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The Startup Junkies Podcast

The Startup Junkies podcast is hosted by Jeff Amerine and the team at Startup Junkie. We’ll cover topics ranging from getting started, planning, growing your business, proving your concept, leadership, marketing, exit strategies and so much more. We’ll interview business owners, entrepreneurs, experts and people we think will bring value to our audience. Subscribe, and together we'll take your business to the next level.
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This is the Startup Junkies Podcast. These are the stories of the people that are afflicted with creating the next great products and services that are going to change lives - not just in America, but worldwide. We're going to tell the stories of the next great beer producer, products and apparel makers, and the stories of people that don't accept the status quo and that want to make things better. 

Welcome to the Startup Junkies Podcast.

Feb 8, 2021

Hey everyone, welcome back! This episode, Caleb Talley, Jeff Amerine, and Matthew Ward talk with Andrew Gibbs-Dabney & Kelsey Ferguson from LIVSN. LIVSN creates versatile, well-made clothing for people who value experiences more than stuff. They make good clothing with tried and true methods and with high-quality fabrics. During this talk, you will get to hear about the progress LIVSN has made since their last appearance on the podcast, upcoming launch of a new product on Kickstarter, and plans around new product lines in the near future. Thanks for tuning in!

 

Shownotes

(3:42) What is LIVSN up to?

(12:34) Rolling out a new pant design

(16:40) Joining a startup during a worldwide pandemic

(25:56) Raising a child while parenting a startup

(28:50) What’s next for LIVSN?

(33:36) LIVSN’s top markets

(35:36) Expectations for the Kickstarter 

(36:39) Venture capital

(41:57) Advice to the younger self

(42:43) Wrap up


Links

Caleb Talley

Jeff Amerine

Matthew Ward

Andrew Gibbs-Dabney

Kelsey Ferguson  

EcoTrek: Adventure Pants 

LIVSN Instagram

LIVSN Website  

 

Quotes

“You can buy your way into some stuff, but you know...If you’re getting your product on and in people’s hands, and they really start using it, that’s the way to [get media attention].” (10:57)

 

“I’ve always felt like the company has a different feel than many other companies I know.  And if you look at the messaging that Andrew has created the entire time the brand has been alive, you’ll notice that we don’t shy away from being transparent about everything that we are good at and what we need to improve on and how we’re going to do that.”  (17:46)

Sponsored by Tiny Capital: https://www.tinycapital.com/

Tiny partners with founders to give them quick, straightforward exits that protect their team and culture. We’ll make an offer within a week, close the deal within a month, and keep your business operating for the long term. 

Get in touch at tinycapital.com/startupjunkies, and we’ll let you know within a couple of days. 

Feb 1, 2021

Welcome to another week with the Startup Junkie crew! This week, Caleb Talley and Jeff Amerine have a talk with Deric Cahill, founder and CEO of Wicked BOLD Chocolate. Wicked BOLD Chocolate is a chocolate company that only uses organic & ethically sourced cacao in their process and commits to ingredient transparency. They source their cacao through Belize leveraging their partners at Chocolate Alchemy. In this episode, you will get to hear about the story behind Wicked BOLD Chocolate, the importance of being resilient during tough times, and thoughts around growing and managing their supply chain moving forward. Tune in with us!

Shownotes

(2:07) Introducing Deric Cahill and Wicked BOLD Chocolate

(7:41) Utilizing farmer’s markets and building an online presence

(12:56) Changing the way chocolate is perceived 

(14:53) Growing the brand and exploring new territory

(23:42) Planning for future growth

(30:52) Collaborating with other businesses

(32:47) Advice for the younger self

(36:36) Wrap up

 

Links

Caleb Talley

Jeff Amerine

Deric Cahill

Wicked BOLD Chocolate

Wicked BOLD Chocolate Instagram   


Quotes

“Everything we do as a company, I want to be rooted in that.  Like giving back and like empowering people to live life to the boldest.  That’s our motto.” (16:26)

“Even if your stop at Wicked BOLD is a year, three years, five years, whatever it is, you’re leaving us better than when you came to us, and we’re positioning you to do whatever the hell you want to do to be as happy as possible.” (16:48)

Sponsored by Tiny Capital: https://www.tinycapital.com/

Tiny partners with founders to give them quick, straightforward exits that protect their team and culture. We’ll make an offer within a week, close the deal within a month, and keep your business operating for the long term. 

