https://simplecast.com The Resiliency Project Real conversations about failure, resilience, and starting again Nik Agharkar, founder of Crowne Point Tax, hosts The Resiliency Project, a long-form interview podcast focused on what happens after failure. Through candid conversations with founders, executives, professionals, and creators, the show explores real setbacks, reinvention, and the mindset shifts that make resilience possible. Each episode reframes struggle, offering practical insight listeners can apply to their own challenges. en Wed, 15 Jul 2026 12:36:57 +0000 Wed, 15 Jul 2026 12:37:07 +0000 https://the-resiliency-project.simplecast.com The Resiliency Project https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/0f5055e8-ffa1-4f7f-a1a3-d101714f8c5c/db3f7fe1-2bd7-4ef2-ac82-9a353fe108b8/3000x3000/trp1a.jpg?aid=rss_feed https://the-resiliency-project.simplecast.com episodic Real conversations about failure, resilience, and starting again Nik Agharkar, founder of Crowne Point Tax, hosts The Resiliency Project, a long-form interview podcast focused on what happens after failure. Through candid conversations with founders, executives, professionals, and creators, the show explores real setbacks, reinvention, and the mindset shifts that make resilience possible. Each episode reframes struggle, offering practical insight listeners can apply to their own challenges. Nik Agharkar false https://feeds.simplecast.com/vN_FgTqr Nik Agharkar mike@calibbq.media 860f7e6a-76af-4142-be48-9b211e0d1d5d We Were Two Weeks From Running Out of Money w/ Gino Cafiero "We had two or three weeks of runway left." How do you keep believing when everything says it's time to quit?

In this episode of The Resiliency Project, entrepreneur Gino Cafiero reflects on the journey of building Bear Flag Robotics and the pressure of nearly losing it all. He shares how purpose, relationships, and embracing discomfort helped him navigate setbacks, overcome imposter syndrome, and ultimately build a company that was acquired by John Deere.

Takeaways:

  • Preparation matters more than confidence alone.
  • The right relationships are built long before you need them.
  • Resilience means continuing to move forward despite uncertainty.

Episode Links:

  • Gino Cafiero on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/igino-cafiero-43b213b0/
]]> Wed, 15 Jul 2026 12:36:57 +0000 mike@calibbq.media (Nik Agharkar) https://the-resiliency-project.simplecast.com/episodes/we-were-two-weeks-from-running-out-of-money-w-gino-cafiero-v1gmgfHH "We had two or three weeks of runway left." How do you keep believing when everything says it's time to quit?

In this episode of The Resiliency Project, entrepreneur Gino Cafiero reflects on the journey of building Bear Flag Robotics and the pressure of nearly losing it all. He shares how purpose, relationships, and embracing discomfort helped him navigate setbacks, overcome imposter syndrome, and ultimately build a company that was acquired by John Deere.

Takeaways:

  • Preparation matters more than confidence alone.
  • The right relationships are built long before you need them.
  • Resilience means continuing to move forward despite uncertainty.

Episode Links:

  • Gino Cafiero on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/igino-cafiero-43b213b0/
]]> We Were Two Weeks From Running Out of Money w/ Gino Cafiero Nik Agharkar 00:21:47 "We had two or three weeks of runway left." How do you keep believing when everything says it's time to quit? In this episode of The Resiliency Project, entrepreneur Gino Cafiero reflects on the journey of building Bear Flag Robotics and the pressure of nearly losing it all. He shares how purpose, relationships, and embracing discomfort helped him navigate setbacks, overcome imposter syndrome, and ultimately build a company that was acquired by John Deere. "We had two or three weeks of runway left." How do you keep believing when everything says it's time to quit? In this episode of The Resiliency Project, entrepreneur Gino Cafiero reflects on the journey of building Bear Flag Robotics and the pressure of nearly losing it all. He shares how purpose, relationships, and embracing discomfort helped him navigate setbacks, overcome imposter syndrome, and ultimately build a company that was acquired by John Deere. false full 11 bae26a48-b63c-4f22-8eee-673ce9a4be07 I Thought I Had to Do Everything Myself. Convo w/ Dylan Smith "I thought I had to do everything myself." What if asking for help is the thing that changes your life?

In this episode of The Resiliency Project, Dylan Smith, founder of D is for Dyslexia, shares how growing up with dyslexia, being adopted twice, and struggling to find his place ultimately shaped the person he is today. For years, Dylan believed success meant figuring everything out on his own. But after finding mentors, letting go of his ego, and learning to ask for help, his life and career began to change. Today, he's an author, speaker, and advocate helping others see that their greatest challenges can become their greatest strengths.

What You'll Learn

  • Asking for help is often the first step toward real growth.
  • Small, consistent wins matter more than chasing overnight success.
  • - Resilience comes from showing up every day, even when the path forward isn't easy.

