Shows
Cut The Tie | Success on Your Terms“I Started Posting Daily and People Started Listening”—How Jeremy Thone Built a Business on ContentCut The Tie Podcast with Thomas HelfrichEpisode 283Jeremy Thone knows what it’s like to build something meaningful outside the safety net of a W2 job. In this episode of Cut the Tie, Thomas Helfrich sits down with the podcaster and content strategist to explore what it means to grow a business from scratch, stay consistent in your craft, and navigate the emotional rollercoaster of entrepreneurship.Jeremy opens up about walking away from corporate life, building a video content business from the ground up, and how creating daily content and community he...2025-07-0120 min
Cut The Tie | Success on Your Terms“Let Go of the Ego, Keep the Drive”—How Marisa Vallbona Reinvented Her CareerCut The Tie Podcast with Thomas HelfrichEpisode 282Marisa Vallbona never intended to start a PR firm—but a surprise layoff while on maternity leave changed everything. In this inspiring episode of Cut The Tie, host Thomas Helfrich speaks with the founder and president of CIM Inc PR about how getting fired became the best thing that ever happened to her. Marisa shares the lessons she’s learned across 35 years in business, from building a service-first company to firing clients who don’t align with her values.She talks candidly about overcoming ego, l...2025-06-3030 min
Cut The Tie | Success on Your Terms“You’re Not Secure in a W2”—Why AJ Nash Took the Leap into EntrepreneurshipCut The Tie Podcast with Thomas HelfrichEpisode 281AJ Nash didn’t set out to be an entrepreneur, but after two decades in U.S. intelligence and years in cybersecurity, his career took a sharp pivot. When private equity reshaped the company he worked for, AJ faced a choice: keep waiting for the “right” role, or start building something of his own. He chose the latter, and Unspoken Security was born.In this episode of Cut The Tie, host Thomas Helfrich talks with AJ about how to stop letting others define your path...2025-06-2925 min
Cut The Tie | Success on Your Terms“Prison Taught Me Everything—Now I Use It to Help Others”—Danny Darling’s Second ChanceCut The Tie Podcast with Thomas HelfrichEpisode 280After spending 31 years in the California prison system, Danny Darling walked out with more than just his freedom—he carried a new purpose. In this powerful episode of Cut The Tie, Thomas Helfrich speaks with the founder, prison consultant, and life coach about how he broke free from rage, institutional trauma, and the cycle of incarceration to build a business that helps others do the same.From being sentenced at 16 to helping ex-felons adjust to civilian life, Danny’s stor...2025-06-2843 min
Cut The Tie | Success on Your Terms“I Didn’t Want a Promotion—I Wanted My Life Back” — How Christine Sugrue Reclaimed Her Time and Redefined SuccessCut The Tie Podcast with Thomas HelfrichEpisode 279Christine Sugrue spent 25 years in education as a Brooklyn middle school teacher—but a simple scooter ride changed everything. In this episode of Cut The Tie, host Thomas Helfrich sits down with Christine to talk about the leap from classroom to founder, the mindset shift from “just a teacher” to entrepreneur, and why you don’t need to wait for permission to start.Christine shares how her small business idea, sparked by a friend’s family trip, evolved into Scoot, a micro scoo...2025-06-2732 min
Cut The Tie | Success on Your Terms“I Walked Away from a Job I Loved Because It Was Killing Me”—Melissa Brandt’s Path to ComedyCut The Tie Podcast with Thomas HelfrichEpisode 278When burnout hit, Melissa Brandt didn’t just change jobs—she changed her entire life. In this laugh-out-loud yet deeply honest episode of Cut The Tie, Thomas Helfrich sits down with Melissa, a former corporate sales rep turned clean stand-up comedian, to talk about walking away from "what you're supposed to do" in favor of finding what truly lights you up.Melissa opens up about how leaving the corporate hamster wheel—and taking a so-called “micro retirement”—led her to rediscover creativity, embrace imperfection, and build a...2025-06-2618 min
Cut The Tie | Success on Your Terms“When You Lose the Job, You Find the Calling” — Allison Norris on Turning Setback into StartupCut The Tie Podcast with Thomas HelfrichEpisode 277When Allison Norris had her paycheck pulled without warning and was tossed aside by a startup she helped build, she hit a wall—hard. Depression, doubt, and disillusionment followed. But in the rubble of burnout and betrayal, she made a decision: I’m going to build something of my own. In this episode of Cut The Tie, Thomas Helfrich sits down with the founder of The Dentele Group to talk about what it means to bet on yourself when nobody else will.Allison’s story...2025-06-2517 min
