In this episode of The What It Takes Podcast, we’re joined by Uri Kirschner, a seasoned real estate lawyer with over 30 years of experience, who’s also found a way to balance his legal career with something truly impactful: starting the 100 Ride, a charity cycling event raising money for Kupas Ezra and Tomchei Shabbos.Uri shares how he’s been able to juggle his busy law practice while creating an event that’s bringing together a community of cyclists to support an incredible cause. From overcoming challenges in the legal world to tackling the obstacles of running a charity, Uri offers invaluable insights into leadership, time management, and what it really takes to combine professional success with giving back.Whether you're in the legal field, running a business, or just looking for inspiration on how to merge passion and purpose, this episode has something for you. Tune in for lessons, laughs, and a peek into how Uri turned a love for cycling into a charitable movement that’s making a real difference!And if you want to join this incredible movement, sign up now at https://www.the100ride.com/mt-register

In Episode 12 of The What It Takes Podcast, we sit down with Rob Farmer, a global auto industry veteran with over 24 years of experience at Nissan Motor Company and General Motors. As Senior Director & Chief Market Intelligence Officer for the Americas at Nissan, Rob led a team of 50+ across four global locations, driving insights straight to the CEO’s desk.We dive deep into his career journey—from working in Shanghai, navigating the complexities of global automotive markets, to pioneering AI-driven analytics that cut development timelines, optimized brand tracking, and opened new business growth opportunities. Rob shares how he built a career that makes an impact on a global scale, the lessons he learned, and how he empowers teams to succeed in a fast-evolving industry.🎙 What you’ll learn in this episode:How Rob leveraged AI and advanced analytics to transform decision-making at NissanThe strategies behind entering new markets and categories successfullyLessons on leadership, upskilling, and building high-performing global teamsInsider perspectives on navigating the auto industry on a global scaleWhether you’re an aspiring executive, an automotive enthusiast, or someone curious about how insights and data drive big decisions, this episode is packed with actionable lessons and inspiration.A special thanks to our sponsors:United Refuah HealthShareAn affordable alternative to health insurance. Learn more at http://bit.ly/46s0F6fThe 3rd month of membership is free for new applicants. Enroll by 8/31 with code BLACKBIRDBlackbird RecruitingHelping businesses find the best talent with a personal, hands-on approach. Visit BlackbirdRecruiting.com to learn more about how we can you great employees.

In this episode of the What It Takes Podcast, we sit down with Avi Singer, Founder and CEO of Showd.me - a leader who hacked the corporate ladder from day one and later built a multi-million-dollar SaaS company without raising a single dollar of venture capital. Avi breaks down his journey from a $65k entry-level role at DoubleClick (later acquired by Google) to bootstrapping and scaling a profitable, remote-first business. He shares the unfiltered reality of entrepreneurship: the moments he nearly quit, the pressure of making payroll, and the tough leadership decisions that come with being the one in charge. This conversation is a masterclass in strategic career planning, sustainable company building, and rejecting Silicon Valley hype in favor of real, durable success. Whether you’re climbing the corporate ladder, building a startup, or trying to lead a team that actually cares, this episode delivers insights you won’t hear anywhere else. 💡 In This Episode, We Cover: ◼️ How Avi leveraged an Ivy League degree to land his first $65k job◼️ Adopting a “future VP” mindset from day one in corporate life◼️ Why he tells 99% of people not to start a tech startup◼️ The accidental pivot from a “nice-to-have” to a true “must-have” product◼️ Building a 50-person remote team across 13 states—with no office◼️ The hardest CEO skill: knowing when to walk away from easy money◼️ How to identify, promote, and retain rockstar employees—and when to let go◼️ The servant-leadership philosophy that creates real loyalty◼️ Navigating founder identity crises and near burnout◼️ Why most software companies fail—and how to avoid the same traps◼️ Avi’s non-negotiable advice for first-time founders ⏱️ Chapters 00:00 From Columbia to Corporate: Hacking the $65k Start 11:45 The Terminal Degree: Planning Your Career Like a Chess Game 14:27 Why I Left a $250k+ VP Job to Start From Scratch 21:42 The Pivot That Saved the Business 30:12 Hiring (and Firing) for a Team That Runs Without You 34:50 Building a Remote Culture That Actually Works 53:48 The Vacation Test: How to Know You’re a Good Leader 1:03:03 From Unicorn Dreams to Building a Real Business 🔗 Connect with Avi Singer LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/avisinger/Website: https://www.showd.me/ 🔗 Connect with Tuli KrausX (Twitter): https://x.com/TuliKrausInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackbird.recruiting/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tuli-kraus/ Sponsored by Blackbird Recruiting. Tired of sorting through unqualified résumés? Blackbird Recruiting helps you hire top talent—so you can focus on growing your business. Visit blackbirdrecruiting.com to learn more.

