Podcast
Starting Small
Hosted by Cameron Nagle · EN
Starting Small, is a podcast hosted by entrepreneur Cameron Nagle. Tune in, as Cameron interviews CEO‘s, founders, and entrepreneurs, discussing the stories on how their organizations and businesses were created from the ground up.
28episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
CellarTracker: Eric LeVine
Jan 900:42:25Tap to summarizeEric LeVine didn’t set out to build a startup. He was a Microsoft engineer during the dot-com boom who just wanted to keep track of the wine he owned. So he built a simple spreadsheet — an “Excel for wine” — to organize his own cellar. Friends started asking for access. Then friends of friends. In 2003, Eric put the tool online. That side project became CellarTracker. Today, it has 10M+ users, tracks over $21B worth of wine, and has quietly become the most trusted platform in the wine world. In this episode, Eric walks through turning a personal itch into global infrastructure, why obsession with data and community mattered more than monetization early on, and how CellarTracker now uses AI to help people know when to drink a bottle — not just what they own. Make sure to check out CellarTracker at: https://www.cellartracker.com/ Check out my new book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4kRKGTX Register for Starting Small Summit 2026: https://startingsmallmedia.org/startingsmallsummit Watch our mini-doc - Starting Small: The Raw Truth Behind Entrepreneurship and the American Dream: https://youtu.be/eHuq93wIxs0?si=eDB-ycngvWNapRLO Visit Starting Small Media: https://startingsmallmedia.org/ Subscribe to exclusive Starting Small emails: https://startingsmallmedia.org/newsletter-signup Follow Starting Small: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startingsmallpod/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Startingsmallpod/?modal=admin_todo_tour LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/cameronnagle Starting Small is powered by Riverside.fm, the AI-powered platform that lets you record, edit, repurpose,and distribute studio-quality content as easily as if you had a crew behind you. Check them out now at https://riverside.com/
Transcribe →LIT: Justin Norris
Dec 1200:30:51Tap to summarizeAfter years running a packed West Hollywood fitness studio and launching multiple FitTech products, revenue flattened, Justin Norris' health slipped, and the business stalled. A single cold plunge changed everything. The clarity he felt stepping out of the water sparked a pivot that would take LIT from a traditional fitness brand to a design-forward recovery company now backed by pro athletes and top investors. Today, LIT is redefining the recovery category with premium cold plunges, infrared saunas, and turnkey solutions for gyms, studios, and hospitality groups. In this episode, Justin breaks down how he rebuilt the business from the inside out — the mindset shift, the product decisions, and the bet on recovery becoming the next wave in wellness. Make sure to check out LIT at: https://www.litmethod.com/ Check out my new book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4kRKGTX Register for Starting Small Summit 2026: https://startingsmallmedia.org/startingsmallsummit Watch our mini-doc - Starting Small: The Raw Truth Behind Entrepreneurship and the American Dream: https://youtu.be/eHuq93wIxs0?si=eDB-ycngvWNapRLO Visit Starting Small Media: https://startingsmallmedia.org/ Subscribe to exclusive Starting Small emails: https://startingsmallmedia.org/newsletter-signup Follow Starting Small: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startingsmallpod/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Startingsmallpod/?modal=admin_todo_tour LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/cameronnagle Thank you to this episodes mid-break sponsor, Blue Sky. Blue Sky Clayworks has been hand-crafting whimsical, high-quality collectible ceramics for over 20 years — from seasonal candle houses and detailed figurines to tabletop classics you’ll want out year-round. Each piece is individually hand-painted and hand-packed to arrive perfect, and fans rave that the designs are unlike anything else you’ll find. Check out their 12 days of giving until Dec 12th for 20% off deals at https://blueskyclayworks.com/
Transcribe →Archer (Formerly Country Archer): Eugene Kang
