Fervent Four

Епизоди

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  She Built a Global Brand Without a Plan 22.09.2026 59мин

  Paula Short didn't set out to build a global beauty brand. She and her business partner created a glitter lip product to get more customers through the door of their salon. Then people started buying it. They took the product to London. Landed Topshop. Expanded internationally. Supplied major retailers and airlines. Paula appeared on BBC Dragons' Den. And somewhere along the way, the small idea became a very real business. But growth came with another side. The fun disappeared. The pressure increased. Paula eventually sold the company and found herself confronting a question many entrepreneurs eventually face: if the business has become part of your identity, who are you when it's gone? Then she made another unexpected decision. In her 50s, Paula packed two suitcases and moved to the United States. Today she works with entrepreneurs and leadership teams, helping them recognize opportunities, avoid expensive mistakes and build on what is already working. In Episode 328 of Fervent Four, Paula joins Zack Miller and Tim Ryan to talk about saying yes before you have everything figured out, building Beauty Boulevard, Dragons' Den, burnout, selling a company, negotiation, moving to America and why entrepreneurs need people willing to tell them what they don't want to hear.
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  Pain Is Your Greatest Superpower 15.09.2026 1ч 1мин

  Greg Tomchick has been through enough over the last few years to completely change how he thinks about business, success and himself. The founder of Valor Cybersecurity returns to Fervent Four more than three years after his first appearance. Since then, he found Valor's market serving defense contractors, endured an investor falling out, a divorce and a painful split with a business partner, and came out of it with a very different definition of winning. Greg joins Zack Miller and Tim Ryan to talk about why pain can become your greatest superpower, why confidence comes from reps, what baseball taught him about handling pressure, and why confronting what you're avoiding can be the quickest path toward peace. They also dig into vulnerability, seeking approval, asking better questions, finding intrinsic value instead of chasing external validation, and Greg's upcoming book, 27 Ideals of Connection. Plus, Greg explains where he believes cybersecurity is heading as AI becomes ubiquitous and why Valor is betting on private, compartmentalized AI environments that give companies greater control over their data and intellectual property. Timestamps 00:00 Pain is your greatest superpower 00:42 The Greg Tomchick origin story 05:41 Building Valor Cybersecurity 10:05 Four years searching for product market fit 13:08 Learning what you're worth 14:33 Where confidence actually comes from 18:30 Why Greg breathes OUT under pressure 20:48 Baseball and cybersecurity have more in common than you think 21:09 The meaning behind 27 Ideals of Connection 22:43 Living outside your comfort zone 25:26 Stop assuming. Ask the question. 30:09 Knowing what to care about 34:14 Why people need honest feedback 36:36 Greg's darkest stretch 38:00 Pain is your greatest superpower 41:24 The transformation since Greg's first appearance 43:37 Learning that you are enough 45:29 Intrinsic vs. extrinsic success 50:56 Vulnerability creates connection 53:44 What happens to cybersecurity in the AI era? 56:37 Valor's move into private AI 59:18 What food represents Hampton Roads?   https://valor-cybersecurity.com/
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  The Goal Isn't to Own the Business Forever 08.09.2026 59мин

  Joe Benedetto spent his career in an industry most people rarely think about: recycling. His family has been in the business for more than 100 years. Joe started working in recycling at 13, eventually launched Recycling & Disposal Solutions (RDS) in 2004, and grew the company to five locations and roughly 80 employees. But this conversation goes well beyond recycling. Joe joins Zack Miller and Tim Ryan to break down how technology and AI are transforming one of the oldest industries around, why automation can create higher-paying technical jobs, what he learned scaling a company across multiple states, and why building a business that can operate without its owner matters long before an acquisition. Then the conversation turns to the exit. After years of planning, mounting business stress and a health scare, Joe decided it was time to sell. He explains what entrepreneurs need to do years before a potential acquisition, why the legal process was more difficult than he expected, when to tell employees, and what happens when the company that gave you purpose for 20 years is suddenly no longer yours. CHAPTERS 0:00 The moment Joe knew it was time to retire 1:13 Bringing innovation to a 100-year-old industry 2:37 What actually happens to your recycling 3:47 How recycling evolved from people to automation 5:35 How single-stream recycling changed the industry 7:21 Growing up in a 100-year family business 10:37 Building RDS 12:48 Understanding the commodity business 15:36 The future of recycling 17:01 Calculating the ROI of new technology 19:48 What contamination does to recycling 24:16 Can AI make recycling simpler? 24:23 What people get wrong about recyclables 29:20 What the future of trash could look like 32:07 Being born into the family business 32:30 Leaving the family business to build his own 33:22 Lessons in leadership and management 34:38 Growing to five locations and 80 employees 35:46 Why peer-to-peer learning matters 39:34 What entrepreneurs can learn from other industries 40:40 America's skilled labor challenge 42:01 How AI changed jobs inside RDS 43:31 What makes an employee worth investing in 44:37 How to retain talented employees 45:07 Deciding it was time to sell 46:14 How to prepare a business for acquisition 48:24 The hardest part of selling a company 50:00 When do you tell employees you're selling? 51:54 Would Joe start another business? 52:11 Finding purpose after an exit 56:08 Preparing the business to be sold 57:07 Why entrepreneurs need to ask for help 58:13 What is the food of Hampton Roads? 59:50 Closing
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  When Did $40 Million Stop Being a Win? 01.09.2026 1ч 1мин

