Hidden Foundations

What turns a 16-year-old facing life or the death penalty into a community leader fighting to keep kids alive? Edwin Desamour’s story shows how prison, fatherhood, purpose, and The Lighthouse became the foundation for a life of service.Viewer discretion is advised. This episode includes conversations about murder, incarceration, suicide, depression, gun violence, childhood trauma, death, and exploitation.In this episode of Hidden Foundations, Kendall talks with Edwin Desamour, Executive Director of The Lighthouse in Philadelphia, to trace the path from a teenage conviction to a life dedicated to serving others. Edwin opens up about being charged with first-degree murder at 16, serving eight and a half years in prison, being incarcerated alongside his father, becoming a father while behind bars, and later receiving a pardon.The conversation explores The Lighthouse, youth programs, boxing, violence prevention, fatherhood, prison reentry, nonprofit politics, Latino and Puerto Rican history, human trafficking prevention, and why Edwin believes purpose is the difference between survival and destruction.Chapters:02:01 Meet Edwin Desamour02:35 The Lighthouse and Its Mission05:52 Facing Life and Death at 1608:19 Conviction, Pardon, and Accountability16:31 Prison With His Father27:38 Release, Family, and Coming Back From the Dead33:07 Why Purpose Defeats the System49:01 Talking a Kid Out of a School Shooting52:28 Nonprofit Politics and “Poverty Pimping”59:01 The Lighthouse, Affordability, and Belonging01:01:02 MIMIC, Street Legends, and Life Skills01:06:33 The Exodus Road and Human Trafficking Prevention01:09:06 Fatherhood, Street Smarts, and Book Smarts01:13:35 Losing His Son and Breaking Generational Patterns01:23:36 Wind Therapy, Grief, and What Comes NextHidden Foundations is a weekly podcast hosted by entrepreneur and investor Kendall Schoenrock, examining how family systems, early adversity, and childhood dynamics quietly shape high-performing adults. Each conversation uncovers the “invisible wiring” behind resilience, ambition, leadership, and grit — told through candid stories from entrepreneurs, athletes, creators, and leaders.Guided by the thesis that strength is forged early at home, the show uses a consistent framework to explore emotional environments, money narratives, family roles, conflict patterns, and early challenges. Every episode delivers at least one practical, repeatable insight for parents, leaders, and anyone seeking to understand how greatness is built long before it’s visible.Subscribe to Our Newsletter: https://hiddenfoundations.com/#newsletterLearn more or connect with Kendall:Website: https://kendallschoenrock.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/schoenrock/SilverRock Ventures: https://silverrockventures.com/about-us/YouTube: youtube.com/@HiddenFoundationsPodSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6VKN6BBbuVxNDl4zKh4E3O?si=0c56c9aebfaf402eApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hidden-foundations/id1895154229#HiddenFoundations #EdwinDesamour #TheLighthouse

What shapes an entrepreneur who refuses to sacrifice integrity? For Ed O’Brien, it started with childhood money pressure, a complicated father-son relationship, family secrets, and early lessons in responsibility.In this episode of Hidden Foundations, Kendall talks with Ed O’Brien to trace the family system behind his leadership style. Ed grew up in a large Irish-Italian Catholic family in New Jersey, where love, discipline, scarcity, and silence all lived under the same roof. He shares how his father’s business struggles shaped his relationship with money, why he rejected his father’s allowance at 11, and how carrying the secret of his father’s affair pushed him toward independence.Ed also reflects on trying to save the family business, building a career through GE mentorship, entering the fiber optics and power infrastructure world, and creating a company culture built on honesty. The conversation closes with a powerful reflection on fatherhood, success, and the difference between providing for your children and truly being present with them.Chapters:00:00 Cold Open: Money, Secrets, and Responsibility00:43 Meet Ed O’Brien01:54 Childhood Money Pressure and Family Business05:08 Rejecting His Father’s Allowance05:36 Carrying the Secret of His Father’s Affair10:46 Money With Strings and Closing the Family Business16:22 Running Away, Reconnecting, and Hearing “I’m Proud of You”21:11 Fiber Optics, AI Infrastructure, and Business Integrity27:25 GE Mentorship, Autonomy, and Plan B40:30 Interpersonal Skills, Leadership, and Listening48:25 Success, Fatherhood, and Being PresentHidden Foundations is a weekly podcast hosted by entrepreneur and investor Kendall Schoenrock, examining how family systems, early adversity, and childhood dynamics quietly shape high-performing adults. Each conversation uncovers the “invisible wiring” behind resilience, ambition, leadership, and grit — told through candid stories from entrepreneurs, athletes, creators, and leaders.Guided by the thesis that strength is forged early at home, the show uses a consistent framework to explore emotional environments, money narratives, family roles, conflict patterns, and early challenges. Every episode delivers at least one practical, repeatable insight for parents, leaders, and anyone seeking to understand how greatness is built long before it’s visible.Subscribe to Our Newsletter: https://hiddenfoundations.com/#newsletterLearn more or connect with Kendall:Website: https://kendallschoenrock.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/schoenrock/SilverRock Ventures: https://silverrockventures.com/about-us/YouTube: youtube.com/@HiddenFoundationsPodSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6VKN6BBbuVxNDl4zKh4E3O?si=0c56c9aebfaf402eApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hidden-foundations/id1895154229#HiddenFoundations #EdOBrien #Entrepreneurship

