Host Grant LeBeau explores the impact COVID-19 is having on small businesses through conversations with the humans that run them. Each episode documents a baseline of economic and public health statistics before diving into an interview with a small business owner, covering backstory (think How I Built This), pre-pandemic plans for growth, and the updated strategies and goals to meet rapidly evolving challenges. If nothing else - this podcast is a shoulder to cry on for fellow small business owners who sometimes need to vent or hear "you are not alone".
April 27, 2021 In the finale of Season 1, we are ending a year of 52 weekly episodes by flipping the script and interviewing the regular host - Grant LeBeau. Episode 23 guest, Public Habit founder, and college pal Sydney Badger returns to Small Biz to ask Grant about his first business (Rickaroons), what happened that inspired the creation of Small Biz Gone Viral, and how the guests of Season 1 spurred him to create Mkrday. Guest's Unsponsor: Ellonos Yogurt. Grant's Unsponsor: Seva Foods April 23, 2021 Worldwide total COVID deaths: >3,098,946. USA total deaths: >585,075. World's COVID deaths in the USA: 18.88%. Total active USA cases 6.85 million. New US cases per day: 62,053. USA total cases: 32,735,704 % of Americans who have had COVID: 9.92%. USA National Unemployment: 6.0%. Initial unemployment claims filed last week: 547,000. Dow Jones Industrial Average: 34,043. S&P 4,108
April 20, 2021 Amani Roberts is a DJ, music producer, professor and author based in Los Angeles, California. A veteran of the hospitality industry with over 20 years at the Mariott before switching to full time DJ, Amani offers a unique combination of music expertise, teaching prowess and business knowledge - basically the perfect podcast guest. His company The Amani Experience takes clients on a music journey at every kind of event. Amani is currently a professor and Center Director at California State University, Fullerton, a student at Berklee College of Music (Boston) and an active music producer, DJ and live streamer. Obviously the event industry was demolished this past year, so get excited to hear Amani, aka DJ AmRo, share what he’s doing to adapt to replace that revenue loss and which adjustments will outlive the pandemic. Spoiler alert, you’re about take a class in Monetizing Twitch 101. Guest's Unsponsor: Judi Holler. Grant's Unsponsor: Emily's Foods- Gluten-Free Pretzel and Vegan Icing Dip April 16, 2021 Worldwide total COVID deaths: >3,011,501. USA total deaths: >579,942. World's COVID deaths in the USA: 19.26%. Total active USA cases 6.88 million. New US cases per day: 71,363. USA total cases: 32,305,912 % of Americans who have had COVID: 9.79%. USA National Unemployment: 6.0%. Initial unemployment claims filed last week: 576,000. Dow Jones Industrial Average: 34,200. S&P 4,185
April 13, 2021 Today’s guest is Rachel Bernier-Green, founder of Laine’s Bakeshop - a Chicago social enterprise baked goods manufacturing company committed to catalyzing wealth in the south and west side communities in Chicago. We will talk about the importance of using a company to serve humans, scaling the company to create ownership opportunities and generational wealth for Laine’s Bakeshop employees, and hiring from chronically unemployed communities such as reentering citizens, recovering substance abusers, and the formerly homeless. Guest's Unsponsor: Janie's Mill. Grant's Unsponsor: Golden Made Kafe April 9, 2021 Worldwide total COVID deaths: >2,927,749. USA total deaths: >574,840. World's COVID deaths in the USA: 19.63%. Total active world cases: >23.49 million. Total active USA cases 6.88 million. World's active COVID cases in the USA: >29.29%. New US cases per day: 68,352. USA total cases: 31,802,772 % of Americans who have had COVID: 9.63%. USA National Unemployment: 6.0%. Initial unemployment claims filed last week: 744,000. Dow Jones Industrial Average: 33,800. S&P 4,128
April 6, 2021 My guest today is your Chief Inspiration Officer, Craig Henderson. He is the epitome of bringing ideas and inspiration to not only the youth but adults alike. As a native of Brooklyn NY, currently residing in Atlanta, he has taken his decades of graphic design, magic and art experience meshed with his entrepreneurial expertise to build multiple businesses and teach younger generations the way of Ibii. Before you listen to this episode, feel free to check out ibiiworld.com if you want some context because Craig's business is wild and unlike anything I (Grant) have ever seen. Guest Unsponsor: Ashley Renne. Grant's Unsponsor: Ruby Mountain Paint Co. April 2, 2021 Worldwide total COVID deaths: >2,850,167. USA total deaths: >567,610. World's COVID deaths in the USA: 19.91%. Total active world cases: >22.65 million. Total active USA cases 6.92 million. World's active COVID cases in the USA: >30.55%. New US cases per day: 65,753. USA total cases: 31,314,625. % of Americans who have had COVID: 9.49%. USA National Unemployment: 6.0%. Initial unemployment claims filed last week: 719,000. Dow Jones Industrial Average: 33,153. S&P 4,019
March 30, 2021 Today's guest is Shane Shadeé companies Nosh Mrkt and Le Snack Pak are reinventing the hotel minibar and turning it into a delicious, fresh & affordable snack experience. After traveling to over 500 farmers markets in search of new to market tasty treats, Shane's mission is to introduce the world to the best snacks you have never had or heard of, support small businesses and turn the outdated minibar model into a farm to table snack adventure. Shane was in the middle of revolutionizing the hotel mini bar when COVID hit. Obviously not a great time to depend on a thriving travel and hospitality industry, but she will share how she used that time to focus on R&D, revamp her offerings, and prepare for the inevitable reopening of the tourism world at large. Guest Unsponsor: Gypsy Jetsetter Yoga. Grant's Unsponsor: Amani Coffee March 26, 2021 Worldwide total COVID deaths: >2,779,101. USA total deaths: >561,142. World's COVID deaths in the USA: 20.19%. Total active world cases: >21.75 million. Total active USA cases 7.01 million. World's active COVID cases in the USA: >32.25%. New US cases per day: 60,669. USA total cases: 30,853,032. % of Americans who have had COVID: 9.35%. USA National Unemployment: 6.2%. Initial unemployment claims filed last week: 684,000. Dow Jones Industrial Average: 33,072. S&P 3,974
March 23, 2021 Today’s guest is Albert Chen - who pivoted from a blockchain moonshot to one of the world’s preeminent makers of high end, stylish face masks. Albert Chen has 10+ years of experience in both the digital and physical space, having founded several e-commerce and blockchain startups since 2011. He co-founded MaskLab in March 2020, synergizing a decade of experience in manufacturing, software development and digital marketing with his father’s 30+ years of mechanical engineering and manufacturing expertise. Albert is also the creator of covidKPI.com - a website that tracks key performance indicators of the coronavirus pandemic. A man of many talents, Albert will share how he pivoted so quickly from blockchain to a facemask manufacturer with worldwide reach. Guest Unsponsor: Maeli Studios. Grant's Unsponsor: A Dozen Cousins - Soulfully Seasoned Beans March 19, 2021 Worldwide total COVID deaths: >2,712,862. USA total deaths: >554,104. World's COVID deaths in the USA: 20.43%. Total active world cases: >21.13 million. Total active USA cases 7.26 million. World's active COVID cases in the USA: >34.37%. New US cases per day: 56,599. USA total cases: 30,425,787. % of Americans who have had COVID: 9.21%. USA National Unemployment: 6.2%. Initial unemployment claims filed last week: 770,000. Dow Jones Industrial Average: 32,627. S&P 3,913
