Sippi

This week the guys do something a little less entrepreneurship related and have an incredible interview with Maksym (“Max”) Chikin , a Ukrainian immigrant who moved to Mississippi at age 17 to reunite with family. He recounts the difficulties of navigating American culture and the English language in a rural setting, especially while facing a four-year delay in his career due to COVID-19 and immig...

This week the guys discuss the intersection of faith and business operations. Caleb and Chris talk about the challenges of maintaining Christian integrity in a commercial environment, emphasizing that a leader’s character and actions often speak louder than overt religious marketing. They explore practical dilemmas, such as the decision to open on Sundays and the ethical responsibility of minister...

This week the guys have an amazing interview with special guest Garrett Rouse , an entrepreneur who shares his transformative journey from incarceration to starting a recovery-focused business. After receiving a 24-year sentence for drug-related charges, Rouse describes the harsh realities of Parchman Prison and how accidentally stepping on a psychology book sparked a profound shift in his perspec...

In this episode, the guys discuss the evolving world of prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket. These platforms allow users to bet on the outcomes of future events, ranging from Super Bowl performers to geopolitical shifts. While the hosts note that these markets provide a richer data signal than traditional polling by requiring participants to risk money, they also express concern over ins...

AI is going to take our jobs!!!   Have you heard this statement yet?  Better said, have you heard this statement a million times yet? Well, this week the guys interview someone who tells Caleb and Chris from firsthand experience that we have a right to be concerned! The guys have a really interesting and technical conversation with full-stack web developer Jody LeCompte , who discusses the rapid e...

This week the guys interview Tom and Hector Boldo, co-founders of the Mississippi Latinx Art Association and Nuestro Arte gallery in Hattiesburg; fellow co-founder Jacqueline Gonzalez Wooton was unfortunately unable to join them for the conversation. The couple shares experiences about their move from Austin to Mississippi and their subsequent efforts to increase Latin cultural representation thro...

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 fr...

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 increas...

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, task...

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 tour...

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...

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...

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 t...

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...

This week, Jory Scott takes the guys on a journey from bullfighter to bio-tech pioneer! Jory discusses his unconventional career path from being a top-ranked professional bullfighter to an occupational therapy assistant, athletic trainer, and ultimately a leader in the medical field of biologics and stem cell therapy. Caleb & Chris focus the core of their discussion on Jory's work, particularly hi...

“Just do the next right thing.” – Wise words of advice from this week’s guest, Lindsey Fredman . Lindsey sat down with the guys to discuss her varied career path and the launch of her business, Main Street Collective . Fredman shares her experiences from teaching and human resources, to working with the military and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, highlighting her dedication to service. Th...

In May of 2024 the guys had an awesome interview with Mississippi Veteran and Entrepreneur, Ric McCluskey .  In that interview Ric hinted that he was starting on a new project, so the guys thought it would be fun to circle back with him (over a year later) and find out whatever happened with that project – and wow, a LOT has happened since that time! This week Ric tells the guys how his new compan...

This week the guys have something of a riff episode where Caleb shares a CRAZY story that happened literal hours before recording.  Caleb shares a premonition to drive in the left lane, which he ignored, only to narrowly avoid a head-on collision with a truck driving in the wrong lane. The following day, while driving his wife's vehicle, Caleb experiences a mysterious incident where his airbags de...

According to Freakonomics author and podcast host, Stephen J. Dubner, “The difference between success and failure is sometimes just…timing.”.  At least that’s the argument he makes in his Episode 563, “How to Succeed at Failing, Part 3: Grit vs. Quit (Update)” , which Caleb & Chris reference in this week’s episode. They even play a short clip from that episode, which offers a really poignant and l...

This week the guys offer a conversational overview of various topics. Their exchange begins with personal anecdotes about their work-life balance and social media interactions, including Caleb's "fishing for hate". The conversation then transitions to a discussion about unique treats, specifically the "Sibateaux " and "Cronut," revealing their unusual origins and names. Finally, the hosts explore...

Back in December 2024 , Caleb & Chris got a chance to interview two tech entrepreneurs and learn about their really cool app, FoodScout! Now roughly a half year later, Caleb & Chris sit down with one of those two guys again, Damion Dehart, and hear a ruthlessly transparent update on their startup journey.    The conversation highlights the challenges of pivoting a business, detailing the failure o...

In this week’s episode, Caleb and Chris discuss a variety of topics, beginning with their recent two-week break from recording and Chris’ trip to catch a FIFA Club World Cup match, followed by the controversial role of frappes as a "gateway drug" to specialty coffee. The main focus then shifts to a refresher of Chris’ frustration with previous mainstream podcast players and how they were either ac...

This week the guys talk with Fallon Dyle , a research & product development chemist and founder of Sustainovate , a manufacturing consulting company. The discussion covers her unconventional career path from forensic chemistry to starting her own venture after a pivotal professional event. Sustainovate focuses on sustainable and innovative product development, offering services from ideation to ma...

This week’s amazing interview is with Tommy Teepell , co-owner of Grin Coffee .  Tommy tells the guys all about his incredible entrepreneurial journey. He recounts his homeschooling experience, early ventures in fashion design and toy invention, and the serendipitous start of Grin Coffee as a family hobby using a popcorn machine. Tommy emphasizes the role of community support and faith throughout...

This week the guys talk with Rita Mitchell , Director of the Pine Belt Small Business Development Center , and Lori Watts , President of the Marion County Development Partnership . They discuss the vital role their organizations play in supporting businesses, from startups to established enterprises, especially in times of crises like natural disasters, economic downswings, and even global pandemi...