Driven By with Sam Coates

My guest this week is Ken Utech. What happens when you spend close to 40 years traveling the country and working with close to 1,000 businesses, organizations, individuals, non-profits, and more. You learn about how we as people operate and how to address things as they are, get to the root cause, and work through them. I have yet to hear where a conversation like this will not apply to any person...

If you celebrate Labor Day, I hope you had a great long weekend. My editor Kyle Cummings (who does an awesome job) and I were both traveling this week, so I am relaunching one of the most downloaded episodes to date. The Momentum That Builds a $200 Million Dollar Company with Mike Bruns. I have received lots of feedback about this episode and how much you enjoyed it. I spoke with Mike last week an...

My guest this week is Peter Abell, the CEO of Memphis Symphony Orchestra. I’ve heard about how much transformation MSO had undergone over the last few years. Today we’re talking about deeper reasons that push you into your interests, how to transform a struggling non-profit, the X-factors that create a significant impact, how a symphony drives the classical music within a city, how to step back an...

My guest this week is Tom Kadien (1:07) Tom, what made you want to take over UMRF Ventures after retiring from IP? (3:07) Can you talk a little bit about your perspective of work - from a financial standpoint, there’s no need for you to have to work. But it sounds like there’s a core belief about work that you have. (4:12) Can you talk a little about the value that a Memphis alum may not understan...

Good morning Sara and Cam. Cam - what was it like volunteering and leaving your job to join R.E.P? (2:12) When you said, “I know that was something I wanted to do for the rest of my life”, what did that mean? (4:45) Sara, how long have you been involved in R.E.P and what made you want to go all in on this organization? (6:15) Cam, when you first started were there any moments where you were like,...

Listen to this week's episode with Entrepreneur Mike Bruns. Mike founded trucking company Comtrak with one driver after working for three bankrupt companies prior. Twenty-three years later, Mike sold Comtrak with $200,000,000 in revenue and 1,500 employees. My conversation with Mike is unconventional and engaging. It's not your typical business conversation. Mike talks about getting scrappy, how w...

My guest this week is entrepreneur Carolyn Hardy. The first episode I released for this podcast was with Carolyn, and that episode is one of the most downloaded podcast episodes to date. If you listened to episode 1, you will hear how Carolyn said that her purpose has now shifted to help open more doors that should have been opened by now. I felt it was best to have a second conversation to unders...

My guest this week is Chris Canale. Chris founded Old Dominick Distillery four years ago, and Old Dominick produced its first batch of whiskey in 2016. This episode is a fun and straightforward conversation that goes into this history of 150 years of family business history – what it's like running a start-up company during COVID-19, what it’s like finding enjoyable work, unique and fun personal a...

This episode is brought to you by Matt Haaga with State Farm Insurance.  Call Matt today at 901-443-4655, or email Matt at matt@matthaaga.com to see how he can help with your auto, home, renter's, business, and life insurance needs. Matt is licensed in the states of TN and MS. Episode Links: Drew Holcomb on Ramsey Network's EntreLeadership Podcast Drew Holcomb's Website Drew Holcomb - Facebook Dre...

Memphis Travel This episode is brought to you by Matt Haaga with State Farm Insurance.  Call Matt today at 901-443-4655, or email Matt at matt@matthaaga.com to see how he can help with your auto, home, renter's, business, and life insurance needs. Matt is licensed in the states of TN and MS.

Church Health Center This episode is brought to you by Matt Haaga with State Farm Insurance.  Call Matt today at 901-443-4655, or email Matt at matt@matthaaga.com to see how he can help with your auto, home, renter's, business, and life insurance needs. Matt is licensed in the states of TN and MS.

Michael Dunavant, US Attorney of West Tennessee, discusses how he found his calling, what keeps him moving forward, how he and his team represent the people of West Tennessee, his thoughts about the murder of George Floyd, and his plans for making West Tennessee more safe.

Fred Jones, founder of the Southern Heritage Classic, discusses how to think about taking risks, the importance of community and celebration, having a vision and enduring through negativity and cynicism, systematic challenges, key people that helped him along the way, the importance of mindset and faith, and more.

Isaac Bruce, Super Bowl Champion and 2020 Hall of Fame Inductee, discusses when he knew he had a chance at something special, the rollercoaster of emotions, family, faith, his goal to be an NFL owner, and more.

Drew Holcomb on Ramsey Network's EntreLeadership Podcast

Dr. David Rudd, President of the University of Memphis and US Army Veteran, discusses "knowing your why", innovation, data, growth, values, time management, transforming an organization, what he would tell a student who had the opportunity to attend the University of Memphis or a prestigious institution such as his own alma mater, his involvement with Penny Hardaway's hiring, and more.

Michael Rallings, Memphis Police Director and US Army Veteran, discusses his service in the US Army, 30-year career with the MPD, perspective on duty and service, how to think about data, what he was feeling during the 2016 bridge protest, thoughts on George Floyd, and what we need to do to improve our community.

Cathy Pope, CEO of Mid-South Food Bank, discusses her diverse career, the importance of family, work ethic, relationships, leadership, adversity, and much more.

Entrepreneur Carolyn Hardy discusses her all but easy career path before acquiring her first company with high-interest money, living out her purpose, family, career advice, and much more.