Business Decoded

Milli Brown, CEO of Brown Books Publishing Group, shares her unconventional journey into the publishing world on the Business Decoded podcast hosted by Ronnie Spellman. Beginning with her family history business, "Personal Profiles," she transitioned into publishing after identifying the unfair practices of traditional publishing contracts. Brown created her publishing company to offer authors fai...

Jennifer Hutchins, founder of allentertainmentbusiness.com, shares her remarkable journey through the entertainment industry on the Business Decoded podcast. From her early days using Myspace to promote events to her work on Criss Angel Mindfreak and other notable projects, Jennifer highlights the importance of networking, building trust, and taking risks. She emphasizes the value of starting at t...

In this episode of Business Decoded, Ronnie Spellman continues his conversation with Victor Avila, a retired Homeland Security special agent. Victor provides a chillingly detailed account of the ambush he and his partner suffered in Mexico in 2011, highlighting the events leading up to the attack, the harrowing moments of the shooting itself, and the fear and uncertainty of the aftermath. He discu...

Heather Capps, CEO of HCK2 Marketing, shares valuable insights on building and sustaining a successful business. She emphasizes the importance of strong operational foundations, hiring the right talent, and fostering a culture of continuous learning. Capps also discusses the impact of AI on the marketing industry and the need for human creativity and authenticity. She shares practical tips on bala...

Heather Capps, CEO of HCK2, shares her insights on building a successful business. She emphasizes the importance of company culture, client relationships, and personal growth. Capps discusses the 37-hour workweek, continuing education stipends, and charitable initiatives. She also highlights the value of authenticity, transparency, and exceeding client expectations. By understanding clients' busin...

In this episode of Business Decoded, Ronnie Spellman continues his conversation with Victor Avila, a retired Homeland Security special agent. Victor provides a chillingly detailed account of the ambush he and his partner suffered in Mexico in 2011, highlighting the events leading up to the attack, the harrowing moments of the shooting itself, and the fear and uncertainty of the aftermath. He discu...

In this Thanksgiving special of Business Decoded, Ronnie Spellman sits down with entrepreneur and wealth management professional Sarah Zubiate for a heartfelt conversation about the importance of family, legacy, and work-life balance. Sarah shares her personal journey, revealing the influence of her hardworking biological mother, her own struggles with workaholism, and the transformative power of...

This interview features Dr. Kenneth Cooper, "Father of Aerobics," discussing his journey in preventive medicine. Facing initial resistance from the medical community, he persevered, proving the life-saving benefits of exercise and a healthy lifestyle. Dr. Kenneth Cooper, a pioneer in preventive medicine, shares his inspiring journey from facing skepticism to revolutionizing healthcare with his emp...

In this engaging episode of Business Decoded, Stan Crow, a space and defense technology expert, shares his inspiring journey from dreaming of space as a child in Idaho to leading international business operations in Japan. He reflects on the influence of the Apollo program, his unique experiences at the US Air Force Academy, and his transition to the private sector, where he honed his business ski...

In this insightful conversation, former professional basketball player Alex Olesinski shares his journey from navigating the world of collegiate athletics at UCLA to pursuing his passions for finance and investment. He emphasizes the significance of embracing opportunities, building a strong network, learning from mentors, and establishing routines that foster personal and professional growth. Ale...

In this inspiring episode of Business Decoded, Dan Spottsville recounts his extraordinary journey from growing up poor in Japan, delivering newspapers and bartering to survive, to finding success as an entrepreneur in the US. He credits his strong work ethic to his upbringing, his transformative shift in mindset to self-help books, and his career advancements to supportive mentors who believed in...

This interview features Sarah Z., co-founder of the Dallas Express, sharing her inspiring journey from humble beginnings to becoming a successful serial entrepreneur. Sarah discusses overcoming a challenging childhood, prioritizing financial stability over prestigious universities, excelling in wealth management, launching a successful allergy-friendly food company, and pivoting to the media indus...

