How Simon Phillips Built, Lost, and Rebuilt Million-Dollar E-Commerce Brands: Lessons From Failure
Inner Edison Podcast by Ed Parcaut
Release Date: 05/13/2025
How Leeroy Beeby Built Level Copilot to Tackle Bookkeeping Mistakes in Construction Businesses
Inner Edison Podcast by Ed Parcaut
On this episode of the Inner Edison Podcast, host Ed Parcaut sits down with Leeroy Beeby, chartered accountant, entrepreneur, and founder of Checkthelevel.com—to talk about the real-world struggles and solutions in the world of small business finance. Leeroy shares his journey from South Africa to Bermuda to Canada, and how growing up in a family of serial entrepreneurs shaped his drive for innovation. He opens up about the challenges of building and managing remote teams, how introverts thrive in entrepreneurship, and the lessons learned from hiring (and firing) fast. Most importantly,...
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How Failures Fueled Jonathan Loudermilk’s Success in Fitness, Business, and Book Publishing
Inner Edison Podcast by Ed Parcaut
In this episode of the Inner Edison podcast, Ed sits down with Jonathan Loudermilk, a seasoned entrepreneur and creator of Smart Shark and Smart Publishing. Jonathan opens up about his unique journey from getting fired at multiple odd jobs as a teenager, to finding his footing and confidence in the fitness industry, and ultimately launching multiple businesses. Hear how his early missteps and setbacks—from spilling mashed potatoes on customers as a busboy to learning through heartbreak and relocation—became stepping stones for becoming a top fitness manager and later a successful coach...
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Lessons Learned from Failure: Eric Brotman’s Road to Financial Independence on Inner Edison
Inner Edison Podcast by Ed Parcaut
On this episode of the Inner Edison podcast, host Ed Parcaut chats with Eric Brotman, a seasoned financial advisor and entrepreneur, about his unconventional journey into the world of finance and the lessons learned along the way. Eric shares how a failed plan to become a lawyer led him by accident into finance, his entrepreneurial leap after starting over from scratch at age 30, and how adversity—like the 2008 recession—shaped his business and personal growth. Ed and Eric dive deep into the realities of entrepreneurship: the risks, the need for resilience, and the lessons that come from...
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Building a Unique Brand David Sauers Talks Royal Restrooms and Festival Podcasting
Inner Edison Podcast by Ed Parcaut
In this episode of the Inner Edison Podcast, host Ed Parcaut sits down with David Sauers, CEO and co-founder of Royal Restrooms and passionate supporter of local festivals across the Southeast. David shares his inspiration for launching a new podcast, “Elevated Eventure,” designed to spotlight the passionate individuals and incredible stories behind small-town events like the Moon Pie Festival and the National Banana Pudding Festival. Ed and David go deep on the value of podcasting as a platform, why consistency is key, and the importance of standing out—whether it’s turning purple...
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How Nick Jain Uses AI and Innovation to Scale Companies Faster
Inner Edison Podcast by Ed Parcaut
Ed Parcaut welcomes Nick Jain, CEO of IdeaScale, to the Inner Edison Podcast for an inspiring conversation about entrepreneurship, leadership, and innovation. Hear Nick share his compelling journey from humble beginnings as the child of Indian immigrants in Canada to hedge fund investor on Wall Street, and ultimately to turnaround CEO for multiple companies. Nick dives deep into the lessons learned from his upbringing, the immigrant work ethic, and how becoming a new parent has changed his perspective on life and business. Discover how Nick transitioned from Wall Street to running large...
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Navigating E-Commerce Challenges with Jared Jennings of Phantom Brands
Inner Edison Podcast by Ed Parcaut
In this insightful episode of the Inner Edison Podcast, host Ed Parcaut sits down with Jared Jennings, the founder of Phantom Brands, to dive into the realities of starting and scaling a successful e-commerce and streetwear business. Discover how Jared transitioned from corporate sales to entrepreneurship, the hard-earned lessons from launching his own clothing brand during the pandemic, and the power of networking in the apparel industry. Jared also reveals the pitfalls he faced—from manufacturing headaches to a major social media hack—and how those tough moments became stepping stones...
