The Founderz Lounge

Stop Chasing Money. Start Building Ownership. w/ Chris Wunder (EP #76)

The Founderz Lounge Episode #76 with Chris Wunder.In this episode, Don Varady and Steve Bon sit down with Chris Wunder, Founder and CEO of Leap Brands, to talk about executive recruiting, private equity growth, and the realities of building a high-performance company from scratch.Chris shares how he left corporate roles at NBC Sports and Samsung to start his own recruiting firm in 2016, eventually expanding into private equity-backed consumer brands and launching a brokerage arm that has closed over $70 million in deals. The conversation dives into what investors actually look for in founders, why growth and EBITDA matter, and how team quality can make or break an opportunity.They also unpack the pressure of leadership, the myth that money solves everything, and why Chris believes in paying top talent double or triple when it makes strategic sense. From burnout and resilience to breaking into new industries, this episode is a candid look at what it really takes to scale.If you are a founder, operator, or executive navigating hiring, equity, or aggressive growth, this one delivers.Timestamps:[00:00] Trailer[03:41] From Corporate to Recruiting[06:59] Money Didn’t Fix Everything[08:47] Harder, Smarter, Faster[11:06] Relentless in Sales and Life[13:44] Don’t Burn Bridges in Business[17:21] Why Equity Deals Go Wrong[23:28] The 3–5 Year Career Strategy[27:29] What Private Equity Actually Looks For[28:35] Breaking Into New Industries[30:44] Final Thoughts and Where to ConnectKey Takeaways:  • “I used to be embarrassed to say I’m a recruiter even though I make more money than most doctors and attorneys.” ~Chris Wunder• “I hate LinkedIn. I despise it.” ~Don Varady• Harder, smarter, faster. You cannot have two. You have to have all three. ~Chris Wunder• “Be relentless. We don’t stop at resistance, we push through it.” ~Chris Wunder• “Are we chasing money or are we chasing a lifestyle?” ~Chris Wunder• If you’re only investing in talent you can “afford,” you’re probably underinvesting in the people who could actually move the needle. ~Don Varady• The team is often the most important factor in whether a company can actually scale. ~Steve Bon is theory until there are real payouts on the line. ~Steve Bon• Growth is what private equity looks at first, even before revenue. ~Chris WunderConnect with Chris Wunder:Website: https://leapbrands.io/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chriswunderleapbrands/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thechriswunder/Connect with Don and Steve…Don Varady:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/don.varady/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/donvarady/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/don-varady-450896145 Steve Bon:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenbon Instagram: https://instagram.com/stevebon8 Tune in to every episode on your favorite platform: Website: https://www.thefounderzlounge.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheFounderzLounge Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0Nurr4XjBE747qJ9Zjth0G Apple Music: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-founderz-lounge/id1461825349 The Founderz Lounge is Powered By:Clean Eatz:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CleanEatzLife/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cleaneatzlife/ Website: https://cleaneatz.com/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJRGrE-Xv4IMW_DbxSOTGGA Bon’s Eye Marketing:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bonseyemarketing Instagram: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bon's-eye-marketing/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bon's-eye-marketing/ Website: https://bonseyeonline.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bonseyemarketing9477  

Why Most “Maple Syrup” Isn’t Maple Syrup w/ Nikki Boxler (EP #75)

The Founderz Lounge Episode #75 with Nikki Boxler.In this episode, Don Varady and Steve Bon sit down with Nikki Boxler, founder of The Maple Farmer, to talk about the truth behind maple syrup, farm entrepreneurship, and what most people don’t realize about how real maple products are made.Nikki shares her journey growing up on a dairy and maple farm in Western New York, leaving for corporate work, and eventually returning home to build her own maple syrup business. The conversation dives into how the maple industry actually works, why most “maple syrup” on store shelves isn’t what people think, and what it takes to turn an agricultural passion into a real business.Along the way, they discuss farming life, branding local products, and the realities of producing something natural in a world driven by mass production.Timestamps:[00:00] Trailer[00:58] Nikki Boxler’s Origin Story[04:19] Why Launch a Maple Spin-Off Brand[06:11] How Maple Tapping Actually Works[12:57] Growth Plans for The Maple Farmer[17:45] How Nikki Sets Pricing[20:08] Saying No to Growth Opportunities[26:15] Getting Into the Outdoors[31:29] Plans for Agritourism[34:16] Managing Tree Health and Sustainability[39:01] Where to Find NikkiKey Takeaways:  • “Most of what’s labeled maple syrup in stores isn’t actually maple syrup.” ~Nikki Boxler• Standardizing your product and process early can make shipping, packaging, and scaling far simpler. ~Nikki Boxler• “It means more to me to keep it this size than to grow it just to make money off of it.” ~Nikki Boxler• Selling direct to consumers allows a level of connection and trust that disappears when you hand distribution to someone else. ~Nikki Boxler• “I literally am every single touch point… from tapping the tree to packaging.” ~Nikki Boxler• Nature, craftsmanship, and story are what make small brands memorable in a world of mass-produced products. ~Don Varady• People connect more deeply with products when they know who made them and where they came from. ~Steve BonConnect with Nikki Boxler:Website: https://themaplefarmer.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themaplefarmer/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@maplefarmer LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikki-boxler/ Connect with Don and Steve…Don Varady:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/don.varady/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/donvarady/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/don-varady-450896145 Steve Bon:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenbon Instagram: https://instagram.com/stevebon8 Tune in to every episode on your favorite platform: Website: https://www.thefounderzlounge.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheFounderzLounge Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0Nurr4XjBE747qJ9Zjth0G Apple Music: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-founderz-lounge/id1461825349 The Founderz Lounge is Powered By:Clean Eatz:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CleanEatzLife/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cleaneatzlife/ Website: https://cleaneatz.com/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJRGrE-Xv4IMW_DbxSOTGGA Bon’s Eye Marketing:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bonseyemarketing Instagram: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bon's-eye-marketing/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bon's-eye-marketing/ Website: https://bonseyeonline.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bonseyemarketing9477  