In this episode of Hidden Foundations, Kendall is joined by Matthew Rehrig, a gym owner, father, and Type 1 diabetic, to unpack the pressure behind building a business while managing a relentless health condition. Matt shares how 2015 changed everything: a new baby, a new house, a young marriage, a risky gym investment, and the stress that surrounded his early years as an entrepreneur. Six months after opening the gym, he was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, forcing him to manage blood sugar, insulin, workouts, family life, and business ownership every day. Kendall and Matt also explore door-to-door sales, fitness coaching, confidence, keeping promises to yourself, raising three sons, his complicated relationship with his father, and how early family patterns shape the way we lead, parent, and survive pressure.Chapters: 00:00 Cold Open: Fitness, Failure, and Diabetes00:43 Meet Matthew Rehrig01:57 Gym, Marriage, Risk, and Scrappy Beginnings10:23 Family Drive, Baseball, and Door-to-Door Sales14:35 Type 1 Diabetes Diagnosis30:47 Living on the Blood Sugar Tightrope36:19 Coaching Confidence and Keeping Promises51:17 Fatherhood, Regret, and Breaking PatternsHidden Foundations is a weekly podcast hosted by entrepreneur and investor Kendall Schoenrock, examining how family systems, early adversity, and childhood dynamics quietly shape high-performing adults. Each conversation uncovers the “invisible wiring” behind resilience, ambition, leadership, and grit — told through candid stories from entrepreneurs, athletes, creators, and leaders.Guided by the thesis that strength is forged early at home, the show uses a consistent framework to explore emotional environments, money narratives, family roles, conflict patterns, and early challenges. Every episode delivers at least one practical, repeatable insight for parents, leaders, and anyone seeking to understand how greatness is built long before it’s visible.Subscribe to Our Newsletter: https://hiddenfoundations.com/#newsletterLearn more or connect with Kendall:Website: https://kendallschoenrock.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/schoenrock/SilverRock Ventures: https://silverrockventures.com/about-us/YouTube: youtube.com/@HiddenFoundationsPodSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6VKN6BBbuVxNDl4zKh4E3O?si=0c56c9aebfaf402eApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hidden-foundations/id1895154229#HiddenFoundations #Type1Diabetes #FitnessEntrepreneur

In this episode of Hidden Foundations, Kendall is joined by Ari Simmons, a world champion epee fencer, coach, and Olympic hopeful, to explore what elite sports really build inside a person. Ari shares how he went from being kicked out of fencing class for goofing off to becoming first in the U.S. and winning a world championship in the 17-and-under category. The conversation moves through obsession, discipline, ego, youth sports pressure, parental support, Notre Dame, UPenn Wharton, taking a gap year to chase Rio, and why his parents never made winning the point. Ari also breaks down the mental framework he now teaches athletes: purpose, honesty, consistency, forgiveness, and learning to treat wins and losses as data. This is a conversation about fencing, family, pressure, and becoming the person behind the performance.Chapters00:00 Cold Open: World Champion and Olympic Pressure00:49 Meet Ari Simmons01:15 Becoming a World Champion in Epee06:00 Why Fencing and the Obsession Switch11:00 Dreaming of Greatness and Winning Worlds19:23 Parents, Pressure, and Youth Sports31:50 Gap Year, Rio, UPenn, and Notre Dame45:42 Coaching, Mindset, and the Olympic ChaseHidden Foundations is a weekly podcast hosted by entrepreneur and investor Kendall Schoenrock, examining how family systems, early adversity, and childhood dynamics quietly shape high-performing adults. Each conversation uncovers the “invisible wiring” behind resilience, ambition, leadership, and grit — told through candid stories from entrepreneurs, athletes, creators, and leaders.Guided by the thesis that strength is forged early at home, the show uses a consistent framework to explore emotional environments, money narratives, family roles, conflict patterns, and early challenges. Every episode delivers at least one practical, repeatable insight for parents, leaders, and anyone seeking to understand how greatness is built long before it’s visible.Subscribe to Our Newsletter: https://hiddenfoundations.com/#newsletterLearn more or connect with Kendall:Website: https://kendallschoenrock.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/schoenrock/SilverRock Ventures: https://silverrockventures.com/about-us/YouTube: youtube.com/@HiddenFoundationsPodSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6VKN6BBbuVxNDl4zKh4E3O?si=0c56c9aebfaf402eApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hidden-foundations/id1895154229#HiddenFoundations #AriSimmons #fencing

Viewer discretion is advised. This episode includes conversations about sexual violence, forced marriage, honor violence, prostitution, deportation proceedings, depression, war, family trauma, and difficult cultural practices.Amjad Pervez’s path to New York real estate started far from Manhattan. He grew up in a lower-middle-class military family in Pakistan, became a third-generation army man, served in a tank regiment, and eventually resigned as a captain even though leaving the army was far from simple. After moving to New York City, he drove a cab, taught himself web design after a chance meeting with a passenger, fought through immigration uncertainty, and rebuilt his life in one of the most competitive real estate markets in the country.In this episode of Hidden Foundations, Kendall and Amjad trace the family story underneath that ambition, including the sacrifice of Amjad’s mother, the burden of sending money home, the transition from rentals to sales, more than $500 million in real estate transactions, and the question of how to pass grit to kids growing up in a very different world.Chapters00:00 Cold Open: Tank Driver to NYC Real Estate00:47 Meet Amjad Pervez01:18 Pakistan, Family Duty, and the Army04:15 Leaving the Army and Coming to America05:22 Cab Driver to Web Designer06:13 Green Card Battle and Deportation Fear12:13 9/11, NYC Real Estate, and First Deals19:43 His Mother’s Story, $500M, and Legacy#HiddenFoundations #AmjadPervez #NYCRealEstate

Viewer discretion is advised. This episode includes conversations about childhood loss, Alzheimer’s, physical discipline, career instability, and difficult family memories.Jeff Pelaccio’s foundation was shaped early by loss, loyalty, and the need to keep moving. His mother died the day before his fifth birthday. His father, a union welder, developed early-onset Alzheimer’s when Jeff was still a kid. And the New York Italian family around him modeled work ethic, loyalty, survival, and showing up when life gets hard.In this episode of Hidden Foundations, Kendall and Jeff trace how those early patterns followed him into corporate America, where nine involuntary career transitions taught him that no job is ever fully safe. Their conversation moves through reinvention, podcasting, leadership, stoicism, meditation, AI, deep work, interviewing, mentorship, and why resilience often begins with learning what you can control and what you have to release.Chapters00:00 Cold Open: Loss, Failure, and Reinvention00:40 Meet Jeff Pelaccio02:31 Starting The Corporate Couch06:51 Career Strategy, Leadership, and Reinvention13:06 Losing His Mother Before Age Five17:39 Family, Work Ethic, and Loyalty20:58 Corporate Instability and Stoicism28:36 AI, Deep Thought, and Podcasting#HiddenFoundations #JeffPelaccio #Reinvention