Get in touch at tinycapital.com/startupjunkies, and we’ll let you know within a couple of days. 

Jan 25, 2021

Hey everyone! Welcome back! This week, Caleb Talley and Jeff Amerine talk with Peter Joukov, COO and co-founder of inq Tattoos. Husband and wife team, Peter and Maria Joukov, founded inq Tattoos because they saw an unmet need in the market for today’s tattoo customer and a better way to work for today's tattoo artist. Leaning on their military, corporate, and business backgrounds, they created a modern and accessible tattoo experience for the everyday customer and a supportive space for professional artists. In this episode, you will get to hear about the story behind inq Tattoos, how they find the right franchisees, and certain challenges with franchising in different states. Thanks for listening in!

 

Shownotes

(2:19) Introducing Peter and inq

(8:15) Solving problems with unique solutions

(11:54) Effects of COVID-19

(14:14) Marketing in the tattoo industry

(16:56) Temporary vs permanent tattoos

(18:09) Franchising

(26:34) Controversial tattoos

(32:01) Advice to the younger self

(34:22) Wrap up

 

Links

Caleb Talley

Jeff Amerine

 

Matthew Ward

Peter Joukov 

inq Tattoos 

 

Quotes

“Sometimes people don’t realize that things can be done differently.  And if you’re having a problem and you solve a problem for yourself, you may be solving it for other people as well.” (11:27)

Sponsored by Tiny Capital: https://www.tinycapital.com/

Tiny partners with founders to give them quick, straightforward exits that protect their team and culture. We’ll make an offer within a week, close the deal within a month, and keep your business operating for the long term. 

Get in touch at tinycapital.com/startupjunkies, and we’ll let you know within a couple of days. 

Jan 18, 2021

In this episode, Caleb talks with Thomas F. “Mack” McLarty, III in an interview from Startup Junkie’s inaugural startup week event in September 2020.  Mack is well-renowned for his business acumen, and he served as the White House Chief of Staff for President Bill Clinton’s administration.  Caleb and Mack discuss a handful of entrepreneurial topics, as well as several things that Mack attributes to his success. You do not want to miss out on this standout episode! 

 

Shownotes

(1:08) Introducing Mack McLarty

(3:20) The importance of positively impacting others

(6:01) How the late 90s became a golden age for entrepreneurs

(9:15) Closing the capital gap between the Heartland and the Coasts

(12:12) The Ferment Group’s investment criteria

(16:13) Advice for growth-oriented entrepreneurs taking on investors

(18:09) The government’s role in the democratization of innovation

(23:17) Widening investment opportunities while protecting investors

(25:35) Surrounding yourself with quality people

(28:25) Being true to yourself

(34:05) Succession planning

(37:32) Mack McLarty’s game-changing moments

(40:42) Mack McLarty’s legacy

 

Links

Caleb Talley

Mack McLarty 

 

Quotes

“It is essential that the investor be aligned with the management and founder - entrepreneur - and vice versa.  That the management and founder be aligned with the investor.  As my father liked to often say, have as good a front-end understanding as you possible can have.  In other words, understand really what the other is trying to accomplish.” (17:04) 

 

“Human nature being what it is, people are going to naturally want to work for someone they respect, that they trust, and they feel who will be fair and even-handed in giving them an opportunity to succeed.” (27:28) 

 

“If you are not finding meaning in what you’re doing and some joy and sense of accomplishment, you probably should be thinking about maybe shifting that at some point and doing something else.” (19:08)

Sponsored by Tiny Capital: https://www.tinycapital.com/

Tiny partners with founders to give them quick, straightforward exits that protect their team and culture. We’ll make an offer within a week, close the deal within a month, and keep your business operating for the long term. 

