Founder2Founder with Aaron Spivak

In this episode of Founder2Founder, Aaron Spivak sits down with David Balinski, Founder & CEO of Wire Health. With a background spanning risk management, pharmaceutical lobbying, national benefits consulting, and health plan M&A, David has built nine companies and dedicated his career to fixing one of the biggest failures in American healthcare: mental health access.
David shares the hard lessons he learned about partnerships, equity, incentives and culture, alongside a deep dive into the realities of mental health in entrepreneurship. From bipolar disorder among founders, to the limitations of SSRIs, emerging therapies like ketamine, and alternative healthcare strategies that have saved his family over $150,000. This conversation challenges how leaders think about responsibility, performance, and the systems supporting their teams.
Chapters:
 01:08 – Why David Focused on Fixing Healthcare
 02:42 – The Mental Health Gap in American Insurance
 03:38 – Early Entrepreneurial Instincts and Lemonade Stands
 05:20 – From Screenwriting Dreams to Health Insurance Underwriting
 06:04 – The Hardest Lessons From Building Nine Companies
 08:20 – The Cost of Trusting the Wrong People
 09:11 – Why Giving Equity Too Early Is a Founder Mistake
 12:43 – What to Do When a Key Employee Asks for Equity
 14:30 – Building Advisory Boards That Protect You From Yourself
 16:50 – Profit Share vs. Equity: A Smarter Alternative
 18:47 – Incentives, Commission Structures, and Performance Culture
 22:16 – Why Culture Is a Founder’s Real Job
 25:26 – Blameless Problem Solving and Avoiding Toxic Behavior
 28:02 – The Mental Health Reality Founders Don’t Talk About
 30:01 – Bipolar Disorder in Entrepreneurs (4x the General Population)
 32:02 – MDMA, PTSD, and Emerging Treatment Conversations
 40:43 – Why Wire Health Sends Patients to Ketamine Treatment
 45:37 – The 30% Problem With SSRIs
 49:10 – Why David and His Family Don’t Use Traditional Health Insurance
 55:21 – How Medical Sharing and Direct Primary Care Work
 59:45 – Wire Health’s Employer-Focused Mental Health Model
 1:01:30 – Choosing Investors Who Align With Your Mission
 1:04:03 – The Recovery Friendly Workplace Movement
 1:06:48 – Creating Psychological Safety at Work
 1:10:16 – Final Reflections on Purpose, Impact, and Responsibility
Guest Links:
Website: https://wire.health/
LinkedIn: David Balinski
Wire Health
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In this episode of Founder2Founder, Aaron Spivak sits down with Michael C. Bertoni, Founder and CEO of SaaS Talent, the global talent and growth engine behind hundreds of high-performing SaaS and tech companies. With over 25 years of experience helping founders scale revenue, build elite go-to-market teams, and turn hiring into a competitive advantage, Michael operates at the intersection of SaaS growth, recruiting, AI, and leadership.
Michael shares his journey from being a high-performing sales leader working for others to taking the leap into entrepreneurship at 39. He opens up about early mistakes, the mindset shifts that shaped his evolution, and why he believes every business challenge traces back to one core issue: talent. This conversation is a practical and honest look at what it really takes to scale a company through people, systems, and energy.
Chapters:
 01:35 - The Origin of “The Rainmaker”
 03:37 - Taking the Leap Into Entrepreneurship at 39
 05:54 - Starting as a Solopreneur Without a Playbook
 07:36 - Early Mistakes and Getting Kicked Out of Co-Working Spaces
 10:25 - Self-Awareness and Evolving as a Founder
 13:27 - Building a Personal Board of Advisors
 18:01 - Inside SaaS Talent: Talent Acquisition and GTM Growth Coaching
 19:48 - “Every Problem Is a Talent Problem” Explained
 22:22 - How to Know If You Have the Right Person in the Right Seat
 24:00 - Locking In A-Players Through Growth and Ownership
 26:40 - The Founder’s Role: Bringing the Energy and Vision
 30:09 - What Young Founders Should Look for in Talent
 34:27 - Creating “Wow” Moments and Hiring Through Community
 41:11 - Lessons from 20+ Years in SaaS and Tech
 46:07 - Why You Need an Operating System to Scale
 49:26 - Advice to His 13-Year-Old Self
 52:07 - The Morning Routine That Changed His Leadership
 55:13 - Gratitude, Manifestation, and Long-Term Growth
 1:00:21 - Using LinkedIn as a Growth Engine
 1:04:00 - Final Reflections and Building With Energy
Guest Links:
Website: https://www.saas-talent.com/
LinkedIn: Michael C. Bertoni
The Founders Club: The premier community for founders pursuing excellence in the mind, body, and business.

