The Turning Pro Podcast

Ben Sharf
  • 5.0 (11)
  • BUSINESS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Turning Pro is a weekly in-person podcast featuring top founders and creators uncovering real-time lessons on personal and business growth — including their own ‘Turning Pro’ moments. Hosted by Ben Sharf.

  1. #091: Meet the guy that built a 7-fig business with memes

    AUG 28

    #091: Meet the guy that built a 7-fig business with memes

    Jason Levin is the founder of MemeLord.com, the meme marketing software that’s turning internet jokes into serious business. Jason’s been making memes since middle school, but what started as a way to make friends laugh has evolved into a multi-million-dollar media and software empire. From ghostwriting viral posts for founders to running brand accounts for Fortune 500s, Jason has built a playbook for using humor as a growth engine. In this episode, Jason shares how he turned silliness into a career, why “cringe” is actually a moat, and the power of showing up online as your unfiltered self. He breaks down the real economics of the meme business, the tools that give him a competitive edge, and why most brands completely miss the mark when trying to be funny.

    43 min
  2. #090: Building a Creator Agency That Actually Performs | JT Barnett

    JUL 31

    #090: Building a Creator Agency That Actually Performs | JT Barnett

    JT Barnett is the founder and CEO of Creator X, the content agency helping brands think like creators and act like media companies. JT’s path is anything but traditional. He started out as a professional hockey player, then pivoted into content, building viral platforms like Honey House and helping breakout brands like Poppi win on social by going all in on community and authenticity. In this episode, JT shares why most brands fail at content, how to actually build emotional connection at scale, and why the future of marketing will be led by creators who deeply understand their audience. He also opens up about quitting hockey with zero dollars, building from scratch, and the exact playbook his wife used to grow her wellness company, Form, into a community-powered rocket ship.

    1h 4m
  3. #089: How He Used Organic Content to Build a Brand from Scratch

    JUL 17

    #089: How He Used Organic Content to Build a Brand from Scratch

    London Glorfield is the co-founder and CEO of Kickback, the cult-favorite consumer tech brand designing retro-inspired products that help Gen Z unplug from their phones and reclaim their time. London’s story is wild. He started out in the music industry as a teenager, signed with RCA Records at 17, and built a fanbase touring across Asia. After stepping away from music, he turned his focus to building companies that blend creativity with cultural insight. In this episode, London opens up about what it really takes to build something meaningful in a noisy world. He shares how a 145 percent tariff hike nearly broke the company, why most people misunderstand creative discipline, and how Kickback is building the anti-iPhone for a generation craving real connection.

    55 min
  4. #088: What It’s Really Like to Build a Brand With a Hollywood Star

    JUL 10

    #088: What It’s Really Like to Build a Brand With a Hollywood Star

    Katie Hunt is the co-founder and CEO of Oh Norman!, the wellness brand redefining pet care and built from scratch with actress and animal activist Kaley Cuoco. Katie’s story is anything but linear. She went from being an extra on Gossip Girl and answering customer calls at Warby Parker to co-founding Everywhere Ventures and relaunching Hinge from the ground up. But after the pandemic forced her to move home at 36, she started over this time building a company on her own terms. In this episode, Katie opens up about what it really takes to build a business sustainably. She shares the burnout that broke her, the lessons she brought from Warby and Hinge, and why her all-women team runs a multimillion dollar brand without a single Slack channel.

    51 min
  5. #087: He Hacked Offline Ads And Made Box Trucks Convert Like Clicks

    JUL 3

    #087: He Hacked Offline Ads And Made Box Trucks Convert Like Clicks

    Tom Shea is the founder and CEO of Adgile, the company turning last-mile delivery trucks into mobile billboards and proving real ROI for every brand on the road. Five years ago, Tom was ready to walk away. The company had burned $1.8 million, his Series A deal collapsed at the finish line, and his co-founders left. But instead of giving up, he stayed in the game and quietly turned Adgile into one of the most exciting businesses in out-of-home advertising. In this episode, Tom breaks down how he built a profitable, scalable company by thinking differently about physical space. He explains how their attribution tech works, shares the early moments that almost killed the business, and opens up about walking away from a $7 million deal to stay independent.

    47 min
  6. #086: From Burnout to a 1,600-Person Movement: How Chad Cohen Is Redefining Entrepreneurship

    JUN 26

    #086: From Burnout to a 1,600-Person Movement: How Chad Cohen Is Redefining Entrepreneurship

    Chad Cohen is the founder of Fortem Media, a creative agency helping brands land at the center of culture, and the co-founder of Unofficial Run Club, one of the fastest-growing running communities in the world. Two years ago, Chad hit a wall. Burnt out and mentally exhausted, he turned to therapy and was given a challenge that would change everything: run the New York City Marathon. Since then, he’s built a thriving agency, scaled a global community, and brought on a full-time videographer to document every step. In this episode, Chad opens up about how movement helped rebuild his mindset. He talks about the highs and lows of agency life, building a personal brand with intention, learning to manage a team while always on the move, and why he doesn't believe in turning pro.

    49 min
  7. #085: How Sydney Karmes-Wainer Turned Instagram Recipes into a Cult Snack Brand

    JUN 19

    #085: How Sydney Karmes-Wainer Turned Instagram Recipes into a Cult Snack Brand

    Sydney Karmes-Wainer is the founder of French Squirrel, a cult-favorite snack brand built on hormone health, gut-friendly ingredients, and showing up authentically both online and off. She started by posting recipes on Instagram. Five years later, she’s running a fast-growing CPG company, educating her audience on wellness, and selling out her products at launch. In this episode, Sydney gets candid about what it actually takes to build in public. She opens up about pricing psychology, walking away from conventional advice, the loneliness of solo entrepreneurship, and how one conversation with Andrew Huberman reminded her she’s on the right path.

    58 min
  8. #084: Chris Hladczuk Closed a $25M Deal After 26 Follow-Ups — Here’s Exactly How

    JUN 12

    #084: Chris Hladczuk Closed a $25M Deal After 26 Follow-Ups — Here’s Exactly How

    Chris Hladczuk is the co-founder and CEO of Hanover Park, an AI-native fund admin helping top venture firms run smarter and faster. Before starting Hanover, Chris scaled Meow to $1.5 billion in assets as Chief Revenue Officer, built a strong online audience, and learned how to win through founder-led sales. In this episode, he shares his full playbook. He breaks down how to pitch high-trust clients, what it takes to build a sticky product in fintech, why SaaS is losing its edge, and how he closed a $25 million deal after 26 follow-ups. This is a conversation about selling with obsession, building with urgency, and staying relentless in a crowded market.

    47 min
See All (90)

5
out of 5
11 Ratings

About

Turning Pro is a weekly in-person podcast featuring top founders and creators uncovering real-time lessons on personal and business growth — including their own ‘Turning Pro’ moments. Hosted by Ben Sharf.

Information

  • Creator
    Ben Sharf
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2025
  • Episodes
    90
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © The Turning Pro Podcast 2023
  • Show Website
    The Turning Pro Podcast