Coffee & Grit

What happens when you take a lifelong passion, listen to a calling, and rally a community to make a difference? You create something bigger than yourself! In this episode of Coffee & Grit, I sit down with Difference Maker Scott DesAutel, founder of Hockey Night, an incredible annual event where the Detroit Red Wings Alumni team hits the ice—not just for the love of the game, but to raise money...

In this episode of Coffee & Grit, we dive into a game-changing approach to success—one built not on cold calls and sales pitches, but on genuine relationships and a commitment to serving others. Listen in as Connor Messina, an Independent Insurance Advisor representing Health Markets, shares his powerful journey from chasing success for himself to shifting his mindset toward helping others—and...

EDITORS ANNOUNCEMENT: TISSUES WILL BE NEEDED FOR THIS EPISODE, YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED! In this milestone 200th episode of Coffee and Grit, Jason is joined by his mom, “The Difference Makers Difference Maker,” Shari Espinoza as they take a deeply personal journey. Together, they reflect on a life of resilience, love, and unwavering grit that shaped Jason into the man he is today.   This raw and heart...

What if one song, one story, or one shared experience could reignite the heartbeat of a town? In this electrifying episode of Coffee & Grit, we're diving into the power of music, community, and entrepreneurship with Brandon Still and Bill Arnold, the visionaries behind Echoes in the Iron. This multimedia project is more than just music—it's a movement. They’re traveling across the Rust Belt, u...

In this inspiring episode of Coffee & Grit, Jason sits down with Kelly Hogan, founder of Champ Therapy & Wellness PLLC, to dive deep into the power of personalized care, resilience, and redefining recovery. Kelly shares her journey from athlete to expert therapist, building a business that helps people regain strength and confidence. Discover how Kelly’s holistic approach bridges the gap b...

In this episode of Coffee & Grit, Jason sits down with Bob Shenefelt, visionary's visionary who has built his life around empowering others to unleash their greatness. From his early journey as a top-performing sales leader to his transformative work creating I Matter, a life operating system designed to help people live with clarity, purpose, and intention—Bob’s story is packed with insights...

In this episode of Coffee & Grit, Jason sits down with Michelle Carly, founder of Big E-Z Bookkeeping Co, to explore the often-overlooked but crucial role of knowing your numbers in entrepreneurship. From humble beginnings working in a factory to building a thriving bookkeeping business, Michelle shares her remarkable journey of resilience and resourcefulness. Michelle's passion for empowering...

On this episode of Coffee & Grit, I had the privilege of sitting down with Cody, a true difference maker whose journey is nothing short of inspiring. From leaving a steady job at U of M to embracing the challenges of building his own woodworking business, Cody shares his raw and unfiltered story of transformation. We dive into his evolution from crafting coat racks to creating one-of-a-kind cu...

In this episode of Coffee & Grit, Jason Tracey dives into the gritty realities and transformative lessons of entrepreneurship with special guest Sharla Horton. Together, they explore the power of human connection, the art of storytelling, and the value of authenticity in building a successful business. From breaking through sales challenges to aligning business practices with core values, this...

In this raw and inspiring episode of Coffee & Grit, I sit down with Abigail Hathaway, a Difference Maker who embodies resilience, transformation, and authenticity. Abigail shares her incredible journey of overcoming a tumultuous childhood, navigating the foster care system, and breaking free from generational cycles of trauma. Her story is one of multiple rebirths, proving that the trials we f...

Do you have your “dangerous amount of coffee” ready for another episode of Coffee and Grit?!?  New this week, Jason Tracey sits down with Christel Meyer, a Difference Maker who transitioned from physical therapy to publishing Stroll magazine for the Oak Pointe community in Brighton Michigan. Christel shares her inspiring journey of overcoming self-doubt, embracing change, and building meaningful c...

In this episode of Coffee & Grit, Jason Tracey sits down with James Pless to explore the intersection of passion, resilience, and family in entrepreneurship. James shares how he and his wife turned a candle-making hobby into a thriving business in Brighton, MI. From starting in a small workspace to building a retail presence and creating custom designs, their journey is a testament to adaptabi...

