CEO Podcasts consists of CEO Chat (CC), I AM CEO (IAM) & CBNation.TV (TV) podcast episodes. Value-packed episode including interviews & resources for CEOs, entrepreneurs, startups founders & business owners. The CEO Chat episodes are our long-form episodes w/ interviews and digital marketing resources. The I AM CEO episodes are laser focused (about 16 min.) w/ interviews & a discussion about what it means to be a CEO. Powered by Blue16 Media & CBNation.co. Hosted by Gresham W. Harkless Jr.
Episodes
Saturday Nov 22, 2025
Saturday Nov 22, 2025
In this special episode, Gresham emphasizes the need for self-reflection to understand how he reached his current point, noting that getting "off path" is usually a gradual process, not a single decision.
He had to make necessary, albeit unpleasant, decisions for the health of his business, which involved drilling down into the numbers for each micro-business or "pod" and resetting expectations.
The core issue was realizing that he was working hard to generate more revenue just to maintain existing overhead, only to have opportunities "fumbled" due to a lack of his own presence or execution. This prompted a massive effort to restructure and reboot the entire system.
The restructuring led to the crucial realization that not all business "pods" are worth growing, which requires a new focus and clarity. Specifically, he is rethinking his franchise brokerage business model. Instead of guiding clients through the entire process himself, he is considering pivoting it into a lead generation machine, handing off opportunities to more experienced brokers for a split.
- Blue Star Franchise: bluestarfranchise.com
- Browse the Franchise Inventory: bluestarfranchise.com/franchise
- Is franchising right for you? Check this out to see: bluestarfranchise.com/assessment
- Franchise CEO (A CBNation Site - coming soon) - franchiseceo.co
Check out our CEO Hack Buzz Newsletter–our premium newsletter with hacks and nuggets to level up your organization. Sign up HERE.
I AM CEO Handbook Volume 3 is HERE and it's FREE. Get your copy here: cbnation.co/iamceo3. Get the 100+ things that you can learn from 1600 business podcasts we recorded. Hear Gresh's story, learn the 16 business pillars from the podcast, find out about CBNation Architects and why you might be one and so much more. Did we mention it was FREE? Download it today!
Friday Nov 21, 2025
Friday Nov 21, 2025
In this special episode, Gresh begins with a thought experiment: if he were starting his business journey today, knowing what he knows now, how would he approach it, specifically focusing on lead generation.
He recalls the constant desire during his own path to be ahead of where he started. He notes that the perennial challenge in this type of business remains how to effectively generate leads, acknowledging that there is no single, solid, established "new formula" for this crucial process, prompting a need for continuous experimentation.
Drawing inspiration from listening to an entrepreneur's long-form content, the speaker realizes that the key focus should not be merely on the quantity of leads, but their quality.
Ultimately, Gresham concludes that if he were to start over, he would pivot his entire focus to becoming a specialist lead generation company. Instead of handling the entire broker process (calling, qualifying, and guiding), he would generate quality leads and then partner with established brokers, splitting the commission.
- Blue Star Franchise: bluestarfranchise.com
- Browse the Franchise Inventory: bluestarfranchise.com/franchise
- Is franchising right for you? Check this out to see: bluestarfranchise.com/assessment
- Franchise CEO (A CBNation Site - coming soon) - franchiseceo.co
Check out our CEO Hack Buzz Newsletter–our premium newsletter with hacks and nuggets to level up your organization. Sign up HERE.
I AM CEO Handbook Volume 3 is HERE and it's FREE. Get your copy here: cbnation.co/iamceo3. Get the 100+ things that you can learn from 1600 business podcasts we recorded. Hear Gresh's story, learn the 16 business pillars from the podcast, find out about CBNation Architects and why you might be one and so much more. Did we mention it was FREE? Download it today!
Thursday Nov 20, 2025
Thursday Nov 20, 2025
In this episode, we have Marcus Ogden—a former NFL offensive lineman, bestselling author, keynote speaker, business coach, and host of the “Get Authentic with Marcus Ogden” podcast.
Marcus then outlines his recent speaking engagement for Fayetteville State University’s fintech conference, titled “From Setbacks to Startups: How Resilient Leaders Thrive in a Tech‑Driven World.” He stresses that setbacks are primed for comebacks and introduces his BISON mindset framework—Boldness, Integrity, Self‑awareness, Ownership, and Never quit—as a guide for leadership, marketing, sales, and personal growth.
