The Entrepreneur Next Door 🏡

Hosted by Zev Asch

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Latest episode

May 2026

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EN-US

About the show

My name is Zev Asch; welcome to The Entrepreneur Next Door Podcast. I've spent my entire career in what I call "the trenches of small business and entrepreneurship." I spent three decades as a successful corporate marketing executive in small and family-owned businesses, an academic career as a Graduate Marketing Professor and director of Entrepreneurship and leadership at Touro University Graduate School of Business, and over a decade as a business transformation coach. As an avid podcast listener, I've always craved one that features unknown, grounded non-celebrities and entrepreneurs who can be my next-door neighbors. Join me for intimate, unfiltered conversations with everyday people who took a leap into entrepreneurship and openly share their journey from failure to success. I spend hours preparing for each interview and asking intimate and challenging questions; one insight can make a profound difference in your business or life. Finally, I promise that my podcast will never be used as a platform for me or my guests to self-promote. I strictly prohibit it and ensure each guest understands before being featured on my show. My goal is to ensure that every episode delivers at least one insight that can help you improve your business or one aspect of your personal life. Listen, subscribe, and share this channel with my thanks. Music courtesy of ZakharValaha at Pixabay.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

May 21, 202636 min

[89] How to Build a Thriving Pickleball Club in a Crowded Market

Michael Glover went from Lehman Brothers to an #entrepreneur of one of Long Island's new showcase #pickleball clubs. He'd be the first to tell you he had no idea what he was doing when he started.In this episode, we talk about how Michael stumbled into pickleball, why he jumped into a second, bigger facility even as competition was exploding, and what actually keeps people coming back to his club even with a flood of new facilities on Long Island. We also get into why this game caught fire the way it did, what the banger vs. dinker debate says about where pickleball is heading, and why the rating system drives people crazy. Michael has great insights and advice on how to keep Pickleball sane and fun. For existing and would-be entrepreneurs, the best part of this conversation is what Michael says is the only way you keep customers coming back. Spoiler-alert, it has nothing to do with marketing, sponsors or big events.

January 15, 2026Episode 8848 min

[88] Why Employees Won’t Step Up Until the Owner Changes This!

If you are a small business owner, a founder, or an entrepreneur, this episode offers insights from clinical psychologist Dr. Manuel Blasini-Mendez, a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in Performance Psychology and Eco-Leadership Coaching, who has helped executives and teams navigate burnout, leadership transitions, and culture transformations with clarity and purpose.Discover how Dr. Manuel Blasini uses his clinical psychology background to help entrepreneurs and small business owners rethink growth and align their business strategies with personal values and purpose. This episode covers why understanding people is vital to business success, the role of listening and empathy in leadership, and how hidden workplace dynamics affect productivity. Gain practical advice on resolving conflicts, building trust, and harnessing emotions as strengths.

November 4, 202536 min

[87] Stop Selling. 97% of Your Audience Isn't Ready!

Are your paid ads failing? Are you worried AI is making your marketing obsolete? You're not alone. Marketing expert Noa Eshed reveals why 97% of your audience isn't ready to buy and how the shift from "search engines" to "answer engines" changes everything.In this episode of Entrepreneur Next Door, Zev Asch sits down with Noa Eshed , owner of the Bold Digital Marketing Agency , Amazon #1 bestselling author , and host of the top 10% ranked podcast, "Real Life Superpowers." They discuss the single biggest mistake founders make, why "trust" is your most important metric, and how to adapt your marketing for a world run by AI. #B2BMarketing #StartupMarketing #DigitalMarketing #AIMarketing #SEO2025 #StartupAdvice

September 18, 2025Episode 8639 min

[86] How To Lead Without Selling Your Soul

If you’re an aspiring manager, a seasoned leader looking to up your #leadership, or you're a member of the #neurodivergent or #lgbtq community, this episode is for you.In this inspiring conversation, Laurence shares her deeply personal journey—from studying film in Montreal to leading marketing for Vestas, the world’s largest wind energy company. 🎬Along the way, Laurence opens up about: ✅ Burnout and the pressure of fitting into traditional leadership molds ✅ The power of vulnerability in creating safety, respect, and inclusivity ✅ Finding the courage to be authentic, even when it feels riskyLaurence’s story is a reminder that leadership isn’t about perfection; it’s about humility, honesty, and staying true to your principles.If you want to learn how vulnerability can build stronger teams and better workplaces, you won’t want to miss this episode.