  Building something meaningful and building something massive don't have to be opposing goals. Adam Alphin, founder and CEO of KleerCard, joins The Fervent Four to talk about building a company on his own terms while still thinking big about where it can go. KleerCard has grown to more than 1,250 customers while taking a deliberately disciplined approach to outside capital. Adam shares why the company raised as little as possible early on, what he learned from six years at Coupa and why founders can get a distorted view of success when every story they see is about the next massive valuation or billion-dollar exit. The conversation gets into founder-led sales, competing against much larger companies, finding the right investors, building culture on a remote team, customer success and why taking more shots matters in both fundraising and business. Adam also breaks down KleerCard's next chapter, including its expansion into AI-powered accounting software for nonprofits and why, despite acquisition interest, he isn't building the company just to sell it. 0:00 The dream of building a company you do not want to sell 1:14 How to pronounce Adam Alphin 2:00 Adam and Zack go back more than a decade 3:02 Adam's career before KleerCard 3:59 Stepping away from his first company after a cancer diagnosis 5:14 From an early exit to Coupa 5:49 How Adam ended up in the startup world 7:55 What Silicon Valley taught him about building companies 9:04 Why repeating your core values actually matters 10:48 What KleerCard does today 11:02 The $50 million debt facility and narrowing the company's focus 13:12 How KleerCard works beyond a traditional business credit card 14:36 Why fintech companies are out innovating banks 17:07 The importance of repeating your message 17:56 Selling the first 1,000 customers 19:23 Why getting customers fully implemented matters 21:20 How visibility into spending can save organizations money 22:40 The growing problem of AI token spending 24:13 Building a 17 person remote company 26:38 KleerCard's three core values 28:38 Fraud, nonprofits and getting a call from the FBI 31:43 Why KleerCard intentionally raised as little money as possible 34:20 How long it actually took to raise their latest round 35:10 Finding investors outside traditional venture capital 36:05 Why you should take the investor meeting 37:50 You don't become a professional athlete by taking three shots 39:11 The social media fication of startup success 40:39 Growing without a marketing team 41:05 How KleerCard got its name 42:16 Does owning the perfect dot com still matter? 44:19 Who KleerCard is built for 46:04 How do you sell something customers don't know they need? 46:34 Why word of mouth drives KleerCard 48:00 Most customers now sign up without a demo 49:10 What great customer success actually looks like 50:18 Learning leadership from bad leaders 51:05 What founders can learn from comedians 54:27 Why you should never burn a bridge 55:50 KleerCard's next big bet on AI and nonprofit accounting 58:18 You don't just attain the dream just to sell it 1:00:05 Why KleerCard isn't rushing toward an exit Learn more about KleerCard: https://www.getkleercard.com/  Subscribe to Fervent Four for more conversations with people building, creating and competing at the highest level. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Innovate757?sub_confirmation=1 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fervent-four/id1596516837 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7egTPUyiUEZF4QACNKBYI6?si=f9b82187dee54d12
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  HE HIT #1. THEN FOUND A BETTER WAY TO WIN | Canaan Smith 25.08.2026 1ч 5мин

  In Episode 324 of Fervent Four, Canaan opens up about moving to Nashville knowing no one, working as a custodian while writing songs, landing a publishing deal, competing on The Amazing Race, and eventually earning a No. 1 country hit. He also talks candidly about the pressure that followed that success, why chasing the next No. 1 started to take more than it gave, and how fatherhood, faith, family and a career reset changed his definition of winning. Today, Canaan says he feels like he's writing some of his best music yet — without needing the top of the charts to validate it. The conversation also gets into how hit songs are actually written, what happens behind the scenes at country radio, why authenticity beats perfection, how artists build audiences in the social media era, and why his biggest hit, "Love You Like That," didn't even feel special in the room when they wrote it. Plus, Canaan shares why Virginia still feels like home, whether he'd hit the road with Florida Georgia Line again, and his definitive answer for the food Hampton Roads should be known for. 0:00 If I Don't See You Again 5:21 Welcome Back 10:00 Why Virginia Will Always Be Home 12:13 Moving to Nashville to Become a Songwriter 15:16 From Custodian to a Publishing Deal 16:10 Competing on The Amazing Race 21:18 Why Honest Stories Win 23:24 How Hit Songs Are Actually Written 27:05 Why You Finish the Song Anyway 29:31 How "Love You Like That" Reached #1 31:24 What Happens After You Reach the Top 32:18 Redefining Success After a #1 Hit 44:59 The Dangerous Side of Success 47:33 Why Canaan Still Gets Nervous on Stage 49:15 When the Power Goes Out Mid Show 50:19 Why Authenticity Beats Perfection 52:16 What Happens Before Every Show 52:36 Would He Tour With Florida Georgia Line Again? 55:52 Finding Peace With Where He Is 56:12 Building a Fanbase in the Social Media Era 57:00 Artists Have Become Content Channels 1:01:50 What Fatherhood Changed 1:02:36 Do Country Artists Need to Live in Nashville? 1:04:24 The Food Hampton Roads Should Be Known For Connect and listen to Canaan Smith here: https://brandpage.io/canaansmith    Subscribe to Fervent Four for more conversations with people building, creating and competing at the highest level. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Innovate757?sub_confirmation=1  Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fervent-four/id1596516837  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7egTPUyiUEZF4QACNKBYI6?si=f9b82187dee54d12 
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  What Nobody Tells You About Success, Confidence and Retirement 18.08.2026 37мин