March 16, 2021 Imagine going through the whole process of quitting your job, taking classes, getting credentialed, inventing skincare products, finding a retail space, and finally hosting your grand opening, only to 1 week later have a national emergency declared. That was the first year in business for Lea Iafornaro - a holistic esthetician, raki practitioner and the founder of Suga Skincare, a skincare and waxing spa. Besides the brick and mortar, Suga Skincare is also a product line merging plant based ingredients with scientific research to provide effective natural products and services. Since facials and waxings weren’t deemed essential, you can probably guess what kind of rollercoaster this past year was for Lea in just her first year of business. Guest Unsponsor: Paru Tea Bar. Grant's Unsponsor: Good Wave Co. March 12, 2021 Worldwide total COVID deaths: >2,651,003. USA total deaths: >545,544. World's COVID deaths in the USA: 20.58%. Total active world cases: >20.68 million. Total active USA cases 7.4 million. World's active COVID cases in the USA: >35.85%. New US cases per day: 56,599. USA total cases: 29,993,423. % of Americans who have had COVID: 9.08%. USA National Unemployment: 6.2%. Initial unemployment claims filed last week: 712,000. Dow Jones Industrial Average: 32,778. S&P 3,943
March 9, 2021 This may sound familiar, but Jordan Buckner has two businesses and a podcast. Jordan first co-founded TeaSquares, a line of superfood energy bars designed to help people stay focused and alert so they could achieve their passions. In the midst of the pandemic Jordan took his years of experience in the natural food business and created Foodbevy.com to create a pipeline for Food and Beverage companies to grow from startup to scale by reducing the resource and network gaps for founders. Guest Unsponsor: Nemi Holisticks. Grant's Unsponsor: Marshall Columbia March 5, 2021 Worldwide total COVID deaths: >2,591,441. USA total deaths: >535,563. World's COVID deaths in the USA: 20.67%. Total active world cases: >21.78 million. Total active USA cases 8.87 million. World's active COVID cases in the USA: >40.74%. New US cases per day: 62,158. USA total cases: 29,593,704. % of Americans who have had COVID: 8.94%. USA National Unemployment: 6.2%. Initial unemployment claims filed last week: 745,000. Dow Jones Industrial Average: 31,593. S&P 3,841
March 2, 2021 Audrey Holst founded Fortitude and Flow to help people reform their perfectionism so they can reclaim their agency and put their full energy into what really matters. Her work uses a combination of mindfulness and neuroscience tools and combines over a decade of experience teaching yoga with deep knowledge of the nervous system and extensive training and work as a Certified Professional Coach. Through her Fortitude & Flow® Process, Audrey guides individuals and groups through a holistic experience to shift the way they approach themselves and the things that matter to them – for good. She will share what kinds of anxieties she was seeing from her clients at the beginning of the pandemic and how they have evolved, the advice she gives to them, and maybe even sprinkle in some advice for you. Guest Unsponsor: Cook's Organics. Grant's Unsponsor: Chilaquiles Hot Sauce February 26, 2021 Worldwide total COVID deaths: >2,528,518. USA total deaths: >523,082. World's COVID deaths in the USA: 20.69%. Total active world cases: >21.9 million. Total active USA cases 9.08 million. World's active COVID cases in the USA: >41.43%. New US cases per day: 71,050. USA total cases: 29,136,912. % of Americans who have had COVID: 8.82%. USA National Unemployment: 6.3%. Initial unemployment claims filed last week: 730,000. Dow Jones Industrial Average: 30,932. S&P 3,811
February 23, 2021 Sent home from his junior year at Brown University to finish the semester online, Aidan Reilly and some friends started a project to connect farms with excess produce to food bank. That small group of undergrads have since built Farmlink Project into an overnight non-profit sensation, raising more than $5 million, partnering with Chipotle, arranging delivery of over 25 million pounds of produce, and organizing 500+ students, all in less than 12 months. Aidan will share how he went from heading into his senior year on the water polo team to instead leading Farmlink Project to nationwide acclaim, articles in the New York Times, and much more importantly - on track to double the impact in 2021 aiming to deliver 50 million pounds of produce just in time to food banks in all of the lower 48 states. Guest Unsponsor: Food Finders. Grant's Unsponsor: Modern Raised February 19, 2021 Worldwide total COVID deaths: >2,462,767. USA total deaths: >507,746. World's COVID deaths in the USA: 20.62%. Total active world cases: >22,621 million. Total active USA cases 9.292 million. World's active COVID cases in the USA: >41.98%. New US cases per day: 70,436. USA total cases: 28,603,813. % of Americans who have had COVID: 8.67%. USA National Unemployment: 6.3%. Initial unemployment claims filed last week: 861,000. Dow Jones Industrial Average: 31,494. S&P 3,906
February 16, 2021 Originally from Dubai, Aman Ailani came to Boston in 2016 where he studied Entrepreneurship at Bentley College. At just 21 years old Aman founded SAH.OL Cold Brew during the Spring semester of his Senior Year and launched it in retail in the Summer of 2020.Aman actually produced his company’s very first production run of canned cold brew coffee on the date the national emergency was declared, all while a senior in college. He will share his pandemic experience, including having to rent a van and drive all over Boston selling the coffee left over from all the cancelled purchase orders. Guest Unsponsor: Nutty Life. Grant's Unsponsor: Marissa Quinn Art February 12, 2021 Worldwide total COVID deaths: >2,377,000. USA total deaths: >487,000. World's COVID deaths in the USA: 20.48%. Total active world cases: >25.43 million. Total active USA cases 9.58 million. World's active COVID cases in the USA: >37.68%. New US cases per day: 102,921. USA total cases: 28,002,240 million. % of Americans who have had COVID: 8.48%. USA National Unemployment: 6.3%. Initial unemployment claims filed last week: 793,000. Dow Jones Industrial Average: 31,430. S&P 3,916
