Podcast
From the Ground Up
Hosted by Grit Daily - John Boitnott · EN
Building something from nothing isn’t for the faint of heart. It takes vision, relentless determination, and a willingness to push through the unknown. Join John Boitnott on From the Ground Up, a podcast from Grit Daily, where founders, creators, and industry leaders share their raw, unfiltered stories about making it — or sometimes, barely surviving the ride. From the pivotal moments to the unexpected lessons, this is where real talk meets real experience.
32episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Caroline Boudreaux
4w ago00:31:00Tap to summarizeMiracle Foundation founder Caroline Boudreaux shares how a life-changing encounter in India led her to rethink orphan care entirely. She explains why the future of child welfare lies in keeping families together—and how technology is helping make that possible.
Transcribe →
Hannah Hayden
4w ago00:29:56Tap to summarizeSapphire Counseling founder Hannah Hayden explains why effective therapy depends on trust, authenticity, and genuine connection. She also shares how those principles shaped the growth of her Virginia-based practice and continue to guide the counselors she hires.
Transcribe →
Andrew Bryan
Jul 800:35:24Tap to summarizeTrek Epic founder Andrew Bryan explains why experiential learning, mentorship, and even a long walk can help emerging adults understand their strengths, make better decisions, and navigate an uncertain future.
Transcribe →
Charles Masi
Jul 700:36:53Tap to summarizeCharles Masi shares how a life of curiosity led him through physics, business, teaching, art, journalism, and film production. He explains why systems thinking matters and how creative work depends on understanding how different parts fit together.
Transcribe →
Matthew Fornaro
Jul 700:25:15Tap to summarizeBusiness attorney Matthew Fornaro explains why many legal problems begin as business planning mistakes. He shares how entrepreneurs can protect their companies early, use AI responsibly, and avoid costly disputes before they happen.
Transcribe →
Ari Rastegar
Jul 600:31:54Tap to summarizeRastegar Capital founder and CEO Ari Rastegar discusses why failure drives growth, how entrepreneurs can navigate messy markets, and what it means to make business and real estate decisions with a 100-year horizon.
Transcribe →
Mimmo Cricchio
Jul 600:31:58Tap to summarizeIndependent travel advisor Mimmo Cricchio shares how his family's hospitality roots shaped his career, why word of mouth remains his most powerful marketing tool, and how rebuilding after major change pushed him to think bigger about travel and entrepreneurship.
Transcribe →
Tim Wilbur
Jun 2400:29:33Tap to summarizeTim Wilbur, International Director and Leadership Trainer for Vineyard India Compassion Trust, shares how education became the center of his life’s work. Through New Song Community School in Telangana, India, the organization helps children from rural villages gain access to English-medium education, opportunity, and a broader vision for their futures. The conversation explores poverty, service, sustainability, girls’ education, and why helping others can change the giver as much as the people being served.
Transcribe →
Jon Ramer
Jun 1900:32:51Tap to summarizeJon Ramer, founder and “first first follower” of the Compassion Games, explains how acts of kindness can become a framework for social change. Drawing on music, technology, Indigenous wisdom, and decades of movement-building, he shares why cooperation may be one of humanity’s most important evolutionary advantages. The conversation explores compassion, AI, regenerative commerce, bioregions, and what it means to build a more caring world through play.
Transcribe →
Seymour Segnit
Jun 1500:37:19Tap to summarizeSeymour Segnit, founder of MAGFAST, shares how a simple frustration with messy charging cables became a long, difficult, and ultimately revealing entrepreneurial journey. He explains how transparency, customer trust, product design, and persistence helped MAGFAST survive delays and rebuild momentum around a new generation of chargers. The conversation explores crowdfunding, communication, environmental responsibility, and the challenge of making everyday technology feel genuinely delightful.
Transcribe →