🌱 Richmond Roots, Global Vision Though originally from Northern Ireland, Ryan McCarroll launched answerthis.io while at the University of Richmond, taking it from a dorm-room idea to $50,000/month in recurring revenue. 🧠 Sell First, Study Later Ryan doesn’t believe in focus groups or marketing theory. His philosophy? If no one buys it, it doesn’t work. He built Answer This IO by testing in the real world—selling before scaling. 📖 Curing Research Fatigue Answer This IO speeds up academic resea...
Jul 24, 2025•45 min•Ep. 25
Cozy Home Community is building what no one else is: affordable, community-driven housing for middle-income seniors. Think 1200 sq ft homes, a shared community house, and purpose-driven living—all without the price tag of traditional senior communities. 🔍 Ignored Market = Biggest Opportunity Matt helped brands like Walmart and Google see the $8 trillion power of the 50+ market. Now, he’s solving their housing crisis—proving again that serving the overlooked is the smartest play in business. 💡 ...
Jul 17, 2025•48 min•Ep. 24
🎮 Own the Game—Literally. Forget renting pixels. Two Robots is a blockchain-based strategy game where your digital items are authentically yours—trackable, tradable, and infused with real-world bragging rights (yes, even if Elon Musk owned the sword before you). 🌍 From Airbnb to Istanbul: Funding the Future of Gaming Omar built his indie gaming dream from engineering grit and Airbnb cash flow, ditching the 9–5 to travel the world and reinvent what digital ownership means—for both gamers and gl...
Jul 10, 2025•47 min•Ep. 23
🚀 From Struggle to Strategy: Building a Sellable Business, Not Just Revenue Will Melton turned a childhood of financial hardship into a CEO mindset focused on enterprise value, not just income. With a clear 10x growth vision, he’s designing Exponent 21 to become a scalable, sellable asset, not just a hustle. 🤖 Dominate AI Search Before It Dominates You With 60% of Google searches ending in zero clicks and AI summaries now stealing visibility, Will’s team at Exponent 21 is leading the charge in...
Jun 26, 2025•46 min•Ep. 22
🔬 Wellness, Rewired: The Lab That Personalizes Your Health Plan Metafit RX isn’t a gym — it’s Richmond’s only evidence-based performance lab. Using DEXA scans, metabolic testing, and VO2 max data, they help people 40+ design health plans that actually work, based on your body, not industry fads. 💡 From Rock Bottom to Referrals: The Comeback Fueled by Purpose After nearly shutting down in 2023 under six-figure debt, Metafit RX roared back thanks to physician partnerships and word-of-mouth momen...
Jun 19, 2025•51 min•Ep. 21
🎥 From Church Soundboards to CEO Alexis Michelle turned a childhood passion for media ministry into a thriving creative production agency—blending faith, grit, and hands-on experience in large-scale events, music, and storytelling. 📸 Creative Vision, Business Precision Balancing artistry with entrepreneurship, Alexis built a studio known for clean, impactful visuals, tight project workflows, and strategic branding—offering photography, filmmaking, and design with clarity and purpose. 🌍 Tellin...
Jun 12, 2025•31 min•Ep. 20
🛋️ From Fashion to Furnishings, Built to Scale With roots in New York’s Garment Center and decades of design experience, Kathy Corbet turned her passion into a powerhouse—blending style, strategy, and systems to scale a thriving Richmond-based firm. 📐 Design That Delivers—With Process and Purpose From fixer-uppers to full remodels, Kathy leads projects with end-to-end management, quality control, and data-driven decisions—combining artistry with airtight operations and industry-savvy strategy....
Jun 05, 2025•46 min•Ep. 19
🎯 Real Connections for Real Adults Frustrated by niche meetups and impersonal apps, Sam Lydard built Trying to Adult RVA—a vibrant, inclusive space where 20- and 30-somethings in Richmond can make friends and find love, without the awkward small talk. 📈 From Side Hustle to Scalable Movement What started as a mini-golf night with 30 people is now a growing community with standardized systems, volunteer ambassadors, and business partnerships—all run by Sam while juggling a corporate career. 💡 C...