Cut The Tie | Success on Your Terms“If You’re Building Just to Exit, You’re Already Dead”—Aleksandar Svetski Gets RealCut The Tie PodcastEpisode 276What if the system isn’t broken—it’s working exactly as intended? In this thought-provoking episode of Cut The Tie, Thomas Helfrich sits down with Aleksandar Svetski, entrepreneur, philosopher, and vocal advocate for sovereign thinking. Aleks challenges the mainstream narrative around money, identity, and power—and urges us to cut ties with mass psychosis and reclaim our agency.From founding Amber, a Bitcoin investing app, to co-authoring The UnCommunist Manifesto, Aleks has made it his mission to help people think independently and build outside...2025-06-2422 min
Cut The Tie | Success on Your Terms“My Daughter Believed in Me—That Was Enough”—How T Shane Johnson Found His Purpose AgainCut The Tie Podcast with Thomas HelfrichEpisode 275What if your six-year-old launched a business, and you backed her all the way to Walmart? In this unforgettable episode of Cut the Tie, Thomas Helfrich sits down with T Shane Johnson, a world-record athlete, Marine Corps veteran, motivational speaker, and co-founder of Big Guns Coffee, to explore how cutting ties with imposter syndrome opened up a legacy of purpose, resilience, and fatherhood.After surviving an attempted murder, flatlining three times, and spending a year learning to walk again, T Shane didn’t just ge...2025-06-2321 min
Cut The Tie | Success on Your Terms“I Thought About Ending It”—Joe’s Battle With PTSD and What Saved HimCut The Tie PodcastEpisode 274What happens when a former police officer turns mental health advocate and entrepreneur? In this episode of Cut The Tie, host Thomas Helfrich speaks with Joe Smarro—CEO and Owner of Solution Point+—about the urgent need for emotional intelligence, leadership reform, and how the power of presence can change everything.Joe shares his transformation from a decorated crisis negotiator to an advocate for change within public safety and corporate culture. Together, they explore how real transformation begins with inner work, vulnerability, and cutting ties...2025-06-2231 min
Cut The Tie | Success on Your Terms“When Life Hands You Chaos, Build a Framework”—How Gregory Shepard Took ControlCut The Tie PodcastEpisode 273What happens after you’ve won the game—money, exits, prestige—and still feel like something’s missing? In this episode of Cut The Tie, Thomas Helfrich sits down with Gregory Shepard, a 12-time founder and serial entrepreneur, to talk about redefining success, embracing neurodiversity, and cutting ties with the systems that keep us playing small.Gregory shares how growing up neurodivergent, surviving trauma, and building multiple businesses led him to question the traditional narrative of success. This conversation dives deep into the power of accep...2025-06-2137 min
Cut The Tie | Success on Your Terms“I’m Done Being Shy”—Why Averi Drummer is Owning Her Voice and Vision for the FutureCut The Tie PodcastEpisode 272What if your personal story—full of family, faith, neurodivergence, and creativity—was your greatest business advantage? In this episode of Cut the Tie, Thomas Helfrich sits down with Averi Drummer (aka Siena Averi Feruzi), a womanist author, coach, and special education advocate who is building a life and business on her own terms.From Spelman College to poetry, coaching, and special ed classrooms, Averi shares how cutting ties with perfectionism and self-doubt opened the door to confidence, creative ambition, and the launch of her new Bag Lady...2025-06-2021 min
Cut The Tie | Success on Your Terms“You Can’t Do This Alone”—The One Lesson Brigitte Cutshall Wants Entrepreneurs to HearCut The Tie PodcastEpisode 271What happens when you cut ties with perfection, corporate conformity, and even fear itself? In this episode of Cut the Tie, Thomas Helfrich sits down with Brigitte Cutshall, founder of Gemini Media, two-time cancer survivor, creative entrepreneur, and all-around badass.From a career in publishing to beating aggressive cancer twice, Brigitte’s story is a powerful testament to resilience, humor, and building a business that prioritizes joy and purpose over prestige. She shares what it means to embrace imperfection, live life on your own terms, and run a...2025-06-1927 min
Cut The Tie | Success on Your Terms“You Can’t Operate in Fifth Gear Forever”—How Ling Ling Nie Learned to Slow Down Before It Broke HerCut The Tie PodcastEpisode 270What happens when a high-powered attorney walks away from a 20-year career to launch a beauty brand built around healing? In this vulnerable and inspiring episode of Cut the Tie, host Thomas Helfrich sits down with Ling Ling Nie, founder of Tender Cosmetics, a company reshaping how we think about beauty, with products that feel as good as they look.Ling Ling opens up about health scares, identity struggles, and her journey from burnout to bold reinvention. She shares how stepping away from law helped her reconnect...2025-06-1841 min