  What happens after you've built companies, made investments, helped shape a business community — and supposedly reached the point where you can retire? In Part 2 of our conversation with Paul Hirschbiel, we go beyond business and into what decades of success have taught him about confidence, relationships, purpose and what comes next. Paul opens up about the insecurity that existed behind a confident exterior, why getting older changed the way he thinks about relationships, and why he's admittedly "terrible" at retirement. We also dig into the future of Hampton Roads, what the region still needs to become known for, the rapid rise of AI — and why Paul believes humans will encounter life beyond Earth. 0:00 Will Hampton Roads produce a unicorn? 3:11 How the region has changed over the last decade 6:59 What Hampton Roads needs to become known for 10:13 Why regionalism remains such a challenge 13:23 Building a completely different kind of memory care center 18:58 The insecurity behind Paul's confidence 20:29 Why going deep beats going wide with relationships 22:23 Why Paul is terrible at retirement 23:20 Finding purpose beyond making money 26:11 What comes next for Hampton Roads 29:38 A belief most people disagree with him about 30:10 Why Paul believes we'll discover life beyond Earth 33:49 How AI changes everything 35:28 The food Paul misses when he leaves Virginia Beach 37:01 Looking back on the people who shaped the journey
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  He Bet $3 Million Before Anyone Knew It Would Work 11.08.2026 52мин

  Paul Hirschbiel has spent decades investing in companies and evaluating the people behind them. Long before becoming the founding chairman of Innovate 757, Hirschbiel built a career in venture capital, backed Michael Dell in the company's early years and spent 13 years on Dell's board. On Fervent Four, Paul shares what he saw in Michael Dell, why ego can destroy great companies, what separates exceptional leaders from everyone else, how he helped build Hampton Roads' entrepreneurial ecosystem and why his run for Congress changed the way he looks at politics. This episode is a firsthand look at investing, leadership, entrepreneurship and the people behind companies that actually win. 00:00 Why Great Ideas Fail and "Stupid" Ideas Win 00:28 Paul Hirschbiel Finally Comes on the Show 01:31 Building What Became Innovate 757 03:07 The Origins of 757 Angels 06:38 How Paul Got Into Venture Capital 08:42 The Early Days of Silicon Valley 10:53 Starting an $86 Million Venture Fund 13:52 The Michael Dell Story Begins 15:59 Why Dell Wasn't Really a Technology Company 16:52 "One Day I'll Get a Real CEO in There" 17:18 Investing in Dell During the 1987 Market Crash 18:40 What Made Michael Dell Different 20:13 What Dell, Staples and Starbucks Had in Common 22:07 How to Spot Ego in a Founder 24:22 "Dell Was a Pretty Stupid Idea" 25:14 The Business Model That Helped Dell Win 28:51 How Many Companies Has Paul Invested In? 29:06 Why Investors Bet on the Jockey 30:27 Can You Judge a Founder in One Meeting? 31:25 Why Paul Left New York for Virginia Beach 35:15 The Wall Street Career Behind Paul's Marriage 39:25 Should Spouses Build a Company Together? 40:12 How Paul Became Friends With Mark Warner 41:02 Building Envest Ventures in Hampton Roads 44:33 Why Government Reports End Up on Shelves 46:07 Why Paul Ran for Congress 48:22 What Raising $2.5 Million for Congress Actually Looks Like 49:42 The Reality of Fundraising After You Win
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  The Biggest Lie About Blue-Collar Jobs 04.08.2026 1ч 4мин