May 29, 2025•36 min•Ep. 18
💃 From Burnout to Breakthrough After rediscovering joy through dance, Mare turned her passion into Soulshine Studios—a space rooted in authenticity, brain-boosting movement, and the belief that your best business is built by being yourself. 🌍 Global Perspective, Local Impact From teaching in Paris and London to building a hybrid studio community in Richmond during lockdown, Mare blends international experience with deep community roots to deliver transformational wellness experiences. 🌟 Solo ...
May 22, 2025•39 min•Ep. 17
💡 Healthcare with Heart Born from personal experience and a vision for compassionate care, Infusion Solutions delivers dignity-driven treatment—offering private rooms, heated chairs, and comfort for both patients and families. 🏥 A Patient-First Business That Breaks the Mold Infusion Solutions operates independently of physician practices, welcomes all referrals, and treats every person like family—choosing community impact over profit and slow, sustainable growth over scale. 🌟 Kindness is the...
May 15, 2025•41 min•Ep. 16
🌟 From Refugee Camps to Boardrooms With a lifelong commitment to service—from directing Red Cross efforts at 17 to leading Make-A-Wish nationally—Karen Webb brings unmatched heart, grit, and cross-sector experience to every role she takes on. 🤝 Champion for Small Business and Community Growth Now leading the Chesterfield Chamber, Karen connects nonprofits, businesses, and government to build stronger communities—believing small businesses are the backbone of the economy and collaboration is ke...
May 08, 2025•48 min•Ep. 15
⚓ From Military Service to Mission-Driven Business After navigating poverty, military service, and major health setbacks, Adam Furman left corporate life to build Bellamax Contracting—a veteran-owned firm helping others find freedom through entrepreneurship and government contracts. 💡 Wisdom Earned, Not Just Learned With a mindset shaped by hardship and transformation, Adam teaches others to turn life’s “landmines into buried treasure”—focusing on impact, ownership, and building a life that las...
May 01, 2025•50 min•Ep. 14
🎬 From Mission Work to Media Impact After a global career with the International Mission Board, Craig Martin launched The Good Road—a nationally broadcast PBS series that highlights changemakers from all walks of life, now in its fifth season. 🌍 Storytelling with Purpose and Values Guided by principles of cultural change, inclusivity, and measurable impact, Craig uses storytelling to elevate voices often overlooked—showing that every person, no matter their background, has value. 💡 A Life and...
Apr 17, 2025•42 min•Ep. 13
🏢 With deep expertise in business strategy and HR, Doug and Polly White transitioned from advising small businesses to building Gather—an eight-location co-working brand born from client demand. 📈 Scaling Businesses the Smart Way Specialists in small business growth, they guide companies through the toughest transition: moving from hands-on owners to structured, scalable enterprises with the right managers, processes, and metrics. 💡 Resilient Leadership, People-First Approach By prioritizing ...
Apr 10, 2025•46 min•Ep. 12
🎨 Revolutionizing the Art Market for 23 Years Crossroads Art Center redefined the gallery model—offering artists rental space and low commissions instead of unsustainable traditional structures. With a business-first approach, Jenni Kirby built a thriving, inclusive art hub. 📈 Blending Business Savvy with Artistic Vision From launching an online store to leveraging data-driven marketing, Crossroads stays ahead in a shifting industry—helping artists sell globally while providing a space for cus...
Apr 03, 2025•51 min•Ep. 11
🚀 With a background in finance, Chadwick Blythe made the leap into the tech world—becoming the first non-tech hire at a startup that went head-to-head with industry giants. 📈 Innovating Financial Planning Software Chad played a key role in revolutionizing financial tech—driving a web-based approach that prioritized user-friendly design and seamless integration. 🏆 Culture-First Growth Believing in hiring for attitude and fostering a fun, supportive work environment, Chad helped build a company...
