Open Residency

👉 Join our private community for operators, marketers, and creators (waitlist) - https://www.newsletter-signup.com/or/...⚡️ BTS & more https://openresidency.com/george-heatonTIMESTAMPS:00:00:00 Trailer00:01:09 Back in 2019, You Got Sued. What Goes Through Your Head?00:07:58 Unpacking George Heaton's Personal Branding00:16:30 What Does Your Content System Look Like?00:19:32 How Do You Define Taste?00:23:13 How Important is Offline Events?00:25:04 How Important is The Consumer in Informing You What To Do?00:32:51 What's Your Product Development Philosophy at Represent?00:46:03 The Business of Represent - You Sold A Part of Represent?00:55:50 Why Did You Hire a CEO? What Was That Process Like?01:07:23 How Did Hiring A CEO Make You Better?01:12:03 Having a Girlfriend Now, What is That Like? What Are Your Thoughts on Work-Life Balance?01:18:06 Moving to US, What Has Changed?01:27:55 Quickfire Questions (From The Community)In this episode, I sit down with George Heaton, co-founder of Represent, to unpack how a two-year trademark battle nearly wiped out the brand and how overcoming it sparked the creative fire that pushed Represent into its biggest years ever. George opens up about the fear of losing everything, why he kept building even while the lawsuit loomed, and how that pressure transformed him into the founder he is today.We dive into how Represent became a global force: George's personal brand flywheel, his obsession with product and taste, the content machine behind Owners' Club and 247, and the offline community strategy that built true loyalty. He also reveals how much of the company he sold and at what valuation — and why he's still all-in while protecting the DNA that made the brand what it is. This conversation is a masterclass in brand building, product discipline, and staying authentic as you grow.🔗 LINKS MENTIONEDREPRESENT: https://representclo.com/Ghost.io: https://www.ghst.io/75 Hard Podcast: https://andyfrisella.com/blogs/mfceo-...Art of Seduction: https://amzn.to/3LRnIiKHouse of Errors: https://www.houseoferrors.org/KODYPHILLIPS: https://www.kodyphillips.com/The Row: https://www.therow.com/424: https://fourtwofour.comHOORSENBUHS: https://hoorsenbuhs.com/David Goggins "Who Is Going To Carry The Boat": https://youtube.com/watch?v=...🎙 GUESTGeorge Heaton, Co-Founder of REPRESENTInstagram: https://instagram.com/georgeheatonWebsite: https://representclo.com/📬 GET IN TOUCHInstagram: https://instagram.com/openresidencyLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/markmastrandreaWebsite: https://openresidency.com/Email: info@openresidency.com🎯 Powered by Manychat🔗 Learn more: https://manychat.com/

In this episode, I sit down with Simon Molnar, founder of Flagship.ai, to break down why 83% of shopping still happens in-store — yet most stores run with almost no data. Simon explains how visual merchandising became the most overlooked lever in retail, why brands misjudge store performance, and how Flagship built the square-foot-level “money map” that finally gives brick-and-mortar the same funnel e-commerce has.We also dive into Simon’s leadership philosophy shaped by Afterpay’s $29B rise — hiring for humility, building A-players, and making every store matter through objective data. This conversation is a masterclass in retail reinvention, operational clarity, and building teams that raise the standard.

In this episode, I sit down with Joel Kocher, the 70-year-old CEO & Co-Founder of Humann, a $200M company redefining cardiovascular health. We unpack how Joel went from early retirement and burnout to discovering the "miracle molecule" nitric oxide — the foundation behind Humann's science-backed approach to longevity. He explains why most people misunderstand heart health, how clinical trials became his edge, and what it takes to build a lasting company.We also dive deep into leadership — from his years as the #2 at Dell to lessons learned from Michael Dell and Steve Jobs. Joel shares the mindset that's kept him young, the frameworks that landed Humann on the Inc. 5000 list ten times, and why focus, conviction, and adaptability matter more than ever in business and life.This conversation is a deep dive into longevity, leadership, and what it really takes to stay young — in business and in life. Enjoy!

In this episode, I sit down with Robert Greene, bestselling author of The 48 Laws of Power, to break down the timeless strategies of power, seduction, and human psychology that drive success in business and life. We dive into:- Why concealing your intentions and talking less creates an aura of power - Never outshining the master and how reputation translates directly into capital - The dangerous allure of free and why formlessness beats rigidity in business- What your twenties should actually be about- Robert's new book and his near-death experience that shaped itThis conversation goes deep into human nature, strategic thinking, and what it really takes to build power that lasts. Enjoy!

