Business Owners Tell All

In this emotional and eye-opening episode of What It Takes: Business Owners Tell All , host Jamie Seeker sits down with Derek Du Chesne, co-founder and CEO of Better U, a telehealth company offering at-home psychedelic therapy. Derek shares his deeply personal journey—from achieving outward success to hitting rock bottom after a mental health crisis. He opens up about how a single ketamine therapy...

In this episode of What It Takes: Business Owners Tell All , Jamie Seeker sits down with Jill Gustavson , Co-Founder and Executive Vice President of Topaz Services, LLC — a hospitality contact center that’s grown from a bootstrapped startup into a nationwide operation serving over 80 hotels. Jill shares her remarkable 40+ year journey, beginning in the early days of tech publishing, where she star...

In this high-energy episode of What It Takes: Business Owners Tell All , Jamie Seeker sits down with Cody Romness , co-founder of Allegiate , a strength training gym bringing college-level athletic structure and performance to everyday people. From the football field at USC to the startup world at Patreon , Cody’s path has been anything but ordinary. He shares how the athlete’s mindset of grit, di...

In this heart-centered and thought-provoking episode, host Jamie Seeker speaks with Ari Drosman, founder and Chief Visionary Officer of Resurface Group , a mental health and addiction treatment organization designed specifically for people who don’t fit into traditional systems—what Ari calls “the outliers.” Ari shares how his path into psychology began unexpectedly, sparked by a powerful moment o...

In this episode, Levi King shares his entrepreneurial journey , the mindset shifts that helped him succeed, and the sacrifices he made along the way. From cold-calling businesses in his 20s to raising $200M in venture capital , Levi opens up about the grit, resilience, and personal growth required to build multiple successful businesses. 🔹 Key Themes & Takeaways: 1️⃣ The Mindset of an Entrepr...

In this episode of What It Takes: Business Owners Tell All , host Jamie Seeker sits down with Jeff Wenninger , a retired LAPD lieutenant with over 33 years of experience. Jeff shares his journey from overcoming dyslexia and a speech impediment to becoming a leader in one of the most demanding police forces in the country. Jeff’s path to law enforcement was unexpected—after a negative encounter wit...

In this episode, Jamie Seeker sits down with Paul Ladensack , a seasoned architect with over 30 years of experience designing spaces that go beyond function—they tell stories, honor history, and serve communities. As a principal at CCBG Architects , Paul has led a variety of award-winning projects, including cultural, religious, commercial, and residential buildings. Paul shares insights on balanc...

In this episode of What It Takes: Business Owners Tell All , host Jamie Seeker interviews award-winning architect Tessa Bradley about her journey in sustainable architecture, Passive House design, and the challenges of being a female business owner in the industry. Tessa shares her philosophy on solving complex problems with simple, efficient design, why Passive House is the future of sustainable...

In this episode of What It Takes: Business Owners Tell All , host Jamie Seeker sits down with Kody Landals , a USMC veteran and founder of Reimagine Roofing , to discuss how he’s transforming the roofing and solar industry . Frustrated with unreliable roofing companies while working in solar sales, Kody decided to create a more transparent, efficient, and customer-focused roofing company . In just...

In this episode of What It Takes: Business Owners Tell All , Jamie Seeker sits down with Lance Cayko , a multi-talented entrepreneur, architect, professor, podcast host, and co-founder of F9 Productions . Lance shares his journey from growing up on a North Dakota farm to becoming a leader in the architecture and design industry. He dives into how getting laid off pushed him to start his own firm,...

In this episode of What It Takes: Business Owners Tell All , Laura Wilson , founder of Natural Pilates , shares her incredible journey of immigrating to the U.S. with just $100 and turning her passion for movement into a thriving Pilates business . From discovering Pilates while working in a physical therapy office to building multiple studio locations , launching an online fitness platform , and...

Dave Benton, founder of Metajive, shares his journey from an accidental entrepreneur to leading a top-tier digital agency working with brands like Nike, Red Bull, and Google. He discusses the challenges of scaling a creative business, the importance of relationships in securing major clients, and the mindset shifts required to sustain long-term success. Through personal setbacks, industry changes,...

