Fixers & Founders is a podcast about the partnership between visionary founders and the fractional executives who help them bring structure, clarity, and scale. Each episode features candid conversations with founders and the operators who steady the ship—highlighting how ideas get fueled, how systems get fixed, and how businesses move forward when vision and execution finally meet.
Fixers & Founders
Claim This Podcastby Forrest Derr and Tony Lilja
23 episodes
Updated Daily
Accepts GuestsHas Sponsors
Podcast Overview
Fixers & Founders is a podcast about the partnership between visionary founders and the fractional executives who help them bring structure, clarity, and scale. Each episode features candid conversations with founders and the operators who steady the ship—highlighting how ideas get fueled, how systems get fixed, and how businesses move forward when vision and execution finally meet.
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
11/2/2025
1 verified contact email on file for Fixers & Founders
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Recent Episodes
July 29, 2026
Helping the Underdogs Win | Wall Street Smarts for Main Street Businesses
<p>In this episode of Fixers & Founders, Tony and Forrest sit down with Jeff Benesh to talk about what happens when founder-led businesses start getting heavier than they should.</p><p><br /></p><p>Jeff brings Wall Street experience to Main Street businesses, helping founders diagnose what is really slowing them down. From distressed assets and turnaround work to operational diagnostics and founder psychology, Jeff explains why businesses rarely break all at once. More often, they drift.</p><p><br /></p><p>We discuss how leaders confuse busyness with progress, why the first problem is usually not the real problem, and how simpler systems can restore clarity, control, and momentum.</p><p><br /></p><p>In this conversation, we explore:</p><p><br /></p><p>Wall Street to Main Street: How Jeff applies high-stakes financial thinking to founder-led companies.</p><p><br /></p><p>Business Drift: Why growing companies slowly move into chaos before they hit a breaking point.</p><p><br /></p><p>Root Cause Diagnosis: How to separate symptoms from what is actually broken.</p><p><br /></p><p>Simple Systems: Why healthy businesses need less complexity, not more.</p><p><br /></p><p>If your business feels busy, heavy, or harder to run than it should, this conversation is for you.</p><p><br /></p><p>Connect with Jeff Benesh</p><p>Email: <a href="jeff.benesh@melburyandco.com" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">jeff.benesh@melburyandco.com</a></p><p>LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-benesh-48041618" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-benesh-48041618</a></p><p>Website:<a href="https://melburyandco.com" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> https://melburyandco.com</a></p><p><br /></p><p>Intro & Outro Music</p><p>"Which One Is the Jellyfish?" by Aunt Cynthia's Cabin</p><p>Used with permission under a non-exclusive license.</p><p>Bandcamp: <a href="https://auntcynthiascabin.bandcamp.com" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://auntcynthiascabin.bandcamp.com</a></p><p>Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/auntcynthiascabin" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/auntcynthiascabin</a></p><p>Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/auntcynthiascabin" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/auntcynthiascabin</a></p><p>Spotify: <a href="http://open.spotify.com/artist/5XoG0H2D0vY58n32W8xI2K" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">http://open.spotify.com/artist/5XoG0H2D0vY58n32W8xI2K</a></p>
July 22, 2026
Slow Down to Speed Up | Making Better Business Decisions
<p>In this episode of Fixers & Founders, Tony and Forrest sit down with Jody Hatch to explore what happens when growth creates complexity.</p><p><br></p><p>As businesses mature, leaders often find themselves surrounded by more data, more opinions, more tools, and more pressure to move quickly. Jody explains why speed isn't always the answer—and why clarity, timing, and intentional decision-making become increasingly important as organizations grow.</p><p><br></p><p>Drawing from her experience as an EOS Integrator, educator, and self-described "orchestrator," Jody shares how she helps founders cut through noise, simplify complexity, and make decisions with greater confidence.