Business & Bullsh*t: Some Brands Want Loyalty, Taco Bell Wants Vows (EP #74)

The Founderz Lounge Episode #74 with Don Varady and Steve Bon.Don and Steve are back with another round of Business & Bullsh*t, where real entrepreneurs break down what brands are doing right, what they are doing wrong, and what is changing in culture.This episode kicks off with Taco Bell opening a real wedding chapel in Las Vegas and what it says about owning your brand instead of playing it safe. From there, they jump into brain reading headphones from CES, retail stores disappearing, and why businesses now have to create experiences people cannot get online.They close out with Hot Takes on AI and trust in marketing, plus a Fast Five that blends business pivots with a little old school nostalgia.Tune in to hear more.Timestamps:[00:00] Trailer[01:19] Founderz RoundUp[03:44] Premium vs Value Pricing[06:33] Headphones That Track Brain Speed[08:53] Random Bullshit[09:01] Inside the Taco Bell Wedding Chapel[12:18] Why Major Retailers Are Closing Stores[18:17] Founderz Hot Takes[18:22] Stop Gaming AI Search Rankings[21:06] Founderz Fast Five[21:10] What We Are Changing in 2026[23:26] The Biggest AI Marketing Gimmick[27:34] Should Politicians Face Insider Trading Charges[28:38] What Saturday Night Looked Like in 1987[31:22] How We Would Invest $100K in a Startup[33:54] Don’s Startup IdeaKey Takeaways:  • “Some brands want loyalty. Taco Bell wants vows.” ~Don Varady• Taco Bell proved that when a brand fully owns its identity, it creates something people actually want to be part of. ~Steve Bon• “Would you want to know how fast your brain really moves?” ~Steve Bon• “What if it’s moving slower than you think?” ~Don Varady• People are not tired of brands. They are tired of boring, copycat experiences. ~Steve Bon• What’s one thing you plan to change with your business in 2026? ~Don Varady• The businesses that survive are the ones willing to double down on what they do best instead of chasing everything they can do. ~Steve BonConnect with Don and Steve…Don Varady:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/don.varady/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/donvarady/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/don-varady-450896145 Steve Bon:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenbon Instagram: https://instagram.com/stevebon8 Tune in to every episode on your favorite platform: Website: https://www.thefounderzlounge.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheFounderzLounge Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0Nurr4XjBE747qJ9Zjth0G Apple Music: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-founderz-lounge/id1461825349 The Founderz Lounge is Powered By:Clean Eatz:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CleanEatzLife/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cleaneatzlife/ Website: https://cleaneatz.com/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJRGrE-Xv4IMW_DbxSOTGGA Bon’s Eye Marketing:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bonseyemarketing Instagram: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bon's-eye-marketing/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bon's-eye-marketing/ Website: https://bonseyeonline.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bonseyemarketing9477  

Business & Bullsh*t: Adapt or Die! (EP #73)