Episode Links

  • Website: https://disfordyslexia.com/
  • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/disfordyslexia19/  
  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Dylan-Smith/100055756753762/
]]> Wed, 8 Jul 2026 13:25:12 +0000 mike@calibbq.media (Nik Agharkar) https://the-resiliency-project.simplecast.com/episodes/i-thought-i-had-to-do-everything-myself-convo-w-dylan-smith-AuvJq0ht "I thought I had to do everything myself." What if asking for help is the thing that changes your life?

In this episode of The Resiliency Project, Dylan Smith, founder of D is for Dyslexia, shares how growing up with dyslexia, being adopted twice, and struggling to find his place ultimately shaped the person he is today. For years, Dylan believed success meant figuring everything out on his own. But after finding mentors, letting go of his ego, and learning to ask for help, his life and career began to change. Today, he's an author, speaker, and advocate helping others see that their greatest challenges can become their greatest strengths.

What You'll Learn

  • Asking for help is often the first step toward real growth.
  • Small, consistent wins matter more than chasing overnight success.
  • - Resilience comes from showing up every day, even when the path forward isn't easy.

Episode Links

  • Website: https://disfordyslexia.com/
  • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/disfordyslexia19/  
  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Dylan-Smith/100055756753762/
]]> I Thought I Had to Do Everything Myself. Convo w/ Dylan Smith Nik Agharkar 00:24:42 "I thought I had to do everything myself." What if asking for help is the thing that changes your life? In this episode of The Resiliency Project, Dylan Smith, founder of D is for Dyslexia, shares how growing up with dyslexia, being adopted twice, and struggling to find his place ultimately shaped the person he is today. For years, Dylan believed success meant figuring everything out on his own. But after finding mentors, letting go of his ego, and learning to ask for help, his life and career began to change. Today, he's an author, speaker, and advocate helping others see that their greatest challenges can become their greatest strengths. "I thought I had to do everything myself." What if asking for help is the thing that changes your life? In this episode of The Resiliency Project, Dylan Smith, founder of D is for Dyslexia, shares how growing up with dyslexia, being adopted twice, and struggling to find his place ultimately shaped the person he is today. For years, Dylan believed success meant figuring everything out on his own. But after finding mentors, letting go of his ego, and learning to ask for help, his life and career began to change. Today, he's an author, speaker, and advocate helping others see that their greatest challenges can become their greatest strengths. false full 10 3b47839a-cee0-4e15-ba6b-da3116233ff4 He Lost His Career During COVID. Then He Built a Better Life. Convo w/ Bart Berkey "I wanted to be in charge of my own destiny." — Bart Berkey never expected a heart attack, a global pandemic, and the loss of his 16-year career at Ritz-Carlton to completely change his life.

Founder of Most People Don't and keynote speaker Bart Berkey joins Nik Agharkar to share how those setbacks pushed him to build a business centered on purpose, kindness, and resilience. From running out of savings to rebuilding his confidence one day at a time, Berkey explains why remembering your "why," serving others, and embracing what he calls "humanality" helped him create a more meaningful life than the one he left behind.

This conversation is a reminder that resilience isn't about avoiding hardship, it's about choosing to keep going.

What You'll Learn:

  • Why remembering your purpose makes difficult seasons easier to endure
  • How serving others can shift your mindset during your lowest moments
  • The difference between feeling processed and making people feel seen
  • Why Bart believes "humanality" will become even more important in an AI-driven world
  • How small daily choices create long-term resilience and a meaningful life

Episode Links

]]> Wed, 1 Jul 2026 17:55:54 +0000 mike@calibbq.media (Nik Agharkar) https://the-resiliency-project.simplecast.com/episodes/he-lost-his-career-during-covid-then-he-built-a-better-life-convo-w-bart-berkey-osJK9eD3 "I wanted to be in charge of my own destiny." — Bart Berkey never expected a heart attack, a global pandemic, and the loss of his 16-year career at Ritz-Carlton to completely change his life.

Founder of Most People Don't and keynote speaker Bart Berkey joins Nik Agharkar to share how those setbacks pushed him to build a business centered on purpose, kindness, and resilience. From running out of savings to rebuilding his confidence one day at a time, Berkey explains why remembering your "why," serving others, and embracing what he calls "humanality" helped him create a more meaningful life than the one he left behind.

This conversation is a reminder that resilience isn't about avoiding hardship, it's about choosing to keep going.