February 9, 2021 Growing up in northern California, dreaming of having a bakery by the beach, Crystal White got her first job in a bakery when she was just 15. After honing her skills for nearly 2 decades in bakeries up and down the state, she finally took the plunge and chose San Diego as the place to open her very own, long dreamt of bakery. Just a few years in, Wayfarer Bread has won national acclaim and an extremely loyal following. Next time you are in San Diego grab a loaf of her sourdough, but first enjoy this interview which, though long, is worth it because Crystal is amazing and gives so much valuable insight into the every day grind of an entrepreneur AND into some of the impossibly tough decisions she’s faced in the pandemic.Guest Unsponsor: Crossings Coffee. Grant's Unsponsor: Bria Nicole Art February 5, 2021 Worldwide total COVID deaths: >2,307,000. USA total deaths: >470,000. World's COVID deaths in the USA: 20.40%. Total active world cases: >25.98 million. Total active USA cases 9.79 million. World's active COVID cases in the USA: >37.77%. New US cases per day: 123,876. USA total cases: 27,407,324 million. % of Americans who have had COVID: 8.30%. USA National Unemployment: 6.3%. Initial unemployment claims filed last week: 779,000. Dow Jones Industrial Average: 31,148. S&P 3,886
February 2, 2021 This week's guest is Gary Kramer, the artistic director of National Comedy Theater, which has performed continually in San Diego for over 20 years. They are the longest running show in the history of the city, with over 6000 performances to date. Gary is also the Executive Director of Unscripted Learning, a non-profit which uses improvised theatre to work with students on the autism spectrum. Recently, Gary was the Executive Director and Vice President of the Board of the San Diego Performing Arts League. True to his nature, you will enjoy the levity Gary brings in delicately telling the story of the pandemic’s potential for closing his theater and the long lasting impact on the arts while still leaving room for laughter.Guest Unsponsor: Shakespeare's Corner Shoppe. Grant's Unsponsor: Vira Sun January 29, 2021 Worldwide total COVID deaths: >2,214,856. USA total deaths: >447,000. World's COVID deaths in the USA: 20.20%. Total active world cases: >26.08 million. Total active USA cases 9.87 million. World's active COVID cases in the USA: >37.72%. New US cases per day: 159,725. USA total cases: 26,512,193 million. % of Americans who have had COVID: 8.03%. USA National Unemployment: 6.7%. Initial unemployment claims filed last week: 874,000. Dow Jones Industrial Average: 29,982. S&P 3,714
January 26, 2021 My guest today is Genevieve Liston whose LinkedIn reads Head of Partnerships, Head of Partnerships, and Head of Partnerships so it’s no surprise that what came next was Founder and CEO of Extra, a company built on, you guessed it, partnerships! Genevieve launched Extra in Australia in 2018 and moved it to the US in 2019, finding innovative ways to deliver premium brands to short term rentals, hotels and apartments in as little as 10 minutes, essentially a high end Uber Eats at warp speed. Her story is full of peaks and valleys but after listening you’ll see why I’d bet your left arm on her to end up on the mountain top.Guest Unsponsor: Mayawell. Grant's Unsponsor: Ruby to Blue January 22, 2021 Worldwide total COVID deaths: >2,115,057. USA total deaths: >424,000. World's COVID deaths in the USA: 20.06%. Total active world cases: >25.39 million. Total active USA cases 9.74 million. World's active COVID cases in the USA: >37.95%. New US cases per day: 184,410. USA total cases: 25.39 million. % of Americans who have had COVID: 7.69%. USA National Unemployment: 6.7%. Initial unemployment claims filed last week: 900,000. Dow Jones Industrial Average: 30,996. S&P 3,841
January 19, 2021 The Guest de Jour is Elisabeth Edelman. She founded her boutique public relations company Golden Word with a vision for creating a powerhouse little agency that chases doing good work with good people - and that it could be fun for both client and team. Founded in 2016, Golden Word is a PR and communications consulting firm based in Richmond, VA, focused on brands they believe in, across industry and stage. They make powerful, meaningful connections on the client’s behalf with media, partners and consumers. Needless to say, things change dramatically for her company in the pandemic, and equally needless to say - we’re about to talk about it.Guest Unsponsor: Grit Coffee. Grant's Unsponsor: The Vreamery January 15, 2021 Worldwide total COVID deaths: >2,016,727. USA total deaths: >401,000. World's COVID deaths in the USA: 19.93%. Total active world cases: >24.94 million. Total active USA cases 9.47 million. World's active COVID cases in the USA: >37.98%. New US cases per day: 235,607. USA total cases: 24.10 million. % of Americans who have had COVID: 7.3%. USA National Unemployment: 6.7%. Initial unemployment claims filed last week: 965,000. Dow Jones Industrial Average: 30,814. S&P 3,768
January 12, 2021 With a background in mechanical and aerospace engineering, guest Andrew Lees currently runs 2 businesses AND a podcast. His first business child is Grass Racks is the maker of high end, strong, easy to install gear racks made from bamboo. The second is Stoke Ventures, a product development and strategy launch business. He helps clients bring their ideas to life and also plan for a successful launch, providing in-depth market research, business modeling, development and marketing strategy. Oh, and he also has a podcast called That Entrepreneurship Life.Guest Unsponsor: Catch A Lure. Grant's Unsponsor: Aya Art Co. January 8, 2021 Worldwide total COVID deaths: >1,906,183. USA total deaths: >374,000. World's COVID deaths in the USA: 19.63%. Total active world cases: >23.00 million. Total active USA cases 8.63 million. World's active COVID cases in the USA: >37.55%. New US cases per day: 234,486. USA total cases: 22.16 million. % of Americans who have had COVID: 6.71%. USA National Unemployment: 6.7%. Initial unemployment claims filed last week: 787,000. Dow Jones Industrial Average: 31,097. S&P 3,824
January 5, 2021 Dr. Steve Yacovelli is an expert in diversity and inclusion, change management, and leadership. His consulting firm, TopDog Learning Group, works with both Fortune 500s and not-for-profit organizations to bring about a more inclusive and effective workplace. An award-winning author, speaker, and catalyst, Steve and his pack of TopDoggers’ not-so-hidden agenda is to make the world a bit more inclusive for us all.Guest Unsponsor: Five North Chocolate. Grant's Unsponsor: Sotela January 1, 2021 Worldwide total COVID deaths: >1,832,722. USA total deaths: >356,000. World's COVID deaths in the USA: 19.45%. Total active world cases: >22.89 million. Total active USA cases 8.1 million. World's active COVID cases in the USA: >35.49%. New US cases per day: 197,216. USA total cases: 20.66 million. % of Americans who have had COVID: 6.26%. USA National Unemployment: 6.7%. Initial unemployment claims filed last week: 787,000. Dow Jones Industrial Average: 30,606. S&P 3,756
December 29, 2020 Cynthia Ajani and her daughter Khea Pollard are purpose-driven entrepreneurs and founders of Cafe X: By Any Beans Necessary. Their mission is to build a sacred space that nurtures Black cultural heritage in San Diego while creating generational wealth for its members and surrounding community. Blending advocacy with organizational precision, Café X is connecting people throughout the San Diego region, developing a shared vision to improve the quality of life in marginalized communities – one cup of coffee at a time. Guest Unsponsor: Runway Boutique LA. Grant's Unsponsor: SIMÓN LIMÓN December 25, 2020 Worldwide total COVID deaths: >1,756,947. USA total deaths: >338,000. World's COVID deaths in the USA: 19.25%. Total active world cases: >21.98 million. Total active USA cases 7.6 million. World's active COVID cases in the USA: >34.65%. New US cases per day: 187,637. USA total cases: 19.21 million. % of Americans who have had COVID: 5.8%. USA National Unemployment: 6.7%. Initial unemployment claims filed last week: 803,000. Dow Jones Industrial Average: 30,199
