What does it take to rebuild after failure?

In this episode of Beating the Odds, Mike Dewey sits down with Shai Mauth, founder of Poké Shack, to discuss an entrepreneurial journey that spans three countries, multiple businesses, bankruptcy, the 2008 recession, and launching a restaurant just as the COVID-19 pandemic shut the world down.

Shai shares how he grew up in a family of entrepreneurs, why he has always funded his businesses with his own savings, the lessons he learned from failed partnerships, and how persistence helped him build two successful Poké Shack locations in Illinois. Along the way, he offers practical advice on hiring, customer service, restaurant operations, and why learning from failure is one of the greatest advantages an entrepreneur can have.

Whether you're starting your first business or navigating challenges in an existing one, this conversation is packed with real-world lessons about resilience, adaptability, and betting on yourself.

In this episode you'll learn:

• Why failure can become your greatest business advantage
• How to start a business with limited capital
• Lessons from surviving the pandemic as a restaurant owner
• The realities of hiring and managing employees
• How DoorDash impacts small restaurant businesses
• Why customer experience matters more than ever
• Advice every aspiring entrepreneur should hear

Listen now and discover how Shai Mauth truly beat the odds.

Claire Georges didn't set out to build one of America's most celebrated hot sauce companies. She simply followed her passion for baking and took one small step at a time.

In this episode of Beating the Odds, Mike Dewey sits down with the founder of Butterfly Bakery of Vermont to discuss how a one-woman bakery evolved into a nationally recognized food manufacturer featured by Food & Wine as producing the "Best Hot Sauce in America."

Claire shares her remarkable 23-year entrepreneurial journey, including bootstrapping her business from the ground up, surviving the 2008 recession, navigating explosive growth during COVID-19, managing the difficult realities of layoffs, and leading a team of 16 employees today. She also discusses the challenges women entrepreneurs still face when raising capital, the importance of mentors and advisory boards, why owning your local market matters, and how resilience—not perfection—is the key to long-term success.

Whether you're launching your first business or scaling an established company, Claire's practical wisdom, humility, and determination offer valuable lessons for every entrepreneur.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How Claire bootstrapped her business without outside investors
• Why mentorship changed the trajectory of her company
• The biggest leadership lessons from managing rapid growth
• How she turned setbacks into opportunities
• Why women-owned businesses continue to outperform despite receiving far less investment
• The importance of building a loyal home market before expanding nationally

If you've ever wondered what it really takes to build a business that lasts more than two decades, this conversation is one you won't want to miss.

Click here to apply for the latest podcast grant: https://galaxyofstars.org/beating-the-odds-podcast-grant/

In this inspiring episode of the Galaxy of Stars Podcast, Mike Dewey sits down with Victoria Walker, founder of Vivify Solutions, a software development company helping entrepreneurs bring their app ideas to life.

Victoria shares her remarkable journey from growing up in foster care and teaching herself technology skills to becoming a software engineer at JPMorgan Chase and building a thriving software development business. Along the way, she discusses the realities of balancing a full-time career with entrepreneurship, the importance of mentorship, how she helps founders validate and launch their ideas, and why persistence has been the key to her success.

Whether you're building a side hustle, launching a startup, or dreaming about turning your idea into a real business, Victoria's story offers practical insights and powerful inspiration for entrepreneurs at every stage of their journey.

Listen for the grant keyword and apply for the podcast grant here: https://galaxyofstars.org/beating-the-odds-podcast-grant/

In this episode of Beating The Odds, we sit down with Debbie and Troy Sutton, the mother-son founders behind Healing Bras, a company dedicated to improving comfort and recovery for women facing breast health challenges.

After seeing firsthand the struggles many women experience with breast cancer, recovery, breastfeeding discomfort, and more, Debbie and Troy set out to create a product that could make a real difference. What started as a personal conversation quickly turned into a mission-driven business focused on helping women feel supported during some of life’s most difficult moments.

They share the story behind Healing Bras, the challenges of launching a new product, the importance of listening to customers, and what it’s like building a business together as family. This inspiring conversation is filled with lessons on resilience, innovation, and turning personal experiences into purpose-driven entrepreneurship.

In this episode of Beating the Odds, Brian Dockery, founder of Love Green Company, shares his inspiring journey from a small-town upbringing in North Carolina to becoming a successful entrepreneur in the eco-friendly product industry. He discusses the challenges he faced, the importance of sustainability, and the vision behind his company, which aims to replace single-use plastics with environmentally friendly alternatives. Brian emphasizes the significance of self-awareness and conviction in entrepreneurship, offering valuable insights for aspiring business owners.

To apply for a grant or get help for your business, visit Galaxy of Stars: https://galaxyofstars.org/

To apply for the podcast grant, click here: https://galaxyofstars.org/beating-the-odds-podcast-grant/

Be sure to keep an eye out for the keyword to apply for the special podcast grant!

In this episode of Beating the Odds, Brian Dockery, founder of Love Green Company, shares his inspiring journey from a small-town upbringing in North Carolina to becoming a successful entrepreneur in the eco-friendly product industry. He discusses the challenges he faced, the importance of sustainability, and the vision behind his company, which aims to replace single-use plastics with environmentally friendly alternatives. Brian emphasizes the significance of self-awareness and conviction in entrepreneurship, offering valuable insights for aspiring business owners.

To apply for a grant or get help for your business, visit Galaxy of Stars: https://galaxyofstars.org/

Be sure to keep an eye out for the keyword to apply for the special podcast grant!

As a nurse in Detroit, Jordana Latozas has had a front row seat to the devastation of the opioid epidemic and she knew she had to do something. So she bought an old RV and converted it to Michigan's first mobile addiction clinic. Hear her inspirational story as a first time entrepreneur helping patients from her truck. 

Find out more about Recovery Mobile Clinic at recoverymobileclinic.com.

Growing up in the Philly suburbs as the child of Fillipino immigrants, Jacqueline Sayoc became a molecular scientist. She wanted to be an entrepreneur and started a screen printing business with her brother, focused on the immigrant community and experience. Listen to her inspiring story of success. 

Find out more about Regalia Unlimited at https://regaliaunlimited.com.

As a child in Alabama, Valencia Callens Neptune loved to sing and dance. A lot. She studied music in college and has now turned her love of the performing arts into a growing indie record label in Georgia. Hear her story about perseverance and success. 

Find out more about So Am I-Worthy at https://www.soamiworthy.com.