Shows
Momentum Mode w/ Corey Ferengul & Mike Shannon23. Inject or Eject: How AI is Dividing the Business LandscapeIn this episode, Mike and Corey dive into one of the most urgent divides forming in the business world: AI-native startups vs. legacy companies scrambling to retrofit their operations. They explore what it really means to build with AI at the core—not just as a tool, but as a fundamental shift in how problems are defined and solved.From legal bottlenecks to misaligned incentives, the conversation unpacks the cultural, operational, and strategic barriers that slow-moving companies face. And they don’t just talk theory—they lay out a practical framework for how businesses should be thinking about...2025-07-1723 minMomentum Mode w/ Corey Ferengul & Mike Shannon22. Guest Howard Tullman on The New Rules of Value, Trust, and WorkGuest Howard Tullman shares hard-won lessons from decades in tech—on grit, leadership, and why most startups are built on shaky ground. From AI’s limits to the collapse of workplace culture, this is a candid take on what founders, CEOs, and Gen Z need to hear right now.2025-07-0936 minMomentum Mode w/ Corey Ferengul & Mike Shannon21. Second Time Smarter: Discovery, Discipline, and the Startup Learning MachineWhat really changes when you build your second company? In this episode, Corey and Mike discuss the mindset shift that happens when you’ve done it before—from forcing a business plan onto the world to discovering what’s actually needed. They dive into why iteration beats vision, how to turn low-fidelity ideas into learning engines, and the underestimated power of staying lean. Whether you're scaling your first startup or rethinking your next move, this conversation unpacks how second-time founders think, move, and build differently.2025-06-2525 minMomentum Mode w/ Corey Ferengul & Mike Shannon20. Guest Tim Huelskamp on Culture, Retention, and the New Rules of WorkWhat happens when a private equity executive and a PhD scientist team up to fix the way we consume news? In this episode, Mike Shannon and Corey Ferengul sit down with Tim Huelskamp, co-founder and CEO of 1440, the fast-growing media startup with over 4.5 million subscribers and some of the most enviable unit economics in digital publishing. Tim breaks down the strategic bets, early missteps, and flywheel mechanics behind building a high-trust, curiosity-driven brand from scratch. From his days turning around industrial companies in Alabama to building a fully remote team with zero employee churn, Tim shares what it really...2025-06-1836 minMomentum Mode w/ Corey Ferengul & Mike Shannon19. Karl Hughes on Building Companies that Don't BreakKarl Hughes has done what many founders aim for but few actually achieve: he built a company that didn’t need him. In this episode, Karl shares how he scaled a technical content agency to seven figures, took a full month off, and began acquiring other small service businesses through micro M&A.We dive into: – How to design for founder independence – Why reps beat perfection when building teams – The overlooked opportunity in acquiring niche agencies – How to grow sustainably without outside fundingIf you're a founder thinking long-term, this episode is a blueprint...2025-06-1230 minMomentum Mode w/ Corey Ferengul & Mike Shannon18. Guest Eric Mills on How AI Is Rewriting the Rules of Company BuildingAI isn't just another tool—it’s a complete shift in how companies are being built, scaled, and operated. In this episode, Mike and Corey sit down with Eric Mills, founder of Density and Y Combinator alum, to explore what it really means to build an AI-native company. From early-stage experimentation to shipping with agents and orchestrated workflows, Eric brings a practical lens to the hype and a systems-level view on what’s actually working.They dig into how AI is collapsing cost structures, changing the rules of offshoring, and reshaping org design—from engineering teams to mid-leve...2025-06-0433 minMomentum Mode w/ Corey Ferengul & Mike Shannon17. Guest Amanda Lannert on Designing Moments That MatterThis week on Momentum Mode, we’re joined by Amanda Lannert, longtime CEO of Jellyvision, for a conversation that goes deep into the mechanics of building a strong, sustainable company culture. Amanda breaks down how Jellyvision’s values—like trust, responsiveness, and the deceptively powerful mantra “be helpful”—translate into everyday decisions, from hiring and onboarding to managing through layoffs. With clarity and candor, she shares the thinking behind the systems and rituals that have made Jellyvision