Better Together

GoldBear Media
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Entrepreneurship

Real Talk for People Building Real Businesses. Hosted by Kelly and Shawn Sundsvold | Powered by GoldBear Media About the Podcast: Better Together cuts through the noise with authentic stories from small business owners who’ve faced challenges, found resilience, and discovered growth in unexpected places. Each episode dives into what really happens behind the highlight reel—because business isn’t built in isolation. It’s built through connection, collaboration, and the courage to keep showing up. This podcast is all about real conversations that remind us we’re not alone in the journey of entrepreneurship.

  1. 1d ago

    Hire Slow, Fire Fast: The EQ Hiring Revolution with Jeff Sophiea

    Most businesses hire based on experience and gut feeling. Jeff Sophiea built an entire company around proving why that's the wrong approach. In this episode of Better Together, Jeff - co-founder of Ideal Traits - breaks down why emotional intelligence consistently outperforms IQ in predicting job success, how AI-driven assessments are transforming the way small and mid-sized businesses find and filter talent, and why slowing down the hiring process is the single most important thing a growing business can do. Jeff shares his own story - navigating low ACT scores, ADHD, and early work experiences that shaped his understanding of people in ways traditional education never could. And he brings that perspective directly into what Ideal Traits does - helping businesses stop making expensive hiring mistakes by adding structure, data, and emotional intelligence to a process most companies handle on instinct alone. He also gets into building candidate pipelines before you desperately need them, why gut feeling and data work better together than either does alone, and how one assessment identified a top performer a traditional hiring process would have overlooked completely. For business owners who've ever made a bad hire - or are about to make one - this episode is essential listening. Watch the full episode and share your biggest takeaway in the comments below. 🔗 Connect with Jeff: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffsophiea/ Better Together is the 2026 Best Podcast in Maryland winner, hosted by Shawn and Kelly Sundsvold, co-owners of GoldBear Media. Each episode is a real, unscripted conversation with a founder or entrepreneur about the business they've built - the wins, the failures, and everything they learned along the way. Better Together is brought to you by GoldBear Media - helping business owners turn scattered marketing into a real, connected strategy. Learn more at goldbear.media. #BetterTogetherPodcast #Hiring #EmotionalIntelligence #EQ #Recruitment #IdealTraits #AI #SmallBusiness #JeffreySophiea #GoldBearMedia

  2. 5d ago

    From Digital Marketing to Shark Tank: Doug Bard's Wave Tape Story

    Everyone has lost five minutes of their life trying to find the end of a packing tape roll. Doug Bard decided to fix it. In this episode of Better Together, Doug shares the origin story behind Wave Tape - a deceptively simple product solving one of the most universally frustrating problems in packaging. From the first idea to market validation, Shark Tank application, and everything in between, Doug pulls back the curtain on what it actually takes to bring a product to life. Connect with Doug - https://www.linkedin.com/in/douglasbard/ He gets honest about the zigzags - the setbacks, the pivots, the moments where most people would have quit. And he talks about what kept him going: family support, genuine belief in the product, and a stubbornness about solving a problem that millions of people deal with every single day. His background in digital marketing gave him a unique lens on branding and storytelling - and the way he built Wave Tape's identity around family and authenticity shows exactly how a simple product can become something people genuinely connect with. For aspiring inventors, entrepreneurs balancing a full-time job with a startup dream, or anyone who's ever had a product idea and wondered if it could actually work - this episode is for you. Watch the full episode and share your biggest takeaway in the comments below. Better Together is the 2026 Best Podcast in Maryland winner, hosted by Shawn and Kelly Sundsvold, co-owners of GoldBear Media. Each episode is a real, unscripted conversation with a founder or entrepreneur about the business they've built - the wins, the failures, and everything they learned along the way. Better Together is brought to you by GoldBear Media helping business owners turn scattered marketing into a real, connected strategy. Learn more at goldbear.media. #BetterTogetherPodcast #Entrepreneurship #ProductInvention #WaveTape #SharkTank #Innovation #StartupJourney #DougBard #GoldBearMedia

