The Unscripted Climb

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Unscripted Climb , Neil Galas breaks down one of the most common (and expensive) mistakes young adults make: committing to college without first exploring real-world work and career options.  Neil argues that jumping straight into college often delays clarity instead of creating it. Instead, he encourages young people to spend time working — especially in ch...

Send us Fan Mail Mike Smith joins The Unscripted Climb to share how he went from sleeping under bridges and building skateparks in malls… to becoming a nationally recognized youth speaker, nonprofit founder, and full-time dad. In this episode, Mike talks about his three “lives” — launching youth centers, becoming a top-tier speaker, and chasing his wildest dream of being an international adventure...

Send us Fan Mail Shermin Lakha isn’t your average attorney—and she doesn’t run average businesses. In this episode of The Unscripted Climb , she shares how she grew Level Up Legal and Tiger Tiger Creative Agency without a single paid ad. Instead, she relied on creativity, community, and content. From building an all-female law firm focused on IP and startup law, to helping brands and creators clos...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Bonnie Blackman opens up about what happens after the world knocks you down—and how you build something even better. After losing her teaching job, Bonnie transitioned from educator to entrepreneur, creating a publishing business grounded in empathy, passion, and purpose. She talks candidly about what it means to fail, how to find your voice again, and why joy isn...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Unscripted Climb , Christopher Beecham and Natalie Micale sit down with Daine Patton , the founder of Bats to Rats , to talk about his wild ride from pest control rookie to wildlife management CEO—and the 100-pound transformation that changed his life. Daine opens up about becoming a dad at 19, navigating marriage and business, and how COVID ironically becam...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Unscripted Climb , hosts Christopher Beecham and Natalie Micale sit down with Greg Harris , the founder and CEO of Quantum Workplace , to unpack the 23-year journey from startup struggles to building one of the most respected names in employee engagement. Greg gets real about the early days of selling raw data, the emotional decision to pivot the business mo...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Unscripted Climb , Chris Beecham and Natalie Micale sit down with Nate Karaway , founder of Premier Brick , to talk about how a career built in corporate turned into a mission to build with literal grit. Nate shares his unfiltered entrepreneurial journey—from sports to the brick industry, from desk job to design consultancy. He breaks down how Premier Brick...

Send us Fan Mail Susan Pilato didn’t just build a furniture brand — she’s reshaping what sustainability and leadership look like in a traditionally male-dominated industry. In this episode of The Unscripted Climb , Christopher Beecham and Natalie Micale sit down with the founder and CEO of Mantra to unpack her journey from interior designer to furniture entrepreneur. Fresh off Neocon (the Super Bo...

Send us Fan Mail Steven Vitale doesn’t just run a surf boutique and an apparel brand—he’s building two movements. In this episode of The Unscripted Climb , hosts Christopher Beecham and Natalie Micale sit down with the founder of Cape Maid and Lifting Culture Apparel to unpack the reality of running multiple businesses, staying creative, and managing debt while still finding joy in the grind. Whet...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when your husband's hobby turns into a full-blown business empire? Meet Jess Loseke , CEO of Midwest Barrel Company , who took a leap into the bourbon barrel industry and never looked back. In this episode, Jess gets real about the gritty side of entrepreneurship —from navigating cash flow chaos in an inventory-heavy business to working shoulder-to-shoulder with...

Send us Fan Mail In this raw and real episode of The Unscripted Climb , we interview Eric Prellwitz , owner of Prellwitz Exteriors , on what it really takes to grow a business in today’s world. From battling seasonal slowdowns to building trust with skeptical customers, Eric opens up about the grind behind the growth. This episode covers: The difference between sounding authentic and being authent...

Send us Fan Mail If your LinkedIn still looks like it did when you graduated college—or worse, when you first signed up—it’s killing your credibility. In this quick-hit mini episode of The Unscripted Climb , Natalie Micale shares why keeping your personal and business social profiles up to date matters more than you think, and exactly what to update to boost your brand’s digital presence. From del...

