Carter Person: co-owner of Cork & Key, and partner in the ATOM hospitality group! Join us for an expansive conversation with seasoned entrepreneur Carter Person. With deep roots in a family dedicated to hospitality and community, Carter shares what it was like growing up in the family business — giving us an honest breakdown of the rewards and challenges of working closely alongside relatives. From catering for the Vikings to unexpected setbacks, our guest shares firsthand industry insight t...
Jun 25, 2025•2 hr 14 min•Ep. 131
Nicole Panko: owner of Ember Wellness Studio! Join us for a conversation rooted in health and wellness - at the heart of our community! Nicole’s entrepreneurial experience extends beyond her current venture, and we were so engaged with how her previous business successes led her to creating the community at Ember. From her own journey to healthier living to the lessons she’s learned from testing her own limits, our guest’s wealth of knowledge shines in this open and honest interview. Stay tuned ...
Jun 18, 2025•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 130
Jeff Holmin: our local award-winning taxidermy expert and owner of North Star Taxidermy! Join us for an unforgettable conversation with our guest this week, who shares with us how his appreciation for the natural world at a young age translated into a robust career in taxidermy. Fully embracing a trade (and art form) that most would find difficult to perform, we loved hearing Jeff’s unique perspective into honoring life in all its forms. From his strangest taxidermy requests to the thrill of com...
Jun 11, 2025•2 hr 10 min•Ep. 129
Shane Bowyer: professor of management at MSU Mankato and local community pillar! Our guest this week has an incredible range of expertise in the business sector; overseeing the Northwoods League Baseball Franchise as a general manager, owner of the Sports Institute training facility, and so much more right here in our community. Join us as Shane takes us through his most memorable experiences, and the core mission of service that’s kept him active in Southern Minnesota. Stay tuned for minute 1:4...
May 22, 2025•3 hr 4 min•Ep. 130
Tim Huebsch: Solutions Manager of Global Business Solutions at General Mills! Join us for an immersive conversation with a corporate industry leader! From our guest’s roots in rural Southern Minnesota, his early interest in tech, and his quick career ascension, our guest’s engaging manner of storytelling kept us thoroughly riveted. Tim also has impressive entrepreneurial record; his attitude of humility and gratitude has truly enriched our community through board service covering scholarship out...
May 14, 2025•2 hr 21 min•Ep. 127
Della Schmidt: President and Chief Executive Officer for Greater Mankato Growth! Join us for an in-depth conversation with a community champion who has built a legacy supporting regional growth. With an impressive record in Southern Minnesota, Della has such a wealth of knowledge for navigating difficult interpersonal dynamics, leading by example, and kickstarting local economies. Her humor and wit during this conversation reminded us just how lucky Mankato is to have her at the helm of GMG. Tha...
May 07, 2025•2 hr 17 min•Ep. 126
Joe Holtmeier: owner of Holtmeier Construction, Dirt Merchant Inc, and Pentagon Materials! Join us for a winning conversation with a Southern Minnesota community pillar! This multi-faceted entrepreneur takes us through the ins and outs of a legacy in construction. From unexpected collaborations to the responsibilities of a good leader, Joe takes us through his story spanning multiple continents (and industries!) Stay tuned for minute 1:18:30, where our guest shares why the mission of staying loc...
Apr 09, 2025•2 hr 19 min•Ep. 125
Jim & Lauren Parejko - owners of LocAle Brewing Company! Join us for an engaging conversation with this husband-and-wife entrepreneurial team! With craft brewing on the rise, our guests this week offer incredible insider expertise into the local market and common misconceptions regarding the industry. Navigating family and business is no small feat, and we loved hearing how Jim and Lauren have found that essential balance! Stay tuned for minute 1:34:01, where Jim shares one of his favorite a...
Apr 02, 2025•2 hr 1 min•Ep. 124
Matt Sharping - owner of Phenom Genetics Inc, co-owner of Sankey Pro Rodeo, and connoisseur of all things rodeo! Join us for a wild ride this week with our champion guest Matt Sharping. From authentic living to entrepreneurship, Matt takes us through his transformative journey into all aspects of the world of bull-raising (and riding!). What started as a random bid on a single heifer has turned into a full-time lifestyle for our guest. For anyone interested in the country and cowboy lifestyle, t...
Mar 28, 2025•2 hr 23 min•Ep. 123
April Graff: dietitian and author! Join us for an engaging conversation with our new favorite nutritional expert. Our guest this week has a wealth of experience in the heath and wellness arena. With a focus on a practical lifestyle approach and joy through eating well, April shares her most pivotal moments throughout her career working in the community. Keep your eyes open for April’s cookbook, “Uncomplicate Your Plate”, coming to a provider near you! Stay tuned for minute 54:01, where April sha...
