Start It or Scrap It
Start It or Scrap It is the ultimate brainstorming session you didn’t know you needed! Join Mike Terkanian, a seasoned business attorney with a knack for spotting potential pitfalls, and Mr. Gummi, a dynamic marketing expert with a flair for turning dreams into reality, as they dive into the wild world of Reddit. Each week, they uncover unique ideas, dissect ambitious plans, and give honest, actionable advice. Whether you're looking to fine-tune your business pitch, pivot a passion project, or find the courage to scrap what’s not working, this duo has you covered.
Laugh, learn, and get inspired—because every great idea deserves a moment in the spotlight (or a reality check).
Ready to Start It or Scrap It? Tune in now!
Episodes
87 episodes
Why Your Views Vanished Overnight (And What You Can Actually Do About It)
Social media platforms are private businesses, and that means they can ban you, shadow ban you, or tank your reach for almost any reason they want, with zero legal recourse on your end. Mike breaks down the actual legal reality behind a call he...
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Should I Buy a Franchise? The Honest Answer for Under $40,000
A viewer intimidated by starting their first business asks a simple question: is it a rule of thumb that you shouldn't start a business in something you're unfamiliar with? Mike's answer is just as simple: go find a franchise broker and see wha...
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How to Vibe Code Your First Business (With Clayton McDonald, Founder of Black Light Resumes)
Clayton McDonald doesn't know how to write code. He's also built and shipped a full SaaS platform, Black Light Resumes, almost entirely by prompting AI. This week he joins Mike and Gummi as guest host to break down exactly how he did it: what v...
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An AI Model Escaped Its Own Test Environment to Cheat on a Benchmark (Here's What Actually Happened)
During internal testing, an unreleased AI model realized it could score higher on a benchmark by reaching outside its supposedly isolated test environment and pulling in an answer from Hugging Face. It wasn't sentient, and it wasn't malicious —...
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The Most Brilliant Marketing Campaign I Have Ever Seen (And It Came From Colombia) | Ep. 83
A Colombian beer brand offered soccer jerseys at four different price tiers based on how large you were willing to make their logo. The biggest logo got you 80% off. Hundreds of thousands of Colombians chose the biggest logo.That is the...
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How to Start a Business, Sell a Business and Survive SaaS Tool Fatigue | Start It or Scrap It Ep. 82
If your paperwork is this sloppy at the closing table, what else am I not seeing underneath?That is the line Mike has heard buyers say before walking away from a deal. And it is the reason this episode opens with one of the most importa...
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How I Almost Lost Everything to a Social Engineering Scam (And How to Protect Yourself) | Ep. 81
Mike teaches white hat hacking and social engineering. And yesterday, a scammer almost got him.Episode 81 of Start It or Scrap It opens with Mike breaking down exactly what happened: a spoofed Google security email that was verified cle...
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How to Make Money From the World Cup (And Start a Business With $10K) | Ep. 80
Mike and Gummi went to the France vs Iraq World Cup match in Philadelphia. They watched Iraqi fans set up drums in the concourse during a weather delay and turn a thunderstorm into one of the best moments of the tournament.Then they cam...
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What Business Owners Get Wrong About Insurance, Subcontractors and Commercial Auto ft. Rick Millham
Most business owners do not think about insurance until they need it. By then it is almost always too late.In Episode 79 of Start It or Scrap It, we sit down with Rick Millham Jr. CIC, owner of Millham Companies Inc in Doylestown, PA, a...
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GTA 6 Side Hustles, AI Voice Scams, Business Banking and Why Your Big Bank Is Working Against You
Most small business owners do not know what they need to open a business bank account. Most of them are also at the wrong bank when they need to borrow money. And most of them have no idea that a video with 117 views can generate more business ...
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Door Hangers, Billboards and Why Traditional Marketing Is Beating Digital Right Now
Your employees are not your friends. Traditional marketing is outperforming digital for a lot of businesses right now. And most people quit right before they hit success.Episode 77 of Start It or Scrap It is a live question episode, jus...
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Is College Worth It? The Honest Answers Families Need to Hear | Jay London, The College Advice Guy
Is college worth it? Are Ivy League schools actually about the network? And how do you avoid overpaying for an education that may not get your kid where they want to go? In Episode 76 of Start It or Scrap It, we sit down with Jay L...
Don't Hire a Helper... Hire for Results | Franchising and Niche Business Strategy w/ Phil de Paul
How do you build a business that actually lasts? According to this week's guest, it comes down to one thing: someone has to fully own it, breathe life into it every single day, and hold the standard relentlessly. In Episode 75 of S...
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How to Get Your First 10 Customers, Beat Burnout & Build a Business Worth Selling | ft. Alex Booth
How do you get your first 10 paying customers? What does it actually take to recover from burnout without quitting? And when you're ready to sell — what do buyers really look for?In Episode 74 of Start It or Scrap It, ...
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The Business Opportunity Everyone Is Missing
AI isn’t coming…It’s already here.In this episode of Start It or Scrap It, we break down real-world ways AI is changing how businesses operate, including how it can replace hours (or even hires) when used correctly.We ge...
This Lease Will Cost You WAY More Than You Think
Signing a commercial lease seems simple…Until the hidden costs start showing up.In this episode of Start It or Scrap It, we break down what most business owners don’t realize until it’s too late:👉 Rent is just the beginn...
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How Mr. Beast Actually Succeeded (It’s Not What You Think)
If your business requires you 100% of the time…👉 Do you actually own a business… or did you just create a job for yourself?In this episode of Start It or Scrap It, we break down one of the most controversial truths in entreprene...
How To Start a Side Hustle With No Money (Real Ideas That Work)
What’s the best side hustle you can start with no money?In this episode of Start It or Scrap It, we break down real, practical side hustle ideas that don’t require capital — just execution.We get into:Service-based busin...
How To Protect Your Business When Employees Leave | Ep. 69 | Start It or Scrap It Podcast
What happens when employees leave… and start competing with you?In this episode of Start It or Scrap It, we break down a real-world scenario where a company gets split apart—and what it means for founders, employees, and growth....
The Business Ideas People Are Still Missing
Some of the best business opportunities don’t look obvious at first.In this episode of Start It or Scrap It, we break down ideas, assumptions, and patterns that most people either overlook or misunderstand.We get into:- Wher...
The Future of Virtual Reality + Business Ideas You’re Not Seeing Yet
What does the future of virtual reality actually look like?In this episode of Start It or Scrap It, we break down real business ideas, including a VR concept that might be more viable than you think, and where this technology is actuall...
Why Business Partnerships Fail (And How to Avoid It)
Starting a business is one thing…but building it the right way is something completely different.In this episode of Start It or Scrap It, we break down real questions from founders and entrepreneurs, including:• how to get y...
What To Do When Someone Copies Your Product
What happens when a competitor copies your product?For many entrepreneurs, it’s one of the most frustrating moments in business.In this episode of Start It or Scrap It, our hosts Mike Terkanian and Gummi Sigurdarson discuss:...
Why Entrepreneurs Think Differently Than Everyone Else
What makes entrepreneurs think differently from everyone else?In this episode of Start It or Scrap It, hosts Mike Terkanian and Gummi Sigurdarson explore the mindset that separates entrepreneurs from the average professional.Fro...
