Made in Gainesville

Marcus Tucker is the Pit-master of Tailgators BBQ. Marcus will walk us through how to make great BBQ and how to master cooking ribs (even if you don't have a smoker)! Marcus will also describe how catching a frightening case of Covid-19 made him realize he wanted to leave his successful career and launch his own BBQ business.

In this episode, I will be talking with Dr. Nuri Yeralan, a senior software engineer lead at Microsoft. Nuri and I will discuss the problems that social media can cause in society, artificial intelligence, the rapid disruption of traditional jobs by tech, developing Microsoft’s Windows operating system, and more.

On this episode, I will be talking with Dean Cacciatore, owner of Cacciatore Catering. Dean and I will discuss how he has turned a passion for food into a reputation for world class catering. Dean will tell us about learning to cook in his grandmother’s kitchen, as well as in the restaurant kitchens of high-tempered German head chefs. Dean will give us some tips on staying positive and motivated during difficult times, and he will share some exciting news about his pizza restaurant opening in the Haile Village Center in January 2021.

Keith Watson, owner of Keith Watson Events, will be joining me on this episode. Keith is known for putting on top notch events in Gainesville as well as up and down the east coast. Keith will share his journey from being raised on a farm in Alabama and working at the family propane business, to putting on high profile events at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and finally starting his own event production business in Gainesville.

On this episode, we will be talking with Sam Rosati of Pursuant Capital.  Sam operates a search fund that purchases and operates Florida businesses. Sam and I will discuss the challenges of managing multiple businesses, why he prefers “old-economy” enterprise, and go over some pointers for people looking to start or buy a company.

On this episode, we will be discussing ecotourism and wildlife photography with Court Whelan. Court has a phD in Ecotourism from the University of Florida and leads nature and wildlife expeditions around the world with NatHab Adventures. Court will tell us about dangerous wildlife encounters, how Covid19 shutdowns has impacted his industry, and how he has made a brand of his wildlife photography on social media.

We discuss Virtual Reality with Dr. Benjamin Lok, Co-founder of Shadow Health and a Computer & Information Sciences Professor at the University of Florida. Shadow Health uses virtual reality to help healthcare providers learn how to communicate with patients by allowing them to practice in a virtual environment. Dr. Lok will discuss uses of VR and risks that technology poses to society. We will also discuss his first Ironman Triathalon and how he was able to weave his training into his commitments to his company, the university, and his family.

Andy Stark will share his impressive resume working for Gainesville-based tech companies, as well as his time in the Navy. Andy worked his way from a tech support employee to President and owner of Jenmar, a cloud-based dental-lab tech company, which was sold to EasyRX earlier this year. We will also discuss innovation, taking risks with startups, and how to brand Gainesville to retain UF grads and entrepreneurs.

On this episode, we will hear from Evan Ferl, General Counsel & VP of Legal and Operations at Hired, a tech company based in San Francisco. Evan and I will discuss the career path that took him to Silicon Valley, how he inadvertently advised a startup company that was funded by illegal drug trade, whether or not students should go to law school, his career in stand-up comedy, and much more.

On this episode, we will hear from Brad Stumpff, co-owner of UF Mover Guys, a full service moving company in Gainesville. Brad and I will discuss marketing and how he has maintained a 4.9 star rating on Google with over 500 reviews, how to keep clients happy by keeping employees happy, as well as some hilarious mishaps and unusual things he has been asked to move.

On this episode, we will hear from Amy Meacham, founder of Xtraordinary Joy. Xtraordinary Joy is a non-profit that funds research into an ultra-rare X-chromosome deletion disorder (Xq27.3-q28 deletion) that affects Amy’s daughter. The disorder is so rare that they have only identified 20 other children in 7 different countries with it. We will talk about how the disorder impacts the lives of those who have it, what research is being done to treat it, and how that research could be used as a model to treat other ultra-rare disorders and diseases.

On this episode we will hear from Adam Fehrenbacher, owner of Fehrenbacher’s Artisan Sausages. Adam has an obvious passion for making sausage. He has made and sold over 70 different varieties and thousands of pounds of sausage at his store, where he makes everything with the freshest ingredients by hand. Adam traveled all over the world cooking before deciding to open Fehrenbacher's in the 4th Ave Food Park in Gainesville. Adam and I will discuss how to make sausage, business, and what its like to live in Spain and run his Gainesville-based business remotely.

