Forge Fire Protocol Podcast

Don LaPlume, Mike Sullivan and Steve Moynihan
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Weekly

Forge Fire Protocol is the operating system for entrepreneurs who want more than a job with extra paperwork. It's the five-step sequence for turning a raw idea into a $10 million exit in three to five years, built for the AI era. Each episode walks through the Protocol's stages: Spark, Forge, Ignite, Temper, and Ascend, covering the exact filters, systems, and AI leverage points that separate a real sellable asset from a founder-trapped business. Hosted by Don LaPlume alongside Mike Sullivan and Steve Moynihan, this show is for entrepreneurs at any stage, from first idea to seven-figure operator, ready to trade hustle-harder chaos for a clear, systemized path to a business that runs without them. Forged in Fire. Built for Legacy.

Episodes

  1. 1d ago

    We Needed a Better Way. So We Built It. Introducing Crushr

    Episode 8 Summary Don, Mike, and Steve unveil Crushr, the first product to come out of the Forge Fire Exchange. Built in under two weeks because existing social media tools were going to cost hundreds to thousands a month, Crushr is a live demonstration of what the Forge Fire Protocol can build when a real problem needs a real solution. The team walks through the platform live, shares how beta access and pricing work, and explains why this same process works for any idea, technical or not. Key Topics Covered Why Forge Fire Protocol needed its own social media tool instead of paying for expensive third-party platforms How Crushr went from a recognized problem to a live, working product in under two weeks A live walkthrough of Crushr: content ideas, AI-generated posts and images, scheduling, and duplicate-content warnings that help protect your accounts Why feeding Crushr your company URL changes the quality and relevance of generated content How beta access works: 50 seats, a $59/month grandfathered price for life, versus a $79.97 public price after beta closes Two real examples of ideas built through the protocol: a fishing app built by Mike's 12-year-old son, and a chicken health tracking app Don built for his own flock How Crushr's referral system lets users earn 20% commission and potentially cover their own subscription cost Why rapid iteration and low build costs mean small, specific feature requests can actually get built The bigger lesson: recognizing a recurring problem at work or in life is often the seed of a marketable idea Notable Quotes Mike, on reframing limitations for his kids: he stopped accepting "I can't" and taught them to add "yet" instead. Don, on validating an idea: everyday frustrations you run into repeatedly are often a strong signal for something worth building and even selling. Mike, on the real value of tools like Crushr: it is less about the monthly cost and more about buying back time. Call to Action Want to see what the Forge Fire Protocol can build for your idea? Get Crushr at CrusherSocial.com (spelled C-R-U-S-H-R, no E). Beta seats are limited to 50 and include a grandfathered price for life. Once beta seats are gone, a waitlist opens until the public launch on October 1.

  2. 1d ago

    Bricks to Breakthroughs: Struggle Drives Innovation

    Episode 7 Summary This episode is a look back. Don, Mike, and Steve share real stories from their own entrepreneurial pasts, the mistakes, the wasted time, and the lessons that shaped Forge Fire Protocol. They break down why most entrepreneurs try to build everything alone, why that approach fails, and how technology and systems have completely changed the timeline for launching a business today. Key Topics Covered Mike's story of trying to build a consulting business during the Great Recession, and the years lost trying to build a website without the right system or support Why trying to wear every hat in a business pulls you away from the one thing you're actually great at Steve's story of helping start a community bank in Connecticut in the 1980s, without technology, without a community, and without a blueprint Why building systems and using AI instead of adding headcount reduces risk and increases predictability How Forge Fire Protocol went from an idea on June 16, 2026, to a full ecosystem, including the book, the podcast, the App, The Exchange, and tools, in under three months A preview of two upcoming pieces of the ecosystem: an AI content tool and a marketplace for solutions built inside the Forge Five fears that keep entrepreneurs stuck, and how the protocol is built to address each one Why treating mistakes as lessons, not failures, is core to long-term success The idea that failing to share your knowledge and ideas with others is its own form of selfishness Notable Quotes Mike, on his early business struggles: building his consulting company taught him what not to do. Mike, on reframing failure: he stopped viewing mistakes as failure and started treating them as the building blocks that raise you higher. Don, on liabilities versus assets: every employee is unpredictable, but a system you build is an asset that compounds over time. Call to Action Have an idea but don't know how to build it? Forge Fire Protocol gives you the roadmap, the tools, and the community to take it from idea to a $10 million exit. Visit https://app.forgefireprotocol.com to get started. Founder's Preview Week ends in 2 days. We're live Monday, September 7, and Tuesday, September 8, at 8PM ET / 5PM PT, right before doors open to the public on 9/9. Come meet the co-founders and grab an exclusive offer before launch: https://forgefireprotocol.com/fp

