Episodes
Sept. 12, 2025
From Growing a Business to Leading One: Shifting Mindset, Scaling, and Staying Present
In this episode of Be The CEO , Adam and Tom dive into the mindset shifts required to go from simply growing a business to truly leading one. They answer questions posed by their assistant, Gary, based on real conversations w...
Sept. 5, 2025
The Intentional CEO Podcast: From Accidental to Intentional Leadership
In this first episode of the Intentional CEO Podcast, Tom and Adam reintroduce their mission: helping entrepreneurs move from being accidental CEOs—overworked and reactive—to intentional CEOs who lead with clarity, agency, an...
Aug. 29, 2025
Burnout, Boredom, and Building Systems: Becoming the CEO Your Business Needs
In this episode, Tom and Adam dive deep into one of the biggest challenges new and accidental CEOs face—confusing burnout with boredom. They unpack why hustle isn’t a badge of honor but a warning sign, how being the bottlenec...
Aug. 22, 2025
Stop Firefighting, Start Forecasting: The CEO Shift That Changes Everything
In this episode, Tom and his co-host dive deep into the real challenges entrepreneurs face when running their businesses — from burnout and chaos to flimsy business models and the trap of being “busy.” Fresh off their recent ...
Aug. 15, 2025
Accidental CEO? Here’s How to Take Back Control
In this episode, Tom and Adam tackle one of the biggest challenges small business owners face — getting stuck in the role instead of stepping into the CEO mindset. They share real-world client stories, personal insights, and ...
Aug. 8, 2025
The Quiet Cost of Control: Breaking Free as an Accidental CEO
In this episode, Tom and Adam dive into a challenge most entrepreneurs don’t even realize they’re facing—the quiet tax of control. From refusing to delegate to fearing the business will collapse without them, accidental CEOs ...
Aug. 1, 2025
From Accidental CEO to Intentional Leader: Calculating Risk, Celebrating Wins & Staying Focused
In this real and raw episode, Tom and Adam peel back the curtain on the behind-the-scenes journey of creating a podcast as accidental CEOs—and why it’s okay to still be figuring things out after 130+ episodes. They dive deep ...
July 25, 2025
From Accidental CEO to Intentional Leader: Mastering Focus, Asking for Help, and Embracing Support
In this powerful and candid episode, Tom and Adam delve into the challenges and mindset shifts that every accidental CEO faces when transitioning into a confident and intentional business leader. They unpack the paradox of cr...
July 18, 2025
Accidental CEO: Building a Business Around Family, Purpose, and Presence
In this heartfelt episode, we dive deep into the real reasons behind why so many small business owners and entrepreneurs take the leap—often unintentionally—into the role of CEO. From building a business around family needs t...
July 11, 2025
Why Success Starts with Suck: Technology, Fear, and the Real Work of Business Growth
In this episode, Tom and Adam dive deep into the messy reality of running a business in today’s rapidly evolving tech environment. From software updates disrupting workflows to business owners struggling with delegation, they...
July 4, 2025
The Journey from Accidental to Intentional CEO
In this powerful and reflective conversation, Tom and Adam unpack the experience of transitioning from running a business by chance to intentionally leading one as a CEO. They reflect on their recent morning workshop, the dyn...
June 27, 2025
Authenticity, Boundaries & the Method of One: Getting Real About Building a Purposeful Business
In this deeply honest episode, Tom and Adam pull back the curtain on their recent frustrations with content creation and the overwhelming noise of so-called expert advice. They get real about what it means to remain authentic...
June 20, 2025
The Real Definition of Being Rich & The Journey of the Accidental CEO
In this episode, we open with a story about wanting to use Nas’s track "Spicy" as our theme music—and what happens when audio hits differently depending on where you hear it. From there, we dig deep into the challenges and tr...
June 13, 2025
Fluency in Business: Learning the Language of Growth
In this episode, Tom and Adam explore what it truly means to evolve as a business owner—emotionally, mentally, and strategically. Starting with a nostalgic nod to Nas and how music takes on new meaning as you grow, they unpac...
June 6, 2025
The Accidental CEO
Hosts: Tom Marino & Adam Hurd Presented by: Atomic Business Coaching 🔍 Episode Summary: Tom and Adam reveal how they—and many of their clients—became accidental CEOs: people who never planned to run a business but ended up bu...
May 30, 2025
The Agony of Defeat – And the Power to Begin Again
In this heartfelt and empowering episode, Tom Marino and Adam Hurd dive deep into what it really means to face the end of one chapter—and how to embrace the beginning of the next. Using the emotional close of Tom’s son’s high...
May 23, 2025
What the Hell Do You Do All This For?
In this powerful, no-nonsense episode, Tom and Adam pull back the curtain on the real reason behind all the business-building activities like podcasting, content creation, and networking. They tackle a question every entrepre...
May 16, 2025
The Power of Trust: Navigating the Next Step in Business and Life
In this deeply insightful and candid episode, Tom and Adam explore the emotional and strategic challenges entrepreneurs face when standing at the threshold of “what’s next.” The conversation organically weaves through the rea...
May 9, 2025
Change, Opportunity & The Birth of the First M Club
In a world full of change, how do we evolve with intention—and not get swept up in noise? In this powerful and heartfelt conversation, Tom Marino and Adam Thomas Hurd (yes, he’s officially using his full name now!) take you i...
May 2, 2025
Submitting to Reality and Being Your Purpose
In this episode, Adam and Tom dive deep into the fogginess that entrepreneurs experience when they lose clarity in their businesses. They explore how to clear that fog — not with Benadryl, but with truth, intention, and align...
April 25, 2025
Consistent Follow-Up, Saboteurs, and Conversations That Close
In this episode, Tom and Adam dive deep into what really makes sales happen — and it’s not just slick tactics or great networking. It’s about consistency, mindset, and mastering the simple selling system that turns casual con...
April 17, 2025
The Grass is Greener Because It’s Full of Sh*t” — The Reality of Growth, Comparison, and Staying the Course
In this candid episode, Tom and Adam unpack the emotional rollercoaster of entrepreneurship and why so many business owners feel like they're always starting over. From podcast inspiration to coaching revelations, they discus...
April 11, 2025
Stop Outgrowing Your Growth: Learning, Stabilizing, and Scaling Wisely
In this episode, Tom and Adam explore one of the biggest mind traps for entrepreneurs and business owners: the pressure to grow constantly. They discuss the value of repetition in learning, the importance of sustainable progr...
April 4, 2025
The Power of Board Meetings for Business Owners
In this insightful episode, Tom and Adam explore the essential role of board meetings in both corporate settings and entrepreneurial ventures. Whether you’re running a billion-dollar organization or operating as a solopreneur...