Mar 19, 2025•1 hr 47 min•Ep. 122
Jen Stuvek: owner of Aurora Chiropractic! Join us for an incredible story of education, health and wellness in our community. Jen shares how she realized some of her longterm goals as a chiropractic doctor early on in her career, and her truly serendipitous journey to Mankato. From her upbringing in Alaska to her very first clients, we were totally captivated by our guest’s engaging conversation. Special thanks to our guest co-host this week, Andy Wilke!
Mar 05, 2025•2 hr 16 min•Ep. 121
Jordan Smith: owner of JD Manufacturing, and Storm Equipment! Join us for a deep dive into all things landscaping, snow management, entrepreneurship and the Mankato community. From growing up in an aviation family to his earliest roots in the landscaping business, Jordan has a wealth of experience in organic growth and grit (and brine!). We loved hearing the story behind our guest's innovative process for snow removal - and so much more!
Feb 12, 2025•2 hr 8 min•Ep. 120
Jon "JP" Jamieson - owner and founder of JP Fitness! Join us for a remarkable conversation centered around health and mindful living with our guest. We were so engaged with his balanced approach, as JP explained what first attracted him to fitness as a business and his earliest memories of family entrepreneurship. From dry Januaries to slow carb diets, JP has a wealth of experience in the lifestyle industry.
Feb 05, 2025•2 hr 32 min•Ep. 119
Justin & Jenna Rinehart: owners of Nicollet Bike and Ski! Join us for an unforgettable ride with two incredible entrepreneurs in our community. Justin & Jenna share how they channeled their passion for the great outdoors into a profitable business serving the sports and recreational needs right here in Mankato. From outreach programs to off-road bike racing, we loved hearing how our guests have developed their enterprise, relationship and interests together! Stay tuned for minute 46:37, ...
Jan 22, 2025•1 hr 58 min•Ep. 118
Bill Bartz and Emily Knudsen: owners of Pleasant Grove Pizza Farm! Join us for an unforgettable conversation with our new favorite restaurateurs. From their original concept to the experience that the pizza farm has become, we were so engaged with our guests’ humor and savvy business sense. Sustainability and quality are the foundations of what Pleasant Grove has become known for - and we can’t wait to see the fruits of their next venture (hint: check the freezer aisle)! Stay tuned for minute 07...
Jan 01, 2025•2 hr 15 min•Ep. 117
Kelly McIntee: business and life mindset coach! Join us for a holistic conversation spanning grief, purpose and all roads leading to relationships. Kelly’s outlook on life is dual focused - big picture dreams combined with fully appreciating the in-between moments. This attitude has led her to a tremendously successful career helping her clients fully realize their own potential. From losing her dad unexpectedly to her own unexpected career switch early on, we were thoroughly captivated her stor...
Dec 11, 2024•1 hr 46 min•Ep. 116
Jonathan “Sharkfin” Scarfpin: co-owner of Harvesting Technology! Join us for an in-depth conversation covering the usage and future of ethanol, the huge benefit it provides to rural communities - and renewable energy as a whole. Jonathan does an incredible job breaking down a multi-faceted industry into an easily digestible, engaging story. From jet fuel to Bitcoin mining, this interview took turns we never expected! Stay tuned for minute 1:29:50, where Jonathan shares his junior year high schoo...
Dec 04, 2024•1 hr 42 min•Ep. 115
Amy & Mike McQuery: co-owners of Half Pint Brewing Company! Join us for an unforgettable conversation with the two entrepreneurs that helped spearhead Minnesota’s very first farm brewery and taproom. Their journey to craft brewing is anything but typical; from the couple’s upbringing and their budding romance in Oregon to the journey to Minnesota, we loved hearing how these two bet on themselves and turned a hobby into a vocation. Stay tuned for minute 1:33:16, where Amy & Mike share the...
Nov 20, 2024•2 hr 1 min•Ep. 114
Emily Thiesse: head coach of Women’s Basketball at MSU Mankato (National Championship winners!) Join us for a wide-ranging conversation, starting with Emily’s earliest memories of the game with her father (a former basketball coach) and her journey to MSU’s winning 2023-24 season. From sports psychology to managing teammate relationships, our guest this week shares her insight into the complex dynamics of competitive sports. We couldn’t get enough of Emily’s perspective of the National Champions...
Nov 13, 2024•2 hr 10 min•Ep. 113
Jared Day: co-founder and COO of Gigli and Nuleev! Join us for an engaging conversation spanning Jared’s growing wealth of entrepreneurial expertise. From building a brand from the ground up, the incredible benefits of collaborating, and the challenge of reinventing the wheel, we loved hearing the backstory of both our guest and the Gigli brand. Our guest opens up about his biggest challenges to date and the legal awareness needed to operate a THC-focused company. Stay tuned for minute 40:09, wh...
