A Founder's Life

Leo Gestetner
  • 5.0 (5)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Biweekly

Join me as I explore the powerful intersection of entrepreneurship, health & wellness, and parenthood. In each episode, I’ll be interviewing inspiring individuals who excel in one or more of these areas, sharing their stories, insights, and lessons. My goal is to provide valuable takeaways that can help you thrive both personally and professionally.

  1. 1d ago ·  Video

    Work-Life Balance Isn’t 50/50 - Graham Topol - S7 -E6

    Work life balance isn’t about dividing every day perfectly between your business and your personal life. For founders, it’s about understanding where your energy matters most and recognizing which priorities simply cannot be dropped. In this episode of A Founder’s Life, Leo Gestetner sits down with Graham Topol, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of MGT Insurance, to discuss work life balance, entrepreneurship, artificial intelligence, business leadership, and the difficult decisions that shape the founder journey. Graham’s career began in investment banking in New York before taking him inside Morgan Stanley, into technology investing, and eventually to Stanford. Throughout that journey, one problem continued to capture his attention: insurance remained unnecessarily complicated, slow, and inefficient, especially for small business owners. That insight eventually led Graham and his brother to launch MGT Insurance, an applied AI company working to modernize commercial property and casualty insurance and better serve America’s small business community. But this conversation goes far beyond insurance and artificial intelligence. Graham shares one of the most difficult moments of his entrepreneurial journey: walking away from an acquisition after spending years pursuing it, raising capital around it, going without salaries for years, and taking on millions of dollars in personal debt. Despite everything they had invested in the opportunity, Graham and his brother eventually realized it was the wrong path. Having the courage to walk away ultimately opened the door to something much better and permanently changed the way Graham approaches decision making, risk, and resilience. The conversation also explores Graham’s approach to work life balance as a new father and CEO. A lesson from his late mentor, Joel Peterson, helped reshape his perspective: balance doesn’t mean spending 50% of your day working and 50% everywhere else. What matters is whether, over time, you’re giving the right energy to the right things. Joel described life as juggling glass and rubber balls. Some responsibilities can temporarily be dropped and bounce back. Others, especially your responsibilities as a parent, are glass. Understanding the difference has become increasingly meaningful to Graham since welcoming his first daughter. In this episode you’ll learn:  • Why work life balance doesn’t need to mean 50/50  • How to recognize which priorities in life cannot be dropped  • Why founders should measure outcomes instead of hours  • How exercise supports founder health and creates mental clarity  • Why taking off the “founder hat” is essential for long-term performance  • How sunk costs can trap entrepreneurs in the wrong decisions  • Why walking away can sometimes be the strongest decision  • How patience and resilience influence startup success  • Why great business leadership starts with trusting talented people  • Why entrepreneurs need to genuinely love the problems they’re solving Graham also discusses why becoming a father changed his perspective on success, how his wife has become one of his most important confidants, and why maintaining his physical health helps him become a better leader. For Graham, entrepreneurship is a marathon. Maintaining a strong founder mindset requires knowing when to push, when to recover, when to change direction, and when to give your attention to something beyond the company. If you enjoy conversations about entrepreneurship, founder mindset, business leadership, work life balance, founder health, personal development, resilience, decision making, and building meaningful businesses, you’ll enjoy this episode. This episode of A Founder’s Life is brought to you by Thankz, helping founders scale with reliable remote talent. Email founders@thankz.com with the subject A Founder’s Life for preferred pricing. Connect with Today’s Guest – Graham Topol Website: MGTInsurance.com LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/leogestetner Website leogestetner.com/leo Subscribe Now! youtube.com/@afounderslife?sub_confirmation=1

