PODCAST · business
The CTOx Podcast
by CTOx
For technology leaders that are navigating the fractional CTO landscape
Episodes
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How to Stop Waiting to Feel Ready and Start Taking Action
Most people treat readiness like a destination — a future state where the timing is perfect, the skills are sharp, and the fear is gone. But that moment rarely comes. In this episode, host and guest Lior break down why "ready" is not something you wait for, it's something you decide. Drawing on...
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How Long Does It Really Take to Build a Fractional CTO Practice?
Most aspiring fractional CTOs obsess over the timeline — but the real question is what actually determines it. In this episode, Lior and Marissa break down the honest answer to the question they get asked at least once a week: how long does it take to build a fractional CTO practice that actually...
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How to Know If You’re Actually Ready to Go Fractional CTO
Thinking about becoming a fractional CTO but not sure if the timing is right? In this episode, Lior breaks down exactly what readiness looks like — from leadership experience and life maturity to the personal freedoms you're trying to build. Whether you're a VP of engineering feeling maxed out or…
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Tech-Enabled vs Tech Businesses: Where the Real Fractional CTO Opportunity Lives
Most technology leaders spend their careers chasing software startups and tech companies — but the biggest untapped opportunity might be in businesses that depend on technology without actually selling it. In this episode, Lior breaks down the fundamental difference between tech businesses and...
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Which Fractional Tech Leadership Role Is Right for You: CTO, CIO, CISO, CPO, or CDO?
The fractional model isn't just for CTOs. CIOs, CISOs, Chief Product Officers, and Chief Data Officers are all roles that companies desperately need on a fractional basis — and the mechanics of building that practice look more similar than you might think. In this episode, Lior breaks down the…
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How to Talk to Your Spouse About Going Fractional Before You Talk to a Single Client
For many tech leaders, the hardest conversation about going fractional isn't a sales pitch or a client negotiation — it's the one at the kitchen table with their partner. This episode tackles the spouse conversation head-on: why it feels so hard, what fears are actually driving the avoidance, and...
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How Your Language Signals Whether You Are a Leader or a Doer
The words you use in any room can instantly signal whether you are a leader or just someone doing the work. In this episode of the CTOX podcast, Lior breaks down the concept of executive presence and explains why your language, pacing, and posture matter far more than your title or years of...
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When a CEO Wants a Player-Coach, Here Is What They Actually Mean
When a CEO says they want a player-coach, they usually mean they want two roles filled for the price of one. In this episode of the CTOX Podcast, hosts unpack why this expectation is not just flawed but genuinely dangerous to teams, leaders, and company growth. The conversation digs into why so...
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How to Go Fractional From Strength, Not Desperation
In this episode of the CTOX Podcast, hosts explore one of the most critical decisions a CTO or senior tech leader can face: whether to go fractional out of choice or out of necessity. The conversation digs into why the circumstances under which you make this transition matter just as much as the...
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Your Clients Are Buying Your Bias: How to Use It Without Letting It Blind You
Your clients aren't paying you to be a blank slate. They're paying you for your judgment, your pattern recognition, and your accumulated experience. In this episode of the CTOX Podcast, hosts Marissa and Lior unpack why your bias is actually your greatest professional asset, and how to wield it...
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Will Leaving Your Full-Time Job Hurt Your Credibility as a Fractional CTO?
One of the biggest fears holding experienced technology leaders back from making the leap to fractional work is the belief that leaving a full-time job will destroy their credibility. In this episode of the CTOX podcast, we dig into why that fear exists, where it comes from, and why it is...
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Think About How You Think: Philosophical Tools for CTOs
In this episode, Marissa and Lior zoom out from tools and tactics to examine your real leverage as a leader: how you think. They unpack the idea of treating your mind as an operating system, exploring epistemology, mental models, and the tiny shifts in thought that compound into huge differences…
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Fail Spectacularly: Why Owning Your Screw-Ups Builds Trust
In this episode, Marissa and Lior reframe failure as a core leadership asset, not a personal defect. They explore why the leaders people trust most aren’t the ones who never mess up—but the ones who own their decisions, explain their intent, and stay honest about what went wrong. You’ll hear how...
