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How To Founder

Anthony Franco
Leadership
Entrepreneurship
Artificial Intelligence
Founder Led Sales
Sales
Venture Capital
Culture
Marketing
Startup
Founders
Organizational Design
Delegation
Hiring
Firing
Sunk Cost Fallacy
Burnout
Storytelling
Mental Health
Sales Process
Purpose-Driven Marketing

Founders are pioneers of economic prosperity. We equip them for the journey. Think you know the real story of entrepreneurship? Think again. "How to Founder" dives headfirst into the messy, often unspoken realities of building a business. We're not here for the typical success stories; we're challenging conventional wisdom, tackling tough topics, and giving you the unfiltered truth about what it a... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes209Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
EntrepreneurshipBusiness

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Artwork for How To Founder

Latest Episodes

What if your hardest client is the reason your best employees quit?

Chris Franks, Anthony Franco, and Stephanie Hays dig into the decision founders delay until the damage is already in Slack, Zoom, and the exit interviews. They unpack preemptive bre... more

In 2011, a photo-sharing app raised 1 million before it launched, turned down a 00 million buyout from Google, and was dead within sixteen months. The money didn't save it. The money hid what was broken.

Chris Franks and Stephanie Hays pull apart on... more

A cult brand is not a costume. It is identity people can wear.

Chris Franks and Stephanie Hays dig into brand versus cult, and why founders who chase logos, merch, and mass awareness often skip the harder work: a sharp product promise and a communit... more

Luck is not a strategy, but waiting for it is worse.

Chris Franks, Anthony Franco, and Stephanie Hays dig into the uncomfortable founder problem hiding inside every success story: how much of this was skill, and how much was timing? They break down ... more

What if the idea you love most is quietly draining the business you are trying to build?

Chris Franks, Anthony Franco, and Stephanie Hays dig into idea triage: the uncomfortable founder work of deciding which ideas deserve more oxygen and which ones... more

What if most of what your marketing agency does could be done in an afternoon with AI?

Chris Franks, Stephanie Hays, and Anthony Franco pull apart the agency model in 2026. They debate whether the founder should own strategy or rent it, why packaged... more

Your toughest competitor may not be another company. It may be a spreadsheet, a lawyer, an old internal tool, or the customer doing nothing.

In episode 202, Chris Franks, Anthony Franco, and Stephanie Hays break down competitive analysis without the... more

The moment you start selling your invention, the clock to losing your patent rights starts ticking.

Anthony Franco, Chris Franks, and Stephanie Hayes break down intellectual property for early-stage founders — from why investors won't sign your NDA ... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Recent Guests

Anthony Franco
Guest expert on AI and marketing
Episode: 203 When to Hire and Fire Your Marketing Agency
Joel Miller
Founder/CEO of The Sky Floor, SaaS veteran
The Sky Floor
Episode: 198 Why Hiring a Sales Rep Too Soon Kills Deals with Joel Miller
John Kaplar
Founder of Focused SketchUp, AI and design tools educator
Focused SketchUp
Episode: 194 Why Founders Who Learn AI First Win with John Kaplar
Jim Tracy
Former CEO with 30 years experience across manufacturing, telecom, agriculture, real estate; built impact into operations
Legacy (former CEO)
Episode: 193 Why Your Impact Initiative Will Fail with Jim Tracy
Abir Syed
e-commerce CFO who gets marketing; co-founder of Up Counting
Up Counting
Episode: 191 Your Business Is Profitable and Broke with Abir Syed
Veronica Zora Kirin
A serial founder, two-time TEDx speaker, anthropologist
Episode: 189 What No One Tells You About Selling Your Business with Veronica Zora Kirin
Lisa Johnson
Co-founder Been There Got Out; survivor of a high-conflict divorce
Been There Got Out
Episode: 187 Your Worst Habit Sets Culture with Lisa Johnson
Randy Gage
Founder, New York Times bestselling author, Speaker's Hall of Fame member
Randy Gage International
Episode: 185 From Employee to Entrepreneur with Randy Gage
Steve Anderson
Author of The Bezos Letters, former risk strategy adviser, consultant to founders on service as infrastructure
Independent consultant / Author
Episode: 184 Crushing Customer Service with Steve Anderson

Hosts

Chris Franks
Guest-co-host and lead host; frequent presence across episodes, often driving the interview and steering strategic topics.
Anthony Franco
Host of discussions with a focus on founder dilemmas, growth, and practical frameworks; often co-leading episodes.
Stephanie Hayes
Co-host contributing to strategy, guest coordination, and topic shaping; often key in discussing culture, growth, and leadership.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 17 ratings
  • A great show for founders

    In-depth, useful and insightful. A great podcast for founders and startups!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Aurora Author
    United States9 months ago
  • Spot on insight

    As a founder of multiple companies across a broad variety of disciplines, it’s always helpful to connect with others who have had their share of successes and setbacks. Great show for mindset and new ideas.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Shooter122277
    United Statesa year ago
  • Loved Episode 63

    I really enjoyed episode 067 Reality Check Your Business Idea: The Hard Truth About Market Research with Andrew Muir Wood.