December 22, 2020 This episode's guest is Jessica Bell - a purpose-driven entrepreneur and founder of reVessel - a next gen food storage brand that has been likened to the Tesla of food transport. reVessel advances safe, reusable and intelligent food storage designs for conscious people who are on the go so they can pack and preserve their favorite food to take anywhere life takes them without dependence on plastic packaging and fast food. As a conscious capitalist brand that gives back to regenerative agriculture and ocean conservation, reVessel exists to be part of the story of healing our planet and people.Jessica shares how her overseas manufacturing was impacted early in the pandemic, only to be followed by widespread cancellation of in-person events and conventions which were to be the primary drivers of customer acquisition. Also on the episode if Jessica and reVessel's plans to eliminate single use plastic food storage containers in the restaurant takeout and delivery processes.Guest Unsponsor: The Plot Restaurant. Grant's Unsponsor: Goldune December 18, 2020 Worldwide total COVID deaths: >1,680. USA total deaths: >320,000. World's COVID deaths in the USA: 19.09%. Total active world cases: >21.04 million. Total active USA cases 7.17 million. World's active COVID cases in the USA: >34.78%. New US cases per day: 222,672. USA total cases: 17.89 million. % of Americans who have had COVID: 5.4%. USA National Unemployment: 6.7%. Initial unemployment claims filed last week: 885,000. Dow Jones Industrial Average: 31,179
December 15, 2020 After graduating from UC San Diego 1984, Greg Scherman was hired straight into the world of oil and gas. He went on to found The Scherman Energy Group in 1995 - becoming a self-employed consultant to the oil industry, focused primarily in Oklahoma, making the regular commute from San Diego. 15 years ago Greg started a non-profit 501c3, Access Youth Academy, helping underserved kids in San Diego. When oil prices absolutely collapsed at the start of the pandemic, Greg decided to use it as an opportunity to his align personal values with his career and began working with California State Development as an independent solar specialist for residential and commercial installations. Here to talk all about that transition and answer questions Grant has always had about politics and oil, is Greg Scherman.Guest Unsponsor: Unhinged Craft Candles. Grant's Unsponsor: Goldune December 11, 2020 Worldwide total COVID deaths: >1,597,000. USA total deaths: >301,000. World's COVID deaths in the USA: 18.89%. Total active world cases: >20.19 million. Total active USA cases 6.4 million. World's active COVID cases in the USA: >31.78%. New US cases per day: 214,332. USA total cases: 16.19 million. % of Americans who have had COVID: 4.9%. USA National Unemployment: 6.7%. Initial unemployment claims filed last week: 853,000. Dow Jones Industrial Average: 30,046
December 8, 2020 Alicia Williams always had an eye for good branding. She says it's a blessing & a burden because she can’t look at anything without diving deeper into why a company utilized specific colors, wording or imagery on their social channels. Some people armchair quarterback sports - Alicia tries to uncover what story companies hope to be sharing with the world. Alicia Williams took this passion, interest, skillset, etc. and started Aliste Marketing in 2008, during our last recession, with the goal to help others articulate their stories in a more compelling way. Oh, and by the way, she was 21. With more than a decade of experience and an array of stories, Alicia shares why ping pong culture costs more than it’s worth, how contractors are more efficient, and how even workforces that were remote prior to COVID still face huge challenges from the pandemicGuest Unsponsor: Bites of Boston. Grant's Unsponsor: Cadence November 4, 2020 Worldwide total COVID deaths: >1,523,000. USA total deaths: >285,000. World's COVID deaths in the USA: 18.74%. Total active world cases: >18.89 million. Total active USA cases 5.83 million. World's active COVID cases in the USA: >30.86%. New US cases per day: 186,628. USA total cases: 14.77 million. % of Americans who have had COVID: 4.48%. USA National Unemployment: 6.7%. Initial unemployment claims filed last week: 712,000. Dow Jones Industrial Average: 30,218
December 1, 2020 Karene Richards - formerly an investment banker and CEO of the Association for Women in Science, she took a leap and is now a health coach, specializing in physique transformation in her business Fit Hidden Figure. She is a women’s advocate and is a nationally qualified bikini competitor with the National Physique Committee. In 2019, Karene was named to the Most Influential People of African Descent under 40 by the United Nations. She currently serves on the Board for both The Association For Women in Science and The National Speakers Association. She is on the show today to share how she has leveraged her mathematical skills to develop a robust scientific system to help people dramatically transform their physiques in a matter of weeks. If you are still reading this, get excited to learn all about that huge career pivot from Wall Street to a home gym and how through a wild career change Karene is more excited and fulfilled by her work than ever before. Guest Unsponsor: My Sporty Shop. Grant's Unsponsor: The Rising Co.. November 27, 2020 Worldwide total COVID deaths: >1,448,000. USA total deaths: >271,000. World's COVID deaths in the USA: 18.71%. Total active world cases: >17.74 million. Total active USA cases 5.2 million. World's active COVID cases in the USA: >29.5%. New US cases per day: 168,058. USA total cases: 13.45 million. % of Americans who have had COVID: 4.08%. USA National Unemployment: 6.9%. Initial unemployment claims filed last week: 778,000. Dow Jones Industrial Average: 29,910
November 24, 2020 Amy Zitelman is the CEO and Co-Founder of Soom Foods, a leading purveyor of tahini and tahini products in the American market. Soom has been named the best tahini according to industry experts by New York Magazine’s “The Stategist” and has been featured in outlets like New York Times, Food & Wine, and Bon Appetit. In 2018, Amy was named to Forbes “30 under 30” in the Food and Beverage category. She is the author of The Tahini Table - Go Beyond Hummus with 100 Recipes for Every Meal. She also promised to share in the interview some of the magic that might get Soom to meet original revenue expectations for 2020, something listeners of this show know is a rarity.Guest Unsponsor: Base Butter. Grant's Unsponsor: ALMI Apparel. November 20, 2020 Worldwide total COVID deaths: >1,365,000. USA total deaths: >258,000. World's COVID deaths in the USA: 18.92%. Total active world cases: >16.19 million. Total active USA cases 4.56 million. World's active COVID cases in the USA: >28.3%. New US cases per day: 169,813. USA total cases: 12.07 million. % of Americans who have had COVID: 3.63%. USA National Unemployment: 6.9%. Initial unemployment claims filed last week: 742,000. Dow Jones Industrial Average: 29,263
