Fervent Four

Zack Miller, Tim Ryan
  • 4.0 (4)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Weekly

Fervent Four goes inside the decisions, risks, failures and breakthroughs behind the people building what's next. Each week, Zack Miller and Tim Ryan sit down with entrepreneurs, executives, investors and industry leaders to unpack how businesses are built, how big bets get made and what it really takes to lead through uncertainty. From billion-dollar companies and emerging technologies to AI, healthcare, consumer brands, manufacturing and more, Fervent Four finds the business stories worth knowing — and the lessons behind them. New episodes every Tuesday.

  1. 2d ago ·  Video

    He Bet $3 Million Before Anyone Knew It Would Work

    Paul Hirschbiel has spent decades investing in companies and evaluating the people behind them. Long before becoming the founding chairman of Innovate 757, Hirschbiel built a career in venture capital, backed Michael Dell in the company's early years and spent 13 years on Dell's board. On Fervent Four, Paul shares what he saw in Michael Dell, why ego can destroy great companies, what separates exceptional leaders from everyone else, how he helped build Hampton Roads' entrepreneurial ecosystem and why his run for Congress changed the way he looks at politics. This episode is a firsthand look at investing, leadership, entrepreneurship and the people behind companies that actually win. 00:00 Why Great Ideas Fail and "Stupid" Ideas Win 00:28 Paul Hirschbiel Finally Comes on the Show 01:31 Building What Became Innovate 757 03:07 The Origins of 757 Angels 06:38 How Paul Got Into Venture Capital 08:42 The Early Days of Silicon Valley 10:53 Starting an $86 Million Venture Fund 13:52 The Michael Dell Story Begins 15:59 Why Dell Wasn't Really a Technology Company 16:52 "One Day I'll Get a Real CEO in There" 17:18 Investing in Dell During the 1987 Market Crash 18:40 What Made Michael Dell Different 20:13 What Dell, Staples and Starbucks Had in Common 22:07 How to Spot Ego in a Founder 24:22 "Dell Was a Pretty Stupid Idea" 25:14 The Business Model That Helped Dell Win 28:51 How Many Companies Has Paul Invested In? 29:06 Why Investors Bet on the Jockey 30:27 Can You Judge a Founder in One Meeting? 31:25 Why Paul Left New York for Virginia Beach 35:15 The Wall Street Career Behind Paul's Marriage 39:25 Should Spouses Build a Company Together? 40:12 How Paul Became Friends With Mark Warner 41:02 Building Envest Ventures in Hampton Roads 44:33 Why Government Reports End Up on Shelves 46:07 Why Paul Ran for Congress 48:22 What Raising $2.5 Million for Congress Actually Looks Like 49:42 The Reality of Fundraising After You Win

    He Bet $3 Million Before Anyone Knew It Would Work

  2. Aug 4 ·  Video

    The Biggest Lie About Blue-Collar Jobs

    Everyone says people no longer want blue-collar jobs. But what if workers are not the real problem? This episode explores why leadership matters in recruiting the next generation, how AI is transforming industrial work, and why American shipbuilding and manufacturing may be entering a new era. We discuss: Why uninspiring leadership contributes to hiring challenges How Google AI turned up to 160 hours of engineering work into minutes Why skilled trades still offer meaningful careers How technology could accelerate shipbuilding and defense manufacturing Why America's industrial future may be stronger than most people realize 00:00 The Biggest Lie About Blue-Collar Jobs 01:10 State of Innovation & Building a Unicorn Shipbuilder 02:40 How Fairlead Is Partnering with Google AI 03:22 Can Ships Become Floating Data Centers? 07:47 Google Chose Fairlead 10:07 AI Turned 160 Hours Into 5 Minutes 12:19 Why AI Will Transform Blue-Collar Work 16:09 How AI Could Change Shipbuilding Forever 19:44 First Email Addresses & Roller Coaster Obsession 24:24 The History of Fairlead 26:52 Buying a Shipyard in Five Days 34:38 Are Blue-Collar Workers Really Disappearing? 40:43 Why SpaceX Attracts Millions of Applicants 42:10 Is Leadership the Real Hiring Problem? 46:51 Growing Fairlead Into a Maritime Giant 48:00 How Fred Ended Up at Fairlead 52:59 "Go Make It Happen" 55:17 Why Fred Doesn't Play Golf 56:38 The Future of American Shipbuilding 58:33 Being Named to the IHR 200 1:01:03 Why Fairlead Is Just Getting Started 1:02:09 The "Drink and Think" Leadership Strategy Subscribe for weekly conversations about business, leadership, technology and the people building what comes next.   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Innovate757?sub_confirmation=1 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fervent-four/id1596516837 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7egTPUyiUEZF4QACNKBYI6?si=f9b82187dee54d12   https://fairlead.com  #leadership #bluecollar #manufacturing

