Shows
Built to LastWhy People-First Isn’t Enough: Rethinking Culture with Pierre Battah Challenging common leadership mantras with wisdom, wit, and real-world stories.In this episode of Built to Last, Levi and Colby are joined by leadership expert, award-winning author, and jazz bassist Pierre Battah. What begins as a nostalgic reconnection turns into a candid, insightful exploration of leadership, organizational culture, and the future of work. Pierre shares personal stories from his transition from HR executive to independent consultant and speaker, lessons learned through tough client calls, and his approach to reshaping culture from fear-based to learning-oriented environments.The conversation dives into the nuances of facilitation, p...2025-07-111h 45
Built to LastBuilding Impact Across Borders: A Founder’s Journey Through Startups, Setbacks, and Social Change with Justinus AdriaanseIn this wide-ranging and deeply personal conversation, we sit down with Justinus Adriaanse—a South African-born entrepreneur whose life journey spans tech startups, social impact, and the pursuit of a more just world. From launching and scaling one of South Africa’s leading real estate platforms to founding a tuition-free coding academy for underserved youth, Justinus shares a remarkable story of transformation shaped by adversity, leadership, and an evolving worldview.We explore the cultural forces that shaped his early assumptions, the inflection points that shifted his path, and the lessons learned from business success, personal hardship, and movi...2025-06-211h 51
Built to LastVisibility with Intention: Build a Brand That’s Bigger Than Your Business with Marina ByezhanovaIn this episode of Built to Last, Levi and Colby sit down with Marina Byezhanova, a globally recognized personal branding expert, entrepreneur, and speaker, for a deeply candid and energizing conversation about identity, growth, and what it means to show up as a leader.From navigating business failures in public, to building thought leadership that transcends a company name, Marina shares hard-earned insights that resonate with anyone who's wrestled with visibility, reinvention, or the pressure to be “the face” of a business. The conversation touches on the power of personal brand strategy, how to lead without burning out...2025-05-301h 51
Built to LastEpisode 9: The Buyer’s Lens: Seeing Your Business for What It Is with David BarnettIn this episode, Levi and Colby are joined by David Barnett — business broker turned consultant, author, and content creator — for a masterclass in buying, selling, and valuing small businesses. David shares his journey from Yellow Pages rep to business owner, debt broker, and ultimately trusted advisor helping entrepreneurs navigate the complex world of business transactions. The conversation dives deep into lessons learned from brokerage, the realities of small business exits, how real-world transactions often differ from theory, and why systems, not just passion, build enduring organizations.The episode also explores how content marketing, authorship, and thought leadership have...2025-05-161h 55
Built to LastEpisode 8: From Beer to Bugs: Building Businesses That Actually Matter with Stephen Dixon In this episode of the Build to Last podcast, Levi and Colby sit down with entrepreneur and self-described “solutionist” Stephen Dixon, founder of GrimRoss Brewing. The conversation ranges widely—from the messy, nonlinear path of growing a business to the philosophical underpinnings of meaningful work. Stephen shares how brewing beer led him to create a side venture tackling industrial waste with black soldier fly larvae, all in the pursuit of sustainable, circular solutions.But this isn’t just a story about business success. Stephen opens up about burnout, rediscovering health after years of neglect, and why legacy now means...2025-04-261h 44
Built to LastEpisode 7: The Business of Being Human: Boundaries, Burnout & Belonging with Rankyn CampbellIn this deeply human and insightful episode of Built to Last, Levi and Colby sit down with therapist and business owner Rankyn Campbell for a conversation that blurs the lines between entrepreneurship, mental health, and personal growth. Rankyn opens up about his journey from competitive hockey to running a thriving mental health clinic, and shares the real, often messy work of self-awareness, boundary-setting, and leadership.Together, they explore the inner challenges faced by entrepreneurs—compassion fatigue, resentment, identity, burnout, and the myth of work-life balance. Rankyn offers a refreshingly grounded perspective on how values, self-care, and even fr...2025-04-161h 38
