Driven: Unscripted Success
Welcome to the Driven: Unscripted Success Podcast, the go-to show for high-performing business owners, executives, and professionals who aspire to elevate their personal, professional, and financial lives. Hosted by Michael Mannino Sr. and Nareman Hamdan, each episode dives deep into the inspiring stories and invaluable insights of top industry leaders who have navigated the complex landscape of success with drive and determination. Michael and Nareman, business owners who are passionate about uncovering the keys to mastery and legacy building, bring you candid conversations that explore the highs and lows of remarkable careers. From leadership strategies and innovative business tactics to personal growth and financial acumen, our guests share their unscripted journeys to success, offering listeners practical advice and motivation to reach new heights. Join us on Driven: Unscripted Success Podcast, where we celebrate the relentless pursuit of excellence and empower you to achieve greatness in every facet of your life. Subscribe now and get ready to be inspired, challenged, and driven to succeed!
Episodes

6 hours ago
Pause and Integrity
6 hours ago
6 hours ago
In this compelling episode, Lisa Zimmer joins Mike Mannino Sr. and Nareman Hamdan for an unscripted, insightful conversation about intuitive coaching, energetic awareness, and the deep power of integrity. Lisa, an experienced intuitive coach, opens up about how she helps people tune into their inner compass to make aligned decisions in their personal and professional lives.
She discusses why reading energy is more than just a spiritual buzzword, how intuition works even in high-stakes areas like real estate, and why integrity is non-negotiable in a field flooded with inauthentic voices. Lisa also shares how pausing—yes, something as simple as a pause—can change the way we communicate and connect.
Mike brings his trademark curiosity and energy, offering a rare mix of humor and vulnerability as he digs into topics that bridge the gap between spiritual insight and entrepreneurial hustle.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
How intuitive coaching works and who benefits most from it
Why "reading energy" isn't mystical—it's practical
How Lisa’s intuition guided her in helping others find homes, relationships, and even lost pets
The role of integrity in intuitive and entrepreneurial professions
Why women often tap into intuition more naturally, and what men can learn from it
Lisa’s exciting new course offerings and how she’s helping people develop their own intuitive skills
---------------------------------------------------------- Be a Guest: Are you a successful Naples-area business owner, entrepreneur, or professional with insights to share? Apply to be a guest at Driven: Unscripted Success and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you.

2 days ago
2 days ago
In this inspiring episode of the Driven: Unscripted Success Podcast, Mike and Nareman sit down with Deborah Razo, founder of the Women's Real Estate Network (WREN), to explore how a life-altering accident led her down a path of purpose, financial freedom, and global empowerment.
Deborah shares how she transitioned from being overwhelmed by her business to creating a life of intention and freedom through real estate investing. She opens up about the power of passive income, the importance of mentorship, and her transformation as a coach and leader. From flips in Los Angeles to developments with other women and even a bed and breakfast in Puerto Rico, Deborah's story is a masterclass in resilience and reinvention.
She also discusses her cancer journey and how it changed the way she prioritizes health and work-life balance. For anyone feeling stuck, overworked, or unsure of their next step, this episode is a must-listen.
What You'll Learn:
How a major accident became the spark for reinvention
Why women need community and representation in real estate
The mindset shift from employee to investor
How to identify whether you're after passive or active income
The role of mentorship and community in long-term success
Deborah’s current projects and her upcoming spiritual pilgrimage in Spain
---------------------------------------------------------- Be a Guest: Are you a successful Naples-area business owner, entrepreneur, or professional with insights to share? Apply to be a guest at Driven: Unscripted Success and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you.

3 days ago
3 days ago
In this episode, Bronson Hill, founder of Bronson Equity, joins the show to break down what it really means to build lasting wealth through passive income. From his roots in medical sales to managing multifamily real estate and diving deep into oil, gas, and private businesses, Bronson shares his unfiltered story of financial transformation.
The conversation hits home for grinders who are building their empires and want to step off the treadmill of trading time for money. Bronson opens up about how he evaluates risk, builds strong teams, leverages mentorship, and uses daily mindset rituals to visualize success.
He also sheds light on little-known strategies for reducing taxes legally and increasing cash flow—especially valuable for high earners looking for smarter ways to invest. Whether you’re curious about real estate, intrigued by buying businesses, or just want to work less and live more, this episode is packed with insight and action.
🎧 What You'll Learn:
Why passive income is often misunderstood—and how to truly achieve it
How to balance risk and reward in high-stakes investments
The habit that helped Bronson scale to over $200M in deals
Smart ways high-income earners can slash their taxes
How to lead a team with vision, autonomy, and purpose
Daily habits and books that have supercharged Bronson’s growth
Why continual learning and reinvention are key in the AI-driven future
---------------------------------------------------------- Be a Guest: Are you a successful Naples-area business owner, entrepreneur, or professional with insights to share? Apply to be a guest at Driven: Unscripted Success and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you.

