The Blueprint by Smoking Gun Creative Agency

From growing up in a family of five ultra-competitive brothers to playing in the NFL, and then pivoting into the world of business, Chris Gronkowski sits with us to share his unique perspective on what it takes to succeed. Now the owner of Ice Shaker, he’s built a thriving brand by blending his love for fitness with entrepreneurship—securing a deal on Shark Tank along the way. In this episode, Chr...

Brandin Reed is a self-described explorer, and we describe him as a musical genius. In this episode, Brandin shares his upbringing that shaped his artistic journey, lessons he’s learned navigating the music industry, and stories from his travels. Brandin’s perspective on reinvention and perseverance offers a compelling look into the life of an artist. Don’t miss this one - kick back and tune in! -...

From developing groundbreaking courtroom transcription technology to shaping the future of Greenville, TX, Jerry Ransom has worn many hats throughout his career. And he’s a bulldog on the golf course, too! In this episode, we talk about it all. Tune in for this inspiring conversation with a man who’s seen it all. -- Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/smokingguncreativeagency/ https://www.faceboo...

If you’ve been to Deep Ellum in Dallas, you’ve probably seen a line wrapped around the block on Main Street for BBQ at Terry Black’s. This week we have Craig “Teddy Bear” Crisafi, Pitmaster at Terry Black’s, on the podcast to tell us about his journey in the world of barbecue. How does a weekend warrior from Boston find his way to the top of the Texas BBQ game? Tune in to find out! -- Follow us: h...

This week, we have Scott Graham from Pinpoint Merch on the podcast to discuss his journey. This is a fun one: grab your favorite bev and settle in! From building a company with his father to the wins and losses of running a business, Scott shares stories of navigating manufacturing, maintaining team culture, and even some personal hygiene tips for our host Brandon. -- Follow us: https://www.instag...

Jerah Hutchins, founder of Clearing the Chamber, joins us for a compelling episode of The Blueprint. From her journey into firearms training to creating a platform that empowers women to take control of their self-defense, Jerah shares her experiences, insights, and the importance of preparedness. She discusses everything from the stigma women face in the firearms community to the necessity of sit...

Jeremy Powell (Greenville, Texas Fire Chief) joins us with insights on his career as a firefighter. From his early days as a volunteer to leading a department, Jeremy offers stories of resilience and teamwork, delivered with his patented sense of humor. Listen in as we explore the highs and lows of firefighting, how Jeremy balances the demands of his role with passion, and a little talk about Jere...

In this episode, Brent Ashton (founder and president of dē-sl & Hyp Brands) shares his journey as a creative entrepreneur and innovator in design and manufacturing. From building businesses to fostering creativity and teamwork, Brent dives into the challenges of entrepreneurship, the power of adaptability, and his commitment to delivering impactful solutions. -- Follow us: https://www.instagra...

In this episode of The Blueprint, we sit down with Josh Campbell, founder and president of Rescue Air & Plumbing, to discuss his journey from a small-town upbringing in Virginia to building a thriving business in Texas. Josh shares insights into the trades, his entrepreneurial spirit, lessons learned from his early ventures, and the importance of trust and teamwork in business. With stories of...

On this week’s episode of The Blueprint , we talk with Sterling Moore, a former NFL cornerback whose journey from high school football to starting in the Super Bowl is nothing short of remarkable. Sterling shares stories of resilience, from navigating injuries and junior college to playing for iconic teams like the Patriots and Cowboys. Along the way, he opens up about his two-interception game, t...

On this week’s episode of the Blueprint, we talk with Matt St. Jean ( https://www.instagram.com/mountstjean ) from Rally 2 Give ( https://www.instagram.com/rally2give ) about the journey of building his rally into what it is today, raising huge amounts of money for charity, growing up as a snowboarder, life’s twists and turns, and a whole lot more more! Rally2Give is a non-profit organization that...

This week , we sit down with Dr. TJ Goss, a chiropractor whose journey to success is anything but ordinary. From a free-spirited upbringing and early career missteps to finding his calling in chiropractic care, TJ shares candid stories about overcoming challenges, discovering purpose, and the mentors who shaped his path. Tune in as he dives into the philosophy behind his practice, the role of disc...

Join us as Brandon chats with Pecos Hurley ( https://www.instagram.com/pecos.hurley/ ), frontman of Pecos & the Rooftops. ( https://www.instagram.com/pecosandtherooftops/ ) Pecos shares stories from his East Texas roots and his journey from roping dummies in his bedroom to filling iconic venues. He talks about the first time he picked up a guitar, the thrill of getting his first “big” paycheck...

