Founders in Full

Dan Ritzke
  • 5.0 (1)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Founders in Full explores the future of family-focused solutions—from innovative tech startups to mission-driven services and products that help parents, caregivers, and families thrive.Each episode features candid conversations with founders on what it really takes to start and scale: from customer research and product-market fit to brand positioning and marketing strategies that drive growth.Whether you’re a family-focused founder, investor, or advocate, you’ll hear real stories and practical lessons on finding your ideal customer, crafting trust-building messaging, choosing the right channels, and prioritizing time and budget when every decision counts.Hosted by Dan Ritzke—Fractional CMO and FamTech Marketing Consultant—Founders in Full shares the stories and insights of the people shaping the next generation of family-centered solutions.

  1. Erika Warren | Inciteful Med

    1H AGO

    Erika Warren | Inciteful Med

    Erika Warren, Co-Founder of Inciteful Med, shares the story behind building a healthcare research and self-advocacy platform designed to help patients and caregivers better understand complex medical information and make more informed decisions. Before starting Inciteful Med, Erika spent her career in education and consumer technology marketing — never expecting to become a healthcare founder. But after her co-founder used a research discovery tool he built to help uncover a missed cancer diagnosis in his own family, everything changed. That experience revealed a massive problem hiding in plain sight: patients and caregivers are often expected to become experts in life-changing medical conditions with very little support, clarity, or transparency. In this conversation, we explore: ✅ The unexpected story that led to the creation of Inciteful Med ✅ Why patients and caregivers often feel lost inside the healthcare system ✅ How AI is changing healthcare research and patient self-advocacy ✅ Why trust, transparency, and citations matter so much in healthcare AI ✅ The challenges of marketing products for people navigating stressful, emotionally overwhelming situations ✅ How patient communities, storytelling, and founder-led marketing are shaping the company’s growth Erika’s story is a powerful reminder that some of the best startups don’t begin with a business opportunity — they begin with a deeply human problem that somebody simply refuses to ignore. 👉 Learn more about Inciteful Med: https://incitefulmed.com/ 👉 Connect with Erika on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erika-warren/ Connect with me (Dan Ritzke): I’m a Fractional CMO who helps FamTech companies position their brand, sharpen their messaging, create marketing strategies that drive growth, and oversee execution to make sure those plans turn into results. 👉 Visit my website: https://danritzke.com/ 👉 Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/ritzke/ Apply to be on the podcast or nominate a founder: 👉 Founders in Full: https://danritzke.com/podcast/

    1h 12m
  2. Jonathan Carone | Healthy Sports Parents

    MAY 8

    Jonathan Carone | Healthy Sports Parents

    Jonathan Carone, founder of Healthy Sports Parents, shares how a lifetime around sports — from coaching and athletic departments to marketing and entrepreneurship — ultimately led him to build one of the fastest-growing parenting platforms focused on youth sports culture today. What started as frustration watching unhealthy behavior from parents on the sidelines quickly turned into a much bigger mission: helping families navigate youth sports in a healthier, more sustainable, and more human way. After years building websites and helping organizations clarify their messaging through the StoryBrand framework, Jonathan unexpectedly found himself at the center of a growing conversation around pressure, burnout, identity, and what youth sports should actually teach kids. In this conversation, we explore: ✅ Why so many parents feel pressure to push kids harder in sports ✅ The emotional dynamics that often drive sideline behavior ✅ Why 70% of kids quit sports by age 13 ✅ The long-term impact of tying love and approval to performance ✅ Why process matters more than outcomes — both in sports and life ✅ The dangers of early specialization and burnout ✅ What healthy support actually looks like for young athletes ✅ How Jonathan grew Healthy Sports Parents into a platform reaching hundreds of thousands of families Jonathan’s story is a powerful reminder that youth sports are about far more than winning. At their best, sports can help kids build confidence, resilience, discipline, and relationships that last a lifetime — but only if adults create environments where kids feel safe, supported, and loved regardless of performance. 👉 Learn more about Healthy Sports Parents: https://healthysportsparents.com/ 👉 Follow Jonathan on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/healthysportsparents/ 👉 Connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-carone-52145778/ Connect with me (Dan Ritzke): I’m a Fractional CMO who helps FamTech companies position their brand, sharpen their messaging, create marketing strategies that drive growth, and oversee execution to make sure those plans turn into results. 👉 Visit my website: https://danritzke.com/ 👉 Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/ritzke/ Apply to be on the podcast or nominate a founder: 👉 Founders in Full: https://danritzke.com/podcast/