Cut The Tie | Success on Your Terms“Stop Waiting to Be Ready”—Melissa Aarskaug’s Message for the Next Generation of LeadersCut The Tie Podcast with Thomas HelfrichEpisode 269 Melissa Aarskaug built a successful career in cybersecurity and leadership, but for years she played it safe—showing only the “W-2 version” of herself. In this episode of Cut The Tie, host Thomas Helfrich sits down with the Executive Connect podcast founder to talk about letting go of fear, showing up authentically, and learning to lead from a place of intention, not just ambition.Melissa shares the moment she decided to stop playing small, the real-life impact of being vulnerable online, and why showing up full...2025-06-1716 min
Cut The Tie | Success on Your Terms“Every ‘No’ Just Meant Not Yet”—Jayla Siciliano on Building ResilienceCut The Tie Podcast with Thomas HelfrichEpisode 268 Jayla Siciliano walked away from the entrepreneurial dream everyone chases—funding, Shark Tank success, high-growth business—only to realize she had built a life that didn’t align with what actually mattered to her. In this raw and relatable episode of Cut The Tie, host Thomas Helfrich sits down with Jayla to explore the emotional cost of chasing the wrong version of success, and how she pivoted to build a life—and business—on her own terms.Now the founder of Atlas Group and h...2025-06-1628 min
Cut The Tie | Success on Your Terms“Success Starts When You Stop Playing Safe”—Scott Morris on Ditching the Corporate ScriptCut The Tie Podcast with Thomas HelfrichEpisode 267Scott Morris knows what it’s like to win on paper—and still feel completely lost. In this powerful episode of Cut the Tie, Thomas Helfrich sits down with the exited founder, investor, and startup advisor to talk about cutting ties with identity, ego, and the illusion that achievement equals fulfillment.Scott opens up about what happened after he sold his company and had the money, title, and resume most entrepreneurs dream of—only to discover he was still stuck in old patterns, unresolved trauma...2025-06-1533 min
Cut The Tie | Success on Your Terms"You’re Not Stuck—You’re Just Scared"—Corinna Zennig on Starting Before You’re ReadyCut The Tie Podcast with Thomas HelfrichEpisode 266Corrina Zennig is not your typical analyst—and she doesn’t want to be. In this episode of Cut the Tie, Thomas Helfrich sits down with the founder of The Lazy Analyst to talk about cutting ties with the pressure to overperform, overwork, and constantly prove your worth.Corrina shares how she went from a burned-out scientist to a thriving entrepreneur by rejecting industry norms and trusting her own voice. They talk data (yes), but also autonomy, self-leadership, and how to build a business arou...2025-06-1424 min
Cut The Tie | Success on Your Terms“I Don’t Want More. I Want Meaning.”—How David Steele Redefined Wealth Beyond NumbersCut The Tie Podcast with Thomas HelfrichEpisode 262In this introspective and powerful episode of Cut the Tie, Thomas sits down with David Steele—entrepreneur, investor, restaurateur, and founder of One Wealth Advisors—to unpack a career built on service, reinvention, and emotional intelligence. From growing up poor to managing over $1.1 billion in client assets, David shares the lessons behind every scar, including why he walked away from Bear Stearns and how failure in one restaurant birthed a booming hospitality empire.David also opens up about choosing not to have children and how...2025-06-1326 min
Cut The Tie | Success on Your Terms“Strategy Alone Won’t Save You”—Alexander Veach on Building Real Systems with VCICut The Tie Podcast with Thomas HelfrichEpisode 264Alexander Veach, founder of VCI, joins Thomas to talk about what it takes to break free from perfectionism and analysis paralysis to build something transformative. In this episode, Alex shares how his AI-powered platform is redefining due diligence for private equity and venture capital—especially in life sciences—by converting messy, unstructured data into fast, investor-ready insights. But behind the tech is a mindset shift: letting go of over-preparation and leaning into speed, clarity, and conviction.About Alexander Veach2025-06-1216 min
Cut The Tie | Success on Your Terms“If Pluto Can Find His Place, So Can I”—How a Kid’s Book Changed Everything for IsharaCut The Tie Podcast with Thomas HelfrichEpisode 263At just nine years old, Ishara is already making waves as a podcast host, reader, speaker, and future astronaut-neurosurgeon-author. In this heartwarming and inspiring episode, Thomas sits down with the youngest guest ever on Cut The Tie to explore how books—and big imagination—can unlock confidence, creativity, and purpose. With a wisdom well beyond her years, Ishara reminds us that no dream is too big and no age is too small to start chasing it.Abou...2025-06-1116 min