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How Tax Strategist Jeff Trapp Built a Successful Firm and Learned From Failure
Inner Edison Podcast by Ed Parcaut
Apple Podcast Description: In this episode of the Inner Edison Podcast, host Ed Parcaut sits down with Jeff Trapp, an experienced tax strategist and founder of Tax Planning Pros. Jeff clarifies the differences between an Enrolled Agent (EA) and a CPA, shares candid stories about his path into the tax field, and offers practical advice for business owners on proactive tax planning. Listen in as Jeff reveals common tax mistakes, the importance of building your personal brand, and key tips for keeping your books in order. Whether you're a solo entrepreneur or a seasoned business owner, this...
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From Advertising to Alcohol-Free Spirits: Milan Martin’s Entrepreneurial Journey
Inner Edison Podcast by Ed Parcaut
Join host Ed Parcaut as he sits down with Milan Martin, founder of The Free Spirits Company, for an inspiring conversation about reinvention, creativity, and reimagining how we experience cocktails. With over 20 years in the advertising industry, Milan shares his journey from the high-pressure world of global ad agencies to launching a groundbreaking non-alcoholic spirits brand. Discover how Milan’s pursuit of creativity led him to challenge the very idea of what a great drink should be, and how he turned a simple question—"What if alcohol didn’t have to be the star?"—into a thriving...
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How Robert Hunt Built Success with CEO Peer Groups on the Inner Edison Podcast
Inner Edison Podcast by Ed Parcaut
In this inspiring episode of the Inner Edison podcast, Ed Parcaut sits down with Robert Hunt—CEO peer group facilitator, executive coach, and author of "Nobody Cares Until You Do." Robert opens up about his unconventional shift from corporate marketing leader to entrepreneur, why he never planned on starting his own business, and how desperation forced him to carve a new path. Robert shares candid lessons from his own setbacks, including confronting financial hardships, making tough family decisions, and finding the courage to sell his home in order to rebuild. He reveals the inner...
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Mastering Change: Damon Lembi and Ed Parcaut on AI, Podcasting, and Career Pivots
Inner Edison Podcast by Ed Parcaut
In this insightful episode of the Ed Parcaut Podcast, Ed sits down with Damon Lembi, CEO of Learnit and host of the LearnItAll podcast, for a wide-ranging conversation about personal growth, career pivots, and the transformative power of artificial intelligence. Damon shares his journey from being drafted twice by Major League Baseball teams to navigating imposter syndrome and ultimately finding his passion in leading a tech-learning company. Together, Ed and Damon dive deep into the world of podcasting, the evolution of technology from floppy disks to cloud-based learning, and how AI is...
info_outlineIn this episode of the Inner Edison Podcast, host Ed Parcaut sits down with Simon Phillips, a New Zealand-based entrepreneur with a remarkable journey through the highs and lows of building e-commerce brands and agencies. Simon opens up about launching his first successful brand at 19, scaling it to seven figures, and then losing it all—only to bounce back with a new agency and, ultimately, a powerful accelerator program for e-commerce businesses.
Through candid discussions, Simon shares hard-earned insights on what it really takes to build, lose, and rebuild both business and self-belief. The conversation covers the pitfalls of working with agencies, the shift to training internal teams, the power of niching down for business growth, and the crucial balance between personal development and professional success. You’ll also hear their thoughts on leveraging AI, building community, and why focusing on your core customer is more important than ever.
Whether you’re an entrepreneur, marketer, or anyone seeking inspiration through adversity, Simon’s story and Ed’s wisdom will leave you with valuable takeaways on resilience, reinvention, and the importance of both inner and outer work in business.
Learn more about Simon Phillips at E-commerce Accelerator.
Tune in, get inspired, and discover why your greatest confidence often comes from your greatest defeats.
**Contact Ed Parcaut:**
- 🌍 Website: [edparcaut.com](http://edparcaut.com)
- 📱 Twitter: [@edparcaut](https://twitter.com)
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