Viewer discretion is advised. This episode includes conversations about drug dealing, addiction, recovery, family illness, and difficult life choices.In this episode of Hidden Foundations, Kendall sits down with Victor Raymond-Tabaac, a Philadelphia-based serial entrepreneur, to unpack the early experiences that shaped his risk tolerance, work ethic, and drive to build. Victor shares how his first business started at 13 with a hot dog cart, how selling weed in high school taught him hard lessons about risk, leadership, pricing, and consequences, and how addiction later collided with family responsibility and entrepreneurship.The conversation also explores his father’s influence, building an AWS-focused company from five people to 275, recovery, parenting as a sober father, the Lighthouse in Kensington, youth programming, nonprofit transparency, AI-proof careers, and why staying sober is the foundation that makes everything else possible.Chapters00:00 Cold Open: Business, Recovery, and Kensington00:46 Meet Victor Raymond-Tabaac01:03 Entrepreneur Since Age 1303:08 Selling Weed, Risk, and Getting Caught11:17 Scaling an AWS Business to 275 People17:26 Addiction, Family Business, and Recovery28:11 Giving Back Through the Lighthouse45:24 Leadership, Sales, AI, and Staying SoberHidden Foundations is a weekly podcast hosted by entrepreneur and investor Kendall Schoenrock, examining how family systems, early adversity, and childhood dynamics quietly shape high-performing adults. Each conversation uncovers the “invisible wiring” behind resilience, ambition, leadership, and grit — told through candid stories from entrepreneurs, athletes, creators, and leaders.Guided by the thesis that strength is forged early at home, the show uses a consistent framework to explore emotional environments, money narratives, family roles, conflict patterns, and early challenges. Every episode delivers at least one practical, repeatable insight for parents, leaders, and anyone seeking to understand how greatness is built long before it’s visible.Subscribe to Our Newsletter: https://hiddenfoundations.com/#newsletterLearn more or connect with Kendall:Website: https://kendallschoenrock.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/schoenrock/SilverRock Ventures: https://silverrockventures.com/about-us/YouTube: youtube.com/@HiddenFoundationsPodSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6VKN6BBbuVxNDl4zKh4E3O?si=0c56c9aebfaf402eApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hidden-foundations/id1895154229#HiddenFoundations #VictorRaymondTabaac #Entrepreneurship #RecoveryStory

Viewer discretion is advised. This episode includes conversations about addiction, recovery, suicide, family pressure, and difficult personal patterns.In this episode of Hidden Foundations, Kendall sits down with William “Bill” Brandmeyer, founder of ShareWaves, to explore how youth sports, family business, recovery, faith, and honest parenting shape a person’s capacity for life. Bill shares why he believes kids need safe tension, why an easy life can create softness, and how sports can teach children discipline, teamwork, humility, grit, and resilience. The conversation also covers pay-to-play youth sports, play equity, the mission behind ShareWaves, his recovery journey, the boss who helped save his life, the Brandmeyer family business, generational wealth, family pressure, and why honesty may be the most important hidden foundation a parent can give a child.Chapters00:00 Cold Open: Honesty, Sports, and Resilience01:12 The Origin of Hidden Foundations04:04 Load Capacity and Time Under Tension08:16 Pay-to-Play and the Broken Youth Sports System14:06 ShareWaves and Removing Barriers to Play29:05 Why Youth Sports Became His Mission38:14 Recovery, Honesty, and Family Support50:22 Family Business, Privilege, and ResponsibilityCheck out ShareWaves here: https://www.youtube.com/@sharewaves/featuredhttps://www.sharewavesfoundation.org/Hidden Foundations is a weekly podcast hosted by entrepreneur and investor Kendall Schoenrock, examining how family systems, early adversity, and childhood dynamics quietly shape high-performing adults. Each conversation uncovers the “invisible wiring” behind resilience, ambition, leadership, and grit — told through candid stories from entrepreneurs, athletes, creators, and leaders.Guided by the thesis that strength is forged early at home, the show uses a consistent framework to explore emotional environments, money narratives, family roles, conflict patterns, and early challenges. Every episode delivers at least one practical, repeatable insight for parents, leaders, and anyone seeking to understand how greatness is built long before it’s visible.Subscribe to Our Newsletter: https://hiddenfoundations.com/#newsletterLearn more or connect with Kendall:Website: https://kendallschoenrock.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/schoenrock/SilverRock Ventures: https://silverrockventures.com/about-us/YouTube: youtube.com/@HiddenFoundationsPodSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6VKN6BBbuVxNDl4zKh4E3O?si=0c56c9aebfaf402eApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hidden-foundations/id1895154229#HiddenFoundations #YouthSports #ShareWaves

