611: From Homeless to Multi-Billionaire - His Success Habits | John Paul DeJoria
John Paul DeJoria went from being homeless twice to building two global
billion-dollar brands, Paul Mitchell and Patrón Tequila, using nothing
but resilience, sales mastery, and a refusal to quit.
This interview breaks down how he launched Paul Mitchell with just $700
while living in his car, created the ultra-premium tequila category from
scratch, and built companies that now operate in 130 countries.
For any entrepreneur, ecommerce founder, or business builder searching
for lessons in persistence, sales, brand building, and navigating
adversity, this conversation is a masterclass in turning nothing into
something extraordinary.
What you’ll learn:
• How John Paul DeJoria survived homelessness and built Paul Mitchell
from a $700 investment
• How he mastered door-to-door sales and used it as the foundation for
building lasting companies
• His “reorder business” philosophy and how it drove global distribution
and long-term growth
• The exact strategy behind creating Patrón’s ultra-premium tequila
category
• How he convinced suppliers, salons, and distributors to take a chance
on an unknown brand
• Why kindness, culture, and loyalty became the backbone of his
leadership philosophy
• How he scaled without email or a computer and why thinking time is his
greatest advantage
• The mindset tools he uses for stress, pressure, rejection, and
forgiveness
• How he evaluates people, partners, and investments with clarity and
intuition
• His approach to philanthropy, legacy, and why success means nothing
unless it’s shared
By the end of this episode, you’ll understand how an entrepreneur with
no resources created two iconic global brands, built teams that stay for
decades, and turned rejection into momentum—giving you the mindset,
grit, and practical strategies to scale your own business with absolute
conviction.
SAVE 50% ON OMNISEND FOR 3 MONTHS
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HOW WE CAN HELP YOU SCALE YOUR BUSINESS FASTER
Learn directly from 7, 8 & 9-figure founders inside Foundr+
Start your $1 trial → https://www.foundr.com/startdollartrial
PREFER A CUSTOM ROADMAP AND 1-ON-1 COACHING?
→ Starting from scratch? Apply here →
https://foundr.com/pages/coaching-start-application
→ Already have a store? Apply here →
https://foundr.com/pages/coaching-growth-application
CONNECT WITH NATHAN CHAN
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/nathanchan
LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanhchan/
CONNECT WITH JOHN PAUL DEJORIA
LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-paul-dejoria-35b2a460/
Patron → https://www.patrontequila.com/
JPSM → https://www.paulmitchell.com/
FOLLOW FOUNDR FOR MORE BUSINESS GROWTH STRATEGIES
YouTube → https://bit.ly/2uyvzdt
Website → https://www.foundr.com
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/foundr/
Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/foundr
Twitter → https://www.twitter.com/foundr
LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/company/foundr/
Podcast → https://www.foundr.com/podcast
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59:44
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59:44
610: (Solo) The Secret to Finding Agencies That Don’t Burn You
When you’re just starting out, the fastest way to grow isn’t automation, ads, or scaling systems — it’s doing things that don’t scale.
In this episode, I share why the most successful founders — from billion-dollar startups to small ecommerce brands — all begin by leaning into the unscalable.
From replying personally to every email, to sending hundreds of Instagram DMs, to handwriting thank-you cards for early customers, these strategies create the kind of emotional connection that big brands can’t compete with.
Here’s what you’ll take away:
• Why doing things that don’t scale is your biggest advantage as a small brand
• Real examples of how I and other founders used this to grow early traction
• Specific tactics you can start today to build stronger customer relationships
If you’re an early-stage founder, this episode will show you exactly how to build momentum, create raving fans, and uncover what truly works — long before you scale.
This is a brand new solo series I’m testing, and I’d love your feedback. Email me directly at [email protected] — I read every reply. Hope you enjoy it.
SAVE 50% ON OMNISEND FOR 3 MONTHS
Get 50% off your first 3 months of email and SMS marketing with Omnisend with the code FOUNDR50. Just head to https://your.omnisend.com/foundr to get started.
HOW WE CAN HELP YOU SCALE YOUR BUSINESS FASTER
Learn directly from 7, 8 & 9-figure founders inside Foundr+
Start your $1 trial → https://www.foundr.com/startdollartrial
PREFER A CUSTOM ROADMAP AND 1-ON-1 COACHING?
