Rise25 | Better Than the Best B2B Podcast Agency
A former White House writer interviews founders and CEOs, deconstructing their careers from their first childhood hustle to their latest venture.
This long-running interview show, "Smart Business Revolution," is the primary marketing engine for host John Corcoran's B2B podcast agency, Rise25. Each episode is a deep-dive into the career of a founder, CEO, or author, framed as a masterclass in relationship-building for business growth. While the YouTube channel is branded as Rise25, the podcast itself has its own distinct identity focused on entrepreneurial journeys.
“The host's rigid focus on a guest's origin story—often starting with a childhood job or side hustle—sets the stage for a chronological narrative of their entire career. His background as a political writer and lawyer informs a structured, almost forensic, interview style that methodically unpacks a guest's professional history.”
Who hosts this show
John Corcoran is an entrepreneur, attorney, and former White House Writer for the Clinton Administration. He is the co-founder of Rise25, a B2B podcasting agency, and the creator and host of the "Smart Business Revolution" podcast, where he interviews successful entrepreneurs. Before founding his current ventures, Corcoran ran his own law firm and also served as a speechwriter for the Governor of California. His writing has appeared in publications like Forbes, Entrepreneur, and Business Insider.
Credentials & credits
- Co-founder, Rise25
- Host, Smart Business Revolution Podcast
- Former White House Writer
- Attorney
- Former Speechwriter, Governor of California's Office
- Contributor to Forbes & Entrepreneur
Other ventures
- Rise25 (B2B podcast agency)
- Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO) San Francisco (Board Member)
What kind of podcast
- Country
- United States
- Region
- usa
When new episodes drop
- 01
- 02Why Hiring a CEO Coach Can Be a Game-Changer for Business GrowthJun 19, 2026 · 56s
- 03The Truth About Media Hype and Investment PornographyJun 18, 2026 · 56s
- 04The Health Wake-Up Call Behind Constant OverworkJun 17, 2026 · 56s
- 05How attending EO events strengthens personal and professional growthJun 17, 2026 · 56s
- 06
- 07
- 08Shaping New Jersey’s AI Future With Jeffrey OakmanMay 31, 2026 · 31 min
Notable episodes
- 01Leveraging Fractional Professionals and Adapting to Future Business Trends With Joseph Frost
A powerful story of resilience, detailing how the guest's mortgage business collapsed in 12 days during the 2008 crisis and how he rebuilt his career from a personal low point.
- 02Revolutionizing Team Management Through AI-Powered Behavioral Data With Jason P. Carroll
A classic turnaround story of a family business, including the guest's father's memorable line: 'You can do your hippy-dippy sh*t... but when it fails, you have to do it my way.'
- 03Shaping New Jersey’s AI Future With Jeffrey Oakman
Showcases the host's personal network and history, as he reveals he and the guest worked together in the White House 25 years prior, leading to a comfortable and informed conversation.
What you'll be asked on this show
John Corcoran's interview style is methodical and narrative-driven. He almost always opens by asking about a specific, often obscure, story from the guest's youth or early career, like selling Halloween candy to pay for prom. He then proceeds chronologically, using transition questions like "How did you get from X to Y?" to connect the dots of their career. He demonstrates deep research by referencing specific details, such as a guest's LinkedIn posts, to ask pointed questions about strategy or controversy. He often summarizes a guest's previous point before asking a follow-up, ensuring the narrative is clear for the listener. The interviews frequently conclude with questions about future trends or personal habits for staying current.
This is a solo-host interview show. John Corcoran begins each episode with a detailed biography of the guest before asking about an early, often quirky, origin story he's uncovered in his research. The show is explicitly sponsored by Corcoran's own company, Rise25, which is promoted as the solution for listeners inspired to start their own B2B podcast.
Questions the host keeps coming back to
11 cataloguedIf you're going on this show as a guest, expect some version of each of these. Each note explains when the host reaches for it.
origin
1- Q.01
“I have to hear this story, how did you [accomplish X as a kid]?”
This is his signature opening move, used to establish an origin story and immediately engage the guest with a personal anecdote.
backstory
1- Q.01
“How did you go from [previous career/company] to [your current venture]?”
He uses this question repeatedly to build a chronological bridge between different phases of a guest's career.
mindset
2- Q.01
“What did you learn from your experience working at [large corporation]?”
This question surfaces lessons about corporate culture and process that influenced the guest's later entrepreneurial path.
- Q.02
“How did you pick up the pieces after [a major business failure or setback]?”
