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

8 hours ago
The Mobile Home Park Playbook
8 hours ago
8 hours ago
In this eye-opening episode, Mike sits down with real estate investor and mobile home park expert Mario Dattilo to uncover a high-cash-flow asset class most people overlook. From flipping homes to building a mobile home park empire, Mario shares how he shifted his mindset, structured his team, and built a consistent, scalable acquisition system that delivers long-term wealth.
You’ll learn why mobile home parks are among the most tax-efficient and recession-resistant real estate investments—and how you can break into the game. Mario gets real about his past failures, including a financial collapse in his early 20s, and how he turned it into fuel for a stronger, more intentional business.
Whether you're new to commercial real estate or a seasoned investor looking to diversify, this episode is packed with golden insights.
Key Takeaways:
Why mobile home parks offer unmatched stability and ROI
Mario’s "consistency × volume = results" business formula
How professionalization is changing the mobile home park industry
Why Mario avoids brokers and goes direct-to-owner
Advice for building complementary partnerships and scaling smart
The critical difference between being an investor vs. building an investment 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.

2 days ago
Hustle Born from a Garden
2 days ago
2 days ago
JD walks us through his journey from garden-side sales to launching a national nonprofit teaching kids how to turn ideas into real money. He and host Mike Mannino explore topics like:
Why rejection builds resilience
How dyslexia and ADHD helped JD think differently
The power of mentorship—and why most kids don’t get it
Why entrepreneurship is a mindset, not just a job
The failures that made him stronger
Plus, hear about Biz Kids Expos, a Shark Tank-style experience where young entrepreneurs pitch their ideas, sell their products, and walk away with real cash.
--------------------------------------------------------- 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.

7 days ago
Herbal Healing Meets Modern Wellness
7 days ago
7 days ago
What happens when a Boston native trades the city bar scene for a Fijian-rooted plant and an entrepreneurial mission in Florida? In this episode, Michael Hamwey shares his transformation from skeptic to pioneer in the world of kava and kratom, two herbal alternatives gaining traction in modern wellness.
Michael walks us through his journey from visiting a kava bar on a whim to co-founding Kava Luv, a fast-growing social lounge concept built around herbal relaxation and human connection. He breaks down what kava and kratom really are, how they work, and why they’re sparking a wellness movement in Southwest Florida—and beyond.
We dive into:
The community-first culture of kava bars
The misunderstood reputation of kratom
Building a business from scratch (and turning it around!)
Scaling to multiple locations and launching a national franchise
Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs and wellness seekers alike
---------------------------------------------------------- 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 Jul 23, 2025
From Deals to Dialogue: Bill Ryan on Real Estate and Reinvention
Wednesday Jul 23, 2025
Wednesday Jul 23, 2025
In this episode of Driven: Unscripted Success, Bill Ryan brings a lifetime of entrepreneurial spirit to the mic. With roots in a family-owned home building company, Bill scaled a major real estate business before pivoting into tech, authorship, and launching multiple brands. From founding Epicure Group to his high-performance home brand, Bill dives into how construction, innovation, and values can co-exist—and elevate—modern living.
We explore:
His roots in real estate and family legacy
Why residential construction is lagging—and how he's changing that
The birth of the “high performance home” concept
AI's role in real estate and creative work
How collaboration drives his leadership style
Why he's investing in his own brands for future 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.

