The Inspired Stories Podcast

Anthony V. Codispoti
  • 5.0 (17)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Weekly

Anthony V. Codispoti has started, built, and sold a variety of successful businesses, including a 7-figure wholesale business (successful exit), a 7-figure consumer business (exited to private equity), a SaaS business (successful exit), and fiscally advantaged benefits. As an innovator and pioneer, he has been awarded patents, earned best seller badges, and gained scores of battle scars. In this show, we gain inspiration from the successes achieved and challenges overcome by today's business leaders.

  1. 2d ago

    A $60 Million Business Became $200 Million: John DeCastro's Leadership in Golf Technology

    🎙️ A $60 Million Golf Business Became $200 Million: John DeCastro's Leadership at Bushnell In this episode, John DeCastro, Vice President of North American Operations at Mileseey Technologies, shares a three-decade product career that began as a copywriter chasing screenwriting dreams and moved through Coleman coolers, a poker software startup backed by the Maloof brothers, two stints leading innovation at Bushnell Golf, and now building a Chinese manufacturer's first true American retail presence. John opens up about a failed product launch that fell apart in front of a Walmart buyer, an off-the-cuff interview answer that became a hundred-million-dollar product category, and the unglamorous cash-flow challenges of turning a digitally native brand into a national retailer. ✨ Key Insights You'll Learn: Started as a copywriter before discovering his real strength was strategy and client relationships Spotted a single consumer insight, colder ice, that became Coleman's 24-hour Extreme Cooler line Watched that product jump Coleman's market share from 28% to 35% in the cooler category Founded Cool Hand Luke, a poker hosting software startup backed by the Maloof brothers of the Palms Casino Watched that venture collapse in front of a Walmart buyer after a rushed screen-printed prototype fell apart Gave an off-the-cuff interview answer that became Bushnell's Wingman speaker, now a hundred-million-dollar product category Led Bushnell's decision to compete on innovation rather than price after a cost-cut product became its worst-reviewed laser Helped grow Bushnell Golf from roughly $60 million to more than $200 million in revenue, including the Foresight Sports acquisition Joined Mileseey Technologies in March 2026 to build its first North American operation from the ground up Discovered Mileseey's lasers now outperform premium competitor Leica in independent lab accuracy tests 🌟 John's Key Mentors: His College Advertising Instructor: Pointed out John's natural leadership and strategic instincts before John recognized them in himself The Maloof Brothers: Backed Cool Hand Luke's poker software venture and gave John his first experience running every function of a startup Phil (His First Bushnell Hire): Recruited John into Bushnell not once but twice, both times through chance personal connections Mileseey's Founder and President: His passion for innovation and R&D-driven product philosophy convinced John to lead the company's US expansion 👉 Hear how a career built on paying close attention to what consumers actually want led from Coleman coolers to Bushnell's innovation era to now building a Chinese manufacturer's first American retail footprint. 🔗 Connect with John DeCastro: Website: mileseeygolf.com Website: mileseeytools.com Website: mileseeyoptics.com 📄 Transcript Available: A $60 Million Business Became $200 Million: John DeCastro's Leadership in Golf Technology 📺 Watch on YouTube: Inspired Stories Podcast 🌐 Our Website: The Inspired Stories Podcast 📄 Special Thanks to Anthony Codispoti & AddBack Benefits Agency: AddBack Benefits Agency - Providing innovative employee benefits solutions that improve employee well-being while optimizing your bottom line Website: addbackbenefits.com

  2. 2d ago

    Navix Consultants Has Guided Over 600 Business Owners Through Exits Worth Billions

