The Breakout Moment

Illumine8
  • 5.0 (8)
  • Business
  • Updated Weekly

The Breakout Moment is a sharp, 20-minute, case-study-driven podcast built for established B2B owners stuck in the “messy middle” — the stage where growth stalls, revenue plateaus, and systems start to strain. Each episode delivers practical, real-world strategies to help leaders push past ceilings and scale with intention. Hosted by Christina May, founder and CEO of Illumine8. ​ On this channel you will find: Real business case studies across marketing, sales, and RevOps Receipts that focus on the decisions and numbers behind growth “What You Can Steal” takeaways you can apply in your own business This is not startup hype or internet guru advice. The stories come from companies that look a lot like yours. Construction firms, manufacturers, distributors, and B2B service companies working through the challenges of growing from about $500k to several million in revenue.

  1. 2d ago

    TBM #22 | Where Experience Meets Innovation with Denny Woolley

    Growth can create new opportunities, but it can also make a business more complicated than it needs to be. In this episode, Christina May sits down with Denny Woolley of Genesis AEC to talk about how the company has grown by building on what it already knows, listening to customers, and recognizing opportunities close to its core expertise. Denny shares how simplifying complex processes can help businesses move faster and control costs while still delivering what the customer needs. Christina and Denny also explore the role of healthy debate in finding better solutions, how Genesis draws on experience across thousands of projects, and why context and creativity remain important as businesses begin using AI in their work. At the heart of the conversation is a lesson that applies well beyond architecture, engineering, and construction: growth does not always require reinventing the business. Sometimes the next opportunity is already there in what you know, what your team can do, and what your customers need.   --------------------------------- ➕ Visit our Website: https://www.thebreakoutmoment.com/ ➕ Subscribe to The Breakout Moment Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheBreakoutMoment?sub_confirmation=1 ➕ Follow along on our Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thebreakoutmoment/ ➕ Keep up with us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/thebreakoutmoment/ ➕ Join us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/share/1bAtYvHmRz/?mibextid=wwXIfr   Hosted by Christina May. Produced by Stacey Holsinger. Edited by Marian Allen.   Sponsored by: 🟡 Illumine8 https://www.illumine8.com/ 🔵 Steel Toe Communications https://www.steeltoecommunications.com/ 🟢 Genesis AEC https://www.genesisaec.com/

  2. Aug 25

    TBM #21 | Failing Forward: The Mistakes Behind the Breakout Moments

    Some of the most important breakout moments start with something going wrong. In this special compilation episode, Christina May revisits conversations with Buddy Henley, Mason Hale, Terry Egley, Brett Snyder, Jeff Schwartz, and Aaron Shapiro about failure, mistakes, and the lessons that come from both. They share stories of plans that did not work, jobs lost, risks taken, mistakes owned, and the ways those experiences changed how they lead today. From learning what you can control to creating a culture where people feel safe admitting when something went wrong, these conversations reveal a common lesson: failure is not the opposite of progress. Sometimes, it is how you get there. --------------------------------- ➕ Visit our Website: https://www.thebreakoutmoment.com/ ➕ Subscribe to The Breakout Moment Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheBreakoutMoment?sub_confirmation=1 ➕ Follow along on our Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thebreakoutmoment/ ➕ Keep up with us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/thebreakoutmoment/ ➕ Join us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/share/1bAtYvHmRz/?mibextid=wwXIfr   Hosted by Christina May. Produced by Stacey Holsinger. Edited by Marian Allen.   Sponsored by: 🟡  Illumine8 https://www.illumine8.com/ 🔵  Steel Toe Communications https://www.steeltoecommunications.com/

