Founder Problems Podcast

Lee Zuvanich, Zach Oshinbanjo, Sarah Schumacher
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Biweekly

Unscripted, anti-hustle conversations with real founders working through real problems. Behind closed doors, founders aren't talking about the highlight reels. Listen in as we help each other–and you–navigate the ups and downs of life as a business owner, whether you're on your 1st startup or your 15th.

  1. 6d ago

    How to Run a Business Without Killing Yourself

    Lee Zuvanich, Sarah Schumacher, and Zach Oshinbanjo compare what's actually kept them healthy while building businesses without burning out. Zach's longest-running habit is consistent workouts, which noticeably affect his mood and focus if he skips them. Sarah's is bullet journaling—less "dear diary," more utilitarian planning, habit tracking, and keeping priorities visible—plus reading, meditation, supplements, and note-taking systems. Lee frames sleep as his non-negotiable system after serious health consequences from deprivation, even though founder hyperfocus makes it tempting to ignore. They swap what hasn't worked (early mornings, time blocking, forcing someone else's schedule), discuss founder "health stacks" like nutrition and visual task lists, and end with advice: start small, use habit stacking, expect it to suck at first, reassess regularly, and don't demand perfection.   Timestamps: 00:00 Meet the Hosts 00:33 Founder Health Focus 01:36 Zach's Workout Habit 04:18 Sarah's Bullet Journal 06:45 Lee's Sleep System 10:50 What Didn't Work 11:03 Sleep Struggles and Night Owls 17:08 Why Time Blocking Fails 18:03 Kids and Interrupted Focus 19:18 Core Habits Take Time 19:33 Founder Health Stacks 20:03 Nutrition and Supplements 22:00 Lists and Visual Planning 24:04 Workout Systems and Darebee 26:38 Reading for Recovery 29:24 Meditation and MTHFR 30:30 Starting Over Advice 34:34 Habit Stacking Basics 35:49 Yearly Reassess and Wrap   Mentioned In This Episode: Post: Bullet Journaling: What It Is and Why I Do It Product: Adam Clear Habit Journal Wikipedia: Death Note Manga Review: Death Note Resource: Darebee Workouts  Resource: MTFHR gene Wikipedia: David Goggins Wikipedia: James Clear Book: Do Nothing by Celeste Headlee   Founder Problems is a podcast by and for real-world, fed-up founders. Three entrepreneurs in the messy middle share hot takes, actionable steps, and resources to navigate the challenges of running a business—no promises of 10x growth or swooning investors. Every founder's journey is different, so take what works and make it your own. Learn more at founderproblems.com.

  2. Oct 2

    What's Your Problem: Back-to-School Wins, AI Cheapskates, and Key-Man Chaos

    In this episode, the hosts admit that (at the time of recording) it was the first week after school started and everyone's exhausted. Wins center on kids being back in school and the return of quiet workdays; struggles include client flakiness and boundaries, AI making "cheapskates free to be cheapskates," slow business by choice, and frustration with clients going DIY/AI and failing to communicate about budgets or unpaid bills.   Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome and Introductions 01:02 Wins After School Starts 02:09 What Is WWOOF 03:34 Reading Between Reviews 05:13 Empty Nest and Freedom 06:10 Sarah Back to Work Mode 07:08 Burnout and AI Websites 08:55 Zach Joins READY Program 10:43 Workout Routines and Disc Golf 15:53 Struggles and Client Boundaries 19:16 Foreboding Joy and Stability 21:03 Billionaire Talk and Calendly 23:28 Google Disruption and Moats 26:08 Sarah Struggle Caring Less 26:25 Burnout After Two Decades 26:41 AI Cheapskates Problem 27:24 Why Hosting Builds Trust 28:32 Losing A Beloved Client 29:55 Payment Silence Vs Honesty 31:15 Stricter Client Boundaries 35:21 Canva AI Site Reality Check 36:47 Building AI Website Package 38:26 Humans In The Loop Model 43:17 Zach Key Man Bottleneck 49:34 Earned Revenue Experiments 53:01 Lee Focuses On Startup 56:27 R And D And Wrap Up   Links Mentioned In This Episode: Organization: WWOOF Reddit Thread: Workaway Organization: REDI Concept: 'Forboding Joy' Income Happiness: ("Globally, we find that satiation occurs at $95,000 for life evaluation and $60,000 to $75,000 for emotional well-being.") Wikipedia: Tope Awotana Podcast: How I Built This: Tope Awotana Tool: Tidycal Platform: Aptible KC Program: ProX KC Program: Northland CAPS KC Program: Worktern Founder Doing everything behind the scenes story: Chattjb   Founder Problems is a podcast by and for real-world, fed-up founders. Three entrepreneurs in the messy middle share hot takes, actionable steps, and resources to navigate the challenges of running a business—no promises of 10x growth or swooning investors. Every founder's journey is different, so take what works and make it your own. Learn more at founderproblems.com.

