Journeys to the Summit

What if your health issues weren’t random, but signals your body is sending?In this episode of Journeys to the Summit, Ilya Zlotnik sits down with Irina Frenkel, founder of Retreat, a rapidly growing health and wellness boutique redefining modern medicine.Irina shares her journey from traditional healthcare to a personalized, root-cause approach after being misdiagnosed with diabetes at 21. That experience led her to challenge the system and build a model focused on lifestyle, nutrition, stress, and cellular health.They dive into:-Why traditional medicine often treats symptoms, not causes-The role of stress, hormones, and gut health in chronic illness-How personalized care can reverse long-term health issues-Irina's 56-pound transformation and what made it possible-The business behind building a fast-growing wellness brand-Why most people feel unheard in healthcare and how to fix itIrina's mission is simple: help people take ownership of their health and increase not just lifespan, but healthspan.If you’re tired of generic advice and want real answers about your body, this conversation is a must-watch.

What does it take to build a $100B business from scratch, without raising a single dollar?In this episode, Byron Udell shares the full story behind building AcuQuote into one of the largest life insurance brokerage firms in the country. And selling it in 2021 at exactly the right moment, just before markets shifted.From starting as a solo operator in 1986 to scaling a company with 250+ employees and 250,000 clients, Byron breaks down:-How he grew the business organically-Why he ignored conventional advice-The real reason most venture-backed competitors failed-How rising lead costs crushed margins across the industry-The unconventional way he sold his company -Why timing the sale made all the differenceHe also shares powerful insights on entrepreneurship, discipline, and why life insurance, often overlooked, is one of the most impactful financial tools in the world.If you're a founder, investor, or operator, this episode is packed with hard-earned lessons you won’t hear anywhere else.

What if true wealth isn’t money—but your health?In this conversation, Ilya Zlotnik sits down with Daniel Chille, founder of TBD Fitness & Holistic Health, to explore the powerful intersection of health, longevity, and wealth.Daniel shares his journey from D1 athlete and professional soccer player to holistic health practitioner, and breaks down how optimizing your body can completely transform your life. From gut health and genetic testing to sleep, stress, and personalized nutrition, this episode dives deep into what it really means to pursue optimal health—not just “normal.”Key topics include:-Why “health is wealth” is more than a cliché-The SPEND framework: Sleep, Stress, Sunlight, Nutrition & more-How gut health impacts everything from immunity to mental clarity-The truth about diets (vegan vs. omnivore)-Why genetic testing is a game-changer for personalized health-The biggest mistakes people make when trying to get healthyIf you want more energy, better performance, and a longer, healthier life—this episode is for you.

What is Private Placement Life Insurance (PPLI) and why is it gaining traction among high-net-worth investors?In this episode of Journeys to the Summit, Ilya Zlotnik sits down with Jordan Katz, CEO and Founder of JR Katz, to break down one of the most powerful (and often misunderstood) tools in wealth management.Jordan explains how PPLI works as a tax-efficient investment “location”, not just an insurance product—unlocking access to alternative investments like private equity, hedge funds, and private credit inside a tax-advantaged structure.They cover:-What PPLI actually is (and who it’s for)-How it compares to traditional variable life insurance-The three major tax advantages driving adoption-Why tax-inefficient assets (like hedge funds & private credit) belong inside PPLI-Cost structure vs. long-term tax savings-How wealthy families use PPLI for multi-generational wealth transfer-Key risks, limitations, and why patient capital is criticalIf you're an investor, advisor, or business owner thinking about advanced tax strategies—this conversation is a must-watch.Key Insight: PPLI isn’t about insurance; it’s about minimizing taxes and maximizing long-term compounding.

Kyle Therriault didn’t set out to build a massive e-commerce company, but that’s exactly what happened.Starting with overstock auto parts sold on eBay, Kyle and his father, Steve, built Auto Accessories Garage from scratch during a time when most people believed “no one would ever buy auto parts online.”They faced rejection from vendors, banks, and even their own industry. But through persistence, early adoption of SEO, and a willingness to reinvest everything back into the business, they turned a scrappy startup into a dominant player in automotive e-commerce.In this episode, Kyle shares:-How they bootstrapped the business (and took on real risk)-Why Google was both a big asset and a big threat-The brutal impact of algorithm changes (and how they recovered)-The strategic decision to partner with, and eventually sell to, NAPA (GPC)-How COVID accelerated their growth-Why the future of commerce may eliminate shopping entirelyThis is a masterclass in timing, resilience, and long-term thinking.Whether you're building, scaling, or exiting, this episode is packed with lessons you won’t want to miss.