consistently recognized as a great place to work.We also explore the evolution of leadership in fast-growing companies, what post-COVID culture buil...2025-05-3022 minMomentum Mode w/ Corey Ferengul & Mike Shannon16. Guest Dan Dal Degan on Strategy, Culture, and What Really Moves the NeedleWhat does it really take to lead a company through high-stakes growth, acquisitions, and transformation? Dan Dal Degan—known to many as Triple D—returns for a deep dive into what most leadership playbooks leave out.Drawing on decades of experience scaling enterprise software companies, including an early role at Salesforce, Dan shares what it means to build strategy that’s not just understood by the C-suite but felt across the company. We get into why trust is the bedrock of strategy, how culture shapes execution, and what it looks like to lead with clarity during times of pre...2025-05-1622 minMomentum Mode w/ Corey Ferengul & Mike Shannon15. Guest Kelsey Behringer Redefines Leadership After a Private Equity ExitWhat actually happens after a founder steps aside and a new CEO steps in? Kelsey Behringer, CEO of Packback, joins us to unpack the emotional and operational realities of leading a company through a major transition—from a VC-backed startup to a growth-stage business under new ownership.Kelsey opens up about what surprised her most in the CEO seat, including the often-unspoken loneliness of leadership, and how she’s built systems of support, communication, and culture from the inside out. We get into how her background in teaching shaped her approach to change management, why financial tran...2025-05-0123 minMomentum Mode w/ Corey Ferengul & Mike Shannon14. Guest Ira Weiss Dives Into the Hidden Work of High-Impact BoardsVenture capitalist and Booth professor Ira Weiss joins Momentum Mode to break down what great board members actually do, how investor dynamics shift across funding stages, and why early-stage founders should rethink how they engage with their boards. A candid conversation on strategy, signals, and the real work of scaling.2025-04-1623 minMomentum Mode w/ Corey Ferengul & Mike Shannon13. Guest Amanda Lannert on Accidental Leadership and Scaling with HeartAmanda Lannert became CEO of Jellyvision by surprise—literally. In this episode, the longtime leader of Jellyvision shares how she grew into the role, navigated scale without losing soul, and learned to balance rapid change with operational stability. It’s a candid look at leadership, authenticity, and building with intention, even on the fly.If you’ve ever questioned whether you’re ready for the next big role—or if you’re already in it and figuring it out as you go—this one’s for you.2025-03-3123 minMomentum Mode w/ Corey Ferengul & Mike Shannon12. Guest Dan Dal Degan Unpacks Building, Selling, and Leading Elite CompaniesWe’re back—with a new name! Opening the C-Suite is now Momentum Mode. Same podcast, same candid conversations—now with an even sharper focus on building and sustaining momentum in leadership and business.In this episode, Dan Dal Degan (Triple D) joins us to unpack the realities of leadership, mentorship, and company-building. A seasoned SaaS executive, investor, and board member, Dan has played a pivotal role in scaling companies like Salesforce and leading major acquisitions—including a $250M sale to DocuSign.Whether you’re leading a company, building a career, or investing in the next gener...2025-02-2824 minMomentum Mode w/ Corey Ferengul & Mike Shannon11. First-Time CEO: Navigating the Transition with Confidence2024-12-1318 minMomentum Mode w/ Corey Ferengul & Mike Shannon10. Mergers and Acquisitions: What Every CEO Should Know2024-11-2517 minMomentum Mode w/ Corey Ferengul & Mike Shannon9. Choosing between external vs. internal senior hire2024-10-1516 minMomentum Mode w/ Corey Ferengul & Mike Shannon8. How & When to Fire a Senior Executive2024-09-2417 minMomentum Mode w/ Corey Ferengul & Mike Shannon7. How Does the CEO Get Paid?2024-09-1010 minMomentum Mode w/ Corey Ferengul & Mike Shannon6. Leadership Meetings2024-08-2817 minMomentum Mode w/ Corey Ferengul & Mike Shannon5. Layoffs and RIFs from a CEO's perspective2024-08-1118 minMomentum Mode w/ Corey Ferengul & Mike Shannon4. Advisory Boards: why? when? how?2024-07-3115 minMomentum Mode w/ Corey Ferengul & Mike Shannon3. Board Management2024-07-1616 minMomentum Mode w/ Corey Ferengul & Mike Shannon2. How to Nail the First Board Meeting After a Financing2024-07-0214 minMomentum Mode w/ Corey Ferengul & Mike Shannon1. Annual Planning Process (a surprisingly less boring topic than it sounds)2024-06-1519 min