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The Gonzo Experience

The Gonzo Experience podcast features interviews with entrepreneurial thought leaders who share candid stories, insights, and wisdom. Episodes include topics on entrepreneurship, business, health, mindset, and much more! Host David Mammano has built a great platform for entrepreneurs on the go and The Gonzo Experience is now one of the top-ranked Business and Self-Development podcasts on iTunes. Guests on the show have included powerhouses like Grant Cardone, Ed Mylett, Ellen Latham, Jack Daly, Sharon Lechter, Kevin Harrington and so many more. If you’re looking to grow or start a business and you’re a game-changer, then dive into The Gonzo Experience with David “Gonzo” Mammano.
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Now displaying: 2016
Dec 28, 2016

Geoffrey Colon works at the intersection of marketing, tech, and popular culture. Data punk, DJ, podcaster, and author, Geoffrey is a communications designer at Microsoft, where he markets search advertising products for Bing. He has written for The Futurist, Advertising Age, and Fast Company, and been quoted in Forbes, Billboard Magazine, The Huffington Post, The Guardian and The Los Angeles Times. He has also appeared on Marketplace on NPR, WABC-AM and Cheddar TV.

Colon has written his first book Disruptive Marketing: What Growth Hackers, Data Punks, and Other Hybrid Thinkers Can Teach Us About Navigating the New Normal (AMACOM) out now on Kindle, Audio and Hardcover.

Prior to joining Microsoft in 2013, Geoffrey was vice president of digital strategy at Ogilvy & Mather and digital community supervisor at 360i in New York City.

Colon has done work with several influential brands including Spotify, Netflix, American Express, IBM, The Economist, USA Network, WWE, History Channel and Red Bull. He also worked with high profile music artists including Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, The White Stripes and Moby.

He is a graduate of Lehigh University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Mass Communication.

Geoffrey is host of the weekly marketing podcast for eccentric minds Disruptive FM, producer and host of video blog series The Disruptive Marketer and regularly writes on Branding Strategy Insider, Search Engine Journal, LinkedIn and the Bing Ads blog. He is an avid speaker on the global marketing conference circuit.

You can follow him on LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter @djgeoffe or his website geoffreycolon.net

What you’ll learn about in this episode:

  • How Geoffrey met his literary agent Wendy Keller
  • Geoffrey’s background
  • How to know whether or not you should be an entrepreneur
  • The importance of pivoting to stay relevant
  • Why Geoffrey wrote his book
  • Why you need to try new things
  • Why social media is now one of the best listening chambers available
  • Geoffrey’s high school punk rock band -- and why that gave him the confidence to stand up in front of crowds
  • Why you should learn a musical instrument -- even if you have no plans to perform it for anyone
  • Two books Geoffrey recommends
  • Why you don’t need to explain your whole business and should leave some curiosity out there

Ways to contact Geoffrey:

Resources:

Dec 21, 2016

Jeffrey Hayzlett is a primetime television host of C-Suite with Jeffrey Hayzlett and Executive Perspectives on C-Suite TV, and business podcast host of All Business with Jeffrey Hayzlett on CBS on-demand radio network Play.It. He is a global business celebrity, speaker, best-selling author, and Chairman of C-Suite Network, home of the world’s most trusted network of C-Suite leaders. Hayzlett is a well-traveled public speaker, the author of three bestselling business books, The Mirror Test, Running the Gauntlet and Think Big, Act Bigger: The Rewards of Being Relentless. Hayzlett is one of the most compelling figures in business today and a member of the CPAE Speaker Hall of Fame.

Jeffrey is a leading business expert, cited in Forbes, SUCCESS, Mashable, Marketing Week and Chief Executive, among many others. He shares his executive insight and commentary on television networks like Bloomberg, MSNBC, Fox Business, and C-Suite TV. Hayzlett is a former Bloomberg contributing editor and primetime host, and has appeared as a guest celebrity judge on NBC’s Celebrity Apprentice with Donald Trump for three seasons. He is a turnaround architect of the highest order, a maverick marketer and C-Suite executive who delivers scalable campaigns, embraces traditional modes of customer engagement, and possesses a remarkable cachet of mentorship, corporate governance, and brand building.

