Driven: Unscripted Success

In this episode, we’re joined by Naga Varun Kanaparthy, founder of Impatient Software, a defense tech innovator developing tools that help law enforcement, military personnel, and emergency responders operate more safely and effectively. With a background in robotics and software engineering, Naga walks us through how his work is enhancing mission-critical communications, real-time tracking, and tactical awareness using satellite-connected tech.
He shares the real-world challenges of building hardware solutions for the government, how deepfakes and digital evidence are changing law enforcement accountability, and why collaboration and resilience are critical for any founder — especially in the defense space.
We also dive into what makes a great hackathon, how to validate your product in the early stages, and why understanding policy and procurement is key to success in dual-use innovation.
 
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In this deeply authentic episode of Driven: Unscripted Success, Mike Mannino Sr. and Nareman Hamdan sit down with Kevin Petersen, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), author, and founder of Petersen Family Counseling. Kevin opens up about his personal journey through addiction, deception, second chances—and ultimately, purpose.
From faking a college graduation to transforming lives through counseling, Kevin shares how his faith, recovery, and drive to help others led him to create a thriving private practice and join a leading treatment center, Jaywalker Lodge. His raw honesty and insight into addiction and family systems is both powerful and practical.
--------------------------------------------------------- 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.

In this episode of the Driven: Unscripted Success Podcast, Mike Mannino sits down with April O’Leary, founder of O’Leary Publishing, to dive into the unique story of how April went from being a stay-at-home mom to building a thriving boutique publishing company. April shares her deeply personal transformation journey, from overcoming emotional roadblocks to launching a business that empowers new authors to share their stories with the world.
You'll hear how April's background in life coaching and emotional intelligence became the foundation for her signature book-mapping method, and how she guides first-time authors through every step of publishing — from concept to launch. She also reveals how her annual Booked Naples event helps writers break into public speaking and build their brand around their books.
We also get personal: April opens up about the challenges of people-pleasing, her mindset shift after hitting rock bottom, and how she now balances ambition with rest — what she playfully calls “chipping and putting.”
If you’ve ever thought about writing a book, building passive income from your story, or just need a dose of real-life inspiration, this episode is for you.
 
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In this inspiring episode, Courtney Potter shares her incredible transition from NYC’s high-pressure advertising world to becoming a tech founder helping others lead more aligned, purpose-driven lives. As the CEO of Peakality, Courtney talks about her vision to help people integrate personal growth tools into daily life through a holistic, gamified platform for human performance.
From the deeply personal story of losing her best friend to cancer to launching a wellness-tech company with no tech background, Courtney opens up about overcoming fear, taking big leaps, and redefining success on her terms.
 
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In this inspiring episode of Driven: Unscripted Success, hosts Mike Mannino Sr. and Nareman Hamdan sit down with powerhouse tech leader, board member, and author Shellye Archambeau. Known for her bold and intentional career path, Shellye shares candid stories and deep lessons from her journey—from climbing the ranks at IBM to turning around MetricStream as CEO and launching Ignite Ambition, a community dedicated to empowering early to mid-career professionals.
 
 
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In this inspiring episode of Driven: Unscripted Success, hosts Mike Mannino Sr. and Nareman Hamdan sit down with Manny Pozo, co-founder of BioResponse Restoration. Manny unpacks his remarkable 20-year journey from launching a biohazard cleanup company on the side to leading a thriving restoration business across Florida, Texas, and Louisiana.
He opens up about the early struggles — including failed ventures, learning on the fly, and even cleaning up a suicide scene on Thanksgiving — and the turning points that helped BioResponse scale. Manny dives into his leadership philosophy centered on trust, grit, and empathy, and shares how failure taught him the power of persistence and vision.
Listeners will also hear how Manny's faith became a guiding force in his life and business, and why he's now focused on legacy, impact, and mentorship. From navigating catastrophic weather events to launching a new HVAC venture, this episode is packed with real-world entrepreneurial insight.
 
 
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Immigration attorney Hector Chichoni joins us to share insights from decades of experience navigating the ever-changing landscape of U.S. and global immigration law. From high-stakes audits to bringing in global talent and investors, Hector gives us an insider look at what corporate immigration really looks like—and where it's headed.
 
 
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In this inspiring and deeply personal episode, Dr. Nkema shares how she went from long hospital shifts to leading Phoenix Capital Investments, a multifamily investment firm focused on helping doctors, nurses, and other professionals generate passive income and take control of their financial futures.
She opens up about the pivotal moment she realized job security wasn’t guaranteed, and how that realization fueled her journey into entrepreneurship. From navigating risk as a physician to building her dream team, Dr. Nkema offers insight, honesty, and lessons learned along the way.
Whether you're a healthcare worker feeling trapped in the grind or an aspiring investor unsure where to start, Dr. Nkema’s story is full of practical advice, empowering strategies, and the kind of unscripted truth this podcast is known for.
 
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In this episode, we sit down with Borja Cuan, co-founder of FOUR Digital, a performance-driven digital marketing agency helping businesses scale across major ad platforms like Google, Meta, LinkedIn, and more. Borja opens up about the realities of entrepreneurship in a saturated industry and delivers a refreshing dose of honesty: Nothing comes easy.
From the early days of IPOs in the startup world to bootstrapping a successful marketing agency without raising capital, Borja walks us through his journey, revealing lessons on leadership, mindset, and client relationships. He shares candid insights on the importance of enduring pain, managing stress, and why consistency in leadership is tougher than people think.
 
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In this episode of Driven: Unscripted Success, host Mike Mannino sits down with T.J. DoVale, a standout patent attorney at FisherBroyles, to talk about the rare path he took to success—one that required both an engineering degree and a law degree. T.J. shares his story of grit, growth, and balance as he built a thriving legal career while keeping family first.
T.J. talks about what it means to work in intellectual property law, how he made the leap from a high-pressure firm to a life-changing opportunity at a virtual law firm, and why emotional intelligence is just as important as technical expertise.
From lessons on leadership and risk-taking to the importance of staying in shape—both mentally and physically—this is a conversation filled with wisdom for aspiring professionals, attorneys, and entrepreneurs.
 
 
---------------------------------------------------------- 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.