4 days ago
Risk Assesment with John Black Sr.
4 days ago
4 days ago
In this compelling episode of Driven: Unscripted Success, we sit down with John Black Sr., a seasoned expert in property and liability insurance known for fixing the toughest problems. From starting his journey on a path to law school to leading insurance turnarounds and founding new ventures, John shares how grit, humility, and ethics shape success.
John opens up about rebuilding from the ground up, the sobering truths of corporate integrity, and the wisdom of knowing what you don’t know. He discusses his newest efforts in launching a global insurance platform and the Risk Management Education Foundation, aiming to drive ethical innovation in the industry. Whether you're a seasoned pro or an emerging leader, John’s practical insights on leadership, resilience, and responsibility will resonate.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
Why humility and effort matter more than talent
What sets great leaders apart in high-stakes industries
The future of risk management and ethical use of AI in insurance
How John is revolutionizing fire safety and disaster response
The role of compassion and ethics in building lasting success
---------------------------------------------------------- Be a Guest: Are you a successful Naples-area business owner, entrepreneur, or professional with insights to share? Apply to be a guest at Driven: Unscripted Success and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you.

Friday Jun 06, 2025
Friday Jun 06, 2025
What do World War II wreckage, deep-sea recovery missions, and lobbying the U.S. government all have in common? Taras Lyssenko.
In this episode of Driven: Unscripted Success, hosts Mike Mannino Sr. and Nareman Hamdan sit down with Taras, a former Army infantry officer and current defense lobbyist, author, coach, and underwater explorer. Taras shares the extraordinary story of how he and his team recovered over 100 lost U.S. Navy aircraft from World War II—many of which are now on display in museums across the globe.
You’ll hear how Taras used his leadership experience and unfiltered communication style to lobby Congress, navigate bureaucratic obstacles, and collaborate with global defense agencies. He gets candid about battling false accusations, overcoming personal setbacks, and why having brain trauma hasn’t stopped him from advocating for national security initiatives like loitering munitions and ISR aircraft.
Key Takeaways:
The truth behind underwater aircraft recovery missions and how they started.
How Taras became a defense lobbyist with no formal background in politics.
His leadership insights from the military and real-world lobbying.
The challenges he faced with government red tape and misperceptions.
How animals, Whatsapp calls, and Capitol Hill debates are all part of a day in his life.
---------------------------------------------------------- Be a Guest: Are you a successful Naples-area business owner, entrepreneur, or professional with insights to share? Apply to be a guest at Driven: Unscripted Success and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you.

Thursday Jun 05, 2025
Your Hope After Disaster Advocate
Thursday Jun 05, 2025
Thursday Jun 05, 2025
What happens when disaster strikes and no one tells you help is available?
In this powerful episode, Nareman Hamdan sits down with Craig Pisaris-Henderson, the force behind Neurois and Economic Recovery Center, to explore how Craig turned a legacy of data-driven innovation into a mission of hope and relief for small businesses devastated by natural disasters.
From his early tech days launching domain empires and a billion-dollar ad platform, to standing up nonprofits like ERC Cares post-Hurricane Ian, Craig’s story is one of risk, resilience, and relentless community impact. You’ll hear how he and his family-based team help thousands secure critical disaster funding and support—even when traditional systems fail.
Craig gets real about personal setbacks, including a life-altering health crisis and financial hits from faulty real estate investments. Through it all, his leadership philosophy—conclusion by inclusion—has built an organization that puts purpose first, leveraging AI and a deep passion for helping others.
In this episode, you'll hear about:
The gaps in disaster relief systems and how Craig fills them
Why 80% of eligible businesses miss out on financial help
Craig’s battle with addiction and journey back to purpose
His philosophy on leadership and planning for success
Why AI plays a massive role in their ability to scale impact
---------------------------------------------------------- Be a Guest: Are you a successful Naples-area business owner, entrepreneur, or professional with insights to share? Apply to be a guest at Driven: Unscripted Success and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you.