    🎙️ Dance in the End Zone: How Patrick Ungashick's Book Became Navix Consultants' Biggest Lead Source In this episode, Patrick Ungashick, co-founder and CEO of Navix Consultants, shares how years spent as a young investment banker watching business owners suffer through exits with no guidance led him to build a firm devoted entirely to preparing owners for that pinnacle moment. Patrick opens up about the referral partners who quietly became competitors, the sushi-lunch dare that turned into his first book, and the golf shirt that revealed just how deeply one client's identity was fused with his company. ✨ Key Insights You'll Learn: Spent his early career as a junior investment banking associate watching owner after owner struggle emotionally through exits Co-founded a wealth management firm with three partners, including his father, building a referral network with accountants and attorneys Watched those same referral partners become competitors once professional services firms began offering everything in-house Officially launched Navix as its own branded methodology and company in 2009 Had to build all of Navix's analytical tools and training materials from scratch, since no exit planning software or degree programs existed Wrote his first book, Dance in the End Zone, after a business coach challenged him to stop complaining and write it himself Shifted from referral-based growth to paid speaking after his book began generating workshop invitations and client leads Has delivered more than 500 keynotes and workshops, now charging speaking fees as a deliberate paid marketing strategy Has guided more than 600 business owners through exits worth a combined total in the billions Published a fourth book, “Prepped,” built entirely from the most common questions he hears across speaking engagements and client calls 🌟 Patrick's Key Mentors: His Father: Co-founded his original wealth management firm with him, one of three founding partners His Business Coach: Challenged him over a sushi lunch to stop complaining about bad books on exit planning and write his own His Speaker Coach: Advised him to give away all the answers in his workshops, a philosophy that reshaped his entire approach to business development Peer Groups Like Vistage and EO: Provided both his early speaking platforms and ongoing learning opportunities throughout his career 👉 Hear how a young investment banker who watched business owners struggle through unprepared exits built a firm, wrote four books, and became one of the most sought-after voices in exit planning. 🔗 Connect with Patrick Ungashick: Website: navixconsultants.com 📄 Transcript Available: Navix Consultants Has Guided Over 600 Business Owners Through Exits Worth Billions 📺 Watch on YouTube: Inspired Stories Podcast 🌐 Our Website: The Inspired Stories Podcast 📄 Special Thanks to Anthony Codispoti & AddBack Benefits Agency: AddBack Benefits Agency - Providing innovative employee benefits solutions that improve employee well-being while optimizing your bottom line Website: addbackbenefits.com

  3. 2d ago

    In Business for Yourself but Not by Yourself, Agents Find The Support With Anchor Benefit Advisors

    🎙️ From Kitchen Table Sales to Anchor Benefit Advisors, David Keeler Has Spent Four Decades Building Insurance Agents David Keeler, executive consultant at Anchor Benefit Advisors, started selling health and life insurance at age 20 and helped build an agency that grew from its first policy in 1989 to $400 million in new business by 2003. He shares why he treats agents and their spouses as the primary customer, how he walked away from a seven-figure income rather than compromise his character, and what working alongside Zig Ziglar taught him about significance. He also explains how Anchor trains new agents before they ever enter the field. ✨ Key Insights You'll Learn: Recruiting agents who had never held a license The agent and spouse as the primary customer In business for yourself, but not by yourself Appointments as your inventory Ten sales in training before entering the field Diagnosis before prescription in every sale People plus performance equals profits Recruiting through open enrollment season Character over cash flow Never letting your licenses lapse 🌟 David's Key Mentors: His father: taught him to work for himself with one answer, write another application Zig Ziglar: mentor on significance and the decision to walk away Tom Ziglar: lasting friend from his years with the Ziglar organization His agency teammates: the we behind decades of growth 👉 Don't miss this conversation about choosing character over cash flow and building agencies where agents sleep better on Sunday nights. 🔗 Connect with David Keeler: Website: anchorbenefitadvisors.com 📄 Transcript Available: In Business for Yourself but Not by Yourself, Agents Find The Support With Anchor Benefit Advisors 📺 Watch on YouTube: Inspired Stories Podcast 🌐 Our Website: The Inspired Stories Podcast 📄 Special Thanks to Anthony Codispoti & AddBack Benefits Agency: AddBack Benefits Agency - Providing innovative employee benefits solutions that improve employee well-being while optimizing your bottom line Website: addbackbenefits.com

  4. 3d ago

    Why Structure is More Important Than Valuation. Lessons From a Goldman Sachs to Founder Journey

