Married to the Startup

Alicia McKenzie
  • 5.0 (13)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Married to the Startup is a modern podcast where power couple, George and Alicia McKenzie, navigate the thrilling intersection of marriage, family, and entrepreneurship. With over a 15 years of partnership, this CEO and entrepreneurial coach duo share candid insights on building businesses while fostering a strong family unit. 

  1. 4D AGO

    What Nobody Tells You After the Exit

    Send us Fan Mail What actually happens after the big exit? In this episode, Alicia and George talk about the wealth event no one fully prepares you for and the three tensions that sneak up on almost every founder: identity crisis, lifestyle creep, and the paranoia of losing what you worked so hard to build. From a Chanel bag to a Lamborghini that eventually just sat in the garage, they share their own wins and regrets, including why every financial advisor tells you to wait six months before making a major purchase after a wealth event and why almost no founder actually does. The conversation gets personal as George opens up about the identity crisis that followed his post-sale sabbatical and Alicia shares how her childhood shaped her perspective on what money can and cannot buy. Their bottom line: don't wait for the number to hit before you figure out who you are outside of your business. Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction and the truth about startup cash flow 03:15 - Preparing for a successful business exit 06:00 - Lifestyle changes post-wealth event 09:08 - The importance of financial planning after a wealth event 12:04 - Identity crisis after selling a business 15:00 - Celebrating success and lifestyle creep 18:00 - Managing expectations and requests from others 21:28 - The psychological impact of wealth 24:52 - Finding value and purpose post-wealth 28:05 - Changes in life post-wealth 31:21 - What hasn't changed despite wealth 34:20 - Personal stories and reflections on fear and wealth 36:31 - Advice for “couple-preneurs” and identity discussions Support the show Follow George and Alicia! https://www.instagram.com/liftlikeamother https://www.instagram.com/marriedtothestartup https://www.linkedin.com/in/gemckenzie/ www.linkedin.com/in/liftlikeamother https://liftlikeamother.com

    38 min

  2. MAR 29

    The Advice Economy Is Lying to You

    Send us Fan Mail Alicia and George call out three myths dominating entrepreneurship culture right now: more AI means more productivity, more money means more happiness, and owning a business beats working for someone else. They get into what actually happens when companies rush to implement tools without knowing what problem they're solving, the hidden costs that pile up when you start stacking subscriptions, and why the most-shared headlines about workplace transformation don't hold up under scrutiny. The second half gets personal. A $90 yurt near an active volcano beats an $1,800-a-night hotel, and they unpack why that gap exists and how targeted advertising keeps people chasing an upgrade they don't actually want. They also push back hard on the idea that entrepreneurship is the obvious path to a better life. Some of the happiest people they know have stable jobs, real vacation time, and no one calling them on weekends. Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction and the truth about startup cash flow 03:03 - AI’s productivity gains vs. reality 06:02 - Common pitfalls in AI implementation 10:35 - Future vision: AI-powered memory aids 15:03 - Cost implications of AI tools 20:30 - Recommendations for beginners in AI 28:34 - Reconsidering work and success 36:02 - The fleeting nature of material happiness 44:01 - Importance of industry knowledge before entrepreneurship 50:21 - Prioritizing time with family over hustle 53:07 - Final thoughts on happiness and fulfillment ⸻ Sponsors:  Relive Gaithersburg: https://relivehealth.com/gaithersburg-md/ Support the show Follow George and Alicia! https://www.instagram.com/liftlikeamother https://www.instagram.com/marriedtothestartup https://www.linkedin.com/in/gemckenzie/ www.linkedin.com/in/liftlikeamother https://liftlikeamother.com

    54 min

  3. MAR 22

    How Two Outsiders Almost Destroyed a Multi-Million Dollar Idea

    Send us Fan Mail Stacey Spikes built MoviePass from the ground up, a subscription model that let you see unlimited movies for one monthly fee, only to watch investors hand his company to someone else. Alicia and George break down how slashing the price to $9.99 turned three million subscribers into a $40 million monthly loss, why gaming growth metrics is a trap that even smart founders fall into, and what really happens when you take capital from people who want control more than they want your vision to succeed. They also get into the uncomfortable truth about who gets rescued when a startup is drowning, and why Spikes buying his own company back out of bankruptcy might be the most satisfying ending in startup history. Timestamps: 0:00 - 1:00 Alicia and George introduce their personal update and episode background 8:00 The initial concept of MoviePass as a gym membership-like subscription 13:00 How aggressive subscriber growth was prioritized over profitability 14:00 The impact of lowering subscription prices from $40 to $9.99 16:00 The unsustainable math: losing $40 million in May 2018 alone 17:00 Changes in strategy: limiting use, locking out users, and the fallout 19:00 The financial shenanigans: loans, SEC issues, and the ultimate bankruptcy 22:00 The return of Stacey Spikes and the lesson in founder resilience 26:00 Critical reflections: why growth without profit is a business failure 28:00 The importance of founder control and avoiding bad investor influence 28:30 Racial disparities in startup funding and investor bias 30:00 The legacy and current state of MoviePass’s innovative idea Support the show Follow George and Alicia! https://www.instagram.com/liftlikeamother https://www.instagram.com/marriedtothestartup https://www.linkedin.com/in/gemckenzie/ www.linkedin.com/in/liftlikeamother https://liftlikeamother.com

