Before the credits, the awards, and the studio deals, Todd Lieberman was a kid in the Midwest stepping onto a stage for the first time, holding his script in his hand and hoping he wouldn’t forget his lines. That early moment of storytelling lit something that never left him.

Todd didn’t set out to build a Hollywood empire. He followed instinct. From community theater to Los Angeles, from acting auditions to producing, he learned that his real strength wasn’t being in front of the camera, but recognizing talent, bringing the right people together, and creating stories that leave a lasting emotional mark.

Along the way, Todd became the producer behind some of the most memorable films of the last two decades, including The Fighter, Wonder, The Proposal, Beauty and the Beast, and his latest project, The Housemaid, hitting theaters December 19. Each chapter of his career reflects reinvention, curiosity, and a commitment to making audiences feel something when the lights come back on.

In this episode, Todd shares how instinct shaped his path, why producing is more jazz than rulebook, and how evolving with the industry has been just as important as early success.

In this episode, we talk about:

• The childhood moment that sparked a lifelong obsession with storytelling
• Why instinct matters more than titles or long term plans
• How reinvention kept him relevant long after Oscars and Emmys
• What it means to build films around people, not ego
• Why the best stories leave a residual feeling long after they end

🎧 Listen to learn how trusting your instincts, staying curious, and putting people first can turn a Midwest stage into Hollywood screens.

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Before the exits and the empire, David Royce was a college kid who just wanted to surf and make some extra cash. A door-to-door pest control job changed everything.

After helping his boss grow the company from $1 million to $10 million in revenue, David realized he was the one driving the growth. That moment became the spark for everything that followed, building and selling his own nine-figure business, four times.

He took the lessons, systems, and mindset from that experience and built his own blueprint, creating and selling four companies in one of the least glamorous industries. His secret wasn’t luck. It was people, process, and the discipline to outwork everyone else.

In this episode, David shares how he built leaders, not just businesses, and why the key to scaling isn’t motivation, it’s structure, belief, and relentless consistency.

In this episode, we talk about:

• The turning point that changed how he viewed work and success
• How he scaled through structure, not shortcuts
• Why his leadership model centers on people, not profit
• The mindset behind building the same business four times, better each time
• What it means to outwork and outthink everyone around you

🎧 Listen to learn how a white-collar mindset transformed a blue-collar world, and what it really takes to build something that lasts.

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When Stephen and Allison Ellsworth started mixing apple cider vinegar and fruit in their Texas kitchen, they weren’t chasing a billion-dollar idea. They were solving a problem.

That kitchen experiment became Poppi, the prebiotic soda that redefined modern wellness and made healthy taste cool. From farmers markets to Shark Tank, from rebranding Mother Beverage into Poppi, to an $11 million Super Bowl gamble that changed everything — this is the story behind one of the most iconic beverage brands of the decade.

In this episode of The Hustle by Hanna, Stephen Ellsworth shares how Poppi built community, culture, and category leadership, leading to a $1.95 billion acquisition by PepsiCo.

You’ll learn:
• How Poppi transformed authenticity into brand equity
• The pivotal TikTok moment that changed their trajectory
• The risks and payoffs behind their Super Bowl ad
• What it takes to scale culture while scaling growth
• The founder mindset that led to a billion-dollar exit

Poppi didn’t just build a brand. It built a movement.

🎧 Listen now and subscribe for more founder stories that blend grit, growth, and purpose.

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