Welcome to
The Playhard Podcast
Starting a business is an arduous journey… the trick to surviving is having fun along the way.
Armand Uno, early-stage start-up founder and fun-hobby haver, interviews entrepreneurs weekly about the healthy habits and hobbies they have to combat serious stress.
If you’re entrepreneuring, battling burnout, looking for new hobbies, and/or are just plain ol’ curious how successful superstars like to play along the way – check out an episode!
Latest Episodes
#65. Mastering Marketing, Multiple Languages, and a Formula for Adventure with Laura “The Sherpa of Fun” Petrullo (founder of Mongoose Media)
Lauren Petrullo lives the kind of life you wanna live. Her dog, Alexander Hamilpup, is a celebrity. She races dragon boats and drinks mysterious Vietnamese herb teas. She even looks...
#64. From Death Row Prison Guard to 40+ Exits, While Still Traveling the World by Motorcycle with Ron Douglas (founder of Mentoring Giants)
Ron Douglas has the soul of an adventurer, the heart of a Texan, and enough stories to leave you inspired and left wondering, “How the hell did he do...
#63. The Largest Rage Room Company in the US, Dopamine Regulation, and Personal Development with Steven Shortino (founder of iSmash)
At 21, Steven opened up his first rage room. You know, those places where you go in and break shit. Now, at 26, Steven is the owner of the...
#62. Predatory Marketing, Finding Resources in Healthcare, and a Mission to Help New Parents with Andrea Ippolito (founder of SimpliFed)
Today’s guest is an incredibly smart & talented founder — who did this interview 2 weeks after having a baby! Andrea Ippolito is the founder of SimpliFed, a telehealth...
#61. Learn to Think for Yourself… by Writing with Ryan Love (founder of Love Language Media)
At age 7, Ryan Love was given a cane to walk with. At age 16, he was 300 lbs. 2 different autoimmune conditions impacted his health and life. Writing...
#60. Running a Business like a Band and Living Life without Any “Stuff” with Chad Passa (founder of Bookkeepers of America)
Chad spent 20 years as a rockstar and his whole life as an entrepreneur. We talk about the similarities between being in a band and running a business. Oh,...
#59. Wisdom and Wonder: Generative AI, First Principles Thinking, and Not Taking Yourself Too Serious with Pete Sena (founder of ThinkFWD and Digital Surgeons)
What do Starbucks, Viagra, and Netflix have in common? And no, the answer is not “a late night.” All 3 used their brand and storytelling abilities to create a...
#58. Top 3 Social Media Ad Platforms, TikTok vs US Congress, and Life as a Pet Pig Papa with Alex Rossman (founder of Rossman Media)
Successful entrepreneurs carry with them an intense, often delusional, level of self-belief. It’s essential to the recipe. In any case, there will come the point where that self-belief is...
UPDATE: Episode for the week
Title. This message will self-destruct…. eventually. — Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/playhardpodcast/support
#57. Adult ADHD, Getting Government Grants and More with Mark Cann (founder of Hyypa)
What a world we live in. Adults are finding out they have ADHD through TikTok! During the pandemic, Mark Cann was diagnosed with ADHD. He decided to get checked...
#56. Setting Boundaries, Finding Balance, and Learning to Recharge with Tyerra Drake (Girls on Another Level)
Tyerra is on a mission to inspire and empower women to become catalysts for success. She’s a really balanced, centered individual who consciously sets the time for rest, recharging,...
#55. Warm Water, Cool Drink, and Caribbean Sun: The Joys of Trinidad’s Carnival with Fayola King Lawrence (founder of Come to the Islands)
Are you dreaming of white sandy beaches and Caribbean getaways? You will be soon. This next guest runs a company that helps you escape the task of not being...
#54. Inspiring a YouTube Community, Running a Print Shop, and How to Hustle Smarter with Bhavik Dhanak (founder of Aesthetic Imprints)
No Grind, No Glory. Those are the words Bhavik “Baav” Dhanak lives by. He started a print shop at age 16, and now runs an online and brick-and-mortar custom...
#53. Do What Makes You Smile, Even if it Sounds Like a Stupid Ass Idea with Chris Joyce (founder of Gusher)
At 6 years old, a young Chris Joyce sold seeds door to door, which he got from a Spiderman comic book. Fast forward to today, he’s founded 24 companies...
#52. Immigrants Hustle Harder, How to build a High Performing Sales Team, and Finding your North Star with Pouya Haidari (founder of PH Inc.)
Pouya Haidari trained thousands of entrepreneurs and sales professionals, helping them generate $100M+ in sales. He has 11 years of experience spanning 7 different industries, and it really shined...