→ Starting from scratch? Apply here → https://foundr.com/pages/coaching-start-application
→ Already have a store? Apply here → https://foundr.com/pages/coaching-growth-application
CONNECT WITH NATHAN CHAN
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/nathanchan
LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanhchan/
FOLLOW FOUNDR FOR MORE BUSINESS GROWTH STRATEGIES
YouTube → https://bit.ly/2uyvzdt
Website → https://www.foundr.com
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/foundr/
Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/foundr
Twitter → https://www.twitter.com/foundr
LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/company/foundr/
Podcast → https://www.foundr.com/podcast
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9:28
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9:28
609: From $0 to $20M in 3 Years Selling Suppliments | Damien Fitzpatrick
From professional rugby player to successful entrepreneur, Damien
Fitzpatrick built a sports recovery brand trusted by elite athletes
around the world.
In this interview, Damien shares how he went from the highs and lows of a
professional sports career to creating Pillar Performance, a
multimillion-dollar supplement company now used by Olympians and major
sports teams.
Discover how he turned an untapped niche into a global opportunity,
scaled distribution in Australia and the U.S., and built a brand that
dominates the high-performance nutrition category.
What you’ll learn in this interview:
• How Damien transitioned from athlete to entrepreneur
• The painful injury that inspired the idea for Pillar Performance
• How he built trust and credibility in a skeptical market
• Why focusing on a niche audience first accelerated growth
• The marketing and retail strategies that fuelled their global
expansion
• What founders can learn from elite athletes about resilience and
mindset
• How to use brand positioning to stand out in a saturated supplements
market
By the end of this episode, you’ll learn how to identify a niche,
validate demand, and build a trusted brand from scratch—straight from a
founder who’s lived both the athlete and entrepreneur journey.
SAVE 50% ON OMNISEND FOR 3 MONTHS
Get 50% off your first 3 months of email and SMS marketing with Omnisend
with the code FOUNDR50. Just head to https://your.omnisend.com/foundr to get started.
HOW WE CAN HELP YOU SCALE YOUR BUSINESS FASTER
Learn directly from 7, 8 & 9-figure founders inside Foundr+
Start your $1 trial → https://www.foundr.com/startdollartrial
PREFER A CUSTOM ROADMAP AND 1-ON-1 COACHING?
→ Starting from scratch? Apply here →
https://foundr.com/pages/coaching-start-application
→ Already have a store? Apply here →
https://foundr.com/pages/coaching-growth-application
CONNECT WITH NATHAN CHAN
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/nathanchan
LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanhchan/
CONNECT WITH DAMIEN FITZPATRICK
Website → https://pillarperformance.shop/
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/damienfitzpatrick/
LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/damien-fitzpatrick-a27443114
FOLLOW FOUNDR FOR MORE BUSINESS GROWTH STRATEGIES
YouTube → https://bit.ly/2uyvzdt
Website → https://www.foundr.com
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/foundr/
Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/foundr
Twitter → https://www.twitter.com/foundr
LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/company/foundr/
Podcast → https://www.foundr.com/podcast
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1:04:36
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1:04:36
608: (Solo) Why Short-Term Wins Can Quietly Kill Your Business
When I first started Foundr, I made a lot of short-term decisions — and most of them hurt us more than they helped. It took years (and a few hard lessons) to understand that sustainable growth only comes when you play the long game.
In this episode, I break down what it means to win deep, not shallow, and why short-term thinking keeps so many founders stuck in a constant cycle of rebuilding.
From scaling ads too fast, to chasing promotions instead of strategy, I’ll share how shifting my mindset to long-term planning completely changed how I run Foundr today.
Here’s what you’ll take away:
• Why constant motion isn’t the same as progress
• How to identify if your business is stuck in “short-term mode”
• What it means to build leverage through people, systems, and patience
• How slowing down and investing in depth leads to lasting growth
• Real examples from Foundr: rebuilding platforms, teams, and offers for long-term scale
If you’ve been feeling like you’re always running but never really moving forward, this episode will give you the perspective and strategy to pull back, refocus, and build something that lasts.
This is a brand new solo series I’m testing, and I’d love your feedback. Email me directly at [email protected] — I read every reply. Hope you enjoy it.
SAVE 50% ON OMNISEND FOR 3 MONTHS
Get 50% off your first 3 months of email and SMS marketing with Omnisend with the code FOUNDR50. Just head to https://your.omnisend.com/foundr to get started.
HOW WE CAN HELP YOU SCALE YOUR BUSINESS FASTER
Learn directly from 7, 8 & 9-figure founders inside Foundr+
Start your $1 trial → https://www.foundr.com/startdollartrial
PREFER A CUSTOM ROADMAP AND 1-ON-1 COACHING?
→ Starting from scratch? Apply here → https://foundr.com/pages/coaching-start-application
→ Already have a store? Apply here → https://foundr.com/pages/coaching-growth-application
BOOST REVENUE WITHOUT MORE ADS
We use Aftersell for simple post-purchase offers that lift sales fast.
https://try.aftersell.app/ptiz4gnmvff7 to get started.
