Shows
Cut The Tie | Own Your Success“Don’t Die on the Sofa Scrolling”—Why Steven Puri Helps People Unlock Their GreatnessSend us a textCut The Tie Podcast with Steven PuriWhat if the biggest tragedy in life isn’t failure, but never trying? In this episode of Cut The Tie, host Thomas Helfrich sits down with Steven Puri, founder of The Sukha Company, to talk about cutting ties with safe paths, failed ventures, and the weight of other people’s opinions.From winning an Academy Award for Independence Day’s visual effects, to launching companies that failed, to building Sukha—a flow state app that helps people focus—Steven shares his journe...
2025-08-2825 min
Cut The Tie | Own Your Success“Hermie the HR Crab Has Legs”—Why Rich Cruz is Blending Humor, Art, and BusinessSend us a textWhat happens when your creative passion won’t leave you alone, even as you juggle work, consulting, and family responsibilities? In this episode of Cut The Tie, Thomas Helfrich reconnects with Rich Cruz—organizational development consultant, podcaster, and cartoonist—who is turning his lifelong love of art into something bigger than just a side project.From a career in marketing to organizational psychology consulting, Rich has always carried the dream of being an animator. Now, with the launch of Hermie the HR Crab, he’s blending humor, workplace insights, and storytelling into a b...
2025-08-2127 min
Cut The Tie | Own Your Success“Money Isn’t Real—Joy Is” — Why Karolyn Denson Landrieux Stopped Chasing the DollarSend us a textCut The Tie Podcast with Karolyn Denson LandrieuxWhat if success wasn’t measured by money, status, or stuff—but by peace, presence, and purpose? In this episode of Cut The Tie, host Thomas Helfrich sits down with Karolyn Denson Landrieux, co-founder and CEO of Landrieux Wineries, to explore how she redefined success after moving to France and launched a fast-growing champagne import business without sacrificing joy.Karolyn shares how living in a small French village rewired her thinking about wealth and priorities. She opens up about cutt...
2025-08-0421 min
Cut The Tie | Own Your Success“I Hit Six Figures—and It Didn’t Feel Like Winning”—Marc Perea’s Wake-Up CallSend us a textCut The Tie Podcast with Marc PereaWhat do you do when the six-figure salary, the house, and the retirement plan still leave you unfulfilled? In this episode of Cut The Tie, Thomas Helfrich sits down with Marc Perea—CEO of Thaea and founder of the MikroTik management platform—to explore the journey from comfortably miserable to purposefully aligned.Marc shares how a racquetball friendship turned into an entrepreneurial deep-dive, how Tim Ferriss’s 4-Hour Workweek shook his mindset, and why scaling prematurely nearly broke his company. If you...
2025-08-0319 min
Cut The Tie | Own Your Success“Marketing Isn’t Optional—It’s the Second Half of the Job” — Don Manigly Gets Real About GrowthSend us a textCut The Tie Podcast with Don ManiglyWhat happens when you hit the ceiling with your current approach and need to think bigger? In this dynamic episode of Cut The Tie, Thomas Helfrich welcomes Don Manigly, VP and Director of Creative Development at Boathouse Pictures, an independent motion picture studio that specializes in both production and strategic distribution.Don dives into the critical importance of not just creating great content, but ensuring it gets seen—because making something amazing is only half the battle. The real challenge, and wh...
2025-08-0220 min
Cut The Tie | Own Your Success“Let the Knot Loosen”—Corrine Ishio’s Take on Cutting Ties Without Cutting People OffSend us a textCut The Tie Podcast with Corrine IshioWhat happens when being a top performer becomes a trap?In this episode of Cut The Tie, Thomas Helfrich sits down with Corrine Ishio, founder of My Working Soul, a company built on the radical idea that “talent is built, not found.” After a high-achieving career in corporate HR, Corrine made the leap into entrepreneurship—redefining what it means to lead, hire, and build trust in the AI era.Corrine shares her personal transformation from shape-shifting to meet expect...