In this episode of The What It Takes Podcast, Naftuly Kraus sits down with Shaina Keren, a career coach who has successfully guided over 1,000 individuals to unlock their full potential and achieve career success. Shaina shares her journey from starting as a coach to becoming a sought-after expert, and the strategies she uses to help clients overcome career obstacles, navigate transitions, and build fulfilling careers.If you’re looking for advice on how to take your career to the next level, this episode is packed with powerful insights and actionable steps. Tune in for a deep dive into the world of career coaching and the mindset needed to thrive in any professional environment.

In this episode of the What It Takes Podcast, host Tuli Kraus sits down with Aaron Zutler, sales veteran, entrepreneur, and co-founder of Pop Insanity, to talk about learning to sell from the ground up, cracking the big box retail code, and how a popcorn machine that couldn’t be returned ended up becoming a nationwide brand. Aaron Zutler spent years in the trenches selling small electronics, keyboards, webcams, and peripherals, into some of the toughest buyers in retail: Best Buy, Walmart, and Target-level accounts who eat vendors for breakfast. He learned how to negotiate, how to read a room, and how to get a “yes” from people whose entire job is to say “no.” Then, almost by accident, he got introduced to a keyboard player making insane popcorn in his kitchen. That introduction, and one non-refundable popcorn machine, led to Pop Insanity, a gourmet kosher popcorn brand that landed on Oprah’s Favorite Things list, got featured on Good Morning America, and eventually earned a starring role on Marcus Lemonis’ show The Fixer. In this conversation, Aaron breaks down what it actually took, sleeping on a blow-up mattress in Muncie, borrowing money while making two weddings, building a brand with no marketing budget, and staying calm when the website crashed in the middle of Q4 holiday season. He also gets real about partnerships, hiring, what separates employees who rise from those who stay stuck, and why customer service matters just as much as the product. If you’re an employee trying to level up, a founder figuring out how to build something from scratch, or someone quietly wondering if your skills could one day work for you, this episode is exactly what you need. 💡 In This Episode, We Cover: ◼️ How Aaron stumbled into sales and why he says it’s the most valuable skill you can have ◼️ The insider breakdown of selling into big box retail (open to buy, end caps, markdown money and more) ◼️ The non-refundable popcorn machine that accidentally started a business ◼️ What the early days of Pop Insanity actually looked like, blow-up mattresses and all ◼️ How Oprah’s team found them at a gift show in Atlanta and what happened next ◼️ Getting on Good Morning America and landing Marcus Lemonis’ The Fixer ◼️ How COVID shifted their entire business model in their favor ◼️ The three things Aaron says you absolutely need in a business partner ◼️ What separates employees who grow fast from those who stay stuck ◼️ Why honesty, initiative, and mavatar (flexibility) matter more than any resume ⏱️ Chapters: 0:00 From Office Work to Closeouts: How Aaron Accidentally Got Into Sales7:45 The Art of Selling: Aggression, Etiquette & What Actually Works21:26 The Popcorn Machine That Started It All: The Origin Story of Pop Insanity29:10 Sleeping in Muncie: Building Pop Insanity From Zero39:41 Oprah’s Favorite Things: Getting Discovered at a Gift Show in Atlanta47:24 The Fixer & The Website Crash Heard Round the Warehouse52:17 COVID, Hiring & What It Actually Takes to Grow Inside a Company 🔗 Connect with Aaron ZutlerLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-zutler 🔗 Connect with the Host - Tuli KrausInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackbird.recruiting/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tuli-kraus/ United Refuah United Refuah offers an affordable alternative to traditional health insurance through a health share program, with a monthly cost of just $500. For the first 10 listeners, use code Blackbird to get the third month free. https://unitedrefuahhs.org/ Blackbird Recruiting Hiring the wrong person is expensive — not just financially, but culturally. Blackbird Recruiting helps growing companies hire people who actually perform, so you can spend less time filtering résumés and more time building your business. If you’re serious about scaling with the right team, visit blackbirdrecruiting.com to learn more.