What You'll Learn:

  • Why remembering your purpose makes difficult seasons easier to endure
  • How serving others can shift your mindset during your lowest moments
  • The difference between feeling processed and making people feel seen
  • Why Bart believes "humanality" will become even more important in an AI-driven world
  • How small daily choices create long-term resilience and a meaningful life

Episode Links

]]> He Lost His Career During COVID. Then He Built a Better Life. Convo w/ Bart Berkey Nik Agharkar 00:35:58 "I wanted to be in charge of my own destiny." — Bart Berkey never expected a heart attack, a global pandemic, and the loss of his 16-year career at Ritz-Carlton to completely change his life. "I wanted to be in charge of my own destiny." — Bart Berkey never expected a heart attack, a global pandemic, and the loss of his 16-year career at Ritz-Carlton to completely change his life. false full 9 a1a91e0c-a669-41cf-a2ac-cb22db88e015 Why Outworking Everyone Else Changed His Life w/ Scott Kleckner "I lost confidence in myself." — What happens when the thing you've always relied on suddenly disappears?

Scott Kleckner, owner of Olive Wood Pizza, shares how 18 months of unemployment forced him to confront something he'd never faced before: self-doubt. After decades leading turnarounds and managing restaurants, stadiums, and entertainment venues, he suddenly found himself questioning whether the skills that built his career still mattered.

Instead of continuing the search for another corporate role, Kleckner took a risk and bought a small catering business in Southern California. The transition wasn't easy, but it reminded him of a lesson he'd learned long ago: work ethic can carry you through almost anything.

This conversation explores confidence, leadership, identity, and why resilience is often less about avoiding setbacks and more about getting back to work when things don't go according to plan.

What You'll Learn:

  • • Why losing confidence can be harder than losing a job
  • • How work ethic became Scott's foundation for resilience
  • • What he learned from 18 months of unemployment
  • • Why ownership gave him clarity that corporate leadership never could
  • • The difference between being stubborn and being resilient

Episode Links

  • • Scott Kleckner LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottkleckner/
  • • Olive Wood Pizza: https://www.olivewoodpizza.com/
]]> Wed, 24 Jun 2026 12:21:13 +0000 mike@calibbq.media (Nik Agharkar) https://the-resiliency-project.simplecast.com/episodes/why-outworking-everyone-else-changed-his-life-w-scott-kleckner-7FFaTYY1 "I lost confidence in myself." — What happens when the thing you've always relied on suddenly disappears?

Scott Kleckner, owner of Olive Wood Pizza, shares how 18 months of unemployment forced him to confront something he'd never faced before: self-doubt. After decades leading turnarounds and managing restaurants, stadiums, and entertainment venues, he suddenly found himself questioning whether the skills that built his career still mattered.

Instead of continuing the search for another corporate role, Kleckner took a risk and bought a small catering business in Southern California. The transition wasn't easy, but it reminded him of a lesson he'd learned long ago: work ethic can carry you through almost anything.

This conversation explores confidence, leadership, identity, and why resilience is often less about avoiding setbacks and more about getting back to work when things don't go according to plan.

What You'll Learn:

  • • Why losing confidence can be harder than losing a job
  • • How work ethic became Scott's foundation for resilience
  • • What he learned from 18 months of unemployment
  • • Why ownership gave him clarity that corporate leadership never could
  • • The difference between being stubborn and being resilient

Episode Links

  • • Scott Kleckner LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottkleckner/
  • • Olive Wood Pizza: https://www.olivewoodpizza.com/
]]> Why Outworking Everyone Else Changed His Life w/ Scott Kleckner Nik Agharkar 00:23:26 "I lost confidence in myself." — What happens when the thing you've always relied on suddenly disappears? Scott Kleckner, owner of Olive Wood Pizza, shares how 18 months of unemployment forced him to confront something he'd never faced before: self-doubt. After decades leading turnarounds and managing restaurants, stadiums, and entertainment venues, he suddenly found himself questioning whether the skills that built his career still mattered. "I lost confidence in myself." — What happens when the thing you've always relied on suddenly disappears? Scott Kleckner, owner of Olive Wood Pizza, shares how 18 months of unemployment forced him to confront something he'd never faced before: self-doubt. After decades leading turnarounds and managing restaurants, stadiums, and entertainment venues, he suddenly found himself questioning whether the skills that built his career still mattered. false full 8 c075ff92-c04a-4e1b-93ff-5966605840d7 Why Becoming an FBI Informant Saved His Future w/ Tom Hardin "I committed a federal crime." — What happens when one bad decision changes the course of your life forever? 

Tom Hardin, international corporate trainer, keynote speaker, and former Wall Street analyst known as "Tipper X," shares the story of how insider trading led to an FBI investigation, public disgrace, and the loss of the career he spent years building. From secretly wearing a wire for the FBI to seeing his name on the front page of major newspapers, Tom explains the personal toll of shame, accountability, and rebuilding after a very public failure.

But this is not just a story about breaking the law. It is about accepting responsibility, finding purpose through service, and learning that resilience is often less about bouncing back and more about laying one honest brick at a time. Tom shares how volunteering, family support, and a willingness to forgive himself helped him create a life that ultimately became more meaningful than the one he was chasing before everything fell apart.