He recounts his own low point—being fired twice, working a graveyard‑shift custodial job, and hitting rock bottom—before pivoting to public speaking in 2013, eventually securing paid gigs, coaching Fortune 500 clients, and building a robust team of specialists who support his podcast, CRM, operations, and creative production.
Finally, Marcus offers key CEO nuggets: always listen to the paid team, treat lines of credit as liabilities once used, and view the CEO role as a responsibility to serve and uplift the people under your charge.
Website: marquesogden.com
LinkedIn: marquesogden
I AM CEO Handbook Volume 3 is HERE and it's FREE. Get your copy here: http://cbnation.co/iamceo3. Get the 100+ things that you can learn from 1600 business podcasts we recorded.
Hear Gresh's story, learn the 16 business pillars from the podcast, find out about CBNation Architects and why you might be one and so much more. Did we mention it was FREE? Download it today!
Wednesday Nov 19, 2025
Wednesday Nov 19, 2025
In this throwback episode, we have Sara Schulting‑Kranz, the founder of Live Boldly Coaching. Certified in relational and betrayal trauma work and experienced as a partner of an addict, she now serves individuals and groups through one‑on‑one coaching, long‑term programs, and immersive retreats in the Grand Canyon and Southern California’s mountains.
Her retreats blend hiking, adventure, breathwork, meditation, and coaching, creating a five‑day, nature‑based experience that “slows the amygdala” and activates the cerebellum, giving participants mental clarity and emotional release.
Sara also launches a divorce‑recovery program for women, emphasizing that healing isn’t linear and that her eclectic background—as a teacher, stay‑at‑home mom, and trauma survivor—forms the “secret sauce” of her work.
Website: www.liveboldlycoaching.com
Documentary:www.walkthroughthis.com
Instagram: saraschultingkranz
Facebook Personal: sara.schultingkranz
Facebook Biz: liveboldly
LinkedIn: sara-schulting-kranz
Previous Episode: iam394-natural-energy-healer-coaches-individuals-through-healing-and-transformation
I AM CEO Handbook Volume 3 is HERE and it's FREE. Get your copy here: http://cbnation.co/iamceo3. Get the 100+ things that you can learn from 1600 business podcasts we recorded.
Hear Gresh's story, learn the 16 business pillars from the podcast, find out about CBNation Architects and why you might be one and so much more. Did we mention it was FREE? Download it today!
Tuesday Nov 18, 2025
Tuesday Nov 18, 2025
In this throwback episode, we have Katherine Liola, founder and CEO of Concentric Private Wealth, where they differentiate from traditional firms by centering every client interaction around the question “why?” and aligning financial strategy with each person’s intrinsic drivers—core values, unique abilities, and passions that define who they truly are.
Rather than merely managing assets, Catherine’s team helps clients pause, reflect deeply, and make decisions that serve their broader life purpose.
This approach extends to a novel pricing model that ties fees to the scope and value of work, not just the amount of assets under management, reinforcing the firm’s focus on holistic, purpose‑driven wealth planning.
Katherine urged listeners to trust their intuition and invest in self‑exploration, noting that financial fitness is attainable even amid setbacks.
Website: concentricpw.com
LinkedIn: katherineliola
Facebook: Concentric-Private-Wealth
Previous Episode: iam393-founder-provides-the-tools-to-live-a-more-transformational-life
I AM CEO Handbook Volume 3 is HERE and it's FREE. Get your copy here: http://cbnation.co/iamceo3. Get the 100+ things that you can learn from 1600 business podcasts we recorded.
Hear Gresh's story, learn the 16 business pillars from the podcast, find out about CBNation Architects and why you might be one and so much more. Did we mention it was FREE? Download it today!
Monday Nov 17, 2025
Monday Nov 17, 2025
Discover the secrets to building generational wealth now with insights from Shona Bell of Beyond Freedom Financial, a certified public accountant and entrepreneur previous guest featured on the I AM CEO Podcast. In this episode, Shauna shares a powerful CEO Nugget about leveraging tax strategies, financial planning, and unique tools like creating your own family bank to grow wealth and establish a legacy. She emphasizes the importance of mindset, financial awareness, and intentional planning to achieve true financial freedom and impact future generations. Gresh of Blue Star Franchise (http://bluestarfranchise.com) and Shona talk about various ways that entrepreneurs can consider in building wealth like franchising and real estate.
This conversation ties directly into the Financial and Strategy pillars, offering actionable advice on how Builders can start creating wealth today—whether through strategic tax planning, leveraging life insurance for investments, or educating their families about wealth-building tools. Shauna’s journey highlights how entrepreneurs can balance freedom, family, and financial success while avoiding common pitfalls.
