Podcast
Atomic CEO
Hosted by Adam Hurd & Tom Marino · EN
Atomic CEO Podcast: Real conversations. Real lessons. No fluff. Each week on the Atomic CEO Podcast, Adam Thomas Hurd and Tom Marino, co-founders of Atomic Business Coaching, sit down with a guest CEO to talk about what’s really going on in their world, their clients’ world, and the world of small business. They’re not teaching preplanned lessons or reading from a script. They’re having open, unfiltered conversations about what it takes to "Be the CEO" of both your life and business. Expect stories, insights, and the occasional tangent. From leadership to mindset, from family to freedom, from mistakes to breakthroughs. Every episode connects back to one question: How do you stop running your business… and start leading it? 🎧 New episodes every week. Subscribe and join the conversation. Learn more about Adam & Tom → https://www.BeThe.CEO
25episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Why You DON’T Need a Brand to Start a Business with Ryan Musselman
Apr 800:37:35Tap to summarizeIn this episode of The Atomic CEO Podcast, Tom and Adam sit down with Ryan Musselman—former Google leader and VP of Content at Cinemark turned entrepreneur—to explore what it really takes to step out of the corporate world and build a business on your own terms.Ryan shares his journey from leading digital content companies and scaling startups to walking away from structured corporate systems and embracing experimentation, iteration, and agency. The conversation dives into unlearning process-heavy thinking, navigating pivots, and building businesses in today’s rapidly evolving AI-driven landscape.If you’ve ever felt stuck between “doing it right” and just getting started—this episode is your permission slip to move.👤 About Ryan Musselman Ryan Musselman is a content strategist, entrepreneur, and former corporate executive with a background in sales, marketing, and digital media.Former Google employeeLed multiple startup content companies through acquisitionServed as VP of Content at Cinemark, exploring new media models like bringing YouTubers to the big screenBuilt a successful business in LinkedIn content, ghostwriting, and coaching.Now focused on AI-driven marketing and content systems, with a specialty in bottom-of-funnel strategy that drives action—not just attention.Ryan is known for his sharp thinking, simple execution philosophy, and ability to challenge conventional “build a brand first” advice.Connect with Ryan: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rmuss/ Website: https://www.coacheswhoclose.com/ Atomic CEO.We help owners who build and maintain buildings install a CEO Operating System so they can think differently, lead differently, and grow the business beyond themselves.➡️ https://www.atomicbusinesscoaching.com/
Transcribe →CEO Isn’t a Title – It's a Mindset : Real Talk with TJ Arella
Apr 100:37:45Tap to summarizeIn this episode of the Atomic CEO Podcast, we sit down with TJ Arella, Co-founder and Coach at 8Well, to talk about what it really means to take ownership of your life and business.TJ isn’t your typical “CEO.” He represents a new wave of leaders—people who aren’t hiding behind titles but instead are actively building, evolving, and leading from the front.As a co-founder of 8Well, TJ is focused on helping individuals elevate their standards, take control of their decisions, and step into a more intentional way of living. His approach blends personal growth, accountability, and real-world experience—making his perspective both relatable and actionable.What stands out about TJ is his ability to simplify what leadership actually looks like:Owning your decisionsTaking responsibility for your outcomesLeading yourself before trying to lead othersThis conversation goes beyond business—it’s about identity, growth, and what it truly means to become the CEO of your own life.TJ Arella is the Co-founder and Coach at 8Well, where he works with individuals to elevate their mindset, take ownership of their lives, and operate with greater clarity and intention.Through his coaching and leadership, TJ helps people move from passive participation to active leadership in both business and life.Connect with TJ:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tjarella/ ; https://www.instagram.com/8well.life/?hl=en Website: https://8welllife.com/Atomic CEO.We help owners who build and maintain buildings install a CEO Operating System so they can think differently, lead differently, and grow the business beyond themselves. ➡️https://www.atomicbusinesscoaching.com/
Transcribe →Stepping into the CEO with Joe Beauchamp
Mar 2500:39:33Tap to summarizeIn this episode, we sit down with Joe Beauchamp—a seasoned leadership development specialist, executive coach, and founder of Beauchamp Team Growth Solutions—for a powerful conversation on what it truly takes to grow as a business owner and leader.With over 30 years of experience in corporate management and education, Joe brings a rare combination of real-world business expertise and academic depth, holding both an MBA and a Master of Science degree. Throughout his career, he has trained and coached hundreds of professionals across multiple industries, helping them improve performance, increase productivity, and drive profitability.Joe’s approach stands out because he doesn’t just teach concepts—he focuses on implementation that sticks. By combining training with coaching, he ensures that business owners and leaders don’t just learn new strategies, but