What You'll Learn:

  • • Why accountability is the first step toward rebuilding after failure
  • • The difference between guilt and shame and why it matters
  • • How serving others helped Tom begin recovering from public disgrace
  • • Why resilience is more about rebuilding than bouncing back
  • • How laying "one honest brick a day" became Tom's framework for moving forward

Episode Links:

  • •Tom Hardin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tipperx/
  • •Tipper X: https://www.tipperx.com/
]]> Wed, 17 Jun 2026 13:02:44 +0000 mike@calibbq.media (Nik Agharkar) https://the-resiliency-project.simplecast.com/episodes/why-becoming-an-fbi-informant-saved-his-future-w-tom-hardin-Z9pJobtd "I committed a federal crime." — What happens when one bad decision changes the course of your life forever? 

Tom Hardin, international corporate trainer, keynote speaker, and former Wall Street analyst known as "Tipper X," shares the story of how insider trading led to an FBI investigation, public disgrace, and the loss of the career he spent years building. From secretly wearing a wire for the FBI to seeing his name on the front page of major newspapers, Tom explains the personal toll of shame, accountability, and rebuilding after a very public failure.

But this is not just a story about breaking the law. It is about accepting responsibility, finding purpose through service, and learning that resilience is often less about bouncing back and more about laying one honest brick at a time. Tom shares how volunteering, family support, and a willingness to forgive himself helped him create a life that ultimately became more meaningful than the one he was chasing before everything fell apart.

What You'll Learn:

  • • Why accountability is the first step toward rebuilding after failure
  • • The difference between guilt and shame and why it matters
  • • How serving others helped Tom begin recovering from public disgrace
  • • Why resilience is more about rebuilding than bouncing back
  • • How laying "one honest brick a day" became Tom's framework for moving forward

Episode Links:

  • •Tom Hardin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tipperx/
  • •Tipper X: https://www.tipperx.com/
]]> Why Becoming an FBI Informant Saved His Future w/ Tom Hardin Nik Agharkar 00:21:17 "I committed a federal crime." — What happens when one bad decision changes the course of your life forever? Tom Hardin, international corporate trainer, keynote speaker, and former Wall Street analyst known as "Tipper X," shares the story of how insider trading led to an FBI investigation, public disgrace, and the loss of the career he spent years building. From secretly wearing a wire for the FBI to seeing his name on the front page of major newspapers, Tom explains the personal toll of shame, accountability, and rebuilding after a very public failure. "I committed a federal crime." — What happens when one bad decision changes the course of your life forever? Tom Hardin, international corporate trainer, keynote speaker, and former Wall Street analyst known as "Tipper X," shares the story of how insider trading led to an FBI investigation, public disgrace, and the loss of the career he spent years building. From secretly wearing a wire for the FBI to seeing his name on the front page of major newspapers, Tom explains the personal toll of shame, accountability, and rebuilding after a very public failure. false full 7 a04ba0dc-0d82-42c5-a8ea-3d4ac837b1b5 You’ll Move Faster by Slowing Down w/ Jason Bishara “You’ll move faster by slowing down.” - How do you stay calm when everything around you is collapsing?

Jason Bishara, lead of financial practice at NSI Insurance Group, shares the story of losing control of a venture-backed company during a brutal market shift, the pressure it placed on his family, and how he rebuilt both his career and perspective through one of the hardest periods of his life. From losing years of income to restructuring a business without bankruptcy, Jason explains why resiliency is less about motivation and more about staying calm enough to keep moving.

This is not just a story about business failure. It is about controlling emotion during chaos, learning from the people around you, and understanding that some of life’s biggest setbacks can quietly become your biggest blessings.

What You’ll Learn:
• Why slowing down can help you move forward faster
• How Jason rebuilt after losing control of a venture-backed company
• Why focusing on solutions instead of problems changes everything
• The role mentors and mastermind groups play during difficult seasons
• Why resilience is built by getting back up after getting punched in the jaw

Episode Links:

]]> Wed, 10 Jun 2026 12:25:59 +0000 mike@calibbq.media (Nik Agharkar) https://the-resiliency-project.simplecast.com/episodes/youll-move-faster-by-slowing-down-w-jason-bishara-Q19UQ82M “You’ll move faster by slowing down.” - How do you stay calm when everything around you is collapsing?

Jason Bishara, lead of financial practice at NSI Insurance Group, shares the story of losing control of a venture-backed company during a brutal market shift, the pressure it placed on his family, and how he rebuilt both his career and perspective through one of the hardest periods of his life. From losing years of income to restructuring a business without bankruptcy, Jason explains why resiliency is less about motivation and more about staying calm enough to keep moving.

This is not just a story about business failure. It is about controlling emotion during chaos, learning from the people around you, and understanding that some of life’s biggest setbacks can quietly become your biggest blessings.

