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    <title>Unbankable with Alex Shvarts</title>
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    <description>Most businesses don’t fail because of bad ideas.
They fail because they run out of capital.

Unbankable is a business podcast for entrepreneurs who don’t wait for permission - especially from banks.

I’m Alex Shvarts, Founder &amp; CEO of FundKite. For over a decade, I’ve worked directly with thousands of small and mid-sized business owners across the United States, providing working capital when traditional banks said no.

On this podcast, I sit down with CEOs, founders, operators, and leaders in alternative finance, fintech, private capital, and business growth to talk about what actually builds durable companies.

No hype. No guru talk.
Just real conversations about:
• Scaling a small business
• Working capital strategy
• Alternative financing
• Risk management
• Hiring and firing decisions
• Cash flow discipline
• Profitable growth
• Leadership under pressure
• Building partnerships that last

If you’re a small business owner, entrepreneur, startup founder, operator, or executive looking to grow smarter - this show is for you.

We talk about what happens when banks say no.
We talk about execution.
We talk about capital.

And we talk about building something real.

Subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it with another entrepreneur who needs it.

When banks say no - there is FundKite.
Learn more about alternative business funding at 👉 https://fundkite.com

Build smarter.
Scale responsibly.
Stay unbankable.

– Alex Shvarts</description>
    <copyright>© 2026 Alex Shvarts</copyright>
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    <pubDate>Sat, 12 Sep 2026 10:52:10 -0700</pubDate>
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      <title>Unbankable with Alex Shvarts</title>
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    <itunes:author>Alex Shvarts</itunes:author>
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    <itunes:summary>Most businesses don’t fail because of bad ideas.
They fail because they run out of capital.

Unbankable is a business podcast for entrepreneurs who don’t wait for permission - especially from banks.

I’m Alex Shvarts, Founder &amp; CEO of FundKite. For over a decade, I’ve worked directly with thousands of small and mid-sized business owners across the United States, providing working capital when traditional banks said no.

On this podcast, I sit down with CEOs, founders, operators, and leaders in alternative finance, fintech, private capital, and business growth to talk about what actually builds durable companies.

No hype. No guru talk.
Just real conversations about:
• Scaling a small business
• Working capital strategy
• Alternative financing
• Risk management
• Hiring and firing decisions
• Cash flow discipline
• Profitable growth
• Leadership under pressure
• Building partnerships that last

If you’re a small business owner, entrepreneur, startup founder, operator, or executive looking to grow smarter - this show is for you.

We talk about what happens when banks say no.
We talk about execution.
We talk about capital.

And we talk about building something real.

Subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it with another entrepreneur who needs it.

When banks say no - there is FundKite.
Learn more about alternative business funding at 👉 https://fundkite.com

Build smarter.
Scale responsibly.
Stay unbankable.