Dec 500:28:20Tap to summarizeAt 22 years old, Eugene Kang bought a tiny jerky business from an 80-year-old butcher he met on a road trip. It was doing about $500K a year and relied entirely on private-label production. Over the next fourteen years, he rebuilt everything — the brand, the manufacturing, the product strategy — transforming it into Archer, one of the fastest-growing companies in meat snacks. From navigating USDA operations as a first-time founder, to unlocking national retail doors through a licensed Sriracha SKU that flipped early “no’s” into “yeses”, Eugene grew Archer into a projected $500M brand by 2026, with 90% YoY growth in 2024. In this conversation, he breaks down the operational grind, the rebrand from Country Archer to Archer, and how sticks became the engine behind one of the biggest category expansions in modern snacking. Make sure to check out Archer at: https://archerjerky.com/ Check out my new book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4kRKGTX Register for Starting Small Summit 2026: https://startingsmallmedia.org/startingsmallsummit Watch our mini-doc - Starting Small: The Raw Truth Behind Entrepreneurship and the American Dream: https://youtu.be/eHuq93wIxs0?si=eDB-ycngvWNapRLO Visit Starting Small Media: https://startingsmallmedia.org/ Subscribe to exclusive Starting Small emails: https://startingsmallmedia.org/newsletter-signup Follow Starting Small: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startingsmallpod/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Startingsmallpod/?modal=admin_todo_tour LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/cameronnagle
Transcribe →French Florist: Michael Jacobson
Nov 2600:34:28Tap to summarizeWhen Michael Jacobson took over his uncle’s barely-profitable flower shop in 2018, many saw a sinking business — he saw potential. Through a mix of technology, obsessive customer care, and operational discipline, he turned what was doing roughly $600K a year into a $9.5M+ powerhouse. Today, French Florist isn’t just surviving — it’s preparing to scale nationally through franchise expansion. In this episode, Michael walks us through the behind-the-scenes rebuild: from modernizing outdated systems, rethinking margins, and making flowers a product people rely on, to proving that even a flower shop can be built like a high-growth business. Make sure to check out French Florist at https://www.frenchflorist.com/ Check out my new book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4kRKGTX Register for Starting Small Summit 2026: https://startingsmallmedia.org/startingsmallsummit Watch our mini-doc - Starting Small: The Raw Truth Behind Entrepreneurship and the American Dream: https://youtu.be/eHuq93wIxs0?si=eDB-ycngvWNapRLO Visit Starting Small Media: https://startingsmallmedia.org/ Subscribe to exclusive Starting Small emails: https://startingsmallmedia.org/newsletter-signup Follow Starting Small: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startingsmallpod/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Startingsmallpod/?modal=admin_todo_tour LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/cameronnagle Thank you to this episodes mid-break sponsor, Suri. a sleek, travel-friendly sonic brush that delivers 33,000 vibrations a minute for a deep clean, has plant-based heads you can recycle for free, and now comes with a UV-C charging case that wipes out 99.9% of bacteria at the touch of a button. Brush better. Help the planet. And skip the landfill guilty-conscience — because SURI treats your teeth like the everyday essential they are. Explore it now at https://www.trysuri.com/en-us
Transcribe →Pocono Mountain Maple: Nicole Bentler
Nov 800:22:51Tap to summarizeAs the founder of Pocono Mountain Maple, a 450-acre certified organic maple farm located in the heart of Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains, Nicole has always had a deep appreciation for nature. Under her direction, the farm produces Pocono Maple Water, a naturally hydrating, subtly sweet water tapped fresh each spring from organic maple trees. In addition to its flagship product, the property also offers the region’s only exclusive family nature retreat, blending wellness, sustainability, and outdoor connection in one unique destination. A Pocono native, Bentler returned to the region after more than a decade working in the health and wellness space. Driven by a vision to revive and reimagine a historic maple farm, she transformed it into a source of both nourishment and nature-based experience. Her work with traditional syrup and sap led to the discovery of maple water’s deeper potential—a rare, mineral-rich drink high in manganese that reflects the purity of its origins. Make sure to check out Pocono Mountain Maple at https://www.poconomtnmaple.com/ Check out my new book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4kRKGTX Register for Starting Small Summit 2026: https://startingsmallmedia.org/startingsmallsummit Watch our mini-doc - Starting Small: The Raw Truth Behind Entrepreneurship and the American Dream: https://youtu.be/eHuq93wIxs0?si=eDB-ycngvWNapRLO Visit Starting Small Media: https://startingsmallmedia.org/ Subscribe to exclusive Starting Small emails: https://startingsmallmedia.org/newsletter-signup Follow Starting Small: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startingsmallpod/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Startingsmallpod/?modal=admin_todo_tour LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/cameronnagle
