On this episode of the builders Podcast, John Busby sits down with David Walker, co-founder of Firestone Walker Brewing Company, to talk about the 30+ year journey behind one of the defining brands in American craft beer. David shares how his background in wine, love of English ales, and belief in California’s craft brewing future helped shape Firestone Walker from the ground up.

John and David discuss:
00:00 — Introduction to David Walker and Firestone Walker
01:09 — How Firestone Walker started and why craft beer felt like the next wine movement
04:56 — Bringing European beer culture into California craft brewing
06:19 — How 805 beer became Firestone Walker’s flagship brand
08:48 — The evolution of craft beer marketing and lifestyle branding
12:21 — Scaling Firestone Walker while keeping up with demand
14:46 — Growing without losing culture, quality, or authenticity
18:07 — Building a successful family business and long-term leadership partnership
21:37 — Brewing for Tomorrow: sustainability, solar power, CO2 capture, and water efficiency
25:42 — The state of craft beer and what comes next for Firestone Walker


Thanks for listening, and if you liked this episode, be sure to share it with someone building a business or career they don’t have to recover from. 🚀

🚀 Join business.com+: https://www.business.com/tracking/?a=101704&c=114951&s7=Youtube&s8=episodedescription&s9=builders
Business.com+ is a free membership program for SMBs that takes the pain out of choosing new business services with 1:1 help from an advisor + exclusive deals on top solutions.

🎧 Listen and subscribe to the builders podcast: https://plinkhq.com/i/1608075598?to=page

📺 Watch more from the builders podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@builderspodcast

On this episode of the builders Podcast, John Busby sits down with Meghan French Dunbar, former CEO and co-founder of Conscious Company Media and author of This Isn’t Working, to talk about the hidden cost of entrepreneurial success and how to build a thriving business without sacrificing your health. Meghan shares her journey from launching a nationally distributed magazine after business school to scaling and exiting the company, all while quietly battling chronic stress, anxiety, and burnout behind the scenes. The conversation explores the difference between normal pressure and chronic stress, why “busy” has become a harmful badge of honor, and how founders can build healthier, more sustainable companies from the ground up.

John and Meghan discuss:
00:00 – Introduction 
03:10 – The hidden toll of entrepreneurship and “falling apart” behind success
07:10 – Stress vs. chronic stress: how to recognize the warning signs
11:19 – Why glorifying business is dangerous and how to break the cycle
16:14 – The link between financial security, engagement, and performance
20:16 – Practical ways to build healthier, more human-centered organizations
24:20 – Leadership myths: are women actually better leaders?

Thanks for listening, and if you liked this episode, be sure to share it with someone building a business or career they don’t have to recover from. 🚀
🚀 Join business.com+: https://www.business.com/tracking/?a=101704&c=114951&s7=Spreaker&s8=episodedescription&s9=builders

Business.com+ is a free membership program for SMBs that takes the pain out of choosing new business services with 1:1 help from an advisor + exclusive deals on top solutions.

Check out Meghan’s book: This Isn't Working: Overcoming Stress, Guilt, and Overload 

🎧 Listen and subscribe to the builders podcast: https://plinkhq.com/i/1608075598?to=page
📺 Watch more from the builders podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@builderspodcast

On this episode of the builders podcast, John Busby sits down with Michael Browning, CEO and Founder of Unleashed Brands, to explore how he built a multi-brand platform focused on helping kids become well-rounded and life-ready. Michael shares his entrepreneurial journey from launching trampoline parks with Urban Air to scaling a portfolio of brands serving over 20 million kids each year. The conversation dives into how he identifies opportunities at the intersection of innovation and scalability, expands through franchising and acquisitions, and builds a mission-driven company centered on character development and meaningful experiences for families. They also discuss how parenting priorities are shifting today, with a growing focus on confidence, resilience, and life skills over traditional metrics like grades.

