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A Founder's Life

Leo Gestetner

Join me as I explore the powerful intersection of entrepreneurship, health & wellness, and parenthood. In each episode, I’ll be interviewing inspiring individuals who excel in one or more of these areas, sharing their stories, insights, and lessons. My goal is to provide valuable takeaways that can help you thrive both personally and professionally.

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  • 24 episodes
  • weekly
  • Avg 19 min
  • English

Episodes 24

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  • S6 · E8
    April 15 · 25 min

    Why I Don’t Want an Easy Life - Richard Crane - S6 - E8

    This episode of A Founder’s Life is brought to you by Thankz, helping founders scale with reliable remote talent. Get $1,000 off your first month by emailing founders@thankz.com with the subject line Founder’s Life. 🌐 Follow A Founder’s Life • YouTube: @AFoundersLife • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a-founder-s-life-podcast/ • Instagram: @afounderslife • Spotify & Apple Podcast: https://linktr.ee/afounderslife 👤 Connect with Today’s Guest – Richard Crane LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardcrane/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/richcrane YouTube (Inventing Fire with AI) https://www.youtube.com/@InventingFirewithAI Blog (Inventing Fire with AI) https://inventingfirewith.ai/ Business Website (MILL5) https://mill5.com/ Artificial intelligence isn’t replacing entrepreneurs—it’s empowering the founders who are willing to adapt faster than everyone else. In this episode of A Founder’s Life, Leo Gestetner sits down with Richard Crane, Founder, CTO, and CIO of Mil5, to discuss entrepreneurship, artificial intelligence, and the mindset required to build a global technology company in one of the fastest-changing industries in the world. Richard shares his journey from electrical and computer engineering to Microsoft, where he spent a decade helping enterprise customers solve their toughest technical challenges before co-founding Mil5. What started with two people in a room has grown into a global software development and AI consulting company with more than 350 employees across seven countries. But this conversation goes far beyond technology. Richard explains why entrepreneurs must embrace discomfort, why AI is becoming an essential skill for every professional, and how continuously investing in yourself is the only way to remain relevant in a rapidly evolving world. Throughout the conversation, we explore entrepreneurship, business leadership, resilience, health, family, artificial intelligence, and the habits that help founders continue growing long after their companies become successful. Whether you’re building a startup, leading a technology company, or simply trying to stay ahead in the age of AI, Richard shares practical lessons every entrepreneur can apply. In this episode you’ll learn: • Why AI is becoming a non-negotiable skill for every entrepreneur • How continuous learning creates long-term competitive advantages • Why embracing discomfort leads to greater success • The importance of investing in yourself before investing in your business • How health and fitness improve entrepreneurial performance • Why keeping your circle small helps maintain focus • How global technology companies scale successfully • Why entrepreneurs should welcome change instead of resisting it • How resilience shapes both leadership and personal growth Richard also shares the childhood experiences that fueled his relentless work ethic, why he believes comfort is the enemy of progress, and how staying curious has helped him build multiple successful technology ventures throughout his career. If you enjoy conversations about entrepreneurship, artificial intelligence, founder mindset, business leadership, startup journeys, technology, innovation, and personal development, you’ll enjoy this episode. LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/leogestetner Website leogestetner.com/leo Subscribe Now! youtube.com/@afounderslife?sub_confirmation=1

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  • S6 · E7
    April 8 · 14 min

    Why Entrepreneurs Must Accept Uncertainty - Bart Davis - S6 -E7

    This episode of A Founder’s Life is brought to you by Thankz, helping founders scale with reliable remote talent. Get $1,000 off your first month by emailing founders@thankz.com with the subject line Founder’s Life. 🌐 Follow A Founder’s Life • YouTube: @AFoundersLife • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a-founder-s-life-podcast/ • Instagram: @afounderslife • Spotify & Apple Podcast: https://linktr.ee/afounderslife 👤 Connect with Today’s Guest – Bart Davis Website: https://512financial.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bartdavis512/ Building a successful business isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about making confident decisions with incomplete information and staying focused on what matters most. In this episode of A Founder’s Life, Leo Gestetner sits down with Bart Davis, Co-Founder and CEO of 512 Financial, to discuss his unexpected journey from public accounting to entrepreneurship and how helping founders gain financial clarity has become his life’s work. Bart shares how a career that began at PwC auditing oil and gas companies evolved into leading finance and accounting operations for software companies before launching 512 Financial, a fractional finance firm that helps startups and growing businesses build the financial foundation needed to scale successfully. But this conversation goes beyond accounting. Bart opens up about balancing entrepreneurship with raising two young daughters, why protecting family time has become one of his highest priorities, and how rediscovering fitness has made him a more productive entrepreneur and leader. Throughout the conversation, we explore entrepreneurship, business leadership, family, health, financial strategy, resilience, and the realities of building a company while navigating uncertainty. Whether you’re starting your first business or growing an established company, Bart shares practical lessons every entrepreneur can apply. In this episode you’ll learn: • Why financial clarity helps businesses grow faster • How fractional finance teams support scaling companies • Why entrepreneurs must make decisions without perfect information • The importance of protecting family time as a founder • How fitness improves focus, energy, and leadership • Why uncertainty is part of every entrepreneurial journey • How trusting your team creates stronger organizations • Why flexibility matters when building a growing business • How long-term consistency creates sustainable success Bart also shares how becoming a father reshaped his priorities, why the COVID years strengthened his appreciation for family, and how embracing uncertainty has helped him build a thriving business serving startups across the country. If you enjoy conversations about entrepreneurship, founder mindset, business leadership, financial planning, startup growth, business strategy, resilience, and personal development, you’ll enjoy this episode. LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/leogestetner Website leogestetner.com/leo Subscribe Now! youtube.com/@afounderslife?sub_confirmation=1

