In this episode of Turning Point, Blaine Bertsch sits down with Josh Sizemore, a seasoned entrepreneur in the CPG world, to unpack a career defined by speed, resilience, and reinvention. From selling basketball cards as a kid to reviving a bankrupt $200M beverage brand and scaling it into tens of thousands of retail locations, Josh shares how opportunistic thinking and relentless execution fuel long-term success.

The conversation dives into what it really takes to rebuild failed brands, move fast in crowded consumer markets, and adapt across wildly different business models—from beverages and bottled water to CBD e-commerce, kombucha, and franchise operations. Josh opens up about burnout, hard-earned lessons from imperfect exits, and why experience often matters more than a “perfect” outcome.

Josh also introduces his latest venture, FeastFast, a breakthrough snack brand designed for people with diabetes, pre-diabetes, and anyone focused on fasting and ketosis. He explains how clinical testing, patents, and disciplined product development are helping FeastFast deliver snacks that don’t spike blood sugar—while still tasting great. This episode is packed with real-world insights on CPG execution, cash flow discipline, brand building, and navigating risk as an entrepreneur.

Subscribe to Turning Point for more founder stories and practical lessons from the front lines of entrepreneurship. And if you’re a CFO or finance leader tired of wrestling with spreadsheets, visit Dryrun.com to see how cash flow forecasting and scenario modeling can bring clarity, accuracy, and confidence to your business.

#entrepreneurship #CPGbrands #startupjourney #foundermindset #businessgrowth

Listen on your favorite podcast network or at turningpoint.buzzsprout.com

Learn more FeastFast at feastfast.co

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ek-9SfieoJQ

From cash flow management to forecasting and scenario planning, see the impact of your decisions before you act.

dryrun.com

In this episode of Turning Point, Blaine Bertsch talks with James Oliver, founder and CEO of Atlas Bars, about how he turned a college project into a thriving nutrition brand. James shares his journey from selling Cutco knives and mowing lawns to bootstrapping a seven-figure company built on clean ingredients, high protein, and zero sugar. He opens up about limiting risk, learning by doing, and why success comes from relentless execution—not just a good idea.

This conversation dives deep into the realities of entrepreneurship: managing cash flow, scaling lean, overcoming false peaks, and the mental resilience needed to survive the long game. James also shares insights on brand building, knowing your customer, and why delayed gratification is the secret weapon of successful founders.

If you’ve ever wondered how to grow a product-based business from nothing, this episode is packed with real-world lessons on risk management, focus, and grit.

Subscribe to Turning Point for more inspiring founder stories, and visit Dryrun.com to discover how our cash flow forecasting software helps finance teams plan with clarity, accuracy, and efficiency.

#entrepreneurship #startupstory #foundermindset #businessgrowth #healthfood

Listen on your favorite podcast network or at turningpoint.buzzsprout.com

Learn more Atlas Bars at https://atlasbars.com/

Connect with James Oliver at linkedin.com/in/jamesxoliver

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/GXC-1MCDwHg

From cash flow management to forecasting and scenario planning, see the impact of your decisions before you act.

dryrun.com

In this episode of Turning Point - Founder Stories, Blaine Bertsch sits down with Stephen Sakach, founder of AI CMO and Zero Company, to explore how empathy-driven marketing and purpose-led storytelling are reshaping the way brands connect with audiences. From his early entrepreneurial roots to building an AI-powered platform that helps businesses create meaningful, emotionally resonant campaigns, Stephen shares a fascinating journey through innovation, resilience, and conscious business leadership.

The conversation dives into the evolution of digital marketing—from the wild west days of pay-per-click advertising to today’s AI-driven personalization—and how technology can actually make marketing more human. Stephen discusses his “BLISS” philosophy (Build Love Into Scalable Systems), a framework for embedding empathy, gratitude, and purpose into company culture and marketing systems. He explains how emotional connection drives higher customer loyalty and lifetime value, and why businesses that lead with authenticity and kindness are better positioned to thrive.

Blaine and Stephen also touch on entrepreneurship, the challenges of leading through economic downturns, and how self-managed teams, gratitude-based culture, and conscious capitalism are shaping the future of work. This episode is packed with lessons for entrepreneurs, marketers, and leaders who want to build brands that inspire trust, loyalty, and love.

Don’t miss an episode of Turning Point—subscribe, share, and keep learning from entrepreneurs who’ve built meaningful, resilient businesses. For more financial clarity and powerful cash flow forecasting tools to help your business grow strategically, visit Dryrun.com.

#empatheticmarketing #AItools #entrepreneurmindset #brandstrategy #businessgrowth

Listen on your favorite podcast network or at turningpoint.buzzsprout.com

Learn more about AI CMO at aicmo.io

Connect with Stephen Sakach at linkedin.com/in/stephen-sakach-3181aa28b

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Er6MIJrj31g

From cash flow management to forecasting and scenario planning, see the impact of your decisions before you act.

dryrun.com