What you’ll learn about in this episode:

  • Jeffrey’s journey
  • Why you need to stop listening to the voices -- both the ones in your head and the people talking negatively about you
  • Jeffrey’s podcast
  • The C-Suite Network
  • Why you need to say no to great opportunities if they aren’t right for you
  • Why you need to change, adapt, or die
  • How Jeffrey outperforms everyone through pure energy
  • Jeffrey’s favorite books
  • John: Jeffrey’s Great Great Great Great Uncle
  • Why Jeffrey personally answers his communication himself

Ways to contact Jeffrey:

Dec 14, 2016

Heather Ann Havenwood is a serial entrepreneur and regarded as a top authority on Internet marketing and business strategies. Heather Ann has been named by a few as an “Icon Creator” or the “Wizard Behind the Curtain”. In 2006, she started, developed, and grew an online information marketing publishing company from zero to over $1 million in sales in less than 12 months. Starting without a list, a product, a name or an offer, Heather Ann molded her client into a successful guru now known as an expert in his field. She has instructed, coached and promoted hundreds of entrepreneurs leading them down the path to success. She has produced and managed over 350 seminars and events.

What you’ll learn about in this episode:

  • Heather’s background
  • Heather’s devastating experience that led to her getting fired from her job and where she went after that
  • The early entrepreneurial experience where Heather’s business partner took everything
  • What Heather learned when she was caught in the middle of the house market crash
  • Why you shouldn’t be afraid to just move to where you need to be
  • Heather’s various businesses that she has right now
  • Why Heather loves being a podcast guest -- and why she coaches people on being podcast guests
  • Why you need to be very authentic
  • Heather’s experience doing improv
  • Heather’s favorite book “The Game of Life and How to Play It”
  • Why Heather is inspired by Madonna

Ways to contact Heather:

Resources:

Dec 7, 2016

Ari Weinzweig is CEO and co-founding partner of Zingerman's Community of Businesses, which includes Zingerman's Delicatessen, Bakehouse, Creamery, Catering, Mail Order, ZingTrain, Coffee Company, Roadhouse, Candy Manufactory and the newest business—Cornman Farms.  Zingerman’s produces and sells all sorts of full flavored, traditional foods in its home of Ann Arbor, Michigan to the tune of $60,000,000 a year in annual sales.  Ari was recognized as one of the “Who’s Who of Food & Beverage in America” by the 2006 James Beard Foundation and has awarded a Bon Appetit Lifetime Achievement Award among many recognitions. Ari is the author of a number of articles and books, including Zingerman’s Guide to Better Bacon (Zingerman’s Press), Zingerman’s Guide to Giving Great Service, Zingerman’s Guide to Good Eating (Houghton Mifflin), Zingerman’s Guide to Good Leading, Part 1: A Lapsed Anarchist’s Approach to Building a Great Business, and Zingerman's Guide to Good Leading, Part 2: A Lapsed Anarchist’s Approach to Being a Better Leader. Zingerman's Guide to Good Leading, Part 3; A Lapsed Anarchist's Approach to Managing Ourselves, was released in December of 2013.  Zingerman's Guide to Good Leading, Part 4; A Lapsed Anarchist's Approach to the Power of Beliefs in Business was released in summer of 2016.