    🎙️ A $30 Million Startup Failure Taught Jay Jung the Lesson Behind Founding Embarc Advisors In this episode, Jay Jung, founder and managing partner of Embarc Advisors, shares how a failed network security startup backed by SoftBank, stints at McKinsey and Goldman Sachs, and a side favor for a former client revealed a massive gap in how the middle market gets advised on deals. Jay opens up about why Embarc bills by the hour instead of taking a traditional success fee, the heartbreak of watching unrepresented sellers get shortchanged, and the personal relationships that keep him in the middle market rather than chasing bigger deals. ✨ Key Insights You'll Learn: Co-founded network security startup Exabar out of college, raised capital from SoftBank, and shut it down 3 years later Learned his pitch failed because young founders asking enterprise IT buyers to bet on unproven technology is a hard sell Spent time at McKinsey and later Goldman Sachs, working on sales including Yahoo, MuleSoft, and SanDisk Left Goldman in 2018 and spent 2 years as a solo practitioner before formally incorporating Embarc Advisors in 2020 Built an in-house quality of earnings practice, unusual for an M&A advisory firm, so clients wouldn't half-ass their exit prep Chose hourly billing over success fees after learning the model from lawyers, allowing Embarc to scale fairly across deal sizes Serves as sole M&A advisor on deals typically ranging from $10 million to $200 million in enterprise value Orchestrated a 36-hour bidding war that pushed one client's exit from a projected 6-8x to over 12x EBITDA, all cash Was hired by a company he'd previously tried to acquire on behalf of a different client, after they were impressed by his approach Has led Embarc onto the Inc. 5000 list three years running since first appearing at number 477 in 2023 🌟 Jay's Key Mentors: The Partner Who Hired Him at McKinsey: A lasting friendship and source of guidance Jay still turns to and listens to carefully His Lawyer Friends: Explained the scalable hourly billing model that became the foundation of Embarc's entire fee structure His Clients, Collectively: Business owners and entrepreneurs across hundreds of deals who've taught him operations, marketing, and leadership through every engagement The Client Who First Asked Him to Sell His Business: A simple vote of confidence, “you're a smart guy, you can figure it out,” that launched Jay's entire M&A career 👉 Hear how a failed startup and years inside Goldman Sachs and McKinsey revealed a massive gap in how middle market business owners get advised, and how Jay Jung built a firm to close it. 🔗 Connect with Jay Jung: Website: Embarcadvisors.com 📄 Transcript Available: Why Structure is More Important Than Valuation. Lessons From a Goldman Sachs to Founder Journey 📺 Watch on YouTube: Inspired Stories Podcast 🌐 Our Website: The Inspired Stories Podcast 📄 Special Thanks to Anthony Codispoti & AddBack Benefits Agency: AddBack Benefits Agency - Providing innovative employee benefits solutions that improve employee well-being while optimizing your bottom line Website: addbackbenefits.com

  5. 4d ago

    As a Wave of Owners Looks to Sell, Cameron Bishop and Raincatcher Guard Against Leaving Millions Behind

    🎙️ From Advertising Copywriter to CEO to Dealmaker, Cameron Bishop Now Guides Owners at Raincatcher Cameron Bishop, partner and managing director at Raincatcher, started as an advertising copywriter at Intertec Publishing and rose to CEO as the company grew to $400 million in revenue. He shares the failed first acquisition that taught him to put people first, the rise and unwinding of Ascend Media, and what business owners rarely understand about selling a company. He also opens up about losing a 23-year career and a 23-year marriage at the same time and the saying that got him back up. ✨ Key Insights You'll Learn: A first acquisition lost to culture clash Start, Stop, Keep interviews with every employee Protecting what an acquired company does right 45 former colleagues who followed him to Ascend Media The danger of heavy debt going into a recession A nine to ten month timeline for selling a business Why unrepresented owners sell for less Working capital as a hidden swing in deal value The emotional roller coaster of a sale Planning for life after the wire transfer 🌟 Cameron's Key Mentors: The chairman of Macmillan: mentor of 15 years who asked "What are they doing right?" The Intertec team: collaborators behind Start, Stop, Keep A coworker of 30 years: steady support through his hardest stretch His brother: support during his divorce His wife: sounding board since a blind date 👉 Don't miss this conversation about putting people first in every deal, getting back up after failure, and what it really takes to sell a business. 🔗 Connect with Cameron Bishop: Website: Raincatcher.com LinkedIn: Cameron Bishop 📄 Transcript Available: As a Wave of Owners Looks to Sell, Cameron Bishop and Raincatcher Guard Against Leaving Millions Behind 📺 Watch on YouTube: Inspired Stories Podcast 🌐 Our Website: The Inspired Stories Podcast 📄 Special Thanks to Anthony Codispoti & AddBack Benefits Agency: AddBack Benefits Agency - Providing innovative employee benefits solutions that improve employee well-being while optimizing your bottom line Website: addbackbenefits.com

  6. 4d ago

    Total Cost of Risk, Not Just Premium: Ryan Stillwell's Pitch for Stillwell Risk Partners