    Work-Life Balance Isn’t 50/50 - Graham Topol - S7 -E6

  2. Aug 13 ·  Video

    Why Every Entrepreneur Needs to Embrace Failure | Brad Springer | S7 E5

    Building a startup has never been easy—but today’s founders have one advantage previous generations didn’t: artificial intelligence. In this episode of A Founder’s Life, Leo Gestetner sits down with Brad Springer, Co-Founder of Bob.pro, to discuss entrepreneurship, AI, startup growth, resilience, and how founders can leverage technology without losing the human side of business. Brad shares his unconventional journey from working in hospitality and marketing at Chick-fil-A to teaching himself how to code by trading beer and dinner for programming lessons. That determination led him into the startup world, where he spent years building software companies before launching Bob.pro to help businesses thoughtfully adopt AI. But this conversation goes far beyond technology. Brad opens up about how adopting his son transformed his outlook on life, why every entrepreneur needs intentional family rhythms, and how learning to slow down has become one of his greatest leadership challenges. Throughout the conversation, we explore entrepreneurship, business leadership, artificial intelligence, resilience, family, health, startup growth, and the mindset required to thrive through every season of business. Whether you’re building your first startup or leading a growing company, Brad shares practical lessons every entrepreneur can apply. In this episode you’ll learn: • Why failing fast accelerates entrepreneurial success • How AI helps businesses scale without replacing people • Why intentional family rhythms matter during busy seasons • The importance of slowing down to become a better leader • How prayer, meditation, and reading create mental clarity • Why quarterly fitness goals keep entrepreneurs motivated • How vulnerability builds stronger teams • Why commitment is essential when building a startup • How every season of entrepreneurship requires different priorities Brad also shares why adopting his son became the defining moment of his life, how teaching himself to code changed his career forever, and why his personal mantra “burn the ships” continues to guide every major decision he makes. If you enjoy conversations about entrepreneurship, founder mindset, artificial intelligence, startup growth, business leadership, resilience, personal development, and building meaningful businesses, you’ll enjoy this episode. This episode of A Founder’s Life is brought to you by Thankz, helping founders scale with reliable remote talent. Email founders@thankz.com with the subject A Founder’s Life for preferred pricing. Connect with Today’s Guest – Brad Springer Website: https://bob.pro LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradspringer/ LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/leogestetner Website leogestetner.com/leo Subscribe Now! youtube.com/@afounderslife?sub_confirmation=1

    Why Every Entrepreneur Needs to Embrace Failure | Brad Springer | S7 E5

  3. Aug 6 ·  Video

    Why Optimism Is a Founder’s Greatest Advantage – Dick Pfister | S7 E4

    Most entrepreneurs spend years building wealth, but very few spend the same amount of time learning how to protect it. In this episode of A Founder’s Life, Leo Gestetner sits down with Dick Pfister, Founder and CEO of AlphaCore Wealth Advisory, to discuss entrepreneurship, investing, wealth management, and the mindset required to build lasting financial success. Dick shares how his entrepreneurial journey began at just 13 years old, starting small businesses in rural Wisconsin before eventually working on the floor of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange alongside some of the world’s greatest investors. Those experiences ultimately led him to co-found Altegris, pioneer alternative investments for independent advisors, and later launch AlphaCore after realizing traditional wealth management wasn’t serving entrepreneurs well enough. But this conversation goes far beyond investing. Dick explains why optimism has become one of his greatest competitive advantages, how his wife gave him the confidence to start over after a successful exit, and why measuring your health is just as important as measuring your finances. Throughout the conversation, we explore entrepreneurship, wealth management, investing, leadership, family, health, resilience, and the habits that help founders build successful businesses while living meaningful lives. Whether you’re growing your first company or preparing for a major liquidity event, Dick shares practical lessons every entrepreneur can apply. In this episode you’ll learn: - Why traditional investing may no longer be enough for entrepreneurs • How alternative investments can improve portfolio diversification • Why optimism is a founder’s greatest competitive advantage • The importance of measuring your health as carefully as your finances • How daily habits compound into long-term success • Why having the right life partner changes everything • How setbacks create stronger entrepreneurs • Why continuous learning never stops • How trust becomes the foundation of every successful business Dick also shares how launching businesses as a teenager shaped his entrepreneurial mindset, why endurance sports became part of his daily routine, and how AlphaCore was born from challenging conventional wisdom about wealth management. If you enjoy conversations about entrepreneurship, founder mindset, investing, wealth management, business leadership, resilience, personal development, and building meaningful businesses, you’ll enjoy this episode. This episode of A Founder’s Life is brought to you by Thankz, helping founders scale with reliable remote talent. Email founders@thankz.com with the subject A Founder’s Life for preferred pricing. Connect with Today’s Guest – Dick Pfister - AlphaCore Website: https://alphacore.com/ - AlphaCore YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AlphaCoreWealthAdvisory Upside Capture Podcast: - Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/67pBO2WB5qXlV7MEwQ48Kg?si=de3d6fdb84714cb6 - Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/upside-capture/id1888226015 - Dick’s LinkedIn Account: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dickpfister/ - AlphaCore LinkedIn Account: https://www.linkedin.com/company/alphacorewealthadvisory/ LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/leogestetner Website leogestetner.com/leo Subscribe Now! youtube.com/@afounderslife?sub_confirmation=1