2025-07-3119 min
Cut The Tie | Own Your Success“Most Companies Are Flying Blind” —Scott Morris on the Real Cost of Missing ClaritySend us a textCut The Tie Podcast with Scott MorrisWhat happens when your people don’t know what success looks like—or why their work matters?In this powerful episode of Cut The Tie, Thomas Helfrich sits down with Scott Morris, founder and CEO of PropulsionAI. After 25 years in the aerospace industry, including 20 in C-level roles, Scott saw firsthand how unclear roles lead to disengagement, low productivity, and unnecessary turnover.So he built Athena—a conversational AI coworker that helps leaders design roles based on real business outcom...
2025-07-3035 min
Cut The Tie | Own Your Success“You Can’t Lead with a Title—You Lead by Serving” —Scott Packard on Real LeadershipSend us a textCut The Tie Podcast with Scott PackardWhat happens when your job title, rank, or uniform becomes your whole identity? In this episode of Cut The Tie, Thomas Helfrich sits down with Scott Packard—a Marine Corps veteran turned startup executive—who shares his journey of shedding institutional expectations to build a second life in innovation, energy, and entrepreneurship.From defense contracting to quantum networking to repurposing EV batteries, Scott proves that skills are transferable, identities can evolve, and success has to be defined by you—not your resume...
2025-07-2729 min
Cut The Tie | Own Your Success“I Wanted More Than Just Paying the Bills” —Frances Schagen on Choosing FreedomSend us a textCut The Tie Podcast with Frances SchagenWhat happens when your business starts running you instead of the other way around? In this episode of Cut The Tie, Thomas Helfrich sits down with Frances Schagen—a digital nomad, serial entrepreneur, and systems strategist—who traded a two-bedroom condo in downtown Toronto for a suitcase and a beachside work-life.Frances shares the wisdom she’s gained from building and exiting businesses, ditching the unnecessary, and designing a life where her business supports her—not the other way around. If you’ve e...
2025-07-2626 min
Cut The Tie | Own Your Success“Brutal Discipline Is the Goal”—Why Antwon Davis Cut Ties With Comfort to Reclaim His EdgeSend us a textCut The Tie Podcast with Antwon DavisWhat happens when success makes you soft? In this episode of Cut The Tie, Thomas Helfrich sits down with Antwon Davis, founder of 4THPARK and Enclave Co-Living, to talk about the uncomfortable, necessary act of redefining manhood, discipline, and purpose.From building two successful businesses to stepping into a new season of personal leadership, Antwon opens up about the ties he’s cut—from generational norms to physical complacency—and how he’s actively rebuilding his life with ruthless intention. If you’re a...
2025-07-2323 min
Cut The Tie | Own Your Success“The Hardest Part Was Letting Go of the Paycheck”—John Evans on Making the LeapSend us a textCut The Tie Podcast with John EvansWhat if success wasn’t about working more—but about designing smarter systems? In this episode of Cut The Tie, Thomas Helfrich sits down with John Evans, founder and CEO of EverLine Coatings and Services, to explore how building a simple, scalable model from day one set the stage for explosive franchise growth.From nearly giving up in year one to building a coast-to-coast franchise brand, John shares the hard lessons, mindset shifts, and non-negotiables that fueled his transition from foun...
2025-07-2232 min
Cut The Tie | Own Your Success“The IRS Doesn’t Want You to Know This”—Adam Bergman on Smart Retirement PlaysSend us a textCut The Tie Podcast with Adam BergmanWhat if everything you’ve been told about retirement and investing is outdated—or worse, rigged against you? In this episode of Cut The Tie, Thomas Helfrich sits down with Adam Bergman, founder of IRA Financial, to talk about the myth of financial freedom through Wall Street and how entrepreneurs can reclaim control of their wealth through self-directed retirement plans.After a successful career as a tax attorney, Adam saw firsthand how limited traditional investment advice really was. So he cut the...