What if you could invest in top private companies before they go public, and at a significant discount?In this episode, Michael Grayson, Portfolio Manager at First Trust Capital Management, breaks down two of the most powerful (and misunderstood) strategies in private markets: co-investments and secondaries.We explore:-The key difference between fund investing vs. co-investing-How investors can avoid high management and performance fees-Why secondaries can offer 40–50% discounts on high-quality companies-Real-world examples, including investments in Reddit and SpaceX-How smaller, nimble investors can outperform large institutions-The importance of alignment and avoiding adverse selection biasThis conversation pulls back the curtain on how sophisticated investors access private equity deals—and why structure matters just as much as the opportunity.Whether you're new to private markets or looking to sharpen your edge, this is a must-watch.

Elite trader Lance Breitstein joins Ilya Zlotnik for a raw conversation on what it actually takes to become a top performer in prop trading, and what it costs.Lance shares his journey from obsessing over the Market Wizards books as a college student to grinding through a brutal first year with no profitable months, to ultimately becoming the #1 trader at Trillium, setting records and leading/mentoring other traders.This episode goes deep on the psychological game of handling stress, avoiding tilt and FOMO, surviving the comparison trap, and why Lance found that sleep quality was one of the strongest predictors of his daily P&L. He also opens up about massive drawdowns, including a $2.3M loss in ~15 minutes, and the frameworks that helped him recover and improve long-term expected value.We also cover the “Super Bowl” period of trading during 2020–2021, including the mania around GME/AMC, and why Lance ultimately stepped away from trading full-time to pursue philanthropy, health, and building what he calls “the greatest free trading course ever created.”Topics include:-Why prop trading attracts entrepreneurs (and why it breaks most people)-The real learning curve: 6+ months just to have a clue-Process vs. P&L and why early success is dangerous-Sleep, stress, identity, and performance under pressure-Tilt, FOMO, and the comparison game-GME/AMC volatility and “in-play” stocks-Leaving at the top: fulfillment beyond the scoreboardSubscribe for more conversations on performance, mindset, investing, and building a life that actually works. #journeystothesummit #entrepreneurialinsights #podcast #entrepreneurship

In this episode of Journeys to the Summit, Ilya Zlotnik sits down with Craig Lemoine, Director of Financial Planning at the University of Illinois, to talk about the real evolution of wealth management and why the next generation of talent is entering the profession differently than ever before.Craig shares his unconventional path from physics major to financial planning, his early career inside a high-volume planning team, what the old GDC “grid” sales culture taught him about incentives, and why today’s students can build a real career in planning without starting in pure sales.They also break down how Illinois grew its program from 82 students to ~240, why Craig pushed to make estate planning required (“everybody dies, not everybody retires”), and how electives like Money & Happiness are preparing students for the human side of advice. Plus: why firms increasingly prefer candidates who have already passed high-stakes exams like the SIE/Series 65.If you’re building a firm, hiring advisors, or starting your career in wealth management, this one is packed with practical insight.#FinancialPlanning #WealthManagement #FinancialAdvisor #UniversityOfIllinois #AdvisorRecruiting#EstatePlanning #Leadership #JourneysToTheSummit

In this episode of Journeys to the Summit, host Ilya Zlotnik sits down with healthcare entrepreneur and climbing partner Ian Strug for a candid, high-altitude look at risk, failure, and building again.Ian walks through his path from:-Liberal arts major at Vanderbilt with PhD dreams-Early career at Epic and management consulting-Co-founding Virgo, an AI-enabled GI/endoscopy company-Surviving COVID, the SVB collapse panic, and a painful founder exit-Launching a new, Mayo Clinic–backed company focused on OR efficiency and surgical accessThey cover:-Why being “risk-averse” doesn’t mean you’re not entrepreneurial-How a Techstars experience flipped Ian’s career trajectory-What he’d do differently around fundraising, capitalization, and banking-How to think about equity realistically as an employee-The mental health cost of tying your identity to your company-Where AI actually makes sense in healthcare—and where it’s overkillIf you’re curious about healthcare startups, AI, or what it actually feels like to walk away from your “baby” and start again, this is a powerful, honest conversation.🔔 Subscribe to Journeys to the Summit for more in-depth conversations with builders, leaders, and climbers pushing toward their own summits.#JourneysToTheSummit #EntrepreneurialInsights

