Freed Stories

Episode 45: In this episode of Freed Stories, we connect with Lauren Dalrymple and Kate Keyser, November 2024 Freed Fellows and co-founders of Ivy Lane Home Staging. Operating along Colorado's Front Range, they combine Lauren's psychology background with Kate's marketing expertise to create emotionally resonant staged spaces that drive sales. Their unique approach moves beyond traditional staging...

Episode 44: In this episode of Freed Stories, we connect with Marissa Romero, our October 2024 Freed Fellow and founder of Subscribers to Sales. As a former civil engineer turned digital entrepreneur, Marissa shares her journey from creating daily YouTube content in Thailand to building a successful agency that helps coaches and experts maximize their YouTube presence. Her unique approach combines...

Episode 43: In this episode of Freed Stories, we reconnect with January 2021 Freed Fellow Elif Ekin, founder of Kahve Cafe and Bohemian Baklava. From surviving the pandemic to overcoming significant business challenges, Elif shares how she transformed a Victorian house in Salt Lake City into a thriving coffee destination that's earned recognition as Best Coffee in SLC 2024 and Best Turkish Coffee...

Episode 42: In this episode of Freed Stories, we sit down with Sheena Marshall, our September 2024 Freed Fellow and founder of Sheena Marshall Jewelry. From her early career in NYC advertising to teaching special education, Sheena found her true calling in metalsmithing. What started as a creative outlet during her postpartum years has evolved into a thriving jewelry business that combines luxury...

Episode 41: In this episode of Freed Stories, we connect with LaToya Russell, founder of The OBM Office and a July 2024 Freed Fellowship Finalist. As the creator of the Quitting Corporate Training School and an automation expert, LaToya shares her journey from corporate frustration to building a successful business empowering women, particularly mothers and underrepresented minorities, through tec...

Episode 40: In this episode of Freed Stories, host Nathan Rodgers connects with Daniel Silverstein, the creative force behind Zero Waste Daniel and our August 2024 Freed Fellow. Based in New York City, Daniel is revolutionizing the fashion industry with his genderless clothing line that creatively utilizes pre-consumer waste from the NYC garment industry. Join us as Daniel shares his journey of in...

Episode 39: In this episode of Freed Stories, we sit down with Maggie Partin, founder of Maggie Ave and a member of the Freed team. Maggie shares her journey from event planning to entrepreneurship, revealing the challenges she's faced and the breakthroughs that have shaped her professional path. Discover how Maggie balances her roles and the strategic mindset she employs to grow Maggie Ave while...

Episode 38: Join us on Freed Stories as we sit down with Adriana Viana, the July 2024 Freed Fellow and founder of Alivio Wellness, a holistic wellness center with locations in Hoboken and New York City. Adriana's mission is to provide accessible, high-quality care that empowers clients on their detox journeys, encouraging self-care and well-being through services like colon hydrotherapy, lymphatic...

Episode 37: Join us in this episode of Freed Stories as host Nathan Rogers chats with Shahira Marei, our April 2024 Freed Fellow and founder of Dirty Cookie. Shahira shares her remarkable journey from an aerospace project manager to creating innovative and indulgent cookie shots that gained fame on Shark Tank. Discover how Shahira's engineering mindset and passion for entrepreneurship led to the b...

Episode 36: In this episode of Freed Stories, we sit down with Jennifer Peters, founder of Just Be Kitchen, Colorado’s largest gluten-free restaurant group. Jennifer, who was selected as a May 2024 Freed Fellow, shares her journey from corporate marketing roles at companies like Xerox and KPMG to revolutionizing the restaurant industry with a fast-casual, anti-inflammatory approach to food. Jennif...

Episode 35: In this episode of Freed Stories, we connect with Daniella Cornue, the March 2024 Freed Fellow and founder of Le Village Cowork. Daniella’s innovative coworking space uniquely combines full-time onsite childcare with a vibrant professional community designed specifically for parents. With a background in marketing and communications, Daniella's entrepreneurial journey began out of pers...

Episode 34: In this episode of Freed Stories, we sit down with Danielle Letayf, the founder of Badassery and the February 2024 Freed Fellow. Badassery is a dynamic private community focused on empowering diverse professionals by amplifying their voices and impact. Danielle shares her journey from the tech and media world to creating a platform that curates connections and opportunities for underre...