Send us Fan Mail What does it take to grow a thrift store empire in a world obsessed with fast fashion? In this episode of The Unscripted Climb , we sit down with Steve Stark , founder of Thriftworld —an Omaha-based thrift chain now spanning eight locations —to uncover the real journey behind building a sustainable business that actually scales. Steve doesn’t hold back. He dives into the 12-year g...

Send us Fan Mail Your brand isn’t just what you sell—it’s the stories you tell and the words you choose to tell them. In this mini episode of The Unscripted Climb , Natalie Micale breaks down why brand messaging is more than just a tagline or mission statement. It’s your voice, your tone, your values, and the way you make people feel every time they interact with your business. We cover how to mov...

Send us Fan Mail Nicole Biscuiti built Chesty from a DIY idea at a weightlifting competition into the first-ever patented sports bra with built-in collarbone protection — sold in 72 countries over a decade. Then, at the height of her brand’s success, she made the toughest call of her career: closing the business. In this candid conversation, Nicole shares the real highs and lows of building a nich...

Send us Fan Mail Think a marketing strategy is just an expensive fluff document? Natalie Micale is here to tell you why it’s the opposite — and why skipping it could be costing you money, time, and clarity. In this 6-minute mini episode, we break down what a marketing strategy really is, how it forces you to prioritize where you spend your resources, and why it’s the anchor for every decision you...

Send us Fan Mail Sarah Cano didn’t plan to start a roofing company—but when a hailstorm hit, she built Rooforia from the ground up. In this episode of The Unscripted Climb , Sarah shares how she grew a multimillion-dollar business in one of the most male-dominated industries out there. From defining core values to building a team that actually believes in them, she walks through the wins, losses,...

Send us Fan Mail In this mini episode of The Unscripted Climb , Natalie Micale breaks down what visual identity actually means—and why it's way more than just slapping a logo on a coffee mug and calling it a day. She shares practical steps for solopreneurs building a brand on a budget, from building Pinterest boards to finding your freelance dream designer—and explains how fonts, colors, and...

Send us Fan Mail From selling newspapers as a kid to building snow removal empires and launching fireworks companies, Mike Ware has done the thing —many times over. In this episode, Mike joins The Unscripted Climb to share the real lessons learned across a lifetime of business. We talk about sales that don’t feel slimy, marketing that actually works, and what happens when you refuse to retire (or...

Send us Fan Mail Your logo isn’t your brand. Your beliefs are. In this mini episode of The Unscripted Climb , Chris and Natalie break down what branding actually is—and why most people are doing it wrong. From values to visuals, boldness to positioning, this is the gut-punch guide to building a brand that’s real, relatable, and actually memorable. Whether you’re a solopreneur or leading a team, th...

Send us Fan Mail Before she built one of the most recognizable marketing agencies in the Midwest, Natalie Micale was flipping garage sale finds and negotiating like a tiny CEO-in-training. In this episode, Natalie shares her journey from journalism student to the founder of Oh Hello Agency —and all the missteps, mindset shifts, and marketing mayhem along the way. From unpaid internships to investo...

Send us Fan Mail Mini Episode = Big Truths. In this first mini episode of The Unscripted Climb , cohost Natalie Micale unpacks the real meaning of branding—and spoiler alert: it’s not just your logo. Your brand is your belief system with a visual identity. It’s what you stand for, how you show up, and why people connect (or don’t). This bite-sized episode hits the heart of what makes branding work...

Send us Fan Mail 🎙️ Episode 1: How Losing Everything Became the Start of Everything Welcome to the relaunch of The Unscripted Climb , where business isn’t always pretty—but it’s always real. Host Chris Beecham kicks things off by sharing his own story of screwing things up, starting over, and building again (and again). From riding high in real estate to bottoming out in bankruptcy court, Chris ta...