This episode is the content creation blueprint for the AI era. Roberto Nickson (RPN) just hit $1.5M in revenue at 85% margins as a one-man creator army — and he's sharing everything. 2 hours of straight value, no gatekeeping.We cover:How Roberto Makes $1.5M as a Solo CreatorNewsletter, Consulting & Building Owned MediaLanding Partnerships with Meta, Adobe & SpotifyThe Metric Brands Actually Care About (Not Views)Positioning = Pricing PowerThe Infinite Content Machine: AI & AutomationBiggest Mistakes Creators Make in Brand DealsFormat is the Formula: Repeatable Systems That ScaleBalancing Organic Content vs Brand Deals (80/20 Rule)Why Traditional Ad Production is CookedInside Roberto’s Workflow: Studio, Editing & AI ToolsTop AI Tools for Creators (Suno, Veo 3, Kling)Why Ideas Are the Real Moat in the Creator EconomyWhy Audio Matters More Than VisualsMaking Your Audience the HeroBuilding for the Future: Instagram, 2027 Social Predictions & AIEnjoy the conversation!👉 Join our private communityfor operators, marketers, and creators (waitlist):https://openresidency.com/signup⚡️ BTS & More: https://openresidency.com/roberto-nickson🔗 Links MentionedSuno – https://suno.comGoogle Veo 3 – https://deepmind.google/technologies/veo/veo-2/Cling 2.1 – https://clingai.comN8N – https://n8n.ioMidjourney – https://midjourney.comNano Banana – https://blog.google/technology/google-deepmind/google-imagen-3/🎙 Guest: Roberto Nickson (RPN), Content Creator & AI StrategistInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/rpn/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@rpnX: https://x.com/rpnickson📬 Get in TouchInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/openresidency/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markmastrandrea/Website: https://openresidency.com/Email: info@openresidency.com🎯 Powered by Universal Ads by Comcast CTVWant to scale your brand with CTV ads? Universal Ads is giving the first 50 Open Residency listeners $500 in free ad credits to get started.👉 Claim your credit: https://form.typeform.com/to/ckvJ86zT🔗 Learn more: UniversalAds.com

This week, we dissect the business flywheel behind Sahil Bloom (author of the NYT Best Seller The 5 Types of Wealth) — his initiatives, team, and how he’s scaled it.At the core is the bigger theme: money as a tool (not the goal), the “15 more times” mindset, time as the real asset, and systems to protect your energy.This book changed my life. Enjoy the conversation!

For operators, marketers, and creators — this one's for you. Oren John is rare:He deeply understands both sides of content marketing — the creative and the performance. People with taste and the ability to stay unemotional about metrics are hard to find nowadays.This convo is all signal, no fluff. We rapid-fire through content frameworks, creative reference systems, platform strategy, TikTok Shop, influencer partnerships, how Oren makes money, and a lot more.Enjoy the conversation!

In this episode, I sit down with Brian Garofalow, CEO of Skullcandy, to unpack his leadership philosophy, product strategy, and how he's repositioning the brand for explosive growth in a crowded consumer electronics market.We dive into:Brian’s “People, Process, Product” framework for scaling innovationSkullcandy’s four-bucket system for managing product life cycleHow a bold partnership with Bose redefined product perceptionA behind-the-scenes look at how Skullcandy balances hard sales data with cultural insight to find market white spaceBrian’s playbook for international expansion, avoiding opportunity-cost traps, and focusing where it countsWhether you're building a brand, leading a team, or thinking about product strategy at scale—this conversation is packed with insight from someone operating at the highest level of consumer growth. Enjoy!

In this episode, I sit down with Caleb Ralston, Founder and Brand Strategist at Ralston, to break down what it actually takes to build a brand that sticks—and content that converts. We unpack real frameworks, hard-won lessons, and key insights from working with names like Gary Vaynerchuk and Alex Hormozi.We cover:- The Brand Journey Framework — a four-question system to shape your strategy- Association: how proximity builds powerful brand perception- The 80/20 Rule for content: balancing expertise with personality- Platform-specific tactics: what deserves your attention—and what doesn’t- How to build a content team that solves bottlenecks- Learnings from top-tier operators in branding and mediaEnjoy the conversation!