– Alex Shvarts</itunes:summary>
    <itunes:subtitle>Most businesses don’t fail because of bad ideas.</itunes:subtitle>
    <itunes:keywords>entrepreneurship podcast, business podcast USA, small business podcast, alternative finance podcast, working capital podcast, startup funding podcast, small business funding, scaling a business, business growth strategy, founder mindset, CEO leadership podcast, fintech podcast USA, private capital podcast, merchant cash advance industry, non bank financing, business credit solutions, cash flow management, revenue growth strategy, risk management for entrepreneurs, hiring and firing strategy, business partnerships advice, capital strategy podcast, funding strategy for startups, small business loans alternative, American entrepreneurs podcast, scaling without banks, business execution mindset, financial literacy for business owners, startup founders advice, business operations strategy, growth without margin, profitable scaling, capital access for small business, alternative lending USA, CEO conversations, self made entrepreneurs, business leadership USA, working capital management, entrepreneurial journey podcast, building a successful company, funding solutions for business owners, Unbankable, Alex Schvarts, FundKite, Unbankable Podcast, Alex Podcast, FundKite Podcast, entrepreneurship, business growth, small business, working capital, alternative finance, private capital, startup funding, fintech, cash flow, scaling business, CEO mindset, business strategy</itunes:keywords>
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      <itunes:name>Alex Shvarts</itunes:name>
    </itunes:owner>
    <itunes:complete>No</itunes:complete>
    <itunes:explicit>No</itunes:explicit>
    <item>
      <title>From Doctor to CEO | How To Build a Medical Business</title>
      <itunes:episode>25</itunes:episode>
      <podcast:episode>25</podcast:episode>
      <itunes:title>From Doctor to CEO | How To Build a Medical Business</itunes:title>
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      <description>
        <![CDATA[<p>How do you turn medical expertise into a successful business?</p><p>On this episode of Unbankable, Alex Shvarts, CEO and founder of FundKite, sits down with Dr. Bernard Ashby, cardiologist, physician entrepreneur, and CEO of Comprehensive Vascular Care in Miami, to discuss business funding, small business growth, healthcare entrepreneurship, and building a medical practice from the ground up.</p><p>Dr. Ashby shares his journey from academic medicine at Columbia University to becoming the owner of his own medical practice. He explains why being a great doctor does not automatically make you a great business owner, and why physicians need to understand revenue, operations, technology, and leadership.</p><p>In this episode:</p><p>• Why doctors struggle when transitioning into entrepreneurship<br>• The hidden business challenges of running a medical practice<br>• Understanding billing, revenue cycle management, and cash flow<br>• How AI and technology are transforming healthcare businesses<br>• Why keeping overhead low is critical for growth<br>• Building trust while staying focused on ethical medicine<br>• Lessons every entrepreneur can apply from healthcare</p><p>This conversation is about more than medicine. It’s about building systems, making smart business decisions, and creating a company around your expertise.</p><p>💬 What skill is more important for entrepreneurs: being great at your craft or learning how to run a business?</p><p>📞 Need business funding to grow your company?<br>877-502-5003<br>🌐 FundKite.com</p>]]>
      </description>
      <content:encoded>
        <![CDATA[<p>How do you turn medical expertise into a successful business?</p><p>On this episode of Unbankable, Alex Shvarts, CEO and founder of FundKite, sits down with Dr. Bernard Ashby, cardiologist, physician entrepreneur, and CEO of Comprehensive Vascular Care in Miami, to discuss business funding, small business growth, healthcare entrepreneurship, and building a medical practice from the ground up.</p><p>Dr. Ashby shares his journey from academic medicine at Columbia University to becoming the owner of his own medical practice. He explains why being a great doctor does not automatically make you a great business owner, and why physicians need to understand revenue, operations, technology, and leadership.</p><p>In this episode:</p><p>• Why doctors struggle when transitioning into entrepreneurship<br>• The hidden business challenges of running a medical practice<br>• Understanding billing, revenue cycle management, and cash flow<br>• How AI and technology are transforming healthcare businesses<br>• Why keeping overhead low is critical for growth<br>• Building trust while staying focused on ethical medicine<br>• Lessons every entrepreneur can apply from healthcare</p><p>This conversation is about more than medicine. It’s about building systems, making smart business decisions, and creating a company around your expertise.</p><p>💬 What skill is more important for entrepreneurs: being great at your craft or learning how to run a business?</p><p>📞 Need business funding to grow your company?<br>877-502-5003<br>🌐 FundKite.com</p>]]>
      </content:encoded>
      <pubDate>Sat, 12 Sep 2026 10:52:06 -0700</pubDate>
      <author>Alex Shvarts</author>
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      <itunes:author>Alex Shvarts</itunes:author>
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      <itunes:duration>1819</itunes:duration>
      <itunes:summary>
        <![CDATA[<p>How do you turn medical expertise into a successful business?</p><p>On this episode of Unbankable, Alex Shvarts, CEO and founder of FundKite, sits down with Dr. Bernard Ashby, cardiologist, physician entrepreneur, and CEO of Comprehensive Vascular Care in Miami, to discuss business funding, small business growth, healthcare entrepreneurship, and building a medical practice from the ground up.</p><p>Dr. Ashby shares his journey from academic medicine at Columbia University to becoming the owner of his own medical practice. He explains why being a great doctor does not automatically make you a great business owner, and why physicians need to understand revenue, operations, technology, and leadership.</p><p>In this episode:</p><p>• Why doctors struggle when transitioning into entrepreneurship<br>• The hidden business challenges of running a medical practice<br>• Understanding billing, revenue cycle management, and cash flow<br>• How AI and technology are transforming healthcare businesses<br>• Why keeping overhead low is critical for growth<br>• Building trust while staying focused on ethical medicine<br>• Lessons every entrepreneur can apply from healthcare</p><p>This conversation is about more than medicine. It’s about building systems, making smart business decisions, and creating a company around your expertise.</p><p>💬 What skill is more important for entrepreneurs: being great at your craft or learning how to run a business?</p><p>📞 Need business funding to grow your company?<br>877-502-5003<br>🌐 FundKite.com</p>]]>
      </itunes:summary>
      <itunes:keywords>medical business, funding, alex shvarts, fundkite</itunes:keywords>
      <itunes:explicit>No</itunes:explicit>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>The Music Industry Lie Every Artist Needs to Hear | Third World Don</title>
      <itunes:episode>24</itunes:episode>
      <podcast:episode>24</podcast:episode>
      <itunes:title>The Music Industry Lie Every Artist Needs to Hear | Third World Don</itunes:title>
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      <description>
        <![CDATA[<p>What does it really cost to bet on yourself?</p><p>I’m Alex Shvarts, founder and CEO of FundKite. In this episode of the Unbankable Podcast, I sit down with Third World Don—a Billboard-recognized, platinum-certified artist, producer, director, and entrepreneur—to talk about ownership, independence, entrepreneurship, money, creativity, and building a business beyond the music.</p><p>Instead of relying on record labels, Third World Don chose to build ownership at every level of his career. After experiencing both success and devastating setbacks—including losing millions and becoming homeless—he rebuilt his life by focusing on discipline, resilience, and long-term thinking.</p><p>In this episode<br>• Why ownership matters more than fame<br>• Walking away from the traditional record label model<br>• Lessons learned from Nipsey Hussle<br>• Losing millions and rebuilding from nothing<br>• The hidden struggles of entrepreneurship<br>• Mental health, burnout, and resilience<br>• How independent artists really make money<br>• Why streams alone won’t make you wealthy<br>• Building multiple income streams<br>• Fame vs ownership<br>• Why creators must monetize attention<br>• Financial discipline and long-term wealth<br>• The importance of leaving a legacy<br>• Why comparing yourself to others is dangerous<br>• How to rebuild if everything disappeared tomorrow</p><p>Need fast, fair, and flexible business funding to grow your business?</p><p>📞 877-502-5003<br>🌐 FundKite.com</p><p>Subscribe for more conversations with entrepreneurs who build businesses on their own terms.</p>]]>
      </description>
      <content:encoded>
        <![CDATA[<p>What does it really cost to bet on yourself?</p><p>I’m Alex Shvarts, founder and CEO of FundKite. In this episode of the Unbankable Podcast, I sit down with Third World Don—a Billboard-recognized, platinum-certified artist, producer, director, and entrepreneur—to talk about ownership, independence, entrepreneurship, money, creativity, and building a business beyond the music.</p><p>Instead of relying on record labels, Third World Don chose to build ownership at every level of his career. After experiencing both success and devastating setbacks—including losing millions and becoming homeless—he rebuilt his life by focusing on discipline, resilience, and long-term thinking.</p><p>In this episode<br>• Why ownership matters more than fame<br>• Walking away from the traditional record label model<br>• Lessons learned from Nipsey Hussle<br>• Losing millions and rebuilding from nothing<br>• The hidden struggles of entrepreneurship<br>• Mental health, burnout, and resilience<br>• How independent artists really make money<br>• Why streams alone won’t make you wealthy<br>• Building multiple income streams<br>• Fame vs ownership<br>• Why creators must monetize attention<br>• Financial discipline and long-term wealth<br>• The importance of leaving a legacy<br>• Why comparing yourself to others is dangerous<br>• How to rebuild if everything disappeared tomorrow</p><p>Need fast, fair, and flexible business funding to grow your business?</p><p>📞 877-502-5003<br>🌐 FundKite.com</p><p>Subscribe for more conversations with entrepreneurs who build businesses on their own terms.</p>]]>
      </content:encoded>
      <pubDate>Fri, 04 Sep 2026 09:23:32 -0700</pubDate>
      <author>Alex Shvarts</author>
      <enclosure url="https://media.transistor.fm/ecc5a158/12e7b10c.mp3" length="66711386" type="audio/mpeg"/>
      <itunes:author>Alex Shvarts</itunes:author>
      <itunes:image href="https://img.transistorcdn.com/NvI5sBo1_CO76cxAjFe6YfA89NWN25XvDNohR8shwPg/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS84NjFh/MGFlM2RhM2Q2OTg2/MTA3NTVhMmI5NzVk/ODk3Zi5wbmc.jpg"/>
      <itunes:duration>2573</itunes:duration>
      <itunes:summary>
        <![CDATA[<p>What does it really cost to bet on yourself?</p><p>I’m Alex Shvarts, founder and CEO of FundKite. In this episode of the Unbankable Podcast, I sit down with Third World Don—a Billboard-recognized, platinum-certified artist, producer, director, and entrepreneur—to talk about ownership, independence, entrepreneurship, money, creativity, and building a business beyond the music.</p><p>Instead of relying on record labels, Third World Don chose to build ownership at every level of his career. After experiencing both success and devastating setbacks—including losing millions and becoming homeless—he rebuilt his life by focusing on discipline, resilience, and long-term thinking.</p><p>In this episode<br>• Why ownership matters more than fame<br>• Walking away from the traditional record label model<br>• Lessons learned from Nipsey Hussle<br>• Losing millions and rebuilding from nothing<br>• The hidden struggles of entrepreneurship<br>• Mental health, burnout, and resilience<br>• How independent artists really make money<br>• Why streams alone won’t make you wealthy<br>• Building multiple income streams<br>• Fame vs ownership<br>• Why creators must monetize attention<br>• Financial discipline and long-term wealth<br>• The importance of leaving a legacy<br>• Why comparing yourself to others is dangerous<br>• How to rebuild if everything disappeared tomorrow</p><p>Need fast, fair, and flexible business funding to grow your business?</p><p>📞 877-502-5003<br>🌐 FundKite.com</p><p>Subscribe for more conversations with entrepreneurs who build businesses on their own terms.</p>]]>
      </itunes:summary>
      <itunes:keywords>Unbankable with Alex Shvarts, Alex Shvarts, Third World Don, music industry podcast, music business podcast, independent artist, independent music business, artist entrepreneur, music entrepreneurship, artist ownership, music industry ownership, record label vs independent, independent artist business, how musicians make money, music royalties, creator economy, creator monetization, music industry business, building wealth as an artist, financial literacy for artists, multiple income streams, generational wealth, ownership vs fame, artist branding, creative entrepreneur, entrepreneur mindset, entrepreneurship podcast, business funding podcast, working capital, alternative business funding, small business funding USA, business growth strategy, financial discipline, wealth building podcast, entrepreneur resilience, rebuilding after failure, founder mindset, creator mental health, entrepreneur burnout, Nipsey Hussle business lessons, legacy building, monetizing attention, personal brand ownership, social media business, building a business from scratch, betting on yourself, business ownership, successful entrepreneurs, American entrepreneurs podcast</itunes:keywords>
      <itunes:explicit>No</itunes:explicit>
      <podcast:transcript url="https://share.transistor.fm/s/ecc5a158/transcript.txt" type="text/plain"/>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>From Soviet Immigrant to Luxury Art Entrepreneur</title>
      <itunes:episode>23</itunes:episode>
      <podcast:episode>23</podcast:episode>
      <itunes:title>From Soviet Immigrant to Luxury Art Entrepreneur</itunes:title>
      <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
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      <description>
        <![CDATA[<p>How do you turn creativity into a real business?</p><p>On this episode of Unbankable, Alex Shvarts, CEO and founder of FundKite, sits down with Elena Bulatova, luxury artist and entrepreneur, to discuss entrepreneurship, business growth, small business challenges, and building a company around your own vision.</p><p>Elena transformed her passion for art into a multi-location luxury art business with galleries across the U.S. Her story is about taking risks, building a personal brand, managing cash flow, and creating opportunities instead of waiting for permission.</p><p>In this episode:</p><p>• How Elena built a luxury art business from scratch<br>• Turning creativity into entrepreneurship<br>• Selling high-value products through trust and confidence<br>• Growing galleries and managing business operations<br>• The importance of resilience and patience<br>• Funding, cash flow, and lessons from scaling a company<br>• Building a legacy beyond your work</p><p>This conversation is about more than art. It’s about believing in yourself, understanding business, and creating something that can last.</p><p>💬 What matters more for entrepreneurs: talent or the ability to build a business around it?</p><p>📞 Looking for business funding to grow your company?<br>877-502-5003<br>🌐 FundKite.com</p>]]>
      </description>
      <content:encoded>
        <![CDATA[<p>How do you turn creativity into a real business?</p><p>On this episode of Unbankable, Alex Shvarts, CEO and founder of FundKite, sits down with Elena Bulatova, luxury artist and entrepreneur, to discuss entrepreneurship, business growth, small business challenges, and building a company around your own vision.</p><p>Elena transformed her passion for art into a multi-location luxury art business with galleries across the U.S. Her story is about taking risks, building a personal brand, managing cash flow, and creating opportunities instead of waiting for permission.</p><p>In this episode:</p><p>• How Elena built a luxury art business from scratch<br>• Turning creativity into entrepreneurship<br>• Selling high-value products through trust and confidence<br>• Growing galleries and managing business operations<br>• The importance of resilience and patience<br>• Funding, cash flow, and lessons from scaling a company<br>• Building a legacy beyond your work</p><p>This conversation is about more than art. It’s about believing in yourself, understanding business, and creating something that can last.</p><p>💬 What matters more for entrepreneurs: talent or the ability to build a business around it?</p><p>📞 Looking for business funding to grow your company?<br>877-502-5003<br>🌐 FundKite.com</p>]]>
      </content:encoded>
      <pubDate>Fri, 28 Aug 2026 05:29:09 -0700</pubDate>
      <author>Alex Shvarts</author>
      <enclosure url="https://media.transistor.fm/0585f2e9/4d32379e.mp3" length="71097520" type="audio/mpeg"/>
      <itunes:author>Alex Shvarts</itunes:author>
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      <itunes:duration>2732</itunes:duration>
      <itunes:summary>
        <![CDATA[<p>How do you turn creativity into a real business?</p><p>On this episode of Unbankable, Alex Shvarts, CEO and founder of FundKite, sits down with Elena Bulatova, luxury artist and entrepreneur, to discuss entrepreneurship, business growth, small business challenges, and building a company around your own vision.</p><p>Elena transformed her passion for art into a multi-location luxury art business with galleries across the U.S. Her story is about taking risks, building a personal brand, managing cash flow, and creating opportunities instead of waiting for permission.</p><p>In this episode:</p><p>• How Elena built a luxury art business from scratch<br>• Turning creativity into entrepreneurship<br>• Selling high-value products through trust and confidence<br>• Growing galleries and managing business operations<br>• The importance of resilience and patience<br>• Funding, cash flow, and lessons from scaling a company<br>• Building a legacy beyond your work</p><p>This conversation is about more than art. It’s about believing in yourself, understanding business, and creating something that can last.</p><p>💬 What matters more for entrepreneurs: talent or the ability to build a business around it?</p><p>📞 Looking for business funding to grow your company?<br>877-502-5003<br>🌐 FundKite.com</p>]]>
      </itunes:summary>
      <itunes:keywords>Unbankable with Alex Shvarts, Alex Shvarts, Elena Bulatova, Elena Bulatova Fine Art, luxury art business, art entrepreneur, artist entrepreneur, art business podcast, entrepreneurship podcast, creative entrepreneur, luxury business, luxury brand, building an art business, how to sell art, selling luxury products, art gallery business, gallery owner, art business strategy, personal branding for artists, creative business, turning passion into business, entrepreneur success story, immigrant entrepreneur, immigrant success story, Soviet immigrant, American dream entrepreneur, business growth podcast, small business growth, scaling a business, scaling an art business, business funding podcast, working capital, business cash flow, growth capital, alternative business funding, high ticket sales, luxury sales, building customer trust, sales confidence, entrepreneur mindset, founder mindset, business resilience, taking business risks, building a personal brand, business operations, creating your own market, building a legacy, women entrepreneurs, successful entrepreneurs, American entrepreneurs podcast</itunes:keywords>
      <itunes:explicit>No</itunes:explicit>
      <podcast:transcript url="https://share.transistor.fm/s/0585f2e9/transcript.txt" type="text/plain"/>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>From Bankruptcy to a $350M Hospitality Project | Emi Guerra’s Unbelievable Comeback</title>
      <itunes:episode>22</itunes:episode>
      <podcast:episode>22</podcast:episode>
      <itunes:title>From Bankruptcy to a $350M Hospitality Project | Emi Guerra’s Unbelievable Comeback</itunes:title>
      <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
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      <description>
        <![CDATA[<p>Can losing millions become the best thing that ever happened to your business?</p><p>I’m Alex Shvarts, founder and CEO of FundKite. In this episode of the Unbankable Podcast, I sit down with Emi Guerra, co-founder of Breakwater Hospitality Group, to talk about entrepreneurship, bankruptcy, hospitality, business funding, leadership, risk, and building one of Miami’s most recognizable hospitality brands.</p><p>Whether you’re starting your first business, recovering from setbacks, or looking for business funding to grow, this episode is packed with real lessons from someone who’s lived through both failure and extraordinary success.</p><p>In this episode</p><p>• Losing over $3 million and rebuilding from bankruptcy<br>• The real story behind The Wharf Miami<br>• Turning a temporary pop-up into a hospitality brand<br>• Why reputation creates opportunities<br>• Raising capital after financial failure<br>• Personal guarantees and business risk<br>• Leadership lessons from hospitality<br>• Hiring, firing, and building company culture<br>• Why customer experience wins<br>• How entrepreneurs should think about risk<br>• What money means after success<br>• Why integrity compounds over time<br>• Advice for entrepreneurs facing difficult times</p><p>Need fast, fair and flexible business funding?</p><p>📞 877-502-5003<br>🌐 https://fundkite.com</p><p>Subscribe for more conversations with entrepreneurs who built success on their own terms.</p><p>#fundkite #unbankable #Entrepreneurship #Hospitality</p>]]>
      </description>
      <content:encoded>
        <![CDATA[<p>Can losing millions become the best thing that ever happened to your business?</p><p>I’m Alex Shvarts, founder and CEO of FundKite. In this episode of the Unbankable Podcast, I sit down with Emi Guerra, co-founder of Breakwater Hospitality Group, to talk about entrepreneurship, bankruptcy, hospitality, business funding, leadership, risk, and building one of Miami’s most recognizable hospitality brands.</p><p>Whether you’re starting your first business, recovering from setbacks, or looking for business funding to grow, this episode is packed with real lessons from someone who’s lived through both failure and extraordinary success.</p><p>In this episode</p><p>• Losing over $3 million and rebuilding from bankruptcy<br>• The real story behind The Wharf Miami<br>• Turning a temporary pop-up into a hospitality brand<br>• Why reputation creates opportunities<br>• Raising capital after financial failure<br>• Personal guarantees and business risk<br>• Leadership lessons from hospitality<br>• Hiring, firing, and building company culture<br>• Why customer experience wins<br>• How entrepreneurs should think about risk<br>• What money means after success<br>• Why integrity compounds over time<br>• Advice for entrepreneurs facing difficult times</p><p>Need fast, fair and flexible business funding?</p><p>📞 877-502-5003<br>🌐 https://fundkite.com</p><p>Subscribe for more conversations with entrepreneurs who built success on their own terms.</p><p>#fundkite #unbankable #Entrepreneurship #Hospitality</p>]]>
      </content:encoded>
      <pubDate>Fri, 21 Aug 2026 04:52:44 -0700</pubDate>
      <author>Alex Shvarts</author>
      <enclosure url="https://media.transistor.fm/bdd6940e/515a6c24.mp3" length="75606018" type="audio/mpeg"/>
      <itunes:author>Alex Shvarts</itunes:author>
      <itunes:image href="https://img.transistorcdn.com/uuDvzTRUljwXiRWkKtRI_S5QXm0XAUBx5kniSszSV4A/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS8yZTQ5/MWY0NmQ3NWRhZTc5/YjQxMzY2NTAyMDI0/MmE1Ny5wbmc.jpg"/>
      <itunes:duration>2849</itunes:duration>
      <itunes:summary>
        <![CDATA[<p>Can losing millions become the best thing that ever happened to your business?</p><p>I’m Alex Shvarts, founder and CEO of FundKite. In this episode of the Unbankable Podcast, I sit down with Emi Guerra, co-founder of Breakwater Hospitality Group, to talk about entrepreneurship, bankruptcy, hospitality, business funding, leadership, risk, and building one of Miami’s most recognizable hospitality brands.</p><p>Whether you’re starting your first business, recovering from setbacks, or looking for business funding to grow, this episode is packed with real lessons from someone who’s lived through both failure and extraordinary success.</p><p>In this episode</p><p>• Losing over $3 million and rebuilding from bankruptcy<br>• The real story behind The Wharf Miami<br>• Turning a temporary pop-up into a hospitality brand<br>• Why reputation creates opportunities<br>• Raising capital after financial failure<br>• Personal guarantees and business risk<br>• Leadership lessons from hospitality<br>• Hiring, firing, and building company culture<br>• Why customer experience wins<br>• How entrepreneurs should think about risk<br>• What money means after success<br>• Why integrity compounds over time<br>• Advice for entrepreneurs facing difficult times</p><p>Need fast, fair and flexible business funding?</p><p>📞 877-502-5003<br>🌐 https://fundkite.com</p><p>Subscribe for more conversations with entrepreneurs who built success on their own terms.</p><p>#fundkite #unbankable #Entrepreneurship #Hospitality</p>]]>
      </itunes:summary>
      <itunes:keywords>Unbankable with Alex Shvarts, Alex Shvarts, Emi Guerra, Breakwater Hospitality Group, hospitality business podcast, hospitality entrepreneur, restaurant business podcast, Miami hospitality, entrepreneurship podcast, bankruptcy comeback, business failure recovery, rebuilding after bankruptcy, business funding podcast, raising capital, working capital, alternative business funding, hospitality financing, business cash flow, business risk management, personal guarantees, entrepreneur comeback story, business leadership, company culture, customer experience, hospitality leadership, scaling a hospitality business, business partnerships, founder mindset, entrepreneur resilience, calculated risk, business growth strategy, startup funding, growth capital, raising money for business, building a business after failure, business reputation, hiring and firing, entrepreneur lessons, Miami entrepreneurs, small business funding, alternative finance podcast, business success story, building long term wealth, business integrity, overcoming business failure, hospitality investing, business turnaround</itunes:keywords>
      <itunes:explicit>No</itunes:explicit>
      <podcast:transcript url="https://share.transistor.fm/s/bdd6940e/transcript.txt" type="text/plain"/>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>He Knew Nothing About Furniture, Then Built a Million-Dollar Business</title>
