Value Creators

Hunter Hastings

Welcome to the Value Creators podcast, the ultimate destination for business enthusiasts seeking to unlock the secrets of success through the lens of Austrian economics. Join Hunter Hastings and a variety of insightful guests as they delve into engaging conversations with business owners and esteemed practitioners from leading business schools.In each episode, the Value Creators podcast goes beyond the surface-level discussions of traditional business strategies and explores the profound impact of Austrian economics on the world of entrepreneurship. Drawing upon the rich principles and theories of this school of thought, our host uncovers hidden gems and actionable insights to help listeners improve their businesses.With a keen focus on value creation, this podcast aims to inspire and empower listeners to elevate their businesses to new heights. By exploring the ideas of Austrian economics, which emphasize individual decision-making, market dynamics, and the importance of entrepreneurship, our interviews shed light on innovative strategies and approaches to succeed in today's dynamic business landscape.We'll present a diverse range of guests, including successful business owners who have effectively applied Austrian economics principles to their enterprises. Listeners will gain invaluable knowledge about strategic decision-making, market-driven innovation, and the importance of understanding human action in business contexts.Additionally, the podcast features discussions with esteemed practitioners from renowned business schools. These experts provide listeners with a broader perspective on how Austrian economics can be effectively integrated into business curriculums, enabling aspiring entrepreneurs to sharpen their skills and gain a competitive edge.Whether you're a seasoned business owner, an aspiring entrepreneur, or a curious mind intrigued by the intersection of Austrian economics and business, the Value Creators podcast is your go-to resource. Tune in to each episode to explore thought-provoking discussions, actionable advice, and captivating stories that will inspire you to unleash your full business potential.Are you ready to uncover the secrets of successful businesses through the principles of Austrian economics? Join us on the Value Creators podcast and embark on an enlightening journey that will revolutionize the way you approach entrepreneurship.

  1. Helping Entrepreneurs Build Real Businesses on Generative Platforms with Neil Twa

    5D AGO

    Helping Entrepreneurs Build Real Businesses on Generative Platforms with Neil Twa

    How do you build a real business — not just a product — inside a marketplace like Amazon? And how does generative strategy change the way entrepreneurs think about scale, risk, and value creation? In this episode of The Value Creators Podcast, Hunter Hastings talks with Neil Twa, founder and coach of Voltage Holdings, to break down what it really takes to build, operate, and exit successful marketplace-based companies. Neil explains his Train–Equip–Activate framework, how to separate business-building from product-picking, and why discipline, patience, and marketplace fit matter more than trends or hacks. Key Insights: Why marketplaces reward systems, not spontaneity — and how most sellers fail before they truly start.Generative entrepreneurship vs. opportunistic entrepreneurship: building for scale rather than chasing outcomes.Why the goal isn’t just revenue — it's margin, defensibility, customer value, and eventually sellability.This episode is a hands-on masterclass for entrepreneurs who want to move beyond “Amazon hustle culture” and instead build asset-backed, generative companies that endure. Resources: ➡️ Learn What They Didn’t Teach You In Business School: The Value Creators Online Business Course Connect with Neil Twa on LinkedIn Learn more about Voltage Holdings Get the book Almost Automated Income with FBA: Build a Profitable Lifestyle-Driven Amazon Business. Exit for Millions. Even Without Any Ecommerce Experience Connect with Hunter Hastings on LinkedIn Subscribe to The Value Creators on Substack

    47 min
  2. Episode #80. The Generativity Advantage: The Coming Explosion In Entrepreneurial Innovation with Mohammad Keyhani

    DEC 13

    Episode #80. The Generativity Advantage: The Coming Explosion In Entrepreneurial Innovation with Mohammad Keyhani