Built to LastEpisode 6: One-Man Show to Portfolio CEO - Lessons not found in school with Jean-Francois RousseauIn this candid and thought-provoking episode of Build to Last, we sit down with serial entrepreneur Jean-François Rousseau (JF) for a wide-ranging conversation about building enduring businesses, navigating acquisitions, and the lessons only failure can teach.JF shares his remarkable journey—from being “forced” into entrepreneurship at 16 to building a portfolio of companies with over 100 employees. With a sharp eye for opportunity and a people-first approach to leadership, JF reveals the real challenges of scaling, exiting operations, and balancing multiple ventures. The conversation flows through hard-earned wisdom about letting go, building trust, and staying relentlessly focused on lear...2025-03-291h 41
Built to LastEpisode 4: Real Decisions in Business and Life with Constantino Papadopulos from EnterprixLevi, Colby, and Constantino explore the ups and downs of entrepreneurship, business culture in different countries, and making tough decisions—whether it’s changing markets, exiting a partnership, or stepping away from leadershiphttps://www.linkedin.com/in/constantino-papadopulos-a85620b/https://enterprix.us/Quotes Worth Sharing"Most businesses should buy, not build. But for the 20% that need to build—get it right from the start.""A business partnership is like a marriage—you need to talk about the hard stuff before it’s too late.""The more I say no to, the...2025-03-151h 46
Built to LastEpisode 5: Failure, Identity, Reinvention and Peer Groups with Tracy Bell from WMILevi, Colby, and Tracy Bell have an unfiltered conversation about entrepreneurship, failure, and personal identity. Tracy, former CEO and co-founder of Millennia Tea, shares her journey of building a business from passion, facing public closure, and navigating what comes next. They dive into business resilience, identity beyond work, and the power of peer networks in shaping both professional and personal growth.Links and Resources:Tracy Bell: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracybell10/Wallace McCain Institute: https://wallacemccaininstitute.com/Entrepreneurs Organization: https://eoatlantic.com/The Secret (book): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The...2025-03-151h 57
Built to LastEpisode 3: Future of work with Anthony Rice from People PartnersWhat if rethinking your workforce could unlock massive growth and efficiency? Anthony Rice joins us to share real stories of companies transforming through offshoring, automation, and smarter systems. From breaking bottlenecks to freeing up leadership time, we explore what the future of work really looks like.People Partners Website: https://peoplepartnersbpo.com/Anthony Rice on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-rice-98769a201/Episode Chapters:8:40 min: What Is Workforce Engineering?- The difference between offshoring and workforce re-engineering- Why hiring a “VA” is often a flawed approach- The...2025-02-201h 27
Built to LastEpisode 2: From Corporate to Consulting, Jen Warrington on Revolutionizing RecruitmentEpisode Overview: In this kickoff episode of Built to Last, we chat with Jen Warrington, founder of The Warrington Group, about how recruitment, workplace culture, and employer branding have shifted post-pandemic. Jen shares her entrepreneurial journey, her insights on creating workplaces that attract and retain top talent, and her predictions for the future of hiring.Key Topics and TimestampsJen’s Journey into Entrepreneurship (00:03:24)Launching The Warrington Group during the pandemic and lessons learned in building a business.Shifts in Recruitment Post-COVID (00:07:34)Employers adapting to being "employers of...2025-01-151h 51
Built to LastPilot Episode aka the Origin StoryIn this inaugural episode of the podcast, the hosts introduce themselves and share their personal backgrounds, highlighting their experiences in business and the challenges they have faced. They discuss the importance of peer groups, collaboration, and the complexity of navigating the entrepreneurial journey. The podcast aims to create a safe space for meaningful conversations about business, personal growth, and actionable insights that can help entrepreneurs thrive in an ever-changing landscape.Sound Bites"Every new level has new devils.""We want to help you do the homework.""Ideas are trash without execution"Chapters2024-12-3155 min