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. 3d ago ·  Video

    Pain Is Your Greatest Superpower

    Greg Tomchick has been through enough over the last few years to completely change how he thinks about business, success and himself. The founder of Valor Cybersecurity returns to Fervent Four more than three years after his first appearance. Since then, he found Valor's market serving defense contractors, endured an investor falling out, a divorce and a painful split with a business partner, and came out of it with a very different definition of winning. Greg joins Zack Miller and Tim Ryan to talk about why pain can become your greatest superpower, why confidence comes from reps, what baseball taught him about handling pressure, and why confronting what you're avoiding can be the quickest path toward peace. They also dig into vulnerability, seeking approval, asking better questions, finding intrinsic value instead of chasing external validation, and Greg's upcoming book, 27 Ideals of Connection. Plus, Greg explains where he believes cybersecurity is heading as AI becomes ubiquitous and why Valor is betting on private, compartmentalized AI environments that give companies greater control over their data and intellectual property. Timestamps 00:00 Pain is your greatest superpower 00:42 The Greg Tomchick origin story 05:41 Building Valor Cybersecurity 10:05 Four years searching for product market fit 13:08 Learning what you're worth 14:33 Where confidence actually comes from 18:30 Why Greg breathes OUT under pressure 20:48 Baseball and cybersecurity have more in common than you think 21:09 The meaning behind 27 Ideals of Connection 22:43 Living outside your comfort zone 25:26 Stop assuming. Ask the question. 30:09 Knowing what to care about 34:14 Why people need honest feedback 36:36 Greg's darkest stretch 38:00 Pain is your greatest superpower 41:24 The transformation since Greg's first appearance 43:37 Learning that you are enough 45:29 Intrinsic vs. extrinsic success 50:56 Vulnerability creates connection 53:44 What happens to cybersecurity in the AI era? 56:37 Valor's move into private AI 59:18 What food represents Hampton Roads?   https://valor-cybersecurity.com/

    Pain Is Your Greatest Superpower

  2. Sep 8 ·  Video

    The Goal Isn't to Own the Business Forever

    Joe Benedetto spent his career in an industry most people rarely think about: recycling. His family has been in the business for more than 100 years. Joe started working in recycling at 13, eventually launched Recycling & Disposal Solutions (RDS) in 2004, and grew the company to five locations and roughly 80 employees. But this conversation goes well beyond recycling. Joe joins Zack Miller and Tim Ryan to break down how technology and AI are transforming one of the oldest industries around, why automation can create higher-paying technical jobs, what he learned scaling a company across multiple states, and why building a business that can operate without its owner matters long before an acquisition. Then the conversation turns to the exit. After years of planning, mounting business stress and a health scare, Joe decided it was time to sell. He explains what entrepreneurs need to do years before a potential acquisition, why the legal process was more difficult than he expected, when to tell employees, and what happens when the company that gave you purpose for 20 years is suddenly no longer yours. CHAPTERS 0:00 The moment Joe knew it was time to retire 1:13 Bringing innovation to a 100-year-old industry 2:37 What actually happens to your recycling 3:47 How recycling evolved from people to automation 5:35 How single-stream recycling changed the industry 7:21 Growing up in a 100-year family business 10:37 Building RDS 12:48 Understanding the commodity business 15:36 The future of recycling 17:01 Calculating the ROI of new technology 19:48 What contamination does to recycling 24:16 Can AI make recycling simpler? 24:23 What people get wrong about recyclables 29:20 What the future of trash could look like 32:07 Being born into the family business 32:30 Leaving the family business to build his own 33:22 Lessons in leadership and management 34:38 Growing to five locations and 80 employees 35:46 Why peer-to-peer learning matters 39:34 What entrepreneurs can learn from other industries 40:40 America's skilled labor challenge 42:01 How AI changed jobs inside RDS 43:31 What makes an employee worth investing in 44:37 How to retain talented employees 45:07 Deciding it was time to sell 46:14 How to prepare a business for acquisition 48:24 The hardest part of selling a company 50:00 When do you tell employees you're selling? 51:54 Would Joe start another business? 52:11 Finding purpose after an exit 56:08 Preparing the business to be sold 57:07 Why entrepreneurs need to ask for help 58:13 What is the food of Hampton Roads? 59:50 Closing

    The Goal Isn't to Own the Business Forever

  3. Sep 1 ·  Video

    When Did $40 Million Stop Being a Win?