In this episode, I sit down with Nick Shackelford, Head of Retention and Partner at BREZ, to break down modern customer acquisition and retention strategies for 2025.Nick has managed over $200M in ad spend and brings hard-won insights from scaling multiple brands — including his own agencies, Structured and Konstant Kreative — into this conversation.We get into:Why creative is now the new targeting, with Nick giving the keys on Meta’s evolving algorithmThe ideal framework for customer acquisition in today’s landscapeHow to structure your testing budget between proven winners and fresh creativeConversion tactics that immediately lift performance — from mobile-first design to offer structureThe retention strategies behind BREZ’s drop in subscription churn from 24% to 17%, on a mission toward sub-5%The tactics powering BREZ, one of the fastest-growing beverage brands in the country, on pace to hit $50M in just two yearsHow celebrities like Drake and Druski use subtle content strategies to drive massive viewership — and what brands can learn from itThis is a deep dive on what’s actually working in marketing in 2025.Enjoy the conversation!

In this episode, I sit down with Kent Yoshimura, Co-Founder & CEO of Neurogum, to unpack how the brand became one of TikTok’s fastest-growing success stories and scaled to over $100 million in revenue.We dive into:- The TikTok strategy that transformed Neurogum’s growth- How the team shifted their marketing mix to make TikTok their top-of-funnel channel—while maintaining a 52x ROAS on Amazon with zero ad spend- Their strategic approach to partnerships- A hiring process that’s led to 98% employee retention over three years- The origin story—and how they've sustained a competitive edge through patented manufacturingThis one’s packed with gems. Enjoy the conversation.

⚡️ BTS & More: ⁠https://openresidency.com/ryan-bartlett⁠In this episode, I sit down with Ryan Bartlett, CEO of True Classic, to break down how they scaled to over $200M+ in annual revenue with a valuation approaching $1B.We get into:The evolution of their marketing strategy from pure direct response to brand buildingHow they leverage customer feedback to drive product development through their membership programTheir unique approach to customer service and community buildingWebsite optimization strategies that helped increase AOV from $36 to $112Key operational insights on running a lean, efficient DTC brandThis one’s packed with actionable insights for brand builders at every stage. Enjoy the conversation!Chapters00:00 Trailer01:20 Intro01:42 Identifying the White Space04:55 Mistakes in the First 12 Months06:02 Marketing Mix09:19 Ad Library Breakdown18:13 The Greatest Form of Marketing23:56 Tips for Scaling a Company37:28 Building a Strong Team Culture40:11 The Lost Art of Customer Service49:00 How Customer Feedback Shapes Strategy53:57 Metrics That Matter Most58:25 What Works in E-Commerce Today01:17:24 Alternate Marketing Channels01:23:22 Contrarian KPIs Everyone Overlooks01:27:34 Raising Equity and Debt01:29:23 Managing Credit and Inventory Risks01:31:14 Retail Rollout Masterclass01:34:30 Landing Major Retail Partnerships01:47:04 What’s Next for True Classic01:51:57 Lightning Round02:10:23 How Big Can True Classic Be?02:11:26 Outro🎙 Guest:Ryan Bartlett, Co-Founder & Chairman of True ClassicInstagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/ryanbartlett/⁠ / ⁠https://www.instagram.com/trueclassic/⁠LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/rbtct/⁠Website: ⁠https://www.trueclassic.com/⁠📬 Get in Touch:Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/openresidency/⁠LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/markmastrandrea/⁠Website: ⁠https://openresidency.com/⁠Contact: ⁠info@openresidency.com⁠Powered by IKONICKGet 30% off motivational art at ⁠https://ikonick.com/openresidency⁠Use code: OPENRESIDENCY30

