Getting Real with Dan DiSciullo
Claim This Podcastby Dan DiSciullo
Podcast Overview
<p><b>Getting Real with Dan DiSciullo</b> goes beyond the highlight reel to explore the human side of business. In authentic, unscripted conversations with entrepreneurs, founders, and business leaders, host Dan DiSciullo digs into the real stories behind the brands—the pivotal failures, unexpected victories, and personal journeys that shaped today's most inspiring leaders. This isn't about polished success stories or business tactics; it's about the resilience, spirituality, and raw motivation that keeps people growing in an ever-changing landscape.</p><p>Whether you're building your first startup, leading a growing company, or aspiring toward business success, these conversations will challenge and inspire you. Dan's conversational, light-hearted approach creates space for guests to go off script and share what really moves them—the lessons learned in the trenches, the moments of doubt, and the deeper purpose that fuels their journey. If you're ready to get real about what it takes to succeed and grow as a human, not just a businessperson, this podcast is for you.</p>
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
11/25/2025
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Recent Episodes
February 6, 2026
Getting Real with Dean Barta: Leaning Into Fear – From Devil's Tower to Business Ownership
<p>Dean Barta, founder and CEO of Barta Business Group, shares his journey from the outdoors to business, drawing parallels between guiding in the wilderness and guiding businesses through financial challenges. He emphasizes the importance of easing clients' pain and the evolution of success from financial metrics to personal impact. The conversation covers topics such as flexibility in business, customer intelligence, emotional intelligence, business culture, fractional CFOs, and the impact of AI. Dean Barta shares insights on the importance of being flexible in business, the value of customer intelligence, the impact of emotional intelligence, and the role of a fractional CFO in business growth and exit strategies.</p><p></p><p>Takeaways</p><ul><li>Guiding in the wilderness parallels guiding businesses through financial challenges</li><li>Success has evolved from financial metrics to personal impact Flexibility in business</li><li>Customer intelligence</li><li>Emotional intelligence</li><li>Fractional CFOs</li><li>Impact of AI</li></ul><p></p><p>Chapters</p><ul><li>00:00 Success Redefined</li><li>31:04 Customer Intelligence and Emotional Intelligence</li><li>49:08 Impact of AI</li></ul>
December 15, 2025
From NYSE Reporter to IR Innovator: Annabel Zhang on Stories That Raise Capital
<h3>One-Line Summary (for SEO & social)</h3><p>Annabel Zhang, CEO of International Elite Capital, shares how blending economics, authentic storytelling, and investor matchmaking turns visions into successful IPOs and lasting capital relationships.</p><h3>Full Episode Summary / Show Notes</h3><p>Annabel Zhang, <b>CEO of International Elite Capital (IEC)</b>, began her career as a financial reporter on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange—interviewing CEOs, decoding market moves, and uncovering the human stories behind the numbers.</p><p>Today, she leads a firm that redefines investor relations by combining rigorous economics (she’s a CFA holder) with powerful, authentic storytelling. IEC helps high-growth companies—from startups to post-IPO—craft narratives that resonate with institutional investors, retail communities, and Wall Street analysts alike.</p><p>In this insightful conversation, Annabel reveals:</p><ul><li>Why every company has a unique story—even in "boring" industries</li><li>The rise of retail investors and why storytelling now matters more than ever</li><li>How IEC bridges vision and valuation (and why valuation is always the bottom line)</li><li>Preparing founders for IPO days—and the reality that going public is just the beginning</li><li>The unglamorous side: Acting as "therapist" for obsessed CEOs and fielding angry investors</li><li>Launching an AI-powered investor matchmaking platform</li><li>Life as a new mom while running a growing firm ("Don't chase balance—find one happy thing each day")</li><li>Advice to her younger self: "Never look back"</li></ul><p>A masterclass in turning data into compelling narratives that attract the right capital—and staying true to yourself along the way.</p><p>Connect with Annabel: LinkedIn: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://linkedin.com/in/annabelzhang" target="_blank">linkedin.com/in/annabelzhang</a> Website: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://internationalelitecapital.com" target="_blank">internationalelitecapital.com</a></p><h3>Chapters (with timestamps)</h3><p>00:00 – Welcome & Intro to Annabel Zhang (CEO, International Elite Capital) 00:40 – From NYSE floor reporter to spotting the storytelling gap in finance 03:06 – The real gap: Not funding—it's meaningful investor connections 05:11 – Capturing the human elements beyond financial disclosures 06:16 – Supporting clients from startup to post-IPO (and building an investor database) 07:58 – Economics background + storytelling: A rare superpower in IR 09:19 – Rise of retail investors & why authentic stories resonate 10:58 – Beyond numbers: ESG, brand vibe, and shop visits with investors 12:00 – What investors really want: Authenticity above all 14:19 – Why most companies aren't