    34 min

  4. MAR 9

    The Private Equity Playbook: How Investors Drained InstaPot

    Send us Fan Mail Robert Wang left his career as a PhD scientist to build the Instant Pot with his wife Tracy after one too many "what's for dinner" moments as two working parents. He breaks down the 18-month development process, how he grew a cult following of millions with zero marketing budget, and why selling direct-to-consumer on Amazon was the move that changed everything. Alicia and George dig into what really happened when private equity came knocking, why building a product that never breaks can actually work against you, and what every founder should know before signing on the dotted line. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction and Personal Stories 00:59 The Problem: Dinner Dilemmas for Busy Families 02:06 The Birth of Instapot: Solving a Household Problem 04:06 Instapot's Early Success and Word of Mouth Marketing 05:50 Market Domination in 2016-2018 09:36 Private Equity Acquisition and Growth 11:51 Changing Hands: From Startup to Corporate 12:28 Financial Strategies and Overleveraging 17:23 COVID-19 Impact and Supply Chain Challenges 18:09 Product Safety and Quality Issues 20:03 Sales Decline and Market Saturation 21:28 Debt, Interest Rates, and Profitability 22:06 Bankruptcy and Restructuring 22:56 Post-Bankruptcy: New Ownership and Strategy 27:00 Lessons for Entrepreneurs and Investors 30:45 Final Takeaways and Episode Wrap-up ⸻ Sponsors:  Relive Gaithersburg: https://relivehealth.com/gaithersburg-md/ Support the show Follow George and Alicia! https://www.instagram.com/liftlikeamother https://www.instagram.com/marriedtothestartup https://www.linkedin.com/in/gemckenzie/ www.linkedin.com/in/liftlikeamother https://liftlikeamother.com

    33 min

  5. MAR 1

    From Lawyer to Founder: In conversation with Biologica

    Send us Fan Mail Elizabeth Zwillinger left her career as an attorney to co-found Biologica with her husband Joey.  She breaks down the two-year R&D process, how they stress-tested their idea with 1,000 women before building a single product, and why staying direct-to-consumer is the smartest move they've made.  Alicia and George dig into what it really looks like to build a company with your spouse, the calculated risks behind every big product decision, and why the best founders listen more than they talk — especially when they're not the target customer. Timestamps: 00:00 The Journey to Simplified Women's Health 03:01 Creating Biologica: A New Approach to Multivitamins 05:33 Navigating Business and Marriage 08:24 Research and Development: Crafting Effective Formulations 11:22 The Importance of Listening to Women's Needs 14:32 Personalized Nutrition: The Future of Women's Health 17:12 Feedback and Market Reception 20:17 Future Expansion and Product Development ⸻ Sponsors:  Relive Gaithersburg: https://relivehealth.com/gaithersburg-md/ ⸻ Follow Biologica | Elizabeth Zwillinger: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/biologica Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lizzwillinger/ Support the show Follow George and Alicia! https://www.instagram.com/liftlikeamother https://www.instagram.com/marriedtothestartup https://www.linkedin.com/in/gemckenzie/ www.linkedin.com/in/liftlikeamother https://liftlikeamother.com

    46 min

  6. FEB 22

    What We Would Do If We Had to Rebuild From $0

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Alicia and George McKenzie share what they would do if they had to rebuild a company from $0. They explore the importance of skills inventory and the strategies for starting over. The conversation delves into the significance of consulting, market evaluation, and the challenges of content-led businesses. They also touch on the future of SaaS and AI integration, building a services-based business, hiring strategies, and capital funding options. The episode concludes with reflections on visibility, mistakes to avoid, and the difference between building for scale versus survival. Takeaways - Personal financial fears can impact entrepreneurial decisions. - Conducting a skills inventory is crucial when starting over. - Consulting can provide immediate revenue and market insights. - Content-led businesses face unique challenges in today's market. - AI integration is essential for future business success. - Building a services-based business can generate quick cash flow. - Hiring should focus on addressing bottlenecks in the business. - Visibility and market positioning are key in the early stages. - Understanding the difference between scaling and survival is vital. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Married to the Startup 02:58 Navigating Fears in Entrepreneurship 05:36 Starting Over: Scenarios for Business 08:14 Emotional Triage and Skills Inventory 11:26 Market Evaluation and Leveraging Networks 14:02 Content Creation and Educational Business Models 16:56 Building a Services-Based Business 19:35 Product Development and Feedback Loops 22:32 Scaling Strategies and Hiring Practices 27:51 Capital Strategy for New Ventures 31:59 Visibility and Audience Building 36:31 Mistakes to Avoid in Scaling 40:13 Systemizing and Hiring for Growth 44:49 The Excitement of Starting a New Company 47:30 Listener Engagement and Final Thoughts The Restart Checklist  1. If you lost everything tomorrow, what's the ONE skill you have that could generate income in 30 days? 2. Are you building systems that could survive without you or are you the system? 3. What market do you have an unfair advantage in that you're not currently playing in? 4. If you're married or in a partnership, have you actually talked about what you'd do if everything fell apart? 5. What mistakes are you repeating from your last chapter that you swore you wouldn't make again? 6. Are you building to scale or building to survive? And do you know the difference? Support the show Follow George and Alicia! https://www.instagram.com/liftlikeamother https://www.instagram.com/marriedtothestartup https://www.linkedin.com/in/gemckenzie/ www.linkedin.com/in/liftlikeamother https://liftlikeamother.com