  Everyone says people no longer want blue-collar jobs. But what if workers are not the real problem? This episode explores why leadership matters in recruiting the next generation, how AI is transforming industrial work, and why American shipbuilding and manufacturing may be entering a new era. We discuss: Why uninspiring leadership contributes to hiring challenges How Google AI turned up to 160 hours of engineering work into minutes Why skilled trades still offer meaningful careers How technology could accelerate shipbuilding and defense manufacturing Why America's industrial future may be stronger than most people realize 00:00 The Biggest Lie About Blue-Collar Jobs 01:10 State of Innovation & Building a Unicorn Shipbuilder 02:40 How Fairlead Is Partnering with Google AI 03:22 Can Ships Become Floating Data Centers? 07:47 Google Chose Fairlead 10:07 AI Turned 160 Hours Into 5 Minutes 12:19 Why AI Will Transform Blue-Collar Work 16:09 How AI Could Change Shipbuilding Forever 19:44 First Email Addresses & Roller Coaster Obsession 24:24 The History of Fairlead 26:52 Buying a Shipyard in Five Days 34:38 Are Blue-Collar Workers Really Disappearing? 40:43 Why SpaceX Attracts Millions of Applicants 42:10 Is Leadership the Real Hiring Problem? 46:51 Growing Fairlead Into a Maritime Giant 48:00 How Fred Ended Up at Fairlead 52:59 "Go Make It Happen" 55:17 Why Fred Doesn't Play Golf 56:38 The Future of American Shipbuilding 58:33 Being Named to the IHR 200 1:01:03 Why Fairlead Is Just Getting Started 1:02:09 The "Drink and Think" Leadership Strategy Subscribe for weekly conversations about business, leadership, technology and the people building what comes next.   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Innovate757?sub_confirmation=1 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fervent-four/id1596516837 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7egTPUyiUEZF4QACNKBYI6?si=f9b82187dee54d12   https://fairlead.com  #leadership #bluecollar #manufacturing
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  30 Years in Business Taught Him These Hard Truths 28.07.2026 1ч 7мин

  What happens when decades of business experience collide with a world being rapidly reshaped by AI and automation? Marc Marling, Chief Business Officer at Cargomatic, joins The Fervent Four to talk about the lessons he's learned across his career—from working seven days a week for a boss who promised him ownership, to why he believes people give up too quickly, why picking up the phone has become a competitive advantage, and why fighting automation is the wrong approach. Marc also shares the story of a $100 Christmas gift he still carries with him today, why common sense matters more than ever, how technology will reshape jobs, and why the skills that make us human may become increasingly valuable. It's a conversation about work, relationships, technology, health, failure, and knowing when it's time to bet on yourself. In this episode: The $100 Christmas gift Marc never forgot Why entrepreneurs give up too early Why nobody wants to pick up the phone anymore Common sense as a competitive advantage Building real relationships in a digital world AI, automation and disappearing jobs Why protecting obsolete jobs isn't the answer What The Jetsons got right about the future of work Marc's career in logistics and maritime Measuring health and performance Subscribe to The Fervent Four for weekly conversations with entrepreneurs, executives and people building what's next.  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Innovate757?sub_confirmation=1 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fervent-four/id1596516837 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7egTPUyiUEZF4QACNKBYI6?si=f9b82187dee54d12
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  Why Most Canned Cocktails Taste Bad 21.07.2026 1ч

  Most canned cocktails don't taste like cocktails made at a bar. They rely on artificial flavors, excessive sweetness, carbonation and low-quality ingredients—but why is it so difficult to make a good cocktail in a can? After years working in restaurants, craft beer, alcohol distribution and beverage production, Will Boze explains what separates a legitimate ready-to-drink cocktail from flavored alcohol in a can. He joins Zack Miller and Tim Ryan to break down how canned cocktails are developed, why many brands use carbonation, how alcohol percentage is calculated and why recipes often change when they are scaled from a single drink to a 1,000-gallon production batch. They also discuss the difficult business of launching an alcohol brand, getting products into grocery stores, competing for shelf space, working with distributors, using AI to formulate recipes and building a premium product during a period when consumers are spending less. Can a canned cocktail ever taste as good as one made by a bartender—and which brands will survive the coming industry shakeout? Learn more about Seven Skies and find products near you at drink7skies.com. The Fervent Four Show is hosted by Zack Miller and Tim Ryan and produced by Innovate Hampton Roads.   00:00 Why most canned cocktails taste bad 01:48 The meaning behind Seven Skies 04:38 What is a ready-to-drink cocktail? 05:19 Why the canned cocktail industry will shrink 09:17 How alcohol laws shape what gets sold 10:49 How alcohol percentage actually works 12:37 From bartender to beverage founder 15:38 The canned cocktail that sparked the idea 18:17 What Seven Skies makes 20:57 Selling premium drinks in a discount economy 23:33 Why most canned margaritas miss the mark 26:37 Who creates the cocktail recipes? 27:03 Using AI to scale drink formulas 28:17 Why recipes change in large batches 30:31 How canned cocktails are produced 33:57 Building a brand that looks national 36:08 Choosing trusted business partners 38:16 The challenges of working with family 40:50 Why alcohol distribution is so difficult 44:49 Competing with hundreds of drinks on one shelf 45:18 The real economics of in-store sampling 48:30 Why single-serve cans matter 50:20 Where to find Seven Skies 53:00 A family history in the alcohol business 54:10 What canned cocktails should become 57:22 What food represents Hampton Roads? 59:41 Who really invented the Orange Crush? Subscribe to The Fervent Four: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Innovate757?sub_confirmation=1 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fervent-four/id1596516837 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7egTPUyiUEZF4QACNKBYI6?si=f9b82187dee54d12
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  He Built a Business Out of Trash 14.07.2026 58мин

