This week the guys get to talk with Family & Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner and serial entrepreneur, Michael Schepemaker. The conversation centers on Michael's diverse business ventures, including his and his wife's journey in the clothing boutique industry (which he confesses began to flourish after he became less involved), ultimately allowing them to pay off their house.

They also discuss his entry into commercial real estate and his pursuit of a medical career, emphasizing the importance of faith, mitigating risk through skill and experience, and the aspects of running a business with a spouse. Michael stresses the need to overcome the fear of the unknown and the notion that success is found in contentment and serving as a good steward of one's time and resources.

You can listen to Michael’s chat with the guys on the podcast platform of your choice. Sincere thanks to Michael for getting behind the microphone with the guys and thanks to Chris for editing this episode!

This week, Jory Scott takes the guys on a journey from bullfighter to bio-tech pioneer! Jory discusses his unconventional career path from being a top-ranked professional bullfighter to an occupational therapy assistant, athletic trainer, and ultimately a leader in the medical field of biologics and stem cell therapy.

Caleb & Chris focus the core of their discussion on Jory's work, particularly his companies’ potentially positive impacts in treating conditions like autism, ALS, and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) – where Jory used his own cell therapy on himself to test its effectiveness, due to prior concussions from his bullfighting career.

He details the scientific basis and ethical considerations of their adult-derived stem cell process, addressing common misconceptions and the challenges of operating in a complex, competitive, and highly scrutinized medical sector. Jory also offers advice for small business owners on the importance of self-awareness and seeking honest counsel to achieve success.

Listen to Jory’s fascinating professional journey on the podcast player of your choice!

Special thanks to Chris for editing this episode!

“Just do the next right thing.” – Wise words of advice from this week’s guest, Lindsey Fredman. Lindsey sat down with the guys to discuss her varied career path and the launch of her business, Main Street Collective. Fredman shares her experiences from teaching and human resources, to working with the military and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, highlighting her dedication to service.

The conversation also explores the challenges and triumphs of building Main Street Collective, an online marketplace for Mississippi artisans, including the importance of automation, trusting others, and navigating the departure of a founding business partner. Fredman also provides advice for aspiring entrepreneurs and discusses the uniqueness of both her business model and her local/Mississippi vendor base.

If you want to hear a candid story about what it’s really like to start a business while also being a parent, a spouse, and a full-time employee, this is an episode you don’t want to miss! Check it out on the podcast player of your choice!

Special thanks to Chris for editing this episode!

In May of 2024 the guys had an awesome interview with Mississippi Veteran and Entrepreneur, Ric McCluskey. In that interview Ric hinted that he was starting on a new project, so the guys thought it would be fun to circle back with him (over a year later) and find out whatever happened with that project – and wow, a LOT has happened since that time!

This week Ric tells the guys how his new company, FlyBy Shine, utilizes large drones for pressure washing and soft washing commercial and industrial buildings. Ric discusses the challenges and triumphs of building his new business, including the initial anxiety of scaling, the importance of branding in a niche market, and the difficulties encountered during the first winter of operations.

He shares insights into expanding the company through a licensing model as an alternative to franchising, the crucial need to delegate tasks and avoid being the sole "touch labor" provider, along with the impact of entrepreneurship on family life. The conversation also explores the future of the drone and AI industries, emphasizing the importance of embracing new technologies for small business owners and preparing the next generation for a tech-driven workforce.

Special thanks to Ric for getting behind the mic with the guys and bringing the Sippi Community up to speed on what it’s really like to get a new project off the ground (quite literally)! *Insert the punny joke sound effect. *

Special thanks to Chris for editing this episode!

This week the guys have something of a riff episode where Caleb shares a CRAZY story that happened literal hours before recording. Caleb shares a premonition to drive in the left lane, which he ignored, only to narrowly avoid a head-on collision with a truck driving in the wrong lane. The following day, while driving his wife's vehicle, Caleb experiences a mysterious incident where his airbags deploy without impact, severely damaging the car and leaving him with a potential concussion and a perplexing mechanic's screwdriver found in the engine. Chris then shares a personal story of a severe concussion he sustained as a teenager, highlighting the disorienting effects of head injuries.

Despite Caleb's potentially concussed state, the two continue recording, emphasizing their commitment to the podcast and attributing the week's events to divine protection.

Check out this bizarre series of events on the podcast player of your choice!

Special thanks to Chris for editing this episode!

According to Freakonomics author and podcast host, Stephen J. Dubner, “The difference between success and failure is sometimes just…timing.”. At least that’s the argument he makes in his Episode 563, “How to Succeed at Failing, Part 3: Grit vs. Quit (Update)”, which Caleb & Chris reference in this week’s episode. They even play a short clip from that episode, which offers a really poignant and layered example of Dubner’s point.

Caleb & Chris then relate this concept to entrepreneurship, highlighting how atypical journeys and perceived failures might simply be nothing more than incorrect timing or a rigid definition of success. They encourage listeners to embrace their unique paths and not to succumb to negative self-talk, suggesting that even challenging experiences can be valuable, life-enriching (not defeating) lessons.

Check out this episode on the podcast player of your choice and let the guys know if you agree or disagree! Special thanks to Chris for editing this episode, and a very special thanks to the Freakonomics Podcast Team for producing valuable content that inspires and creates thought provoking discussion. We highly recommend all of our Sippi listeners check out their full episode here.

This week the guys offer a conversational overview of various topics. Their exchange begins with personal anecdotes about their work-life balance and social media interactions, including Caleb's "fishing for hate".

The conversation then transitions to a discussion about unique treats, specifically the "Sibateaux " and "Cronut," revealing their unusual origins and names.

Finally, the hosts explore the main subject of this week’s episode: the ethical obligations of small businesses, particularly regarding pricing and staying open, in light of current events like tariffs and inflation.

Check out their chat on the platform of your choice!

Special thanks to Indicium for editing this episode!

Back in December 2024, Caleb & Chris got a chance to interview two tech entrepreneurs and learn about their really cool app, FoodScout! Now roughly a half year later, Caleb & Chris sit down with one of those two guys again, Damion Dehart, and hear a ruthlessly transparent update on their startup journey.

The conversation highlights the challenges of pivoting a business, detailing the failure of their initial app due to high marketing costs and customer churn. Damion also discusses the abandonment of a second venture, a skill-based wagering app, one week before its launch, primarily due to a lack of capital. The episode then shifts to a discussion on their current endeavor, FoodScout Go!, a white-label online ordering system for restaurants.

If you want to hear what pivoting a startup is REALLY like, be sure to check out this episode (and also Episode 36 for some context)! A SINCERE thanks to Damion for his authenticity, honesty, and willingness to share how painful (but necessary) a pivot can be!

Special thanks to Indicium for editing this episode!