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Derek Kalles is the Founder and CEO of Kalles Group, a Seattle-based consulting firm specializing in cybersecurity and engineering solutions for organizations navigating today's rapidly evolving digital landscape. Under his leadership, Kalles Group has built a reputation for human-centric security practices and boasts an impressive client roster. In addition to his main venture, Derek is a serial entrepreneur with multiple businesses across property management and AI-driven sales, and has shared valuable lessons from both successes and pivots. In this episode… Some entrepreneurs build companies to chase growth, while others build them to create a life big enough for the people and adventures that matter most. What does it take to design businesses that can keep moving forward, even when the founder is halfway across the world? For Derek Kalles, a lifelong builder and multi-business entrepreneur, the answer is people, systems, and the willingness to let go of being the hero. He explains that working with great people makes it possible to operationalize and sustain multiple ventures, whether it's cybersecurity consulting, property management, finance, or AI. That mindset has allowed him to keep building while also creating room for family, travel, and a leadership style that empowers others to step up. Tune in to this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast as John Corcoran interviews Derek Kalles, CEO of Kalles Group, about building businesses for adventure. Derek talks about launching multiple ventures, navigating AI and cybersecurity risks, and living in Spain with his family. Derek also shares advice on balancing founder instincts with leadership-led growth.

Zak Eisenberg is a Partner at Merritt Healthcare Advisors, a leading investment bank specializing in providing mergers and acquisitions advisory services to healthcare organizations such as physician-owned surgery centers, hospitals, and medical practices. Under his leadership and the firm's founder-operator approach, Merritt Healthcare Advisors has rapidly grown to develop nearly four dozen healthcare facilities across the US, making it one of the top healthcare-focused investment banks in the nation. Zak's diverse background includes founding an edtech startup in college, experience in venture capital and private equity, and advising on complex healthcare transactions. In this episode… Healthcare isn't just changing, it's being quietly rebuilt from the inside out. As technology accelerates and costs climb, the question becomes harder to ignore: can the system evolve fast enough to keep up with the demands of an aging population? According to Zak Eisenberg, a seasoned healthcare dealmaker and advisor to physician-led businesses, the answer lies in shifting how and where care is delivered. He explains that rising costs and demographic pressures are pushing healthcare away from hospitals and toward more efficient outpatient settings, while also emphasizing prevention over treatment. From ambulatory surgery centers replacing costly hospital visits to a growing focus on population health, the system is being reengineered to do more with less. The result is a transformation that could redefine both patient outcomes and the economics of care for decades to come. In this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast, John Corcoran is joined by Zak Eisenberg, Partner at Merritt Healthcare Advisors, to discuss healthcare transformation and the disruptive power of AI. They explore demographic shifts driving demand, the rise of outpatient care models, and how AI is improving diagnostics and workflows. Zak also talks about navigating complex healthcare deals and managing long transaction timelines.

Sam Klein is the AI Architect, Co-founder, and Advisor at AiArchitects, a company that helps businesses integrate and optimize artificial intelligence solutions across various industries. Under Sam's leadership, AI Architects has delivered transformative results for clients ranging from advertising agencies to tech startups, and Sam was recognized as TIME's 2025 Person of the Year for his pioneering contributions to AI adoption. With a background in advertising, startups, and digital media, Sam brings practical expertise in driving organizational change through AI. In this episode… Most companies don't struggle with AI because of the technology, they struggle because their people never really adopt it. So what actually creates real, lasting momentum with AI inside an organization? According to Sam Klein, an experienced AI practitioner and advisor who has worked hands-on with teams across industries, the answer is simple: start from the ground up. He believes teaching individuals how to prompt and experiment builds confidence and capability far faster than rolling out top-down tools. Instead of forcing adoption, he focuses on helping people solve repetitive, real tasks so they experience quick wins. That shift turns AI from an abstract initiative into something practical, contagious, and ultimately transformative for the entire organization. Tune in to this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast as John Corcoran interviews Sam Klein, AI Architect, Co-founder, and Advisor at AiArchitects, to discuss building bottom-up AI momentum. They explore why prompting skills matter, how small workflows drive adoption, and why top-down AI strategies often fail. Sam also shares advice on overcoming skepticism and creating lasting team engagement with AI.

John Corcoran is a recovering attorney, an author, and a former White House writer and speechwriter to the Governor of California. Throughout his career, John has worked in Hollywood, the heart of Silicon Valley, and run his boutique law firm in the San Francisco Bay Area, catering to small business owners and entrepreneurs. Since 2012, John has been the host of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast, where he has interviewed hundreds of CEOs, founders, authors, and entrepreneurs, including Peter Diamandis, Adam Grant, Gary Vaynerchuk, and Marie Forleo. John is also the Co-founder of Rise25, a company that connects B2B businesses with their ideal clients, referral partners, and strategic partners. They help their clients generate ROI through their done-for-you podcast service. In this episode… Many aspiring podcasters hesitate to launch, held back by fear of visibility, pressure to make a strong debut, and uncertainty around marketing and distribution. These challenges can make the process unnecessarily complex. But is launching a successful podcast really that complicated? John Corcoran, a podcasting expert and entrepreneur, shares practical strategies to move past these barriers and take action. John emphasizes that perfectionism often delays progress, and instead recommends launching with multiple episodes to build early momentum. He highlights the importance of tapping into existing networks, maintaining consistent publishing, and using platforms like LinkedIn and email to generate visibility. John also underscores the value of repurposing content into formats like clips, newsletters, and long-form assets to maximize reach. Tune in to this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast as Chad Franzen interviews John Corcoran, Co-founder of Rise25, about overcoming podcast launch fears and simplifying the path to getting started. John also explores content repurposing, multichannel distribution, and leveraging podcast guesting to accelerate growth.

John Corcoran is a recovering attorney, an author, and a former White House writer and speechwriter to the Governor of California. Throughout his career, John has worked in Hollywood, the heart of Silicon Valley, and run his boutique law firm in the San Francisco Bay Area, catering to small business owners and entrepreneurs. Since 2012, John has been the host of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast, where he has interviewed hundreds of CEOs, founders, authors, and entrepreneurs, including Peter Diamandis, Adam Grant, Gary Vaynerchuk, and Marie Forleo. John is also the Co-founder of Rise25, a company that connects B2B businesses with their ideal clients, referral partners, and strategic partners. They help their clients generate ROI through their done-for-you podcast service. In this episode… A podcast can open doors, spark relationships, and quietly become your most powerful business development tool. But in a world where anyone can hit record on their phone, what actually separates a show that drives growth from one that fades into the noise? According to John Corcoran, the difference comes down to intention and execution. Professional production is not about fancy studios or overproduced edits, but about clean audio, thoughtful structure, strong branding, and a strategy that supports relationship-building and thought leadership. When you treat your podcast as a core part of your business development strategy rather than a side project, it becomes a powerful engine for networking, credibility, and long-term growth. Tune in to this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast as Chad Franzen of Rise25 interviews John Corcoran about mastering podcast production for business growth. They discuss what separates professional podcasts from DIY efforts, how video has become essential for reach and SEO, and why over-editing can actually hurt authenticity. John also shares advice on leveraging thought leadership and short-form video to expand your impact.