Summary
We are back at it again with another Startup Junkies Podcast!
Our hosts Jeff Amerine, Caleb Talley, and Matthew Ward had the opportunity to speak with Zach Washam, former banking analyst now the creator of Machine Learning Edge, now PyFi and short-form essay writer. From machine learning, to explorative psychology, you will not want to miss this existential hour of an episode!
Thanks for tuning in!
Shownotes
(0:54) Introducing Zach Washam
(1:45) PyFi Update!
(2:50) Where Banking Meets Machine Learning
(13:15) Psychology and Motivational Speaking
(14:44) Existential Hour
(24:23) The practicality of Explorative Psychology
(31:46) Imposter Syndrome
(35:24) Defining Success
(44:41) Wrap up
Links
Books
Quotes
Everybody's focusing on deals, transactions, staying late, face time, trying to be really quick at responding to emails... I don't want to compete in that arena. I want to do something that's going to blow every other analyst out of the water.
Zach Washam (4:20)
"[In entrepreneurship] You're just directly interfacing with the real world, and you don't have the intermediary of your company to protect you from the chaos, to make decisions, or to construct your values."
Zach Washam (10:40)
"When you look at the way entrepreneurs or wantrepreneurs approach the process, there are those that are in love with the lifestyle, they just fall too in love with constantly chasing shiny objects and experimenting and never get to the point of convergence where they're actually building something meaningful."
Jeff Amerine (30:40)
"Right now I define being successful as being honest and learning."
Zach Washam (35:36)
Summary
Glad to have you back to another episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast!
Caleb Tally, Jeff Amerine, and Matthew Ward are joined by Heather Nelson, President, and Co-Founder of Seal Solar. Seal Solar is a solar design and installation firm out of North Little Rock, Arkansas. Understanding banking, taking mental health seriously, and using storytelling to educate and market have played a significant role in Heather's Midas touch success stories.
Thanks for tuning in!
Shownotes
(0:54) Introducing Heather Nelson of Seal Solar
(1:35) From Banking to Entrepreneurship
(7:01) Seal Solar Origin
(10:00) Importance of Mental Health
(12:33) Storytelling as an Entrepreneur
(22:24) Being Comfortable with Uncertainty
(25:02) Imposter Syndrome
(28:34) Casting Vision for Seal Solar
(32:24) Why Solar Energy?
(38:23) Advice to Younger Self
(40:46) Wrap Up
Links
Quotes
"You really need a strong banking relationship or you're just not gonna make it."
(2:00) Heather Nelson
"[Entrepreneurship] will highlight and show you all these gifts, passions, and things about yourself and your abilities that you never knew… but it will also show you the deepest, darkest, ugliest things about yourself. That you've spent a lot of time shoving into every crevice and corner saying, Lord Jesus, please don't let anybody ever see that or know that about me.
(10:15) Heather Nelson
"We've got a world that says you have to be a subject matter expert on everything at 22, and that's just the biggest lie ever."
(23:10) Heather Nelson
"It's not about whether the utilities are bad and solar's good or solar's bad and utilities are good... The thing is there's this amazing technology and how do we work together to utilize this great technology?"
(33:18) Heather Nelson
Summary
Welcome to the Startup Junkies Podcast!
Matthew Ward, Caleb Tally, and Jeff Amerine are joined by Darrin Williams and Vance Smiley this week on this latest episode. Darrin is currently the CEO of Southern Bancorp Inc and has partnered with Vance, a founding member of BankWorx. Together they are seeking to reimagine and reinvent the way banks use and develop core banking systems. Thanks for tuning in!
Shownotes
(1:00) Introducing Darrin Williams and Vance Smiley
(2:14) Southern Bancorp
(13:11) Facing Big Challenges
(16:20) Growth Alongside Coinbase
(19:52) Innovation Driven by Pandemic Impact
(24:23) Do Banking Education Differently
(28:05) Defining Success Down The Line
(30:54) Opportunity Zones and Gentrification
(35:22) What They Wish They Had Known
(39:28) Wrap up
Links
Quotes
"Our work really focuses on building economic opportunity… we really work to increase the net worth of the people that we serve." (4:14) Darrin Williams
"We don't exist just to be a bank. We really exist to make a difference. Build communities and change lives." (6:18) Darrin Williams
"I'm becoming much more interested in the impact of my work...it means something more than a paycheck, more than an equity upside." (35:57) Vance Smiley
"My parents were so dedicated to being servant leaders. I mean, every day I saw my parents focused on helping other people, it was never about them… so my interest in the law, my interest in politics, all came from this desire to serve." (37:46) Darrin Williams
Summary
This is the Startup Junkies Podcast. Welcome back!
This week, the usual crew, Matthew Ward, Caleb Tally, and Jeff Amerine meet with Dustin Finkel, CEO and Founder of Ka-Pop!, which recently merged with Bubba's Fine Foods to create Awakened Foods. From brand awareness, relationship building, and family-work balance to the importance of community, we discussed all the things that lead Dustin and his team to success.
Thank you for joining us!
Shownotes
(0:53) Introducing Dustin Finkel
(1:41) From Investment Banking to Food Production
(5:05) Shark Tank and Brand Awareness
(7:13) Building Relationships While Sourcing
(9:52) Company Culture + Branding
(14:42) Balancing Family and Running a Corporation
(18:40) The Value of Intentional Community and Partnerships
(29:46) Advice to Younger Self
(33:58) Wrap Up
Links
Quotes
"So despite my food background, it started just like everyone else. I thought there was a better way... The difference is I had a network that allowed me to really kind of partake and grow this business fairly quickly." (4:12) - Dustin Finkel
"And that's really the differentiator that our branding is about… it's about enjoyment. Snacking is fun. It should not be a trade off. It shouldn't be about this serious engagement." (11:15) - Dustin Finkel
"I want consumers to love my product to just gravitate toward it, [to] enjoy the eating experience." (12:26) -Dustin Finkel
"That was the whole point; build as much flexibility to grow. Because who knows what the next COVID is or who knows what the next growth trend is or what that might be." (20:40) - Dustin Finkel
"I don't accept mistakes. I hate them, but understanding how to deal with them, understanding how to react, understanding how to take patience into account." (33:28) - Dustin Finkel