After 60 incredible episodes of Making It Real, it’s time for co-host Bob Caporale to take all the lessons he’s learned and go start a company himself! Strategy Generation Company is the culmination of Bob’s passion to help business leaders develop their own unique product and business strategies. Join us for this very special episode of Making It Real where we announce the launch of Bob’s new company and bid farewell to our beloved podcast – at least until we have another update to share!

Max Temkin and his seven childhood friends originally created Cards Against Humanity because they wanted something to play at parties. They made it available for free and the craze caught on from there! But this isn’t the story of making a lot of money; it’s the story of following your passion and seeing where it can take you. And where it takes us is something you don’t want to miss!

undergarment that was universally comfortable for both herself and for her friends. With humble Kickstarter roots, she listened closely to her customers and grew a business that promoted equality of comfort and freedom from labels. This week’s episode is filled with fun, energy, and an incredible story of inclusiveness, comfort, and business growth. This is one you don’t want to miss!

Lee Mallahan III, inventor of the Tadpole Tape Cutter, created his product out of necessity. While tackling home painting projects, he grew tired and frustrated with the process of cutting painter’s tape and quickly learned that there was no solution on the market to get a clean edged cut. So he invented an innovative product that is lightweight, easy to store, and can be universally re-used without frustration.

Robert Harbauer has a tradition of visiting local hardware stores while traveling abroad. In his travels to Germany, Robert came across Bondic, a product that he became instantly passionate about. Tune in to this week’s episode as Robert shares his competitive journey of selling a household tool in big box retail, and how he conquered it all by putting the customer first.

Elliot Harris, founder of Absorbits, is a self-described accident-prone serial entrepreneur. After accidentally soaking his cell phone, Elliot was on a mission to reverse the damage. Many tests later, he created a patented pouch that dries out wet electronics. In this episode, Elliot shares nuggets of entrepreneurial advice while providing an approachable process that anyone with the next “big idea” can follow!

While training for a triathlon, Denise Lee wanted to feel as good in her workout clothes as she did in her designer clothes. She just couldn’t find active wear that matched her New York City style. So she founded Alala, a luxurious athleisure brand, to fill her own need! Be sure to listen in as Denise shares her experience with her mentor Chris Burch, and how she grew her business to be carried by Nordstrom, Equinox, ShopBop, and more!

After years of experience in the design industry, Blythe Harris, joined her co-founder to create a fun accessory company with a strong community built around it. The Stella & Dot business model features flexible entrepreneurship opportunities for people to “style” their own careers. Tune in to this week’s episode as Blythe shares the story of growing a wildly successful business and the creativity that it took to get there.

Panos Panay has some powerful entrepreneurial experience. After selling his company, SonicBids, in 2013, Panos became the VP of Innovation and Strategy and the Director of Creative Entrepreneurship at the coveted Berklee College of Music. Tune in to this episode of Making It Real to follow Panos’ ultimate journey from building one of the leading web platforms to empower musicians, to leading the education and development of budding music entrepreneurs at his alma mater.

In Part 2 of this two-part series, we share the story of Jess Edelstein, the second co-founder of Piper Wai. Jess had very sensitive skin, so she took to the Internet for a solution. After testing and tweaking several different all-natural deodorant recipes, she landed on a surefire formula that really worked! Listen in as Jess shares the story of how she brought her big idea to life and how she worked with her co-founder, Sarah Ribner, to grow Piper Wai from a business into a brand!

In Part 1 of this two-part episode,, we meet Sarah Ribner, co-founder of Piper Wai, who has always made health and wellness a priority in her life. When her best friend, Jess Edelstein, presented her with a tub of homemade, all-natural deodorant, Sarah accepted it with open armpits! And the rest is history! Tune in to hear about how this company evolved from a community kitchen to a profitable independent brand featured on the hit show Shark Tank.

After the death of his father, Damion Lupo made it his mission in life to help people find financial freedom. He later founded Total Control Financial and used his newly formed company to help spread the world about little known retirement option that breaks the mold of a traditional 401K plan. In this episode, Damion shares his story of starting a business in college, losing 20 million dollars, investing in real estate, and working towards a goal that continues to be larger than life itself.