In this episode of What It Takes: Business Owners Tell All , host Jamie Seeker sits down with Brian Samson , founder and CEO of Plugg Technologies , to discuss how nearshore staffing is transforming the hiring landscape. Brian shares his journey from leading talent acquisition at top Silicon Valley startups to relocating to Argentina to build a nearshore team, and ultimately founding multiple comp...

In this episode of What It Takes: Business Owners Tell All, host Jamie Seeker sits down with James Leinhardt , the CEO and Chief Sleep Posture Expert at Levitex . James has built a business around improving sleep posture, working with elite athletes, healthcare professionals, and everyday consumers to optimize their rest. He shares how he turned sleep science into a thriving company, the challenge...

On this episode of What It Takes: Business Owners Tell All , we sit down with Ive Haugeland , founder and principal of Shades of Green Landscape Architecture . Her journey is a powerful story of taking risks, following a passion, and staying true to her values while building a thriving business. Originally from Norway , Ive started her career designing environmentally sensitive landscapes before m...

In this episode of What It Takes: Business Owners Tell All , host Jamie Seeker sits down with Robert Ancill , CEO of The Next Idea Group , to discuss his journey of reinvention from a culinary professional to a global business leader in hospitality and design . Robert shares how he pivoted industries, scaled a business to 24 countries , and oversaw 89+ brand launches and 800+ restaurant openings w...

In this episode of What It Takes: Business Owners Tell All, we sit down with James Bates , the Founder & CEO of AdviNow Medical , a company leveraging AI and augmented reality to transform healthcare. James shares his incredible journey—from leading billion-dollar tech businesses to raising $20 million to build his own game-changing startup. We dive into the realities of scaling a business , t...

In this episode of What It Takes: Business Owners Tell All , host Jamie Seeker interviews Anne Shadle, co-owner of the award-winning Mayan Cafe in Louisville, Kentucky. Anne shares her entrepreneurial journey, starting with the launch of the Mayan Cafe in 2007 alongside her brother-in-law, Chef Bruce Ucán. Together, they’ve expanded the business into catering services and a food truck concept whil...

In this inspiring episode of What It Takes: Business Owners Tell All , we sit down with Puran Bair, an electrical engineer-turned-entrepreneur and meditation expert, to explore his incredible journey. Puran shares how he transitioned from corporate leadership roles to co-founding iamHeart, a business rooted in Heart Rhythm Meditation. We dive into the challenges of merging spirituality with entrep...

This episode of What It Takes: Business Owners Tell All features Dallin Huso, the owner and visionary behind Flamingo Pools, a premier pool maintenance company in Arizona. Dallin shares how he transformed his business into a trusted brand by focusing on customer-first principles, innovative services, and strong team leadership. From the challenges of scaling a service-based business to the importa...

In this episode of What It Takes: Business Owners Tell All , Jamie sits down with Nishchal Banskota, the founder of Nepal Tea Collective, a mission-driven company reshaping the global tea trade. Nishchal shares his journey as a second-generation tea producer, how his family's legacy inspired his mission, and his drive to connect Nepalese tea farmers directly with consumers. We explore the challeng...

This episode of What It Takes: Business Owners Tell All features Natalie Griffin and Amy Philpott, co-founders of Gerry’s Cafe, a nonprofit cafe that provides employment opportunities for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Natalie, a former special education teacher, and Amy, a seasoned business professional, joined forces to address the high unemployment rate within this com...

In this episode of What It Takes: Business Owners Tell All , we sit down with Adam Povlitz , CEO and President of Anago Cleaning Systems , a leading global commercial cleaning franchise. Adam shares his inspiring journey from the corporate world at IBM to stepping into his family’s business and leading it to international success. We’ll explore what it takes to transition from a corporate career t...

From Cold Calls to Corner Office: Glenn Poulos on Building a Sales Empire and Winning Customer Relationships Guest: Glenn Poulos Co-founder of Gap Wireless. Author of Never Sit in the Lobby: 57 Winning Sales Factors to Grow a Business and Build a Career Selling . Sales expert with 40 years of experience in the field, including starting and selling two successful businesses. Key Points Covered in t...

In this episode of What It Takes: Business Owners Tell All , host Jamie Seeker sits down with Rhonda Kallman, a pioneering entrepreneur in the beverage industry and co-founder of The Boston Beer Company, to discuss her remarkable journey. Rhonda shares the challenges she faced as one of the first women in the male-dominated alcohol beverage industry, how she helped shape the craft beer revolution,...