The Real F Word
Fail. A word we spend our whole lives running away from. The truth is, failure is the most common outcome for entrepreneurs and startups. The problem is that we rarely talk about these painful experiences with complete candor in a way that destigmatizes failure and de-risks the journey for others. The Real F Word podcast will explore invaluable insights from the stories of failed businesses and startup collapses. These are the real stories rarely discussed by entrepreneurs and often hidden by investors.
Episodes
11 episodes
10. Lost My Business and Almost Lost Myself | Levi Lindsay
Levi Lindsay, former cofounder of VidArmy and now CMO at Hona, sat down with Joe Grover to share his story of how he started VidArmy. Believing hustle would lead to success, he worked for years without pay but unfortunately battled cofounder di...
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1:02:37
9. Failure Isn’t the Real F Word, Fear Is | Kortney Osborne
In this episode, Kortney, a partner at Amplēo and former marketing executive at Qualtrics and Weave, flips the script on failure, believing that the real F word isn’t failure—it’s fear.From bombing on stage as a stand-up comedia...
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Season 1
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Episode 9
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56:46
8. What Defines You? From Startup Struggle to Venture Capitalist Success | Kristy Muir
In this episode of The Real F Word, venture capitalist Kristy Muir shares her deeply personal and inspiring journey of resilience, failure, and growth. Kristy opens up about the defining moments of her life—from navigating single motherhood on ...
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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1:01:01
7. Sentenced to Life in a Maximum-Security Prison | Damon West
Joe Grover sits down with Damon West—3-time Wall Street Journal best-selling author and one of America’s most sought-after speakers—to explore the devastating impact of failure and the power of redemption. Damon shares his journey from having i...
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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1:02:26
6. 92 Pitches, 18 Months, and a Shutdown | Jake Bengtzen
What happens when an ambitious startup faces the harsh reality of an insurmountable problem? In this episode, Joe Grover engages in a candid conversation with Jake Bengtzen, the founder of Zipper, as they explore the painful journey of his heal...
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Season 1
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Episode 6
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59:28
5. Leather-Bound Lessons: Rustico's Demise | Isaac Childs
Joe Grover sits down with Isaac Childs to dissect the painful collapse of Rustico Leather, a once-promising leather goods company that ultimately couldn’t survive the brutal entrepreneurial landscape. Isaac candidly reveals the harsh realities ...
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Season 1
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Episode 5
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56:53
4. The Real Cost of Dreams | Lindsey Ivie
In this raw and unfiltered episode, Joe Grover explores the hidden struggles behind Lindsey Ivie’s seemingly successful entrepreneurial journey. Far from a highlight reel, this conversation peels back the layers of entrepreneurial challenges, r...
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Season 1
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Episode 4
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44:58
3. From Fired to Fired Up | Steve Arntz
In this eye-opening episode, Steve Arntz, a renowned entrepreneur and intrapreneur, discusses his journey through the business world—from getting fired from his first job to making monumental decisions that shaped his career path. He opens up a...
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Season 1
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Episode 3
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45:22
2. When Solutions to Remote Work Fail | Josh Little
Joe Grover and Josh Little sit down together to discuss the rise and fall of Volley, an asynchronous video messaging app created by Little to overcome remote work challenges during the pandemic. Vulnerable and authentic, this episode dives into...
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Season 1
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Episode 2
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36:34
1. The Unraveling of a Promising Startup | Bubba Page
A raw exploration of entrepreneurial failure, this story chronicles Bubba Page’s ambitious attempt to build a referral automation platform that ultimately crumbled. After starting with early promises—like winning a startup weekend competition a...
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Season 1
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Episode 2
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58:32
The Real F Word, Lessons From Entrepreneurial Failure | TRAILER
Fail. A word we spend our whole lives running away from. The truth is that failure is the most common outcome for entrepreneurs and startups, but we rarely talk about these painful experiences with perfect candor and openness. The Real F Word p...
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Season 1
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Episode 1
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13:30