Kilee Nickels never set out to be a CEO, but when her first pair of custom-made earrings became a huge hit, she knew she had to turn her passion into a business. From that moment, Nickel & Suede was born. But the journey hasn’t been without challenges — early on, Kilee faced everything from growing pains to a near $20K scam that could’ve ended everything. On today’s episode, Ben is joined in the co-host seat by Eunique Jones Gibson, founder of Because Of Them We Can a...
Mar 04, 2025•36 min•Ep 4•Transcript available on Metacast In a previous episode of The Unshakeables, Ben spoke with Kilee Nickels of Nickel & Suede about a near $20,000 scam. In this bonus episode, Ben continues his conversation with Darius Kingsley, head of banking practices at JP Morgan Chase, to discuss the growing threats of fraud targeting businesses. Darius shares insights on evolving scam tactics and offers practical advice on how businesses can stay vigilant and protected. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Mar 04, 2025•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast Tim Harford is joined by Ben Walter, CEO of Chase for Business and the host of "The Unshakeables" podcast, to explore the story of the trailblazing Widow Clicquot. Her namesake brand Veuve Clicquot revolutionized the champagne industry in the 19th century. Tim and Ben look at how she defied expectations and built one of the most iconic businesses in history. This episode is sponsored by Chase for Business. For a full list of sources, see the show notes at timharford.com . See omnystu...
Feb 19, 2025•21 min•Transcript available on Metacast A few years ago, Zahra Hargens-Illiff discovered batteries light her up. She built her own battery prototype in her garage and hit the VC circuit. But after a series of disappointing rejections, she took matters into her own hands and bootstrapped her first few products. A decision that took a lot of courage but one that is paying off. Join Ben Walter and Kathleen Griffith as they chat with Zahra about a clean energy future. Discover what it takes to actually build a battery prototype and hear a...
Feb 18, 2025•34 min•Ep 3•Transcript available on Metacast George Esquivel started making shoes for himself and some friends, up-and-coming musicians in Southern California. Soon, Hollywood came calling. And it wasn’t just celebrities who took notice. A film financier did, too. He said he wanted to invest in the company, but George soon realized his intentions weren’t what they seemed. Join Ben and special guest host Kathleen Griffith as they speak to George about the rise of Esquivel Designs. Hear what a meeting with Anna Winto...
Feb 04, 2025•35 min•Ep 2•Transcript available on Metacast The Unshakeables is back for Season 2 — and it’s kicking off with an episode you absolutely won’t want to miss. Listen in as Ben Walter sits with a very special guest: chairman and CEO of JPMorganChase, Jamie Dimon. One of the world’s most respected financial thought leaders, Jamie will connect the dots between the current challenges facing small business owners and the broader financial landscape. And, of course, it wouldn’t be an episode of The Unshakeables if Jam...
Jan 21, 2025•34 min•Ep 1•Transcript available on Metacast Welcome to The Unshakeables , Season 2, featuring new interviews with small business owners who share their make-or-break moments and the resilience it took to persevere. Join CEO of Chase for Business and host Ben Walter, along with a special lineup of co-hosts, as they pull back the curtain with entrepreneurs who tell their unfiltered and inspiring stories. The Unshakeables is brought to you by Chase for Business and Ruby Studio by iHeartMedia See omnystudio.com/listener for ...
Jan 07, 2025•2 min•Transcript available on Metacast The idea for Fresh Bloom Bins struck Tia Johnson like lightning on a hot summer day. After struggling with a dirty trash can and a teenager reluctant to clean it, Tia was inspired to start her own trash can cleaning business. She hit the ground running, quickly landing a government pilot program. In this episode, as we continue to celebrate business across the country, Ben heads to Ohio to talk with Tia Johnson of Fresh Bloom Bins and Desmond Bryant from the Columbus Chamber of Commerce. They di...
Dec 03, 2024•33 min•Ep 13•Transcript available on Metacast Quanetta “Q” McNeal loves two things: people and logistics. When she had the chance to combine these interests and launch her own company with her employer's support, she jumped in feet first. But starting her logistics business came with surprises no one could anticipate, like packages mysteriously disappearing, traffic jams stretching for miles and delivery trucks veering off course and crashing into trees. Join Ben as he chats with Quanetta, founder of Haus of Logistics, about her journey fro...
Nov 19, 2024•31 min•Ep 12•Transcript available on Metacast When Craig Rupp left Iowa in the 80s, he never wanted to step foot on a farm again. A whirlwind career as an engineer took him to some of the biggest companies - Motorola, Apple, Samsung - but he always felt a strong connection to his roots. He had an idea he couldn’t shake - an opportunity to change farming forever. Introducing Sabanto and its best-in-class Autonomous Operator, Steward. On the day of their first big test, the tractor froze, stuck in a field in a blizzard - no planting, no compa...