Nik Hawks, a former Navy Seal, and Lee Selman, a former camel handler, are passionate about fueling their bodies with clean energy. Together, they created Paleo Treats, a delicious treat company aimed at Paleo dieters that want to have their cake and eat it too! This episode promises education, inspiration, and wanderlust as Nik and Lee share their adventurous stories, the mission behind their sweet treats, and the forces that continue to drive their company into the future.

Smith, founder of UGG, the popular sheepskin boot, has the ultimate story to tell. This product entrepreneur shares his journey from idea conception to parking lot sales and from marketing to mass-production. Brian walks through each phase of his adventure while sharing how he helped UGG earn an overwhelming amount of popularity from its humble roots on the beaches of California to now being one of the most widely recognized fashion brands in the world!

After being in the footwear industry for over 30-years, Tony Post, decided to start his own brand, TOPO Athletic. This unique athletic shoe company, inspired by Tony’s passion for running, focuses on comfort, support, and enabling proper running form. Listen in as Tony shares the wealth of knowledge that he gained as a product manager, an executive, and a successful product entrepreneur.

With the rise of bike sharing programs in some of the largest cities across the globe, the inconvenience of carrying around a traditional helmet is becoming more real than ever. In response, Jeffrey Woolf, founder of Morpher Helmets, invented an award-winning helmet that folds flat while preserving its most important feature – safety. In this episode, Jeffrey shares his stories of researching, crowd-funding, manufacturing, and receiving the ultimate reward of saving someone’s life.

Alex Shirley-Smith of Tentsile had a longing desire to save the rainforest since he was a child. But even after becoming an accomplished tree house architect, Alex wasn't satisfied. He wanted to bring the idea of “hanging out in trees” to the masses with comfortable tree-based tents that were even more environmentally friendly than permanent structures. Tune into this episode as Alex Shirley-Smith shows us how he is fulfilling his childhood mission of saving the trees – one tent at a time.

As co-founder of Brand Foundations, JP Laqueur is determined to help corporations nix their mission, vision and value statements. He helps companies with their culture and encourages them to share their key differentiators through memorable brand storytelling. With a blog that went viral, and a 3-stage “PWI” process, JP’s strategy is applicable and accessible to both corporations and entrepreneurs that are looking to set their brands apart from the competition. 

Karen Yankovich, is a digital strategist, and founder of Up Level Media. She recognizes the importance of social connections for businesses in our evolving world. Karen is teaching and encouraging her clients to take social media marketing to a new and more conversational level; turning their valued connections into valued clients. Tune into this episode for advice, strategies and high-energy inspirations to fine-tune your social media profile and create more meaningful connections online.

Jane Och, co-founder of Guac-Lock, is a mom on a mission who solved a major party problem: brown guacamole. After some relentless brainstorming, and prototype testing, Jane developed a patent-pending plastic storage system that would keep her ‘guac’ green for days! With a design innovation award granted, a licensing deal created, and some minor snafus solved, Jane shares her energetic story along with a handful of lessons learned in product design.

Sarah Dusek, founder of UnderCanvas, is making camping glamorous. Learn how Sarah is conquering the eco-tourism industry to make camping accessible, sustainable, and memorable for people of all ages. Sarah draws from her experience working with non-profit organizations and property development companies to help her redefine the hospitality industry. With multiple properties surrounding major national parks, UnderCanvas is providing an unforgettable experience worthy of most anyone’s bucket list.

Chris Logsdon, founder of GodSpeed Co, is an avid motorcyclist, passionate entrepreneur and a genuinely cool guy. While cleaning up a spill on his desk, Chris reached for his mechanic’s rag in his back pocket and had a light bulb moment. He had bigger ideas in mind for this little red rag, and began a successful clothing company that embodied the nostalgic durability that a shop rags possesses..

Christina Stembel, founder of Farmgirl Flowers, is disrupting the flower industry. As she builds a business based around her customers, Christina is blossoming as an entrepreneur and is blooming with success. She strives to create a special experience that recipients will remember and that senders can rely upon. Christina’s beautiful in-season bouquets decrease the waste and increase the experience. Listen in as Christina shares her path to e-commerce success.

Jessica Rhodes, founder of Interview Connections, offers a concierge booking service for guest experts and podcast hosts. Follow Jessica’s journey as she goes from non-profit canvasing to podcast matchmaking. Jessica talks about balancing your passion with your product and encourages listeners to ask customers for feedback while retaining their initial purpose.