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Habitats for Inspiration: How to Stay Inspired as an Entrepreneur
In this episode , Marissa and Lior unpack what it really means to build a “habitat for inspiration” as a founder, rather than chasing rare, one-off moments of motivation. They explore how your everyday environment, community, and business model can either fuel creativity or quietly drain it, and...
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More Than a Retainer: How to Confidently Negotiate Upside Into Your Fractional Deals
In this episode, Marissa and Lior break down how top Fractional CTOs move beyond retainers to build wealth through equity, revenue share, and performance-based upside. Leor shares how reframing your value around business outcomes—rather than hours or deliverables—changes everything about how...
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Between You and What You Want: A Pile of No’s
Fractional CTOs don’t stall because they fail—they stall because they freeze. In this episode, Marissa and Lior reframe “no” as useful signal, not a verdict, and show how high-performing CTOs build momentum by stacking rejections, extracting feedback, and iterating fast. You’ll learn why ten...
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Good Enough to Start: The Truth About Confidence, Credentials, and Client Impact
In this episode, Marissa and Lior go deeper than “impostor syndrome” to unpack what it really takes to start serving at a high level—before you feel ready. They reframe confidence as a byproduct of action, emphasizing minimum viable expertise, outcome ownership, and the core CTO skill:...
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Policy, Preference, or Regulation? Why Fractional CTOs Must Ask Better Questions
In this episode, Marissa and Lior dig into a deceptively simple leadership filter: before you act, ask whether a rule is policy, preference, or regulation—and why it exists. From the “new leader grace period” to cutting through acronym soup, they show how fractional CTOs earn trust by questioning...
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Can't AI Eat My Vegetables for Me?
This episode challenges the myth that AI can “eat the vegetables” of a fractional CTO practice. Marissa and Lior break down the non-delegable work—discernment in prospecting, trust-building in sales, and real-time leadership—while showing where AI truly accelerates: prep, polish, and follow-up....
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The Hard Way vs. The Easy Way: Why Going Solo Isn’t a Badge of Honor
Going solo as a Fractional CTO may feel bold, but in reality, it’s often the slow and costly route. In this episode, Marissa and Lior explore why doing everything yourself isn’t a badge of honor—and how community, proven frameworks, and mentorship can accelerate growth. They break down the hidden...
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Mindset Matters Part 1: The Fear of Selling (And How to Make It Disappear)
Sales can feel intimidating—especially for technical founders and Fractional CTOs who don’t see themselves as “salespeople.” In this episode, Marissa and Lior reframe selling from something uncomfortable into a powerful act of service. They break down the psychology behind why sales often feels...
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Mindset Matters Part 2: Why Imposter Syndrome Is the Enemy of Impact (And How to Beat It)
This episode tackles impostor syndrome for fractional CTOs, with Marissa and Lior breaking down why even seasoned leaders feel it—and how to move through it. They reframe confidence around proven activities, not titles or encyclopedic knowledge, and highlight leadership as creating new...
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Breaking the Tech Corporate Mold: A Day in the Life of a Fractional CTO
In this episode of the CTOx Podcast, host Marissa sits down with Lior to unpack what it really means to leave corporate tech and step into the life of a Fractional CTO. Far from abstract theory, this conversation dives into daily rhythms, mindset shifts, and the systems that create both freedom…
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From Employee to Fractional: Making the Leap with Intention
Making the leap from a W2 job to a fractional CTO role isn’t just about swapping paychecks—it’s about redefining value, outcomes, and freedom. In this episode, Marissa Brassfield and Lior Weinstein unpack the realities of leaving traditional employment and stepping into the autonomy of fractional...
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AI Agents Are Drivers, Not Robots Designing Tech That Thinks for Itself
In this episode, Lior Weinstein reframes how we think about AI—not as robots blindly following scripts, but as drivers navigating toward a mission. Using the powerful metaphor of AI agents as drivers, Leor explains why discernment, alignment, and judgment matter more than speed. From redefining...