    Why Optimism Is a Founder’s Greatest Advantage – Dick Pfister | S7 E4

  4. Jul 30 ·  Video

    Building a Life You Don’t Need to Retire From | Marc Sanderson | A Founder’s Life S7 E3

    This episode of A Founder’s Life is brought to you by Thankz, helping founders scale with reliable remote talent. Get $1,000 off your first month by emailing founders@thankz.com with the subject line Founder’s Life. Many entrepreneurs spend decades building a successful business, only to realize they never built the life they actually wanted. In this episode of A Founder’s Life, Leo Gestetner sits down with Marc Sanderson, CEO and Co-Founder of INNERGY, to discuss entrepreneurship, leadership, work-life integration, and why success is ultimately measured by far more than revenue. Marc shares the incredible journey from acquiring a small cabinet company in the late 1990s to building custom ERP software that eventually evolved into INNERGY, now serving more than 1,800 woodworking and manufacturing businesses across North America. Along the way, he also led the transition of his original company to 100% employee ownership—creating a lasting legacy beyond himself. But this conversation goes far beyond software. Marc opens up about surviving cancer three separate times, why community theater became one of the most important investments in his own well-being, and how intentionally balancing work, family, health, and fun has become the foundation of both his leadership and his life. Throughout the conversation, we explore entrepreneurship, business leadership, resilience, health, family, legacy, personal growth, and the importance of designing a life you never want to retire from. Whether you’re launching your first startup or leading a growing company, Marc shares practical lessons every entrepreneur can apply. In this episode you’ll learn: • Why building a meaningful life matters more than simply building a successful business • How employee ownership creates lasting legacy • Why every entrepreneur should intentionally invest in family, health, work, and fun • How surviving cancer changed Marc’s perspective on leadership and life • Why “me time” makes you a better founder instead of a worse one • How systems allow founders to reclaim their time • Why integrity creates stronger long-term partnerships • How hobbies outside of work improve leadership performance • Why balance requires continuous adjustment—not perfection Marc also shares how performing in community theater helped him recharge, why monthly date nights remain a priority after more than three decades of marriage, and how one mentor fundamentally shaped his philosophy on trust, leadership, and entrepreneurship. If you enjoy conversations about entrepreneurship, founder mindset, business leadership, resilience, work-life balance, personal development, health, and building meaningful businesses, you’ll enjoy this episode. Connect with Today’s Guest – Marc Sanderson Website: https://innergy.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcsanderson/ If you enjoyed this conversation, subscribe for more interviews with founders, CEOs, entrepreneurs, and business leaders sharing the real stories behind building meaningful businesses—and meaningful lives. 🌐 Follow A Founder’s Life  • YouTube:   @AFoundersLife    • LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/a-founder-s-life-podcast/  • Instagram: @afounderslife   • Spotify & Apple Podcast: https://linktr.ee/afounderslife 🌐 Follow A Founder’s Life  • YouTube:   @AFoundersLife    • LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/a-founder-s-life-podcast/  • Instagram: @afounderslife   • Spotify & Apple Podcast: https://linktr.ee/afounderslife LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/leogestetner Website leogestetner.com/leo Subscribe Now! youtube.com/@afounderslife?sub_confirmation=1

    Building a Life You Don’t Need to Retire From | Marc Sanderson | A Founder’s Life S7 E3

