Built for This

Carly Pepin

 Where vision meets execution and legacy begins. Built For This is the podcast for founders, business owners, C-Suite Executives, and vision-driven leaders who know their business isn’t just what they do, it’s an extension of who they are. Hosted by business strategist and human behavior specialist Carly Pepin, each episode dives into candid, intelligent conversations with high-performing business owners and executives. These are the real stories behind growth: the pivotal moments, the internal shifts, the strategic moves, and the unseen pressure that comes with building something that lasts. With a sharp eye for strategy and a deep understanding of human behavior, Carly brings out the clarity, conviction, and contradictions that drive exceptional leadership. You’ll hear what’s working, what’s not, and what it actually takes to grow a business without losing yourself in the process. This is where business and personal development meet: honest, direct, and built to bring life to your vision. Whether you’re growing your next big thing or recalibrating to get back on track, Built For This is your space to think, build, and lead with purpose.

  1. Saving Cinema One Disc at a Time: Inside the World of Film Collectors with Claudio Ulrich

    4D AGO

    Saving Cinema One Disc at a Time: Inside the World of Film Collectors with Claudio Ulrich

    In this thoughtful and nostalgic episode of Built for This, Carly Pepin sits down with Claudio Ulrich, a veteran film licensing and distribution expert with more than 30 years in the industry and the founder of Focus Media. Claudio pulls back the curtain on the world of film distribution, revealing the immense amount of unseen work required to bring a movie from original film reels to a finished home release. From licensing rights and restoring 35mm film to creating artwork, subtitles, packaging, and bonus content, he explains why a finished disc represents craftsmanship, history, and care far beyond what most people ever see. After experiencing burnout during the peak of the VHS and DVD boom, Claudio made a defining decision. Instead of chasing scale and volume, he chose collectors, quality, and meaning. That shift led to the creation of premium “media books” that transform restored films into collectible experiences. At its heart, this conversation is about choosing passion over pressure, redefining success, and building a life where work becomes a mission rather than a grind. Key Themes: Passion Outlasts Markets: Why industries do not truly disappear, and how following what you love can create sustainable niches even as markets change. The Invisible Work Matters: A behind-the-scenes look at the complexity, cost, and care involved in preserving and distributing films properly. Freedom Is Real Success: How Claudio designed a life centered on joy, creativity, and choice instead of constant scale and stress. Memorable Quotes: “I don’t see myself as a distributor. I see myself as a film lover who wants to share movies with other people.” “When you do what you love, it doesn’t feel like work. It becomes a mission.” “People don’t see what’s behind a movie. They only see the end product.” Connect with Claudio Ulrich: Website: https://www.mm-u.ch  Website: https://fokus-media.ch/

    58 min
  2. Teaching Potential, Not Standards: How Carlos Lauchu Reimagined Education

    12/29/2025

    Teaching Potential, Not Standards: How Carlos Lauchu Reimagined Education

    In this inspiring episode of Built for This, Carly Pepin sits down with Carlos Lauchu, a nationally recognized STEM education leader with more than 25 years of experience reshaping how students learn science and technology. Carlos shares how a moment of deep frustration early in his teaching career became the catalyst for creating Science Academy STEM Magnet, now one of the top-ranked schools in the United States. Rather than accepting an education system that underestimated students, he challenged it by raising expectations, increasing rigor, and teaching students how to learn instead of what to memorize. Carly and Carlos explore how high standards paired with genuine support unlock extraordinary outcomes. From middle school students passing Advanced Placement exams to teens earning college degrees before high school graduation, this conversation reveals what becomes possible when education is built around human potential. The lessons extend far beyond classrooms, offering powerful insights for parents, educators, and business leaders alike. Key Themes: Students Rise to the Expectations Set for Them: Why removing artificial limits and raising the bar leads to performance, not burnout. Learning How to Learn Changes Everything: How teaching study skills, critical thinking, and ownership creates long-term success. Failure as Feedback: Why reframing mistakes as progress builds resilience, confidence, and curiosity. Memorable Quotes: “Maybe it’s not the kids. Maybe it’s the system that’s holding them back.” “Teaching more has never been the problem — teaching less is.” “If you give students the opportunity and believe in them, they will show you what’s possible.” Connect with Carlos Lauchu: Website: https://stem4education.com