    In this episode of The Value Creators Podcast, Hunter Hastings speaks with Professor Mohammad Keyhani to explore generativity — the ability of ideas, tools, and technologies to create more ideas and innovations beyond their initial intention. Instead of seeing AI as a replacement for human creativity, Professor Keyhani explains how it can become an amplifier that unlocks exponential innovation, where small teams can produce outsize impact by enabling end-user innovation that can never be foreseen. We discuss how entrepreneurs can design systems that produce unexpected value, why open-ended experimentation generates more upside than traditional planning, and how creativity becomes more powerful when humans collaborate with technology rather than competing with it. Key Insights: Generativity creates exponential value, turning a single innovation into an ecosystem where ideas build upon ideas. AI augments human creativity instead of replacing it, accelerating exploration and expanding what individuals can produce. Entrepreneurship becomes discovery, not execution — value emerges through iteration, experimentation, and creative freedom. If you're building products, ventures, or ideas that you want to scale beyond yourself, this episode will expand how you think about innovation in the AI era. Resources: ➡️ Learn What They Didn’t Teach You In Business School: The Value Creators Online Business Course Connect with Mohammad Keyhani on LinkedIn Learn more about DigitVibe Get the book The Generativity Advantage: Unpredicted Innovation at Scale Connect with Hunter Hastings on LinkedIn Subscribe to The Value Creators on Substack

    47 min
  3. Episode #79. Rethinking Business Success: Clarity, Mission, and Service with James Harold Webb

    DEC 4

    Episode #79. Rethinking Business Success: Clarity, Mission, and Service with James Harold Webb

    What does it really take to build a successful entrepreneurial business—and a successful entrepreneurial life? In this episode of The Value Creators Podcast, Hunter Hastings speaks with entrepreneur and author James Harold Webb, whose career spans multiple eight-figure businesses across healthcare, diagnostics, and fitness. James shares the foundational principles behind his success: clarity of mission, disciplined execution, learning, and a commitment to serving others. He explains why purpose—not passion—drives good decisions, how hiring self-managing people accelerates growth, and why systems are essential for building a business that operates independently of the founder. James also reflects on leadership, energy management, and the mindset required to scale without losing focus or integrity. Above all, he stresses learning: the capacity to welcome errors and missed targets and business crises as opportunities to improve. Key Insights: Clarity creates direction — With a clear mission, entrepreneurs make sharper decisions and avoid emotional drift. Self-managed teams drive scale — Hiring people who don’t need constant direction frees leaders to focus on strategy. Systems create freedom — Documented processes and aligned incentives help businesses run smoothly without founder dependence. Failures are simply new opportunities to succeed. If you want to build a business—and a life—rooted in purpose, discipline, and service, this conversation delivers the essentials. Resources: ➡️ Learn What They Didn’t Teach You In Business School: The Value Creators Online Business Course Connect with James Harold Webb on LinkedIn Connect with Hunter Hastings on LinkedIn Subscribe to The Value Creators on Substack

    40 min
  4. Episode #78. The Future of Customer Experience Design: Integrating Emotion, Empathy, and Data with Sujay Saha

    NOV 8

    Episode #78. The Future of Customer Experience Design: Integrating Emotion, Empathy, and Data with Sujay Saha

    Customer experience is the new gold — valuable, and becoming more valuable. In this episode of The Value Creators Podcast, Hunter Hastings speaks with Sujay Saha, CEO of Cortico-X, a leader in experience design, to explore how the world’s most forward-thinking companies are reshaping customer experience in the AI era. Sujay introduces a new discipline — experience-led architecture — where strategy, design, and technology converge to create experiences that reflect customer needs instead of reacting to them. He also explains how to measure the true ROI of experience, proving its financial impact beyond customer satisfaction scores. Finally, he shows how AI is changing the way organizations understand people — blending data with emotion to design interactions that drive loyalty, trust, and long-term value. Key Insights: Businesses should design experiences, not just processes. Experience-led businesses grow faster because they see every interaction as a design opportunity. Prove the ROI of experience. Customer experience is measurable — and profitable — when tied to clear business outcomes. Blend objective data and subjective emotion. The future of business intelligence is human intelligence — understanding not just what customers do, but how they feel, and why.If you want to future-proof your business around people and their experiences — not just products and processes — this episode is essential listening. Resources: ➡️ Learn What They Didn’t Teach You In Business School: The Value Creators Online Business Course Connect with Sujay Saha on LinkedIn Learn more about Cortico-X Connect with Hunter Hastings on LinkedIn Subscribe to The Value Creators on Substack