  5. Jul 23 ·  Video

    The Leadership Habits That Changed My Career Forever | Jorge Velasco | S7 E2

    This episode of A Founder’s Life is brought to you by Thankz, helping founders scale with reliable remote talent. Get $1,000 off your first month by emailing founders@thankz.com with the subject line Founder’s Life. 🌐 Follow A Founder’s Life  • YouTube:   @AFoundersLife    • LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/a-founder-s-life-podcast/  • Instagram: @afounderslife   • Spotify & Apple Podcast: https://linktr.ee/afounderslife Business leadership isn’t just about making decisions—it’s about inspiring people, staying curious, and learning to remain calm when the pressure is at its highest. In this episode of A Founder’s Life, Leo Gestetner sits down with Jorge Velasco, President and CEO of BR Printers, to explore a remarkable career spanning more than four decades in publishing, printing, and executive leadership. From growing up in a family of publishers in Mexico to leading one of America’s largest book printers, Jorge shares how his passion for books evolved into a lifelong commitment to helping ideas reach millions of readers. His perspective on business leadership, mentorship, culture, and personal growth offers timeless lessons for entrepreneurs at every stage of their journey. Throughout the conversation, Jorge explains why books remain more relevant than ever, how COVID unexpectedly reignited the publishing industry, and why leaders should focus less on controlling people and more on building teams that are empowered to succeed. One of the most memorable lessons from this conversation is surprisingly simple: breathe. Jorge shares why one of the greatest pieces of leadership advice he ever received was to slow down, breathe deeply, and give your brain the oxygen it needs before making important decisions. We also discuss entrepreneurship, family, health, travel, exercise, lifelong learning, and the importance of surrounding yourself with mentors who challenge you to become a better leader. Whether you’re building your first company, leading a growing team, or looking to improve your own business leadership skills, this episode is filled with practical wisdom that can be applied immediately. In this episode you’ll learn: - Why business leadership begins with self-awareness - How mentorship can completely change your career - Why building the right team matters more than having all the answers - The surprising comeback of printed books - How exercise and routine improve executive performance - Why travel creates better leaders - The importance of paying knowledge forward - How focus and presence build trust with your team - Why entrepreneurs should learn to slow down before reacting Jorge also shares how meeting his wife completely changed his perspective on life, why travel has become central to his family’s lifestyle, and how embracing different cultures has made him both a better person and a stronger leader. 👤 Connect with Today’s Guest – Jorge Velasco: LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jorgefvelasco https://www.linkedin.com/company/br-printers/ Facebook Jorge Velasco: https://www.facebook.com/share/1PXjt5ywDN/?mibextid=wwXIfr BR Printers: https://www.facebook.com/share/1PXjt5ywDN/?mibextid=wwXIfr Website: brprinters.com LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/leogestetner Website leogestetner.com/leo Subscribe Now! youtube.com/@afounderslife?sub_confirmation=1

    The Leadership Habits That Changed My Career Forever | Jorge Velasco | S7 E2

  6. Jul 16 ·  Video

    Balance is about cutting out the noise | Kyle Clements | S7 E1

    This episode of A Founder’s Life is brought to you by Thankz, helping founders scale with reliable remote talent. Get $1,000 off your first month by emailing founders@thankz.com with the subject line Founder’s Life. 🌐 Follow A Founder’s Life  • YouTube:   @AFoundersLife    • LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/a-founder-s-life-podcast/  • Instagram: @afounderslife   • Spotify & Apple Podcast: https://linktr.ee/afounderslife 👤 Connect with Today’s Guest – Kyle Clements Website: https://quipli.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyleclements/ What does it take to build a company without facing burnout? In this episode, Kyle Clements, Founder and CEO of Quipli, shares how experiences at Uber and other venture-backed startups improved his mindset and prepared him to launch his own company and why he believes entrepreneurship should be sustainable, not exhausting. Kyle discusses building Quipli during the pandemic, raising three young daughters while running a startup, and how marathon training has shaped his philosophy on balance. Instead of sprinting through entrepreneurship, he compares building a business to staying in Zone 2: a pace you can maintain for the long run and avoid burnout. We also talk about focus, delegation, family, parenthood, health, and the courage required to become a founder. What you’ll learn: Why sustainable success beats constant hustleHow running shaped Kyle’s leadership philosophy and nurtured his resilienceThe importance of focus and eliminating distractions for personal development and businessesWhy founders must learn to delegate and trust their teamsHow family influences better decisions and thriving in businessBurnout is not a requirement LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/leogestetner Website leogestetner.com/leo Subscribe Now! youtube.com/@afounderslife?sub_confirmation=1

