What does building something after the CEO actually look like? In this episode of Fearless Founders, Ashton sits down with three CEO alumni, Lilly Miller, Leo Krueger, and Levi Zbinden, for an honest conversation about life, business, and growth after the program. Each of them is on a completely different path. Lilly launched her luxury wedding photography business while still in high school and now travels the country capturing elevated, cinematic love stories. Leo is preparing to step int...
Apr 10
51 min
What happens when two small-town brothers take a single product idea and turn it into an $80 million brand in just five years? In this episode of Fearless Founders, Ashton Shultz sits down with Brock and Mitch Mammoser, the brothers behind Frost Buddy, one of the fastest-growing drinkware and lifestyle brands in the country. Raised in Newton, Illinois, Brock and Mitch grew up with a competitive spirit shaped by sports, discipline, and small-town values. In 2020, during one of the most uncerta...
Mar 6
53 min
In this episode, Ashton sits down with Manda Goldberg, Founder & Chief Strategist of Cella Gold Media, a social media agency based in South Florida serving real estate and service-based brands. After being laid off, Manda chose to build instead of job-hunting, a decision that would lead her to scale beyond 60+ brands and consult with agencies looking to sharpen their strategy and scale smarter. We talk about the shift from freelancing to agency building, the systems that make social media...
Jan 23
58 min
In this episode of Fearless Founders, I sit down with Elena DiStefano, the founder and inventor of the Cozy Clip®—a groundbreaking redesign of the classic claw clip created to eliminate pain and prioritize everyday comfort. After years of loving the look of claw clips but experiencing constant discomfort—especially while driving—Elena realized the solution she needed didn't exist. So, she built it herself. Starting with a 3D printer prototype in her college dorm, Elena transformed a simple pr...
Dec 2, 2025
52 min
In this special episode, the mic flips — and host, Ashton Shultz takes over! 🎙️ Hear the story behind Ashton Jo Marketing, from a high school CEO student with a dream to a full-time entrepreneur leading brands and mentoring the next generation. Ashton shares real, actionable marketing insights, lessons learned from the journey, and how the CEO Program continues to shape her both personally and professionally. Whether you’re a student, creative, or entrepreneur, this conversation is your remi...
Oct 24, 2025
51 min
In this inspiring first episode, we sit down with Blaine Fuhs, CEO Alumni, author, speaker, and creator, to explore what true success really looks like. Drawing from his influential book, Your Platform Is Not Your Purpose, Blaine challenges the belief that influence equals identity. Instead, he reminds us that titles, followers, or recognition don’t measure real purpose—it’s discovered in how we serve, lead, and love in everyday life. Through his work as a writer, speaker, and storyteller, Bl...
Sep 26, 2025
1 hr 5 min
Today’s episode features Jason Thomas, Director of Design and Product Development at RiverSmith USA. Jason is more than a designer—he’s an innovator, a creative force, and a true adventurer. With nearly two decades of experience, Jason has shaped some of the country's most cutting-edge outdoor products and climbing environments. He firmly believes that design should be both beautiful and functional—and that the outdoors has the power to connect and inspire us. In this conversation, we explore...
Aug 12, 2025
56 min
This episode is something special—a panel featuring three incredible CEO alumni who’ve taken their senior-year startup ideas and turned them into thriving businesses. You’ll hear from: Ben Flath, founder of Excursions Automotive in Indiana, Ashley Leman, founder of Revive Coffee & Roasting Company in Illinois, And Alex Eckhardt, owner of Q-Town Kicks sneaker store in Quincy, IL. Each of them shares what it was like starting a business in high school, what they’ve learned through rea...
Jul 28, 2025
56 min
In this month’s Fearless Founders episode, we spoke with Brent Oberink, co-owner of Laner Corp and host of The Better Contractor podcast. Brent shared his entrepreneurial journey, from launching a nationwide maintenance contracting business for the oil and gas industry in 2007 to growing it into a 50+ employee company with multiple locations. He also discussed creating a podcast to support contractors and entrepreneurs while building a vertically integrated brand. Tune in to hear Brent’s insi...
Jul 21, 2025
59 min
In this month’s Fearless Founders episode, we spoke with Katie Clark, founder of Katie Clark Co., a fine jewelry business based in Houston, Texas. Katie shared her journey from working in corporate America at a jewelry store to leveraging her TikTok platform to launch her own custom jewelry company in 2023. She now balances entrepreneurship, motherhood, and content creation while building her growing brand. Tune in to hear Katie discuss the lessons she’s learned about time management, prici...
Jul 14, 2025
57 min
Load more