  3. Sep 18

    Runaway Founder Syndrome

    After opening with a recording snafu (because it's funny), the hosts dive into "runaway founder syndrome," describing it as a spectrum where founders can't let the business breathe, micromanage decisions, and constantly rework direction (including late-night idea pivots that exhaust teams). They discuss when it can be beneficial versus when it becomes harmful. Practical takeaways include recognizing the pattern, hiring and delegating appropriately, using a trusted sounding board, not dumping new ideas on the team, focusing on sales/user feedback, and accepting solopreneurship if control is non-negotiable. Timestamps: 00:00 Audio Fails Cold Open 00:53 Meet the Hosts 01:11 Defining Founder Syndrome 04:16 Why This Topic Matters 05:54 When It Helps Visionaries 13:48 When It Turns Toxic 20:07 Industry Examples Creative Nonprofit 27:46 App Dev Pitfalls and Advice 32:20 Founders Fallacy Product First 33:22 Industry Expertise Debate 34:21 Desperation Built Businesses 36:49 Side Hustles Cut Teeth 37:49 Avoiding Founder Syndrome 43:07 Micromanage Or Delegate 49:54 Founder Syndrome Fixes 54:53 Hiring And Letting Go 01:03:22 Solopreneur Or Scale 01:05:39 Final Mantras Wrap Up Founder Problems is a podcast by and for real-world, fed-up founders. Three entrepreneurs in the messy middle share hot takes, actionable steps, and resources to navigate the challenges of running a business—no promises of 10x growth or swooning investors. Every founder's journey is different, so take what works and make it your own. Learn more at founderproblems.com.

  4. Sep 2

    What's Your Problem: Inbound Wins, Nonprofit Timelines, and the Founder Workload Crunch

    In Episode 17 of the Founder Problems Podcast, Zachary Oshinbanjo, Sarah Schumacher, and Lee Zuvanich share one win, one struggle, and one thing they're working on. Wins include nonprofit and inbound lead progress, as well as consolidated consulting work. This episode emphasizes community, trust-based referrals and realistic pipelines. Founder Problems is a podcast by and for real-world, fed-up founders. Three entrepreneurs in the messy middle share hot takes, actionable steps, and resources to navigate the challenges of running a business—no promises of 10x growth or swooning investors. Every founder's journey is different, so take what works and make it your own. Learn more at founderproblems.com.

  5. Aug 19

    Productivity Whiplash: When to Close the Laptop

    Sarah Schumacher, Zach Oshinbanjo, and Lee Zuvanich unpack why founders are obsessed with productivity and the whiplash that hits after a break. They debate who benefits, discuss why it's important to define a personal vision of productivity, and emphasize the importance of prioritizing (non-side hustle) hobbies and rest. Founder Problems is a podcast by and for real-world, fed-up founders. Three entrepreneurs in the messy middle share hot takes, actionable steps, and resources to navigate the challenges of running a business—no promises of 10x growth or swooning investors. Every founder's journey is different, so take what works and make it your own. Learn more at founderproblems.com.

  6. Aug 13

    Season 3 Update

    We might have stopped publishing, but we didn't stop recording. The founders with problems have finally built up enough of a backlog to start releasing episodes again, so stay tuned. This is a short excerpt from our first recording in January 2026 where we talk about the vision for this podcast and why we're ditching in-depth editing.

