Silicon Slopes | The Entrepreneur Capital of the World

On this episode of the Silicon Slopes Podcast, Clint meets with Brandon Fugal who is the Chairman at Colliers International, and is widely known as the current owner of Skinwalker Ranch. Brandon shares exciting insights into the start of his career and tells how his fascination with real estate and business drives him today, particularly in entrepreneurship. He speaks on acquiring Skinwalker Ranch and how he was a skeptic at first, but certain events have since changed his mind. They dive into documenting the phenomenon happening at the ranch and going global with otherworldly, mind-bending evidence. Tune in to explore the intersection of science and the paranormal with a dash of entrepreneurship! "I have the most fun representing companies, growing companies, and helping them chart the course for the future. And to be able to not only procure the right concessions and economic package associated with their facilities planning, but to really look at all of the qualitative factors."

On this special episode of the Silicon Slopes Podcast, Clint is joined by Joe Tuia'ana and Aron from the I Love You Bro Project. They're on a mission to save lives by speaking authentically and openly about suicide rates among men and providing resources for suicide prevention. Their story starts on an overpass where Aron was standing on the ledge when Joe pulled over and kept repeating "I love you, bro," until he was able to embrace Aron and pull him to safety. To this day, the two consider each other family and are sharing their story to help men understand their emotions, to feel heard, and to facilitate life-saving connections. Tune in to hear their amazing story as they continue to save lives and change the stigma surrounding men's mental health. "It's just crazy how he was a stranger and he saved my life, and now I'm still here."

CEO of Utah Tech Leads, Liz Converse, joins Clint for this episode of the Silicon Slopes Podcast for a conversation about Utah politics and business. Liz answers some common questions about DEI and why this is important for community building in education and business. With a huge shift in national politics sweeping the nation, Utah isn't exempt from the chaos and they discuss one of Utah's more controversial figures. Liz shares what it takes to win your local majority vote and why candidates who connect with their community are more likely to win simply based on their personability. Beyond government and politics, Liz speaks to the impact of industry and growth in Utah, including the leaders who are making great things happen. "How do we continue to make Utah a sustainable place to live? How do we keep our kids here?...It's educating the community and educating policymakers on what those priorities are."

On this episode of the Silicon Slopes Podcast, Clint meets with Utah native and co-founder of Storyy, Connor Snyder. They talk about the impact of social media on children and adults today, including how these apps affect behavior and our world view. Many people think going to university is an absolute must in order to have any career success whatsoever, but today's leaders are putting more value on experience and contribution, rather than strictly degrees. Connor talks about the power of authenticity in business and why no one wants to be 100% transparent, but he explains why leaders should be vulnerable and authentic with their customers anyways. It's no secret that Utah is at the forefront of social media engagement and building communities online; tune in to learn why! "Authenticity's kind of a tired word. Know, like, and trust are kind of tired words. I think that for me, the way that you really build those things isn't by being too disingenuous or strategic about it. It's about just focusing on what you know. Share what you know."

On this episode of the Silicon Slopes Podcast, Clint is joined by Shaun Dee, the Hypno Hick. Shaun dives into the science behind hypnosis and how he was inspired to create the Hypno Hick act after learning about the human brain and psychology in school. He shares some hypnosis tips and tricks and he talks about the power of suggestion. Shaun also does hypnosis to help people navigate different life struggles like stress reduction, building confidence, quitting smoking habits, and even improving sports and athletic performance. If you've ever wondered how hypnosis works or are curious about what goes on behind the scenes, this episode is perfect for you! Tune in to learn more. "Meditation and hypnosis are not different. People think they're different; they're not. They're the exact same on the brainwave scale."

On this episode of the Silicon Slopes Podcast, Clint meets with Trevor Crump, who is the co-founder of Bestie. Trevor shares insights to capturing a market and scaling it, growing a business in Utah, and how scale can be highly dependent on customer loyalty. They talk about the psychological intelligence that goes on behind the scenes in business and how nine times out of ten, the best business is the one solving a specific problem in the market. Trevor and Clint discuss marketing on social media and how the algorithms on different platforms can affect audience engagement. They also talk about the massive brands coming out of Utah and why the movement is expanding every day. Tune in to learn more! "Tech is so different than running brands and services. Tech is different but it's a fun different for sure...If you can do it right, it's worth a lot more money than your multiples or much higher in those spaces."

On this episode of the Silicon Slopes Podcast, Clint meets with the Founder and CEO of Crumbl Cookies, Jason McGowan. Popular for its signature chocolate chip and birthday cake cookies, the bakery has expanded rapidly across North America, but originated here in Utah. Jason explains how the two keys to maintaining consistent cookie quality are technology and exceptional bakers, and it certainly doesn't hurt to have iconic branding, such as Crumbl's, as part of your arsenal. He dives into creating Crumbl's branding and focusing on the experience their cookies present; just like receiving a bouquet of flowers, but better. Having an unforgettable brand experience is a major draw for many of Crumbl's consumers and Jason hints at some fun things people can expect in the future. "I think people are capable of so much. Even individuals don't realize how much ability they have inside them."

On this episode of the Silicon Slopes Podcast, Clint is joined by Owen Fuller who is the CEO at Marq. They discuss all things Utah tech, including the creation of Marq and how it evolved from Lucidpress. With Utah's techscape constantly expanding, it attracts a lot of entrepreneurs and Owen shares some of the fantastic leadership collaborations he's experienced in this ecosystem. Utah presents unique opportunities to its entrepreneurs and Owen hopes to see the state thrive even more in the future as a community of great minds. They also touch on the subject of foreign affairs and how those ripples are felt around the world. Tune in to learn more! "I hope that we are trying really, really hard, I see a lot of people doing this, to make capital accessible to people from every background and walk of life...I hope more for everyone to feel like they can find their place here."

Jared Stewart joins Clint for this episode of the Silicon Slopes Podcast to talk about founding TribeHouse and navigating relationship intelligence. They talk about leading with authenticity and how being authentic naturally grows your network because it attracts genuine people. Jared's an excellent community leader and is known for his strides in building communities for the sake of revolutionizing relationships and how we interact with others in professional environments and at home. Jared talks about achieving scale and how so many companies struggle to achieve this, and he shares his vision for the future of TribeHouse. Having connection between your peers is essential for workplace flow and Jared helps leaders understand that meaningful collaboration is key to success in business. "Just because they're together doesn't mean they're connecting. We need to make sure they're connecting in ways that are away from the current and that are actually going to force them to open up and actually be vulnerable."

On this episode of the Silicon Slopes Podcast, Clint meets with Ryan Starks who is the Executive Director for the Utah Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity (GOEO). Having spent most of his life in Utah, Ryan's passionate about helping the state become a hub of business and tech opportunity by advocating to keep manufacturing as close to home as possible. Something Utah's known for is the healthcare innovations and life sciences coming from its universities, which have robust programs in these fields. They discuss Utah's recent recognition by U.S. News & World Report as having the best economy in the United States and what that means for those who live here. This amazing state is continuously expanding and has an undeniable impact on those who visit, and Ryan is highly optimistic about its bright future. "As industries grow, we attract talent from other states and so that just continues to add to the richness and vibrancy of our economy."