Big Ideas Welcome

What happens when entrepreneurs view self-care and wellness as essential elements of success in business? In this episode Booth Andrews shares why this is such a crucial idea.  As a speaker, coach, lawyer, mom and weight lifting enthusiast Booth works at the intersection of business and well-being and helps those around her to understand the power of self care. Join our host Chris McAdoo and Booth...

As entrepreneurs, we are always searching for ways to take our big ideas to the next level. We explore markets, create innovative products, and build businesses that have impacts on your community. As important as all of this is, we often forget about the value of stepping away from our desks and out into the great outdoors. Whether it be for a hike through the woods, a meeting on a screen porch,...

Host Chris McAdoo is back for an all-new season of Big Ideas Welcome, brought to you by the Knoxville Entrepreneur Center.  Each week, in 15 minutes or less, you're going to be introduced to entrepreneurs, artists, scientists, change makers, and leaders that have a big idea. They're going to talk about what that big idea means to them, about what it takes to put that idea into action, an...

This week we look back at one of our producer's favorite episodes, a conversation between Chris and Samantha Lane.   Samantha is the Creator of Origami Day , a keynote speaker, a time management consultant, and a work-life balance advocate. In this episode, Chris and Samantha   discuss: -July 2, 2014 -what it means to be a workaholic -planning and the power of habits -scale and the understand...

This week we look back at one of our producer's favorite episodes, a solo pod with our host Chris McAdoo. This week on Big Ideas Welcome, Chris talks about scale. As an artist, strategist, Director of Strategy & Engagement for the KEC , and a guy who has 100 ideas a day - Chris is constantly having to think about the next steps and the process to get there. Scale is about taking advantage...

This week we look back at one of our producer's favorite episodes, a conversation between Jalynn Baker and Dr. Angelique Adams. This 100Knoxville episode features a conversation with 100Knoxville mentor Dr. Angelique Adams . Angelique is a coach, author, entrepreneur, and mother whose experiences in her career have led her to help others. Be sure to stay tuned after Jalynn's discussion w...

This week we look back at one of our producer's favorite episodes, a conversation between Chris and Austin Church. Austin is a writer, brand strategist, business coach, and the founder of Freelance Cake. He is full of insight gained through experience and shares that throughout his conversation with Chris! In this episode, Chris and Austin discuss: -gaining humility through experience -the im...

"Sterling (Sterl the Pearl®) Henton became an entrepreneur at the age of 8 when he began to DJ his elementary school parties and local community events in his hometown of Passaic, New Jersey. Sterling is now a driven leader and CEO of Rev It uP, LLC., an entertainment event planning, and marketing company that emphasizes motivational, team building, and good old fashion fun activities."...

Melanie Bell is the owner of Bell Leotards. They aim to "provide gymnasts with fun, comfortable and stylish competition leotards and practice wear."  Mealnie's work has been used by athletes at the Olympics and World Championships. In this episode, Jalynn and Melanie discuss discovering her inner artist as a child, where she finds her inspiration, why she chooses to create leotards,...

Jessica Robinson is the is the founder and designer of luxury handbag brand, Laura Faye, named after her mother and grandmother.  In this episode Jalynn and Jessica discuss Jessica’s journey as a maker and how she made her way into the fashion industry, the give-back initiative that keeps Jessica going, the value of family history and legacy in Jessica’s life, and her future dreams and expansion f...

Nick Sokol is the founder of Algaeo. Their goal is to "enhance the growth, development, and use of algae and algae based products." In this 100Knoxville conversation, our host Jalynn Baker and Nick discuss all things algae! Nick shares how he is spreading the vision for the “algaeverse” through his app, the variety of ways he uses algae in everyday life, the environmental impact that alg...

Host Chris McAdoo and producer Anthony Palmer talk about big wins, unexpected challenges, and lessons learned from nearly 50 "Big Ideas Welcome" conversations. Endless shout-outs and season one highlights as we prepare for an even more creative, more curious season two, kicking off May 16th in a big way! Thanks to all of our guests for indulging an art kid's big questions, and to th...

