The Palumbo Podcast: Your journey to a work optional lifestyle

Hosted by Philip Palumbo

BusinessInterviews guests

Website RSS feed LinkedIn YouTube

Episodes

Latest episode

May 2026

Language

About the show

The Palumbo Podcast is an interview series that will profile Founders of successful private businesses. Listen in as they share their struggles and successes on their journey to the top as well as how they think about money and financial freedom. Learn how to reach your full potential in business and your life.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

May 29, 202643 min

Why Relationships Build Billionaires

Success in real estate is not just about properties. It is about people, timing, and building systems that scale.In this episode of The Palumbo Podcast, Phil sits down with Anthony Scavo, President and Managing Partner of Basis Industrial, to break down how he helped grow the company from a small operation into a 7 million square foot industrial real estate powerhouse. Anthony shares the lessons he learned working alongside billionaire real estate families, why operations and relationships matter more than most founders realize, and how Basis Industrial is positioning itself for a massive future exit.Anthony also opens up about making the leap from employee to entrepreneur in his mid-40s, the realities of scaling a company with thousands of tenants, and why today’s real estate market still offers huge opportunities for patient investors.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why communication and relationships drive business growthHow industrial real estate creates long-term wealthThe mindset behind scaling toward a billion-dollar exitIf you want to understand how real estate empires are truly built, this conversation delivers an inside look from someone doing it in real time.

May 22, 202646 min

Your People Are Your Biggest Profit Lever

What if your biggest expense is actually your greatest untapped profit driver?In this episode, Dr. Solange Charas breaks down how companies can finally measure the financial return on their people. From her groundbreaking HCROI framework to real-world case studies, she reveals how small improvements in workforce performance can drive massive gains in profitability.This conversation challenges the outdated view of HR as a cost center and replaces it with a data-driven approach to human capital as a true investment.Key takeaways:Why most companies misunderstand the ROI of employeesHow AI is freeing up time and what leaders should do with itThe simple metric that can transform how you run your businessIf you want to build a more profitable, scalable company, it starts with how you invest in people.

May 15, 202637 min

Plan Early or Pay Later

What if waiting to plan your exit could cost you millions?In this episode of The Phil Palumbo Podcast, Phil sits down with Jason Marx, tax attorney and estate planning expert, to break down the critical strategies business owners must understand before selling their company. From succession planning to advanced tax strategies like QSBS and SLATs, Jason explains how early planning can protect your wealth, preserve your business value, and set your family up for generations.You’ll learn why most founders wait too long, what that mistake really costs, and how to think differently about your exit before it’s too late.Key takeaways:Why succession planning protects both valuation and continuityHow pre-exit tax strategies can save millionsThe power of estate planning to build multi-generational wealthIf you’re building something valuable, don’t wait until the finish line to protect it. This conversation might change how you think about your entire exit strategy.

May 8, 202629 min

The Space Economy Is Here

What if the biggest investment opportunity in history isn’t on Earth?Phil Scully, co-founder of Bollarian Space Ventures, breaks down why space is no longer science fiction but a rapidly emerging asset class attracting the world’s smartest capital. From satellites and propulsion systems to nuclear power and dual use technologies, he explains how private companies are building the infrastructure for a multi trillion dollar space economy.In this episode, we explore:Why space and defense are converging into one massive opportunityHow venture capitalists spot winners before they scaleWhat “dual use” technology means and why it drives outsized returnsThe future isn’t decades away, it’s already unfolding above us. Tune in to understand where the next generation of dominant companies is being built.

April 17, 202641 min

Double Your Exit Value Fast

Most business owners leave millions on the table without even realizing it.In this episode, Vincent Mastrovito breaks down why nearly 80% of businesses never sell and what separates the ones that do. With over 30 years of experience in exit planning, he reveals how founders can dramatically increase their company’s value often doubling it within just a few years by focusing on the right fundamentals.You’ll learn how to shift from being the business to building a business that runs without you, making it far more attractive and profitable when it’s time to exit.Key Takeaways:Why most businesses fail to sell and how to avoid itThe 3 biggest value killers including owner dependencyHow strategic planning and leadership unlock higher multiplesIf you’re building a business today, this conversation might change what it’s worth tomorrow.

