Best Josh Chernikoff Podcasts (2025)

1
Quitting My PhD: Rob Dorgan on Redefining Success, Beating Burnout, and Finding Purpose 43:32

4d ago43:32

43:32

My guest for Episode #322 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Rob Dorgan, a multi-talented professional whose career path has taken him from paralegal to college professor, retail store owner, manufacturing company president, and now licensed massage therapist, certified yoga educator, meditation teacher, and astrologer. Rob is also the author of…

1
(Re-Air) The Signature Solution: Your Proven Blueprint to a Clear Offer That Generates Leads and Wins the Education Market 17:08

6d ago17:08

17:08

What if your biggest lead gen problem isn’t visibility — but the fact that your offer isn’t clear enough to close? Most EdTech founders think they have a marketing problem. Some think it’s a sales problem. But what they actually have is this: ❌ An offer that’s vague ❌ A proven model that’s undefined ❌ And no document that makes buyers say “yes” on …

1
Why Listening to Yourself Is the First Step to Better Communication — Cynthia Kane on Learning to Pause 42:19

11d ago42:19

42:19

My guest for Episode #321 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Cynthia Kane, founder and CEO of the Kane Intentional Communication Institute and author of several books, including How to Communicate Like a Buddhist and The Pause: How to Keep Your Cool in Tough Situations. Cynthia shares a pivotal mistake from early in her life: letting other peopl…

1
From $10M in Sales to Losing Her Company: What Education Founders Learn the Hard Way About Selling, Scaling, and Staying Aligned 26:12

13d ago26:12

26:12

Most founders think their growth problem is sales. But Jolene Levin, entrepreneur, innovator and founder of NorvaNivel proved it’s the other way around: your sales reveal your growth problem. Jolene founded a classroom furniture company in Australia, scaled it across schools, and then brought it to the U.S. Three months after launching in the U.S.,…

1
From Lab Work to Leadership: Dr. Jen Heemstra’s Guide to Thriving in Science Careers 11:39

15d ago11:39

11:39

🎙️ In this bonus episode of My Favorite Mistake, Mark Graban welcomes back Dr. Jen Heemstra, Charles Allen Thomas Professor and Chair of Chemistry at Washington University in St. Louis. Jen joins us to talk about her new book, Lab Work to Leadership: A Concise Guide to Thriving in the Science Job You Weren’t Trained For. She shares how the book was…

1
The Costly Expansion Mistake That Made Damon Lembi a Better 'Learn it All' CEO 43:53

18d ago43:53

43:53

My guest for Episode #320 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Damon Lembi, CEO of Learnit, a live learning and development platform that has helped upskill over 2 million professionals. Episode page with video, transcript, and more A former college baseball player and now a two-time bestselling author, Damon shares the story of how youthful ambit…

1
(Best of) Your Demo Is the Problem: What Education Founders Must Do—and Stop Doing—to Close More Deals With Their Demos 35:20

20d ago35:20

35:20

Most EdTech demos fall flat because they focus on product—not pain. They walk through features—but skip the funding strategy. They sound polished—but feel disconnected. And when the call ends? No buy-in. No follow-up. No deal. That’s where John Gamba changes the game. John isn’t just an expert in EdTech innovation—he’s coached thousands of educatio…

1
Your Work Won’t Speak for Itself: Mistakes & Branding Lessons from Sapna Pieroux 44:46

26d ago44:46

44:46

My guest for Episode #319 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Sapna Pieroux, award-winning author of Let’s Get Visible!, a branding consultant, and the founder of Inner Visions ID. Episode page with video, transcript, and more With a background spanning 20 years in media and experience working with major brands like Toyota, Sony, and L’Oréal, Sap…

1
From Collapse to Credibility: Robert Martellacci’s Blueprint to Win Back Influence and Close Deals in the Education Space 33:37

27d ago33:37

33:37

What happens when your billion-dollar success story ends—and the market forgets your name? Robert Martellacci knows. And he didn’t quit—he reinvented. This episode isn’t just about resilience. It’s about the bold mindset shift it takes to reclaim relevance, rebuild trust, and restart traction when everything you built gets wiped off the board. Robe…

1
The Art of Preventing Stupid: Lawyer and Author Matthew Davis on Business Mistakes and Growth 45:12

1M ago45:12

45:12

My guest for Episode #318 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Matthew Neal Davis, an attorney, entrepreneur, and author of the provocative book The Art of Preventing Stupid. Episode page with video and more Matthew is the founder and managing partner of Davis Business Law, which has grown more than 1,000% in six years, earning a spot on the Inc. …