In this episode of The Blueprint, we sit down with Trey Swofford to explore his journey from growing up in a family business to finding new purpose with his innovative venture, Gallery DeFi ( https://www.instagram.com/gallerydefi/ ). Trey shares candid insights about his struggles with self-worth, the pressure of family expectations, and how selling the family business became a turning point in hi...

In this episode of The Blueprint, we sit down with Cam McCloud ( https://www.instagram.com/cureforparanoia/ ), frontman of Cure for Paranoia, to discuss his journey through music, personal growth, and the challenges of navigating mental health. Cam opens up about his early inspirations, battles with anxiety, and how music became both a lifeline and a platform for self-expression. Tune in to hear a...

In this week’s episode, we sat with Max Hansen ( https://www.instagram.com/mhansen44 ) of YScouts ( https://www.instagram.com/yscouts/ ) to talk about building winning teams, scaling businesses, and maintaining personal wellness along the way. Max shares insights from his leadership journey, tips on hiring smarter, and how he balances the hustle of business with staying fit. If you're interested i...

Now remastered with high-quality audio, our podcast episode with Colleen Hoover! Hear the story behind the novels that have captured hearts around the globe as Colleen Hoover ( https://www.instagram.com/colleenhoover ) shares her unconventional path to literary stardom. From penning her first novel while still working to self-publishing breakthroughs in the digital age, Colleen shares the highs, l...

This week on the podcast we’ve got Preston Wells, a business networking professional who tells us all about his love for his family, his checkered past, spending time in prison, the Dallas party scene, losing at golf and more. Enjoy! -- Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/smokingguncreativeagency/ https://www.facebook.com/nosmokenofire/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/nosmokenofire/ https://www....

“English Andy” Brimicome has built his life around moving fast. From his financial career, to his passion for international car rallies, to his participation in many business ventures, Andy's always got his foot on the gas. In this episode, Andy talks about it all and more - sit back and enjoy! -- Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/smokingguncreativeagency/ https://www.facebook.com/nosmokenofire...

You may know Dave Fleming ( https://www.instagram.com/daveflemingspeaks ) as a sportscaster, comic, advertiser, Pittsburgh fan, or now, probably our funniest guest to date. In this episode we talk with him about how he’s followed life’s twists and turns and found success in multiple avenues, just to move on to the next. -- Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/smokingguncreativeagency/ https://www....

Brad Bacon is the man behind the Everyone Loves Bacon trucks you see all over the Dallas and Houston areas. He started Bacon Plumbing, Heating, Air and Electric ( https://www.instagram.com/baconplumbing/ ) / ( https://www.instagram.com/baconplumbing_htx/ ) on his own and has grown his business to a leader in the Texas home services industry. Brad puts the gas pedal to the floor – as a businessman,...

Paul Copioli has made a career of climbing the corporate ladder and building up companies in executive leadership roles. He is currently the CEO at Sphero ( https://www.instagram.com/sphero/ ) and a franchise owner at XGolf ( https://www.instagram.com/xgolfrockwall/ ) ( https://www.instagram.com/xgolffrisco/ ). We talk about his experiences on Gumball 3000, his pathway from being an engineer to be...

Santino Ferrucci ( https://www.instagram.com/santinoferrucci/ ) is an IndyCar driver for AJ Foyt Racing. ( https://www.instagram.com/ajfoytracing/ ) We discuss his pathway to racing in IndyCar, becoming a Texas transplant, navigating the media game as an athlete, and much more. -- Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/smokingguncreativeagency/ https://www.facebook.com/nosmokenofire/ https://www.lin...

Kevin Adds is the owner and operator of Dallas Karting Complex. Entrepreneur at heart, he’s turned his passions for motorsports and racing from hobbies into a thriving business. -- Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/smokingguncreativeagency/ https://www.facebook.com/nosmokenofire/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/nosmokenofire/ https://www.nosmokenofire.com -- Intro/outro music by Pierre DeJourn...

Travis McCann ( https://www.instagram.com/not.travis/ ) and Kyle Sauter ( https://www.instagram.com/ksaut/ ) didn’t exactly start out with intentions to join the art world. After initially linking up in business school, Travis and Kyle teamed up, leveraging Travis’s artistic expertise alongside Kyle’s entrepreneurial spirit and business acumen. Their latest venture, Gallery DeFi ( https://www.inst...