actually apply them consistently to create long-term results.As a Certified Executive Program Leader, Coach, Speaker, and Trainer with the Maxwell Leadership Team, Joe is equipped with world-class leadership frameworks from John Maxwell, widely recognized as one of the most influential leadership experts in the world.Joe is deeply committed to helping individuals become the best version of themselves while building organizations rooted in growth, accountability, and excellence.Connect with Joe:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-a-beauchamp-mba-ms-42348072/ Website: https://www.beauchampteam.com/ ____________Atomic CEO.We help owners who build and maintain buildings install a CEO Operating System so they can think differently, lead differently, and grow the business beyond themselves. ➡️https://www.atomicbusinesscoaching.com/
Transcribe →Why Most Business Owners Are Trapped in Their Own Business
Mar 1800:30:10Tap to summarizeAdam and Tom from Atomic Business Coaching help entrepreneurs, solopreneurs, and small business owners simplify how they grow their businesses. As business coaches, authors, and speakers, they share practical strategies, leadership insights, and mindset shifts that help business owners stop feeling overwhelmed and start leading with clarity and confidence. Tom Marino brings extensive operational leadership experience. Today, he helps entrepreneurs build discipline, strengthen decision-making, and overcome the limiting beliefs and sabotaging behaviors that often hold business owners back. Adam focuses on business strategy, accountability, and practical execution, helping entrepreneurs turn ideas into focused action that drives real results. Through the Be The CEO Coaching Program, their podcast, Adam and Tom help business owners move beyond working in their business and start leading it like a true CEO. If you're an entrepreneur looking to grow your business, develop a CEO mindset, and build sustainable success, this channel is for you. Topics We Cover Small business growth CEO mindset for entrepreneurs Leadership and business strategy Sales and business development Overcoming limiting beliefs Productivity and focus for business owners 🌐 Learn more: https://atomicbusinesscoaching.com
Transcribe →Danny DelVecchio – Top LinkedIn Creator
Mar 1100:37:39Tap to summarizeDanny DelVecchio is known for simple and stress-free content systems for ambitious founders who want visibility that drives revenue. He has helped 250+ companies and generated $20M+ in pipelines.Three and a half years ago, he quit his corporate job to build an online business. Since then, he’s landed 250+ clients and made over 7 figures from my organic content, without any paid ads. The most important "content hack" that he's realized is that the best content doesn't come from brainstorming. It comes from the conversations you're already having: sales calls, client meetings, podcasts, workshops. So he built Content on Easy Mode, the only content consultancy that builds a complete program around the conversations already happening in your business. He combines social selling, content, and video creation into one stress-free system.LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dannydelvecchio/LinkedIn Business Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/contentoneasymode/Book a call with Danny: https://calendly.com/coachdcreates/video
Transcribe →Why Your Business Feels Frozen
Mar 400:24:31Tap to summarizeIn this episode of the Be The CEO Podcast, Tom and Adam explore the hidden “deep freeze” that can affect businesses, both seasonally and psychologically. Using real-world examples and client experiences, they unpack how decision-making slows during certain times of the year and how many leaders unknowingly build their plans on unrealistic assumptions about time, energy, and momentum. The conversation shifts into a deeper exploration of belief systems, how outdated beliefs create misalignment, how entrepreneurs get stuck in practitioner mode, and why upgrading your thinking is essential as you evolve from practitioner to owner to CEO. They explain how decisive action, commitment, and alignment between belief and behavior determine whether you build momentum or stall out. This episode is a practical reminder that growth requires regular recalibration. When you upgrade your beliefs, your behaviors shift, and that’s what ultimately drives sustainable success in both life and business. 🎧 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:Why businesses lose more productive weeks than they realize each year How seasonal slowdowns expose weak decision-making habits The difference between practitioner, owner, and CEO thinking Why upgrading your belief system is necessary for growth How misalignment creates burnout and frustration The role of commitment and conviction in real transformation ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 – Seasonal slowdowns and the business “deep freeze” 05:00 – How many weeks you really have to do business 10:00 – Practitioner vs. Owner vs. CEO mindset 14:00 – Upgrading beliefs and eliminating misalignment 18:00 – Commitment versus interest 22:00 – Simplifying life and business through alignment 🔥 Power Quotes You don’t really have 52 weeks to do business; you have closer to 40. If you don’t upgrade your beliefs, you’ll stay stuck in old behaviors. Misalignment is the first signal that something needs to change. Business and life are simple; they’re just not easy. 📝 Topics Covered Seasonal business cycles Decision-making and momentum Belief system upgrades Practitioner to CEO evolution Alignment and personal growth Commitment and conviction 🧭 Key Takeaway Growth requires intentional recalibration. As markets change and you evolve personally, your belief systems must evolve too. When you regularly evaluate your convictions, upgrade outdated thinking, and align your behaviors with your current vision, you eliminate friction and accelerate progress. 💬 Connect with Us 👉 Visit bethe.ceo 👉 Follow Tom Marino & Adam Hurd on LinkedIn & Instagram