1
From Dead-End to C-Suite: An Edtech’s Messaging Framework That Converts Education Conversations into Contracts 15:33

1M ago15:33

15:33

Here's the Messaging Fix You Didn’t Know You Needed If your EdTech offer sounds “nice” but never gets past your perfect client to respond… this episode is your wake-up call. Carlos Zapata, founder of Unicorn Academy, joins me live from the IFE Conference in Monterrey, Mexico — and pulls back the curtain on the exact moment his company stopped stall…

1
Why Going to Law School Was Her Favorite Mistake – Davina Frederick of Wealthy Woman Lawyer 44:47

1M ago44:47

44:47

My guest for Episode #316 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Davina Frederick, founder of Wealthy Woman Lawyer, host of the Wealthy Woman Lawyer Podcast, and a business coach who has helped women law firm owners scale their practices to seven figures and beyond. Episode page with video, transcript, and more In our conversation, Davina shares why…

1
Your Summer Fix: How Education Founders Can Rebuild Lead Flow Before Back-to-School 14:38

1M ago14:38

14:38

Let’s get one thing straight: September doesn’t start in September. It starts now—in June, July, and August. Because the biggest mistake founders make in summer isn’t taking a break. It’s confusing rest with silence. You can recharge and still generate leads. But most EdTech founders go dark. They hunker down. Rebuild ops. Tweak product. And comple…

1
The Danger of Optimism: CEO Jim Schleckser on His Biggest Leadership Mistake 49:22

2M ago49:22

49:22

My guest for Episode #316 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Jim Schleckser, founder and CEO of The CEO Project. Episode page with video, transcript, and more Jim is a seasoned business leader, bestselling author, and trusted advisor to CEOs around the world. With experience spanning 42 countries and multiple industries, Jim has spent decades he…

1
From Quiet Posts to Real Revenue: How Anissa Used LinkedIn to Build Trust and Attract Qualified Leads 41:07

2M ago41:07

41:07

Most EdTech founders are still chasing views. Anissa Bouderraoui is closing pilots. She didn’t wait to go viral. She showed up consistently—with clarity, credibility, and the kind of messaging school leaders actually respond to. The result? No gimmicks. No funnels. Just a pipeline built on trust. Bolstered by LinkedIn consistency. 🎯 When Anissa sta…

1
Why 100 Coffee Meetings Didn’t Work—And What Kat Halushka Did Instead 37:43

2M ago37:43

37:43

My guest for Episode #315 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Kat Halushka, a business and visibility strategist for coaches, consultants, and speakers. She’s the founder of Profitable Impact Academy, where she helps entrepreneurs grow their audience, automate marketing, and land clients through speaking and streamlined funnels. EPISODE PAGE Kat’…

1
The Rest Advantage: How Education Founders Use Strategic Pauses to Spark Lead Gen Breakthroughs 14:31

2M ago14:31

14:31

Most education founders treat traction like a treadmill. When the leads slow down, they don’t stop to ask why—they sprint faster. More posts. More emails. More calls. More grind. But here’s what most founders miss: 📉 Motion ≠ Momentum 📉 Hustle ≠ Clarity 📉 Activity ≠ Conversion In this episode, Josh goes solo to unpack a hidden truth in EdTech sales…

1
How Culture Creates Freedom and Profit: Josh Cunningham Returns to Share His New Book 13:57

2M ago13:57

13:57

In this special bonus episode of My Favorite Mistake, host Mark Graban welcomes back Josh Cunningham, founder and CEO of Rokrbox and guest from Episode 244. Josh returns to share insights from his brand-new book, Culture Is the Key: How to Unlock Massive Profits and Freedom. We dive into: How Josh built a culture-first company that’s thriving—even …

1
The Mistake of Unrealistic Expectations: Mark Struczewski’s Solopreneur Journey 44:03

2M ago44:03

44:03

My guest for Episode #314 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Mark Struczewski, also known as “Mister Productivity.” Mark is a Houston-based productivity coach, speaker, and host of The Mister Productivity Podcast, with over 1,300 episodes to his name. He helps overwhelmed professionals cut through distractions and focus on what truly matters. Ep…

1
Clearer Messaging, Consistent Leads: What EdTech Founders Can Learn from MindShifting 36:11

2M ago36:11

36:11

Most education companies don’t lose leads because their product is weak. They lose them because the message doesn’t land. They try to sound professional. Strategic. Smart. But polish ≠ presence. And clever ≠ clear. In this episode, Josh sits down with Mitch Weisburgh—a lifelong educator, EdTech veteran, and founder of MindShifting with Mitch—to unp…