What You’ll Learn:
• Why slowing down can help you move forward faster
• How Jason rebuilt after losing control of a venture-backed company
• Why focusing on solutions instead of problems changes everything
• The role mentors and mastermind groups play during difficult seasons
• Why resilience is built by getting back up after getting punched in the jaw

Episode Links:

]]> You’ll Move Faster by Slowing Down w/ Jason Bishara Nik Agharkar 00:21:38 “You’ll move faster by slowing down.” - How do you stay calm when everything around you is collapsing? Jason Bishara, lead of financial practice at NSI Insurance Group, shares the story of losing control of a venture-backed company during a brutal market shift, the pressure it placed on his family, and how he rebuilt both his career and perspective through one of the hardest periods of his life. From losing years of income to restructuring a business without bankruptcy, Jason explains why resiliency is less about motivation and more about staying calm enough to keep moving. “You’ll move faster by slowing down.” - How do you stay calm when everything around you is collapsing? Jason Bishara, lead of financial practice at NSI Insurance Group, shares the story of losing control of a venture-backed company during a brutal market shift, the pressure it placed on his family, and how he rebuilt both his career and perspective through one of the hardest periods of his life. From losing years of income to restructuring a business without bankruptcy, Jason explains why resiliency is less about motivation and more about staying calm enough to keep moving. false full 6 e312e8a0-b8bd-49b5-8d6f-9b6a1dba2b14 Losing Everything and Rebuilding From a School Bus w/ Angie Callen "I thought we were buying our future. Instead, we bought a disaster.” 

In this episode of The Resiliency Project, Angie Callen shares how buying the wrong business spiraled into lawsuits, bankruptcy, and financial collapse. After losing nearly everything, Angie and her husband moved into a gutted school bus in the mountains of Colorado and rebuilt their lives one coaching client, one networking event, and one step at a time. But this conversation is about more than failure. It is about resilience as a learned skill. 

Angie explains how childhood adversity shaped her mindset, why having “no way back” forced her to adapt, and how refusing to quit helped her build a successful coaching business from scratch. From sleeping in her Subaru between networking events to finding her first client through LinkedIn, Angie’s story is a reminder that resilience is often built long before the breakthrough arrives. 

What You’ll Learn: 

  • • How a failed business purchase led to bankruptcy and rebuilding from a school bus 
  • • Why resilience can be developed through adversity and experience 
  • • How LinkedIn networking helped Angie land her first coaching clients 
  • • Why controlling what you can control is critical during hardship 
  • • How failure became the foundation for Angie’s future success 

Episode Links: 

  • Angie Callen LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angiecallen/ 
  • Connect with Angie Callen: https://angiecallen.com/ 
  • Angie Callen's new book, Scary Good: https://angiecallen.com/scarygoodread/
]]> Wed, 3 Jun 2026 10:44:22 +0000 mike@calibbq.media (Nik Agharkar) https://the-resiliency-project.simplecast.com/episodes/losing-everything-and-rebuilding-from-a-school-bus-w-angie-callen-YatdIeHQ "I thought we were buying our future. Instead, we bought a disaster.” 

In this episode of The Resiliency Project, Angie Callen shares how buying the wrong business spiraled into lawsuits, bankruptcy, and financial collapse. After losing nearly everything, Angie and her husband moved into a gutted school bus in the mountains of Colorado and rebuilt their lives one coaching client, one networking event, and one step at a time. But this conversation is about more than failure. It is about resilience as a learned skill. 

Angie explains how childhood adversity shaped her mindset, why having “no way back” forced her to adapt, and how refusing to quit helped her build a successful coaching business from scratch. From sleeping in her Subaru between networking events to finding her first client through LinkedIn, Angie’s story is a reminder that resilience is often built long before the breakthrough arrives. 

What You’ll Learn: 

  • • How a failed business purchase led to bankruptcy and rebuilding from a school bus 
  • • Why resilience can be developed through adversity and experience 
  • • How LinkedIn networking helped Angie land her first coaching clients 
  • • Why controlling what you can control is critical during hardship 
  • • How failure became the foundation for Angie’s future success 

Episode Links: 