This engaging conversation features Jim Keyes, former CEO of both Blockbuster and 7-Eleven, as he shares his inspiring journey from humble beginnings to leading Fortune 500 companies. Jim reveals how his father’s emphasis on learning and embracing change shaped his perspective, leading him to view adversity as a superpower. Through captivating anecdotes of counting cups at McDonald’s, bold observa...

This episode of Business Decoded features Pete Henderson, founder and CEO of E2G Food , who shares his incredible journey from a young news cameraman in war-torn regions to a successful serial entrepreneur. Henderson discusses his early career filming historical events like the Gulf War and Rwandan genocide, transitioning to satellite communications, and later ventures in telecom and solar energy....

This episode of Business Decoded welcomes Sara Lam, real estate broker and Director of Urban Retail at Davis and Bogle. Sara shares her inspiring journey from California to Texas, transitioning from stay-at-home mom and City Council candidate to a thriving career in commercial real estate. She reveals the secrets to her success: building trust, identifying unique opportunities, and nurturing lasti...

This episode of Business Decoded features Bill Pasha, president and managing partner of the MBM AI companies, sharing his entrepreneurial journey. From early beginnings as a teenage DJ to corporate leadership roles and ultimately launching his own venture, Pasha emphasizes the power of recognizing strengths and weaknesses, building a team of top-tier talent, embracing diverse opportunities, and ce...

This engaging episode of Business Decoded welcomes Dr. Chris Holstege, Senior Associate Vice President for Student Health and Wellness at the University of Virginia, for a compelling conversation about the evolving landscape of health and wellness, particularly for young adults. Dr. Holstege shares his experiences at UVA, highlighting their innovative student health program and its potential impli...

Andy Dastur, President of North American Insurance Services, emphasizes the crucial role of employee benefits in attracting and retaining talent, especially for small businesses. He highlights common mistakes companies make by choosing the cheapest plan without fully understanding their options. Dastur, whose firm specializes in serving businesses with less than 100 employees, stresses the importa...

Suzanne Harp's journey from dancer to successful entrepreneur and investment banker is a testament to her resilience, adaptability, and passion for empowering others. After an early career in the dynamic world of professional cheerleading, Suzanne took time to homeschool her children, returning to the workforce to embrace the challenges of digital marketing and international business. Her pass...

This episode of Business Decode It features Billy Burke, a multi-talented individual with a career spanning radio, entertainment, and security. Billy shares how his father's advocacy helped him overcome early challenges to become a top radio personality. Listen to Billy's Radio show on iHeart Overcoming Adversity: (00:03:40 - 00:06:21) Billy shares his inspiring story of being mislabeled a...

Serial entrepreneur and author, Jay Rodgers, joins Business Decoded to share invaluable insights on building and scaling businesses. From a $60 startup to a billion-dollar global enterprise, Jay details his journey with Smart Start, highlighting the power of customer focus, ethics, and social impact. He delves into his book, "The Bet," emphasizing unconventional thinking and collaboratio...

Business Decoded welcomes Gabriela Spellman, a Gen Z college student and intern, to discuss her journey and perspective on entering the workforce. Despite generational assumptions about technological proficiency, Gabriela emphasizes the importance of diverse experiences, highlighting her internships in investment and food services, her time as a top-ranked gymnast and coach, and volunteer work in...

This interview showcases Bobbie Lynn Weir, a former private sector executive turned educator, who has revolutionized hotel management education with her innovative program.

This episode of Business Decoded features an interview with Monty Bennett, CEO and chairman of Ashford Inc., a hotel investment and operating company. Bennett shares his journey from following in his father's footsteps in the hotel industry to building a successful, vertically integrated business. Mr. Bennett has over 30 years of experience in virtually all aspects of the hospitality industry...

This episode features Jessica Bartnick, a successful entrepreneur and community leader, as she shares her journey from knocking on doors to running her own business and nonprofit. Your host  Ronnie Spellman  has more than two decades of leadership experience ranging from established Fortune 500 companies to private equity owned growth based businesses, Ronnie brings a unique comprehensive approach...