Business from Scratch

In this episode, I sit down with Chris Capone to talk through the financial mistakes that quietly derail small businesses and how to avoid them early. We unpack why growing too fast can be just as dangerous as not growing at all, and how focusing on your core competency can protect both your cash and your sanity. Chris breaks down why knowing your numbers isn’t just about bookkeeping—it’s about cr...

In this episode, I sit down with Wilmington business owner Bennie Sheally to talk about what it really takes to grow a company from scratch. We dive into his leap out of corporate life, the risk and reward behind acquiring agencies, and how he learned to lead with transparency and culture first. Bennie opens up about the realities of entrepreneurship — from burning through savings to figuring out...

In this episode, I sit down with Kristen and Wes Bechtel — the husband-and-wife team behind Bombalatti’s Ice Cream in Wilmington, NC. We talk about the real side of entrepreneurship: active-shooter lockdowns, plumbing disasters, chaos at multiple locations, and somehow still loving what they do. Their story reminds me that the hardest days in business can still feel better than the best days at a...

Designer, entrepreneur, and my good friend Carmin Black, went from turning handmade jewelry in her grandparents' garage to creating handbags carried at Magnolia and a hair tie sold nationwide at CVS. She walks me through the messy reality of building product-based businesses, from finding manufacturers overseas to knowing when to close one brand and start another. You'll learn: How to take...

In this episode, I sit down with my longtime friend Melissa Tyson, an incredible goldsmith and custom jewelry designer. Melissa's story is one of courage, creativity, and starting over when life falls apart. We talk about how she built her fine jewelry brand from scratch, literally melting down her old pieces, and what it means to stay true to your art while running a successful business. You&...

In this episode, I walk you through the five people you should talk to before you spend money on a website, branding, or a big “I’m launching!” announcement. These conversations will save you time, stress, and years of trial and error. You’ll learn: How mentors shorten the learning curve and help you avoid common mistakes. Why real customer feedback keeps you grounded in what people actually want....

In this episode, I take you inside the real first year of business — the good parts that light you up, the bad moments no one warns you about, and the absurd stories you only understand if you’ve lived them. I share the lessons, mistakes, and small lifesavers that helped me survive my earliest, messiest seasons. You’ll learn: How freedom quickly turns into chaos without simple structure. Why tiny...

In this episode, I introduce what Business From Scratch is all about and why starting a business never looks as clean as people make it seem. I share how my own story—divorce, rebuilding, survival work, and messy first steps—shaped the way I help people start their businesses today. You’ll learn: Why starting a business feels confusing and chaotic—and why that’s normal. What painful mistakes taugh...

Starting a business is one thing. Starting over in life while building a business? That’s another level of crazy. I’m Abbye McGee — single mom, three-time founder, and someone who’s had to piece together life and business from zero. In this trailer, I’m introducing Business From Scratch — a podcast about what it really takes to build something that lasts when you’re rebuilding yourself at the same...