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Atomic CEO

Atomic CEO

By: Adam Hurd & Tom Marino
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Atomic CEO Podcast: Real conversations. Real lessons. No fluff. Each week on the Atomic CEO Podcast, Adam Thomas Hurd and Tom Marino, co-founders of Atomic Business Coaching, sit down with a guest CEO to talk about what’s really going on in their world, their clients’ world, and the world of small business. They’re not teaching preplanned lessons or reading from a script. They’re having open, unfiltered conversations about what it takes to "Be the CEO" of both your life and business. Expect stories, insights, and the occasional tangent. From leadership to mindset, from family to freedom, from mistakes to breakthroughs. Every episode connects back to one question: How do you stop running your business… and start leading it? 🎧 New episodes every week. Subscribe and join the conversation. Learn more about Adam & Tom → https://www.BeThe.CEO2025 Atomic Business Coaching Economics Leadership Management Management & Leadership Personal Development Personal Success
Episodes
  • Everyone is Afraid of AI... This Tech Optimist Isn’t with Steve Ghiassi
    Apr 15 2026

    Stevie Ghiassi is not your typical tech entrepreneur. Based in Australia and operating on a global scale, he’s spent over a decade at the forefront of innovation—building and scaling technologies across major internet protocols like VoIP, WebRTC, and blockchain. As the co-founder of Techno Ventures, Stevie describes himself as a “techno-optimist,” someone who doesn’t just believe in the future of technology but is actively building it.

    In this episode, Stevie shares a journey that is anything but linear. From growing up under the influence of a high-performing father—a professional athlete turned successful entrepreneur—to navigating his own path through sports, business, and eventually technology, Stevie’s story is one of evolution, discomfort, and relentless curiosity.

    What makes Stevie’s perspective so compelling is that he didn’t arrive in tech through a traditional route. In fact, much of his career has been shaped by stepping into rooms where he felt he didn’t belong and choosing to move forward anyway.

    Stevie opens up about one of the most difficult transitions a person can face: letting go of an identity. As a young athlete, his world revolved around performance, competition, and the expectation of success. But injuries forced him to confront a new reality, one where he had to redefine who he was and what he was capable of.

    That shift, while challenging, became a turning point. It taught him that identity is not fixed, it’s something we continuously shape. And often, growth begins the moment we’re willing to step away from who we thought we were supposed to be.

    At the core of Stevie’s philosophy is techno-optimism, the belief that technology, despite its risks, is one of humanity’s greatest tools for progress.

    He acknowledges that we are living in a time of massive uncertainty:

    • AI is reshaping industries
    • Career paths are becoming less predictable
    • The pace of change is accelerating faster than ever

    Yet, instead of fear, Stevie sees opportunity. He believes that technology will eliminate much of the “meaningless work” that consumes our time, allowing people to focus on creativity, strategy, and human connection.

    Today, he’s actively building AI-first, agent-driven companies, rethinking not just how businesses operate, but also what it means to be a leader in this new era.

    Connect with Stevie Ghiassi
    • 🌐 Techno Ventures:https://www.techno.ventures/#intro
    • 💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ghiassi

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    46 mins
  • Why You DON’T Need a Brand to Start a Business with Ryan Musselman
    Apr 8 2026

    In this episode of The Atomic CEO Podcast, Tom and Adam sit down with Ryan Musselman—former Google leader and VP of Content at Cinemark turned entrepreneur—to explore what it really takes to step out of the corporate world and build a business on your own terms.

    Ryan shares his journey from leading digital content companies and scaling startups to walking away from structured corporate systems and embracing experimentation, iteration, and agency. The conversation dives into unlearning process-heavy thinking, navigating pivots, and building businesses in today’s rapidly evolving AI-driven landscape.

    If you’ve ever felt stuck between “doing it right” and just getting started—this episode is your permission slip to move.

    👤 About Ryan Musselman Ryan Musselman is a content strategist, entrepreneur, and former corporate executive with a background in sales, marketing, and digital media.

    • Former Google employee
    • Led multiple startup content companies through acquisition
    • Served as VP of Content at Cinemark, exploring new media models like bringing YouTubers to the big screen
    • Built a successful business in LinkedIn content, ghostwriting, and coaching.
    • Now focused on AI-driven marketing and content systems, with a specialty in bottom-of-funnel strategy that drives action—not just attention.

    Ryan is known for his sharp thinking, simple execution philosophy, and ability to challenge conventional “build a brand first” advice.

    Connect with Ryan: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rmuss/

    Website: https://www.coacheswhoclose.com/

    Atomic CEO.

    We help owners who build and maintain buildings install a CEO Operating System so they can think differently, lead differently, and grow the business beyond themselves.

    ➡️ https://www.atomicbusinesscoaching.com/

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    38 mins
  • CEO Isn’t a Title – It's a Mindset : Real Talk with TJ Arella
    Apr 1 2026

    In this episode of the Atomic CEO Podcast, we sit down with TJ Arella, Co-founder and Coach at 8Well, to talk about what it really means to take ownership of your life and business.

    TJ isn’t your typical “CEO.” He represents a new wave of leaders—people who aren’t hiding behind titles but instead are actively building, evolving, and leading from the front.

    As a co-founder of 8Well, TJ is focused on helping individuals elevate their standards, take control of their decisions, and step into a more intentional way of living. His approach blends personal growth, accountability, and real-world experience—making his perspective both relatable and actionable.

    What stands out about TJ is his ability to simplify what leadership actually looks like:

    • Owning your decisions
    • Taking responsibility for your outcomes
    • Leading yourself before trying to lead others

    This conversation goes beyond business—it’s about identity, growth, and what it truly means to become the CEO of your own life.

    TJ Arella is the Co-founder and Coach at 8Well, where he works with individuals to elevate their mindset, take ownership of their lives, and operate with greater clarity and intention.

    Through his coaching and leadership, TJ helps people move from passive participation to active leadership in both business and life.

    Connect with TJ:

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tjarella/ ; https://www.instagram.com/8well.life/?hl=en Website: https://8welllife.com/

    Atomic CEO.

    We help owners who build and maintain buildings install a CEO Operating System so they can think differently, lead differently, and grow the business beyond themselves. ➡️

    https://www.atomicbusinesscoaching.com/

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    38 mins
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