    The Biggest Lie About Blue-Collar Jobs

  3. Jul 28 ·  Video

    30 Years in Business Taught Him These Hard Truths

    What happens when decades of business experience collide with a world being rapidly reshaped by AI and automation? Marc Marling, Chief Business Officer at Cargomatic, joins The Fervent Four to talk about the lessons he's learned across his career—from working seven days a week for a boss who promised him ownership, to why he believes people give up too quickly, why picking up the phone has become a competitive advantage, and why fighting automation is the wrong approach. Marc also shares the story of a $100 Christmas gift he still carries with him today, why common sense matters more than ever, how technology will reshape jobs, and why the skills that make us human may become increasingly valuable. It's a conversation about work, relationships, technology, health, failure, and knowing when it's time to bet on yourself. In this episode: The $100 Christmas gift Marc never forgot Why entrepreneurs give up too early Why nobody wants to pick up the phone anymore Common sense as a competitive advantage Building real relationships in a digital world AI, automation and disappearing jobs Why protecting obsolete jobs isn't the answer What The Jetsons got right about the future of work Marc's career in logistics and maritime Measuring health and performance Subscribe to The Fervent Four for weekly conversations with entrepreneurs, executives and people building what's next.  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Innovate757?sub_confirmation=1 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fervent-four/id1596516837 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7egTPUyiUEZF4QACNKBYI6?si=f9b82187dee54d12

    30 Years in Business Taught Him These Hard Truths

  4. Jul 21 ·  Video

    Why Most Canned Cocktails Taste Bad

    Most canned cocktails don't taste like cocktails made at a bar. They rely on artificial flavors, excessive sweetness, carbonation and low-quality ingredients—but why is it so difficult to make a good cocktail in a can? After years working in restaurants, craft beer, alcohol distribution and beverage production, Will Boze explains what separates a legitimate ready-to-drink cocktail from flavored alcohol in a can. He joins Zack Miller and Tim Ryan to break down how canned cocktails are developed, why many brands use carbonation, how alcohol percentage is calculated and why recipes often change when they are scaled from a single drink to a 1,000-gallon production batch. They also discuss the difficult business of launching an alcohol brand, getting products into grocery stores, competing for shelf space, working with distributors, using AI to formulate recipes and building a premium product during a period when consumers are spending less. Can a canned cocktail ever taste as good as one made by a bartender—and which brands will survive the coming industry shakeout? Learn more about Seven Skies and find products near you at drink7skies.com. The Fervent Four Show is hosted by Zack Miller and Tim Ryan and produced by Innovate Hampton Roads.   00:00 Why most canned cocktails taste bad 01:48 The meaning behind Seven Skies 04:38 What is a ready-to-drink cocktail? 05:19 Why the canned cocktail industry will shrink 09:17 How alcohol laws shape what gets sold 10:49 How alcohol percentage actually works 12:37 From bartender to beverage founder 15:38 The canned cocktail that sparked the idea 18:17 What Seven Skies makes 20:57 Selling premium drinks in a discount economy 23:33 Why most canned margaritas miss the mark 26:37 Who creates the cocktail recipes? 27:03 Using AI to scale drink formulas 28:17 Why recipes change in large batches 30:31 How canned cocktails are produced 33:57 Building a brand that looks national 36:08 Choosing trusted business partners 38:16 The challenges of working with family 40:50 Why alcohol distribution is so difficult 44:49 Competing with hundreds of drinks on one shelf 45:18 The real economics of in-store sampling 48:30 Why single-serve cans matter 50:20 Where to find Seven Skies 53:00 A family history in the alcohol business 54:10 What canned cocktails should become 57:22 What food represents Hampton Roads? 59:41 Who really invented the Orange Crush? Subscribe to The Fervent Four: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Innovate757?sub_confirmation=1 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fervent-four/id1596516837 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7egTPUyiUEZF4QACNKBYI6?si=f9b82187dee54d12

