Clicks and Bricks Podcast - Clicks and bricks Podcast

Episode #193: Cheri Lynne – Co-Founder of OptiWright

Tania Khazaal (Tanya the Herbalist), CEO of Your Life Tania Khazaal—better known as Tanya the Herbalist—is a coach, creator, and community builder helping people reclaim health, purpose, and agency. After witnessing her mother’s decline on pharmaceuticals, Tania dove into herbalism, rebuilt her own well-being, and transformed a tea side-hustle into a seven-figure, mission-driven brand. Today, through CEO of Your Life and her She’s Empowered community, she champions faith, emotional resilience, and practical daily habits that create lasting change. In this episode, Tania shares how she shifted from corporate life and basement tea packing to digital products, courses, and coaching—while keeping her compass set on faith, family, and service. Her framework centers on four pillars (inner world/spirituality, lifestyle & well-being, relationships, and vision/legacy) and a deceptively simple cadence: 18 minutes a day. Top Takeaways From crisis to calling: Her mother’s health battle sparked a deep dive into herbalism and holistic healing, leading to a purpose-led business. Product → platform: Moving from physical teas to ebooks, funnels, and courses unlocked scale and financial freedom. Four-pillar operating system: Inner world (faith), health, relationships, and vision—progress across all four creates durable happiness. Relationships matter: She spotlights estrangement as a “silent epidemic” and teaches emotional regulation over cut-off culture. 18 minutes a day: Small, daily commitments compound to ~100 hours/year—enough to change your health, business, and life. Ready to be the CEO of your life? Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42QHMV4EYW0 (search: “Clicks and Bricks Tanya the Herbalist”) Memorable Quote: “You can literally change your entire life in 10 years with 18 minutes a day.” Want to be a Guest on our Show? Apply Now Connect with Tania Linkedin Instagram Facebook

Episode #191: David Wald – Co-Founder & CEO of Aclaimant

David Wald – Co-Founder & CEO of Aclaimant David Wald is the Co-Founder and CEO of Aclaimant, a Chicago-based risk management platform helping businesses keep their people safe and reduce workplace risk. With a background in consulting, venture capital, and startup growth—including time with Groupon’s early venture fund—David brings a unique blend of entrepreneurial experience and operational discipline. His journey shows how risk management, when digitized, can transform business safety and efficiency at scale. Key Takeaways from the Episode From Investor to Founder: David began his career at Bain & Company before joining Lightbank, Groupon’s venture fund, where he learned firsthand how successful founders iterate and scale. The Spark for Aclaimant: What started as his girlfriend’s (now wife’s) father’s insurance idea became a thriving company with 60 employees and Series B funding. Fixing Outdated Systems: Aclaimant moves risk management out of the “paper form era” into digital workflows—helping companies prevent accidents, manage incidents, and reduce insurance costs. Family Business Done Right: Building a company with his father-in-law wasn’t without challenges, but David credits honesty, trust, and shared passion as the keys to success. The Future of Risk & Tech: Beyond insurance, David sees Web 3.0 and blockchain as technologies that will revolutionize industries—though like 3D printing, it will take time to mature. Catch the full conversation with David Wald and host Ken on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRF9c8hv9kY Memorable Quote: “If you don’t know how to lose, you can never really win. In startups, you’re getting your butt kicked all the time—what matters is how you learn from it.” – David Wald Want to be a Guest on our Show? Apply Now Connect with David Linkedin Globe

Episode #190: Anthony Amunategui – Founder of CDO Group & Host of The Future of Development Podcast

Episode #189: Darrel Stempke – Founder & CEO of RetailAware Copy

Episode #188: Tino Go – Founder of Baru

Tino Go: Transforming Local Manufacturing with Baru Keith Fix, founder and CEO of RetailAware, is transforming the way brands understand and optimize their in-store product performance. With a background that blends retail expertise, tech innovation, and entrepreneurial grit, Keith has built a venture-backed company that equips brands with real-time shopper behavior insights—helping them secure that all-important second purchase order. Key Takeaways from This Episode: Reversing globalization: Baru taps into underused CNC machines and robotics to bring manufacturing back to local communities. Augmented reality meets manufacturing: The company holds a patent on “what you see is what you get” manufacturing, allowing customers to design and visualize products directly in their space. Smart partnerships: CNC machine owners can turn their idle machines into revenue-generating assets by partnering with Baru’s platform. Investor-ready: Baru has already raised $352,000 in seed funding and projects more than $3 million in revenue within 12 months. Serving real market demand: Property flippers and builders—struggling with supply chain delays—are turning to Baru for faster, customized cabinetry and furniture solutions. Watch the full interview with Tino Go on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MG2QjAmBk-U Memorable Quote: “My proposal to them is: okay, you’ve got a CNC machine—do you want to turn that into an ATM?” – Tino Go Want to be a Guest on our Show? Apply Now Connect with Tino Instagram Youtube Globe Envelope

Episode #185: Paul Pacun

Paul Pacun, co-founder of Vablet, shares how the iPad sparked his vision for digital sales enablement and lessons every entrepreneur should know.

