Chess Not Checkers

In this episode of Chess Not Checkers , hosts Keith Riddle and Jordan Tampien sit down with Brynn MacLennan, CEO and co-founder of Slate, to talk about her journey building an electric flosser that makes oral care simple, effective, and dentist-approved. Brynn shares the story of how Slate started, from early ideation in 2019 to launching the product in 2022, and the challenges of scaling a consum...

In this episode of Chess Not Checkers , hosts Keith Riddle and Jordan Tampien sit down with Spokane native and professional boxer Rick Welliver to talk about the power of boxing, community, and giving back. Rick shares his journey from 17 pro fights to opening his own gym, and how he’s using the sport to mentor Spokane’s youth and bring people together. From reviving Spokane’s boxing scene to crea...

In this episode of Chess Not Checkers, Keith and Jordan sit down with Brennon Poynor, owner of Spokast!, to talk all things podcasting. Brennon shares how he started Spokast! during the podcasting boom of COVID, helping people launch their own shows with ease. They dive into the challenges of producing a podcast—from booking guests to managing tech—while keeping the focus on great conversations. B...

In this episode of Chess Not Checkers, Keith Riddle and Jordan Tampien sit down with Luc Jasmin to talk community, policy, and the challenges shaping Spokane today. Luc shares his journey from Boston to becoming a first-generation Haitian American leader in the Pacific Northwest, and how he got into politics through early childhood education advocacy. They dive into the realities of housing, workf...

In this episode of Chess Not Checkers, Keith Riddle and Jordan Tampien chat with Steve Jones, a seasoned real estate pro from Spokane. Steve shares his journey, from his early days in the car business to flipping houses and managing multifamily projects. He talks about the real-world challenges of real estate—unexpected delays, rising costs, and the importance of persistence. Steve also breaks dow...

In this episode of Chess Not Checkers , Keith Riddle and Jordan Tampien share a candid conversation about the real-world challenges every entrepreneur faces. They explore Jordan’s personal journey, from dealing with a ruptured Achilles injury to facing the aftermath of some tough headlines about his business dealings. Through these struggles, their conversation uncovers how resilience and persever...

In this solo episode of Chest Not Checkers, Keith Riddle takes over the mic to talk about the importance of mindset and how it drives success in both life and business. He shares why asking the right questions—like “why” instead of “how”—can make all the difference. Keith dives into how fear can hold us back from taking action and offers three steps to start making positive changes in your life. I...

In this episode of Chess Not Checkers , hosts Keith Riddle and Jordan Tampien chat with Shawn Lloyd , the founder of rConnect , about building real, meaningful connections in business and life. Shawn shares his journey, from growing up in Spokane to creating a platform where people can come together to learn, grow, and support each other. He talks about how his early challenges, including being la...

In this episode of Chess Not Checkers , hosts Keith Riddle and Jordan Tampien chat with Evan Moore , founder of Real Frequency , about how college consulting helps students find the right fit for their higher education journey. Evan shares his personal path to consulting, how his experiences shaped Real Frequency , and why it’s all about matching students with schools that fit them socially, cultu...

In this episode of Chess Not Checkers , hosts Keith Riddle and Jordan Tampien chat with Jim Orcutt , a local real estate pro, about his journey from Spokane to becoming a successful investor and entrepreneur. Jim talks about how his start in construction and finance led him to real estate, and how a mentor in Seattle helped shape his approach to property investing. Jim shares his experience buying...

In this episode of Chess Not Checkers , hosts Keith Riddle and Jordan Tampien sit down with Clarisa Morris , aka “Bicep Babe” , a four-time competitor on American Ninja Warrior . Clarisa shares her unexpected journey into the world of ninja competitions, from growing up as a gymnast to rediscovering her love for fitness after college and motherhood. She opens up about how her first experience on t...

In this episode of Chess Not Checkers , hosts Keith Riddle and Jordan Tampien chat with Bill Kalivas , the man behind Launchpad INW . Bill shares his journey from spotting Spokane’s untapped tech potential to building Launchpad into a key resource for local entrepreneurs. Bill discusses his early days, the co-founding of Launchpad, and how a small event evolved into a thriving community of innovat...