Episode 33: In this episode of Freed Stories, we sit down with Latasha Brooks, also known as "Coach Brooks," our June 2023 Freed Fellow. As a serial entrepreneur, business consultant, and expert in government contracting, Latasha shares her journey from the corporate world to becoming a full-time entrepreneur. Her story is a testament to the importance of focus, resilience, and self-care in the pa...

Episode 31: In this episode of Freed Stories, we connect with Monica Virga Alborno, our January 2024 Freed Fellow and founder of Wanderwild Family Retreats. Monica has turned personal challenges into a mission, creating retreats for mothers and children that focus on holistic wellness and connection. Wanderwild Family Retreats is a U.S.-based multi-day retreat that not only welcomes children but i...

Episode 31: In this episode of Freed Stories, we connect with Brittany Hizer and Addie Gundry, the co-founders of Pluie and the July 2023 Freed Fellowship grant fellows. Brittany and Addie are the visionary creators behind the world's first self-sanitizing diaper changing table, an innovation that has transformed public restrooms across the country. Join us as we dive into their entrepreneurial jo...

Episode 30: In this episode of Freed Stories, we connect with Lauren Gall, co-founder of VaVa Virtual Assistants, our December 2023 Freed Fellow, and a true visionary in the world of virtual assistance. Lauren shares her journey from "accidental entrepreneur" to leading a service that helps small business owners elevate their operations by mastering the art of delegation. Discover how VaVa Virtual...

Episode 29: In this inspiring episode of Freed Stories, we meet Crystal Nelson, founder of Save the Milk and August 2023 Freed Fellow. Crystal shares her journey from teen mom to successful entrepreneur, detailing how her experience as a surrogate mother led her to create innovative breast pumping products and affordable breast milk shipping kits.   3 Key Takeaways: Personal Experiences Drive Inno...

Join us as we introduce the relaunch of Freed Stories, the podcast dedicated to exploring the transformative journeys of everyday entrepreneurs and small business owners. After a hiatus, we’re back with fresh, inspiring episodes that delve into the lives of everyday business owners turning challenges into legacies. Subscribe to uncover actionable insights and stories of resilience that could redef...

Ola Swarn, founder and owner of J'adore le Décor , joins us today to share her Freed story! Having gotten started by opening a business in 2016, Ola is an interior stylist who specializes in transforming spaces of 1,000 square feet or less, a specialty that she describes as her passion. Ola shares how she got into interior design and how she started her business, and she reflects on some of the le...

We welcome Freed fellow Antonia Royal-Whitmore to the podcast in this episode so that she can share her Freed Story! Antonia is the founder of Mind of Gold, a publishing company whose main mission is to educate, empower, and entertain via media and literature. Antonia has loved to write since she was very young, having realized just how much she truly loved to write after having done it for a litt...

We hope that you will join us in this episode of Freed Stories as Chantel Estrada of Designs By Moneè shares her Freed story with us! Designs By Moneè has been in business for six years now and makes shirts, birthday outfits, shoes, candles (which is her favorite product that she offers), and so much more! Chantel shares some of her past with us, such as how she liked making things even from a you...

Join us as we welcome Sheri Munsell of Legit Work from Home to this episode of the podcast! Sheri is the C.E.O. of the company which helps people who don't wish to work traditional brick and mortar jobs find work-from-home jobs that they can do from the comfort of their own living spaces! Sheri shares so much with us during this discussion, reflecting on her childhood and upbringing and how that l...

Founder and owner of Equipped to Impact Solutions , Alexis Jefferson-Huff joins us today to share her unique Freed story! She goes into detail about Equipped to Impact Solutions and where her love for etiquette comes from. She always loved to serve others, and she discusses the gap that she noticed between different generations when it comes to manners and social etiquette and how bridging that ga...

Co-founder and owner of Skate Bud Zach Moldof joins us in this episode of the podcast to share his Freed story! Skate Bud is a marketplace and community for skateboarders that was born about four years ago but came to be what it is today about a year ago. Skate Bud even has a book and a free video game ! Zach shares with us how he grew up with skateboard culture and what that meant to him as an ad...

We are joined today by Lauren Fleming, founder of The Factor Formula , a skin care company that caters to all types of skin. The company has grown from a multivitamin to a skin cleanser to a skin toner and, most recently, a moisturizer, so Lauren has been growing the company a little bit at a time since its inception two years ago in 2019! Lauren joins us today to discuss how The Factor Formula ca...