      <itunes:episode>21</itunes:episode>
      <podcast:episode>21</podcast:episode>
      <itunes:title>He Knew Nothing About Furniture, Then Built a Million-Dollar Business</itunes:title>
      <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
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      <link>https://share.transistor.fm/s/1fc278b4</link>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[<p>What if the best business opportunity is hiding in an industry everyone else ignores?</p><p>I’m Alex Shvarts, founder and CEO of FundKite, and in this episode of the Unbankable Podcast, I sit down with entrepreneur Terry Briggs to talk about business funding, cash flow, failure, and finding opportunity in unexpected industries.</p><p>Terry knew nothing about commercial furniture when a hospital asked him to source 100 medical recliners. He figured out the product, secured the capital, completed the order, and earned a reported $130,000 net profit on his first deal.</p><p>We also discuss purchase order financing, selling to large companies, building without inventory, and why entrepreneurs should sometimes find the buyer before creating the product.</p><p>If you needed to make $50,000 in the next 30 days, what would you sell?</p><p>Need business funding or working capital to grow?<br>📞 877-502-5003<br>🌐 FundKite.com</p><p>Subscribe for more conversations about business funding, cash flow, entrepreneurship, and business growth.</p>]]>
      </description>
      <content:encoded>
        <![CDATA[<p>What if the best business opportunity is hiding in an industry everyone else ignores?</p><p>I’m Alex Shvarts, founder and CEO of FundKite, and in this episode of the Unbankable Podcast, I sit down with entrepreneur Terry Briggs to talk about business funding, cash flow, failure, and finding opportunity in unexpected industries.</p><p>Terry knew nothing about commercial furniture when a hospital asked him to source 100 medical recliners. He figured out the product, secured the capital, completed the order, and earned a reported $130,000 net profit on his first deal.</p><p>We also discuss purchase order financing, selling to large companies, building without inventory, and why entrepreneurs should sometimes find the buyer before creating the product.</p><p>If you needed to make $50,000 in the next 30 days, what would you sell?</p><p>Need business funding or working capital to grow?<br>📞 877-502-5003<br>🌐 FundKite.com</p><p>Subscribe for more conversations about business funding, cash flow, entrepreneurship, and business growth.</p>]]>
      </content:encoded>
      <pubDate>Fri, 14 Aug 2026 05:57:05 -0700</pubDate>
      <author>Alex Shvarts</author>
      <enclosure url="https://media.transistor.fm/1fc278b4/9e64e0ba.mp3" length="58816762" type="audio/mpeg"/>
      <itunes:author>Alex Shvarts</itunes:author>
      <itunes:image href="https://img.transistorcdn.com/SSkiynfK70XkbFUkpsNXnxoNSJLbw1HLGkQ9qaz-vAg/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9jYTFl/ZmNlNDAwYTU0ZDBm/ZWIyNjA3YzA3NGIx/YTUwYi5wbmc.jpg"/>
      <itunes:duration>2164</itunes:duration>
      <itunes:summary>
        <![CDATA[<p>What if the best business opportunity is hiding in an industry everyone else ignores?</p><p>I’m Alex Shvarts, founder and CEO of FundKite, and in this episode of the Unbankable Podcast, I sit down with entrepreneur Terry Briggs to talk about business funding, cash flow, failure, and finding opportunity in unexpected industries.</p><p>Terry knew nothing about commercial furniture when a hospital asked him to source 100 medical recliners. He figured out the product, secured the capital, completed the order, and earned a reported $130,000 net profit on his first deal.</p><p>We also discuss purchase order financing, selling to large companies, building without inventory, and why entrepreneurs should sometimes find the buyer before creating the product.</p><p>If you needed to make $50,000 in the next 30 days, what would you sell?</p><p>Need business funding or working capital to grow?<br>📞 877-502-5003<br>🌐 FundKite.com</p><p>Subscribe for more conversations about business funding, cash flow, entrepreneurship, and business growth.</p>]]>
      </itunes:summary>
      <itunes:keywords>Unbankable with Alex Shvarts, Alex Shvarts, Terry Briggs, entrepreneurship podcast, business funding podcast, purchase order financing, PO financing, commercial furniture business, million dollar business, small business funding, working capital, business cash flow, alternative business funding, entrepreneur mindset, business growth podcast, startup founder podcast, business opportunities, B2B sales strategy, selling to hospitals, selling to large companies, inventory financing, no inventory business, asset light business model, business capital, growth capital, business financing USA, entrepreneur success story, starting a business, scaling a business, finding business opportunities, cash flow management, business funding strategy, creative financing, business sales podcast, founder mindset, business development, customer first business, find the buyer first, product sourcing business, wholesale business, business lessons, entrepreneur education, American entrepreneurs, small business growth, business execution, building wealth through business, alternative finance podcast</itunes:keywords>
      <itunes:explicit>No</itunes:explicit>
      <podcast:transcript url="https://share.transistor.fm/s/1fc278b4/transcript.txt" type="text/plain"/>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>From Pitbull to House of Mac | How to Build an $8M Business After Music Industry</title>
      <itunes:episode>20</itunes:episode>
      <podcast:episode>20</podcast:episode>
      <itunes:title>From Pitbull to House of Mac | How to Build an $8M Business After Music Industry</itunes:title>
      <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
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      <link>https://share.transistor.fm/s/b8dc4b70</link>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[<p>What does it take to walk away from a dream career and bet everything on yourself?</p><p>I’m Alex Shvarts, founder and CEO of FundKite. In this episode of the Unbankable Podcast, I sit down with Chef Teach (Derrick Turton), founder of House of Mac, to talk about entrepreneurship, business funding, cash flow, legacy, and why building your own business is completely different from building someone else’s success.</p><p>Before launching House of Mac, Derrick spent nearly two decades in the music industry working alongside global artists, including Pitbull, A$AP Rocky, and Yo Gotti. Then he walked away from it all to start a food truck.</p><p>If you’re building a business, growing a brand, or looking for business funding to expand, this conversation is for you.</p><p>In this episode:</p><p>* Leaving the music industry to build House of Mac<br>* Working with Pitbull, A$AP Rocky and major artists<br>* Why legacy matters more than money<br>* Losing nearly $100K on the first food truck<br>* Turning one truck into millions in revenue<br>* Surviving COVID as a restaurant owner<br>* Why banks fail many entrepreneurs<br>* Business funding vs traditional bank loans<br>* Cash flow lessons every business owner should know<br>* Scaling without losing your brand<br>* Why relationships outperform advertising<br>* Entrepreneurship, resilience and betting on yourself</p><p>Need fast, flexible business funding to grow your business?</p><p>📞 877-502-5003<br>🌐 FundKite.com</p><p>Subscribe for more conversations with entrepreneurs who refuse to take no for an answer.</p>]]>
      </description>
      <content:encoded>
        <![CDATA[<p>What does it take to walk away from a dream career and bet everything on yourself?</p><p>I’m Alex Shvarts, founder and CEO of FundKite. In this episode of the Unbankable Podcast, I sit down with Chef Teach (Derrick Turton), founder of House of Mac, to talk about entrepreneurship, business funding, cash flow, legacy, and why building your own business is completely different from building someone else’s success.</p><p>Before launching House of Mac, Derrick spent nearly two decades in the music industry working alongside global artists, including Pitbull, A$AP Rocky, and Yo Gotti. Then he walked away from it all to start a food truck.</p><p>If you’re building a business, growing a brand, or looking for business funding to expand, this conversation is for you.</p><p>In this episode:</p><p>* Leaving the music industry to build House of Mac<br>* Working with Pitbull, A$AP Rocky and major artists<br>* Why legacy matters more than money<br>* Losing nearly $100K on the first food truck<br>* Turning one truck into millions in revenue<br>* Surviving COVID as a restaurant owner<br>* Why banks fail many entrepreneurs<br>* Business funding vs traditional bank loans<br>* Cash flow lessons every business owner should know<br>* Scaling without losing your brand<br>* Why relationships outperform advertising<br>* Entrepreneurship, resilience and betting on yourself</p><p>Need fast, flexible business funding to grow your business?</p><p>📞 877-502-5003<br>🌐 FundKite.com</p><p>Subscribe for more conversations with entrepreneurs who refuse to take no for an answer.</p>]]>
      </content:encoded>
      <pubDate>Fri, 07 Aug 2026 06:56:38 -0700</pubDate>
      <author>Alex Shvarts</author>
      <enclosure url="https://media.transistor.fm/b8dc4b70/b174c0b6.mp3" length="67134418" type="audio/mpeg"/>
      <itunes:author>Alex Shvarts</itunes:author>
      <itunes:image href="https://img.transistorcdn.com/AcPxy3E0xH6Juh7PB3g-zcRtt0TozBI4qyZ34_BBZlI/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9iM2Nl/NjAyNGY4M2IzMzQ4/MzYwY2UzM2MyMTc4/Y2YwMS5wbmc.jpg"/>
      <itunes:duration>2592</itunes:duration>
      <itunes:summary>
        <![CDATA[<p>What does it take to walk away from a dream career and bet everything on yourself?</p><p>I’m Alex Shvarts, founder and CEO of FundKite. In this episode of the Unbankable Podcast, I sit down with Chef Teach (Derrick Turton), founder of House of Mac, to talk about entrepreneurship, business funding, cash flow, legacy, and why building your own business is completely different from building someone else’s success.</p><p>Before launching House of Mac, Derrick spent nearly two decades in the music industry working alongside global artists, including Pitbull, A$AP Rocky, and Yo Gotti. Then he walked away from it all to start a food truck.</p><p>If you’re building a business, growing a brand, or looking for business funding to expand, this conversation is for you.</p><p>In this episode:</p><p>* Leaving the music industry to build House of Mac<br>* Working with Pitbull, A$AP Rocky and major artists<br>* Why legacy matters more than money<br>* Losing nearly $100K on the first food truck<br>* Turning one truck into millions in revenue<br>* Surviving COVID as a restaurant owner<br>* Why banks fail many entrepreneurs<br>* Business funding vs traditional bank loans<br>* Cash flow lessons every business owner should know<br>* Scaling without losing your brand<br>* Why relationships outperform advertising<br>* Entrepreneurship, resilience and betting on yourself</p><p>Need fast, flexible business funding to grow your business?</p><p>📞 877-502-5003<br>🌐 FundKite.com</p><p>Subscribe for more conversations with entrepreneurs who refuse to take no for an answer.</p>]]>
      </itunes:summary>
      <itunes:keywords>Unbankable with Alex Shvarts, Alex Schvarts, Chef Teach, Derek Turton, House of Mac, restaurant business podcast, food truck business, entrepreneurship podcast, hospitality business, restaurant owner, business funding podcast, working capital solutions, small business funding USA, alternative finance podcast, cash flow management, restaurant financing, food business entrepreneur, scaling a restaurant, building a restaurant brand, founder mindset, entrepreneur resilience, leaving corporate career, music industry to business, Pitbull, A$AP Rocky, Yo Gotti, celebrity entrepreneur, business growth strategy, startup founder podcast, franchise growth, restaurant operations, business leadership podcast, customer experience, branding strategy, entrepreneur education podcast, American entrepreneurs podcast, business owners podcast, growth capital strategy, betting on yourself, business relationships, scaling a business, small business success, funding for restaurants, legacy over money, entrepreneur motivation, hospitality leadership</itunes:keywords>
      <itunes:explicit>No</itunes:explicit>
      <podcast:transcript url="https://share.transistor.fm/s/b8dc4b70/transcript.txt" type="text/plain"/>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Building Hype Miami | The Truth About Retail, Cash Flow &amp; Business Growth</title>
      <itunes:episode>19</itunes:episode>
      <podcast:episode>19</podcast:episode>
      <itunes:title>Building Hype Miami | The Truth About Retail, Cash Flow &amp; Business Growth</itunes:title>
      <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
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      <link>https://share.transistor.fm/s/6e35b634</link>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[<p>Can you turn a sneaker hustle into a real business?</p><p>I’m Alex Shvarts, founder and CEO of FundKite. In this episode of the Unbankable Podcast, I sit down with Yuriy Kolesnyk, co-founder of Hype Miami, to discuss entrepreneurship, retail, inventory management, cash flow, business funding, and what it really takes to build a premium brand in one of the world’s most competitive markets.</p><p>Yuriy shares how he started with a $400 student credit card, built a sneaker resale business, lost six figures during his first year in retail, and transformed Hype Miami into one of South Florida’s most recognized luxury sneaker and streetwear destinations.</p><p>If you’re building a retail business, growing an e-commerce brand, or looking for smarter ways to finance growth, this episode is packed with practical lessons.</p><p>In this episode:</p><p>* How Hype Miami was built from scratch<br>* Starting with a $400 credit card<br>* Sneaker resale and building a wholesale business<br>* Why retail is completely different from wholesale<br>* Losing six figures during the first year<br>* Inventory management and cash flow<br>* Pricing strategy and profit margins<br>* Customer experience as a competitive advantage<br>* AI tools for running a business<br>* Business funding mistakes entrepreneurs make<br>* Shopify Capital vs other funding options<br>* Why relationships create long-term success</p><p>Need fast, flexible business funding to grow your business?</p><p>📞 877-502-5003<br>🌐 FundKite.com</p><p>Subscribe for more conversations with entrepreneurs building businesses without waiting for permission.</p>]]>
      </description>
      <content:encoded>
        <![CDATA[<p>Can you turn a sneaker hustle into a real business?</p><p>I’m Alex Shvarts, founder and CEO of FundKite. In this episode of the Unbankable Podcast, I sit down with Yuriy Kolesnyk, co-founder of Hype Miami, to discuss entrepreneurship, retail, inventory management, cash flow, business funding, and what it really takes to build a premium brand in one of the world’s most competitive markets.</p><p>Yuriy shares how he started with a $400 student credit card, built a sneaker resale business, lost six figures during his first year in retail, and transformed Hype Miami into one of South Florida’s most recognized luxury sneaker and streetwear destinations.</p><p>If you’re building a retail business, growing an e-commerce brand, or looking for smarter ways to finance growth, this episode is packed with practical lessons.</p><p>In this episode:</p><p>* How Hype Miami was built from scratch<br>* Starting with a $400 credit card<br>* Sneaker resale and building a wholesale business<br>* Why retail is completely different from wholesale<br>* Losing six figures during the first year<br>* Inventory management and cash flow<br>* Pricing strategy and profit margins<br>* Customer experience as a competitive advantage<br>* AI tools for running a business<br>* Business funding mistakes entrepreneurs make<br>* Shopify Capital vs other funding options<br>* Why relationships create long-term success</p><p>Need fast, flexible business funding to grow your business?</p><p>📞 877-502-5003<br>🌐 FundKite.com</p><p>Subscribe for more conversations with entrepreneurs building businesses without waiting for permission.</p>]]>
      </content:encoded>
      <pubDate>Tue, 04 Aug 2026 09:14:26 -0700</pubDate>
      <author>Alex Shvarts</author>
      <enclosure url="https://media.transistor.fm/6e35b634/821f804d.mp3" length="69187041" type="audio/mpeg"/>
      <itunes:author>Alex Shvarts</itunes:author>
      <itunes:image href="https://img.transistorcdn.com/AMgUlUK1E5_1J5AKf6IIKdvGlHKnaJA3ZsjVHMdR3dc/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS8yMTJi/MmY4MGQzNzJmZGYy/MDdhZDliZTZhY2M2/NTZiYi5wbmc.jpg"/>
      <itunes:duration>2672</itunes:duration>
      <itunes:summary>
        <![CDATA[<p>Can you turn a sneaker hustle into a real business?</p><p>I’m Alex Shvarts, founder and CEO of FundKite. In this episode of the Unbankable Podcast, I sit down with Yuriy Kolesnyk, co-founder of Hype Miami, to discuss entrepreneurship, retail, inventory management, cash flow, business funding, and what it really takes to build a premium brand in one of the world’s most competitive markets.</p><p>Yuriy shares how he started with a $400 student credit card, built a sneaker resale business, lost six figures during his first year in retail, and transformed Hype Miami into one of South Florida’s most recognized luxury sneaker and streetwear destinations.</p><p>If you’re building a retail business, growing an e-commerce brand, or looking for smarter ways to finance growth, this episode is packed with practical lessons.</p><p>In this episode:</p><p>* How Hype Miami was built from scratch<br>* Starting with a $400 credit card<br>* Sneaker resale and building a wholesale business<br>* Why retail is completely different from wholesale<br>* Losing six figures during the first year<br>* Inventory management and cash flow<br>* Pricing strategy and profit margins<br>* Customer experience as a competitive advantage<br>* AI tools for running a business<br>* Business funding mistakes entrepreneurs make<br>* Shopify Capital vs other funding options<br>* Why relationships create long-term success</p><p>Need fast, flexible business funding to grow your business?</p><p>📞 877-502-5003<br>🌐 FundKite.com</p><p>Subscribe for more conversations with entrepreneurs building businesses without waiting for permission.</p>]]>
      </itunes:summary>
      <itunes:keywords>Unbankable with Alex Shvarts, Alex Schvarts, Yuriy Kolesnyk, Hype Miami, retail business podcast, sneaker business, sneaker resale, streetwear business, luxury retail, ecommerce business, Shopify Capital, inventory management, cash flow management, business funding podcast, working capital solutions, alternative finance podcast, small business funding USA, retail entrepreneurship, entrepreneur mindset, startup founder podcast, scaling a retail business, building a premium brand, pricing strategy, profit margins, customer experience, wholesale business, retail operations, business growth strategy, AI for business, accounting for entrepreneurs, startup funding strategy, founder leadership, business partnerships, building a brand, entrepreneur education podcast, American entrepreneurs podcast, scaling a company, business execution, growth capital strategy, retail marketing, cash flow strategy, business owners podcast, funding for ecommerce, business success stories, entrepreneur leadership</itunes:keywords>
      <itunes:explicit>No</itunes:explicit>
      <podcast:transcript url="https://share.transistor.fm/s/6e35b634/transcript.txt" type="text/plain"/>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>How Relationships Build Million-Dollar Businesses | Bebe Lewis on Branding, Trust &amp; Success</title>
      <itunes:episode>18</itunes:episode>
      <podcast:episode>18</podcast:episode>
      <itunes:title>How Relationships Build Million-Dollar Businesses | Bebe Lewis on Branding, Trust &amp; Success</itunes:title>
      <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
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      <link>https://share.transistor.fm/s/dbf90af0</link>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[<p>Is business success really about money… or is it about the relationships you build?</p><p>I’m Alex Shvarts, founder and CEO of FundKite. In this episode of the Unbankable Podcast, I sit down with entrepreneur, media executive, and Circle House Studios CEO BB Lewis to talk about building influence, creating valuable relationships, and why trust will always outperform attention.</p><p>BB shares how he built multiple businesses without relying on traditional paths, why media is one of the most valuable assets you can own, and how entrepreneurs can create opportunities by becoming indispensable instead of chasing followers.</p><p>If you’re building a business, growing your brand, or looking for business funding to scale your next opportunity, this conversation is for you.</p><p>In this episode:</p><p>• Why relationships are more valuable than followers<br>• Building influence before chasing attention<br>• The power of trust in business<br>• Why media creates leverage<br>• How networking opens real opportunities<br>• Lessons from the music industry<br>• Creative business funding strategies<br>• Why entrepreneurs should own their audience</p><p>If your business needs business funding, working capital, or revenue-based financing, FundKite helps businesses access capital quickly with a simple application process.</p><p>📞 877-502-5003<br>🌐 FundKite.com</p><p>Subscribe for more conversations with entrepreneurs, founders, and business leaders who refuse to take no for an answer.</p>]]>
      </description>
      <content:encoded>
        <![CDATA[<p>Is business success really about money… or is it about the relationships you build?</p><p>I’m Alex Shvarts, founder and CEO of FundKite. In this episode of the Unbankable Podcast, I sit down with entrepreneur, media executive, and Circle House Studios CEO BB Lewis to talk about building influence, creating valuable relationships, and why trust will always outperform attention.</p><p>BB shares how he built multiple businesses without relying on traditional paths, why media is one of the most valuable assets you can own, and how entrepreneurs can create opportunities by becoming indispensable instead of chasing followers.</p><p>If you’re building a business, growing your brand, or looking for business funding to scale your next opportunity, this conversation is for you.</p><p>In this episode:</p><p>• Why relationships are more valuable than followers<br>• Building influence before chasing attention<br>• The power of trust in business<br>• Why media creates leverage<br>• How networking opens real opportunities<br>• Lessons from the music industry<br>• Creative business funding strategies<br>• Why entrepreneurs should own their audience</p><p>If your business needs business funding, working capital, or revenue-based financing, FundKite helps businesses access capital quickly with a simple application process.</p><p>📞 877-502-5003<br>🌐 FundKite.com</p><p>Subscribe for more conversations with entrepreneurs, founders, and business leaders who refuse to take no for an answer.</p>]]>
      </content:encoded>
      <pubDate>Tue, 28 Jul 2026 06:43:11 -0700</pubDate>
      <author>Alex Shvarts</author>
      <enclosure url="https://media.transistor.fm/dbf90af0/fdb620fb.mp3" length="81059000" type="audio/mpeg"/>
      <itunes:author>Alex Shvarts</itunes:author>
      <itunes:image href="https://img.transistorcdn.com/lvsqR75atEGDqOK3M4JnlwgV183hhDCxPRth_hVwWtU/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS80ODg5/M2U3NDkwOTRjODI2/Nzk2YmJlOTg4Mjhl/MmJlNi5wbmc.jpg"/>
      <itunes:duration>3052</itunes:duration>
      <itunes:summary>
        <![CDATA[<p>Is business success really about money… or is it about the relationships you build?</p><p>I’m Alex Shvarts, founder and CEO of FundKite. In this episode of the Unbankable Podcast, I sit down with entrepreneur, media executive, and Circle House Studios CEO BB Lewis to talk about building influence, creating valuable relationships, and why trust will always outperform attention.</p><p>BB shares how he built multiple businesses without relying on traditional paths, why media is one of the most valuable assets you can own, and how entrepreneurs can create opportunities by becoming indispensable instead of chasing followers.</p><p>If you’re building a business, growing your brand, or looking for business funding to scale your next opportunity, this conversation is for you.</p><p>In this episode:</p><p>• Why relationships are more valuable than followers<br>• Building influence before chasing attention<br>• The power of trust in business<br>• Why media creates leverage<br>• How networking opens real opportunities<br>• Lessons from the music industry<br>• Creative business funding strategies<br>• Why entrepreneurs should own their audience</p><p>If your business needs business funding, working capital, or revenue-based financing, FundKite helps businesses access capital quickly with a simple application process.</p><p>📞 877-502-5003<br>🌐 FundKite.com</p><p>Subscribe for more conversations with entrepreneurs, founders, and business leaders who refuse to take no for an answer.</p>]]>
      </itunes:summary>
      <itunes:keywords>Unbankable with Alex Shvarts, Alex Shvarts, BB Lewis, Bebe Lewis, Circle House Studios, entrepreneurship podcast, business relationships, relationship marketing, networking for entrepreneurs, personal branding podcast, business trust, media business, brand building strategy, creator economy, entrepreneur mindset, business leadership podcast, influence marketing, audience building, business networking, media entrepreneur, content creator business, entrepreneur education podcast, business funding podcast, working capital solutions, alternative finance podcast, small business funding USA, revenue based financing, cash flow management, business growth strategy, founder mindset, leadership lessons, sales and marketing, music industry business, building influence, owning your audience, digital media strategy, startup founder podcast, scaling a business, business opportunities, American entrepreneurs podcast, entrepreneur success habits, trust based selling, business development strategy, podcast business, long term business growth</itunes:keywords>
      <itunes:explicit>No</itunes:explicit>
      <podcast:transcript url="https://share.transistor.fm/s/dbf90af0/transcript.txt" type="text/plain"/>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>How to Monetize a Podcast and Build a Media Business | Gary “GC” Coichy</title>
      <itunes:episode>17</itunes:episode>
      <podcast:episode>17</podcast:episode>
      <itunes:title>How to Monetize a Podcast and Build a Media Business | Gary “GC” Coichy</itunes:title>
      <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">ed46e28f-b2fb-474b-9af3-82cb3bdee585</guid>