  3. Aug 18

    TBM #20 | Shane Warren on Resilience, Risk, and Building to Last

    In this episode, Christina May sits down with Shane Warren of Warren Builds Construction to talk about what happens when a business cycle turns against you. Shane shares how a major downturn left him carrying land, contracts, and financial obligations that took more than a decade to work through. He explains why facing difficult conversations directly, working out payment plans, and staying creative helped him keep moving forward. The experience also changed how he thinks about fixed expenses, cash on hand, and building a business that can adjust when conditions tighten. Christina and Shane dig into the balance between pessimistic, realistic, and optimistic thinking, and how scenario planning can help leaders prepare for what comes next. At the heart of the conversation is a lesson that applies far beyond construction: disciplined, consistent decisions can give a business more room to navigate hard seasons.   --------------------------------- ➕ Visit our Website: https://www.thebreakoutmoment.com/ ➕ Subscribe to The Breakout Moment Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheBreakoutMoment?sub_confirmation=1 ➕ Follow along on our Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thebreakoutmoment/ ➕ Keep up with us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/thebreakoutmoment/ ➕ Join us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/share/1bAtYvHmRz/?mibextid=wwXIfr   Hosted by Christina May. Produced by Stacey Holsinger. Edited by Marian Allen.   Sponsored by: 🟡  Illumine8 https://www.illumine8.com/ 🔵  Steel Toe Communications https://www.steeltoecommunications.com/

  4. Aug 11

    TBM #19 | How a Volunteer Became a Global Business Owner with Mason Hale

    Mason Hale shares how an unexpected volunteer role for his children’s swim team became SwimTopia, a global software company serving customers in 20 countries. He opens up about co-founder challenges, stretching three months of runway into six years, growing through a creative acquisition, and rejecting the traditional startup playbook to focus on what mattered most: solving real problems for customers.   --------------------------------- ➕ Visit our Website: https://www.thebreakoutmoment.com/ ➕ Subscribe to The Breakout Moment Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheBreakoutMoment?sub_confirmation=1 ➕ Follow along on our Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thebreakoutmoment/ ➕ Keep up with us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/thebreakoutmoment/ ➕ Join us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/share/1bAtYvHmRz/?mibextid=wwXIfr   Hosted by Christina May. Produced by Stacey Holsinger. Edited by Marian Allen.   Sponsored by: 🟡  Illumine8 https://www.illumine8.com/ 🔵  Steel Toe Communications https://www.steeltoecommunications.com/

  5. Aug 4

    TBM #18 | The Accidental Entrepreneur: Nicole Elia on Taking Over the Family Business

    Stepping into the family business was never part of the plan. In this episode, Christina talks with Nicole Elia, a second-generation leader of Engineering Equipment Sales, Inc., about her unexpected path from chemistry to commercial refrigeration, taking on the family firm, and learning to delegate after years of wearing all of the hats. They explore the value of outsourcing, documenting institutional knowledge, hiring for character, and focusing on what you can control.   --------------------------------- ➕ Visit our Website: https://www.thebreakoutmoment.com/ ➕ Subscribe to The Breakout Moment Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheBreakoutMoment?sub_confirmation=1 ➕ Follow along on our Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thebreakoutmoment/ ➕ Keep up with us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/thebreakoutmoment/ ➕ Join us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/share/1bAtYvHmRz/?mibextid=wwXIfr   Hosted by Christina May. Produced by Stacey Holsinger. Edited by Marian Allen.   Sponsored by: 🟡 Illumine8 https://www.illumine8.com/ 🔵 Steel Toe Communications https://www.steeltoecommunications.com/ 🟢 Genesis AEC https://www.genesisaec.com/