    🎙️ Twenty-Four Workers' Comp Claims in Five Years Led a Manufacturer to Stillwell Risk Partners In this episode, Ryan Stillwell, founder of Stillwell Risk Partners, shares how he left his family's insurance agency in the middle of the pandemic to build a firm around preventing claims, not just selling policies. Ryan opens up about a brutal first year when his marketing failed completely, the emergency spinal surgery that reshaped how he takes care of himself, and why he refuses to quote an insurance policy before spending months earning a client's trust. ✨ Key Insights You'll Learn: Spent 15 years in commercial lines, personal lines, and workers' compensation at his family's insurance agency Left to launch Stillwell Risk Partners in August 2020, in the middle of the pandemic, as his wife was laid off Watched his first six months of social media and direct mail marketing fail to bring in meaningful business Pivoted entirely to referral-based networking through chambers of commerce and value-based relationships Built a prevention-first model focused on lowering a client's total cost of risk, not just their premium Developed Risk Assessment 360, auditing HR practices, safety programs, and machine guarding beyond standard insurance reviews Runs Stillwell Risk Partners as a one-person firm, bringing in outside specialists for areas like mock OSHA audits Helped a 120-person manufacturer identify the root causes behind 24 workers' comp claims in five years Helped a client recover funds after a business email compromise led to a $60,000 wire fraud Underwent emergency spinal surgery seven years ago after a herniated disc caused sudden numbness and nerve damage 🌟 Ryan's Key Mentors: His Wife: Supported his decision to leave a stable agency and start his own firm during the pandemic, even after being laid off herself Early Referral Mentors: Walked him through their own networking processes after his initial marketing approach failed His Chamber of Commerce Network: Built over two to three years into value-based relationships that became the foundation of his client base Family and Friends: Showed up with support during his spinal surgery recovery without ever being asked 👉 Hear how an insurance broker who nearly lost his footing in year one built a firm around earning trust before ever quoting a policy, and how emergency spinal surgery reshaped how he lives. 🔗 Connect with Ryan Stillwell: Website: stillwellriskpartners.com 📄 Transcript Available: Total Cost of Risk, Not Just Premium: Ryan Stillwell's Pitch for Stillwell Risk Partners 📺 Watch on YouTube: Inspired Stories Podcast 🌐 Our Website: The Inspired Stories Podcast 📄 Special Thanks to Anthony Codispoti & AddBack Benefits Agency: AddBack Benefits Agency - Providing innovative employee benefits solutions that improve employee well-being while optimizing your bottom line Website: addbackbenefits.com

  7. 4d ago

    Rust, Dust, and Smoke: Derek Wittjohann and Premier Path Wealth Partners' Unsexy Niche with Business Owners

