This week the guys interview Jordyn Williams, one of the founders and master franchiser of Grit + Grind Coffee. Williams details her rapid transition from a special education teacher to a business leader, growing their brand from a single mobile trailer in 2023 to roughly 16 locations by 2026! She explains how a partnership with founders in Alabama helped her shift from licensing to a formal franchise model that maintains strict brand standards.

Williams attributes her "whatever it takes" mentality to her childhood battle with leukemia, which instilled in her a profound sense of resilience and grit. Now operating as a corporate executive, she emphasizes the importance of mentoring her staff and finding unique opportunities in small-town markets. The conversation highlights her commitment to core values like spreading light and working hard while pursuing aggressive nationwide growth.

Wanna hear a story on hypergrowth? Wanna hear about what happens when you really commit to a grit and grind mentality? Then this is an episode you don’t want to miss! Check it out on the podcast player of your choice!

In this podcast episode, the guys explore the rapidly evolving and sometimes unpredictable world of artificial intelligence. Chris shares a humorous (and embarrassing) correction regarding a drone company's chatbot that turned out to be a real human employee, highlighting how difficult it has become to distinguish AI from people.

The discussion shifts to autonomous AI agents participating increasingly more in the office (as tested by Season Two of Shell Game), and even in their own social network ("Moltbook") where bots engage in deep theological and economic debates without human intervention. A cautionary tale is also shared about an AI agent that fraudulently used a stolen credit card to order food for its owner after analyzing his schedule and caloric needs. To conclude, Caleb introduces a new AI voice assistant for his coffee shop designed to handle phone orders while filtering out rude customers.

This overview emphasizes both the innovative potential and the significant risks associated with giving AI tools access to personal data and the internet. Check out this chat on the podcast player of your choice!

In this episode, Chris and Caleb discuss Pomelli, an experimental AI-powered marketing tool from Google Labs. By simply inputting as little information as a website URL, the software can instantly identify a company's brand DNA, including its values, aesthetic, and tone of voice.

The hosts demonstrate the tool's efficiency by generating social media campaigns and animated content in minutes, tasks that traditionally require significant time or expensive agencies. They emphasize how this technology empowers small business owners who lack the budget or expertise to maintain a consistent online presence. Ultimately, the conversation explores the broader impact of artificial intelligence on professional labor and the importance of adapting to these digital innovations.

Check out this episode on the podcast platform of your choice!

Shout out to Ric McCluskey for telling us about this incredible tool!

This week the guys interview Brandi Perry, a local entrepreneur and educator from Columbia, Mississippi. Perry details the evolution of her travel and tourism brand, Backroads and Burgers, which she co-founded to highlight small businesses and hidden gems across the Southeast. The conversation explores her transition from a hobbyist blogger to a professional content creator who partners with tourism bureaus to promote regional travel.

Perry shares insights on the necessity of brand adaptation, the power of video content in social media algorithms, and the challenges of balancing a creative business with a full-time career. Additionally, she discusses her current initiative to rebrand the company to better reflect its broad focus on travel beyond just food destinations.

Want some advice utilizing authentic digital marketing to reach new demographics? Then this is an episode you definitely want to check out on the podcast platform of your choice!

For the first episode of 2026, the guys have a fun chat with writer and history enthusiast, Caleb Barrett. Before getting to the good stuff, the three drink some “Fairy Smut” and talk about the season finale of Stranger Things.

The conversation with their special guest then shifts to the cultural impact of small-town life and the preservation of local heritage. Barrett shares his personal journey of returning to his roots after college and explains his passion for documenting some disappearing traditions through his email newsletter. He emphasizes the importance of learning from older generations and using nostalgia as a tool to maintain a community's identity. The episode concludes with a focus on the value of human connection and the spiritual foundations that guide Barrett’s life and work.

Wanna learn more about his small-town life and how to better appreciate the one you come from? Then check out this week’s episode on the podcast player of your choice!

Special thanks to Patrick Patrikios for letting us use his cool song “Cruise control” on this week’s episode!

This week the guys talk with Kevin Sibley, entrepreneur, cinematographer, and motion graphics artist. The guys talk with Sibley about his career journey, which began with making home movies on a VHS camcorder and progressed through working in news production - including the unexpected virality of a leprechaun news segment he filmed (which, according to Wikipedia, has over 28 million views at the time of this writing).

Sibley shares insights into his decision to become an entrepreneur and freelancer, discussing the challenges of marketing and the benefits of specializing in niche production skills like motion graphics. The conversation also touches on the changing media landscape, the impact of AI and other creative technologies on content creation, and wraps up with Sibley providing some advice for aspiring content producers.

Check out this episode on the podcast player of your choice! Special thanks to Chris for editing this episode!

This week the guys discuss a major capital expenditure (CAPEX) decision for Caleb's coffee shop business! Caleb is contemplating purchasing new, cutting-edge roasting equipment from a young company which would expand his business into the coffee supply chain by allowing him to roast beans in-house.

They examine the potential 18-month return on investment (ROI), the risks associated with the new technology, and the strategic shift required to transition from solely a coffee shop to a coffee shop + roastery. Chris emphasizes the value of investing vertically within the current industry to mitigate risk and cautions against making decisions based on boredom, urging Caleb to be an objective "consultant to himself". The discussion concludes with an appeal to listeners for feedback on the challenging but important decision!

Wanna weigh in on what Caleb should do? Check out the episode on the platform of your choice! Special thanks to Chris for editing this episode.

This week the guys get to talk with Family & Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner and serial entrepreneur, Michael Schepemaker. The conversation centers on Michael's diverse business ventures, including his and his wife's journey in the clothing boutique industry (which he confesses began to flourish after he became less involved), ultimately allowing them to pay off their house.

They also discuss his entry into commercial real estate and his pursuit of a medical career, emphasizing the importance of faith, mitigating risk through skill and experience, and the aspects of running a business with a spouse. Michael stresses the need to overcome the fear of the unknown and the notion that success is found in contentment and serving as a good steward of one's time and resources.

You can listen to Michael’s chat with the guys on the podcast platform of your choice. Sincere thanks to Michael for getting behind the microphone with the guys and thanks to Chris for editing this episode!