Transcribe →The Moment You Actually Become a CEO
Feb 2500:23:19Tap to summarizeIn this episode of the BeThe CEO Podcast, Tom and Adam share real-world stories that bring their philosophy of Believe, Behave, and Become to life. Rather than speaking in theory, they unpack moments where belief systems shifted, behaviors changed, and true transformation occurred.They explore the identity shift that happens in fatherhood, the power of certainty in decision-making, and the behavioral standards that separate leaders from followers. Through practical examples, they demonstrate how belief fuels certainty, certainty drives decisive behavior, and consistent execution is what ultimately defines who you become.This episode is a behind-the-scenes look at what transformation actually looks like in business and life, and how you can intentionally create it for yourself.🎧 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:How belief shifts during major life transitions like fatherhoodWhy certainty eliminates hesitation and fuels decisive actionThe role of meaningful goals and standards in behaving like a CEOHow fear disappears when belief becomes clearThe difference between grinding alone and leading through delegationWhat execution really means in the journey to becoming a CEO⏱️ Timestamps00:00 – Introducing Believe, Behave, Become through real stories03:00 – Fatherhood and the instant shift in belief08:00 – Thinking five steps ahead as a leader12:00 – Certainty, meaningful goals, and standards15:00 – Decisive action and overcoming fear19:00 – Execution versus doing everything yourself21:30 – Delegation as the turning point of becoming a CEO🔥 Power QuotesWhen belief becomes certain, decisions become simple.People follow decisive action.Fear disappears when you truly believe you’re ready.You haven’t become the CEO until execution happens without hesitation.📝 Topics CoveredBelieve, Behave, Become philosophyIdentity shifts and leadership growthMeaningful goals and standardsCertainty and decisive actionDelegation and executionPersonal evolution in business🧭 Key TakeawayReal transformation requires intentional belief, disciplined behavior, and decisive execution. When you strengthen your beliefs, align them with meaningful goals, and act without hesitation, you don’t just behave like a CEO—you become one.💬 Connect with Us👉 Visit bethe.ceo👉 Follow Tom Marino & Adam Hurd on LinkedIn & Instagram
Transcribe →Why You Feel Stuck (And The Power You’re Missing)
Feb 1800:23:58Tap to summarizeIn this powerful episode of the BeThe CEO Podcast, Tom and Adam explore the real reason many founders and leaders feel stuck, despite knowing what decisions they should make. The conversation uncovers a critical distinction between certainty and agency, revealing that while people often gain clarity about why they should act, they frequently lack the internal permission, confidence, or power to execute.Through reflections on identity, vulnerability, control, and personal evolution, they explain how true progress requires more than strategy. It demands the courage to step into a new version of yourself, release the illusion of controlling outcomes, and focus instead on what is genuinely within your power.This episode reframes personal development as a journey toward agency, fulfillment, and intentional action, challenging listeners to confront the beliefs and fears that quietly hold them back from becoming who they know they could be.🎧 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:Why certainty in results is impossible, but certainty in decisions is essentialThe true meaning of agency and why many people never activate itHow identity evolution creates fear, hesitation, and resistance to actionWhy vulnerability is not weakness but a pathway to clarity and certaintyThe importance of focusing only on what you can controlHow commitment, effort, and obsession shape meaningful success⏱️ Timestamps00:00 – Revelations about certainty and agency01:20 – Why results can never be guaranteed02:30 – The difference between knowing and executing04:00 – Identity change and the fear of stepping forward07:30 – Personal development as transformation10:30 – Growth, fulfillment, and challenging beliefs13:30 – Feeling stuck, amateur versus professional thinking15:00 – Control, responsibility, and personal power18:30 – Vulnerability as the path to certainty21:00 – Commitment, effort, and obsession (CEO mindset)🔥 Power QuotesYou can’t get certainty in results, but you can get certainty in why you act.Agency is the freedom and power to actually take the action you know you should take.Vulnerability isn’t losing control, it’s how you find truth and certainty.If you focus on what you can control, progress becomes possible.📝 Topics CoveredCertainty versus agencyIdentity evolution and personal growthControl, responsibility, and executionVulnerability and emotional safetyFulfillment beyond moneyCommitment, effort, and obsession🧭 Key TakeawayFeeling stuck rarely comes from a lack of knowledge or strategy. More often, it comes from missing agency, the internal permission and power to act. When you shift your focus toward what you can control, embrace vulnerability, and commit fully to growth, forward motion becomes inevitable and fulfillment becomes possible.💬 Connect with Us👉 Visit bethe.ceo👉 Follow Tom Marino & Adam Hurd on LinkedIn & Instagram