Transcribe →Whisker (Litter-Robot): Jacob Zuppke
Oct 2400:36:34Tap to summarizeFrom early experiments in pet tech to running one of the most successful bootstrapped companies in the country, Jacob Zuppke has led Whisker (maker of Litter-Robot®) into a multi-hundred-million-dollar powerhouse. Over the past four years, Whisker surpassed $1B in revenue—all without raising a single dollar of venture capital. With millions of loyal customers across DTC and retail channels, the company is now preparing its most ambitious launch yet: a new generation of connected products that move beyond convenience into personalized pet care. In this episode, Jacob shares the grit of scaling without outside capital, how Whisker became a category-defining brand, and why the future of pet ownership is about more than just cleanup. Make sure to check out Whisker at: https://www.whisker.com/ Check out my new book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4kRKGTX Sign up for Starting Small University to join our interviews LIVE and ask questions: https://startingsmallmedia.org/startingsmalluniversity Visit Starting Small Media: https://startingsmallmedia.org/ Subscribe to exclusive Starting Small emails: https://startingsmallmedia.org/newsletter-signup Follow Starting Small: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startingsmallpod/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Startingsmallpod/?modal=admin_todo_tour LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/cameronnagle
Transcribe →Touchland: Andrea Lisbona
Sep 2, 2022Tap to summarizeThank you for tuning into "Starting Small", a podcast about brand development, entrepreneurship, and innovation in the modern world. In this episode, I am joined by Andrea Lisbona of Touchland, hydrating hand sanitizer that feels as good as it looks. Make sure to check out Touchland at: https://touchland.com/ Follow Starting Small: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startingsmallpod/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Startingsmallpod/?modal=admin_todo_tour LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/cameronnagle Thank you to this episodes mid-break sponsor, France & Son, offering high quality, stylish furniture, lighting, and decor at a reasonable price. Pieces are available in a variety of colors, finishes, and textiles to complement any decor, and they even offer custom upholstery if you really can’t find what you’re looking for. Make sure to check out France & Son at: https://franceandson.com/ Staying hydrated is key to a fluent workflow. That's why I trust Waiakea as the exclusive water of Starting Small. Taking a sip of its pure, clean tastes in between work sessions, keeps me focused and energized on tasks ahead. Waiakea is the first Hawaiian volcanic water and triple bottom line premium water of its kind, adapting an unparalleled platform of healthy, sustainable, and ethical attributes and initiatives. Make sure to check them out at: https://waiakea.com/
Transcribe →Nextdoor: Nirav Tolia
Oct 16, 2020Tap to summarizeThank you for tuning into "Starting Small", a podcast about brand development, entrepreneurship, and innovation in the modern world. In this episode, I am joined by Nirav Tolia, Co-Founder and ex-CEO of Nextdoor, an application built to bring neighbors together. Nirav grew up in Odessa, Texas where he adapted his interest for the unification of community. Graduating from Stanford, Nirav was a pre med, but discovered his love for business when he managed an all male acapella group. When entering the work force, Nirav founded a number of companies along with acquirng a position with Yahoo in 1996, being one of the first 100 employees to join the organization. Nextdoor launched in 2010, by Nirav and seven other co-founders who were obtained through his previous startup, Fanbase. To market, Nirav and his co-founders would directly pitch to homes in hopes to acquire a new neighborhood, typically leaders of the HOA. Through this resilience, Nextdoor is now used in 1 of ever 4 U.S. households, 11 countries, and 268,000 neighborhoods globally. Nextdoor can be found at https://nextdoor.com/ Follow Starting Small: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startingsmallpod/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Startingsmallpod/?modal=admin_todo_tour LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/cameronnagle
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