Going Beyond the Deal

43 | Amy Hedrick – Why Ignoring Device Hygiene Could Cost You Big

What if the unseen threat in your daily tech use is more dangerous and more addressable than you think? In this episode, Amy Hedrick, CEO and founder of Cleanbox Technology, shares how a single unnoticed risk ignited a revolution in technology hygiene. Joined by your host, they dive deep into the urgent and overlooked dangers of shared devices, unpacking the surprising business opportunity lurking in plain sight. You'll hear untold stories of pivoting through pandemics, navigating brutal manufacturing realities, and the ruthless gap between brilliant ideas and execution. If you miss this conversation, you’ll risk being blindsided by threats to your business and personal safety that most still ignore. Listen now for real-world lessons in spotting hidden opportunities and building the solutions the world quietly needs. This episode reveals what others won’t before your competitors catch on. TIMESTAMPED HIGHLIGHTS 00:24 – The overlooked threat hiding in your daily tech routine 02:53 – The breakthrough realization that transformed an industry 04:12 – Why solving the invisible risk is bigger than the tech itself 06:20 – The simple science powering Cleanbox’s device safety 09:05 – One minute to surprising results: Game-changing disinfection 12:05 – Becoming the pick and shovel in a suddenly crowded industry 16:19 – The brutal gap between innovation and execution 18:50 – Pandemic chaos: What it really took to deliver under pressure 25:15 – The industry secrets Amy used to stay far ahead MENTIONED RESOURCES * Smithsonian Institute [https://www.si.edu/] * Mobile World Congress [https://www.mwcbarcelona.com/] * IUVA (International UV Association) [https://www.iuva.org/] * UV Safe [https://www.uvsafe.org/] * ASTM [https://www.astm.org/] ABOUT THE GUEST Amy Hedrick is the CEO and founder of Cleanbox Technology, a pioneer in UVC LED device hygiene solutions. With over a decade innovating in technology and manufacturing, she has led Cleanbox to market leadership across healthcare, education, and enterprise sectors. Amy Hedrick is recognized for her industry advocacy and commitment to next-generation tech safety. 🔗 LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/amymhedrick/] | Website [https://cleanboxtech.com/] IMPORTANT LINKS * Feel Fully Alive: The 5 Dimensions of Vitality [https://rebrand.ly/dimensionsf37f2b] gives you the framework to thrive. Get your copy here [https://rebrand.ly/83d770]. * Stay Ahead in Business: Michael shares strategies to boost your financial decisions. Read his latest blog [https://rebrand.ly/7e3544]. * Grow Your Wealth: Book a call with DBD Investment Bank [https://rebrand.ly/dbd-investment-47fca2] Going Beyond the Deal is an original podcast brought to you by J. Michael Fischer Jr. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand [https://rebrand.ly/pybmf2026].

42 | Brad Younggren – The Powerful Longevity Therapies Nobody Talks About

What if the real breakthroughs in longevity are happening behind the scenes, hidden from mainstream health trends? This episode features Brad Younggren, CEO of Circulate Health, who’s quietly transforming how advanced therapies reach people determined to live longer, healthier lives. Together, he and Michael dig deep into the urgent gap between hyped-up longevity ideas and what’s really working, unveiling the proven therapies, innovation battles, and business models driving this high-stakes revolution. Tune in if you want more than surface-level biohacking or wellness trends. Miss this episode, and you risk being left out of the coming shift in healthcare and health investment. Listen now for an inside look you won’t find anywhere else. TIMESTAMPED HIGHLIGHTS 00:58 – The battlefield lesson that forever changed his approach to healthcare 02:18 – The first smartphone medical device and why it shook up the system 05:07 – The real reason patients of all ages engage with health tech 06:33 – The counterintuitive truth about what “longevity” really means 08:12 – The unexpected trial that’s redefining plasma therapy’s possibilities 11:19 – Microplastics, toxins, and the radical science of removing them from your body 13:17 – Why high-powered longevity clinics are exploding and what that means for business 18:14 – The bold affiliate model changing how data drives healthcare breakthroughs 21:56 – What it costs to hack your health span (and why that might soon change) 23:47 – The explosive business opportunities few investors see coming in healthspan MENTIONED RESOURCES * Circulate Trial [https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/28/well/plasma-exchange-longevity.html] (Aging Cell journal, also featured in The New York Times) * Cue Health [https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/safety-communications/update-do-not-use-cue-healths-covid-19-tests-due-risk-false-results-fda-safety-communication] (COVID at-home testing) * 98.6 Technologies [https://www.98point6.com/] * AMBAR Trial [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7272580/] (Alzheimer’s and plasma exchange) * Function Health [https://www.functionhealth.com/] * Prenuvo and Ezra [https://www.years.co/en/blog/ezra-vs-prenuvo-vs-years-comparison] (full body MRI brands) * GLP1 peptides [https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/13901-glp-1-agonists] * US HHS/ARPA STOMP grant for microplastics research [https://arpa-h.gov/explore-funding/programs/stomp] ABOUT THE GUEST Brad Younggren is the CEO of Circulate Health, leading advances in therapeutic plasma exchange and data-driven longevity. A physician by background and health tech pioneer, he’s known for bridging frontline patient care with scalable medical innovation. His expertise includes clinical trials, digital health, and launching game-changing healthcare platforms. 🔗 LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/younggren/] | Website [https://circulate.health/about/] IMPORTANT LINKS * Feel Fully Alive: The 5 Dimensions of Vitality [https://rebrand.ly/dimensionsf37f2b] gives you the framework to thrive. Get your copy here [https://rebrand.ly/83d770]. * Stay Ahead in Business: Michael shares strategies to boost your financial decisions. Read his latest blog [https://rebrand.ly/7e3544]. * Grow Your Wealth: Book a call with DBD Investment Bank [https://rebrand.ly/dbd-investment-47fca2] Going Beyond the Deal is an original podcast brought to you by J. Michael Fischer Jr. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand [https://rebrand.ly/pybmf2026].

