Entrepreneurial Shades of Gray

Every successful business starts with an idea, but ideas alone don't build companies. This week, Dani sits down with Keith Glines, Director of Hatch in Fairhope, to talk about what it takes to turn big ideas into thriving businesses. They discuss the value of mentorship and community, and how Hatch is helping founders connect with the resources, relationships, and guidance they need to grow. If yo...

In this episode of Entrepreneurial Shades of Gray, Dani and Chelsey reflect on the incredible impact a community can have when people choose to show up for one another. Inspired by the overwhelming support surrounding Heavenly Pies Pizzeria and the encouragement they received from nursing students at Spring Hill College, they explore how small acts of support can create lasting impact.   From...

What does it take to prepare young people for success beyond graduation? In this episode of Entrepreneurial Shades of Gray, Ryan Foster and Dr. Yulanda Clinton share how Liberty Learning Foundation is helping students develop the character, leadership, financial literacy, and civic responsibility needed to become strong citizens and future leaders. We discuss workforce readiness, entrepreneurship,...

Dirty sodas may be trending across the country, but for Jeff Zeiders, they became the foundation for something much bigger. In this episode of Entrepreneurial Shades of Gray, Jeff shares how he went from running a cigar business to launching Bevvy Dirty Sodas in Mobile. He talks about spotting an emerging trend, testing the concept through a mobile operation, and eventually opening a brick-and-mor...

In this episode of Entrepreneurial Shades of Gray , Dani and Chelsey sit down with swim instructor Khaliyah Berry, founder of KBreezy Swim,  and author of Scared to Strong . What started as a passion for swimming has grown into a business with a powerful purpose: helping children gain confidence in the water while learning a skill that could one day save their lives. Khaliyah shares her journ...

In this episode of Entrepreneurial Shades of Gray, Dani Dials and Chelsey Sayasane sit down with Dave Nelson of Cyclone 365 for a conversation about cybersecurity, business risk, and the threats most companies don’t think about until it’s too late. From phishing scams and ransomware attacks to internal vulnerabilities and human error, Dave shares what businesses of all sizes are up aga...

In this episode of Entrepreneurial Shades of Gray, Dani and Chelsey sit down with Rebecca Maisel of Gulf Distributing for a conversation about legacy, leadership, and unexpectedly finding your way back to the family business. Rebecca shares how her grandmother helped start the company more than 50 years ago, and how that influence stayed with her even while building a completely different life and...

In this special episode of Entrepreneurial Shades of Gray, Dani and Chelsey sit down with someone who shaped Dani’s understanding of work, discipline, and long-term thinking… her mom, Renee Dials. After a 40-year career as a trusted voice at FOX10 News, Renee didn’t simply step into retirement… she stepped into a plan she had been building for years. While working full-ti...

In this episode of Entrepreneurial Shades of Gray, we sit down with Kandon Kyser, founder of The Feels Foreal Company, for a conversation about turning creativity into a real, sustainable business. Kandon’s journey started in music, sampling beats and telling stories through sound… and evolved into film, fashion, and now working with entrepreneurs and brands to help them show up more...

In this episode of Entrepreneurial Shades of Gray, we sit down with “Nanny Connie” Simpson and her daughter, Courtney, for a conversation about building a brand that lasts, and the family behind it.   Known as a “nanny to the stars,” Connie has worked with some of the most high-profile families in the country, building a nationally recognized name in childcare within e...

What does it really take to walk away from stability and start over? In this episode of Entrepreneurial Shades of Gray, Dani Dials and Chelsey Sayasane sit down with Matt Garner, founder of Garner Lawn and Construction. After nearly a decade in corporate leadership, overseeing multiple retail locations, Matt made the decision to step away and build something of his own. He started with one truck,...

In this episode of Entrepreneurial Shades of Gray, we sit down with fashion photographer Toni Riales, whose journey began with a simple favor that turned into a full-time career behind the lens. After being noticed by Ford Models, Toni stepped into an opportunity that helped shape both her creative style and her approach to business. She shares what it takes to navigate the fashion industry, build...

In this episode of Entrepreneurial Shades of Gray, we sit down with Debra and Reed Pennington, the founders of Bake Blue Bakery, a business built on both purpose and passion. Located in Spanish Fort, Bake Blue was created to provide meaningful employment opportunities for adults with disabilities, addressing a gap that many families experience but few businesses are designed to meet. What started...

