Episodes

Udo Erasmus, founder of Udo’s Choice and a longtime thinker on health and human nature, joins Mark Perkins on The Necessary Entrepreneur for a reflective conversation about pain, purpose, and understanding how we’re wired as human beings. Udo explains why pain often forces change, but why pursuing a clear vision is far more powerful and sustainable. Drawing from decades of observation and experience, he outlines his framework for understanding the six parts of human nature and why most people s...

Rebecca Matchett, co-founder of the Synchrony App, joins Mark Perkins on The Necessary Entrepreneur for a real-world conversation about building a startup before you fully know what you’re getting into, and why that can actually work in your favor. Rebecca shares what she learned launching her first company, the mistakes founders only recognize in hindsight, and the hard-earned lessons that now shape how she builds. They dig into early product decisions, marketing and branding at the startup st...

Mike and Kass Lazerow return to The Necessary Entrepreneur for their second appearance with host Mark Perkins, delivering another candid, no-BS conversation about the realities of entrepreneurship, leadership, and long-term success. As serial entrepreneurs, investors, and co-founders of Buddy Media, acquired by Salesforce, Mike and Kass bring hard-earned perspective from decades of building, scaling, and enduring inside high-stakes businesses. In this episode, they expand on the themes from the...

In this episode of The Necessary Entrepreneur, Mark Perkins sits down with Patrick Rogers, Partner at Elkridge Advisors, for an in-depth conversation on wealth management for entrepreneurs, financial decision-making, and building long-term financial clarity as a business owner. Patrick advises founders, executives, and high-earning entrepreneurs on financial planning, investing, and capital strategy, especially during periods of growth, liquidity events, and business transitions. In this episod...

What does it really take to build a scalable company in an unglamorous, operationally intense industry? In this episode of The Necessary Entrepreneur, host Mark Perkins sits down with Tyler Dunagin, Founder and CEO of Turnserv, to unpack what it actually looks like to build a high-growth business in the vacation rental and hospitality space, where execution, reliability, and trust matter more than hype. Tyler shares the real story behind founding Turnserv, a platform built to solve one of the ...

What does it really take to bring order to chaos inside a growing business? In this episode of The Necessary Entrepreneur, host Mark Perkins sits down with Val Coin, Founder and CEO of VIA Technology, to unpack how systems, process, and operational clarity become the hidden advantage for scaling companies, especially in manufacturing and complex organizations. Born in Italy and now based in Australia, Val shares his unconventional entrepreneurial journey, from early exposure to disciplined Eur...

How do you build a people-first business that actually scales, without bloated bureaucracy, misaligned incentives, or empty culture talk? In this episode of The Necessary Entrepreneur, host Mark Perkins sits down with William Spengler, founder and principal of Frederick Fox, a high-growth, equity-driven recruiting firm redefining how staffing agencies operate. William shares the real-world lessons he’s learned scaling Frederick Fox to nearly $10 million in revenue, growing a national team of re...

Why do some leaders consistently build high-performing teams while others struggle despite strong strategy and experience? In this episode of The Necessary Entrepreneur, host Mark Perkins sits down with Thais Saenz, founder and CEO of Saenz Global, a leadership and organizational development firm that helps companies scale through stronger culture, clarity, and execution. Thais brings a global perspective on leadership, performance, and human behavior, drawing from years of experience working ...

Why do smart, capable people still feel stuck, despite working hard and doing “all the right things”? In this episode of The Necessary Entrepreneur, host Mark Perkins sits down with John Mitchell, founder of TheMissingSecret.org, to explore the unseen forces that shape success, fulfillment, and decision-making for entrepreneurs and business leaders. John challenges the idea that success is simply about effort, strategy, or motivation. Instead, he introduces the concept of the “missing secret”,...

In this episode of The Necessary Entrepreneur, host Mark Perkins sits down with Ben Lytle, serial entrepreneur, futurist, former CEO of Anthem, and author of The Potentialist, to explore how business leaders can thrive in the fastest period of change in human history. Ben explains why fear-based leadership leads to bad decisions, why resilience alone is no longer enough, and why the future belongs to those who focus on preparedness, constant learning, and wisdom. Drawing from decades of experie...

On this episode of The Necessary Entrepreneur, host Mark Perkins sits down with James Orsini, President of Startup Operations at VaynerX, longtime partner to Gary Vaynerchuk, former public company CEO, and one of the most respected operators in modern marketing, leadership, and business growth. With over 40 years in corporate America and more than a decade inside the high-speed entrepreneurial engine of Vayner, James shares hard-earned insights most founders never hear. From helping scale Vayner...

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Unlocking Financial Clarity: How Natalia Zacharin Built a Multimillion-Dollar Firm by Mastering Numbers, Strategy & Courage In this high-impact episode of The Necessary Entrepreneur, Mark Perkins sits down with Natalia Zacharin, CEO of Zacharin Consulting and one of the most respected financial strategists advising today’s business owners. Despite beginning with zero accounting experience, Natalia transformed a small side gig into a multimillion-dollar firm, earning a spot on the Inc. 5000, by ...