      <link>https://share.transistor.fm/s/1706da1a</link>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[<p>Building a podcast or media company requires more than a microphone and a good idea. It takes the right audience, consistent execution, strong relationships, and often access to business funding that can help you hire a team, improve production, market your content, and scale without destroying cash flow.</p><p>I’m Alex Shvarts, founder and CEO of FundKite, where we help business owners explore alternative business funding when traditional banks cannot provide the speed or flexibility they need.</p><p>In this episode of the Unbankable Podcast, I sit down with Gary “GC” Coichy, founder and CEO of POD Digital Media, a podcast network and cultural content marketplace connecting brands with diverse, multicultural, and high-growth audiences.</p><p>Gary shares how he left the security of corporate media, bootstrapped his company, and built a business that reported 1,586% growth over three years.</p><p>We talk about:</p><p>• how to monetize a podcast without chasing sponsors too early<br>• why most new podcasters quit within weeks<br>• how brands choose podcasts and content creators<br>• why audience quality matters more than follower count<br>• when entrepreneurs should hire and fire employees<br>• how Gary built and scaled a media company<br>• why local businesses should consider podcast advertising<br>• how AI is changing podcasting and digital media</p><p>Gary also explains why a “no” is often only a not yet, why creators must build a real product before asking about money, and how credible voices can still rise above an oversaturated podcast market.</p><p>Need working capital or business funding to hire, market, purchase equipment, or expand your company?</p><p>📞 Call FundKite at 877-502-5003<br>🌐 Visit FundKite.com to explore your business funding options.</p><p>👉 Subscribe to the channel for more honest conversations about business funding, entrepreneurship, sales, leadership, media, and building companies that last.</p><p>Be honest: would you keep creating content for a year if it made you absolutely no money?</p>]]>
      </description>
      <content:encoded>
        <![CDATA[<p>Building a podcast or media company requires more than a microphone and a good idea. It takes the right audience, consistent execution, strong relationships, and often access to business funding that can help you hire a team, improve production, market your content, and scale without destroying cash flow.</p><p>I’m Alex Shvarts, founder and CEO of FundKite, where we help business owners explore alternative business funding when traditional banks cannot provide the speed or flexibility they need.</p><p>In this episode of the Unbankable Podcast, I sit down with Gary “GC” Coichy, founder and CEO of POD Digital Media, a podcast network and cultural content marketplace connecting brands with diverse, multicultural, and high-growth audiences.</p><p>Gary shares how he left the security of corporate media, bootstrapped his company, and built a business that reported 1,586% growth over three years.</p><p>We talk about:</p><p>• how to monetize a podcast without chasing sponsors too early<br>• why most new podcasters quit within weeks<br>• how brands choose podcasts and content creators<br>• why audience quality matters more than follower count<br>• when entrepreneurs should hire and fire employees<br>• how Gary built and scaled a media company<br>• why local businesses should consider podcast advertising<br>• how AI is changing podcasting and digital media</p><p>Gary also explains why a “no” is often only a not yet, why creators must build a real product before asking about money, and how credible voices can still rise above an oversaturated podcast market.</p><p>Need working capital or business funding to hire, market, purchase equipment, or expand your company?</p><p>📞 Call FundKite at 877-502-5003<br>🌐 Visit FundKite.com to explore your business funding options.</p><p>👉 Subscribe to the channel for more honest conversations about business funding, entrepreneurship, sales, leadership, media, and building companies that last.</p><p>Be honest: would you keep creating content for a year if it made you absolutely no money?</p>]]>
      </content:encoded>
      <pubDate>Fri, 24 Jul 2026 04:57:28 -0700</pubDate>
      <author>Alex Shvarts</author>
      <enclosure url="https://media.transistor.fm/1706da1a/548b9467.mp3" length="69486835" type="audio/mpeg"/>
      <itunes:author>Alex Shvarts</itunes:author>
      <itunes:image href="https://img.transistorcdn.com/_lus5T1AZ0jajemXEIa35cdB6cR2JCV_lgu2mmvCNZ4/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS82MTc3/MjE5ZWE2YjdmMjUx/NTRiMGM2MGRiNzgx/ODE5MS5wbmc.jpg"/>
      <itunes:duration>2646</itunes:duration>
      <itunes:summary>
        <![CDATA[<p>Building a podcast or media company requires more than a microphone and a good idea. It takes the right audience, consistent execution, strong relationships, and often access to business funding that can help you hire a team, improve production, market your content, and scale without destroying cash flow.</p><p>I’m Alex Shvarts, founder and CEO of FundKite, where we help business owners explore alternative business funding when traditional banks cannot provide the speed or flexibility they need.</p><p>In this episode of the Unbankable Podcast, I sit down with Gary “GC” Coichy, founder and CEO of POD Digital Media, a podcast network and cultural content marketplace connecting brands with diverse, multicultural, and high-growth audiences.</p><p>Gary shares how he left the security of corporate media, bootstrapped his company, and built a business that reported 1,586% growth over three years.</p><p>We talk about:</p><p>• how to monetize a podcast without chasing sponsors too early<br>• why most new podcasters quit within weeks<br>• how brands choose podcasts and content creators<br>• why audience quality matters more than follower count<br>• when entrepreneurs should hire and fire employees<br>• how Gary built and scaled a media company<br>• why local businesses should consider podcast advertising<br>• how AI is changing podcasting and digital media</p><p>Gary also explains why a “no” is often only a not yet, why creators must build a real product before asking about money, and how credible voices can still rise above an oversaturated podcast market.</p><p>Need working capital or business funding to hire, market, purchase equipment, or expand your company?</p><p>📞 Call FundKite at 877-502-5003<br>🌐 Visit FundKite.com to explore your business funding options.</p><p>👉 Subscribe to the channel for more honest conversations about business funding, entrepreneurship, sales, leadership, media, and building companies that last.</p><p>Be honest: would you keep creating content for a year if it made you absolutely no money?</p>]]>
      </itunes:summary>
      <itunes:keywords>Unbankable with Alex Shvarts, Alex Schvarts, Gary GC Coichy, POD Digital Media, podcast monetization, how to monetize a podcast, podcast business, podcast network, media company, entrepreneurship podcast, content creator business, podcast advertising, brand partnerships, creator economy, digital media business, podcast sponsorships, business growth podcast, startup founder podcast, entrepreneur mindset, media entrepreneur, business funding podcast, working capital solutions, small business funding USA, alternative finance podcast, cash flow management, scaling a media company, building a personal brand, audience growth strategy, podcast marketing, content marketing, hiring and leadership, AI in podcasting, local business marketing, business development strategy, founder journey, entrepreneurship USA, business leadership podcast, creator monetization, startup growth strategy, American entrepreneurs podcast, business owners podcast, building a company, scaling a business, entrepreneur education podcast, business execution</itunes:keywords>
      <itunes:explicit>No</itunes:explicit>
      <podcast:transcript url="https://share.transistor.fm/s/1706da1a/transcript.txt" type="text/plain"/>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Why Entrepreneurs Burn Out (And How to Stop It) Explained by a Therapist</title>
      <itunes:episode>16</itunes:episode>
      <podcast:episode>16</podcast:episode>
      <itunes:title>Why Entrepreneurs Burn Out (And How to Stop It) Explained by a Therapist</itunes:title>
      <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">e37dc46c-451a-4d26-b99c-ebc98653c324</guid>
      <link>https://share.transistor.fm/s/494e4caf</link>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[<p>Business funding is never just about money — it’s about the pressure, fear, and decisions entrepreneurs carry while trying to keep growing.</p><p>I’m Alex Shvarts, founder and CEO of FundKite, and after working with thousands of business owners looking for working capital, growth capital, and fast business funding, I’ve seen how financial pressure can quickly become emotional pressure.</p><p>In this episode of the Unbankable Podcast, I sit down with therapist and entrepreneur Mayaa Fley, founder of Maya Wellness Institute, to talk about entrepreneur burnout, anxiety, nervous system regulation, and why many business problems become emotional before they become financial.</p><p>In this conversation we discuss:</p><p>• why entrepreneurs stay in survival mode<br>• how anxiety affects business decisions<br>• why childhood experiences shape leadership<br>• the connection between money and self-worth<br>• burnout warning signs every founder should know<br>• how therapy helps high performers<br>• EMDR therapy explained<br>• balancing business, family, and mental health<br>• why vulnerability creates stronger leaders<br>• how purpose changes the way you build a business</p><p>If you’re growing a business, scaling your company, or simply feeling overwhelmed by the pressure of entrepreneurship, this conversation may completely change how you think about success.</p><p>If your business needs working capital, growth capital, or fast business funding, our team at FundKite is here to help.</p><p>📞 Call (807) 502-5003<br>🌐 Visit FundKite.com to explore funding options for your business.</p><p>Subscribe for more conversations about entrepreneurship, leadership, business funding, psychology, and building successful companies.</p>]]>
      </description>
      <content:encoded>
        <![CDATA[<p>Business funding is never just about money — it’s about the pressure, fear, and decisions entrepreneurs carry while trying to keep growing.</p><p>I’m Alex Shvarts, founder and CEO of FundKite, and after working with thousands of business owners looking for working capital, growth capital, and fast business funding, I’ve seen how financial pressure can quickly become emotional pressure.</p><p>In this episode of the Unbankable Podcast, I sit down with therapist and entrepreneur Mayaa Fley, founder of Maya Wellness Institute, to talk about entrepreneur burnout, anxiety, nervous system regulation, and why many business problems become emotional before they become financial.</p><p>In this conversation we discuss:</p><p>• why entrepreneurs stay in survival mode<br>• how anxiety affects business decisions<br>• why childhood experiences shape leadership<br>• the connection between money and self-worth<br>• burnout warning signs every founder should know<br>• how therapy helps high performers<br>• EMDR therapy explained<br>• balancing business, family, and mental health<br>• why vulnerability creates stronger leaders<br>• how purpose changes the way you build a business</p><p>If you’re growing a business, scaling your company, or simply feeling overwhelmed by the pressure of entrepreneurship, this conversation may completely change how you think about success.</p><p>If your business needs working capital, growth capital, or fast business funding, our team at FundKite is here to help.</p><p>📞 Call (807) 502-5003<br>🌐 Visit FundKite.com to explore funding options for your business.</p><p>Subscribe for more conversations about entrepreneurship, leadership, business funding, psychology, and building successful companies.</p>]]>
      </content:encoded>
      <pubDate>Tue, 21 Jul 2026 06:39:03 -0700</pubDate>
      <author>Alex Shvarts</author>
      <enclosure url="https://media.transistor.fm/494e4caf/fb6f57da.mp3" length="80794881" type="audio/mpeg"/>
      <itunes:author>Alex Shvarts</itunes:author>
      <itunes:image href="https://img.transistorcdn.com/kmeG02zdfJ-lr9PKNs5HzNySWo7_YPz0uimfoWHnik8/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS82ODVk/YzFhYmRiOTBhOGFm/ZTg4M2NlNjczMGQw/ZjY5OS5wbmc.jpg"/>
      <itunes:duration>3193</itunes:duration>
      <itunes:summary>
        <![CDATA[<p>Business funding is never just about money — it’s about the pressure, fear, and decisions entrepreneurs carry while trying to keep growing.</p><p>I’m Alex Shvarts, founder and CEO of FundKite, and after working with thousands of business owners looking for working capital, growth capital, and fast business funding, I’ve seen how financial pressure can quickly become emotional pressure.</p><p>In this episode of the Unbankable Podcast, I sit down with therapist and entrepreneur Mayaa Fley, founder of Maya Wellness Institute, to talk about entrepreneur burnout, anxiety, nervous system regulation, and why many business problems become emotional before they become financial.</p><p>In this conversation we discuss:</p><p>• why entrepreneurs stay in survival mode<br>• how anxiety affects business decisions<br>• why childhood experiences shape leadership<br>• the connection between money and self-worth<br>• burnout warning signs every founder should know<br>• how therapy helps high performers<br>• EMDR therapy explained<br>• balancing business, family, and mental health<br>• why vulnerability creates stronger leaders<br>• how purpose changes the way you build a business</p><p>If you’re growing a business, scaling your company, or simply feeling overwhelmed by the pressure of entrepreneurship, this conversation may completely change how you think about success.</p><p>If your business needs working capital, growth capital, or fast business funding, our team at FundKite is here to help.</p><p>📞 Call (807) 502-5003<br>🌐 Visit FundKite.com to explore funding options for your business.</p><p>Subscribe for more conversations about entrepreneurship, leadership, business funding, psychology, and building successful companies.</p>]]>
      </itunes:summary>
      <itunes:keywords>Unbankable with Alex Shvarts, Alex Schvarts, Mayaa Fley, Maya Wellness Institute, entrepreneur mental health, entrepreneur burnout, founder burnout, business stress, business anxiety, leadership mindset, entrepreneur psychology, therapy for entrepreneurs, EMDR therapy, nervous system regulation, business leadership podcast, entrepreneur mindset podcast, emotional resilience, founder wellness, mental performance, high performance entrepreneurs, business growth podcast, startup founder mental health, scaling a business, work life balance, overcoming anxiety, emotional intelligence leadership, business decision making, money mindset entrepreneurs, self worth and success, business funding podcast, working capital solutions, alternative finance podcast, cash flow management, growth capital strategy, entrepreneurship USA, business owners podcast, founder resilience, leadership under pressure, burnout recovery, entrepreneur education podcast, success mindset, building sustainable businesses, personal growth for entrepreneurs, American entrepreneurs podcast, purpose driven leadership</itunes:keywords>
      <itunes:explicit>No</itunes:explicit>
      <podcast:transcript url="https://share.transistor.fm/s/494e4caf/transcription.vtt" type="text/vtt" rel="captions"/>
      <podcast:transcript url="https://share.transistor.fm/s/494e4caf/transcription.srt" type="application/x-subrip" rel="captions"/>
      <podcast:transcript url="https://share.transistor.fm/s/494e4caf/transcription.json" type="application/json" rel="captions"/>
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      <podcast:transcript url="https://share.transistor.fm/s/494e4caf/transcription" type="text/html"/>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>The Truth About Building Multiple Businesses at Once</title>
      <itunes:episode>15</itunes:episode>
      <podcast:episode>15</podcast:episode>
      <itunes:title>The Truth About Building Multiple Businesses at Once</itunes:title>
      <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">9a975457-3f93-4b5b-b7e6-a918e8008ce5</guid>
      <link>https://share.transistor.fm/s/d368b21f</link>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[<p>Business funding can help you start, grow, and scale, but if you’re building multiple businesses at once, the real question is whether you have a plan or just a fantasy. 💰</p><p>I’m Alex Shvarts, founder and CEO of FundKite, and I’ve seen thousands of entrepreneurs apply for business funding, working capital, and growth capital while trying to expand, diversify, or launch something completely new.</p><p>In this episode of the Unbankable Podcast, I sit down with Gina It — entrepreneur, real estate professional, product creator, fashion designer, and founder behind projects like TLC Vitamins, Jellybox Ventures, and VGO Fashion.</p><p>Gina’s story is about what many entrepreneurs face: big ideas, limited time, funding challenges, rejection, creative ambition, and the pressure of deciding which business deserves your energy.</p><p>We talk about:</p><p>💰 how entrepreneurs fund multiple businesses<br>🏢 why real estate can become a strong cash flow driver<br>📈 how working capital supports growth and new ventures<br>🚀 the difference between smart diversification and being all over the place<br>🎨 turning creative ideas into real products<br>👗 fashion, product design, vitamins, and Miami entrepreneurship<br>📲 how Instagram can drive business relationships<br>🔥 why a fantasy without a plan is just a fantasy<br>🎯 how to know when to keep going — and when to pause</p><p>At FundKite, we help business owners access business funding and working capital when traditional banks are not the right fit. But money alone does not build a business — the plan, execution, and discipline after the funding matter even more.</p><p>👉 Subscribe for more conversations about business funding, working capital, entrepreneurship, sales, leadership, and building companies that last.</p><p>🎧 Listen to the full Unbankable with Alex Shvarts Podcast on all major audio platforms.</p><p>What’s harder: getting the idea, getting the funding, or staying focused long enough to make it work? 👀</p>]]>
      </description>
      <content:encoded>
        <![CDATA[<p>Business funding can help you start, grow, and scale, but if you’re building multiple businesses at once, the real question is whether you have a plan or just a fantasy. 💰</p><p>I’m Alex Shvarts, founder and CEO of FundKite, and I’ve seen thousands of entrepreneurs apply for business funding, working capital, and growth capital while trying to expand, diversify, or launch something completely new.</p><p>In this episode of the Unbankable Podcast, I sit down with Gina It — entrepreneur, real estate professional, product creator, fashion designer, and founder behind projects like TLC Vitamins, Jellybox Ventures, and VGO Fashion.</p><p>Gina’s story is about what many entrepreneurs face: big ideas, limited time, funding challenges, rejection, creative ambition, and the pressure of deciding which business deserves your energy.</p><p>We talk about:</p><p>💰 how entrepreneurs fund multiple businesses<br>🏢 why real estate can become a strong cash flow driver<br>📈 how working capital supports growth and new ventures<br>🚀 the difference between smart diversification and being all over the place<br>🎨 turning creative ideas into real products<br>👗 fashion, product design, vitamins, and Miami entrepreneurship<br>📲 how Instagram can drive business relationships<br>🔥 why a fantasy without a plan is just a fantasy<br>🎯 how to know when to keep going — and when to pause</p><p>At FundKite, we help business owners access business funding and working capital when traditional banks are not the right fit. But money alone does not build a business — the plan, execution, and discipline after the funding matter even more.</p><p>👉 Subscribe for more conversations about business funding, working capital, entrepreneurship, sales, leadership, and building companies that last.</p><p>🎧 Listen to the full Unbankable with Alex Shvarts Podcast on all major audio platforms.</p><p>What’s harder: getting the idea, getting the funding, or staying focused long enough to make it work? 👀</p>]]>
      </content:encoded>
      <pubDate>Tue, 14 Jul 2026 04:15:05 -0700</pubDate>
      <author>Alex Shvarts</author>
      <enclosure url="https://media.transistor.fm/d368b21f/4ca07fd4.mp3" length="61122083" type="audio/mpeg"/>
      <itunes:author>Alex Shvarts</itunes:author>
      <itunes:image href="https://img.transistorcdn.com/ulIG8BSgKXmZIXh6FBZoGIz8Up1QHK0HF82o_djpNAs/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS83MWJl/NmExZTVlMGVjNTYz/MzE3NTA1MGFlZjI4/ZjE5NC5wbmc.jpg"/>
      <itunes:duration>2335</itunes:duration>
      <itunes:summary>
        <![CDATA[<p>Business funding can help you start, grow, and scale, but if you’re building multiple businesses at once, the real question is whether you have a plan or just a fantasy. 💰</p><p>I’m Alex Shvarts, founder and CEO of FundKite, and I’ve seen thousands of entrepreneurs apply for business funding, working capital, and growth capital while trying to expand, diversify, or launch something completely new.</p><p>In this episode of the Unbankable Podcast, I sit down with Gina It — entrepreneur, real estate professional, product creator, fashion designer, and founder behind projects like TLC Vitamins, Jellybox Ventures, and VGO Fashion.</p><p>Gina’s story is about what many entrepreneurs face: big ideas, limited time, funding challenges, rejection, creative ambition, and the pressure of deciding which business deserves your energy.</p><p>We talk about:</p><p>💰 how entrepreneurs fund multiple businesses<br>🏢 why real estate can become a strong cash flow driver<br>📈 how working capital supports growth and new ventures<br>🚀 the difference between smart diversification and being all over the place<br>🎨 turning creative ideas into real products<br>👗 fashion, product design, vitamins, and Miami entrepreneurship<br>📲 how Instagram can drive business relationships<br>🔥 why a fantasy without a plan is just a fantasy<br>🎯 how to know when to keep going — and when to pause</p><p>At FundKite, we help business owners access business funding and working capital when traditional banks are not the right fit. But money alone does not build a business — the plan, execution, and discipline after the funding matter even more.</p><p>👉 Subscribe for more conversations about business funding, working capital, entrepreneurship, sales, leadership, and building companies that last.</p><p>🎧 Listen to the full Unbankable with Alex Shvarts Podcast on all major audio platforms.</p><p>What’s harder: getting the idea, getting the funding, or staying focused long enough to make it work? 👀</p>]]>
      </itunes:summary>
      <itunes:keywords>Unbankable with Alex Shvarts, Alex Schvarts, Gina It, entrepreneurship podcast, multiple businesses, serial entrepreneur, business funding podcast, working capital solutions, small business funding USA, alternative finance podcast, business diversification, scaling multiple businesses, startup founder podcast, real estate investing, entrepreneur mindset, cash flow strategy, business growth podcast, product development, fashion entrepreneur, consumer products business, wellness business, vitamin business, Miami entrepreneur, creative entrepreneurship, business execution strategy, prioritization for entrepreneurs, building multiple income streams, founder leadership, startup growth strategy, entrepreneur education podcast, business planning, turning ideas into business, funding new ventures, business discipline, business ownership podcast, scaling a company, real estate cash flow, Instagram for business, entrepreneur productivity, American entrepreneurs podcast, business decision making, long term business growth, balancing multiple businesses, business operators podcast, growth capital strategy, startup execution</itunes:keywords>
      <itunes:explicit>No</itunes:explicit>
      <podcast:transcript url="https://share.transistor.fm/s/d368b21f/transcript.txt" type="text/plain"/>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>The 15-Minute Rule That Wins Deals | How DJ Irie Built a Business That Changes Lives</title>
      <itunes:episode>13</itunes:episode>
      <podcast:episode>13</podcast:episode>
      <itunes:title>The 15-Minute Rule That Wins Deals | How DJ Irie Built a Business That Changes Lives</itunes:title>
      <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">5b4d9836-ee21-4dfb-b269-ecba622547e3</guid>
      <link>https://share.transistor.fm/s/c1749fc0</link>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[<p>Business funding, entrepreneurship, working capital, and building a brand all come down to one thing: knowing how to turn your platform into real value.</p><p>I’m Alex Shvarts, founder and CEO of FundKite, and in this episode of the Unbankable Podcast, I sit down with DJ Irie — global entertainer, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and founder of the Irie Foundation.</p><p>This conversation is about more than music. It’s about business, branding, sponsorships, fundraising, leadership, building the right team, and creating something that makes money while making a difference. 💥</p><p>DJ Irie shares how he went from performing as a DJ to building Irie Weekend, working with major names, creating long-term sponsor relationships, and using his platform to support underserved youth in South Florida.</p><p>We talk about:</p><p>• how to turn passion into a real business<br>• why closing the deal is only the beginning<br>• how to build sponsorships that last<br>• why entrepreneurs need to measure their reach<br>• how to monetize your platform without losing your mission<br>• why team, execution, and overdelivering matter<br>• what business owners can learn from event production<br>• how purpose-driven businesses can stay sustainable<br>• why giving back can become part of a powerful brand</p><p>If you’re a business owner, entrepreneur, creator, event professional, or anyone trying to build a brand that creates real impact — this episode is for you.</p><p>👉 Subscribe to the channel for more real conversations about business funding, working capital, cash flow, entrepreneurship, sales, leadership, and building something that lasts.</p><p>Question: are you building a business only to make money — or to make an impact too? 👀</p>]]>
      </description>
      <content:encoded>
        <![CDATA[<p>Business funding, entrepreneurship, working capital, and building a brand all come down to one thing: knowing how to turn your platform into real value.</p><p>I’m Alex Shvarts, founder and CEO of FundKite, and in this episode of the Unbankable Podcast, I sit down with DJ Irie — global entertainer, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and founder of the Irie Foundation.</p><p>This conversation is about more than music. It’s about business, branding, sponsorships, fundraising, leadership, building the right team, and creating something that makes money while making a difference. 💥</p><p>DJ Irie shares how he went from performing as a DJ to building Irie Weekend, working with major names, creating long-term sponsor relationships, and using his platform to support underserved youth in South Florida.</p><p>We talk about:</p><p>• how to turn passion into a real business<br>• why closing the deal is only the beginning<br>• how to build sponsorships that last<br>• why entrepreneurs need to measure their reach<br>• how to monetize your platform without losing your mission<br>• why team, execution, and overdelivering matter<br>• what business owners can learn from event production<br>• how purpose-driven businesses can stay sustainable<br>• why giving back can become part of a powerful brand</p><p>If you’re a business owner, entrepreneur, creator, event professional, or anyone trying to build a brand that creates real impact — this episode is for you.</p><p>👉 Subscribe to the channel for more real conversations about business funding, working capital, cash flow, entrepreneurship, sales, leadership, and building something that lasts.</p><p>Question: are you building a business only to make money — or to make an impact too? 👀</p>]]>
