No Rescue

Greg Woodfield opens up about building a tech company valued at over $350 million — and why he chose to walk away. In this episode, we talk about: • Growing up with entrepreneurial roots • Building and scaling a tech startup • Raising millions in venture capital • Losing control of the company • Burnout, identity crisis, and failure • Why passion matters more than money This is the side of entrepreneurship nobody posts about.

Vince McCullam went from growing up poor in a family of six to becoming a multi-time C-suite executive, and still felt unfulfilled. After being laid off again, a mentor challenged him with a simple question that changed everything: Why aren’t you using your talents for yourself? In this episode of No Rescue Podcast, Vince shares his journey from corporate security to entrepreneurship, the fear of walking away from a high salary, and how faith, mentors, and family pushed him to build something of his own.

What happens when you grow up broke, fail in school, and refuse to take the safe path? In this episode of No Rescue, we sit down with a self-made entrepreneur who went from selling sunglasses at swap meets to building companies, buying real estate, and learning directly from billionaires. He shares: ✔️ How immigrant hardship shaped his mindset ✔️ The mentors who taught him how money really works ✔️ Losing $800,000 and rebuilding ✔️ Turning warehouse mistakes into crypto profits ✔️ Why helping others matters more than Lambos This is a raw story about discipline, risk, and building a life when nobody’s coming to save you.

In this episode of No Rescue, host Lame Kinikini sits down with Jeffrey Mendez, CEO and Founder of Studio 168, for a deep conversation on leadership, identity, and building a life by design. Jeffrey’s journey began in Puerto Rico, immigrating to the United States with nothing but ambition, pride, and a deep respect for education. What followed was a path through W-2 jobs, Walmart, sales leadership, Vivint, and eventually entrepreneurship but what truly separates Jeffrey is his mastery of storytelling, intuition, and influence. This episode explores: the immigrant mindset and pressure to succeed why language and communication are leadership superpowers transitioning from employee to owner influence vs titles intuition, risk, and long-term vision marriage, fatherhood, and raising grounded kids in a world of excess This is a masterclass in leadership, perspective, and intentional living for entrepreneurs who want more than money. Podcast: No Rescue Podcast Guest: Jeffrey Mendez Company: Studio 168

Jason Haugen grew up inside a family-run business where there was no safety net, no excuses, and no handouts. That foundation helped him build and sell a nine-figure RV empire — and now scale BlackJet Ventures into his next massive chapter.   In this raw No Rescue episode, Jason shares what it really takes to build at the highest level, from losing key executives to rebuilding from chaos.

Ian Horowitz went from being a firefighter with a limited retirement future to building a $100M+ real estate portfolio and launching a fast-growing CPG brand. In this raw conversation, he explains why playing it safe is often the biggest risk, how burning the boats unlocked his success, and what every entrepreneur must understand if they want real freedom. This is a masterclass in mindset, risk, and betting on yourself when nobody is coming to save you.

I lost $180,000. No safety net. No excuses. No rescue. In this episode of No Rescue, Tanner Litchfield opens up about the hardest season of his life: a failed wholesale business, $40K in credit card debt, separation from his wife, and eventually losing $180,000 on a single deal. Instead of quitting, Tanner was forced to confront his identity, his marriage, and his purpose. This conversation dives deep into: financial failure and ego death saving a marriage while rebuilding a career why money alone isn’t enough taking 100% responsibility when everything goes wrong finding your “why” when you’re at rock bottom This is a raw, honest story about failure, alignment, and becoming the man your family needs when nobody is coming to save you.

In this episode of No Rescue, host Lame Kinikini sits down with Austin McFee, entrepreneur and co-founder behind a $500M+ exit, to tell the full story most people never hear. From growing up on a farm and working motel jobs in West Yellowstone, to building companies through COVID shutdowns, private equity pressure, and family health crises, Austin opens up about what success actually costs. This conversation dives into: building under extreme pressure closing deals minutes before deadlines raising kids while missing birthdays the myth of work-life balance why exits feel anti-climactic and why experience matters more than money This is not a highlight reel. This is what it really takes when nobody’s coming to save you.

In this episode of No Rescue, host Lame Kinikini sits with luxury real estate force Paige Steckling: one of the only agents he publicly admits he doesn’t hate. Paige began selling real estate at 17, built her name through social media, and now shows $10M properties while running a team that actually knows how to transact. She breaks down: why 2021 made bad agents look elite why good agents should make 3x and the rest exit why nobody follows a brokerage anymore, just the personality the imposter syndrome that fueled her early grind her own “no rescue” collapse moment This is the unfiltered look at luxury real estate, personal brand dominance, and surviving a market that doesn’t forgive.

In this episode of No Rescue, host Lame Kinikini sits with Seif, the son of Egyptian immigrants whose life was shaped by dual realities: cultural duty and American individualism. From ICU Fridays delivering Dr Pepper to his hospitalized parents, to watching his father lose recognition of his own son to Alzheimer’s, Seif learned resilience before he ever learned business. Despite cultural expectations to become a doctor or lawyer, Seif built his own world: Facebook career, entrepreneurial path, and a modern family that broke generational rules. This is a story of identity, duty, rebellion, love, and the privilege of choosing your hard.

