Paparelli Podcast

The Art of Writing Fiction: Insights from Brian Livingston

A Conversation with One of My Favorite Startup AuthorsBrian Livingston just published his second book, now available on Amazon! You start one company and you're an entrepreneur. You start a second, and you're a serial entrepreneur. With this second book, Livingston is officially an author of novels. He is the real deal!Join me and learn about becoming a writer, the business of writing, and also Brian Livingston's newest novel, Folkston.In this conversation, we talk about:- What it means to be true to your calling- How to keep going even after all your expectations are dashed- The importance of staying fiscally responsible while still chasing your dream- Brian is a two-time published author. He's a former attorney, having graduated from Washington and Lee Law, and practiced as a prosecutor in a small town in the South Carolina mountains. He currently works full-time in a land conservatory non-profit and is a full-time writer of fiction novels.- I am sure you will find Brian memorable. He is a unique cat as he graduated with high honors from Clemson University, successfully hiked the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine, and now has written two great novels:The Habits of Squirrels (published in May 2022)Folkston (published in April 2025)

32 Years of Angel Investing Wisdom: Sig Mosley’s Playbook for Entrepreneurs and Investors

Sig has been angel investing for thirty-two years. He is called the Godfather of Atlanta angel investing. In this interview, he shares the X Factor he looks for in entrepreneurs and outlines his 10 criteria for a fundable entrepreneur.If you are an entrepreneur, listen to this interview to see if you are an X Factor entrepreneur.If you are an angel investor, you'll want to listen to reduce risk and increase your returns.Ten simple criteria. Some are deal breakers. Others are ranked as important. And the rest must at least rate. The hard criteria are easy. The easy criteria are hard to evaluate. After all, entrepreneurs are complex. Angel investing is still a combination of art and experience.This interview has it all. Sig even shares how to get started as an angel investor.Over the past 32 years, Sig has learned plenty and made a boatload of money. Take some time to listen to the most experienced early-stage investor in Atlanta. You'll only get it here!LinkedIn

Solving the real problem: Lessons from Kurt Kandler

You Need to Wear Your Baby

In the closeness is the bonding for baby, mom, and dad. Simple philosophy. Simple products. Successful outcome. Brian Fosse founded Lalabu with his wife, Kerrie. At the time, she was his only encouragement in starting this specialty clothing business. And as they neared bankruptcy a few years later, even Kerrie began having doubts. But Brian pressed on. While sitting on a plane headed to an investor meeting, he knew he needed to continue to trust God and keep going. He read Isiah 40:28-31. It was his all-in moment.Brian escaped $1mm in debt with a $20k per week debt-service payment. Three years later, the business turned wildly profitable and sold for eight figures. A real success story. A real relationship story. A real family story. A real God story. This is entrepreneurship at its best—a gifted young man with loads of ideas, a supportive wife, and the perseverance to succeed. There is something here for everyone.Here is Brian’s Bible verse: “Do you not know? Have you not heard? Yahweh is the everlasting God, the Creator of the whole earth. He never grows faint or weary; there is no limit to His understanding. He gives strength to the weary and strengthens the powerless. But those who trust in the Lord will renew their strength; they will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not faint.”‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭40:28-29, 31‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

The most fulfilling occupation in life is...

I’ve met hundreds of entrepreneurs during my forty-year career in startups. Many of them were wildly successful. The successful knew their industry, solved a real problem, and timed the market just right. And they also knew how to make money. But after cashing out, they didn’t move on to the next stage in life…philanthropy. I was connected to Greg Thompson, the founder of ThomCo. ThomCo was a specialty commercial insurance brokerage. Greg grew this company over thirty years into a valuable company. But he discovered someone embezzled ten years into the company’s growth. This should have put him out of business and declared personal bankruptcy. But that’s when the miracles began. When he cashed out, he knew God’s hand was all over him and his company. At the exit, two things happened. He got more money than he would ever need in multiple lifetimes. And he realized he needed to give it away on a mission of changing lives. Greg told me, “Philanthropy is the most fulfilling occupation he has ever experienced.” Come and listen to his story and be inspired to become a philanthropist. And he tells you how to do it!