The LoCo Experience

Tricia Canonico is a candidate for Fort Collins Mayor, and joined me for the third of our Hot Nugs Conversations - a collaboration between LoCo Think Tank, Matador Mexican Grill, Old Town Spice Shop, and The LoCo Experience Podcast.   Please visit triciaforfoco.com to learn more about her platform, and make sure to vote by or before November 4, 2025! The LoCo Experience Podcast is sponsored by:  P...

Adam Eggleston is a candidate for Fort Collins Mayor, and joined me for the second of our Hot Nugs Conversations - a collaboration between LoCo Think Tank, Matador Mexican Grill, Old Town Spice Shop, and The LoCo Experience Podcast.   Please visit www.adamegglestonformayor.com to learn more about his platform, and make sure to vote by or before November 4, 2025! The LoCo Experience Podcast is spon...

Paul Michaelson left an early stage financial planning career track soon after graduating from CSU to launch a 2-location Taco Del Mar franchise in Fort Collins, in partnership with his brother-in-law.  When the franchisor proved to be more of a hindrance than a help, they split off to become Matador Mexican Grill off Harmony and Timberline, and Toro - a quick-serve restaurant in Campus West, reli...

Shirley Peel is a candidate for Fort Collins Mayor, and joined me for the first of our Hot Nugs Conversations - a collaboration between LoCo Think Tank, Matador Mexican Grill, Old Town Spice Shop, and The LoCo Experience Podcast.   Please visit https://shirleyforfoco.com/ to learn more about her platform, and make sure to vote by or before November 4, 2025! The LoCo Experience Podcast is sponsored...

In this episode of The Loco Experience podcast, I reconnected with Clint Jasperson, the Founder of Purpose Driven Wealth with Thrivent Financial.  Clint was my guest on Episode 67 of The LoCo Experience - way back in June of 2022 - and it was great to have him back in the studio!  When I left the financial planning industry back in 2017, it was Clint and his team to whom I trusted my small book of...

Kyle Speller has been the voice of the Denver Nuggets, Team Chaplain, and Community Ambassador for over 2 decades.  He’s the Founder of KSG Voice, a Middle School Counsellor and Athletic Director at Global Village Academy in Aurora, also an Associate Pastor, Husband, Father, Grandfather, and Servant of Christ.   We met up only a few hours after the assassination of Charlie Kirk - but he'd bee...

I met Roxy Tines-Brewton back in 2021, when I emcee’d the “Ordinary Extraordinary Awards” organized by the amazing Ann Baron and her Northern Colorado Community organization for several years, recognizing the behind-the-scenes do-ers that make Northern Colorado such a special place.  At the time, Roxy was less than a year into her journey with Safe Families for Children, NoCo Chapter.  Still flyin...

Welcome to another episode of the Loco Experience Podcast. On today's show, I sat down with Jordan Bonifas, founder of Bonifas Coaching.  We kicked things off with some bourbon tasting, comparing Fort Collins’ own Mobb Mountain Distillers and Kentucky’s Basil Hayden, before diving into Jordan's journey.  (PS - Mobb Mountain is the clear choice - tastier and better price) - unpaid endorse...

In this episode, I welcomed Brad Cooper, the CEO of Catalyst Coaching 360.  His was my favorite talk from the Founded in FoCo event last spring, and I was more than pleased to bring his extensive knowledge to share with our listeners!  Brad is a PhD in Performance Psychology and also the host of the Coaching Lab podcast.  We discussed his journey into health and wellness, and how he rediscovered h...

In this episode of The Loco Experience podcast, I had a far-ranging conversation with Jesse Jorgensen, a Partner in Foresight Financial Group.  We discussed his early career and evolution, including his path to partnership at Foresight and the evolution of their firm to provide comprehensive financial planning services - including wealth management, tax planning, and estate planning.  Jesse shares...

In this episode of The LoCo Experience podcast, I sat down with Reed Miller, the owner of Northern Colorado Insurance Agency (NCIA) and a LoCo Think Tank member!  Reed shared insights on the changing landscape of insurance, detailing how NCIA serves multiple areas for health insurance, including employee benefits, Medicare, and individual plans. We also delved into the various options for group pl...

I had an enlightening conversation with Brian and Mary McKnight, the driving forces behind Turf Tamers Landscaping in Fort Collins. Brian shared how he acquired Turf Tamers, initially a tiny business, and grew it from the ground up starting with a few clients in 2001.  Brian shared his background, and the drama in moving from “trendy” California to “cowtown” Fort Collins in high school - but how h...