What you’ll learn about in this episode:

  • Ari’s background and how he founded Zingerman’s
  • Why Ari didn’t want to open Zingerman’s Deli in other locations
  • Why they decided to to grow Zingerman’s Deli into Zingerman’s Community of Businesses
  • Ari’s “Zingerman’s Guide to Good Leading” books
  • Why Ari self publishes his books
  • Why Ari studies and practices anarchy within his organizations (anarchy that has nothing to do with the government)
  • Leaders that Ari follows
  • Why it’s okay to struggle
  • What all of ZIngerman’s Community of Businesses look like
  • Why your beliefs as an owner determine your employees’ beliefs
  • Why survival of the fittest is all about the best collaborators

Ways to contact Ari:

Ari’s books:

 

Recommended Books:

Nov 30, 2016

Dr. Antonio Soler earned his Medical Doctorate after 4 years as President of his class from Ponce School of Medicine, Puerto Rico in 2008. After doing his one-year General Medicine internship and not knowing what to specialize in, he understood that the Path of Searching was the actual way, the end in itself. In his quest for truth, and for true mental, physical and spiritual well-being, he has researched, and self tested dozens of techniques, like Zen meditation, running, cycling, different diets (if not all of them), integrative medicine, etc. In a field where many people just go for the money, he went for value, to actually improve people’s lives and heal them along the way. Along his other cousin, Dr. Michael Soler, he joined to form and grow Puerto Rico’s leading Bariatric and Obesity Medicine Clinic, with the clear understanding and realization that the body, mind and spirit can heal completely, and that illness, most of the time is not something to be accepted, but challenged and overcame. Today his quest continues, and as a member of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, new horizons in healing appear nearby, but most importantly not for him, but for the people and patients he cares about.

What you’ll learn about in this episode:

  • Antonio’s background
  • Why it’s so important to bring enormous value
  • Antonio’s penchant for learning
  • Why your little choices add up to the big picture
  • Overcoming addictions to distractions
  • Being conscious of what you’re actually doing by tracking it
  • How to keep track of what you’re eating
  • The detox that Antonio is doing right now
  • What Antonio’s meals typically look like
  • The study from the Adventist Health Study on why the people who drank the most water were the healthiest
  • How much sleep you really need and how lack of sleep really hurts you
  • Strategies for getting sleep
  • “Forks Over Knives” -- a documentary you should watch on Netflix
  • Why Antonio would choose Gandhi to spend time with if he could
  • Antonio’s time as an ROTC

Ways to contact Antonio:

Resources:

Nov 23, 2016

Lewis Schiff is a founder of BEN Global Mentorship (poweredbyben.com), an e-learning platform that helps up-and-coming entrepreneurs build a company everyone knows about. You know those rockstar entrepreneurs you’d give your left arm for 10 minutes of their time? Poweredbyben.com gives you 8 weeks of mentoring with them. And you get to keep your arm.

Schiff is the author of The First Habit: The One Technique That Can Change Your Life, based on the single most commonly found behavior in self-made millionaires based on Schiff’s interviews with over 1,000 success stories. He has committed to sharing this book with 1,000,000 Americans. Download it for free at poweredbyben.com/1sthabit-giveaway.

Schiff is also the author of the best-selling book, Business Brilliant: Surprising Lessons from the Greatest Self-Made Business Icons, which focuses on the wealth-creating behaviors and attitudes that work best in the new economy (Harper Collins 2013) and features in-depth profiles of the success philosophies of entrepreneurial greats such Richard Branson and Steve Jobs.

In 2010, Lewis Schiff founded Inc. Magazine’s Business Owners Council, a membership organization for top entrepreneurs and owners of closely-held family businesses. Recent speakers to the Council include: Former U.S. Treasury Secretary, Hank Paulson, Howard Schultz of Starbucks, Deepak Chopra and Jim McCann, founder of 1-800-Flowers, Tony Hsieh of Zappos.com and Bert Jacobs of Life is Good.

In 2016, The Council re-launched Birthing of Giants (www.birthingofgiants.com), breathing new life into a renowned learning program that leverages 15 years of research and best practices for growth-oriented entrepreneurs. Apply to be a Birthing of Giants fellow.

Schiff has co-authored two books: The Influence of Affluence: How The Rich Are Changing America (2006) charts the rise of America's growing affluent middle-class through original research and analysis. The Armchair Millionaire (2000) describes a wealth-creation system that leverages Nobel-Prize winning methodologies. Today, Schiff maintains a blog about behavioral entrepreneurship on Entrepreneur.com.