Michael and John discuss:
00:00 - The origin of Urban Air and spotting scalable ideas
08:14 - Navigating risk and uncertainty as an entrepreneur
11:25 - Discovering franchising and scaling beyond one market
15:10 - Expanding into a multi-brand platform and acquiring Sylvan
17:20 - The vision behind Unleashed Brands and youth enrichment
20:30 - How parenting priorities are shifting toward character development
24:20 - Leadership lessons and evolving as a founder

Thanks for listening, and if you liked this episode, be sure to share it with someone you want to see leveled-up with you. 🚀

🚀 Join business.com+: https://www.business.com/tracking/?a=101704&c=114951&s7=Spreaker&s8=episodedescription&s9=builders
Business.com+ is a free membership program for SMBs that takes the pain out of choosing new business services with 1:1 help from an advisor + exclusive deals on top solutions.

🎧 Listen and subscribe to the builders podcast: https://plinkhq.com/i/1608075598?to=page

📺 Watch more from the builders podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@builderspodcast

On this episode of the builders Podcast, John Busby sits down with Mike Barron, Founder of Ikon Digital Media, to break down how e-commerce brands grow through modern affiliate and creator strategies. Mike explains why success goes far beyond influencers—spanning editorial, media buyers, and community-driven channels—and what makes these programs actually perform, from product-market fit to reviews and trust. The conversation also explores how affiliate strategies impact AI and LLM-driven discovery, along with Mike’s journey from sales leader to founder and the leadership and sales fundamentals behind building a successful business.

Mike and John discuss:
04:11 – When a brand is ready to invest in affiliate marketing
08:36 – Creator strategy 101 for brands entering the space
10:52 – Why affiliate marketing now functions like an ecosystem
12:04 – How editorial coverage influences LLM and AI visibility
15:18 – Why diverse traffic sources matter in the customer journey
16:05 – Mike’s decision to go from sales leader to founder
21:41 – Why cold calling and early sales reps still matter

Thanks for listening, and if you liked this episode, be sure to share it with someone you want to see leveled-up with you. 🚀

🚀 Join business.com+: https://bit.ly/business-com-plus
Business.com+ is a free membership program for SMBs that takes the pain out of choosing new business services with 1:1 help from an advisor + exclusive deals on top solutions.

🎧 Listen and subscribe to the builders podcast: https://plinkhq.com/i/1608075598?to=page

📺 Watch more from the builders podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@builderspodcast

On this episode of the builders podcast, John Busby sits down with Allison Netzer, Founder of BrandThnk.co and a branding expert known for her work with financial institutions, to explore how companies can stand out in increasingly commoditized markets. Allison shares insights from her updated book, Think Like a Brand, Not a Bank, including her Pain, Promise, Proof framework—a practical approach to building deeper, more meaningful connections with customers. The conversation dives into the pitfalls of activity-based marketing, why leading with features often fails to resonate, and how focusing on a single, emotionally compelling promise can cut through the noise, while also introducing the idea of “organizational constellations” as a way to align teams around a shared understanding of the customer problem and brand purpose.

Allison and John discuss:
04:20 – What “activity-based marketing” gets wrong
08:20 – Where AI fits into branding, intuition, and taste
10:18 – The Pain, Promise, Proof framework
18:11 – From “north star” to “organizational constellation”
23:18 – Why strong brands focus on what they won’t do
27:01 – A key lesson from a fintech client about competition

Thanks for listening, and if you liked this episode, be sure to share it with someone you want to see leveled-up with you. 🚀

👉 Explore Allison’s book, Think Like a Brand, Not a Bank: https://brandthnk.co/book/
👉 Check out BrandThnk.co’s website: https://brandthnk.co/

🚀 Join business.com+: https://bit.ly/business-com-plus Business.com+ is a free membership program for SMBs that takes the pain out of choosing new business services with 1:1 help from an advisor + exclusive deals on top solutions.

🎧 Listen and subscribe to the builders podcast: https://plinkhq.com/i/1608075598?to=page

📺 Watch more from the builders podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@builderspodcast

On this episode of the builders podcast, John Busby sits down with Amy Rasdal, founder of Billable at the Beach, to explore how professionals can launch a successful consulting business without getting stuck in endless planning, branding, or underpricing. Amy shares her journey from Silicon Valley executive to solopreneur, revealing why consulting gave her more freedom, more impact, and more income than the traditional corporate path. She breaks down the practical steps to start fast, identify your superpower, charge what you're worth, and land your first paying client without waiting until everything feels perfect.