    56 min

  7. FEB 15

    The Future of Human Labor

    Send us Fan Mail AI is moving from “chatbot help” to agents that hold real roles—like an executive assistant that triages your inbox, books meetings, and briefs you daily. Alicia and George unpack what this means for startups, why 2026 feels like a tipping point, and what happens when agents get bodies through humanoid robots. What We Talk About The shift from AI as a tool → AI as an employee (role-based agents)Why founders struggle with assistants (human or AI): they can’t define recurring tasksThe “Claude-bot” moment: an agent figures out a workaround on its own to complete a taskCosts today (tokens/API calls) vs. where this is heading (cheaper models + open source)Robots + agents: intelligence that thinks + bodies that doJobs most exposed first (warehouse, manufacturing, logistics, retail ops)Skills that rise in value: leadership, creativity, ethics, emotional intelligence, critical thinkingA hot take: coding matters less long-term than system design + AI fluencyThe line in the sand: don’t automate hard human conversationsRapid Fire First robot-dominated industry: production linesOne skill every kid needs: leadership + AI literacyOne founder mistake: using AI without clear roles + boundariesSchools are behind on: banning AI instead of teaching responsible useQuote-Worthy “AI won’t just do tasks. It’ll do roles.”  “Just because you can automate something doesn’t mean you should.” CTA Like what you heard? Rate, review, and subscribe. DM Alicia with topics you want next. Support the show Follow George and Alicia! https://www.instagram.com/liftlikeamother https://www.instagram.com/marriedtothestartup https://www.linkedin.com/in/gemckenzie/ www.linkedin.com/in/liftlikeamother https://liftlikeamother.com

    47 min

  8. FEB 9

    Is Social Media Destroying Our Kids?

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Alicia and George McKenzie discuss the impact of technology and social media on education, parenting, and mental health. They explore the challenges of raising children in a digital age, the implications of content creation, and the need for legislation to protect children from the negative effects of social media. The conversation also touches on the evolution of journalism and the importance of communication skills in today's society. Takeaways - Technology is affecting children's learning and retention. - Teachers are adapting to reduce reliance on technology. - Social media can create anxiety and comparison among teens. - Legislation in other countries is addressing social media use by children. - Content creation can be a double-edged sword for kids. - Parents should be cautious about their children's online presence. - The need for communication skills is more important than ever. - Social media can distort perceptions of reality. - Children's mental health is impacted by social media usage. - The evolution of journalism is changing with the rise of social media. Chapters 00:00 The Impact of Technology on Education 02:46 Social Media and Parenting Challenges 05:35 Legislation and Social Media Restrictions 08:36 The Role of Content Creation in Child Development 11:26 Navigating the YouTube Landscape 14:15 The Dangers of Seeking Validation 17:01 The Influence of Social Media on Mental Health 19:46 The Evolution of Journalism in the Digital Age 22:27 Communication Skills in the Digital Era 25:18 The Ethics of Using Children in Content Creation Discount Codes:  https://www.sakara.com/  Use code MarriedTTS for 20% off  https://wearefuturesociety.com/  Use code MarriedTTS for 20% off Support the show Follow George and Alicia! https://www.instagram.com/liftlikeamother https://www.instagram.com/marriedtothestartup https://www.linkedin.com/in/gemckenzie/ www.linkedin.com/in/liftlikeamother https://liftlikeamother.com

    39 min
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5
out of 5
13 Ratings

About

Married to the Startup is a modern podcast where power couple, George and Alicia McKenzie, navigate the thrilling intersection of marriage, family, and entrepreneurship. With over a 15 years of partnership, this CEO and entrepreneurial coach duo share candid insights on building businesses while fostering a strong family unit. 

Information

  • Creator
    Alicia McKenzie
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    71
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Married to the Startup
  • Show Website
    Married to the Startup

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