In this episode of Entrepreneurial Shades of Gray , Dani Dials and Chelsey Sayasane sit down with Chef and owner Chris Rainosek of The Noble South in downtown Mobile. Chris shares the journey behind building a farm-to-table restaurant rooted in seasonal ingredients and local partnerships, and what it has taken to grow and sustain that vision over time. The Noble South was recently recognized in th...

In this episode of Entrepreneurial Shades of Gray, Dani Dials and Chelsey Sayasane sit down with entrepreneur Darryl McKinney to talk about the journey behind Heavenly Pies Pizzeria and the lessons he learned along the way. Darryl shares how he started with a cleaning business before moving into the restaurant industry and what it took to grow and sustain a business over time. The conversation exp...

What does it really take to build a career as a content creator? In this episode of Entrepreneurial Shades of Gray, Dani Dials and Chelsey Sayasane sit down with Taren Denise to talk about the business side of influencing. Taren shares how she went from starting as an intern at FOX10 to leaving her full time job to pursue content creation as a full time career. The conversation explores the rise o...

Can entrepreneurship actually be taught, or do most founders learn through experience? In this episode of Entrepreneurial Shades of Gray, Dani Dials and Chelsey Sayasane sit down with Dr. Don Mosley from the Melton Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the University of South Alabama’s Mitchell College of Business. The conversation focuses on how structured education and guided suppo...

Most people know Bri Burrell as Miss Alabama 2023, the third Black woman to earn that title in the competition’s 102-year history. But in this episode of Entrepreneurial Shades of Gray, we go deeper than the crown. Dani Dials and Chelsey Sayasane sit down with Bri for an honest conversation about leadership, representation, and what it means to think like an intrapreneur while creating oppor...

What happens when an HR professional sees a gap in her industry and decides to build the solution herself? In this episode of Entrepreneurial Shades of Gray, Dani Dials and Chelsey Sayasane sit down with Dr. Gia Wiggins, founder of Auditocity and CEO of Morale Resource, to talk about her journey from HR practitioner to tech founder. Gia shares how she went from writing down what once felt like an...

In this episode of Entrepreneurial Shades of Gray, hosts Chelsey Sayasane and Dani Dials sit down with Hayden and Lanier Lindsey, the husband-and-wife team behind several local Gulf Coast Scooter’s Coffee locations to talk about franchising, entrepreneurship, and what people often misunderstand about franchise ownership. Hayden and Lanier share the story of how their journey began when Lanie...

What does it really look like to leave corporate life and step into a family-owned business? In this episode of Entrepreneurial Shades of Gray, hosts Dani Dials and Chelsey Sayasane sit down with Faye Olensky of Olensky Brothers, a multi-generation, family-owned business rooted in Mobile and right on the heart of the Mardi Gras parade route. Faye shares what it was like to spend years building a c...

What does it really take to pull off one of the biggest weeks of the year in Mobile, and why does it matter beyond the game? In this special episode of  Entrepreneurial Shades of Gray , hosts Dani Dials and Chelsey Sayasane sit down with Drew Fabianich, Executive Director of the Senior Bowl, and Molly Middleton, Director of Public Relations & Community Outreach, to kick off Senior Bowl we...

What does it really take to bring major businesses to a region, and who’s behind those decisions?  In this episode of Entrepreneurial Shades of Gray, hosts Dani Dials and Chelsey Sayasane sit down with Kayla Byrne, Director of Business Development at the Mobile Chamber, for an eye-opening conversation about what happens behind the scenes of economic growth along the Gulf Coast. Kayla br...

Three months into  Entrepreneurial Shades of Gray , hosts Dani Dials and Chelsey Sayasane take a moment to pause, reflect, and look back on the journey so far. In this episode, Dani and Chelsey pull back the curtain on what it’s really been like building the podcast … from how the podcast room came together, to lessons learned along the way, to guest conversations that truly stay...

In this episode of  Entrepreneurial Shades of Gray , Dani Dials sits down one-on-one with Rocky Fremin, owner of Rock & Roll Offs Rental Dumpsters, for a conversation about resilience, leadership, and navigating grief while continuing to show up for life and business. Rocky’s story is one of perseverance, from growing up in the foster care system, to serving in the Marines, to build...