    Building something meaningful and building something massive don't have to be opposing goals. Adam Alphin, founder and CEO of KleerCard, joins The Fervent Four to talk about building a company on his own terms while still thinking big about where it can go. KleerCard has grown to more than 1,250 customers while taking a deliberately disciplined approach to outside capital. Adam shares why the company raised as little as possible early on, what he learned from six years at Coupa and why founders can get a distorted view of success when every story they see is about the next massive valuation or billion-dollar exit. The conversation gets into founder-led sales, competing against much larger companies, finding the right investors, building culture on a remote team, customer success and why taking more shots matters in both fundraising and business. Adam also breaks down KleerCard's next chapter, including its expansion into AI-powered accounting software for nonprofits and why, despite acquisition interest, he isn't building the company just to sell it. 0:00 The dream of building a company you do not want to sell 1:14 How to pronounce Adam Alphin 2:00 Adam and Zack go back more than a decade 3:02 Adam's career before KleerCard 3:59 Stepping away from his first company after a cancer diagnosis 5:14 From an early exit to Coupa 5:49 How Adam ended up in the startup world 7:55 What Silicon Valley taught him about building companies 9:04 Why repeating your core values actually matters 10:48 What KleerCard does today 11:02 The $50 million debt facility and narrowing the company's focus 13:12 How KleerCard works beyond a traditional business credit card 14:36 Why fintech companies are out innovating banks 17:07 The importance of repeating your message 17:56 Selling the first 1,000 customers 19:23 Why getting customers fully implemented matters 21:20 How visibility into spending can save organizations money 22:40 The growing problem of AI token spending 24:13 Building a 17 person remote company 26:38 KleerCard's three core values 28:38 Fraud, nonprofits and getting a call from the FBI 31:43 Why KleerCard intentionally raised as little money as possible 34:20 How long it actually took to raise their latest round 35:10 Finding investors outside traditional venture capital 36:05 Why you should take the investor meeting 37:50 You don't become a professional athlete by taking three shots 39:11 The social media fication of startup success 40:39 Growing without a marketing team 41:05 How KleerCard got its name 42:16 Does owning the perfect dot com still matter? 44:19 Who KleerCard is built for 46:04 How do you sell something customers don't know they need? 46:34 Why word of mouth drives KleerCard 48:00 Most customers now sign up without a demo 49:10 What great customer success actually looks like 50:18 Learning leadership from bad leaders 51:05 What founders can learn from comedians 54:27 Why you should never burn a bridge 55:50 KleerCard's next big bet on AI and nonprofit accounting 58:18 You don't just attain the dream just to sell it 1:00:05 Why KleerCard isn't rushing toward an exit Learn more about KleerCard: https://www.getkleercard.com/  Subscribe to Fervent Four for more conversations with people building, creating and competing at the highest level. 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

    When Did $40 Million Stop Being a Win?

  4. Aug 25 ·  Video

    HE HIT #1. THEN FOUND A BETTER WAY TO WIN | Canaan Smith

    In Episode 324 of Fervent Four, Canaan opens up about moving to Nashville knowing no one, working as a custodian while writing songs, landing a publishing deal, competing on The Amazing Race, and eventually earning a No. 1 country hit. He also talks candidly about the pressure that followed that success, why chasing the next No. 1 started to take more than it gave, and how fatherhood, faith, family and a career reset changed his definition of winning. Today, Canaan says he feels like he's writing some of his best music yet — without needing the top of the charts to validate it. The conversation also gets into how hit songs are actually written, what happens behind the scenes at country radio, why authenticity beats perfection, how artists build audiences in the social media era, and why his biggest hit, "Love You Like That," didn't even feel special in the room when they wrote it. Plus, Canaan shares why Virginia still feels like home, whether he'd hit the road with Florida Georgia Line again, and his definitive answer for the food Hampton Roads should be known for. 0:00 If I Don't See You Again 5:21 Welcome Back 10:00 Why Virginia Will Always Be Home 12:13 Moving to Nashville to Become a Songwriter 15:16 From Custodian to a Publishing Deal 16:10 Competing on The Amazing Race 21:18 Why Honest Stories Win 23:24 How Hit Songs Are Actually Written 27:05 Why You Finish the Song Anyway 29:31 How "Love You Like That" Reached #1 31:24 What Happens After You Reach the Top 32:18 Redefining Success After a #1 Hit 44:59 The Dangerous Side of Success 47:33 Why Canaan Still Gets Nervous on Stage 49:15 When the Power Goes Out Mid Show 50:19 Why Authenticity Beats Perfection 52:16 What Happens Before Every Show 52:36 Would He Tour With Florida Georgia Line Again? 55:52 Finding Peace With Where He Is 56:12 Building a Fanbase in the Social Media Era 57:00 Artists Have Become Content Channels 1:01:50 What Fatherhood Changed 1:02:36 Do Country Artists Need to Live in Nashville? 1:04:24 The Food Hampton Roads Should Be Known For Connect and listen to Canaan Smith here: https://brandpage.io/canaansmith    Subscribe to Fervent Four for more conversations with people building, creating and competing at the highest level. 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

    HE HIT #1. THEN FOUND A BETTER WAY TO WIN | Canaan Smith

  5. Aug 18 ·  Video

    What Nobody Tells You About Success, Confidence and Retirement

    What happens after you've built companies, made investments, helped shape a business community — and supposedly reached the point where you can retire? In Part 2 of our conversation with Paul Hirschbiel, we go beyond business and into what decades of success have taught him about confidence, relationships, purpose and what comes next. Paul opens up about the insecurity that existed behind a confident exterior, why getting older changed the way he thinks about relationships, and why he's admittedly "terrible" at retirement. We also dig into the future of Hampton Roads, what the region still needs to become known for, the rapid rise of AI — and why Paul believes humans will encounter life beyond Earth. 0:00 Will Hampton Roads produce a unicorn? 3:11 How the region has changed over the last decade 6:59 What Hampton Roads needs to become known for 10:13 Why regionalism remains such a challenge 13:23 Building a completely different kind of memory care center 18:58 The insecurity behind Paul's confidence 20:29 Why going deep beats going wide with relationships 22:23 Why Paul is terrible at retirement 23:20 Finding purpose beyond making money 26:11 What comes next for Hampton Roads 29:38 A belief most people disagree with him about 30:10 Why Paul believes we'll discover life beyond Earth 33:49 How AI changes everything 35:28 The food Paul misses when he leaves Virginia Beach 37:01 Looking back on the people who shaped the journey

    What Nobody Tells You About Success, Confidence and Retirement

  6. Aug 11 ·  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

  7. 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

  8. 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
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About

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
    328
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026
  • Show Website
    Fervent Four