Fixers & Founders

Forrest Derr and Tony Lilja
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Fixers & Founders is a podcast about the partnership between visionary founders and the fractional executives who help them bring structure, clarity, and scale. Each episode features candid conversations with founders and the operators who steady the ship—highlighting how ideas get fueled, how systems get fixed, and how businesses move forward when vision and execution finally meet.

  1. 6 MAY

    The Founder Bottleneck | Why Growth Stalls Without Systems

    In this episode of Fixers & Founders, Tony and Forrest are joined by Corey Robinson, founder of Crossroads Operating Partners and a fractional COO helping early-stage companies get unstuck and scale with intention. Corey shares his journey from corporate leadership at John Deere to buying and operating multiple businesses, and the hard realization that success can quickly turn into chaos when everything still runs through the owner. We pull back the curtain on the real reason most businesses stall: not a lack of opportunity, but a lack of systems — and a founder who hasn’t stepped out of the middle. In this conversation, we explore: The Founder Bottleneck: Why growth slows when everything still depends on you. Revenue vs. Delivery: How businesses break when sales outpace operations. Systems That Scale: Why 70% done and repeatable beats perfect and delayed. Clarity Breaks: How stepping away from the business drives better decisions. If your business feels heavier than it should — or like everything still depends on you — this is a practical playbook for building the machine that actually scales. Connect with Corey Robinson: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/corey-robinson Intro & Outro Music: “Which One Is the Jellyfish?” by Aunt Cynthia’s Cabin Used with permission under a non-exclusive license. Bandcamp: https://auntcynthiascabin.bandcamp.com/ Spotify: http://open.spotify.com/artist/5XoG0H2D0vY58n32W8xI2K Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/auntcynthiascabin Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/auntcynthiascabin

    21 min

  2. 22 APR

    The Camp Counselor | The Emotional Weight of the COO

    In this episode of Fixers & Founders, Tony and Forrest are joined by Chuck Orzechowski, CEO of the COO Forum and a self-described “recovering COO.” Chuck shares his journey from the factory floor to the executive suite, pulling back the curtain on why the number two seat is the toughest—and most misunderstood—position in business today. We dive into the reality of the COO as the “Camp Counselor” of the organization: the fixer who carries the emotional weight of the team while bridging the gap between a visionary’s speed and a company’s capacity. In this conversation, we explore: The Camp Counselor Reality: Why empathy is the most underrated skill in operations. Winning vs. Freedom: How to align with a Visionary’s psychology to get things done. The Career-Ending Pivot: A raw look at a high-stakes leadership mistake and the "Sage Advice" that followed. Leading from the Middle: Why it’s better to have a great question than a great answer. If you’ve ever felt like you’re holding it all together while trying to lead through the "snow globe" of rapid change, this masterclass in execution and empathy is for you. Connect with Chuck Orzechowski: Email: chuck@cooforum.net LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuck-orzechowski Website: https://cooforum.org Intro & Outro Music: “Which One Is the Jellyfish?” by Aunt Cynthia’s Cabin Used with permission under a non-exclusive license. Bandcamp: https://auntcynthiascabin.bandcamp.com Spotify: http://open.spotify.com/artist/5XoG0H2D0vY58n32W8xI2K Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/auntcynthiascabin Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/auntcynthiascabin

    19 min

  3. 8 APR

    How to Be Second | Leading from the Right Angle

    In this episode of Fixers & Founders, Tony and Forrest sit down with Nathan Young — fractional COO, operator, and author of How to Be Second — to explore what it really means to lead from the right-hand seat. Nathan breaks down the identity of a “Second” — not just as a role, but as a way of operating — and why the people behind the scenes are often the ones who turn vision into reality. From navigating crisis moments where 95% of revenue disappears overnight…to simplifying operations down to the fundamentals of get work, do work, get paid…to redefining process as agreement, not documentation… This conversation is a masterclass in clarity, execution, and the work behind the work. If you’re building something that’s growing fast — but needs structure to scale — this one’s for you. Connect with Nathan Young Website: https://howtobesecond.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathan-s-young Intro & Outro Music: “Which One Is the Jellyfish?” by Aunt Cynthia’s Cabin Used with permission under a non-exclusive license. Bandcamp: ⁠⁠⁠https://auntcynthiascabin.bandcamp.com⁠/⁠⁠ Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/artist/66kb7d5jDmTkMSs1XcOXTQ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/auntcynthiascabin Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/auntcynthiascabin