Nov 05, 2024•37 min•Ep 11•Transcript available on Metacast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Oct 29, 2024•2 min•Transcript available on Metacast Transitioning to civilian life after years of military service can be daunting. Some veterans pursue higher education, while others explore business and entrepreneurship, each journey uniquely personal. What remains constant is the importance of ensuring service members are well-prepared for this transition. In this special episode of The Unshakeables, Ben sits down with Ryan Pavel, a veteran and CEO of the national nonprofit Warrior-Scholar Project, to discuss his transition from the military. ...
Jun 25, 2024•31 min•Ep 10•Transcript available on Metacast The Unshakeables returns with a special episode. Join Ben as he sits with Jay Bailey, CEO of the Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs, and Dr. Joy Harden Bradford, host of Therapy for Black Girls, live from The Experience: Atlanta, an event presented by Chase for Business. They discuss the mindset that makes small business owners truly unshakeable. Both small business owners, Jay and Dr. Joy witness the grit and resilience of Atlanta's business community. So listen in as they delve into w...
Jun 11, 2024•23 min•Ep 9•Transcript available on Metacast Desi Perkins launched her YouTube and Instagram profiles to focus on makeup-and people LOVED it. And when she launched a line of sunglasses with a major sunglass brand, people ate that up, too. But when it came time to renegotiate the contract with that brand… that didn’t go as planned. She and her husband Steven set out to do it on their own, knowing if the brand failed it was on them. Join Ben and Tanya as they chat with Desi and Steven about their daring real-life expansion of the online bran...
Apr 30, 2024•31 min•Ep 8•Transcript available on Metacast Rob Starkman’s sophomore year was not a typical college experience. He spent most days chugging energy drinks and sweating over fabric dyes in his dorm room. It had all started a few months before, when Rob took on a new role as student manager of the men’s basketball team and it all almost ended when one of the largest companies in the world sent him a cease and desist letter. Join Ben and Tanya as they chat with Rob about the stroke of inspiration that started Rock ‘Em Socks in a dorm room, an...
Apr 16, 2024•24 min•Ep 7•Transcript available on Metacast The 2008 Global Financial Crisis was hard for almost everyone. Fuquan Bilal remembers it like it was yesterday. A real estate investor, among other things, he came home to the news of the crash and the sharp realization that he lost $2 million overnight. That could have been the end with advisors telling him to file for bankruptcy. Join Ben and Tanya as they chat with Fuquan about how he fought to keep his companies afloat. Discover how he brought his business back from the dead, ignoring common...
Apr 02, 2024•27 min•Ep 6•Transcript available on Metacast When Denise Woodard found out her daughter Vivi had severe food allergies, she went into super mom mode. She looked for food that was nutritious and fun but what she found at the store was disappointing at best. So she took to the kitchen and started making her own snacks for Vivi, laying the foundation for Partake Foods, a Black-owned, female-led company offering allergy-friendly foods. As her snacks started to gain traction, Denise realized she needed more capital—and fast—if she wanted Partak...
Mar 19, 2024•26 min•Ep 5•Transcript available on Metacast It can be tough to start a business. And if you’re a young family on the brink of the birth of your first child, it can be even tougher. Yet George and Margarita Rivera did it anyway. When George came home and told Margarita he quit his job to start his own electric company, she had apprehensions. Could they keep their family afloat while starting this new company? Join Ben and Tanya as they chat with the founders of Doc Watts Electric about those first rocky months. Discover how they built a co...
Mar 05, 2024•28 min•Ep 4•Transcript available on Metacast Melissa Gallardo’s childhood smelled like dark-roast coffee and lavender Fabulosa. As an adult, she found it difficult to find fragrances that made her feel at home, so she took it into her own hands and taught herself to make candles. It was a fun hobby side hustle until a 5,400 candle order almost sent her over the edge. Join Ben and Tanya as they chat with Melissa, founder of Bonita Fierce Candles, about taking her passion project from her side hustle to her full-time job. Discover how she st...
Feb 20, 2024•23 min•Ep 3•Transcript available on Metacast Alex Vega always loved cars. It started with a $500 car in high school and led to a custom detailing and modification business. Until one day, a business partner revealed his true colors and unceremoniously dumped Alex back to square one. But that wasn’t the first time that happened to Alex—and it wouldn’t be the last. Join Ben and Tanya as they chat with Alex, owner of The Auto Firm, about how even the biggest red lights in the world can't stop you when you know your brand, the importance of pa...
Feb 06, 2024•23 min•Ep 2•Transcript available on Metacast In March 2020, while the entire world was shutting down, Doug and Jason Barrow, brothers and owners of Luna Gourmet Coffee & Tea, had other problems. One morning at the office, one of their employees said the building smelled like campfire. Now roasting coffee does get a little toasty—but never like this. Join Ben and Tanya as they chat with the Barrow brothers about their business's phoenix-like comeback. Discover how they rebounded, securing fresh funding, finding unexpected allies, and bu...
Jan 23, 2024•28 min•Ep 1•Transcript available on Metacast These are The Unshakeables, daring small business owners facing crisis points and sharing the stories of how they got through it. Hosted by Ben Walter and Tanya Nebo, The Unshakeables is brought to you by Chase for Business and Ruby Studio by iHeartMedia. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jan 16, 2024•2 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
