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PODCAST · business

The First Buck

by Sky's The Limit

This is the First Buck podcast where we feature underrepresented entrepreneurs and the people who support them.

Publisher-supplied feed metadata · PodParley refreshed Aug 15, 2025 · Source feed

Episodes

  1. From Hauling Junk to a $700 Million Empire: Brian Scudamore's Journey

    In this episode of the First Buck podcast, host Nic Cary chats with Brian Scudamore, the innovative entrepreneur behind 1-800-GOT-JUNK, Wow 1 Day Painting, and Shack Shine. Brian's unique approach turned junk removal into an industry of exceptional customer service. Delving into his journey from...

  2. The Power of Curiosity: How to Fuel Innovation and Growth with Elona Mortimer-Zhika

    In this episode of the First Buck podcast, host Nick Cary sits down with Elona Mortimer-Zhika, a dynamic leader and esteemed former CEO of Iris Software Group. Elona shares her inspiring journey from her early days in communist Albania to leading one of the largest global software businesses....

  3. Out of Your Comfort Zone: How to Sell, Lead, and Inspire with Zuby

    In this episode of the First Buck podcast, host Nic Cary interviews Zuby Udezue, an independent rapper, author, podcast host, and creative entrepreneur who has built a massive following of over 2 million people on social media. Zuby shares his journey of independent success, emphasizing the...

  4. Mastering Resilience and Innovation: Building Teams That Lead with Samuel Harrison

    In this episode of the First Buck podcast, host Nic Cary interviews Samuel Harrison, co-founder and managing partner of Faction, a blockchain venture capital fund, and a seasoned advisor in the crypto and digital currency space. Drawing from his extensive experience investing in early-stage...

  5. The Courage to Take the First Step: Rethinking Risk and Reward with Howard Fischer

    In this episode of the First Buck podcast, host Nic Cary interviews Howard Fischer, Co-Founder and Chief Evangelist of Gratitude Railroad, an organization focused on aligning capital with purpose to drive social and environmental change. Drawing from his extensive experience as a hedge fund…

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  6. Empowering Teams and Taking Risks: Lessons in Resilient Leadership with Katharine Weymouth

    In this episode of the First Buck podcast, host Nic Cary interviews Katharine Weymouth, Chief Operating Officer at Togetherly Parents, a community supporting parents with struggling teens and young adults. Drawing from her extensive leadership experience, including her tenure as CEO and Publisher...

  7. Redefining Access & Breaking Barriers: Creating Pathways to Economic Mobility with Samir Goel

    In this episode of the First Buck podcast, host Nic Cary interviews Samir Goel, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Esusu, a platform dedicated to unlocking financial stability for renters by enabling credit-building through rent payments. Inspired by his family's experiences as immigrants facing financial...

  8. The Art of Distinction: How to Make Your Brand Stand Out with Vince McSweeney

    In this episode of the First Buck podcast, host Nic Cary interviews Vince McSweeney, Chief Creative Officer at McCann Central, a global marketing leader with an impressive track record across national and international brands. Vince shares insights on building authentic brands that resonate with...

  9. The Power of Being Prepared: Turning Setbacks into Opportunities with Sam Roady

    In this episode of the First Buck podcast, host Nic Cary interviews Samantha Roady, CEO of Simply Business' U.S. operations, a leading digital insurance marketplace for small businesses. With nearly 25 years of C-suite experience, Samantha shares insights on scaling complex businesses, building...

  10. From Startup Risks to Lasting Impact: Mastering the Entrepreneurial Journey with John Simon

    In this episode of the First Buck podcast, host Nic Cary interviews John Simon, an entrepreneur, investor, and co-founder of the Greenlight Fund, an organization dedicated to addressing economic mobility challenges by scaling innovative nonprofits across the U.S. In this episode, John shares...

  11. Facing and Breaking the Fear of Failure: Navigating Setbacks in Business with Gary Izunwa

    In this episode of the First Buck podcast, host Nic Cary interviews Gary Izunwa, Co-founder and CEO of Tangent, an employee referral platform designed to make job referrals accessible to everyone, not just the well-connected. In this episode, Gary shares his insights on social mobility…

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  12. Creating Impact That Lasts: How to Build Businesses That Drive Change with Eric Kessler

    In this episode of the First Buck podcast, host Nic Cary interviews Eric Kessler, a serial entrepreneur and founder of Arabella Advisors, where he led the firm's growth into a leader in the philanthropic sector, advising on billions of dollars in resources annually. Eric shares how he…

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  13. Building a Life of Purpose: Finding Clarity & Driving Change with Richard Bynum

    In this episode of the First Buck podcast, host Nic Cary interviews Richard Bynum, Chief Corporate Responsibility Officer at PNC Financial Services Group, where he leads initiatives on community development, diversity, and PNC's $88 billion Community Benefits Plan. Bynum discusses building a...

