The Business RoundUp with Melissa Bill

What does it really mean to grow a successful business, and what if growth wasn't just about bigger revenue, larger audiences, or scaling faster?

In this episode, we're joined by Rachel Stewart, founder of Evolvia Studio and growth strategist, to explore a more intentional approach to building and growing a business.

Rachel shares the story behind founding Evolvia Studio, the gap she set out to address, and why she believes sustainable growth starts with more than just a great strategy. We explore the common challenges that leave entrepreneurs feeling stuck, how to identify what's really...

Michael Ashoori, founder of Ashoori Law, joins us to discuss how he transformed his immigration law practice into a growing brand built on education, trust, and accessibility. We explore the challenges of simplifying complex immigration processes, building an audience in a high-stakes industry, and navigating an ever-changing legal landscape. Michael also shares lessons on entrepreneurship, leadership, and his vision for the future of Ashoori Law.

In this episode, we cover:

Turning a traditional law practice into a recognizable brand

Making complex immigration processes easier for clients to understand

Building trust and...

Michael Ashoori, founder of Ashoori Law, joins us to discuss how he transformed his immigration law practice into a growing brand built on education, trust, and accessibility. We explore the challenges of simplifying complex immigration processes, building an audience in a high-stakes industry, and navigating an ever-changing legal landscape. Michael also shares lessons on entrepreneurship, leadership, and his vision for the future of Ashoori Law.

In this episode, we cover:

Turning a traditional law practice into a recognizable brand

Making complex immigration processes easier for clients to understand

Building trust and...

What happens when a business faces financial distress, and what can a company to before it's too late?

In this episode, we sit down with David Johnson, Managing Partner of Resolution Financial Advisors, who brings more than 25 years of experience advising over 500 companies through complex financial challenges, restructurings, and distressed business situations.

Drawing on his 17 years as a Senior Managing Director at Alvarez & Marsal, David shares his perspective on the warning signs of financial distress, common misconceptions surrounding bankruptcy and restructuring, and the critical decisions that can determine whether a business survives or fails.

What are the threats facing our communities that most people never see coming, and what can we do to prepare?

In this episode, Melissa Bill sits down with Tom Markert, author of the new best-selling book, Death Watch. Tom's career spans law enforcement, security, business, and public service. Drawing on his work with InfraGard, his new book, and his experience as a city commissioner in Delray Beach, Tom shares insights into the vulnerabilities facing our communities and critical infrastructure, and why these issues matter to all of us.

Tom discusses the lessons he's learned throughout...

AI is changing the way businesses operate, but what does that transformation actually look like for small businesses and the lean teams serving them?

In this episode, we sit down with Jeremy Jarry, Chief Marketing Officer at Bookipi, to explore how AI is reshaping marketing, business operations, and the future of entrepreneurship.

Jeremy shares his perspective on which marketing functions AI is already transforming, why customer trust remains critical to adoption, and how emerging AI agents could help small-business owners automate workflows that once required entire teams.

We also dive into the evolving...

In a world of rapid innovation, disruption, and constant transformation, what does it take to lead with purpose, resilience, and authentic human connection?

In this episode, we sit down with Marc Kirshbaum, author of The Eleven Primal Spaces: Awakening Next-Level Leadership by Reconnecting to What Makes Us Human, to explore why the future of leadership may depend on reconnecting with the very qualities that make us human.

Drawing on anthropology, storytelling, and breakthrough leadership theory, Marc introduces his framework of eleven Primal Spaces, fundamental dimensions of the human experience that can help leaders navigate uncertainty...

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Alaa Salem, Founder and CEO of Metabolic Supply Group, to discuss the evolving landscape of the compounding pharmacy industry, the challenges it faces, and what the future holds.

Dr. Salem shares how Metabolic Supply Group is raising the bar for compounding transparency by connecting wellness providers with vetted 503A and 503B compounding pharmacies through greater pricing visibility, compliance-focused processes, and centralized coordination.