Cut The Tie | Success on Your Terms“Nobody Was Coming to Save Me”—Mike ‘C-Roc’ Ciorrocco on Taking Total OwnershipCut The Tie PodcastMike "C-Rock" Ciorrocco shares how he broke free from a high-paying but unfulfilling career in the mortgage industry and created a media empire by embracing intention, faith, and the power of podcasting. In this energizing episode, Mike dives into how cutting the tie to chase mode led to a life of creation, clarity, and impact. From his viral energy to his commitment to helping others shine, C-Rock delivers real talk for entrepreneurs ready to stop playing small.About Mike “C-Rock” CiorroccoMike Ciorrocco is the foun...2025-06-1022 min
Cut The Tie | Success on Your Terms“Comfort Was the Tie I Had to Cut”—Chris Wolstenholme on Betting It All on Mate!Cut The Tie Podcast with Thomas HelfrichEpisode 261In this high-energy episode of Cut the Tie, Thomas sits down with Chris Wolstenholme, an Aussie entrepreneur based in Atlanta who went from managing restaurants to founding the world’s first vodka protein water brand: Mate!. Chris shares the real story behind launching a beverage startup without outside funding, the gross moment that finally pushed him to quit his job, and how cutting the tie to comfort opened the door to purpose, grit, and global ambition.About Chris Wolstenholme:...2025-06-0922 min
Cut The Tie | Success on Your Terms“Stop Overplanning—Just Start”—Juno Lux’s Advice to Aspiring EntrepreneursCut The Tie Podcast with Thomas HelfrichJuno Lux, founder of The Haus of H, joins Thomas for a vibrant, honest conversation about spirituality, entrepreneurship, and the power of self-ownership. From working in social work and hospitality to founding a nonprofit for queer spiritual healing, Juno shares the experiences that led them to cut the tie with outdated systems and build something empowering from the ground up.About Juno Lux:Juno Lux is the founder of The Haus of H—a nonprofit that creates holistic, judgment-free spiritual spaces for que...2025-04-2927 min
Cut The Tie | Success on Your Terms“You Can’t Please Everyone Forever”—How Riggs Eckelberry Took Full Ownership of His BusinessCut The Tie Podcast with Thomas HelfrichRiggs Eckelberry, CEO of OriginClear, joins Thomas to unpack the broken water system, decentralization, and what it means to cut the tie to pleasing others. From rejecting broken industry norms to walking away from Wall Street pressure, Riggs shares a refreshingly honest look at entrepreneurship, leadership, and finding your own path—even if it takes decades.About Riggs Eckelberry:Riggs is the founder and CEO of OriginClear, a public company leading the decentralized water movement. A former corporate exec and nonprofit leader, Ri...2025-04-2833 min
Cut The Tie | Success on Your Terms"Entrepreneurship? It's Like Squid Game" a humorous solo episode by your host, Thomas HelfrichCut The Tie Podcast with Thomas HelfrichIn this special solo episode, Thomas Helfrich lays out the wild reality of leaving corporate life and jumping headfirst into entrepreneurship—through the lens of a chaotic, hilarious, and brutally honest "Squid Game" analogy. If you’ve ever thought about quitting your job or building your own thing, this episode pulls no punches on what the journey really looks like.In this episode, Thomas shares:Round One: The "I Quit" MomentWhen the realization hits that corporate life feels more like...2025-04-2603 min
Cut The Tie | Success on Your Terms“I Automated Myself Out of a Job”—KJ Fenton on Taking the Risk That Paid OffCut The Tie Podcast with Thomas HelfrichSales engineer and podcast host KJ Fenton joins Thomas for a fun, honest conversation about balancing a thriving W-2 career with building a passion project, and how cutting ties with "safe" thinking can open bigger doors than you ever expected. From coding macros at EY to launching KJ's Corner, KJ shares how small risks turn into massive growth.About KJ Fenton:KJ Fenton is a principal solutions engineer at Salesforce specializing in Intelligent Automation. He's also the host of KJ's Corner, a...2025-04-2417 min
Cut The Tie | Success on Your Terms“Stop Hiring Jerks”: Mark Murphy’s Mission to Fix Broken WorkplacesCut The Tie Podcast with Thomas HelfrichLeadership expert and researcher Mark Murphy joins Thomas for a sharp, data-driven conversation about leadership development, why most hiring practices fail, and how to cut ties with assumptions that hold organizations—and individuals—back. Mark shares his journey from following conventional wisdom to questioning it, uncovering insights that help leaders grow faster and smarter.About Mark Murphy:Mark is the founder of Leadership IQ, a research and training company focused on leadership science. He’s the bestselling author of Hiring for Attitude, Managi...2025-04-2318 min