On this episode, we will hear from Gary McClain, a bodybuilder, personal trainer, diet coach, and DJ.  Gary will share his powerful story of why he got into bodybuilding, and describe the level of intensity and dedication it takes to be a bodybuilder. He will provide nutrition and workout advice for people that want to live healthier and happier lives. We will talk about Instagram and whether or not it's positive for our health and body image. Finally, we will discuss the business side of training, DJing, and how Gary maintains a work/life/family/training balance with all that he has going on.

On this episode, we will hear from Dr. Gordon Hubbell, a retired Zoo veterinarian, and an expert in shark paleontology. Dr. Hubbell was attracted to a career as a zoo vet because he thrived in the unpredictable nature of the job. He will share stories of situations where he had to quickly improvise; such as saving the life of a rare snow leopard and racing to capture 3 escaped hyenas before children began walking to school in the morning. When Dr. Hubbell retired from zoo life, he followed his passion for sharks and became a well-known shark expert who has been featured on several TV programs, including Discovery Channel’s Shark Week. Dr. Hubbell will conclude by giving us advice on how to become a respected expert in something without formal training in that field.

On this episode, we will hear from Krista McIver & Kristin Birdsey Klapp, Gainesville natives, best friends, and founders of Education Station & Preschool. Kristin & Krista will share some exciting expansion news with us that was made possible through their Gainesville connections. We will also discuss how they got started, unique situations they face as women business owners, and the daily challenges of running Education Station & Preschool… including “code brown” epic blowouts.

Rick Staab is the CEO of InterMed Group, a national provider of integrated healthcare technology management services, which employs 150 people. Rick founded the charity “Tyler’s Hope” with his wife, which aims to find a cure for Dystonia - a rare neurological movement disorder which affects two of their children.  Rick and I will discuss InterMed and why Gainesville is a great fit for the company. We will also discuss the progress being made to find a cure for dystonia, as well as his heavy involvement in the community.

On this episode, we will hear from Chris Decker & Mike Calsam - founders of J.E. Decker Construction Group. Chris & Mike will share their startup story, which began over beers at Hogans Heros. We will also discuss methods of attracting and retaining talent, how to build a company that is resistant to economic downturns, and how sacrificing a bit of money in the short term can help your company build an impeccable reputation. 

Jason owns two Maple Street restaurant locations in Gainesville and works in commercial real estate with Avison Young. We will cover a wide variety of topics;  including juggling business with family and faith, giving back to the community, the Lebron vs. Jordan debate, and much more.

On this episode, we will hear from Joe Lowry Sr, a managing partner at Lowry Financial Advisors. Joe will share his advice on how to handle friends and family members asking to borrow money as well as tips on how to increase your net worth.

This episode: Joe Cirulli, founder of Gainesville Health & Fitness Center. Joe began his journey with 12 cents to his name; sleeping both in his car and in the gyms he worked at. In 1978, he managed to open his own gym with just a few thousand dollars. Since then, he has grown multiple facilities to over 130,000 square feet with nearly 500 employees, servicing 28,000 members. This is how he did it.

We hear from Kenneth Kingswell, owner of Strega Nona’s Oven, a delicious mobile, wood-fired artisan pizza and catering company. We will discuss Kenny’s enormous passion for pizza, explore regional pizza styles, talk about his experience serving on a nuclear ballistic missile submarine, and examine current threats facing America.

We will hear from Nick DeConna, a 3rd generation operator of DeConna Ice Cream. Nick’s grandfather founded the company in Miami in 1947 after serving in WW2. Nick and I will eat a few sangria popsicles and discuss his grandfather’s experience during the attack on pearl harbor, the process to invent new ice cream flavors, THC infused popsicles, and a hit product that went from national sensation to near disaster. Enjoy!

Ken is an attorney based in Ocala and Gainesville. In this episode, we will test his near-photographic memory with 35 years of Wrestlemania stats and ask him about winning $65k on 'Who Wants to be a Millionaire." We'll then talk about his moderate-conservative politics and his views on Nordic socialism. Finally, we will discuss the possibility that we are all living in a simulation.