#51. Innovating Apparel with 0 Prior Experience, Growing up in a Foreign Country, and More with Brandon Rogers (founder of LVLS Sportswear)
As a D3 basketball player, Brandon knew his problem from very early on: Sportswear is boring. Anyone can come along and slap a logo on a dry-fit tee and...
#50. Vertical SaaS, Rules for Prioritization, and Coin Collecting with Zach Starin (founder of Collectibles Showcase)
Zach Starin is passionate about empowering people to pursue their passions. He's a founder of Collectibles Showcase, a vertical SaaS company serving rare collectibles dealers. Think coins, baseball cards,...
#49. This Comedian/Actor/Director Started a Company to Fuel His Passions, and Did $100M+ in Sales with Michael Stein (founder of Abadak, Inc.)
At 20, Michael was the #1 club promoter in LA for his age bracket. He leveraged his network, club-promoting company, and stand-up comedy skills to star in the 1988...
#48. How to Focus Your Time While Operating 4 Brands at Once with James Mulvany (founder of… a lot)
James is the founder and CEO of Cue, Radio.co, Podcast.co, and Matchmaker.FM. We talk about how to manage multiple teams under one roof, how to keep the lines of...
#47. Cut Your Phone Calls, Liquidity Events in the Dot Com Bubble, and Tales from an Adventurer with Riggs Eckelberry (Origin Clear)
Water makes up 60% of the human body and we can’t go more than 3 days without it. It’s essential for life, yet how we access, process and filter...
#46. A Cover Letter, ChatGPT, and Reddit Walk into a Bar with Jonah Peake (founder of We Cover Letters)
Everybody hates writing cover letters. This much is true. But nobody hates cover letters more than Jonah Peake. Jonah hates cover letters so much, he created a site that...
#45. Mastering Storytelling, Scuba diving, and Life as a 2000’s Rave DJ with Seth Erickson (of Storify Agency
Seth Erickson is one cool-ass dude. First of all, he runs an agency that helps customers with Design, Branding, and Storytelling. He’s really mastered the art of telling stories,...
44. I did a self interview
Enjoy my thoughts, musings, and other observations on habits, hobbies, and entrepreneurship. This ep. is dedicated to Kakis. — Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/playhardpodcast/support
#43. A Powerfully Positive Mindset for Creating Value and Fulfillment: The Return of Steven Pemberton (founder of Hollowco)
Steven Pemberton is back! In this episode, we talk about Steven’s pivot and how it impacted his business. We also talk about Steven’s incredible mindset. He’s a very giving...
#42. Finding Your Values, Establishing Lifelong Habits, and Mindset Coaching with Kyle Gillette (Founder of Blue Collar Business Coaching)
I live my life with these 5 values: Integrity, Curiosity, Courage, Respect, and Discipline. A set of values acts as your north star. A guiding light during dark times....
#42. Proving the Fictional Characters in Your Head Wrong with Stefan Conic
We’re all motivated by different things. Some of us by money. Others the fame. One of the most powerful motivators in the world is proving your haters wrong. Even...
SPECIAL UPDATE
So ya, been going through some thangs… But the show goes on. We’ll be back next week. Making some changes to the format/website/show in general. If you have any...
#40. Men’s Mental Health, Consistency, and The Curse of the Social Butterfly with Will Doerr (founder of Always Check on the Homies)
Are you a man but don’t feel like a man because you feel feelings? Feels silly, huh? Well, men struggle to face their feelings and mental health issues head-on....
#39. Living in Alignment with the Life You Design with Milena Regos
If there were one productivity tip I wish everyone could learn, it would be this: getting in the flow state outside of work helps you get in the flow...
#38. New Years Resolutions, Experimenting on Yourself, and Social Deloading with Jubal Horton
This episode taught me something I once thought to be impossible. How to play video games with healthy limits. Jubal Horton is a Playhard Jedi master or something. Maybe...
#37. Gong Fu Tea, Super Supplements, and the Mental Health Battles of an Entrepreneur with Josh Boone
I’m actually kinda mad at Josh rn. Because of him, I spent way too much money on my tea setup. Kidding. Not really, but I’m not mad about it...
#36. Serendipity, Navigating Resources, and Finding the Right Mentor with Kwaku Farkye (founder of Navi)
Kwaku Farkye has been a part of multiple startups, an accelerator program, and even helped a company get acquired by a $20B giant. As CTO, he’s got a wealth...
#35. Diversity Goals, Removing the Guilt of “Doing More”, and Excellence Defined by Jay-Z with Jorge Garcia (Founder of Hello Iconic)
The competitive mind tells us, “there’s so much stuff I NEED to be doing right now” and it leaves you feeling guilty when resting. Jorge Garcia is familiar with...