    Why Most Canned Cocktails Taste Bad

  5. Jul 14 ·  Video

    He Built a Business Out of Trash

    Most people see junk hauling and dumpster rentals as simple, dirty work. Johnny Bobby sees systems, turnaround time, customer acquisition, automation, and opportunity. In this episode of The Fervent Four Show, he explains how he built a junk removal and roll-off dumpster company by entering an overlooked industry and operating it differently. He shares how he used Uber to meet potential customers, how negative competitor reviews helped shape his service, and why many dumpsters sit in driveways far longer than customers actually need them. He also breaks down how faster equipment turnover can create more revenue with fewer assets, why employee training became a major focus, and how he uses automation and AI to modernize a traditionally old-school business. This is a conversation about finding opportunity in unglamorous industries, learning the numbers behind the business, and building systems that make growth possible. In this episode: Why overlooked businesses can create major opportunities How Uber helped him fund and market the business The real reason dumpsters sit for 14 days Turning equipment faster with better systems Using negative reviews as market research Training employees through video Automating a service business Building around efficiency instead of excess

    He Built a Business Out of Trash

  6. Jul 7 ·  Video

    Why Your Medical Bill Makes No Sense

    Most bills are built for the person paying them. Medical bills often are not. That was one of the clearest points Michael Woodhead made on The Fervent Four. A normal bill usually tells you what happened, what it cost, and why. A medical bill can feel like it was built for hospitals, insurance companies, and billing departments before it was ever built for the patient. Codes. Adjustments. Denials. Insurance rules. Unclear charges. That gap is where Resolve Medical Bills is working. Not by pretending the system is simple. By helping people navigate it when the bill shows up and they do not know where to start. 0:00 Intro 1:05 Michael's Virginia Beach roots 3:00 From theater to hospitality 6:24 Why people underestimate Hampton Roads 10:28 What Resolve Medical Bills does 11:31 Medical bills and bankruptcy 15:09 "No one should go bankrupt from a bill they didn't choose" 16:09 Why medical bills are not built for patients 19:49 Cash rates, insurance rates, and confusing bills 21:00 The medical billing "death spiral" 26:00 Leading a remote team from Virginia Beach 30:17 Leaving FinFit to become CEO of Resolve 34:53 The weight of becoming CEO 39:00 Building a culture where people push back 43:27 Strategy, culture, and learning to listen 50:05 Does America actually want medical bills fixed? 52:47 How Resolve creates a win-win-win 53:56 The $270,000 bill that got wiped out 57:22 What patients should ask before care 58:53 How AI could change medical advocacy 1:01:00 The future of Resolve as a medical advocate 1:04:15 Virginia Beach food and local seafood Learn more about Resolve: https://www.resolvemedicalbills.com/