What you’ll learn about in this episode:

  • Why every entrepreneur needs a mentor
  • Lewis’ mentorship programs
  • Lewis’ early entrepreneurship experiences including The Armchair Millionaire
  • What keeps the majority of people from success
  • Lewis’ books -- and which one to read first
  • The Birthing of Giants program and the four areas focused on in the curriculum
  • A quick thing you can do to have a dramatic impact in your business
  • Lewis’ book that you can get to free
  • Making your own job when what you’re good at doesn’t fit into a job
  • What Lewis learned as a beer salesman
  • Business books that Lewis recommends
  • Why Lewis is inspired by Mark Zuckerberg and why he’d love to talk to him

Ways to contact Lewis:

Nov 16, 2016

Rob Dube was fresh out of Albion College in 1991 when he and his lifelong friend, Joel Pearlman, founded imageOne, and he was more than ready for the role of co-owner and President. In fact, he had practically spent his whole life preparing for the day.

Rob’s journey began in ninth grade when he and Joel launched their first business – selling blow pop candy out of their school lockers. From blow pops they moved on to other endeavors, such as selling t-shirts and detailing cars.

Rob and his partner realized early on that their passion to deliver an extraordinary customer experience would be key to their success. It is this passion that has become the driving force behind imageOne’s success.

In 2004, imageOne was acquired by a public company; and in 2006 Rob and his partner reacquired the company. While going through the process of reacquiring imageOne, they discussed ways they could make a difference in the world. After reading the book Small Giants, by Bo Burlingham, they became obsessed with building an amazing company culture and giving back. Their mission is to change the lives of their team, their customers, and everyday people in small and big ways.

What you’ll learn about in this episode:

  • What Rob and his business partner Joel learned from going to Zingerman’s during college
  • How they started imageOne and the initial struggles they faced
  • Books that Rob loves and has learned from
  • How Rob and Joel split up duties and how they stay on the same page
  • How Bo Burlingham’s “Small Giants” changed Rob and his business career
  • The impact Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO) has had on Rob
  • Rob’s meditation strategies
  • Why Rob loves the Roadrunner (and Wile E. Coyote)
  • Why Rob would love to spend time with the Dalai Lama

Ways to contact Rob:

Nov 9, 2016

Kent Lapp is an Entrepreneur, Investor, & Optimistic Realist.

He grew up in the beautiful Finger Lakes Region of New York State.

His father, Sanford Lapp, unfortunately was diagnosed with cancer at age 29, passing away 7 years later at the young age of 36.  This left his mother, Barb, with 4 kids and a small business to run when Kent was 10 years old.

After graduating High School in 2002, Kent went straight into the family business that my father had started in 1983, Woodtex. After working in all areas of the company for several years, they started the process of turning the day to day management over from his mom to himself. His mom has since moved out of this company altogether, and she sold it to Kent and his brother Ben.

Woodtex currently has manufacturing & sales locations in four states, NY, SC, TX & TN, although they do sell and deliver nationwide.

What you’ll learn about in this episode:

  • Kent’s background
  • Why Kent moved his headquarters to Nashville
  • Getting clear on your core values
  • Employees vs team members
  • What gets Kent going every day
  • The value of hard work and gritting through the challenges you face as an entrepreneur
  • Why quitting is the wrong choice
  • The lessons that Kent has learned from his mentors
  • Some examples of why Woodtex has launched products and had to go away from them
  • Why your team members need to be clear on what their role is
  • Kent’s struggles with self discipline
  • Why Kent loves “Good to Great” by Jim Collins and “The ONE Thing” by Gary W. Keller
  • Why Kent would spend time with Winston Churchill if he could

Ways to contact Kent:

Oct 24, 2016

Stephen Woessner is the CEO of Predictive ROI and the host of the brilliant Onward Nation podcast. He is also the author of two bestselling books, “The Small Business Owners Handbook to Search Engine Optimization” and “Increase Online Sales Through Viral Social Networking.” His digital marketing insights have been featured in SUCCESS, Forbes, Entrepreneur, The Washington Post, Inc. Magazine and more. His agency blends education in very transparent ways for clients.