41 | Bill Butrymowicz – How to Win Big in the Beverage Industry

Is your approach to launching or investing in beverage brands holding you back without you knowing it? In this high-impact conversation, J. Michael Fisher Jr. sits down with Bill Petromovich, a proven beverage industry operator and investor, to expose what really drives brand success, what keeps founders from ever breaking through, and why old-school juice could be the next billion-dollar disruption. With decades of distribution experience, from Snapple to the latest wellness startups, Bill Petromovich reveals the brutal pitfalls and smart strategies behind today's biggest wins and flameouts, including the unseen dangers of scaling too soon or chasing hype. If you've ever wondered how to spot the next breakout brand, avoid losing your shirt as an investor, or build a business worth real money, this episode gives you the inside edge almost nobody shares. Listen now before your competition does or risk missing the shifts that decide who actually wins in this crowded market. TIMESTAMPED HIGHLIGHTS 00:55 – The unexpected story behind Snapple's rise and family business grit 05:07 – Why most founders choose the wrong brands to back and how to fix it 10:30 – The "dead" juice category with a shocking $26B white space 14:27 – From zero to Best New Brand: inside Loom’s wild first 90 days 17:18 – Brutal mistakes founders make when scaling too fast 19:15 – The hidden power of authenticity over mainstream appeal 22:05 – The undervalued secret behind massive beverage exits 30:54 – When holding on too long destroys the biggest brands MENTIONED RESOURCES * Snapple [https://www.snapple.com/] * Liquid Death [https://liquiddeath.com/] * Vita Coco [https://vitacoco.com/] * Lemon Perfect [https://lemonperfect.com/] * Poppi [https://drinkpoppi.com/] * Olipop [https://drinkolipop.com/] * Body Armor [https://www.drinkbodyarmor.com/] * Celsius [https://www.celsius.com/] * KDP [https://www.keurigdrpepper.com/] (Keurig Dr Pepper) * New Era [https://www.tasteatlas.com/iba-new-era-drinks] * AEG [https://aegworldwide.com/] * Bowery Presents [https://www.bowerypresents.com/] * The NIDA Group [https://www.nidaonline.org/] * ShopRite [https://www.shoprite.com/] * Unifi [https://unifi.com/] * Cahi [https://cahi-icsa.ca/] * Phish [https://phish.com/band/] (the band) * Turnstile [https://turnstilehardcore.com/] * Justice Haynes [https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/justice-haynes-1.html] * Nyck Harbor [https://gamecocksonline.com/sports/football/roster/player/nyck-harbor/] * Forbes [http://forbes.com] * Rolling Stone [https://www.rollingstone.com/] ABOUT THE GUEST Bill Butrymowicz is the CEO and Founder of Loom Brands, and a leader in beverage distribution and investment. With a legacy built on distributing brands like Snapple, Fiji, and Liquid Death, he is recognized for his industry analysis in Forbes and Rolling Stone, and for scaling fresh, culturally relevant products across the U.S. 🔗 LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-butrymowicz-a1b854197] | Website [http://www.drinkloom.com] IMPORTANT LINKS * Feel Fully Alive: The 5 Dimensions of Vitality [https://rebrand.ly/dimensionsf37f2b] gives you the framework to thrive. Get your copy here [https://rebrand.ly/83d770]. * Stay Ahead in Business: Michael shares strategies to boost your financial decisions. Read his latest blog [https://rebrand.ly/7e3544]. * Grow Your Wealth: Book a call with DBD Investment Bank [https://rebrand.ly/dbd-investment-47fca2] Going Beyond the Deal is an original podcast brought to you by J. Michael Fischer Jr. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand [https://rebrand.ly/pybmf2026].