We explore some of the industry's most pressing issues, the growing importance of transparency and accountability, and how innovation, regulatory changes, and evolving provider needs...

What does it really take to prepare the next generation for a world of work that’s constantly changing?

In this episode, we sit down with Bill Shaw, Executive Vice President at Britebound, to explore how education can better connect students with meaningful career opportunities and the skills they need to thrive.

Drawing on his experience in higher education, biomedical innovation, and entrepreneurship, Bill shares his perspective on bridging the gap between classrooms and careers, building partnerships that drive real change, and creating environments that encourage innovation and exploration.

We also discuss how sc...

Olympic champion Shannon Miller knows what it takes to face extraordinary challenges. But her battle with cancer revealed a different kind of challenge: the gap between medical treatment and the everyday support patients and their families need to navigate life during and after a diagnosis.

In this conversation, Shannon, Founder and CEO of Salto Health, shares how her cancer journey inspired her to rethink patient support and create a registry model that empowers people to ask for the specific help they need. She discusses the often-overlooked financial and emotional burdens of cancer, why asking for help can...

As AI reshapes the future of work, what if the goal isn’t simply to achieve greater success, but to create more joy?

In this conversation, Kevin Surace, author of The Joy-Success Cycle and a pioneer in voice AI, challenges conventional thinking about automation, productivity, and fulfillment. Drawing on decades of experience building groundbreaking technology and earning nearly 100 patents, he explores why AI should replace joyless work, not human purpose and how curiosity, resilience, and joy can help us navigate a rapidly changing world.

Surace also shares the deeply personal experiences that reshaped his understanding of...

What if the key to a better life isn’t avoiding difficulty, but deliberately choosing the right kind?

Joshua Waldron is an entrepreneur, author, and the mind behind Hard Is Fun—a philosophy built on the idea that the right challenges can make us stronger, more capable, and more fulfilled. At 15, Joshua was told he would never walk again. Years later, he destroyed his wheelchair. That experience helped shape a radically different relationship with difficulty, one that would influence his approach to business, personal growth, and life itself.

In this conversation, Joshua breaks down the conc...

When does everyday stress become something more? And how do you know when it’s time to seek professional help?

In this interview, Dr. Jeffrey Ditzell, founder of Dr. Ditzell Psychiatry, breaks down some of the most common questions and misconceptions surrounding mental health and psychiatric care. From recognizing the signs of anxiety, depression, and ADHD to understanding when medication may be beneficial, he offers practical insights into navigating mental health with greater clarity and confidence.

We also explore the hidden reality of high-functioning mental illness, the impact of lifestyle factors like sleep, exercise, alcohol, an...

Antons Davis spent more than 15 years in technology and product design, including a successful career at NVIDIA, before walking away from the traditional definition of success to become a coach and entrepreneur. In this conversation, Antons shares the pivotal moment with Jensen Huang that changed the trajectory of his life, what coaching taught him that technology couldn’t, and why he believes AI won’t make human connection less important, but more valuable. We explore why he created OSMO, the future of coaching, the role technology should play in deeply human work, and what we risk losing as intelligence becom...

What happens when you lose almost everything and decide to build again?

In this powerful conversation, Amer Ahmad and Chris Anzalone, co-founders of NextLM, share a remarkable story of friendship, failure, redemption, and reinvention.

Amer’s journey has taken him from serving as Comptroller of Chicago and CFO of the Ohio State Treasury to spending a decade in federal prison following a public corruption conviction. But prison ultimately became not the end of his story, but one of the chapters that shaped who he would become.

Today, Amer and Chris are building NextLM, an...

What happens when you leave the traditional corporate path behind to build something that creates opportunity for others?

For Kelly Ann Collins, the answer was to turn her experience in business, marketing, and corporate social responsibility into a mission focused on social impact, and to help more women find their place in one of the world's fastest-evolving industries.

