Fixers & Founders

Forrest Derr and Tony Lilja
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  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Biweekly

Fixers & Founders is a podcast about the partnership between visionary founders and the fractional executives who help them bring structure, clarity, and scale. Each episode features candid conversations with founders and the operators who steady the ship—highlighting how ideas get fueled, how systems get fixed, and how businesses move forward when vision and execution finally meet.

  1. 7h ago

    Network Forever | Build a Growth Engine That Compounds

    In this episode of Fixers & Founders, Tony and Forrest sit down with Brian Petro to explore what happens when marketing, sales, networking, and brand all start working together instead of operating as separate efforts. Brian describes himself as a marketing guy who loves sales, and that perspective gives him a unique view of the friction that often exists between the two. From finger-pointing over bad leads to inconsistent business development and neglected referral habits, Brian explains why growth becomes more reliable when companies build systems around the relationships and activities that already work. Drawing from more than 30 years in marketing, his work as a fractional CMO and CRO, and experience helping brands from startups to Fortune 500 companies grow, Brian shares how small businesses and solopreneurs can create outsized results without massive budgets. He also explains why networking should be treated as a permanent business habit and how strong brand equity can increase the value of a company well beyond immediate lead generation. In this conversation, we explore: • Sales + Marketing Alignment: Why the classic “bad leads vs. bad follow-up” fight happens and how both sides can work together. • Networking as a System: Why relationship-building needs process and consistency if it is going to produce long-term results. • Scrappy Growth: How smaller businesses can create traction without relying on big ad budgets. • Brand Equity: Why marketing should increase the value of the company, not just produce this month’s leads. If your growth still depends too much on random outreach, inconsistent follow-up, or hoping the right opportunity shows up, this conversation is for you. Connect with Brian Petro Email: brian@brightproductions.comWebsite: https://brightproductions.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bpetro/ Intro & Outro Music "Which One Is the Jellyfish?" by Aunt Cynthia's CabinUsed with permission under a non-exclusive license. Bandcamp: https://auntcynthiascabin.bandcamp.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/auntcynthiascabinInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/auntcynthiascabinSpotify: http://open.spotify.com/artist/5XoG0H2D0vY58n32W8xI2K

  2. Aug 19

    Marketing From Zero to One | Stop Guessing. Start Growing.

    In this episode of Fixers & Founders, Tony and Forrest sit down with Evelyn Cools to explore what it really takes to build marketing from zero to one. For many early-stage companies, marketing starts as a collection of disconnected tactics—running ads, posting on social media, or chasing the latest growth hack. Evelyn explains why sustainable growth starts somewhere much less exciting but far more important: building the right foundation first. Drawing from her experience as a three-time founding marketer, fractional Head of Marketing, growth advisor, and host of the Growing Startups podcast, Evelyn shares how founders can stop guessing, focus on the right experiments, and build marketing systems that are ready to scale. In this conversation, we explore: • Marketing Foundations: Why defining your ICP, messaging, and core marketing operations comes before scaling channels. • Growth Without Guesswork: How to avoid random acts of marketing by testing intentionally and learning from every experiment. • Beyond Paid Ads: Why founders often spend on ads too early—and where that budget can create far greater returns. • The First 90 Days: A practical roadmap for building marketing that supports long-term growth instead of chasing short-term wins. If your marketing feels reactive, scattered, or like a collection of disconnected experiments, this conversation is for you. Connect with Evelyn Cools LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evelyncools Growing Startups Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/growing-startups-with-evelyn-cools/id1773028291 Intro & Outro Music "Which One Is the Jellyfish?" by Aunt Cynthia's CabinUsed with permission under a non-exclusive license. Bandcamp: https://auntcynthiascabin.bandcamp.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/auntcynthiascabin Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/auntcynthiascabin Spotify: http://open.spotify.com/artist/5XoG0H2D0vY58n32W8xI2K