  • Angie Callen LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angiecallen/ 
  • Connect with Angie Callen: https://angiecallen.com/ 
  • Angie Callen's new book, Scary Good: https://angiecallen.com/scarygoodread/
]]> Losing Everything and Rebuilding From a School Bus w/ Angie Callen Nik Agharkar 00:17:27 "I thought we were buying our future. Instead, we bought a disaster.” In this episode of The Resiliency Project, Angie Callen shares how buying the wrong business spiraled into lawsuits, bankruptcy, and financial collapse. After losing nearly everything, Angie and her husband moved into a gutted school bus in the mountains of Colorado and rebuilt their lives one coaching client, one networking event, and one step at a time. But this conversation is about more than failure. It is about resilience as a learned skill. "I thought we were buying our future. Instead, we bought a disaster.” In this episode of The Resiliency Project, Angie Callen shares how buying the wrong business spiraled into lawsuits, bankruptcy, and financial collapse. After losing nearly everything, Angie and her husband moved into a gutted school bus in the mountains of Colorado and rebuilt their lives one coaching client, one networking event, and one step at a time. But this conversation is about more than failure. It is about resilience as a learned skill. false full 5 d9343917-b43e-4451-bb99-9aa26301112f Taking the Punch and Keeping Going w/ Chase Slepak “Resiliency to me is getting up every time you get punched in the face.” - What happens when failure hits early, hard, and expensive?

Entrepreneur and brand builder Chase Slepak shares the story of losing nearly everything at 18 years old after a failed car wash business nearly buried him financially before his career even started. Instead of walking away from entrepreneurship, Chase doubled down, rebuilding through grit, hard work, and an obsession with finding the next opportunity. From working alongside his father as a kid to coaching early-stage founders today, Chase reflects on why resilience is built through repetition, why social media hides the hardest parts of business, and why taking risks is often the only way to grow stronger. The conversation explores entrepreneurship, family, identity, and the mindset required to keep moving forward when business punches back.

What You’ll Learn:

  • • Why resilience is built by repeatedly overcoming failure
  • • How early setbacks shaped Chase’s approach to entrepreneurship
  • • Why social media rarely reflects the reality of building a business
  • • The importance of intentionality when starting a company
  • • How family, work ethic, and adversity shaped Chase’s mindset

Connect with Chase Slepak on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chaseslepak/

]]> Wed, 27 May 2026 10:33:59 +0000 mike@calibbq.media (Nik Agharkar) https://the-resiliency-project.simplecast.com/episodes/taking-the-punch-and-keeping-going-w-chase-slepak-vKcKegwd “Resiliency to me is getting up every time you get punched in the face.” - What happens when failure hits early, hard, and expensive?

Entrepreneur and brand builder Chase Slepak shares the story of losing nearly everything at 18 years old after a failed car wash business nearly buried him financially before his career even started. Instead of walking away from entrepreneurship, Chase doubled down, rebuilding through grit, hard work, and an obsession with finding the next opportunity. From working alongside his father as a kid to coaching early-stage founders today, Chase reflects on why resilience is built through repetition, why social media hides the hardest parts of business, and why taking risks is often the only way to grow stronger. The conversation explores entrepreneurship, family, identity, and the mindset required to keep moving forward when business punches back.

What You’ll Learn:

  • • Why resilience is built by repeatedly overcoming failure
  • • How early setbacks shaped Chase’s approach to entrepreneurship
  • • Why social media rarely reflects the reality of building a business
  • • The importance of intentionality when starting a company
  • • How family, work ethic, and adversity shaped Chase’s mindset

Connect with Chase Slepak on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chaseslepak/

]]> Taking the Punch and Keeping Going w/ Chase Slepak Nik Agharkar 00:25:29 “Resiliency to me is getting up every time you get punched in the face.” - What happens when failure hits early, hard, and expensive? Entrepreneur and brand builder Chase Slepak shares the story of losing nearly everything at 18 years old after a failed car wash business nearly buried him financially before his career even started. Instead of walking away from entrepreneurship, Chase doubled down, rebuilding through grit, hard work, and an obsession with finding the next opportunity. “Resiliency to me is getting up every time you get punched in the face.” - What happens when failure hits early, hard, and expensive? Entrepreneur and brand builder Chase Slepak shares the story of losing nearly everything at 18 years old after a failed car wash business nearly buried him financially before his career even started. Instead of walking away from entrepreneurship, Chase doubled down, rebuilding through grit, hard work, and an obsession with finding the next opportunity. false full 4 dab44f4f-cd08-46e8-8865-7b233fe40c13 Reframing Weakness Into Strength w/ Steve Schiff “What a lot of people see as their weakness is not really a weakness. It’s actually a strength.” - 

How often do we misunderstand the very things that make us different? Steve Schiff, Development Manager at Nasdaq, shares the mindset that keeps him moving forward when things get hard: creativity, imagination, and the ability to keep building toward a future he can already see in his head. 

Steve reflects on resilience, perspective, and why so many people misjudge their own strengths. The episode also introduces a powerful question for future guests: What do you see as your weakness? Because sometimes the things we try hardest to hide are actually the things that give us an edge.