Transcribe →The Standards That Change Everything
Feb 1100:27:03Tap to summarizeIn this deeply reflective episode of the BeThe CEO Podcast, Tom and Adam explore the invisible force shaping every result in business and life: standards. What begins as a conversation about energy, habits, and daily structure quickly unfolds into a powerful examination of belief, intention, and alignment.They reveal why most people fail, not because of poor tactics, but because they abandon the standards that should guide their actions. When belief disappears, behaviors drift, teams disengage, and progress quietly stalls. True growth, they argue, comes from defining meaningful standards, allowing tactics to evolve beneath them, and maintaining unwavering belief in the mission those standards serve.This episode challenges founders and leaders to reassess what they truly believe, realign their standards with meaningful goals, and operate with the clarity and intention required to build lasting success.🎧 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:Why standards, not tactics, ultimately determine outcomesHow belief shapes values, behaviors, and long-term successThe danger of abandoning standards when tactics stop workingWhy energy, habits, and structure influence leadership performanceHow misalignment between belief and action creates internal frictionWhat separates committed leaders from those merely following the status quo⏱️ Timestamps00:00 - Energy, focus, and daily performance habits04:00 - Structuring schedules for clarity and productivity08:30 - Addiction, habits, and behavioral conditioning11:00 - Predictability, recovery, and managing mental energy14:30 - Standards versus rigid tactics in daily work17:00 - How standards create intention and certainty20:00 - Why people abandon standards when tactics fail23:00 - Belief, culture, and retaining aligned teams26:00 - Commitment, obsession, and being “all in”27:00 - Final reflections on belief and progress🔥 Power QuotesStandards create intention, and intention creates certaintyWhen you abandon belief in your standards, everything begins to drift.You’re either all in, or you’re in the way.Great businesses aren’t built on tactics, they’re built on belief.📝 Topics CoveredStandards versus tacticsBelief and alignmentEnergy management and habitsLeadership culture and commitmentBehavioral change and intentionProgress versus status quo🧭 Key TakeawayLasting success doesn’t come from perfect tactics—it comes from clear standards backed by genuine belief. When founders define meaningful standards, stay aligned with their purpose, and adapt tactics without abandoning intention, progress becomes sustainable, teams stay engaged, and fulfillment replaces drift.💬 Connect with Us👉 Visit bethe.ceo👉 Follow Tom Marino & Adam Hurd on LinkedIn & Instagram
Transcribe →Why Founders Are Stuck in Noise Instead of Progress
Feb 400:36:46Tap to summarizeIn this raw and unfiltered episode of the BeTheCEO Podcast, Tom and Adam confront a growing frustration many founders feel but rarely articulate: the overwhelming noise created by technology, platforms, and performative professionalism that stalls real progress.What begins as a candid vent quickly evolves into a powerful examination of intention, seriousness, and direction. Tom and Adam break down why most founders are not actually stuck because of strategy, tools, or opportunity, but because they are avoiding directness, clarity, and personal responsibility. This episode challenges listeners to stop playing games, set clear intentions, and move forward with purpose.🎧 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:Why technology often creates noise instead of leverageHow performative networking blocks real opportunityThe cost of avoiding direct conversations in businessWhy most founders lack clear intention in their actionsHow ego and indecision quietly sabotage momentumWhat it means to operate like a serious professional⏱️ Timestamps00:00 - How technology amplifies noise and distraction02:30 - The frustration of performative engagement05:40 - Why most online interactions go nowhere09:30 - Playing games versus being professional13:40 - The importance of intention in networking16:50 - When ego blocks opportunity20:00 - Real-world examples of missed follow-through24:00 - Noise versus clarity in modern business28:30 - Trusting the process without tolerating nonsense33:30 - Final thoughts on cutting through the noise🔥 Power QuotesNo one is serious anymore, and it’s killing progress.Noise feels like motion, but it isn’t progress.Clarity starts when you stop playing games.Being direct is a form of respect. 📝 Topics CoveredNoise versus progressProfessionalism in businessIntentional communicationNetworking behaviourEgo and avoidanceDirection and clarity🧭 Key TakeawayFounders don’t get stuck because they lack tools or platforms — they get stuck because they lack intention. When you stop tolerating noise, get honest about what you want, and communicate directly, progress becomes inevitable.💬 Connect with Us👉 Visit bethe.ceo👉 Follow Tom Marino & Adam Hurd on LinkedIn & Instagram
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