    24 min

  4. 25 MAR

    From Gut to Guidance | Building Financial Systems That Scale

    Most founders don’t lose momentum because of bad strategy —they lose it because finance can’t keep up. In this episode of Fixers & Founders, Tony and Forrest sit down with Nelson Tepfer, co-founder of ProCFO Partners, to unpack what strategic finance really means for scaling businesses. From companies waiting weeks to send invoices…to founders running multimillion-dollar operations on gut instinct…Nelson shares how financial clarity becomes a growth lever — not just a reporting function. They dive into when to upgrade systems, why titles like “fractional CFO” can be misleading, and how aligning finance with strategy changes everything. If you’re scaling and the numbers are getting noisy — this conversation will help you move with confidence. Intro & Outro Music: “Which One Is the Jellyfish?” by Aunt Cynthia’s Cabin Used with permission under a non-exclusive license. Bandcamp: ⁠⁠⁠https://auntcynthiascabin.bandcamp.com⁠/⁠⁠ Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/artist/66kb7d5jDmTkMSs1XcOXTQ?si=H_3OTdXYStClILHdYiydmw⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/auntcynthiascabin/⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/auntcynthiascabin/

    20 min

  5. 25 FEB

    Get Work. Do Work. Support Work. | The Founder’s Growth Fix

    🎧 Shane Sloan on Operational Maturity, EOS, and Founder Therapy In this episode of Fixers & Founders, U.S. Army veteran and EOS integrator Shane Sloan joins us to break down what actually causes businesses to stall—and how to fix it. From serving as a Black Hawk crew chief to building operational engines inside 30–100 person companies, Shane shares the framework he uses to diagnose chaos, restore calm, and help founders finally let go. We cover his operational maturity model, why every business must master “Get Work, Do Work, Support Work,” and how to modernize systems without over-engineering them. If your company feels stuck in firefighting mode—or your founder still manages everything—this one’s for you. ⏱️ Chapters 00:00 Intro to Shane Sloan 02:20 From Military to Fractional Integrator 06:37 Signs a Business Is Running on Fumes 10:04 Get Work. Do Work. Support Work. 12:15 KISS Methodology in Tech & Ops 15:00 Breaking Out of the Stall 18:48 When to Take Work Off the Founder’s Plate 20:52 Career Myth: Working Your Way Up 22:31 Military Training & Business Leadership 23:49 Outro Intro & Outro Music: “Which One Is the Jellyfish?” by Aunt Cynthia’s Cabin Used with permission under a non-exclusive license. Bandcamp: ⁠⁠https://auntcynthiascabin.bandcamp.com⁠/⁠ Spotify: ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/artist/66kb7d5jDmTkMSs1XcOXTQ?si=H_3OTdXYStClILHdYiydmw⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/auntcynthiascabin/⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/auntcynthiascabin/