Nov 06, 2024•1 hr 40 min•Ep. 112
Tim Flynn - “Master Tim” - owner of Kato Karate! Join us as Tim shares his mission of peace through self-defense. From his earliest experiences of being bullied, Tim explains how the early breakdown of self-confidence can have lifelong mental, emotional, and even physical effects. His unique approach to the education of anti-bullying has brought him national acclaim - and positively affected countless lives. We loved hearing our guest’s origin story, his mentors along the way, and most memorable...
Oct 29, 2024•2 hr 8 min•Ep. 111
Ted Marti: president of August Schell Brewing Company in New Ulm! Ted’s roots in the brewery run deep; from his earliest memories of playing on the company grounds as a child to his first challenges as president, our guest and his family have kept the tradition alive (and thriving). Join us as Ted shares insights into his success with sustaining an exceptional brand - and keeping his community relationships strong. We loved hearing the rich history of Schells from the local expert! Stay tuned fo...
Oct 17, 2024•2 hr 8 min•Ep. 110
Tim Murray & Myron Erstad: community leaders and entrepreneurial experts! Join us for an incredibly open and honest conversation with two of our new favorite mentor figures. From intense involvement in 40+ startup opportunities to the journey to sobriety journey, we were thoroughly captivated by the expertise of our guests. Recounting big wins and big failures, this episode is perfect for the risk-taker in all of us. Stay tuned for minute 44:20, where Tim shares his take on the 71% success r...
Sep 25, 2024•1 hr 36 min•Ep. 109
Maria Brown: third generation fine jewelry vice president and co-owner at Exclusively Diamonds! A Mankato native with deep roots in the community, Maria’s connections are astounding. Our guest shares how growing up in a highly successful entrepreneur family shaped how she sees the essential role of small businesses. From the pressure of keeping inventory moving during the Covid shutdown to spearheading new initiatives with social media outreach, we loved hearing our guest’s fresh take on ownersh...
Sep 18, 2024•2 hr 29 min•Ep. 108
Cate DeBates: principal and chief strategy officer at NAI North Star, partner to boutique hotels Arch + Cable and Hotel Alexander! Join us for an incredible conversation with skillful entrepreneur Cate. From her earliest memories moving all over the country to her most recent ventures in the world of hospitality, we were captivated by our guest’s enthusiasm and wide variety of expertise. Cate shares how her philosophy of “a rising tide lifts all boats” has proven essential in both community grow...
Sep 11, 2024•2 hr 32 min•Ep. 107
John Couchot: Vice President of Alcohol Operations at Chankaska Creek Ranch, Winery and Distillery! Woodchucks. California. Biotech. NDAs. Kids. Micro-roasting. Chupacabras. Nike beer. Ed Hardy. From his first brewing experiences at the age of 15 to his journey to Minnesota, our guest this week has a fascinating story that crosses multiple careers all over the country! John’s engaging manner of storytelling and incredible wealth of experience kept us captivated throughout the entire conversation...
Aug 28, 2024•1 hr 49 min•Ep. 103
Pete Matejcek: owner and president of Schmidt Siding and Window! Meeting the needs of the client in their own home is a responsibility that Pete accepts as a vocational calling. With a deep-rooted passion for exceeding the client’s needs, our guest has established himself as a key figure in the Southern Minnesota home improvement industry. Join us as we dive deep into Pete’s earliest memories as a Mankato native, how his start as a siding installer informed his transition into sales, and his int...
Aug 21, 2024•1 hr 54 min•Ep. 105
Jake Schrom - KBM President and entrepreneur! Kitchen, Baths & More (KBM). Hometown Fitness. Swass Block. Our guest this week is a hidden gem in the Mankato community - an adept entrepreneur with a wide range of expertise! From earliest childhood memories to making Cuban’s Cuts on Shark Tank, Jake takes us on a wild ride unlike any other. We enjoyed hearing our guest’s take on the most pivotal moments in his career (and his preparations for the future). Stay tuned for minute 1:16:26, where J...
Aug 14, 2024•1 hr 59 min•Ep. 104
Joe Bach: VP of Business Development at MEI Total Elevator Solutions! Anything but an average Joe, our guest this week has a wealth of experience in leadership and cultivating a culture of growth at MEI. Joe shares what he’s retained after over a decade in the industry - from field operations to successful failures. We loved hearing about the projects MEI has spearheaded, including the (giant) Barclays Center elevator in Brooklyn - and so many more. Special thanks to Andy Wilke for guest hosting...
Aug 08, 2024•1 hr 44 min•Ep. 103
Brandon Smith: Vice President of Operations & Development at Tailwind Group! Join us as our guest this week breaks down the commercial real estate industry, sharing his insight into Tailwind’s unique expertise in off-campus student housing all across the country. From Brandon’s own college experience to his responsibilities today, we loved this discussion of growth and success in (often) uncharted waters. Stay tuned for minute 02:07:48, where Brandon gives his projections into the future of ...
Aug 01, 2024•2 hr 48 min•Ep. 102