2025-07-2127 min
Cut The Tie | Own Your Success“Corporate Told Me to Shrink—Entrepreneurship Let Me Expand”—Candyce Edelen on Finding Her VoiceSend us a textCut The Tie Podcast with Candyce EdelenWhat happens when a driven founder realizes the hustle is costing more than it's giving back? In this candid episode of Cut The Tie, Thomas Helfrich sits down with Candyce Edelen, founder of PropelGrowth, to unpack her journey from relentless workaholism to a life of intention, delegation, and healthier ambition.Candyce shares the early lessons from her entrepreneurial upbringing, the realities of scaling (and breaking) a company, and how a burnout-induced pivot helped her rediscover both energy and purpose. If you’ve...
2025-07-1937 min
Cut The Tie | Own Your Success“Grind It Out”—Jason Greer’s No-BS Advice for EntrepreneursSend us a textCut The Tie Podcast with Jason GreerWhat happens when you wake up and realize you’ve been living someone else’s definition of success? In this revealing episode of Cut The Tie, Thomas Helfrich talks with Jason Greer, co-owner of Peel Business Design, about the moment he realized he was living under fear, guilt, and shame—and how he took ownership of his story.From a small Midwest town to leading a company that helps businesses align strategy, metrics, and process, Jason’s story is one of deep int...
2025-07-1822 min
Cut The Tie | Own Your Success“Success Isn’t Promotion”—What the Air Force Taught John Teichert About True LeadershipSend us a textCut The Tie Podcast with John TeichertWhat happens when your boss tells you—11 days into a major leadership role—that you’re the wrong guy for the job? In this commanding episode of Cut The Tie, Thomas Helfrich sits down with Brigadier General (Ret.) John “Dragon” Teichert to talk about what true leadership looks like when your career is on the line.After serving as a fighter pilot and leading top aerospace testing units in the U.S. Air Force, John faced one of his greatest leadership tests—not...
2025-07-1724 min
Cut The Tie | Own Your Success“What If You Took the Leap Now?”—Jim Wylie Asks the Question That Changed His LifeSend us a textCut The Tie Podcast with Jim WylieWhat if everything you believed about the freedom of entrepreneurship was wrong? In this reflective and powerful episode of Cut The Tie, host Thomas Helfrich sits down with Jim Wylie, co-owner of experiential marketing agency Envy Create, to unpack the difference between chasing freedom and choosing responsibility.A native Scot living in Atlanta, Jim shares the surprising truth behind business ownership, why growth—not escape—is the real goal, and how a support network, humility, and decades of listening have shaped his...
2025-07-1629 min
Cut The Tie | Own Your Success[Atlanta Entrepreneur] “I Season Like Your Grandma Did”—Why Nick Kemp Went All-In on Soul Food and Self-BeliefSend us a textCut The Tie Podcast with Nick KempWhat happens when the dream you buried in college won’t stay buried? In this episode of Cut The Tie, Thomas Helfrich sits down with Nick Kemp, a former educator who walked away from a 20-year career to go full-time with Grillgasms BBQ—a soul food, smoke-driven brand based in Atlanta.From smoked brisket to shrimp and grits, Nick delivers more than just flavor. He’s building a business on love, legacy, and belief in yourself—on your own terms.Abo...
2025-07-1524 min
Cut The Tie | Own Your Success“I Stepped Into the UFC Cage, Then Built a Business That Could Punch Back”—Clifford Starks on Turning Discipline into EntrepreneurshipSend us a textCut The Tie Podcast with Clifford StarksWhat if the only thing holding you back was the belief that you’re not enough?In this empowering episode of Cut The Tie, Thomas Helfrich sits down with Clifford Starks, former UFC fighter turned peak performance coach, to explore what it really means to lead from within. Clifford shares how his journey—from an overweight teen to elite athlete to entrepreneur—was never about talent or luck. It was about mindset, resilience, and choosing growth even in the face of fea...
2025-07-1324 min
Cut The Tie | Own Your Success“I Got Tired of the Sales Rollercoaster”—Chaz Horn on Building Predictable RevenueSend us a textCut The Tie Podcast with Chaz HornWhat if the real reason your business isn’t growing… is you?In this episode of Cut The Tie, Thomas Helfrich sits down with Chaz Horn, a sales leadership coach and founder of Mastery of B2B Sales, to unpack how ego, fear, and lack of clarity can quietly stall your business—even when you’re doing everything “right.” Chaz opens up about the moment he realized he was the bottleneck and the painful but necessary mindset shift that followed.This is...
