Rising Tide Startups

Rising Tide
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Rising Tide Startups is a unique, bi-weekly Business interview podcast, hosting some of today’s most exciting solopreneurs, startups founders and side hustlers from all over the globe.

  1. Jul 9

    10.09 – Madilyn Kent – M & Co

    A layoff isn't always a setback. Sometimes it's the boost you need! After being laid off from a strategic advisory firm, Madilyn pulled her existing LLC off the shelf and made the decision to stop climbing the corporate ladder. With a master’s in marketing and years of experience working alongside business creators, she stepped into entrepreneurship with a clear focus: helping agency owners finally give their own brands the same strategic attention they give their clients. Today, Madilyn leads M & Co, a North Carolina brand strategy consultancy for marketing and creative agency owners. Acting as a “second brain,” she helps founders sharpen their positioning, clarify their messaging, and maintain a brand presence that reflects the quality of work they are already delivering for others. In this episode, Kevin sits down with Madilyn to unpack how she landed two clients within four months of launching, moved from theory-heavy business courses into real client work, worked through pricing imposter syndrome, and built a relationship-first outreach approach that feels more human than traditional cold calling. Key Takeaways Solve one problem exceptionally well. Clarity on your specific solution and niche beats trying to appeal to everyone. Relationships are your first marketing channel. Networks, testimonials, and case studies build credibility long before any formal campaign does. Treat the business like a business on day one. Real systems and a professional mindset early create momentum that compounds. Lead with value. Ungated resources and quick wins earn trust faster than pitching ever will. Comfort follows the scary decision, not the other way around. Clarity and confidence show up after you act, not before. Price for where you're going. Don't anchor your rates to an old corporate salary; build them around the business you're actually creating. Delegation is freedom. Clean SOPs get routine work off your plate so you can focus on growth. Listen to the Episode YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@risingtidestartups  Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rising-tide-startups/id1330525474  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2eq7unl70TRPsBhjLEsNZR  Website: https://risingtidestartups.com/ Connect with Madilyn Kent Website: https://mandco.io LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/madilynkent/ Closing Thought "Take the jump. Take the leap. It is worth it. There will be struggles, but nothing in life comes without them. So do it." Sponsor Shoutouts Naviqus Virtual Services - Hassle-free administrative support services that are efficient, affordable, and tailored to your needs. Check out https://naviqus.com now to jumpstart your business for 2025! Podbrand Media - Have you ever considered starting your own podcast for your company or brand?  Podbrandmedia.com can help.  Affordable and effective in content creation and lead generation!

  2. Jun 25

    10.08 – Farzad Rashidi – Respona

    What if your customers like your software, but don’t have the time to use it? Farzad Rashidi learned this the hard way. Back in college, he cold emailed the founder of Visme, offered to work for free, and eventually became the company’s first marketing hire. He helped grow the bootstrapped platform to eight figures and learned one major lesson along the way: backlinks could drive serious organic growth, but the outreach process was painfully time-consuming. That insight eventually led him to co-found Respona, an outreach platform built to make the process easier. At first, the software gained traction. But over time, Farzad and his team ran into a frustrating problem. Customers did not leave because the product was bad. They left because they did not have the bandwidth to actually use it. In this episode of The Rising Tide Startups, Farzad shares how one conversation with an Australian client helped them rethink the entire business. That moment pushed Responda from DIY software into a productized service, and helped unlock 5x revenue growth in just twelve months. Key Takeaways: Action Produces Information. Taking any step forward yields the critical data points required to make the right move. Focus on Outcomes. Customers care about tangible results and deliverables, not just being handed a toolset they have to manage themselves. Build a Surround Sound Strategy. Modern AI search visibility requires replicating citations across authoritative lookalike publications. Position Yourself to Get Lucky. Proactive, direct initiative throws enough spaghetti at the wall until something sticks. Productize Your Services. Scale manual workflows by turning human operations into a standardized, predictable assembly line. Lower the Bar to Execution. With minimal technical overhead required today, launching an early project beats staying trapped in the idea stage. Seize Exponential Shifts. Capitalizing on moments when technology and user behaviors fundamentally change creates an immediate competitive edge.   Listen to the full conversation here: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@risingtidestartups  Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rising-tide-startups/id1330525474  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2eq7unl70TRPsBhjLEsNZR  Connect with Farzad: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/farzadrashidi/ Website: https://respona.com/ Closing Thought If you haven't started yet, that first project's goal is just to give you the data point to know what to do next. And so if you're going with that mindset of not being afraid of losing... what do you have to lose is a few hours of your time. — Farzad Rashidi Shoutout to our Great Sponsors:  Naviqus Virtual Services - Hassle-free administrative support services that are efficient, affordable, and tailored to your needs. Check out https://naviqus.com now to jumpstart your business for 2026! Podbrand Media - Have you ever considered starting your own podcast for your company or brand?  Podbrandmedia.com can help.  Affordable and effective in content creation and lead generation!