As Executive Director of Unstoppable Future Corporation, Kelly leads SheCrypto, a rapidly growing initiative dedicated to amplifying women in blockchain, cryptocurrency, and Bitcoin. Supported by the Women in Bitcoin + Blockchain Fund, SheCrypto is helping women entrepreneurs, builders...

Polina Morozova is a PR and marketing strategist specializing in Web3, AI, and fintech. A contributor to Crypto India Magazine, Polina also regularly speaks and moderates at leading industry events including TOKEN2049 and Sonic Summit.

In this conversation, Polina shares practical insights on how technology companies can build stronger brands, enter new markets, and communicate effectively in rapidly evolving industries.

We explore:

AI-generated imagery is rapidly changing the economics of e-commerce. Production costs are falling, creative output is scaling, and some of the world’s biggest retailers and marketplaces are rethinking how they produce, manage, and deploy visual content.

In this episode of The Business RoundUp, Matt Rouif, CEO and co-founder of Photoroom, joins us to explore the shift. What began with a frustration around GoPro workflows has grown into a platform used by more than 300 million people, processing over seven billion images annually.

Matt shares what Photoroom’s work with companies including Decathlon, Mercari, DoorDash and the...

Trading cards and collectibles have evolved from a niche hobby into a multibillion-dollar global market. But what’s really driving the economics behind the boom?

In this episode, we sit down with Alladan Flinn, founder of Based Trading Cards, to explore how the collectibles market is changing, from shifting consumer behavior and the rise of younger collectors to the growing conversation around collectibles as an alternative asset class.

We also discuss the economics of trading cards, the lessons behind Based Trading Cards’ successful The Simulation Series 4 sellout, and Alladan’s upcoming book on the economics of the...

What does it really take to build a business that an acquirer wants to buy, and what happens after the deal closes?

In this episode, we sit down with Darius Ross, the Roll Up Kingpen to break down the business exit and M&A process from start to finish. Darius shares what business owners should be doing years before a sale, the factors that make a company attractive to acquirers, and the common mistakes that can reduce deal value or derail a transaction altogether.

We also go beyond the deal itself to explore what happens...

Are consumers really becoming less loyal or are brands simply giving them fewer reasons to stay?

In this episode, we speak with Andrew Harrison-Chinn, CMO of Dragonpass, the world’s leading travel benefits platform, about the changing relationship between consumers and brands.

With more than two decades of experience across banking, loyalty and travel, Andrew explores why customers are becoming more selective about where they spend their money, the impact of subscription fatigue and the growing demand for benefits that feel immediate, relevant and genuinely useful.

We also unpack the crucial difference between cu...

Greg Wise, Co-Founder of Onescreen, took an unconventional path to building a technology company. After starting his career in SaaS and moving into commercial real estate, Wise saw an opportunity at the intersection of technology and the physical world, eventually leading him into out-of-home advertising.

He incorporated Onescreen just as the world shut down in 2020, with his initial customers being bars, restaurants, and gyms, among the hardest hit businesses by the pandemic. Rather than walk away, Wise went door-to-door in Boston, talking directly with business owners and learning firsthand what they needed.

What began as...

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Shan Nair, serial entrepreneur and president of Nucleus, to explore the lessons he’s learned from growing a company from just two people to roughly 700 employees across six countries and working with organizations including Tesla Motors, FaceTime, and Sonus Networks.

Dr. Nair shares practical insights on building effective international teams, creating a strong company culture while embracing cultural differences, and navigating the difficult transition from startup mode to global growth. We also discuss how founders can evolve from being the central decision-maker to empowering others to lead without sacrificing th...

What happens when a career in real estate and insurance reveals a much bigger need in the lives of families navigating divorce and single parenthood?

In this interview, Ronald Platt, CEO and Founder of the National Association for Single and Divorced Families (NASDF), shares the personal and professional journey that led him to create a nonprofit focused on supporting single and divorced families.

Ronald discusses why he founded NASDF, the most common challenges and resources people need during and after divorce, and the organization’s vision for creating a stronger support system for families navigating li...