Asked after a guest mentions a significant challenge, this question explores themes of resilience and recovery.
process
2- Q.01
“What were the early things you did to change the culture or turn the company around?”
He asks this to get specific, actionable strategies from guests who have led successful turnarounds.
- Q.02
“How do you create training or stay current when everything changes so quickly?”
This question targets the practical challenges of operating and educating within a rapidly evolving field like AI.
craft
1- Q.01
“What's the value proposition or pitch for your business?”
This question clarifies the guest's business model for the audience, often from the perspective of a potential customer.
controversy
1- Q.01
“How do you counter the fears that [your technology/industry] will lead to job loss?”
When discussing disruptive technologies like AI, he asks this to directly address common societal or industry anxieties.
advice
1- Q.01
“How do you personally keep abreast of all the things that are happening in your field?”
Often asked towards the end, this question seeks personal advice on managing information and continuous learning.
future
1- Q.01
“Talk about the changes you're seeing with [major trend, e.g., AI] and how it affects your industry.”
This is a go-to question for getting the guest's expert perspective on current and future industry shifts.
values
1- Q.01
“Why is it your goal to have [ambitious personal or professional goal]?”
He asks this to uncover the deeper, personal motivations behind a guest's professional ambitions.
Signature segments
- · Childhood Hustle Opening
- · Rise25 Sponsorship Plug
- · Past Guest Credibility Drop (Netflix, Grubhub, etc.)
Topics covered repeatedly
Who gets booked here
Guests are primarily founders, CEOs, and high-level consultants from B2B companies, with a focus on tech, professional services, marketing, and finance. They are typically established leaders with a clear methodology or business journey to share.
- Jason P. Carrollon Revolutionizing Team Management Through AI-Powered Behavioral Data With Jason P. Carroll
- Joseph Froston Leveraging Fractional Professionals and Adapting to Future Business Trends With Joseph Frost
- Jeffrey Oakmanon Shaping New Jersey’s AI Future With Jeffrey Oakman
- Nathan Whittacreon Why Hiring a CEO Coach Can Be a Game-Changer for Business Growth
- Rich Schuetteon The Truth About Media Hype and Investment Pornography
- Josh Levineon The Health Wake-Up Call Behind Constant Overwork
Where to find this show
Audience & reach
The podcast is sponsored by the host's own company, Rise25, a done-for-you B2B podcast agency. The show serves as a direct demonstration of the company's product and a primary lead generation channel, with frequent calls-to-action to book a strategy call on the Rise25 website.
Subscriber and view counts are pulled live from YouTube and re-verified on a 30-day cycle. Listener estimates for the RSS feed aren't published here unless they're host-verified.
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People also ask
- What is the name of the podcast?
- The podcast is named "Smart Business Revolution." The YouTube channel is named for the host's company, Rise25, which produces the show.
- Who is the host?
- The host is John Corcoran, an attorney, former White House writer, and the co-founder of the podcasting agency Rise25.
- What is the podcast's format?
- It is a long-form interview show where John Corcoran speaks with successful entrepreneurs, CEOs, and authors about their careers and business strategies.
- Is the show still running?
- Yes, it is an active podcast that releases multiple episodes per week.
- What is Rise25?
- Rise25 is the B2B podcast production agency co-founded by the host, John Corcoran. The podcast serves as a key marketing tool for the agency.
- How can I become a guest on the podcast?
- The show primarily features established B2B founders, CEOs, and experts. Inquiries would likely be directed through the host's agency, Rise25.
Built from the show's public RSS feed, YouTube, the host's own websites, and the cited sources below. Computed and AI-extracted fields are labelled. Facts only — no private info, no fabrication, no transcripts republished.
Sources & how this page was built
This page is AI-assisted, grounded in the public sources cited below, and host-verifiable. We publish facts only; we do not republish transcripts. If anything here is wrong, the host can claim and correct the page above.Model: gemini-2.5-pro · high confidence
- [01]John Corcoran | Rise25 Co-Founder & Podcast Growth Strategistrise25.com
- [02]John Corcoran (attorney) - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
- [03]About - Smart Business Revolutionsmartbusinessrevolution.com
- [04]John Corcoran - Co-CEO & Co-Founder | Rise25 | The Orgtheorg.com
- [05]Smart Business Revolution - Apple Podcastspodcasts.apple.com
- [06]John Corcoran | about.meabout.me
- [07]From White House Writer to Agency Founder: John Corcoran's Playbook for Podcasting and Growth - YouTubeyoutube.com
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