Viewer discretion is advised. This episode includes conversations about racism, slavery, desegregation, death threats, and difficult parts of American history.In this episode of Hidden Foundations, Kendall sits down with Shawn Edwards, Kansas City journalist, film critic, producer, and executive producer of the Celebration of Black Cinema and Television, to explore how childhood warmth, family history, storytelling, and early exposure to movies shaped his life’s work. Shawn shares how growing up in Kansas City during the 1970s, weekend trips to the movies, his mother’s emphasis on critical thinking, and a self-funded Super 8 camera opened the door to journalism, film criticism, Morehouse, and production. The conversation also explores Lincoln College Prep, desegregation, sports, Spike Lee, Sarah Rector’s extraordinary family legacy, the movie Sarah’s Oil, and Shawn’s mission to preserve Black film history through the Black Movie Hall of Fame.Chapters00:00 Cold Open: Sarah Rector and Family Legacy01:15 Meet Shawn Edwards02:18 Journalism, Storytelling, and Early Writing04:20 Kansas City Childhood and 1970s Culture09:22 Movies, Imagination, and Critical Thinking15:09 Buying His First Super 8 Camera20:34 Education, Desegregation, and Leaving Kansas City41:35 Sarah Rector, Black Cinema, and the Hall of FameHidden Foundations is a weekly podcast hosted by entrepreneur and investor Kendall Schoenrock, examining how family systems, early adversity, and childhood dynamics quietly shape high-performing adults. Each conversation uncovers the “invisible wiring” behind resilience, ambition, leadership, and grit — told through candid stories from entrepreneurs, athletes, creators, and leaders.Guided by the thesis that strength is forged early at home, the show uses a consistent framework to explore emotional environments, money narratives, family roles, conflict patterns, and early challenges. Every episode delivers at least one practical, repeatable insight for parents, leaders, and anyone seeking to understand how greatness is built long before it’s visible.Subscribe to Our Newsletter: https://hiddenfoundations.com/#newsletterLearn more or connect with Kendall:Website: https://kendallschoenrock.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/schoenrock/SilverRock Ventures: https://silverrockventures.com/about-us/YouTube: youtube.com/@HiddenFoundationsPodSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6VKN6BBbuVxNDl4zKh4E3O?si=0c56c9aebfaf402eApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hidden-foundations/id1895154229#HiddenFoundations #ShawnEdwards #BlackCinema

In this episode of Hidden Foundations, Kendall sits down with Peter Groverman, founder of Grovara, to explore the long entrepreneurial road behind building a global B3B trading platform. Peter shares how early exposure to his father’s box factory, flea market negotiations, family business, Villanova Law, Haiti relief work, and early platform technology shaped the way he sees opportunity, value, and risk.The conversation moves from the early days of Venmo and exporting American brands overseas to Grovara’s evolution through failures, fundraising, leadership lessons, Pokemon logistics, wholesale distribution, AI automation, and the future of global commerce. Peter also explains why it took 15 years to become an overnight success, why business partners matter, how AI is changing company efficiency, and why there may be no shortage of opportunity for entrepreneurs willing to start.Chapters00:00 Cold Open: 15 Years to Overnight Success 00:41 Meet Peter Groverman 01:12 Early Startups, LTL Prints, and Haiti Relief 06:14 Launching Grovara and the First Venmo Use Case 13:32 Fundraising, Failure, and Building the Platform 17:03 B3B, Wholesale, Pokemon, and Global Logistics 28:01 Law School, Family Business, and Learning to Sell 39:15 AI, Leadership Lessons, and Founder AdviceA special thank you to The Franklin on Rittenhouse for graciously allowing us to record these episodes inside their hotel. Their hospitality, atmosphere, and attention to detail gave us the perfect setting to host thoughtful conversations and bring Hidden Foundations to life in Philadelphia.Check out their hotel here: https://www.thefranklinonrittenhouse.com/https://www.instagram.com/franklinonrittenhouse/Hidden Foundations is a weekly podcast hosted by entrepreneur and investor Kendall Schoenrock, examining how family systems, early adversity, and childhood dynamics quietly shape high-performing adults. Each conversation uncovers the “invisible wiring” behind resilience, ambition, leadership, and grit — told through candid stories from entrepreneurs, athletes, creators, and leaders.Guided by the thesis that strength is forged early at home, the show uses a consistent framework to explore emotional environments, money narratives, family roles, conflict patterns, and early challenges. Every episode delivers at least one practical, repeatable insight for parents, leaders, and anyone seeking to understand how greatness is built long before it’s visible.Subscribe to Our Newsletter: https://hiddenfoundations.com/#newsletterLearn more or connect with Kendall:Website: https://kendallschoenrock.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/schoenrock/SilverRock Ventures: https://silverrockventures.com/about-us/YouTube: youtube.com/@HiddenFoundationsPodSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6VKN6BBbuVxNDl4zKh4E3O?si=0c56c9aebfaf402eApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hidden-foundations/id1895154229#HiddenFoundations #PeterGroverman #Grovara

Viewer discretion is advised. This episode includes sensitive conversations about alcoholism, suicide threats, family instability, and difficult parent-child dynamics.In this episode of Hidden Foundations, Kendall sits down with Alexandra Bojarski-Stauffer, architect, triathlete, and founder of Emerald Hive Design, to explore how childhood responsibility, financial instability, and emotional survival shaped the way she leads today. Alexandra shares how a childhood drafting board sparked her love of architecture, why roadblocks as a woman in architecture pushed her to start her own firm, and how becoming a caretaker for her parents forced her to grow up fast. The conversation also covers therapy, vulnerability, Team USA triathlon, mental resilience, visualization, business ownership, community, and the hidden family patterns that shaped Alexandra’s operating system.Chapters00:00 Cold Open: Pressure, Architecture, and Caretaking01:04 Meet Alexandra Bojarski-Stauffer01:35 Discovering Architecture at Age Four03:22 Starting Her Own Firm After Career Roadblocks09:55 Money, Family Instability, and Becoming the Caretaker18:44 Therapy, Survival Mode, and Emotional Growth25:10 Triathlon, Grit, and Competing With Team USA37:32 Business Advice, Architecture, and Community LessonsHidden Foundations is a weekly podcast hosted by entrepreneur and investor Kendall Schoenrock, examining how family systems, early adversity, and childhood dynamics quietly shape high-performing adults. Each conversation uncovers the “invisible wiring” behind resilience, ambition, leadership, and grit — told through candid stories from entrepreneurs, athletes, creators, and leaders.Guided by the thesis that strength is forged early at home, the show uses a consistent framework to explore emotional environments, money narratives, family roles, conflict patterns, and early challenges. Every episode delivers at least one practical, repeatable insight for parents, leaders, and anyone seeking to understand how greatness is built long before it’s visible.Subscribe to Our Newsletter: https://hiddenfoundations.com/#newsletterLearn more or connect with Kendall:Website: https://kendallschoenrock.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/schoenrock/SilverRock Ventures: https://silverrockventures.com/about-us/YouTube: youtube.com/@HiddenFoundationsPodSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6VKN6BBbuVxNDl4zKh4E3O?si=0c56c9aebfaf402eApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hidden-foundations/id1895154229#HiddenFoundations #AlexandraBojarskiStauffer #WomenInArchitecture

