The Transparent Podcast

Nate Littlewood - From Chaos to Clarity With a Fractional CFO

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2113580/fan_mail/new] Polished logos do not build businesses, paying customers do. We talk with Nate Littlewood, founder and CEO of Future Ready CFO, about the unglamorous decisions that separate thriving founders from stressed-out operators, especially in e-commerce and CPG (consumer packaged goods).  Nate shares how he went from a corporate finance path to entrepreneurship, and why “clarity” in small business finance is not a nice-to-have, it is the difference between confident growth and expensive guessing. Find out more about Nate at his website, www.futurereadycfo.com Subscribe to Transparent Podcast for more real founder roadmaps, share this with a business owner who needs clearer numbers, and leave a review with your biggest question about building a business that lasts.

Aiden Ford - How An 8 Year-Old Turned Crafts Into Entrepreneurship

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2113580/fan_mail/new] You're never too young to start your own business. At 8 years old, the first customer can feel impossible, and then suddenly it’s the easiest thing in the world. That’s the honest turning point we dig into when we bring on our youngest guest yet: my son, Aiden Ford. Founder of Gronkle Tees, a kid-run tie-dye business selling shirts, bags, zip pouches, scrunchies, and more.  We talk through the real steps of starting a small business from scratch: picking a business that can be successful, choosing products you can make consistently, and learning how to talk to strangers who may keep walking. Aiden shares how a kid's entrepreneurial market pushed him to do the selling himself, how getting that first buyer changed his confidence. If you care about small business transparency, kids starting a business, or just need a fresh shot of motivation, listen now, subscribe, and share this with someone who needs a push. What would you sell if you had to make your first dollar this weekend?

Michael Hadden - Entrepreneurship Through A Library of Things

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2113580/fan_mail/new] Ever look around your garage and realize half of it gathers dust? We sat down with RoundAbout co‑founder and CEO Mike Haddon to explore a smarter way to live: own what you love, access what you rarely need. RoundAbout is a local “library of things” serving Forsyth County, delivering and picking up everything from pressure washers and lawn tools to pop‑up tents, party tables, and premium kitchen gear. It’s the convenience of a well‑run rental, built for real homes, busy weekends, and those once‑a‑season jobs you don’t want to overpay for. If you’ve wondered whether a local access economy can thrive—or if you’re weighing your own leap into entrepreneurship—this conversation brings hard‑won lessons and practical next steps.  Follow RoundAbout on Instagram and Facebook at @tryroundabout, or explore memberships at tryroundabout.com. If this story sparked ideas, share it with a friend, subscribe for more candid small‑business talks, and leave a quick review to help others find the show.

Jermaine Ee - Building A Legacy Through Estate Planning

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2113580/fan_mail/new] Want the courage to leap into entrepreneurship and a practical way to protect your family’s future? We sit down with Jermaine—an entrepreneur shaped by immigrant grit and cross‑cultural identity—who’s building HeirLight, a modern estate planning app that uses AI to make wills and trusts accessible, private, and easy to start. The conversation moves beyond hustle culture to the deeper question: who are you as a builder, and what pressures do you actually want? Enjoyed the conversation? Follow, share with a founder friend, and leave a quick review—tell us which funding path you’d pick and why. Interested in checking out HeirLight? Click the link below for 50% off! http://www.heirlight.com/en/podcast

Ryan Hare - All In On Entrepreneurship

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2113580/fan_mail/new] Ready to stop clinging to the pool railing and actually swim? We sit down with serial entrepreneur Ryan Hare, owner of John Franklin Landscapes in North Georgia, to strip away the myths around business ownership and show what it really takes to build something that lasts. From kitchen-table roofing estimates with his grandfather to design-build projects that turn blank yards into outdoor sanctuaries, Ryan shares why jumping all in beats playing it safe—and how “job security” can be a mirage when you’re not in control. If this fired you up, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs the push, and leave a quick review so more builders can find us.  And if you’re local and want to talk shop or start a project, visit JohnFranklinlandscapes.com - he'd love to help.