Alex Arguelles, co-founder and CEO of Sell2Rent, has spent nearly two decades building businesses at the intersection of real estate, finance, and technology. His entrepreneurial journey began in 2007 and ultimately led to a private equity real estate business spanning more than 9,000 apartments and 200 employees. But after years of operating at scale, Arguelles saw an opportunity to tackle a different, and deeply personal problem facing homeowners.

Sell2Rent was built around a simple premise: homeowners sometimes need to unlock the equity in their homes quickly without being forced to leave the place they live. Through its leaseback...

Australia is one of the world’s great resource economies yet imports many of its building supplies. James Sackl, founder of Terraform Technologies and Wallace Biotechnologies, shares insight into how this same economic disconnect is visible in Australia’s housing industry.

In this conversation, James explains why simply reducing construction labor won’t solve housing affordability, how Australia could rethink the way homes are manufactured and assembled, and why a house that takes months to build could potentially be assembled in around eight days.

We explore what happens when you treat housing less like a tradit...

What can flying an AH-1 Cobra and leading Marines teach us about making better decisions, building high-performing teams, and staying steady when everything goes sideways?

In this conversation, Ryan A. Cherry, author of READBACK: A Marine Aviator’s Manual for Navigating Life’s Hardest Lessons, shares the leadership lessons he learned through military aviation, failure, uncertainty, and high-stakes decision-making.

Cherry discusses how leaders can make sound decisions without having all the information, give people autonomy while knowing when to step in, recognize the strengths and weaknesses of their teams, and develop the ability to see situ...

Most workplace dysfunction isn’t caused by a lack of talent, strategy, or ambition, it’s caused by conversations that never happen.

In this episode, we sit down with Kerry Siggins, CEO of Stone Age, Inc. and author of Talk With Trust: How To Own Feedback, Spark Growth, And Build Stronger Teams, to explore how leaders can communicate more effectively, build trust, and create healthier, more productive workplace cultures.

Kerry shares insight into the communication mistakes leaders commonly make, why trust is built through honest and intentional conversations, and how leaders can approach difficult feedback with...

In this episode, we sit down with David Munson, President of Get Real Alliance, to explore a different approach to the climate conversation, one centered on restoring the health and resilience of the land.

David discusses why he believes climate solutions don't necessarily require eliminating oil and natural gas, and how regenerative land management can work alongside traditional energy use to reduce atmospheric carbon and potentially make the Earth carbon negative.

We dive into the critical role of healthy topsoil in addressing climate change, food security, and ecosystem restoration, as well as the growing threat...

Elite athletes spend their careers pushing the limits of human performance, but injuries can abruptly end a season, derail a career, or permanently change an athlete’s trajectory. What if we could identify the warning signs before the damage is done?

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Chirag Patel, sports medicine innovator and Founder & CEO of BAiO, to explore how artificial intelligence and real-time biomarker intelligence are changing the way athletes understand injury risk, recovery, and longevity.

Dr. Patel discusses the enormous impact of injuries across professional sports, where season-ending injuries can cost to...

What does it take to turn a family farm into a thriving local brand?

In this episode, we sit down with Bo McMahon, Co-Founder and CEO of Southern Fresh Farms, to talk about the journey from family business to a recognized name in the local food community.

Bo shares the lessons he’s learned along the way, including how to honor family traditions while adapting to changing customer expectations and an evolving food industry. We also explore what “farm fresh” really means today, why keeping food local matters, and how growing consumer interest in knowing where...

Sònia Victoria "Vikki" Werner is an actress, entrepreneur, and founder of Lighthouse Ladies. She has worked across film, television, and voiceover, appearing in projects for Netflix, HBO Max, Buzzfeed, BET, and is recognized for her improvisational skills, having performed with notable collaborators such as Jennifer Lopez and Brett Goldstein.

In this episode, Sònia shares her journey from acting to building a business, offering an inside look at the changing entertainment industry and the evolving opportunities for creatives. She discusses why developing business skills can be a powerful advantage for artists, how to navigate an industry in...