In this episode of the What It Takes Podcast, we sit down with Rabbi Benjamin Heinemann — CEO of BP Print Group, founder of the BP Weekly, and one of the most quietly inspiring business leaders you've never heard of. With over 100 employees, clients across the US, Canada, Israel, and Australia, and 37 years of building from the ground up, Rabbi Heinemann has one simple answer for how it all happened: Hashem. What started as a young kollel guy hanging a sign in a coffee room turned into a full-scale printing empire. We talk about the real story behind building a business with emunah at the center — the tough hires, the COVID payroll decisions nobody said thank you for, the backwards journal that changed his davening forever, and the Mincha minyan that literally made his neighbor's best month in business. This episode isn't just about printing. It's about what it really takes to build something lasting — with integrity, gratitude, and your eyes wide open to everything Hashem is doing around you. If you're an entrepreneur, a business owner, or someone who wants to bring more meaning into how they work and lead — this conversation will stay with you. 💡 In This Episode, We Cover: ◼️ How a kollel guy with a computer became a 100+ employee CEO ◼️ The print shop takeover that happened in under a year ◼️ Starting a Mincha minyan at work — and watching business take off ◼️ The “backwards journal” story that rewired his entire approach to davening ◼️ Why the money you have is literally your personal mun ◼️ The maaser system he’s used since day one — and why it always works ◼️ What actually makes a great employee (hint: it’s not their salary ask) ◼️ The COVID raise he gave that nobody said thank you for ◼️ Why most job ads are a complete waste of money ◼️ How BP Weekly grew from 1,200 families to 18,000+ ◼️ Stop selling price — sell your differentiator ◼️ Is printing dying? His bold, honest take on the future ◼️ AI, Kodak, and why you have to think futuristic or get left behind Chapters: 0:00 Intro & Guest Welcome 2:05 How It All Started 4:49 Taking Over Joe’s Print Shop 8:38 Opening His Own Shop 10:45 Bringing Hashem Into the Business 18:02 The Backwards Journal Story 32:27 Maiser, Money & The Mun 39:35 What Makes a Great Employee 44:11 The COVID Raise & Recruiting 53:27 The BP Weekly Origin Story 1:00:35 Sell Your Differentiator, Not Your Price 1:12:03 Closing Story & Final Thoughts 🔗 Connect with Rabbi Benjamin HeinemannLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-heinemann-a02a6a18Instagram (BP Print Group): https://www.instagram.com/bpprintgroup/ 🔗 Connect with the Host - Tuli KrausInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackbird.recruiting/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tuli-kraus/ 🎙 Sponsored by: Dabbl Dabbl is an all-in-one platform where kids and teens can explore a wide range of lessons—from music, art, and cooking to photography, wilderness skills, and money management—without the hassle of commuting or expensive one-on-one classes. For just $25 a month, learners get access to all courses designed to bring them off-screen into real-life skills. Listeners can use code TK-20 for 20% off at https://justdabbl.com/ United Refuah United Refuah offers an affordable alternative to traditional health insurance through a health share program, with a monthly cost of just $500. For the first 10 listeners, use code Blackbird to get the third month free. https://unitedrefuahhs.org/ Blackbird Recruiting Hiring the wrong person is expensive — not just financially, but culturally. Blackbird Recruiting helps growing companies hire people who actually perform, so you can spend less time filtering résumés and more time building your business. If you’re serious about scaling with the right team, visit blackbirdrecruiting.com to learn more.