In this episode of Chess Not Checkers , hosts Keith Riddle and Jordan Tampien chat with Juli Norris , a Spokane-based restaurateur, consultant, and chef. Juli shares her journey from growing up on a ranch in North Spokane to becoming a successful entrepreneur in the food industry. Juli’s passion for food was sparked by a trip to Nashville, where she discovered the world of gourmet dining. From the...

In this episode of Chess Not Checkers , hosts Keith Riddle and Jordan Tampien sit down with Bobby Brett, a man whose journey spans the worlds of sports and real estate. Bobby shares his story, from growing up in a sports-driven family to his transition into a real estate mogul and sports team owner in Spokane, Washington. Bobby’s passion for baseball runs deep, and after his playing days ended, he...

In this episode of Chess Not Checkers , hosts Keith Riddle and Jordan Tampien dive into the world of AI and how it’s changing the way we live and work. They talk about balancing the excitement of new technology with the need to stay grounded and human-centered. They touch on the shift in consumer expectations, especially in real estate, and how tools like Fyxer are helping streamline tasks to free...

In this episode of Chess Not Checkers , hosts Keith Riddle and Jordan Tampien sit down with Tom Simpson , a key figure in Spokane’s entrepreneurial community, to discuss his journey and insights into the local startup ecosystem. Tom, a Spokane native, shares his experiences—from his educational path at the University of Washington and Wharton to his return to Spokane in 1995, where he became a dri...

In this episode of Chess Not Checkers , hosts Keith Riddle and Jordan Tampien sit down with entrepreneur Jason Boudreau to discuss his incredible journey from personal hardship to building a successful business empire. Jason shares how he went from struggling on a friend’s couch to running Drive 509 , a trucking school, and developing a software solution that has transformed the CDL (Commercial Dr...

In this episode of Chess Not Checkers , hosts Keith Riddle and Jordan Tampien sit down with Spokane City Council Member Jonathan Bingle to discuss his role in local governance and his vision for the future of Spokane. Jonathan opens up about the challenges and opportunities he faces while working to improve the city, including issues like homelessness, housing, and public safety. Jonathan provides...

In this episode of Chess Not Checkers, hosts Keith Riddle and Jordan Tampien dive into the dual realities of economic uncertainties and personal growth. They explore the complexities of today’s market—discussing tariffs, interest rates, and recession fears—while weaving in life lessons that resonate far beyond financial markets. The conversation delves into the concept of stagflation, a state of h...

In this episode of Chess Not Checkers , hosts Keith Riddle and Jordan Tampien sit down with Reed Moore , a successful entrepreneur and real estate expert. Reed shares his journey from military service to building a thriving real estate empire with RMG Real Estate. He discusses the importance of personal development, resilience, and learning from failure, highlighting how these lessons shaped his e...

In this episode of Chess Not Checkers , hosts Keith Riddle and Jordan Tampien sit down with Mark Lupton, a seasoned financial advisor and entrepreneur from Spokane. Mark shares his journey into financial planning, offering insights into the importance of saving early and regularly. He discusses the power of compound growth, the realities of entrepreneurship, and the importance of mentorship in nav...

In this episode of Chess Not Checkers , hosts Keith Riddle and Jordan Tampien sit down with Bobby Enslow, the founder of Inaba Coffee, to discuss his journey of building a community-driven coffee business in Spokane. Bobby shares how his entrepreneurial path began with a deep commitment to community, not coffee, and how he turned a modest $10,000 investment into a thriving local hub. Despite initi...

In this episode of Chess Not Checkers , hosts Keith Riddle and Jordan Tampien sit down with Anton Stetner, a prominent real estate developer and YouTube personality, to explore the intricacies of real estate and development. Anton shares his journey from real estate to online success, highlighting the importance of consistency and hustle in building a digital presence. The conversation delves into...

In this episode of Chess Not Checkers , hosts Jordan Tampien and Keith Riddle discuss podcasting misconceptions and dive into real estate development. They explore the challenges of renovating historic buildings like the Peyton Building, the future of the real estate market, and how technological advancements, including AI, are shaping the industry. The conversation touches on the broader economic...

In this episode of Chess Not Checkers , hosts Keith Riddle and Jordan Tampien sit down with Jordan Allen, the founder of BuyWander , to discuss his entrepreneurial journey and the creation of his innovative company. BuyWander emerged from a simple realization: countless quality items were being returned to retailers every day, many of which had little to no flaws. Jordan saw an opportunity to brid...