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Brandon McCraney left a corporate VP track to become the master blender behind Old Raleigh Distillery. And the road there involved getting rejected by 12 different banks, liquidating his own 401(k) days before Christmas, and personally chiseling plaster off an 80-foot wall by hand because he couldn't afford to pay someone else to do it. In this episode, Brandon breaks down how he turned a "crazy whiskey collector" hobby into a blending operation that's released over 180 unique whiskeys in a single year, why he thinks the bourbon industry's biggest brands are all making the same strategic mistake, and how a flooded market and a wave of hedge-fund speculation quietly reshaped the whole business. Plus the SBA loan story that'll make you rethink what "qualified" even means.Be sure to check out the Show Notes!Follow us on Instagram: @witnessbusinessFollow Olde Raleigh on Instagram: @olderaleighdistillery

Jeff Rose has done it all. From the military, to becoming a CFP, to earning hundreds of thousands of dollars per month BLOGGING, to now earning a full-time income posting on Facebook. Not selling digital products, courses, affiliates... Just straight from Meta, earning on Facebook views and engagement. How does he do it? How does Facebook's content monetization program worK? How can YOU take advantage of what Meta is doing right now? This one covers all the bases, including story after story of the many successes and failures along the way.Be sure to check out the Show Notes!Follow us on Instagram: @witnessbusinessFollow Jeff on Instagram: @jjeffroseAlso check out Wealth Hacker on Youtube

When Carolyn was diagnosed with celiac disease at age 31, every gluten-free cookie she tried fell apart into chalky dust. So the former Department of Defense consultant turned stockbroker decided to build a better one herself, and Mightylicious was born. In this episode, she walks us through baking tens of thousands of inedible cookies in a tiny New York apartment, engineering her own flour blend when none existed, talking her way into Whole Foods with three sample bags and no commercial kitchen, and raising $5 million in 48 hours off a cold-email campaign to 10,000 strangers. It's a masterclass in grit, scrappiness, and refusing to take "lucky" for an answer. Plus the baking science behind why you should always reach for the salted butter. A must-listen for anyone with a big idea and the stubbornness to chase it.Be sure to check out the Show Notes!Follow us on Instagram: @witnessbusinessFollow Mightylicious on Instagram: @mightyliciousfoods

In this episode, we chat with entrepreneur and former NFL player Rick Elmore, founder of Simply Noted, to talk about how he went from pro football to medical sales to building a multi-million-dollar startup powered by robotifcs and handwritten marketing. Rick shares how a simple business idea turned into an innovative tech company, the challenges of entrepreneurship, validating a startup idea, hiring to scale a business, and why handwritten notes still outperform digital marketing in today's AI-driven world.Be sure to check out the Show Notes!Follow us on Instagram: @witnessbusiness

In this episode, we sit down with Josh Sprague, founder of Orange Mud and Seven Clay, and we unpack how his mindset turned his own frustrations into 7-figure businesses. When you can’t find a hydration pack that works for you, just try to build one and see what happens. Or when you can’t find a custom embroidery company to do what you ask, just buy the machine and try to do it yourself. Josh gives us a masterclass in execution, resourcefulness, and why taking imperfect action can be your biggest competitive advantage.If you’ve ever had a business idea but overthought your way out of starting, this episode will challenge you to stop waiting around and just try.Be sure to check out the Show Notes!Follow us on Instagram: @witnessbusinessFollow Josh on Instagram: @jcsprag

Which would you choose... starting a business from scratch, or buying into a proven franchise?In this episode, Abbie shares the story behind why she and her husband chose franchising with Scooter's Coffee, and how that decisions shaped their path into entrepreneurship. From the personal "why", to the to the financial realities, to hiring employees, we unpack what it actually looks like to step into business ownership through a franchise.Be sure to check out the Show Notes!Follow us on Instagram: @witnessbusinessFollow Scooters on Instagram: @scooterscoffee.downersgrove.il

In this episode, we sit down with the couple behind a one-of-a-kind beer bath business you've probably never heard of. Until now. After quitting their jobs, Jessica and Damien spent 14 months traveling the world in search of a business idea, eventually discovering beer spas in Poland. They went on to study similar experiences across different countries and blending the best elements into their own concept, Oakwell Beer Spa. From navigating the challenges of launching in Denver (including pitching the city for funding) to building a unique customer experience and now stepping into franchising, this is a wild, insightful story about betting on an unconventional idea and making it work. Be sure to check out the Show Notes!Follow us on Instagram: @witnessbusinessFollow Oakwell on Instagram: @oakwellbeerspa