Amy and John discuss:
02:21 – Amy’s Silicon Valley background and why she left the CEO track
05:43 – How consulting became a higher-income, higher-control alternative
09:50 – How Billable on the Beach grew from advice for friends into a business 
12:27 – The first priority: land a client and get paid
15:15 – Finding your “superpower” and shaping a marketable offer
26:47 - Charging what you’re worth and avoiding the biggest pricing mistake

Thanks for listening, and if you liked this episode, be sure to share it with someone who’s thinking about making the leap into consulting or fractional work.

👉 Explore Amy’s business, Billable at the Beach: https://billableatthebeach.com/

🚀 Join business.com+: https://bit.ly/business-com-plus
Business.com+ is a free membership program for SMBs that takes the pain out of choosing new business services with 1:1 help from an advisor plus exclusive deals on top solutions.

🎧 Listen and subscribe to the builders podcast: https://plinkhq.com/i/1608075598?to=page

📺 Watch more from the builders podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@builderspodcast

On this episode of the builders podcast, John Busby sits down with Allison Shapira, Harvard lecturer, keynote speaker, and author of AI for the Authentic Leader, to explore how leaders can use AI without losing their voice. As generative AI becomes embedded in everyday communication, Allison explains why liberal arts skills like adaptability, curiosity, and critical thinking are more valuable than ever. She shares research on how overreliance on AI can erode trust, why authenticity is the foundation of strong leadership, and how to create your own Authentic Voice Intelligence blueprint so AI enhances rather than replaces human connection.

Allison and John discuss:
04:32 – How AI can erode trust if leaders overuse it
08:25 – Generic AI communication vs. unique human voice
16:39 – Public speaking lessons from opera training
20:39 – Universal truths about human connection across cultures
23:51 – How to ask for feedback and continuously improve as a speaker
26:17 – Why humor matters in leadership communication

Thanks for listening, and if you liked this episode, be sure to share it with someone who cares about leading with both innovation and authenticity.

👉 Learn more about Allison Shapira: https://allisonshapira.com/

🚀 Join business.com+: https://bit.ly/business-com-plus
Business.com+ is a free membership program for SMBs that takes the pain out of choosing new business services with 1:1 help from an advisor plus exclusive deals on top solutions.

🎧 Listen and subscribe to the builders podcast: https://plinkhq.com/i/1608075598?to=page

📺 Watch more from the builders podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@builderspodcast

On this episode of the builders podcast, John Busby sits down with Kevin Kong, CEO and founder of Everstar, to discuss the critical role nuclear energy plays in addressing the global energy crisis. As energy demand surges driven in part by AI and data center growth, Kevin explains why nuclear is becoming a key part of the clean energy equation and what must change for the U.S. to scale safely and efficiently. He shares how regulatory complexity, documentation burdens, and industry knowledge loss have slowed nuclear development, and how Everstar is modernizing workflows to accelerate site qualification, permitting, and project timelines. Kevin also reflects on his journey from engineer to entrepreneur and why first principles thinking, confidence, and culture building are essential for tackling massive infrastructure challenges.

Kevin and John discuss:
01:10 – The current energy crisis and nuclear’s role in meeting rising demand
05:35 – Nuclear energy’s potential and global comparisons (U.S. vs. China)
07:28 – Everstar’s mission to streamline nuclear project workflows
12:44 – Kevin’s personal journey into the nuclear sector
21:36 – How engineering skills translate into entrepreneurial success
25:27 – Building culture while scaling an energy-focused startup

Thanks for listening, and if you liked this episode, be sure to share it with someone you want to see leveled-up with you. 🚀

👉 Check out Everstar’s website: Accelerating Nuclear with AI | Everstar🚀

Join business.com+: https://bit.ly/business-com-plus

Business.com+ is a free membership program for SMBs that takes the pain out of choosing new business services with 1:1 help from an advisor + exclusive deals on top solutions.

🎧 Listen and subscribe to the builders podcast:
https://plinkhq.com/i/1608075598?to=page

📺 Watch more from the builders podcast:
https://www.youtube.com/@builderspodcast