Realistic CEO Podcast

My high school teacher said it’s unrealistic for me to be a CEO. Now I interview CEOs on my podcast to learn how to be a CEO. My goal for my journey, podcast, public speaking and book is to inspire people to pursue their dreams confidently, no matter what anyone tells them. Learn to be a CEO or become a better CEO with Realistic CEO.

Realistic CEO Podcast is a business podcast hosted by Realistic CEO, with 98 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Realistic CEO hosts Realistic CEO Podcast, a business show with 98 episodes published.

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  Realistic CEO Podcast

  EP. 96 | Ali Connor | The Truth About Quitting Your Job & Going All In

  Aug 19, 202643 min

  In this episode of the Realistic CEO Podcast, the host interviews Ali Connor, owner of Camp K9 Doggy Daycamp & Sleepovers, which provides daycare for about 80 dogs a day and overnight care, plus events like dog birthday parties and holiday visits. Ali shares how she shifted from dreams of radio and broadcasting into entrepreneurship, leaving a corporate job to build Camp K9 after struggling to find consistent care for her own dog. She explains the importance of learning the industry through classes, prioritizing safety training like dog first aid/CPR, and staying current through ongoing courses. Ali discusses early challenges such as being “on” 24/7, balancing life through trusted staff, finding support via online owner groups, and using ChatGPT mainly to refine emails and social posts. She offers advice on finances, planning, networking, pivoting, and interpreting the book’s five types of work and “LBW” (long, lonely, boring work). 00:00 CEO Dream Origin 00:27 Meet Ali Connor 01:06 From DJ to Dog Daycare 02:29 Building Camp K9 03:47 Safety Training Essentials 05:24 Money Advice for Entrepreneurs 06:49 Always On as Owner 09:44 Support Groups That Help 12:40 Using AI at Work 14:15 Quitting Corporate to Go All In 17:03 Hiring the Right Team 19:42 Reading the CEO Book 23:09 Handling Doubters 23:42 Dreams Over Doubt 24:52 Doggy Daycare Naysayers 27:11 Advice Without Support 28:51 Lemonade Stand Basics 29:51 Pivoting Through Change 30:40 Learning To Say No 33:15 Five Types Of Work 36:26 Long Lonely Boring Work 37:54 Helping Kids Believe 40:18 Fun Fact And Farewell 42:48 Support And Next Episode

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  Realistic CEO Podcast

  Ep. 95 | Why Great Cities Invest in Creativity | Karen Finn

  Aug 2, 202648 min

  In this episode of the Realistic CEO Podcast, the host interviews Karen Finn of the Springfield Cultural Partnership, which connects artists, cultural organizations, nonprofits, advocacy groups, and the city to create opportunities, visibility, and community wellness while treating artists as essential workers. Karen shares her path from Texas to a presidential fellowship in Washington, DC working with the Department of Defense and the Marine Corps, where she learned about integrity, accountability, and organizational camaraderie, then later moving to Western Mass and taking a leap into arts and culture work using her fundraising and policy background. She discusses similarities between her roles, the importance of asking communities what they need, grant writing and value propositions, balancing mission alignment, and adapting programs while honoring community-driven projects like Trust Transfer. The host reads his book “I Am a CEO,” prompting Karen’s reflections on working hard, smart, right, networking, teamwork, and the long, lonely, boring work, and she shares a new pop-up civic space grant and her love of scuba diving. 00:00 CEO Dream Origin 00:22 Meet Karen Finn 00:45 What Cultural Partnership Does 01:38 Karen Journey To Springfield 03:19 DOD Fellowship Lessons 05:42 Grit And Taking Leaps 12:37 Artists Community Impact 14:42 Fundraising Real Talk 17:54 Grant Fit And Storytelling 21:03 Building Programs Process 23:05 Storytime I Am CEO 27:14 Working Hard Defined 27:58 Working Smart Strategies 28:54 Doing Work the Right Way 30:41 Networking With Integrity 31:52 Teamwork and Diverse Teams 33:19 Tackling the LBW Grind 36:48 Pop-Up Civic Space Grant 38:50 How They Won the Grant 43:11 Fun Fact Scuba Diving 45:08 Closing Advice and Thanks