  3. Jun 9

    10.07 – Julia Hurley – Just Homes Group

    Escaping the cubicle starts with a simple shift: stop building someone else’s dream and start building your own. Julia Hurley is a top real estate broker, investor, NIL and business consultant, and founder of Just Homes Group Brokerage. She helps professionals move beyond the 9-to-5 grind by building smarter systems, stronger operations, and businesses designed for real freedom. Her own leap into real estate began with a mentorship moment over a decade ago. Since then, she’s become a multi-million-dollar producer with a clear belief: she’s a maker of dreams, not a 9-to-5er. In this episode, Julia shares how to move from a cubicle mindset into entrepreneurial ownership. She talks about facing the fear of starting, building systems around your lifestyle, finding mentors who push you, and creating a brand built to last through market shifts. Tune in for a practical conversation about freedom, resilience, and building a business on your own terms. Key Takeaways: Redefine Your Professional Identity. Real career freedom starts when you stop thinking like an employee and start building like an owner. Find Mentors Who Stretch You. Growth moves faster when you learn from people operating at a higher level, especially when you bring value to the relationship first. Build for Profit, Not Just Revenue. A strong business needs smart backend systems that protect margins and support long-term growth. Look for Local Opportunities. Some of the best advantages come from community needs, local market gaps, and regulations others overlook. Move From Learning to Action. Breaking into a competitive industry takes more than research. At some point, you have to execute. Build Relationships That Last. Long-term success comes from real connections with local stakeholders, not short-term, transactional networking.   Listen to the full conversation here: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@risingtidestartups Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rising-tide-startups/id1330525474 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2eq7unl70TRPsBhjLEsNZR Connect with Julia: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliahurley/ Website: https://www.justhomesgroup.com/juliahurley/ Closing thought: "Approach every room with a giving mindset; that is how you earn an open door and a permanent seat at the table." Please leave us an honest rating on Spotify, YouTube, or Apple Podcasts. Shoutout to our Great Sponsors: Naviqus Virtual Services - Hassle-free administrative support services that are efficient, affordable, and tailored to your needs. Explore https://naviqus.com now to get your business off to a strong start in 2026! Podbrand Media - Have you ever considered starting your own company or brand podcast? Podbrandmedia.com can help. Affordable and effective in content creation and lead generation!