New this week on Coffee & Grit, Jason Tracey sits down with Bentley Folse, an entrepreneur who transitioned from culinary school to construction, building a thriving renovation business, HH Renovations. Using the Detroit Lions’ resilience on the field as an analogy, Bentley and Jason explore the parallels between sports grit and entrepreneurial perseverance. Bentley shares his journey of growi...

Join Jason Tracey as he has a heart to heart chat with you, as he explores the transformative power of staying true to Yourself as an entrepreneur. Drawing from personal stories and client experiences, Jason emphasizes the importance of staying true to your core values and resisting the pressure to conform to others' expectations. He discusses how aligning your business with your authentic self ca...

Grab a blanket, get your hot cocoa, and get ready for this week’s episode of Coffee and Grit, which is very timely with the Christmas season right around the corner!  Lindsay Lights, a Difference Making entrepreneur whose mission is to spread light and positivity through her Christmas light installation business. Lindsay opens up about her personal journey, sharing how the loss of her grandmother,...

New this week on Coffee & Grit...Jason Tracey dives into the world of the Entrepreneurial Operating System with Christine Reyes, a Difference Making integrator whose passion is helping entrepreneurial visionaries turn their big ideas into reality.  Christine shares with us her journey from gym owner to fractional integrator, as well as the vital role of an integrator and the impact of EOS on b...

In this episode of Coffee & Grit, host Jason Tracey is joined by Dr. Michael Berry, DC, owner and operator of Conquer Chiropractic (TM), who shares his journey of resilience and adaptability in business. Dr. Berry opens up about a recent trademark challenge that required a complete rebranding, including extensive administrative updates and communicating the change to clients. He emphasizes the...

In this episode of  Coffee & Grit, Jason Tracey interviews Shane Merem, a serial entrepreneur and dedicated Taekwondo coach/owner at Storm Taekwondo, to uncover the mindset and philosophy that have driven his success. Shane opens up about the pivotal role processes play in business, sharing how learning from failure has been key to his entrepreneurial journey. With personal anecdotes, he highl...

In this episode of Coffee & Grit, Jason Tracey welcomes mortgage professional and content creator Steven Betel to discuss the power of building connections and the impact of engaging content on business growth. With over 11 years in the mortgage industry, Steven shares how he’s transitioned from cold calling to focusing on networking, referrals, and creative content creation that goes beyond t...

In this episode of Coffee & Grit, host Jason Tracey sits down with Jeanine Yancy, founder of Yancy Interior Design, to discuss the journey of starting and growing her first-generation business. With 15 years of experience specializing in kitchen and bath design, Jeanine shares valuable insights on the importance of meticulous planning, honest communication, and realistic budgeting in successfu...

In this insightful episode of Coffee & Grit, Jason Tracey is joined by Mary Neumann, owner of Renovation Sells, to explore the transformative power of relationships, both in business and in life. Mary shares her inspiring journey from corporate America to entrepreneurship, where she found her passion in improving homes and communities through cosmetic renovations. Together, they dive into the...

In this episode of Coffee & Grit, Jason Tracey sits down with Cyndee Sparre, a Difference Maker in the world of networking and mentorship, to explore how building genuine relationships is at the core of business success. From her early career in HR at Walgreens to launching My Collective Network and My Christian Business Network, Cyndee shares her incredible journey of stepping into entreprene...

Being driven can be a gift and a curse.  While driven people, like our guest this week, are blessed with superpowers such as stamina, strength, focus and they are the creators of most things on the planet. However, we often tend to do a lot of damage to ourselves and others as we seek to be enough for everyone.    Does this sound familiar? Then this is the episode for you!  Join us as we dive into...

What would the world look like if everyone communicated openly, honestly, yet respectful?  Lets dial it in a little...How would it impact your world if you were able to communicate your desires openly within your relationships?  What kind of life would you live?  How much stress would be lifted off your shoulders?  Most importantly how many more opportunities would you discover? Join us this week...

What is it like to have complete freedom, and how do you create it?  Listen in to Coffee & Grit this week as retired Sherpa, and most recently 4 time Triathlon champion, Dan Powers shares his soulful stories filled with data to creating entrepreneurial freedom.    It has been a true pleasure getting the opportunity to observe Dan out in the wild within my community of Brighton.  It is rare to...