  7. 09/10/2025

    What's Your Problem: Insurance Annoyances, Project Management and Creating Fearless Content

    In this episode of the Founder Problems Podcast, Sarah Schumacher, Zach Oshinbanjo, and Lee Zuvanich forget to record the intro, discuss Zach's construction management wins, insurance annoyance, and go down a couple rabbit holes (listing sites and project management). Sarah talks about the struggle to slow down long enough to delegate, and how rebranding never ends, while Lee shares his final fear frontier (making video content) and how the pursuit of perfection can be dangerous. We also share what seems like an obvious-in-hindsight fail for this very podcast business, because this is Founder Problems, after all.   Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction and Podcast Overview 00:58 Meet the Hosts 01:41 Zach's Recent Projects and Wins 03:23 Challenges in Nonprofit Management 11:11 Sarah's PM + Rebranding Journey 14:54 Tax Filing Woes 17:58 Project Management Insights 19:39 Onboarding New Team Members 22:00 Delegation and Documentation Challenges 23:07 Balancing Autonomy and Structure 26:15 Hiring Senior vs. Junior Talent 27:55 Personal and Professional Wins 29:57 Struggles with Content Creation 33:35 Embracing the Cringe 41:34 Final Thoughts and Encouragement   Mentioned In This Episode: Hofstadter's Law Parkinson's Law Decisive by Chip & Dan Heath Zyppy (Agency List) IRS 1065 Partnership Filing EIN (Employer Identification Number) CapCut (Video Editor) NeoCities (Website Maker)   Founder Problems is a podcast by and for real-world, fed-up founders. Three entrepreneurs in the messy middle share hot takes, actionable steps, and resources to navigate the challenges of running a business—no promises of 10x growth or swooning investors. Every founder's journey is different, so take what works and make it your own. Learn more at founderproblems.com.

  8. 08/28/2025

    Let's Talk Rebranding: Nobody Cares as Much as You Do

    In this extra long episode, Zach Oshinbanjo, Sarah Schumacher, and Lee Zuvanich dive deep and get practical on the art and chaos of rebranding. How do you know it's time to rebrand? Sarah reveals the emotional journey of evolving cyclone press into Tiny Thunder Studio, while Lee talks about pivoting his businesses into an AI startup. Whether you're wondering what to do when someone trademarks 'your' name right out from under you or pondering the right level of investment for a startup brand (not $230,000), this episode provides actionable takeaways for founders. Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome to the Founder Problems Podcast 00:09 Meet the Hosts: Zachary, Sarah, and Lee 00:58 The Importance of Rebranding 01:31 Sarah's Rebranding Journey 03:27 Trademark Issues and Business Names 05:49 Lee's Perspective on Branding 14:29 Zachary's Rebranding Experience 23:23 Choosing the Right Designer 24:07 The Collaboration Process in Branding 28:01 Practical Tips for Effective Rebranding 37:03 Digital and Social Aspects of Rebranding 51:11 Implementing and Launching a New Brand 52:44 Innovative Business Card Ideas 52:56 Ensuring a Successful Launch 53:27 Energy and Branding 57:45 The Importance of Preparation 01:00:09 Personalized Outreach Strategies 01:05:56 Balancing Energy and Strategy 01:06:25 Rebranding Challenges and Strategies 01:07:46 Choosing a New Business Name 01:08:37 Finalizing the New Brand Name 01:32:43 Revisiting the Rebrand Discussion 01:33:13 Trademark Troubles and Business Names 01:34:31 Navigating Trademark Disputes 01:37:02 The Importance of Branding 01:40:58 Creating a Strong Brand Presence 01:41:39 Balancing Cost and Quality in Branding 23:33 The Collaboration Process in Branding 31:07 Practical Tips for Effective Branding 02:07:03 Choosing a Startup Name 02:07:53 Color Palettes and Logos 02:11:08 Rebranding Strategies 02:12:35 Navigating New Markets 40:25 The Importance of Preparation 02:16:05 Personal Touch in Branding 02:32:43 Balancing Energy and Preparation 01:06:25 Final Thoughts and Wrap-Up   Mentioned In This Episode: USPTO Trademark Search Common Law Trademark Dribbble.com Coolors Color Palette Generator 5 Principles of Logo Design Sarah's Rebrand Announcement (see, not stodgy at all!)   Founder Problems is a podcast by and for real-world, fed-up founders. Three entrepreneurs in the messy middle share hot takes, actionable steps, and resources to navigate the challenges of running a business—no promises of 10x growth or swooning investors. Every founder's journey is different, so take what works and make it your own. Learn more at founderproblems.com.

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About

Unscripted, anti-hustle conversations with real founders working through real problems. Behind closed doors, founders aren't talking about the highlight reels. Listen in as we help each other–and you–navigate the ups and downs of life as a business owner, whether you're on your 1st startup or your 15th.

Information

  • Creator
    Lee Zuvanich, Zach Oshinbanjo, Sarah Schumacher
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    23
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025
  • Show Website
    Founder Problems Podcast