  3. Aug 12

    You Didn’t Get Lazy, You Got Busy | How to Get Your Health Back

    In this episode of Fixers & Founders, Tony and Forrest sit down with Blake Martin to explore why health often slips when life gets busy. As careers grow, businesses demand more, and family responsibilities pile up, many people find themselves feeling far removed from the version of themselves that once felt strong, energized, and in control. Blake explains why that usually is not a lack of discipline—it is the result of health being pushed behind everything else. Drawing from more than 15 years in the medical device industry and his work through Telomere, Blake shares how practical coaching, clinical testing, nutrition, body composition analysis, and accountability can help people rebuild their health without extreme routines or short-term fixes. In this conversation, we explore: • Life Gets Busy: Why health often declines gradually as work, family, and other priorities take over. • Sustainable Transformation: Why long-term habits matter more than quick weight-loss goals. • Better Health Data: What DEXA scans, VO2 max testing, and metabolic analysis can reveal that BMI often misses. • Health as a System: How to bring the same structure, consistency, and accountability to your health that you bring to your work. If your career, business, or family has been getting your best while your health gets whatever is left, this conversation is for you. Connect with Blake Martin Website: https://telomere.pro LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blake-martin-64087631 Intro & Outro Music "Which One Is the Jellyfish?" by Aunt Cynthia's Cabin Used with permission under a non-exclusive license. Bandcamp: https://auntcynthiascabin.bandcamp.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/auntcynthiascabin Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/auntcynthiascabin Spotify: http://open.spotify.com/artist/5XoG0H2D0vY58n32W8xI2K

  4. Aug 5

    Don’t Be My Dad | Build a Business That Survives You

    Most founders don't set out to become the bottleneck. It happens one decision, one hire, one new system at a time. Before long, the business can't move without them—and that's exactly what Guy Barretta helps fix. Known as The COO Guy, Guy has spent his career helping founders, real estate brokerages, and franchise owners bring order to operational chaos. From leadership roles at Microsoft, Yahoo, and Coldwell Banker to advising growing businesses today, he's seen the same pattern repeat itself: growth exposes weaknesses that were always there. The most memorable lesson from this conversation comes from a deeply personal story Guy shares about his father, an entrepreneur whose business disappeared when he did. It's a reminder that building a successful company isn't just about today's revenue—it's about creating something that can thrive long after you're no longer running it. In this conversation, we explore: Why founders become the operational bottleneck without realizing it The difference between working in the business and working on it How operational clarity creates sustainable growth Why franchise playbooks aren't enough on their own Building leadership teams that challenge ideas instead of simply agreeing Why every founder needs an exit strategy—even if they never plan to sell If your business feels heavier than it did a year ago, or you're wondering whether you've built a company that depends too much on you, this episode is for you. Connect with Guy Barretta Website: https://thecooguy.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/guy-barretta Intro & Outro Music "Which One Is the Jellyfish?" by Aunt Cynthia's Cabin Used with permission under a non-exclusive license. Bandcamp: https://auntcynthiascabin.bandcamp.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/auntcynthiascabin Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/auntcynthiascabin Spotify: http://open.spotify.com/artist/5XoG0H2D0vY58n32W8xI2K

  5. Jul 29

    Helping the Underdogs Win | Wall Street Smarts for Main Street Businesses

    In this episode of Fixers & Founders, Tony and Forrest sit down with Jeff Benesh to talk about what happens when founder-led businesses start getting heavier than they should. Jeff brings Wall Street experience to Main Street businesses, helping founders diagnose what is really slowing them down. From distressed assets and turnaround work to operational diagnostics and founder psychology, Jeff explains why businesses rarely break all at once. More often, they drift. We discuss how leaders confuse busyness with progress, why the first problem is usually not the real problem, and how simpler systems can restore clarity, control, and momentum. In this conversation, we explore: Wall Street to Main Street: How Jeff applies high-stakes financial thinking to founder-led companies. Business Drift: Why growing companies slowly move into chaos before they hit a breaking point. Root Cause Diagnosis: How to separate symptoms from what is actually broken. Simple Systems: Why healthy businesses need less complexity, not more. If your business feels busy, heavy, or harder to run than it should, this conversation is for you. Connect with Jeff Benesh Email: jeff.benesh@melburyandco.com LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-benesh-48041618⁠ Website: https://melburyandco.com Intro & Outro Music "Which One Is the Jellyfish?" by Aunt Cynthia's Cabin Used with permission under a non-exclusive license. Bandcamp: https://auntcynthiascabin.bandcamp.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/auntcynthiascabin Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/auntcynthiascabin Spotify: http://open.spotify.com/artist/5XoG0H2D0vY58n32W8xI2K