  3. Sep 3

    Ignite Your Startup for a $10 Million Exit

    Episode 5: Ignite Your Startup for a $10 Million Exit Most founders skip the one step that would save them years and thousands of dollars: proving the idea before they build it. Mike, Steven, and Don introduce the free 72-hour market test inside app.forgefireprotocol.com, an AI-powered tool that validates your business idea through real customer feedback before you spend a dollar building it. They break down why winging it works right up until it doesn't, what exit value design actually means, and how AI has cut the cost of launching a business by 90% or more. It's all part of the ecosystem built to help 10,000 entrepreneurs reach a $10 million exit in 3 to 5 years. This week only: Founders' Preview Week is live. Get real-time, interactive access to the co-founders, ask your questions directly, and see the ecosystem before anyone else does. This kind of access won't be open again. Join us at https://forgefireprotocol.com/fp

    Ignite Your Startup for a $10 Million Exit

  4. Sep 2

    Announcing the $10 Million Challenge: Your Path to a Life Changing Exit

    Episode 6: Announcing the $10 Million Challenge: Your Path to a Life-Changing Exit Don, Mike, and Steve officially announce the $10 Million Challenge: a structured program built to help 10,000 entrepreneurs reach a $10 million business exit in 3 to 5 years. It launches September 9, 2026, backed by a proven blueprint, accountability systems, masterminds, and the full Forge Fire Protocol ecosystem, including an interactive book, app, and academy. Entry starts at $1. No excuses, no shortcuts. Validate your idea, follow the system, take decisive action, and build a legacy that lasts. Visit app.forgefireprotocol.com to get started today. This week only: Founders' Preview Week is live. Get real-time, interactive access to the co-founders, ask your questions directly, and see the ecosystem before anyone else does. This kind of access won't be open again. Join us at https://forgefireprotocol.com/fp

    Announcing the $10 Million Challenge: Your Path to a Life Changing Exit

  5. Aug 30

    Building an App Live with AI: Cutting Software Costs in Forge Fire Protocol

    Episode 4: Building an App Live with AI: Cutting Software Costs in Forge Fire Protocol  AI just changed what one person can build alone, and this episode shows it in real time. Don kicks things off by building a working app live using AI, proving the point instead of just talking about it. Then he and Mike hand you the free Business Tech Stack Planner, so you can map your own domain, email, branding, and software costs before spending a dollar. Then comes the big one: a first look inside the actual Forge Fire Protocol platform. The dashboard, the scorecards, the Prompt Forge, and the rank system that tracks your climb from Spark all the way to your $10M Ascend. If you've been wondering what's actually inside the Forge Fire Protocol ecosystem, this is the episode that shows you. We're going live for Founder's Preview Week, Monday through Thursday at 8PM ET / 5PM PT, and Saturday at 10AM ET, ahead of officially opening our doors on 9/9. Join us here: https://forgefireprotocol.com/fp

    Building an App Live with AI: Cutting Software Costs in Forge Fire Protocol

  6. Aug 30

    Decoding Your Score: The 7 Traits of a $10M-Exit Business

    Episode 3: Decoding Your Score: The 7 Traits of a $10M-Exit Business The last episode gave you the scorecard. This one shows you what to actually do with the number you get. Don LaPlume and Michael Sullivan go the full distance through the 7 Traits of a $10M-Exit Business, this time walking the complete scorecard end to end, including the total score and what it means. Score 50 or higher, and you move straight to the 72-Hour Market Test. Land in the 40s and it's a refine-or-pivot situation. Fall below 40, and you just saved yourself from building the wrong thing. They break down why the total matters more than any single trait, and what separates founders who waste years on the wrong idea from the ones who find out fast. If you scored your idea after the last episode, this is where you find out what that number actually means, and what to do next. We're going live for Founder's Preview Week, Monday through Thursday at 8PM ET / 5PM PT, and Saturday at 10AM ET, ahead of officially opening our doors on 9/9. Join us here: https://forgefireprotocol.com/fp