Full Interview: https://ceochat.co/interview/chat115-secrets-to-building-generational-wealth-now/
Monday Nov 17, 2025
Monday Nov 17, 2025
In this episode, Gresham candidly shares the hurdles he’s faced in his first year: no closed deals yet, restructuring his marketing company, personal setbacks and juggling family responsibilities.
Despite generating a sizable pool of leads, his outreach—via Google Ads, LinkedIn DMs, Facebook groups, and newsletters—has produced little traction.
He notes that franchise sales cycles can stretch up to a year, and he’s still searching for low‑hanging‑fruit opportunities that haven’t materialized through his existing channels.
Recognizing that big‑budget spending has been ineffective, Gresham plans to reboot his marketing approach by leaning into his strengths: personal networks (BNI), organic content creation, and modest test ads to identify what works.
He likens the process to warfare—play to your advantage, avoid overextending, then regroup.
- Blue Star Franchise: bluestarfranchise.com
- Browse the Franchise Inventory: bluestarfranchise.com/franchise
- Is franchising right for you? Check this out to see: bluestarfranchise.com/assessment
- Franchise CEO (A CBNation Site - coming soon) - franchiseceo.co
Check out our CEO Hack Buzz Newsletter–our premium newsletter with hacks and nuggets to level up your organization. Sign up HERE.
I AM CEO Handbook Volume 3 is HERE and it's FREE. Get your copy here: cbnation.co/iamceo3. Get the 100+ things that you can learn from 1600 business podcasts we recorded. Hear Gresh's story, learn the 16 business pillars from the podcast, find out about CBNation Architects and why you might be one and so much more. Did we mention it was FREE? Download it today!
Sunday Nov 16, 2025
Sunday Nov 16, 2025
Podcasting can be one of the most potent tools for entrepreneurs who want to become visible, share ideas, and lead their niche with authenticity. But it is not a quick marketing trick. It is a vehicle for thought leadership, self-exploration, and consistent communication—when done for the right reasons and with clear intention. Gresh and podcast host Nick McGowan host of The Podcast & Self Mastery Show chatted about this powerful medium and how you can leverage it as an entrepreneur or business owner.
Full Interview: https://ceochat.co/interviews/chat114-podcasting-secrets-every-entrepreneur-should-know/
Sunday Nov 16, 2025
Sunday Nov 16, 2025
In this episode, Gresh discusses the importance of execution over merely having a playbook, noting that while the franchising model supplies a detailed roadmap, success hinges on the founder’s ability to actually implement it.
He also mentions challenges such as client layoffs, under‑delivering strategy sessions, and weighing the ROI of a mentorship program he feels isn’t paying off.
Despite the hurdles, Gresh emphasizes the power of networking. He recounts gaining referrals through a BNI group, which led to a promising conversation about a potential franchisor.
He acknowledges that consistent outreach—especially to people affected by layoffs—is essential, even if the volume of responses can be low. Looking ahead, he plans to focus his time on networking, continue incremental outreach.
- Blue Star Franchise: bluestarfranchise.com
- Browse the Franchise Inventory: bluestarfranchise.com/franchise
- Is franchising right for you? Check this out to see: bluestarfranchise.com/assessment
- Franchise CEO (A CBNation Site - coming soon) - franchiseceo.co
Check out our CEO Hack Buzz Newsletter–our premium newsletter with hacks and nuggets to level up your organization. Sign up HERE.
I AM CEO Handbook Volume 3 is HERE and it's FREE. Get your copy here: cbnation.co/iamceo3. Get the 100+ things that you can learn from 1600 business podcasts we recorded. Hear Gresh's story, learn the 16 business pillars from the podcast, find out about CBNation Architects and why you might be one and so much more. Did we mention it was FREE? Download it today!
Saturday Nov 15, 2025
Saturday Nov 15, 2025
A candid conversation between Gresham and Dray Jankowski (host of The Reboot Era) traces a familiar modern arc: job loss followed by reinvention. Their stories reveal a central idea: a layoff can be less an end than a moment that clarifies purpose, forces decisions, and accelerates action. The practical lessons that follow are for two groups: people actively looking for a job and people curious about franchising or starting something of their own.
Full episode: https://ceochat.co/interview/chat113-from-layoff-to-podcast-hosting-our-roadmap-from-uncertainty-to-entrepreneurship/