  Most people see junk hauling and dumpster rentals as simple, dirty work. Johnny Bobby sees systems, turnaround time, customer acquisition, automation, and opportunity. In this episode of The Fervent Four Show, he explains how he built a junk removal and roll-off dumpster company by entering an overlooked industry and operating it differently. He shares how he used Uber to meet potential customers, how negative competitor reviews helped shape his service, and why many dumpsters sit in driveways far longer than customers actually need them. He also breaks down how faster equipment turnover can create more revenue with fewer assets, why employee training became a major focus, and how he uses automation and AI to modernize a traditionally old-school business. This is a conversation about finding opportunity in unglamorous industries, learning the numbers behind the business, and building systems that make growth possible. In this episode: Why overlooked businesses can create major opportunities How Uber helped him fund and market the business The real reason dumpsters sit for 14 days Turning equipment faster with better systems Using negative reviews as market research Training employees through video Automating a service business Building around efficiency instead of excess
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  Why Your Medical Bill Makes No Sense 07.07.2026 1ч 4мин

  Most bills are built for the person paying them. Medical bills often are not. That was one of the clearest points Michael Woodhead made on The Fervent Four. A normal bill usually tells you what happened, what it cost, and why. A medical bill can feel like it was built for hospitals, insurance companies, and billing departments before it was ever built for the patient. Codes. Adjustments. Denials. Insurance rules. Unclear charges. That gap is where Resolve Medical Bills is working. Not by pretending the system is simple. By helping people navigate it when the bill shows up and they do not know where to start. 0:00 Intro 1:05 Michael's Virginia Beach roots 3:00 From theater to hospitality 6:24 Why people underestimate Hampton Roads 10:28 What Resolve Medical Bills does 11:31 Medical bills and bankruptcy 15:09 "No one should go bankrupt from a bill they didn't choose" 16:09 Why medical bills are not built for patients 19:49 Cash rates, insurance rates, and confusing bills 21:00 The medical billing "death spiral" 26:00 Leading a remote team from Virginia Beach 30:17 Leaving FinFit to become CEO of Resolve 34:53 The weight of becoming CEO 39:00 Building a culture where people push back 43:27 Strategy, culture, and learning to listen 50:05 Does America actually want medical bills fixed? 52:47 How Resolve creates a win-win-win 53:56 The $270,000 bill that got wiped out 57:22 What patients should ask before care 58:53 How AI could change medical advocacy 1:01:00 The future of Resolve as a medical advocate 1:04:15 Virginia Beach food and local seafood Learn more about Resolve: https://www.resolvemedicalbills.com/
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  Making Waiting Rooms Suck Less 30.06.2026 58мин

  A coffee shop magazine wall was supposed to be the idea. Then COVID shut down the world, shared magazines became a non-starter, and Lauren and Scott Janney started asking a different question: what if people could still access magazines without touching the same physical copies as everyone else? That question eventually became CXperks, a platform built to improve the customer experience in places where people are waiting, stressed, or looking for something better to do with their time. Lauren Janney, Co-Founder of CXperks, joins The Fervent Four to talk about the early idea behind the company, how her background in healthcare and customer service shaped the business, why CXperks expanded beyond magazines into games, trivia and partner messaging, and what it takes to build a company with your spouse. The conversation also gets into raising capital, listening to repeated customer feedback, hiring for startup adaptability, having hard conversations with team members, and why customer experience matters most when people are already having a hard day. Timestamps: 0:00 How CXperks helps healthcare teams 1:59 Lauren's path from healthcare to business 3:00 What it means to buy a book of business 4:43 Splitting sales and customer service roles 6:46 Why claims are where insurance matters most 7:22 How customer care translated into CXperks 8:01 The coffee shop magazine wall idea 8:10 How COVID changed the plan 9:46 Balancing risk with a stable business 12:20 Building the company with Scott 13:22 Why Lauren sees business as taking care of people 14:32 Helping patients, families and staff during stressful waits 16:00 Adding games, trivia and Spanish content 16:55 Protecting privacy and avoiding personal data 17:42 How the CXperks customer journey works 19:32 Listening for repeated customer requests 20:22 Why CXperks needed to raise capital 21:30 What it is like working with your spouse 22:21 The monthly business breakfast 23:23 How Lauren and Scott use a hiring point system 24:09 Hiring people who can handle startup change 25:40 Having hard conversations with team members 28:16 Why founders cannot expect employees to work like owners 29:49 Teaching entrepreneurship to their kids 32:10 The business lessons inside collectibles https://www.cxperks.com/
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  The Business Model Was Hiding in Plain Sight 23.06.2026 1ч