    Decoding Your Score: The 7 Traits of a $10M-Exit Business

  7. Aug 30

    7 Traits of a $10M-Exit Business (Recurring Revenue + Defensible Moat)

    Episode 2: 7 Traits of a $10M-Exit Business (Recurring Revenue + Defensible Moat) A great idea and a great business are not the same thing. Most founders don't find out which one they're sitting on until they've already sunk years into it. In this episode, Don LaPlume, Mike Sullivan, and Steve Moynihan pick up right where the last conversation left off and hand you the exact tool the Forge Fire Protocol team uses to make that call fast: the 7 Characteristics of a $10M-Exit Business scorecard. They walk through it live, breaking down the traits that separate a business worth building from one that quietly wastes years of your life: real willingness to pay, recurring revenue, low overhead, AI-leveraged delivery, and defensible positioning. Score 50 or higher, and it earns a real shot. Anything less, and you just saved yourself years. If you've got an idea you're not sure about, or a business you're already in and starting to question, this episode gives you the scorecard to find out before you go any further. We're going live for Founder's Preview Week, Monday through Thursday at 8PM ET / 5PM PT, and Saturday at 10AM ET, ahead of officially opening our doors on 9/9. Join us here: https://forgefireprotocol.com/fp

    7 Traits of a $10M-Exit Business (Recurring Revenue + Defensible Moat)

  8. Aug 30

    Spark: Idea Validation and the First Step Toward a $10M+ Business Exit Strategy

    Episode 1: Spark: Idea Validation and the First Step Toward a $10M+ Business Exit Strategy Every successful business exit strategy starts with a single moment: the decision to move from dreaming to doing. In this premiere episode of the Forge Fire Protocol podcast, Don LaPlume, Mike Sullivan, and Steven Moynihan reveal why idea validation is the crucial first move before you build anything, and how skipping this step can stop your journey from idea to income before it begins. Discover what truly separates a fleeting spark from a business built for a life-changing exit. Learn why relying on 'I think this could work' isn't enough, and how the Forge Fire Protocol framework guides founders from raw idea all the way to a $10,000,000+ exit. If you're sitting on a business idea or already building and wondering if you missed something vital, this episode will show you how proper idea validation is the foundation of every winning business exit strategy, and the key to turning your idea into real income. We're going live for Founder's Preview Week, Monday through Thursday at 8PM ET / 5PM PT, and Saturday at 10AM ET, ahead of officially opening our doors on 9/9. Join us here: https://forgefireprotocol.com/fp

    Spark: Idea Validation and the First Step Toward a $10M+ Business Exit Strategy

  9. Season 1 Trailer

    Igniting Entrepreneurial Philosophy: The Forge Fire Protocol Origins

    Episode 0: Igniting Entrepreneurial Philosophy: The Forge Fire Protocol Origins Before the official launch of Forge Fire Protocol, co-founders Don, Mike, and Steve come together for an unfiltered conversation that dives deep into entrepreneurial philosophy and the real challenges of building a profitable business. This is the story behind the Forge Fire Protocol: the frustrations of watching entrepreneurs struggle in isolation, the hard-won lessons from failures, and the pivotal moment when three founders decided to forge a new path. Don shares the systems and frameworks from his book and his journey of starting 9 companies—including one that soared to an eight-figure valuation in under a year. Mike brings 25 years of IT executive experience, a passion for building technology businesses, and a proven record of making companies stronger, including 17 years running a successful tech firm. Steve offers a unique perspective shaped by his banking background and a life-changing battle with a terminal diagnosis, reminding us that every decision matters—there is no tomorrow, only today. Together, they reveal the philosophy driving Forge Fire Protocol: entrepreneurs don't need another generic playbook—they need a protocol forged from real experience, real risk, and real stakes with an exit value design. Get an exclusive first look at what's ahead, including the frameworks that take you from validatd ideal to exit. Whether you're launching your first venture or scaling your business toward a meaningful exit, this show is built for entrepreneurs at every stage. Forged in Fire. Built for Legacy. Welcome to the Forge Fire Protocol.

Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Forge Fire Protocol is the operating system for entrepreneurs who want more than a job with extra paperwork. It's the five-step sequence for turning a raw idea into a $10 million exit in three to five years, built for the AI era. Each episode walks through the Protocol's stages: Spark, Forge, Ignite, Temper, and Ascend, covering the exact filters, systems, and AI leverage points that separate a real sellable asset from a founder-trapped business. Hosted by Don LaPlume alongside Mike Sullivan and Steve Moynihan, this show is for entrepreneurs at any stage, from first idea to seven-figure operator, ready to trade hustle-harder chaos for a clear, systemized path to a business that runs without them. Forged in Fire. Built for Legacy.

Information

  • Creator
    Don LaPlume, Mike Sullivan and Steve Moynihan
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    9
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026
  • Show Website
    Forge Fire Protocol Podcast