  4. May 22

    10.06 – Giuseppe Grammatico – GG The Franchise Guide

    Building a successful business doesn’t always mean starting from scratch. Sometimes, the better path is choosing a proven operating model, like a franchise.   Giuseppe Grammatico, founder of GG the Franchise Guide, helps professionals move from employee to business owner through honest self-reflection and strategic franchise selection. He pushes past the usual fast-food stereotypes and guides candidates through a deeper process, one focused on personal motivation, time freedom, risk tolerance, and long-term asset ownership.   His approach helps entrepreneurs choose the right business model early, whether they want to run the business day to day or take a more semi-passive role. Giuseppe also focuses on flexible, low-overhead B2B opportunities that reduce startup risk and create room for sustainable growth. For him, real due diligence means going beyond sales materials and speaking directly with existing operators.   In this episode, Giuseppe breaks down how to define your “why” before looking at business ideas, how to evaluate franchise models without falling for industry assumptions, and how to validate an opportunity before investing. Key Takeaways Define Your Introspective Why. Map out your personal motivations, lifestyle desires, and boundaries before looking at actual business ideas. Systems Over Total Independence. Choosing a proven operational framework minimizes structural startup risks while still granting full asset ownership. Evaluate the Management Blueprint. Decide early whether to operate as a hands-on manager or a semi-passive owner overseeing an established team. Shatter Industry Stereotypes. Business replication models span far beyond traditional fast-food sectors into flexible, low-overhead, and B2B markets. Validate via Peer Networks. Perform ultimate due diligence by interviewing existing operators to cross-reference corporate claims with real-world realities. Prioritize Future Exit Strategies. Build your business with clean data and seamless scalability so it remains profitable and independent of you. Listen to the full conversation here: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@risingtidestartups Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rising-tide-startups/id1330525474 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2eq7unl70TRPsBhjLEsNZR Connect with Giuseppe: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/giuseppe-grammatico/ Website: https://ggthefranchiseguide.com Closing thought: "Freedom favors the bold. Those bold enough to take action on their goals are the ones who realize the freedom boldness can deliver." Please leave us an honest rating on Spotify, YouTube, or Apple Podcasts. Shoutout to our Great Sponsors: Naviqus Virtual Services - Hassle-free administrative support services that are efficient, affordable, and tailored to your needs. Explore https://naviqus.com now to get your business off to a strong start in 2026! Podbrand Media - Have you ever considered starting your own company or brand podcast? Let Podbrand Media do it for you - podbrandmedia.com!

  5. Mar 26

    10.05 – Apryl Syed – ApertureCodex

    If your pipeline feels stuck, you don't need more leads. You need to stop the bleeding first. Apryl Syed is the CEO of ApertureCodex and a fractional marketing executive known as the "messaging maven." She specializes in transforming underperforming revenue engines for B2B SaaS companies, pinpointing the leaks and breaks in their customer journey that quietly kill growth. In the past she's worked with brands like Xero, Calm, and LiquidIV. What makes Apryl's approach different? She's an award-winning choreographer and certified NLP practitioner turned marketing strategist, a combination that gives her an edge in crafting high-converting messages that are both precise and deeply human. By auditing your processes, systems, and people, she uncovers revenue hiding right where you least expect it, starting with quick wins through strategic LinkedIn social selling before scaling into larger plays. In this episode, we get into the tactical side of B2B growth: how to simplify your core message, why an outside perspective is often the only way to spot friction, and why fixing your current customer journey almost always outperforms throwing money at ads. You'll leave knowing exactly where to audit your pipeline first and how to turn stuck leads into consistent revenue, without touching your ad budget.   Key Takeaways: Prioritize Clarity Over Cleverness. Ensure your core value proposition can be explained in just a few simple words that your target audience immediately understands. Audit Your Customer Journey. Identify specific friction points where potential leads drop off to uncover revenue opportunities hiding in plain sight. Seek External Strategic Perspectives. Utilize outside experts to spot internal process gaps that those working within the business are often too close to see. Leverage Psychology in Messaging. Apply behavioral insights and neuro-linguistic principles to create marketing communications that resonate more deeply with human decision-making. Focus on Practical Implementation. Avoid theoretical marketing strategies in favor of tangible fixes that address current system, process, or people-related bottlenecks. Secure Quick Value Wins. Aim for immediate improvements that prove value and generate a pipeline before attempting to scale more complex, long-term strategies. Solve Problems Before Scaling. Fix existing operational and conversion issues within your current engine rather than trying to outspend them with new advertising. Listen to the full conversation here: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@risingtidestartups Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rising-tide-startups/id1330525474 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2eq7unl70TRPsBhjLEsNZR   Connect with April Syed: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aprylsyed/  ApetureCodex:  https://www.apeturecodex.com/    Closing thought: "I think we all need an outside perspective... we're often too close to the problem to see the solution that's right in front of us." Please leave us an honest rating on Spotify, YouTube, or Apple Podcasts.   Shoutout to our Great Sponsors: Naviqus Virtual Services - Hassle-free administrative support services that are efficient, affordable, and tailored to your needs. Check out https://naviqus.com now to jumpstart your business for 2026! Podbrand Media - Have you ever considered starting your own podcast for your company or brand? Podbrandmedia.com can help. Affordable and effective content creation and lead generation!

