Fueled By Progress

Mark Szymanski
  • 5.0 (7)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Fueled By Progress is a long-form conversation podcast hosted by Mark Szymanski. The show features candid discussions with builders, operators, and thinkers exploring business, technology, and the decisions that shape a meaningful modern life. Conversations range from personal journeys and hard-earned lessons to systems, tools, and ideas shaping how people build, work, and live today.

  1. He Sold His Agency, Built a Community, and Put His Family First - Josh Hall | Ep. 93

    JAN 19

    He Sold His Agency, Built a Community, and Put His Family First - Josh Hall | Ep. 93

    💡If you like how I think about business, technology, and systems on Fueled By Progress, you can find the best way to work with me or learn more at https://markszymanski.co/start This is a conversation with Josh Hall about building and selling his web design agency, transitioning to courses and community, the identity shifts that come with entrepreneurial evolution, and why being present for family is the real endgame. 🔗 Connect with Josh Hall:Web Designer Pro: https://webdesignerpro.com/Personal Website: https://joshhall.co/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joshhallco/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshhallco/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshhallco/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JoshHallco 🔗 Connect with Mark Szymanski:Website: https://markszymanski.coFacebook: https://mjs.link/FBInstagram: https://mjs.link/IGLinkedIn: https://mjs.link/LIX: https://mjs.link/XYouTube: https://mjs.link/YT About the show:Fueled By Progress is a long-form conversation series with builders, operators, and thinkers exploring business, technology, and what it actually takes to build a meaningful life in a modern world. If you’re new here, welcome. If you’ve been here since episodes recorded in my car—thank you. We’re still just getting warmed up 💪 Host --- Mark SzymanskiProduction --- Nathaniel DeHaven (https://elevatedmultimedia.com) Chapters:0:00 Cold Open0:40 Mark's Intro5:29 Welcome and the Freedom of Working From Home6:18 Topics Preview: Family, Business, and Community8:07 Josh's Origin Story: Cabinet Maker to Web Designer10:50 How the Band Translated to Business13:05 The Evolution of Web Design Over 15 Years16:05 Why Websites Became the Digital Hub19:38 The Rise of DIYers and Visual Builders24:04 Web Designers as Digital Strategists25:38 Selling the Agency and Going Full-Time Teaching27:06 What It Means to Be a Community Builder at Heart30:56 The Learn Build Teach Model37:55 Knowing When You're Meant for More Than Service Work43:18 Delayed Gratification and Passion Projects49:48 What Gets You Here Won't Get You There53:11 The Trajectory from Courses to Community59:57 Moving from Lifetime Access to Membership1:03:12 Staying Relevant After Leaving the Trenches1:09:57 Identity Shifts as You Evolve1:15:22 Content Strategy Going Forward1:21:08 Delegating and Building Mini-Coaches1:25:43 AI and the Future of Web Design1:34:36 How Web Designers Should Use AI1:40:08 Why Family Matters More Than the Business1:44:41 Wherever You Are, Be There1:48:03 Structuring Work Around Family1:54:53 Closing Thoughts and Where to Find Josh

    1h 58m
  2. Kia Ghasem: The Truth About AI Agencies, Saying "No" to Clients, and Building for Scale | Ep. 92

    JAN 10

    Kia Ghasem: The Truth About AI Agencies, Saying "No" to Clients, and Building for Scale | Ep. 92