    1h 8m
  3. Sameer Goyal | Kidzovo

    MAR 4

    Sameer Goyal | Kidzovo

    Sameer Goyal, Co-Founder of Kidzovo, shares the journey of building a new kind of learning platform for kids — one that transforms passive screen time into interactive learning experiences. After spending years as a software engineer at Amazon, Sameer never planned to become a founder. But a combination of curiosity, emerging AI technology, and conversations with parents revealed a massive opportunity: kids spend hours watching videos online, yet very little of that time actually helps them learn. Kidzovo was born from a simple but powerful idea — meet kids where they already are (video), and layer in the kind of interaction, questioning, and guidance a parent or teacher might provide during co-viewing. In this conversation, Sameer walks through the winding path from engineer to founder, the early struggles of building a media platform from scratch, and what it really takes to create meaningful educational experiences for kids in a world dominated by screens. We explore: ✅ Sameer’s early fascination with computers — starting with programming classes as a kid ✅ His career at Amazon and the moments that sparked his interest in entrepreneurship ✅ The surprising insights from interviewing dozens of parents about kids and screen time ✅ Why engagement — not education — had to come first when designing Kidzovo ✅ The challenge of licensing kids’ video content with no industry connections ✅ How AI and human educators work together to make video interactive for kids ✅ Why many “educational apps” fail to keep kids coming back ✅ The marketing lessons Sameer learned the hard way while building a startup from scratch ✅ How Kidzovo helps parents stay connected to what their kids are learning Sameer’s story is a great reminder that building a product for families requires more than great technology — it requires empathy for parents, curiosity about how kids actually learn, and a willingness to rethink what “screen time” can be. 👉 Learn more about Kidzovo: https://kidzovo.com/ 👉 Connect with Sameer on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sameergoyal91/ Connect with me (Dan Ritzke): I’m a Fractional CMO who helps FamTech companies position their brand, sharpen their messaging, create marketing strategies that drive growth, and oversee execution to make sure those plans turn into results. 👉 Visit my website: https://danritzke.com/ 👉 Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/ritzke/ Apply to be on the podcast or nominate a founder: 👉 Founders in Full: https://danritzke.com/podcast/

    1h 23m
  4. Paul Sullivan | The Company of Dads

    FEB 19

    Paul Sullivan | The Company of Dads

    Paul Sullivan, Founder of The Company of Dads and longtime former New York Times columnist, shares how a personal decision inside his own family led to a broader mission: redefining what modern fatherhood looks like at home and at work. When Paul’s wife launched her own asset management firm in 2013, he stepped into the role of “lead dad” — the go-to parent managing the mental load, logistics, and day-to-day responsibilities of raising their three daughters. What began as a quiet, almost “undercover” shift evolved into a national platform serving millions of fathers navigating similar transitions. We explore: ✅ Why COVID became the catalyst that moved him from “undercover lead dad” to founder ✅ The data behind the 25 million lead dads in America — and why they’ve been largely overlooked ✅ How workplace culture still discourages fathers from taking leave or stepping fully into caregiving ✅ Lessons from leaving a high-profile career at The New York Times to build something from scratch ✅ The painful (and expensive) early founder mistakes that reshaped his approach to growth ✅ Why supporting fathers isn’t just about dads — it’s about equity for working moms and healthier companies Paul’s story is a powerful reminder that cultural change doesn’t start with policy — it starts with visibility. By giving fathers language, community, and credibility, he’s helping reshape the future of work and family in real time. 👉 Learn more about The Company of Dads: https://thecompanyofdads.com/ 👉 Connect with Paul on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sullivanpaulj/ Connect with me (Dan Ritzke): I’m a Fractional CMO who helps FamTech companies position their brand, sharpen their messaging, create marketing strategies that drive growth, and oversee execution to make sure those plans turn into results. 👉 Visit my website: https://danritzke.com/ 👉 Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/ritzke/ Apply to be on the podcast or nominate a founder: 👉 Founders in Full: https://danritzke.com/podcast/