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Core Functions of a Business That Are Fractional by Nature (But Not by Name)
This episode of the CTOx Podcast explores how fractional leadership extends beyond technology into the very core functions of business. Marissa and Lior unpack why roles in legal, finance, and marketing have long operated fractionally, even if not called that, and how this perspective helps...
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Consultant vs. Fractional CTO: Sit-Ups, Six-Packs, and True Ownership
In this episode of the CTOx Podcast, Marissa and Lior tackle the critical difference between consultants and Fractional CTOs—and why true leadership is about ownership, not just deliverables. Using memorable metaphors like sit-ups versus six-packs and firefighters versus sprinkler systems, they...
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Building Your Olympic Gold Medalist Leadership Team as a Fractional CTO
Building Your Olympic Gold Medalist Leadership Team as a Fractional CTO | w/ Chris Johnson In this episode, we sit down with leadership strategist and hiring expert Chris Johnson to explore how Fractional CTOs can build what he calls an “Olympic gold medalist leadership team.” Whether you’re...
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Money Matters | Managing Finances, Taxes, and Cash Flow as a Fractional CTO
Today we dive into how you manage your cash flow as a Fractional CTO
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Build A Magnetic Personal Brand As A Fractional CTO
In this episode of the CTOx Podcast, we explore how fractional CTOs can position themselves as high-value leaders by building a magnetic personal brand. Learn how to differentiate yourself in a crowded market, communicate your unique value, and attract ideal clients without chasing them. Whether...
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Scaling Yourself: Managing Multiple Clients Without Losing Your Freedom
Today we dive into how to scale your business and not lose your freedom.
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Functional Technology Framework, Unclogging, De-risking, and Scaling Tech Teams
Today we discuss functional technology framework, unclogging, de-risking, and scaling tech teams.
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From Pitch to Close Practical Sales Tactics for Fractional CTOs
Today we discuss sales tactics that Fractional CTOs can use to grow their business
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Why Most Fractional CTOs Don’t Make Real Money
In this brutally honest episode, Lior and Marissa break down why so many talented fractional CTOs stay broke—or worse, burn out. If you’ve ever felt stuck trading time for dollars, this one’s for you. From mindset to messaging to model, learn what actually drives revenue in a successful fCTO...
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War Stories from the CTO Trenches — Security Breaches, Startups, and Scaling.
Today we discuss security breaches, startups, and scaling.
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Firefighters vs. Sprinkler Systems — A Better Way to Lead Tech Teams
Today We Discuss A Better Way to Lead Tech Teams
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The Future is Fractional - Why the Best Leaders Go Fractional First
Today we discuss why the best leaders go fractional first.
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The Business Model of a Fractional CTO
Today we talk about ways to unlock revenue as a Fractional CTO
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How CTOs Build Trust with CEOs (Without Speaking Tech)
Today we discuss the key ways to build trust with CEOs
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The Million-Dollar Value of Community Why the Right Room Changes
Today we discuss how the right community can change everything for your career.
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Network Magic Activating Connections for Fractional CTO Success
Today we discuss ways to activate your network
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Crafting Your Menu Essential Offerings for Fractional CTOs
Today we discuss the importance of a menu of offerings for potential clients.
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Niche Down to Scale Up How Choosing a Specific Focus Can Boost Your CTO Practice
Today we discuss how to choose a great niche for your fractional CTO business.
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Defining The Fractional CTO Beyond The Basics With Lior Weinstein
In this episode, Lior dives into what at CTO is and how its different from an agency model.
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
For technology leaders that are navigating the fractional CTO landscape
HOSTED BY
CTOx
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does The CTOx Podcast have?
The CTOx Podcast currently has 50 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The CTOx Podcast about?
For technology leaders that are navigating the fractional CTO landscape
How often does The CTOx Podcast release new episodes?
The CTOx Podcast has 50 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to The CTOx Podcast?
You can listen to The CTOx Podcast on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts The CTOx Podcast?
The CTOx Podcast is created and hosted by CTOx.
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