In this episode, we sit down with Bryan Clayton, an entrepreneur who built and exited an 8-figure lawn care company before launching GreenPal, a marketplace app that is essentially "Uber for lawn care". Bryan shares the real founder story behind building a service business, scaling a local lawn care company, navigating a successful business exit, and then starting over to build a tech startup. marketplace that now connects 300,000+ homeowners to lawn care professionals. If you're interested in entrepreneurship, small business ideas, startups, side hustles, or scaling a service-based business, this episode breaks down the practical steps Bryan took to transform a simple lawn mowing business into a major entrepreneurial success.Be sure to check out the Show Notes!Follow us on Instagram: @witnessbusinessFollow Bryan on Instagram: @bryanmclayton

In this episode, we sit down with Greg Lernihan to discover how he and his former colleague built from scratch the $3 billion tech giant Convergint Technologies. We learn about the successful 20-year careers they had previously, and why they chose to abandon the safety net of good job to build something from the ground up. From feelings of inadequacy, to hiring employees, to creating culture, to leaving a legacy, Greg spares no details. Whether you aspire to build something big, or you're in the middle of it, you won't want to skip this one!Be sure to check out the Show Notes!Follow us on Instagram: @witnessbusiness

After years of saving to pursue a simpler, more self-sufficient life, Jenni and her husband moved their family to a 16-acre plot of land in Alabama to more fully embrace living off the land. This is where Five Oaks Farm was born. Along the way, however, an autoimmune disease led Jenni on a sourdough journey. She began sewing beeswax-lined bread bags from fabrics she loved, and quietly grew this into a multi-million-dollar brand. In this episode, Jenni shares the unlikely path that led to her bread bag success, how she was able to change the stories of 50+ women, and why staying true to the story behind the product became her greatest competitive advantage. Be sure to check out the Show Notes!Follow us on Instagram: @witnessbusinessFollow Jenni on Instagram: @fiveoaksfarmal

John co-founded Lowcountry Littles with his wife, Anna, after walking away from the clear, fairly comfortable path. Rather than building his career as a CPA, or taking over his family's business, he decided to chase something far more uncertain but deeply personal.With no background in product manufacturing or the baby industry, John and Anna leaned into a potential hole in the baby / toddler market, alongside a passion for gut health and parenting. They moved their family across the country and staked their livelihood on building a company that makes food-grade silicone kids products. We talk about the tension between security and calling, and the risks, lessons, and faith it takes to pursue an idea that may not make sense on paper, but making it work anyway.Be sure to check out the Show Notes!Follow us on Instagram: @witnessbusinessFollow Lowcountry Littles on Instagram: @lowcountrylittles_inc

In this episode, Kevin and Jaime from the Believe Crew share why they sold everything, moved their family to Mexico, and rebuilt their lives around a new definition of success. A definition rooted in values, freedom, and intention. And now they are helping others do the same.Be sure to check out the Show Notes!Follow us on Instagram: @witnessbusinessFollow Believe Crew on Instagram: @believecrewcoaching

In this episode, we sit down with Dylan Stimpson, the founder who went first-to-market with a rage room in Boise in his early 20s. Dylan breaks down how the idea came to life, how he funded and launched the business at a young age, and what it actually takes to turn controlled destruction into real revenue. We dive into profits, expansion, sourcing smashable items, and more from a growing business built around stress relief. If you're curious how unconventional ideas can become profitable companies, this one's for you.Be sure to check out the Show Notes!Follow us on Instagram: @witnessbusinessFollow Dylan on Instagram: @ragerssmashnaxe

In this episode, twin brothers Hayden and Hunter England share how they built Twisted Twins, a smash burger and ice cream shop in rural Illinois that has become a small-town staple. From early entrepreneurial experiments to literally digging trenches to save startup costs, they break down the grit, creativity, and hands-on work it took to turn burgers and ice cream into a wildly successful local business.Be sure to check out the Show Notes!Follow us on Instagram: @witnessbusinessFollow Twisted Twins on Instagram: @twistedtwinseat

What started as an idea on an olde ratty couch turned into a life-changing business and a powerful mission. In this episode, Cori Myka, co-founder of Calm Within Adult Swim, shares how a simple desire to slow down and teach people sparked the idea to help adults overcome their fear of water. She walks us through how they went from teaching kids at community pools to offering personalized adult swim lessons, building emotional safety and confidence in the water, scaling worldwide through YouTube and online classes, and even launching a retreat-style swim training in tropical destinations. If you’re interested in starting a business, or if you’ve ever felt judged for not knowing how to swim, this story might just change your mind, and maybe inspire your next venture.Get your first Every Plate meal box free here!Be sure to check out the Show Notes!Follow us on Instagram: @witnessbusinessFollow Cori on Instagram: @calmwithinadultswim