Cut The Tie Podcast with Thomas Helfrich Sales engineer and podcast host KJ Fenton joins Thomas for a fun, honest conversation about balancing a thriving W-2 career with building a passion project, and how cutting ties with "safe" thinking can open bigger doors than you ever expected. From coding macros at EY to launching KJ's Corner, KJ shares how small risks turn into massive growth. About KJ Fenton: KJ Fenton is a principal solutions engineer at Salesforce specializing in Intelligent Autom...
Cut The Tie Podcast with Thomas Helfrich Leadership expert and researcher Mark Murphy joins Thomas for a sharp, data-driven conversation about leadership development, why most hiring practices fail, and how to cut ties with assumptions that hold organizations—and individuals—back. Mark shares his journey from following conventional wisdom to questioning it, uncovering insights that help leaders grow faster and smarter. About Mark Murphy: Mark is the founder of Leadership IQ, a research and tr...
Cut The Tie Podcast with Thomas Helfrich Security expert and combat veteran Robert Brenizer returns to Cut The Tie for a raw, no-fluff conversation about cutting ties with ego, building a battle-tested security company, and becoming your best self for the people who count. Rob shares lessons from combat, entrepreneurship, and personal transformation. About Robert Brenizer: Robert is the founder of Spectre Defense Solutions, a boutique private security firm offering customized security plans a...
Cut The Tie Podcast with Thomas Helfrich From Finance to Founder: Rebuilding with Purpose | Patrick Coggins Patrick Coggins, founder of CFO's Domain and co-founder of Gen9 Leaders, joins Thomas for an insightful conversation about legacy, leadership, and the hard decision to leave a successful career to build something better. Patrick shares how cutting ties with comfort and tradition allowed him to create a firm driven by purpose, experience, and impact. About Patrick Coggins: Patrick is the...
Cut The Tie Podcast with Thomas Helfrich Entrepreneur and digital nomad Eric Dingler joins Thomas to talk about building a location-independent business, cutting ties with traditional success paths, and designing a life centered on freedom, family, and purpose. From pastoring a church to leading a marketing agency while traveling full-time with four kids, Eric shares the mindset and structure behind his unconventional path. About Eric Dingler: Eric is the founder of a U.S.-based digital marke...
Cut The Tie Podcast with Thomas Helfrich UX designer turned clarity coach Tamar Stolz joins Thomas for a powerful, transparent conversation about overwhelm, self-leadership, and finding your own structure in the chaos of entrepreneurship. Tamar shares her journey from corporate design to coaching creatives—and the moment she stopped copying other people’s systems and built her own. About Tamar Stolz: Tamar is a former UX product designer turned coach who helps creative entrepreneurs ditch the...
Cut The Tie Podcast with Thomas Helfrich Unlocking Legacy Through Passive Income & Purpose | Brett Swarts Brett Swarts, founder of Capital Gains Tax Solutions, joins Thomas to share his journey from restaurant jobs and real estate side hustles to building a tax strategy firm that helps clients unlock true financial freedom. Brett opens up about his family’s legacy, faith, and the moment he cut ties with limited thinking to live a life of impact. About Brett Swarts: Brett is the founder of...
Cut The Tie Podcast with Thomas Helfrich Growth strategist Denis Balitskiy joins Thomas for a high-energy, brutally honest talk about the mindset, systems, and real-world lessons behind scaling companies to millions—and the internal breakthroughs it takes to get there. From marketing systems to mindset rewiring, Denis doesn’t hold back. About Denis Balitskiy: Denis is known as the $2B Growth Strategist, having helped companies across SaaS, crypto, and other industries reach massive valuations...
Cut The Tie Podcast with Thomas Helfrich Building a Brand That Deserves the Spotlight | Jeremy Bishop Jeremy Bishop, founder of Influencer Club Media, sits down with Thomas to talk about the mindset and momentum it takes to grow a world-class personal brand. From high-performing entrepreneurs with no social media presence to the myth of "slow and steady," Jeremy lays out the unfiltered truth of what it takes to get visible, stay consistent, and lead with impact. About Jeremy Bishop: Jeremy is...
Cut The Tie Podcast with Thomas Helfrich Dave Rolfe joins Thomas to share a candid look at how failure, grit, and mentorship shaped his journey from struggling entrepreneur to multi-million-dollar network marketer. Dave breaks down the myths of the industry, shares the real lessons behind the setbacks, and encourages listeners to take control of their time, business, and life. About Dave Rolfe: Dave is the founder of Be Smarter With Dave and a seasoned network marketing veteran. After early f...