    49 min
  5. Episode #77. How to Think Like a 10-Figure Founder and Build a Brand That Outlasts You — A Conversation with Doug Crowe

    OCT 29

    Episode #77. How to Think Like a 10-Figure Founder and Build a Brand That Outlasts You — A Conversation with Doug Crowe

    What do billion-dollar founders see that the rest of us don’t?  What separates those who build legacies from those who just build businesses? And how can storytelling—not just strategy—be the most powerful tool for influence and growth? In this episode of the Value Creators Podcast, Hunter Hastings talks with Doug Crowe, brand strategist and founder of Author your Brand, to unpack the timeless principles that define the world’s most successful entrepreneurs. Doug has worked with hundreds of founders to distill not just what they do—but how they think. Key insights include: Why vision, not charisma, is the real superpower of 9- and 10-figure founders.The OODA loop framework and how elite entrepreneurs make faster, smarter decisions.How to evolve your leadership as your business grows—or risk becoming the bottleneck.The non-negotiable role of personal branding in a world flooded with AI and noise.Why your founder story is your strategy—and how to tell it so people remember.How culture and cross-training can turn every employee into a brand ambassador.What you must stand for—and stand against—to build an enduring legacy.Doug and Hunter go deep on the intersection of humanity and business, showing that in a digital-first world, the brands that win will be the ones that connect on a human level—with purpose, story, and truth. Whether you're a startup founder or scaling a 9-figure enterprise, this episode will challenge how you think about leadership, storytelling, and the future of brand. This one’s not just about building a business. It’s about becoming the kind of founder who changes industries. Resources: ➡️ Learn What They Didn’t Teach You In Business School: The Value Creators Online Business Course Connect with Doug Crowe on LinkedIn Learn more about Author Your Brand Connect with Hunter Hastings on LinkedIn Subscribe to The Value Creators on Substack

    47 min
  6. Episode #76. Bureaucracy vs. Entrepreneurship: How Bureaucratic Thinking Destroys Value Creation with Ryan Turnipseed

    OCT 15

    Episode #76. Bureaucracy vs. Entrepreneurship: How Bureaucratic Thinking Destroys Value Creation with Ryan Turnipseed

    In this episode of The Value Creators Podcast, Hunter Hastings speaks with Ryan Turnipseed about the greatest enemy of entrepreneurial value creation: bureaucracy. Value creation is a universal economic goal, so how and why have bureaucratic restraints emerged, and why are they so resistant to innovation? Drawing on the contrasting theories of James Burnham and Ludwig von Mises, Ryan explains how managerialism and bureaucratic systems suppress innovation, limit consumer sovereignty, and redirect businesses away from value creation toward rule-following and control. From rebranding fiascos to government regulation, from MBAs to corporate conformity, this conversation unpacks why bureaucracy persists and how entrepreneurs can resist it. Ryan highlights examples of entrepreneurial leadership—such as Elon Musk’s overhaul of Twitter—that demonstrate how decisiveness and freedom can dismantle bureaucratic inertia. Key insights include: Why bureaucracy prioritizes rules and efficiency over profit and consumer value.How Burnham and Mises offer different but complementary theories of bureaucracy’s rise.Why entrepreneurs must assert autonomy and freedom to restore value creation in their businesses.This is a must-listen for leaders who want to build adaptive, value-driven organizations in the 21st century. Resources: ➡️ Learn What They Didn’t Teach You In Business School: The Value Creators Online Business Course Subscribe to Ryan Turnipseed's YouTube Channel Connect with Hunter Hastings on LinkedIn Subscribe to The Value Creators on Substack Morning Star: Pioneering Zero-Bureaucracy Organization Is Managerialism Inevitable? Two Explanations For Cracker Barrel’s Attempted Rebrand - Ryan Turnipseed on Substack

