Ep. 111: Kevin Harrington - Entrepreneur
St. Pete X
From sealing driveways at 15 to building one of the most powerful customer-acquisition machines in modern business, Kevin Harrington has seen the game from every angle. In this episode of SPX, the original Shark shares how he went from knocking on doors in Cincinnati to helping launch products that generated hundreds of millions in sales. This is a conversation about hustle, credibility, timing and the mechanics of making people buy. Harrington unpacks the early lessons that shaped him, the wild rise of the infomercial era, how “As Seen on TV” became a force, and why customer acquisition...
info_outline
Ep. 111: Kevin Harrington - Entrepreneur
St. Pete X
From sealing driveways at 15 to building one of the most powerful customer-acquisition machines in modern business, Kevin Harrington has seen the game from every angle. In this episode of SPX, the original Shark shares how he went from knocking on doors in Cincinnati to helping launch products that generated hundreds of millions in sales. This is a conversation about hustle, credibility, timing and the mechanics of making people buy. Harrington unpacks the early lessons that shaped him, the wild rise of the infomercial era, how “As Seen on TV” became a force, and why customer acquisition...
info_outline
Ep. 110: Chip Webster
St. Pete X
A veteran CEO peer-group leader and lifelong entrepreneur, Chip Webster shares how decades inside Vistage (and later Tiger 21) taught him that trust, accountability and curiosity are the real engines behind successful businesses and healthy communities. After COVID, he and his immunocompromised wife bought an RV and crisscrossed the U.S., where countless conversations in RV parks inspired his new book Unity and Service about rebuilding civic connection through “micro validations,” volunteering, and engaging beyond our silos. The episode closes with a blunt, practical challenge.
info_outline
Ep. 109: Bob Martinez - Former Governor and Mayor
St. Pete X
Former Florida Governor Bob Martinez joins Joe Hamilton on SPx for a wide-ranging conversation on his journey from Tampa’s mayor to the Governor’s mansion to serving as the nation’s drug czar. Martinez reflects on the contrasts between running a city, navigating state politics and shaping national policy—and how partisanship and media have transformed along the way. He also shares the story behind his party switch after meeting Ronald Reagan, his environmental legacy and lessons learned from both victories and defeats. Enjoy this candid look at leadership, pragmatism and resilience...
info_outline
Ep. 108: Rudy Webb - Paradise Advertising
St. Pete X
In this episode of St. Pete X, Joe Hamilton talks with Rudy Webb, President of Paradise Advertising, about the evolution of destination marketing. Webb reflects on two decades in the industry, from faxes to AI, and how his agency helps cities define and promote their identity. He explains how Paradise navigates RFPs, tracks tourism impact without direct sales data, and adapts messaging during crises like COVID-19. Webb also shares how the agency has grown under new leadership and continues to influence national campaigns while staying rooted in St. Pete’s community and culture.
info_outline
Ep. 107: Fred Forsley - Sea Dog Brewery & more
St. Pete X
Fred Forsley’s entrepreneurial reach is as wide as it is unexpected—real estate broker at 18, founder of Shipyard and Sea Dog Brewing, maker of alt-THC beverages, vodka, rums, and even a mushroom energy drink. In this episode of SPX, Forsley shares his journey from hustling real estate in Maine to building a beverage empire that spans coastlines and categories. He talks frankly about seizing opportunity—even when it comes wrapped in bankrupt breweries or building code nightmares—and the lessons he’s learned from four decades in business. Forsley also reflects on St. Pete’s...
info_outline
Ep.106: Carl Lavender - Philanthropy Leader
St. Pete X
Join Joe Hamilton in a candid conversation with community leader Carl Lavender as he reflects on his life’s journey—from his roots as a pastor’s son in Cleveland, to navigating gang violence and fundraising in Chicago, and finally becoming a transformative force in St. Pete’s nonprofit sector. Carl shares personal insights on leadership, balancing public service with self-care, and the vital importance of economic equity. Rich with wisdom, humor, and heartfelt anecdotes, this podcast offers a glimpse into the life of a dedicated advocate who continues to inspire change by building...
info_outline
Ep. 105: Kelly McBride - Poynter Institute, NPR
St. Pete X
In this episode, Joe Hamilton sits down with Kelly McBride—Senior VP at the Poynter Institute, NPR Public Editor, and Chair of the Craig Newmark Center for Ethics and Leadership—for a wide-ranging conversation on news diets, media trust, AI’s role in journalism and the fading sense of local connection. From dopamine-driven doomscrolling to the potential of AI agents as personal information curators, they explore how we consume news, why it matters, and what gets lost in the process. It’s thoughtful, candid and packed with insights for anyone trying to make sense of the modern media...
info_outline
Ep. 104: Eric Deggans - National Public Radio (NPR)
St. Pete X
In this episode, Eric Deggans, NPR’s TV critic and media analyst, delves into the complexities of modern media. The conversation explores the fractured media landscape, the rise of niche platforms and the responsibilities of media creators and consumers in combating misinformation. Joe and Eric discuss the evolution of local news, the role of algorithms and the impact of tribalism on media consumption as well as unpacking the forces that shape how we engage with information today.
info_outline
Ep. 103: Stan LIberatore - No Limit Technology
St. Pete X
Stan Liberatore, founder of No Limit Technology, discusses his journey from a corporate background in software development and recruitment to entrepreneurship and founding his own company. He shares the early struggles of No Limit, including financial instability and the importance of relationships. We also learn about the rise of Save the Kids, a nonprofit he co-founded, which has raised significant funds for pediatric cancer research and is now establishing a new lab at USF. Liberatore explains the importance of community involvement and his hope for the potential for Tampa Bay's tech scene...
info_outlineKatie Krimitsos started walking the line that most women walk. On one side, cultural and societal norms, family and even biology. On the other, exploration, self actualization and going deep into a passion. All genders walk the line in their own ways, and all genders suffer cultural expectations. The numbers show, though, that when it comes to families and the ‘invisible work’ of life admin, it’s women who are more likely to exit beast mode for diapers and laundry.
Krimitsos has been driven and powerful since the beginning. Her family environment was female empowered and she was largely shielded from the injustices women faced. Thus it’s no surprise that her early women’s studies, and what they revealed about the world, made her angry.
As a self-named ‘angry feminist’ she grabbed a hammer and set her sites on the glass ceiling. She started several businesses geared towards elevating people, some specifically for women, some for everyone. Each achieved success. They also took her on an evolutionary path for her own perspectives about being a woman in society. She realized that while we can see the faults in our societal framework, we still need to live in it. And that there was no one-size-fits-all solution for how to do that successfully.
Thus, she surmised, the only way to walk the line without falling off is to draw your own line – one that takes no additional balance to navigate because it’s already perfectly balanced, for you.
The Women’s Meditation Network helps women draw their line. Katie’s experience and passion, her wise cadence, her earnest caring are all infused in her meditations. She started releasing them on Tuesdays a couple years ago and women started listening….and listening…and listening some more. The WMN just passed 40 million downloads and the monthly download rate is accelerating.
Please enjoy episode 83 of St Pete X – a full hour of Katie Krimitsos wonderfully walking her line.