1
Avoiding Bad Marketing: Amber Gaige on Mistakes, AI, and the Four Cs 32:41

2M ago32:41

32:41

My guest for Episode #313 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Amber Gaige, a marketing strategist, international bestselling author, and founder of Far Beyond Marketing. With over 20 years of experience, Amber helps entrepreneurs simplify their marketing and drive real results. She’s also the author of The Far Beyond Marketing Guidebook: Stop Bei…

1
Do the Opposite of Everything You’ve Been Doing: How Seinfeld’s George Costanza Unlocks Lead Gen Clarity for EdTech Founders 17:42

2M ago17:42

17:42

Let’s start with a sitcom—and a truth bomb. In Seinfeld Season 5, Episode 22 ("The Opposite"), George Costanza hits rock bottom. No job. No love life. No confidence. So he flips the script. “If every instinct I have is wrong, then the opposite must be right.” And suddenly? He orders chicken salad instead of tuna. He tells the girl he’s unemployed a…

1
Ballet, Mistakes, and Masked Performances: Jared Redick’s Story of Grace Under Pressure 42:44

2M ago42:44

42:44

OOPS! Due to an editing mistake, I had to reupload the file. Again. My guest for Episode #312 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Jared Redick, a third-generation ballet dancer, choreographer, and award-winning educator. Episode page with links and more Jared is a full professor and Assistant Dean of Dance at the University of North Carolina Scho…

1
Breaking Borders: How Smart EdTech Founders Build Scalable Companies Without Losing Local Trust 33:06

3M ago33:06

33:06

If you’re trying to grow your education business beyond where you started—this episode is for you. Because whether you’re moving from one country to another, or just one state to the next… The real challenge isn’t translation. It’s trust. In this episode of Breaking the Grade, I sit down with Denise Abulafia—EdTech founder, Penn GSE professor, and …

1
How a Mistake in Confronting Workplace Discrimination Shaped a Leadership Career – Karin Hurt on Speaking Up the Right Way 40:51

3M ago40:51

40:51

My guest for Episode #311 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Karin Hurt, CEO of Let’s Grow Leaders, a global leadership development firm. Karin is a former Verizon Wireless executive and the award-winning author of five books, including her latest, Powerful Phrases for Dealing with Workplace Conflict. Episode page with video, transcript, and mor…

1
The Speaking Strategy: How Education Founders Fast-Track Credibility, Confidence, and Sales Momentum 20:34

3M ago20:34

20:34

LinkedIn builds your credibility — Speaking amplifies it. In this episode of Breaking the Grade, I’m sharing how I went from avoiding stages entirely to speaking at in the last 13 months at Penn GSE, the University of Chicago, SXSW EDU, DC Startup Week, Education Research and Development Institute, XEdu, Institute for the Future of Education in Mex…

1
What Nearly Killed Andrew Laws’ Business—and Why He’s Now Grateful for It 41:48

3M ago41:48

41:48

My guest for Episode #310 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Andrew Laws, Founder of the SEO agency Yeseo IO and host of The Business Amplifier Podcast. Andrew has been working in digital marketing for over 25 years and has seen just about every shift in the SEO landscape. But one of the biggest lessons of his career came not from Google’s algor…

1
From Ghosted to Booked: How Ashton Tate Filled His Calendar with Qualified School Leads 26:03

3M ago26:03

26:03

You’re not afraid of hard work. You’ve put in the hours. You’ve sent the emails. You’ve done the demos. And still—no one’s biting. That was Ashton Tate. Founder of The Form Curriculum. Fitness coach-turned-EdTech founder. 500 cold calls deep… and still stuck. Then he changed one thing. He stopped selling—and started listening. In this episode of Br…

1
How Busy Teams Can Better Execute Growth Plans: Andrea Jones on 'Executagility' and Mistakes 14:20

3M ago14:20

14:20

In this special bonus episode of My Favorite Mistake, Mark Graban talks again with Andrea Jones, Principal at AJC and CEO of The Executagility Company. Andrea was previously featured in Episode 105, and she returns to discuss the release of her new book: The Executagility Field Guide: How Busy Teams Can Execute Growth Plans. Andrea shares a new “fa…

