Turning Point: Founder Journeys from Grit to Glory
Turning Point dives into the moments that define the entrepreneurial journey. Each episode features candid conversations with founders who share the real stories behind building their businesses—from early struggles and setbacks to breakthroughs and success.
Hosted by Blaine Bertsch, the show uncovers the raw, behind-the-scenes experiences that rarely make the headlines. Guests reflect on the hard lessons, tough decisions, and pivotal moments that shaped their paths as entrepreneurs.
Whether you're a seasoned founder or just starting out, Turning Point offers honest insight, shared struggles, and inspiration from those who’ve lived it—so you can navigate your own journey with perspective and grit.
Turning Point is Produced by Dryrun: Forecasting Software for the Office of the CFO
Learn more at https://dryrun.com
Episodes
82 episodes
Stephen Sakach of AI CMO: Building Empathy, Emotion & Purpose Into Modern Marketing
In this episode of Turning Point - Founder Stories, Blaine Bertsch sits down with Stephen Sakach, founder of AI CMO and Zero Company, to explore how empathy-driven marketing and purpose-led storytelling are reshaping the way brands connect with...
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Season 4
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Episode 82
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55:07
Mark Newman on Founder Resilience & Healthcare Innovation at Nomi Health
In this episode of Turning Point, Blaine Bertsch sits down with Mark Newman, founder of HireVue and current CEO of Nomi Health, to explore his entrepreneurial journey from creating one of the first video interviewing platforms to tackling the m...
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Season 4
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Episode 81
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56:00
Scott Porter of San Diablo Churros on Entrepreneurship, Startup Lessons & Resilience
In this episode of Turning Point, Blaine Bertsch sits down with Scott Porter, CEO of San Diablo Artisan Churros, to dive into the inspiring highs and lows of his entrepreneurial journey. From co-founding Surf Air, the innovative all-you-can-fly...
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Season 4
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Episode 80
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48:16
Scaling eCommerce Success with Sabir Semerkant: Strategies for the Future of Online Retail
Join Blaine Bertsch in this insightful episode of Turning Point with Sabir Semerkant, a leading eCommerce strategist and growth expert, as they dive deep into the future of online retail. Sabir shares proven methods for scaling eCommerce busine...
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Season 4
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Episode 79
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1:00:51
Boost Sales Conversions and Business Growth with Kirstin Carey
In this episode of Turning Point, Blaine Bertsch is joined by entrepreneur Kirstin Carey to unpack her dynamic journey across marketing, public speaking, the restaurant industry, and the wellness space. From launching successful gluten-free res...
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Season 4
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Episode 78
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50:55
Startup Stress, Burnout, and Resilience with Eli Portnoy of BackEngine
In this episode of Turning Point, Blaine Bertsch sits down with serial entrepreneur Eli Portnoy to explore the untold realities of startup life. From launching his first venture in college to scaling companies like Sense360 and now BackEngine, ...
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Season 4
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Episode 77
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47:55
Adam Nathan of Blaze: Startup Funding, AI Marketing Automation & Entrepreneur Mindset
In this episode of Turning Point, Blaine Bertsch sits down with Adam Nathan, CEO of Blaze, to uncover the mindset, strategies, and lessons that shaped his entrepreneurial path. Drawing from his experiences at Apple and in government administrat...
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Season 4
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Episode 76
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54:07
Ken MacKenzie of Fresh Victor: Scaling Premium Cocktail Mixers & Entrepreneur Insights
In this episode of Turning Point, Blaine Bertsch sits down with Ken MacKenzie, founder and CEO of Fresh Victor, to explore his entrepreneurial journey from co-founding Republic Tequila to transforming the cocktail mixer market. Ken shares how p...
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Season 4
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Episode 74
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56:00
Borja Cuan of Four15 Digital: Scaling Startups, Marketing Insights & Entrepreneur Success
In this episode of Turning Point, Blaine Bertsch sits down with Borja Cuan, Co-Founder of Four15 Digital, to explore his entrepreneurial journey from selling golf balls as a child to building a thriving digital marketing agency. Borja shares fo...
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Season 4
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Episode 75
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48:05
Robert Grazioli of Bread: Entrepreneurship, Product Development & Startup Growth Strategies
In this episode of Turning Point, Blaine Bertsch sits down with Robert Grazioli, Managing Partner of Bread, a Brooklyn-based digital agency, to explore the realities of entrepreneurship and the challenges founders face when moving from service-...
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Season 4
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Episode 73
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56:18
Eric Hui of Terracea: Building an Outdoor Apparel Brand, Kickstarter Success & Entrepreneur Lessons
In this episode of Turning Point, Blaine Bertsch sits down with Eric Hui, founder of Terracea, to explore his journey from corporate life to launching a premium cold-weather outdoor apparel brand. Eric shares how he identified market gaps in th...
