Episode #280: Bryant Cruse
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 #238: Brian Zwerner
Brian Zwerner — Beyond The Game Network: Turning Pro Athletes into Startup Powerhouses Brian Zwerner is an investor and advisor in sports, media, web3, and fitness — and the founder of Beyond The Game Network in Atlanta. After two decades in capital markets and a successful fintech exit, Brian pivoted to startups, media, and athlete-led venture building. His story is a playbook for pairing hard-won finance chops with the grit and mindset of professional athletes. From Wharton to investment banking to founding Sportal, Brian’s journey shows how to spot real problems, pivot fast, and build communities that create outsized opportunity. Today, he and his partners back companies where athletes can move the needle through credibility, access, and content — not just capital. Key Takeaways: Fintech to founder: Built Aquina Health, a tech-enabled lender serving doctors and healthcare providers waiting 30–90 days on reimbursements; scaled and sold to a strategic. Pivot with purpose: Launched Sportal Space (the “OpenTable for gyms/fields”), hit school-district roadblocks, then pivoted to a high school sports media and live-streaming business. Loved by the community, tough to monetize — and ultimately shut down. Birth of Beyond The Game: Partnered with former NFL DT Andre Fluellen to help athletes find second careers and equity opportunities in startups without writing big checks. Influence over income: Their model lets athletes earn sweat equity as brand ambassadors, creators, and door-openers to leagues, teams, and media groups — while business/tech investors fund the rounds. Wild bets that fit: Fan Controlled Football — seven-on-seven arena football where fans pick plays live — exemplifies their “entertainment + athlete edge” thesis, alongside bets in gaming, fantasy, wearables, and web3. Catch the full story on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLRbyYw08gw Memorable Quote: “Athletes make the best entrepreneurs.” Want to be a Guest on our Show? Apply Now Connect with Brian Linkedin Globe
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