Growth Lab

In this episode, I sit down with Kristen Mayer, CEO & Founder of KMI Wealth, investor, entrepreneur, and passionate advocate for women in finance. We dive into Kristen’s journey of reinvention, from her early roots in journalism and global education, to building a life centered around family and entrepreneurship, to ultimately stepping into the financial services world and creating her own fir...

In this episode, I sit down with  Shivani Peterson  mortgage advisor at  All Western Mortgage , public speaker, and unapologetic feminist force in our Reno community. Yes, we talk industry, but this conversation goes so much deeper. Shivani brings her signature clarity and confidence to the table, goving us insight on her personal journey and a mom, entrepreneur and all around badass. She is a cha...

In this episode, I sit down with Isha Casagrande, fashionISHA, confidence coach, Jazzercise Queen, stylist and founder of The Confident Style Method™, the proven 90-day transformation helping women 40+ reclaim their confidence from the inside out. We dive into how style, mindset, and movement come together to shift the way you see yourself, how you show up, and how you navigate your life. Isha bre...

In this episode, I sit down with Reno’s own culinary legend, Mark Estee, chef, restaurateur, and community builder, to unpack what it really takes to grow a mission-driven brand. We’re diving into Reno’s vibrant food scene with Mark who is the force behind Reno Local Food Group. From farm-to-table flavors to iconic restaurants, Mark has been serving up community connection through food. From scrap...

In this episode I sit down with the amazing Staci Dooley, MSN, APRN-C Who has started Personalized virtual care for women struggling with hormone imbalances, weight loss struggles, and overall wellness. Staci has been a nurse practitioner for 15 years, specializing in family practice and, more recently, helping women navigate perimenopause and menopause. Her passion is making people feel theirabso...

Join me for a conversation with Sabrina McCool and Aly McDermott, President and Treasurer of Mamas for a Cause. As Board Members of this organization, these two women are incredibly invested in community connection. In this episode, we’re covering how to juggle a full-time career (or several!) with passionate involvement in non-profits, the importance of maintaining connections among women, and ro...

In a much-anticipated episode, I sat down with Ashlee Smith, founder of Ashlee’s Toy Closet. A fixture in Northern Nevada’s nonprofit community, Ashlee is passionate about helping kids affected by natural disasters and other tragedies keep up that spark of joy. Listen in to hear why recent wildfires are even harder on kids than others in the past, how Ashlee juggles her full-time job and her full-...

Sit down with me and Marcell Lagrone, founder of ReDirect Athletics, for a conversation about overcoming roadblocks, athletic competition at a high level, operating as a family unit with his wife Tish, and the details about ReDirect Athletics' outreach programs for kids. We dive deep into the scary parts of jumping into entrepreneurship, and the beauty of having a partner who won't let you...

In this episode, I sat down with my go-to gal for all things health: Dillon Lambert, independent family nurse practitioner at Revive Health Integrative Wellness. Beyond owning a “farm-ette” and walking her goats on a leash, Dillon has dedicated her career to learning about holistic wellness and helping her patients with this knowledge. Listen in for the scoop on avoiding “medical gaslighting”, the...

Sit down with me and Rob McCalla, owner of Reliance Landscaping. As an entrepreneur, Rob offers a different perspective to the Growth Lab podcast. Listen in to learn about what goes into the entrepreneurial mindset of managing a team without micromanaging, how he got his business started while in high school, some intriguing nuances of Reno's microclimates, getting his hands dirty even as an o...

Listen in to my conversation with Grant Denton, TedX Speaker and founder of the Karma Box Project, a nonprofit that focuses on helping recovering addicts to get back involved with the community. In this episode, Grant and I discuss how to get community members invested in a civic project, the impetus behind taking it up to the next level of a nonprofit in 2020, and his take on how to truly help th...

In this episode, I sat down with Kacey Queen, Co-Founder of Nevada Moms. Kacey’s company started out as a blog and she’s created a whole community to support and connect moms across Nevada. As a mom of three herself, she’s prioritized offering resources to moms of all backgrounds. Listen in to learn about why and how Kasey decided homeschooling was right for her family, how she and Leanna Carson c...

Jay Kenny is the owner of Doughboy’s Doughnuts and is a REALTOR® at Dickson Realty. You might also know him as a Nevada baseball player and a Reno City Council candidate. In this episode, I sat down with him to talk about how he got into the doughnut biz (yes, cops are involved), how he’s instilling a strong work ethic in his two sons, and the truth about getting into the real estate business. Jay...

In this very exciting episode, I sat down with Growth Lab’s first sponsor: Tahoe Nevada Love! Founders Ashley and Adam Sayre have worked hard to create an amazing brand centered around our Northern Nevada community. Listen in for the scoop on where the Sayres’ entrepreneurial spirit comes from, what it’s like to build a business with a spouse, as well as some of the struggles of being small busine...

I brought Mike Wood of RE/MAX Professionals on the pod even though he is my competition! We discuss being competitive and trying not to compare ourselves to others (and each other), the importance of “hunger” in our industry, managing a team, and society’s propensity to support an underdog until they actually succeed. We also address the most salacious rumors about us swirling around town! Real es...

Meet Gina Hasler, owner of GMH Photography. Listen in to learn about Gina’s annual ‘Santa Experience’ event – in August! – and get the scoop on why she’s trying to pare down a bit and the truth about why she started her nonprofit, Be Still. We also talk about how to balance all of our community involvement as moms with our entrepreneurial endeavors and touch on how Gina’s family gets roped into he...

I sat down with photographer extraordinaire Jeramie Lu to discuss the secret sauce of entrepreneurship. Listen in to learn about why Jeramie doesn’t see himself as a creative, how he deals with internet trolls, why he loves helping new photographers learn the trade, and what motivates him to make the most of his time, from both a personal and professional perspective. We touch on why photography s...

Meet Cortney Young, owner of ADR Partners, an award-winning mediator and arbitrator, a ’20 under 40’ awardee in 2017, one of Sierra Nevada’s 20 most powerful women, published author, and speaker. Listen in to my interview with Cortney to learn about mediation and arbitration – and what the difference is – including how to navigate divorce in the most agreeable way possible, as well as balancing a...

I sat down with Korine Viehweg to find out more about how she’s serving the community while balancing her loving family of five children and a husband. In this episode, we discuss the moment she knew it was time to quit her job, finding the right level of “whelmed”, the dynamics of finding care for children with special needs, how she’s expanded her foundation’s base by 500% in ten years, navigati...

Brian Sundeen wants to make sports programs readily available for kids! In this episode, I got the scoop on his plans for a future recreation facility, the downfalls of flying under the radar, navigating hiring challenges, managing a busy life and family, keeping programs affordable, and learning to ask for help. Brian is the Director and Founder of Northern Nevada Sports & Recreation (NNSR)....

We’re starting off strong in this episode with a pet-able beard! Please welcome Will Reyes, beard wearer and small business owner. We talk about Will’s transition from painting as a side gig to as a full-blown career, as well as his future plans for expansion, tips for growing a luscious beard, how becoming a father changed his mindset, the ebb and flow of entrepreneurship, and the truth about why...

In this inaugural episode, I welcome Amy Burkett to discuss doing business in the Reno/Tahoe area, being intentional about including women entrepreneurs, the pressure in the local fitness industry, prioritizing wellness, and creating genuine connection. Amy is the ultimate Reno entrepreneur, starting out as a massage therapist in 2002 and expanding her expertise into fitness coaching, wellness, an...