    1h 11m
  3. Delete Your Meetings: How Erik Braund Is Rebuilding Work for Humans

    12/22/2025

    Delete Your Meetings: How Erik Braund Is Rebuilding Work for Humans

    In this refreshing and thought-provoking episode of Built for This, Carly Pepin sits down with Erik Braund, founder and CEO of Katmai, a virtual office platform built around one bold idea: work should feel human again. Drawing on a background in music, film production, and creative leadership, Erik explains why real collaboration does not come from back-to-back calendar invites. After watching remote work explode during COVID, he saw a widening gap between how people connect in real life and how they were being forced to connect online. Katmai was created to restore spontaneity, presence, and natural interaction to remote teams. Carly and Erik dive deep into why culture cannot survive inside endless Zoom meetings, how over-systemizing can quietly suffocate creativity, and why authenticity in leadership matters more than polish. Erik openly shares where he got it wrong as a founder, how he course-corrected, and what it took to build a company that actually works the way humans do. This conversation is a powerful reminder that technology should support people, not control them. Key Themes: Culture Is Built Through Presence, Not Meetings: Why trust, creativity, and connection grow from unstructured interaction, not scheduled calls. Too Much Process Breaks What Works: How stripping back meetings, rigid frameworks, and bureaucracy unlocked clarity and momentum. Authenticity Creates Alignment: Why being fully yourself as a leader attracts the right people and builds stronger culture. Memorable Quotes: “You can’t build culture in a grid of faces on a calendar.” “We didn’t need more meetings. We needed more spontaneity.” “The moment I stopped trying to look like a CEO was the moment the company started working better.” Connect with Erik Braund: Website: http://katmaitech.com Demo: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WsMU3q3LgADFgJZCJY_cM8bb0_cTDMd0/view  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/katmaitech/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katmaitech/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/katmai

    1h 3m
  4. From Fight-or-Flight to Fortress: Jarrod Adreon on Building Businesses That Survive Anything

    12/15/2025

    From Fight-or-Flight to Fortress: Jarrod Adreon on Building Businesses That Survive Anything

    In this powerful episode of Built for This, Carly Pepin sits down with Jarrod Adreon, a behind-the-scenes operator who has helped build and scale companies generating over $100 million annually, all without chasing visibility, titles, or personal branding. Jarrod shares a raw and deeply personal journey that includes homelessness, failed businesses, broken partnerships, crushing debt, and surviving industry-shaking events like the 2008 financial crisis and COVID. Rather than running from pressure, he explains how learning to operate in a controlled state of fight-or-flight became one of his greatest strengths. Speed, he explains, only works when it is grounded in clarity, discipline, and direction. Together, Carly and Jarrod unpack what it really means to think like an owner, even when you are not legally one. They explore integrity-driven leadership, accountability over blind trust, and why most businesses fail not because of bad ideas, but because foundations are rushed. This conversation is a masterclass in resilience, patience, and building companies designed to endure when everything else breaks. Key Themes: Speed Without Direction Is Dangerous: Why moving fast only works when decisions are intentional and grounded in long-term thinking. The Power of the Long Game: How sustainable growth, wealth, and leadership are built through patience, not shortcuts. Accountability Over Assumptions: Why trust alone is never enough and how clear expectations create stronger teams and businesses. Memorable Quotes: “Speed is only great if you’re going in the right direction.” “If you’ve survived this far, you already know you can survive what’s next.” “Trust in business isn’t about hope. It’s about accountability.” Connect with Jarrod Adreon: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jarrod-adreon-0b28b48/

    1h 4m
  5. Cashflow, Culture, and Common Sense: Lessons from 50 Years in Business with Charles Read

    12/08/2025

    Cashflow, Culture, and Common Sense: Lessons from 50 Years in Business with Charles Read