What You’ll Learn: 

  • • Why creativity can become a source of resilience 
  • • How vision helps people push through difficult moments 
  • • Why many perceived weaknesses are actually strengths 
  • • The importance of perspective when evaluating yourself 
  • • How reframing self-doubt can change the way you move forward

Episode Links:

  • Steve Schiff LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steveschiff/
]]> Wed, 20 May 2026 09:53:56 +0000 mike@calibbq.media (Nik Agharkar) https://the-resiliency-project.simplecast.com/episodes/reframing-weakness-into-strength-w-steve-schiff-qDO1FtCT “What a lot of people see as their weakness is not really a weakness. It’s actually a strength.” - 

How often do we misunderstand the very things that make us different? Steve Schiff, Development Manager at Nasdaq, shares the mindset that keeps him moving forward when things get hard: creativity, imagination, and the ability to keep building toward a future he can already see in his head. 

Steve reflects on resilience, perspective, and why so many people misjudge their own strengths. The episode also introduces a powerful question for future guests: What do you see as your weakness? Because sometimes the things we try hardest to hide are actually the things that give us an edge.

What You’ll Learn: 

  • • Why creativity can become a source of resilience 
  • • How vision helps people push through difficult moments 
  • • Why many perceived weaknesses are actually strengths 
  • • The importance of perspective when evaluating yourself 
  • • How reframing self-doubt can change the way you move forward

Episode Links:

  • Steve Schiff LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steveschiff/
]]> Reframing Weakness Into Strength w/ Steve Schiff Nik Agharkar 00:20:56 false full 3 5a9e86fd-c210-4ae9-a7ff-fab33d34d58f Learning the Hard Way and Building Mental Resilience w/ Rhett Power “I have to learn by getting the shit kicked out of me.” - What happens when failure stops being a setback and starts becoming the strategy?

 Executive coach, author, and entrepreneur Rhett Power joins Nik Agharkar to break down the brutal realities of entrepreneurship, from losing millions on failed products to nearly running out of money while trying to keep a business alive. Instead of avoiding failure, Power explains how repeated setbacks forced him to rethink his business model, sharpen his mindset, and develop the resilience needed to survive. 

The conversation explores why most entrepreneurs have to become a little delusional to keep going, the dangerous impact of negative self-talk, and the mental systems that help leaders push through adversity. From sleeping in vans to landing major retail deals, this episode digs into the uncomfortable truth behind perseverance: resilience is not built through motivation, it is built through repeated hardship, reflection, and adaptation. 

What You’ll Learn:

  • • Why most successful entrepreneurs learn through failure, not theory
  • • How Rhett Power rebuilt his business after losing millions on failed products
  • • The role mindset and self-talk play during adversity
  • • The “Catch, Confront, Change” framework for breaking negative thought patterns
  • • Why resilience often requires irrational belief before results show up
  • • How product failures ultimately led to a stronger business model

Episode Links:

Check out Rhett Power: https://rhettpower.com/

]]> Wed, 13 May 2026 12:24:41 +0000 mike@calibbq.media (Nik Agharkar) https://the-resiliency-project.simplecast.com/episodes/learning-the-hard-way-and-building-mental-resilience-w-rhett-power-wiUwu0o2 “I have to learn by getting the shit kicked out of me.” - What happens when failure stops being a setback and starts becoming the strategy?

 Executive coach, author, and entrepreneur Rhett Power joins Nik Agharkar to break down the brutal realities of entrepreneurship, from losing millions on failed products to nearly running out of money while trying to keep a business alive. Instead of avoiding failure, Power explains how repeated setbacks forced him to rethink his business model, sharpen his mindset, and develop the resilience needed to survive. 

The conversation explores why most entrepreneurs have to become a little delusional to keep going, the dangerous impact of negative self-talk, and the mental systems that help leaders push through adversity. From sleeping in vans to landing major retail deals, this episode digs into the uncomfortable truth behind perseverance: resilience is not built through motivation, it is built through repeated hardship, reflection, and adaptation. 

What You’ll Learn:

  • • Why most successful entrepreneurs learn through failure, not theory
  • • How Rhett Power rebuilt his business after losing millions on failed products
  • • The role mindset and self-talk play during adversity
  • • The “Catch, Confront, Change” framework for breaking negative thought patterns
  • • Why resilience often requires irrational belief before results show up
  • • How product failures ultimately led to a stronger business model

Episode Links:

Check out Rhett Power: https://rhettpower.com/

]]> Learning the Hard Way and Building Mental Resilience w/ Rhett Power Nik Agharkar 00:25:43 “I have to learn by getting the shit kicked out of me.” - What happens when failure stops being a setback and starts becoming the strategy? Executive coach, author, and entrepreneur Rhett Power joins Nik Agharkar to break down the brutal realities of entrepreneurship, from losing millions on failed products to nearly running out of money while trying to keep a business alive. Instead of avoiding failure, Power explains how repeated setbacks forced him to rethink his business model, sharpen his mindset, and develop the resilience needed to survive. “I have to learn by getting the shit kicked out of me.” - What happens when failure stops being a setback and starts becoming the strategy? Executive coach, author, and entrepreneur Rhett Power joins Nik Agharkar to break down the brutal realities of entrepreneurship, from losing millions on failed products to nearly running out of money while trying to keep a business alive. Instead of avoiding failure, Power explains how repeated setbacks forced him to rethink his business model, sharpen his mindset, and develop the resilience needed to survive. false full 2 383513e5-a6d0-41f8-86f8-5d3c782f7f53 Failing in Public and Building Relentless Resilience w/ Shawn Walchef “I failed spectacularly… and I did it publicly.” - What happens when a bet you believe in completely… fails?