#34. Outsource Your Dating, Framing, and How to Talk to Yourself with Koen Geron (Founder of Hovalo)
Stanford sociologist, Michael Rosenfeld, found the #1-way couples meet today is online dating. Koen Geron is riding the wave of this cultural shift like Cody in Surf’s Up. Koen...
#33. The Secret to Branding is to Make it Bada$$ with Mark Drager (Founder of Phanta Media)
At age 23, Mark Drager started an ad agency. With 0 experience he went all in. Aaand, it didn’t go well. At first… Fast-forward 15 years, Mark does branding...
#. 32 Email is Evil, Accidental Entrepreneurship, and Breaking Bad Habits with Jeremy Nagel (Founder of focus bear)
Jeremy Nagel has a bad bad habit — he checks his email first thing in the morning. The man can’t stop. He tried everything from app/site blockers to having...
#31. Coffee Nerds Shouldn’t Run Coffee Companies with Zach Frantz (Founder of Wildland Coffee)
Zach Frantz’s company, Wildland Coffee, makes coffee in a tea bag. Overlanders, campers, and outdoor enthusiasts love coffee but find their usual outdoor coffee methods inconvenient (and heavy). As...
#30. Growing SaaS and Clothing Businesses, Pioneering Remote Work, and Being Cofounders with your Brother with Kevan Sadigh (Founder of Rex Reservations)
Back in 2013, Kevan sold his first company. They had 20 employees, full manufacturing and distribution warehouses in the US, and were a hit nationwide. He’d barely gotten out...
#29. When to Pivot, Finding a Morning Routine, and Animal Yoga with Ben Heymann (Former Founder at Altitude)
Ben Heymann holds the record for the most random morning routine ever — it involves sharp rocks, no lights, and a jacuzzi. Ben was a Founder at Altitude before...
#28. Passion, Plastic, and Pollution: One Man’s Mission to Save the Ocean with Tom Jackson (Founder of Honest Ocean)
In 2014, while working on a superyacht, Tom sailed past a horrific sight that would change his life — a plastic berg. Plastic bergs are “icebergs” made of trash....
#27. How to Grow a Startup Scene in Latin America with Luis Gustavo Flores (Founder of Movitext)
Have you tried acid? Some people listen to Hendrix, others play in the woods. This next guest took acid and watched 8 hours of TED talks, inspiring him to...
#26. Expert Hot Takes On Generational Shifts in the Workforce from a 25-year Recruiting Veteran with Ken Schmitt (Founder of Turning Point Executive Search)
OK, Boomer! Remember when that was a thing? In this episode, we get into the generational gaps in the workplace, smashing corporate traditions, and why people leave companies. Today’s...
#25. The #1 Vintage Photography App Was Inspired by Tame Impala with Darren Asaro (Creator of Daze Cam)
This guest and I have known each other since middle school, so you’re either going to love or hate the episode.I’m ok with that. Darren Asaro is an App...
#24. Gratitude and a Good Attitude is the Secret to Happiness with Steve Walker (Owner and CEO of TB Consulting)
Steve’s coolness can be boiled down to this one quote from the show: “Surfing is so much better than not surfing.” He went to college to be a middle...
#23. Stop Specializing And You’ll Find Your Passion with Noah Scott (The Big Possible)
Want to hear bad advice? “Spend your whole life getting good at one thing.” If you’re like me, you value variety in skills and experiences. This advice feels you’re...
#22. Whack Golf Balls Or Go For A Jog, Just Don’t Lose Your Investor’s Money with Charles Brecque (Founder of Legislate)
Breaking the Law: a great ‘80s song but a horrible business practice. Charles Brecque (@charlesbrecque) is the Founder and CEO of Legislate, an end-to-end contract management platform that creates...
#21. How to Build a Media Strategy for Bootstrapping Startups and UFO Groups with Tom Garrity (of The Garrity Group)
This guest was wearing a suit and bow tie while I was in a hat and t-shirt. Guess who’s a professional in public image. Armand Uno (@thenameisuno) sits down...
#20. Lessons Learned from a Lifetime of Entrepreneurship, Investing, and Motorcycle Riding with Carlos Fry (Founder of CODE ÉXITOS)
Even the best motorcyclists crash. Same goes for Founders. This next guest explains, beautifully, his crashes and how he bounces back! Armand Uno (@thenameisuno) sits down with Founder and...
#19. A 7-figure Exit Doesn’t Lead to Happiness (but I’ll tell ya what does…) with Josh Boone
Ah yes, the question we love to ask, “What is happiness?” I’ll tell you what it’s not… getting what you want. Armand Uno (@thenameisuno) sits down with Founder and...
#18. Find Your Purpose, Serve Others, and More with Ibrahim Omar (Founder at LightUpp)
We humans have 3 deep core desires that are always on our minds, whether you think about ‘em or not. Armand Uno (@thenameisuno) sits down with Founder and Psychologist...
