Big Orange Business

Where is Knoxville headed? From rapid growth and affordable housing to public safety, entrepreneurship, and the city's long-term vision, Knoxville is evolving in exciting ways. But what does that mean for the people who already live here and those considering making East Tennessee home? In this episode of the Big Orange Business Podcast, Haley Jones sits down with Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon f...

Is BMI really the best way to measure your health? In this episode of the Big Orange Business Podcast, Haley Jones sits down with Scott and Michelle Williams of Totality Living Well to explore some of the biggest misconceptions about health, fitness, nutrition, and longevity. Together, they discuss why BMI doesn't tell the whole story, the truth about building healthy habits, why consistency matte...

When most people think about roller derby, they picture fast skates, hard hits, and fierce competition. What they may not realize is that for many participants, roller derby becomes something much bigger: a source of friendship, confidence, belonging, and community. In this episode of the Big Orange Business Podcast, Haley Jones sits down with members of Hard Knox Roller Derby to explore the surpr...

Most homeowners have heard terms like "30-year roof," "lifetime shingles," and "roof warranties," but what do those labels actually mean? In this episode of the Big Orange Business Podcast, Haley Jones sits down with Ben and Kerry from Roof Guys of East Tennessee to discuss one of the biggest misconceptions homeowners have about their roofs. They break down how long roofs really last, why roof war...

What happens when a third-generation Italian can't find an authentic Italian market in East Tennessee? She builds one. In this episode of the Big Orange Business Podcast, Haley Jones sits down with Kim Fontinell, founder and chef of The Italian Apron Marketplace in Maryville, Tennessee, to discuss family recipes, handmade pasta, entrepreneurship, farmers markets, catering, and creating a true Ital...

Most Knoxville locals don't even know this exists. For more than 46 years, Knoxville has had a rugby club with its own field, tournaments, youth programs, and a passionate community of players. In this episode, Haley sits down with Knoxville Rugby Club President Tau to uncover one of the most surprising communities hiding in East Tennessee. From rugby culture and sportsmanship to youth programs, l...

Knoxville is growing fast—but can the city’s roads, parking, housing, and public transportation keep up? In this episode of Big Orange Business, Haley sits down with Dustin Durham, Chair of the Knoxville Transportation Authority, for an important conversation about the future of Knoxville. They discuss: • Why traffic in Knoxville feels worse than ever  • The real cost of car dependency  • Public t...

Memorial Day means something different to those who served. In this episode of Big Orange Business, Haley sits down with Jerry Brice of Chow Hall in Knoxville, Tennessee for a heartfelt conversation about military life, sacrifice, family, perspective, and what veterans carry long after they come home. Jerry shares stories from his time serving in the Navy, lessons learned from seeing the world, re...

What happens when two people with zero woodworking experience decide to bet on themselves in Knoxville? In this episode of Big Orange Business, Haley sits down with the founders of Saw and Dust Woodworking to hear how a single YouTube tutorial, a Facebook Marketplace listing, and a willingness to start before they felt “ready” turned into one of East Tennessee’s most unique custom furniture busine...

You would NEVER expect this at a Knoxville cookie shop… 😳 Then one of the owners looked at Haley Jones and said: “I’m working on some kidneys right now.” In this episode of the Big Orange Business Podcast, Haley visits Whimsy Cookie Company—one of Knoxville’s most creative and fast-growing small businesses—offering a behind-the-scenes look at the kind of local businesses that make people fall in...

In this episode of the Big Orange Business Podcast, Haley Jones sits down with the team behind Knoxville Pipes and Drums—a group that most people in East Tennessee have heard… but few actually know the story behind. What started with just a few people learning bagpipes around a kitchen table in 1992 has grown into a 50+ member organization representing Knoxville across the region—and now, on a glo...

In this episode of the Big Orange Business Podcast, Haley Jones sits down with Chicago Mike, owner of Chicago Hot Dog and Sausage Company in Knoxville, Tennessee. What starts as a conversation about hot dogs quickly turns into a deeper look at food culture, relocation, and what makes different cities unique. From why ketchup is off-limits on a true Chicago dog to how authentic ingredients are sour...