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  • S6 · E6
    April 1 · 25 min

    The Real Story Behind Building a $5M Business - Dave Grebetz - S6 - E6

    This episode of A Founder’s Life is brought to you by Thankz, helping founders scale with reliable remote talent. Get $1,000 off your first month by emailing founders@thankz.com with the subject line Founder’s Life. 🌐 Follow A Founder’s Life • YouTube: @AFoundersLife • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a-founder-s-life-podcast/ • Instagram: @afounderslife • Spotify & Apple Podcast: https://linktr.ee/afounderslife 👤 Connect with Today’s Guest – Dave Grebetz LinkedIn: Dave Grebez Building a successful business isn’t about avoiding setbacks—it’s about having the resilience to keep moving forward when everyone else tells you to quit. In this episode of A Founder’s Life, Leo Gestetner sits down with Dave Grebetz, Founder of ClearCom, to discuss his entrepreneurial journey from working in manufacturing and cable television to building and successfully exiting a multi-million-dollar security and technology integration company. Dave shares how he recognized emerging technologies long before they became mainstream, from cable television and fiber optics to digital surveillance systems. Starting as one person in a van, he grew ClearCom into a business generating more than $5 million in annual revenue before successfully selling the company after nearly two decades of building with the end in mind. But this conversation goes far beyond entrepreneurship. Dave opens up about losing his first wife to cancer, how that experience reshaped his perspective on health and life, and why perseverance became the defining characteristic of both his personal and professional journey. Throughout the conversation, we explore entrepreneurship, business leadership, resilience, health, family, long-term planning, and the mindset required to overcome life’s biggest challenges. Whether you’re launching your first business or preparing for an eventual exit, Dave shares practical lessons every entrepreneur can apply. In this episode you’ll learn: • Why every entrepreneur should begin with the end in mind • How perseverance separates successful founders from everyone else • Why recognizing emerging technologies creates business opportunities • The importance of building recurring revenue into your business • How health and fitness improve long-term leadership • Why planning your exit should start years before you sell • How resilience helps entrepreneurs overcome major setbacks • Why surrounding yourself with trusted advisors accelerates growth • How staying true to your purpose creates lasting success Dave also shares how personal tragedy transformed his outlook on life, why investing in his health became one of his greatest priorities, and how decades of preparation ultimately led to a successful business exit and a fulfilling new chapter focused on family, travel, and giving back. If you enjoy conversations about entrepreneurship, founder mindset, business leadership, business exits, resilience, startup journeys, personal development, and building meaningful businesses, you’ll enjoy this episode. LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/leogestetner Website leogestetner.com/leo Subscribe Now! youtube.com/@afounderslife?sub_confirmation=1

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  • S6 · E5
    March 25 · 19 min

    The Real Secret Behind Entrepreneurial Success - Brad Swineheart - S6 - E5

    This episode of A Founder’s Life is brought to you by Thankz, helping founders scale with reliable remote talent. Get $1,000 off your first month by emailing founders@thankz.com with the subject line Founder’s Life. 🌐 Follow A Founder’s Life • YouTube: @AFoundersLife • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a-founder-s-life-podcast/ • Instagram: @afounderslife • Spotify & Apple Podcast: https://linktr.ee/afounderslife Connect with today's guest: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradswineheart/ Oxford Advisory Group: https://oxfordadvisorygroup.com/ Entrepreneurial success isn’t about avoiding failure—it’s about developing the mindset to keep moving forward no matter what life throws your way. In this episode of A Founder’s Life, Leo Gestetner sits down with Brad Swineheart, Chief Growth Officer at Oxford Advisory Group, to discuss the lessons he’s learned throughout a career in sales, marketing, financial services, and leadership. Brad shares how he went from working construction and retail sales to helping thousands of families better understand retirement planning and financial education. Along the way, he discovered that the greatest opportunities often come from simplifying complex ideas and building trust through education. But this conversation goes far beyond business. Brad opens up about losing everything in a devastating Florida hurricane, how that experience reshaped his perspective on family and success, and why resilience is one of the most valuable traits every entrepreneur can develop. Throughout the conversation, we explore entrepreneurship, business leadership, resilience, health, family, personal growth, and the mindset required to overcome life’s biggest challenges. Whether you’re launching your first startup or growing an established business, Brad shares practical lessons every entrepreneur can apply. In this episode you’ll learn: • Why entrepreneurial success begins with the right mindset • How resilience helps founders overcome life’s biggest setbacks • Why family should always be your strongest support system • The importance of simplifying complex ideas for your customers • How health and fitness improve entrepreneurial performance • Why marketing is the foundation of every successful business • How taking time to recharge makes you a better leader • Why determination matters more than talent alone • How confidence and consistency create long-term success Brad also shares how rebuilding his life after losing everything in a hurricane strengthened his family, why his wife has been one of the biggest influences on his success, and how entrepreneurs can stay focused when facing uncertainty and adversity. If you enjoy conversations about entrepreneurship, founder mindset, business leadership, resilience, marketing, personal development, and building meaningful businesses, you’ll enjoy this episode. LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/leogestetner Website leogestetner.com/leo Subscribe Now! youtube.com/@afounderslife?sub_confirmation=1

    • Transcript
Showing 21–24 of 24 episodes