November 17, 2020 Tex Dworkin is the co-founder and Chief Community Officer of Raddle, a virtual brainstorm community of (un)like-minded people who help Solopreneurs keep building forward. Before Raddle--she was a socially responsible business leader and spokesperson, growing one of the first ever online fair trade stores close to a million in sales, serving on multiple boards (including eBay's World of Good and Fair Trade Federation) and making media appearances (incl CNN and NPR) to promote business as a tool for social change. She's advised 1000s of entrepreneurs worldwide on building sustainable businesses and is obsessed with helping passion-driven solopreneurs succeed in business. Tex is a huge proponent of thinking outside of the box to grow your business and as you’ll soon find out - sharing that passion with other small business owners.Guest Unsponsor: Proxie Detroit. Grant's Unsponsor: Happy Eco. November 13, 2020 Worldwide total COVID deaths: >1,299,000. USA total deaths: >248,000. World's COVID deaths in the USA: 19.13%. Total active world cases: >14.58 million. Total active USA cases 3.90 million. World's active COVID cases in the USA: >26.7%. New US cases per day: 135,399. USA total cases: 10.87 million. % of Americans who have had COVID: 3.29%. USA National Unemployment: 6.9%. Initial unemployment claims filed last week: 709,000. Dow Jones Industrial Average: 29,479
November 10, 2020 A first for the show, today we have 2 guests - Pod Foods co-founders Fiona and Larissa. Originally from Singapore, Fiona Lee came to San Francisco and started a cookie company together with her cofounder Larissa Russell. Frustrated with the incumbent system of food distribution which revolved around outdated technologies and hidden costs, they pivoted and decided to create a distribution network to enable products to sell to retail stores. Leveraging on their experience as a food manufacturer, Fiona and Larissa built Pod Foods - a b2b (business to business) marketplace that leverages data, technology and existing logistics infrastructure to provide both stores and vendors a more affordable and accessible way to source and sell products. Full disclosure, Grant's coconut energy bar company Rickaroons just started working with Pod Foods. Guest Unsponsor: United Sodas. Grant's Unsponsor: Nani Pua. November 6, 2020 Worldwide total COVID deaths: >1,239,000. USA total deaths: >240,000. World's COVID deaths in the USA: 19.44%. Total active world cases: >12.8 million. Total active USA cases 3.34 million. World's active COVID cases in the USA: >26.1%. New US cases per day: 96,437. USA total cases: 9.9 million. % of Americans who have had COVID: 3%. USA National Unemployment: 6.9%. Initial unemployment claims filed last week: 751,000. Dow Jones Industrial Average: 28,390
November 3, 2020 Guest #27 is Danielle Haschak, co-founder, along with her sister and best friend, of ThirdLeaf NW. ThirdLeaf NW delivers fresh fruit and healthy snacks (like Rickaroons) to offices in Washington State so employees can enjoy something healthy at work. Their service is seen as a wellness perk provided by companies, free of charge to employees. Danielle shares some less-than-fun stories about just how the WFH movement is for companies like hers built on feeding employees...in an office.Grant and Danielle bond over their shared experience of having high hopes for their 7 year old family businesses to hit warp speed in 2020, only to see all of the year's potential for exceptional growth ripped away in one fell viral swoop. Guest Unsponsor: Recipe 33. Grant's Unsponsor: Ethique. October 30, 2020 Worldwide total COVID deaths: >1,189,000. USA total deaths: >234,000. World's COVID deaths in the USA: 19.68%. Total active world cases: >11.3 million. Total active USA cases 2.99 million. World's active COVID cases in the USA: >26.4%. New US cases per day: 77,773. USA total cases: 9.2 million. % of Americans who have had COVID: 2.78%. USA National Unemployment: 7.9%. Initial unemployment claims filed last week: 751,000. Dow Jones Industrial Average: 26,373
October 27, 2020 Guest #26 is Jacob Foss, co-founder of Agricycle Global - the umbrella company with a market driven approach to making the world a holistically healthier place. Agricycle creates better-for-you, better-for-the-world products like dried fruits from Africa and charcoal made from coconut husks, always sustainably sourced from their network of over 35,000 global "smallholders". Prior to Agricycle - Jacob served in the Peace Corps as an Agricultural extension officer in Ghana where he helped create local businesses focused on value addition, governmentally recognized farming groups and community education and wellness campaigns. He followed his service by creating a grain distribution business with his community aimed at providing steady income for isolated farmers in northern Ghana as well as reliable food sources for schools. Jacob shares his experience fundraising in a pandemic, managing a 10,000 mile supply chain during a pandemic, and his vision for growing his assortment of businesses during a pandemic...and beyond. He shares how this is all being done while focusing on a TRIPLE bottom line: 1. Conventional (profit) 2. Environmental (reduce carbon emission) 3. Social/Human impact (raise wages, increase education, grow/improve sustainable supply chains, etc.)Guest Unsponsor: Veerah. Grant's Unsponsor: Bad Day Box. October 23, 2020 Worldwide total COVID deaths: >1,142,000. USA total deaths: >228,000. World's COVID deaths in the USA: 19.98%. Total active world cases: >9.6 million. Total active USA cases 2.77 million. World's active COVID cases in the USA: >28.7%. New US cases per day: 62,960. USA total cases: 8.6 million. % of Americans who have had COVID: 2.6%. USA National Unemployment: 7.9%. Initial unemployment claims filed last week: 787,000. Dow Jones Industrial Average: 28,363
October 20, 2020 Jess Pierno taught her first yoga class to her fellow US government staffers in a glorified closet inside the Pentagon. She took her Foreign Policy masters degree from Georgetown and made a hard turn off the DC diplomat career path to found and grow the yoga franchise - Yoga Heights. Yoga Heights has three studio locations in the Washington DC area, as well as a full offering of live classes online (a COVID necessity). Jess is a natural entrepreneur, a slightly cynical optimist, and is up front that she is ok with big emotions and crying in public. Add in her masters degree and Jess basically has the perfect pedigree to be on a podcast about vulnerability and small business struggles within a global pandemic. Guest Unsponsor: Burlap and Barrel. Grant's Unsponsor: Be Kind Vibes. October 16, 2020 Worldwide total COVID deaths: >1,105,000. USA total deaths: >223,000. World's COVID deaths in the USA: 20.17%. Total active world cases: >8.7 million. Total active USA cases 2.67 million. World's active COVID cases in the USA: >30%. New US cases per day: 55,960. USA total cases: 8.2 million. % of Americans who have had COVID: 2.4%. USA National Unemployment: 7.9%. Initial unemployment claims filed last week: 898,000. Dow Jones Industrial Average: 28,587