What does it take to pivot from military service to co-founding a multi-billion-dollar wealth management firm?In this episode of Journeys to the Summit, host Ilya Zlotnik interviews Randy Golden, co-founder of Vivaldi Capital Management. Randy shares his unexpected path from academic probation to the U.S. Army, the lessons he carried into finance, and the bold moves that helped him and his partners grow Vivaldi into a leader in alternatives.You’ll hear:How setbacks in college redirected Randy’s lifeLessons learned serving in Panama and how they shaped his discipline and perspectiveWhy he embraced fee-based advice early, before it was mainstreamHis pioneering focus on alternatives for high-net-worth clientsThe importance of thinking big, surrounding yourself with the right people, and never becoming too comfortable🎧 Listen to more episodes:    / @journeystothesummit  #JourneysToTheSummit #EntrepreneurialInsights

From kitchens to private equity boardrooms: Partner Sam Bendix of Chicago Pacific Founders (CPF) shares how classical culinary training shaped his discipline, how healthcare private equity shares common demographic and operating fundamentals with healthcare real estate, and practical advice for owners preparing to sell. He and host Ilya Zlotnik dig into value-based care, senior housing, and medical offices—and how to partner with PE while maintaining your company’s value proposition.

What drives someone to leave the familiar and build something from the ground up? In this episode of Journeys to the Summit, host Ilya Zlotnik sits down with Shane Stiles, founder and president of Gate 39 Media, to explore his entrepreneurial roots, shaped by a childhood working in his father’s gas stations.Together, they unpack Shane’s transition from corporate life to entrepreneurship, the founding of a firm that now serves clients in finance and agriculture, and the mindset it takes to lead in times of both clarity and uncertainty.Learn how family, resilience, and a willingness to pivot have shaped Shane’s journey, and what advice he offers to the next generation of business builders.Subscribe for more conversation:  @journeystothesummit  

In this episode of Journeys to the Summit, Ilya Zlotnik sits down with business leader Josh Rogers to explore the early struggles, strategic pivots, and leadership lessons that helped shape his success. Whether you're building a startup or leading a team, Josh's story offers insight into what it takes to grow with purpose.🔗 Subscribe for more: @journeystothesummit #JourneysToTheSummit #EntrepreneurialInsights

What does it take to build a thriving, forward-thinking manufacturing business in America today? In this episode of Journeys to the Summit, host Ilya Zlotnik sits down with Alex Khakham, co-owner of Gil Sewing and High Performance Uniforms, to explore his family’s inspiring immigrant story, their start with six sewing machines, and how they’ve grown into a powerhouse serving retail brands, Fortune 500s, and the U.S. military.Learn how Alex navigates global supply chains, evolving labor markets, and rising tariffs - all while remaining agile and values driven. From producing 25,000 bomber jackets in less than four months for Walgreens to building proprietary ordering tech, this is a story of vision, grit, and modern manufacturing at its best.📌 Subscribe to Journeys to the Summit👉 Like, comment, share, and subscribe for more real-life entrepreneurial journeys.

In this inspiring episode of Journeys to the Summit, host Ilya Zlotnik sits down with Chicago entrepreneur and restaurateur Dimitri Syrkin-Nikolau, the founder of Dimo’s Pizza and upcoming Southport Betty's. From crafting experimental slice combos to creating face shields during COVID, Dimitri's entrepreneurial spirit is as creative as it is resilient.In This Episode: How an 8-year-old with a BB pencil prototype grew into a business owner with five restaurant locations.-Launching a pizzeria at age 22 in the middle of a financial crisis.-Navigating burnout, stepping away—and coming back stronger.-Building a people-first culture that nurtures entrepreneurs and long-time staff.-Using technology to build a competitive advantage in restaurant operations.-Why stability—not just growth—is the next summit for this founder.Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur or just love a good origin story, Dimitri's candid insights on creativity, resilience, and risk-taking will leave you inspired.Watch now and subscribe to Journeys to the Summit for more stories from business builders who took the leap and carved their own paths to the top.Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe so you never miss an episode of Journeys to the Summit!#JourneysToTheSummit #EntrepreneurialInsights #DimosPizza

Join me in an exclusive conversation with David Sternberg, CEO and Co-Founder of Vivaldi. From his unexpected leap into trading at the Chicago Board Options Exchange to navigating market crashes with precision and discipline, David shares the pivotal moments that shaped his career.Discover how he reinvented himself after trading, built a firm that redefines wealth management, and empowered the next generation of leaders at Vivaldi. This episode dives deep into the mindset of an entrepreneur who thrives on risk management, innovation, and a relentless passion for creating value.Tune in and subscribe!