AI agents are rapidly becoming the new front line of customer engagement. From retailers like Walmart, Wayfair, and Amazon to thousands of businesses building AI-powered assistants, companies are racing to redefine how customers interact with digital brands.

But are these AI agents actually delivering better experiences or creating new frustrations?

In this episode, we sit down with Keith Zubchevich, President and CEO of Conviva, to explore what separates effective AI-powered customer experiences from disappointing ones. Keith discusses what business leaders need to consider as they adopt AI agents, why customer experience should remain the priority...

In this episode, we sit down with Hillary Stanfield, Senior Vice President of Middle Market Technology Banking at Truist, to explore the forces reshaping today's technology landscape. From evolving capital markets to the growing influence of artificial intelligence, Hillary shares insights into what it takes for technology companies to thrive in an increasingly competitive environment.

The conversation examines how the investment landscape has shifted, including the transition from prioritizing rapid growth to rewarding capital efficiency and profitability. Hillary discusses how investors are evaluating technology companies today, the impact of AI on business strategy and enterprise value, and...

In this episode, we sit down with Jevoy Palmer, Founder of Palmer House Productions, to explore his remarkable journey from a challenging childhood in Kingston, Jamaica, to becoming a successful entrepreneur and strategic communications expert in the United States.

Jevoy shares the defining moments that shaped his leadership philosophy and explains why today's most successful founders aren't building "perfect" brands—they're building authentic ones. As trust becomes the most valuable business currency, he reveals how entrepreneurs can leverage storytelling, visibility, and credibility to stand out in an increasingly crowded marketplace.

We also discuss why generic ma...

In this episode, we're joined by Ari Rastegar, founder of Rastegar Capital and Austin-based real estate developer, investor, and wellness advocate, for a wide-ranging conversation on the future of business, investing, and personal performance.

Named the "Oracle of Austin" by Forbes, Ari shares his perspective on where Austin and Texas are headed over the next decade, the trends reshaping commercial real estate and urban development, and the opportunities many investors are still overlooking.

Other topics discussed:

Artificial intelligence is much bigger than ChatGPT and chances are it’s already shaping your daily life in ways you don’t even realize.

In this episode, we sit down with Jeremy Samuelson, Executive Vice President of AI and Innovation at Integrated Quantum Technologies, to explore the “invisible AI” economy powered by machine learning, the technology quietly driving everything from financial services and healthcare to cybersecurity and personalized customer experiences.

Jeremy explains:

In this episode, we're joined by Todd Smith, President and CEO of AMFT, to explore his unique leadership journey from Chief Financial Officer to the corner office.

Todd shares how his background in finance continues to shape his approach to leading a growing manufacturing organization, the pivotal moments that inspired him to pursue the CEO role, and how his perspective has evolved as he's taken on responsibility for strategy, culture, operations, and long-term growth.

Other topics discussed include:

What does it take to launch an airline in one of the world's most competitive industries?

In this episode of The Business RoundUp, Melissa Bill sits down with Andrew Schmertz, co-founder and CEO of Hopscotch Air, to discuss his remarkable journey from broadcasting and law to building a regional air taxi company that's changing the way people travel.

Andrew shares what inspired him to leave a traditional career path, the market opportunity he saw in personalized regional aviation, and how Hopscotch Air has navigated nearly two decades of economic shifts and industry challenges. He also...

What happens when a life-changing diagnosis becomes the catalyst for building a global business?

In this episode of The Business RoundUp, host Melissa Bill sits down with entrepreneur, patient advocate, and Amazon bestselling author Brenda Snow to discuss her remarkable journey after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in the early 1990s.

Rather than allowing MS to define her future, Brenda transformed her personal healthcare experience into a mission to improve how patients and the life sciences industry work together. As the author of Diagnosed: The Essential Guide to Navigating the Patient Journey, she shares invaluable...