Viewer discretion is advised. This episode includes sensitive conversations about childhood adversity, trauma, addiction, abuse, faith, business stress, and difficult family experiences.In this episode of Hidden Foundations, Kendall sits down with Doug Taylor of Taylor Chip to explore the family, faith, pressure, and grit behind building a cookie company from scratch. Doug shares how he and his wife started Taylor Chip with a $50 mixer in a 900-square-foot apartment, how Dave Portnoy’s Barstool review changed their e-commerce momentum, and how the company grew across retail, manufacturing, nutrition products, and online sales.Doug also opens up about his mother’s traumatic past, her sobriety, the stability created by adoption, and the belief system that shaped his own approach to entrepreneurship, fatherhood, leadership, and legacy. The conversation also includes important context that Taylor Chip has since gone bankrupt, and this episode is shared as a real look at the ambition, risk, pressure, mistakes, and humanity behind building a business.A special thank you to The Franklin on Rittenhouse for graciously allowing us to record these episodes inside their hotel. Their hospitality, atmosphere, and attention to detail gave us the perfect setting to host thoughtful conversations and bring Hidden Foundations to life in Philadelphia.Check out their hotel here: https://www.thefranklinonrittenhouse.com/https://www.instagram.com/franklinonrittenhouse/Hidden Foundations is a weekly podcast hosted by entrepreneur and investor Kendall Schoenrock, examining how family systems, early adversity, and childhood dynamics quietly shape high-performing adults. Each conversation uncovers the “invisible wiring” behind resilience, ambition, leadership, and grit — told through candid stories from entrepreneurs, athletes, creators, and leaders.Guided by the thesis that strength is forged early at home, the show uses a consistent framework to explore emotional environments, money narratives, family roles, conflict patterns, and early challenges. Every episode delivers at least one practical, repeatable insight for parents, leaders, and anyone seeking to understand how greatness is built long before it’s visible.Subscribe to Our Newsletter: https://hiddenfoundations.com/#newsletterLearn more or connect with Kendall:Website: https://kendallschoenrock.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/schoenrock/SilverRock Ventures: https://silverrockventures.com/about-us/YouTube: youtube.com/@HiddenFoundationsPodSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6VKN6BBbuVxNDl4zKh4E3O?si=0c56c9aebfaf402eApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hidden-foundations/id1895154229#HiddenFoundations #DougTaylor #taylorchip

In this episode of Hidden Foundations, Kendall sits down with Suchit Bachalli to explore how family, education, entrepreneurship, and early sales experience shaped the way he leads today. Suchit shares how he built Unilog brick by brick with his father, what boarding school in India taught him about independence, and how selling software on the streets of Mumbai became the foundation for his belief in empathetic leadership.The conversation moves through family business, working with a father, private equity, board structure, company culture, AI, social media, parenting teenage daughters, and the future of education. Suchit also explains why Unilog hires for empathy, why business leaders need to work on the business instead of only in it, and why critical thinking, imagination, and being more human may matter even more in the age of AI.Chapters: 00:00 Cold Open: Empathy, AI, and the “Done Deal” 00:46 Meet Suchit Bachalli 01:12 Building Unilog With His Father 03:03 Working With a Father and Founder 05:28 Boarding School and Early Independence 08:37 Education, Values, and Family Expectations 09:33 Selling Software on the Streets of Mumbai 12:29 How Sales Built Empathetic Leadership 14:44 Building a Culture of Empathetic Experts 17:13 Amazon, Distribution, and Customer Relationships 21:12 Peer Groups and Growing as a CEO 24:38 Private Equity, Boards, and Letting Go 29:26 Protecting Culture Through a PE Transition 32:53 Teaching Kids Business Through a “Done Deal” 37:05 Money, Values, and Raising a Daughter 40:26 Social Media, Algorithms, and Teen Independence 43:26 Culture, Performance, and Partnership 48:30 AI, Time Distortion, and Business Transformation 51:00 AI, Education, and Critical Thinking 54:20 Where to Find Suchit 54:32 Advice for the Next GenerationHidden Foundations is a weekly podcast hosted by entrepreneur and investor Kendall Schoenrock, examining how family systems, early adversity, and childhood dynamics quietly shape high-performing adults. Each conversation uncovers the “invisible wiring” behind resilience, ambition, leadership, and grit — told through candid stories from entrepreneurs, athletes, creators, and leaders.Guided by the thesis that strength is forged early at home, the show uses a consistent framework to explore emotional environments, money narratives, family roles, conflict patterns, and early challenges. Every episode delivers at least one practical, repeatable insight for parents, leaders, and anyone seeking to understand how greatness is built long before it’s visible.Subscribe to Our Newsletter: https://hiddenfoundations.com/#newsletterLearn more or connect with Kendall:Website: https://kendallschoenrock.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/schoenrock/SilverRock Ventures: https://silverrockventures.com/about-us/YouTube: youtube.com/@HiddenFoundationsPodSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6VKN6BBbuVxNDl4zKh4E3O?si=0c56c9aebfaf402eApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hidden-foundations/id1895154229#HiddenFoundations #SuchitBachalli #leadership

