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
Friday Dec 05, 2025
Thursday Dec 04, 2025
Thursday Dec 04, 2025
In this episode, Gresham Harkless welcomes Terance Redmond, Founder of IBI Marketing. Terance launched the firm to bring integrity and innovation to the digital marketing space, specifically targeting small and medium-sized businesses that lacked ethical and effective marketing partners.
Terance shares that his business is guided by his personal mission statement: to have a positive impact on everyone he meets, be kind, and constantly educate. This belief drives IBI Marketing to help everyone in its sphere of influence succeed.
Terance credits his “secret sauce” to his high-pressure experiences, including playing in three Rose Bowls and the NFL. His key takeaway is that preparation and effort are vital. He defines a CEO as a leader who wields their responsibility with the “utmost, loving, caring, non self serving aptitude possible”.
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 Dec 03, 2025
Tuesday Dec 02, 2025
Monday Dec 01, 2025
Monday Dec 01, 2025
The Journey and Vision
Gresham Harkless opens the segment by discussing his current need to reconfigure and reboot his entire business. He notes that what brought him to his current level of success is not what will take him to the next level. This insight is driving him to look at things and operate differently, posing the challenge of "how to unlearn the things that you've been doing."
He introduces this content as a special episode and a snippet documenting his journey into starting a new venture called Blue Star Franchise, which will also lead to a sub-site/channel called Franchise CEO within CB Nation. His purpose is to document this building-out process to be helpful for others considering franchises or starting any type of business.
Challenges, Learnings, and Real-World Results
Harkless candidly shares that the journey has not gone the way he wanted, leading to a feeling of scrambling over the last three to six months. He realizes that while he has been testing things (like DMs) on a low scale, the core problem is the need to put more "gasoline on the fire"—to test things with enough energy/money to truly see if they work and then iterate.
He explains that he's had to reboot the entire business because things weren't performing at the desired level. This rebuild has required him to spend more time there, which has had a domino effect, pulling him away from dedicating sufficient time to the new broker business. Personal responsibilities, like having a new baby, further contribute to feeling "fractured and very split".
Re-Prioritization and Forward Momentum
Harkless is at a crossroads, questioning how to do what needs to be done. He is wondering if leaning on his current team—including a good VA and his integrator—can help take the business to the next level. He acknowledges that scaling has been challenging and he has had to have difficult conversations to get where he needs to be.
He concludes that the central issue is not just direction, but the "figuring out part"—reconfiguring the entire operation. He recognizes that reaching a level of success requires asking, "How do I take it to the next level?" Moving forward, he must continue to ask himself, "What do I want and how do I make that happen?" and commit to taking it a day at a time.
Previous Episode: https://iamceo.co/iam2665-running-the-long%e2%80%91term-race-in-business/
- 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 30, 2025
Sunday Nov 30, 2025
In this special episode, Gresham shares the current challenges he faces, which involve a massive reboot and resetting of his existing digital marketing and web support businesses.
This phase requires exhausting work to undo old processes and establish a clear new direction for success, which he is exploring through updated strategies like testing smaller budget Facebook ads rather than relying on expensive, less successful lead portals. His goal is to organically generate opportunities, avoiding external lead dependence to ensure better alignment and a higher chance of ultimate success for his new business direction.
He recognizes that this is not a completely clean slate but rather an opportunity to approach an existing business with a fresh "CEO" mindset, acknowledging past mistakes to unlearn and correct processes. Although he sees significant excitement and opportunity, this reboot necessitates dedicated work to untrain himself and his team, creating an entirely different operational environment one step at a time.
- 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 29, 2025
Saturday Nov 29, 2025
The Journey and Vision
Gresham Harkless opens the episode by reflecting on the importance of staying afloat amid a busy schedule, then using that stability as a springboard for bigger achievements. He outlines his current project, Blue Star Franchise, and explains that he’s documenting the startup process on his “I AM CEO” podcast and on YouTube. The purpose is two‑fold: to provide a roadmap for anyone considering a franchise or any new venture, and to create a “Franchise CEO” sub‑channel within the broader CB Nation community.
Challenges, Learnings, and Real‑World Results
He candidly shares the reality of juggling client emergencies, personal obligations, and the inevitable setbacks that come with building a business. Over the past year, only two deals closed—one from within his own network and another from a friend—yet he still perceives strong alignment with his overall mission. Harkless emphasizes that early‑year losses are normal, that opportunities exist if you keep cultivating them, and that a “marathon mindset” is essential for long‑term progress.
Re‑Prioritization and Forward Momentum
Facing a confluence of professional rebuilds (digital‑marketing systems, franchise infrastructure) and personal pressures (condo issues, family responsibilities), Harkless resolves to re‑prioritize, carve out dedicated time, and lean into the work that generates the most impact. He argues that a business should not be judged solely on its first‑year performance; perseverance, continuous improvement, and running the “marathon race” will ultimately unlock the phenomenal results he envisions.
Previous Episode: https://iamceo.co/iam2632-day-281-franchise-broker-journey/
- 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.
Friday Nov 28, 2025
Friday Nov 28, 2025
In this special episode, Gresh shares the challenges of building a strong business foundation, noting his initial attempt to hire others before the core systems were fully established led to difficulties.
Realizing the substantial opportunity in the franchise brokerage business, he is now prioritizing the crucial task of rebuilding and refining his digital marketing efforts to ensure long-term success.
Currently, he is working on a strategy that balances actively generating leads and converting customers with the necessary rebuild of his core systems, which include developing the websites for his different business segments.
Gresh emphasizes the importance of implementing some key systems, even if not all, to avoid taxing workdays and ultimately achieve the foundational stability needed to grow.
- 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 27, 2025
Thursday Nov 27, 2025
In this episode, we have Shona Bell, a Certified Public Accountant and financial strategist, return to discuss an often-overlooked secret to funding major life goals, like starting a franchise or investing in real estate: a permanent cash balance policy.
Her focus is on educating business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs about setting up their finances the right way and strategically keeping taxes in mind, moving beyond basic CFO services to holistic financial planning and legacy building.
Shona highlights a major gap: many people lack a dedicated financial planner after leaving corporate life or simply aren't aware of advanced financial strategies.
A critical takeaway from Shona is debunking the misconception that wealth building is something you do only after you become wealthy, or that it costs "so much" to start. She stresses that it takes intention, not a massive bankroll, and encourages people to overcome "money trauma" and apprehension.
Website: www.beyondacountingtax.com
LinkedIn: shona-bell
Previous Episode: iam1383-accountant-helps-business-owners-accelerate-their-financial-mindset
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 26, 2025
Wednesday Nov 26, 2025
In this throwback episode, we have Murray Seward, CEO of Outback Team Building and Training. His company provides services ranging from fun team-building activities to soft skill and leadership mindset training.
Murray focuses on delivering their products through a consultative sales approach, concentrating on finding clients with genuine pain points—like poor internal communication or change management issues—and offering customized solutions.
Ultimately, Murray defines being a CEO as empowering the younger generation to realize what a great work life can be, helping them get off to a great start in their careers.
Website: https://outbackteambuilding.com/
HuffPost feature: www.huffpost.com/entry
Previous Episode: iam396-ceo-helps-companies-build-strong-teams-and-grow-great-leaders
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!