The Founderz Lounge Episode #73 with Don Varady and Steve Bon.Don and Steve are back with another round of Business & Bullsh*t, where real entrepreneurs break down what’s happening in business, what’s changing in culture, and what owners need to stop whining about and start fixing.This one starts light, then gets real fast.They rip through the top menu trends shaping 2025, from boba and Dubai chocolate to Korean flavors, matcha, protein overload, pickles, and the rise of mocktails as younger consumers drink less.Then Steve pulls a weird one from CES. A lollipop that lets you “listen” to music through bone conduction while you eat it. It turns into a bigger convo about why brands have to create experiences people cannot get from a screen.From there, the episode bounces through Black Rock Coffee’s aggressive growth goals and what “Barista First culture” might be doing right, then shifts into theaters reinventing themselves with premium experiences, funnels, and the push toward IMAX and 3D.But the real core of this episode is the Hot Take.“It is kind of the norm now for business owners to complain about staffing issues… When are we gonna stop using it as an excuse? And I feel like we either need to adapt or die.”They unpack why “just pay people more” is not the full answer, how expectations have shifted, why career paths matter more than ever, and what it takes to get people truly engaged. Don shares a direct strategy that has worked for him, and why ownership, not just pay, is what keeps the right people around.They wrap with a Fast Five full of one-liners, old school nostalgia, and a reminder that excuses are expensive.Tune in to hear more...Timestamps:[00:00] Trailer[01:26] Founderz RoundUp[05:39] Music-Playing Lollipop Launch[07:44] Random Bullshit[10:27] Movie Theater Industry Comeback[15:36] Founderz Hot Takes[19:37] Building Career Paths for Employees[24:19] Founderz Fast Five[28:21] Bringing Back Old TechnologyKey Takeaways:  • “It is kind of the norm now for business owners to complain about staffing issues… and I feel like we either need to adapt or die.” ~Don Varady• “The money coming in has to be greater than the money going out. Or why do you own a business?” ~Don Varady• “Where do you want to be here in a few years? What is it that you want? I may not be able to give it to you right now, but let’s build a road to get there.” ~Don Varady• Younger employees expect clearer career paths and faster progress, not just a paycheck. ~Steve Bon• Employees want to feel like they are more than a puzzle piece and that their future inside the company actually matters. ~Steve Bon• “If someone feels underserved, underappreciated, and underpaid, no matter what you do, they are not going to be engaged.” ~Steve Bon• Giving people a sense of ownership beyond salary is what actually keeps them invested. ~Don Varady• The brands and businesses that survive are the ones willing to rethink how they motivate people instead of blaming the workforce. ~Steve BonConnect with Don and Steve…Don Varady:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/don.varady/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/donvarady/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/don-varady-450896145 Steve Bon:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenbon Instagram: https://instagram.com/stevebon8 Tune in to every episode on your favorite platform: Website: https://www.thefounderzlounge.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheFounderzLounge Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0Nurr4XjBE747qJ9Zjth0G Apple Music: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-founderz-lounge/id1461825349 The Founderz Lounge is Powered By:Clean Eatz:Website: https://cleaneatz.com/Bon’s Eye Marketing:Website: https://bonseyeonline.com/ 

Scaling Volquartsen Firearms Without Lowering the Standard w/ Scott Volquartsen (EP #72)

The Founderz Lounge Episode #72 with Scott Volquartsen.In this episode, Don Varady and Steve Bon sit down with Scott Volquartsen of Volquartsen Firearms to unpack what it really takes to scale a legacy business without compromising quality, culture, or craftsmanship.Scott shares the story of growing up in a family-owned company, taking over the business with his brother, and navigating the challenges of expansion in one of the most highly regulated industries in the world. The conversation dives into leadership mistakes, accountability, innovation, and why performance always has to come before efficiency.This is a grounded, practical conversation about building a brand that refuses to cut corners, creating real ownership inside a team, and how to grow without losing the standards that made you successful in the first place.Timestamps:[00:00] Trailer[00:55] Episode introduction[01:45] Scott’s background and family business[02:44] What rimfire really means[03:37] The craftsmanship advantage[06:21] Scaling without cutting corners[09:07] Growing a second-generation company[11:01] Accountability as a leader[12:23] Marketing in a regulated industry[16:31] Innovation and product philosophy[21:32] Failed launches and hard lessons[22:46] Relaunching and fixing mistakes[25:00] Gun culture and brand perception[30:41] The future firearms customer[33:01] Leadership mistakes[36:26] Staying sharp as a founder[39:05] The moment he almost quit[40:28] Most badass moment[41:15] Common firearm myths[42:04] Life without the business[42:45] Hot take[44:19] Where to find ScottKey Takeaways:  • “Once you teach somebody that cutting corners is acceptable in one place, you’re lowering the standard of what you’ll allow everywhere.” ~Scott Volquartsen• “If it’s not going to improve performance, it’s a no go.” ~Scott Volquartsen• “We don’t have assembly lines. One person builds a firearm from start to finish and signs their name to it.” ~Scott Volquartsen• “There’s no point in launching a product just to put your name on it in a saturated market.” ~Don Varady• “If you never reach out to people, you become an afterthought.” ~Scott Volquartsen• “The foundation of good business is universal. The product changes, but the principles don’t.” ~Steve BonConnect with Scaling Volquartsen:Website: https://volquartsen.com/ Instagram (personal): https://www.instagram.com/scottvolquartsen/ Instagram (brand): https://www.instagram.com/volquartsen_firearms/ Connect with Don and Steve…Don Varady:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/don.varady/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/donvarady/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/don-varady-450896145 Steve Bon:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenbon Instagram: https://instagram.com/stevebon8 Tune in to every episode on your favorite platform: Website: https://www.thefounderzlounge.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheFounderzLounge Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0Nurr4XjBE747qJ9Zjth0G Apple Music: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-founderz-lounge/id1461825349 The Founderz Lounge is Powered By:Clean Eatz:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CleanEatzLife/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cleaneatzlife/ Website: https://cleaneatz.com/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJRGrE-Xv4IMW_DbxSOTGGA Bon’s Eye Marketing:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bonseyemarketing Instagram: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bon's-eye-marketing/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bon's-eye-marketing/ Website: https://bonseyeonline.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bonseyemarketing9477