Rephonic
Artwork for Founding DC
Entrepreneurship
Georgetown Cupcake
Cava
Manifest
Washington, DC
Apothékary
Dominique Dawes Gymnastics and Ninja Academy
Founding Farmers
Get Well Network
Healthcare Technology
Barbershop
Hospitality
Carla Hall
Small Business / State Economy
Tiktok
Hospitality Industry
Media / Public Speaking
Total Wine & More
Education / Child Poverty
DC Cupcakes

Get inside the brains (and hearts) of local founders of some of the most successful business ventures in and around the nation’s capital. What didn’t happen? What did? What would they like a do-over on? What failures and flops led to something better than imagined? What’s their next move? These candid conversations — led by entrepreneur and restaurateur Dan Simons — reveal the highs, lows and in-b... more

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes17Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BusinessEducationEntrepreneurship

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Artwork for Founding DC

Latest Episodes

Sarah Chen-Spellings knows venture capital — and she’s helped redefine where it flows. As the driving force behind the former Beyond the Billion, the world’s first and largest consortium of VC funds committed to investing in women-founded companies, ... more

Apothékary sells one tincture every 90 seconds on TikTok. That's not luck — it's nine months of disciplined investment before a single dollar came back.

Shizu Okusa is the founder of Apothékary, a nature-based wellness brand she built from zero to $... more

Think of Gov. Wes Moore as Maryland’s chief entrepreneurial officer. He didn't take a traditional path to the top. He served in a combat zone in Afghanistan, built an edtech company, wrote multiple bestselling books and became Maryland's first Black ... more

Reinvention isn’t a setback. It’s a strategy. Award-winning chef and beloved TV personality, Carla Hall, shares the mindset that helped her pivot careers, build an authentic brand and keep growing. For her, success isn’t linear. It’s built through in... more

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Recent Guests

Sarah Chen-Spellings
Investor, co-founder of Beyond the Billion, founder of the Billion Dollar Moves podcast
Beyond the Billion / Billion Dollar Fund for Women
Episode: #16, Billion-dollar outcomes: Sarah Chen-Spellings on the value of investing in women founders
Shizu Okusa
Founder and CEO of Apothékary
Apothékary
Episode: #15, Shizu Okusa on scaling wellness brand Apothékary to $40M, gaining TikTok halo effect and avoiding founder blind spots
Wes Moore
Governor of Maryland, army combat veteran, Rhodes scholar, entrepreneur, author
Office of the Governor of Maryland
Episode: #14, Gov. Wes Moore on entrepreneurship, leadership and governing like a founder
Carla Hall
Chef, television host, cookbook author, entrepreneur
Self/Carla Hall Enterprises
Episode: #13, Carla Hall on failure, joy and the mindset that builds entrepreneurs
KJ Hughes
Founder of Manifest, serial entrepreneur
Manifest
Episode: #12, Manifest’s KJ Hughes on what it takes to turn a barbershop into a cultural movement
David Trone
Founder of Total Wine & More, philanthropist and politician
Total Wine & More / Trone Foundation / political figure
Episode: #11, Total Wine & More’s David Trone: Strategies behind a $6B retail giant
Michael O'Neil
Founder of Get Well Network
Get Well Network
Episode: #10, Get Well’s Michael O’Neil: When purpose defines your business plan
Alan Meltzer
Founder of The Meltzer Group, philanthropist
The Meltzer Group / NFP (acquirer)
Episode: #9, The Meltzer Group’s Alan Meltzer: From dishwasher to multimillion-dollar deal maker
Dan Simons
Founding Farmers co-founder; restaurateur
Founding Farmers Restaurant Group
Episode: #7, Founding Farmers’ Dan Simons: From bussing tables to building a $100M+ biz

Host

Dan Simons
Host of Founding DC

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 22 ratings
  • Awesome podcast!

    Founding DC is a smart, well-produced podcast that dives into the voices and stories shaping Washington, DC. Each episode feels relevant and conversational, offering a fresh look at the city’s culture, politics, and community in an accessible way.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JJM6105
    United States2 months ago
  • Great entrepreneurs, masterfully interviewed

    I have been binging this podcast since I discovered it and I am about five episodes in. I’ve learned something from each of the incredible entrepreneurs who have been highlighted, and I especially appreciate how well researched Dan is and how fluid the conversations are.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    afshop
    United States4 months ago
  • Glad I found this podcast!