October 13, 2020 After changing her diet resulted in solving her asthma, Kate Flynn quit her job and founded the healthy snack company Sun and Swell Foods. Kate tells her story about the move to entrepreneurship from a traditionally conservative career in the risk adverse and lucrative industry of management consulting. The past few years had seen big wins for Sun and Swell with new partnerships in food service and on big business tech campuses, both of which were hit hard (read: nearly eliminated). Kate shares the adjustments her company is making, including a move into selling their primary ingredients to consumers, along with other pivots designed to outlast the pandemic. Guest Unsponsor: Roho Goods. Grant's Unsponsor: Tia Lupita Foods. October 9, 2020 Worldwide total COVID deaths: >1,069,000. USA total deaths: >217,000. World's COVID deaths in the USA: 20.65%. Total active world cases: >8.08 million. Total active USA cases 2.59 million. World's active COVID cases in the USA: >32%. New US cases per day: 46,960. USA total cases: 7.85 million. % of Americans who have had COVID: 2.3%. USA National Unemployment: 7.9%. Initial unemployment claims filed last week: 849,000. Dow Jones Industrial Average: 28,587
October 6, 2020 After a decade in retail at Ralph Lauren and Amazon learning fashion merchandising, buying, and ecommerce, Sydney Badger teamed up with a former coworker from Amazon to start a "fashion business". That long winding journey to figure out how to build a more financially and environmentally sustainable business in the notoriously wasteful fashion industry eventually led to the creation of a unique business model, her company Public Habit and its audacious double bottom line. Public Habit presents a value proposition in direct contrast to her prior employer's cash cow Amazon Prime. Consumers can expect their high quality garments to arrive weeks after completing a purchase because Public Habit maintains no inventory, instead producing every piece only after receiving the individual order.As foreigners, Sydney and her husband were basically kicked out of China at the start of the pandemic in late 2019, returning to the USA in time to relive the beginning of the same pandemic all over, just in a different place. Sydney discusses what it's like running a business across the ocean from your manufacturer, delays first in production and then in shipping, fundraising, and of course adaptations and adjustments to survive COVID-19. Guest Unsponsor: Juna. Grant's Unsponsor: PUR HOME. Unofficial Unsponsor: Emily Oster's book Expecting Better October 1, 2020 Worldwide total COVID deaths: >1,029,000. USA total deaths: >212,000. World's COVID deaths in the USA: 20.65%. Total active USA cases 2.55 million. World's active COVID cases in the USA: >33%. New US cases per day: 42,994. USA National Unemployment: 7.9%. Initial unemployment claims filed last week: 837,000.
September 29, 2020 We try something new and talk with someone whose business was directly positively impacted by COVID! Today’s guest is Lesa Green - a dancing-fitness-yogini who loves skincare, make-up, haircare, overall wellness AND has tied all those together in a handful of commercial ventures. As a female biracial entrepreneur, Lesa strives to provide wellness to everyone in the form of physical fitness, mental health and emotional health via her now exclusively online dance classes. The “MIX” of methods (dance, yoga, fitness and wellness) is her focus hence the name of her online dance business The Mix Technique.Told on a Friday in March that Monday's community college dance classes would need to be online, Lesa drew from her years of experience teaching online to adapt the curriculum for her students. She inferred from the move to online classes the severity of the situation and sprung into action in her private dance business. She quickly established herself a resource for regular, high quality content for dance students of all talent levels to enjoy and experience from their homes during quarantine. Lesa shares how she learned to not waste an opportunity and other lessons from her lifetime of entrepreneurship that have helped her successfully turn passions into profits.Guest Unsponsor: Perfumed Profanities. Grant's Unsponsor: Reel Paper Co. September 25, 2020 Worldwide total COVID deaths: >987,000. USA total deaths: >207,000. World's COVID deaths in the USA: 21.02%. Total active USA cases 2.54 million. World's active COVID cases in the USA: >33%. New US cases per day: 41,131. USA National Unemployment: 8.4%. Initial unemployment claims filed last week: 824,000.
September 22, 2020 Andrea Seemayer is the founder and CEO of A. Lynn, maker of luxury basics better fit for individuals body types. A. Lynn is one of the first, if not the first fashion brand to offer a full line of clothing that always includes length options. Instead of being limited to the usual sizes S, M and L, all of their shirts, pants, dresses, etc. come standard with the additional length option of long, regular, and short. Andrea took a decade of industry experience and built a brand whose main source (pre-COVID) of advertising, marketing and sales came from in person events. Besides being ineligible for PPP funding, Andrea shares what other road blocks the pandemic has put up, and of course what adjustments she is making to survive and thrive through COVID.Guest Unsponsor: Private Packs. Grant's Unsponsor: Dropps. September 18, 2020 Worldwide total COVID deaths: >955,000. USA total deaths: >203,000. World's COVID deaths in the USA: 21.26%. Total active USA cases 2.53 million. World's active COVID cases in the USA: 34%. New US cases per day: 40,694. USA National Unemployment: 8.4%. Initial unemployment claims filed last week: 860,000.
September 15, 2020 After losing her Mom to breast cancer under preventable circumstances, Kaitlin Christine had to fight for her own healthcare in her early 20's when she displayed similar symptoms. Only after choosing to have a double mastectomy against physician recommendations was her breast cancer diagnosed via the removed tissue. Drawing on her own experience and evolving from patient to advocate to CEO, she founded Gabbi, enabling insurers and health systems in providing better care by equipping women with the tools to take control of their health care. The journey of Gabbi had the unluckiest timing imaginable. March 13th the national emergency was announced in the USA. March 13 was also the day Kaitlin was supposed to speak at South By Southwest. March 13 was also the day Gabbi was supposed to launch. It also happened to align with the planned finalizing of a deal to begin a pilot program with Gabbi's first paying client. Kaitlin details the ordeal of the past year and, in spite of all the related hardships, will leave you with hope for the future of our healthcare systems.Guest Unsponsor: Raddle. Grant's Unsponsor: Startup CPG. September 11, 2020 Worldwide total COVID deaths: >919,000. USA total deaths: >196,000. World's COVID deaths in the USA: 21.36%. Total active USA cases 2.53 million. World's active COVID cases in the USA: 35%. New US cases per day: 35,620. USA National Unemployment: 8.4%. Initial unemployment claims filed last week: 884,000.