In this episode of Hidden Foundations, Kendall sits down with Sara Faubion Stipkovits to explore how childhood chaos, hard work, and early responsibility shaped the way she reads people, negotiates conflict, and parents today. Sara shares how growing up with a prison guard mother, an unpredictable home environment, and the role of oldest-child caretaker trained her to de-escalate, stay calm under pressure, and understand what makes people tick.The conversation moves from law school during a brutal job market to foreclosure court, insurance litigation, million-dollar mediations, emotional regulation, money lessons, breaking family cycles, and the cost of becoming different from where you came from. Sara also reflects on the teachers who gave her stability, especially Mrs. Cooksey, and why one steady adult can change the direction of a child’s life.Chapters00:00 Cold Open: Work Ethic, Conflict, and Reading the Room00:45 Meet Sara Faubion Stipkovits02:10 Finding Her Way Into Law05:49 Why Hard Work Beat Being the Smartest07:14 Growing Up With a Prison Guard Mother09:21 De-Escalation, Empathy, and Reading People13:09 Childhood Chaos Became a Skill Set16:39 The Cost of Making It Out20:01 Breaking Cycles and Choosing a Different Path25:44 Giving Her Kids a “Boring” Childhood30:03 Money Lessons and Teaching Kids Financial Awareness34:47 Negotiating Million-Dollar Settlements41:54 The Half-Million-Dollar Mediation Lesson48:45 Fighting at Work, Peace at Home52:08 Mrs. Cooksey and the Teacher Who Changed EverythingHidden Foundations is a weekly podcast hosted by entrepreneur and investor Kendall Schoenrock, examining how family systems, early adversity, and childhood dynamics quietly shape high-performing adults. Each conversation uncovers the “invisible wiring” behind resilience, ambition, leadership, and grit — told through candid stories from entrepreneurs, athletes, creators, and leaders.Guided by the thesis that strength is forged early at home, the show uses a consistent framework to explore emotional environments, money narratives, family roles, conflict patterns, and early challenges. Every episode delivers at least one practical, repeatable insight for parents, leaders, and anyone seeking to understand how greatness is built long before it’s visible.Subscribe to Our Newsletter: https://hiddenfoundations.com/#newsletterLearn more or connect with Kendall:Website: https://kendallschoenrock.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/schoenrock/SilverRock Ventures: https://silverrockventures.com/about-us/YouTube: youtube.com/@HiddenFoundationsPodSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6VKN6BBbuVxNDl4zKh4E3O?si=0c56c9aebfaf402eApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hidden-foundations/id1895154229#HiddenFoundations #BreakingCycles #Leadership

In this episode of Hidden Foundations, Kendall sits down with Barrett Widell and Christina Boschetti of Widell and Boschetti to explore how two very different childhoods, careers, and creative paths became one business partnership. What started as a chance meeting at a Philadelphia park turned into a design firm built on trust, risk, resilience, and a shared instinct to keep moving forward.Barrett shares how leaving home at 14 to pursue ballet shaped her risk tolerance, independence, body image, and ability to reinvent herself. Christina reflects on growing up around hard-working parents, her mother’s wedding cake business, fashion design in New York, and how those early lessons shaped her work ethic. Together, they open up about partnership, conflict, motherhood, money, team culture, client trust, female leadership, and why design is only one part of building a successful creative business.Timecode Specific Chapters 00:00 Meet Barrett Widell and Christina Boschetti 00:50 The Chance Park Meeting That Started the Business 07:12 Starting a Business While Raising Young Kids 08:06 Risk, Ballet, and Leaving Home at 14 14:05 Christina’s Fashion Path and Entrepreneurial Upbringing 19:46 Why Their Partnership Works Like a Marriage 24:38 Building the Right Team and Learning From Mistakes 35:30 Teaching Kids About Money, Work, and Respect 39:28 Dinner Tables, Wedding Cakes, and Family Lessons 42:03 Body Image, Ballet, and Refusing to Shrink 49:15 Trust, Mental Resilience, and Business Partnership 52:46 Listening to Clients and Building Trust in Design 58:16 Handling Difficult Clients and Protecting Integrity 01:05:48 Capacity, Culture, and Female Leadership 01:15:00 Teaching Kids to Follow PassionA special thank you to The Franklin on Rittenhouse for graciously allowing us to record these episodes inside their hotel. Their hospitality, atmosphere, and attention to detail gave us the perfect setting to host thoughtful conversations and bring Hidden Foundations to life in Philadelphia.Check out their hotel here: https://www.thefranklinonrittenhouse.com/https://www.instagram.com/franklinonrittenhouse/Hidden Foundations is a weekly podcast hosted by entrepreneur and investor Kendall Schoenrock, examining how family systems, early adversity, and childhood dynamics quietly shape high-performing adults. Each conversation uncovers the “invisible wiring” behind resilience, ambition, leadership, and grit — told through candid stories from entrepreneurs, athletes, creators, and leaders.Guided by the thesis that strength is forged early at home, the show uses a consistent framework to explore emotional environments, money narratives, family roles, conflict patterns, and early challenges. Every episode delivers at least one practical, repeatable insight for parents, leaders, and anyone seeking to understand how greatness is built long before it’s visible.Subscribe to Our Newsletter: https://hiddenfoundations.com/#newsletterLearn more or connect with Kendall:Website: https://kendallschoenrock.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/schoenrock/SilverRock Ventures: https://silverrockventures.com/about-us/YouTube: youtube.com/@HiddenFoundationsPodSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6VKN6BBbuVxNDl4zKh4E3O?si=0c56c9aebfaf402eApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hidden-foundations/id1895154229#HiddenFoundations #InteriorDesign #Entrepreneurship

In this episode of Hidden Foundations, Kendall Schoenrock sits down with Dr. Kavin Mistry, a board-certified neuroradiologist, to explore the hidden connection between childhood, longevity, health, and legacy. Dr. Kavin shares how growing up across India, Africa, and the United States shaped his view of resilience, adaptability, and human potential.The conversation moves from AI in medicine and biological age to the Hadza tribe, primal health, focused attention, gut health, 80/20 nutrition, grounding, parenting, and the habits that may help us age better. Dr. Kavin also shares a powerful story from his father about giving without expecting anything in return, and why that lesson may matter more than performance, health, or success.A special thank you to The Franklin on Rittenhouse for graciously allowing us to record these episodes inside their hotel. Their hospitality, atmosphere, and attention to detail gave us the perfect setting to host thoughtful conversations and bring Hidden Foundations to life in Philadelphia.Check out their hotel here: https://www.thefranklinonrittenhouse.com/https://www.instagram.com/franklinonrittenhouse/Hidden Foundations is a weekly podcast hosted by entrepreneur and investor Kendall Schoenrock, examining how family systems, early adversity, and childhood dynamics quietly shape high-performing adults. Each conversation uncovers the “invisible wiring” behind resilience, ambition, leadership, and grit — told through candid stories from entrepreneurs, athletes, creators, and leaders.Guided by the thesis that strength is forged early at home, the show uses a consistent framework to explore emotional environments, money narratives, family roles, conflict patterns, and early challenges. Every episode delivers at least one practical, repeatable insight for parents, leaders, and anyone seeking to understand how greatness is built long before it’s visible.Subscribe to Our Newsletter: https://hiddenfoundations.com/#newsletterLearn more or connect with Kendall:Website: https://kendallschoenrock.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/schoenrock/SilverRock Ventures: https://silverrockventures.com/about-us/YouTube: youtube.com/@HiddenFoundationsPodSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6VKN6BBbuVxNDl4zKh4E3O?si=0c56c9aebfaf402eApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hidden-foundations/id1895154229#HiddenFoundations #Longevity #DrKavinMistry