Episode #184: Eric Frankel – CEO & Founder of AdGreets

Episode #183: Ivan Jordovic

Ivan Jordovic: From Serbia to San Diego, Helping Businesses Save Big on Taxes with WestPac Wealth Partners Ivan Jordovic’s journey from a small town in Serbia to living his dream life in San Diego is nothing short of inspiring. After surviving cancer, overcoming visa struggles, and building his first business from scratch, Ivan now helps successful businesses reduce tax liabilities and keep more of their hard-earned money as a financial advisor with WestPac Wealth Partners. His story is one of resilience, trust, and entrepreneurial grit. Key Takeaways from Ivan’s Episode: Resilience in adversity: From battling cancer in 2014 to losing loved ones, Ivan rebuilt his life with a stronger mindset and determination. Winning the American Dream: Ivan and his wife won the U.S. Diversity Visa Lottery in 2017, leading them to start fresh in the United States with their baby daughter. Building from nothing: Landing in California with just $500 left after essentials, Ivan immediately took on two jobs and later launched a successful event planning company. Transition to finance: Through connections, Ivan joined WestPac Wealth Partners, passing four challenging exams in six months while working full-time and raising a family. Helping businesses thrive: His specialty lies in advanced retirement plans and tax-saving strategies for profitable businesses, turning financial stress into lasting freedom. Ready to be the CEO of your life? Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFxoJXbgeg8 Memorable Quote: “The only thing we can control in our lives is how we react to things.” – Ivan Jordovic Want to be a Guest on our Show? Apply Now Connect with Ivan Linkedin

Episode #179: Good Wave – Brad Harris

Brad Harris – Founder of Good Wave, Building a Family-Friendly Outdoor Brand Brad Harris is the founder and driving force behind Good Wave, a mission-driven outdoor brand dedicated to making water and outdoor sports more accessible and family-friendly. With a background in tech, marketing, and startups, Brad turned his passion for adventure into a company that caters to families who want to enjoy the outdoors without the intimidating edge often seen in extreme sports brands. His journey from solo founder to growing an international presence in the U.S., Australia, Canada, and Europe is packed with lessons for entrepreneurs. Key Takeaways: Purpose as a North Star: Brad emphasizes that his company was built around a clear mission—creating family-friendly, approachable water sports products. The Solo Founder Challenge: He shares why launching a business alone is tough and why having a co-founder can make the highs and lows more manageable. Pandemic Pivot: Good Wave overcame severe supply chain disruptions by shifting from dropshipping to a warehouse-based model. Customer-Led Product Design: The upcoming “Fruities” surfboard line was created with direct input from hundreds of parents and kids. Start Small and Scale Smart: Brad stresses testing a minimal viable product and hiring experts for specialized roles like digital marketing to accelerate growth. Catch the full story of Brad Harris and his inspiring journey building Good Wave on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLqFFsTNh2s Memorable Quote: You’re going to be the number one believer in your product or business—if you’re not, you should drop tools now because no one else will be that for you. Want to be a Guest on our Show? Apply Now Connect with Brad Linkedin Globe Instagram

Episode #178: Main Event Boxing – Mike Stegall

Mike Stegall of Main Event Boxing: Fighting for Fitness, Community & Entrepreneurial Dreams Mike Stegall is a professional boxer turned small business owner, who recently opened Main Event Boxing in High Ridge, Missouri. A proud local with over 100 amateur bouts and a pro record of 6-0-3, Mike shares how he transitioned from climbing cell towers and handyman work to launching a boutique boxing gym that’s already making a huge community impact. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Bt4hX72m2A Top 5 Takeaways from the Episode: Boxing is more than fitness—it’s mindset training. Mike uses his fight experience to teach confidence, discipline, and resilience to everyone from youth to adults. Social media built his gym. Every member of Main Event joined because they saw Mike’s journey online—he hasn’t spent a dime on ads. Handyman hustle funded the dream. Mike saved money from his first business and invested it into building the gym with his own hands. He charges what the service is worth. Even in a low-income area, Mike doesn’t discount his services—he believes commitment drives results. No Plan B. Mike is all-in on Main Event and already envisions future locations and online training offerings. If starting a business is something you’re thinking about doing—just do it. It’s going to be hard. At least twice a week you’ll feel like a failure, but just keep going. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Bt4hX72m2A Memorable Quote: If starting a business is something you’re thinking about doing—just do it. It’s going to be hard. At least twice a week you’ll feel like a failure, but just keep going. Want to be a Guest on our Show? Apply Now Connect with Mike Globe Envelope