On this episode of No Rescue, host Lame Kinikini sits down with international tattoo phenom Sofia Souza to unpack a story most people never hear. Born in Italy with Brazilian roots, raised by a WWII survivor grandma and a hippie mom, Sofia grew up lonely, independent, and forced to become her own anchor. From selling trinkets in the Italian sun and working night shifts at 16, to dropping out of college, moving to Berlin with nothing, and teaching herself tattooing from a kitchen table — Sofia’s path was anything but easy. She opens up about abusive relationships, suicidal years, and the moment she realized nobody was coming to rescue her. That “no rescue” moment became the fuel for building a world-class tattoo career, immigrating to the U.S., and creating a life she genuinely loves. If you’ve ever felt stuck, alone, or like your circumstances define you, this conversation is a masterclass in turning pain into power, rejecting victim mentality, and betting on yourself when there is no Plan B. Guest: Sofia Souza – international tattoo artist & educator Host: Lame Kinikini Production Company: Sipo Studios

Doug Fiefia joins No Rescue to share his immigrant roots, the grit that shaped him, how he moved from student-government and small business into the statehouse, and the defining moment when he realized “no one is coming to save you.” Deeply personal, raw, and practical, this episode covers leadership, family, online attacks, faith, and entrepreneurship.

In this episode Lala walks us through his upbringing in Hawaii, the lessons he learned from relatives who turned money into community power, and how tattooing became the skill that launched an entrepreneurial life. We dig into his money mindset (credit vs. cash culture), why he chooses time over burning cash, what “taking L’s” taught him about resilience, and the family-first recalibration that reshaped his priorities. Lala also shares the practical vibe check he uses when choosing business partners, why he believes there’s no such thing as permanent loss - only expensive lessons -and how building core memories with family replaced a year of business gains.

Bridger Pennington sits down with Lamè Kinikini on this episode of No Rescue to share the raw story behind his rise in finance — from devastating personal loss to building investment funds, surviving an SEC probe, and how faith, family, and mentorship shaped his long-term playbook. This episode covers mental health, entrepreneurship, leadership, parenting, and practical lessons for founders and investors. What you'll learn in this episode: How Bridger processed family tragedy and turned it into fuel for growth. - Why "playing the long game" matters for entrepreneurs and fund managers. - Real talk about marriage, fatherhood, and better work/life design. - The day his firm got an SEC inquiry — how they handled it and what they learned. - The role of mentors, integrity, and faith in scaling a finance business. ___________ Hosted by: Lamè Kinikini Guest: Bridger Pennington | Founder of Fund Launch Presented by: ProDough — Flavored Protein. Not Protein Flavored.

In this episode of The No Rescue Podcast, host Lame Kinikini sits down with Shawn Finnegan, entrepreneur, family man, and co-founder of The X Room Experience, to unpack a journey that defines what No Rescue truly means. Shawn opens up about his early lessons in entrepreneurship, from selling pencils as a kid to raising $1.5 million for his first startup, and the painful fall that followed. After losing everything, hitting rock bottom, and facing payroll he couldn’t afford, he experienced what it means to build again with faith, humility, and community. Together, Lame and Shawn explore: - The difference between problems and pain and how to face both - What happens when you lose $1.5 million and still have to lead - The role of faith and family through uncertainty and loss - How a simple act of kindness from his daughter changed his view on leadership - Why the greatest entrepreneurs scale relationships, not just revenue This isn’t a story about success: it’s about survival, rebuilding, and redefining what really matters. Shawn’s honesty, faith, and fire are a masterclass in resilience.

In this episode of The No Rescue Podcast, host Lame Kinikini sits down with Jessica Bennett, Creative Director and Co-Founder of Alice Lane Interiors & Alice Lane Home, to explore the mindset, mission, and meaning behind one of the most influential design brands in the country. Jessica’s journey is one of faith, family, and fierce perseverance. From her father’s entrepreneurial lessons to launching Alice Lane during the 2008 financial crisis, her story proves that great design is born not just from aesthetics, but from adversity. She opens up about: How early lessons in entrepreneurship shaped her creative philosophy The struggles of balancing business, motherhood, and marriage What it takes to rebuild from literal ashes after tragedy struck How faith and alignment helped her navigate uncertainty Why she believes pressure is a privilege and quitting is never an option This conversation dives beyond design, it’s about purpose, resilience, and legacy. Whether you’re a creator, founder, or dreamer, Jessica’s story reminds us that beauty is built in the hard moments. Hosted by: Lame Kinikini Guest: Jessica Bennett — Creative Director & Co-Founder, Alice Lane Interiors & Alice Lane Home @alicelanehome @alicelaneinteriors Presented by: ProDough — Flavored Protein. Not Protein Flavored. Visit ProDough: Prodough Shop

In this powerful episode of The No Rescue Podcast, host Lame Kinikini sits down with Danny Augustyn, founder and CEO of ProDough, to uncover the extraordinary story behind one of the fastest-growing protein brands in America. Born to immigrant parents from Poland, Danny’s life is a living embodiment of the American Dream, built not on luck, but on relentless work, faith, and a refusal to quit. From watching his family start over with just $26 to running a nine-figure CPG empire, Danny opens up about the mindset, failures, and pivots that shaped his journey. This conversation goes far beyond entrepreneurship. Lame and Danny dive into: What it means to build from nothing when nobody’s coming to save you The sacrifices and grit required to scale a national brand like ProDough How immigrant hustle and generational pressure forged an unbreakable mindset The hidden lessons behind failure, faith, and personal evolution Why control, ownership, and alignment are everything in business and life Danny’s story isn’t just about success, it’s about legacy, discipline, and purpose. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, creator, or dreamer navigating your own “no rescue” moment, this episode will remind you that pressure truly is a privilege. Hosted by: Lame Kinikini Guest: Danny Augustyn, Founder & CEO of ProDough Presented by: ProDough: Flavored Protein. Not Protein Flavored. Visit ProDough’s Website: ProDough Shop

Welcome to the No Rescue Podcast, where we dive into the minds of the rebels, the rejects, and the relentless who stopped asking for approval and started demanding results!

 Launching October 23, 2025