Business is F'n Hard

In this 27th episode of Business is F’n Hard, Ericka Young and Sandy Wright share raw, powerful truths about resilience, leadership, and the personal sacrifices behind building and sustaining real businesses. Key Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction 01:06 - Meet Ericka Young and Sandy Wright 02:03 - Ericka’s Origin Story: Starting a Business at 17 02:49 - Sandy’s Journey from Marketing to Coaching 05:46...

In this 26th episode of Business is F'n Hard, Aaron Lewis shares hard-won wisdom on leading with love, sustaining growth, and building a business—and life—rooted in purpose, discipline, and grit. Key Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction 01:20 - Meet Aaron Lewis and His 20-Year Business Journey 02:30 - What's Working and What's Hard in Business Right Now 04:20 - The Pressure of Pricing and Market Competi...

In this 25th episode of Business is F’n Hard, Giordo Dagnino and Luis Ortiz open up about Gen Z ambition, creative risk-taking, and redefining success on their own terms. Key Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction 01:08 - Meet Giordo and Luis: Where They Are Now 02:32 - What They're Struggling With Today 04:52 - Giordo’s Gap Year and Lessons Learned 08:56 - Luis’s Journey Into Music and Higher Education 1...

In this 24th episode of Business is F'n Hard, three dynamic entrepreneurs—Katrena Friel from Australia, Clay Goforth of Dark Horse Retail Group, and Arkansas rice farmer Jessica James—open up about the complexities of family businesses, the grind of entrepreneurship, and the unrelenting challenges in their industries. Key Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction 02:04 - Katrena on Becoming the Expert and Bu...

In this 23rd episode of Business is F'n Hard, Jessica Crum from Silver Lake Studio and Spencer Kilgore from Project Hope and Saving Grace share their journeys through entrepreneurship and nonprofit leadership. Tune in to hear insights on leadership, failure, and the power of slowing down! Key Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction 01:59 - Jessica’s Journey: From Fashion to Nonprofit 03:05 - Spencer’s Stor...

In this 22nd episode of Business is F'n Hard, we sit down with a true powerhouse—Dr. Hagit Gregory, who’s balancing businesses, degrees, and motherhood like a pro. How does she manage it all without crashing? This one’s for anyone who’s ever tried to do too much… and kept going anyway. Key Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction 01:20 – Who Is Dr. Hagit Gregory? 03:00 – Becoming a Lifelong Learner 04:50 –...

In this 21st episode of Business is F'n Hard, we welcome Jim Moore, founder and CEO of Mark IV Capital, and Emilio Dela Pena, director of Siente el Mundo. Jim shares his experiences of overcoming personal and professional hardships, illustrating the importance of perseverance and family. Emilio offers insights on leveraging artificial intelligence to create immersive experiences and the value of u...

In the 20th episode of Business is F’n Hard, hosts Calvin Smith and Steve Hintz engage in an enlightening conversation with Heather Applegate, owner of Pivot X Coaching, and Charity Miller, CEO and founder of Lyme Group Consulting. Together, they share valuable insights on building relationships, the importance of social media presence, and the mental resilience required to overcome business obsta...

In this 19th episode of Business is F'n Hard, we’re joined by Kyndsie Huston, Joss Vargas, and Brenda Calzada from ScaleSource, and we talk about what it's really like to work from home.  Kyndsie, who is the General Manager and EOS Integrator, talks about how businesses can better scale when teams work from home. Joss, Head of Operations, talks about how to get foreign workers to trust you and be...

In this 18th episode of Business is F'n Hard, we dive into the evolving world of digital marketing with Rachael McCone Davenport, owner of The Footstep Group, and Joshua Ang Price, owner of Hybrid Strategies LLC.  We discuss the challenges small business owners face in standing out online, adapting to new platforms, and using AI tools like ChatGPT effectively. Rachael shares insights on stayin...

In this 17th episode of Business is F’n Hard, producer Jeroel Maranan fills in for Calvin and Kyndsie to host two incredible guests in the travel industry: Geisha Cumberbatch, owner of La Rosa Negra Travel by Dream Vacations, and Yolande Joseph Turner, co-owner of Sea2Shore Vacation. These travel experts talk about how they became entrepreneurs, the problems they've faced in the business, and...

In this 16th episode of Business is F’n Hard , we dive deep into the realities of scaling a business , raising capital, and finding the right partners to take things to the next level. Brian Wagers shares how he went from a solo real estate investor to managing hundreds of properties , pooling investor capital, and navigating the unpredictable commercial market. Jeremy Duckworth reveals his wild c...