⚡️ BTS & More: www.openresidency.com/nate-checkettsIn this episode, I sit down with Nate Checketts, co-founder and CEO of Rhone, to unpack how a luxury performance-apparel brand went from a single pant to a nine-figure omnichannel business with NBA deals, retail success, and a wildly unique internal wellness system.We dive into:Building Rhone from the ground up into a category-defining brandTheir “12 Pursuits” framework: a monthly habit system blending physical and mental wellnessHow breathwork, sleep tracking, and community-driven wellness drive real performanceThe origin of GoldFusion and how Rhone rethought sustainability (without the greenwashing)Lessons from launching women’s and becoming a multi-category brandBuying out L Catterton and re-taking full control of the businessHow Rhone’s retail strategy beats the odds—and makes moneyWhy investing in mental fitness may be Rhone’s true legacyThis episode goes deep into the systems behind both a high-performance company and a high-performance life. Enjoy the conversation!Chapters00:00 Intro01:05 Start01:37 Rhone’s Approach to Mental Health02:12 The 12 Pursuits Program03:42 Creating Healthy Habits and Company Culture08:59 Monthly Focus: Sleep and Hydration13:29 Monthly Focus: Breath Work20:03 Goal-Setting with Family: Systems for a Meaningful Life30:35 How Nate Structures His Day for High Performance35:38 The Science Behind Rhone’s GoldFusion Technology39:01 The Complexities of Sustainability in Fashion40:29 Fabric Innovations That Actually Matter41:17 Expanding the Line: Product Strategy and Pivots43:10 What Focus Groups Really Reveal About Your Brand46:14 Big Inventory Mistakes and Product Flops49:13 Launching Women’s: Why It Took 8 Years54:41 Partnerships with NBA & LPGA56:45 Marketing in 2025: Influencers, CPMs, and Real Brand Loyalty01:11:52 How Rhone’s Retail Stores Actually Turn a Profit01:20:48 Building an Efficient Retail Footprint01:21:31 Distribution Risks and Channel Strategy01:23:55 Long-Term Brand Positioning01:25:03 Advice for Breaking Into Wholesale Retail01:26:41 Buying Out L Catterton: How and Why01:34:43 How Long-Term Thinking Changed the Business01:38:34 Leadership Lessons from Nate’s Father01:39:54 50+ Investments: What Nate Looks for in Founders01:45:24 Lightning Round: Favorites, Systems, and Sneaky Wins01:50:46 How Big Can Rhone Be?01:52:08 OutroLinks Mentioned:Big Ass Calendar: https://jesseitzler.com/products/the-big-a-calendarAtomic Habits by James Clear: https://amzn.to/3YwIgAlThe 5 Minute Journal / Productivity Journal: https://amzn.to/42G34rDEOS Operating System (Traction): https://amzn.to/4lqWvRfSportsish (by Nate’s sister): https://www.instagram.com/sportsish/🎙 Guest:Nate Checketts, Co-Founder & CEO of RhoneInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/natechecketts/Rhone: https://www.instagram.com/rhone/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natechecketts/Website: https://www.rhone.com/📬 Get in Touch:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/openresidency/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markmastrandrea/Website: https://openresidency.com/Contact: info@openresidency.comPowered by IKONICKGet 30% off motivational art at https://ikonick.com/openresidencyUse code: OPENRESIDENCY30

In this episode, I sit down with Oliver Zak, co-founder of Mad Rabbit, to break down his journey from launching a DIY skincare product in a crockpot to securing a Shark Tank deal with Mark Cuban and scaling into major retailers like Walmart.We dive deep into:What really happens after a Shark Tank deal and its long-term impactThe business of tattoos and how Mad Rabbit is disrupting an overlooked industryThe power of TikTok, influencers, and affiliate marketing in scaling a DTC brandSucceeding in retail & WalmartRaising venture capital, working with investors, and the lessons learned from Mark CubanHow community-building is at the core of Mad Rabbit’s successOliver doesn’t hold back on the realities of fundraising, navigating competition, and marketing strategies that drive real revenue. If you're an entrepreneur, a brand builder, or just someone interested in scaling a consumer product, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss.00:00 Intro01:00 Early Life and Family Influence02:28 High School and College Ventures04:25 Learnings as a Generalist05:41 Oliver’s First Business06:29 Founding Mad Rabbit07:42 Developing the First Product in a Crockpot08:33 Process for FDA Regulations09:22 Company Breakdown from $0-$3 Million11:00 Shark Tank Experience17:33 Advice for Shark Tank / Raising Capital18:02 Business Behind the Tattoo Industry21:00 What a Shark Tank Deal Looks Like After the Show23:05 Revenue Effects from the Show24:00 VC Effects of Deal with Mark Cuban25:15 Challenges with Raising Money27:18 Communicating with Investors28:10 Advice on Raising Money29:02 Utilizing Investor Money31:06 Working with Walmart33:03 Getting into Walmart / Brokers36:35 Using TikTok to Drive In-Person Sales38:13 Succeeding in Retail42:45 Approach to Competition in the Space44:07 Marketing Mix45:57 Affiliate Program Infrastructure53:22 Incentivizing Affiliates55:57 Tattoo Artist Pro Team58:22 Tips for Building Community1:00:11 Mad Rabbit’s Creative Space1:01:53 Most Impactful Marketing Initiative1:04:57 The First Thing You Should Do to Build Community1:06:30 Biggest Failure1:08:39 Lessons from Mark Cuban1:10:01 Biggest Regret from Raising Money1:10:49 Lightning Round1:15:36 Weapons of Choice1:17:49 How Big Can Mad Rabbit Be?1:18:55 OutroHard Things about Hard Things: https://amzn.to/4bBXhGFInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/olvrzk/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliverhzak/Website: https://www.madrabbit.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/openresidency/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markmastrandrea/Website: https://openresidency.com/Contact: info@openresidency.comGet a 30% discount on the best motivational art from IKONICK at https://ikonick.com/openresidency (use code: OPENRESIDENCY30)ChaptersLinks MentionedGuest: Oliver Zak, Co-Founder & CEO of Mad RabbitGet in TouchPowered by IKONICK