    Why Your Medical Bill Makes No Sense

  7. Jun 30 ·  Video

    Making Waiting Rooms Suck Less

    A coffee shop magazine wall was supposed to be the idea. Then COVID shut down the world, shared magazines became a non-starter, and Lauren and Scott Janney started asking a different question: what if people could still access magazines without touching the same physical copies as everyone else? That question eventually became CXperks, a platform built to improve the customer experience in places where people are waiting, stressed, or looking for something better to do with their time. Lauren Janney, Co-Founder of CXperks, joins The Fervent Four to talk about the early idea behind the company, how her background in healthcare and customer service shaped the business, why CXperks expanded beyond magazines into games, trivia and partner messaging, and what it takes to build a company with your spouse. The conversation also gets into raising capital, listening to repeated customer feedback, hiring for startup adaptability, having hard conversations with team members, and why customer experience matters most when people are already having a hard day. Timestamps: 0:00 How CXperks helps healthcare teams 1:59 Lauren's path from healthcare to business 3:00 What it means to buy a book of business 4:43 Splitting sales and customer service roles 6:46 Why claims are where insurance matters most 7:22 How customer care translated into CXperks 8:01 The coffee shop magazine wall idea 8:10 How COVID changed the plan 9:46 Balancing risk with a stable business 12:20 Building the company with Scott 13:22 Why Lauren sees business as taking care of people 14:32 Helping patients, families and staff during stressful waits 16:00 Adding games, trivia and Spanish content 16:55 Protecting privacy and avoiding personal data 17:42 How the CXperks customer journey works 19:32 Listening for repeated customer requests 20:22 Why CXperks needed to raise capital 21:30 What it is like working with your spouse 22:21 The monthly business breakfast 23:23 How Lauren and Scott use a hiring point system 24:09 Hiring people who can handle startup change 25:40 Having hard conversations with team members 28:16 Why founders cannot expect employees to work like owners 29:49 Teaching entrepreneurship to their kids 32:10 The business lessons inside collectibles https://www.cxperks.com/

    Making Waiting Rooms Suck Less

  8. Jun 23 ·  Video

    The Business Model Was Hiding in Plain Sight

    What happens when the business you built is not the business your customers actually want? PlayYourCourt started as a way to make tennis lessons easier to find and book. But as the company grew, the data told a different story. Customers were using the platform, getting what they needed, and leaving. That churn forced the company to look closer at what people were really paying attention to. In this episode of Fervent Four, PlayYourCourt founder Scott Baxter shares how the company evolved from a tennis lessons marketplace into a broader education platform after customer behavior revealed the real opportunity. We get into the grind of building a two-sided marketplace, what churn can teach a founder, how YouTube and content became a major part of the business, and why focus mattered more than chasing the pickleball boom. Scott also talks about raising money the hard way, learning from early fundraising mistakes, building in Virginia Beach, and the long path from side hustle to a business that can last. For more information on PlayYourCourt, visit: https://www.playyourcourt.com/ 00:00 The pitch that changed everything 00:29 What is PlayYourCourt? 03:12 Why tennis can feel expensive 05:01 From country club coach to founder 07:08 Why marketplaces are hard 09:01 Chasing professional tennis 14:02 How tennis prepared him for business 16:01 Why PlayYourCourse didn't work 17:27 Failure, coaching and business advisors 18:19 Growing up around work and entrepreneurship 21:07 Choosing tennis after college 24:24 The first big PlayYourCourt pivot 27:12 From lessons to practice partners 29:20 The problem with marketplace churn 30:23 How YouTube became the real business 36:40 Building the education platform 39:03 The funnel behind tennis content 40:04 Why PlayYourCourt said no to pickleball 43:26 Raising money the hard way 47:26 The accelerator pitch that changed the round 49:34 Why EO matters for CEOs 51:12 Shrinking the team and simplifying the model 53:18 The real-life impact of tennis community 55:07 What's next for PlayYourCourt 56:11 Local food, recovery and routines 57:02 Fundraising lessons founders should know

    The Business Model Was Hiding in Plain Sight
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Fervent Four goes inside the decisions, risks, failures and breakthroughs behind the people building what's next. Each week, Zack Miller and Tim Ryan sit down with entrepreneurs, executives, investors and industry leaders to unpack how businesses are built, how big bets get made and what it really takes to lead through uncertainty. From billion-dollar companies and emerging technologies to AI, healthcare, consumer brands, manufacturing and more, Fervent Four finds the business stories worth knowing — and the lessons behind them. New episodes every Tuesday.

Information

  • Creator
    Zack Miller, Tim Ryan
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    323
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026
  • Show Website
    Fervent Four