Driven: Unscripted Success

In this compelling episode of Driven: Unscripted Success, we sit down with John Black Sr., a seasoned expert in property and liability insurance known for fixing the toughest problems. From starting his journey on a path to law school to leading insurance turnarounds and founding new ventures, John shares how grit, humility, and ethics shape success.
John opens up about rebuilding from the ground up, the sobering truths of corporate integrity, and the wisdom of knowing what you don’t know. He discusses his newest efforts in launching a global insurance platform and the Risk Management Education Foundation, aiming to drive ethical innovation in the industry. Whether you're a seasoned pro or an emerging leader, John’s practical insights on leadership, resilience, and responsibility will resonate.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
Why humility and effort matter more than talent
What sets great leaders apart in high-stakes industries
The future of risk management and ethical use of AI in insurance
How John is revolutionizing fire safety and disaster response
The role of compassion and ethics in building lasting success
 
---------------------------------------------------------- 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.

What do World War II wreckage, deep-sea recovery missions, and lobbying the U.S. government all have in common? Taras Lyssenko.
In this episode of Driven: Unscripted Success, hosts Mike Mannino Sr. and Nareman Hamdan sit down with Taras, a former Army infantry officer and current defense lobbyist, author, coach, and underwater explorer. Taras shares the extraordinary story of how he and his team recovered over 100 lost U.S. Navy aircraft from World War II—many of which are now on display in museums across the globe.
You’ll hear how Taras used his leadership experience and unfiltered communication style to lobby Congress, navigate bureaucratic obstacles, and collaborate with global defense agencies. He gets candid about battling false accusations, overcoming personal setbacks, and why having brain trauma hasn’t stopped him from advocating for national security initiatives like loitering munitions and ISR aircraft.
Key Takeaways:
The truth behind underwater aircraft recovery missions and how they started.
How Taras became a defense lobbyist with no formal background in politics.
His leadership insights from the military and real-world lobbying.
The challenges he faced with government red tape and misperceptions.
How animals, Whatsapp calls, and Capitol Hill debates are all part of a day in his life.
---------------------------------------------------------- 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.

What happens when disaster strikes and no one tells you help is available?
In this powerful episode, Nareman Hamdan sits down with Craig Pisaris-Henderson, the force behind Neurois and Economic Recovery Center, to explore how Craig turned a legacy of data-driven innovation into a mission of hope and relief for small businesses devastated by natural disasters.
From his early tech days launching domain empires and a billion-dollar ad platform, to standing up nonprofits like ERC Cares post-Hurricane Ian, Craig’s story is one of risk, resilience, and relentless community impact. You’ll hear how he and his family-based team help thousands secure critical disaster funding and support—even when traditional systems fail.
Craig gets real about personal setbacks, including a life-altering health crisis and financial hits from faulty real estate investments. Through it all, his leadership philosophy—conclusion by inclusion—has built an organization that puts purpose first, leveraging AI and a deep passion for helping others.
In this episode, you'll hear about:
The gaps in disaster relief systems and how Craig fills them
Why 80% of eligible businesses miss out on financial help
Craig’s battle with addiction and journey back to purpose
His philosophy on leadership and planning for success
Why AI plays a massive role in their ability to scale 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.

In this insightful episode, host Mike Mannino sits down with aviation medical examiner and former ER physician Dylan Caldwell. From flying sailplanes to diagnosing pilots, Dylan shares the critical role of pattern recognition in both emergency medicine and aviation.
Dylan opens up about his transition from a high-stress ER career to a purpose-driven practice helping pilots keep their wings. He talks about the satisfaction of guiding pilots through FAA medical processes, his passion for aviation, and why he believes we need to return to old-school principles of health: eat less, move more.
The conversation also explores America’s health challenges, lifestyle medicine, mindset coaching, and what sets Dylan apart in a highly regulated, competitive industry. It’s a raw, unscripted dive into medicine, aviation, and what it takes to stay grounded—so others can fly.
 
 
---------------------------------------------------------- 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 fascinating conversation, hosts Mike Mannino and Nareman Hamdan talk with Brett Furlong about the logistics, challenges, and wild stories behind safely transporting animals around the world. From moving a Kodiak grizzly bear across continents to ensuring the comfort of pets in cargo, Brett shares a behind-the-scenes look at a niche industry that’s critical to modern life.
Brett talks about the growth of Starwood Pet Travel, how his passion for efficiency fuels innovation, and how his team helps reduce the stress of international relocations for families and their furry loved ones. He also shares tips for anyone looking to get into the industry, as well as insights on building and investing in a mission-driven 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.