    💡If you like how I think about business, technology, and systems on Fueled By Progress, you can find the best way to work with me or learn more at https://markszymanski.co/start A candid conversation with Kia Ghasem about building an AI automation agency at 25 years old, why most AI solutions fail to deliver ROI, the trap of YouTube-dependent lead generation, and how he's pivoting from content creation back to product and service. 🔗 Connect with Kia Ghasem:Website: https://kamexa.ai/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kia-ghasemX: https://x.com/KiaxGhasemYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@KiaGhasem 🔗 Connect with Mark Szymanski:Website: https://markszymanski.coFacebook: https://mjs.link/FBInstagram: https://mjs.link/IGLinkedIn: https://mjs.link/LIX: https://mjs.link/XYouTube: https://mjs.link/YT About the show:Fueled By Progress is a long-form conversation series with builders, operators, and thinkers exploring business, technology, and what it actually takes to build a meaningful life in a modern world. If you’re new here, welcome. If you’ve been here since episodes recorded in my car—thank you. We’re still just getting warmed up 💪 Host --- Mark SzymanskiProduction --- Nathaniel DeHaven (https://elevatedmultimedia.com) Chapters:0:00 Intro0:28 Welcome and Kia's Background1:06 How Mark Found Kia on YouTube2:00 Kia's Origin Story - Computer Science to AI3:45 Getting Started in the AI Agency Space5:05 The Hard Truth About Early AI Sales6:42 Finding Solutions That Actually Bring ROI8:00 When Will AI Agents Actually Work9:01 Mark's Journey from WordPress to AI10:41 Working with Overwhelmed Business Owners13:00 Systems Thinking vs AI Hype14:06 Personal Branding and The Ecosystem Breakdown16:26 Building Unintentionally - YouTube, School, Agency19:07 Why Kia Chose Agency Over Content Creation20:00 The YouTube Lead Gen Problem23:02 DIY, DWY, DFY Ladder Explained24:18 Moving Toward Product26:06 The Gap - From Uni to Agency27:55 The 5AM Epiphany That Started Everything28:02 Did Entrepreneurship Come Naturally31:49 Social Media and The Comparison Trap33:33 Content Consumption Strategy36:01 Does YouTube Still Power the Agency39:40 Scaling Without Being the Content Guy41:40 Self-Awareness in Business43:44 Problem Solving Over Sales45:03 Team Structure - Staying Lean46:52 Niching Into Marketing Agencies49:01 Dealing with Unqualified Leads52:02 N8N, Code, and Service Delivery Breakdown57:58 When to Use No-Code vs Custom Software1:00:03 The 35-Interview Audit Lesson1:04:01 Three Interviews Is All You Need1:07:01 Building Community in the AI Space1:12:03 Will We Go Back to Anonymous Internet1:15:53 The Future of Content - Live Streaming1:17:46 Closing Thoughts and Where to Find Kia

    1h 21m
  3. Julian Galluzzo: Dropping Out at 13, Building Agencies, and the Reality of AI Coding | Ep. 91

    12/15/2025

    Julian Galluzzo: Dropping Out at 13, Building Agencies, and the Reality of AI Coding | Ep. 91

    💡If you like how I think about business, technology, and systems on Fueled By Progress, you can find the best way to work with me or learn more at https://markszymanski.co/start Julian Galluzzo shares how dropping out of school at 13, building agencies, and embracing AI-driven development reshaped his career — and why speed, curiosity, and progress matter more than credentials. 🔗 Connect with Julian Galluzzo:Website: https://juliangalluzzo.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julian-galluzzo-610379173X: https://x.com/galluzzo_julianYouTube: https://youtube.com/@galluzzojulian 🔗 Connect with Mark Szymanski:Website: https://markszymanski.coFacebook: https://mjs.link/FBInstagram: https://mjs.link/IGLinkedIn: https://mjs.link/LIX: https://mjs.link/XYouTube: https://mjs.link/YT About the show:Fueled By Progress is a podcast about candid conversations with builders, creators, and curious people—focused on decisions, disciplines, and stories that move us forward. If you’re new here, welcome. If you’ve been here since episodes recorded in my car—thank you. We’re still just getting warmed up 💪 Host --- Mark Szymanski: https://markszymanski.co/linksVideo/Audio Production --- Nathaniel DeHaven: https://elevatedmultimedia.com Chapters:0:00 Introducing Julian Galluzzo4:03 From Freelancing to Running a 40-Person Agency8:35 Why Speed Beats Perfection13:48 How One Client Turned Into an Agency17:23 When Building Turns Into Managing Everything22:06 Leaving the Agency to Reclaim the Craft24:54 Getting Fired and Accidentally Stealing an Agency28:40 Joining Memberstack and Finding the Right Environment33:21 Webflow vs WordPress From a Builder’s Perspective41:14 Why WordPress Isn’t Outdated49:00 The Moment AI Changed Everything53:10 Building Real Apps With Claude and Gemini59:02 Training AI to Design Better Than Humans1:04:28 Why Knowing the Stack Still Matters1:10:56 Is Vibe Coding Legit or Dangerous1:18:53 Engineering Thinking vs Knowing Syntax1:24:24 Do You Actually Want to Be the Boss1:28:44 Would He Recommend Dropping Out of School1:35:02 What Julian Is Actually Optimizing For1:38:21 Where to Follow Julian’s Work