    1h 1m
  5. Dr. Ashley Blackington | Dovetail

    FEB 12

    Dr. Ashley Blackington | Dovetail

    Dr. Ashley Blackington, Founder of Dovetail, shares how her 15+ years as an occupational therapist—and one unforgettable hospital moment—shaped her mission to build better infrastructure for caregivers. After watching families navigate medical crises alone and overwhelmed, Ashley set out to create tools that reduce friction, increase clarity, and keep caregivers from falling through the cracks. What began as a hand-drawn paper planner during the early days of the pandemic evolved into a digital platform designed to help families coordinate care, communicate clearly, and stay organized during some of the most stressful seasons of life. We explore: ✅ The hospital experience that cemented her focus on caregivers—not just patients ✅ Why she chose to build outside traditional healthcare and insurance systems ✅ How a COVID-era paper planner became the foundation for a tech startup ✅ The decision to go direct-to-consumer before pursuing larger B2B channels ✅ Lessons learned building a tech company without a tech background Ashley’s journey is a reminder that caregiving spans every stage of life—and that the best FamTech solutions are built from lived experience, empathy, and a deep understanding of the people they serve. 👉 Learn more about Dovetail: https://dovetaildesigns.co/ 👉 Connect with Ashley on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleyblackington/ Connect with me (Dan Ritzke): I’m a Fractional CMO who helps FamTech companies position their brand, sharpen their messaging, create marketing strategies that drive growth, and oversee execution to make sure those plans turn into results. 👉 Visit my website: https://danritzke.com/ 👉 Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/ritzke/ Apply to be on the podcast or nominate a founder: 👉 Founders in Full: https://danritzke.com/podcast/

    1h 21m
  6. Karina Muller | Maripossa Wellness

    12/10/2025

    Karina Muller | Maripossa Wellness

    Karina Muller, Founder of Maripossa Wellness, shares how her journey from individual therapeutic work to large-scale corporate wellness programs led her to build a model centered on human connection, psychological safety, and adaptive teaching. What began as one-on-one support evolved into a mission to equip entire teams—nurses, investment bankers, educators, tech professionals—with the tools they need to navigate stress, burnout, and emotional regulation in the workplace. We explore: ✅ How a pivotal hospital partnership pushed Karina from private practice into group-based wellness and training ✅ Why “finding champions” inside organizations helped her scale early pilots into long-term programs ✅ The power of customizing wellness tools for different audiences—from ICU nurses to software engineers to senior executives ✅ Why she teaches instructors to blend method and personality—80% structure, 20% authenticity—to build trust and connection ✅ Stories from the field, including how a team’s anxiety over an office redesign led to a workshop on boundaries, space, and emotional regulation Karina’s work is a reminder that wellness programs only make an impact when they’re built around real human experiences—not templates. Her approach blends evidence-based tools with deep empathy, creating environments where people feel understood, supported, and equipped to manage the emotional realities of work. 👉 Learn more about Maripossa Wellness: https://www.maripossawellness.com/ 👉 Connect with Karina on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karinamuller/ Connect with me (Dan Ritzke): I’m a Fractional CMO who helps FamTech companies position their brand, sharpen their messaging, create marketing strategies that drive growth, and oversee execution to make sure those plans turn into results. 👉 Visit my website: https://danritzke.com/ 👉 Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/ritzke/ Apply to be on the podcast or nominate a founder: 👉 Founders in Full: https://danritzke.com/podcast/