40 | Keith Zubchevich – How to Win Big in the Shocking AI Economy Shift

Ever wonder what will separate tomorrow’s winners from the lost in an economy shaken by AI? In this urgent, eye-opening episode, J. Michael Fisher Jr. sits down with Keith Zubchevich, CEO of Conviva, to reveal how AI is fundamentally rewriting the rules for business owners, advisors, and operators. If you think AI is just another technology wave, get ready to have your assumptions shattered. From the threat of white-collar job extinction to the goldmine of personalized customer experiences, they dig into how to outmaneuver disruption and build real trust (and revenue) in the agentic age. The decisions you make in the next six months will determine if you win or become irrelevant. Listen now to avoid the pain of falling behind and get breakthrough strategies you won’t hear anywhere else. TIMESTAMPED HIGHLIGHTS [00:00] – The wild truth about who’s really at risk from AI (hint: it’s not who you think) [02:32] – The bold origin story: Measuring experience before “streaming” was even a word [07:18] – The two breeds of AI agents and why the difference could make or break your business [09:25] – Coming shift: Why tomorrow’s buyers will laugh at today’s e-commerce [14:04] – AI outpaces human potential. So where does that leave YOUR edge? [17:42] – The mindset pivot: The make-or-break move for business leaders (it’s not just tech) [19:18] – How slashing headcount and exploding productivity is already possible with agentic systems [21:36] – Miss this and lose your customer: The secret playbook for owning behavior data in the agentic era MENTIONED RESOURCES * ChatGPT [http://chatgpt.com] * Claude [http://claude.ai] * Microsoft Copilot [https://copilot.microsoft.com/] * Netflix [http://netflix.com] * Disney+ [https://www.apps.disneyplus.com/] * ESPN [http://espn.com] * Nike [http://nike.com] ABOUT THE GUEST Keith Zubchevich is the CEO of Conviva, a pioneering leader in AI-powered experience measurement, serving global brands in digital video and beyond. With 30+ years in technology and a reputation for spotting industry shifts before they hit mainstream, he’s redefining how businesses use data, agents, and automation to drive next-level growth, personalization, and efficiency. 🔗 LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/keithzubchevich] | Website [https://www.conviva.ai/conviva-leadership] IMPORTANT LINKS * Feel Fully Alive: The 5 Dimensions of Vitality [https://rebrand.ly/dimensionsf37f2b] gives you the framework to thrive. Get your copy here [https://rebrand.ly/83d770]. * Stay Ahead in Business: Michael shares strategies to boost your financial decisions. Read his latest blog [https://rebrand.ly/7e3544]. * Grow Your Wealth: Book a call with DBD Investment Bank [https://rebrand.ly/dbd-investment-47fca2] Going Beyond the Deal is an original podcast brought to you by J. Michael Fischer Jr. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand [https://rebrand.ly/pybmf2026].

39 | What Really Happens When You Sell Alone

What if the biggest financial decision of your life is the one you’re least prepared for? In this solo episode, J. Michael Fisher Jr., Managing Director at DBD Investment Bank, breaks down the reality most founders never see when selling their business. This is not just a transaction, it is a high-stakes negotiation against professionals who do deals every day. And if you are unprepared, the cost is permanent. Michael exposes the hidden risks, from undervalued offers and deal fatigue to broken cultures and lost wealth during diligence. He also reveals why the right advisor is not just a banker, but a process architect who creates leverage, competition, and clarity. Listen now to avoid costly, irreversible mistakes, gain insider-level deal awareness, and access the exact perspective most founders never get until it’s too late. TIMESTAMPED HIGHLIGHTS [00:00] – The uncomfortable truth, you are not just selling a business, you are negotiating your life’s work [01:15] – Why success on paper hides a dangerous reality about your wealth [02:25] – The silent trap of accepting the “market value” without real competition [03:32] – Deal fatigue, how exhaustion quietly forces founders into bad terms [04:30] – The real role of an advisor, process architect, quarterback, and emotional buffer [05:35] – How elite advisors compress years of mistakes into months of leverage [07:13] – Why diligence destroys deals, and how value slowly disappears [10:05] – The biggest myth about fees, and the real risk founders ignore IMPORTANT LINKS * Feel Fully Alive: The 5 Dimensions of Vitality [https://rebrand.ly/dimensionsf37f2b] gives you the framework to thrive. Get your copy here [https://rebrand.ly/83d770]. * Stay Ahead in Business: Michael shares strategies to boost your financial decisions. Read his latest blog [https://rebrand.ly/7e3544]. * Grow Your Wealth: Book a call with DBD Investment Bank [https://rebrand.ly/dbd-investment-47fca2] Going Beyond the Deal is an original podcast brought to you by J. Michael Fischer Jr. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand [https://rebrand.ly/pybmf2026].