Coffee & Grit

Featuring Steve Livingway, Director at Reaching Higher for Youth What if we stopped trying to fix kids and started helping them return to who they were before fear took over? In this powerful episode, Steve Livingway joins Jason Tracey to share the mission behind Reaching Higher.  A leadership program that doesn’t hand out answers, but helps students rediscover the truth they were born with: that...

Featuring Michelle Allen, Community Outreach Manager & Cannabis Consultant at Planted Provisioning After surviving a traumatic car accident the day before her wedding, Michelle Allen learned firsthand how pain can either destroy or transform us. Her journey from hospital patient to healing advocate is nothing short of miraculous, and her story is reshaping how we view cannabis, community impac...

Featuring Andrew Black, Visionary Founder of Inside Out Concierge Services What do you get when you blend relentless vision, deep emotional intelligence, and a commitment to doing things differently? You get Andrew Black. In this episode, I finally sit down with the man who’s been a silent force behind so many amazing Coffee & Grit guests.  A connector, a truth-teller, a seed-planter, and a Di...

As Difference Makers, we all hit that wall. That moment when the system we’ve been living in no longer makes sense, and no one around us is saying it out loud. Melissa Merem hit that wall. And instead of turning back, she started building something different. In this episode, Melissa shares what it looks like to deconstruct the lies, tune into your calling, and walk forward in obedience — even whe...

Nine years ago, Jennifer walked away from everything — two kids in tow, no job, no insurance, and nothing but two garbage bags. She wasn’t supposed to make it. But not only did she survive, she’s now leading the charge to make sure others don’t have to walk that same road. As Development Manager for Livingston County Habitat for Humanity, Jennifer doesn’t just raise money. She builds stories. She...

Robert Pierce doesn’t just clean houses. He cleans hearts, lights up rooms, and sets fires in the souls of the people around him. In this powerful return to Coffee & Grit, Robert joins me years after our first conversation back when I was rocking a single mic and a GoPro at Grit and Lavender. Back then, he was just launching his cleaning business. Now? He’s letting his life be the sermon. Ever...

Stop Settling for “Fine.” Because You Deserve to Feel Amazing... Meet Beth Smith – Designer, Disruptor, and Founder of Beth Smith Couture Back in January I walked into Single Barrel Social for a Howell Chamber Happy Hour and that is when spotted Beth Smith across the room.  I didn’t know who she was.  I didn’t know what she did. But I knew she was a Difference Maker. Nine months later, we finally...

Being a engineer Glenn Nixon never imagined a career in sales. He walked into a room full of closers fresh out of training, scared out of his mind, with no real plan and zero belief in his abilities. But he had something most people miss the drive to figure it out, the humility to keep learning, and the heart to actually care about people.  That was 23 years ago. Now he is the guy business owners...

Some people survive. Some people shine. And some people walk through the fire and become the damn fire.  That describes Sparkle Lindsay perfectly!  Because this is not just another episode. It is a reunion, a revelation, and a reminder of what happens when you stop waiting and start walking toward your calling. Sparkle returns to Coffee & Grit five years after we first connected on LinkedIn. B...

Let’s get one thing straight this isn’t just another story about surviving. This is a story about choosing to rise differently with love, with grace, and with fire. Joni Woods came back into the studio just weeks before her book Burned, Blocked & Better Than Ever drops. But this conversation? It went way beyond a book launch. Joni doesn’t just talk about resilience. She lives it. From sleeping...

Let’s talk real... If you’ve ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, inconsistent with your content, or questioning whether your marketing efforts are even working… this one’s for you. Because I’ve been there too! In this solo episode of Coffee & Grit, I step back into the studio—Loudmouth Studio—to catch you up on the wild journey of building something from scratch while still trying to coach, create,...

Ever feel like you were lazy, unmotivated, or just... broken—because the traditional path never lit you up? You sat in the back of the classroom, zoned out in office meetings, watching your peers climb ladders you didn’t even want to lean against...You weren’t the problem!  You were a visionary stuck in a system that couldn’t hold you. That is exactly what fueled this impromptu recording of Coffee...

What’s up, everybody?! Welcome back to another episode of Coffee & Grit — and you already know I’m fired up for this one! It’s not every day I get to jam in the new studio with a three-time guest, a true friend, and one of the biggest difference makers I know — the Godfather of Connecting People, Steven Zyskowski, founder of Caerusnet Michigan. Steve’s was back in Michigan last week from sunny...