In this episode, I sit down with Manny Lubin, co-founder of Slate Milk, to unpack the journey from a simple idea in 2017 to becoming a dominant player in the protein drink market. Manny shares hard-hitting lessons on brand positioning, product innovation, and some keys to winning in the beverage industry.We talk about: The early struggles of launching a better-for-you chocolate milk How Slate Milk stacked TAM’s to find its niche between bodybuilder protein shakes and chocolate milk The business of dairy including ultra-filtration, removing lactose, and optimizing for a low sugar, high protein product Raising over $30 million with key investors like Peter Rahal (RXBAR) and Drew & Amanda Cohen (Yasso) The Shark Tank experience Leveraging influencer marketing, UFC partnerships, and retail expansion to scale The biggest mistakes in CPG fundraising and marketingWhether you're an entrepreneur, fitness enthusiast, or just fascinated by building a challenger brand, this episode is packed with tactical insights you won’t want to miss.00:00 Intro01:15 Brand Positioning, Starting Slate04:21 Target Audience and Market Growth05:13 Core Thesis of Slate07:14 Market Analysis, Stacking TAM’s09:54 Masterclass on Dairy Industry11:29 How Slate Makes Their Product12:45 Deep Dive into Product Development20:32 Mistakes When Building the Product22:01 Raising $30M and Investor Insights22:33 Advice from Peter Rahal, RxBar23:33 Advice from Nick Rellas, Drizly25:04 Advice from Drew and Amanda, Yasso27:32 Choosing Board Members28:42 Slow vs Fast Growth29:20 Board Seat Deal Structure30:39 Common Blindspots in Business31:45 Meeting with Stu Klane, Chobani33:26 Working with Skyview and Riverbank34:39 Advice when Raising Money35:24 Partnering with Maxx Crosby36:30 Intro with the UFC38:14 Launching with Kickstarter39:35 Marketing: Overarching Strategy41:26 Working with the UFC, Deal Structure44:08 Marketing: Top Funnel44:38 Influencer Partnerships49:24 Marketing: Middle Funnel53:14 Retail Strategies and Field Team Operations55:00 Succeeding In Stores, Advice from Retail Managers59:23 Getting in Whole Foods59:49 Direct to Consumer Buyer Funnel01:03:30 Fitness Influencers01:04:17 Cavinder Twins01:05:20 New Initiatives01:06:48 New Product Sneak Peek01:07:42 Operating as a Remote Company01:08:44 Co-Founder Dynamics01:11:28 Scaling Challenges01:12:27 Measuring Success01:13:05 Mental Resilience01:14:24 Misconceptions About Shark Tank01:16:35 Lightning Round01:23:27 How Big Can Slate Be?01:26:24 OutroGuest: Manny Lubin, Slate MilkInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mannylubin/ / https://www.instagram.com/slatemilk/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/manny-lubin-56329785/Website: https://slatemilk.com/Get in touch in the comments below or head to:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/openresidency/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markmastrandrea/Website: https://openresidency.com/Contact: info@openresidency.comPowered by IKONICKGet a 30% discount on the best motivational art from IKONICK at https://ikonick.com/openresidency (use code: OPENRESIDENCY30)