What if getting dressed could be effortless, stylish, and sustainable? In this episode of The Necessary Entrepreneur, host Mark Perkins sits down with Anya Cheng, founder and CEO of Taelor, a Silicon Valley startup transforming men’s fashion through AI-powered styling, subscription rentals, and expert human guidance. Anya shares her journey from leading product and marketing teams at Meta, eBay, and Target to founding Taelor, a company designed to help busy men look their best without the hassl...

Want to turn your expertise into a business that earns while you sleep? Former ER nurse Justin Allan Montgomery left a capped-income career to build an eight-figure online education empire, and now he’s helping professionals transform their knowledge into profitable continuing-education businesses. In this episode of The Necessary Entrepreneur, host Mark Perkins sits down with Justin to explore how he escaped the traditional career trap, replaced his income within 12 months, and built multiple ...

What does it take to turn real-world leadership training into a scalable, high-performance system used by executives, entrepreneurs, and fast-growth companies around the world? In this episode of The Necessary Entrepreneur, host Mark Perkins sits down with performance strategist Evan Unger for a deep conversation on building leaders, eliminating operational drag, and unlocking elite execution inside any organization. Evan shares the pivotal moments that shaped his career, from his early days le...

From Lotteries to Luxury Experiences: How Derek Gwaltney Built Atlas Experiences into a Top-Tier Brand Experience Company 🎯 In this episode of The Necessary Entrepreneur, host Mark Perkins sits down with Derek Gwaltney, founder and CEO of Atlas Experiences, to explore the art of creating unforgettable brand moments that spark emotion, connection, and loyalty. Derek shares his remarkable journey from the lottery and gaming industry to leading one of the fastest-growing experiential marketing co...

Feeling stressed, stuck, or burned out as a high-achieving leader or entrepreneur? 💡 In this episode of The Necessary Entrepreneur, host Mark Perkins sits down with Mandy Morris, LPC, co-founder of Sofree, to explore how high performers can reclaim mental clarity, confidence, and emotional balance. Mandy shares her journey from athletic trainer to licensed therapist and entrepreneur, blending psychology, neuroscience, and practical tools to make mental wellness accessible, actionable, and part ...

What makes a successful founder dive back in after a major exit? 💡 In this episode of The Necessary Entrepreneur, host Mark Perkins sits down with Jesse Lipson, founder and CEO of Levitate, a fast-growing SaaS platform helping service businesses build authentic client relationships at scale. Before Levitate, Jesse founded and sold ShareFile to Citrix, where he later served as a public-company executive before leaving to start all over again. Mark and Jesse dive deep into the psychology of entre...

What separates great leaders from good ones? 💡 In this episode of The Necessary Entrepreneur, host Mark Perkins sits down with Mary Elizabeth Sadd, leadership advisor, executive search expert, and author of Living a Generous Life: Learning, Earning, and Returning. With over two decades of experience advising Fortune 500 companies, private equity firms, and fast-growth organizations, Mary has spent her career helping CEOs and boards build world-class leadership teams, and uncover the human side ...

What if capitalism could work for people instead of against them? 💡 In this episode of The Necessary Entrepreneur, host Mark Perkins sits down with Morgan Styler, veteran entrepreneur and co-founder of Circular Wealth, to explore a bold new model he calls "capitalism with compassion." After decades in direct sales and network marketing, including co-founding companies with over $2 billion in revenue, Morgan became determined to build a system where everyone shares in the success they help create...

What does it take to build and sustain one of Ohio’s most respected craft breweries? In this episode of The Necessary Entrepreneur, host Mark Perkins sits down with Eric Bean, co-owner and brewmaster of Columbus Brewing Company, to explore how craftsmanship, culture, and community come together to shape a lasting brand. Eric shares how he and his wife, Beth, have helped transform Columbus Brewing Company into a cornerstone of Ohio’s beer scene, staying true to their roots while pushing innovat...

In this episode of The Necessary Entrepreneur, host Mark Perkins sits down with Darrel Grumman, CEO and franchiser of Bubbles Tea & Juice Company. Since acquiring the brand in 2024, Darrel has transformed Bubbles from a small local favorite into a rapidly growing franchise with new locations, mobile units, and an updated, innovative menu. Darrel opens up about the realities of scaling a business, the grind of entrepreneurship, and the lessons learned while balancing risk, leadership, and vision...

In this episode of The Necessary Entrepreneur with Mark Perkins, we sit down with powerhouse couple Kass and Mike Lazerow, entrepreneurs, investors, and authors of “Shoveling $h!t: A Love Story.” Together, they share honest insights on building businesses, navigating marriage, and leading with empathy through life’s inevitable messes. From founding multiple startups to investing through Salesforce Ventures, Mike and Kass reveal how vulnerability, partnership, and resilience have shaped both the...