Get in touch at tinycapital.com/startupjunkies, and we’ll let you know within a couple of days. 

Jan 11, 2021

Shownotes

(1:26) Introducing Dr. Rogelio Garcia Contreras

(6:03) How Rogelio ended up at the University of Arkansas

(13:49) The social innovation challenge 

(18:57) Rogelio shares a few highlights from the social innovation challenge

(26:09) Thinking outside the box

(38:04) Playing the long game

(44:38) Advice for the younger self

 

Links

Caleb Talley

Jeff Amerine

Matthew Ward

Dr. Rogelio Garcia Contreras 

 

Quotes

“Although social entrepreneurship has become a very popular rallying point...solutions to these kind of complex problems never come easy, right?” (16:19)

“I’m an optimist in the human spirit and resilience to come up with solutions down the road that address these issues.  But it is imperative that we all are aware of the magnitude of the problem, but we also are aware of how we can connect.” (43:16)

 

Sponsored by Tiny Capital: https://www.tinycapital.com/

Tiny partners with founders to give them quick, straightforward exits that protect their team and culture. We’ll make an offer within a week, close the deal within a month, and keep your business operating for the long term. 

Get in touch at tinycapital.com/startupjunkies, and we’ll let you know within a couple of days. 

Jan 8, 2021

The Enactus team at the University of Arkansas is on the rise, and is headed to the Enactus National Competition to present three major projects in Kansas City for the first time in eight years. Director of Enactus at the University, Rachel Sullivant, explains the students’ projects. From a hybrid coffee & retail space that employs adults with developmental disabilities to a workshop allowing those experiencing homelessness to create and sell home décor, Enactus is on a mission to engage students and the community to tackle complex social issues through entrepreneurship.

Get to know Rachel, and how you can get involved with social entrepreneurship by reaching out to her at rsullivant@walton.uark.edu.

Learn more about Enactus here, and check out the idea behind the McMillon Innovation Studio here!

 

Get your weekly dose of entrepreneurial wisdom by subscribing to us on the Podcasts app!

Follow us on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook!

Hear the stories of other great startup businesses by listening to our previous podcasts here!

Hosts: Jeff Amerine & Michael Iseman

Jan 7, 2021

Chief Strategy Officer of RevUnit, Seth Waite, joins this episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast where we dive into the details of Fuel, the future of supply chain management, and the values that Seth has formed to guide his career. He is a futurist, philanthropist, and one of the facilitators for Fuel, a program led by RevUnit and Startup Junkie to help supply chain startups become enterprise-ready. Participants will receive mentoring, coaching, and connections with Walmart's Supply Chain Innovation team and leaders from CaseStack, Propack, Tyson, and other large enterprises.

Applications are open for the Fuel Accelerator: fuelaccelerator.com

RevUnit is very cool: revunit.com

Learn more about the man behind the microphone at sethwaite.com

Get your weekly dose of entrepreneurial wisdom by subscribing to us on the Podcasts app!

Follow us on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook!

Hosts: Michael Iseman & Haley Allgood

michael@startupjunkie.org

haley@startupjunkie.org

Jan 6, 2021

Tom Chapman, Founder of Chapman and Company, joins this episode of The Startup Junkies Podcast recorded in Denver in the middle of the Startup Champions Network Fall Summit. Startup Champions Network is a group of Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Builders similar to the Startup Junkies that meets twice a year to share best practices and stories. Tom, one of the original members of the network, gives us his take on the entrepreneurial ecosystem; and the importance of like-minded communities to come together and share great ideas. We discuss Angel Investment Networks, Omaha, the Nebraska Navy, and Tom even gives us an account of working for Enron early in his career during the days of exponential growth followed by massive layoffs. Lastly, Tom shares his mantra that, “when you get to a data-driven approach… you will recognize that entrepreneurship is the way for us to solve most the world’s problems, and to live a life that you can be happy and proud of.”

