Michael Slotboom is doing things on his terms. He was on track to run the machine shop at the University of Texas, but he discovered he really wanted to make custom guitar parts. So he talked to his wife and they invested their savings into sta

Firefly Austin Studio: Making Music, Records, and Community in Austin, Texas | Erin O'Keefe

Nov 15th, 2019 42m 51s

Erin O'Keefe is the kind of woman that sees a vision and makes it happen. She learned about what makes a great recording studio...and then built one! What amazing artists is she recording these days? How do you even build a studio? What is the

Big Henry's Vinyl and Gifts: Purveyors of Music, Records, and Culture in Austin, Texas | Grace Reyer

Nov 7th, 2019 34m 7s

Grace Reyer and Big Henry's Vinyl and Gifts are at the epicenter of Austin music and culture. How did Grace and up with her dream job? What's the importance of self-care when managing a small business? All of this and more in today's episode. Y

Visit Clarksdale, Mississippi: Promoting Visitors and Business in the Birthplace of the Blues | Bubba O'Keefe

Oct 30th, 2019 36m 7s

Bubba O'Keefe has the spirit of the Mississippi Delta running through his veins. What stories does he have to tell about the Crossroads? Why is Clarksdale a great place to visit and/or start a business? And what are the kinds of people who succ

Auberge Hostel: Starting a Hostel on the Blues Highway in Clarksdale, Mississippi | Robert Weinstein

Oct 24th, 2019 38m 59s

Clarksdale, Mississippi is home to the world-famous Crossroads...where Robert Johnson sold his soul to the devil in exchange for his guitar chops. Why did Robert and Lucy decide to start a hostel in Clarksdale after succeeding with their proper

Alligator Records Part 2 of 2: Building a Legendary Blues Record Label in Chicago, Illinois | Bruce Iglauer

Oct 17th, 2019 59m 25s

And...this week we wrap up the amazing story of Alligator Records. There's even more music in this episode, courtesy of Bruce and Alligator. We also cover the most harrowing and dramatic story we have heard on the podcast to date, involving a t

Alligator Records Part 1 of 2: Building a Legendary Blues Record Label in Chicago, Illinois | Bruce Iglauer

Oct 10th, 2019 57m 23s

So many firsts in this episode! First time we have had music in the podcast. First time the conversation was so good and so long that we had to break it up into two episodes. How did Bruce get started as a record executive? Why did he give Dan

Roadhouse Relics: Making Art with Neon in Austin, Texas | Todd Sanders

Oct 3rd, 2019 46m 42s

Todd Sanders always knew he wanted to be an artist. He get into making neon signs, and he developed a clientele of businesses who sought him for commercial signs. But Todd wanted more...he wanted to make fine art with neon. He was committed. So

Timeless Texas Classics: Selling and Restoring Classic Cars and Hot Rods in La Grange, Texas | Lance Herrington

Sep 25th, 2019 49m 2s

Lance Herrington found himself in a tough place when Houston, in his words, collapsed in the 1980s, and he was out of a job. He picked himself up by the bootstraps, and together with his wife Pam, they started a business restoring and selling F

Lucktone Woodshop: From a Desk job to Making Custom Furniture in Austin, Texas | Britton Byfield

Sep 19th, 2019 40m 35s

Britton was unsure he wanted to continue his job in digital media. And then came his biggest blessing in disguise: he was laid off. He started making cutting boards as a way to make money over the holidays, and that slowly evolved to him crafti

It's On Clothing: Spreading a Message of Positivity through Designing and Making Clothes in Wichita, Kansas | DaVon Walker

Sep 12th, 2019 36m 49s

DaVon Walker wanted to see positive, sleek, motivational clothing designs, and no matter how hard he looked, he could not find what he had in mind. So he did what entrepreneurs do...he made the clothes himself! We meet DaVon two years into his

The Commodore Hotel: Investing in History by Helping Revitalize a Community in Linden, Tennessee | Michael and Kathy Dumont

Sep 5th, 2019 42m 50s

Michael and Kathy Dumont made a big bet by moving from New England to Tennessee. They bet that they could buy and revitalize a historic hotel in a small Tennessee town. What happened after The Commodore Hotel opened? How many businesses now sur

Carter Vintage Guitars: Creating an Iconic Guitar Store in Nashville, Tennessee | Walter Carter

Aug 29th, 2019 47m 33s

Walter Carter and his wife Christie spent decades working in the vintage guitar business...and they had a vision. It was a vision of a guitar store where kids and internationally-renowned musicians alike could feel comfortable playing and appre