Stay Connected!
Aaron Spivak:
IG: @‌Spivak
Linkedin

The Founders Club
IG: @‌TheFoundersClub
Website www.foundersclubofficial.com
Founder2Founder:
TikTok @‌Founder2FounderPodcast
Youtube @‌Founder2Founder.Podcast

In this episode of Founder2Founder, Aaron Spivak sits down with Dr. Lisa C. Palmer, PhD, LMFT, CHT, Program and Clinical Director of The Renew Center of Florida in Boca Raton, ranked #1 in the U.S. for PTSD treatment in 2017 by Newsmax. A nationally recognized psychotherapist featured on major networks including ABC, FOX, CNN, NBC, and CBS, Dr. Palmer works with celebrities, high-profile athletes, entrepreneurs, and public figures navigating trauma and high performance.
Dr. Palmer shares her journey from a traditional upbringing in Rhode Island to becoming one of Hollywood’s most trusted therapists. She opens up about early identity struggles, walking away from a promising television career, and the discipline that shaped her path. Together, Aaron and Dr. Palmer unpack how childhood experiences shape founders, how trauma impacts performance, and how re-scripting memories can unlock meaningful change.
Chapters:
 01:27 - Dr. Lisa’s Early Life in Rhode Island
 02:35 - Feeling Different and Early Identity Struggles
 04:49 - Turning “Not Enough” Into Discipline and Drive
 08:05 - The Influence of Rocky and Resilience
 11:42 - Discovering Her Purpose to Make a Difference
 12:40 - Working With High-Profile Clients and Trauma
 14:37 - From Pre-Med to Miss USA Competitor
 15:35 - Losing 60 Pounds and Winning by One Point
 16:18 - Walking Away From a Promising TV Career
 19:26 - Going Back to School and Pursuing Her Doctorate
 22:22 - Realizing She Was Exactly Where She Belonged
 23:27 - Re-Scripting Memories Explained
 26:47 - How Trauma Gets Imprinted in the Brain
 28:52 - Transforming Limiting Beliefs at the Root
 31:39 - Why You Can’t Do This Work Alone
 33:44 - Where Entrepreneurs Should Start With Inner Work
 37:11 - Embracing Stillness and Self-Observation
 41:07 - Handling the Emotional Weight of Clients
 43:30 - Personal Reset Practices and Balance
 47:26 - On Love, Growth, and What’s Still Unwritten
 49:17 - What She Would Tell Her 5-Year-Old Self
Guest Links:
Website: www.myrenewme.com
https://www.therenewcenter.com
Instagram: @drlisapalmer
@myrenewme 
The Founders Club: The premier community for founders pursuing excellence in the mind, body, and business.

Stay Connected!
Aaron Spivak:
IG: @‌Spivak
Linkedin

The Founders Club
IG: @‌TheFoundersClub
Website www.foundersclubofficial.com
Founder2Founder:
TikTok @‌Founder2FounderPodcast
Youtube @‌Founder2Founder.Podcast

In this episode of Founder2Founder, host Aaron Spivak sits down with Adrian Aidid, Founder and CEO of LDX Digital, a top Google and YouTube Ads agency that manages over $11 million in monthly ad spend. Adrian is no stranger to scaling brands, he’s helped grow eight companies to over $100K/day in spend and engineered acquisition systems responsible for hundreds of millions in revenue. But before becoming one of the most respected operators in the performance marketing space, Adrian’s journey began in government housing in Bristol, England.
Adrian opens up about how growing up with a single refugee mother shaped his relentless drive, how a failed job transfer became the catalyst for his entrepreneurial breakthrough, and the exact steps he took to go from running Facebook ads for local shops to building one of the most trusted agencies for global e-commerce brands. He also shares the importance of giving without expectations and the unique infrastructure LDX builds to turn traffic into scalable, profitable growth. This is an unfiltered look at grit, clarity, and scaling with precision.
Chapters:
 02:10 - Growing Up in Government Housing in Bristol
 03:46 - Lessons from Watching His Mother Work 3 Jobs
 05:10 - The “Death Ground” Mindset that Fueled Adrian’s Drive
 06:32 - Getting Into Party Promotions and Sales in London
 08:04 - The First Exposure to Marketing and Ad Agencies
 09:25 - How The Alchemist Inspired a Move to NYC
 11:14 - Entering Wall Street with No Network and High Stakes
 15:15 - Environment Over Willpower: Why New York Changed Everything
 16:54 - The “Come to Jesus” Moment After Getting Sent Back to the UK
 20:58 - Starting From Scratch: Door-to-Door Sales for Local Businesses
 23:26 - Getting His First Client and Making the Move to London
 24:50 - Transitioning from Local to Ecomm and Making Real Money
 26:18 - Pivoting Early to Google Ads Before iOS Updates Hit
 28:45 - Scaling a Brand from Zero to $38M in 2 Years
 30:22 - How LDX Builds Funnels, Pages, and Upsell Structures for Scale
 32:07 - Google Compliance, Cold Traffic Mastery, and Platform Relationships
 34:40 - Balancing Data and Intuition in Big Growth Decisions
 38:36 - Giving Without Expectation and Why It Works
 41:59 - Building Relationships Without ROI Expectations
 44:16 - Miami, Culture, and Creating the Right Environment to Thrive
 46:59 - How Community Shapes Outcomes and Reduces Isolation
 48:40 - The Power of Proximity and Being Around the Right People
 50:13 - What Adrian Would Tell His 19-Year-Old Self
 52:44 - Why Founders Need to Prioritize Character, Not Just Skills
 55:08 - The Ultimate Test: Would You Grab a Beer With Them?
 56:27 - Why Vibes and Energy Matter More Than Credentials
Guest Links:
Website: https://www.ldxdigital.com
LinkedIn: Adrian Aidid
The Founders Club: The premier community for founders pursuing excellence in the mind, body, and business.