April 10, 202649 min

Built While Burning Out with Nineveh Madsen

What if your biggest ambition is also your biggest blind spot?Nineveh Madsen went from TV news anchor to scaling a performance company to tens of millions in revenue but not without hitting burnout, rebuilding her life, and redefining what high performance actually means. In this conversation, she breaks down how Superhuman was built, why most founders sabotage themselves, and what it really takes to sustain success.Why high performers burn out and how to fix itThe real engine behind scaling to 50MWhy accountability beats motivation every timeIf you want to win in business without losing yourself, this episode is for you.

March 25, 202629 min

Oil Shock or Opportunity?

What happens when 20 percent of the world’s oil supply is suddenly at risk?In this episode, Philip Palumbo sits down with commodity strategist Matt Bauer to break down the real forces driving oil prices right now, from geopolitical tension in the Strait of Hormuz to the hidden mechanics of global supply chains. They go beyond headlines to explain what is actually moving markets and what investors often misunderstand about energy independence.They also zoom out to tackle the bigger question: are we entering a new commodity supercycle, or is this just another short-term surge driven by fear and volatility?Key takeaways:- Why oil prices are being driven more by logistics than supply-The truth about US energy independence- Whether AI and global demand could spark a new commodity boomIf you want to understand where commodities are headed and how to think clearly in uncertain markets, this episode will sharpen your perspective.

March 20, 202648 min

Exit Smart, Not Emotional

What happens the day after you sell your business?Serial entrepreneur Colin Campbell—who’s built and exited companies worth over $1B—breaks down the real playbook for founders preparing to exit, from maximizing valuation to redefining your identity beyond the business. He shares hard-earned lessons from massive wins, painful losses, and the mindset shift every founder must make to avoid regret.In this episode, you’ll learn:- Why your identity must evolve beyond “founder” before you exit- How to position your company for a higher valuation (and the buyers who pay the most)- The biggest mistake founders make when timing their exitIf you’re building a business, thinking about selling, or want to protect everything you’ve worked for—this conversation will change how you play the game.

February 16, 202644 min

60: The Economy, AI & Productivity w/ Veneta Dimitrova, Senior US Economist at Ned Davis Research

This week, Philip Palumbo sits down with Veneta Dimitrova, Senior US Economist at Ned Davis Research, to break down the forces shaping today’s economic landscape.Veneta shares her outlook on the U.S. economy, including GDP growth expectations, the role of fiscal and private-sector stimulus, and how capital investment and productivity trends are reshaping long-term growth. The conversation dives into the evolving labor market, the impact of demographics and immigration, and the role AI will play in driving productivity gains—while also introducing new risks to employment and income stability.From inflation and labor dynamics to policy changes and market implications, this episode explores how structural and cyclical forces are intersecting in today’s economy—and what it all means for investors going forward.Whether you’re an investor, business owner, or simply trying to understand where the economy is headed, this episode offers a clear framework for navigating the current cycle.Connect with Veneta:LinkedIn: Veneta Dimitrova

December 31, 202528 min

59: Decision Science & the Human Edge w/ Cheryl Strauss Einhorn, Founder of Decisive

This week, Philip Palumbo sits down with Cheryl Strauss Einhorn, founder and CEO of Decisive and one of today’s leading voices in decision science. Cheryl shares how her AREA Method helps individuals and organizations make clearer, more confident decisions by identifying cognitive bias, blind spots, and competing perspectives.From career and business decisions to investing, AI, and uncertainty, the conversation explores why process matters more than outcome—and how understanding how we decide can lead to better results. Cheryl also discusses her background as an award-winning investigative journalist, her work with Fortune 500 companies, her teaching at Columbia Business School and Cornell University, and her upcoming book, The Human Edge: Smarter Decisions in an AI-Driven World.Whether navigating high-stakes choices or everyday decisions, this episode offers a practical framework for thinking more clearly in a complex world.Connect with Cheryl:LinkedIn: Cheryl Strauss EinhornWebsite: www.areamethod.com