Mar 27, 2025•34 min•Ep. 10
🎨 After leading design at Chipotle, Warby Parker, and Kayak, Christine Brown left the corporate world to co-found Group Chat Studio—bringing big-brand expertise to businesses of all sizes. ⚡ Agile, Efficient, and Impact-Driven With a word-of-mouth-powered business model, Group Chat streamlines branding from months to weeks, customizes teams per project, and prioritizes transparency and efficiency in every engagement. 🚀 Shaping the Future of Design Committed to ethical work, work-life balance, ...
Mar 20, 2025•35 min•Ep. 9
🚀 From Startup to Market Leader Launched in 2020 with just two trucks, Cavalier Moving quickly expanded to multiple locations and diversified into cleaning services—all while staying debt-free and paying employees above industry standards for top-tier service. 📈 Smart Growth & Strong Leadership By removing founders from daily operations, training a strong management team, and maintaining strict professionalism, Cavalier Moving thrived—growing 30% in 2024 despite industry challenges. 🔮 Big...
Mar 13, 2025•30 min•Ep. 8
⚡ Founded as an electrical construction company, Davison Green Services skyrocketed from $17M in 2019 to a projected $40M in 2023—led by Greg Green, who worked his way up from the trades to CEO. 📈 Smart Scaling & Strong Leadership By embracing continuous learning, building a leadership team, and expanding into HVAC and plumbing, Greg transformed the company while implementing financial systems to sustain rapid growth. 💡 A Purpose-Driven Future With EOS guiding operations, a commitment to f...
Mar 06, 2025•35 min•Ep. 7
After eight years in insurance, Zach Allen turned his passion into a business—taking Discount Depot from a local store to a multi-platform liquidation powerhouse with Excess for Less and Discount Goods on Whatnot. 📊 Mastering the Liquidation Game By leveraging math skills, negotiation tactics, and industry expertise, Zach thrives in the liquidation market—sourcing top-tier returns, overstock, and damaged-box goods from major retailers to offer unbeatable deals. 📡 Leading the Social Selling Rev...
Feb 27, 2025•37 min•Ep. 6
In this episode of But First, Principles!, host Colin Davis sits down with James Warren, founder of Share More Stories and the SEEQ platform. James shares his journey from corporate life to entrepreneurship, his partnership with a mentor, and the challenges he faced along the way. He also dives into his mission to "create empathy at scale" and how storytelling can drive deeper connections and understanding. If you're interested in leadership, innovation, and the power of stories, this conversati...
Feb 20, 2025•38 min•Ep. 5
In this episode of But First, Principles!, host Colin Davis sits down with Christian Simpson, founder of Virginia Injury Law, to discuss his journey in building a successful law firm. Christian shares his background story, the challenges he faced along the way, and the key strategies that helped him scale his practice. If you're interested in entrepreneurship, legal industry insights, or growing a service-based business, this episode is for you! 📌 Subscribe for more expert conversations on busi...
Feb 13, 2025•38 min•Ep. 4
In this episode of But First, Principles!, host Colin Davis sits down with Ohad Idan, founder of Praxis, to discuss his entrepreneurial journey. Ohad shares how he started the company, a defining challenge that tested his commitment to his values, and the importance of truly seeing things from the client’s perspective. If you’re a business leader looking to build a values-driven company and strengthen client relationships, this episode is packed with valuable insights. 📌 Subscribe for more lead...
Feb 06, 2025•42 min•Ep. 3
Building a business comes with challenges—pressure, tough decisions, and the constant push to grow. In this episode of But First, Principles! host Colin Davis sits down with Duke Dodson, an entrepreneur who grew up in a family of business owners and learned valuable lessons along the way. Duke shares his journey of launching a property management company, the challenges of downsizing, and how he stayed focused while investing in related ventures. Through it all, he relied on key principles to na...
Jan 30, 2025•41 min•Ep. 2
Welcome to our first episode of But First, Principles! Join us for an engaging interview with Deryle as he shares how he turned a common industry challenge into a game-changing, customer-first business model. Discover his innovative “retail-to-retail” approach that’s transforming the way recreational vehicles are bought and sold. We also dive into the values that inspire Deryle’s bold philosophy and drive his business success—all with plenty of banter and laughs along the way. Don’t miss this on...
Jan 28, 2025•52 min•Ep. 1