    1h 39m
  4. Stephanie Hudson: Surviving a Coma, FocusWP & Why Every Freelancer Needs a Continuity Plan | Ep. 90

    12/05/2025

    Stephanie Hudson: Surviving a Coma, FocusWP & Why Every Freelancer Needs a Continuity Plan | Ep. 90

    💡If you like how I think about business, technology, and systems on Fueled By Progress, you can find the best way to work with me or learn more at https://markszymanski.co/start Stephanie Hudson shares her journey from freelance web developer to FocusWP founder, including how surviving a coma taught her the critical importance of business continuity planning that most solopreneurs completely ignore. 🔗 Connect with Stephanie Hudson:Website: https://focuswp.coFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/stephanie.hudsonLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/left-brainX: https://x.com/stepherrifficYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FocusWP 🔗 Connect with Mark Szymanski:Website: https://markszymanski.coFacebook: https://mjs.link/FBInstagram: https://mjs.link/IGLinkedIn: https://mjs.link/LIX: https://mjs.link/XYouTube: https://mjs.link/YT About the show:Fueled By Progress is a podcast about candid conversations with builders, creators, and curious people—focused on decisions, disciplines, and stories that move us forward. If you’re new here, welcome. If you’ve been here since episodes recorded in my car—thank you. We’re still just getting warmed up 💪 Host --- Mark Szymanski: https://markszymanski.co/linksVideo/Audio Production --- Nathaniel DeHaven: https://elevatedmultimedia.com Chapters:0:00 – Introducing Stephanie Hudson2:25 – Growing Up in the 'Burgh (High School Colors & Sports Culture)6:55 – Stephanie's Journey: From Pittsburgh to LA to North Carolina10:50 – Discovering the WordPress Community13:34 – The Hidden Ecosystem Behind WordPress18:55 – How Focus on Your Biz Facebook Group Started22:24 – Early Web Days: Dial-Up, Dreamweaver & Tables29:19 – Meeting Tom & Starting Focus WP36:41 – The Visionary vs. Integrator Problem (Rocket Fuel)42:08 – Freelancer Struggles & Imposter Syndrome48:43 – The Niche Discussion: Service vs. Audience54:58 – Niching Into a Service (Not Just an Industry)1:04:50 – The Coma Story: Getting "Hit by a Bus" for Real1:09:22 – What Is a Continuity Plan?1:14:37 – Password Managers & 2FA: Critical Single Points of Failure1:23:38 – Pittsburgh Pride: Heinz Ketchup & Ranch Culture1:29:00 – Mark's Content Strategy & Daily Videos Discussion1:39:38 – Stephanie's Community Platform Dilemma (Facebook vs. Fluent)1:49:30 – Body Doubling & ADHD Co-Working Ideas1:56:57 – The 3D Glasses Website & Accessibility Controversy2:02:25 – Agency Safety Net: The New Course & Service

    2h 7m
  5. Spencer Forman: Identity, Money, and the State of WordPress Today | Ep. 89

