Business Story Of The Week

In this raw and inspiring episode of Business Story of the Week, we sit down with Dustin Largusa, the powerful voice behind The Low Life Show, a podcast created for prisoners and those reentering society. After facing a devastating period of loss, prison time, and personal collapse, Dustin found peace, humility, and purpose through faith and storytelling. Today, his podcast is streaming in over 50...

In this inspiring episode of Business Story of the Week, we sit down with Akilah Mendez-Valdez, the dynamic founder of Haute in Texas, a powerhouse PR and marketing agency that's dedicated to helping female founders craft compelling narratives and elevate their brands. Akilah shares her bold journey of entrepreneurship — from launching her agency a decade ago to embracing failures like the in-pers...

In this inspiring episode of Business Story of the Week, host Shaahin Cheyene sits down with Nicole Van Valen, Founder and CEO of Keen Insights, to explore how joy can be the secret fuel behind true resilience and high performance. Nicole shares her three‑step model for “resilience through joy,” drawn from her background as a professional cheerleader and dancer, and explains why embracing failure—...

In this powerful rapid-fire edition of Business Story of the Week, we sit down with Nick Allard — legal visionary, Rhodes Scholar, and founding Dean of Jacksonville University College of Law. With a career rooted in public policy, higher education, and innovation, Nick shares how he helped create one of the most dynamic new law schools in America. From launching an institution that doubled in size...

In this thought-provoking episode of Business Story of the Week, we sit down with Josh Wilkerson, one of the founding members of Restoring Mathematics, an educational consulting organization redefining how we engage with math in the classroom. Josh shares his mission to empower teachers as storytellers of mathematics—shifting the focus from standardized curriculum to human connection and the “livi...

In this episode of Business Story of the Week, we sit down with the dynamic and multi-talented Lori Karpman, founder of Lori Karpman & Company and The CopyLab. From her beginnings as a tax lawyer to launching a successful chain of restaurants, to pioneering her way into franchise consulting and content marketing, Lori shares her remarkable journey of reinvention and resilience. Discover how Lo...

When life throws a curveball, some people crumble — and others build an empire. Meet Lorraine Lane, a corporate executive-turned-small business coach who transformed an unexpected layoff into a thriving business spanning 25 years. In this episode of Business Story of the Week, Lorraine shares how her journey began with shock but evolved into a powerful mission to guide small business owners to fin...

In this empowering episode of Business Story of the Week, we sit down with Andrea Hunt, EFT tapping and empowerment coach and founder of Living Deliberately Today. From Minnesota to Munich and beyond, Andrea shares her powerful journey of helping ambitious women break through fear, self-doubt, and imposter syndrome to build unshakable confidence — one bold step at a time. Discover how emotional re...

In this inspiring episode of Business Story of the Week, we sit down with Dr. Theresa DiLorenzo — founder of Nutrition for Optimal Performance — to explore how she's revolutionizing health and entrepreneurship by merging nutrition counseling with yoga therapy. From helping athletes optimize their bodies to empowering individuals with body image dysmorphia, Dr. Theresa shares how listening to your...

In this week’s #BusinessStoryOfTheWeek, we sit down with Doug Dvorak, founder and managing principal of the Sales Coaching Institute, as he unpacks 35+ years of sales experience in an ever-evolving tech world. From the dawn of email to the AI revolution, Doug has seen it all—and leveraged it to build a powerhouse consulting business that helps sales leaders and professionals sharpen their edge. He...

In this inspiring Business Story of the Week (Rapid Fire Edition), Shaahin Cheyene welcomes the incredible Dr. Shawna Pandya — research astronaut, aquanaut, aeromedical physician, and VP of Immersive Medicine at Luxonic Technologies. Dr. Pandya shares her groundbreaking work in space medicine, VR/AR healthcare, and commercial spaceflight.  From building digital twins for radiology to advising AI n...

In this inspiring episode of Business Story of the Week, Shaahin Cheyene sits down with Gabrielle Hailmann — award-winning marketer, entrepreneur, author, and podcaster. Gabrielle shares her incredible journey from launching her career during a recession to becoming one of Canada’s top women in direct marketing.  Learn how she helps small businesses thrive using digital tools, automation, and frac...

In this powerful episode of Business Story of the Week, Shaahin Cheyene sits down with Sig Muller, a seasoned corporate leader turned life transformation advocate. After surviving a sudden cardiac arrest, Sig shares his incredible journey of reinvention, his mission to help others become the world’s best versions of themselves, and the invaluable lessons he learned from corporate successes, failur...