CONNECT WITH NATHAN CHAN
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/nathanchan
LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanhchan/
FOLLOW FOUNDR FOR MORE BUSINESS GROWTH STRATEGIES
YouTube → https://bit.ly/2uyvzdt
Website → https://www.foundr.com
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/foundr/
Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/foundr
Twitter → https://www.twitter.com/foundr
LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/company/foundr/
Podcast → https://www.foundr.com/podcast
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10:32
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10:32
607: How I Built a $120M/Year Cookie Business From My Appartment | Loren Castle
Loren Castle turned a life-threatening cancer diagnosis at 22 into the spark that built Sweet Loren’s, a $120M-a-year clean food brand now sold in over 5,000 supermarkets nationwide.
In this interview, Loren shares how she bootstrapped her way from baking cookies in a tiny New York apartment to landing Whole Foods without packaging, rebranding her entire product line to be allergen-free, and scaling a household name—all while staying profitable and purpose-driven.
From surviving adversity to mastering product-market fit, Loren’s story is proof that a personal mission can grow into a multimillion-dollar movement.
What you’ll learn from this interview:
• How Loren built Sweet Loren’s from $25K in savings to $120M+ in annual revenue
• The pivotal moment she went all-in on allergen-free ingredients—and why it worked
• How she landed Whole Foods before having proper packaging
• The exact process she used to find true product-market fit through live demos
• Why customer obsession is the ultimate growth strategy
• How mentorship transformed her leadership and focus
• The decision that created a moat around Sweet Loren’s in a saturated market
• How to compete on shelf with billion-dollar CPG brands
• Why staying small, focused, and profitable was the real superpower
By the end of this interview, you’ll walk away with practical lessons on product development, brand positioning, and resilience—so you can build a mission-driven brand that truly stands out in competitive markets.
SAVE 50% ON OMNISEND FOR 3 MONTHS
Get 50% off your first 3 months of email and SMS marketing with Omnisend
with the code FOUNDR50. Just head to https://your.omnisend.com/foundr to get started.
HOW WE CAN HELP YOU SCALE YOUR BUSINESS FASTER
Learn directly from 7, 8 & 9-figure founders inside Foundr+
Start your $1 trial → https://www.foundr.com/startdollartrial
PREFER A CUSTOM ROADMAP AND 1-ON-1 COACHING?
→ Starting from scratch? Apply here →
https://foundr.com/pages/coaching-start-application
→ Already have a store? Apply here →
https://foundr.com/pages/coaching-growth-application
CONNECT WITH NATHAN CHAN
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/nathanchan
LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanhchan/
CONNECT WITH LOREN CASTLE
Website → https://sweetlorens.com/
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/lorenbcastle/
LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/loren-brill-castle/
FOLLOW FOUNDR FOR MORE BUSINESS GROWTH STRATEGIES
YouTube → https://bit.ly/2uyvzdt
Website → https://www.foundr.com
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/foundr/
Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/foundr
Twitter → https://www.twitter.com/foundr
LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/company/foundr/
Podcast → https://www.foundr.com/podcast
Hear the stories, learn the proven methods, and accelerate your growth and future through entrepreneurship. Welcome to The Foundr Podcast with Nathan Chan.
About the show:
For over a decade, The Foundr Podcast with Nathan Chan has been a leading entrepreneurship podcast for open-book conversations with, by, and for founders. Whether you're starting, building, or dreaming about your business, The Foundr Podcast is where you can access experienced founders who've been in your shoes to learn their proven methods, lessons from failure, and inspirational stories.
Past guests include Emma Grede, Mark Cuban, Neil Patel, Kendra Scott, Alex Hormozi, Trinny Woodall, Tim Ferriss, Sophia Amoruso, Simon Sinek, Tony Robbins, Amy Porterfield, Ed Mylett, Michelle Zatlyn, Reid Hoffman, Scooter Braun, Dany Garcia, Marc Lore, Ariana Huffington, Pat Flynn, Lewis Howes, Jordan Harbinger, and many more.
About the host:
Nathan Chan is the CEO of Foundr and the creator of The Foundr Podcast. Chan literally started from knowing nothing. He was just an average guy working in a 9-5 job he utterly hated. He knew nothing about entrepreneurship, nothing about startups, nothing about marketing, and nothing about online or how to build a business. In the past decade, Chan's built Foundr into a global leader in entrepreneurial education, helping tens of thousands of aspiring entrepreneurs start and scale their businesses.
Need help with your business?
Visit foundr.com/foundrplustrial to join a global community of entrepreneurs, gain access to proven strategies, and fast-track your business growth confidently.
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