Coffee & Grit

Let's get weird. This week, we get to know creator, marketer, and podcaster Desiree Martinez. Desiree turned her knack for teaching people to use Facebook into a full-time career, creating both the All-in-One Social Media and Women of Video brands to empower entrepreneurs. In this episode, she joins Jason to jam about authenticity (ESPECIALLY on social media), how to fight through "down seasons" a...

The first time an aspiring figure skater successfully lands a jump... it comes as a complete surprise, according to skating coach and Comparion lead insurance agent Jonathan Hayward. The key to sticking the landing is committing to the leap, even though you have no idea what a correct landing even feels like. But you'll never get off the ground if you never take a risk. Welcome back! This week, in...

This episode is a beaut’ Clark. Welcome back! This week, we have the privelege of jamming with Clark Bradley, owner of Co-Work Brighton, Elite Exteriors, and Griswold’s Holiday Lighting. We check every bulb of Clark’s story as we illuminate the man - and the mission - behind Cowork Brighton, and discuss Clark’s 25,000 watt adventure into the world of exterior illumination. All jokes aside, Clark’s...

Dillon England won't mince words with his clients... because they pay him to be honest with them. Welcome back! This week, podcaster and hustler Dillon England joins us for a packed episode where we dive into the ups, downs, mistakes, and learning that comes with a career in sales. Dillon has parlayed his self-awareness about his business, his abilities, and his goals to become a true leader. From...

Sam Gembel became a leader without even knowing it. As a landscaping foreman, Sam grew frustrated when the people he trained kept getting transferred to different work crews. One day, Sam realized that many of these people were being promoted to positions of leadership, and often ended up in charge of those crews. When Sam asked his boss about this, he was told that this was because Sam was a lead...

All the best things in life are freely given. According to networking expert Wendy Caverly, most networking errors come from a misunderstanding of what networking actually is. Are you really “just introducing yourself” or do you have a contract hidden in your back pocket? This week, Jason jams with the founder of Crusaders Networking to talk about meeting people, collaborating with your community,...

The thing you are afraid to do is the thing that will set you free. That's right, we're going deep in this extended jam session with coach and consultant Cory Lewber! Cory empowers and educates people to explore home schooling options for their children. We discuss the pros and cons of traditional schooling, and get into Cory's greater mission to be the learner you want your kids to be. Cory also...

Doctor Aaron Bannister solves mysteries. As a doctor discouraged by the proliferation of prescription painkillers, Aaron instead tries to help ease his patients' pain without a laundry list of side effects. A chiropractor by trade, Aaron has treated infants, the elderly, animals, and he's even met Dr. Jack Kevorkian. As you will hear, his investigative skills are on par with Columbo and he's used...

Do you have an FU date on your calendar yet? According to financial planner Michael Mann, financial freedom is the best way to reach a place in your life where you can just say, “f*ck you.” If you haven’t set a target date yet, you’re going to want to put that advent on your calendar. Jokes aside, financial planning is a touchy subject, especially for entrepreneurs and solopreneurs. So, this week,...

Welcome back to Coffee & Grit! This week, we feature Business Coach (or, rather, Business Wingman) Jason Ballard, host of Soar Higher with Jason Ballard . After we jammed on JB’s show in June, we knew it was only a matter of time before we collaborated again. This time, we dive into Ballard's story, and pull back the curtain on how he became the Business Wingman. Before he was a coach, Jason w...

The small business owners of "Main Street" are the heart that keeps many US towns and cities pumping. They invest in our communities, in our local sports teams, etc but operating on Main Street isn't always Sunny. What is it like owning a business on Main Street? What do you do to survive when the town goes under construction and the people can't easily get to your business? Join us this week as d...

It’s not every episode we get to meet a living legend. In this episode, undoubtedly one of our greatest ever, we have the honor of jamming with Da-I “Doc” Ping, whose life would make Forest Gump look like a homebody by comparison. He fled Communist China at age 9, nearly died before being given one of the first doses of penicillin in Bangkok. He then emigrated to the United States from Japan in or...