In this 15th episode of Business is F'n Hard , we dive into the intricate and rewarding world of entrepreneurship with two inspiring guests. First, we meet Cristin Smith , Director of Franchisee Onboarding and Training at Empower Brands, who shares her journey from working in her family’s restaurant business to helping franchisees achieve their goals. Cristin reflects on the challenges of bala...

In this 14th episode of Business is F'n Hard, we’re joined by two remarkable entrepreneurs who share their unique journeys, challenges, and strategies for success in the ever-evolving world of business. First, we meet Jeff Allison, owner of Dixon Street Dining and market director for SCI Custom. Jeff shares his story of purchasing a restaurant just before the COVID-19 pandemic and how he adapted t...

In this 13th episode of Business is F'n Hard, we’re having a conversation with three trailblazing entrepreneurs who are reshaping their industries and tackling the challenges of entrepreneurship with resilience and innovation. First, we meet Cat Hutchings, the founder of Wonderlight Jewelry, who shares her journey of building a mindfulness-driven jewelry brand that combines gemstones with posi...

In this 12th episode of 'Businesses F'n Hard,' we welcome three powerhouse entrepreneurs: Michael Bailey Smith, a former army paratrooper and Hollywood actor turned technology company representative; Zach Walthall, a graphic designer turned video production company owner; and Spencer Kilgore, founder of a nonprofit aiding those in crisis.  Each guest shares their heart-wrenching journey, insights,...

In this 11th episode of Business is F’n Hard, we have the honor to have three inspiring entrepreneurs share their journeys, insights, and challenges as they navigate the path of building and scaling their businesses. Christy Ouei and Lorenzo Stephens discuss their unique ventures, Mule Kick and Lefty's, and their commitment to staff development and innovative strategies. Brandon D. Campbell talks...

In this 10th episode of Business is F'n Hard, we welcome Mary McLaughlin, owner of Path to Your Promise, LLC, and Jason Peebles, President and CEO of People's Transportation, LLC! Together, we discuss the challenges faced in their respective industries—life coaching and automotive consulting.  While Mary shares her experience with high banking fees and strategic pivots in her life coaching venture...

In this 9th episode of Business is F’n Hard we, are joined by two remarkable entrepreneurs, Matt Bell from Origami Sake Company, and Lynn Mors, an inventor of fencing life extenders. They share their unique journeys, the hurdles they've faced, and valuable insights on staying motivated and navigating funding challenges. Learn how Matt is revolutionizing the sake market in Arkansas and beyond, and...

In the 8th episode of 'Business is F'n Hard,' we sit down with three powerhouse entrepreneurs from Arkansas—Garrett Peters, Danette Bodkin, and Brandon Barnes—to unpack the strategies, systems, and mindset that drive successful businesses. From mastering e-commerce to refining marketing strategies and optimizing operations, this conversation is packed with actionable insights for CEOs and entrepre...

In this 7th episode of Business is F’n Hard, we dive into the unfiltered realities of building and growing a business. Our powerhouse guests—Tom Kirkham, Illiana Sutton, and Misty Novich—share raw insights, battle-tested strategies, and personal stories that will leave you inspired and ready to take on your next challenge. We unpack the secrets to mastering cash flow, creating a thriving company c...

Being an entrepreneur isn’t for the faint of heart, and in this episode of  Business is F’n Hard,  we dive into the raw realities of juggling multiple businesses with our powerhouse guests: Roger, Diana, and Jay. From IT services and real estate to medical consulting, these entrepreneurs spill their secrets, struggles, and successes. 🔥  Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode: 💼  The Hiring Str...

In this episode of  Business is F'n Hard , we dive deep into the raw realities of entrepreneurship with two game-changing guests:  Paige Renee , an Executive Performance and Branding Coach dedicated to empowering women in the corporate world, and  Ryan Orrell , the driven CEO and founder of WebMonster.com. Join us as Paige reveals her journey in helping professionals break through personal barrier...

In this episode of Business is F'n Hard, we welcome Christina Williams, founder of Christina Williams Consulting, and Garrett Brown, a custom tailor. Kyndsie and the BIFH crew discuss the issues that often go unnoticed when running a business. We share our own stories and ideas for how to get past these problems. Christina talks about how to balance growth and profit as a solopreneur, and Garrett...

In this episode, we are joined by Geisha Cumberbatch, a seasoned travel industry professional and owner of the franchise travel agency, Geisha's La Rosa Negra by Dream Vacations.  Geisha talks about her journey in the travel business, how current events like the election year affected her clients' bookings, and how she has changed her focus to focus on luxury travel like river cruises and planned...