Cut The Tie Podcast with Thomas Helfrich Dr. Sharon Spano joins Thomas for a thoughtful, inspiring conversation about cutting ties with limiting beliefs, navigating trauma, and moving into the highest stages of adult human development. With humor, vulnerability, and depth, Sharon shares the tools she uses to help leaders reframe their success and embrace meaningful transformation. About Sharon Spano: Sharon is a PhD in Human and Organizational Systems, executive coach, author, and systems thi...
Cut The Tie Podcast with Thomas Helfrich Lisa Ducharme, retired Air Force veteran and Executive Director of the Massachusetts Veterans Chamber of Commerce, joins Thomas for a powerful conversation on veteran identity, entrepreneurship, and learning how to stop apologizing for your past. Lisa shares how she helps other veterans embrace their experience, stop trying to fit in, and start building with purpose. About Lisa Ducharme: Lisa is a retired U.S. Air Force veteran with over 20 years of se...
CUT THE TIE is the no-fluff, high-impact podcast designed for everyday entrepreneurs who are ready to cut the tie to what’s holding them back and take control of their future. Hosted by Thomas Helfrich, we talk to real entrepreneurs who built their own success—without a boss, without permission, and without excuses. Each episode is packed with straight-to-the-point strategies, real talk, and actionable insights to help you escape the 9-to-5, start your own thing, and actually make money doin...
Cut The Tie Podcast with Thomas Helfrich Alan Versteeg, founder of Growth Matters International, shares how agency, conviction, and sales leadership transformed his life and business. In this empowering episode, Alan opens up about going from rock bottom to global contracts, how mindset outpaces skillset, and why professional selling is non-negotiable for any entrepreneur. About Alan Versteeg: Alan is the founder of Growth Matters International, a company that develops sales managers in...
Cut The Tie Podcast with Thomas Helfrich JC Misko, founder of Misko Mountain Flavor Company, shares how recovery, faith, and brisket tacos came together to form a life-changing mission. In this heartfelt episode, JC opens up about overcoming addiction, building a food business from nothing, and using his story to help others do the same. About JC Misko: JC is the founder of Misko Mountain Flavor Company, a brisket taco business built with a mission to support early recovery. Through his...
Cut The Tie Podcast with Thomas Helfrich Juno Lux, founder of The Haus of H, joins Thomas for a vibrant, honest conversation about spirituality, entrepreneurship, and the power of self-ownership. From working in social work and hospitality to founding a nonprofit for queer spiritual healing, Juno shares the experiences that led them to cut the tie with outdated systems and build something empowering from the ground up. About Juno Lux: Juno Lux is the founder of The Haus of H—a nonprofit...
Cut The Tie Podcast with Thomas Helfrich Riggs Eckelberry, CEO of OriginClear, joins Thomas to unpack the broken water system, decentralization, and what it means to cut the tie to pleasing others. From rejecting broken industry norms to walking away from Wall Street pressure, Riggs shares a refreshingly honest look at entrepreneurship, leadership, and finding your own path—even if it takes decades. About Riggs Eckelberry: Riggs is the founder and CEO of OriginClear, a public company leading ...
Cut The Tie Podcast with Thomas Helfrich In this special solo episode, Thomas Helfrich lays out the wild reality of leaving corporate life and jumping headfirst into entrepreneurship—through the lens of a chaotic, hilarious, and brutally honest "Squid Game" analogy. If you’ve ever thought about quitting your job or building your own thing, this episode pulls no punches on what the journey really looks like. In this episode, Thomas shares: Round One: The "I Quit" Moment When the realization hi...
Cut The Tie Podcast with Thomas Helfrich Racquetball legend Sudsy Monchik joins Thomas for a deeply personal and surprisingly funny discussion about life after pro sports, the mindset of elite athletes, and what it really means to cut the tie with your former self. From dominating courts to leading at Frank Hotels, Sudsy shares how competition, purpose, and relationships shaped his journey. About Sudsy Monchik: Sudsy is a five-time pro racquetball world champion and one of the most iconic nam...
Cut The Tie Podcast with Thomas Helfrich Coach Nar Smart joins Thomas for a raw, empowering conversation about motherhood, entrepreneurship, and purpose. With her baby daughter Emma joining as the first infant guest on the show, Nar shares how she reshaped her identity, challenged social norms, and created impact through coaching and homeschooling. About Nar Smart: Nar is a transformational coach, pod leader, and founder of Bad Moms Media and the Women's Portal. She helps women shift from mak...