  What happens when the business you built is not the business your customers actually want? PlayYourCourt started as a way to make tennis lessons easier to find and book. But as the company grew, the data told a different story. Customers were using the platform, getting what they needed, and leaving. That churn forced the company to look closer at what people were really paying attention to. In this episode of Fervent Four, PlayYourCourt founder Scott Baxter shares how the company evolved from a tennis lessons marketplace into a broader education platform after customer behavior revealed the real opportunity. We get into the grind of building a two-sided marketplace, what churn can teach a founder, how YouTube and content became a major part of the business, and why focus mattered more than chasing the pickleball boom. Scott also talks about raising money the hard way, learning from early fundraising mistakes, building in Virginia Beach, and the long path from side hustle to a business that can last. For more information on PlayYourCourt, visit: https://www.playyourcourt.com/ 00:00 The pitch that changed everything 00:29 What is PlayYourCourt? 03:12 Why tennis can feel expensive 05:01 From country club coach to founder 07:08 Why marketplaces are hard 09:01 Chasing professional tennis 14:02 How tennis prepared him for business 16:01 Why PlayYourCourse didn't work 17:27 Failure, coaching and business advisors 18:19 Growing up around work and entrepreneurship 21:07 Choosing tennis after college 24:24 The first big PlayYourCourt pivot 27:12 From lessons to practice partners 29:20 The problem with marketplace churn 30:23 How YouTube became the real business 36:40 Building the education platform 39:03 The funnel behind tennis content 40:04 Why PlayYourCourt said no to pickleball 43:26 Raising money the hard way 47:26 The accelerator pitch that changed the round 49:34 Why EO matters for CEOs 51:12 Shrinking the team and simplifying the model 53:18 The real-life impact of tennis community 55:07 What's next for PlayYourCourt 56:11 Local food, recovery and routines 57:02 Fundraising lessons founders should know
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  This Is Fervent Four 17.06.2026

  Big ideas. Real stories. Unfiltered conversations with the people building what's next. Fervent Four goes beyond the highlight reel with founders, leaders, operators and builders to talk about the work, the risks, the lessons and the moments that actually shape the journey.
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  What NASA Has to Build Before We Can Live on the Moon 16.06.2026 56мин

  NASA is known for rockets, astronauts and moonshots. But at NASA Langley, the work is also about what happens before and after the launch: the testing, partnerships, aeronautics, technology transfer and long-term thinking that turn impossible ideas into repeatable progress. Joseph Gasbarre, Director of the Strategic Partnerships Office at NASA Langley, talks through the next era of exploration — from Artemis and returning to the moon, to hypersonics, commercial space, regional air mobility and what it will take to build a lasting human presence beyond Earth. The conversation moves from Star Trek and roller coasters to heat shields, lunar infrastructure, AI, NASA's "front door" for innovators, and why Hampton Roads continues to play a major role in the future of flight and space. 0:00 Why going to the moon more often changes everything 2:44 NASA is more than rockets and shuttles 3:04 From Star Trek fan to aerospace engineer 4:14 Artemis, launch day and years of NASA work coming together 7:46 What NASA Langley may study from Artemis reentry 9:04 Testing heat shields, speed and reentry at 32,000 mph 11:15 G-force, roller coasters and Pennsylvania amusement parks 16:31 How NASA recruits the next generation of talent 19:21 Mars travel, moon launches and escape velocity 20:47 Could humans live on the moon or Mars? 23:21 What space movies get right and wrong 24:18 How NASA thinks decades into the future 25:18 NASA's view on AI as a tool 26:32 The rise of commercial space companies 27:08 How innovators can partner with NASA 29:59 Hypersonics and faster commercial flight 31:17 The sonic boom problem and NASA's X-59 32:32 How NASA Langley looks at strategic partnerships 35:13 Putting more things on the lunar surface 36:17 Why launch cadence matters for innovation 37:01 NASA's coming "front door" for partnerships 37:34 Risk, safety and lessons from NASA history 39:48 The infrastructure we don't yet have around the moon 42:23 Handling public criticism and NASA education 45:25 Competing for talent in the space economy 49:35 Why people stay at NASA: mission 50:28 What Joseph wants to see before retirement 51:51 The first "A" in NASA: aeronautics 52:36 The future of flight, eVTOLs and regional air taxis 54:44 What Hampton Roads food should go to the moon? 56:21 Why this is an exciting time to be at the forefront   Subscribe to The Fervent Four: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Innovate757?sub_confirmation=1 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fervent-four/id1596516837 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7egTPUyiUEZF4QACNKBYI6?si=f9b82187dee54d12
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  The AI Opportunity Most Nonprofits Are Missing 09.06.2026 57мин