Wednesday Jun 04, 2025
Patten Recognition
Wednesday Jun 04, 2025
Wednesday Jun 04, 2025
In this insightful episode, host Mike Mannino sits down with aviation medical examiner and former ER physician Dylan Caldwell. From flying sailplanes to diagnosing pilots, Dylan shares the critical role of pattern recognition in both emergency medicine and aviation.
Dylan opens up about his transition from a high-stress ER career to a purpose-driven practice helping pilots keep their wings. He talks about the satisfaction of guiding pilots through FAA medical processes, his passion for aviation, and why he believes we need to return to old-school principles of health: eat less, move more.
The conversation also explores America’s health challenges, lifestyle medicine, mindset coaching, and what sets Dylan apart in a highly regulated, competitive industry. It’s a raw, unscripted dive into medicine, aviation, and what it takes to stay grounded—so others can fly.
---------------------------------------------------------- Be a Guest: Are you a successful Naples-area business owner, entrepreneur, or professional with insights to share? Apply to be a guest at Driven: Unscripted Success and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you.

Tuesday Jun 03, 2025
Bear Transport
Tuesday Jun 03, 2025
Tuesday Jun 03, 2025
In this fascinating conversation, hosts Mike Mannino and Nareman Hamdan talk with Brett Furlong about the logistics, challenges, and wild stories behind safely transporting animals around the world. From moving a Kodiak grizzly bear across continents to ensuring the comfort of pets in cargo, Brett shares a behind-the-scenes look at a niche industry that’s critical to modern life.
Brett talks about the growth of Starwood Pet Travel, how his passion for efficiency fuels innovation, and how his team helps reduce the stress of international relocations for families and their furry loved ones. He also shares tips for anyone looking to get into the industry, as well as insights on building and investing in a mission-driven business.
---------------------------------------------------------- Be a Guest: Are you a successful Naples-area business owner, entrepreneur, or professional with insights to share? Apply to be a guest at Driven: Unscripted Success and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you.

Thursday May 29, 2025
Find a good team and get out of the way
Thursday May 29, 2025
Thursday May 29, 2025
In this episode, Mike Mannino chats with Brooke Trometer, founder of Cypress Media Productions, about her unexpected journey into entrepreneurship and the power of trusting your team. From growing up as a true Floridian in Fort Myers to becoming a leader in podcast post-production, Brooke shares how her career was built on relationships, resilience, and staying ahead of trends.
Brooke opens up about the shutdown of her previous company, the leap into starting her own, and how building authentic client relationships helped launch her business. She dives into why letting your team do what they do best is the real secret to growth, and how leadership is more about listening than managing. You'll also hear insights into dealing with imposter syndrome and the mindset shift it takes to succeed in business.
In this episode, you'll learn:
How Cypress Media became a trusted one-stop-shop for podcast post-production
Why trusting your team can make or break your business
What makes client relationships the heart of sustainable growth
Brooke’s strategies for staying current with content trends
Why leadership means listening, not micromanaging
---------------------------------------------------------- Be a Guest: Are you a successful Naples-area business owner, entrepreneur, or professional with insights to share? Apply to be a guest at Driven: Unscripted Success and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you.

Wednesday May 28, 2025
22-year overnight success
Wednesday May 28, 2025
Wednesday May 28, 2025
In this energizing episode, hosts Mike Mannino Sr. and Nareman Hamdan sit down with Tom Bohn, the dynamic CEO behind THM Media, to explore how passion, curiosity, and culture fueled a company’s exponential growth.
Tom dives into his journey, sharing how THM Media evolved from a humble print publication into a multi-product, multi-platform powerhouse—with offerings in digital marketing, home improvement, and even pet care. From launching “The Pet Mag” to incorporating AI, Tom talks about how staying “aggressively curious” helped his team innovate and scale at lightning speed.
But the real magic? Culture. Tom emphasizes the power of creating a workplace where people feel energized, valued, and free to take bold risks. He also shares insights on hiring within, building leaders, and turning everyday employees into all-in evangelists.
You’ll also hear:
How “clearing the path” became a company-wide mantra
The power of building around passion—especially pets
Why failing fast (and often) is key to growth
The real meaning behind a “22-year overnight success”
Tom’s approach to creating passive income and planning the next big thing
---------------------------------------------------------- Be a Guest: Are you a successful Naples-area business owner, entrepreneur, or professional with insights to share? Apply to be a guest at Driven: Unscripted Success and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you.