Becoming Self Made

Lauren Makler, co-founder and CEO of Cofertility, joins Mike Michalowicz to share how a life-altering medical diagnosis became the catalyst for building a more human, accessible fertility system with Cofertility. Lauren explains how falling in love with the problem, not just the solution, led her to reimagine egg freezing and donation in a way that removes financial barriers for individuals and couples while preserving dignity and choice. Along the way, Lauren opens up about trusting gut instinct as accumulated wisdom, navigating leadership through deeply emotional work, and building a mission-driven company that balances empathy, optimism, and scale.

Online marketing expert, author, and podcast host Amy Porterfield sits down with host Mike Michalowicz to share the unfiltered story of her journey to becoming self-made. Amy went from being a note-taker on Tony Robbins' team to building a digital courses empire. She discusses personal high and low points, like being picked on as a kid, and how those early experiences inevitably shaped her as an entrepreneur. She also reveals a challenging startup phase that led her $40,000 in debt. Amy shares the hard lessons of taking on a silent partner, having to buy back her business, and how she dramatically scaled from $5 million to $16 million in 18 months by learning to bet on and trust herself. A must-listen for all entrepreneurs seeking the courage to grow and the clarity to pivot.

Donald Miller didn’t set out to build a multi-million-dollar, world-class business, he just wanted to write a book. In this episode of Becoming Self Made, host Mike Michalowicz sits down with the renowned author and entrepreneur to discuss his journey from childhood and academic struggles to achieving success as the bestselling author of Blue Like Jazz and Building a StoryBrand. Donald eventually found his greatest success by founding StoryBrand, a marketing consultancy and training company that helps businesses clarify their message using the power of storytelling so customers listen, engage, and take action. Discover how Donald Miller navigated life’s highs and lows, embraced failure as a learning opportunity, and leveraged his unique talents to build a thriving business.

Brian Scudamore, the founder of 1-800-GOT-JUNK?, has had a long and winding entrepreneurial road. From starting with $700 and an old pickup truck, to building a $700 million junk removal empire, to starring on Canada’s “Dragon Den”, there aren’t many challenges he hasn’t faced. In this episode, host Mike Michalowicz, bestselling author of ‘Profit First’ and ’The Money Habit,’ talks with Brian about the origins of his company, his personal growth through the ups and downs of running a business, and his philosophy of making meaning, not just money, through impactful leadership and fostering a positive company culture.