      </content:encoded>
      <pubDate>Tue, 30 Jun 2026 03:22:45 -0700</pubDate>
      <author>Alex Shvarts</author>
      <enclosure url="https://media.transistor.fm/c1749fc0/f20fe966.mp3" length="94213596" type="audio/mpeg"/>
      <itunes:author>Alex Shvarts</itunes:author>
      <itunes:image href="https://img.transistorcdn.com/jKwyTGgArW1olPm7K73pKDzMS9Ebu44a-w4wxEm25i8/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9iZGQz/NGNlMzBlNzAwMDIy/Mjk2ZDU4OTI0ZWM5/NzY5Zi5wbmc.jpg"/>
      <itunes:duration>3598</itunes:duration>
      <itunes:summary>
        <![CDATA[<p>Business funding, entrepreneurship, working capital, and building a brand all come down to one thing: knowing how to turn your platform into real value.</p><p>I’m Alex Shvarts, founder and CEO of FundKite, and in this episode of the Unbankable Podcast, I sit down with DJ Irie — global entertainer, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and founder of the Irie Foundation.</p><p>This conversation is about more than music. It’s about business, branding, sponsorships, fundraising, leadership, building the right team, and creating something that makes money while making a difference. 💥</p><p>DJ Irie shares how he went from performing as a DJ to building Irie Weekend, working with major names, creating long-term sponsor relationships, and using his platform to support underserved youth in South Florida.</p><p>We talk about:</p><p>• how to turn passion into a real business<br>• why closing the deal is only the beginning<br>• how to build sponsorships that last<br>• why entrepreneurs need to measure their reach<br>• how to monetize your platform without losing your mission<br>• why team, execution, and overdelivering matter<br>• what business owners can learn from event production<br>• how purpose-driven businesses can stay sustainable<br>• why giving back can become part of a powerful brand</p><p>If you’re a business owner, entrepreneur, creator, event professional, or anyone trying to build a brand that creates real impact — this episode is for you.</p><p>👉 Subscribe to the channel for more real conversations about business funding, working capital, cash flow, entrepreneurship, sales, leadership, and building something that lasts.</p><p>Question: are you building a business only to make money — or to make an impact too? 👀</p>]]>
      </itunes:summary>
      <itunes:keywords>Unbankable with Alex Shvarts, Alex Schvarts, DJ Irie, entrepreneurship podcast, personal branding podcast, business growth podcast, creator economy, event marketing strategy, sponsorship marketing, brand partnerships, influencer business, building a personal brand, entertainment business podcast, entrepreneur mindset, leadership podcast, business funding podcast, working capital solutions, small business growth USA, monetizing your platform, creator monetization, business networking strategy, event production business, fundraising strategy, nonprofit leadership, community impact business, purpose driven business, sponsorship sales, relationship marketing, brand building strategy, entrepreneur leadership, cash flow business, startup founder mindset, scaling a business podcast, building a loyal audience, business development podcast, marketing and branding, business execution strategy, team building leadership, creating social impact, business and philanthropy, entrepreneur education podcast, American entrepreneurs podcast, long term business growth, creator entrepreneur, building influence, turning passion into profit</itunes:keywords>
      <itunes:explicit>No</itunes:explicit>
      <podcast:transcript url="https://share.transistor.fm/s/c1749fc0/transcript.txt" type="text/plain"/>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>The Legal Mistakes That Destroy Small Businesses Overnight! (And How to Avoid Them)</title>
      <itunes:episode>14</itunes:episode>
      <podcast:episode>14</podcast:episode>
      <itunes:title>The Legal Mistakes That Destroy Small Businesses Overnight! (And How to Avoid Them)</itunes:title>
      <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
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      <link>https://share.transistor.fm/s/2d2e9d6a</link>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[<p>One lawsuit, one bad contract, or one business partner dispute can destroy everything you worked for 🚨</p><p>I’m Alex Shvarts, founder and CEO of FundKite. At FundKite, we help business owners access business funding when banks say no — but funding is only one part of building a real business. You also need protection, structure, contracts, and the right legal strategy.</p><p>In this episode of the Unbankable Podcast, I sit down with Chris Robert Tinton, managing partner of Tinton Law Firm, also known as “The Legal Bodyguard,” to talk about the legal mistakes that business owners cannot afford to ignore.</p><p>We talk about:</p><p>• why every business owner needs the right contracts<br>• how business divorce can destroy a company<br>• what to do in the first 48 hours after a lawsuit<br>• why you should never delete texts or WhatsApp messages<br>• why cheap legal advice can become very expensive<br>• how to choose the right lawyer for your business<br>• when to fire your attorney<br>• why funding, legal structure, and business planning work together</p><p>Chris also explains why many businesses are not truly “unbankable” — they may just be presenting their business the wrong way to lenders.</p><p>If you need capital to grow, expand, manage cash flow, or take advantage of a business opportunity, FundKite may be able to help.</p><p>Visit FundKite.com or contact our team to explore your business funding options.</p><p>👉 Subscribe to the channel for more real conversations about business funding, entrepreneurship, sales, legal protection, and building something that lasts.</p><p>🎧 Listen to the Unbankable with Alex Shvarts Podcast on all major audio platforms - https://unbankable.transistor.fm/subscribe</p><p>Drop a comment: what’s the biggest legal mistake you’ve seen a business owner make? 👀</p><p>TIMECODES<br>00:00 One Lawsuit Can End It<br>00:56 Legal Protection for Business Owners<br>02:44 The Legal Bodyguard<br>03:45 The Biggest Contract Mistake<br>05:16 Business Divorce Is Real<br>06:00 First 48 Hours After Lawsuit<br>07:15 Save Your Text Messages<br>08:52 Are Businesses Really Unbankable?<br>10:57 Doctors, Business, and Structure<br>12:48 Contract Disputes Explained<br>13:01 Gas Station Deal Saved<br>14:29 LLC, Corp, or Partnership?<br>15:18 When Lawyers Fire Clients<br>16:43 Cheap Legal Advice Costs More<br>18:14 Legal Budget for Business<br>19:32 Bilingual Business Law in Miami<br>21:32 Arbitration vs Court<br>23:24 How to Choose a Lawyer<br>24:12 When to Fire Your Lawyer<br>26:09 Funding Is Business Energy<br>27:49 Lawyers as Business Psychologists<br>29:15 Never Lie to Your Lawyer<br>30:22 How to Contact Chris<br>31:06 Lawyer Life and Balance<br>32:52 What Makes a Good Client<br>34:16 Growing With Your Lawyer</p>]]>
      </description>
      <content:encoded>
        <![CDATA[<p>One lawsuit, one bad contract, or one business partner dispute can destroy everything you worked for 🚨</p><p>I’m Alex Shvarts, founder and CEO of FundKite. At FundKite, we help business owners access business funding when banks say no — but funding is only one part of building a real business. You also need protection, structure, contracts, and the right legal strategy.</p><p>In this episode of the Unbankable Podcast, I sit down with Chris Robert Tinton, managing partner of Tinton Law Firm, also known as “The Legal Bodyguard,” to talk about the legal mistakes that business owners cannot afford to ignore.</p><p>We talk about:</p><p>• why every business owner needs the right contracts<br>• how business divorce can destroy a company<br>• what to do in the first 48 hours after a lawsuit<br>• why you should never delete texts or WhatsApp messages<br>• why cheap legal advice can become very expensive<br>• how to choose the right lawyer for your business<br>• when to fire your attorney<br>• why funding, legal structure, and business planning work together</p><p>Chris also explains why many businesses are not truly “unbankable” — they may just be presenting their business the wrong way to lenders.</p><p>If you need capital to grow, expand, manage cash flow, or take advantage of a business opportunity, FundKite may be able to help.</p><p>Visit FundKite.com or contact our team to explore your business funding options.</p><p>👉 Subscribe to the channel for more real conversations about business funding, entrepreneurship, sales, legal protection, and building something that lasts.</p><p>🎧 Listen to the Unbankable with Alex Shvarts Podcast on all major audio platforms - https://unbankable.transistor.fm/subscribe</p><p>Drop a comment: what’s the biggest legal mistake you’ve seen a business owner make? 👀</p><p>TIMECODES<br>00:00 One Lawsuit Can End It<br>00:56 Legal Protection for Business Owners<br>02:44 The Legal Bodyguard<br>03:45 The Biggest Contract Mistake<br>05:16 Business Divorce Is Real<br>06:00 First 48 Hours After Lawsuit<br>07:15 Save Your Text Messages<br>08:52 Are Businesses Really Unbankable?<br>10:57 Doctors, Business, and Structure<br>12:48 Contract Disputes Explained<br>13:01 Gas Station Deal Saved<br>14:29 LLC, Corp, or Partnership?<br>15:18 When Lawyers Fire Clients<br>16:43 Cheap Legal Advice Costs More<br>18:14 Legal Budget for Business<br>19:32 Bilingual Business Law in Miami<br>21:32 Arbitration vs Court<br>23:24 How to Choose a Lawyer<br>24:12 When to Fire Your Lawyer<br>26:09 Funding Is Business Energy<br>27:49 Lawyers as Business Psychologists<br>29:15 Never Lie to Your Lawyer<br>30:22 How to Contact Chris<br>31:06 Lawyer Life and Balance<br>32:52 What Makes a Good Client<br>34:16 Growing With Your Lawyer</p>]]>
      </content:encoded>
      <pubDate>Wed, 24 Jun 2026 05:03:11 -0700</pubDate>
      <author>Alex Shvarts</author>
      <enclosure url="https://media.transistor.fm/2d2e9d6a/e3c01d39.mp3" length="53551961" type="audio/mpeg"/>
      <itunes:author>Alex Shvarts</itunes:author>
      <itunes:image href="https://img.transistorcdn.com/kAkc2KCU-7dC7nS3vMZUVdGgHPnaAZZetUT7zct84dA/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS8yYjBl/OTkwOGE4Njk2ZjJk/MWFlNTMwZjJhZjMz/NWRiNS5qcGVn.jpg"/>
      <itunes:duration>2055</itunes:duration>
      <itunes:summary>
        <![CDATA[<p>One lawsuit, one bad contract, or one business partner dispute can destroy everything you worked for 🚨</p><p>I’m Alex Shvarts, founder and CEO of FundKite. At FundKite, we help business owners access business funding when banks say no — but funding is only one part of building a real business. You also need protection, structure, contracts, and the right legal strategy.</p><p>In this episode of the Unbankable Podcast, I sit down with Chris Robert Tinton, managing partner of Tinton Law Firm, also known as “The Legal Bodyguard,” to talk about the legal mistakes that business owners cannot afford to ignore.</p><p>We talk about:</p><p>• why every business owner needs the right contracts<br>• how business divorce can destroy a company<br>• what to do in the first 48 hours after a lawsuit<br>• why you should never delete texts or WhatsApp messages<br>• why cheap legal advice can become very expensive<br>• how to choose the right lawyer for your business<br>• when to fire your attorney<br>• why funding, legal structure, and business planning work together</p><p>Chris also explains why many businesses are not truly “unbankable” — they may just be presenting their business the wrong way to lenders.</p><p>If you need capital to grow, expand, manage cash flow, or take advantage of a business opportunity, FundKite may be able to help.</p><p>Visit FundKite.com or contact our team to explore your business funding options.</p><p>👉 Subscribe to the channel for more real conversations about business funding, entrepreneurship, sales, legal protection, and building something that lasts.</p><p>🎧 Listen to the Unbankable with Alex Shvarts Podcast on all major audio platforms - https://unbankable.transistor.fm/subscribe</p><p>Drop a comment: what’s the biggest legal mistake you’ve seen a business owner make? 👀</p><p>TIMECODES<br>00:00 One Lawsuit Can End It<br>00:56 Legal Protection for Business Owners<br>02:44 The Legal Bodyguard<br>03:45 The Biggest Contract Mistake<br>05:16 Business Divorce Is Real<br>06:00 First 48 Hours After Lawsuit<br>07:15 Save Your Text Messages<br>08:52 Are Businesses Really Unbankable?<br>10:57 Doctors, Business, and Structure<br>12:48 Contract Disputes Explained<br>13:01 Gas Station Deal Saved<br>14:29 LLC, Corp, or Partnership?<br>15:18 When Lawyers Fire Clients<br>16:43 Cheap Legal Advice Costs More<br>18:14 Legal Budget for Business<br>19:32 Bilingual Business Law in Miami<br>21:32 Arbitration vs Court<br>23:24 How to Choose a Lawyer<br>24:12 When to Fire Your Lawyer<br>26:09 Funding Is Business Energy<br>27:49 Lawyers as Business Psychologists<br>29:15 Never Lie to Your Lawyer<br>30:22 How to Contact Chris<br>31:06 Lawyer Life and Balance<br>32:52 What Makes a Good Client<br>34:16 Growing With Your Lawyer</p>]]>
      </itunes:summary>
      <itunes:keywords>Unbankable with Alex Shvarts, Alex Schvarts, Chris Robert Tinton, Tinton Law Firm, business law podcast, entrepreneur legal advice, small business legal mistakes, business contracts, lawsuit protection, business attorney podcast, legal strategy for entrepreneurs, business partner disputes, business divorce, commercial litigation, contract law for business, LLC vs corporation, choosing a business lawyer, legal risk management, entrepreneur protection, startup legal advice, business funding podcast, working capital podcast, entrepreneurship USA, alternative finance podcast, business structure strategy, legal compliance business, business planning podcast, protecting business assets, legal mistakes entrepreneurs make, attorney client relationship, arbitration vs litigation, entrepreneur leadership podcast, business operations strategy, funding and legal planning, cash flow business, American entrepreneurs podcast, business owners podcast, commercial law USA, business growth strategy, scaling a business safely, legal due diligence, business protection strategy, contracts for small business, entrepreneur education podcast, risk management business</itunes:keywords>
      <itunes:explicit>No</itunes:explicit>
      <podcast:transcript url="https://share.transistor.fm/s/2d2e9d6a/transcript.txt" type="text/plain"/>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Why So Many NBA Players Go Broke After Retirement | Mario Chalmers</title>
      <itunes:episode>12</itunes:episode>
      <podcast:episode>12</podcast:episode>
      <itunes:title>Why So Many NBA Players Go Broke After Retirement | Mario Chalmers</itunes:title>
      <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
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      <link>https://share.transistor.fm/s/c76eaf5e</link>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[<p>Business funding, entrepreneurship, investing, and building wealth after a successful career all come down to one thing: having the right team and making smart decisions before the money stops coming.</p><p>I’m Alex Shvarts, founder and CEO of FundKite. Every year, thousands of business owners apply for business funding, working capital, and growth capital because they need help scaling their companies, managing cash flow, and creating long-term success.</p><p>In this episode of the Unbankable Podcast, I sit down with two-time NBA Champion Mario Chalmers to talk about life after professional sports, business ownership, investing, leadership, and why many athletes struggle financially after retirement.</p><p>Mario shares what it was like playing alongside LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, and one of the greatest teams in NBA history. More importantly, he shares the lessons he learned transitioning from basketball to business.</p><p>We discuss:</p><p>🏆 life after the NBA<br>💰 why many professional athletes go broke<br>📈 investing, business ownership, and wealth building<br>🚀 how to transition from sports into entrepreneurship<br>🤝 why building the right team matters<br>📊 business funding and growth opportunities<br>🧠 leadership lessons from championship teams<br>💵 managing money after million-dollar paychecks stop<br>🎯 how successful entrepreneurs make decisions<br>🔥 why confidence in sports doesn’t automatically translate to business</p><p>At FundKite, we work with business owners every day who need business funding, working capital, and growth capital to keep growing. One lesson that applies to both athletes and entrepreneurs is simple: you don’t have to know everything, but you do need the right people around you.</p><p>If you’re building a business, investing for the future, or trying to create long-term wealth, this conversation is full of lessons that go far beyond basketball.</p><p>👉 Subscribe for more conversations about business funding, entrepreneurship, investing, leadership, cash flow, and building successful companies.</p><p><br>What’s more difficult: becoming a champion — or staying successful after you’ve already won? 👇</p>]]>
      </description>
      <content:encoded>
        <![CDATA[<p>Business funding, entrepreneurship, investing, and building wealth after a successful career all come down to one thing: having the right team and making smart decisions before the money stops coming.</p><p>I’m Alex Shvarts, founder and CEO of FundKite. Every year, thousands of business owners apply for business funding, working capital, and growth capital because they need help scaling their companies, managing cash flow, and creating long-term success.</p><p>In this episode of the Unbankable Podcast, I sit down with two-time NBA Champion Mario Chalmers to talk about life after professional sports, business ownership, investing, leadership, and why many athletes struggle financially after retirement.</p><p>Mario shares what it was like playing alongside LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, and one of the greatest teams in NBA history. More importantly, he shares the lessons he learned transitioning from basketball to business.</p><p>We discuss:</p><p>🏆 life after the NBA<br>💰 why many professional athletes go broke<br>📈 investing, business ownership, and wealth building<br>🚀 how to transition from sports into entrepreneurship<br>🤝 why building the right team matters<br>📊 business funding and growth opportunities<br>🧠 leadership lessons from championship teams<br>💵 managing money after million-dollar paychecks stop<br>🎯 how successful entrepreneurs make decisions<br>🔥 why confidence in sports doesn’t automatically translate to business</p><p>At FundKite, we work with business owners every day who need business funding, working capital, and growth capital to keep growing. One lesson that applies to both athletes and entrepreneurs is simple: you don’t have to know everything, but you do need the right people around you.</p><p>If you’re building a business, investing for the future, or trying to create long-term wealth, this conversation is full of lessons that go far beyond basketball.</p><p>👉 Subscribe for more conversations about business funding, entrepreneurship, investing, leadership, cash flow, and building successful companies.</p><p><br>What’s more difficult: becoming a champion — or staying successful after you’ve already won? 👇</p>]]>
      </content:encoded>
      <pubDate>Fri, 05 Jun 2026 08:56:07 -0700</pubDate>
      <author>Alex Shvarts</author>
      <enclosure url="https://media.transistor.fm/c76eaf5e/00e29a2c.mp3" length="60825609" type="audio/mpeg"/>
      <itunes:author>Alex Shvarts</itunes:author>
      <itunes:image href="https://img.transistorcdn.com/DllHBDn_DrlvGokiHl2eESU7vLTZvyhFyRNQvtg_rhs/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9kNmY0/NGU1YzdiMDZmZDgx/MTUyMDEwNmM0ZTRk/ZTc2ZS5wbmc.jpg"/>
      <itunes:duration>2317</itunes:duration>
      <itunes:summary>
        <![CDATA[<p>Business funding, entrepreneurship, investing, and building wealth after a successful career all come down to one thing: having the right team and making smart decisions before the money stops coming.</p><p>I’m Alex Shvarts, founder and CEO of FundKite. Every year, thousands of business owners apply for business funding, working capital, and growth capital because they need help scaling their companies, managing cash flow, and creating long-term success.</p><p>In this episode of the Unbankable Podcast, I sit down with two-time NBA Champion Mario Chalmers to talk about life after professional sports, business ownership, investing, leadership, and why many athletes struggle financially after retirement.</p><p>Mario shares what it was like playing alongside LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, and one of the greatest teams in NBA history. More importantly, he shares the lessons he learned transitioning from basketball to business.</p><p>We discuss:</p><p>🏆 life after the NBA<br>💰 why many professional athletes go broke<br>📈 investing, business ownership, and wealth building<br>🚀 how to transition from sports into entrepreneurship<br>🤝 why building the right team matters<br>📊 business funding and growth opportunities<br>🧠 leadership lessons from championship teams<br>💵 managing money after million-dollar paychecks stop<br>🎯 how successful entrepreneurs make decisions<br>🔥 why confidence in sports doesn’t automatically translate to business</p><p>At FundKite, we work with business owners every day who need business funding, working capital, and growth capital to keep growing. One lesson that applies to both athletes and entrepreneurs is simple: you don’t have to know everything, but you do need the right people around you.</p><p>If you’re building a business, investing for the future, or trying to create long-term wealth, this conversation is full of lessons that go far beyond basketball.</p><p>👉 Subscribe for more conversations about business funding, entrepreneurship, investing, leadership, cash flow, and building successful companies.</p><p><br>What’s more difficult: becoming a champion — or staying successful after you’ve already won? 👇</p>]]>
      </itunes:summary>
      <itunes:keywords>Unbankable with Alex Shvarts, Alex Schvarts, Mario Chalmers, NBA champion, entrepreneurship podcast, athlete entrepreneur, life after sports, investing podcast, wealth building strategies, business ownership podcast, athlete investing, financial literacy athletes, NBA business lessons, professional athletes and money, leadership podcast, startup founder mindset, entrepreneur mindset podcast, building wealth after sports, business funding podcast, working capital solutions, growth capital strategy, small business funding USA, alternative finance podcast, cash flow management, business growth strategy, athlete transition to business, championship mindset, team building leadership, entrepreneur success habits, investing for the future, financial independence podcast, business leadership USA, managing money after retirement, founder mindset, scaling a business podcast, confidence in business, athlete business owner, long term wealth creation, American entrepreneurs podcast, sports and business, entrepreneur education podcast, business decision making, wealth preservation strategy, leadership lessons from sports, building successful companies</itunes:keywords>
      <itunes:explicit>No</itunes:explicit>
      <podcast:transcript url="https://share.transistor.fm/s/c76eaf5e/transcript.txt" type="text/plain"/>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>The Healthcare System Is Broken! How Doctors Are Building Businesses Outside the System?</title>
      <itunes:episode>11</itunes:episode>
      <podcast:episode>11</podcast:episode>
      <itunes:title>The Healthcare System Is Broken! How Doctors Are Building Businesses Outside the System?</itunes:title>
      <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">d9bf1659-cc1e-4036-8607-17b529518bf7</guid>
      <link>https://share.transistor.fm/s/4ae5e2bc</link>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[<p>Business owners ask me all the time:</p><p>How do you grow a business without running out of cash?<br>How do you get business funding when traditional banks say no?<br>How do you get working capital for your business without sacrificing growth?</p><p>The reality is that every business owner eventually faces the same challenge: access to capital.</p><p>In this episode of the Unbankable Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Dimitri Gitelmaker to discuss something that applies to every entrepreneur — building a business outside of a broken system.</p><p>While Dr. Gitelmaker built his practice outside the traditional healthcare model, the lessons apply to every founder, business owner, and entrepreneur trying to scale a company, manage cash flow, build a strong brand, and create long-term value.</p><p>At FundKite, we’ve helped thousands of businesses secure business funding, working capital, and growth capital when traditional financing wasn’t the right fit. That’s why conversations like this matter.</p><p>We discuss:</p><p>💰 How entrepreneurs build businesses outside traditional systems<br>📈 Why access to capital can make or break a growing compan<br>🚀 How to scale a service-based business<br>🧠 Why every professional eventually becomes a salesperson<br>🔥 Building a premium brand instead of competing on price<br>🏥 How concierge medicine became a successful business model<br>🤖 AI, innovation, and the future of healthcare<br>📊 The challenges of scaling expertise-driven businesses<br>👨‍💼Leadership, hiring, delegation, and business growth<br>💡 What every entrepreneur can learn from doctors, consultants, and service professionals</p><p>If you’re searching for how to get business funding, how to get funding for your business, how to raise business funding, or how successful founders build companies outside traditional systems, this episode is for you.</p><p>👉 Subscribe for more conversations about business funding, working capital, entrepreneurship, sales, leadership, and business growth.</p><p><br>#alexshvarts #UnbankablePodcast #ConciergeMedicine #HealthcareBusiness</p>]]>
      </description>
      <content:encoded>