Dee's Country Cocktail Lounge: Creating Community Through Live Music and a Down-Home Vibe in Madison, Tennessee | Amy Dee and Daniel Walker

Aug 21st, 2019 46m 1s

Amy Dee got to Nashville and could not find what she wanted: A no-frills spot with a vintage vibe to listen to great country and blues music. So she used all of her experience working in bars in New York City and all over the land to create De

A Podcaster Talks About the Business of Podcasting in Indianapolis, Indiana | Lindsey Hein

Aug 15th, 2019 42m 39s

Lindsey Hein is the awesome host of "I'll Have Another with Lindsey Hein, a successful podcast about running. We talk about what it takes to make it as a podcaster, but her lessons are applicable to all creators, small businesses, and fans of g

Sitting Down with Coach: Learning From a Small Business Expert in Plymouth, Indiana | David Miller

Aug 8th, 2019 45m 3s

David Miller has decades of experience coaching small businesses, and he has seen a LOT. Today's episode is like sitting down with Coach...you will get decades of experience in under an hour....and you'll want to have a notepad! How do you make

Hopping Gnome Brewing: Brewing Sour (and other) Beers, Promoting Local, and Creating Community in Wichita, Kansas | Stacy Ward Lattin

Jul 31st, 2019 37m 6s

What, exactly, is an HBIC? I didn't know until I met Stacy Ward Lattin, THE HBIC at Hopping Gnome. What are Stacy and her husband doing right in the increasingly exciting Wichita scene? What is Stacy's podcast about, and what else is she doing

The Bluebird Cafe: Crafting Community Through Songwriting in Nashville, Tennessee | Erika Nichols

Jul 24th, 2019 36m 52s

How did a small cafe in a strip mall in Nashville become a mecca for songwriters? What happened that changed the fortunes of the Bluebird from barely surviving to thriving? (hint: it was a major TV show). Which major celebrities let their hair

Delmark Records: Carrying on the Legacy of a Legendary Blues and Jazz Label in Chicago, Illinois | Julia Miller

Jul 17th, 2019 45m 23s

Julia Miller is a badass woman. Together with her partner Elbio, Julia is carrying forward the legacy of Delmark Records, an iconic Chicago label. What are the challenges of being a record label in the 21st century? What are Julia's plans to bu

Fringe Sport: Barbells, Strength, and Growing Through Self-Awareness in Austin, Texas | Peter Keller

Jul 10th, 2019 1h 4m

What inspired Peter to start a fitness equipment business? What are the books that Peter reads and the actions that Peter takes to help him discover his own blind spots? How did Peter overcome a painful change in his business involving a family

Brian Phillips Art: Channeling the Soul of Texas and Making Art From Discarded Materials in Austin, Texas | Brian Phillips

Jul 3rd, 2019 38m 40s

What was Brian's journey to become a successful artist? How did he end up selling his pieces at Willie Nelson's ranch? How does Brian make sure he has something to offer to people with any level of budget? All of this and more in today's episod

Stone's Throw Pizza: Good Food, Community, Self-Care, and Mental Health in the Restaurant Industry in Fairfax, Vermont | Silas Pollitt

Jun 26th, 2019 57m 21s

What makes Silas Pollitt want to uproot everything and move every few years? What are the differences between working at high-end restaurants and starting your own pizza restaurant in a town of 5,000 people in Northern Vermont? What is it about

Chicago Music Exchange: Running a Successful Musical Instrument Store for Rock Stars and Everyday People in Chicago, Illinois | Shelby Pollard and Karl Neurater

Jun 19th, 2019 53m 45s

Chicago Music Exchange has become an institution and a destination for guitar fans visiting The Windy City. How did CME get here? How is the store surviving and thriving in an era where more and more people are buying instruments online? What h

Blues Heaven Foundation: Keeping the Legacy of Willie Dixon, Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy, Etta James, and Chess Records Alive in Chicago, Illinois | Janine Judge and Jacqueline Dixon

Jun 13th, 2019 48m 45s

Wow! We recorded an episode in the same room where Etta James recorded At Last...a new high for the show! What is Willie Dixon's Blues Heaven Foundation? Why did the Rolling Stones record their iconic record 12 x 5 in this room? What kind of gh

Andrea's Eats: Connecting Food and Soul Through a Food Truck in Cedar Park, Texas | Andrea Morris

Jun 6th, 2019 43m 50s

I finally got to interview a food truck owner! And what a show it was...so much gold in this one. Why leave your well-paying job to start a food truck? What makes is worthwhile? What are pitfalls to watch for? This and more in today's episode.