    Loved listening to the first episode and so excited for future ones. One of the may takeways I loved about the Honest Tea and then Just Ice Tea conversation was how Seth talked about personal optimism and as a leader how he needs to be intentional about doing that for himself…as a business owner, that was a good reminder. And, as someone who preaches to companies “it’s all about relationships and your people,” I loved Dan and Seth’s discussion on that thread. Specifically, it was great to hear h... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jillian, Wellness Extension
    United States5 months ago
  • 1+1=3

    Sometimes when we’re lucky in a conversation, 1+1=3.

    When a curious open-minded host invites a creative, eager-to-share guest, the result can be magic.

    That’s what you get from Founding DC, impactful conversations hosted by Dan Simons, one of the most generous communicators you’ll meet. He’s been in the trenches as a businessman, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, and now he’s extracting wisdom from very successful guests.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Joe Ferraro
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Guests often share actionable lessons and frameworks for growth
Host's storytelling and interview style are engaging and thoughtful
Conversations feel practical and deeply grounded in real-world founder experiences
Production quality and guest curation are consistently high

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

#13, Carla Hall on failure, joy and the mindset that builds entrepreneurs
Q: What does it take to turn passion into a platform?
Hall explains that personal resonance, authenticity, and the willingness to teach and share are crucial; she views her work as a way to educate through experience, storytelling, and consistent effort across multiple channels.
#11, Total Wine & More’s David Trone: Strategies behind a $6B retail giant
Q: Tell us one of the things that inspired you to run for Congress.
The inspiration stemmed from a desire to leverage philanthropy on a national scale, using legislative avenues to expand opportunities like Pell Grants for returning citizens and increased NIH funding, while continuing to grow a successful business and model mindful capitalism that benefits employees and communities.
#14, Gov. Wes Moore on entrepreneurship, leadership and governing like a founder
Q: Tell us one lesson you learned as a soldier, that you needed to unlearn as an entrepreneur.
The lesson was that rigidly following a plan can slow you down; you must adapt on the ground, keep a strong mission, and be ready to change course as situations evolve.
#8, CAVA’s Brett Schulman: ‘You can’t cut your way to greatness’
Q: What year did you open the first CAVA in this fast-casual format?
The first Fast Casual CAVA opened in January 2011 on Bethesda Row, and the approach has evolved since then into rapid expansion while maintaining a focus on quality and customization.
#6, Olympian Dominique Dawes: Redefining winning and building a legacy in youth sports
Q: How did you parlay the downsides into something amazing?
By turning pain into a purpose-driven business, surrounding herself with people who share her values, and leaning on mentors and a trusted partner to scale the model while keeping the focus on the kids' holistic development.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Frequently Asked Questions About Founding DC

What is Founding DC about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Entrepreneurship and leadership are the throughlines, with episodes drawing from founders across hospitality, retail, food & beverage, wellness, and social impact. Guests share founder journeys, scaling tactics, team-building, and lessons learned from both successes and setbacks, often weaving in data-driven decision making, community-building, and mission-driven purpose. Expect candid stories about growth, capital, mentorship, and navigating public markets or private equity, all anchored in the Washington, DC ecosystem. The show tends to blend practical takeaways with personal narratives, offering actionable guidance for aspiring founders, operators, and investors who want real-world context on building durable brands and ecosystems in the... more

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How many listeners does Founding DC get?

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What are the audience demographics for Founding DC?

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Which podcasts are similar to Founding DC?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Founding DC:

1. Two Guys on a Plane

How many episodes of Founding DC are there?

Founding DC launched a year ago and published 17 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Founding DC?

Recent guests on Founding DC include:

1. Sarah Chen-Spellings
2. Shizu Okusa
3. Wes Moore
4. Carla Hall
5. KJ Hughes
6. David Trone
7. Michael O'Neil
8. Alan Meltzer

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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