2025-07-1233 min
Cut The Tie | Own Your Success“Your 9 to 5 Will Never Make You Wealthy”—Sherman Merricks on Building Real FreedomSend us a textCut The Tie Podcast with Sherman MerricksHow do you go from college dropout to multiple seven-figure businesses—with no roadmap and no excuses? In this episode of Cut The Tie, Thomas Helfrich sits down with Sherman Merricks, founder of Dynasty CrossFit and co-owner of the LASSO Framework, to talk about ownership—of your time, your choices, and your outcome.Sherman gets real about the moment he realized he was stuck—not because of the job or the system, but because he lacked a plan. He didn’t wait f...
2025-07-1128 min
Cut The Tie | Own Your Success“You’re Throwing Money into a Black Hole Without Digital Audits”—Grace Clemens on Why Strategy Must Come FirstSend us a textCut The Tie Podcast with Grace ClemensWhat if your biggest limitation wasn’t strategy or skills—but the way you see yourself? In this episode of Cut The Tie, host Thomas Helfrich sits down with Grace Clemens, founder of SGC Marketing, to explore how stepping into your identity as a CEO can completely reshape your business—and your life.After 13 years in digital marketing across global brands, nonprofits, and e-commerce, Grace hit a moment of truth: if she didn’t see herself as a leader, no one else...
2025-07-1027 min
Cut The Tie | Own Your Success“I Went from $80K to $390K in One Year”—Delaney William on the Power of Remote Job StackingSend us a textCut The Tie Podcast with Delaney WilliamWhat if you could triple your income, work fewer hours, and still keep your corporate job title? In this episode of Cut The Tie, host Thomas Helfrich talks to Delaney William, founder of Elevated Tech, about a controversial—but powerful—way to buy back your freedom: remote job stacking.Delaney didn’t want to be a startup founder at first. He just wanted to make more money and live a chill life. But after going from $80K to nearly $400K by wor...
2025-07-0925 min
Cut The Tie | Own Your Success“It Was Death by a Thousand Paper Cuts”—Dr. Jeremy Weisz on the Slow Burn of ChangeSend us a textCut The Tie Podcast with Dr. Jeremy WeiszWhat happens when your job title no longer reflects your passion—or your purpose? In this powerful episode of Cut The Tie, Thomas Helfrich sits down with Dr. Jeremy Weisz, a former chiropractor turned podcast strategist and co-founder of Rise25.After spending two decades in a profession deeply tied to his personal identity, Jeremy made the bold decision to walk away from it completely. What followed was a transformation that included launching a B2B podcasting agency, finding true lo...
2025-07-0827 min
Cut The Tie | Own Your Success“We Have Big-Ass Problems”—Why Mitch Francis Decided to Do Something About ItSend us a textCut The Tie Podcast with Mitch FrancisEpisode 289What if one entrepreneur could solve the world’s biggest problems—with a business mindset? In this thought-provoking episode of Cut the Tie, Thomas Helfrich sits down with Mitch Francis, a serial founder, commercial real estate investor, and now, the author of Badass Solutions. After a personal tragedy sparked a wake-up call, Mitch applied his decades of entrepreneurial problem-solving to societal-scale challenges—like climate change, gun violence, and the U.S. national debt.Mitch shares how he went from c...
2025-07-0722 min
Cut The Tie | Own Your Success“Delay Is Not Denial”—Why Michael Parks Refused to Rush His SuccessSend us a textCut The Tie Podcast with Michael ParksEpisode 288What does it look like to cut ties with comfort and start over—again and again? In this inspiring episode of Cut the Tie, Thomas Helfrich sits down with Michael Parks, Air Force veteran, retired federal air marshal, and founder of Daystar Photography. From national security to creative entrepreneurship, Michael's story is one of mission-driven pivots, meaningful reinvention, and serving fellow veterans with passion and purpose.Michael opens up about his transition from military to photography, how patience be...
2025-07-0628 min