven Double Your Sales Methodology.
David and Doug dive into the heart of sales — relationships. They explore why putting the customer first is the key to long-term success, how to sell with integrity even before your product or service is fully built, and why trust and connection always outperform slick tactics.
Doug also shares insights from his time leading sales training with Tony Robbins and Chet Holmes, building over 35 businesses, and creating Vibitno, a powerful sales automation platform designed to help sellers capture lost opportunities and double their sales.
If you’re an entrepreneur, business owner, or independent seller who wants to grow revenue while building lasting relationships with your customers, this episode is packed with strategies you can put into action right away.
Mindset vs Metrics — How Anders Hansen Turned Inner Game Into $12M in Revenue
Join me for a powerful conversation with Anders Hansen, founder of Real Magic LLC, who has built a business generating over $12 million in revenue in just 7 years, including multiple $1 million+ months. But what really sets Anders apart isn’t just the numbers—it’s how he thinks.
In this episode, we dig into:
Mindset over Method — Why your inner beliefs and self-image often determine what’s possible in your business more than marketing, systems, or strategy.
The Proctor Legacy — How working with the legendary Bob Proctor shaped Anders’ approach to transformation, leadership, and scaling.
Turning Points & Breakthroughs — The pivotal mindset shifts that allowed Anders to leap past “ceiling thinking” and plateauing, and how you can apply them too.
Practical Tools for Mental Mastery — Actionable habits, rituals, and frameworks that Anders uses to stay grounded, ambitious, and focused—even under pressure.
From Mindset to Million-Dollar Months — The bridge between mindset work and measurable revenue growth—and why many entrepreneurs get stuck trying to scale without first upgrading how they think.
Whether you’re a founder, business leader, or entrepreneur hungry for growth (financial, personal, or both), this episode will challenge you to examine the beliefs that are helping—and holding you back. Anders shows that the difference between where you are and where you want to be may not be a better plan, but a bolder mindset.
Follow Anders here: https://www.andershansen.com/en/
Anders on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/theandershansen
In this episode of How To Ride A Roller Coaster, David sits down with Michael Jacobson, CEO of French Florist, to dive into his incredible journey from buying the company from his uncle to transforming it into one of the most recognized names in the floral industry.
Michael shares how he jumpstarted growth by tackling the “low-hanging fruit” first—stopping the bleeding, fixing operational inefficiencies, and implementing policies that set the foundation for long-term success. He also reveals how French Florist stands out in a crowded market by obsessing over the customer experience and embracing a European-inspired approach to flowers: they shouldn’t be reserved for special occasions—they’re for everyday moments.
Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a creative, or someone passionate about building standout brands, this episode is packed with insights on leadership, scaling, and redefining industry norms.
In this episode, I'm joined by Adrienne Wilkerson—co-founder and CEO of Beacon Media + Marketing—to unpack how she transformed a humble graphic design startup into an award-winning, Inc. 5000-recognized digital marketing agency. From realizing early on that she’d make a better boss than an employee to pioneering digital marketing services in Alaska and beyond, Adrienne shares the mindset, grit, and strategic pivots that shaped Beacon’s journey. Beacon Media + MarketingDigital Web Solutions
We dive deep into:
Finding and owning your niche: Why Adrienne focused on serving healthcare professionals and how that clarity has driven Beacon’s success Beacon Media + Marketing.
Building a purpose-driven brand: How staying “people-first” grounded Beacon’s culture and fueled its growth—from flexible work practices to “whole person” support systems that have redefined workplace culture in a meaningful way Digital Web Solutions.
Embracing adaptability: How being early adopters of social media and digital marketing shaped the agency—and why the willingness to pivot remains Beacon’s superpower Digital Web Solutions.
Turning AI into an ally: Adrienne’s framework for leveraging AI as a “copilot”—enhancing, not replacing, human creativity and strategy Digital Web Solutions.
If you're an entrepreneur, marketer, or brand-builder navigating growth, leadership, or the evolving digital landscape, this episode is packed with real talk, actionable insights, and a side of inspiration.