        <![CDATA[<p>Business owners ask me all the time:</p><p>How do you grow a business without running out of cash?<br>How do you get business funding when traditional banks say no?<br>How do you get working capital for your business without sacrificing growth?</p><p>The reality is that every business owner eventually faces the same challenge: access to capital.</p><p>In this episode of the Unbankable Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Dimitri Gitelmaker to discuss something that applies to every entrepreneur — building a business outside of a broken system.</p><p>While Dr. Gitelmaker built his practice outside the traditional healthcare model, the lessons apply to every founder, business owner, and entrepreneur trying to scale a company, manage cash flow, build a strong brand, and create long-term value.</p><p>At FundKite, we’ve helped thousands of businesses secure business funding, working capital, and growth capital when traditional financing wasn’t the right fit. That’s why conversations like this matter.</p><p>We discuss:</p><p>💰 How entrepreneurs build businesses outside traditional systems<br>📈 Why access to capital can make or break a growing compan<br>🚀 How to scale a service-based business<br>🧠 Why every professional eventually becomes a salesperson<br>🔥 Building a premium brand instead of competing on price<br>🏥 How concierge medicine became a successful business model<br>🤖 AI, innovation, and the future of healthcare<br>📊 The challenges of scaling expertise-driven businesses<br>👨‍💼Leadership, hiring, delegation, and business growth<br>💡 What every entrepreneur can learn from doctors, consultants, and service professionals</p><p>If you’re searching for how to get business funding, how to get funding for your business, how to raise business funding, or how successful founders build companies outside traditional systems, this episode is for you.</p><p>👉 Subscribe for more conversations about business funding, working capital, entrepreneurship, sales, leadership, and business growth.</p><p><br>#alexshvarts #UnbankablePodcast #ConciergeMedicine #HealthcareBusiness</p>]]>
      </content:encoded>
      <pubDate>Tue, 02 Jun 2026 07:48:52 -0700</pubDate>
      <author>Alex Shvarts</author>
      <enclosure url="https://media.transistor.fm/4ae5e2bc/5f56c477.mp3" length="79680801" type="audio/mpeg"/>
      <itunes:author>Alex Shvarts</itunes:author>
      <itunes:image href="https://img.transistorcdn.com/u0crORDV0GWoWNHJg054mcuGKq3Gr00O-N6pBMvvIFc/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS8yMDE4/YWJlODMyMTU2YWY1/OTcyNWEwYWRhYmU1/ZWI5YS5wbmc.jpg"/>
      <itunes:duration>3071</itunes:duration>
      <itunes:summary>
        <![CDATA[<p>Business owners ask me all the time:</p><p>How do you grow a business without running out of cash?<br>How do you get business funding when traditional banks say no?<br>How do you get working capital for your business without sacrificing growth?</p><p>The reality is that every business owner eventually faces the same challenge: access to capital.</p><p>In this episode of the Unbankable Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Dimitri Gitelmaker to discuss something that applies to every entrepreneur — building a business outside of a broken system.</p><p>While Dr. Gitelmaker built his practice outside the traditional healthcare model, the lessons apply to every founder, business owner, and entrepreneur trying to scale a company, manage cash flow, build a strong brand, and create long-term value.</p><p>At FundKite, we’ve helped thousands of businesses secure business funding, working capital, and growth capital when traditional financing wasn’t the right fit. That’s why conversations like this matter.</p><p>We discuss:</p><p>💰 How entrepreneurs build businesses outside traditional systems<br>📈 Why access to capital can make or break a growing compan<br>🚀 How to scale a service-based business<br>🧠 Why every professional eventually becomes a salesperson<br>🔥 Building a premium brand instead of competing on price<br>🏥 How concierge medicine became a successful business model<br>🤖 AI, innovation, and the future of healthcare<br>📊 The challenges of scaling expertise-driven businesses<br>👨‍💼Leadership, hiring, delegation, and business growth<br>💡 What every entrepreneur can learn from doctors, consultants, and service professionals</p><p>If you’re searching for how to get business funding, how to get funding for your business, how to raise business funding, or how successful founders build companies outside traditional systems, this episode is for you.</p><p>👉 Subscribe for more conversations about business funding, working capital, entrepreneurship, sales, leadership, and business growth.</p><p><br>#alexshvarts #UnbankablePodcast #ConciergeMedicine #HealthcareBusiness</p>]]>
      </itunes:summary>
      <itunes:keywords>Unbankable with Alex Shvarts, Alex Schvarts, Dr Dimitri Gitelmaker, healthcare entrepreneurship, concierge medicine, business funding podcast, working capital podcast, small business funding USA, alternative finance podcast, entrepreneur mindset podcast, healthcare business podcast, medical practice growth, scaling a service business, doctors in business, healthcare innovation podcast, business leadership podcast, startup funding strategy, cash flow management, access to capital, business growth strategy, premium service business, entrepreneurship USA, AI in healthcare, longevity medicine, peptide therapy business, medical practice management, business systems and delegation, hiring and leadership, founder mindset podcast, scaling expertise businesses, service based business growth, marketing for professionals, building a premium brand, healthcare disruption, physician entrepreneur, concierge healthcare model, business owners podcast, alternative financing USA, growth capital strategy, leadership lessons entrepreneurs, building outside the system, innovation in healthcare, entrepreneur education podcast, future of healthcare business, successful founders podcast</itunes:keywords>
      <itunes:explicit>No</itunes:explicit>
      <podcast:transcript url="https://share.transistor.fm/s/4ae5e2bc/transcript.txt" type="text/plain"/>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>The Insurance Mistake That Can Destroy Your Business</title>
      <itunes:episode>10</itunes:episode>
      <podcast:episode>10</podcast:episode>
      <itunes:title>The Insurance Mistake That Can Destroy Your Business</itunes:title>
      <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
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      <link>https://share.transistor.fm/s/4049e298</link>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[<p>One insurance mistake… and everything you built could disappear overnight. 🚨</p><p>I’m Alex Shvarts, founder and CEO of FundKite, and in this episode of the Unbankable Podcast, I sit down with Ryan Brawner from Plastridge Insurance to talk about the insurance mistakes that destroy businesses every single year.</p><p>From restaurant fires 🔥 to lawsuits ⚖️ to business interruption nightmares — this conversation breaks down what business owners NEED to understand before it’s too late.</p><p>We talk about:</p><p>• why cheap insurance can become the most expensive decision you make<br>• what hospitality owners MUST protect from day one<br>• business interruption insurance explained simply<br>• what happens after a major loss or lawsuit<br>• how insurance brokers actually think<br>• why trust matters more than price in business<br>• sales, risk, relationships, and protecting your future</p><p>Ryan also shares some CRAZY real-life insurance stories 😂 and practical advice every entrepreneur should hear.</p><p>👉 Subscribe to the channel for more real conversations about business, funding, sales, entrepreneurship, and building something that lasts.</p><p>#alexshvarts  #unbankable #UnbankablePodcast #BusinessInsurance #RestaurantBusiness</p><p>What’s the biggest business mistake YOU’VE seen someone make trying to “save money”? 👀</p>]]>
      </description>
      <content:encoded>
        <![CDATA[<p>One insurance mistake… and everything you built could disappear overnight. 🚨</p><p>I’m Alex Shvarts, founder and CEO of FundKite, and in this episode of the Unbankable Podcast, I sit down with Ryan Brawner from Plastridge Insurance to talk about the insurance mistakes that destroy businesses every single year.</p><p>From restaurant fires 🔥 to lawsuits ⚖️ to business interruption nightmares — this conversation breaks down what business owners NEED to understand before it’s too late.</p><p>We talk about:</p><p>• why cheap insurance can become the most expensive decision you make<br>• what hospitality owners MUST protect from day one<br>• business interruption insurance explained simply<br>• what happens after a major loss or lawsuit<br>• how insurance brokers actually think<br>• why trust matters more than price in business<br>• sales, risk, relationships, and protecting your future</p><p>Ryan also shares some CRAZY real-life insurance stories 😂 and practical advice every entrepreneur should hear.</p><p>👉 Subscribe to the channel for more real conversations about business, funding, sales, entrepreneurship, and building something that lasts.</p><p>#alexshvarts  #unbankable #UnbankablePodcast #BusinessInsurance #RestaurantBusiness</p><p>What’s the biggest business mistake YOU’VE seen someone make trying to “save money”? 👀</p>]]>
      </content:encoded>
      <pubDate>Tue, 26 May 2026 11:37:51 -0700</pubDate>
      <author>Alex Shvarts</author>
      <enclosure url="https://media.transistor.fm/4049e298/bc2cd9cd.mp3" length="73271458" type="audio/mpeg"/>
      <itunes:author>Alex Shvarts</itunes:author>
      <itunes:image href="https://img.transistorcdn.com/CcvJGfWeTOTHpt0-t_yFP0oXJIYxgTQSv3zjGjvFMJo/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS8yZWQ1/ZjY5ODljOGQzNWMx/OTU0OTFhOTk1MmZk/MzhmNy5wbmc.jpg"/>
      <itunes:duration>2736</itunes:duration>
      <itunes:summary>
        <![CDATA[<p>One insurance mistake… and everything you built could disappear overnight. 🚨</p><p>I’m Alex Shvarts, founder and CEO of FundKite, and in this episode of the Unbankable Podcast, I sit down with Ryan Brawner from Plastridge Insurance to talk about the insurance mistakes that destroy businesses every single year.</p><p>From restaurant fires 🔥 to lawsuits ⚖️ to business interruption nightmares — this conversation breaks down what business owners NEED to understand before it’s too late.</p><p>We talk about:</p><p>• why cheap insurance can become the most expensive decision you make<br>• what hospitality owners MUST protect from day one<br>• business interruption insurance explained simply<br>• what happens after a major loss or lawsuit<br>• how insurance brokers actually think<br>• why trust matters more than price in business<br>• sales, risk, relationships, and protecting your future</p><p>Ryan also shares some CRAZY real-life insurance stories 😂 and practical advice every entrepreneur should hear.</p><p>👉 Subscribe to the channel for more real conversations about business, funding, sales, entrepreneurship, and building something that lasts.</p><p>#alexshvarts  #unbankable #UnbankablePodcast #BusinessInsurance #RestaurantBusiness</p><p>What’s the biggest business mistake YOU’VE seen someone make trying to “save money”? 👀</p>]]>
      </itunes:summary>
      <itunes:keywords>Unbankable with Alex Shvarts, Alex Schvarts, Ryan Brawner, Plastridge Insurance, business insurance podcast, entrepreneur risk management, small business insurance, hospitality insurance, restaurant insurance podcast, business interruption insurance, liability insurance explained, protecting your business, entrepreneur mistakes podcast, insurance claims business, commercial insurance USA, business lawsuit protection, risk management entrepreneurs, startup protection strategy, business owner insurance tips, insurance broker advice, sales and insurance podcast, building trust with clients, entrepreneur leadership podcast, business funding and insurance, protecting business assets, insurance for restaurants, business fire insurance, commercial liability coverage, insurance mistakes entrepreneurs make, scaling a business safely, business operations risk, financial protection for business owners, sales psychology entrepreneurs, prospecting strategies sales, relationship based business, business growth podcast, American entrepreneurs podcast, commercial insurance strategy, choosing insurance coverage, business continuity planning, entrepreneur education podcast, protecting long term business, business disaster recovery, smart business protection, insurance sales career</itunes:keywords>
      <itunes:explicit>No</itunes:explicit>
      <podcast:transcript url="https://share.transistor.fm/s/4049e298/transcript.txt" type="text/plain"/>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>The Business Side of Being an Artist | Why Talent Is Not Enough</title>
      <itunes:episode>9</itunes:episode>
      <podcast:episode>9</podcast:episode>
      <itunes:title>The Business Side of Being an Artist | Why Talent Is Not Enough</itunes:title>
      <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
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      <link>https://share.transistor.fm/s/2ed415eb</link>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[<p>Alternative business funding, music entrepreneurship, real estate investing, and building wealth beyond your main career all come down to one thing: turning income into long-term assets.</p><p>I’m Alex Shvarts, founder and CEO of FundKite, and in this episode of the Unbankable Podcast, I sit down with Shifta — music artist, entrepreneur, real estate investor, developer, and founder of the Timeless brand.</p><p>Shifta started in music at a young age, built his name through records like “Ganja Shop,” toured internationally, and learned early that music income can be powerful — but unpredictable. Instead of spending everything on image, he used his first real money from music to buy property, build equity, reinvest into his career, and eventually expand into real estate development, restaurants, cannabis, beauty, and family-run businesses.</p><p>In this conversation, we talk about:</p><p>* why artists need to think like entrepreneurs<br>* how Shifta turned music income into real estate<br>* why making money in music is harder than people think<br>* how to handle rejection and keep going<br>* why one hit song is not a financial plan<br>* how real estate can create long-term stability<br>* why image can destroy wealth if you are not careful<br>* how to balance creativity, business, family, and discipline<br>* what young artists should know before spending their first big check</p><p>This episode is for artists, creators, entrepreneurs, and business owners who want to build something bigger than one moment of success.</p><p>Drop a comment: if you made your first big check today, would you spend it, save it, or invest it?</p><p><br>_______</p><p>Banks focus on credit scores. We focus on real businesses.<br>This channel breaks down how entrepreneurs access capital using cash flow—not rigid bank rules.</p><p>📞 Call us for a consultation: (877) 502-5003<br>🌐 Learn more: fundkite.com</p><p>#alexshvarts  #UnbankablePodcast #MusicBusiness #Entrepreneurship</p>]]>
      </description>
      <content:encoded>
        <![CDATA[<p>Alternative business funding, music entrepreneurship, real estate investing, and building wealth beyond your main career all come down to one thing: turning income into long-term assets.</p><p>I’m Alex Shvarts, founder and CEO of FundKite, and in this episode of the Unbankable Podcast, I sit down with Shifta — music artist, entrepreneur, real estate investor, developer, and founder of the Timeless brand.</p><p>Shifta started in music at a young age, built his name through records like “Ganja Shop,” toured internationally, and learned early that music income can be powerful — but unpredictable. Instead of spending everything on image, he used his first real money from music to buy property, build equity, reinvest into his career, and eventually expand into real estate development, restaurants, cannabis, beauty, and family-run businesses.</p><p>In this conversation, we talk about:</p><p>* why artists need to think like entrepreneurs<br>* how Shifta turned music income into real estate<br>* why making money in music is harder than people think<br>* how to handle rejection and keep going<br>* why one hit song is not a financial plan<br>* how real estate can create long-term stability<br>* why image can destroy wealth if you are not careful<br>* how to balance creativity, business, family, and discipline<br>* what young artists should know before spending their first big check</p><p>This episode is for artists, creators, entrepreneurs, and business owners who want to build something bigger than one moment of success.</p><p>Drop a comment: if you made your first big check today, would you spend it, save it, or invest it?</p><p><br>_______</p><p>Banks focus on credit scores. We focus on real businesses.<br>This channel breaks down how entrepreneurs access capital using cash flow—not rigid bank rules.</p><p>📞 Call us for a consultation: (877) 502-5003<br>🌐 Learn more: fundkite.com</p><p>#alexshvarts  #UnbankablePodcast #MusicBusiness #Entrepreneurship</p>]]>
      </content:encoded>
      <pubDate>Fri, 22 May 2026 06:37:52 -0700</pubDate>
      <author>Alex Shvarts</author>
      <enclosure url="https://media.transistor.fm/2ed415eb/633d9d7e.mp3" length="66637757" type="audio/mpeg"/>
      <itunes:author>Alex Shvarts</itunes:author>
      <itunes:image href="https://img.transistorcdn.com/UIrSjnyWJbO0j8kbDlqW3XMkPeby-S1YIAJlNKnz97E/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS80OGE4/YWFkNTg3N2UwMTE2/MWUxYjk0NmMzYTc0/MDkyZi5wbmc.jpg"/>
      <itunes:duration>2561</itunes:duration>
      <itunes:summary>
        <![CDATA[<p>Alternative business funding, music entrepreneurship, real estate investing, and building wealth beyond your main career all come down to one thing: turning income into long-term assets.</p><p>I’m Alex Shvarts, founder and CEO of FundKite, and in this episode of the Unbankable Podcast, I sit down with Shifta — music artist, entrepreneur, real estate investor, developer, and founder of the Timeless brand.</p><p>Shifta started in music at a young age, built his name through records like “Ganja Shop,” toured internationally, and learned early that music income can be powerful — but unpredictable. Instead of spending everything on image, he used his first real money from music to buy property, build equity, reinvest into his career, and eventually expand into real estate development, restaurants, cannabis, beauty, and family-run businesses.</p><p>In this conversation, we talk about:</p><p>* why artists need to think like entrepreneurs<br>* how Shifta turned music income into real estate<br>* why making money in music is harder than people think<br>* how to handle rejection and keep going<br>* why one hit song is not a financial plan<br>* how real estate can create long-term stability<br>* why image can destroy wealth if you are not careful<br>* how to balance creativity, business, family, and discipline<br>* what young artists should know before spending their first big check</p><p>This episode is for artists, creators, entrepreneurs, and business owners who want to build something bigger than one moment of success.</p><p>Drop a comment: if you made your first big check today, would you spend it, save it, or invest it?</p><p><br>_______</p><p>Banks focus on credit scores. We focus on real businesses.<br>This channel breaks down how entrepreneurs access capital using cash flow—not rigid bank rules.</p><p>📞 Call us for a consultation: (877) 502-5003<br>🌐 Learn more: fundkite.com</p><p>#alexshvarts  #UnbankablePodcast #MusicBusiness #Entrepreneurship</p>]]>
      </itunes:summary>
      <itunes:keywords>Unbankable with Alex Shvarts, Alex Schvarts, Shifta, music business podcast, artist entrepreneurship, music entrepreneur podcast, real estate investing podcast, building wealth as an artist, entrepreneur mindset podcast, turning income into assets, long term wealth strategy, real estate for musicians, music industry business, artist financial literacy, creative entrepreneurship, building multiple income streams, music artist business strategy, investing music income, startup founder mindset, business growth podcast, creator economy podcast, entrepreneurship USA, cannabis business entrepreneur, restaurant business owner, real estate development podcast, financial discipline entrepreneurs, artist branding strategy, balancing creativity and business, monetizing a following, business ownership podcast, independent artist strategy, making money in music, business lessons for artists, creator wealth building, scaling a business podcast, authenticity in business, family business entrepreneurs, American entrepreneur podcast, investing first paycheck, long term investing strategy, entertainment business podcast, building equity through real estate, entrepreneur leadership mindset</itunes:keywords>
      <itunes:explicit>No</itunes:explicit>
      <podcast:transcript url="https://share.transistor.fm/s/2ed415eb/transcript.txt" type="text/plain"/>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>How to Build a Media Brand That Actually Lasts</title>
      <itunes:episode>8</itunes:episode>
      <podcast:episode>8</podcast:episode>
      <itunes:title>How to Build a Media Brand That Actually Lasts</itunes:title>
      <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">215bc546-3515-4188-8c67-932c587863e2</guid>
      <link>https://share.transistor.fm/s/3ddd0841</link>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[<p>Building a media brand today takes more than content creation — it takes authenticity, storytelling, trust, and a real business strategy that can survive changing platforms, AI, podcasts, radio, and social media.</p><p>I’m Alex Shvarts, founder and CEO of FundKite, and in this episode of the Unbankable Podcast, I sit down with Keith “Papa Keith” Walcott — legendary Miami radio host, media personality, voice actor, event host, entrepreneur, and community advocate.</p><p>Papa Keith has been the voice of Miami for decades, currently hosting afternoon drive on 103.5 The Beat. He has recorded more than 18,000 radio and TV commercials, built revenue streams beyond radio, worked with brands and advertisers, and used his platform to support the community through his People Matter initiative.</p><p>In this conversation, we talk about:</p><p>* why authenticity matters more than copying trends<br>* how to build a personal brand that lasts<br>* why radio is not dead<br>* how storytelling helps entrepreneurs sell their business<br>* how media personalities monetize their voice and influence<br>* why people spend money with people they like<br>* how to adapt your brand to different markets<br>* why giving back can save your purpose<br>* how entrepreneurs can use media, podcasting, and community to grow</p><p>We also talk about business funding, access to capital, why entrepreneurs need a plan before raising money, and how relationships still matter in a world where everything feels transactional.</p><p>This episode is funny, honest, and full of real lessons for entrepreneurs, creators, media professionals, and business owners who want to build something real — not just chase attention.</p><p>Drop a comment: what matters more today — followers, authenticity, or real relationships?</p><p><br>_______</p><p>Banks focus on credit scores. We focus on real businesses.<br>This channel breaks down how entrepreneurs access capital using cash flow—not rigid bank rules.</p><p>📞 Call us for a consultation: (877) 502-5003<br>🌐 Learn more: fundkite.com</p><p>#alexshvarts #UnbankablePodcast #MediaBranding #Entrepreneurship</p>]]>
      </description>
      <content:encoded>
        <![CDATA[<p>Building a media brand today takes more than content creation — it takes authenticity, storytelling, trust, and a real business strategy that can survive changing platforms, AI, podcasts, radio, and social media.</p><p>I’m Alex Shvarts, founder and CEO of FundKite, and in this episode of the Unbankable Podcast, I sit down with Keith “Papa Keith” Walcott — legendary Miami radio host, media personality, voice actor, event host, entrepreneur, and community advocate.</p><p>Papa Keith has been the voice of Miami for decades, currently hosting afternoon drive on 103.5 The Beat. He has recorded more than 18,000 radio and TV commercials, built revenue streams beyond radio, worked with brands and advertisers, and used his platform to support the community through his People Matter initiative.</p><p>In this conversation, we talk about:</p><p>* why authenticity matters more than copying trends<br>* how to build a personal brand that lasts<br>* why radio is not dead<br>* how storytelling helps entrepreneurs sell their business<br>* how media personalities monetize their voice and influence<br>* why people spend money with people they like<br>* how to adapt your brand to different markets<br>* why giving back can save your purpose<br>* how entrepreneurs can use media, podcasting, and community to grow</p><p>We also talk about business funding, access to capital, why entrepreneurs need a plan before raising money, and how relationships still matter in a world where everything feels transactional.</p><p>This episode is funny, honest, and full of real lessons for entrepreneurs, creators, media professionals, and business owners who want to build something real — not just chase attention.</p><p>Drop a comment: what matters more today — followers, authenticity, or real relationships?</p><p><br>_______</p><p>Banks focus on credit scores. We focus on real businesses.<br>This channel breaks down how entrepreneurs access capital using cash flow—not rigid bank rules.</p><p>📞 Call us for a consultation: (877) 502-5003<br>🌐 Learn more: fundkite.com</p><p>#alexshvarts #UnbankablePodcast #MediaBranding #Entrepreneurship</p>]]>
      </content:encoded>
      <pubDate>Tue, 19 May 2026 04:20:08 -0700</pubDate>
      <author>Alex Shvarts</author>
      <enclosure url="https://media.transistor.fm/3ddd0841/2f38671a.mp3" length="68000852" type="audio/mpeg"/>
      <itunes:author>Alex Shvarts</itunes:author>
      <itunes:image href="https://img.transistorcdn.com/YO_V8H_Q_-2j_PjcFoQjkEzjREchhxs6egfql0ERZpM/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS80NjE1/MzU4ZjliN2IwNGQz/YWJmZGY0ODY5MWMz/MzA0My5wbmc.jpg"/>
      <itunes:duration>2607</itunes:duration>
      <itunes:summary>
        <![CDATA[<p>Building a media brand today takes more than content creation — it takes authenticity, storytelling, trust, and a real business strategy that can survive changing platforms, AI, podcasts, radio, and social media.</p><p>I’m Alex Shvarts, founder and CEO of FundKite, and in this episode of the Unbankable Podcast, I sit down with Keith “Papa Keith” Walcott — legendary Miami radio host, media personality, voice actor, event host, entrepreneur, and community advocate.</p><p>Papa Keith has been the voice of Miami for decades, currently hosting afternoon drive on 103.5 The Beat. He has recorded more than 18,000 radio and TV commercials, built revenue streams beyond radio, worked with brands and advertisers, and used his platform to support the community through his People Matter initiative.</p><p>In this conversation, we talk about:</p><p>* why authenticity matters more than copying trends<br>* how to build a personal brand that lasts<br>* why radio is not dead<br>* how storytelling helps entrepreneurs sell their business<br>* how media personalities monetize their voice and influence<br>* why people spend money with people they like<br>* how to adapt your brand to different markets<br>* why giving back can save your purpose<br>* how entrepreneurs can use media, podcasting, and community to grow</p><p>We also talk about business funding, access to capital, why entrepreneurs need a plan before raising money, and how relationships still matter in a world where everything feels transactional.</p><p>This episode is funny, honest, and full of real lessons for entrepreneurs, creators, media professionals, and business owners who want to build something real — not just chase attention.</p><p>Drop a comment: what matters more today — followers, authenticity, or real relationships?</p><p><br>_______</p><p>Banks focus on credit scores. We focus on real businesses.<br>This channel breaks down how entrepreneurs access capital using cash flow—not rigid bank rules.</p><p>📞 Call us for a consultation: (877) 502-5003<br>🌐 Learn more: fundkite.com</p><p>#alexshvarts #UnbankablePodcast #MediaBranding #Entrepreneurship</p>]]>