 

Tom’s Company: https://www.chapmanandcompany.co/

Tom’s Email: tchapman@chapmanandcompany.co

Tom’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/tchap623

Startup Champions: http://www.championsnetwork.co/

 

Get your weekly dose of entrepreneurial wisdom by subscribing to us on the Podcasts app!

Follow us on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook!

Hear the stories of other great startup businesses by listening to our previous podcasts here!

Host: Michael Iseman

michael@startupjunkie.org

Jan 5, 2021

How does a startup, small firm, or entrepreneur with an innovative technology idea get the required facetime with a tech giant/mega retail corporation to pitch their next big idea and impact the world? Bryce Paden, co-founder of i2i Labs, has the solution in the unique form of a tech broker of sorts. Hardly a full year into business, he has proved, with an uncommon business model no less, that there is certainly a market for the service i2i Labs provides. The company curates and accredits small tech teams before helping them present their innovations to large corporations that have the resources to buy the technology, but not the time or man-power needed to create it. Bryce also gives us a sneak peek into his next business. Think recreational axe throwing. Get excited!

 

To contact a professional at i2i Labs, visit https://www.i2ilabs.co/

 

Get your weekly dose of entrepreneurial wisdom by subscribing to us on the Podcasts app!

Follow us on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook!

Hear the stories of other great startup businesses by listening to our previous podcasts here!

 

Hosts: Jeff Amerine & Michael Iseman

jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com

Michael@startupjunkie.org

Jan 4, 2021

Andrew Gibbs-Dabney, Founder and CEO of LIVSN Designs, joins The Startup Junkies Podcast to discuss his entrepreneurial journey. Andrew got his start in apparel working for Fayettechill as a warehouse employee, but the success of the company would lead him to play the role of CEO in 2 short years. His passion for outdoor recreational activities and apparel led him to create his own clothing line– LIVSN. The idea of offering high-quality, durable outdoor clothing for people who value experiences more than stuff has vaulted the launch of a successful Kickstarter campaign. In this episode, Andrew and the team explore a wide range of topics from work-life balance to overcoming all the obstacles that most startups face. We also focus on the future of LIVSN, and what Andrew plans to accomplish in the foreseeable future.

 

LIVSN: https://www.livsndesigns.com/

LIVSN kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/livsndesigns/hi-wool-fleece-and-flex-canvas-pants-built-for-lif

LIVSN Instagram: https://instagram.com/livsndesigns

Fayettechill: https://www.fayettechill.com/

Arkansas Interscholastic Cycling League: http://www.arkansasmtb.org/

BLK ELK Media: https://www.blkelkmedia.com/

 

Get your weekly dose of entrepreneurial wisdom by subscribing to us on the Podcasts app!

 

This episode was sponsored by Tiny. Tiny partners with founders to give them quick, straightforward exits that protect their team and culture.

Follow us on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook!

 

Hear the stories of other great startup businesses by listening to our previous podcasts here!

 

Hosts: Jeff Amerine & Michael Iseman

jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com

michael@startupjunkie.org

Dec 28, 2020

Hey everyone! This week, Caleb Talley and Jeff Amerine zoom with Colin McIntosh, founder, and CEO of Sheets & Giggles. Sheets & Giggles is one of the fastest-growing sustainable bedding brands in the U.S and is disrupting the traditional industry. In this episode, you will get to hear the real story behind the ideation of Sheets & Giggles, the analysis that went behind finding the perfect industry to create a company, and the importance of getting the right people on the bus. We are glad to have you here!