In this episode of Hidden Foundations, Kendall Schoenrock sits down with Candice Shum of Culligan Water in Kansas City to explore what it means to inherit, lead, and grow a third-generation family business. Candice shares how her grandfather built the company, how her mother fought her way into leadership in a male-dominated industry, and how those early lessons shaped Candice’s own approach to grit, growth, parenting, and team culture.The conversation covers family business tension, female leadership, scaling a company, working with a spouse, raising teenagers, teaching kids resilience, and why there is no perfect balance between work and home. Candice also reflects on what it means to give the next generation opportunity without handing them a shortcut.Chapters00:00 Cold Open: Grit, Leadership, and Falling Forward00:41 Meet Candice Shum01:18 Growing Up Inside Culligan Water03:08 Her Grandfather, Her Mother, and the Fight to Lead06:07 Perseverance Through Family Business Highs and Lows14:03 Taking Over and Driving Growth22:07 Female Leadership in a Male-Dominated Industry26:16 Balancing Motherhood, Business, and Family Expectations34:19 Working With Family and Bringing Business Home39:21 Teaching Kids Grit, Rejection, and Opportunity53:58 The Red Thread Across GenerationsHidden Foundations is a weekly podcast hosted by entrepreneur and investor Kendall Schoenrock, examining how family systems, early adversity, and childhood dynamics quietly shape high-performing adults. Each conversation uncovers the “invisible wiring” behind resilience, ambition, leadership, and grit — told through candid stories from entrepreneurs, athletes, creators, and leaders.Guided by the thesis that strength is forged early at home, the show uses a consistent framework to explore emotional environments, money narratives, family roles, conflict patterns, and early challenges. Every episode delivers at least one practical, repeatable insight for parents, leaders, and anyone seeking to understand how greatness is built long before it’s visible.Subscribe to Our Newsletter: https://hiddenfoundations.com/#newsletterLearn more or connect with Kendall:Website: https://kendallschoenrock.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/schoenrock/SilverRock Ventures: https://silverrockventures.com/about-us/YouTube: youtube.com/@HiddenFoundationsPodSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6VKN6BBbuVxNDl4zKh4E3O?si=0c56c9aebfaf402eApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hidden-foundations/id1895154229#HiddenFoundations #FamilyBusiness #Leadership

In this episode of Hidden Foundations, Kendall Schoenrock sits down with Archie Menezes to explore the life experiences that shaped his resilience, leadership, and entrepreneurial mindset. Archie shares how a head injury ended his banking career, brought him close to depression, and forced him to rebuild from rock bottom with the help of therapy, faith, family, and lifelong friendships.The conversation moves from Archie’s childhood in India and his father’s sacrifice abroad, to the lessons of gratitude, support systems, and “fail fast” thinking. Archie also breaks down his current work in microbiome science, AI, precision medicine, and how gut health may shape the future of recovery, longevity, and pharmaceutical innovation.Chapters: 00:00 Cold Open: Rock Bottom, Fail Fast, and Microbiome Science00:52 Meet Archie Menezes01:08 From HSBC Banker to Unexpected U.S. Journey03:45 The Head Injury That Forced a Career Pivot05:46 Therapy, Support Systems, and a Second Chance12:17 Childhood in India and the Roots of Resilience16:37 His Father’s Sacrifice and Understanding the Why25:06 Parenting, Communication, and Teaching Toughness28:05 Startup Signals, Trust, and the Microbiome Opportunity48:31 Building the Right Team and Knowing What Not to Do55:51 Gratitude, Perspective, and Final ReflectionsA special thank you to The Franklin on Rittenhouse for graciously allowing us to record these episodes inside their hotel. Their hospitality, atmosphere, and attention to detail gave us the perfect setting to host thoughtful conversations and bring Hidden Foundations to life in Philadelphia.Check out their hotel here: https://www.thefranklinonrittenhouse.com/https://www.instagram.com/franklinonrittenhouse/Hidden Foundations is a weekly podcast hosted by entrepreneur and investor Kendall Schoenrock, examining how family systems, early adversity, and childhood dynamics quietly shape high-performing adults. Each conversation uncovers the “invisible wiring” behind resilience, ambition, leadership, and grit — told through candid stories from entrepreneurs, athletes, creators, and leaders.Guided by the thesis that strength is forged early at home, the show uses a consistent framework to explore emotional environments, money narratives, family roles, conflict patterns, and early challenges. Every episode delivers at least one practical, repeatable insight for parents, leaders, and anyone seeking to understand how greatness is built long before it’s visible.Subscribe to Our Newsletter: https://hiddenfoundations.com/#newsletterLearn more or connect with Kendall:Website: https://kendallschoenrock.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/schoenrock/SilverRock Ventures: https://silverrockventures.com/about-us/YouTube: youtube.com/@HiddenFoundationsPodSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6VKN6BBbuVxNDl4zKh4E3O?si=0c56c9aebfaf402eApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hidden-foundations/id1895154229#HiddenFoundations #Entrepreneurship #Resilience