  14. Empowering Women in Entrepreneurship: Unlocking the Power of Community with Sharmadean Reid

    In this episode of the First Buck podcast, host Nic Cary interviews Sharmadean Reid MBE, Founder and CEO of The Stack World, discusses her journey from launching WAH Nails to creating a platform that powers women's networks and communities. She shares insights on achieving gender equity through...

  15. Unlocking the Power of Diversity: Building Strong Relationships with Amanda Jenkins

    In this episode of the First Buck podcast, host Nic Cary interviews Amanda Jenkins, Chief Impact Officer at 10x Banking, where she leads the 10x Impact Agenda focused on people, community, and the planet. Amanda shares her journey from the Lloyd's insurance market to senior roles in New York law...

  16. The Science in Entrepreneurship: Using Scientific Approach for Better Outcomes with Dr. Mahsa Vazin

    In this episode of the First Buck podcast, host Nic Cary interviews Dr. Mahsa Vazin, founder of PawCo, a plant-based dog food company with a mission of making the world a greener place, one meal at a time. Dr. Vazin, with a PhD in nanoscience and experience at Impossible Foods, shares her...

  17. Riding the Wave of Innovation: Unlocking Your Potential with Dax Hansen

    In this episode of the First Buck podcast, host Nic Cary interviews Dax Hansen, a partner at Perkins Coie, a leading international law firm, emphasizes the significance of having a clear vision, the necessity of mentorship, and the critical role of networking and relationship building in…

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  18. The Power of Passion in Building a Business: Unlocking Growth Opportunities with Sekou Kaalund

    In this episode of the First Buck podcast, host Nic Cary interviews Sekou Kaalund, Executive Vice President and Head of Branch and Small Business banking for US Bank, where he oversees the organization's 2,200+ branches across 26 states. emphasizes the significance of having a clear vision, the...

  19. Turning Ideas into Impactful Ventures: Taking Risks and Finding Success with Seth Godin

    In this episode of the First Buck podcast, host Nic Cary interviews Seth Godin, a renowned entrepreneur and bestselling author. Seth shares his journey from early ventures, like selling ice cream sandwiches, to becoming a marketing guru. He discusses the difference between actual and perceived...

  20. Navigating the World of Venture Capital: Breaking Barriers and Achieving Success with Check Warner

    In this episode of the First Buck podcast, host Nic Cary interviews Check Warner, an early stage VC and one of the founding partners of Ada Ventures. Check shares her journey from her early jobs in telesales and advertising to her pivotal switch to venture capital. She discusses the importance of...

  21. Secrets to Successful Startup Fundraising: Turning Ideas into Impact with Stephen Bediako

    Stephen Bediako is a social entrepreneur, innovator, impact investor and design expert. They talk about Stephen's journey from selling household goods door-to-door in East London at 13 to starting the Social Innovation Partnership. He emphasizes the importance of education, family support, and…

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  22. Banking on Innovation: Anne Boden's Trailblazing Journey & Tips for Female Founders

    In this episode of the First Buck podcast, host Nic Cary interviews Anne Boden, founder and former CEO of Starling Bank. Boden shares her journey as an entrepreneur and offers insights and advice for early-stage entrepreneurs. She discusses her first job at Lloyd's Bank, the importance of...

  23. Earning, Learning, and Self-Care: Lisa Jacobs on Navigating Entrepreneurial Ups and Downs

    Nic interviews Lisa Jacobs, the CEO of Funding Circle. Lisa discusses her journey as an entrepreneur and offers insights into the world of small business lending. She shares her experiences of earning her first money through odd jobs and building websites, and how those early experiences shaped…

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  24. From Lemons to Leadership: Clif Marriott's Journey to the Top of Tech and Entrepreneurship

    Nic interviews Clif Marriott, Marriott, co-head of the TMT group at Goldman Sachs International and a Board Member at Sky's the Limit. Clif shares his experiences and insights on entrepreneurship and building successful teams. He also discusses his early entrepreneurial ventures, such as selling...