    1h 18m
  7. Amy Briggs | Aviva

    12/05/2025

    Amy Briggs | Aviva

    Amy Briggs, Founder & CEO of Aviva, shares how her unexpected path from pediatric speech-language pathologist to tech founder led her to build a virtual scheduling assistant designed to give parents back their time—and their sanity. What began as a desire to lighten the mental load for families became a mission to eliminate the invisible labor of managing school forms, appointments, activities, and the endless stream of emails that govern modern parenthood. We explore: ✅ How Amy’s work with children and families revealed the emotional and logistical weight parents carry ✅ The pivotal moment that pushed her from private practice into entrepreneurship ✅ Why her first startup idea failed—and how that clarity led to Aviva ✅ How she built a scrappy, non-scalable alpha, ran 20 testers through it, and confirmed parents’ deep need for automation ✅ The challenge of building a tech product without a tech background, including mentorship, hiring the right developer, and navigating Google’s strict security review ✅ Her early branding and marketing approach as a bootstrapped founder Amy’s story is a reminder that founders don’t need a traditional tech background to build something meaningful. With the right insight, persistence, and empathy for the problem, you can create tools that truly lighten the load for families. 👉 Learn more about Aviva: https://www.withaviva.com/ 👉 Connect with Amy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-briggs-87b59a94/ Connect with me (Dan Ritzke): I’m a Fractional CMO who helps FamTech companies position their brand, sharpen their messaging, create marketing strategies that drive growth, and oversee execution to make sure those plans turn into results. 👉 Visit my website: https://danritzke.com/ 👉 Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/ritzke/ Apply to be on the podcast or nominate a founder: 👉 Founders in Full: https://danritzke.com/podcast/

    1h 27m
  8. Mike George | Soaring Families

    11/24/2025

    Mike George | Soaring Families

    Mike George, Founder of Soaring Families, shares how three decades of caring for his son with complex medical needs led him to create a platform that helps families move from overwhelm and exhaustion to confidence and hope. What began as a personal journey evolved into a mission to help caregivers build stronger support systems and navigate their care responsibilities with clarity and resilience. We explore: ✅ How Mike’s family caregiving experience shaped the foundation of Soaring Families ✅ Why writing his book was both emotional and validating—and how it revealed the universal challenges caregivers face ✅ The evolution from his early Caregiver Support Formula to today’s Pink Book, a simple system families use to organize care and reduce stress ✅ How partnerships with organizations like ALS societies and dementia care groups are bringing diagnosis-specific frameworks to more families ✅ Why YouTube and authentic storytelling have become core to Soaring Families’ outreach ✅ What excites Mike most about the future, including AI-powered tools designed to simplify caregiving Mike’s journey is a powerful reminder that even the most complex caregiving stories can be filled with strength, resilience, and possibility—especially when families have the right support. 👉 Learn more about Soaring Families: https://soaringfamilies.com/ 👉 Connect with Mike on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeg-bmg/ Connect with me (Dan Ritzke): I’m a Fractional CMO who helps FamTech companies position their brand, sharpen their messaging, create marketing strategies that drive growth, and oversee execution to make sure those plans turn into results. 👉 Visit my website: https://danritzke.com/ 👉 Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/ritzke/ Apply to be on the podcast or nominate a founder: 👉 Founders in Full: https://danritzke.com/podcast/

    1h 5m
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About

Founders in Full explores the future of family-focused solutions—from innovative tech startups to mission-driven services and products that help parents, caregivers, and families thrive.Each episode features candid conversations with founders on what it really takes to start and scale: from customer research and product-market fit to brand positioning and marketing strategies that drive growth.Whether you’re a family-focused founder, investor, or advocate, you’ll hear real stories and practical lessons on finding your ideal customer, crafting trust-building messaging, choosing the right channels, and prioritizing time and budget when every decision counts.Hosted by Dan Ritzke—Fractional CMO and FamTech Marketing Consultant—Founders in Full shares the stories and insights of the people shaping the next generation of family-centered solutions.

Information

  • Creator
    Dan Ritzke
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    19
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Founders in Full
  • Show Website
    Founders in Full