  3. Sep 28

    Making Athlete Wealth Last for Generations - Zac O'Brien

    Most people assume professional athletes are set for life. The reality is far more complicated - and far more costly when nobody's paying attention. In this episode of Better Together, Zac O'Brien pulls back the curtain on what managing the financial lives of professional athletes actually looks like. The mistakes nobody warns them about, the tax planning opportunities most high earners miss completely, and why building a legacy requires a lot more than a big paycheck. Zac breaks down the invasive approval process required to work with NFL players, why athletes consistently outspend their income without proper financial education, and how understanding someone's financial DNA - the relationship with money they developed in childhood - shapes every decision they make as adults. He also gets into what happens when the career ends. The transition out of sports is one of the most financially dangerous moments in an athlete's life - and proactive planning is the only thing that changes the outcome. For high earners, business owners, or anyone serious about building wealth that actually lasts - this episode is packed with insight that goes well beyond sports. Watch the full episode and share your biggest takeaway in the comments below. 🔗 Connect with Zac: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zac-obrien/ Better Together is the 2026 Best Podcast in Maryland winner, hosted by Shawn and Kelly Sundsvold, co-owners of GoldBear Media. Each episode is a real, unscripted conversation with a founder or entrepreneur about the business they've built - the wins, the failures, and everything they learned along the way. Better Together is brought to you by GoldBear Media - helping business owners turn scattered marketing into a real, connected strategy. Learn more at goldbear.media. #BetterTogetherPodcast #FinancialPlanning #Athletes #WealthManagement #Legacy #TaxPlanning #ZachOBrien #GoldBearMedia #SportsFinance

  4. Sep 24

    From Backpacking Africa to Building a Global Business - Valerie Bowden

    Valerie Bowden backpacked across Africa, fell in love with Ethiopia, stayed for eight years - and built a thriving outsourcing company that's changing how the world thinks about global talent. In this episode of Better Together, Valerie shares the story behind Cradle - how she started it while pregnant, scaled it to explosive growth, and built a team of talented women across Africa that's outperforming every expectation. She gets honest about the misconceptions Western media has created around Africa, why many African countries are actually safer than the US, and how hiring her first assistant tripled her business in three months. She also talks about the real challenge nobody prepares you for - balancing motherhood with building a company, transitioning from founder to CEO, and learning to let go so the business can actually grow. For entrepreneurs building remotely, founders navigating growth and personal life, or anyone curious about the untapped potential of global talent - this one is a must listen. Watch the full episode and share your biggest takeaway in the comments below. 🔗 Connect with Valerie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/valeriebowden/ Better Together is the 2026 Best Podcast in Maryland winner, hosted by Shawn and Kelly Sundsvold, co-owners of GoldBear Media. Each episode is a real, unscripted conversation with a founder or entrepreneur about the business they've built - the wins, the failures, and everything they learned along the way. Better Together is brought to you by GoldBear Media - helping business owners turn scattered marketing into a real, connected strategy. Learn more at goldbear.media. #BetterTogetherPodcast #Outsourcing #Entrepreneurship #WomenInBusiness #Africa #RemoteWork #BusinessGrowth #ValerieBowden #GoldBearMedia #GlobalTalent

  5. Sep 21

    The Last Book Written by a Human - Jeff Burningham

    Jeff Burningham sold his first tech company at 26. Ran for governor. Built and exited multiple businesses. And then hit a wall that no amount of external success could fix. In this episode of Better Together, Jeff gets honest about what happens when you achieve everything you thought you wanted - and realize it wasn't the point. He shares his journey through what he calls the dark night of the soul, how he rebuilt from the inside out, and why he believes AI is less a threat to humanity and more a cosmic mirror reflecting exactly who we are. His book - The Last Book Written by a Human - explores what it means to stay human in a world being reshaped by artificial intelligence. And the conversation goes deep on letting go of outcomes, building character through small daily habits, and why true fulfillment has nothing to do with what you accomplish on paper. For entrepreneurs chasing the next exit, leaders navigating uncertainty, or anyone questioning whether the life they're building is actually the one they want - this episode will stop you in your tracks. Watch the full episode and share your biggest takeaway in the comments below. 🔗 Connect with Jeff: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-burningham-15a01a7b/ Better Together is the 2026 Best Podcast in Maryland winner, hosted by Shawn and Kelly Sundsvold, co-owners of GoldBear Media. Each episode is a real, unscripted conversation with a founder or entrepreneur about the business they've built - the wins, the failures, and everything they learned along the way. Better Together is brought to you by GoldBear Media - helping business owners turn scattered marketing into a real, connected strategy. Learn more at goldbear.media. #BetterTogetherPodcast #AI #Entrepreneurship #PersonalGrowth #Leadership #JeffBurningham #HumanPotential #GoldBearMedia #MindsetShift