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Season 4
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Episode 72
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44:53
Shena White of Your Pocket CFO: Cash Flow, Profitability & Financial Strategies for Entrepreneurs
In this episode of Turning Point, Blaine Bertsch sits down with Shena White of Your Pocket CFO to explore her inspiring entrepreneurial journey—from reluctantly starting a business to becoming a trusted advisor in financial management. Shena sh...
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Season 4
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Episode 71
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44:05
Tom Schwab of Interview Valet: Podcast Marketing, Entrepreneur Growth & Business Success
In this episode of Turning Point, Blaine Bertsch sits down with Tom Schwab, founder of Interview Valet, to explore the realities of entrepreneurship and the evolving role of podcasting in business growth. Tom shares his journey of building a co...
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Season 4
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Episode 70
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46:28
Jon Gillham of Originality AI
In this conversation, Blaine interviews John Gillham, founder of Originality AI, discussing his journey into entrepreneurship, the evolution of content marketing, and the impact of AI on content creation. John shares insights on bu...
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Season 4
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Episode 69
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49:57
Mandi Gunsberger of Nourish Travel
Join host Blaine Bertsch as he sits down with Mandi Gunzberger, a powerhouse entrepreneur with a track record of launching successful ventures like Babyology and Nourish Travel. Mandi dives into her entrepreneurial journey, sharing the early sp...
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Season 4
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Episode 68
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49:20
John and Mark Cronin from John’s Crazy Socks
In this episode of Turning Point, Blaine Bertsch interviews John and Mark Cronin, the father-son duo behind John’s Crazy Socks. In 2016, Mark found himself unemployed at 58, while his son John, who has Down syndrome, was facing the "21-Year-Old...
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Season 4
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Episode 67
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46:22
Bradley Hamner of Blueprint OS
Bradley Hamner, Founder and CEO of Blueprint OS, shares his journey as an entrepreneur and the challenges he faced in scaling his business. He discusses the importance of sales skills, hard work, and the need for systems and processes to achiev...
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Season 4
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Episode 66
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49:51
Ilya Kroogman of The Digital Panda
In this episode of "Turning Point," Blaine Bertsch, CEO of Dryrun, interviews Ilya Kroogman, founder of The Digital Panda, about his entrepreneurial journey and business growth. They discuss the challenges of hiring and the transition to remote...
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Season 4
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Episode 65
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49:01
Mike Begg from AMZ Advisors
Join us on "Turning Point" as Mike Begg, co-founder and CEO of AMZ Advisors, shares his entrepreneurial journey and the evolution of his business. Mike discusses his early experiences, from working at a marina to selling on Amazon and launching...
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Season 4
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Episode 64
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44:15
Brandon Gano of Whadif
Join us on "Turning Point" as Brandon Gano, Co-founder of Whadif, shares his entrepreneurial journey. From starting young to focusing on larger, more profitable clients, Brandon discusses the importance of having a clear mission and vision for ...
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Season 4
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Episode 62
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44:02
Herb Cogliano from Aspire Growth Advisors
In this episode of Turning Point, Herb Cogliano, Managing Partner at Aspire Growth Advisors, shares his entrepreneurial journey and insights into the employment business. He discusses the early industry days and how his father's company pioneer...
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Season 4
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Episode 62
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46:31
Adam Levinter from Scriberbase
Adam Leventer, the visionary behind Scriberbase, unveils the narrative of his entrepreneurial voyage. Diving into the intricacies of launching a consulting venture and navigating the turbulent waters of the couponing industry, Adam talks about ...
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Season 4
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Episode 61
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45:59
Zach Coleman from GymMark
Zach Coleman, the owner of creative agencies GymMark and Creatitive, shares his entrepreneurial journey and the challenges he faced in the creative industry. He discusses the importance of having an entrepreneurial mindset and the influence of ...
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Season 4
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Episode 60
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52:03
Sam Jenkins from Punchcard Systems
On this episode of Turning Point, Blaine Bertsch interviews Sam Jenkins, CEO of Punchcard Systems. They cover his entrepreneurial journey, focusing on his shift from web design to creating a healthcare analytics platform and the nuances of team...
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Season 4
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Episode 59
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48:47
Matt Howard from Maverick Agency
In this episode, host Blain Bertsch, CEO at Dryrun, is joined by Matt Howard from Maverick Agency in Calgary, a creative agency known for its innovative work.The conversation explores Matt's entrepreneurial journey, starting from his ear...
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Season 4
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Episode 58
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38:05