    In this episode of Built for This, Carly sits down with Charles Read, founder of GetPayroll, decorated Marine veteran, CPA, and author of The Payroll Book: A Guide for Small Businesses and Startups. With over 50 years of financial leadership experience, Charles shares the hard-earned wisdom that every entrepreneur needs to hear — from understanding cashflow and building loyal teams to keeping your ego in check as a leader. Whether you’re just starting your business or scaling toward seven figures, this episode will remind you that success isn’t just about profit — it’s about people, process, and principles.   Key Takeaways Cashflow is King — Not Profit Charles shares with Carly why showing profit on paper doesn’t mean you can actually pay your bills. He breaks down the difference between accounting profit and real cash in the bank—and explains why cashflow, not profit, determines whether a business survives or collapses. Drop the Ego and Lead with Mission Charles talks with Carly about how his Marine Corps motto, “Mission. Men. Self.”, became the foundation of his leadership philosophy. He and Carly explore how focusing on the mission and taking care of your people—before yourself—creates sustainable success, while ego-driven leadership can quietly destroy even the strongest companies. Build a Business That Can Run Without You Charles reveals to Carly how he designed GetPayroll to keep running smoothly even if he’s not there—complete with systems, procedures, and empowered people. As he tells her, “If I drop dead today, the payrolls will still run tomorrow.” It’s a powerful example of true operational freedom and legacy-focused leadership.   Quotes “You can be profitable and still go bankrupt — because profit isn’t cash.”   “Your job as a CEO isn’t to be the smartest in the room. It’s to hire the smartest person in the room.”   “Without my people, I’d be nowhere.”    Connect with Charles Read https://getpayroll.com https://www.linkedin.com/company/getpayroll/ https://www.facebook.com/GetPayroll/ https://www.instagram.com/getpayroll/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxs-_RwC9NgfUcqbwvEaMIQ

    57 min
  6. Built on Grit and Heart: How Joseph Merhi Created a Hollywood Powerhouse

    12/01/2025

    Built on Grit and Heart: How Joseph Merhi Created a Hollywood Powerhouse

    In this inspiring episode of Built for This, Carly sits down with Joseph Merhi, the Syrian-born filmmaker and entrepreneur who co-founded PM Entertainment alongside her father, Rick Pepin. Starting with $400, a high school diploma, and a dream that began at age twelve, Joseph went on to help build one of the most prolific independent studios in Hollywood — producing more than 100 films and TV projects for major networks and international distributors. Joseph shares how he went from dishwasher to restaurant owner, then sold everything to make his first film — a comedy that flopped — and how that early failure became the foundation for everything that came after. He talks about meeting Rick, learning the craft side by side, and how their complete lack of ego created a company culture where hundreds of people found their footing, launched their careers, and felt like family. From writing scripts in a weekend to selling films at Cannes, from dreaming up wild stunts to running a 60,000 square foot studio, Joseph opens up about the chaotic, hilarious, and deeply human journey behind PM Entertainment’s rise. This episode is a tribute to legacy, leadership, and the magic that happens when two people say yes to each other and decide, “Let’s make a movie.” Key Themes: Build Culture First — Skills Follow: Why Joseph always hired people for who they were, not what they had on paper — and how that created one of Hollywood’s most loyal and high-performing teams. Humility Scales What Ego Breaks: How Joseph and Rick ran a 100-film studio by listening, laughing, and treating every idea as valuable, no matter who it came from. Opportunity Is Something You Give: The reason PM became a launchpad for hundreds of careers — because Joseph and Rick constantly gave people chances to grow. Memorable Quotes: “We just treated everyone like family. And we knew our success was because of all the people.” “I would rather hire a great human being at skill level four than a difficult person at eight — we can train the skill, we can’t train the human.” “We never took ourselves seriously. That’s why we could create so much — we listened, we laughed, and we worked together.”   Links for Joseph: Website: https://www.josephmerhi.com  A special thank you to  http://www.mm-u.ch and https://fokus-media.ch for the clips

    1h 15m
  7. Built Tough: How Roggen Frick Turned Burnout into a Blueprint for Growth