Shownotes

(1:16) Introducing Colin McIntosh and Sheets and Giggles

(6:40) Sheets are part of the perfect business model

(8:29) Why eucalyptus lyocell?

(13:08) What sets Sheets and Giggles apart?

(16:40) Impact investing

(18:40) Reflecting on the entrepreneurial journey

(21:30) Maintaining culture through growth

(24:59) What is the end goal?

(30:38) Advice for the younger self

(32:55) Wrapping up

 

Links

Caleb Talley

Jeff Amerine

Matthew Ward

Colin McIntosh 

Sheets and Giggles

Amazon Store  

 

Quotes

“The content that we do is insane compared to the rest of the space.  And if it makes us laugh, if it makes me laugh, it goes.  And that’s, I think, the thing that other brands don’t see...When you’re on Instagram and you’re scrolling, I’m not going to stop for the same thing I’ve seen a thousand times, but I might stop if I see a guy sleeping in a bathtub for an allegory about the amount of water that cotton sheets use.” (14:29)

 

“I would love to look back in five years and say that we built a large, national brand that does a lot of good in the world and is very well-respected and makes a lot of people laugh….Whether that’s a public company or a subsidiary of Mattress Corp, you know, like I’m pretty agnostic about that, as long as we can achieve the goal.” (26:43)

Dec 21, 2020

Welcome back! This week, Caleb Talley, Jeff Amerine, and Matthew Ward chat with Perry S. Marshall, owner of Perry S. Marshall & Associates. Perry S. Marshall & Associates has helped tens of thousands of small companies become big companies by applying advanced 80/20 to online advertising. Perry is one of the most sought after business consultants in the world, consulting in over 300 industries. Endorsed in Forbes and Inc Magazine, he’s guided clients like FanDuel and InfusionSoft from startup to hundreds of millions of dollars. In this episode, you will get to hear about common obstacles start-ups face, some topics surrounding some of Perry’s books, and interesting talk around AI and Machine Learning. Check it out!

(1:23) Introducing Perry Marshall

(2:11) Perry’s shower thoughts

(4:54) The problem with profit-based health care systems

(7:31) How Perry wrote the best-selling book on digital advertising

(18:54) Kindergarten business vs. the adult version of business

(22:23) Evolution 2.0

(45:49) The earth as a self-regulating organism

(51:50) Artificial intelligence vs. Biology

(56:52) Wrapping up

 

Links

Caleb Talley

Jeff Amerine

Matthew Ward

Perry Marshall

30 Day Street MBA

Evolution 2.0   

 

Quotes

“So I write this book and then I turn it into an ebook, and right about then, like, Google hit the hockey stick and it just turned into this crazy magic carpet ride.  Like, the whole world discovered that the English language is for sale, and the French, and the German, and Spanish.  Right?  And, like, this thing just went supernova, and Google went supernova, and like, I just kind of rode the coattails and I hung on for dear life.” (16:54)


“I know how to explain things.  I’m a marketing guy.  And that’s why I wrote Evolution 2.0...This is literally the first book ever published that correctly explains how evolution works, that you don’t have to be a PhD to understand it.” (45:26)

Dec 14, 2020

Shownotes

(1:50) Introducing Giftgoat

(5:55) The story behind the name

(8:05) Grassroots customer acquisition

(12:22) How the three founders came together

(14:14) Managing workflow, company culture, and growth when working remote

(21:44) COVID-19’s effects on Giftgoat

(24:04) Managing launch week, and commitment to hustling through the early days

(26:47) Advice for the younger self

(28:39) Where can you find Giftgoat?

 

Links

Caleb Talley

Jeff Amerine

Steven Gurley 

George Wauchope 

Evan Mathis 

Giftgoat 

 

Quotes

“We’re looking at data.  That’s all we want is to see how users are interacting with our platform so that we can make a better product.” (24:53)

“I would have told myself to not try to grow companies too quickly, because in the event of something like the global pandemic, that could be the end for your company.” (27:05)

“So I think the biggest thing is to just bury your ego and listen to people who are more accomplished and successful than you.” (28:14)

Dec 7, 2020

Welcome to another episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast!