  Nonprofits are being asked to do more than ever with teams that are already stretched thin. But what happens when AI gives mission-driven organizations the capacity to move faster, understand donors better, and spend more time on the relationships that actually drive impact? Jim Funari, CEO of StratusLIVE, joins The Fervent Four to talk about how AI, software, and digital engagement are reshaping the nonprofit world. From donor relationships and fundraising to team capacity and national reach, this conversation explores why technology is no longer just back-office support. It is becoming central to how mission-driven organizations grow, serve, and survive. https://stratuslive.com/  The conversation also highlights a Hampton Roads company making serious waves well beyond the region. StratusLIVE was named to the initial tranche of the IHR200, Innovate Hampton Roads' list of the 200 most promising and important privately owned businesses in Hampton Roads — a reminder that major technology companies are being built right here in the 757. https://www.innovate757.org/ihr200/   00:00 Mistakes Teach More Than Wins 02:11 Why Nonprofits Struggle to Market Themselves 04:20 What StratusLIVE Actually Does 05:36 Building a Nonprofit Tech Company 08:05 Staying Current in a Fast-Moving Tech World 11:13 How AI Can Help Nonprofits Do More With Less 13:02 Is There a First-Mover Advantage in Nonprofit AI? 14:01 Why Focus on Nonprofits? 15:51 The Next Generation of Nonprofit Fundraising Tools 17:29 Using AI Agents to Reduce Back-Office Work 18:53 Will AI Replace Jobs or Create More Capacity? 21:47 Bringing National Customers to Virginia Beach 24:21 Building a Business With Family 27:48 Local vs. Remote Talent in Hampton Roads 30:15 Hiring for Curiosity and Team Fit 34:03 Why Curiosity Matters in Leadership 36:02 Raising Capital in Hampton Roads 40:44 Why the Team Matters More Than the Idea 41:57 What Founders Overlook About Execution 43:43 Finding Your First Customers 46:15 Why Mistakes Are Better Teachers Than Wins 47:34 Adjusting Strategy as the Market Changes 51:17 National Impact Through Corporate Giving 53:44 A Hampton Roads Company Creating Big Impact 54:11 Why Nonprofits Need Technology at the Table 55:41 Where to Eat in Virginia Beach
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  How to Build a Business That Lasts for Decades 02.06.2026 55мин

  What does it really take to build a business that lasts for decades? Building an agency or service-based business is not just about landing the first client. It is about hiring the right people, delivering consistently, earning trust, surviving hard seasons, and making decisions that protect the company long after the excitement of launch wears off. In this episode of the Fervent Four Show, Tony Cortinas, president and cofounder of Marathon Consulting, shares what he has learned from building a Hampton Roads technology consulting company that has lasted 20 years. The conversation covers Marathon's early leap of faith, the story behind the company's name, the discipline it took to grow without sacrificing quality, and why people, culture, and client relationships have remained central to the company's success. Marathon Consulting was also named to the first group of 20 companies selected for the IHR200, Innovate Hampton Roads' curated list of the 200 most important privately owned, growth-scalable businesses in the region. https://marathonus.com/  Watch the full conversation to hear what building a lasting business really looks like, and why endurance may be one of the most underrated forms of business success. Learn more about the Fervent Four Show: https://www.innovate757.org/ferventfour/ (0:00) Building relationships, starting the business, and launching before the Great Recession   (2:04) Managing time between company building and client work   (2:43) History and background of Metro Information Services and Keene   (4:52) Phased approach to launching the company   (7:04) Initial funding and relationship with Town Bank   (7:29) Company growth and employee numbers   (10:17) Origin of the Marathon name and logo   (13:49) Community involvement and support   (18:06) Influence of Metro and Keene on company culture   (19:26) Multi-step interview process and hiring standards   (22:13) Key qualities sought in potential hires   (23:48) Transitioning from client-facing roles and rewriting old systems   (25:32) The impact of AI and automation on consulting   (29:57) Predictions on AI's effect on jobs and consulting   (32:50) Evolution of Marathon Consulting's partnership structure   (38:28) Opening an office in Richmond: Challenges and strategies   (44:47) Future plans for geographic expansion and service offerings   (46:37) Overcoming growth plateaus and breaking through employee milestones   (48:27) Scaling challenges with growing teams   (49:35) Transition from small to large team dynamics   (50:10) The importance of food in company culture   (51:34) Returning to the office post-pandemic   (52:10) Reflecting on two decades of business growth   (53:18) Employee retention and long-term staff   (54:16) Future branding and company milestones   (55:16) Episode wrap-up and final thoughts
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  The Bigger Strategy Behind Pharrell's Something in the Water 26.05.2026 1ч