When people think about Knoxville, this is NOT what they expect. In this episode, Haley Jones sits down with the owner of one of the most unique experiences in Knoxville—a place built around connection, creativity, and doing something completely different. This isn’t just a business. It’s a destination. From building something that didn’t exist, to creating a space designed to slow people down and...

Can you really get fresh seafood in a place like Knoxville, Tennessee? In this episode of the Big Orange Business Podcast, Haley Jones sits down with Lucia Deen from The Shrimp Dock to break down how seafood actually makes its way to East Tennessee — and why it’s not as simple (or as cheap) as most people think. They cover: • how fresh seafood gets to Knoxville • why quality seafood costs more • t...

Most homeowners are making the same landscaping mistake—and it’s one of the biggest reasons their yard never looks the way they want it to. In this episode of the Big Orange Business Podcast, Haley Jones sits down with Jose from JJP Landscaping, a Knoxville-based landscaping company, to talk through what actually goes wrong in most yards—and how to fix it. From poor soil prep and grading issues to...

What kind of business shouldn’t work… but somehow thrives? In this episode, we sit down with the owner of one of Knoxville’s most unique local businesses—a cat café that has built a loyal following, created a strong sense of community, and helped facilitate over 1,000 cat adoptions. We talk about: • How the idea started (and why it almost didn’t make sense) • What makes Knoxville such a powerful p...

Buying land sounds simple… until you actually try to do it. In this episode, Haley Jones sits down with Adam Jackson of Covey Construction Group (CCG) to break down what it really takes to turn raw land into something you can build on in East Tennessee. From steep terrain and drainage issues to driveway planning, utilities, and unexpected costs, this conversation covers the realities most buyers d...

Knoxville locals have probably driven past The Ivey House in Seymour, but most people don’t know the story behind it. In this episode of the Big Orange Business Podcast, Haley Jones sits down with Colleen Brackins to talk about how a historic East Tennessee home became one of the most unique wedding and event venues in the Knoxville area. From restoring the property to hosting weddings, events, an...

Every March, downtown Knoxville, Tennessee turns green for one of the city’s most beloved traditions: the Knoxville St. Patrick’s Day Parade . But what most people don’t see is everything that happens behind the scenes to make the parade possible. In this episode of the Big Orange Business Podcast , Haley Jones sits down live at Clancy's Tavern with the organizers behind Knoxville’s St. Patrick’s...

Downtown Knoxville hasn’t always looked the way it does today. In this episode of the Big Orange Business Podcast, Haley Jones sits down with Natalea Cummings of Mast General Store in downtown Knoxville to talk about how the store helped shape Gay Street’s growth, why Knoxville has changed so dramatically over the past 10–20 years, and what it really takes to run a retail business that serves ever...

Moonshine Mountain Cookies has become one of Knoxville’s favorite sweet spots — but the story behind it is just as good as the cookies. In this episode of Big Orange Business Podcast, we sit down with Mike Maddox, co-founder of Moonshine Mountain Cookies, to talk about how the business started, where the name came from, what makes their brand stand out, and the flavors customers keep coming back f...

Knoxville is thriving — and that story keeps showing up in recent conversations with local business owners and community leaders. In this special compilation episode of the Big Orange Business Podcast, we share standout moments from recent interviews across healthcare, hospitality, retail, nonprofits, and service-based businesses. These conversations offer a snapshot of what’s working, what’s chan...

What do you do when your first attempt at cooking turns into a total disaster? In this episode of the Big Orange Business Podcast , host Haley Jones sits down with Heidi Davidson, founder of Heidi’s Bakery & Home Cooking, to talk about how a failed home-cooked meal as a newlywed eventually led to building a thriving bakery business in Knoxville. Heidi shares her journey from taking her first c...

What happens when parents realize there’s nowhere to go where their kids can play safely and they can actually relax? In this episode of the Big Orange Business Podcast , Haley Jones sits down with Hannah and Cody, the founders of Wild Child Cafe in Knoxville, Tennessee. They share how a simple parenting frustration turned into a thriving, family-focused business built around community, screen-fre...

What does it take to buy a local institution — and bring it back without losing what made people love it? On this episode of Big Orange Business , we sit down with Jake Lrander, the owner of Pete's Restaurant and Coffee Shop , a longtime Knoxville diner with deep roots in the community. Jake purchased Pete’s from the original owner in 2024 and took on a challenge many entrepreneurs face: how do yo...