Crank & Boom Podcast with Toa Green

Every person has a compelling story that reminds them of their mission or purpose. In business, your story can be the powerful driving force behind your brand and the connection you have with your audience. It's not just a chronological series of events but rather a curated narrative that highlights your journey, your struggles, your victories, and what makes you unique. Your story can make you mo...

You've done all the research and preliminary work for opening a brick & mortar; you've even partnered with a commercial real estate agent to snag the space. Now what? There are crucial next steps you can take to set your business up for success like; assessing your customers' "story" and how your business fits into it, how to handle the build out of your new location, how to analyze a location's p...

As an entrepreneur, perhaps you've been managing your business from your home, on the web, or via mobile means–but you may find yourself starting to outgrow these platforms. If so, maybe it's time to find a location to call home for your business! The process of finding and opening a brick and mortar location can be intimidating, but we're here for you!  There are a lot of factors to consider (inc...

As you begin to build a team for your growing business, it's important to think about creating the kind of place where people really enjoy where they work. But bringing on a team also brings new challenges–including putting on your HR hat and thinking through how your team culture looks and how to effectively (and professionally) handle conflicts in the workplace. Maintaining a productive and harm...

Achieving work/life balance can feel like attaining a mythical level of success as an entrepreneur.  Navigating all the "shoulds" and "have tos" can be overwhelming but the reality is that everyone's needs and lives are incredibly different, so you have to just find what works for you. Even if you feel like you are starting to find harmony, distinct seasons in your life will call for new sets of b...

When you're starting a new business, there are a lot of great resources out there that can help you as you take the journey, but nothing is better than having someone you can call on to ask about the realities of launching and running a business–someone who's been where you are and survived!  There's no shame in asking questions–starting a new thing is bound to lead you into areas you've never bee...

Welcome to Part Two of our Food Truck/Mobile Vendor business series! Last episode we went deep into the logistics of what it takes to launch a food truck or mobile business, and the rationale for taking that step. In this episode, Toa Green establishes what it takes to achieve success with your new food truck/mobile vendor venture! Through hot summer days, rainy days, or even days without customer...

More entrepreneurs are exploring the advantages of mobile businesses — looking at the opportunities to interact with the local community, explore new markets, and test new ideas.  With food trucks accounting for more than $1.5 billion in revenue in 2022 alone, going mobile can be an incredible way to expand your business.   For this two part series, Toa hits the highlights on how she took her ice...

Every business can benefit from consistency, but growth and continued viability happens with changing and learning. Keeping your customers interested by introducing new products, concepts, innovations, and branding are keys to keeping your business healthy and growing.   Toa brings on Crank & Boom's production and fulfillment director (and creator of amazing pastries) Michelle Kovach to talk about...

Knowing how to launch and scale a product is one of the fundamentals to building out your business. It's daunting but also extremely rewarding to see your idea grow and find its place in the world.  Toa explores key elements in launching a product and shares the journey of bringing her ice cream product from the back of her restaurant kitchen to the forefront of festival events.   In this episode,...

The entrepreneurial journey is rife with immense highs and lows. Some of your best breakthroughs come after major failures. But sometimes you just need to laugh about the absurdity that can happen while working to build your dreams. You can't plan for everything and having mentors and a supportive community around you can help with that perspective.   In this episode, Toa and her mentor, Chef Ouit...

Celebrating milestones and successes are powerful tools for sustained motivation. In this episode, Toa will show you how to tap into this power and create real momentum for exponential growth. Listen in as Toa shares the essential ingredients of a fulfilling entrepreneurial journey - from positivity and laughter to setting achievable goals and building momentum. Celebrating the 10th birthday of Cr...

What do you do when you're about to embark on a side hustle or a new creative project and you are considering working with friends or family members? Though some might consider it risky to mix friends/family and business, there are simple guidelines that can help you establish boundaries and set expectations before you take the plunge. Knowing what the pitfalls may be ahead of time will be key in...

Do you have a limited marketing budget for your business or are running out of ideas on how to get the word out about your products? Community Marketing is a powerful way to generate brand awareness and word of mouth referrals. When you authentically use your platform to engage your community and help others, the ripple effects can grow bigger that you ever thought possible. In this episode, Toa G...

One of the biggest moments in your business is when you've worked so hard to grow, and now you've reached that inevitable point: you need more help. Hiring your first employee—or any employee—can feel daunting, even for a seasoned entrepreneur. You have to navigate all sorts of new challenges, from training to communication to legal compliance to the big T word: trust. But hiring the right team me...

A strong brand is so important to any business. It's how we connect with our customers to allow them to emotionally experience our products before they actually try them. Building a strong brand is essential for any business in today's very crowded marketplace. Your brand is much more than just a logo or a name or your colors. It's a way that people perceive your business and the values that it re...

As entrepreneurs, it's easy to get lost in daily tasks and lose sight of the bigger picture. Knowing your "why" — or your purpose — for starting your business can keep you focused and motivated, especially during the challenging times. Toa shares her own mission statement for Crank & Boom, and why knowing the "why" behind the creation of your product or service can help you make better decisions f...

In this episode, Toa Green zeroes in on when and how to start a business - specifically, how to determine if your idea is a good one and how to take the first steps towards making it a reality. As a seasoned entrepreneur, she shares her personal process for evaluating ideas and provides practical advice for pushing through the inevitable challenges that come with starting a new venture.  Toa's hig...

Welcome to our first episode of the Crank & Boom Podcast ! In this episode our host, Toa Green, shares the very beginnings of her entrepreneurship story and of what would become a very successful business and important pillar in her community.   The origin story of any successful business usually has pivot moments, unexpected obstacles, and huge amounts of sacrifice. Not feeling alone is crucial w...

Last episode, Toa shared the very beginnings of her entrepreneurship journey and how she built Crank & Boom from square one. In this episode Toa shares her pivot point and all the sacrifice it took in the beginning to build her dream ice cream business.     Toa's highlights from the episode: Selling ice cream at farmer's markets and saying 'yes' to every event possible Investing in an expensive co...

In this episode, Toa recounts her dad's surprising medical diagnosis and how it led to a complete upheaval of her family's life and her small business. Hearing about how Toa dug in deep to put her family first, and learned how to also ask for help, we learn firsthand some of the ways a small business owner can face those unexpected crises.    Toa's highlights from the episode: The reality of tryin...

A True Life Primer for Running Your Own Business Toa Green grew her ice cream business from the back kitchen of her family's Thai restaurant into a nationally beloved brand. On  The Crank & Boom Podcast , she shares stories, successes, unexpected detours and practical steps toward building a career—and community—you'll love. The official launch of  The Crank & Boom Podcast  is just a few weeks awa...