What happens when the business you built starts to break you?

Shannon McLay, founder of Collective Wellness Revival and former CEO of The Financial Gym joins JR Lay for a conversation that goes far beyond entrepreneurship. After 12 intense years of building a business and raising over $14 million in funding, Shannon found herself at rock bottom—burned out, disconnected, and questioning everything. What followed were three days in a mental health facility that would become a profound spiritual turning point.

Shannon shares the lessons she learned in the silence—about workaholism, misplaced identity, and the soul-crushing expectations founders place on themselves. She speaks openly about how her faith, intuition, and connection to something greater led her to a new mission: helping entrepreneurs heal from the inside out. This episode is a guide for every founder who has ever felt like they’re barely holding it together while keeping up appearances.

You’ll leave with a deeper sense of clarity—and permission to slow down, surrender, and find yourself again.

Rory Sylvia, founder of The Ways We Work, joins JR Lay to explore how leaders can create more human-centric, adaptive teams in the face of exponential change. Rory unpacks his RIDE framework—Reflect, Ideate, Design, Experiment—as a practical, repeatable rhythm for modern leadership. Together, they discuss why traditional top-down management models are failing, how fear and comfort hold teams back from meaningful growth, and how small, safe-to-try experiments can unleash innovation, trust, and connection.

Rory also shares how a simple 90-day LinkedIn experiment led to new relationships, clarity in his message, and business growth—proof that the ride really works. This episode will challenge your assumptions, encourage you to embrace tension as data, and equip you with tools to lead your team with intention in a fast-moving, AI-shaped world.

When your podcast feels transactional, it shows. You miss the chance to build real trust—and in B2B, that trust is everything. Especially now, when AI-generated “slop” is everywhere and people crave something real.

Robb Conlon, founder of Westport Studios, joins JR Lay to break down why authentic connection is your podcast’s secret weapon. They talk about building real relationships, creating content that actually connects, and why giving a damn might just be your best marketing strategy.

What does the first year of business really look like—without the highlight reel? In this episode, JR Lay sits down with Chris DuBois, founder of Dynamic Agency OS, to unpack the real lessons from year one of building his business.

Chris doesn't hold back. He shares the wins, the struggles, and the mindset shifts that helped him go from nearly taking a job… to designing an agency that works for him, not the other way around. They explore everything from clarity in positioning to why “you can’t outsource conviction,” and how sticking to your values can actually accelerate growth.

If you’re a B2B entrepreneur looking to build momentum, re-align your business, or shift from founder-driven to founder-led, this conversation offers both practical insight and deep encouragement.

Because the truth is...your business will only grow as far as you do.

Most entrepreneurs today are chasing the latest technology -AI, automation, analytics- believing it’s the key to scaling. But what if the most powerful tool in your business doesn’t live in the cloud... but in your mind?

In this episode of the Level Up Business Podcast, JR Lay is joined by Roderick Walker, Owner & CEO of Tavros Care, who shares his incredible journey from driving UPS trucks to leading in the healthcare space. This conversation goes beyond strategy and systems—it’s a raw and honest look at how ambition, adversity, and authentic intelligence shape true entrepreneurial success.

Roderick opens up about overcoming childhood trauma, surviving misdiagnosis and medical uncertainty, and how he used those experiences to build scalable businesses—from a multi-service wedding company to a thriving healthcare brand. Together, they explore how mindset isn't just a soft skill—it's the foundation for scaling your business and your life.

If you’ve ever felt stuck, uncertain, or overwhelmed by the chaos of entrepreneurship, this episode is your invitation to reframe that chaos into clarity—and to finally level up from the inside out.

What would you do if your $20 million business exit collapsed just 30 days before closing? That’s exactly what happened to Steve Patti, a seasoned B2B marketing leader who has built and scaled companies across 12+ industries. In this episode, Steve shares the hard-earned wisdom from that moment and how it transformed his approach to business, branding, and life. Steve and JR also explore the power of faith—not as religion, but as the confidence in what’s hoped for—and how it can reshape your mindset, marketing, and mission. Finally, they'll discuss why wisdom is the new currency, how to reclaim your identity in a synthetic world, and why your brand is ultimately your reputation.

Wealth is often measured in dollars. But what if the real scoreboard for success tracks something far more meaningful?

In this episode JR Lay is joined by Cory Proctor, a former NFL offensive lineman turned entrepreneur and founder of Pro Capital Wealth Management. Cory brings a no-fluff perspective to what it really takes to grow a business, protect your wealth, and stay grounded in what matters most—faith, family, and future.

Together, they explore how the battles entrepreneurs face in business are often rooted in deeper belief systems—and how aligning your spiritual, mental, and financial life isn’t just good for you personally… it’s essential for sustainable business growth.

If you’ve been chasing external success but feel disconnected from your purpose, this conversation will challenge you to redefine wealth—and give you a framework to build it with intention.

Ever feel stuck as an entrepreneur—like you’ve hit a wall that no strategy, system, or scale tactic can break through? The truth is, your business growth is limited by your personal growth. Growth-minded entrepreneur Michael Pine, Managing Partner and Co Founder at thinkWealth, LLC, joins JR to unpack how investing in yourself—mentally, emotionally, and spiritually—is the key to leveling up your business.

Michael shares hard-earned insights from decades of inner work, the power of courageous conversations, and why people pleasing is just another form of self-sabotage. Together, they explore how spiritual development is not separate from business, but the source of sustained success.

Now’s the time to invest in the most important asset in your business—you.