    11/24/2025

    Spencer Forman: Identity, Money, and the State of WordPress Today | Ep. 89

    ⚡Want to build a business that actually works? My team at Motive11 can help—websites, systems, and strategy for modern entrepreneurs → https://motive11.com A deep, raw conversation with Spencer Forman about the real state of WordPress, the entrepreneurial mindset, the cycles of reinvention, and how to build a life and business that actually makes sense. 🔗 Connect with Spencer Forman:Website: https://spencerforman.comFacebook: https://facebook.com/spenceformanInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/spencerformanLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/spencerformanX: https://x.com/spencerformanYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WPLaunchify 🔗 Connect with Mark Szymanski:Website: https://markszymanski.coFacebook: https://mjs.link/FBInstagram: https://mjs.link/IGLinkedIn: https://mjs.link/LIX: https://mjs.link/XYouTube: https://mjs.link/YT About the show:Fueled By Progress is a podcast about candid conversations with builders, creators, and curious people—focused on decisions, disciplines, and stories that move us forward. If you’re new here, welcome. If you’ve been here since episodes recorded in my car—thank you. We’re still just getting warmed up 💪 Host --- Mark Szymanski: https://markszymanski.co/linksVideo/Audio Production --- Nathaniel DeHaven: https://elevatedmultimedia.com Chapters:0:00 – Introducing Spencer Forman1:56 – Starting the Conversation3:34 – Why Mark Started the Podcast4:12 – Shared Entrepreneurial Energy5:02 – The Three Stages of Life5:43 – Reinvention vs Comfort6:35 – Balancing Money, Ethics, and Happiness7:16 – Comparison Is Poison8:13 – Happiness vs Money Over a Lifetime9:04 – Life Journeys, Setbacks, and Perspective10:11 – Are We in a Human Reality Game?10:36 – Finding Tribe and Identity11:00 – Entrepreneurs as Problem Solvers12:03 – Jumping Between Industries12:34 – Entrepreneurs vs Employees13:35 – Developing the Entrepreneurial Instinct15:02 – Early Stories of Hustle16:03 – The Pattern of Reinvention17:11 – Seeing the Dots in Hindsight18:57 – Why Mark Is Wired This Way20:02 – Documenting Life and Introspection21:03 – Journaling Through Hard Times22:50 – Stoicism and Preparedness24:38 – Looking Back at Hard Seasons26:04 – Why Many Entrepreneurs Start After Crisis28:05 – The Real Goal: Enough, Not Infinite29:04 – The Boat Builder Parable30:02 – Modern Wealth and Power Dynamics31:22 – Escaping the Billion-Dollar Mindset32:33 – What Money Actually Changes33:26 – The Catalyst That Finally Forces Action35:29 – Financial Illusions and True Needs37:04 – Building the Nut First39:49 – When the Rug Gets Pulled Out41:06 – The Monopoly Analogy43:03 – Why the Middle Class Got Squeezed45:06 – Can We Fix It?47:02 – Should Everyone Be an Entrepreneur?48:01 – The World Needs All Roles50:07 – How Boomers Broke the System52:05 – The Coming Reset53:46 – You Can’t Predict the Chaos55:27 – Focus on What You Can Control56:56 – Stop Worrying About What You Can’t Control58:23 – Serenity, Stoicism, Reality1:00:14 – Cause and Effect, Energy, Momentum1:01:32 – WordPress Today: Problems and Potential1:02:37 – What People Truly Need from WordPress1:03:28 – Spencer’s Free-Call Strategy1:04:47 – Mark’s Identity Problem: What Do You Sell?1:05:50 – The Need for a Clear Niche1:07:00 – Mark’s Superpowers: Data, Architecture, Systems1:08:26 – Listening to the Market1:10:00 – Mark’s Cycles of Obsession1:11:09 – No Offers, No Sales Process1:13:00 – You Can’t Sell Everything to Everyone1:15:04 – The Value Ladder Reality Check1:16:11 – Avoiding the Consultant Trap1:18:02 – Reverse-Engineering the $30K Month Goal1:20:06 – Messaging, Offers, and CTAs1:21:40 – Reinventing When the Business Gets Heavy1:23:10 – You Can’t Scale Doing Everything1:25:02 – Productizing and Automating the Craft1:26:21 – Why Mark Hasn’t Been Selling1:28:01 – The Campfire Story of WordPress1:29:59 – Understanding WordPress Lore1:32:00 – The Emotional History of WordPress

    1h 41m
  6. Chris LaFay: How He Built a $1.3M Web Agency from a Small Town | Ep. 88