Shawn Walchef, restaurant owner of Cali BBQ and founder of Cali BBQ Media, shares what went wrong chasing the ghost kitchen model during the pandemic, where the assumptions broke, and how he knew it was time to walk away. This is not just a bad business story. It is about what happens when belief meets reality, and why having the courage to own failure matters more than avoiding it.

From five years of making no money in media to building a thriving business, this episode sets the tone for the show: no highlight reels, just the truth about what it takes to keep going.

What You’ll Learn:
• The biggest miscalculation behind the ghost kitchen strategy
• How to know when it’s time to stop chasing a failing idea
• How five years of making no money led to a breakthrough in media
• The difference between what people post online and the work that actually matters
• Why resilience is built in the dark, not in the spotlight

Episode Links 

  • Cali BBQ Media: https://content.calibbq.media/ 
  • Shawn Walchef on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawnpwalchef/
]]> Tue, 5 May 2026 19:47:43 +0000 mike@calibbq.media (Nik Agharkar) https://the-resiliency-project.simplecast.com/episodes/failing-in-public-and-building-relentless-resilience-w-shawn-walchef-4EAO7Kkd “I failed spectacularly… and I did it publicly.” - What happens when a bet you believe in completely… fails?

Shawn Walchef, restaurant owner of Cali BBQ and founder of Cali BBQ Media, shares what went wrong chasing the ghost kitchen model during the pandemic, where the assumptions broke, and how he knew it was time to walk away. This is not just a bad business story. It is about what happens when belief meets reality, and why having the courage to own failure matters more than avoiding it.

From five years of making no money in media to building a thriving business, this episode sets the tone for the show: no highlight reels, just the truth about what it takes to keep going.

What You’ll Learn:
• The biggest miscalculation behind the ghost kitchen strategy
• How to know when it’s time to stop chasing a failing idea
• How five years of making no money led to a breakthrough in media
• The difference between what people post online and the work that actually matters
• Why resilience is built in the dark, not in the spotlight

Episode Links 

  • Cali BBQ Media: https://content.calibbq.media/ 
  • Shawn Walchef on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawnpwalchef/
]]> Failing in Public and Building Relentless Resilience w/ Shawn Walchef Nik Agharkar 00:26:18 Shawn Walchef, restaurant owner of Cali BBQ and founder of Cali BBQ Media, shares what went wrong chasing the ghost kitchen model during the pandemic, where the assumptions broke, and how he knew it was time to walk away. This is not just a bad business story. It is about what happens when belief meets reality, and why having the courage to own failure matters more than avoiding it. Shawn Walchef, restaurant owner of Cali BBQ and founder of Cali BBQ Media, shares what went wrong chasing the ghost kitchen model during the pandemic, where the assumptions broke, and how he knew it was time to walk away. This is not just a bad business story. It is about what happens when belief meets reality, and why having the courage to own failure matters more than avoiding it. false full 1 a031ab86-0ae0-49a8-947f-dbaddb4c6c4c Welcome To The Resiliency Project Real conversations about failure, resilience, and starting again

Nik Agharkar, founder of Crowne Point Tax, hosts The Resiliency Project, a long-form interview podcast focused on what happens after failure. Through candid conversations with founders, executives, professionals, and creators, the show explores real setbacks, reinvention, and the mindset shifts that make resilience possible. Each episode reframes struggle, offering practical insight listeners can apply to their own challenges.

]]> Sat, 2 May 2026 11:42:06 +0000 mike@calibbq.media (Nik Agharkar) https://the-resiliency-project.simplecast.com/episodes/welcome-to-the-resiliency-project-ABNTbgEg Real conversations about failure, resilience, and starting again

Nik Agharkar, founder of Crowne Point Tax, hosts The Resiliency Project, a long-form interview podcast focused on what happens after failure. Through candid conversations with founders, executives, professionals, and creators, the show explores real setbacks, reinvention, and the mindset shifts that make resilience possible. Each episode reframes struggle, offering practical insight listeners can apply to their own challenges.

]]> Welcome To The Resiliency Project Nik Agharkar 00:00:39 Real conversations about failure, resilience, and starting again. Real conversations about failure, resilience, and starting again. false trailer