    🎙️ Derek Wittjohann Left Merrill Lynch for Premier Path Wealth Partners, and 97% of Clients Followed Derek Wittjohann retained 97% of client revenue through his move from Merrill Lynch to an independent firm, and he grew Premier Path Wealth Partners past $1.2 billion within two years. Derek is Chief Operating Officer and Partner at Premier Path, which serves business owners in the unglamorous “rust, dust, and smoke” sector: manufacturing, distribution, packaging, and logistics companies most people drive past every day. He opens up about the tense week before launch and why he believes being naturally bad at traditional selling became his firm’s biggest competitive edge. ✨ Key Insights You’ll Learn:Spent 13 years at Merrill Lynch before leaving in 2023 to launch Premier Path Wealth PartnersTook roughly $800 million in client assets at launch, growing past $1.2 billion within 2 yearsLanded at number 43 on Financial Advisor magazine’s list of the fastest growing independent advisory firmsRetained 97% of client revenue through the transition, with institutional clients the hardest to keepDiscovered Merrill’s brand name carried almost no weight once clients were asked to make the switchSpecializes in “rust, dust, and smoke” businesses: multi-generational manufacturing, distribution, and packaging companiesBuilt an owner’s roadmap evaluating whether the owner, the business, and the market are each ready for a salePartners a strategic business advisor and a family governance advisor to address both operational and emotional transition needsLaunched a proprietary fund giving clients access to private equity and tech venture deals unavailable at larger institutionsBuilt an internal AI-powered tool through Claude to help track and coordinate every party in a business sale 🌟 Derek’s Key Mentors:Bruce Milstein: His first branch manager at Merrill Lynch, who modeled solving others’ problems with urgency and later helped hire him into the firmMike Lehman (CEO, Premier Path): Met while both worked at Merrill Lynch, later co-founded Premier Path Wealth Partners togetherBill Earhart: Premier Path’s strategic business advisor, a former multi-company CEO who helps clients build out management teams before a saleDr. Richard Orlando: Premier Path’s family governance advisor, who helps clients navigate identity and purpose after exiting a business 👉 Hear how a wealth advisor who once felt torn between client interests and corporate incentives built an independent firm around the unsexy business owners everyone drives past without noticing. 🔗 Connect with Derek Wittjohann:Website: premierepath.com 📤 Transcript Available: Rust, Dust, and Smoke: Derek Wittjohann and Premier Path Wealth Partners’ Unsexy Niche with Business Owners📺 Watch on YouTube: Inspired Stories Podcast🌐 Our Website: The Inspired Stories Podcast📤 Special Thanks to Anthony Codispoti & AddBack Benefits Agency — Providing innovative employee benefits solutions that improve employee well-being while optimizing your bottom line. Website: addbackbenefits.com ⏱️ Chapters:0:00 Introducing Derek Wittjohann and Premier Path2:34 Why Derek Left Merrill Lynch4:19 Building an Independent, Client-Focused Firm9:38 Launching the Firm and Winning Clients’ Trust14:29 The Owner’s Roadmap: Preparing for Succession or Sale23:14 How the Firm Grew Past $1.2 Billion25:53 Serving “Rust, Dust, and Smoke” Businesses34:03 Mentors, Resilience, and Early Career Lessons44:16 AI as a Tool to Improve Client Conversations51:28 Derek’s Legacy, Integrity, and Business Values #WealthManagement #BusinessSuccession #PremierPathWealthPartners #RustDustAndSmoke #IndependentAdvisor #InspiredStoriesPodcast

  8. 4d ago

    At the Height of Her Career, Robyn Hass Sold Her Company & Left the C-Suite to Come Home

    🎙️ From Home Equity to an Eight-Figure Exit, Robyn Hass Brings Hard-Won Lessons to Mainstreet MEP® Robyn Hass, founder of Mainstreet MEP®, co-founded commercial mechanical contractor Core Mechanical with her husband, grew it onto the Inc. 5000, and helped lead its eight-figure sale to a private equity backed platform. She shares what that sale taught her about earnouts and the emotional cost of letting go, and why she now helps independent HVAC, electrical, and plumbing owners build legacy businesses. She also opens up about losing her former husband, the grief that followed, and the faith that grew out of it. ✨ Key Insights You'll Learn: Walking away from a first company after the wrong investor A contest-won van and $20,000 as a second start Multi-location facility managers as a growth engine Branding that makes a young company look bigger The three-legged stool of operations, finance, and sales Earnouts, rollover equity, and the first check The emotional side of selling a company Daily cadence on invoicing and collections Owner approval of every new vendor and customer Servant leadership over treating people as commodities 🌟 Robyn's Key Influences: Her husband: co-founder who helped her grow in faith Her parents: high expectations that pointed her to the C-suite A grief counselor: gave a name to mourning as the ex Friends who showed up: acts of service that began her faith walk A relative at the memorial: the words "it's not your fault" 👉 Don't miss this conversation about what a sale really costs, what Main Street gives a community, and putting family first. 🔗 Connect with Robyn Hass: Website: mainstreetmep.com Podcast: Trade Finance in 10 📄 Transcript Available: At the Height of Her Career, Robyn Hass Sold Her Company & Left the C-Suite to Come Home 📺 Watch on YouTube: Inspired Stories Podcast 🌐 Our Website: The Inspired Stories Podcast 📄 Special Thanks to Anthony Codispoti & AddBack Benefits Agency: AddBack Benefits Agency - Providing innovative employee benefits solutions that improve employee well-being while optimizing your bottom line Website: addbackbenefits.com

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About

Anthony V. Codispoti has started, built, and sold a variety of successful businesses, including a 7-figure wholesale business (successful exit), a 7-figure consumer business (exited to private equity), a SaaS business (successful exit), and fiscally advantaged benefits. As an innovator and pioneer, he has been awarded patents, earned best seller badges, and gained scores of battle scars. In this show, we gain inspiration from the successes achieved and challenges overcome by today's business leaders.

Information

  • Creator
    Anthony V. Codispoti
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    606
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Anthony V. Codispoti
  • Show Website
    The Inspired Stories Podcast