    Balance is about cutting out the noise | Kyle Clements | S7 E1

  7. Jul 9 ·  Bonus Video

    A Founder's Life Season 6 Recap

    The best entrepreneurial advice isn’t usually found in books. It’s found in the people who have actually built businesses. Over the course of Season 6 of A Founder’s Life, we sat down with founders who have built companies from scratch, overcome incredible setbacks, scaled across industries, and learned lessons that only experience can teach. In this special episode, we’ve pulled together some of the most powerful moments from the season. You’ll hear why: * Your mindset is your biggest competitive advantage. * Balance isn’t about doing less, it’s about knowing when to step back. * Confidence often comes before success. * The hardest seasons create the strongest founders. * And sometimes the best advice is simply… don’t quit. Whether you’re building your first company, leading a growing team, or looking for your next breakthrough, these conversations are packed with practical wisdom you can apply immediately. LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/leogestetner Website leogestetner.com/leo Subscribe Now! youtube.com/@afounderslife?sub_confirmation=1

    A Founder's Life Season 6 Recap

  8. Jul 2 ·  Video

    Entrepreneurship Is About Taking the Leap Before You’re Ready - Grant McCrabb - S6 - E18

    Entrepreneurship is often portrayed as overnight success, but the reality is built on resilience, long-term thinking, and the willingness to keep moving forward when things get difficult. In this episode of A Founder’s Life, Leo Gestetner sits down with Grant McCrabb, Founder and CEO of GeoTrek Vans, to discuss his remarkable startup journey from flipping used camper vans to building one of the fastest-growing direct-to-consumer RV manufacturers in North America. Grant shares how a simple side hustle evolved into a rapidly growing manufacturing company, why saying yes early helped create opportunities, and how endurance sports have shaped his founder mindset and approach to business leadership. As an ultra-runner, Grant compares entrepreneurship to running a 240-mile race. Success isn’t about sprinting—it’s about learning how to pace yourself, overcome setbacks, and keep showing up day after day. Throughout the conversation, we also explore family, resilience, leadership, risk-taking, product innovation, and why entrepreneurs should stop waiting for the perfect moment before starting. Whether you’re launching your first startup, growing a small business, or leading an established company, this episode is packed with practical insights from someone building a business for the long term. This episode covers: • How GeoTrek Vans grew from a side hustle into a national manufacturer • The importance of hiring people who are better than you • Why endurance sports create better entrepreneurs • Building resilience during difficult seasons • How family shapes better leadership • The biggest lessons from scaling a manufacturing company • Why focus becomes more important as businesses grow • The mindset required for sustainable business growth • Practical startup advice for aspiring founders Grant also shares the deeply personal story of how his father’s life-changing skiing accident reshaped his perspective on risk, resilience, and pursuing meaningful goals. That experience continues to influence the way he approaches entrepreneurship, leadership, and life. If you enjoy conversations about entrepreneurship, business leadership, founder stories, startup growth, and personal development, you’ll enjoy this episode. This episode of A Founder’s Life is brought to you by Thankz, helping founders scale with reliable remote talent. Get $1,000 off your first month by emailing founders@thankz.com with the subject line Founder’s Life. 🌐 Follow A Founder’s Life  • YouTube:   @AFoundersLife    • LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/a-founder-s-life-podcast/  • Instagram: @afounderslife   • Spotify & Apple Podcast: https://linktr.ee/afounderslife 👤 Connect with Today’s Guest – Grant McCrabb Website: https://www.geotrekvans.com LinkedIn (Grant): https://www.linkedin.com/in/grant-mccrabb-51b0242b5/ LinkedIn (GeoTrek Vans): https://www.linkedin.com/company/geotrek-vans LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/leogestetner Website leogestetner.com/leo Subscribe Now! youtube.com/@afounderslife?sub_confirmation=1

    Entrepreneurship Is About Taking the Leap Before You’re Ready - Grant McCrabb - S6 - E18
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About

Join me as I explore the powerful intersection of entrepreneurship, health & wellness, and parenthood. In each episode, I’ll be interviewing inspiring individuals who excel in one or more of these areas, sharing their stories, insights, and lessons. My goal is to provide valuable takeaways that can help you thrive both personally and professionally.

Information

  • Creator
    Leo Gestetner
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    119
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 A Founder's Life
  • Show Website
    A Founder's Life