    51 min
  7. Episode #75. From Structure to Flow: How Organizations Evolve Beyond Industrial-Era Mindsets with Dr. Ross Wirth

    OCT 9

    Episode #75. From Structure to Flow: How Organizations Evolve Beyond Industrial-Era Mindsets with Dr. Ross Wirth

    Corporations were built for stability, hierarchy, and control—but the world now moves in networks, flows, and continuous change. In this episode of The Value Creators Podcast, Hunter Hastings speaks with Dr. Ross Wirth, a world-renowned organizational transformation expert with decades of experience in the energy industry, in academia, and in hands-on consulting. Wirth explains why “change management” as a project is doomed, why old structures suffocate adaptability, and how radical decentralization and entrepreneurial intent can reshape organizations for the future. Key insights include: Why industrial-era mindsets create rigidity—and how to replace them with continuous adaptability.How radical decentralization and autonomy empower teams far beyond “delegated authority.”Why organizations must evolve—not through revolution, but by systematically removing barriers to freedom and innovation.This is a blueprint for leaders who want to shift from outdated structures to dynamic ecosystems where entrepreneurship thrives inside the firm. Resources: ➡️ Learn What They Didn’t Teach You In Business School: The Value Creators Online Business Course Articles by Dr Ross Wirth on LinkedIn: Constraints on Organizational Adaptability The Org-change Manifesto for the New EraFrom Change-as-persuasion to Change-as-cocreationConnect with Dr. Ross Wirth on LinkedIn Connect with Hunter Hastings on LinkedIn Subscribe to The Value Creators on Substack

    55 min

Ratings & Reviews

4.6
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

Welcome to the Value Creators podcast, the ultimate destination for business enthusiasts seeking to unlock the secrets of success through the lens of Austrian economics. Join Hunter Hastings and a variety of insightful guests as they delve into engaging conversations with business owners and esteemed practitioners from leading business schools.In each episode, the Value Creators podcast goes beyond the surface-level discussions of traditional business strategies and explores the profound impact of Austrian economics on the world of entrepreneurship. Drawing upon the rich principles and theories of this school of thought, our host uncovers hidden gems and actionable insights to help listeners improve their businesses.With a keen focus on value creation, this podcast aims to inspire and empower listeners to elevate their businesses to new heights. By exploring the ideas of Austrian economics, which emphasize individual decision-making, market dynamics, and the importance of entrepreneurship, our interviews shed light on innovative strategies and approaches to succeed in today's dynamic business landscape.We'll present a diverse range of guests, including successful business owners who have effectively applied Austrian economics principles to their enterprises. Listeners will gain invaluable knowledge about strategic decision-making, market-driven innovation, and the importance of understanding human action in business contexts.Additionally, the podcast features discussions with esteemed practitioners from renowned business schools. These experts provide listeners with a broader perspective on how Austrian economics can be effectively integrated into business curriculums, enabling aspiring entrepreneurs to sharpen their skills and gain a competitive edge.Whether you're a seasoned business owner, an aspiring entrepreneur, or a curious mind intrigued by the intersection of Austrian economics and business, the Value Creators podcast is your go-to resource. Tune in to each episode to explore thought-provoking discussions, actionable advice, and captivating stories that will inspire you to unleash your full business potential.Are you ready to uncover the secrets of successful businesses through the principles of Austrian economics? Join us on the Value Creators podcast and embark on an enlightening journey that will revolutionize the way you approach entrepreneurship.