  Something in the Water was never just about music. In this conversation, Robby Wells breaks down the bigger strategy behind cultural moments, regional storytelling, and building events that make people feel ownership in where they live. Wells is a branding and cultural strategy leader who has worked behind the scenes on major Virginia moments like Something in the Water and Mighty Dream. His work sits at the intersection of storytelling, events, culture, commerce, and community impact, helping turn big ideas into experiences that make people think differently about their cities. From Pharrell's influence, Something in the Water, Mighty Dream, and Atlantic Park to Noodle, Newport News, skateboarding, city branding, and the next generation of builders, this conversation explores why culture can change how a city sees itself, and why emerging leaders need access, belief, and a real chance to take the ball and run with it. 0:00 Thinking bigger and being free to dream 0:17 Robby Wells joins the conversation 0:45 Moving from Los Angeles to Virginia 1:14 The assumption that Robby and Pharrell grew up together 1:59 How skateboarding shaped Robby's view of creativity 4:00 Skateboarding, hustle, and innovation 7:17 Atlantic Park and the skater mindset 9:10 Culture, commerce, and modern city-building 10:30 Why festivals can be bigger than ticket sales 11:33 Why some people only see the surface 13:01 Understanding the festival experience 14:00 Applying big-brand strategy to the 757 16:14 Why others have to take the ball and run with it 17:01 Elephant in the Room and what happened next 21:12 The gap between emerging builders and the establishment 24:32 Lionel Sapp, AI, and giving builders a real shot 25:56 Everybody wants to be invited 28:25 Bringing the future into the room 29:46 Thinking small, systemic doubt, and taking chances 32:28 How to give more people a shot 33:32 Risk-taking, doubt, and learning to move anyway 34:12 Free to Dream and why big ideas matter 36:01 What "Something in the Water" really means 37:54 Creating emotional ownership around an event 39:35 Could Something in the Water come back? 40:52 Why Newport News needed more than another music festival 41:49 Building the pitch for Noodle 42:55 Collective illusion and changing a city's story 45:05 Culture, science, music, and Newport News' opportunity 47:05 Handling negativity while building something new 49:45 How negative narratives become accepted 51:22 Using AI to imagine the future of Newport News 53:42 Why Noodle's programming came together so easily 54:49 Robby's first impressions of Virginia 57:15 The people who changed how Robby saw the region 59:34 Favorite food in town and closing thoughts   Watch more episodes of The Fervent Four Show: https://www.innovate757.org/ferventfour/ Learn more about NOODLE: https://www.noodlecon.com/ Follow Something in the Water: https://www.instagram.com/somethinginthewater/ Learn more about Mighty Dream: https://eitr.com/ Follow Innovate Hampton Roads: https://www.innovate757.org/  
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  Former Navy SEAL on Why Starting a Business Was Harder Than SEAL Training 19.05.2026 59мин

  Former Navy SEAL and Neptune Shield CEO Nicholas Rocha joins The Fervent Four Show to talk about military service, entrepreneurship, veteran transition, mental health, and why building a company can be harder than elite military training. After 26 years in the Navy, nine combat deployments, and a career inside one of the most demanding communities in the world, Rocha found himself facing a different kind of challenge: figuring out life after service. In this conversation, he shares how veterans can find a new mission through business, why the right team and support system matter, and how entrepreneurship can give former service members purpose, structure, and a reason to keep going. Rocha also opens up about veteran suicide, his own moment of crisis, the "Quick Reaction Friends" concept, and why asking for help can be one of the strongest things a person can do. This episode is for veterans, founders, military families, entrepreneurs, and anyone trying to build something meaningful after a major life transition. https://neptuneshield.com/ 0:00 Intro, giving veterans a new mission 1:22 How Nick first connected with Virginia Cup 2:17 Failing eighth grade, ADHD, and finding structure 4:07 Catching up in school and discovering the Navy 6:20 Seeing Navy SEALs for the first time 7:47 How Nick entered the SEAL pipeline 11:19 Why SEAL culture used to stay quiet 14:00 SEAL books, public stories, and what not to reveal 17:20 Why "team" matters more than "SEAL" 19:18 What was harder, Neptune Shield or the SEAL teams? 22:00 Why so many startups fail 23:57 Starting a CBD company to help his daughter 28:02 Transitioning after 26 years in the Navy 30:22 The crisis veterans face after service 32:30 The cost of training a Navy SEAL 33:30 "Everybody dies, but not everybody truly lives" 34:44 Helping veterans understand the new battlefield 35:30 Nick opens up about his own crisis 38:15 Quick Reaction Friends and suicide prevention 42:42 How the same framework applies to business 44:46 Why veterans need tools, resources, and a plan 46:16 Why founders have to ask for help 47:44 Showing up and doing the work 53:20 Could Neptune Shield expand to other cities? 54:38 Validating technology with operators 56:05 What's next for Neptune Shield 58:01 The food of Hampton Roads 59:42 Closing thoughts The Fervent Four Show Where Hampton Roads entrepreneurs tell their stories. Since 2020, The Fervent Four Show has been the weekly conversation connecting the entrepreneurs, innovators, and community builders shaping the future of Hampton Roads, Virginia. Each Thursday at 11 a.m. EST, hosts Tim Ryan and Zack Miller sit down with founders, CEOs, investors, and ecosystem leaders to explore the real stories behind regional growth — from bold startups and 757 trailblazers to nationally recognized brands born right here. Whether you're launching your first venture or scaling your next big idea, these candid, conversational episodes deliver insights on entrepreneurship, innovation, leadership, and business growth that will keep you fired up long after the mics go off. Subscribe on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fervent-four/id1596516837 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7egTPUyiUEZF4QACNKBYI6?si=704d8e723f3842f5  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Innovate757?sub_confirmation=1