      </itunes:summary>
      <itunes:keywords>Unbankable podcast, Alex Schvarts, Papa Keith, Keith Walcott, 103.5 The Beat, media branding podcast, personal branding strategy, entrepreneurship podcast USA, podcast growth strategy, storytelling for entrepreneurs, radio industry podcast, media personality business, creator economy podcast, social media branding, authentic personal brand, influencer marketing strategy, podcast marketing entrepreneurs, business storytelling podcast, building a media brand, entrepreneur communication skills, voice acting business, content creator strategy, community marketing podcast, business growth podcast, monetizing influence, branding through storytelling, media entrepreneur podcast, entrepreneur mindset USA, radio host entrepreneur, business networking strategy, relationship marketing podcast, social media authenticity, AI and media business, creator business strategy, building trust in business, entrepreneur branding podcast, marketing through community, business funding podcast, access to capital entrepreneurs, business relationships matter, creator monetization strategy, podcasting for entrepreneurs, small business growth USA, business leadership podcast, American entrepreneurs podcast, authentic marketing strategy</itunes:keywords>
      <itunes:explicit>No</itunes:explicit>
      <podcast:transcript url="https://share.transistor.fm/s/3ddd0841/transcript.txt" type="text/plain"/>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Why Real Entrepreneurs Don’t Follow the Roadmap</title>
      <itunes:episode>7</itunes:episode>
      <podcast:episode>7</podcast:episode>
      <itunes:title>Why Real Entrepreneurs Don’t Follow the Roadmap</itunes:title>
      <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">e1b92c16-ae24-40a0-abff-e3f6ec7d4317</guid>
      <link>https://share.transistor.fm/s/d497f5f0</link>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[<p>Real entrepreneurship is not about looking successful — it is about building something real, surviving pressure, and creating your own path when no roadmap exists.</p><p>I’m Alex Shvarts, founder and CEO of FundKite, and in this episode of the Unbankable Podcast, I sit down with Sache B — entrepreneur, systems operator, and founder of Agency X.</p><p>Sache started doing manual labor at a young age, scaled operational businesses with hundreds of employees, and built a reputation for understanding systems, people, sales, and growth at a very high level. Today, he works across multiple industries helping businesses optimize operations, build scalable systems, and grow smarter.</p><p>In this conversation, we talk about:</p><p>* why entrepreneurs need to create their own path<br>* how to spot BS in business quickly<br>* why social media success can be misleading<br>* the difference between confidence and overconfidence<br>* why flashy money usually means less than people think<br>* how to hire and keep real A-players<br>* when firing someone can actually help both sides<br>* why one strong business beats chasing endless hustles<br>* how struggle creates financial discipline<br>* what it really takes to stay in business long enough to win</p><p>This episode is funny, honest, raw, and full of real entrepreneurial lessons about money, people, discipline, communication, and building something meaningful.</p><p>Drop a comment: what’s the biggest lesson entrepreneurship has taught you so far?</p><p><br>#alexshvarts #unbankable #EntrepreneurMindset </p>]]>
      </description>
      <content:encoded>
        <![CDATA[<p>Real entrepreneurship is not about looking successful — it is about building something real, surviving pressure, and creating your own path when no roadmap exists.</p><p>I’m Alex Shvarts, founder and CEO of FundKite, and in this episode of the Unbankable Podcast, I sit down with Sache B — entrepreneur, systems operator, and founder of Agency X.</p><p>Sache started doing manual labor at a young age, scaled operational businesses with hundreds of employees, and built a reputation for understanding systems, people, sales, and growth at a very high level. Today, he works across multiple industries helping businesses optimize operations, build scalable systems, and grow smarter.</p><p>In this conversation, we talk about:</p><p>* why entrepreneurs need to create their own path<br>* how to spot BS in business quickly<br>* why social media success can be misleading<br>* the difference between confidence and overconfidence<br>* why flashy money usually means less than people think<br>* how to hire and keep real A-players<br>* when firing someone can actually help both sides<br>* why one strong business beats chasing endless hustles<br>* how struggle creates financial discipline<br>* what it really takes to stay in business long enough to win</p><p>This episode is funny, honest, raw, and full of real entrepreneurial lessons about money, people, discipline, communication, and building something meaningful.</p><p>Drop a comment: what’s the biggest lesson entrepreneurship has taught you so far?</p><p><br>#alexshvarts #unbankable #EntrepreneurMindset </p>]]>
      </content:encoded>
      <pubDate>Fri, 15 May 2026 04:27:32 -0700</pubDate>
      <author>Alex Shvarts</author>
      <enclosure url="https://media.transistor.fm/d497f5f0/b0150750.mp3" length="73884707" type="audio/mpeg"/>
      <itunes:author>Alex Shvarts</itunes:author>
      <itunes:image href="https://img.transistorcdn.com/Ehjeja8RdpbVcJobpdmBsTHioYJejb0lMs1q2Ga-YaU/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS80OWQz/NTI5MmM3OGIzYzY4/Nzg0MmZhYTAwM2Fl/ZjIyYy5wbmc.jpg"/>
      <itunes:duration>2823</itunes:duration>
      <itunes:summary>
        <![CDATA[<p>Real entrepreneurship is not about looking successful — it is about building something real, surviving pressure, and creating your own path when no roadmap exists.</p><p>I’m Alex Shvarts, founder and CEO of FundKite, and in this episode of the Unbankable Podcast, I sit down with Sache B — entrepreneur, systems operator, and founder of Agency X.</p><p>Sache started doing manual labor at a young age, scaled operational businesses with hundreds of employees, and built a reputation for understanding systems, people, sales, and growth at a very high level. Today, he works across multiple industries helping businesses optimize operations, build scalable systems, and grow smarter.</p><p>In this conversation, we talk about:</p><p>* why entrepreneurs need to create their own path<br>* how to spot BS in business quickly<br>* why social media success can be misleading<br>* the difference between confidence and overconfidence<br>* why flashy money usually means less than people think<br>* how to hire and keep real A-players<br>* when firing someone can actually help both sides<br>* why one strong business beats chasing endless hustles<br>* how struggle creates financial discipline<br>* what it really takes to stay in business long enough to win</p><p>This episode is funny, honest, raw, and full of real entrepreneurial lessons about money, people, discipline, communication, and building something meaningful.</p><p>Drop a comment: what’s the biggest lesson entrepreneurship has taught you so far?</p><p><br>#alexshvarts #unbankable #EntrepreneurMindset </p>]]>
      </itunes:summary>
      <itunes:keywords>Unbankable podcast, Alex Schvarts, Sache B, Agency X, entrepreneurship podcast USA, entrepreneur mindset podcast, business systems podcast, operational growth strategy, scaling a business, business discipline mindset, hiring A players, firing employees strategy, startup founder journey, entrepreneur struggles podcast, business growth strategy, systems for entrepreneurs, sales psychology business, confidence vs overconfidence, spotting fake entrepreneurs, business leadership USA, scaling operational businesses, entrepreneur communication skills, financial discipline entrepreneurs, social media success reality, business operators podcast, small business growth USA, building a real business, entrepreneur resilience, business execution strategy, cash flow mindset, CEO mindset podcast, American entrepreneurs podcast, startup growth lessons, business operations systems, building scalable companies, hiring and leadership podcast, one business focus strategy, avoiding fake opportunities, long term business success, entrepreneur burnout podcast, managing people in business, business truth podcast, sales and systems entrepreneurs, building wealth discipline, founder leadership mindset, real entrepreneurship lessons</itunes:keywords>
      <itunes:explicit>No</itunes:explicit>
      <podcast:transcript url="https://share.transistor.fm/s/d497f5f0/transcript.txt" type="text/plain"/>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Don't Hire a Lead Gen Agency Until You Listen This!</title>
      <itunes:episode>6</itunes:episode>
      <podcast:episode>6</podcast:episode>
      <itunes:title>Don't Hire a Lead Gen Agency Until You Listen This!</itunes:title>
      <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
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      <link>https://share.transistor.fm/s/81598bad</link>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[<p>Lead generation is not just about getting more names, emails, or phone numbers. It is about finding the right people, qualifying them properly, and turning attention into real revenue.</p><p>I’m Alex Shvarts, founder and CEO of FundKite, and in this episode of the Unbankable Podcast, I sit down with Brett Rosenblatt, founder and CEO of Biz Connect Ads, to break down what most business owners get wrong about lead generation.</p><p>Brett has generated millions of consumer leads across financial services and other industries, and in this conversation, we talk about what actually makes an ad campaign work, why cheap leads can become expensive fast, how Meta targeting has changed, and why the real failure often happens after the lead comes in.</p><p>We cover:<br>* why most businesses waste money on ads<br>* how to separate qualified leads from bad leads<br>* what business owners should know before hiring a lead generation agency<br>* why follow-up systems matter more than most people think<br>* how AI is changing marketing<br>* when to fire your marketing agency<br>* what entrepreneurs can learn from bad days, failed systems, and real business pressure</p><p>If you are a business owner trying to grow, this episode will help you understand the difference between spending money on ads and investing in a real lead generation system.</p><p>Drop a comment: what is your biggest challenge with getting quality leads?</p>]]>
      </description>
      <content:encoded>
        <![CDATA[<p>Lead generation is not just about getting more names, emails, or phone numbers. It is about finding the right people, qualifying them properly, and turning attention into real revenue.</p><p>I’m Alex Shvarts, founder and CEO of FundKite, and in this episode of the Unbankable Podcast, I sit down with Brett Rosenblatt, founder and CEO of Biz Connect Ads, to break down what most business owners get wrong about lead generation.</p><p>Brett has generated millions of consumer leads across financial services and other industries, and in this conversation, we talk about what actually makes an ad campaign work, why cheap leads can become expensive fast, how Meta targeting has changed, and why the real failure often happens after the lead comes in.</p><p>We cover:<br>* why most businesses waste money on ads<br>* how to separate qualified leads from bad leads<br>* what business owners should know before hiring a lead generation agency<br>* why follow-up systems matter more than most people think<br>* how AI is changing marketing<br>* when to fire your marketing agency<br>* what entrepreneurs can learn from bad days, failed systems, and real business pressure</p><p>If you are a business owner trying to grow, this episode will help you understand the difference between spending money on ads and investing in a real lead generation system.</p><p>Drop a comment: what is your biggest challenge with getting quality leads?</p>]]>
      </content:encoded>
      <pubDate>Fri, 08 May 2026 08:12:23 -0700</pubDate>
      <author>Alex Shvarts</author>
      <enclosure url="https://media.transistor.fm/81598bad/f3f0bd2a.mp3" length="65918386" type="audio/mpeg"/>
      <itunes:author>Alex Shvarts</itunes:author>
      <itunes:image href="https://img.transistorcdn.com/CYa7PcteO-C0rGAcQHXxIeNw44elErXPE8ABXvkBHPg/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS85NGYz/ZjRmODlkN2RhZTg3/MjMwMTM1Y2Y5MDQx/MTk3OS5wbmc.jpg"/>
      <itunes:duration>2522</itunes:duration>
      <itunes:summary>
        <![CDATA[<p>Lead generation is not just about getting more names, emails, or phone numbers. It is about finding the right people, qualifying them properly, and turning attention into real revenue.</p><p>I’m Alex Shvarts, founder and CEO of FundKite, and in this episode of the Unbankable Podcast, I sit down with Brett Rosenblatt, founder and CEO of Biz Connect Ads, to break down what most business owners get wrong about lead generation.</p><p>Brett has generated millions of consumer leads across financial services and other industries, and in this conversation, we talk about what actually makes an ad campaign work, why cheap leads can become expensive fast, how Meta targeting has changed, and why the real failure often happens after the lead comes in.</p><p>We cover:<br>* why most businesses waste money on ads<br>* how to separate qualified leads from bad leads<br>* what business owners should know before hiring a lead generation agency<br>* why follow-up systems matter more than most people think<br>* how AI is changing marketing<br>* when to fire your marketing agency<br>* what entrepreneurs can learn from bad days, failed systems, and real business pressure</p><p>If you are a business owner trying to grow, this episode will help you understand the difference between spending money on ads and investing in a real lead generation system.</p><p>Drop a comment: what is your biggest challenge with getting quality leads?</p>]]>
      </itunes:summary>
      <itunes:keywords>Unbankable podcast, Alex Schvarts, Brett Rosenblatt, Biz Connect Ads, lead generation podcast, business marketing podcast, qualified leads strategy, lead generation for small business, digital marketing entrepreneurs, Meta ads strategy, Facebook ads business, advertising for entrepreneurs, sales funnel optimization, business growth podcast, startup marketing strategy, lead qualification process, customer acquisition strategy, AI marketing podcast, marketing agency advice, scaling with paid ads, cash flow marketing strategy, entrepreneur marketing mistakes, business development podcast, small business growth USA, marketing systems entrepreneurs, conversion optimization strategy, follow up systems sales, CRM follow up process, business owners marketing tips, performance marketing podcast, ad targeting strategy, business revenue growth, lead conversion strategy, entrepreneur mindset podcast, scaling a business with ads, hiring marketing agency, firing marketing agency, sales and marketing alignment, funding and marketing strategy, American entrepreneurs podcast, business operators podcast, marketing ROI strategy, bad leads vs good leads, online lead generation, business advertising systems, fintech entrepreneurs podcast</itunes:keywords>
      <itunes:explicit>No</itunes:explicit>
      <podcast:transcript url="https://share.transistor.fm/s/81598bad/transcript.txt" type="text/plain"/>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Michael Beasley on Being Called a Bust, LeBron, Kobe &amp; Building a New Life</title>
      <itunes:episode>5</itunes:episode>
      <podcast:episode>5</podcast:episode>
      <itunes:title>Michael Beasley on Being Called a Bust, LeBron, Kobe &amp; Building a New Life</itunes:title>
      <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">2793443d-0f02-480e-9c0f-5f1e44f0ae1a</guid>
      <link>https://share.transistor.fm/s/a4bca1a0</link>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[<p>How to bounce back from failure and rebuild your life is one of the most important lessons any entrepreneur can learn.</p><p>I’m Alex Shvarts, founder and CEO of FundKite, and in this episode of the Unbankable Podcast, I sit down with Michael Beasley — former NBA player, number two overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, 12-season NBA veteran, international champion, and now a voice for resilience, reinvention, and business mindset.</p><p>This conversation goes far beyond basketball.</p><p>Michael talks about pressure, public perception, failure, identity, emotions, leadership, and what it really means to keep going when the world already thinks it knows your story.</p><p>We talk about:</p><p>* why failure is not the end of your story<br>* how pressure changes the way people see themselves<br>* what athletes and entrepreneurs have in common<br>* why emotions and honesty matter in business<br>* how public judgment can distort the truth<br>* why leadership looks different for everyone<br>* how to stop being the victim of your own story<br>* what success really means beyond money</p><p>What I love about this conversation is that Michael doesn’t give polished, rehearsed answers. He speaks from experience, from emotion, and from truth. And that’s exactly what entrepreneurs need more of.</p><p>At FundKite, I talk to business owners every day who are fighting through pressure, setbacks, cash flow problems, and moments where they have to reinvent themselves. That’s why this conversation matters — because business is not just numbers. It’s resilience, timing, honesty, and the ability to keep moving forward.</p><p>👉 Learn more about FundKite: https://fundkite.com/<br>📞 Call us for a consultation: (877) 502-5003</p><p>My question for you:<br>What failure or setback changed the way you look at your life or business?</p><p>Drop your answer in the comments — I’d really like to hear it.</p>]]>
      </description>
      <content:encoded>
        <![CDATA[<p>How to bounce back from failure and rebuild your life is one of the most important lessons any entrepreneur can learn.</p><p>I’m Alex Shvarts, founder and CEO of FundKite, and in this episode of the Unbankable Podcast, I sit down with Michael Beasley — former NBA player, number two overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, 12-season NBA veteran, international champion, and now a voice for resilience, reinvention, and business mindset.</p><p>This conversation goes far beyond basketball.</p><p>Michael talks about pressure, public perception, failure, identity, emotions, leadership, and what it really means to keep going when the world already thinks it knows your story.</p><p>We talk about:</p><p>* why failure is not the end of your story<br>* how pressure changes the way people see themselves<br>* what athletes and entrepreneurs have in common<br>* why emotions and honesty matter in business<br>* how public judgment can distort the truth<br>* why leadership looks different for everyone<br>* how to stop being the victim of your own story<br>* what success really means beyond money</p><p>What I love about this conversation is that Michael doesn’t give polished, rehearsed answers. He speaks from experience, from emotion, and from truth. And that’s exactly what entrepreneurs need more of.</p><p>At FundKite, I talk to business owners every day who are fighting through pressure, setbacks, cash flow problems, and moments where they have to reinvent themselves. That’s why this conversation matters — because business is not just numbers. It’s resilience, timing, honesty, and the ability to keep moving forward.</p><p>👉 Learn more about FundKite: https://fundkite.com/<br>📞 Call us for a consultation: (877) 502-5003</p><p>My question for you:<br>What failure or setback changed the way you look at your life or business?</p><p>Drop your answer in the comments — I’d really like to hear it.</p>]]>
      </content:encoded>
      <pubDate>Tue, 05 May 2026 04:42:31 -0700</pubDate>
      <author>Alex Shvarts</author>
      <enclosure url="https://media.transistor.fm/a4bca1a0/16057245.mp3" length="91827194" type="audio/mpeg"/>
      <itunes:author>Alex Shvarts</itunes:author>
      <itunes:image href="https://img.transistorcdn.com/I6ByXoXgkUlISYqWnwjGYd-JSzHZW5ktBzPn7t0UJ-M/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS85NWJh/ZTA4N2IwNDQ4ZjY1/ODg0MjM3YjMyNWE4/OTI2OC5wbmc.jpg"/>
      <itunes:duration>3395</itunes:duration>
      <itunes:summary>
        <![CDATA[<p>How to bounce back from failure and rebuild your life is one of the most important lessons any entrepreneur can learn.</p><p>I’m Alex Shvarts, founder and CEO of FundKite, and in this episode of the Unbankable Podcast, I sit down with Michael Beasley — former NBA player, number two overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, 12-season NBA veteran, international champion, and now a voice for resilience, reinvention, and business mindset.</p><p>This conversation goes far beyond basketball.</p><p>Michael talks about pressure, public perception, failure, identity, emotions, leadership, and what it really means to keep going when the world already thinks it knows your story.</p><p>We talk about:</p><p>* why failure is not the end of your story<br>* how pressure changes the way people see themselves<br>* what athletes and entrepreneurs have in common<br>* why emotions and honesty matter in business<br>* how public judgment can distort the truth<br>* why leadership looks different for everyone<br>* how to stop being the victim of your own story<br>* what success really means beyond money</p><p>What I love about this conversation is that Michael doesn’t give polished, rehearsed answers. He speaks from experience, from emotion, and from truth. And that’s exactly what entrepreneurs need more of.</p><p>At FundKite, I talk to business owners every day who are fighting through pressure, setbacks, cash flow problems, and moments where they have to reinvent themselves. That’s why this conversation matters — because business is not just numbers. It’s resilience, timing, honesty, and the ability to keep moving forward.</p><p>👉 Learn more about FundKite: https://fundkite.com/<br>📞 Call us for a consultation: (877) 502-5003</p><p>My question for you:<br>What failure or setback changed the way you look at your life or business?</p><p>Drop your answer in the comments — I’d really like to hear it.</p>]]>
      </itunes:summary>
      <itunes:keywords>fundkite, Alex Shvarts, small business funding, business funding, mca, alternative business funding, Unbankable with Alex Schvarts, small business loans, michael beasley, unbankable podcast, entrepreneur mindset, failure to success, business resilience, nba interview, business growth, leadership mindset, entrepreneur podcast, overcoming failure, business, nba</itunes:keywords>
      <itunes:explicit>No</itunes:explicit>
      <podcast:transcript url="https://share.transistor.fm/s/a4bca1a0/transcript.txt" type="text/plain"/>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>How To Scale ANY Business Without Breaking It | Business Funding &amp; Sales</title>
      <itunes:episode>4</itunes:episode>
      <podcast:episode>4</podcast:episode>
      <itunes:title>How To Scale ANY Business Without Breaking It | Business Funding &amp; Sales</itunes:title>
      <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">c4e50162-ee1f-4421-8c59-e474faf4b440</guid>
      <link>https://share.transistor.fm/s/d28e6229</link>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[<p>Small business funding, sales, and rejection - this is the real side of building a business.</p><p>I’m Alex Shvarts, founder of FundKite, and in this episode of the Unbankable Podcast, I sit down with Kevin Richardson, founder of Splash Advance - a funding company that scaled fast and made its way onto the Inc. 5000 list in just a few years.</p><p>Kevin works with business owners every single day, helping them navigate funding, cash flow, and the realities of getting deals done - and in this conversation, we go deep into what actually happens behind the scenes.</p><p>We talk about:</p><p>– why most entrepreneurs fail at handling rejection<br>– the hardest conversations in funding and sales<br>– how to set real expectations with clients<br>– scaling a business without breaking it<br>– hiring, firing, and building a real team<br>– and what actually creates long-term success</p><p>This is not theory - this is real experience from people who are in the trenches every day.</p><p>How do YOU handle rejection in business? Do you push harder or walk away?<br>Drop your answer in the comments.</p><p>⸻</p><p>Need funding for your business?</p><p>At FundKite, we help entrepreneurs get capital based on real cash flow - not bank rules.<br>👉 https://www.fundkite.com<br>📞 (877) 502-5003</p><p>Splash Advance<br>👉 https://www.splashadvance.com</p><p><br>Subscribe for real conversations about business, funding, and growth.</p>]]>
      </description>
      <content:encoded>
        <![CDATA[<p>Small business funding, sales, and rejection - this is the real side of building a business.</p><p>I’m Alex Shvarts, founder of FundKite, and in this episode of the Unbankable Podcast, I sit down with Kevin Richardson, founder of Splash Advance - a funding company that scaled fast and made its way onto the Inc. 5000 list in just a few years.</p><p>Kevin works with business owners every single day, helping them navigate funding, cash flow, and the realities of getting deals done - and in this conversation, we go deep into what actually happens behind the scenes.</p><p>We talk about:</p><p>– why most entrepreneurs fail at handling rejection<br>– the hardest conversations in funding and sales<br>– how to set real expectations with clients<br>– scaling a business without breaking it<br>– hiring, firing, and building a real team<br>– and what actually creates long-term success</p><p>This is not theory - this is real experience from people who are in the trenches every day.</p><p>How do YOU handle rejection in business? Do you push harder or walk away?<br>Drop your answer in the comments.</p><p>⸻</p><p>Need funding for your business?</p><p>At FundKite, we help entrepreneurs get capital based on real cash flow - not bank rules.<br>👉 https://www.fundkite.com<br>📞 (877) 502-5003</p><p>Splash Advance<br>👉 https://www.splashadvance.com</p><p><br>Subscribe for real conversations about business, funding, and growth.</p>]]>
      </content:encoded>
      <pubDate>Wed, 08 Apr 2026 06:09:25 -0700</pubDate>
      <author>Alex Shvarts</author>
      <enclosure url="https://media.transistor.fm/d28e6229/6380d3f0.mp3" length="66740491" type="audio/mpeg"/>
      <itunes:author>Alex Shvarts</itunes:author>
      <itunes:image href="https://img.transistorcdn.com/YMY5JWzcAF3kPaYe2kybzuL0MG2ngqp40VeXc5gTGrM/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9lYTg1/YjUzNGQwMTgxNGU2/MDVhNGIwYWQxMTdi/YjMwYi5wbmc.jpg"/>
      <itunes:duration>2557</itunes:duration>
      <itunes:summary>
