Alpha Edge: The Entrepreneur’s Launchpad

Everyone's talking about AI. Almost nobody's explaining what it actually means for your business.

In this episode, Loren Dougherty breaks AI down in plain English — what it is, what it isn't, and where it actually helps a business make money and save time. No jargon, no hype.

If AI has felt like noise you can't make sense of, this is the episode that makes it click.

Follow Alpha Edge so you never miss a new one.

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AI has been promised to small business owners for years, but most people still have no clear path to actually use it. They jump on ChatGPT, try a few tools, and get nowhere. That ends now.

Loren Dougherty and Raymond Beckham — operators who've built and run nine companies across security, IT, software, vending, and more — introduce Throughway.AI: an AI services company built specifically for local businesses. No six-figure projects. No complicated installs. Just real AI tools, set up and run for you, on a simple monthly subscription.

In this intro video, Loren and Raymond break down what Throughway.AI is, why they built it, and what's coming next — including free website audits, ADA compliance testing, and a full menu of AI services designed to help your business answer calls, close more sales, manage your reputation, and run more efficiently.

Visit throughway.ai to see what's on the menu, or book a free call to find out which services fit your operation.

In this episode of the Yardbros Podcast, we sit down with Jordan for an honest conversation about what it really takes to build a business from the ground up. Jordan opens up about his journey into entrepreneurship — the spark that started it all, the long days no one sees, and the lessons he had to learn the hard way.

We get into the realities of hiring and building a team you can trust, the mistakes that cost him the most (and taught him the most), and the mindset shifts that have kept him going when things got tough. Whether you're running your own business, thinking about taking the leap, or just love a good behind-the-scenes story, there's something in this one for you.

Tune in for real talk on growth, grit, and the lessons you only learn by doing.

🎧 In this episode:

• How Jordan got started and what almost stopped him
• The hiring philosophy that changed his business
• The biggest mistake he's ever made — and what it taught him
• Advice he'd give his younger self
• What's next for him and the business

Follow the Yardbros Podcast for more conversations with the people building, grinding, and making it happen.

#YardbrosPodcast #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusiness #Hiring

In this episode of the Alpha Edge Podcast, we sit down with Jim Mercurio, a seasoned stadium operations and safety executive with nearly three decades of experience with the San Francisco 49ers and Levi’s Stadium.

Jim takes us behind the scenes of what it really takes to run large-scale events like the Super Bowl—from managing high-pressure environments to leading massive teams and ensuring safety at every level.

We also dive into his transition into entrepreneurship, where he now brings his expertise to businesses across the country. This episode is packed with real-world leadership lessons, operational insights, and what it truly means to perform at the highest level.

In this episode, we break down how smart vending machines and phone charging stations are creating new opportunities for entrepreneurs.

We dive into:
• How to start a vending machine business• How passive income works with vending• The rise of charging station rentals• Real insights from building VendBoss• What you need to get started

This is one of the fastest-growing automated business models right now and most people are still sleeping on it.

👇 Learn more or get started:
https://vbosscharging.com/ola/services/free-30-min-new-team-member-consultation

👇 Learn more Purchase at:

https://vendbossllc.com/

Responsiveness is respect.

The busiest, most successful people in business don’t disappear — they communicate. They close loops. They don’t leave people guessing, spiraling, or chasing clarity.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why silence kills momentum in business

• How slow or nonexistent responses damage trust, deals, and culture

• What real operators do differently when it comes to communication

• Clear do’s and don’ts for email, text, Slack, CRM, and client communication

• Why any response is better than no response

• How your response time sets the standard for your entire organization

This applies to every form of communication — email, text, internal messages, client follow-ups, and leadership decisions.

If you’re building a company, leading a team, closing deals, or trying to operate at a higher level, this episode will challenge how you communicate — and why it matters more than you think.

Real leaders don’t go dark.
Real operators close the loop.
And when there’s respect, you’ll never have to chase clarity.

🎙️ Subscribe to The Alpha Edge CEO Podcast for real strategy, real execution, and real-world leadership lessons.

Bradd Fisher: The Tough Road to Business — Grit, Failure & Building What Lasts

Entrepreneurship isn’t built overnight — it’s forged through pressure, setbacks, and hard decisions.

In this episode of the Alpha Edge CEO Lounge, we sit down with Bradd Fisher, founder of Profound Technologies and formerly of RSD and ICD Systems, to unpack the real journey behind building a successful business. Bradd shares the challenges most founders don’t talk about — early failures, uncomfortable leadership moments, and the resilience required to keep moving forward when the road gets tough.

This conversation dives deep into what it truly takes to survive and scale in business: grit over talent, lessons learned the hard way, and why the toughest seasons often produce the strongest operators.

If you’re an entrepreneur, business owner, or someone considering taking the leap, this episode delivers raw insight, real perspective, and hard-earned wisdom from someone who’s lived it.

No hype. No shortcuts. Just the truth about the road to business.

In this episode of the Alpha Edge CEO Lounge, Loren breaks down four game-changing pillars of entrepreneurship: knowing when to take your side hustle full-time, learning when to work for free vs. when to charge your worth, shifting from selling to serving, and the biggest lessons learned from scaling multiple businesses.

You’ll hear the real triggers that pushed Loren to go all in, the mindset behind saying “yes” to opportunities before you understand them, and how owning companies across alarms, fitness, vending, consulting, and media shaped his approach to leadership and growth.

This episode is raw, practical, and built for anyone who’s ready to take the next step in their business journey.

Real leaders. Real strategy. Real talk.
Welcome to the Alpha Edge CEO Lounge.

In this episode, Loren sits down with Larry Waters, founder of Electrify My Home, to break down how he built a thriving business in the fast-growing home electrification industry. Larry shares his journey, the challenges of scaling a technical trade, how to educate customers in a new market, and what it really takes to lead a company through rapid growth. Packed with strategy and real talk for entrepreneurs looking to build, innovate, or dominate their niche.