Tuesday Jul 22, 2025
Karna Bodman: Reagan’s Deputy Press Secretary Turned Political Thriller Author
Tuesday Jul 22, 2025
Tuesday Jul 22, 2025
In this captivating episode, Mike and Nareman sit down with Karna Bodman—a woman whose remarkable journey spans journalism, the Reagan White House, and the world of political thrillers. Karna shares the untold stories of her time as Deputy Press Secretary under President Ronald Reagan, including the day of the attempted assassination and her behind-the-scenes experiences in the White House Situation Room.
Karna reveals how her career inspired a successful second act as a bestselling author, writing political thrillers drawn from her real-life experiences with global security threats and defense strategies. She also discusses her creative process, the importance of preparation, and how a sense of duty led her through some of the highest-pressure roles in American politics.
Listeners will gain a rare, inside look at leadership, history, risk-taking, and the power of storytelling—from someone who lived it at the highest levels of government.
---------------------------------------------------------- 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 Jul 17, 2025
Building Wealth One Deal at a Time
Thursday Jul 17, 2025
Thursday Jul 17, 2025
In this insightful and unscripted conversation, Jim Cloonan of Lond Capital shares his journey from blue-collar trades to managing multi-million dollar ventures and high-stakes investments. Jim unpacks how he transitioned from HVAC and plumbing to overseeing a diverse portfolio that includes commercial real estate, hotels, and a clinical lab operating in over 15 states.
Jim speaks candidly about what it takes to lead, restructure failing businesses, and build teams smarter than yourself. He also opens up about mentorship, learning from mistakes, and the importance of personal growth. And in one unforgettable story, Jim reveals a near-death diving experience that profoundly changed his outlook on life and success.
What You'll Learn:
The power of mentorship and learning to “shut up and listen”
Why adversity sharpens your business edge
Jim’s take on building passive income through operating businesses
The role of faith, family, and emotional intelligence in business
A pivotal story that changed Jim’s life and leadership style
---------------------------------------------------------- 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 Jul 16, 2025
Global Finance and Public Service
Wednesday Jul 16, 2025
Wednesday Jul 16, 2025
Emily Landis Walker brings a remarkable story of grit, global finance, and dedication to public service to this episode of Driven: Unscripted Success with hosts Mike Mannino Sr. and Nareman Hamdan. From humble beginnings stuffing envelopes at the Republican National Committee to leading roles at the U.S. Treasury, the International Monetary Fund, Citigroup, and even the 9/11 Commission, Emily’s journey is nothing short of extraordinary.
She opens up about being in New York on 9/11, the creation of critical U.S. national security standards, her work across Europe, Iraq, and Southeast Asia, and her latest consulting ventures in blockchain and business continuity. Emily’s unique career path is an inspiring testament to following opportunity, staying adaptable, and always being ready to lead in crisis.
Key Takeaways:
Emily’s transition from political roles to international finance leadership
Her real-time experience during 9/11 and contribution to national emergency preparedness
Building Citigroup's partnership with the United Nations World Food Programme
Working globally to improve disaster response and capital readiness in the tech space
Mentorship, resilience, and staying intellectually active even close to retirement
---------------------------------------------------------- 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 Jul 15, 2025
Tuesday Jul 15, 2025
Bethany pulls back the curtain on her journey from law offices to luxury retreats. She talks about her bold leap into real estate investing, her experience launching a boutique hotel, and the lessons learned from a failed fund venture. Bethany doesn’t hold back—she shares the wins, the losses, and the mindset that carried her through both.
Listeners will walk away with:
The value of letting go and leveraging others' strengths
How failure shaped her approach to success
Insights into syndication and fund development
Her philosophy on leadership, team-building, and “everything is figureoutable”
---------------------------------------------------------- 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.

Monday Jul 14, 2025
Mind and Body Recovery
Monday Jul 14, 2025
Monday Jul 14, 2025
In this episode of Driven: Unscripted Success, hosts Mike Mannino Sr. and Nareman Hamdan sit down with the dynamic Dr. Megan Johnson McCullough—bodybuilder, author, entrepreneur, and wellness advocate. Broadcasting from Oceanside, California, Megan shares how she juggles running two thriving businesses: a fitness studio called Everybody’s Fit and an outpatient addiction treatment center, Mindful Bodies Recovery.
Her journey from basketball courts to bodybuilding stages and from personal fitness to mental health services is nothing short of inspiring. Megan opens up about the emotional challenges of entrepreneurship, the rewards of working with clients battling physical and emotional struggles, and her pursuit of purpose in every aspect of life.
Listeners will gain actionable fitness and wellness advice, learn about the value of structure and accountability, and get a candid look into the reality of starting and sustaining a business that changes lives.
---------------------------------------------------------- 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 Jul 11, 2025
Good Intuition
Friday Jul 11, 2025
Friday Jul 11, 2025
In this heartfelt and powerful episode, Dr. Tiffany Bannworth shares her incredible journey from globetrotting archaeologist to educational trailblazer. After personal tragedy struck, Tiffany found herself called into a new purpose—creating a haven for students who don't fit the mold. Her school, Bworth Academy of Classical Education, is built on faith, flexibility, and a fierce commitment to helping kids rise above their circumstances.
We dive deep into how she built her school from the ground up, why she rejected government money to maintain educational freedom, and how she integrates passion, adaptability, and divine guidance into everything she does. Tiffany also opens up about loss, single parenthood, launching a school just before COVID, and her plans to expand into higher education.
Key Takeaways:
How tragedy became the foundation for a new purpose
Why flexibility in education matters more than ever
Building passive income through tutoring and asynchronous classes
The challenges and rewards of not accepting government funding
The spiritual side of entrepreneurship and education
---------------------------------------------------------- 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.