In this episode, Mike Mannino chats with Brooke Trometer, founder of Cypress Media Productions, about her unexpected journey into entrepreneurship and the power of trusting your team. From growing up as a true Floridian in Fort Myers to becoming a leader in podcast post-production, Brooke shares how her career was built on relationships, resilience, and staying ahead of trends.
Brooke opens up about the shutdown of her previous company, the leap into starting her own, and how building authentic client relationships helped launch her business. She dives into why letting your team do what they do best is the real secret to growth, and how leadership is more about listening than managing. You'll also hear insights into dealing with imposter syndrome and the mindset shift it takes to succeed in business.
In this episode, you'll learn:
How Cypress Media became a trusted one-stop-shop for podcast post-production
Why trusting your team can make or break your business
What makes client relationships the heart of sustainable growth
Brooke’s strategies for staying current with content trends
Why leadership means listening, not micromanaging
 
---------------------------------------------------------- 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 energizing episode, hosts Mike Mannino Sr. and Nareman Hamdan sit down with Tom Bohn, the dynamic CEO behind THM Media, to explore how passion, curiosity, and culture fueled a company’s exponential growth.
Tom dives into his journey, sharing how THM Media evolved from a humble print publication into a multi-product, multi-platform powerhouse—with offerings in digital marketing, home improvement, and even pet care. From launching “The Pet Mag” to incorporating AI, Tom talks about how staying “aggressively curious” helped his team innovate and scale at lightning speed.
But the real magic? Culture. Tom emphasizes the power of creating a workplace where people feel energized, valued, and free to take bold risks. He also shares insights on hiring within, building leaders, and turning everyday employees into all-in evangelists.
You’ll also hear:
How “clearing the path” became a company-wide mantra
The power of building around passion—especially pets
Why failing fast (and often) is key to growth
The real meaning behind a “22-year overnight success”
Tom’s approach to creating passive income and planning the next big thing
 
---------------------------------------------------------- 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.

The warehousing industry is booming—and it's not just Amazon driving the revolution. In this episode, Jose Sarruff shares how automation, robotics, and a shift in mindset are transforming the space, and how professionals like him are navigating the new era of logistics and distribution.
Summary:In this engaging conversation, host Mike Mannino Sr. sits down with warehouse industry leader Jose Sarruff to dive into the dynamic world of automation in warehousing. Jose talks about his career journey from manufacturing to business development and why he considers himself a “warehouse industry trustee.”
Jose sheds light on:
The rapid shift from diesel and propane-powered equipment to electric fleets
The post-COVID explosion of e-commerce and its ripple effects on logistics
Embracing new money and young professionals in a traditionally tight-knit industry
The growing role of AI and robotics in improving accuracy and reducing human error
Sustainability initiatives and the future of motive power in warehouses
The personal and professional challenges he’s faced, including investing in a golf course without financial records!
 
---------------------------------------------------------- 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.

What happens when talent, perseverance, and outside-the-box thinking collide? You get Dr. Yaya Diamond. In this episode, Mike Mannino sits down with Yaya to uncover the incredible story of how she went from growing up on the road with her superstar mother to launching her own broadcasting network, becoming a CEO, and continuing to dominate in music, business, and martial arts.
Yaya shares her journey through law school, Italian opera, acting, entrepreneurship, and what she learned growing up in the entertainment spotlight. She talks about the value of failure, the mental strength developed through martial arts, and how she transformed trauma into power.
From founding Karate schools to launching Red Hot Reality Entertainment and Women to Women Broadcast Network, Yaya proves that passion paired with action is unstoppable. You’ll also hear her unfiltered thoughts on passive income myths and the secret behind staying humble while building empires.
Whether you're chasing your dream or still figuring it out, this episode is packed with inspiration, clarity, and a real look at the grit behind success.
👤 About the Guest:
Dr. Yaya Diamond is the CEO of Red Hot Reality Entertainment and Co-CEO of the Women to Women and Tru Ride Broadcast Networks. A creative powerhouse, she’s also a professional singer, martial artist, coach, and advocate for women 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.

What if your retirement could fund more than just Wall Street? In this episode, Kaaren Hall shares how self-directed IRAs unlock new possibilities and why choice is your most powerful asset.
🧠 What You’ll Learn:
How Kaaren went from mortgage lending to managing over $1B in assets
The real meaning behind “self-directed” IRAs and how they work
Common mistakes investors make—and how to avoid them
Kaaren’s take on discipline, due diligence, and why “just show up” is the ultimate superpower
Her experience building a team, facing challenges, and investing wisely—personally and professionally
What she’s excited about next, from BiggerPocketsCon 2025 to impacting retirement policy through RITA
👤 About Kaaren Hall:
Kaaren is a powerhouse in the self-directed IRA space. With over 20 years in real estate, lending, and property management, she founded uDirect IRA Services in 2009 and grew it into a billion-dollar business. She's also a published author, speaker, and sits on the boards of RITA and the Council on Aging for Southern California.
 
 
---------------------------------------------------------- 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.