</p><p><br></p><p>In this conversation, we explore:</p><p><br></p><p>• Growth & Complexity: Why success often creates new layers of chaos and uncertainty.</p><p><br></p><p>• Clarity Over Speed: When moving faster becomes a liability instead of an advantage.</p><p><br></p><p>• The Orchestrator Mindset: How great leaders align people, tools, and priorities around a common direction.</p><p><br></p><p>• Signal vs. Noise: Practical ways to uncover what actually matters when everything feels urgent.</p><p><br></p><p>If you're facing a decision that feels bigger than the usual playbook, this conversation is for you.</p><p><br></p><p>Connect with Jody Hatch</p><p><br></p><p>LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jhmountainmanagment" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">https://www.linkedin.com/in/jhmountainmanagment</a></p><p>Phone: (315) 529-6844</p><p><br></p><p>Intro & Outro Music</p><p><br></p><p>"Which One Is the Jellyfish?" by Aunt Cynthia's Cabin</p><p>Used with permission under a non-exclusive license.</p><p>Bandcamp: <a href="https://auntcynthiascabin.bandcamp.com"><u>https://auntcynthiascabin.bandcamp.com</u></a></p><p>Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/auntcynthiascabin"><u>https://www.facebook.com/auntcynthiascabin</u></a></p><p>Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/auntcynthiascabin"><u>https://www.instagram.com/auntcynthiascabin</u></a></p><p>Spotify: <a href="http://open.spotify.com/artist/5XoG0H2D0vY58n32W8xI2K"><u>http://open.spotify.com/artist/5XoG0H2D0vY58n32W8xI2K</u></a><br></p>
July 15, 2026
You Have a Job, Not a Business | Escaping Founder-Led Sales
<p>In this episode of Fixers & Founders, Tony and Forrest sit down with Morgan Abreu to explore one of the most difficult transitions founders face: moving from founder-led sales to a scalable revenue system.</p><p><br></p><p>Many businesses grow because the founder is the best salesperson in the company. But eventually that becomes the bottleneck. Morgan explains why hiring a salesperson isn't a silver bullet, what needs to be in place before making that first sales hire, and how founders can build systems that allow revenue to grow without depending on a single person.</p><p><br></p><p>We discuss the common mistakes founders make when hiring sales talent, the importance of defining your ideal customer and sales process, and why repeatable systems outperform sales heroes over the long run.</p><p><br></p><p>In this conversation, we explore:</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Founder-Led Sales:</strong> Why growth eventually stalls when every deal depends on the founder.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>The First Sales Hire Trap:</strong> The two most common hiring mistakes and how to avoid them.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Repeatable Revenue Systems:</strong> Building processes that scale beyond a single rainmaker.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>People Buy From People:</strong> Why relationships still matter in an increasingly automated world.</p><p><br></p><p>If you're tired of carrying the pipeline yourself, this conversation is for you.</p><p><strong>Connect with Morgan Abreu</strong></p><p>LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/morganabreu"><u>https://www.linkedin.com/in/morganabreu</u></a></p><p>Website: <a href="https://meliastrategy.com"><u>https://meliastrategy.com</u></a></p><p><strong>Intro & Outro Music</strong></p><p><strong>"Which One Is the Jellyfish?"</strong> by Aunt Cynthia's Cabin</p><p>Used with permission under a non-exclusive license.</p><p>Bandcamp:<a href="https://auntcynthiascabin.bandcamp.com"> <u>https://auntcynthiascabin.bandcamp.com</u></a></p><p>Facebook:<a href="https://www.facebook.com/auntcynthiascabin"> <u>https://www.facebook.com/auntcynthiascabin</u></a></p><p>Instagram:<a href="https://www.instagram.com/auntcynthiascabin"> <u>https://www.instagram.com/auntcynthiascabin</u></a></p><p>Spotify:<a href="http://open.spotify.com/artist/5XoG0H2D0vY58n32W8xI2K"> <u>http://open.spotify.com/artist/5XoG0H2D0vY58n32W8xI2K</u></a><br></p>
23 total episodes available
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- What is Fixers & Founders?
- How often does this podcast release new episodes?
This podcast updates daily.
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This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
- Does this podcast accept guests?
Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.
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