1
Burnout to Breakthrough: How La Tonya Roberts Found Harmony by Leaving Corporate Consulting 29:39

3M ago29:39

29:39

My guest for Episode #309 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is La Tonya Roberts, the founder and CEO of Harmony Consulting Group. La Tonya is a fractional COO, HR consultant, and executive coach who helps women entrepreneurs scale their service-based businesses from six to seven figures through systems, strategic planning, and operational excellen…

1
Mistakes vs. 'Stupidity': C.J. Stewart Breaks Down Life Lessons from Baseball to Social Justice 48:35

3M ago48:35

48:35

My guest for Episode #308 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is C.J. Stewart, co-founder and Chief Visionary Officer at the LEAD Center for Youth, an Atlanta-based nonprofit focused on empowering Black youth through sports-based development. Before dedicating his life to mentorship and advocacy, C.J. was drafted twice by the Chicago Cubs and built …

1
How the NFL Is Reducing Head Injuries Without Losing the Kickoff: A Conversation with Dr. Thom Mayer 12:55

4M ago12:55

12:55

In this bonus episode of My Favorite Mistake, host Mark Graban welcomes back Dr. Thom Mayer, the longtime Medical Director for the NFL Players Association. Thom previously joined us in catch up on his original episode here 🌐 Learn more about Dr. Mayer and his work with the NFLPA 💡 Subscribe at MarkGraban.com/mistake…

1
Selling Books Isn’t the Publisher’s Job: Terry Whalin What Authors Must Learn Early On 49:10

4M ago49:10

49:10

My guest for Episode #307 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Terry Whalin, an accomplished editor and author of more than 60 books, several of which have sold over 100,000 copies. Terry is the owner of Whalin and Associates, a communications firm, and he serves as an acquisitions editor for Morgan James Publishing. Drawing from decades of experi…

1
You Don’t Just Sell to Schools—You Earn Their Trust: How Edtech Founder Paul Moch Built an Education Business That Got Acquired 20:53

4M ago20:53

20:53

You think your sales process is tough? Try launching a brand new EdTech company during a global pandemic—while building trust with schools that aren’t exactly raising their hands. In this episode of Breaking the Grade, I sat down with Paul Moch, Founder of Camino 21 and now Vice Provost at Talisis, to break down what it really takes to build a scal…

1
Losing Her Best Employee Was the Wake-Up Call Betsy Pepine Needed to Reinvent Her Real Estate Company 44:44

4M ago44:44

44:44

My guest for Episode #306 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Betsy Pepine, a serial entrepreneur in real estate and the founder of Pepine Realty. Betsy leads a top-producing real estate team consistently recognized by The Wall Street Journal and has built a family of companies that includes a property management firm, title company, real estate …

1
Busy Isn’t Booked: The Silent Sales Mistake Most Founders Miss 20:29

4M ago20:29

20:29

You’re busy. But you’re not booked. You’re showing up on LinkedIn. You’re attending conferences. You’re tweaking your SEO. You’re following the playbook everyone told you to run. And still—your pipeline’s empty. In this episode of Breaking the Grade, Josh Chernikoff breaks down the silent mistake most education founders don’t realize they’re making…

1
How a ‘Happy Mistake’ Led to a Leadership Journey in ADHD Education — John Willson of SOAR 41:31

4M ago41:31

41:31

My guest for Episode #305 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is John Willson, Executive Director of SOAR, the world’s premier outdoor adventure program serving youth with ADHD and learning disabilities. Episode page with video and more With over 30 years of experience, John is a passionate advocate for experiential education and life skills develop…

1
Cracking the Code: How to Sell Education Products in High-Stakes Markets 22:03

4M ago22:03

22:03

Recorded live at IFE in Monterrey, Mexico, this episode features Beatriz Guillen, Executive Director at The Resource Foundation—a leader focused on strengthening education outcomes across Latin America. While her work centers on Latin America, the insights she shares here resonate globally—especially for education companies and founders navigating …

1
Why Staying Silent Was Her Favorite Mistake: Dr. Tia Warrick on Career Growth and Speaking Up 43:11

4M ago43:11

43:11

My guest for Episode #304 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Dr. Tia Warrick, a clinical research leader, epidemiologist, author, and entrepreneur who has spent nearly a decade working in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. Episode page with video, transcript, and more She’s the founder of Lesous Consulting, a firm dedicated to supporting…