        <![CDATA[<p>Small business funding, sales, and rejection - this is the real side of building a business.</p><p>I’m Alex Shvarts, founder of FundKite, and in this episode of the Unbankable Podcast, I sit down with Kevin Richardson, founder of Splash Advance - a funding company that scaled fast and made its way onto the Inc. 5000 list in just a few years.</p><p>Kevin works with business owners every single day, helping them navigate funding, cash flow, and the realities of getting deals done - and in this conversation, we go deep into what actually happens behind the scenes.</p><p>We talk about:</p><p>– why most entrepreneurs fail at handling rejection<br>– the hardest conversations in funding and sales<br>– how to set real expectations with clients<br>– scaling a business without breaking it<br>– hiring, firing, and building a real team<br>– and what actually creates long-term success</p><p>This is not theory - this is real experience from people who are in the trenches every day.</p><p>How do YOU handle rejection in business? Do you push harder or walk away?<br>Drop your answer in the comments.</p><p>⸻</p><p>Need funding for your business?</p><p>At FundKite, we help entrepreneurs get capital based on real cash flow - not bank rules.<br>👉 https://www.fundkite.com<br>📞 (877) 502-5003</p><p>Splash Advance<br>👉 https://www.splashadvance.com</p><p><br>Subscribe for real conversations about business, funding, and growth.</p>]]>
      </itunes:summary>
      <itunes:keywords>Unbankable podcast, Alex Schvarts, Kevin Richardson, Splash Advance, business funding podcast, small business funding USA, scaling a business, sales strategy entrepreneurs, handling rejection business, sales psychology podcast, entrepreneur mindset podcast, startup growth strategy, working capital solutions, alternative finance podcast, merchant cash advance industry, fintech lending USA, private capital funding, business growth podcast, CEO leadership mindset, cash flow management strategy, funding strategy entrepreneurs, small business loans alternative, capital access for small business, negotiation strategy sales, closing deals entrepreneurs, funding industry insights, hiring and firing strategy, building a team business, scaling without breaking business, entrepreneur mistakes scaling, business operations strategy, revenue growth strategy, American entrepreneurs podcast, funding conversations sales, business development strategy, risk management entrepreneurs, business execution mindset, growth strategy podcast, startup founders advice, managing rejection sales, business funding education USA, alternative lending industry, sales training entrepreneurs, business leadership USA, capital strategy podcast</itunes:keywords>
      <itunes:explicit>No</itunes:explicit>
      <podcast:transcript url="https://share.transistor.fm/s/d28e6229/transcript.txt" type="text/plain"/>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>From Technician to Multi-Million Empire | How Entrepreneurs Scale Businesses?</title>
      <itunes:episode>3</itunes:episode>
      <podcast:episode>3</podcast:episode>
      <itunes:title>From Technician to Multi-Million Empire | How Entrepreneurs Scale Businesses?</itunes:title>
      <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">36f2ccd0-e51e-44e9-bb91-bdbf333e4a0c</guid>
      <link>https://share.transistor.fm/s/c25e0125</link>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[<p>Building a business is never simple.</p><p>In this episode of the Unbankable Podcast, I sit down with entrepreneur Sardor Umrdinov, who built Home Alliance from a small appliance repair operation into a multi-million dollar home service platform.</p><p>We talk about what it really takes to build and scale a business — hiring the right people, knowing when to fire, managing growth, and avoiding the mistakes that destroy companies.</p><p>As someone who works with thousands of business owners through FundKite, I see firsthand how entrepreneurs grow, struggle, and succeed. In this conversation, we break down real lessons from building companies in the real world.</p><p>In this episode we discuss:</p><p>• how Sardor built a multi-million home service company<br>• hiring and firing employees the right way<br>• the importance of systems and SOPs in business<br>• how to think about funding and growth<br>• common mistakes entrepreneurs make when scaling<br>• why understanding your numbers matters</p><p>If you’re building a company, scaling a business, or thinking about entrepreneurship — this conversation is for you.</p><p>Follow Sardor Umrdinov<br>YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@sardorumrdinov</p><p>What has been the hardest part of building your business? Drop your answer in the comments - I read them all.</p><p>At FundKite, we help entrepreneurs access capital based on real business performance and cash flow, not outdated lending models.</p><p>Learn more or apply here 👉 https://www.fundkite.com</p><p><br>Subscribe to the channel for more conversations with entrepreneurs building real businesses.</p>]]>
      </description>
      <content:encoded>
        <![CDATA[<p>Building a business is never simple.</p><p>In this episode of the Unbankable Podcast, I sit down with entrepreneur Sardor Umrdinov, who built Home Alliance from a small appliance repair operation into a multi-million dollar home service platform.</p><p>We talk about what it really takes to build and scale a business — hiring the right people, knowing when to fire, managing growth, and avoiding the mistakes that destroy companies.</p><p>As someone who works with thousands of business owners through FundKite, I see firsthand how entrepreneurs grow, struggle, and succeed. In this conversation, we break down real lessons from building companies in the real world.</p><p>In this episode we discuss:</p><p>• how Sardor built a multi-million home service company<br>• hiring and firing employees the right way<br>• the importance of systems and SOPs in business<br>• how to think about funding and growth<br>• common mistakes entrepreneurs make when scaling<br>• why understanding your numbers matters</p><p>If you’re building a company, scaling a business, or thinking about entrepreneurship — this conversation is for you.</p><p>Follow Sardor Umrdinov<br>YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@sardorumrdinov</p><p>What has been the hardest part of building your business? Drop your answer in the comments - I read them all.</p><p>At FundKite, we help entrepreneurs access capital based on real business performance and cash flow, not outdated lending models.</p><p>Learn more or apply here 👉 https://www.fundkite.com</p><p><br>Subscribe to the channel for more conversations with entrepreneurs building real businesses.</p>]]>
      </content:encoded>
      <pubDate>Thu, 26 Mar 2026 08:05:00 -0700</pubDate>
      <author>Alex Shvarts</author>
      <enclosure url="https://media.transistor.fm/c25e0125/c16fcc48.mp3" length="82159900" type="audio/mpeg"/>
      <itunes:author>Alex Shvarts</itunes:author>
      <itunes:image href="https://img.transistorcdn.com/Emlp8idJZIfK_yR7BCZMdwblSs5mw-y9L3uSzEAwilE/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS83MjUz/YTYyYmMxYjE3M2I4/MzU3YTQ2MzViZWQ1/N2VkOS5wbmc.jpg"/>
      <itunes:duration>3178</itunes:duration>
      <itunes:summary>
        <![CDATA[<p>Building a business is never simple.</p><p>In this episode of the Unbankable Podcast, I sit down with entrepreneur Sardor Umrdinov, who built Home Alliance from a small appliance repair operation into a multi-million dollar home service platform.</p><p>We talk about what it really takes to build and scale a business — hiring the right people, knowing when to fire, managing growth, and avoiding the mistakes that destroy companies.</p><p>As someone who works with thousands of business owners through FundKite, I see firsthand how entrepreneurs grow, struggle, and succeed. In this conversation, we break down real lessons from building companies in the real world.</p><p>In this episode we discuss:</p><p>• how Sardor built a multi-million home service company<br>• hiring and firing employees the right way<br>• the importance of systems and SOPs in business<br>• how to think about funding and growth<br>• common mistakes entrepreneurs make when scaling<br>• why understanding your numbers matters</p><p>If you’re building a company, scaling a business, or thinking about entrepreneurship — this conversation is for you.</p><p>Follow Sardor Umrdinov<br>YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@sardorumrdinov</p><p>What has been the hardest part of building your business? Drop your answer in the comments - I read them all.</p><p>At FundKite, we help entrepreneurs access capital based on real business performance and cash flow, not outdated lending models.</p><p>Learn more or apply here 👉 https://www.fundkite.com</p><p><br>Subscribe to the channel for more conversations with entrepreneurs building real businesses.</p>]]>
      </itunes:summary>
      <itunes:keywords>Unbankable podcast, Alex Schvarts, Sardor Umrdinov, Home Alliance, entrepreneurship podcast USA, small business growth podcast, home service business, scaling a service business, appliance repair business, multi million business, business systems SOP, hiring and firing employees, business operations strategy, scaling a company, startup founder journey, business growth strategy, small business funding USA, working capital strategy, alternative finance podcast, private capital solutions, fintech lending USA, cash flow management, business leadership podcast, CEO mindset entrepreneurs, building a service company, entrepreneur mistakes scaling, business systems automation, hiring strategy entrepreneurs, firing employees advice, business numbers financial literacy, funding strategy entrepreneurs, capital planning small business, growing a home service company, service business scaling, American entrepreneurs podcast, business execution discipline, operations management business, revenue growth strategy, small business capital access, building a team business, entrepreneur journey USA, scaling from startup to millions</itunes:keywords>
      <itunes:explicit>No</itunes:explicit>
      <podcast:transcript url="https://share.transistor.fm/s/c25e0125/transcript.txt" type="text/plain"/>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>The Sale Starts at NO! Revenue-Based Financing &amp; The Truth About Sales</title>
      <itunes:episode>2</itunes:episode>
      <podcast:episode>2</podcast:episode>
      <itunes:title>The Sale Starts at NO! Revenue-Based Financing &amp; The Truth About Sales</itunes:title>
      <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
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      <description>
        <![CDATA[<p>No is a big word.</p><p>Most people hear “no” and stop. In sales, in funding, in business. But the sale doesn’t start until you hear the word no.</p><p>In this episode of Unbankable, I sit down with our Chief Revenue Officer, Justin Solomon, to talk about the real world of sales, business funding, and the mistakes we see every day from entrepreneurs.</p><p>This isn’t motivational fluff. This is practical, hard-earned experience from over a decade funding small businesses across America.</p><p>We cover:</p><p>• Why “selling” is the wrong mindset<br>• Why attracting is more powerful than convincing<br>• The biggest mistake business owners make when applying for funding<br>• Why desperation destroys negotiating power<br>• How to handle rejection in sales<br>• Why listening beats scripts every time<br>• The danger of hypergrowth without a plan<br>• How to choose the right funding partner<br>• Why transparency matters in financing<br>• Where the revenue-based financing industry is heading</p><p>Too many business owners apply for capital when they’re on their back foot — emotional, unprepared, desperate.</p><p>Funding works best when it’s planned.</p><p>Revenue-based financing can be a powerful tool when used responsibly. But you need to understand what you’re getting into.</p><p>At FundKite, we’ve built a boutique, relationship-driven funding platform designed to move with your cash flow - not against it.</p><p>Sophisticated capital.<br>Entrepreneurial speed.<br>Real conversations.</p><p>📞 Call us for a consultation: (877) 502-5003<br>🌐 Learn more: https://fundkite.com/</p><p>If you’re a business owner - do you apply for funding when you’re strong… or only when you’re desperate?</p>]]>
      </description>
      <content:encoded>
        <![CDATA[<p>No is a big word.</p><p>Most people hear “no” and stop. In sales, in funding, in business. But the sale doesn’t start until you hear the word no.</p><p>In this episode of Unbankable, I sit down with our Chief Revenue Officer, Justin Solomon, to talk about the real world of sales, business funding, and the mistakes we see every day from entrepreneurs.</p><p>This isn’t motivational fluff. This is practical, hard-earned experience from over a decade funding small businesses across America.</p><p>We cover:</p><p>• Why “selling” is the wrong mindset<br>• Why attracting is more powerful than convincing<br>• The biggest mistake business owners make when applying for funding<br>• Why desperation destroys negotiating power<br>• How to handle rejection in sales<br>• Why listening beats scripts every time<br>• The danger of hypergrowth without a plan<br>• How to choose the right funding partner<br>• Why transparency matters in financing<br>• Where the revenue-based financing industry is heading</p><p>Too many business owners apply for capital when they’re on their back foot — emotional, unprepared, desperate.</p><p>Funding works best when it’s planned.</p><p>Revenue-based financing can be a powerful tool when used responsibly. But you need to understand what you’re getting into.</p><p>At FundKite, we’ve built a boutique, relationship-driven funding platform designed to move with your cash flow - not against it.</p><p>Sophisticated capital.<br>Entrepreneurial speed.<br>Real conversations.</p><p>📞 Call us for a consultation: (877) 502-5003<br>🌐 Learn more: https://fundkite.com/</p><p>If you’re a business owner - do you apply for funding when you’re strong… or only when you’re desperate?</p>]]>
      </content:encoded>
      <pubDate>Mon, 09 Mar 2026 09:30:34 -0700</pubDate>
      <author>Alex Shvarts</author>
      <enclosure url="https://media.transistor.fm/c5e14ed3/644f82dd.mp3" length="84878882" type="audio/mpeg"/>
      <itunes:author>Alex Shvarts</itunes:author>
      <itunes:image href="https://img.transistorcdn.com/JJNT4-26dr1aZ9TLxP-_HF55OYgQv_YmVtt00ZBkros/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS8yNmIw/NTkxNWNlYzJmZmQw/MGI0Y2M0ZDA2NWUz/YTNjZi5wbmc.jpg"/>
      <itunes:duration>3350</itunes:duration>
      <itunes:summary>
        <![CDATA[<p>No is a big word.</p><p>Most people hear “no” and stop. In sales, in funding, in business. But the sale doesn’t start until you hear the word no.</p><p>In this episode of Unbankable, I sit down with our Chief Revenue Officer, Justin Solomon, to talk about the real world of sales, business funding, and the mistakes we see every day from entrepreneurs.</p><p>This isn’t motivational fluff. This is practical, hard-earned experience from over a decade funding small businesses across America.</p><p>We cover:</p><p>• Why “selling” is the wrong mindset<br>• Why attracting is more powerful than convincing<br>• The biggest mistake business owners make when applying for funding<br>• Why desperation destroys negotiating power<br>• How to handle rejection in sales<br>• Why listening beats scripts every time<br>• The danger of hypergrowth without a plan<br>• How to choose the right funding partner<br>• Why transparency matters in financing<br>• Where the revenue-based financing industry is heading</p><p>Too many business owners apply for capital when they’re on their back foot — emotional, unprepared, desperate.</p><p>Funding works best when it’s planned.</p><p>Revenue-based financing can be a powerful tool when used responsibly. But you need to understand what you’re getting into.</p><p>At FundKite, we’ve built a boutique, relationship-driven funding platform designed to move with your cash flow - not against it.</p><p>Sophisticated capital.<br>Entrepreneurial speed.<br>Real conversations.</p><p>📞 Call us for a consultation: (877) 502-5003<br>🌐 Learn more: https://fundkite.com/</p><p>If you’re a business owner - do you apply for funding when you’re strong… or only when you’re desperate?</p>]]>
      </itunes:summary>
      <itunes:keywords>Unbankable podcast, Alex Schvarts, Justin Solomon, revenue based financing, business funding podcast, sales mindset podcast, sales strategy entrepreneurs, small business funding USA, alternative finance podcast, working capital strategy, merchant cash advance industry, fintech lending USA, sales psychology podcast, handling rejection sales, closing deals strategy, business growth podcast, startup funding strategy, private capital podcast, funding industry insights, small business capital access, scaling a business podcast, CEO mindset sales, attracting vs selling, negotiation strategy entrepreneurs, funding mistakes entrepreneurs make, choosing funding partner, capital strategy podcast, cash flow financing, revenue financing model, business funding education, entrepreneur sales training, listening in sales, relationship sales strategy, financial transparency business, funding broker advice, capital planning entrepreneurs, business growth without banks, alternative lending industry, entrepreneur leadership podcast, business development strategy, funding industry future, sales conversation strategy, business operators podcast, American entrepreneurs podcast, capital access USA, sales craft entrepreneurs</itunes:keywords>
      <itunes:explicit>No</itunes:explicit>
      <podcast:transcript url="https://share.transistor.fm/s/c5e14ed3/transcript.txt" type="text/plain"/>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>The Real Formula for Business Growth! | Funding, Risk &amp; Smart Scaling</title>
      <itunes:episode>1</itunes:episode>
      <podcast:episode>1</podcast:episode>
      <itunes:title>The Real Formula for Business Growth! | Funding, Risk &amp; Smart Scaling</itunes:title>
      <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
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      <link>https://share.transistor.fm/s/23d7e954</link>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[<p>Building a business isn’t about hype - it’s about execution, discipline, and making hard decisions when it matters most.</p><p>In this episode of Unbankable, I sit down with a leader who has deployed over $2.3 billion in working capital to small and mid-sized businesses across all 50 states. We break down what actually separates entrepreneurs who scale from those who burn out - especially when banks say no.</p><p>My guest is William J. Gallagher  the President of CFG Merchant Solutions, a firm that has funded thousands of businesses nationwide. With a background managing billion-dollar portfolios on Wall Street before betting on small business, he shares real insights on risk management, capital strategy, hiring decisions, partnership dynamics, and what it truly takes to build a durable company.</p><p>In this episode, we discuss:</p><p>• How to scale a small business without traditional bank financing<br>• When to hire — and when to let people go<br>• Why growth without margin can destroy your company<br>• The biggest mistakes business owners make when seeking working capital<br>• How to choose the right alternative financing product<br>• Why financial organization is critical for funding approval<br>• Risk management strategies for entrepreneurs<br>• How to avoid “catch-up capital” traps<br>• Building long-term partnerships in business<br>• Scaling from $5M to $50M in revenue</p><p>If you’re a small business owner, startup founder, entrepreneur, or operator navigating working capital, alternative lending, private capital, fintech solutions, business growth strategy, or scaling challenges in the U.S. market — this conversation is for you.</p><p>Success shouldn’t bring guilt. It should bring responsibility.</p><p>When banks say no — there is Fundkite.<br>Learn more about alternative business funding 👉 https://fundkite.com</p><p>Subscribe and drop a comment:<br>What’s the toughest business decision you’ve had to make?</p><p>#fundkite #Entrepreneurship<br>#AlternativeFinance<br>#Unbankable #AlexShvarts</p>]]>
      </description>
      <content:encoded>
        <![CDATA[<p>Building a business isn’t about hype - it’s about execution, discipline, and making hard decisions when it matters most.</p><p>In this episode of Unbankable, I sit down with a leader who has deployed over $2.3 billion in working capital to small and mid-sized businesses across all 50 states. We break down what actually separates entrepreneurs who scale from those who burn out - especially when banks say no.</p><p>My guest is William J. Gallagher  the President of CFG Merchant Solutions, a firm that has funded thousands of businesses nationwide. With a background managing billion-dollar portfolios on Wall Street before betting on small business, he shares real insights on risk management, capital strategy, hiring decisions, partnership dynamics, and what it truly takes to build a durable company.</p><p>In this episode, we discuss:</p><p>• How to scale a small business without traditional bank financing<br>• When to hire — and when to let people go<br>• Why growth without margin can destroy your company<br>• The biggest mistakes business owners make when seeking working capital<br>• How to choose the right alternative financing product<br>• Why financial organization is critical for funding approval<br>• Risk management strategies for entrepreneurs<br>• How to avoid “catch-up capital” traps<br>• Building long-term partnerships in business<br>• Scaling from $5M to $50M in revenue</p><p>If you’re a small business owner, startup founder, entrepreneur, or operator navigating working capital, alternative lending, private capital, fintech solutions, business growth strategy, or scaling challenges in the U.S. market — this conversation is for you.</p><p>Success shouldn’t bring guilt. It should bring responsibility.</p><p>When banks say no — there is Fundkite.<br>Learn more about alternative business funding 👉 https://fundkite.com</p><p>Subscribe and drop a comment:<br>What’s the toughest business decision you’ve had to make?</p><p>#fundkite #Entrepreneurship<br>#AlternativeFinance<br>#Unbankable #AlexShvarts</p>]]>
      </content:encoded>
      <pubDate>Mon, 02 Mar 2026 13:01:40 -0800</pubDate>
      <author>Alex Shvarts</author>
      <enclosure url="https://media.transistor.fm/23d7e954/b586242f.mp3" length="75072372" type="audio/mpeg"/>
      <itunes:author>Alex Shvarts</itunes:author>
      <itunes:image href="https://img.transistorcdn.com/vMtsEfOnJ9PEDivIU8ofUSrREGir7XMUjx689Wtk0CY/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS80OGFh/ODQyZjc0N2YyMGFm/ODZhMThjMGU1M2I2/ZjM2Zi5wbmc.jpg"/>
      <itunes:duration>2897</itunes:duration>
      <itunes:summary>
        <![CDATA[<p>Building a business isn’t about hype - it’s about execution, discipline, and making hard decisions when it matters most.</p><p>In this episode of Unbankable, I sit down with a leader who has deployed over $2.3 billion in working capital to small and mid-sized businesses across all 50 states. We break down what actually separates entrepreneurs who scale from those who burn out - especially when banks say no.</p><p>My guest is William J. Gallagher  the President of CFG Merchant Solutions, a firm that has funded thousands of businesses nationwide. With a background managing billion-dollar portfolios on Wall Street before betting on small business, he shares real insights on risk management, capital strategy, hiring decisions, partnership dynamics, and what it truly takes to build a durable company.</p><p>In this episode, we discuss:</p><p>• How to scale a small business without traditional bank financing<br>• When to hire — and when to let people go<br>• Why growth without margin can destroy your company<br>• The biggest mistakes business owners make when seeking working capital<br>• How to choose the right alternative financing product<br>• Why financial organization is critical for funding approval<br>• Risk management strategies for entrepreneurs<br>• How to avoid “catch-up capital” traps<br>• Building long-term partnerships in business<br>• Scaling from $5M to $50M in revenue</p><p>If you’re a small business owner, startup founder, entrepreneur, or operator navigating working capital, alternative lending, private capital, fintech solutions, business growth strategy, or scaling challenges in the U.S. market — this conversation is for you.</p><p>Success shouldn’t bring guilt. It should bring responsibility.</p><p>When banks say no — there is Fundkite.<br>Learn more about alternative business funding 👉 https://fundkite.com</p><p>Subscribe and drop a comment:<br>What’s the toughest business decision you’ve had to make?</p><p>#fundkite #Entrepreneurship<br>#AlternativeFinance<br>#Unbankable #AlexShvarts</p>]]>
      </itunes:summary>
      <itunes:keywords>Unbankable podcast, Alex Schvarts, FundKite, business growth podcast, entrepreneurship podcast USA, small business funding, alternative finance podcast, working capital strategy, scaling a small business, smart scaling, business risk management, hiring strategy for entrepreneurs, firing employees advice, profitable growth strategy, startup funding USA, private capital solutions, merchant cash advance industry, non bank financing, fintech lending podcast, CEO leadership podcast, founder mindset, scaling from 5M to 50M revenue, business partnerships strategy, financial organization for business, capital strategy for entrepreneurs, funding approval tips, cash flow management podcast, business execution discipline, growth without margin, small business loans alternative, managing business risk, American entrepreneurs podcast, capital access for small business, Wall Street to small business, business funding education, working capital solutions USA, risk and reward entrepreneurship, scaling responsibly, funding plan strategy, small business capital access, business mistakes entrepreneurs make, funding when banks say no, CFG Merchant Solutions, William Gallagher interview, entrepreneurship podcast, business podcast USA, small business podcast, alternative finance podcast, working capital podcast, startup funding podcast, small business funding, scaling a business, business growth strategy, founder mindset, CEO leadership podcast, fintech podcast USA, private capital podcast, merchant cash advance industry, non bank financing, business credit solutions, cash flow management, revenue growth strategy, risk management for entrepreneurs, hiring and firing strategy, business partnerships advice, capital strategy podcast, funding strategy for startups, small business loans alternative, American entrepreneurs podcast, scaling without banks, business execution mindset, financial literacy for business owners, startup founders advice, business operations strategy, growth without margin, profitable scaling, capital access for small business, alternative lending USA, CEO conversations, self made entrepreneurs, business leadership USA, working capital management, entrepreneurial journey podcast, building a successful company, Alex Shvarts, funding solutions for business owners </itunes:keywords>
      <itunes:explicit>No</itunes:explicit>
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