Stay Connected!
Aaron Spivak:
IG: @‌Spivak
Linkedin

The Founders Club
IG: @‌TheFoundersClub
Website www.foundersclubofficial.com
Founder2Founder:
TikTok @‌Founder2FounderPodcast
Youtube @‌Founder2Founder.Podcast

In this episode of Founder2Founder, host Aaron Spivak sits down with Karen Quintos, former Chief Customer Officer and Chief Marketing Officer at Dell Technologies. Karen’s career spans multiple industries and decades of leadership at the highest levels, including Merck, Citibank, and Dell, where she led through some of the company’s most pivotal transformations. Known for her rare blend of operational rigor and soulful leadership, Karen opens up about navigating billion-dollar decisions while staying anchored in values, faith, and purpose.
Karen reflects on the defining moments that shaped her career, from managing 1,000+ manufacturing employees at age 30, to working directly with Michael Dell. She unpacks what it means to lead with authenticity, how she infused soul into a Fortune 500 brand, and why servant leadership, humility, and staying people-centered are her greatest assets. This episode is a powerful reminder that success doesn’t have to cost you your integrity and that leadership grounded in purpose can drive both performance and legacy.
Chapters:
 02:42 – Growing Up on a Farm: Faith, Family and Hard Work
 04:15 – Meeting Her Husband at Merck and Building a 40 Year Marriage
 05:29 – Knowing She Wasn’t Meant to Be a Stay-at-Home Mom
 07:21 – From Staff Role to Plant Manager: Learning Servant Leadership
 09:48 – Early Mistakes, Union Threats and Listening to the Frontline
 12:50 – Leaving Merck, Regretting Citibank and the Pivot to Dell
 16:20 – How Karen Was Offered the CMO Role at Dell
 18:11 – Why Michael Dell Chose Her: Customer-Centric Leadership
 22:16 – Rebranding with Purpose: Tech for Good and Employee Alignment
 23:15 – Internal vs. External Marketing: Why It Starts Within
 27:07 – People First: Why Technology is a People Business
 28:06 – Where Karen’s Soul-Driven Leadership Comes From
 30:37 – Head vs. Heart: Operating with Conviction and Integrity
 32:06 – Writing Her Book: You Can Be Successful Without Losing Your Soul
 35:34 – Redefining Success at Every Stage of Life
 37:49 – Playing the Long Game: Why Patience is Power
 40:59 – The Knot in Your Stomach: Staying Curious and Grounded
 42:28 – Learning from Leaders Around the Boardroom Table
 45:52 – The Most Underrated Leadership Trait
 47:55 – An Example of CEO Vulnerability and Transparency
 51:04 – How Karen Supported Women Through Dell’s Entrepreneur Network
 52:48 – Communities That Create Life-Changing Moments
 55:14 – Why We Avoid the Environments That Will Help us Grow
 57:52 – When the Same Knot Lingers: Making the Leap
 58:44 – Advice to Her 13-Year-Old Self: Courage, Confidence Compassion
 1:02:46 – Female Founders on Love, Marriage and Building Together
Guest Links:
Instagram: Karenhquintos
LinkedIn: Karen Quintos
Twitter: Karenhquintos
The Founders Club: The premier community for founders pursuing excellence in the mind, body, and business.

Stay Connected!
Aaron Spivak:
IG: @‌Spivak
Linkedin

The Founders Club
IG: @‌TheFoundersClub
Website www.foundersclubofficial.com
Founder2Founder:
TikTok @‌Founder2FounderPodcast
Youtube @‌Founder2Founder.Podcast