Video Version: https://youtu.be/AzyeSHwZans

In this episode, host Bo Kemp sits down with Chris Cooks, a hospitality-driven entrepreneur turned ecosystem builder, whose journey from small-town business owner to regional economic development leader offers a blueprint for purpose-driven success.

Chris shares how he turned his passion for service and hospitality into three thriving local businesses — Line Scout, Cab Scout, and Bar Scout — serving his community in Michigan with creativity and care. His journey then took him into the world of franchising with Dunkin’ Donuts, before ultimately choosing to pour his energy into helping other entrepreneurs navigate the complex path of building and scaling their own ventures.

Now serving as Director of the APEX Accelerator and Relationship Manager at the Southland Development Authority, Chris leverages his entrepreneurial experience to support others in turning ideas into action — and dreams into sustainable businesses.

This episode explores the reality of starting and operating multiple service businesses in a local market, lessons learned from pursuing a national franchise model, the shift from building for yourself to building capacity for others, and how organizations like the Southland Development Authority and APEX Accelerator are creating impact through access, relationships, and resources.

Whether you're just getting started or thinking about how to give back, Chris’s story is a masterclass in resilience, reinvention, and servant leadership.

Video Format https://youtu.be/iL8a_yWqdnM

In this thought-provoking episode, host Bo Kemp explores a question every founder must eventually face: Are you building an empire — or chasing a payday?

This conversation dives deep into the distinction between creating generational wealth through long-term empire building versus scaling and exiting quickly for short-term gain. Bo challenges listeners to get clear about their purpose and strategic vision — because that clarity is the foundation for understanding if, when, and how much capital your business truly needs.

Key insights include why most businesses don’t fail from lack of funding — but from growing too fast and outpacing their resources, how the Sustainable Growth Equation can help you determine your business’s capacity to scale responsibly, the hidden costs of premature capital raises, and the value of proving your model before you raise, and why intentional strategy beats hustle when it comes to raising capital with confidence.

Whether you're a solo founder bootstrapping your dream or a seasoned entrepreneur eyeing your next raise, this episode will help you assess your growth path with more discipline and direction.

Video Format https://youtu.be/e1CslzLMMCQ

In this powerful and deeply personal episode, host Bo Kemp speaks with Edith de la Cruz, the visionary CEO of Antigua Construction, one of the fastest-growing Latina-owned construction firms in the Chicagoland area.

Edith shares how a side hustle rehabbing homes — born out of grit and necessity — transformed into a full-scale business. As an immigrant and single mother of three, her story is a testament to resilience, belief, and bold commitment. What started as a way to make ends meet became a calling, and now, Edith is breaking barriers in a male-dominated industry while creating generational opportunity for her family and community.

In this episode, Edith and Bo discuss the early days of home rehab and learning by doing, the moment she chose to go all-in and commit fully to growing her business, the challenges and opportunities of scaling as a Latina entrepreneur in construction, and how identity, motherhood, and hustle shaped her leadership style and long-term vision.

This episode is for anyone wondering whether their side hustle has the potential to become something more — and what it takes to turn hard work into a powerful, purpose-driven enterprise.