1
From Chaos to Clarity: How One Founder Rebuilt His EdTech Biz from the Ground Up to Revenue Way Up 30:37

4M ago30:37

30:37

Too many education founders build something incredible—only to realize they can’t sell it. They try to figure it out themselves… piecing together advice from free webinars, Twitter threads, and late-night YouTube binges. But without a proven system, the growth stalls—and burnout creeps in. In this episode of Breaking the Grade, I sit down with Nick…

1
Why the Corporate Ladder Was My Biggest Mistake – Kason Morris on Redefining Work and Purpose 44:03

5M ago44:03

44:03

My guest for Episode #303 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Kason Morris, a corporate executive, speaker, coach, and self-described life-work revolutionary. With a career that spans consulting, financial services, and global learning and development leadership, Kason has spent years helping organizations and individuals prepare for the rapidly …

1
Why Most Education Companies Burn Out Before They Scale—And the Fix That Actually Works 25:17

5M ago25:17

25:17

You’ve got the vision. The team. The momentum. So why does it feel like you’re sprinting on a treadmill with no finish line in sight? Here’s the truth: Most education companies don’t burn out because of a bad idea. They burn out because they’re trying to scale without a system. In this live episode of Breaking the Grade, recorded at IFE 2025 in Mon…

1
Fired by a Tech Bro: How Getting Sacked from Postmates Launched Author Tash Doherty's True Career 41:42

5M ago41:42

41:42

My guest for Episode #302 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Tash Doherty, a British-Irish-American author, blogger, and podcaster currently based in Mexico City. A graduate of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, Tash previously worked in analytics for Postmates and Vox Media. Episode page with video, transcript, and more Today…

1
LinkedIn Connection to Contract: Josh's Proven Six-Step EdSales Method (No Paid Ads/Funnels/Cold Calls) 21:10

5M ago21:10

21:10

You’ve added decision-makers on LinkedIn. You’ve liked a few posts, maybe even commented. You’re showing up… but nothing’s turning into a call, let alone a contract. Sound familiar? That’s what I call the LinkedIn illusion—where activity feels like progress, but the results just aren’t showing up in your pipeline. Here’s the truth: If you're an edu…

1
Overcoming Setbacks: Jonathan Small on the Career Mistake That Sparked His Success 45:22

5M ago45:22

45:22

My guest for Episode #301 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Jonathan Small, an award-winning journalist, editor, podcast host, and producer based in Los Angeles. Episode page with video and more As president of Strike Fire Productions, he has built a diverse career that spans magazine editing at top publications—from Child Magazine to Maxim—and…

1
Struggling to Sell to Schools or Universities? (An Expert in HigherEd Tells You How to do it Right) 20:32

5M ago20:32

20:32

Selling into education institutions—whether K–12 or higher ed—isn’t just about having a great product. It’s about understanding how those institutions work: how decisions are made, what roadblocks slow things down, and how to position yourself as a trusted partner—not just another vendor. In this special live episode recorded at IFE in Monterrey, M…

1
Marketing Over Bourbon with Sheila Butler: Data-Driven Strategies & Bold Moves 43:35

5M ago43:35

43:35

Episode page with video, transcript, and more My guest for Episode #300 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Sheila Butler, a Chief Marketing Officer with over 25 years of experience shaping integrated marketing strategies, building global loyalty programs, and driving customer engagement across both B2C and B2B sectors. She's the founder of Butle…

1
The Conference Playbook: How Education Companies Get Conferences Wrong (And How to Fix It) 29:53

5M ago29:53

29:53

Does this sound familiar? You just spent thousands of dollars flying to ANOTHER education conference, setting up a booth, shaking hands with decision-makers. You collected a stack of business cards, had great conversations, and walked away thinking, this was a success. Two weeks later? It was the kiss of death for their conference strategy—no follo…

1
Transforming Brilliant Jerks into Leaders: Luis Velasquez’s Coaching Strategies and Resilience 42:35

6M ago42:35

42:35

My guest for Episode #299 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Luis Velasquez, an executive coach in Silicon Valley and a Stanford Graduate School of Business facilitator. He's also the founder of Velas Consulting. Episode page with video, transcript, and more Once a university professor and research scientist, Luis helps mid-level managers to C-s…

1
IFE Conference 2025 (Mexico): Breaking Barriers -- AI and Strategic Partnerships Shaping Education 26:18

6M ago26:18

26:18

The education sector is buzzing with AI, but are schools and EdTech businesses truly leveraging it for sustainable growth? In this live episode, we cut through the hype to explore how AI, combined with strategic partnerships, can drive real impact. In this special live episode of Breaking the Grade, recorded LIVE from the IFE Conference in Monterre…

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