  6. Mar 16

    10.04 – Gal Ko – Podstar

    What if the most effective content system isn't more AI, but just one human conversation? Gal Ko is a seasoned marketing expert who serves as a marketing lecturer at Google AI Tech School and is the founder of BoldPMM and Podstar. His mission is to help founders escape the "content hamster wheel" of generic, AI-generated posts by leveraging strategic podcast guesting. By moving away from automated outreach and focusing on high-ROI human conversations, Gal helps leaders become respected industry voices who reach their ideal audience’s ears directly. His journey began at age 14, entering the business world early to support his family during a health crisis. This baptism by fire led him through years of product marketing for B2B tech companies, where he noticed a recurring problem: brilliant founders were exhausted by the pressure to produce daily content that failed to drive results. To solve this, he developed the REACH framework—a systematic, research-heavy approach to guesting that prioritizes deep connection and professional preparation over mass-messaging "numbers games." In this episode, we explore how to turn a single podcast appearance into a permanent content generation system. Gal breaks down how to overcome the fear of the microphone and why you don’t need a massive following to establish authority. Listeners will walk away with a clear roadmap for landing high-value guest spots that build genuine trust and long-term brand equity without the burnout of traditional social media marketing.   Key Takeaways: Stop the Content Hamster Wheel. Prioritize high-impact human conversations over the exhaustion of producing generic, automated social media posts. Prioritize Quality Over Quantity. Reaching an audience is about the specificity of your targeting, not the sheer volume of your outreach. Leverage Your Unique Transformation. You don’t need a massive following to be an industry voice; you only need a compelling lesson to share. Research Before Every Outreach. Save time and resources by deeply researching a platform’s themes and audience before initiating any contact. Personalize Your Initial Connection. Increase success rates by mentioning a "personal win" from a prospect's recent work to show genuine engagement. Utilize Professional Networking Platforms. Use sites like LinkedIn to bypass crowded email inboxes and build warmth through established professional profiles. Systematize Your Follow-Up Process. Ensure growth by maintaining a disciplined system for follow-ups so potential opportunities never fall through the cracks.   Listen to the full conversation here: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@risingtidestartups Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rising-tide-startups/id1330525474 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2eq7unl70TRPsBhjLEsNZR   Connect with Gal Ko: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gal-ko/  Skool community:  https://www.skool.com/podstar  Website: https://podstar.me/   Closing thought: "All you have to have is a story, a lesson, a transformation to share with your audience, a message that helps your people."   Please leave us an honest rating on Spotify, YouTube, or Apple Podcasts.   Shoutout to our Great Sponsors: Naviqus Virtual Services - Hassle-free administrative support services that are efficient, affordable, and tailored to your needs. Check out https://naviqus.com now to jumpstart your business for 2026! Podbrand Media - Have you ever considered starting your own podcast for your company or brand? Podbrandmedia.com can help. Affordable and effective content creation and lead generation!