In this episode, I was joined by Moses Horner, the Founder and Owner of Horner Painting, as he celebrates their 25 years in business!  Horner Painting is a market leader in both new construction and residential repaints, and Moses is also my landlord and a longtime LoCo Facilitator for a Builders chapter.   We talked about Moses' special sauce in founding and growing the business, which for M...

In this episode of The LoCo Experience podcast, I sat down with Bob Hewson, the CEO and co-founder of Colorado Youth Outdoors,which will celebrate its 25th year in 2026! We started by inquiring the why around the organization’s focus on building relationships through traditional outdoor activities like fishing, archery, and trapshooting. We talked about the importance of intentional one-on-one tim...

In this episode of the LoCo Experience Podcast, I spoke with Julian Faure, the Founder and Owner of Momentum Counseling and Consulting. Julien is a member of Loco Think Tank's Next Level III chapter and has grown his company significantly, from a start-up solo practice in 2021 to over 100 employees in 13 offices in a few short years.  One of the topics we discussed was the challenge of consta...

In this episode of the Loco Experience podcast, I sat down with Mark Rushing and Kathy Rushing to discuss their entrepreneurial adventures and 45-year marriage.  Mark is the Owner of Portable Restroom Solutions, while Kathy is the Founder of Loadstar Relationship Coaching.  They share their journey from their college days at Texas A&M, and into their early entrepreneurial ventures - which included...

In this episode of the Loco Experience Podcast, I sat down with Chris Elder, Patrick Elder, and Austin Dodder, respectively the CEO, President, and COO - and Partners in Elder Construction, Inc.  We start by delving into their roles at Elder Construction, along with their roots in Northern Colorado - and previous to that, Colorado Springs.  Friends since birth and 1st grade, respectively, we explo...

In this episode of the Loco Experience, I welcomed Travis Luther - sociologist, researcher, writer, speaker, entrepreneur, and Founder of Time to Live LLC. Travis shares his journey from a tumultuous childhood with young parents to pursuit of a music career and eventually finding his stride as an entrepreneur. He recounts his entrepreneurial ventures, including starting a successful valet advertis...

In this episode of The LoCo Experience Podcast, I sat down with Dwight Sailer, the owner of HighCraft Builders based in Fort Collins, Colorado.  We discussed Dwight's background and the early days of his business, including his journey from apprentice craftsman in Monterey Bay to a fresh start in Colorado and how he started HighCraft with his longtime business partner Bryan Soth.  Dwight shar...

In this episode of the Loco Experience Podcast, I sit down with Joe and Melissa Basta, co-founders of Tellus, an outdoor apparel brand (and social enterprise) based in Fort Collins. They share their founding story, focusing on their commitment to sustainability using recycled or organic materials and donating 100% of their net profits to environmental initiatives. Melissa explains her role in over...

In this episode of the Loco Experience Podcast, I welcomed Murph McIver into the Studio.  Murph is the Founder and Software Architect at Xeo Software, and moved his family from Honolulu to Fort Collins in 2021.  We discuss what brought them here, the unique attributes of Fort Collins, and the vibrant business culture. Murph shared insights into his company's founding story and mission to help...

In this episode of the Local Experience Podcast, I sat down with Sjeanne Cawdry, the Director and Founder of The Center of Liberation. Sean shares her diverse background, from being born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa, to moving to Fort Collins, Colorado. Her journey includes a rich history in corporate investment banking in innovative roles, along with personal experiences that led her...

In this episode of the LoCo Experience, I welcomed accomplished author, speaker, and teacher Gregg Vanourek into the studio.  We discuss his recent book 'Triple Crown Leadership,' which he co-wrote with his father. The book uses the metaphor of the Triple Crown in horse racing to describe the triple crown of leadership: excellence, ethics, and endurance.  We discussed the extensive resea...

In this episode of the LoCo Experience Podcast, I hosted Constantin Gurdgiev, Ph. D. and Associate Professor of Finance at the Monfort College of Business. Constantin outlines his work in the fields of economics, geopolitics, and finance, sharing insights from his research on geopolitical risks, tariff impacts, and financial market volatility. He also discusses his teaching and research positions...

In today’s episode of The LoCo Experience, I was joined by Teres Lambert and David Haase - fellow members of the Breakfast Rotary Club in Fort Collins - which meets every Thursday morning at 7 am at Ginger & Baker!  They were here in part to talk about a pair of significant Rotary events upcoming this spring and summer - the Field of Honor  - May 23 - 26 - spearheaded by Teres, and talk with David...