In this week’s episode, Caleb, Jeff, and Matthew talk with Norman Crowley, entrepreneur, and climate change enthusiast.  By the time he was 40, Crowley founded and sold three companies for upwards of three-quarters of a billion dollars.  Now, Crowley is the CEO of the Cool Planet Group and focuses on finding solutions for climate change.  Tune in to this episode and you will hear about the businesses Crowley founded, how we can create cool, sexy solutions to climate change, encouraging the younger generations to innovate, and an electric 1963 Corvette Stingray with 1,200 brake horsepower!

 

Shownotes

(1:45) Introducing Norman Crowley

(12:18) Separating climate change from other agendas

(19:39) Predicting how the energy landscape will change in future decades

(26:48) Three areas Cool Planet Group is focusing on

(29:10) Norman’s opinions on alternative civilization settings

(32:45) The importance of galvanizing innovators in the younger generation

(37:36) Norman gives advice to his younger self

 

Links

Caleb Talley

Jeff Amerine

Matthew Ward

Norman Crowley 

Cool Planet Group 

 

Quotes

“People just want to live their lives.  They don’t want to be constrained, and they don’t want to hear about what they can’t do.  They want to hear about what they can do.” (12:04)

“There are people in Bangladesh dying because water levels are rising, right?  And then that has nothing to do with the fact that you would like rich people to be less rich, right?  And it’s really dangerous tying both of those things together because when you tie both of those things together you alienate whole swathes of the population.  And then poor people in Bangladesh drown because you’ve got some other agenda.” (14:16)

“Find a way of becoming wiser earlier, right?  And then trust yourself once you are becoming 

wise.  None of us are perfectly wise, but find a way of listening to and trusting yourself.”  (40:29)

 

Nov 30, 2020

Welcome back to another episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast! This week, Caleb Talley, Jeff Amerine, and Matthew Ward talk with Dr. Joseph Daniels, founder of Build Community Through Love. Build Community Through Love seeks to infuse AGAPE LOVE into the strategic and actionable redesign of authentic community.  Dr. Daniels has a Ph.D. in civil engineering from the University of Arkansas, is a community builder, and is a real investor. In this episode, some of the topics you will get to hear about our insights around inclusivity in ecosystem development, opportunity zones in real estate, the need for equity in Northwest Arkansas, and Dr. Daniels' why. Thanks for listening in with us!

Shownotes

(2:01) Introducing Joe Daniels

(5:06) Moving from a metropolitan area to NWA

(11:19) Inclusivity in entrepreneurial ecosystems

(26:12) Joe’s future with Build Community Through Love 

(32:15) Joe talks about what drives his passion

(35:48) Advice for Joe’s younger self

(38:55) Wrapping up

 

Links

Caleb Talley

Jeff Amerine

Matthew Ward

Joe Daniels

Build Community Through Love Website

BCTL Podcast

BCTL Instagram    

 

Quotes

“We value all of these things and then allow for a seven day event where everybody comes in from outside to come into our home.  And we begin saying, you know what, we’re not gonna, we can’t do anything. We’re just going to let everybody be themselves.  And, you know, if I’m a taxpayer in this city, I don’t want to have to go to another city for a week just to let other people come into my house and wreck it, just for me to have to come back.” (27:20)

 

“So I would tell young Joe, as he’s coming out of high school, begin thinking of ways to employ people.  Begin using your mind to solve problems.  Don’t force yourself to get A’s in a system that’s gonna continue to keep you locked into as an employee, because your mind is so powerful.  And if you use your mind, you can always be an employee, but you can also be someone who can really affect change, and who can provide ideas that solve and can provide real solutions.” (37:08)

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