In this episode, I sit down with Bill Shufelt, co-founder and CEO of Athletic Brewing, to discuss his journey from Wall Street to redefining non-alcoholic beer. Athletic Brewing has grown from an idea to a $800M valuation, disrupting an industry and carving out a new market in craft brewing.We talk about:- The bold decision to leave a lucrative hedge fund career for entrepreneurship.- The science and innovation behind brewing non-alcoholic beer.- Overcoming early rejection and building a loyal community.- Lessons on scaling, fundraising, and maintaining a strong company culture.Bill’s story is an inspiring testament to taking calculated risks and staying true to a mission. Whether you're an entrepreneur, craft beer enthusiast, or just curious about the non-alcoholic beverage revolution, this episode has something for you.Tune in to hear how Athletic Brewing is making waves while staying grounded in community impact.CHAPTERS00:00 Intro01:32 Leaving Wall Street02:12 Discovering the Need for Non-Alcoholic Beer07:28 The Importance of a Strong Support System10:30 Quitting a Stable Job15:09 Finding the Right Co-Founder: John Walker19:11 Launching the First Product23:55 Crafting Company Culture26:14 Working With the Right People27:50 Meeting Investors31:40 Launching, E-Commerce and Retail Distribution33:02 The Keys to Building Community36:40 Sober October, Dry January, Market Timing41:00 Navigating Fundraising42:52 Mistakes While Raising45:29 Scaling Manufacturing49:38 Advantages of Vertical Integration51:23 Tackling Supply Chain Issues53:25 Communicating Effectively With Investors55:03 Evolving as a CEO56:20 Hiring the Right People01:00:06 Expanding Internationally01:06:28 Giving Back Through Two for the Trails01:11:13 Evaluating Investments01:12:32 The Name01:13:36 Lightning Round01:18:28 Reflections / Learnings as CEO01:20:47 Best Advice01:21:35 Favorite Podcast01:23:35 Giving Flowers to an Entrepreneur01:25:11 How Big Can Athletic Be?Guest: Bill ShufeltInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/athleticbrewing/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-shufelt-650059138/ / https://www.linkedin.com/company/athletic-brewing-company-llc/Website: https://athleticbrewing.com/Get in touch in the comments below or head to:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/openresidency/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markmastrandrea/Website: https://openresidency.com/Contact: info@openresidency.comPowered by IKONICKGet a 30% discount on the best motivational art from IKONICK at https://ikonick.com/openresidency (use code: OPENRESIDENCY30)

What does it take to secure $95 million and revolutionize an industry? Let’s find out.This episode features Dee Murthy - the founder behind Ghost, the brand who’s revolutionizing how businesses handle excess inventory.From building a successful apparel brand to hosting 907 episodes of his own podcast, this conversation covers the full spectrum of his entrepreneurial journey. We dive deep into:• Raw lessons from nearly a decade of podcasting• The untold stories of his fundraising journey• Why picking the right investors can make or break you• The real challenges nobody talks aboutThis conversation goes deep into what it really takes to scale a venture-backed company.CHAPTERS00:00 Intro00:22 Lessons from 907 Podcast Episodes02:15 Leveraging Podcasting in Business03:56 Launching the Podcast: Early Days and Growth06:08 Building an Audience and Content Strategy10:57 The Importance of Niching Down13:41 Podcast Learnings15:52 Avoiding Burnout and Maintaining Relevance20:19 Introducing Ghost: A Marketplace Solution30:23 The Future of Retail and Distribution37:18 Fundraising Journey: From Idea to Seed Round44:03 Fundraising Challenges46:06 Building the Business from Scratch49:09 Pivoting to a B2B Marketplace51:25 Navigating the Venture Capital Landscape01:09:41 Hiring and Company Culture01:15:01 Lightning Round and Final ThoughtsGet in touch in the comments below or head to:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/openresidency/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markmastrandrea/Website: https://openresidency.com/Contact: info@openresidency.comGuest: Dee MurthyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/deemurthy/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deemurthy/Twitter: https://twitter.com/deemurthyWebsite: https://ghst.io/Powered by IKONICKGet a 30% discount on the best motivational art from IKONICK at https://ikonick.com/openresidency(use code: OPENRESIDENCY30 )Note from Mark:If you landed on this page, I just wanted to thank you. This is the first episode of a new chapter that I am very excited about ! All feedback is greatly welcomed in the comments. I will read, respond and look to get better accordingly. I am going to continue to search for business operators that I am interested in and share my learnings with everyone. If you got any value from this episode, sharing it with a friend would mean a lot. Hope you enjoy!  - Mark