What you’ll learn about in this episode:

  • Predictive ROI, Stephen’s company that produces this podcast
  • How Stephen and I met at Darren Hardy’s High Performance Forum and what that event did for Stephen
  • Stephen’s event Predictive ROI Live that never happened yet cost $200,000 and the lessons Stephen learned from that failure
  • The proverbial moment when Stephen decided to start Onward Nation
  • How Predictive ROI took what they built with Onward Nation and will generate $2 million over the next 12 months producing podcasts
  • The lessons Stephen learned from his grandfather
  • What Stephen has learned from working closely with Don Yaeger
  • Stephen’s favorite books of all time -- and the book he’s reading right now
  • Stephen’s weekly one-on-one meetings with his full-time employees
  • Why you can only manage a team of 4-5 people and why you must use decentralized command
  • Why Tarzan is Stephen’s favorite Disney character
  • Stephen’s experiences working with nuclear missiles 100 times as powerful as the ones dropped in World War II -- and the time he had to stop one from catching fire

Ways to contact Stephen:

Oct 24, 2016

Wendy Keller is a marketing strategist for individuals and business owners, especially those who want to become successful authors, well-paid speakers or consultants. Wendy founded her sixth company, Keller Media, Inc., in 1989.  Keller Media has helped thousands of people like you to develop a brand identity/platform that turns your knowledge and passion into a profitable business or generous extra revenue stream.  

Keller Media has brokered +1,500 rights deals worldwide for books, audio, merchandise, sponsorships, speaking engagements, spokesperson engagements, online training and other types of content-based transactions.  Wendy’s clients include 17 New York Times best-selling authors, 9 international best-selling authors, several hundred professional speakers, household names, media personalities, 2 Nobel nominees, prominent executives, scientists, physicians, scholars, politicians, thought leaders…and many small business people ready to build a compelling platform so that their brand and their income grow rapidly.

What you’ll learn about in this episode:

  • Wendy’s background
  • Learning lessons from mistakes instead of giving up and dealing with the hassle of being an employee
  • The first steps Wendy made to jump start her business
  • What drives Wendy -- and how that drive led her to pursue her career
  • What Wendy has learned throughout her career that has made her able to combat the challenges she faces frequently
  • Why you absolutely need to create a Facebook public figure page
  • Mixing up your content to reach people in the way they like to learn
  • Why Wendy has to be relentless
  • Wendy’s favorite book, “The Way to Love” by Anthony de Mello
  • Why Wendy would love to go back and spend time with Henry Clay Frick
  • Why you need a platform to get published by a publisher and Wendy’s new book about building platforms

Ways to contact Wendy:

Oct 24, 2016

Bo Burlingham has spent 33 years at Inc., as senior editor, then executive editor, then editor-at-large. He now writes about entrepreneurship at Forbes.

What you’ll learn about in this episode:

  • Bo’s career at Inc. and Forbes
  • Bo’s best small companies in America list at Forbes
  • Great companies vs large companies and human scale vs financial scale
  • Bo’s book “Small Giants” about companies with mojo
  • What’s in the new 10th anniversary edition of “Small Giants”
  • What makes great businesses fail
  • The tough situations that arise when the financials aren’t there
  • “The Great Game of Business” that Bo wrote with Jack Stack
  • Why everyone needs to understand what’s going on inside your company
  • “A Stake in the Outcome”: Bo and Jack Stack’s “The Great Game of Business” follow up
  • What you need to think about when giving employees stock
  • “Street Smarts”: Bo’s book he wrote with Norm Brodsky
  • “Finish Big”: Bo’s book about selling and exiting companies
  • The phases of building, growing, and exiting companies
  • Why 70% of people who sell their business are miserable

Ways to contact Bo:

Bo’s books:

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