September 8, 2020 Liz Guilliver created her company Kunik to help working parents navigate the impossible: working while parenting. Coming from a background in finance, she noticed top talent leaving the workplace to be a parent, something she found specifically worrisome and relevant as she prepared to enter parenthood herself. With the pandemic seemingly here to stay, the need to support parent employees has never been greater - a need that comes with a market opportunity. In this episode, Liz shares about her work to meet the rapidly evolving needs of parents, especially with the uncertainty surrounding schools reopening (and already closing) in the fall. Guest Unsponsor: Umbrella. Grant's Unsponsor: Wise Consumer Podcast. September 4, 2020 Worldwide total COVID deaths: >883,000. USA total deaths: >190,000. World's COVID deaths in the USA: 21.74%. Total active USA cases 2.52 million. World's active COVID cases in the USA: 36%. New US cases per day: 42,000. USA National Unemployment: 8.4%
August 4, 2020 Willow Hill is the Co-founder and Chief Creative Officer of Scout Lab, a New York based creative agency that helps purpose driven brands find their voice. She has worked with brands like Adidas, Airbnb, Red Bull and Wix, uses her powers for good in the non-profit space, and only works with companies who meet her ethical standards. In this episode, Willow shares her thoughts on cancel culture, the power of boycotts, and suggestions for early stage ventures seeking to build a brand whose product and story resonates with consumers.Guest Unsponsor: Many As One. Grant's Unsponsor: Raddle. August 4, 2020 Worldwide total COVID deaths: >702,000. USA total deaths: >160,000. World's COVID deaths in the USA: 22.87%. Total active USA cases 2.28 million. World's active COVID cases in the USA: 37%. New US cases per day: 59,000. USA National Unemployment: 10.2%
July 28, 2020 Caroline Cotto is hitting climate change head on through food. As inaugural president of the Upcycled Food Association and Chief Operating Officer of Renewal Foods, she is seeking to fix a broken food system by eliminating waste. Renewal Foods is a leading upcycling company currently with a handful of offerings including a brownie mix, chocolate chip cookies, and all purpose flour - all centered on okara, a byproduct consisting of insoluble parts of the soybean that remain from the production of soy milk and tofu.In this episode, Caroline explains the difficulties of releasing a product that requires educating the market in a time when in-person educational opportunities are essentially outlawed. She also touches on how the product development cycle of large companies seeking to use her ingredients has been postponed 12-24 months, and how this is all compounded by the difficulties in raising venture capital funds during COVID.Guest Unsponsor: The Ugly Pickle Co. Grant's Unsponsor: Better World Books. July 28, 2020 Worldwide total COVID deaths: >662,000. USA total deaths: >152,000. World's COVID deaths in the USA: 23.0%. Total active USA cases 2.16 million. World's active COVID cases in the USA: 37%. New US cases per day: 65,000. USA National Unemployment: 11%
July 21, 2020 Ben Saper quit his high paying, soul draining NYC corporate law job and moved to New Orleans to work as an immigration attorney for a fraction of the pay. He began investing in real estate with the ultimate goal of being able to work full time pro bono representing asylum seekers. Things were going well until the entire short term rental market hit a brick wall in March and Ben was left with mortgage payments due and no renters. Ben shares how he began renting his properties to a charity that houses recent released convicts, had to pause renovations, and the friendship he made with a squatter named Sammy who became the informal security guard at Ben's paused construction site.Guest Unsponsor: The First 72+. Grant's Unsponsor: Major Acre Farms/Your Local Farm-share. July 21, 2020 Worldwide total COVID deaths: 622,000. USA total deaths: 145,000. World's COVID deaths in the USA: 23.3%. Total active USA cases 1.99 million. World's active COVID cases in the USA: 37%. New cases per day: 66,000. USA National Unemployment: 11%
July 14, 2020 Katie Webb had been working for a year on Aila, her pre-workout supplement for women, before deciding to quit her job and go full time. That was February, 2020 - exactly one month before the pandemic related business closures began. In this episode Katie discusses the hole in the Paycheck Protection Program for emerging businesses like hers, having an entire B2B customer segment of gyms effectively shuttered by the pandemic, and how she adapted by geo-targeting her sales efforts based on individual state-level policies around business closures.Guest Unsponsor: Softwear. Grant's Unsponsor: Maya's Cookies. July 14, 2020 Worldwide total COVID deaths: 582,000. USA total deaths: 139,000. World's COVID deaths in the USA: 23.9%. Total active USA cases 1.8 million. Active COVID cases in the USA: 36%. New cases per day: 66,000. USA National Unemployment: 11%
July 9, 2020 Whitney A. White exudes confidence and wisdom like an annoyingly flawless Hollywood character. Through her coaching practice Take Back Your Time, she helps high-potential individuals cut through the noise and focus on what is important Whitney explores her personal story of being forced by COVID to cancel huge in-person meetups and seminars, pivoting her business entirely online and somehow still being able to increase the value of her product and raise her prices in a pandemic. A case study in efficiency and personal motivation, Whitney shares her bag of tips and tricks she's using to survive and thrive in COVID, forecasting to not only meet but exceed FY2020 projections, all in spite of essentially starting her plans for the year from scratch in mid March. Guest Unsponsor: Mind Blown Labs. Grant's Unsponsor: Driftline Boardshorts. July 9, 2020 Worldwide total COVID deaths: 552,000. Average daily death rate: 5,528. Total active cases: 5.03 million. USA total deaths: 135,000. Total active cases 1.81 million. New cases per day: 66,000. USA National Unemployment: 11.2%
July 7, 2020 Marissa Badgley founded Reloveution to help eliminate toxic work environments, by leading small and medium businesses to the heart of what matters most through unique and powerful consulting and professional development services. Marissa shares how that led her to a pre-pandemic feeling of immense pressure to paint a pretty picture when asked about business and how good it has felt to lean into the fact that things kind of suck right now and be able to name that for people. Marissa succinctly describes what it's like being a small business owner in a pandemic: "I feel like I am often throwing spaghetti at the wall. Sometimes the spaghetti sticks, sometimes the spaghetti falls, and sometimes the wall disappears mid-throw." Guest Unsponsor: Align With Us. Grant's Unsponsor: Fig Balloon Co. Worldwide total COVID deaths: 536,000. Average daily death rate 5,500. Total active cases 4.48 million. USA deaths 132,000. Total active cases 1.56 million.
