Chess Not Checkers

In this episode of Chess Not Checkers , Keith Riddle and Jordan Tampien chat with Rob Henry about personal growth, parenting, resilience, and life-changing experiences—including his journey with ayahuasca. Rob shares stories from raising his daughters, facing challenges, and finding clarity through vulnerability. They discuss aligning expectations with reality, giving back, and building resilience...

Originally Released February 11th, 2025 In this episode of Chess Not Checkers, hosts Jordan Tampien and Keith Riddle sit down with Joel Barbour, co-founder of The Great PNW, to discuss his journey from graphic designer to multi-business entrepreneur. Joel shares how his creative passion, strategic thinking, and adaptability helped him build successful ventures across different industries, from bra...

In this episode of Chess Not Checkers , Keith Riddle and Jordan Tampien sit down with Chad “Hooty” Huetter to talk bull riding, craftsmanship, and navigating the housing world. Chad shares stories from the rodeo that taught him grit and resilience, dives into the philosophy behind his woodworking and construction projects, and explores the challenges of homeownership and the housing market. The co...

In this episode of Chess Not Checkers, Keith Riddle and Jordan Tampien sit down with Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown to discuss her journey from rural Illinois to leading the city. They dive into her vision for Spokane, tackling challenges like homelessness, housing, and community safety, while also exploring opportunities for economic growth and cultural development. Mayor Brown shares initiatives like...

In this episode of Chess Not Checkers, Keith Riddle and Jordan Tampien sit down with Spokane native Brandon Michielli to explore his journey through entrepreneurship, business strategy, and scaling a family company. Brandon shares how he navigated challenges with his family’s trucking and landscaping business, Circle M, overcame regulatory hurdles, and implemented the Entrepreneurial Operating Sys...

In this episode of Chess Not Checkers, Keith Riddle and Jordan Tampien dive into the entrepreneurial journey, reflecting on the challenges, setbacks, and lessons that come with building businesses. Jordan shares insights from his new book, Stacking Bricks , detailing how he navigated financial hurdles, scaled ventures, and developed the resilience needed to keep moving forward. Keith and Jordan to...

In this episode of Chess Not Checkers, hosts Keith Riddle and Jordan Tampien sit down with Emilie Cameron, President and CEO of the Downtown Spokane Partnership, to discuss the ongoing efforts to keep Spokane’s downtown vibrant and thriving. Emilie shares how the DSP leverages the Business Improvement District, community engagement, and strategic initiatives to enhance public safety, cleanliness,...

In this episode of Chess Not Checkers, hosts Keith Riddle and Jordan Tampien sit down with Spokane local Sheldon Jackson to discuss the city’s pressing challenges around homelessness and urban development. Sheldon shares his perspective on how Spokane can balance economic growth with social responsibility, including insights into the push for a Treatment First approach to homelessness. They dive i...

In this episode of Chess Not Checkers, hosts Keith Riddle and Jordan Tampien sit down with Chris Batten, a Spokane native and key figure in the city’s downtown revitalization. Chris shares his journey from serving in the Navy to navigating the complexities of urban development, including managing properties, understanding legislation, and tackling the unique challenges of Spokane’s downtown. The c...

In this episode of Chess Not Checkers, hosts Keith Riddle and Jordan Tampien sit down with Rob Brewster, a seasoned developer known for revitalizing historic buildings in Spokane. Rob shares his journey through urban development, discussing the challenges of outdated zoning laws, navigating city approvals, and the balance between economic growth and community needs. The conversation also explores...

In this episode of Chess Not Checkers, hosts Keith Riddle and Jordan Tampien sit down with Spokane City Council Member Michael Cathcart to discuss local governance, development, and community engagement. Michael shares his journey into politics, insights on balancing urban growth with preserving Spokane’s character, and strategies for addressing affordable housing, homelessness, and public safety.

In this episode of Chess Not Checkers, Keith Riddle and Jordan Tampien have a candid conversation about navigating life’s challenges and finding fulfillment. They discuss how adapting to change, embracing setbacks, and redefining success can help both entrepreneurs and everyday people thrive. Through personal stories and reflections, they highlight the importance of perseverance, meaningful relati...

In this episode of Chess Not Checkers , Keith Riddle and Jordan Tampien sit down with Kristen Ward, the creative force behind Spokane’s The Ivory Table Catering. Kristen shares her journey from aspiring musician and singer to running one of the city’s premier catering companies. She talks about how her early experiences in music and travel shaped her creativity, how a move to Spokane led her to di...

On this episode of Chess Not Checkers , Keith Riddle and Jordan Tampien sit down with Blue Stiley, Spokane native, international model, motivational speaker, and black belt in karate, to talk about navigating life’s challenges with confidence, resilience, and perspective. Blue shares how mentorship, self-reflection, and building a “confidence team” have helped him turn rejection and failure into o...

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...