June 9, 202533 min

[85] The Pickleball Entrepreneur. From Police Officer to Sales to Mega Success

Ashley Owen, co-founder of Court Reserve, discusses her amazing transformation from law enforcement to sales professional to pickleball industry leader in this captivating episode. Having no formal entrepreneurial experience, Ashley shares personal insights into the struggles and achievements of creating disrupting club court reservation software. Discover how Ashley's resilience, dedication, and Southern charm transformed Court Reserve from bootstrapped start-up to pandemic-fueled success. Learn about CourtReserve's innovative features, its social impact, and the role it plays in the explosive growth of the game.00:44 Introducing Ashley Owens02:09 The Birth of Court Reserve04:54 Challenges and Growth06:32 The Importance of Relationships08:31 Court Reserve's Technological Innovations14:43 Hiring the Right People22:14 Future of Pickleball and Court Reserve32:48 Concluding Thoughts

May 16, 202540 min

[84] From Au Pair to Franchisor. The Single Mom That Won't Quit

How to go from a tiny studio to a thriving small business, all while raising two kids and dealing with life-changing crises?Join me for an inspiring conversation with Hannah Perry, founder of The Giggling Pig Arts and Pottery Studios, to learn about her amazing entrepreneurial journey. HIGHLIGHTS:➡️ How to build a business with no background in #entrepreneurship ➡️ Recovering from a devastating disaster and a life-changing challenge➡️ Hannah's key to success is how she picks franchisees➡️ The role of community support in small business➡️ How to achieve happiness with no regrets Connect with Hannah: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannah-perry-a8117b23/Web: http://www.thegigglingpig.com/

May 9, 202542 min

[83] The Shocking Truth About Depression And Entrepreneurial Success

Listen to my fascinating conversation with Dr. Shan Siddiqui, a Harvard Medical School NeuroPsychiatrist. Dr. Sidiqqui provides a valuable perspective on the intersection of neuroscience, mental health, and his experience with entrepreneurship. As an expert in brain stimulation, Dr. Siddiqui offers hope for individuals with treatment-resistant conditions, while his insights on depression and addiction underscore the importance of understanding both genetic and environmental factors. Aspiring founders can benefit from his practical advice on common startup pitfalls, which emphasizes strategic focus, adaptable technology, and genuine problem-solving commitment. His personal journey and advocacy for destigmatizing mental illness add an interesting human element to his scientific expertise.Highlights:The Brain as the "Last Frontier" and the Limits of UnderstandingNature vs. Nurture in Mental Health (Addiction and Depression)Understanding and Destigmatizing Depression, Especially in Successful IndividualsObservations on Startup Challenges & the #1 Mistake Entrepreneurs MakeMost notable quote: "When a metric becomes a goal, it ceases to be a good metric."Connect with Dr. Siddiqui:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shan-siddiqi-abb63418/Email: siddiqi.bwh.harvard.edu

April 17, 202536 min

[82] From autism diagnosis to becoming a mega successful bestselling author

Bestselling thriller author JD Barker shares his journey from his Autism diagnosis at 22 to corporate finance to becoming a full-time mega successful novelist. In this candid interview, he reveals his entrepreneurial approach ("selling bananas") to writing and how he stands out in an increasingly crowded market.KEY INSIGHTS:➡️ The entrepreneurial mindset of a bestselling author➡️ Why authors must dare to think differently➡️ The best strategy of building an author brand and expanding readership➡️ Successful book promotional strategies➡️ The creative business magic of co-authoringCHAPTERS:00:00 Introduction to JD Barker00:35 JD Barker's Writing Journey01:08 Balancing Corporate Life and Writing02:07 Transition to Full-Time Author03:00 Marketing and Entrepreneurship in Writing13:32 Overcoming Writer's Block16:50 Finding Inspiration for Stories18:53 Turning a House into a Haunted House19:32 Promoting the Book with a Haunted House Contest21:19 The Importance of Author's Platform in Publishing24:35 Collaborating with James Patterson28:07 Writing Process and Inspirations31:50 Living with Asperger's and Its Influence on Writing33:20 Thoughts on AI in Writing34:42 Final Thoughts and Advice for Aspiring WritersConnect with JD:https://jdbarker.com/

February 7, 202531 min

[81] A Breakthrough in Injury Prevention & Recovery

Darren Lancaster is a serial entrepreneur. We discuss his journey from computer engineering to founding Go Sleeves, a company producing performance-enhancing athletic sleeves. Darren highlights his entrepreneurial philosophy, emphasizing iterative testing and collaboration with experts. He explains the science behind Go Sleeves, combining kinesiology tape principles with compression sleeves to improve recovery and performance. Our intimate and open conversation also covers Darren's insights into brand building, market validation, and the challenge of shifting consumer perception of the product from a remedial tool to a proactive performance enhancer.***GET 15% OFF WITH MY SPECIAL CODE: https://www.gosleeves.com/zevConnect with Darren Lancaster:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrenlancaster/Email: darren@LTVDigital.com

December 31, 202432 min

[80] Why Self-Improvement is Key to Business Success

Entrepreneurs take notice: Before you work on your business, work on yourself! Join me for an intimate and revealing conversation with George Andriopoulos and learn about his unconventional path to entrepreneurship success. George will share how paying his dues, embracing setbacks, and prioritizing strategic planning shaped his journey.Discover the power of timing, the value of collaboration ("Mazzie"), and why real-world experience is worth more than any textbook. Listen to get actionable insights, especially if you want to grow your business without compromise.HIGHLIGHTS:☛ The best advice for would-be entrepreneurs☛ Making the best of an unfulfilled ten-year corporate career☛ The personal transformation that changed George's life☛ Why patience and timing matter☛ The biggest reason to use public speaking☛ The root causes of why a business needs a turnaround☛ The importance of committing to a non-profit causeConnect with George:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgeandriopoulos/Web: https://launchpad516.com/Personal:https://georgeandriopoulos.com/