  25. Knowing What's NOT Important Can Change Your Life with Raena Saddler

    In this podcast episode, Nic interviews Raena Saddler, the director of Product for Youth Wellbeing and Equity at Meta (formerly Facebook), where she leads teams to focus on making Meta's products more equitable and inclusive and supporting teams to create a positive, safe and an age appropriate...

  26. From Pet Store to Global Pro: Michael Sharff's Blueprint for Career Mastery & Connection

    Nic Cary interviews Michael Sharff, the global head of Communications at PA Consulting. They discuss Michael's journey from working in a pet store to his current role in global communications. Michael shares his experiences and offers advice for young adults and entrepreneurs. He emphasizes the...

  27. Mastering the Art of the Sale: Gabriele Barbera's Journey from Teen Entrepreneur to Sales Leader

    In this episode of the First Buck podcast, host Nic Cary interviews Gabriele Barbera, head of Global Sales for Hewlett-Packard (HP). Gabriele shares his journey from starting his own business as a teenager to working for Accenture and eventually joining HP. He emphasizes the importance of sales...

  28. Crypto Clarity & Startup Secrets: The Journey from E-Commerce to AI Innovation with Mohammed Junaid

    In this episode of the First Buck podcast, host Nic Cary interviews Mohamed Junaid, "Jay", co-founder of Supersight, a company that uses large language models to analyze crypto and finance data. Jay shares his journey as an entrepreneur, starting with his first venture in e-commerce and his...

  29. Why Taking Risks Is Necessary for Entrepreneurial Success With Jeff Lynn

    Jeff Lynn is the Co-founder and Chairman of Seedrs, a company that connects investors with growth-focused European startups. He began his entrepreneurial journey with Seedrs 15 years ago and, prior to that, had a career as a corporate lawyer. Jeff is also the Co-founder of Startup Coalition, a...

  30. How To Mitigate Capability Constraints With Juanita Gonzalez-Uribe

    Juanita Gonzalez-Uribe is an Associate Professor at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), a world-leading university dedicated to educating students in the social sciences. Juanita's research focuses on entrepreneurship, innovation, and private equity. Her literature has…

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  31. Importance of User Research for Brand Success With Michelle Parsons

    Michelle Parsons is a Product Executive in Residence at Product School, the global leader in product training with a growing community of 2 million product professionals. Michelle has leveraged her 15 years in the industry to develop product management certification programs to help product...

  32. How To Correct the Venture Capitalist Diversity Problem With Seth Levine

    Seth Levine is the Co-founder of Foundry Group, a venture capitalist agency focused on making early-stage technology investments, participating in select growth rounds, and identifying and supporting the next generation of venture fund managers. Seth is an active participant in the global...

  33. Advancing Careers and Businesses With Google's Jesse Haines

    Jesse Haines is the Managing Director of Growth at Google, the company's $1 billion initiative that has helped over 9 million Americans grow their skills, careers, and businesses. With over a decade of experience at Google, she has played a crucial role in shaping emerging products and platforms...

  34. Learning How To Take Risks and Invest in Your Business With Rick Wade

    Rick Wade is the Senior Vice President of Strategic Alliances and Outreach for the US Chamber of Commerce. In this role, he is responsible for fostering diverse business partnerships through program development, providing counsel on policy issues, and serving as a strong advocate for…

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  35. Fundamental Truths of Entrepreneurism With Fabio Rosati

    Fabio Rosati is a Chairman at Snagajob, a platform designed to help people find hourly work suited to their skills, maximizing their potential. With an illustrious career that includes serving as the CEO of Elance and Upwork and a board member at Xometry, among others, Fabio continues to shape…

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  36. Building Careers on Unexpected Opportunities With Mary Mack

    Mary Mack is the former CEO of Consumer & Small Business Banking at Wells Fargo. Mary was named one of the top 50 most powerful women in business by Fortune Magazine for six consecutive years, and American Banker List ranked her among the most powerful women in banking. With 39 years of…

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ABOUT THIS SHOW

This is the First Buck podcast where we feature underrepresented entrepreneurs and the people who support them.

HOSTED BY

Sky's The Limit

CATEGORIES

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does The First Buck have?

The First Buck currently has 36 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.

What is The First Buck about?

This is the First Buck podcast where we feature underrepresented entrepreneurs and the people who support them.

How often does The First Buck release new episodes?

The First Buck has 36 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.

Where can I listen to The First Buck?

You can listen to The First Buck 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 First Buck?

The First Buck is created and hosted by Sky's The Limit.
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