In this powerful episode of the What It Takes Podcast, we sit down with Sam Shvarzblat, a contractor and entrepreneur who has lived both realities—being the boss and walking away from being the boss. Sam built a construction company from scratch in his early 20s, scaled it to multiple large projects, battled cash-flow pressure, burnout, family expectations, and eventually made the toughest decision an entrepreneur can make: closing his own company. This conversation is brutally honest. Sam opens up about the identity crisis founders face, the ego tied to “being your own boss,” how cash flow really works behind the scenes in construction, and why moving his family to a new community changed everything. Whether you're an entrepreneur, contractor, or someone who’s ever wondered if stepping away is failure or growth—this episode will hit home. This is a raw masterclass in humility, rebuilding, and what it really takes to balance business, family, faith, and your own well-being. 💡 In This Episode, We Discuss: ◼️ Sam’s early journey into construction and why he skipped working for others ◼️ The harsh truth about being a young business owner in the trades ◼️ Why most contractors struggle with cash flow—and how to fix it ◼️ The “friends & family discount” myth ◼️ The realities of managing 10+ simultaneous construction projects ◼️ Burnout, identity, and the moment Sam knew he had to step away ◼️ Moving from Lakewood to Monsey: lifestyle, community, and values ◼️ Economic slowdown, stalled projects, and clients pulling deposits ◼️ What it feels like to shut down your own company ◼️ How Sam rebuilt his life, career, and sense of direction ◼️ What every new entrepreneur should understand before starting ⏱️ Chapters 00:00 When the Dream of Being Your Own Boss Starts to Crack 2:19 Why I Refused to Become a Copy-Paste Contractor 6:19 Friends, Family & the Truth About ‘Discount Work’ 7:06 Why Friends Should Pay MORE—Not Less 8:26 At My Peak: Running 10 Projects with a Tiny Team 10:25 The Cash-Flow Trap That Destroys Most Contractors 13:10 The Question I Never Wanted to Answer: Why I Closed My Company 16:46 The Commute That Broke Me: 4:30 AM Drives & Endless Inspections 17:55 When Clients Pump the Brakes & the Economy Turns on You 26:56 The Identity Shift of Going from a Boss to an Employee 34:49 Being an Employee vs Doing Your Own Thing 37:35 The Biggest Lessons I’ve Learned in These Chapters of My Life 🔗 Connect with Sam Shvarzblat: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samshvarzblat/?hl=en LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samshvarz/ 🔗 Connect with Tuli Kraus: X (Twitter): https://x.com/TuliKraus Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackbird.recruiting/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tuli-kraus/ This episode is sponsored by Blackbird Recruiting. Tired of sifting through unqualified résumés? Let Blackbird Recruiting find you top talent so you can focus on growing your business. Visit blackbirdrecruiting.com to learn more.