"To be a CEO, you have to be a great student." Alexis Alsup is the founder of Empowered Dula Services. Their mission is "to substantially reduce the African American Maternal & Infant mortality rates by bringing awareness to our community on alternative care." In this 100Knoxville conversation, our host Jalynn Baker, and Alexis discuss how Alexis’ personal experience motiva...

From helping to launch the Beatles catalog, to launching his own firm, Boldsquare, Dylan Jones has always challenged the status quo. In this episode, Dylan sits down with our host Chris McAdoo to talk about solving the puzzle of business development and making things better. Growing up, Dylan had a natural curiosity for problem-solving. His early career in journalism left him unfulfilled, but he s...

"When you build and cultivate relationships, you'll be surprised. It's way bigger than you. It's all about the team." Jalynn Baker is back for more conversations featuring 100Knoxville participants. Weldon Wright, CEO and founder of X World Marketing joins Jalynn on this episode.  Weldon is a true go-getter and creative entrepreneur with a passion for art and media. His co...

After dancing in front of 108,000 people last year, Michael Galyean became more than an internet sensation - he became a symbol of joy. Michael is a choreographer and dance company advisor for the Boss Dance Company at the University of Tennessee and a lifelong advocate for dance education. Host Chris McAdoo sat down with Michael to find out how he went from a 22-year career in retail to being the...

How can we build a culture of leadership that respects balance and encourages "mission critical" decision-making? Leslie Beale, a brilliant CEO and executive coach for Fortune 100 companies and high-caliber professionals from all over the USA, joins host Chris McAdoo this week on the Big Ideas Welcome podcast.  This episode is all about the big stuff: embracing fear, the art (and science...

Brian Melton is a teacher, father, husband, wood sculptor, and the founder of Rough Cut Craft. In this episode, Brian and Chris talk about the unlikely journey into his craft over the last 3 years and how he balances his life as a teacher and father/husband with being one of the best up-and-coming wood sculptors in the United States. They discuss the power of simple things like telling someone the...

It is curiosity day on Big Ideas Welcome! Jalynn Baker is back for a conversation with Chris where they focus on the growth that comes with curiosity and the power of asking questions.  They discuss the hierarchy that exists within communities, having humility and being able to learn from new voices, what it means to be "in a community", being curious, remaining curious, some of the rece...

 Multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, songwriter, and producer Cruz Contreras joins Chris McAdoo this week on the Big Ideas Welcome podcast.  Cruz is the founder and frontman of The Black Lillies, co-founder of Robinella and the CCstringband, and has collaborated with musicians ranging from John Oates and Jim Lauderdale to Langhorne Slim and The Turnpike Troubadours. His projects have topped both the...

Abhijit Verekar (AV) is the President and CEO of Avèro Advisors and the guest on this week’s episode of Big Ideas Welcome! AV was born in India and moved to the states for grad school. He started Avèro in 2016, by himself but has grown to over 30 employees. Avèro is a company that helps develop technology strategies for local governments with the goal of helping them transition into a modernized s...

“Entrepreneurship, is the unrelenting pursuit of credibility”." Eric Dobson, Managing Partner at Sheltowee Angel Network, joins Chris McAdoo this week on the Big Ideas Welcome podcast. Eric works directly with successful business people and exciting high tech startup companies in order to unite both and create incredible companies that will someday be household names and create wealth.  In th...

This week on Big Ideas Welcome, Chris talks about scale. As an artist, strategist, Director of Strategy & Engagement for the KEC , and a guy who has 100 ideas a day - Chris is constantly having to think about the next steps and the process to get there. Scale is about taking advantage of market conditions - at the right time, with the right people, and most importantly - for the right people....

Bailey Foster is the founder of Real Good Kitchen .  Her goal in creating Real Good Kitchen was to create a facility and a community that would make it possible for more people to share their food stories, that would foster greater equity and opportunity in the local food economy and that would help us all eat well. In this episode, Chris and Bailey discuss: -what created Bailey's desire to s...

“There’s a whole demographic of people who haven’t even been counted into this field who could actually do really great work and provide a great service. That’s what we set out to do.” This week's 100Knoxville episode features a conversation with Nicolsha Scott & C'erise Wright of Scott and Wright Construction.   In this episode, Jalynn , Nicolsha, and C'erise discuss: -the comm...