This episode features a powerhouse Difference Maker—Rhonda Trask, founder of Hearts CRi Michigan (HCRi)—who’s rewriting the story for foster, adoptive, and kinship families across the state. If you’ve never walked alongside a foster, adoptive, or kinship family—you probably have no idea just how isolating, exhausting, and misunderstood the journey can be. But Rhonda does. And she’s made it her mis...

What happens when you combine Southern grit, global business leadership, a little Café Du Monde, and a whole lot of faith? You get Tom Rivers. In the very first episode recorded in our new content studio (after a few hard lessons and black screens, of course), Tom and I dive into a rich conversation about starting from scratch, chasing vision, and building a life and business with purpose. From hi...

Karyn Kokeny didn’t just pivot careers—she flipped the whole damn script. In this fire-packed conversation, we talk about what it really takes to build a business, develop confidence, and 10X your life from the inside out. From her early days coaching gymnastics to climbing the corporate ladder to aligning with the Grant Cardone team, Karyn’s journey is a full-circle transformation fueled by minds...

What does it take to turn a life-shattering diagnosis into a mission that empowers millions?  In this deeply personal and raw episode, Heather Ruby, founder of With Haven AI, shares how she transformed her husband’s cancer battle into a lifeline for caregivers. Heather takes us on a powerful journey—from the panic of an unexpected diagnosis to the overwhelming weight of being a caregiver, while ru...

Ready to turn relentless curiosity into real-world freedom? In this high-voltage conversation, Jason sits down with Audrey Schultz—“Modern Frontierswoman,” successful blogger, vacation-rental investor, interior-designer-turned-realtor, and self-taught Spanish speaker—just days after they first met in Difference Maker Bootcamp.  Audrey peels back the curtain on her three-year, no-pay grind to monet...

What does it take to build a business that doesn’t just survive, but thrives on trust, integrity, and the power of human connection?   In this weeks episode, Nate Varilone, founder of Varilone Construction, takes us behind the scenes of his journey from laying tile in his first winter to building a thriving construction company known for its tight-knit team, meaningful relationships, and unwaverin...

What if the very thing you’ve been hiding could become your greatest source of power? In this unforgettable episode of Coffee & Grit, Jason sits down with Lindsey Hall—a passionate artist, photographer, entrepreneur, and mental health advocate—whose journey will both break your heart and light your fire. From the early days of shooting portraits with a hand-me-down camera to building not one,...

Ever had that whisper inside telling you there’s more? This solo episode flips the script and takes you deep into The Alchemist—not as a book review, but as a mirror to the entrepreneur’s journey. From dreams that won’t let go, to fears that keep us stuck, to the wild synchronicities that show up once we commit—this is about the power of owning your story, stepping into your Personal Legend, and t...

What if the “boring” routine is the secret to living your wildest dreams? In this powerhouse return to the mic, Mary Vance is back—and she’s more grounded, fiery, and energized than ever. Two years after her Wake the F** Up* episode, we reunite for an unforgettable conversation about what it really means to live the lifestyle, not just preach it. Mary’s not just a coach—she is the billboard for Ma...

What if you never came back home—how different would your community be? In this heart-centered episode of Coffee & Grit, I sit down with Erika McNamara—attorney, entrepreneur, and absolute Difference Maker—to unpack a journey that feels like a real-life version of It’s a Wonderful Life. From international business in China to solo law practice in Brighton, Erika’s story is one of reinvention,...

What happens when you trade in your classroom for the coaching seat — and let your story fuel your impact? In this powerful episode of  Coffee & Grit , I sit down with Julia Keider, a former teacher who turned her passion for people and purpose into a thriving coaching and consulting career. Julia’s journey isn’t just about making a career move — it’s about honoring your life experiences, embr...

What if the problem isn’t  conflict —but the way we define it? In this powerful and eye-opening episode of Coffee & Grit, I sit down with the legendary leader & EOS Implementer Mike Gruley to stir the pot on a topic most people avoid: communication that creates breakthroughs, not breakdowns. We unpack the silent killer of progress— artificial harmony —and explore how most people confuse he...