June 30, 2020 Experiential marketing guru Cynthia Samanian sets a new monthly record for COVID-related revenue loss of 100% with her company Hidden Rhythm. She shares how she left the comfortable world of Silicon Valley, ventured out on her own, and then made moved a company built entirely around creating exceptional in-person brand experiences to being entirely online, all while in her third pregnancy trimester. Guest Unsponsor: EXAU Olive Oil. Grant's Unsponsor: Trvlr Coffee. Worldwide total COVID deaths: 514,000. Average daily death rate 4,500. Total active cases 4.23 million. USA deaths 130,000. Average daily death rate 724.Total active cases 1.43 million.
June 12, 2020 Founder and owner of Jacaranda Books, Valerie Brandes chimes in from London to share her experiences in the very rocky world of publishing. After moving from the USA to England and graduating with a Masters degree in her forties with two kids, she landed a job as a receptionist at a local publishing house. She quickly moved up and out to establish her own mission driven publishing company, committed to publishing ground-breaking writing with a dedication to creating space on the bookshelf for diverse idea and writers. In the past 7 years since inception, Jacaranda Books has become an award winning independent publisher of award winning adult fiction, non-fiction and YA. Their book offerings center around the voices and experiences of Black people, people of color, women and other underrepresented voices.
May 28, 2020 Jared Gustafson is the founder and owner of Kombucha on Tap, a Southern California full-service keg distributor of products including kombucha, nitro cold brew coffee, tea, and more. Possibly the most So Cal company ever, Jared saw the writing on the wall, capitalized on a market trend, and established his company as the go-to supplier of kombucha to restaurants and food service joints all over San Diego and LA. In this episode Jared candidly shares about a particularly tough week in March in which his father passed away, business dropped by 97%, and he had to lay off staff for the first time. Jared has subtly pivoted to make a huge comeback, offering new services and expanding partnerships which together have allowed him to resume full staffing levels. Basically Jared is the guy you want to work for because he is a practical visionary, the nicest guy ever AND has the backs of his staff.
May 21, 2020 Mark Goldberg - partner at the venture capital firm Index Ventures , shares how venture money is jet fuel; a business will either take off like a rocket or explode on the launch pad, with very little room in between. Far from the role of small business owner played by most guests, Mark provides insight into the disparate results for the companies in his portfolio - wild success and wildly large layoffs. Drawing from more than a decade as an investor, Mark shares about the stock market, the change in the fundraising climate, and how he sees the world of finance evolving in the wave and wake of COVID-19.
May 12, 2020 Today's guest is Joe Bettles - second generation restaurant owner and a world class nice guy. Joe and Grant talk about seeing restaurant sales go down 90%, the risk of accepting PPP money, alternative funding models in use globally, and what the future or restaurant dining may look like.Kono's Cafe is the crown jewel of the San Diego beachfront breakfast scene, with a menu (and prices) virtually unchanged since 1992 - the type of place where the person taking your order remembers your last order. Joe discusses the rapid changes needed to evolve from an old fashioned, cash only, 99% dine-in cafe to takeout only, no cash, 100% takeout - and how those changes were made almost overnight. Oh, and he vents about meal delivery services delivering zero profits to small, independent restaurants.
April 23, 2020 Cassy Burnvoth - founder/CEO of FATCO - like all good small business owners, began making products out of her home. Capitalizing on the momentum of the Paleo movement, FATCO has a line of beef tallow based skincare products. Unlike many business with similar humble roots, FATCO has grown to be featured (and dropped) from the big box stores Target. Cassy shares the joy, cash flow pain, frustration and myriad other emotions and headaches that come with the "success" of making it big.
April 4, 2020 Andy Suzuki - lead singer of Andy Suzuki & the Method - shares what it was like to have his 34-city national tour with Allen Stone cancelled due to the pandemic only to then go home to NYC and contract the virus himself. Though probably not the prototypical small businessman, Andy wears all the hats of an entrepreneur - sales, marketing, event coordinator, social media guru and customer service rep. Grinding it out on the road over the past decade while working his way up the ladder of the music scene, Andy shares the real story of the modern day musician. Instead of the non-stop party scene we might imagine, he's actually SAT tutoring high school students on Zoom right up until going on stage in front of thousands of fans. He also lays out plans to use the natural seasonality of intrinsic to the music industry to maximize productivity during quarantine.
April 3, 2020 Ryan Armistead - owner/founder of Happy Moose Juice - shares which revenue pillars of his business have plummeted and how diversification, specifically a partnership with a meal delivery service, have helped keep the cash coming.As so many businesses do (especially in food + beverage) Happy Moose Juice began as a side project, literally in Ryan's kitchen. With only a small investment from family, Ryan has grown his cold pressed juice company to be the only product of its kind featured in Sun Basket, Peet's Coffee, and in many Silicon Valley cafeterias. Ryan also is also the lead singer of Peggy Bunker and the Bunkmates whose song Geronimo, made "famous" as the theme song on this podcast.
April 2, 2020 Ali Bonar, a woman who through a hobby and a passion invented a new food that I literally eat 5 days a week. Ali will tell us how she first created granola butter almost on accident, eventually leaving her job in Silicon Valley to create Kween Granola Butter. Ali will probably be on the cover of Inc Magazine some day, running a Fortune 500 food company, and we will look back and think “what was that superstar doing on that dinky little podcast”?As a influencer herself, Ali speaks openly about the Wild West of social media paid promotions, value, and the need to be narrowly focused on your truest core demographic. Even if you don't listen to this episode, do yourself a favor and taste Kween granola butter. Your taste buds will thank you.
March 30,2020 Jenn Reichardt - founder of Raft Wines and 5th generation duck farmer from Liberty Duck - talks openly about the calamitous impact Covid-19 is having on the restaurant industry. Her family has been serving Northern California families for over 100 years and supplying Michilin star restaurants for the last 30. And in case that’s not impressive enough, Jenn also has her own wine label. Hardworking as she is brilliant, Jenn helps us understand how restaurants from 0 star to 3 star are going to struggle for survival in the coming months and how difficult it is planning production for unknown demand.
March 29, 2020 Comedian, TV writer, and radio/podcast host Chris Duffy shares his journey from 5th grade teacher to comedian, how Hollywood is on pause, and the in-person entertainment world may be changed forever. In addition to creating, writing and hosting the science based game show You’re the Expert (syndicated by NPR), Chris' writing has been featured in, among other places, The New Yorker and The Boston Globe. Recently he wrote for both seasons of Wyatt Cenac’s Problem Areas on HBO, executive produced by John Oliver. Find more ways Chris can make you laugh by visiting https://chrisduffycomedy.com/