    11/10/2025

    Chris LaFay: How He Built a $1.3M Web Agency from a Small Town | Ep. 88

    ⚡Want to build a business that actually works? My team at Motive11 can help—websites, systems, and strategy for modern entrepreneurs → https://motive11.com Agency founder Chris LaFay joins me to talk about growing a web business from small-town freelancing to seven figures, the power of sharing experience instead of advice, and what it really takes to scale sustainably without losing yourself. 🔗 Connect with Chris LaFay:Website: https://www.classiccity.netLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrislafayX: https://x.com/chrisjlafay   🔗 Connect with Mark Szymanski:Website: https://markszymanski.coFacebook: https://mjs.link/FBInstagram: https://mjs.link/IGLinkedIn: https://mjs.link/LIX: https://mjs.link/XYouTube: https://mjs.link/YT About the show:Fueled By Progress is a podcast about candid conversations with builders, creators, and curious people—focused on decisions, disciplines, and stories that move us forward. If you’re new here, welcome. If you’ve been here since episodes recorded in my car—thank you. We’re still just getting warmed up 💪 Host --- Mark Szymanski: https://markszymanski.co/linksVideo/Audio Production --- Nathaniel DeHaven: https://elevatedmultimedia.com Chapters:0:00 Intro and why I film first conversations1:12 Meet the guest Chris LaFay and Classic City Consulting3:11 How we got connected through Andy Milligan4:30 Accountability partner dynamic and daily check-ins6:40 Experience vs advice and why stories land better8:46 Lessons from Entrepreneurs’ Organization on sharing experiences10:46 My learn try share motto and staying authentic12:10 What I’m excited about now daily shorts streak hits 10013:20 Documenting life systems and personal website roots15:03 Chris’s background slow and steady agency growth16:25 Content ramp up and finally starting a podcast18:58 Framing the studio and committing to a setup20:06 Content to drive Classic City sales the game plan21:17 Collaborations and mini series with agency partners22:52 The dual CTA idea and jabs before the right hook24:05 My path agency vs creator split and tradeoffs25:27 Chris’s origin suburbs of Atlanta and early freelancing27:12 Pricing mindset shift charging more with confidence29:21 Scaling to 1.3M and hard lessons on expenses30:53 Selling to CMOs vs founders and changing rooms33:04 College path MIS degree and real world skills35:39 First WordPress class and stepping up to teach37:49 From Dreamweaver to WordPress becoming the core stack41:26 Shopify side work and where it fits42:53 What Chris does today founder CEO head of sales44:38 Relationship driven sales and creating a repeatable engine48:04 Why ads waited the need for a foot in the door offer50:14 ICP clarity B2B SaaS with complex content models52:18 Component libraries CPTs and empowering marketing teams54:50 How they entered B2B SaaS referrals and Slack groups56:40 Personal sites as scratch pads and short posts59:28 Substack vs WordPress and owning the home base1:02:44 Personal brand ideas fractional consulting with founders1:05:20 Building new lines of business inside existing engines1:06:56 Community and mentorship possibilities1:07:24 Wrap up and where to find Chris LinkedIn and Classic City

    1h 9m
  7. Andy Milligan: From College Golfer to $15K/mo Agency (No Code, No WordPress) | Ep. 87

    10/29/2025

    Andy Milligan: From College Golfer to $15K/mo Agency (No Code, No WordPress) | Ep. 87