In this powerful episode of Business Story of the Week, Shaahin Cheyene and Samanta Treminio interview Eric Woodroof, founder of Profitable Green Solutions and global energy efficiency expert. Eric shares his 25+ years of experience helping companies, governments, and organizations save energy, reduce emissions, and boost profitability — all while making a positive impact on the environment. He di...

In this Business Story of the Week episode, Shaahin Cheyene and Samanta Treminio sit down with Paul Lajoie—CPA, serial entrepreneur, and founder of BizBuy Pro. With 25 years of experience buying, selling, and running 15+ companies, Paul reveals what it really takes to succeed in business acquisitions. From overcoming costly mistakes driven by ego to realizing the power of outsourcing and mentorshi...

In this episode of Business Story of the Week, Shaahin Cheyene and Samanta Treminio chat with Rita Thomas, widely known as Your Funnel Godmother. Rita reveals how she turned 12 years of juggling a full-time job and a side hustle into full entrepreneurial freedom using the power of automation and smart funnels.  Learn how lead magnets, niching down, and automated systems can transform your business...

Nonprofit leadership isn’t just about passion—it’s about perseverance, strategy, and connection. In this episode of #BusinessStoryOfTheWeek, we sit down with Robyn Winters, Director of Development at Stout Street Foundation, to hear her real-world insights on navigating the nonprofit sector, empowering women leaders, and learning from failure. Whether you're launching a nonprofit or just love a go...

What happens when your life hits an unexpected reset button? For Bridgid Ruden, a traumatic brain injury turned her world upside down—but also awakened a new purpose. In this moving and inspiring Business Story of the Week rapid-fire episode, Bridgid opens up about the accident that changed everything, her path to healing through Reiki, and how she found the courage to rebuild her life and help ot...

From Allergies to Innovation: How Cheri Turned a White Gravy Craving into a Dairy-Free Empire What do you do when you're allergic to dairy, wheat, eggs, and peas—but still crave white gravy? If you're Cheri, you create a revolutionary shelf-stable, dairy-free product that’s changing lives across the country. In this inspiring episode of Podcast Cola, we dive into the story of Cheri, founder of Che...

In this powerful episode of Business Story of the Week, Shaahin Cheyene chats with Brian Smith, founder and CEO of Strategy Ladders, a company that helps B2B service businesses scale rapidly and sustainably.  Brian shares his 17-year entrepreneurial journey filled with high growth, setbacks, and valuable lessons. From weathering the impact of COVID on his ventures to building a business that frees...

In this dynamic episode of Business Story of the Week, Shaahin Cheyene talks with John Tillman — a seasoned entrepreneur who has built and sold multiple businesses across industries, from retail to tech.  John shares his rollercoaster journey: how he faced near-bankruptcy, overcame fear, and found resilience to rise again. Hear about his current ventures — the uplifting feedback platform BeKinder...

In this inspiring episode of Business Story of the Week, Shaahin Cheyene sits down with Gloria Flora — a pioneering landscape architect, permaculturist, and founder of the US Biochar Initiative. Gloria shares her remarkable journey from leading roles in the US Forest Service to creating transformative nonprofit organizations that protect public lands and promote sustainability.  Discover how she t...

In this episode of Business Story of the Week, we sit down with Jeff Holman, founder of Intellectual Strategies, to explore how he's transforming the traditional legal model through Fractional Legal Services. Jeff shares how working alongside CEOs and CFOs taught him that most law firms don’t deliver what startups and small businesses truly need — and how he’s fixing that. We dive into how his fir...

In this episode of Business Story of the Week, host Shaahin Cheyene sits down with the dynamic and trailblazing Jackie Lapin, a true serial pioneer. From becoming one of the first female sports writers in America before age 22 to leading a top-tier sports PR agency and later pivoting into spiritual authorship and podcast marketing — Jackie has reinvented herself time and time again. Now, she's on...

In this compelling episode of Business Story of the Week, Shaahin Cheyene sits down with Dr. Scott Dell—a seasoned entrepreneur, CPA, academic, and AI advocate who’s spent decades straddling both the traditional and the bleeding edge of business. From selling vacuum cleaners and cars to teaching students the power of success skills in the AI age, Dr. Dell’s journey is as diverse as it is inspiring...