It's no coincidence that Clarkston and Brighton are fantastic communities for small businesses, especially with hustlers like Brandon Still building co-working spaces to empower entrepreneurs. Welcome back! This week, Jason welcomes Brandon, founder of The Integrated Life Company, to a jam session that gets to the heart of what makes Michigan local businesses great: small towns, community events,...

Whether it is growing people, relationships, or business referral partnerships always remember If You Build It They Will Come! From being a 1-800-number operator and answering calls from informercials, to selling bodybags and eyeball scoopers, Bernie DeSantis has had a unique career. At Quicken he was discovered by leadership as a person that was gifted at transferring knowledge led him to discove...

Where do dangerous amounts of coffee fit into The Good Fat Life? We're about to find out. Welcome back! This week, we have an AMAZING crossover episode to share featuring Sherri Richards, host of Inspired Good Fat Life and creator of the Good Fat Life magazine. Sherri introduces Jason to the idea of "the good fat life," a holistic concept of health that covers sleep, nutrition, and much more. Plus...

If you're a fan of this show, you've already heard a lot about the incredible Steve Zyskowski. In this episode, we welcome him to the studio for an extended jam session. From starting Caerus Net to his past as a mortgage lender, we dig deep to get to the heart of what makes a great community-builder. We had a blast talking with Steve, and we are SO excited to share this convo with you!! This episo...

People need people. It sounds so simple, but too often we make the mistake of trying to go it alone, especially when we are building a business. This week, we get a crash course from community cultivator Dr. Ronda Vaugn on how to attact, build, and celebrate your tribe. It may sound simple, but it certainly isn't easy, and we hope this jam session sparks your imagination. This episode is sponsored...

According to True Defense LLC owner Seth Martin, personal safety is more about awareness than martial arts. Seth teaches people to avoid physical conflict when possible, and how to act when a scary situation does arise. Today, he joins Jason to jam about the unique mindset behind his business, principle-based thinking, consistency, and the magic power of just doing the next thing. This episode is...

Have you ever had a job or experience that you are embarrassed to talk about it and often scrap under the rug? Then grab your notebook and get ready to listen! As you have heard by know in life we are either winning or learning. And that is exactly why this episode with Cory Thompson, founder of Red Oak Refillery, is a must listen. Give yourself permission to eat faces every once in a while. Cory...

Never miss a good opportunity to shut up and learn! This week, Jason jams with Ryan Griggs, owner of Blue Line Detailing. Ryan shares the struggles, breakthroughs, and wins of owning a business he loves. Ryan credits his success to not only his family and community, but his ability to just shut up and listen to what others have to say. It's a forgotten skill and we break down how Ryan does it in t...

Some of us just belong in the wild. This week, Jason interviews one of the people who first made Coffee & Grit possible: Natalie Miller, founder of Grit & Lavender, a co-working space in the heart of Brighton. Natalie championed this show from the beginning, and we are stoked to finally have her in the studio! Check out this awesome discussion about being a servant leader, collaborating wi...

Jennifer McGovern calls herself a reformed people pleaser. In the past, her schedule was too full to really pour herself into her work and her community. But now, she is building a model for community engagement as the Community Relations Specialist at CGC Water Treatment. Today’s convo goes deep into managing your time (including scheduling time to do NOTHING to ensure you don’t forget!), taking...

What is up?! Today, we welcome differencemaker Heather McGlone to the podcast. Heather started Ace Strategies in 2013 and has spent the past decade helping people make the jump from employee to entrepreneur. How Heather made her own way, and the insight she has to share, is the heart of this week’s episode. We hope you enjoy! This episode is sponsored by Playbook Builder: Powered by AI. Coffee &am...

When Dan Oginsky feels change coming to his life, he embraces it. This attitude is what led him away from corporate America and into founding Brighton Lighthouse and the All Heart Garage. These co-working spaces have been a vital hub for entrepreneurship and networking in Livingston County, allowing new business owners a chance to collaborate and work within the community. Today, Dan sits down wit...

For a lot of people the pandemic was a wake up call that it was time to work on our own story line, and not someone elses. And this week we are diving into one of those success stories! Through weekly family bonfires at the start of the pandemic two cousins by marriage found common ground in being chewed up and spit out at their jobs on a weekly basis. The more they talked the more they realized t...