  6. Jul 28

    TBM #17 | From Employee to Business Owner in 32 Days with Nick Molfino

    Building a company requires more than a good idea — it takes the right decisions, the right people, and a clear understanding of what you’re building toward. In this episode of The Breakout Moment, Christina May sits down with Nick Molfino, President & CEO of L2 Construction, to discuss the experience of launching a construction startup in just 32 days, the values that shape a company’s culture, and the responsibility leaders have to prepare for the future. Nick shares his perspective on entrepreneurship, opportunity, accountability, and the importance of building a business that cares for the people who depend on it. --------------------------------- ➕ Visit our Website: https://www.thebreakoutmoment.com/ ➕ Subscribe to The Breakout Moment Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheBreakoutMoment?sub_confirmation=1 ➕ Follow along on our Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thebreakoutmoment/ ➕ Keep up with us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/thebreakoutmoment/ ➕ Join us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/share/1bAtYvHmRz/?mibextid=wwXIfr   Hosted by Christina May. Produced by Stacey Holsinger. Edited by Marian Allen.   Sponsored by: 🟡  Illumine8 https://www.illumine8.com/ 🔵  Steel Toe Communications https://www.steeltoecommunications.com/ 🟢  Genesis AEC https://www.genesisaec.com/

  7. Jul 21

    TBM #16 | From Cold Calls to Capitol Reform with Karen Barbour

    Karen Barbour didn't learn leadership all at once. Over the course of her career in surety bonding, she built a business, challenged expectations in a male-dominated industry, advocated for procurement reform, and served as a mentor to women entering the profession. Those experiences shaped the conversation she shares with Christina May in this episode of The Breakout Moment. Together, they discuss confidence, mentorship, learning to ask for help, the pressure to "balance it all," and the question Karen still returns to when deciding whether something is worth fighting for: "How much do you hate injustice?"   --------------------------------- ➕ Visit our Website: https://www.thebreakoutmoment.com/ ➕ Subscribe to The Breakout Moment Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheBreakoutMoment?sub_confirmation=1 ➕ Follow along on our Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thebreakoutmoment/ ➕ Keep up with us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/thebreakoutmoment/ ➕ Join us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/share/1bAtYvHmRz/?mibextid=wwXIfr Hosted by Christina May. Produced by Stacey Holsinger. Edited by Marian Allen. Sponsored by: 🟡 Illumine8 https://www.illumine8.com/ 🔵 Steel Toe Communications https://www.steeltoecommunications.com/ 🟢 Genesis AEC https://www.genesisaec.com/

  8. Jul 14

    TBM #15 | Mentorship, Mistakes, and Better Leaders with Buddy Henley

    Christina May sits down with Buddy Henley of Henley Construction for a conversation about leadership, mentorship, and building a culture where people aren't afraid to learn. Together, they discuss why mistakes are an inevitable part of growth, how "taking micro-risks" helps develop confident leaders, and why honest communication can strengthen trust with both your team and your customers. Whether you're growing a business or growing the people around you, this episode offers practical reminders that leadership isn't about getting everything right. It's about creating an environment where people can keep moving forward.   --------------------------------- ➕ Visit our Website: https://www.thebreakoutmoment.com/ ➕ Subscribe to The Breakout Moment Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheBreakoutMoment?sub_confirmation=1 ➕ Follow along on our Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thebreakoutmoment/ ➕ Keep up with us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/thebreakoutmoment/ ➕ Join us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/share/1bAtYvHmRz/?mibextid=wwXIfr   Hosted by Christina May. Produced by Stacey Holsinger. Edited by Marian Allen.   Sponsored by: 🟡  Illumine8 https://www.illumine8.com/ 🔵  Steel Toe Communications https://www.steeltoecommunications.com/ 🟢  Genesis AEC https://www.genesisaec.com/

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Trailer

5
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

The Breakout Moment is a sharp, 20-minute, case-study-driven podcast built for established B2B owners stuck in the “messy middle” — the stage where growth stalls, revenue plateaus, and systems start to strain. Each episode delivers practical, real-world strategies to help leaders push past ceilings and scale with intention. Hosted by Christina May, founder and CEO of Illumine8. ​ On this channel you will find: Real business case studies across marketing, sales, and RevOps Receipts that focus on the decisions and numbers behind growth “What You Can Steal” takeaways you can apply in your own business This is not startup hype or internet guru advice. The stories come from companies that look a lot like yours. Construction firms, manufacturers, distributors, and B2B service companies working through the challenges of growing from about $500k to several million in revenue.

Information

  • Creator
    Illumine8
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    31
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    The Breakout Moment