In this episode of How To Ride A Roller Coaster, David sits down with Christina Richardson, founder of Foundology, a membership community built to support founders on the rollercoaster journey of entrepreneurship.
Together, they dive into the very real and often overlooked topic of founder burnout—how to recognize the early warning signs, what practical steps to take before it derails you, and how stress shows up differently for different people. Christina shares insights from her own experience and from the work she's doing at Foundology, where community and accountability are at the core of the solution.
If you’re building something and feeling the weight of it all, this conversation is for you.
Links:
In this episode of How to Ride a Roller Coaster, David sits down with Bo Burlingham — acclaimed author of Small Giants and founder of the Small Giants Community. Bo shares the inspiration behind his now-classic book and the updates made in its latest edition, reflecting how the world of entrepreneurship has evolved over the years.
Together, they dive deep into the heart of what separates good companies from truly great ones — not by size, but by soul. Bo opens up about the tough questions only founders can answer: How do you balance growth with values? What does it mean to protect your culture as you scale? And how do you stay grounded when the future is uncertain?
Whether you're running a growing startup or dreaming about building something meaningful, this episode offers timeless insights on leadership, purpose, and what it really means to choose the road less taken.
Links:
• Bo Burlingham: boburlingham.com
• Small Giants Community: smallgiants.org
• "Another Way" book:https://tinyurl.com/3d8s9axk
To learn more about Clutch City on social:
@clutchcityhq
In this episode, David chats with Rithesh Menon — founder of InCall IQ, a fast-growing AI company that’s transforming how businesses understand their customer conversations.
Rithesh shares the unexpected way he launched InCall IQ, inspired by ideas from Cody Sanchez and a deep curiosity about why so many potential customers drop off during calls. Together, we dig into how his platform helps companies go beyond surface-level analytics to answer questions like:
• Why didn’t this lead convert?
• Was it a pricing objection? A product mismatch? Lack of insurance coverage?
With InCall IQ, Rithesh is helping teams take the guesswork out of call outcomes using conversational intelligence — and he's doing it without a traditional tech founder background.
This episode is a must-listen for aspiring founders, operators, and anyone looking to turn insight into action.
Show links:
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In this episode, David sits down with Elina Panteleyeva, founder of Dood Woof, to talk about how she built a passionate following in the doodle dog community—before ever launching a product. Elina shares how she tapped into niche groups, truly listened to the needs of her audience, and used those insights to shape both her brand and her business. They also dive into the importance of building in community, surrounding yourself with fellow entrepreneurs, and why creating demand before supply can change everything.
Show links:
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In this episode, I’m joined by Borja Cuan, co-founder of Four15Digital, for a deep dive into the paid marketing strategies that actually move the needle. Trained in world-class hospitality at The Ritz Hotel, Borja brings a unique perspective on customer experience and attention to detail — and how those “small things” can create outsized marketing results.
We break down:• What it really takes to scale from $0 to $1M in revenue• The different marketing levers that unlock growth from $1M to $10M• How to stand out in a sea of sameness with thoughtful, well-executed marketing• Why performance marketing without brand strategy leaves money on the table
Whether you’re early in your growth journey or optimizing for your next big leap, this episode is packed with clear takeaways from someone who’s been in the trenches.
Show links:
Book reco: Mindset by Carol Dweck
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#Entrepreneurship #BusinessTips #StartupLife #EntrepreneurLife #SmallBusiness #BusinessStrategy #EntrepreneurMindset #StartupTips #BusinessOwner #SuccessMindset
In this episode, I sit down with Jeff Hancher for a powerful conversation on all things leadership—what it means, where entrepreneurs often go wrong, and how to build a team that actually thrives. We dig into the difference between constant hiring and real empowerment, and Jeff shares the story of the best leader he ever worked for. From his book to his consulting work, Jeff makes one thing clear: great leadership isn’t optional—it’s everything.