    ⚡Want to build a business that actually works? My team at Motive11 can help—websites, systems, and strategy for modern entrepreneurs → https://motive11.com In this episode, 24-year-old agency founder Andy Milligan reveals why he ditched WordPress, built 30+ sites on Webflow + Framer, and publicly tracks every dollar of revenue.   🔗 Connect with Andy Milligan:Website: https://www.mmgdesign.netFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/mindulmilliganInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindfulmilliganLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmgdesignX: https://x.com/mmg__designYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mmgdesign 🔗 Connect with Mark Szymanski:Website: https://markszymanski.coFacebook: https://mjs.link/FBInstagram: https://mjs.link/IGLinkedIn: https://mjs.link/LIX: https://mjs.link/XYouTube: https://mjs.link/YT About the show:Fueled By Progress is a podcast about candid conversations with builders, creators, and curious people—focused on decisions, disciplines, and stories that move us forward. If you’re new here, welcome. If you’ve been here since episodes recorded in my car—thank you. We’re still just getting warmed up 💪 Host --- Mark Szymanski: https://markszymanski.co/linksVideo/Audio Production --- Nathaniel DeHaven: https://elevatedmultimedia.comSponsor --- NitroPack: Get 10% off with code "MJS" at https://mjs.link/NitroPack Chapters:0:00 - Intro0:43 - Meet Andy Milligan: 24-Year-Old Making $10K+/mo (Golf Pro → Web Agency)6:35 - From Scratch Golfer to Eating Disorder Recovery (Raw Story)15:51 - How Personal Training & Golf Lessons Became His First Business21:47 - Instagram Reels → $40/hr Golf Lessons (Early Hustle Exposed)26:21 - NitroPack Ad: Make Your Site Blazing Fast (Use Code MJS for 10% Off)27:20 - Why Daily YouTube Shorts = Therapy + Lead Gen Gold31:26 - Identity Lags Reality: “I Still Wake Up Like the Kid Who Got Laid Off”35:56 - Discipline = Where Your Calendar Is (Not Motivation)44:55 - Painful Feedback = Probably True (Family vs. Internet Trolls)50:00 - Whole Foods Diet: Meat, Eggs, Fruit, 5lbs of Potatoes (Mark’s Catalyst)1:12:38 - Discipline Is NOT Blanket — It’s Pillar-Based1:26:54 - Balancing Deep Relationships vs. Shallow Founder Network1:34:39 - WordPress vs. Webflow/Framer: The REAL Builder War (No BS)1:40:02 - “You Have to Code PHP to Customize WordPress” — Andy’s Old Myth1:47:30 - Why Gen Z Designers Flock to Framer & AI Tools (And Fail)1:53:31 - “Clients Don’t Care About the Tool — They Care About Leads”1:58:24 - Don’t Switch Platforms If You’re Making Money (Mark’s Warning)2:01:41 - Final Verdict: Tool Debates Are for Technicians, Not Founders2:02:00 - Where to Find Andy (Agency, Podcast, LinkedIn)

    2h 3m
  8. Fueled By Progress Is Back From The Dead | Ep. 86

    10/23/2025

    Fueled By Progress Is Back From The Dead | Ep. 86

    Fueled By Progress is back. New studio, fresh clarity, same mission: candid conversations that document the journey and help us all move forward. In this solo relaunch, I share why “MJS Podcast” never fully resonated, the story behind the FBP name (and why I’m proud to bring it back), how my year reshaped my direction, and what’s coming next—guests, deeper conversations, and consistent momentum. What’s inside: Why I sunset the MJS Podcast and revived FBPThe naming story and brand decisionsA quick history of FBP (car recordings → guest era)Reworking the RSS feed + channel setupThe roadmap for upcoming episodes and guestsSubscribe & follow: Fueled By Progress on your favorite podcast app: https://fueledbyprogress.com/YouTube (Fueled By Progress): https://youtube.com/@FueledByProgress/My main channel:  https://youtube.com/@markjszymanski/Second channel (BTS / real-time updates):  https://youtube.com/@MarkSzymanski2/About the show:Fueled By Progress is a podcast about candid conversations with builders, creators, and curious people—focused on decisions, disciplines, and stories that move us forward. If you’re new here, welcome. If you’ve been here since the car recordings—thank you. We’re just getting started.

    22 min
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5
out of 5
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About

Fueled By Progress is a long-form conversation podcast hosted by Mark Szymanski. The show features candid discussions with builders, operators, and thinkers exploring business, technology, and the decisions that shape a meaningful modern life. Conversations range from personal journeys and hard-earned lessons to systems, tools, and ideas shaping how people build, work, and live today.

Information

  • Creator
    Mark Szymanski
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    93
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    Copyright © Szymanski Media, LLC
  • Show Website
    Fueled By Progress