You Don't Need This Podcast

Antonio Roddy, aka Tone the Movemaker, was born original and is making moves to stay that way. This is an entertaining episode that celebrates lasting initiative. Along with fresh fashion from Designed by the Streets, Tone, Dao, and the team keep turning knobs to stay ahead of the innovation curve. Together, we scratch through origin stories, his creative approach to leveling up, and how mentoring keeps us all moving forward.

Curt Nelson and Beth Meyer help entrepreneurs spin the Rubik's cube that is starting (and scaling) a business. The Entrepreneurial Development Center is celebrating 20 years of really getting involved to make an impact. Curt also leads the Iowa Venture Capital Association. Together, we chat through the origin story of the EDC, then shift gears to chat about tracking milestones with mentors, giving advice, raising financial capital, managing startup boards, and the investor landscape throughout Iowa.

Michael Libbie has been in broadcasting since 1967! He has interviewed over 1,500 remarkable people, which made it an honor to interview him. Ben and Michael talk about lone wolves, articulating our thoughts, understanding your audience, and the long-term effects of persistence. We also commemorate his voice and hear his why behind Insight Cubed and Insight on Business the News Hour. If content creation is a part of your practice or if you're thinking about shipping your art to those you seek to serve, this special episode is for you!

Julie McDougal shares a final interview before she retired from IBM. Can you imagine being at IBM for over 35 years?! The featured guest in EP47 has lived on the edge of technology her entire career! Julie worked within the culture and this fun episode is a glance at how she united others. As you'll hear, Julie is also our host's aunt. Cheers to everyone at IBM and cheers to a long, interesting, and impactful career. Happy retirement, Aunt Julie!

Navarr Grevious and Aaron Carter were visiting Des Moines from Miami, for the Black & Brown Business Summit. After QuikLiq won the $50K pitch competition, we had to find a spot to chat in the wild! In EP45, we pour innovations into beer, wine, and spirits. We talk about how these co-founders met at Clark Atlanta University, then reunited to build together. We also talk about transitioning a small business to a scalable startup, technology that connects local communities, building a team, how to win pitch competitions, and signals to help you raise financial capital. After the break, you'll learn about the three-tiered system in the spirits industry and trends you'll be sipping on soon. I'll cheers to that!

Alex Myers is a certified futurist who will put you ahead of the curve. Along with his leadership at Aragon and throughout the world of web3, Alex authored Organizational Shift within the Roasted Reflections library. This writing pairs perfectly with this epic episode, as we explore Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs). After the break, we decode life extension, nurturing AI, and close with a peek into transhumanism and reminder for what it means to be united as one.

Scotty Russell is a web3 artist, podcaster, and business coach for creators. His cosmic illustrations are minted on Solana and other blockchains. He's also recorded 250+ episodes of the Side Hustler's Perspective and has coached 1,500+ artists to extend their own creative seasons. Scotty was in Des Moines for a web3 gathering, so he and Ben popped in the studio to record this relic. We talk about building into side hustles, fine artists leveraging digital art, and gamifying different buckets of value.

Jessica Pfohl Paisley is a creative community builder who is fascinated by the diversity of life. Whether it's enjoying time with family, building on the frontiers of fashion, or making others feel their best through AMIDST Magizine, Jessica connects community through photography, print, music, and events. Together, we talk about curating resources, event management, and balancing a diversified career portfolio.

Cody Retlich is an alumni of the Techstars Iowa Accelerator (see Cody on-stage at #TSDemoDay in 2022) and this is the first of a new In The Wild category. Recorded after the launch of 1MC in Madison and Milwaukee, Cody and his Wisconsin-based team at DroneAdair, help drone pilots manage their business. This leader knows what's up when it comes to drone technology. Strap on your seat belt, as Ben and Cody elevate a conversation around content creation, exploring new industries, and activating beta testers as an entrepreneur. After the break, we fly by emerging drone technologies that will captivate your imagination and talk tactics as we all tell stories with photos and video. BONUS CONTENT: Cody has also launched Legacy Liftoff, which is another cool podcast dedicated to drone technology and the pilots who create art from the air. Enjoy!

Brandon Hart is a builder who helps others do the same. EP41 is all about 3D printing and how additive manufacturing helps evolve ideas into reality, while boosting sustainability in manufacturing and providing a path to our own neon future. Along with talking about the futuristic things we can "print", such as nanotechnology, boitech, and food; Brandon shares his winding entrepreneurial path and makes news by introducing the HSP1-I, an all-new industrial 3D printer! Hartsmart Products delivers 3D printers, eco-friendly filament, 3D printer resins, and endless parts to upgrade the nerdery, so it was neat to share this milestone moment within a hartfelt episode you're sure to enjoy.