entrepreneurship - Clicks and bricks Podcast

Episode #201: Thierry Denis – Built a Thriving Video Production Company

From Paris to San Diego: How Thierry Denis Built a Thriving Video Production Company Thierry Denis is the founder of Helium Films and co-founder of Ockam, bringing his unique French perspective to the competitive San Diego video production scene. After moving from Paris to the US following a documentary project, Denis has built a successful commercial video business that serves medium-sized companies and works with major agencies on high-profile brand campaigns. Key Takeaways from This Episode: Start Smart, Not Big: Denis got his first client within just one month of launching by partnering with a photography studio and leveraging his French connections to appear larger than he was Distribution Trumps Production: The most expensive video won’t succeed without proper ad spend—invest more in pushing your content than creating it Platform-Specific Content is Essential: You can’t just repurpose one video across all platforms; TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube each require tailored approaches for maximum impact Target Your Audience Precisely: Every video should speak directly to a specific demographic on a specific platform—generic content gets ignored Test Before You Scale: Start with low-cost influencer-style videos to validate your concept before investing $40K+ in high-production commercials Watch the full episode now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opbtizHQRWo Memorable Quote: “If you’re gonna put money into something, you should put it into the distribution first. Do the video for like 100 bucks and then go spend 50 grand pushing that video—you’re gonna see more results than doing a fifty thousand dollar video and then 100 bucks in ad spend.” Want to be a Guest on our Show? Apply Now Connect with Thierry Linkedin Globe Envelope

Episode #197: John Standish – Co-Founder & Chief Innovation Officer at Charlee.ai

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 #194: Erica Lenard – Founder of Erica Lenard Consulting

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 #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 #182: Keith Fix – Founder & CEO of RetailAware

Episode #177: Time Doctor – Liam Martin

Liam Martin of Time Doctor: Optimizing Remote Work Through Data and Grit Liam Martin, co-founder of Time Doctor, joined Clicks & Bricks Podcast to share his raw, real, and inspiring entrepreneurial journey—from college dropout to building one of the world’s most powerful remote work platforms. Based in Montreal, Liam is a data-driven leader on a mission to transform how we work in the digital age—and he’s not afraid to question everything along the way. Here are five key takeaways from the episode: Entrepreneurship isn’t a choice—it’s a calling. Liam describes it as something you do because nothing else fits. After being fired from almost every job, he found his place creating his own systems instead of living in someone else’s. Time Doctor was born from solving his own problem. While running a virtual tutoring business, Liam couldn’t track how long tutors were actually working—so he built a tool to fix that. Today, that tool is used by teams in 43+ countries. Remote work has permanently changed the game. Before the pandemic, 4.5% of the U.S. workforce was remote. Now it’s over 30%—and Liam says the best talent expects that flexibility. AI isn’t coming—it’s here. Time Doctor uses machine learning to analyze thousands of work patterns and offer actionable productivity insights. The company boasts the world’s largest second-by-second work database. High performers deserve freedom. Liam urges leaders to give their top 10% the space to thrive—even if that means 10 smoke breaks a day. “Measure output, not process.” Ready to dive into the future of remote work, entrepreneurship, and AI? Watch the full episode now at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzeIeE4p32w Memorable Quote: If you’re not passionate about solving the problem, you’ll probably quit before the breakthrough. Want to be a Guest on our Show? Apply Now Connect with Liam Facebook Linkedin Globe

Episode #173: Weatherskin – Brandon Carbol

Brandon Carbol of Weatherskin: Innovating the Building Envelope with Smart Coatings Brandon Carbol, founder of Weatherskin Coatings, joins the Clicks & Bricks Podcast to share how a construction injury became the catalyst for launching one of Canada’s most exciting eco-conscious product lines. From being a hands-on home builder to innovating building protection systems, Brandon proves that adversity can fuel ingenuity—and that sustainable construction can scale. 5 Key Takeaways from Brandon’s Episode: Turn Setbacks Into Strategy: After a back injury forced him off job sites, Brandon doubled down on his creativity and launched Weatherskin to solve real-world construction challenges. Solutions Over Products: Weatherskin isn’t just selling coatings—it’s delivering smart, energy-efficient building solutions that protect structures and the environment. Start Local, Think Global: Brandon’s search for the right chemist led him around the world—only to discover the perfect partner was in his own city. Build the Team That Builds the Dream: Brandon credits a strong company culture and inclusive mindset for helping Weatherskin survive growing pains and scale quickly. Manufacture Smarter: He encourages founders to outsource manufacturing unless your in-house process adds unique value—like Shelby Mustangs or hand-stitched leather goods. Watch the full interview now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQq20I0a–E Memorable Quote: “I always say: hire smarter than myself. That’s how we move the business forward.” Want to be a Guest on our Show? Apply Now Connect with Brandon Linkedin Globe

Episode #164: Crystal Lily Creative – Crystal

Guest Profile: Crystal Whittaker of Crystal Lily Creative — Championing Authentic Inclusion Through Branding Crystal Whittaker is the founder of Crystal Lily Creative, an inclusive branding consultancy built from the ground up with heart, purpose, and a powerful mission. After leaving the rigidity of corporate America, Crystal followed her passion for storytelling and social equity—first through photography, and eventually through guiding values-driven brands to show up authentically and inclusively. Her work empowers coaches, creatives, and conscious companies to lead with intention and create spaces that truly welcome everyone. 5 Key Takeaways from Crystal’s Episode: From Burnout to Breakthrough: Crystal left her corporate career feeling disconnected and soul-sucked—pivoting to a photography business that eventually morphed into a purpose-led branding consultancy. Inclusion is More Than a Buzzword: She educates businesses on real, values-based inclusion—not just performative marketing—helping leaders infuse DEI into their brand DNA. Equity ≠ Equality: Crystal gives a powerful explanation of the difference between equity and equality in business, emphasizing fairness over sameness. Mental Health Matters: Crystal opens up about her battle with situational depression and how having a support system, therapy, and mindfulness practices helped her heal and thrive. Simple Steps to Inclusive Language: From using team-based language to sharing your pronouns, Crystal shares actionable ways leaders can foster belonging through everyday communication. Don’t miss this deeply human and eye-opening conversation with Crystal Whittaker on Episode 164 of Clicks & Bricks Podcast. Watch the full episode now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqYeIAettZQ Memorable Quote: “You are not required to be productive in order to have value. Take care of yourself first and foremost.” Want to be a Guest on our Show? Apply Now Connect with Crystal Facebook Linkedin Globe Instagram