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  Realistic CEO Podcast

  Ep. 94 Glenmeadow_1

  Jul 27, 202632 min

  On the Realistic CEO Podcast (Future Leaders Edition), the host interviews Adetayo , a 25-year-old vice president of human resources at Glen Meadow, about how she mapped out a career plan starting at 17 through internships, transferable skills, and researching career paths on LinkedIn. Adetayo highlights key skills like communication, being a people person, and networking, and explains how Glen Meadow’s “Kindness first, growth always” culture, CliftonStrengths focus, and leadership team support employee development and resident wellbeing. She shares a person-centered HR approach aimed at “putting the human back in human resources,” offers advice on overcoming imposter syndrome through mentors, writing goals, and confidence, and discusses Gen Z leadership, job mobility, and workplace change. The episode also covers the host’s book “I Am a CEO,” the five types of work, and the LBW (long, lonely, boring work). 00:00 CEO Dream Origin 00:22 Meet Adetayo VP HR 01:24 Fast Track to VP 02:39 Transferable Skills Networking 03:30 Strategic Career Blueprint 05:55 Why Glenmeade Culture 08:41 Human Centered HR 12:36 Gen Z Leadership Mindset 16:44 Beating Imposter Syndrome 18:37 Pivoting After Failure 20:46 Networking Like a Pro 23:02 Book Five Types Work 27:54 LBW Long Lonely Work 28:30 Wins Challenges Fun Fact 30:46 Final Thanks Next Steps

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  Realistic CEO Podcast

  EP. 93 | The Secret to Getting Ahead in Your 20 | Ted Zwinski

  Jul 22, 202629 min

  In this special Future Leaders episode of the Realistic CEO Podcast, the host interviews Ted, a news producer at WWLP 22 News in Western Massachusetts, about how he got into local media through communications and journalism studies at Western New England University, networking, and experience in college and professional radio. Ted explains why local news is a public service, how stories are found through police departments and scanners, and shares memorable assignments like covering an attempted robbery call and four electric buses on fire in -10° weather. He advises aspiring journalists to build a portfolio, practice on-camera skills, and gain experience interviewing. The conversation also covers cherishing the present, Ted’s career goals, and the host’s Realistic CEO journey and book, including the five types of work and the LBW (long, lonely, boring work), plus a fun fact about ear-wiggling. 00:00 Proving CEO Dreams Real 00:27 Meet Ted the Producer 01:03 Breaking Into Local News 03:22 Chasing Stories Safely 04:47 Favorite Features and Wild Nights 07:07 Advice for Aspiring Journalists 08:34 Radio Roots and Career Lessons 10:20 Future Goals and Mentorship 12:35 Turning No Into Momentum 17:24 Storytime Realistic CEO Book 21:03 Handling Doubt and Staying Driven 23:53 Five Types of Work 27:11 LBW Overnight Grind 28:00 Fun Fact and Farewell

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  Realistic CEO Podcast

  Ep. 92 | Change Your Relationship With Rejection | Julie Phillips

  Jul 22, 202639 min

  Mikey hosts the Realistic CEO Podcast with guest Julie Phillips, Executive Director of Development at HCC, who leads the alumni and development team within institutional advancement and focuses on storytelling to bring resources like scholarships, emergency funds, labs, and buildings to support students. Julie shares how she entered fundraising through networking and a part-time assistant role in 2010, was recruited to HCC in 2019, and faced major challenges including rapid change, state-institution constraints, and maintaining a positive mindset. She advises Mikey on funding his nonprofit Realistic Lemonade by aligning with mission-matched funders, using data and emotional storytelling, applying broadly, and leveraging LinkedIn and networks. Julie highlights favorite moments at HCC, including a successful pandemic-era Giving Day, a mentorship program with 100% retention, and President George Timmons’ inauguration, and discusses hard work, smart delegation, working right with integrity and data, teamwork, and long, unseen effort. 00:00 Dreaming of CEO 00:22 Meet Julie Phillips 00:38 What Advancement Does 01:37 Finding Fundraising Later 02:40 Career Path to HCC 03:56 Biggest Challenges Today 06:48 Funding a New Nonprofit 09:23 Entrepreneurial Backstory 12:39 Reframing Rejection 15:19 Favorite Wins at HCC 20:29 Mentorship and Representation 21:54 Teachers Build Confidence 24:02 Mentorship That Makes You Grow 26:24 Five Types of Work 26:38 Working Hard Lessons 28:05 Working Smart Boundaries 29:22 Working Right With Data 30:17 Networking Opens Doors 32:17 Teamwork And Crucial Talks 34:06 Long Lonely Boring Work 37:07 Fun Fact Handstands And Clowning 38:39 Final Thanks And How To Support

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