    25 min

  6. 28 JAN

    Marketing Meets Money | The Next Gen Strategies Playbook

    🎧 Grant Covault & Tyler Davis on scaling smarter—from marketing myths to financial clarity This week on Fixers and Founders, we’re joined by fractional duo Grant Covault and Tyler Davis—co-hosts of the Next Gen Strategies podcast, and fixers of messy books, broken funnels, and bad business advice. Grant’s a fractional CMO helping service businesses punch above their weight. Tyler’s a fractional CFO helping founders ditch the guesswork and finally understand their numbers. Together, they’re rethinking how small businesses scale—and why clarity, not complexity, is the real secret to growth. We cover: What most founders get wrong about marketing & moneyThe hidden red flags in your P&LWhy growth without systems is just expensive guessingThe rise of fractional leadership—and how it’s changing the game If you’re tired of duct taping your business together, hit play. 🔗 Connect with Grant & Tyler LinkedIn (Grant): https://www.linkedin.com/in/grant-covault/ LinkedIn (Tyler): https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-davis-b761b6b2/ Intro & Outro Music: “Which One Is the Jellyfish?” by Aunt Cynthia’s Cabin Used with permission under a non-exclusive license. Bandcamp: ⁠https://auntcynthiascabin.bandcamp.com⁠/ Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/artist/66kb7d5jDmTkMSs1XcOXTQ?si=H_3OTdXYStClILHdYiydmw Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/auntcynthiascabin/ Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/auntcynthiascabin/

    19 min

  7. 14 JAN

    Wearing Every Hat | The Integrator’s Reality of Scale

    🎧 John Wallet on Scaling Without the Chaos In this episode of Fixers & Founders, executive leader and integrator John Wallet breaks down what it really takes to scale—without spiraling. From sweeping floors at startups to doubling revenue at STC, John shares how to build systems that actually work, align teams around metrics that matter, and keep visionaries out of the weeds. Whether you’re wrestling wild west ops or just trying to keep up with growth, this one’s for you. He covers: The difference between ops and true integration How to scale EOS in real life What early-stage teams get wrong about systems The scorecard strategy that actually drives action And the one meeting rhythm that keeps founders focused Connect with John on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnwallet/ If you’ve ever felt like growth is outpacing your grip, don’t miss this one. Intro & Outro Music: “Which One Is the Jellyfish?” by Aunt Cynthia’s Cabin Used with permission under a non-exclusive license. Bandcamp: ⁠https://auntcynthiascabin.bandcamp.com⁠ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/66kb7d5jDmTkMSs1XcOXTQ⁠ Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/auntcynthiascabin⁠ Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/auntcynthiascabin

    17 min

  8. 31/12/2025

    Cameras, Chaos & Control | From Burnout to Creative Flow

    🎧 Ben G Kaiser on building creative momentum without burning out In this episode of Fixers & Founders, content strategist and creative founder Ben G Kaiser opens up about the unseen tension behind creative work—imposter syndrome, perfectionism, and the pressure to scale without losing yourself. Ben shares what it really takes to grow a creative service company in an AI-saturated world, why simplifying systems beats stacking tools, and how embracing imperfection can actually accelerate momentum. From pruning tech stacks to reframing creativity as a repeatable craft, this conversation is a grounded look at how creators can build sustainably—without crashing. If you’re trying to create consistently, serve clients well, and still protect your creative energy, this one hits home. ⏱️ Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Fixers & Founders 02:05 The Reality of Imposter Syndrome 05:12 Creating for Yourself vs. Creating for Clients 08:44 Simplifying Systems to Protect Creativity 11:30 Why Less Tech Creates More Focus 14:02 Creativity in an AI World 17:40 Perfection, Imperfection, and Shipping 20:18 Turning Skill into a Scalable Brand 23:45 What Creators Need to Let Go Of 26:10 Final Reflections & Outro 🔗 Connect with Ben G Kaiser LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bengkaiser YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BenGKaiser Intro & Outro Music: “Which One Is the Jellyfish?” by Aunt Cynthia’s Cabin Used with permission under a non-exclusive license. Bandcamp: https://auntcynthiascabin.bandcamp.com Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/66kb7d5jDmTkMSs1XcOXTQ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/auntcynthiascabin Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/auntcynthiascabin

    19 min
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About

Fixers & Founders is a podcast about the partnership between visionary founders and the fractional executives who help them bring structure, clarity, and scale. Each episode features candid conversations with founders and the operators who steady the ship—highlighting how ideas get fueled, how systems get fixed, and how businesses move forward when vision and execution finally meet.

Information

  • Creator
    Forrest Derr and Tony Lilja
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    13
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Forrest Derr and Tony Lilja
  • Show Website
    Fixers & Founders