From the Ground Up

About From the Ground Up

Building something from nothing isn’t for the faint of heart. It takes vision, relentless determination, and a willingness to push through the unknown. Join John Boitnott on From the Ground Up, a podcast from Grit Daily, where founders, creators, and industry leaders share their raw, unfiltered stories about making it — or sometimes, barely surviving the ride. From the pivotal moments to the unexpected lessons, this is where real talk meets real experience.

Publisher

Grit Daily - John Boitnott

Category

business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

4 Feb 2025

Latest episode

16 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

103 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   16 Oct 2026

   Mikhail Voloshin

   Mikhail Voloshin has spent years working across data analytics, software engineering, neuroscience, and artificial intelligence, giving him a close view of what AI can actually do and where expectations tend to outrun reality. He joins John Boitnott to explain why companies need to define success before automating anything, how poor metrics can push AI toward the wrong outcome, and why prompt quality matters less than having a clear way to judge results. Voloshin also shares why the next major shift in AI may happen on everyday devices rather than inside massive data centers and why keeping humans technically literate will matter even more as the tools become more capable.

2. 

   9 Oct 2026

   Jay Avigdor

   Jay Avigdor built Velocity Capital Group around a simple frustration: small businesses often need capital faster than traditional financing channels can move. He joins John Boitnott to explain how revenue-based financing has evolved, why technology and regulation are making the category more credible, and how AI is changing underwriting without eliminating the need for human judgment. Avigdor also shares what founders misunderstand about financing, why relationships with capital providers matter, and how his own setbacks shaped the way he evaluates risk and growth.

3. 

   9 Oct 2026

   Dr. Burl Randolph, Jr.

   Dr. Burl Randolph Jr. spent nearly 32 years in the U.S. Army, including three combat tours in Iraq, before turning his leadership experience toward helping organizations build healthier management cultures. He joins John Boitnott to explain how toxic behavior takes root, why organizations often tolerate it for too long, and how fear, poor accountability, and weak leadership development can quietly damage a team. Randolph also shares what employees can do when they are working under a difficult boss and why strong leadership has to be developed deliberately rather than assumed.

Who has been a guest on From the Ground Up

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Amy Cosper
• Javier Loya
• Evan Floersch
• David Duguan
• CJ Konstantinos

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

73,793

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 41 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

52

Social presence

0

YouTube

76

Engagement

0

Contact From the Ground Up

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

Questions about From the Ground Up