truly "IPO-ready" (it's just the start) 18:19 – The unseen work: Deep industry dives, concise messaging, therapist duties 20:45 – Knowing your client better than they know themselves 23:57 – Memorable IPO stories (Alibaba excitement & tough pricing days) 25:45 – Eternal truth: It's always about valuation 27:40 – Staying aligned through market cycles (focus on execution) 29:37 – Advice to 20-year-old Annabel: "Never look back" 31:45 – The leap into entrepreneurship & battling self-doubt 35:13 – Next 6-12 months: AI-powered investor matchmaking platform 36:58 – Success today: Hearing "You did a professional job" 39:12 – Balance as a new mom & CEO ("Don't chase it—find one happy thing daily") 44:37 – Favorite reads: Why Harry Potter inspires her most 45:57 – What "Getting Real" means to Annabel 47:27 – How to connect 47:56 – Outro</p>
December 15, 2025
The Dash That Drives Him: Peter Prieto on Family, Faith & Fearless Hustle
<h3>One-Line Summary </h3><p>Peter Prieto shares his raw journey—from young fatherhood and bankruptcy to building NDataStor on relentless customer service, people-first hiring, and never quitting.</p><h3>Full Episode Summary / Show Notes</h3><p>Peter Prieto, <b>Founder & CEO of NDataStor</b>, didn’t follow a typical tech-founder path. A young father by 23, he hustled through bread delivery, warehouse management, high-stakes sales, bankruptcy in 2007, and multiple pivots to build one of California’s most respected IT service companies.</p><p>Today, NDataStor stands out in the MSP space for its <b>white-glove, human-first customer service</b>—no scripts, no dispatchers, no offshore support. Techs answer phones directly because relationships matter more than tickets.</p><p>In this heartfelt conversation, Peter opens up about:</p><ul><li>Raising three kids young and letting them fuel his drive</li><li>Betting on himself with 100% commission sales (and never looking back)</li><li>Surviving bankruptcy, health crises, and divorce—then starting NDataStor in 2008</li><li>Why he hires for people skills over pure technical experience</li><li>The "dash" on the tombstone: Legacy through kindness, humility, and impact</li><li>Embracing AI for marketing/sales while preserving the human touch in support</li><li>Mentors, faith, and chasing the version of himself 10 years from now</li><li>Turning every setback into forward momentum ("Quitting is never an option")</li></ul><p>A powerful reminder that real success is measured in family, resilience, and how many lives you lift along the way.</p><p>Connect with Peter & NDataStor: Website: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://ndatastor.com" target="_blank">ndatastor.com</a> LinkedIn: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://linkedin.com/in/peterprieto" target="_blank">linkedin.com/in/peterprieto</a></p><h3>Chapters </h3><p>00:00 – Welcome & Intro to Peter Prieto (NDataStor Founder/CEO) 00:33 – What makes Peter smile most today: White-glove culture & happy clients 02:30 – Hiring for people skills over ego (and the elevator test) 04:53 – Proudest accomplishment: His three kids & new granddaughter 05:34 – Early hustle: Young fatherhood, bread delivery, warehouse to sales 08:57 – Jumping to 100% commission sales (with a mortgage & 3 kids) 13:49 – Betting on himself & closing the big Chevron deal 18:54 – Core values instilled in his kids: Work ethic, good decisions, treat others well 22:43 – Defining success today vs. early days (the "dash" on the tombstone) 24:14 – Starting NDataStor in 2008 after bankruptcy 31:57 – Pivoting to MSP & the 300-ticket launch disaster 35:32 – Next 6-12 months: AI in sales/marketing, automation without losing the human touch 38:04 – Embracing speed & adapting in a changing world 42:55 – Legacy: Humble, kind, big-hearted helper 43:59 – Best mentor lessons (no comfortable salespeople, future self as mentor) 46:58 – Power vs. Force & acts of kindness 49:25 – Health scare & renewed gratitude 54:02 – What "Getting Real" means to Peter 56:08 – Outro</p>
14 total episodes available
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- What is Getting Real with Dan DiSciullo?
<p><b>Getting Real with Dan DiSciullo</b> goes beyond the highlight reel to explore the human side of business. In authentic, unscripted conversations with entrepreneurs, founders, and business leaders, host Dan DiSciullo digs into the real stories behind the brands—the pivotal failures, unexpected victories, and personal journeys that shaped today's most inspiring leaders. This isn't about polished success stories or business tactics; it's about the resilience, spirituality, and raw motivation that keeps people growing in an ever-changing landscape.</p><p>Whether you're building your first startup, leading a growing company, or aspiring toward business success, these conversations will challenge and inspire you. Dan's conversational, light-hearted approach creates space for guests to go off script and share what really moves them—the lessons learned in the trenches, the moments of doubt, and the deeper purpose that fuels their journey. If you're ready to get real about what it takes to succeed and grow as a human, not just a businessperson, this podcast is for you.</p> - How often does this podcast release new episodes?
This podcast updates daily.
- Where can I listen to this podcast?
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?
Information about guest appearances is not available.
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