Show links:
Book reco for aspiring leaders
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In this episode, David sits down with Zach Tsakiris, founder and CEO of Fastwill.com, to explore why so many people put off creating a will or trust—and how Fastwill is changing that. Zach shares his entrepreneurial journey, from his early days as a business-minded kid to launching a tech-driven solution that simplifies estate planning for the everyday person. If you've ever felt overwhelmed by legal paperwork or unsure where to start, this conversation breaks down the barriers and reveals how Fastwill is making legacy planning accessible, intuitive, and affordable.
Show links:
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#Entrepreneurship #BusinessTips #StartupLife #EntrepreneurLife #SmallBusiness #BusinessStrategy #EntrepreneurMindset #StartupTips #BusinessOwner #SuccessMindset
In this episode of How to Ride a Roller Coaster, David is joined by personal branding expert Katrena Friel. Katrena shares her unique blueprint for helping individuals define and amplify their personal brand—and become known as the expert in their space. They dive into the real struggles that come with building a personal brand from scratch, when you should start the process, and how to create a brand that not only stands out but scales with you as you grow. Whether you're just starting out or looking to reposition yourself, this conversation will give you the clarity and confidence to build a brand that lasts.
Show links:
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#Entrepreneurship #BusinessTips #StartupLife #EntrepreneurLife #SmallBusiness #BusinessStrategy #EntrepreneurMindset #StartupTips #BusinessOwner #SuccessMindset
In this episode of How to Ride a Roller Coaster, David Ezell sits down with David Price, founder of The Price Group. Since stepping into the insurance world in 2018, David has scaled his network to over 100,000 agents and leaders—proving that brand authenticity and relentless execution win every time.
David shares the habits that helped him grow fast, the mindset behind doing hard things, and why obsessing over the right data point can change everything. "If you want to be successful," he says, "get used to doing the hard thing that you may not want to do."
Whether you're an entrepreneur, team builder, or just looking for a push to take action—this episode delivers.
Show links:
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#Entrepreneurship #BusinessTips #StartupLife #EntrepreneurLife #SmallBusiness #BusinessStrategy #EntrepreneurMindset #StartupTips #BusinessOwner #SuccessMindset
In this episode of How To Ride A Roller Coaster, David chats with Alessandro Grampa, founder of Wholegrain Wisdom, about the intersection of entrepreneurship and holistic wellness.
Alessandro shares his personal journey through depression and how it led him to develop wellness remedies specifically for entrepreneurs. He dives into the power of breathwork, habit formation, and other holistic tactics that can improve both mental health and business performance. If you're looking for a fresh perspective on balancing success with well-being, this episode is for you!
Show notes:
Books mentioned:
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#Entrepreneurship #BusinessTips #StartupLife #EntrepreneurLife #SmallBusiness #BusinessStrategy #EntrepreneurMindset #StartupTips #BusinessOwner #SuccessMindset
In this episode, David sits down with Mike Glick, co-founder of Goode Health, to talk about the journey of building a standout brand in a competitive market. Mike shares insights from the early days of Goode Health, key strategies that helped propel the company forward, and practical tactics for success. Plus, if you’re in Columbus, Ohio, don’t miss Mike’s top must-try restaurant recommendation!
Show links:
Goode Health: https://www.goodehealth.com/
Follow Mike: https://www.linkedin.com/in/glick/
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#Entrepreneurship #StartupSuccess #GoodeHealth#BusinessTips #StartupLife #EntrepreneurLife #SmallBusiness #BusinessStrategy #EntrepreneurMindset #StartupTips #BusinessOwner #SuccessMindset
In this episode of How to Ride a Roller Coaster, David chats with Janine Perry, Director of Brand for Talkiatry, about the power of borrowing an established audience to grow your own. Janine shares expert insights on building a brand with consistency and authenticity—two key ingredients for long-term success. Whether you're an entrepreneur, creator, or business owner, this episode is packed with actionable branding strategies you won’t want to miss!
Show links:
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#Entrepreneurship #BusinessTips #StartupLife #EntrepreneurLife #SmallBusiness #BusinessStrategy #EntrepreneurMindset #StartupTips #BusinessOwner #SuccessMindset #brand #branding