In this episode of Hidden Foundations, Kendall Schoenrock sits down with Andrea Desy Edrei to explore how childhood exposure to business, years of dinner-table dealmaking, and a major ACL injury at NYU helped shape the way she leads today. What started as a multigenerational real estate upbringing eventually became a career built on negotiation, resilience, relationship-building, and the ability to read people well.Andrea shares how her parents brought her into the world of real estate early, how sports shaped her ability to handle pressure, and why tearing her ACL ended up expanding her view of what her life could become beyond basketball. She also talks about New York, 9/11, her pivot into real estate full time, and what it takes to build a high-performing team and culture in a relationship-driven business. If you care about entrepreneurship, leadership, family influence, and the hidden patterns that shape success, this conversation is for you.Chapters:00:54 Meet Andrea01:15 Growing Up in a Real Estate Family07:08 What Makes Andrea a Top Performer09:39 Dinner Table Deals and Early Business Lessons19:38 The ACL Injury That Changed Everything24:24 From 9/11 to Real Estate33:19 Sports, Business Resilience, and Family BalanceHidden Foundations is a weekly podcast hosted by entrepreneur and investor Kendall Schoenrock, examining how family systems, early adversity, and childhood dynamics quietly shape high-performing adults. Each conversation uncovers the “invisible wiring” behind resilience, ambition, leadership, and grit — told through candid stories from entrepreneurs, athletes, creators, and leaders.Guided by the thesis that strength is forged early at home, the show uses a consistent framework to explore emotional environments, money narratives, family roles, conflict patterns, and early challenges. Every episode delivers at least one practical, repeatable insight for parents, leaders, and anyone seeking to understand how greatness is built long before it’s visible.Subscribe to Our Newsletter: https://hiddenfoundations.com/#newsletterLearn more or connect with Kendall:Website: https://kendallschoenrock.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/schoenrock/SilverRock Ventures: https://silverrockventures.com/about-us/YouTube: youtube.com/@HiddenFoundationsPodSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6VKN6BBbuVxNDl4zKh4E3O?si=0c56c9aebfaf402eApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hidden-foundations/id1895154229#HiddenFoundations #RealEstate #Leadership

In this episode of Hidden Foundations, Kendall Schoenrock sits down with former MLS soccer player Kortne Ford for a powerful conversation about childhood trauma, physical abuse, grief, resilience, career-ending injuries, faith, and purpose. Kortne shares how fleeing Kansas as a child, losing both of his brothers in a car accident, and enduring years of setbacks shaped the grit that carried him to professional soccer. He also opens up about the surgery that derailed his career, the mental toll of staying silent, and how faith ultimately helped him rebuild his life after retirement. This episode also explores parenting, youth sports politics, emotional intelligence, and the mission behind Faith First Soccer Academy in Kansas City. If you care about leadership, healing, fatherhood, sports, and the family systems that shape us, this is one of the most honest Hidden Foundations conversations yet.Hidden Foundations is a weekly podcast hosted by entrepreneur and investor Kendall Schoenrock, examining how family systems, early adversity, and childhood dynamics quietly shape high-performing adults. Each conversation uncovers the “invisible wiring” behind resilience, ambition, leadership, and grit — told through candid stories from entrepreneurs, athletes, creators, and leaders.Guided by the thesis that strength is forged early at home, the show uses a consistent framework to explore emotional environments, money narratives, family roles, conflict patterns, and early challenges. Every episode delivers at least one practical, repeatable insight for parents, leaders, and anyone seeking to understand how greatness is built long before it’s visible.Learn more or connect with Kendall:Website: https://kendallschoenrock.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/schoenrock/SilverRock Ventures: https://silverrockventures.com/about-us/YouTube: youtube.com/@HiddenFoundationsPodSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6VKN6BBbuVxNDl4zKh4E3O?si=0c56c9aebfaf402eApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hidden-foundations/id1895154229#KortneFord #HiddenFoundations #Soccer

In this episode of Hidden Foundations, Kendall Schoenrock sits down with Meenal Lele to explore how her son’s severe food allergies changed the course of her life and career. Meenal breaks down food allergy prevention, peanut allergy prevention, early allergen introduction, the microbiome, and why so many parents still struggle to access practical solutions. She shares how her family’s experience led her into research, writing, and building tools to make prevention easier for families. The conversation also dives into the fear and trauma food allergies create for kids, how doctors and insurers shape access, and why a preventable problem still leaves so many parents overwhelmed. This is a powerful episode about parenting, science, entrepreneurship, and the broken systems standing between families and better outcomes.Chapters:00:00 Peanut allergies are preventable?00:44 Meet Meenal Lele01:56 How her son’s food allergies began05:58 Cradle cap, eczema, and the microbiome connection11:26 The study that changed everything14:06 Why allergen introduction is so hard for parents15:21 Meenal’s science background and research process17:43 From research rabbit hole to writing a book18:49 The idea behind Little Mixins20:31 The science of safer allergy prevention25:34 How her parents shaped her mindset36:47 Why doctors, not consumers, drive this market40:24 Insurance, legislation, and the access problem48:11 What viewers can do to help49:49 The fear of raising a child with food allergies53:07 Why dirt, dogs, and microbes matter57:00 Pushback and support from the scientific community1:02:05 Her advice for expecting parents1:04:42 How to start fixing healthcare1:08:00 Her advice for future entrepreneursHidden Foundations is a weekly podcast hosted by entrepreneur and investor Kendall Schoenrock, examining how family systems, early adversity, and childhood dynamics quietly shape high-performing adults. Each conversation uncovers the “invisible wiring” behind resilience, ambition, leadership, and grit — told through candid stories from entrepreneurs, athletes, creators, and leaders.Guided by the thesis that strength is forged early at home, the show uses a consistent framework to explore emotional environments, money narratives, family roles, conflict patterns, and early challenges. Every episode delivers at least one practical, repeatable insight for parents, leaders, and anyone seeking to understand how greatness is built long before it’s visible.Learn more or connect with Kendall:Website: https://kendallschoenrock.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/schoenrock/SilverRock Ventures: https://silverrockventures.com/about-us/YouTube: youtube.com/@HiddenFoundationsPod#FoodAllergies #PeanutAllergy #Parenting