#17. Stop Stress Eating by Changing this 1 Relationship with David Hernandez (Founder of Body by Purpose)
Hold on to your popcorn, Listener. In fact… get rid of it. Throw that buttery badness away. Armand Uno (@thenameisuno) sits down with Founder and fitness coach David Hernandez...
#16. Stop Quitting and Develop Grit By Learning to Fail Forward with Jenna Zeng (StaffNet.ca)
Armand Uno (@thenameisuno) sits down with 2x business owner Jenna Zeng to talk about accidentally becoming an entrepreneur (twice), the right way to fail, and her glory days as...
15. You Are Either Interesting or Irrelevant with Chris Ritter of C-90 Studios
Armand Uno (@thenameisuno) sits down with Creative Director and Founder Chris Ritter (@c_90studio) to talk about creative philosophy, scaling a design studio, and destressing with sensory deprivation tanks. Did...
#14. How to Go from $58k in Debt to $2MM in Sales During a Pandemic with Steven Pemberton
Steven Pemberton started his 20’s in a basement, unable to feed his wife and newborn, living with, “spiders the size of head crawlers from Aliens.” Fast forward a few...
#1. Cybersecurity Pro and Race Car Driver… This Guy is the Real-Life TRON: Derek Pocoroba, Founder and CTO of Triden Group
Buckle up and start your engines ladies and gents, you’re gonna want to make it to the finish line for this episode. Armand Uno (@thenameisuno) rides shotgun with Founder...
#13. Indiana Gregg, Founder of Wedo: Banking and Business Solution for Online Entrepreneurs
Armand Uno (@thenameisuno) sits down with Founder, CEO, and Rockstar Indiana Gregg (@indianagregg) to talk about her life as a singer-songwriter, 5x Founder, and the best meditation technique you’ll...
#12. Pati Recarte, Founder of KADO NETWORKS
Armand Uno sits down with Founder and CEO of KADO, Pati Recarte to talk about networking, fundraising, and why you shouldn’t go to bed staring at the ceiling for...
#11. Talent Doesn’t Matter When You Put In the Work with Wouter Delbaere, Founder of Mangtas
Armand Uno sits down with Wouter Delbaere to chat about growing a two-sided marketplace, running triathlons, and tools for dealing with stress. Mangtas, his company, has grown to 800+...
#10. Heart of Business with Mark Silver
Armand Uno sits down with Mark Silver of Heart of Business to talk about a different side of doing business. A more peaceful one. —– Links: * Mark’s website:...
#9. Gold, Fearless, and Unapologetic with Kassandra Lauren Gordon of KLG Jewellery
Armand Uno sits down with Kassandra Lauren Gordon to talk about goldsmithing and her jewelry business. Kassandra’s jewelry has been featured in Vogue, Vanity Fair, Forbes, and more. They...
#8. Video Games Always Lead to a Great Career, That’s a Fact with Dan Frye
Dan has gone from Network Engineer -> CISO -> CEO and Founder with some wild stories to go with it. In this episode, we go over: Rocketansky’s pre-seed fundraising....
#7. Habits for Excellence with Joe Templin
Thinker, teacher, doer. My man Joe does it all. Self-proclaimed “business swiss army knife” Joe Templin has a really remarkable skill set. He’s the founder of Exakty and The...
Aloha from Florida with Laura DiBenedetto
My good people. Take a look at this bio. Laura DiBenedetto: Started Vision Advertising at 19. Awarded Fortune 40 under 40 at 23. Retired by 37. Then, became a...
#5. How the Stress Doctor De-Stresses with Chris Wilson
Maaan, Chris Wilson is cool as a cucumber. He’s an elite performance coach who’s studied stress’s effects on the human body. As CEO and Founder of Stress Sciences, he’s...
#4. Sensei of Start-up Sales Teams with Kyle Vamvouris
WAIT! Before you listen, grab a pen and paper because Kyle Vamvouris drops some TRUTH behind early-stage company growth. Or, you know… maybe you want to take notes on...
#3. Saving the World… So She Can Backpack Across It! with Mavis Herrera
In this episode, you will hear about Mavis’ life-altering trip to the hospital that led to the birth of MCH Fashion, the awesome ways her company gives back to...
#2. The Man with the Tan: Zeke Berg
Zeke is the CEO and Founder of Society Merch, an eCommerce company that does merchandise for Athletes, Influencers, Celebrities, and more. In his free time, Zeke lives a very...
#66. War Stories, Writing Dark Comedies, and Choosing Role Models Wisely with Danny Maher (founder of Veteran TV)
Danny Maher was a Marine Lieutenant and is currently the founder of Veteran TV and Irreverent Warriors. After fighting in the Afghanistan War, Danny decided he was going to...