  6. Jul 22

    Slow Down to Speed Up | Making Better Business Decisions

    In this episode of Fixers & Founders, Tony and Forrest sit down with Jody Hatch to explore what happens when growth creates complexity. As businesses mature, leaders often find themselves surrounded by more data, more opinions, more tools, and more pressure to move quickly. Jody explains why speed isn't always the answer—and why clarity, timing, and intentional decision-making become increasingly important as organizations grow. Drawing from her experience as an EOS Integrator, educator, and self-described "orchestrator," Jody shares how she helps founders cut through noise, simplify complexity, and make decisions with greater confidence. In this conversation, we explore: • Growth & Complexity: Why success often creates new layers of chaos and uncertainty. • Clarity Over Speed: When moving faster becomes a liability instead of an advantage. • The Orchestrator Mindset: How great leaders align people, tools, and priorities around a common direction. • Signal vs. Noise: Practical ways to uncover what actually matters when everything feels urgent. If you're facing a decision that feels bigger than the usual playbook, this conversation is for you. Connect with Jody Hatch LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jhmountainmanagment Phone: (315) 529-6844 Intro & Outro Music "Which One Is the Jellyfish?" by Aunt Cynthia's Cabin Used with permission under a non-exclusive license. Bandcamp: https://auntcynthiascabin.bandcamp.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/auntcynthiascabin Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/auntcynthiascabin Spotify: http://open.spotify.com/artist/5XoG0H2D0vY58n32W8xI2K

  7. Jul 15

    You Have a Job, Not a Business | Escaping Founder-Led Sales

    In this episode of Fixers & Founders, Tony and Forrest sit down with Morgan Abreu to explore one of the most difficult transitions founders face: moving from founder-led sales to a scalable revenue system. Many businesses grow because the founder is the best salesperson in the company. But eventually that becomes the bottleneck. Morgan explains why hiring a salesperson isn't a silver bullet, what needs to be in place before making that first sales hire, and how founders can build systems that allow revenue to grow without depending on a single person. We discuss the common mistakes founders make when hiring sales talent, the importance of defining your ideal customer and sales process, and why repeatable systems outperform sales heroes over the long run. In this conversation, we explore: Founder-Led Sales: Why growth eventually stalls when every deal depends on the founder. The First Sales Hire Trap: The two most common hiring mistakes and how to avoid them. Repeatable Revenue Systems: Building processes that scale beyond a single rainmaker. People Buy From People: Why relationships still matter in an increasingly automated world. If you're tired of carrying the pipeline yourself, this conversation is for you. Connect with Morgan Abreu LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/morganabreu Website: https://meliastrategy.com Intro & Outro Music "Which One Is the Jellyfish?" by Aunt Cynthia's Cabin Used with permission under a non-exclusive license. Bandcamp: https://auntcynthiascabin.bandcamp.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/auntcynthiascabin Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/auntcynthiascabin Spotify: http://open.spotify.com/artist/5XoG0H2D0vY58n32W8xI2K

  8. Jul 8

    Know Thy Data | Fixing the Friction That Slows Growth

    In this episode of Fixers & Founders, Tony and Forrest sit down with Cory Watson to explore the hidden operational friction that quietly slows growing businesses. From overloaded inboxes and disconnected systems to poorly implemented technology and fragmented data, Cory explains why most growth challenges don't start with strategy. They start with process. We discuss the difference between meaningful automation and shiny object syndrome, why companies often buy technology before understanding their actual problems, and how leaders can create stronger operational foundations before scaling. In this conversation, we explore: Know Thy Data: Why understanding what you already have is the first step toward better decisions. Meaningful Automation: The difference between solving a problem and simply adding more software. Operational Friction: How repetitive processes quietly erode speed, clarity, and profitability. People Before Process: Why organizational bottlenecks often have more to do with human behavior than technology. If your team feels busy but not efficient, this conversation is for you. Connect with Cory Watson Email: cwatson@imageaccesscorp.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coryjwatson Intro & Outro Music "Which One Is the Jellyfish?" by Aunt Cynthia's Cabin Used with permission under a non-exclusive license. Bandcamp: https://auntcynthiascabin.bandcamp.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/auntcynthiascabin Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/auntcynthiascabin Spotify: http://open.spotify.com/artist/5XoG0H2D0vY58n32W8xI2K

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About

Fixers & Founders is a podcast about the partnership between visionary founders and the fractional executives who help them bring structure, clarity, and scale. Each episode features candid conversations with founders and the operators who steady the ship—highlighting how ideas get fueled, how systems get fixed, and how businesses move forward when vision and execution finally meet.

Information

  • Creator
    Forrest Derr and Tony Lilja
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    27
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Forrest Derr and Tony Lilja
  • Show Website
    Fixers & Founders