Episode made possible by Blackbird Recruiting. Check em out Blackbirdrecruiting.com After building a tech business and working with giants like Google and Microsoft, Hillel Fuld SHUT IT ALL DOWN after October 7th. He now commands one of the most powerful pro-Israel voices online, reaching BILLIONS of impressions. In this bombshell conversation, he exposes the uncomfortable truths about Zionism, the open miracles happening in Israel, and why he believes there is "zero justification" for any Jew to live outside their homeland today. Hillel Fuld is a leading Israeli tech strategist and a powerhouse advocate for Israel, with a massive following across social media platforms. IN THIS EPISODE, WE DISCUSS: ◼️ The shocking reason Israel is being "decimated" in the PR war—and what they're doing wrong ◼️ How Zionism is as core to Judaism as Shabbat, and the Gemara that proves it ◼️ The modern-day "gun to your head" argument for why Jews must leave now ◼️ Debunking the biggest Aliyah myths: salaries, language, and quality of life ◼️ Incredible, open miracles from the war that prove divine intervention ◼️ How the Israeli job market really works (it's not about your resume) ◼️ The one thing that still drives him crazy about living in Israel after 30 years 00:00 Introduction & Banter 00:31 The Accidental Tech Guru: Hillel's Origin Story 03:10 The Game-Changing Assistant & Business Transformation 04:55 The October 7th Pivot: Shutting Down for Israel 07:48 Why Israel is Losing the PR War 10:25 Defining Zionism & The Core of Jewish Identity 14:24 The Modern-Day "Gun to Your Head" Argument 16:53 Addressing the "I'll Go When Mashiach Comes" Viewpoint 21:54 The "Open Miracles" of the Israel-Hamas War 23:58 A Personal Story of Divine Intervention: The Australian Visa 29:08 Israel as a Practical Paradise: Debunking Aliyah Myths 32:13 How the Israeli Job Market Really Works 41:56 What Actually Drives Him Crazy About Israel 48:35 The Flip Side: The Magic of Israeli Community 51:22 Final Plea: Make a Plan CONNECT WITH HILLEL: X (Twitter): https://x.com/hilzfuld Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hilzfuld/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HillelFuld/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hilzfuld/

In this insightful episode of the What It Takes podcast, we sit down with Morris Isaacson, the Chief Marketing Officer of Empeon, whose career spans more than two decades across brand strategy, digital marketing, and high-growth tech leadership. Morris has led marketing for iconic global brands like Polaroid, played a key role in a $1.1B IPO, and built data-driven marketing engines inside fast-scaling organizations. He breaks down the real evolution of modern marketing—from the creativity-first “Mad Men” era to the analytics, attribution, and performance-driven landscape companies operate in today. This episode is packed with career lessons, leadership insights, and a behind-the-scenes look at how top CMOs build brands that grow revenue, teams, and long-term impact. This is a masterclass in building a valuable career, leading high-performance teams, and staying ahead in one of the fastest-changing industries in the world. 💡 In This Episode, We Discuss: ◼️ Morris’s unconventional start: From psychology major to entertainment marketing◼️ Why marketing has shifted from art to science◼️ How to prove your value and win budget from data-driven CFOs◼️ The Polaroid comeback: Rebranding a nostalgic icon◼️ How to build a marketing team from zero◼️ The real ROI of trade shows — and how to execute them right◼️ Aligning sales and marketing for accurate pipeline data◼️ Career compensation: When your salary finally reflects your value◼️ What Morris looks for when hiring modern marketing talent◼️ The one skill that will make you irreplaceable today◼️ Final advice: Why doing what you love leads to a fulfilling career ⏱️ Chapters 00:00 Introduction & Podcast Purpose1:11 Guest Introduction: Morris Isaacson, CMO of Empeon2:18 The Unforgettable First Job Interview5:27 Early Career: From IDT to Yeshiva University9:21 The Polaroid Turnaround Story11:29 Building & Managing Marketing Teams16:35 The Evolution of Marketing: Data vs. Creativity19:08 Mastering Trade Shows & Proving ROI32:20 Career Advice: Compensation, Mistakes, and Hiring40:01 Final Thoughts: The 22-Year Career Reflection 🔗 Connect with Morris Isaacson: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/misaacson/ 🔗 Connect with Tuli Kraus: X (Twitter): https://x.com/TuliKraus Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackbird.recruiting/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tuli-kraus/ This episode is sponsored by Blackbird Recruiting. Tired of sifting through unqualified résumés? Let Blackbird Recruiting find you top talent so you can focus on building your business. Visit blackbirdrecruiting.com to learn more.