  6. Sep 17

    Fractional Leadership with Fred Garlington

    Most small businesses don't need a full-time COO. They need the right person, at the right time, for exactly as long as it takes to fix what's broken and build what's missing. That's exactly what Fred Garlington does. In this episode of Better Together, Fred - fractional COO and founder of Zero Point Creations - breaks down what fractional leadership actually looks like in practice, how he builds trust quickly inside new organizations, and why the most common blind spot in growing companies isn't strategy or sales. It's confusing revenue for profit. He's helped companies scale from 8M to 25M - and what he's found consistently is that growth without discipline is just expensive chaos. Saying no to the wrong opportunities, refusing to chase bad money with good, and building operational clarity that lets a founder finally step back - that's the real work. Oh - and he also shares how running a band taught him more about operations than he expected. 🔗 Connect with Fred: Fred Garlington | LinkedIn Better Together is the 2026 Best Podcast in Maryland winner, hosted by Shawn and Kelly Sundsvold, co-owners of GoldBear Media. Each episode is a real, unscripted conversation with a founder or entrepreneur about the business they've built - the wins, the failures, and everything they learned along the way. Better Together is brought to you by GoldBear Media - helping business owners turn scattered marketing into a real, connected strategy. Learn more at goldbear.media. #BetterTogetherPodcast #FractionalCOO #Leadership #BusinessGrowth #Entrepreneurship #Operations #GoldBearMedia #FredGarlington

  7. Sep 14

    Behave Like a Business Owner: Chris Papin's Blueprint for Small Business Success

    Chris Papin is both a CPA and a licensed attorney - and he built that dual expertise specifically to serve small business owners who need someone who can see the full picture, not just one side of it. In this episode, he breaks down what it actually means to behave like a business owner, why resilience is built through hard seasons, not around them, and why everything you need to succeed is already known - if you're willing to be intentional about it. Connect with Chris: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrispapin/ Better Together is the 2026 Best Podcast in Maryland winner, hosted by Shawn and Kelly Sundsvold, co-owners of GoldBear Media. Each episode is a real, unscripted conversation with a founder or entrepreneur about the business they've built - the wins, the failures, and everything they learned along the way. Better Together is brought to you by GoldBear Media - helping business owners turn scattered marketing into a real, connected strategy. Learn more at goldbear.media. #BetterTogetherPodcast #SmallBusiness #Entrepreneurship #BusinessStrategy #CPA #Resilience #BusinessPlanning #GoldBearMedia #ChrisPapen

  8. Sep 10

    Turning Layoffs into Launchpads: David McKee's Mindset Mastery

    David McKee got laid off and instead of letting it break him, he let it build him. In this episode he shares the mindset tools, neuroscience-backed routines, and resilience strategies that took him from that moment to building a thriving coaching practice helping entrepreneurs do the same. 🔗 Connect with David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mckee-a9966514/ Better Together is the 2026 Best Podcast in Maryland winner, hosted by Shawn and Kelly Sundsvold, co-owners of GoldBear Media. Each episode is a real, unscripted conversation with a founder or entrepreneur about the business they've built the wins, the failures, and everything they learned along the way. Better Together is brought to you by GoldBear Media, helping business owners turn scattered marketing into a real, connected strategy. Learn more at goldbear.media. #BetterTogetherPodcast #Mindset #Resilience #Entrepreneurship #MentalHealth #ControlTheControllables #GoldBearMedia #DavidMcKee

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About

Real Talk for People Building Real Businesses. Hosted by Kelly and Shawn Sundsvold | Powered by GoldBear Media About the Podcast: Better Together cuts through the noise with authentic stories from small business owners who’ve faced challenges, found resilience, and discovered growth in unexpected places. Each episode dives into what really happens behind the highlight reel—because business isn’t built in isolation. It’s built through connection, collaboration, and the courage to keep showing up. This podcast is all about real conversations that remind us we’re not alone in the journey of entrepreneurship.

Information

  • Creator
    GoldBear Media
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    61
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 GoldBear Media
  • Show Website
    Better Together