    I intend to follow up on the practical tips I learned for interviewing past clients to dial in my offer.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    James Burden 76
    Canadaa year ago
  • A fun conversation, great questions, absolutely love the format of their show

    It was a real pleasure joining Chris and Anthony on the How to Founder podcast, a fun conversation, great questions, absolutely love the format of their show. Glad to have met these guys and had the opportunity to chat with them on the podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Robin Waite, Fearless Business
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • love how to founder

    great podcast. Chris and Anthony are knowledgeable and know how to have a good time.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    amfrank
    United Statesa year ago
  • Fun and Informative Show

    I had the opportunity to be a guest on this show, it was a great experience. Incredibly knowledgeable hosts that mix a perfect blend of valuable business insights while having a great time. A top listen for those who want to learn how to enhance their businesses while enjoying themselves along the way!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Carly7873
    United Statesa year ago
  • Really Fun Podcast

    Great podcast, great hosts, lots of fun

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    RobertJHunt2010
    United States2 years ago
  • This is the only podcast that I have discovered that satisfies my cravings for confirmation bias

    If you’re one of those individuals who dropped out of college after hearing Gary Vaynerchuk speak and now find yourself in a lonely place, welcome home.

    — Jeff Kutas, Founder of MB Sentinel

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jeff the Mailbox Guy
    United States2 years ago
  • Unbelievable content!

    I can’t believe this podcast is free! Excellent!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    HardwareVC
    United States2 years ago
  • Terrific Show

    As the host, I get the one shot at a review - So here it is: I think we are terrific 😂

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    El Presedente
    United States2 years ago
  • Two wild and crazy guys can really help you get started

    Anthony and Chris are two guys that lead a dynamic, even raucous podcast of immeasurable value to those brave souls founding a business. Their interplay keeps the show entertaining without compromising its value to entrepreneurs. As a guest I felt welcome and part of the group right away and their fun-loving antics pulled out of me the best I could offer to their audience. If you are starting a business or have started one and want to be in a place where you are understood and appreciated. this ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Mindful Bob Martin
    United States2 years ago
  • Fun & Informative!

    This podcast is essential listening for founders. Anthony and Chris keep every interview lively and interesting and insist their guests provide actionable gems that will benefit listeners in their businesses. Fun and informative!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Speaking247
    United States2 years ago
  • Great show

    incredible conversation. Great hosts. Gotta check them out.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Marcus Norman
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Guest mix provides diverse perspectives on growth, exits, and culture.
Founders get practical, actionable advice they can actually apply.
The format can be lively and opinionated, yet remains focused on value for founders.
Hosts balance humor with hard business truths.

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The Money MondaysDan Fleyshman

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

206 Build Brand Before the Cult
Q: How do you find your people, Stephanie?
Identify the shared beliefs and the environments where your target audience already congregates, then borrow or engage with those audiences in authentic ways to spread your story.
128 Competitive Intelligence Essentials with Steven Schneider
Q: What information for founders is most valuable when researching competitors?
Focus on conversion rate optimization, user experience, and pricing signals, then look to how those signals translate into ROI and scalable actions rather than chasing every feature the competition introduces.
130 The Sales Funnel is Dead: Long Live The Sales Funnel with Dan Goodstein
Q: How should founders approach building a sales process?
Focus on the customer first, map the process around their journey, and use AI/tools to scale the authentic personal connection rather than trying to force a one-size-fits-all funnel.
130 The Sales Funnel is Dead: Long Live The Sales Funnel with Dan Goodstein
Q: What is a salesperson in 2025, specifically in B2B?
A salesperson should be a guide who hunts and nurtures, asking questions, offering solutions tailored to the customer, and sometimes directing them to better options even if that means referring to a competitor when appropriate.
130 The Sales Funnel is Dead: Long Live The Sales Funnel with Dan Goodstein
Q: Define a sales funnel, Dan.
The funnel is a common but misleading visual; real processes are non-linear and require understanding the full journey of a customer, often starting before any formal sales engagement.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About How To Founder

What is How To Founder about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show targets founders and operators, leaning into practical, no-nonsense discussions about building and growing startups. Frequent threads include founder-led sales, product and growth strategies, and the trade-offs of rapid expansion, with a sharp eye on real-world outcomes like cash flow, culture, and burnout. Episodes blend actionable tactics with candid storytelling, often challenging conventional wisdom around hiring, exits, and scalability, while highlighting the human side of entrepreneurship through experiences in leadership, resilience, and team dynamics. A standout trait is the hosts' willingness to mix humor with hard truths, making complex topics approachable for founders who want concrete takeaways and accountability.

What... more

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How many episodes of How To Founder are there?

How To Founder launched 2 years ago and published 209 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 How To Founder?

Recent guests on How To Founder include:

1. Anthony Franco
2. Joel Miller
3. John Kaplar
4. Jim Tracy
5. Abir Syed
6. Veronica Zora Kirin
7. Lisa Johnson
8. Randy Gage

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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