    11/24/2025

    Built Tough: How Roggen Frick Turned Burnout into a Blueprint for Growth

    In this episode of Built for This, Carly Pepin sits down with Roggen Frick, founder of Bear Ironworks, a Colorado-based manufacturing company redefining what it means to be “by contractors, for contractors.” Roggen opens up about how his journey from seven-day workweeks to sustainable success began with one hard truth — burnout doesn’t build legacies. By transforming Bear Ironworks from a custom fabrication shop into a lean, systemized manufacturing company, he and his father turned a hands-on trade into a high-efficiency business built on clarity, culture, and core values. He shares how they implemented a four-day workweek, built repeatable processes, and developed measurable systems that allow the company to grow without sacrificing people, safety, or quality. This episode is a must-listen for founders who are ready to stop surviving their business and start scaling it with intention. Key Themes: Systems Create Freedom — Not Control: How tracking time, inventory, and quality metrics turned chaos into clarity, freeing Roggen and his team to focus on innovation instead of putting out fires. Culture Is a System Too: How embedding safety, honesty, and customer satisfaction into daily operations built a workplace people love — and clients trust. Delegation Is a Skill, Not a Surrender: Why true growth begins when you let go — even of the tasks you enjoy — and empower experts to elevate the company. Memorable Quotes: “If you don’t define your company’s values, they’ll define themselves — and you might not like what they become.” “You can’t be free as an entrepreneur if you’re doing the work you hate.” “We stopped trying to do everything and started building the systems that could do it for us.” Connect with Roggen Frick: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bearironworks/ https://beariron.com/

    54 min
  8. When AI Threatened His Business, Wes Towers Doubled Down on Humanity

    11/17/2025

    When AI Threatened His Business, Wes Towers Doubled Down on Humanity

    In this episode of Built for This, Carly Pepin sits down with Wes Towers, founder of Uplift 360, a Melbourne-based digital agency helping construction and trade businesses grow online. Three years ago, Wes received a confronting business valuation — one that made it clear AI could soon make his agency obsolete. Instead of giving up, he used that wake-up call to completely reinvent his company. By blending automation with authenticity and systems with soul, Wes rebuilt Uplift 360 into a thriving, purpose-driven business that’s stronger — and more human — than ever. Carly and Wes unpack what it really takes to lead through disruption: how to use technology as a catalyst for growth, why trust is the real currency in a digital world, and how values-based leadership can future-proof any business. This is a powerful conversation for anyone navigating the intersection of innovation and integrity. Key Themes: AI Doesn’t Replace You — It Reveals You: How technology exposed the gaps in Wes’s business and inspired him to double down on authenticity and originality. Authenticity Is the New Currency: Why trust and transparency are more valuable than ever in an age of automation. Lead with Values, Not Fear: How Wes rebuilt his culture, empowered his team, and aligned his business with purpose — even mentoring his son to carry that legacy forward. Memorable Quotes: “AI made me realize what couldn’t be automated — authenticity, trust, and human connection.” “All good business is built on trust. It’s the real currency.” “The more the world automates, the more valuable being human becomes.” Connect with Wes Towers: Website: https://uplift360.com.au LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/westowers/  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@westowers  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uplift_360/  Twitter (X): https://x.com/uplift_360  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Uplift360Aus

    51 min

About

 Where vision meets execution and legacy begins. Built For This is the podcast for founders, business owners, C-Suite Executives, and vision-driven leaders who know their business isn’t just what they do, it’s an extension of who they are. Hosted by business strategist and human behavior specialist Carly Pepin, each episode dives into candid, intelligent conversations with high-performing business owners and executives. These are the real stories behind growth: the pivotal moments, the internal shifts, the strategic moves, and the unseen pressure that comes with building something that lasts. With a sharp eye for strategy and a deep understanding of human behavior, Carly brings out the clarity, conviction, and contradictions that drive exceptional leadership. You’ll hear what’s working, what’s not, and what it actually takes to grow a business without losing yourself in the process. This is where business and personal development meet: honest, direct, and built to bring life to your vision. Whether you’re growing your next big thing or recalibrating to get back on track, Built For This is your space to think, build, and lead with purpose.