  7. Feb 24

    10.03 – Giuseppe Sette – Reflexivity

    Sometimes an AI can out-reason a senior analyst in the time it takes to brew coffee. Giuseppe Sette is President and Co-Founder of Reflexivity, an AI-driven investment platform built to bring institutional-grade reasoning to every investor. After managing billions as Co-CIO of Global Macro at Lombard Odier and holding senior roles at Brevan Howard and Davidson Kempner, he saw a structural problem in modern finance: even the most talented analysts were overwhelmed by the scale and speed of market data. That realization led him to build around a core principle he calls Reflexivity, the idea that intelligence must examine its own reasoning. Instead of simply retrieving or summarizing information, the system audits assumptions, models feedback loops, and pressure-tests conclusions before delivering insight. The goal is not just faster answers, but structured reasoning under uncertainty. In this episode, we explore the shift from search tools to true reasoning agents, what it means to build AI that thinks through its own logic, and why personal experience and conviction matter when launching a company in the middle of rapid technological change. Key Takeaways: Prioritize Personal Experience. Build around a problem you have personally faced and understand deeply. Embrace Technological Leverage. Use automation and advanced tools to offload low-level tasks, allowing you to focus on strategy and decision-making. Iterate Through Practical Use. Validate by watching how people use your product in real-world settings, not just in theory. Implement Self-Reflective Systems. Add double-checks and self-audits so efficiency never sacrifices accuracy. Define Clear Methodologies. Technology creates real impact when guided by a clear human framework. Recognize Exponential Shifts. Stay alert to moments when technology fundamentally changes your industry. Those shifts create opportunity. Bridge Generational Approaches. Blend proven traditional methods with modern tools to create an edge. Listen to the full conversation here: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@risingtidestartups  Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rising-tide-startups/id1330525474  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2eq7unl70TRPsBhjLEsNZR  Connect with Giuseppe: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/togglegs/  Reflexivity Website: https://reflexivity.com/en   Closing thought: Experiencing a problem firsthand and solving it goes a long way to help you create a venture that succeeds. If you have a professional experience where you felt the pain, that is the best place to start.  Shoutout to our Great Sponsors:  Naviqus Virtual Services - Hassle-free administrative support services that are efficient, affordable, and tailored to your needs. Check out https://naviqus.com now to jumpstart your business for 2025! Podbrand Media - We specialize in hosting a podcast for your company or brand.    Affordable and effective in content creation and lead generation! Go to podbrandmedia.com for more info.

  8. Jan 30

    10.02 – Kevin Prewett – Podbrand Media

    What happens when the longtime hosts steps into the spotlight himself? Kevin Prewett is the host of the Rising Tide Startups podcast and the founder of Podbrand Media. After nearly a decade behind the microphone interviewing hundreds of entrepreneurs, he is stepping into a new chapter. What once lived alongside a long career in nonprofit leadership is now becoming his primary focus, helping founders and businesses use podcasting to build trust and tell real stories. Kevin’s path into podcasting began unexpectedly in January 2018. While working in the nonprofit sector and living across four countries on three continents, he started a podcast simply to stay close to the startup world and ask better questions. That curiosity grew into a viable business when a guest asked him to host their company podcast. Now, as he transitions out of nonprofit leadership, Kevin is doubling down on the work that never stopped pulling him in. In this episode, the roles reverse as guest host Steve Collins steps in as Kevin takes the hot seat. They reflect on Kevin’s transition from nonprofit leadership to entrepreneurship, the lessons learned from years of founder conversations, and the patterns that separate those who push through the dips from those who fade.   Key Takeaways: Conversation Beats Scripts. The strongest insights surface when curiosity leads the conversation and follow-up questions replace rigid lists. Consistency Wins Long-Term. Most efforts fade early, but discipline over time is what carries ideas past the initial excitement. Relatability Builds Trust. Lessons land harder when they come from people still close enough to the struggle to feel real. Ideas Need Execution. Creativity only matters when paired with consistent ollow-through and the willingness to iterate. Discipline Outlasts Market Shifts. Long-term success comes less from timing and more from personal discipline. Mentorship Requires Honesty. The most valuable mentors have lived the work and are willing to tell you the truth. Character Scales. Trust, integrity, and reliability quietly shape reputations that grow alongside the business. Listen to the full conversation here: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@risingtidestartups Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rising-tide-startups/id1330525474 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2eq7unl70TRPsBhjLEsNZR Connect with Kevin: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-prewett  Podbrand Media: Podbrandmedia.com   Closing thought: "You can be consistently disciplined with a bad idea and it won't work. But if you have an idea that has a market and potential, discipline is everything." - Kevin Prewett​   Please leave us an honest rating on Spotify, YouTube, or Apple Podcasts. Shoutout to our Great Sponsors: Naviqus Virtual Services - Hassle-free administrative support services that are efficient, affordable, and tailored to your needs. Explore https://naviqus.com now to get your business off to a strong start in 2026! Podbrand Media - Have you ever considered starting your own company or brand podcast? Podbrandmedia.com can help. Affordable and effective in content creation and lead generation!

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About

Rising Tide Startups is a unique, bi-weekly Business interview podcast, hosting some of today’s most exciting solopreneurs, startups founders and side hustlers from all over the globe.

Information

  • Creator
    Rising Tide
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    300
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026. All Rights Reserved
  • Show Website
    Rising Tide Startups